BusinessMirror May 01, 2023

‘CREATE’S PERKS RULES TURNING OFF INVESTORS’

By Andrea E. San Juan

THE Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines Foundation, Inc. (SEIPI) is urging the government anew to revisit the incentives rationalization in the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Act (CREATE) law to avoid the diversion of expansionary plans from the Philippines to other Asian countries.

A s a recent example of such diversion, SEIPI President Danilo

C. Lachica revealed that a battery manufacturer was “going to build an expansion in Asia.” However, he said, “Unfortunately they chose Malaysia instead of the Philippines.”  L achica said this has been the trend because of some parts of the incentives rationalization in the CREATE law that need tweaking.

“

I’ve been telling the Senate and the previous administration that the electronics industry today will not look like what we have today in nine years,” the

SEIPI chief told a recent forum organized by the Board of Investments (BOI).

“ Why 9 years? CREATE gave a 10-year transition period. We’re on the first year already and you can see that the [foreign direct investment] FDI winners are Vietnam and even India,” Lachica noted.

I n fact, he said, when the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA), SEIPI’s partner in the US, met with cabinet-level officers, one of the issues raised was Asian countries’ performance in terms of foreign direct investments.

BORACAY TASK FORCE’S RETURN PITCHED

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

THE Department of Tourism (DOT) is pushing for the re-establishment of the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force (BIATF) to oversee the management of the popular resort island.

S ources who attended the stakeholders meeting on April 28 at Savoy Hotel  with Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco separately told the BusinessMirror , “She shared that the Task Force will be revived and will finish the projects left over by the previous task force. She’ll probably recommend a stakeholder seat.” The DOT is just “waiting for the approval of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to reconstitute the task force,” said a government source familiar with the matter. As before, the task force will also be composed of

the DOT, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

T he BIATF was set up in 2018 to oversee the rehabilitation of the island, which led to the latter’s closure for six months, from April 26. Its term ended in June 2022 with the supposed completion of the projects. But among the projects still remaining are the main road and drainage projects, the latter of which was supposed to have been completed by the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (Tieza) in 2019. Due to the pandemic and the turnover of some portions to the Department of Public Works and Highways for implementation, Tieza completion of the drainage project is delayed anew.  (See, “Tieza to resume implementation of at least 82 LGU projects halted by coronavirus pandemic,” in the BusinessMirror , March 8, 2023.)

Clarification sought

STAKEHOLDERS also raised the possibility of increasing the island’s carrying capacity for tourists, which currently stands at 9,215 at any given time. Carrying capacity refers to an ecosystem’s ability to support people and other living things without negative effects. The carrying capacity was breached on three days during the recent Lenten break, similar to what happened in 2022.

S takeholders also sought the “revision or abrogation” of DENR Memorandum Circular 2018-07, which mandates resorts with 40 or more rooms to establish a sewerage treatment plant (STP). Already a controversial issue before its implementation, resort owners pointed out its redundancy “as we are presently disposing treated water to the concessionaires’ STP, which operates at only 50 percent of its capacity.”

See “Boracay,” A2

PBBM: PHL economic

security top focus with US

By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. is eyeing a stronger partnership with the United States (US) to ensure the country’s “economic security” during his bilateral meeting in US with Joe Biden on Monday.

M arcos disclosed among the issues he will raise during the meeting are ways to boost the country’s “resilience” from economic threats such as global supply chain disruptions and economic coercion.

O ther matters he will also discuss in the bilateral talks are food security, agricultural productivity development, and digital economy, energy security, climate change, and cybersecurity.

Towards this end, one of my priorities for this visit is to push for greater economic engagement, particularly through trade and investment, and science, technology, and innovation cooperation, between the United States and the Philippines,” the president said in his departure speech at the Villamor Airbase in Pasay City on Sunday.

T he President is scheduled to have his second face-to-face bilateral talk with Biden at the White House in Washington D.C. on May 1, 2023.

B oth state leaders had their first live bilateral meeting in September in New York.

“

My visit is an important one as they all are because they are part of our efforts to further reinforce our already strong bonds with the United States by bringing our alliance into the 21st century,” Marcos said.

M arcos will remain in the US until May 4 to meet with other American business leaders as well as with the Filipino community in the US.

M arcos pointed out among the industries where the country can have potential partnership with the US are semiconductor industry, critical minerals, renewable and clean energy, including nuclear, as well as digital telecommunication systems.

The economic team and I shall be joined by key Filipino private sector leaders in exploring business opportunities that would serve to grow our economy even more,” the President said.

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, along with the administration’s economic team and business leaders, depart from Villamor Air Base in Pasay City on Sunday (April 30, 2023) en route to the United States. The President will be in the US until May 4, with a bilateral meeting with President Joe Biden in Washington, D.C. on May 1 included in the official itinerary. PNA PHOTO BY ROLANDO MAILO

WHY IS CHINA TRYING TO MEDIATE IN RUSSIA’S WAR WITH UKRAINE?

EXPLAINER »B4

NCR wage board to tackle wage-hike bids this month

By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

T he Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board-NCR (RTWPB-NCR) made the decision due to the upcoming anniversary of its Wage Order No NCR-23 on June 4, 2022.

Continued from A1

“ The leaders are India and Vietnam and the laggards are the Philippines and Malaysia; but surprisingly Malaysia is getting more investments than the Philippines,” Lachica pointed out.

W hile the reduction of corporate income tax in the CREATE law is good, he said the incentives rationalization “is bad, at least for the electronics industry.”

T he wage order raised the existing minimum wage rate in Metro Manila to P533 to P570 from P500 to P537.   It is part of the agenda of our Board meeting this May,” RTWPB-

T he SEIPI chief explained that electronics depends on new products and technologies, adding that “if you don’t get new products to the Philippines, guess what, we’re going to be stuck with legacy products which are eventually going to be obsolete.”

W hen the factories are obsolete, he said they are going to shut down the company.

“ I don’t want to be the bearer of bad news but we’re working with the government with Secretary Fred (Pascual of trade and industry), Ben (Diokno, of

NCR chairperson Sarah S. Mirasol told reporters in an ambush interview during the 121st Labor Day Celebration of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Sunday.

However, she stressed that initiating the evaluation process does not immediately mean the RTWPBNCR will grant the petitions.

We will follow the process for that,” Mirasol said.

Under the Omnibus Rules on Minimum Wage Determination issued in 2020, the RTWPBs are only allowed to issue wage orders within a period of 12 months from effectivity of the current Order, except if there are “reasonable grounds” for it.

It also enabled the RTWPBs to conduct public hearings 60 days

finance), but we’re hoping that the government will revisit the incentives rationalization so that we can reverse the trend,” Lachica said.

M oreover, he stressed that while “we can pat ourselves on the back and say ‘yeah 2022 investments is better than 2021 for the Philippines’s, we cannot afford to look internally, let’s look at the competition outside and that’s a big challenge.”

M eanwhile, according to Oxford Economics, India has often been named a potential benefi -

Meralco ties up with Maynilad for key West Zone projects

By Lenie Lectura @llectura

inclusive developments that will ultimately benefit more Filipinos.

prior to the anniversary date to the current wage order.

Currently, the two pending wage petitions filed at the RTWPB-NCR are from the Kapatiran ng mga Unyon at Samahang Manggagawa (Kapatiran) and the Unity for Wage Increase Now! (U4WIN).

K apatiran filed its petition last December 5 seeking to raise the minimum wage rate in NCR by a P100 wage hike.

Meanwhile, U4WIN wants to raise the existing minimum wage in Metro Manila to P1,141 through the petition it filed last March 21.

L abor groups have been pushing for the immediate pay hike nationwide amid persisting high inflation since the last quarter of last year.

ciary of the “China plus X” strategy as global manufacturers look to diversify supply chains away from China, “against a backdrop of rising geopolitical strains, higher labor costs and environmental pressures.”  T he UK-based think tank noted that while other Asian high-tech sectors have benefited more from the search for alternative suppliers, government incentives and pledges by large technology companies to relocate production to India “bode well” for Indian hightech growth.

Continued from A14

“The expansion in the OFCs’ gross assets was funded mainly by its issuances of shares and other equity to other sectors,” it added.

OFCs, the BSP said, are institutional units of non-money market funds of trust institutions, trust corporations, and investment companies, private and public insurance corporations, holding companies, government-owned or -controlled corporations engaged in financial intermediation, and other financial intermediaries and auxiliaries.

T he BSP also stressed that the private sector is composed of other nonfinancial corporations, households and non-profit institutions serving households.

T he other nonfinancial corporations refer to private corporations and quasi-corporations whose principal activity is the production of market goods or nonfinancial services Cai U. Ordinario

Continued from A14

O ssa emphasized that recent Asean trends show the region’s declining rate of intra-regional trade in recent years. Part of the reason for the decline was attributed to Asean’s growing trade with China, Europe and North America, according to Ossa.

Ossa noted that the share of intraAsean exports last year compared to the region’s overall exports dropped to 14 percent from 24 percent, while the share of intra-regional imports fell from 25 percent to 15 percent.

T his was amid a growing value of Intra-Asean trade which was estimated at nearly $450 billion last year, 64 percent higher compared to 2016 figures, Ossa said. “Part of the reason for the decline is increased ASEAN trade with China, exports to which grew 98 percent in nominal dollar terms and imports from which rose 81 percent between 2016 and 2022,” he said.

This growth came at the expense of trade with Europe, exports to which rose 39 percent and imports from which grew 31 percent.  Meanwhile, growth in imports from North America was roughly in line with the ASEAN average (+60 percent) while growth in exports to North America was stronger than average (+90 percent),” he added.

THE Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) will provide a total of 87 megawatts (MW) to Maynilad Water Services Inc. to help finish major projects that will benefit water consumers in the West Zone of Metro Manila.

T hese projects are the Anabu modular treatment plant in Imus City, Cavite, and Maynilad’s water facilities in Muntinlupa City—the Poblacion Water Treatment Plant, Tunasan Sewage Treatment Plant, the Muntinlupa Conveyance System, and the proposed Bayanan Pumping Station.

In a strategic meeting recently, the two companies committed to working closely together to ensure the timely completion of 76 projects that are expected to require a combined 87 MW of new power capacity,” Meralco said in a statement on Sunday.

Meralco Senior Vice President and Head of Networks Ronnie Aperocho said the utility firm’s timely and efficient energization of Maynilad’s projects reflects the importance of synergies between basic service providers in advancing

“Meralco shares the goal of Maynilad to continuously improve the delivery of essential services like water and power to consumers, which is our way of contributing to our country’s inclusive development and economic progress,” Aperocho said.

T he country’s largest electricity distributor has long been a reliable partner of Maynilad. In 2022, Meralco successfully energized 41 Maynilad facilities including pump stations, treatment plants, and collection and distribution network facilities with combined power capacity of over 3.1 MW.

M eralco also conducts power quality reviews of Maynilad’s facilities, helping the water service provider avert possible revenue losses and higher costs due to equipment damage and service interruption.

M aynilad’s participation in the Peak/Off-Peak program of Meralco—an alternative power pricing scheme based on the time of day that electricity is generated, and the cost of supplying electricity during that time—meanwhile resulted in around P2 million in annual savings for the water service provider.

Continued from A1

T hey also asked for clarification on the use of “temporary structures” within the 25+5 meter easement, which led to the displacement or closure of some resorts, and the removal of lounging chairs, beach beds, and umbrellas on the beach front. One resort manager noted, “Recently, we’ve observed a concerning trend with our international visitors, particularly those arriving  via cruise ships. Upon discovering the lack of beach beds and umbrellas, these  guests tend to promptly return to their ships,” as reported to them by the local tour operator.

Hyperbaric chamber needed FRASCO, the sources said, promised to discuss the carrying capacity and other specific environmental issues with the DENR.  The tourism chief

made the quick day trip to Boracay, which was celebrating its Love Boracay festival (formerly Laboracay) for the May 1 holiday break. I n its news statement, the DOT said Frasco vowed to prioritize the island for the setup of a hyperbaric chamber. Stakeholders added the agency promised to send the hyperbaric chamber “in 2024 to enhance the diving community in Boracay, also a medical oxygen therapy.” P rior to the pandemic, Boracay received over 2 million visitors, more than half of which were international travelers. Last year, 1.75 million tourists, mostly locals, visited the island, which was among the first destinations to reopen during the pandemic. DOT data showed 687,139 visitors in Boracay from January to April 24 this year.

Continued from A14

“In the next quarter, a larger proportion of respondents anticipate generally steady lending standards for housing loans, while DI-based results reflect expectations of net easing of housing loan standards,” BSP said.

Loan demand

IN the first quarter of 2023, BSP data showed that loan demand from 66.7 percent of firms remained “broadly unchanged” based on the modal approach.

T he DI method, however, reflected a lower net increase in overall credit demand from across all firm classifications, driven largely by increased customer inventory and accounts receivable financing, along with improvement in customers’ economic prospects.

I n the succeeding quarter, BSP said most participant banks responded with anticipation of broadly unchanged loan demand from firms.

Based on the DI method, however, banks indicated expectations of a net increase in overall demand for loans from businesses in the second quarter of , driven by firms’ increasing financing requirements along with an improved economic outlook.

“ Loan demand for CRELs in Q1 2023 was unchanged based on both the modal and DI approaches due to stable economic prospects and steady inflow of customers’ internally-generated funds,” BSP said.

A large majority of banks expect demand for CRELs to be maintained in the next quarter based on the modal approach. Meanwhile,

the DI-based approach surveyed banks’ outlook of higher loan demand for CRELs in the second quarter of 2023,” it added.

T he BSP said in the first quarter of 2023 results, 60.6 percent of households had “broadly unchanged loan demand” based on the modal approach.

M eanwhile, DI-based results showed a slower increase in overall household loan demand across all consumer loan categories during the first quarter of 2023 compared to the fourth quarter of 2022.

B SP said respondents attributed the general rise in consumer loan demand to higher household consumption and housing investment along with banks’ more attractive financing terms.

O ver the following quarter, most respondent banks anticipate generally unchanged loan demand from households. The DI method indicated that banks foresee a net increase in overall consumer loan demand in the next quarter mainly due to expectations of a rise in household spending.

Participating banks indicated broadly unchanged loan demand for housing loans in the first quarter of 2023 and expected a similar outcome in the second quarter of 2023,” BSP said.

“ The DI approach pointed to a net rise in residential real estate loan demand for both the current quarter and the following quarter driven mainly by an increase in housing investment and household consumption,” it, however, said.

THE regional wage board in the National Capital Region (NCR) will finally start tackling its two pending wage petitions this month.

Biñan City: Bastion of quality education

The Artista and Atletang Biñanense College Scholarship Program is a one of a kind scholarship that supports the contributions of our artists and athletes to nation-building. Edmar De Guzman finished 3rd in the Batang Pinoy 2018 national games, and just recently, the Biñan Kawayan Music Ensemble performed and received an award in Vietnam.

By Roderick L. Abad Contributor

Taking a cue from this timeless quote of the country’s national hero Dr. Jose P. Rizal, Biñan City’s very own pride for he was first educated there, the local government unit (LGU) has education on top of its priority agenda ever since.

W ith the various initiatives undertaken by its leaders, it is no wonder that the city has become one of the preferred destinations not only of its constituents but also of other students from neighboring towns in the province of Laguna and other parts of the Philippines.

Proof of which, according to Biñan City Education Officer Edmil L. Recibe, is the growing number of educational institutions across all levels over the last three years, with public schools totaling 40 in 2023 and private schools counting at 82 as of 2020. For the academic year 2022-2023, enrolled elementary learners stand at 39,553; junior high school, 20,166; and senior high school, 4,336. For tertiary level, the LGU-ran Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP)-Biñan Campus alone has a student population of 1,887 at present

To date, the city is on the road to achieving 100 percent literacy rate, he said. However, provincial records have shown a steady increase over time even with the ensuing health crisis. This, he attributed, to the city government’s continued investment in education, as well as its immediate and efficient response to challenges besetting the academic sector.

Remote learning setup

CONFRONTED by the Covid-19 pandemic, the top education official said that Biñan was able to cope with the remote learning setup implemented in the first two years since the deadly virus broke out in 2020.

Whatever was needed by the Department of Education [DepEd], we provided. Like for example, we supplied them with the needed modules and, at the same time, other required equipment for online class,” Recibe told the BusinessMirror in an interview.

O ther indicators of the improving local academic system, he enumerated, include the students’ high reading comprehension and growing number of enrollees in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics or STEM strand of senior high school. Not to be ignored, of course, are the low dropout rates of 0.45 percent and 0.98 percent in elementary and secondary levels as of 2020.

In terms of licensure examination, the city has not only consistently produced board passers but also topnotchers. Case in point is the city government’s scholar who ranked No. 1 nationwide in the recently concluded board exam for teachers.

While we haven’t fully solved the city’s educational basic problems, we are trying our very best to address them to level up our academic standards,” he said.

T he LGU of Biñan also adopts the declared policy to protect and promote the rights of all students to quality and accessible education and, at the same time, establish and sustain assistance in tertiary education, especially for poor but deserving learners.

More rooms for improvement

SINCE time immemorial, the city has been faced with limited learning facilities. The topmost concern is the lack of lecture rooms and school buildings.

“Student population is increasing yet the insufficient number of classrooms is

our perrenial problem. As long as there is a shifting of class schedules, there’s a problem in classrooms,” Recibe pointed out, referring to the enrollment surge due to the government’s massive relocation of informal settlers.

M indful of this, the City Government of Biñan together with DepEd Division of Biñan City initiated the construction and establishment of several academic institutions.

To address the issue on inadequate learning facilities for secondary education, the Biñan City Senior High School San Antonio Campus, Biñan City Senior High School Sto. Tomas Campus, Biñan City Senior High School Timbao Campus, Biñan City Senior High School West Campus, and Biñan City Science and Technology High School were built.

On the other hand, the Holy Infant Integrated School was acquired. Land properties in barangays Soro-Soro and Malaban were, likewise, bought to build additional primary and secondary schools. Meanwhile, the construction of the eight-story Dela Paz Integrated National High School is ongoing.

“ These are some of the urgent solutions for the classroom shortage,” he said. “Although we have funds, we are also constantly challenged in so far as the availability of buildable space is involved. That’s why one of our directions is to demolish one or two-story old buildings in existing schools and turn them into four floors.”

T he latest of which is the recently inaugurated four-story building of PUPBiñan Campus. A priority project of Mayor Arman Dimaguila, Vice Mayor Gel

Alonte-Naguiat, this new

facility in the state-owned university aims to provide an “inspiring and conducive learning environment” to students.

Education for all

AS CLICHE as it may sound, but the best thing in life is free. This holds true, particularly for determined yet underprivileged residents who want to pursue college but are financially incapable.

It has become increasingly difficult for students as well as parents to continue and attend higher education because of the continuous increase in academic fees,” explained the top education officer.

B elieving that education is a birth right, the city officials enacted several initiatives to give them pro bono access to quality tertiary education. Under the Biñan City Grants and Scholarship Programs, they offer the Iskolar Ng Biñan (INB) for incoming college students, Financial Assistance Program (FAP) for incoming senior high school students, Artista at Atletang Biñanense College (ABC) Scholarship program for artists and athletes with excellent track records, and the Academic Assistance System (AAS) for LGU employees as part of their Professional Development Program.

Academic scholars

FOREMOST of the city’s scholastic grants is the INB, which has undergone several changes since its creation.

Incepted in 2002, this pioneering endeavor, otherwise known as “Municipality of Biñan in Progress (MBP) Scholarship Program,” was penned and coauthored by then

students who belong to the upper 20% of the graduating class from public schools encash their P10,000 voucher.

Michael’s College of Laguna, Trimex Colleges, University of Perpetual Help System Laguna, and UPH-Dr. Jose G. Tamayo Medical University. “

For me, who was also an INB beneficiary back in college, this program helps a lot of students who want to finish their studies but without the capacity monetary-wise. The INB is their way to change their lives like did,” said Biñan City Accountant Noel Velasco, an INB scholar himself and PUP-Biñan Campus alumni who recently passed the bar exam.

Beyond making education more accessible to students who may not have the financial means to pursue their academic goals, other goals of the city government in establishing this institutionalized project are to encourage academic excellence, foster leadership and community involvement, as well as advance knowledge and drive progress in various fields.

Iskolar Ng Biñan Program played a critical role in driving social change and cultural advancement giving positive impacts on the lives of its direct beneficiaries. By providing them with access to quality education and reducing their financial burdens, an improved academic performance, increased confidence, and long-drawn-out career opportunities revitalized,” Recibe shared.

Strong investment

BETTING high on the youth whom the city’s future lies, the LGU never fails to allot more on educating the people.

To wit, the city government’s Special Education Fund for 2023 amounts to P250 million. Apart from that, P170 billion of the city’s budget for this year is allocated as a general fund, of which P90 million is allotted for scholarship programs INB, ABC and AAS; P13 million, FAP; P21 million, PUP-Biñan Campus; P24 million, City Education Office; and P22 million for city grants, Childhood Development Center, and other academic purposes.

What’s more, Dimaguila bared last February that P1 billion of the P3.150 billion 10year loan that the LGU secured from the Landbank of the Philippines will go to education.

“One of our measures is to ensure that the funds for education should be used more appropriately for the benefit of our students,” Recibe said.

Being the head of the City Hall’s Accounting Department, Velasco could attest that the city’s annual budget is well appropriated and spent to the benefit of Biñanenses.

councilors, Atty. Walfredo R. Dimaguila, Jr. and Marlyn B. Alonte-Naguiat, now Biñan mayor and lone district representative, respectively. It was approved by former local chief executive Hermis C. Perez.

In 2008, the Municipal Education Voucher Scheme of the Lingap sa Edukaskyon Natin (LEN) Program was enacted. It was authored and cowritten by then City Council members Marielle Therese B. Micor, committee chair on education, and Alfredo A. Arcega, attested by then Municipal Vice Mayor Dimaguila, Jr., and approved by then Mayor Alonte-Naguiat. Thereafter, it was adapted to the INB Program.

After a decade, it was amended anew by City Ordinance No. 02-(2018), or otherwise known as INB Program in 2018, which was authored by then councilor and chair of Committee on Education Liza L. Cardeño, attested by Vice Mayor Angelo B. Alonte, approved by Mayor Dimaguila, Jr., and supported by Representative Alonte-Naguiat.

To consolidate all the grants and scholarship programs implemented by the City Government of Biñan, the local chief executive, vice mayor and Committee on Education Chair Jonalina R. Reyes, together with the members of City Council and with the support of the congresswoman, initiated the enactment and implementation of City Ordinance No. 08-2022, otherwise known as Biñan City Grants and Scholarship Programs. The partner schools for the financial assistance program, 10k voucher are (DepEd Schools): Biñan City Senior High School – San Antonio Campus, Biñan City Senior High School – Santo Tomas Campus, Biñan City Senior High School –Timbao

Campus, Biñan Integrated National High School, Southville 5A Integrated National High School, and Saint Francis Integrated National High School; (Non-DepEd Schools): Colegio San Agustin, Citi Global College, La Consolacion College-Biñan, Saint Michael’s College of Laguna, Trimex Colleges, University of Perpetual Help System Laguna, Lake Shore Educational Institution, Santa Catalina College Biñan, South City Homes Academy, Panorama Montessori School, Liceo De Sto. Tomas De Aquinas, International Electronics and Technical Institute

(IETI) – Biñan, and St. Ignatius Technical Institute of Business and Arts - Biñan

INB caters to the top 10 senior high school graduates of the City of Biñan. In support of their college education, they receive full tuition fee, including miscellaneous and other fees. The maintaining average should be 85 and above. If they achieve below the required grade, students are automatically stripped of their scholarship. Scholars with an average grade below 85, but not lower than 80 per subject, will receive 50 percent grants.

T his free education project of the LGU has proven effective and successful given that only one percent of graduating scholars annually fails to finish college, mostly due to personal or family problems. So far, it has produced around 8,000 graduates since establishment 10 years ago. For the current academic year, there are 1,757 INB beneficiaries, either enrolled at PUP-Biñan Campus or in any of the other eight private partner-schools namely: Citi Global College, Colegio San Agustin, Guardians Bonafide for Hope Foundation, La Consolacion College, Saint

The programs of the Office of the City Mayor pass through our department. So we really scrutinize them. In the execution and expenditure of the city budget, we examine if it’s well planned and justified, complete with supporting documents and proper costings for the benefit of the entire city and the community,” he explained.

Complementing the proper handling of the education war chest, the City Hall is also keen on public-private partnerships (PPP) for its AAS with its recognized partnercolleges and universities under Biñan City Grants and Scholarship Programs, as well as stakeholders or registered companies locally.

S ince the INB and PUP-Biñan Campus can only accommodate 500 scholars each, such PPP initiative will be of big help to sponsor the tertiary education of the remaining 1,200 of the 2,200 graduating senior high school students this year.

“As far as our academic program is concerned, we are trying our best to maintain and sustain the quality of education in the city, with the assistance of our partnerschools, the DepEd, and other higher educational institutions,” Recibe said. The [LGU’s] legacy addressed historical inequalities and leveled the playing field for students who may face barriers to entry or success in higher education. By expanding access to education, promoting diversity and inclusivity, and fostering the development of a skilled workforce, the educational programs initiated by the City Government of Biñan will help to build a brighter future for all Biñanenses,” he stressed.

‘THE youth is the hope of our future.”

Alonte and Biñan Rep. Len

Dr. Edmil L. Recibe, Biñan City Education Officer Atty. Noel Velasco, now the Biñan City Accountant, is a proud product of the INB Program.

Scholars actively participate in all LGU-initiated activities such as in the Araw ng Biñan every February, and many other community service programs.

Biñan Rep. Len Alonte and Biñan Mayor Arman Dimaguila give out financial assistance to senior high school students.

Part of the Araw ng Biñan 2022 celebration was the Pagpupugay at Pagkilala sa 12 Natatanging INB Alumni; INB alumna Jenechielle Lopoy, Top 1 LET Passer received P50,000 incentive from the Biñan LGU.

Grade 11 SHS

The Sangguniang Panlungsod ng Biñan Committee on Education chaired by Councilor Jonalina Reyes are scrutinizing policies and budgets to ensure the continuity of the scholarship program.

Mayor Arman Dimaguila poses with some of the Iskolar ng Biñan during the general assembly and release of permit to enroll.

The City Government of Biñan launched last year its Professional Development Program which aims to provide academic assistance to its employees who intend to pursue their Bachelor's Degree via weekend education.

The Nation

Solons slam China’s ‘bullying’ of Filipinos in contested waters, urge Marcos action 4 still missing after dive boat sinks in Tubbataha

Butch Fernandez @butchfBM & Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie

I n a statement, Senator Ana Theresia “Risa” N. Hontiveros said she expects the Marcos government to promptly file a democratic protest against the “continuous, unbroken, and apparently unrepentant string of incidents that China should be accountable for.”

I expect that the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) will file a diplomatic protest at once,” the senator said, suggesting that “simultaneously, Malacanang should condemn, in the strongest terms, China’s ceaseless intimidation, torment, and threats.”

T he DFA reportedly plans to fire another round of diplomatic protests against Beijing following the harassment by Chinese ships of two Coast Guard patrol boats near Ayungin Shoal.

Even if we have to wallpaper the Great Wall with diplomatic protests, we should continue because once we show any sign of

wavering, it normalizes China’s misbehavior inside our territory,” said House Deputy Speaker Ralph Recto in a separate statement.

Even if they are deaf, we have to blow our whistle again and again. At least, the whole world would hear,” he said.

Hontiveros, on the other hand, suggested that “the Executive should not wait for an even worse incident in order to finally put its foot down and tell Beijing to cease and desist in this kind of aggressive action.”

Policy review

HONTIVEROS said she is wondering what Malacañang could be waiting for: “Ano pa ang hinihintay ng Palasyo?

Na may Pilipinong tuluyang mamatay? ”

[What is the Palace waiting for? That a Filipino dies?]

She noted that “at this time, it’s only right to actively and boldly continue in the direction of building bigger alliances,” reminding that “a

broader alliance is a better alliance.”

T he senator stressed that “let us urgently work on building this bigger coalition of countries who are against China’s misbehavior, who uphold our victory at The Hague, and who want to preserve peace and stability in the region.”

We must also seriously look into reviewing our national policy towards China,” the senator said.

“Inaaraw-araw na niya ang pambu-bully sa ating mga mamamayan. Kailangan may mga polisiya tayong magtitiyak ng tunay na pagdedepensa sa karapatan at kabuhayan nating mga Pilipino,” Hontiveros added. [China bullies our citizens every day. We need to have policies that will ensure the true defense of the rights and livelihood of us Filipinos.]

Burglar alarm

RECTO said last Sunday that the Chinese acts of aggression in the WPS should be met with indignation at every turn because not to do so would play into Beijing’s game plan that the Philippines would eventually tire out from protesting.

“Our protest, whether by the government or the people, is like a burglar alarm that goes off when it is tripped. The bad thing is if we turn it off. Just keep going,” Recto said.

The lawmaker also said the Philippines also owes it to its neighbors, who are the subject of Chinese incursions, to make noise.

“That kind of maritime patintero [a traditional child’s game], which China has perfected, has become part of the seascape. It never passes a chance to display its bully credentials,” Recto said.

The Philippine response to these provocations, Recto said, is to continue with its sea patrols.

Last year, a total of 195 notes verbales on WPS incidents were filed by the DFA with the Chinese embassy.

The one filed on the second week of February, which denounced “dangerous maneuvers” of the Chinese Coast Guard in Ayungin Shoal, was the 75th “note verbale” filed under the Marcos administration.

Strongly condemns

HOUSE Deputy Minority leader and ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France L. Castro strongly condemned the latest attack of China’s coast guard against the Philippine coast guard.

“Aside from filing a diplomatic protest, steps must be undertaken so that this will not happen again like lobbying the Asian Parliamentary Assembly and the Inter-Parlimentary Union (IPU) to condemn such actions,” Castro added. The near-miss off the Spratly Islands was the latest in a steady string of incidents between China and the Philippines in the contested waterway.

“Tuso talaga ang China, while its diplomats say that more lines of

communication are now available to avoid skirmishes and misunderstanding in the [WPS] their coast guard tried to ram our coast guard and are intent in denying us our own waters,” she said noting how cunning China is.

“As things go, while China is using its might to force us out of our own territory and exclusive economic zones, the US is exploiting our strategic location to advance its geopolitical agenda to the detriment of Filipinos,” said the Deputy Minority leader.

“With friends like these, who needs enemies? As it is this incident should not be used as a further justification for increasing the agreed areas under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) with the US and the proposed Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with Japan. Instead of trying to de-escalate the tension in the WPS and demilitarize the area, the Marcos administration with the US and Japan is further hardening it, that the WPS may reach a flashpoint quickly,” said the teacher solon.

Castro reiterated that the Philippines need to de-escalate the tension and demilitarize the WPS instead of further heightening it.

“Joint patrols and international pressure are the peaceful yet assertive ways to defend our territory, military agreements will just exacerbate the current situation,” said Castro.

By Rene Acosta @reneacostaBM

FOUR people remained missing after a dive boat that came from Cebu sank in the waters of Tubbataha, Palawan on Sunday, the Philippine Coast Guard said.

T he maritime incident involving dive yacht M/Y Dream Keeper followed a collision involving two foreign ships in Corregidor Island last Friday wherein two people died and three others declared still missing.

Coast Guard Spokesman Rear Admiral Armand A. Balilo said the PCG command center received a report about the sinking of the dive boat at around 6:49 a.m. on Sunday.

Balilo said the Dream Keeper departed from San Remegio, Cebu City, on April 27 and arrived at Tubbataha Reef at around 10 p.m. last Saturday.

Following the report, the PCG said it dispatched BRP Melchora Aquino (MRRV-9702) to conduct search and rescue operations (SAR).

As of this report, the joint SAR team from different agencies, units, and organizations has rescued 28 people, while four remain missing,” the PCG said.

Meanwhile Balilo said SAR operations were also being conducted for the three missing crewmen of MV Hong Hai 189 following Friday’s collision with 183-meter MT Petite Soeur

MBC pre-Labor Day lobby: apprenticeship bill, flexi-work schemes, inflation busters

By Andrea E. San Juan @andreasanjuan

THE Makati Business Club (MBC)

is urging the government to address key labor issues including the passage of the Senate version of the Apprenticeship Bill. High among the skills priorities is passing an Apprenticeship Bill which will enable businesses to train workers for available jobs and higher-skill jobs. Such a bill would allow adequate time for training—in line with practices in some of the world’s most labor-friendly countries—while ensuring it is not used to violate labor rights,” the MBC said in a statement on Sunday.

“We respectfully urge the Senate to prioritize passage of their version when Congress resumes session on May 8,” the business group stressed.

By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

JOBSEEKERS will have a better chance of being properly matched with the “right” employer during onsite job fairs, according to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

C iting the feedback they received from their stakeholders, Labor Assistant Secretary Paul Vincent W. Añover said a live interview is not only beneficial for employers, but

By Manuel T. Cayon @awimailbox Mindanao Bureau Chief

DAVAO CITY—The Bangsamoro government hired another 128 permanent health professionals for the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) of Maguindanao. Bangsamoro Health Minister Dr. Rizaldy L. Piang said the appointees would be detailed with the Maguindanao Provincial Hospital, Buluan District Hospital, Datu Blah T. Sinsuat District Hospital and Iranun District Hospital. Piang said the new health-care

This was among the issues lobbied by MBC ahead of Labor Day. However, it also called on the government to give “similar flexibility” to workers and businesses in other industries such as the electronics sector.

This, they said, after the government provided workers and businesses more flexibility with work arrangements by amending the rules for the Telecommuting Act and allowing business process outsourcing (BPO) firms to give their employees flexibility while keeping their incentives.

The MBC also urged the government to have “more dialogue on other measures that will promote flexibility and competitiveness while protecting labor rights and improving healthcare and social protections, including or especially for the rising number of ‘gig’ workers.”

also for applicants.

“It is not just them (employers) who are looking for employees, but you are also picking your future employer,” Añover told reporters in an interview during DOLE’s 121st Labor Day celebration on Sunday.

“What [potential employer] you might have seen in a website, might change, when you meet them physically. So they should also exercise due diligence,” he added.

To note, DOLE has reported that since the beginning of the pandem -

workers underwent a rigorous screening process, which included written and online examinations and interview. He said the Ministry of Health (MOH) was also conducting screening processes for other positions in the ministry.

“Human Resources is one of the most important investments for health,” Piang said as he led the mass oath-taking ceremony of the health workers last month.

“This provision is a big move to improve the health service delivery in Maguindanao,” the Bangsamoro Health Minister added. “I reminded them that we have to purify our

As for transportation, the business group lauded the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Congress for their support for public transportation and cycling and walking infrastructure, which they said can provide workers “access to fast, safe, and affordable” transport between work, home, and recreation.

However, they said, “We urge them to expand these and other policies that can improve worker productivity and quality of life.”

“MBC believes that the most effective way to uplift Filipino lives is more and better jobs. We believe this is and should be the main objective of business investment and government policy. We re-commit ourselves to this today,” said the MBC statement.

In line with this, it also urged “the government to redouble its efforts to

ic, when it started holding online job fairs, some employers informed them that they still prefer to do live interviews instead of online sessions since they are able to better screen their applicants.

The labor official made the statement when they noticed that only 564 applicants had participated in their Labor Day job fair at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City just before lunch last Sunday, when the venue was temporarily placed under lockdown with the arrival of President

intentions when we do our tasks and responsibilities in line with the mandates of the Bangsamoro Health ministry.”

The hiring also came after the Bangsamoro government also approved the construction of a central health office for the Special Geographic Area (SGA) and three barangay health station (BHS) in the SGA.

The SGA is the designation of the 63 barangays from six municipalities of North Cotabato that opted to be part of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

The MOH has inaugurated the three BHS for each of the villages of

reduce inflation to make it easier for working Filipinos to enjoy the fruits of their labor.”

MBC said it is joining other members of the business sector in supporting programs that will enable Filipino workers to keep their jobs and get higher-quality ones especially amid a global economy that “may be growing at a slower rate and where technology is adding to competitive pressures.”

For this reason, MBC said it is part of the Advanced Manufacturing Workforce Development Project (AMDev), a 5-year project “where business, government, and higher education institutions (HEIs) are working to grow the workforce with advanced manufacturing skills.”

The AMDev project is led by Unilab Inc. and funded by the United States Agency for International Development.

Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.

This despite over 2 million jobseekers having preregistered in their official job matching site, PhilJobNet, to participate in their Labor Day Job Fairs.

Añover, however, said he is confident that more of the pre-registered applicants will be able to participate in the 39 live Labor Day Job Fairs to be held on Monday. Over 100,000 vacancies are expected to be up grabs during the said activities.

Batulawan, Balungis and Fort Pikit in the SGA.

MOH Deputy Minister Dr. Zul Qarneyn M. Abas and Director II for Operations Dr. Tato M. Usman led the groundbreaking of the health office and inauguration of the BHS.

“(The BHS) will provide primary health-care services with a focus on empowering individuals to take control of their own health, by offering convenient and accessible health services at the barangay level,” Abas said. The health stations were funded under the “Tiyakap Bangsamoro Kalusugan Program 2021” projects.

SEVERAL lawmakers expressed indignations on what they said were the latest Chinese bullying tactics in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

DOLE: Job fairs a good venue to find best job, best worker BARMM villages hire more health workers, activate treatment hubs

PHL to benefit from DCTS Trade Scheme with the UK

THE Philippines is set to gain from the Developing Countries Trade Scheme (DCTS), a unilateral trade arrangement implemented by the United Kingdom, as it is set to be launched within the second quarter of 2023, Trade Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual said.

We talked about a lot of things including the recent action on the part of UK to grant the developing country concession on trade similar to the [European Union Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus] EU-GSP+,” Pascual told reporters on the sidelines of the IT and Business Process Management (IT-BPM) Talent Summit held last week in Makati, City.

Pascual said the UK, which is not a member of the European Union (EU), will be launching the DCTS within the second quarter of the year in the Philippines.

T his trade arrangement, the Trade chief noted, is a “one-way offer to the Philippines.”

According to a news report, UK Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Asean Richard Graham had noted that preparations are under way for UK’s DCTS.

“DCTS, which will go live this summer, is designed to reduce the cost of Philippine exports by about 10 percent,” Graham told reporters at a recent media round table.

Graham said the UK initiative is a “unilateral offering; there is no reciprocity.”

T he report also noted that un -

like its counterpart in the European Union or the EU GSP+, there will be no periodic review of a country’s membership.

In a statement by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in April, Pascual said the Trade department has been working closely with the UK Government for the past years to ensure that “not only do we maintain the same level of access to the UK market, similar to the EU GSP+ but to also pose improvements through simpler rules and procedures, including the Rules of Origin.”

According to DTI, the DCTS targets to lower or remove tariffs on additional 156 products for developing countries, including the Philippines, in addition to more than 6,000 tariff lines covered by the EU-GSP+.

T his “extended” coverage will include agricultural products such as tomatoes, olive oil, pet food, milk and cream, yogurt, cheese, flour, grains, and starch, the Trade department noted.

DTI said the UK was the third destination market of Philippine exports under the EU-GSP+ in 2019, with a “notably high” utilization rate of 75 percent.

Pascual added that, “The DTI, Pascual said, “continues to accord high importance to this new DCTS,” seeing it “as a development tool that will assist us in building back better and in bolstering trade and investment relations with the UK.” Andrea E. San Juan

Seipi eyes partnership with US semicon firms for supply chain

By Andrea E. San Juan @andreasanjuan

“ What we’d like to do is to hopefully work with the Chips Act [Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors and Science Act of 2022] and the US company because it’s expensive to build the wafer fab,” Seipi President Danilo C. Lachica told a forum organized by the Board of Investments (BOI) last Thursday.

A ccording to the Seipi chief, the semiconductor company in the Philippines is “anchored much” on US companies.That’s why, he added, “if we can convince them to build a proof of concept wafer fab then you’ll build that supply chain in the Philippines.”

L achica noted the semiconductor supply chain includes the integrated

circuit (IC) design, wafer fab and assembly, test and packaging.

T he Seipi chief underscored that the wafer fab is the “big gap in between,” albeit having the assembly, test and packaging and the IC design.

L achica illustrated the current process, saying that what they do today is to “send the tapes or Gerber files to a wafer fab specifically to [Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company] TSMC.”

IP protection

HOWEVER, Lachica mentioned the challenges that come with this, such as cost, lead time and “the more concerning thing,” he said, would be the protection of the [intellectual property] IP.

Senators asked to pass bills for addl benefits to workers

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie

ASENIOR lawmaker has sought swift congressional action on measures seen to protect and provide additional benefits to Filipino workers.

In a statement, Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund “Lray” F. Villafuerte Jr. called on senators to consider passing the Senate versions of House-approved measures after legislators went on a 6-week recess beginning March 25.

T hese measures seek the following: provide protection to seafarers in both foreign-flagged and Philippine-registered vessels; better working conditions plus more job-related benefits for journalists and those in entertainment industry; and, allowing all government workers to retire upon reaching the age of 56.

V illafuerte also appealed to his colleagues in the Lower Chamber to consider passing after the break, on May 7, two bills raising the takehome pay and institutionalizing the classroom supply allowance to public school teachers.

“ This is an appeal on the occasion of this week’s annual celebration of Labor Day to our senators to consider the passage of at least four measures that have already been passed by the House of Representatives, in a bid to ensure better conditions in the workplace for our seafarers, public schoolteachers, showbiz folk and journalists,” the lawmaker was quoted as saying in a statement his office issued last Sunday.

Teachers’ allowance

VILLAFUERTE said there is also a measure “bumping up the salaries and making permanent an allowance for the teaching supplies of our 800,000 public schoolteachers.”

T he lawmaker said he hopes the Senate could tackle the four bills for the benefit of seafarers, government employees and media and entertainment workers. He added the Lower House could work on the teacher-friendly bill when Congress reopens on May 8.

V illafuerte explained that House-passed House Bill (HB) 7325 aims to empower the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and other concerned agencies to better protect the estimated 700,000 seafarers in either foreign-flagged ships or Philippine-registered ves -

sels operating internationally.

HB 7325 seeks to ensure that our seafarers have full labor protection from the time of their training and recruitment up to their retirement from the profession,” the lawmaker said.

T he government expects the hiring of more Filipino seafarers following the move by the European Commission (EC) to extend its recognition of seafarers’ certificates issued in the Philippines. Hence, Villafuerte said, there is more reason for senators to consider the pending version of HB 7325.

Standard contracts

DMW Secretary Susan V. Ople earlier said she expects a surge in demand for Filipino mariners as the EU decision is a “vote of confidence in the Philippines and in the quality of training, education and certification of our seafarers.”

H B 7325 (Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers), also aims to further sharpen the global competitiveness of our sought-after mariners by leveling up the country’s maritime education, training, certification and licensing system, according to Villafuerte.

T he lawmaker added that Congress needed to write new legislation for Filipino seafarers given their contribution to the domestic economy with their remittances, which totalled $12.8 billion over the 2019-to-2020 period.

“ Unlike other OFWs [overseas Filipino workers], Filipino seafarers face unique challenges attached to their movement from international waters to different ports of call in various countries. Thus, the laws protecting them can be vague and elusive, making them highly vulnerable to illegal recruitment and other forms of work-related abuses,” he said.

Villafuerte added that HB 7325 requires ship-owners to forge standard employment contracts with hired Filipino sailors. It also mandates the prior review and approval by the DMW of such contracts to ensure that the contract stipulations adhere to all the seafarers’ rights.

Entertainment sector

HB 1270, meanwhile, aims to authorize the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to put up a tripartite council meant to guar-

and

TV-radio entertainment industries a safe environment in their workplace, including commensurate compensation and regulated work hours for their unconventional job schedules.

Villafuerte said the bill wants the DOLE to create a “Film, Television and Radio Entertainment Industry Tripartite Council” to help oversee the implementation of this “Eddie Garcia Act,” which seeks full job protection for all workers in this sector, including independent contractors who are hired to do production work and other services like distribution and exhibition of content.

Labor-related protection during their work hours and adequate or commensurate compensation for their services are required by HB 1270 for all of the work hours of these regular and contractual workers, more so when their jobs involve out-of-town shoots and/or lock-in production requiring them to stay within sets or location sites for 24 hours straight or even for several days or months.

T his bill was named after multiawarded actor-director Eddie Garcia, who died at a Makati City hospital in June 2019, following an accident that was traced to an alleged negligence on safety protocols where a new TV series featuring him was being shot on location in Manila.

Media workers

THE consolidated bill fixes normal work hours at eight hours a day, which can be extended to a maximum of 12 hours, served intermittently or continuously, exclusive of meal periods; and states that in no case shall the total number of work hours be more than 60 hours in a week, with exceptions thereto to be determined by the Tripartite Council.

T hese employees shall be covered by the Social Security System (SSS), the Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG Fund) and the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) upon employment, and their monthly contributions shall be jointly shared by the employee and the employer, when applicable, in accordance with existing rules and regulations.

A s regards HB 454, or the “Media Workers’ Welfare Act,” Villafuerte said this bill aims to guarantee the rights of media workers to self-organization and additional economic benefits due them in their profession; and to create a safe, protected atmosphere conducive to their productive,

“Of course when you send the chips there then you expose the secrets to the world so what we want to propose is to... with the help of the government, [Department of Trade and Industry] DTI, Department of Science and Technology [DOST] and the other possible sources is to build a large scale wafer fab in the Philippines and hopefully some of the Chips fund would be carved out for that.

Meanwhile, the chief of the organization of foreign and Filipino electronics companies in the Philippines divulged that “there is news that the Chips Act will probably allocate some funds for the Philippines.”

W hile the amount is yet to be revealed, he said “there’s going to be some funds allocated for of course for supply chain, for semiconductors specifically and that supply chain would probably lend itself towards security in the West Philippine Sea in terms of protecting the shipping delay, also for sustainability and third would be for Advanced Manufacturing Workforce Development.”

Wafer fab is a semiconductor processing facility which turns wafers into integrated circuits, according to Analog Devices Inc.,

an American multinational semiconductor firm.

L ast year, Lachica told the BusinessMirror that the US Chips Act will help improve the Philippines’s supply of semiconductor wafers in the long-term.

An opportunity

MEANWHILE , in a courtesy call of BOI Managing Head Ceferino S. Rodolfo last January 2023 with the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) President and CEO John Neuffer, the SIA chief noted that “while the Chips Act aims to increase the capacity of the US semiconductor industry, we recognize that we cannot do it all in the US.”

And that’s where the countries like the Philippines have an opportunity,” Neuffer added. He said the Chips Act encourages manufacturing in the US, but rather than reshoring all manufacturing activities, “it is more of rebalancing the supply chain.”

T he pandemic has forced global businesses to rethink their supply chain strategies and consider diversification of suppliers to mitigate disruptions in their business operations, BOI said in its statement in January.

free and fruitful work.

Media workers risk their own lives being exposed to the perils and hazards outdoor just so we can receive our needed information. It is unfortunate that the very same people behind it are usually the ones whose labor rights are ignored, such as those pertaining to security of tenure, hazard pay, night shift differential pay and overtime pay, among others,” Villafuerte said.

Retirement, teachers

VILLAFUERTE said HB 206, meanwhile, “will give our over a million workers in government the option to retire earlier than currently allowed, so they can, for one, spend more quality time with their respective families even before they join the ranks of the elderly.”

T his bill wants to lower the optional retirement age for government personnel to 56 from 60, by amending Republic Act (RA) 8291, otherwise known as “The Government Service Insurance System Act of 1997,” which gave Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) members the option to retire at 60, in lieu of the compulsory retirement age of 65.

Under HB 206, a government worker can retire at the age of 56, on condition that he or she: has rendered service for at least 15 years by the time of his or her retirement; and, has not been receiving a monthly pension benefit from permanent total disability.

W ith regard to the salary hike for teachers, Villafuerte said that increasing the take-home pay of teachers and providing for a permanent teaching supplies allowance with a provision for a steady bump per schoolyear “will hopefully incentivize them to strive for excellence in their field and make teaching a more attractive profession for our students.”

HB 1851 proposes a significant increase in the salary grade level of public elementary and high school teachers from Grade 11 to Grade 19 amid the rise in the cost of living.

HB 1849, meanwhile, seeks to make permanent the school supplies’ allowance of P5,000 that public school teachers have been entitled to during the Covid-19 pandemic.

HB 1849 further provides for a continuous increase in the annual allowance for teaching supplies over the succeeding school-years.

By Manuel T. Cayon @awimailbox Mindanao Bureau Chief

DAVAO CITY—The Polloc

Port in Maguindanao is being eyed for inclusion in the sea route of a foreign shipping company, the Bangsamoro Ministry of Transportation and Communication (MOTC) said.

Transportation Minister Paisalin

P. Tago said an international shipping company “is exploring the inclusion of Polloc Port in an existing route of roll-on/roll-off (Roro) ships in the Association of Southeast Asian (Asean) region. Tago said the network includes Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia.

T he official revealed the shipping firm’s intent after disclosing the possibility of a new Roro route to Basilan from Polloc Port may possibly extend beyond the Philippines’s borders. The MOTC’s Bangsamoro Maritime Industry Authority (BMarina) said the newly-opened route would traverse the Polloc Port and Cotabato City Port to Lamitan Port, Basilan Province and vice-versa.

Q uoting the MOTC, the US Agency for International Development said the ferry service would cut travel time between Cotabato City and Zamboanga by at least six hours and reduce transportation costs by as much as 30 percent. To note, Zamboanga City is the next northern port after Basilan.

Tago said opening a new route is significant for the Bangsamoro people as doing so would boost economic activities in the region.

The new route would promote and strengthen the economic activities of the provinces of Maguindanao and Basilan,” he said.

T he BMarina board said it agreed to launch the opening of the new route to provide new and efficient transportation options and increase the productivity of the regional transportation system.

“ Before its initial voyage and upon compliance with all necessary documents, the BMarina and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) will conduct their [respective] inspection to ensure the vessel’s seaworthiness,” Tago said.

T he BMarina said opening the new route came after the pending application in the agency for a Certificate of Public Convenience (CPC) by MV Island Paradise, a motor vessel owned by Pherham Saiddi of Saiddi Agri-Farm and Trading Inc. (SAFTI).

T he USAid said it supported the Bangsamoro government’s April 25 launch of the Roro shipping service. Representatives from the Mindanao Development Authority also witnessed the launch.

T he USAid has conducted training of the BARMM officials and staff on infrastructure development and facilitating a series of multistakeholder workshops through its “Regulatory Reform Support Program for National Development,” or “Respond,” project. The latter is being implemented by the University of the Philippines Public Administration Research and Extension Services Foundation.

Strengthening maritime trade routes and intermodal transport systems will open doors for more trade and investment in the region, including in the tourism industry,” USAID Philippines Mission Director Ryan Washburn said in a recorded message at the launch held at the Polloc Freeport and Economic Zone.

Additionally, this route will bring down transport cost of businesses by as much as 20 to 30 percent and reduce wastage of agricultural products that are inevitable if transported by land due to poor road conditions and connectivity,” Washburn added.

M inDA Chairman Secretary Maria Belen S. Acosta noted that the partnership would reinforce the position of the BARMM as an international gateway that will increase trade activities in transport, business, telecoms and tourism.

T he MoTC presented the highlights of the BARMM Transport Logistics roadmap to high-level officials and private companies, which included an indicative list of priority projects covering maritime connectivity, local roads, information and communications technology, riverine transport systems, air and seaport development and agro-industrial hubs.

THE Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines Foundation Inc. (Seipi) said it is hoping to partner with American companies to build the semiconductor supply chain in the Philippines.

Maguindanao’s Polloc Port eyed for Asean RoRo route

Monday, May 1, 2023 BusinessMirror A6 www.businessmirror.com.ph

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

Office application/s for

Cavite

15 ANOC99 CORPORATION POGO 1 Building, Covelandia Road, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

ZHANG, TINGTING

Chinese Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

Vietnamese

Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description:

incoming calls and customer service inquiries

TU THI NGUYEN

Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description:

Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

NAKAMURA, NORIYUKI

16 CANON BUSINESS MACHINES (PHILIPPINES), INC.

Lot 4, Phase 1B, First Philippine Industrial Park, Ulango, City of Tanauan, Batangas

Range: Php30,000Php59,999

Able to speak, read and write Chinese language

Quality Assurance Division General Manager

Brief Job Description:

Ensure that the manufacturing processes run reliably and efficiently

WU, CHENG-YANG a.k.a. WU, PO-

17 CELERAISE ELECTRONIC CORPORATION Maguyam Road, Carillo Drive Beside Hong Chang Compound, Bancal, Carmona, Cavite

18 FU HUI FASHION MANUFACTURING CORPORATION Malainin, Ibaan, Batangas

FENG

Technician Supervisor

Brief Job Description:

Monitor/supervise machine equipment

LONG, KUNXIAN Factory Manager

Brief Job Description:

Conduct performance reviews of employees

KOIWAI, TAKESHI

19 FUJI ELECTRIC PHILIPPINES, INC.

107 Enterprise Drive, Calmelray Industrial Park I, Canlubang, City of Calamba, Laguna

20 K & K CENTRAL MOLD, INC.

Gregorio H. Del Pilar Street, Lima Technology Center, Santiago, Malvar, Batangas

Quality Assurance Asst. Vice President

Brief Job Description:

Oversee the whole operation of Quality

Assurance department

TAKAHASHI, HATSUHIKO

President and Chairman of The Board

Brief Job Description:

Plan, develop, implement and direct the organization’s operation and performance

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

Salary Range: Php30,000Php59,999

Basic Qualification: Fluently speaks Japanese language for effective communication to company headquarter

Salary Range: Php150,000Php499,999

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in technical operation

Salary Range: Php30,000Php59,999

Basic Qualification: With 5 to 10 years of experience in the same field

Salary Range: Php30,000Php59,999

Basic Qualification:

With good analytical skills and decisionmaking skills

Salary Range: Php90,000Php149,999

Basic Qualification:

With at least 10 years of experience, can write and fluently speak Japanese

Salary Range: Php60,000Php89,999

PLANT SERVICES CORPORATION

AG&P, Special Economic Zone, San Roque, Bauan, Batangas

TAKEUCHI, HIDEAKI Department Manager - Construction

Brief Job Description: Strengthen the structure of construction department and establish educational programs for construction members

Basic Qualification: College Engineering graduate and at least 20 years of experience in boiler design or related field of engineering or manufacturing

Salary Range: Php90,000Php149,999

25 MITSUBA PHILIPPINES CORPORATION

Lot 1, Block 14, Phase II, First Cavite Industrial Estate, Langkaan I, City of Dasmariñas, Cavite

26 MITSUBISHI POWER (PHILIPPINES) INC.

AG&P, Special Economic Zone,

TAKAHASHI, EIJI Purchasing and Sales Deputy Manager

Brief Job Description: Responsible for overall execution and assembly of product based on shipment schedule

Basic Qualification: With 7-10 yrs. relevant work experience in a Japanese Automotive manufacturing set-up; Able to understand and communicate using Japanese Language fluently

Salary Range: Php90,000Php149,999

Covelandia Road, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

59 MOA CLOUDZONE CORP.

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

60 MOA CLOUDZONE CORP.

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

61 MOA CLOUDZONE CORP.

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

62 MOA CLOUDZONE CORP.

inquiries

MAI PHUONG

Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description:

Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

MAI, VAN VIET

Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description:

Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

NGUYEN THI NGOC HUYEN

Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description:

Manage incoming calls

Basic Qualification:

Able to speak, read and write Chinese language

Salary Range: Php30,000 - Php59,999

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

Salary Range: Php30,000 - Php59,999

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

Salary Range: Php30,000 - Php59,999

63 MOA CLOUDZONE CORP.

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

64 MOA CLOUDZONE CORP.

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

65 MOA CLOUDZONE CORP.

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

NGUYEN, DIEM HUONG LY

Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description:

Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

NGUYEN, THI THUY

Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description:

Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

NGUYEN, VAN KHOI

Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description:

Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

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

Salary Range: Php30,000 - Php59,999

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

Salary Range: Php30,000 - Php59,999

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

Salary Range: Php30,000 - Php59,999

71 MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Island Cove II, Covelandia Road, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language

76 TEDARE (PHILIPPINES) MACHINERY CO. INC.

Lot 1, Block 3, Madison Garden, San Roque, City of Sto. Tomas, Batangas

YI, PEIMING

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description:

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

LI, JUN

Vice President

Brief Job Description:

Oversee the departmental operation by designing and implementing strategic sales plan

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

Salary Range: Php30,000Php59,999

Basic Qualification: Experience in developing and implementing strategic and business plan

Salary Range: Php60,000Php89,999

77 TOYOTA MOTOR PHILIPPINES CORPORATION

Toyota Special Economic Zone, Santa RosaTagaytay Highway, Don Jose, City of Santa Rosa, Laguna

78 TOYOTA MOTOR PHILIPPINES CORPORATION

Toyota Special Economic Zone, Santa RosaTagaytay Highway, Don Jose, City of Santa Rosa, Laguna

79 TOYOTA MOTOR PHILIPPINES CORPORATION

Toyota Special Economic Zone, Santa RosaTagaytay Highway, Don Jose, City of Santa Rosa, Laguna

80 XIANG SHAN MANUFACTURING CORPORATION

Lots 1 & 2, Block 4, Mountview Industrial Complex, Bancal, Carmona, Cavite

HASHIMOTO, MASANDO

Senior Vice President

Brief Job Description:

Lead the team to further strengthen and increase market leadership in the automotive industry

KOBAYASHI, HIDEKI

Vice President

Brief Job Description:

Provide inputs/advice related to production planning, project management and cost management

YOKOYAMA, RYO

Vice President

Brief Job Description:

Oversee the total management of the vehicle sales operations of the marketing

CHEN, PO-HSUN Admin Manager

Brief Job Description:

Supervise day to day activities. Coordinate clerical tasks and support staff to improve administrative process

Basic Qualification: Must have a Bachelor degree and must have held a managerial position in TMC prior to assignment

Salary Range: Php150,000Php499,999

Basic Qualification:

Extensive work experience in various Toyota Manufacturing Plants

Salary Range:

Php150,000Php499,999

Basic Qualification: Must have a Bachelor degree and must have held a managerial position in TMC prior to assignment

Salary Range: Php150,000Php499,999

Basic Qualification: Must have 2-year experience in an administrative role and good in English oral and written communication

Salary Range: Php30,000Php59,999

72 PLO SCHOOL OF GLOBAL, INC.

2nd Floor, Linsan Bldg., Aguinaldo Highway, San Vicente II, Silang, Cavite

KIM, GI EUN Korean Language Manager

Brief Job Description:

Helping the school management by leading the staffs to ensure that the school curriculum promotes best practice with appropriate learning opportunities for students.

Basic Qualification: Can speak Korean language and English fluently and can communicate well

Salary Range: Php30,000Php59,999

81 YUMEX PHILIPPINES CORPORATION

Lot 7, Block 7, Phase II, First Cavite Industrial Estate, Langkaan I, City of Dasmariñas, Cavite

WADA, NOBORU Division Manager Brief Job Description:

Plan and organize production schedules, assess project & requirements, oversee production process, re-negotiate timescale or schedule as necessary

Basic Qualification: College graduate from reputable university or with extensive experience as Division Manager, develops strategic plan by studying technological

Salary Range: Php90,000Php149,999

73 READORE TECHNOLOGY PHILS. CORPORATION

Annex 3 Philstar Building, Antero Soriano Highway, Cavite Ecozone, Tejero, City of General Trias, Cavite

DENG, DEYUE Pie Manager (Transformer Department)

Brief Job Description: Manage maintenance and staffing budgets

LIU, DAIPEI Production Manager (Transformer Department) Brief Job Description:

Basic Qualification: With experience in trouble shooting and maintenance in the most of the machines used in the transformer production

Salary Range: Php30,000Php59,999

quality control standards Basic Qualification: With experience in the transformer production line Salary Range:

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

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

By authority of the Regional Director:

Agriculture/Commodities

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

Prices of well-milled rice up in NCR, Caraga

THE average prices of wellmilled rice sold in trading centers in the National Capital Region (NCR), Region 9, Region 11 and Caraga, were higher as of April 17, according to the latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

Based on its report titled “Price Situationer of Selected Agricultural Commodities,” PSA data showed that well-milled rice in NCR and Caraga was up by P0.11 per kilogram and P2.90 per kg, respectively.

P SA data also indicated that the average prices of well-milled rice in Region 9 and Region 11 went

up by P0.12 per kg and P0.50 per kg, respectively.

Increments in the average retail prices of a kilogram of well milled rice, ranging from P0.11 to P2.90, were observed in four trading centers during the second phase of April 2023 (15 to 17 April 2023) compared with their respective price levels in the first phase of April 2023 (01 to 05 April 2023),” the agency said.

However, its average retail prices per kilogram went down by P0.05 in Legazpi City and by P3.25 in Tuguegarao City during the period.”

T he PSA also said the price of regular milled rice went up by P0.25 per kg in Iloilo, P0.25 per kg in Region 8 (Tacloban City), and Region 11 (Digos City).

A s for other agricultural commodities, PSA said the average retail prices of a kilogram of pork with bones climbed by P3.00 to P25.00 in 8 trading centers, including NCR and Region 3, during the second phase of April 2023.

Its average retail prices per kilogram fell by P10.00 in both Cebu City and Butuan City during the period.”

T he PSA noted declines in the

average retail prices of a kilogram of galunggong, ranging from P4.57 to P35 per kg, in 7 trading centers during the period.

(Galunggong) average retail prices per kilogram increased by P5.00 in Digos City, by P10.00 in Legazpi City, by P20.00 in Cabanatuan City, and by P25.00 in Tuguegarao City during the period.”

PSA also said many trading centers posted lower average retail prices of vegetables as of April 17.

Bracing for El Niño GOVERNMENT agencies are merging their efforts to con -

solidate and cluster Irrigators Association, particuarly in rice plantation areas, which may be affected by El Niño, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).

T hrough the gathered clustered data by the DA be submitted to the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), identified members of the IA that will experience the effects of El Niño will be part of the intervention efforts to be implemented by the DA.

F or one, the DA in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) will share with the NIA

data gathered from the Farm and Fisheries Clustering and Consolidation program to help in the identification of IA that will receive assistance under the National Rice Program.

E l Niño refers to a warming of the ocean surface, or above-average sea surface temperatures, in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean.

Meanwhile, state weather bureau Pagasa forecasts show a mild to moderate effect of El Niño will be felt in the Cordillera starting in October until early 2024.

S.

of potato seeds from URC

THE Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) announced it has turned over a delivery truck and farm machinery worth P3.7 million to two co-operatives based in Misamis Occidental.

T he DAR said the assets were received by officers and members of the Siloy Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative and Langub-Mitacas

Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Beneficiaries Association.

DAR Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Norberto R. Paquingan said he expects the co-ops would be able to save time, effort and money as the truck could be used to deliver agricultural products to the markets and buyers on time. Paquingan said the truck, valued at P3.1 million, was awarded to the Siloy coop while floating tillers (Mudboat-4 units) and hand tractors with tillers (two units) worth P636,000 were awarded to the other group.

Fertilizer vouchers

THE government has also distributed fertilizer discount vouchers (FDV) to about 338 rice farmers in Davao Oriental, according to the Department of Agriculture in Davao region (DA 11).

T he agency said its rice program has a total budget allocation of P87million worth of FDVs for 9,945 rice farmers in the region.

A s of April 24, the DA 11 has released a total of P35 million or 4,237 FDVs. The agency said farmers will use the FDVs valued at P6,600 per hectare to claim the fertilizer.

However, farmers can only receive a maximum of P13,200 worth of FDV to cover two hectares of rice area, it added. The farmers can claim their fertilizers only through accredited merchant Bacphil Planters Fertilizers Corp.

T he FDVs should be claimed not later than April 30 as they can no longer be used beyond the said date.

UNIVERSAL Robina Corp. (URC) has distributed some 135 tons of potato seed tubers to help hundreds of farmers in Benguet and Mountain Province grow their harvests and income.

Four container vans containing 108 tons of potatoes were distributed to 268 farmers, while another 27 tons were given to 67 farmers.

The seedlings are expected to yield 1,350 tons of potatoes in four months, and up to 12,000 tons in 12 months or four planting cycles, URC said.

T he current price of table potatoes is between P70 and P120 per kilo.

A ll 335 farmers are members of the United Potato Producers of Benguet and Mountain Province Inc.

T he organization has so far received over 333 tons, estimated to be worth around P20 million, since 2019.

T he latest distribution is the second phase of URC’s Sustainable Potato Program, which aims to help potato farmers increase their yields, stabilize prices of highland vegetables, and help the national potato industry.

This program aims to contribute to the national potato industry by making an impact in the multiplication and distribution of potato seeds and improving farmers’ livelihood through collaboration with relevant

institutions to provide opportunities for capacity building of farmers,” said URC Vice President for Global Procurement, Vicky Yap.

T he company is doing this with the help of the Department of Agriculture and its attached agency, the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI).

BPI Director Gerald Glenn Panganiban described the program as a “big brother-small brother partnership between the private sector, the government and the farmers, and hopes for a bountiful harvest of the crop.”

Benguet Governor Melchor Diclas urged those benefiting from URC’s program to share their gains with other farmers.

Cameron Odsey, the DA’s executive director in the Cordillera Autonomous Region, acknowledged URC’s initiative to help farmers get access to quality planting materials. He said he hopes the program would encourage the youth to return to farming. “ We have very much potential (in agriculture) for the youth. We look forward to them going back to their communities and being experts in agriculture,” he said, citing in particular Benguet State University’s five agriculture student scholars being assisted by the Gokongwei Brothers Foundation.

FAO: Meat, eggs essential source of nutrients for most vulnerable groups

MEAT, eggs and milk offer crucial sources of muchneeded nutrients which cannot easily be obtained from plant-based foods, according to the latest report from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

T his is particularly vital during key life stages such as pregnancy and lactation, childhood, adolescence and older age, says the study, entitled Contribution of terrestrial animal source food to healthy diets for improved nutrition and health outcomes.

FAO said the report is “the most comprehensive” analysis yet of the

benefits and risks of consuming animal source foods and is based on data and evidence from more than 500 scientific papers and some 250 policy documents.

“ Meat, eggs and milk provide a range of important macro-nutrients such as protein, fats and carbohydrates and micro-nutrients that are difficult to obtain from plant based foods in the required quality and quantity,” the report noted.

H igh quality protein, a number of essential fatty-acids, iron, calcium, zinc, selenium, Vitamin B12, choline and bioactive compounds like carnitine, creatine,

taurine are provided by foods from terrestrial animals and have important health and developmental functions.

Iron and vitamin A are among the most common micronutrient deficiencies around the world, particularly in children and pregnant women, according to FAO.

“Globally, more than 1 in 2 preschool aged children (372 million) and 1.2 billion women of childbearing age suffer from the lack of at least one of three micronutrients: iron, vitamin A or zinc. Three quarters of these children live in South and East Asia, the Pacific and subSaharan Africa.”

Not surprisingly, according to the report, consumption of food from terrestrial animals (including milk, eggs, meat) varies widely around the world.

“A person in the Democratic Republic of the Congo consumes on average only 160 grams of milk a year, while someone in Montenegro consumes 338 kilograms. Looking at eggs, a person in South Sudan consumes 2 grams on average a year compared to an average 25kg for a person in Hong Kong.”

I f consumed as part of an appropriate diet, animal source foods can help with meeting

the nutrition targets endorsed by the World Health Assembly and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to reducing stunting, wasting among children under five years of age, low birthweight, anemia in women of reproductive age, and obesity and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in adults.

B ut at the same time, the livestock sector “must contribute to addressing a range of challenges,” FAO Deputy DirectorGeneral Maria Helena Semedo and Chief Economist Máximo Torero Cullen said in a foreword to the report.

Cargill’s big beef bet falters as food inflation hits demand

WHEN David MacLennan put plans in motion to step down as Cargill Inc.’s chief executive officer, his transformation of the global grains trader into a protein powerhouse was looking particularly shrewd.

D uring his nine-year tenure at the top of America’s largest private company, he’d turned 158-year-old Cargill into the US’s third-largest beef processor, engineered its return to chicken and posted two straight years of record profits.

Meat had become such a big deal that when MacLennan moved on at the start of the year, he passed the baton straight to the former boss of Cargill’s protein division, Brian Sikes.

B ut now the animal protein business is faltering. After years of raking in cash, inflation is rapidly

eroding meat demand, slowing the company’s profits fast. Processing

beef is just barely profitable today, and industry insiders say margins for the unit at the center of Cargill’s recent growth are likely to go negative at points over the next two years.

“Our beef business is still modestly profitable, but certainly not anywhere near where it has been in the last couple of years,” MacLennan, now executive chair, said Wednesday in an interview. In terms of challenging beef margins, “I think we’ve got a couple of years of this.”

T hat’s a stark change for the world’s top agricultural commodities trader, which had gotten used to fat profits from its beef business. Margins for meatpackers like Cargill—founded in 1865 with a single grain warehouse

in Iowa—have recently slumped after drought forced US ranchers to cut herds, pushing up cattle prices just as cash-strapped consumers started to shy away from expensive cuts. At the same time, the war in Ukraine inflated crop prices, making feeding herds more expensive.

Trimmer profits

GLOBAL beef consumption is expected to stall this year and even fall in the US; after that, industry experts expect growth to recover to just around 1 percent a year for the next two decades. More than 50 percent of Cargill’s 2022 earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization came from the animal nutrition and protein segments, according to Fitch Ratings, so any decline

in meat demand threatens an outsized impact.

C ompany profits slid to $3.2 billion for the first nine months of the fiscal year that ends in May, according to a presentation to bondholders seen by Bloomberg earlier this month. That puts the company on course for a less profitable year after posting a record $6.7 billion of net income last year. Meat has contributed to the tougher 2023; so has a decline in volatility, the lifeblood of commodity traders like Cargill, the ‘C’ in the so-called ABCDs group of merchants alongside Archer-Daniels-Midland Co., Bunge Ltd. and Louis Dreyfus Co. that historically have dominated crop trading.

A fter years of supply disruptions, many parts of the commodities market have started

to normalize. That means fewer chances for the big “profit dislocations that led to strong profits last year,” said Seth Goldstein, a strategist at Morningstar Inc. “For all grain merchandisers, the challenge is to generate the strongest profit possible even as conditions normalize.”

T here are bright spots for Cargill, too. Profits are higher than in recent years including 2018, 2019 and 2020. And MacLennan still sees a lot of opportunities including health and nutrition, plus renewable diesel—an area where investors and competitors could end up seeing more deals, including joint ventures and acquisitions.

T he interview with MacLennan, 63, offers a rare insight into a company that usually remains fiercely

private. Owned by the descendants of the founding Cargill and MacMillan families—who added $13.6 billion to their fortune last year, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index— Cargill stopped publicly reporting quarterly income data during the pandemic, releasing the information only to its investors.

Even some employees, who used to have access the data, have been left in the dark, with many now finding out about their own firm’s performance through reports on Bloomberg News, according to people familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified because they aren’t allowed to speak to the media. Cargill employs about 155,000 people across 70 countries. The company releases its earnings to all employees, according to a spokesperson. Bloomberg News

Jonathan L. Mayuga and Raade S. Sausa

Editor: Angel R. Calso

Moscow-appointed governor says Ukraine drones hit Crimea oil depot

By David Rising The Associated Press

KYIV, Ukraine—A massive fire erupted at an oil depot in Crimea after it was hit by two of Ukraine’s drones, a Russia-appointed official there reported Saturday, the latest in a series of attacks on the annexed peninsula as Russia braces for an expected Ukrainian counteroffensive.

Mikhail Razvozhayev, the Moscow-installed governor of Sevastopol, a port city in Crimea, posted videos and photos of the blaze on his Telegram channel.

Razvozhayev said the fire at the city’s harbor was assigned the highest ranking in terms of how complicated it will be to extinguish. However, he reported that the open blaze had been contained.

Razvozhayev said “two enemy drones attacked the oil depot” and four oil tanks burned down.

A third drone was shot down from the sky, and one more was deactivated through radio-electronic means, according to Crimea’s Moscow-appointed governor, Sergei Aksyonov.

Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, a move that most of the world considered illegal.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an interview this week that his country will seek to reclaim the peninsula in the upcoming counteroffensive.

Russian President Vladimir

Putin traveled to Crimea last month to mark the ninth anniversary of the Black Sea peninsula’s annexation from Ukraine. Putin’s visit took place the day after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for the Russian leader accusing him of war crimes.

The attack reported in Sevastopol comes a day after Russia fired more than 20 cruise missiles and two drones at Ukraine, killing at least 23 people. Almost all of the victims died when two missiles slammed into an apartment building in the city of Uman, located in central Ukraine.

Six children were among the dead, Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said Saturday, adding that 22 of the 23 bodies recovered have been identified. Two women remained missing, Klymenko said.

Russian forces launched more drones at Ukraine overnight.

Ukraine’s Air Force Command said two Iranian-made self-exploding

Shahed drones were intercepted, and a reconnaissance drone was shot down on Saturday morning.

Razvozhayev said the oil depot fire did not cause any casualties and would not hinder fuel supplies in Sevastopol. The city has been subject to regular attack attempts with drones, especially in recent weeks.

Earlier this week, Razvozhayev reported that the Russian military destroyed a Ukrainian sea drone that attempted to attack the harbor and another one blew up, shattering windows in several apartment buildings, but not inflicting any other damage.

Ukraine’s military intelligence spokesperson, Andriy Yusov, told the RBC Ukraine news site on Saturday that the oil depot fire was “God’s punishment” for “the murdered civilians in Uman, including five children.”

He said that more than 10 tanks containing oil products for Russia’s Black Sea Fleet were destroyed in

Pope Francis meets with Ukrainian refugees, Russian envoy in Hungary

By Nicole Winfield & Justin Spike The Associated Press

Sevastopol, but stopped short of acknowledging Ukraine’s responsibility for a drone attack. The difference between the number of tanks Yusov and Razvozhayev gave could not be immediately reconciled.

After previous attacks on Crimea, Kyiv also wouldn’t openly claim responsibility, but emphasized that the country had the right to strike any target in response to Russian aggression.

Elsewhere, Ukrainian forces shelled the city of Nova Kakhovka, according to Moscow-installed authorities in the Russian-occupied part of southern Ukraine’s Kherson province. “Severe artillery fire” cut off power in the city, the officials said.

The Ukrainian-controlled part of the province also came under fire on Saturday. Russian shelling in the area of the village of Bilozerka killed one person and wounded another, according to the Kherson prosecutor’s office.

Texas man kills 5 neighbors who complained of gunfire

By Juan A. Lozano & Paul J. Weber

The Associated Press

CLEVELAND, Texas—A Texas

ern California dance hall, and now a rural Texas neighborhood inside a single-story home.

BUDAPEST, Hungary—Pope

Francis plunged into both sides of Russia’s war with Ukraine on Saturday, greeting some of the 2.5 million Ukrainian refugees who have fled across the border to Hungary during a public prayer service and then meeting privately with an envoy of the Russian Orthodox Church that has strongly supported the war.

Francis maintained the Vatican’s tradition of diplomatic neutrality during his second day in Budapest, where he’s on a weekend visit to minister to Hungary’s Catholic faithful.

Starting the day, he thanked Hungarians for welcoming Ukrainian refugees and urged them to help anyone in need. He called for a culture of charity in a country where the prime minister has justified firm anti-immigration policies with fears that migration threatens Europe’s Christian culture.

Speaking in the white-brick St. Elizabeth’s church, named for a princess who renounced her wealth to care for the poor, Francis recalled that the Gospel instructs Christians to show love and compassion to all, especially those experiencing poverty and “even those who are not believers.”

Immediately after greeting and encouraging the refugees, Francis visited the Greek Catholic church next door, which has been providing aid to refugees. And then he met with the Russian Orthodox Church’s representative in Hungary, Metropolitan Hilarion, who developed close relations with the Vatican during his years as the Russian church’s foreign minister. The Vatican said the 20-minute meeting at the Holy See’s embassy in Budapest was “cordial.”

The Russian church’s strong support for the Kremlin’s war has rankled the Vatican and prevented a second papal meeting with Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church and an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Francis and Kirill had a 2016 encounter in Cuba that marked the first between a pope and the head of the Russian church. They had planned a second one in June, but the meeting has been indefinitely postponed over Kirill’s support for the war.

In a statement, Hilarion’s office said that he briefed Francis on the social and educational activities of the Russian church in Hungary and its relations with the Catholic Church here. He said that he gave the pope an Italian translation of a six-volume opus on the life of Christ.

WARSAW, Poland—Acting on a Polish court verdict, Warsaw authorities Saturday took over a school building that was serving children of Russian diplomats and the military, drawing an angry reaction from Moscow.

Poland’s Foreign Ministry said it had asked Warsaw authorities to claim the property that Poland says, should have been returned by Russia years ago.

“The bailiff’s execution is ... in total agreement with the Foreign Ministry and based on a court order that gave the Polish state full ownership rights to the building which the Russian Embassy has had in its possession illegally for many years,” Polish Foreign Ministry spokesman Lukasz Jasina said.

Police and a court official came to the building, which is far away from the Russian Embassy and isn’t part of diplomatic premises. They gave the Russian side until Saturday evening to hand the building over, which took place.

However, Russia’s Foreign Ministry said Polish authorities “invaded” the school, saying it is at the Russian Embassy, called it a “blatant violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961.”

“Such an impudent move by Warsaw, which goes beyond the framework of civilized interstate communication, will not remain without our harsh reaction and consequences for the Polish authorities and Poland’s interests in Russia,” Russia’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Warsaw authorities said the building will be made available to the Warsaw school system, which is short of premises.

Ever since breaking away from Moscow’s communist-era dominance, Poland has been seeking to claim back a number of properties used by Russia. AP

man went next door with a rifle and fatally shot five of his neighbors, including an 8-yearold boy, after they asked him to stop firing rounds in his yard because they were trying to sleep, authorities said Saturday.

The suspect, identified as 38-year-old Francisco Oropeza, remained at large more than 18 hours after the shooting and authorities warned that he might still be armed. The attack happened just before midnight Friday near the town of Cleveland, north of Houston, on a street where some residents say it is not uncommon to hear neighbors unwind by firing off guns.

San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers said Oropeza used an ARstyle rifle, and as the search for him dragged into Saturday evening, authorities had widened their efforts to as far as “10 to 20 miles” from the murder scene. He said Oropeza may still have a weapon but that he believes authorities have the rifle used in the shooting.

Capers said they found clothes and a phone while combing a rural area that includes dense layers of forest but that tracking dogs had lost the scent.

“He could be anywhere now,” Capers said.

Capers said the victims were between the ages of 8 and 31 years old and that all were believed to be from Honduras. All were shot “from the neck up,” he said.

The attack was the latest act of gun violence in what has been a record pace of mass shootings in the US so far this year, some of which have also involved semiautomatic rifles.

The mass killings have played out in a variety of places — a Nashville school, a Kentucky bank, a South -

Capers said there were 10 people in the house—some of whom had just moved there earlier in the week—but that no one else was injured. He said two of the victims were found in a bedroom laying over two children in an apparent attempt to shield them.

A total of three children found covered in blood in the home were taken to a hospital but found to be uninjured, Capers said.

FBI spokesperson Christina Garza said investigators do not believe everyone at the home were members of a single family. The victims were identified as Sonia Argentina Guzman, 25; Diana Velazquez Alvarado, 21; Julisa Molina Rivera, 31; Jose Jonathan Casarez, 18; and Daniel Enrique Laso, 8.

The confrontation followed the neighbors walking up to the fence and asking the suspect to stop shooting rounds, Capers said. The suspect responded by telling them that it was his property, Capers said, and one person in the house got a video of the suspect walking up to the front door with the rifle.

The shooting took place on a rural pothole-riddled street where singlestory homes sit on wide 1-acre lots and are surrounded by a thick canopy of trees. A horse could be seen behind the victim’s home, while in the front yard of Oropeza’s house a dog and chickens wandered.

Rene Arevalo Sr., who lives a few houses down, said he heard gunshots around midnight but didn’t think anything of it.

“It’s a normal thing people do around here, especially on Fridays after work,” Arevalo said. “They get home and start drinking in their backyards and shooting out there.”

Capers said his deputies had been to Oropeza’s home at least once before and spoken with him about

“shooting his gun in the yard.” It was not clear whether any action was taken at the time. At a news conference Saturday evening, the sheriff said firing a gun on your own property can be illegal, but he did not say whether Oropeza had previously broken the law.

Capers said the new arrivals in the home had moved from Houston earlier in the week, but he said he did not know whether they were planning to stay there.

Across the US since Jan. 1, there have been at least 18 shootings that left four or more people dead, according to a database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today, in partnership with Northeastern University. The violence is sparked by a range of motives: murder-suicides and domestic violence; gang retaliation; school shootings; and workplace vendettas.

Texas has confronted multiple mass shootings in recent years, including last year’s attack at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde; a racist attack at an El Paso Walmart in 2019; and a gunman opening fire at a church in the tiny town of Sutherland Springs in 2017.

Republican leaders in Texas have continually rejected calls for new firearm restrictions, including this year over the protests of several families whose children were killed in Uvalde.

A few months ago, Arevalo said Oropeza threatened to kill his dog after it got loose in the neighborhood and chased the pit bull in his truck.

“I tell my wife all the time, ‘Stay away from the neighbors. Don’t argue with them. You never know how they’re going to react,’” Arevalo said. “I tell her that because Texas is a state where you don’t know who has a gun and who is going to react that way.”

Weber reported from Austin, Texas. Associated Press writer Ken Miller contributed to this report.

“The love that Jesus gives us and commands us to practice can help to uproot the evils of indifference and selfishness from society, from our cities and the places where we live— indifference is a plague—and to rekindle hope for a new, more just and fraternal world, where all can feel at home,” he said.

Hungary’s nationalist government has implemented firm antiimmigration policies and refused to accept many asylum-seekers trying to enter the country through its southern border, leading to prolonged legal disputes with the European Union.

The conservative populist prime minister, Viktor Orbán, has said that migration threatens to replace Europe’s Christian culture. Orbán, who has held office since 2010, has hinged multiple election campaigns on the threats he alleges that migrants and refugees pose to Hungarians.

While Orbán’s government has consistently rejected asylum-seekers from the Middle East and Africa, around 2.5 million Ukrainians fleeing war in their country found open doors. Around 35,000 of the refugees remain in Hungary and have registered for temporary protection there, according to the U.N.

One who has chosen to stay was Olesia Misiats, a nurse who worked in a Kyiv Covid-19 hospital when she fled with her mother and two daughters on Feb. 24, 2022—the day Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

First she went to the Netherlands, but high costs compelled her to move to Hungary, where she said she has found an apartment and given birth to her third daughter, Mila, who was in the pews Saturday with her mother and sister.

“Here it’s safe,” Misiats said of her new life. She said that she hopes to return to Kyiv one day, but for now she and her children are adapting. “I want to go back home. There it’s my life—it was my life,” she said. “But the war changed my life.”

Francis’ visit to Hungary, his second in as many years, is bringing him as close as he’s come to the front lines of the war. Upon arriving in Budapest on Friday, he denounced the “adolescent belligerence” that had brought war back to European soil and demanded the EU recover its values of peaceful unity to end it. There were conspicuously few people of color in the pews of St. Elizabeth’s church. Among them was artist and filmmaker Abouzar Soltani, a refugee from Iran who spent 553 days in one of Hungary’s transit zones with his 10-year-old son, Armin, after Hungarian authorities rejected their asylum claims in 2018. Soltani later said of their 18 months staying in container shelters that they felt like “fish in an aquarium.” When a European court decision closed the transit zones, Soltani opted to remain in Hungary, where he still lives.

At the end of the event, a band of Hungarian Roma musicians serenaded the pontiff, drawing a standing ovation and cheers from the crowd and a thumbs-up from Francis.

Francis started his Saturday visiting with children who have visual and physical disabilities. In the afternoon, he had his first big public event in Hungary, a youth rally at the city’s sports stadium where he was given a singularly Hungarian gift: A Rubik’s Cube, the colorful puzzle invented by Hungarian architect Erno Rubik.

In an event staged like a rock concert, Francis jazzed up the crowd riding around in a mini golf cart-like vehicle. And he repeated his frequent appeal to young people to put aside their cellphones and get back to socializing face-to-face: “Please don’t virtualize your lives,” he said to laughs.

Francis wraps up his visit with an open-air Mass on Sunday and speech at Pazmany Peter Catholic University in Budapest.

In this handout photo taken from video released by the Governor of Sevastopol Mikhail Razvozhaev telegram channel on Saturday, April 29, 2023, smoke and flame rise from a burning fuel tank in Sevastopol, Crimea. A massive fire erupted at an oil reservoir there after a

appointed official there reported on

Poland takes over Russian school by court order; Moscow angered

editorial

When will China stop bullying PHL?

WE have seen this movie before: Hundreds of Chinese militia vessels intruding into the country’s exclusive economic zone, which was described by Philippine authorities as “swarming and threatening.” On March 22, 2021, the Philippines filed a diplomatic protest against China due to the presence of more than 200 Chinese fishing vessels at Julian Felipe Reef as early as March 7, 2021.

An international chorus of concern and clarion calls for action soon followed. The United States, Japan, Canada, Australia, and other countries have voiced concern about China’s intentions, prompting Beijing to explain that the vessels were fishing boats sheltering from the weather, that China had traditionally fished around the reef, and that their presence was “normal and legitimate.”

China’s armed fishing militia—officially called the People’s Armed Forces Maritime Militia by the US Department of Defense—plays an instrumental role in Beijing’s strategy to enforce its sovereignty claims in the South China Sea and East China Sea. Pundits said the armed fishing fleet are part of China’s power projection, and are deployed to seize territory and to target any country that challenges China’s claims to the entire South China Sea.

Four days before President Marcos meets US President Joe Biden at the White House, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has reported alleged violations by the Chinese Navy and its militias in the West Philippine Sea. In a Facebook post, the PCG said its vessels BRP Malabrigo and BRP Malapascua patrolled the waters off Sabina Shoal, Iroquis Reef, Lawak, Patag, Likas, Parola, Pag-asa, Tizzard Bank, Julian Felipe Reef, and Ayungin Shoal from April 18 to 24 (Read, “Chinese militia vessels swarm WPS anew ahead of PBBM-Biden,” in the BusinessMirror , April 28, 2023).

“Throughout the mission, the PCG vessels identified over 100 Chinese Maritime Militia vessels, a People’s Liberation Army Navy corvette class and two China Coast Guard vessels,” the PCG said. Eight of the Chinese militia vessels were monitored near Sabina Shoal. “Despite the numerous radio challenges by the two Philippine Coast Guard vessels, the Chinese Maritime Militia vessels did not respond or comply with the order to leave the area immediately,” the PCG said.

Two days after the Pag-asa Island confrontation, on April 23, two Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessels intercepted the Philippine Coast Guard vessels that were in the vicinity of Ayungin Shoal. The PCG identified two Chinese Coast Guard vessels with bow numbers 5201 and 4202, which “exhibited aggressive tactics” against BRP Malapascua and BRP Malabrigo.

From the Associated Press: “A Chinese coast guard ship blocked a Philippine patrol vessel steaming into a disputed shoal in the South China Sea, causing a frightening near-collision in the latest act of Beijing’s aggression in the strategic waterway. The high seas face-off Sunday between the larger Chinese ship and the Philippine coast guard’s BRP Malapascua near Second Thomas Shoal was among the tense moments it and another Philippine vessel encountered in a weeklong sovereignty patrol in one of the world’s most hotly contested waterways.”

The Philippine coast guard had invited a small group of journalists, including three from The Associated Press, to join the 1,670-kilometer patrol for the first time as part of a new Philippine strategy aimed at exposing China’s increasingly aggressive actions in the South China Sea, where an estimated $5 trillion in global trade transits each year.

“The China Coast Guard’s interference with this routine patrol mission was totally inconsistent with freedom of navigation, and a number of documented incidents also involved highly dangerous maneuvers that were contrary to standard navigational practices,” DFA Spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza said. Daza called on China to “respect the Philippines’ rights over the West Philippine Sea, as provided by UNCLOS, and refrain from actions that may cause an untoward incident.”

The US has repeatedly said that it would help defend the Philippines—its oldest treaty ally in Asia—if Philippine forces, ships or aircraft are attacked in the South China Sea.

Job fairs, free LRT 2 rides, and Kadiwa outlets for workers on Labor Day

RISING SUN

AS the country celebrates Labor Day today, the government rolls out various programs for the people. One of them is the free ride on the LRT Line 2 today only. Public and private workers need to present their company ID or government-issued ID from 7:00-9:00 a.m. and 5:00-7:00 p.m.

Aside from the free rides, there will be job fairs today in 43 different venues across the nation. According to reports, there will be an initial 73,779 job vacancies being offered by 808 employers. And this number is still expected to increase in the next few days. The main job fair site is happening at the SMX Convention Center, SM Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City. There are other sites in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Jobseekers must bring their resumé or CV, certificate of employment (if applicable), diploma, and transcript of records.

Among the top industries participating in the job fairs are Business Process Outsourcing companies, manufacturers, finance and insurance organizations, manpower services, and sales and marketing groups. The top vacancies are for customer service representatives, production workers/operators, financial consultants, service crew, and sales agents or sales clerks. This year’s observance is the 121st celebration of Labor Day in the country. The theme this year is, “Pabahay, Bilihing Abot-presyo, Benepisyo ng Matatag na Trabaho

Pagcor income surges

LITO GAGNI

PHILIPPInE Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco is the new wunderkind of a manager with the way he was able to grow the gaming agency’s business while trimming down unnecessary expenses. This is very much evident with the much higher 7 percentage point rise in Pagcor’s net income as compared to its revenue growth.

Consider that the first quarter financial result for this year of the gaming agency went up by 42.8 percent to P17.7 billion from its comparative revenues of P12.4 billion last year, while its earnings rose by 49.43 percent to P16.87 billion compared with its P11.29 billion income. This clearly shows that Pagcor, with the eagle eyes of Tengco, has been able to reduce its operational expenses.

This means that Pagcor will be able to help in its efforts at nationbuilding such as in the dividends it remits to the national government to enable it to continue with its services.

Actually, Pagcor was able to deliver P10.98 billion to the government coffers, an increase of 50.59 percent

Aside from the free rides, there will be job fairs today in 43 different venues across the nation. According to reports, there will be an initial 73,779 job vacancies being offered by 808 employers. And this number is still expected to increase in the next few days. The main job fair site is happening at the SMX Convention Center, SM Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City.

Para sa Manggagawang Pilipino.”

The government will be distributing P1.8 billion worth of assistance under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) Program, DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP) or Kabuhayan Program, DOLE-Government Internship Program (GIP), and the Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES).

And finally, the Department of Labor and Employment has put up 27 Kadiwa ng Pangulo para sa Manggagawa outlets in various sites na-

We understand that Pagcor is now looking at the present crop of CSR it is doing with a view to tweaking them so that more beneficiaries can be reached. One advocacy that concerns education issues will be scrapped and in its place a new advocacy will be put up.

is hell-bent on improving the quality of its management operations.

tionwide. Kadiwa enables the farming community to sell goods directly to consumers without the traderintermediaries, allowing them to reap higher profits while still offering quality products at an affordable price to consumers. On Labor Day, Filipino workers can buy products from 606 enterprises and 1,223 sellers. The Kadiwa ng Pangulo project is a partnership among the Office of the President, Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and different local government units. The DOLE would like workers to know that they are reachable, so if workers have concerns, they can reach the labor department via the DOLE Hotline 1349. Action Officers are ready to help 24-7. Workers may also call 0961-595-8439 from Monday to Friday during office hours, or send a direct message via DOLE’s official Facebook page, or via e-mail through hotline1349@ dole.gov.ph

colors. Recertified were the Casino Filipino branches in Tagaytay, Angeles and New Coast.

ISO 9001:2015 specifies requirements for a quality management system when an organization:

a) needs to demonstrate its ability to consistently provide products and services that meet customer and applicable statutory and regulatory requirements, and

from the comparative amount of P7.29 billion last year.

That just goes to show that Tengco is an excellent steward of the gaming agency and with the way he has made significant strides in overseeing Pagcor’s operations, many more innovations will be introduced that will go a long way in accomplishing its mission not just at nationbuilding but in further reviving the economy. Already, many new fronts are underway in the gaming agency’s platform that would lead to much higher revenues.

And yet, Tengco continues to plod on to deliver not just the kind of service that the gaming agency is mandated to deliver. For one, he

Having received the International Standardization Organization (ISO) 9001:2015 certification in March, Tengco promised Pagcor employees that he will make sure to be certified anew until 2027.

Pagcor’s corporate offices in Ermita, Manila and Pasay were recertified, which means that they passed the stringent standards that ISO 9001:2015 requires. In going over the management operations of particular offices, sometimes ISO surveyors pose as clients to determine if the target offices comply with addressing specific issues on time and according to management processes. Also, the ways papers are handled are subjected to tests.

Citystate Tower’s Casino Filipino was also subjected to the ISO recertification and it passed with flying

b) aims to enhance customer satisfaction through the effective application of the system, including processes for improvement of the system and the assurance of conformity to customer and applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.

All the requirements of ISO 9001:2015 are generic and are intended to be applicable to any organization, regardless of its type or size, or the products and services it provides.

Pagcor’s adherence to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) can be gleaned from that sought-after ISO 9001:2015 certification and here, Tengco’s management style is enviable. By ensuring that the management operations are in tune with the demand of the times, the gaming agency participates in making the lives of its stakeholders better.

See “Gagni,” A13

Atty. Jose Ferdinand M. Rojas II

To labor and to rest

Joel L. Tan-Torres

DEBIT CREDIT

The tele-tax-novela continues to a sub-plot of the role of the external Certified Public Accountant (CPA) auditors in the of ficial receipts (or) for sale” fraud story. The CPA plays an integral part in this saga. he is tasked to provide assurance that the business operations of his client are presented fairly in the financial statements (FS) and are in accordance with the Philippine Financial reporting Standards.

With this assurance, stakeholders, and users of the financial statements will be in a better position to rely on these FS in making decisions. The users are aplenty, including stockholders, the general public, banks that may be providing credit or loans, and even the government, such as the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR). In this teletax-novela, one of the most aggrieved parties because of the failure of the external CPa auditor of discharging his function is the BIR.

Billions of pesos of taxes were lost because of the misdeeds of the various perpetrators of this OR for sale scam.

With the connivance of the Masterminds and sellers the fake ORs and the exploiting buyers, massive evasion of huge amounts of taxes have been arising over the past years (if not decades).

It is unfortunate that these anomalies could have been mitigated, if not prevented, if the external CPa auditors of the parties involved in these crimes have properly discharged their work and ethical responsibility. These CPa s k now fully well what they must do to safeguard the interests of the public and the government. They have very strict and specific mandates as provided by law, namely, Republic act 9298 or the Philippine accountancy act of 2004, and other measures, such as the Code of Ethics of Professional accountants and the various standards and guidelines for conducting their audit.

These external auditors could not hide behind the cloak of convenience by citing that they are not expected to monitor each and every transaction of their client and to detect fraud that has arisen. I disagree with this argument. The external auditor should have been able to assess that the millions of pesos of purchases from one or a few suppliers should stand reasonable scrutiny, including tracing the payments to said suppliers, conducting an inventory count, or check of records, matching purchases with sales, and other auditing procedures. If these were done, the auditor could have suspected if not ac-

tually determined, the occurrence of fraudulent transactions involving the recording of “ghost” purchases to pad deductions to reduce tax payments.

Upon discovery of this situation, the external auditor should have issued a qualified or adverse opinion on the lack of fairness and compliance with accounting standards. This will be a red flag to the users of the financial statements that some irregularities may have arisen for the FS issuer. But I am sure that these external auditors have been remiss in their responsibility and have instead issued a clean or unqualified opinion. This is an indication that the CPa had been negligent in his engagement, or worse, is in connivance with the perpetrators of the fraud.

Embedded in the various measures and rules governing the practice of audit and accountancy are the duties of professional competence and skepticism. These attributes are key components of the mindset and professional tools of CPa external auditors that they should strictly maintain in all their audit engagements. If these tenets are followed earnestly by CPa practitioners, there will be less crime, fraud, and tax evasion that will be committed.

What government regulatory office is tasked with enforcing these accountancy and auditing measures? Follow this discussion in the continuation of this tele-tax-novela.

To be continued.

Joel L. Tan-Torres was the former Dean of the University of the Philippines Virata School of Business. Previously, he was the Commissioner of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, the chairman of the Professional Regulatory Board of Accountancy, and partner of Reyes Tacandong & Co. and the SyCip Gorres and Velayo & Co. He is a Certified Public Accountant who garnered No. 1 in the CPA Board Examination of May 1979. He is now back to his tax practice with his firm JL2T Consulting. He can be contacted at joeltantorress@yahoo.com

In the International Fight Against Corruption, Audit Contributes to the Success of SDGs

Siegfred Bueno Mison, Esq.

THE PATRIOT

For every working Filipino, May 1 is a revered holiday when hard work is recognized anew, along with the reservation of a personal day to rest and recharge. The objective of celebrating Labor Day annually is to commemorate a plethora of accomplishments and contributions of the labor sector to society.

Labor Day in the Philippines had its nativity on May 1, 1903.

The country’s first labor organization, “Union Obrera Democratica de Filipina (U.O.D.F.),” united more than 100,000 employees to march from Tondo’s Plaza Moriones to Malacañang. The day these workers demanded fair wages and better working conditions from the thena merican-led government would be recorded as one of the first protests in the streets of Manila. Back then, street rallies were considered by the a merican-led government as acts of rebellion, sedition, and “conspiracy to raise the price of labor,” for which they would be arrested.

On a pril 8, 1908, the Philippine a s sembly passed a bill recognizing May 1 as Labor Day, declaring it a national holiday. The first Labor Day celebration was held on May 1, 1913, when Herminigildo Cruz organized the Congreso Obrero de Filipinas. The party demanded “fair working conditions for the labor sector, including eight-hour working days, an end to child labor, equal labor standards for women, and employers’ liability to their employees.” Most of these rights and obligations were put in writing and now form part of our labor laws. Labor Day has been synonymous with demonstrations and rallies since 1903. These street demonstrations are presumably aimed to persuade government to raise the minimum wage and eliminate contractualization. Former Senator and Labor Secretary Blas Ople, who was largely responsible for the codification of substantial rights of

Gagni . . .

continued from A12

The certification means that Pagcor is contributing to fulfilling four of the 17 SDG goals. These are decent work and economic growth (No. 8),

As due recognition is given to “Ka Blas,” known as the father of the Labor Code, kudos also goes to Secretary Toots Ople, the daughter, who has been a stalwart in protecting rights of migrant workers, long before her appointment as the very first head of the Department of Migrant Workers.

workers, championed labor protection against abusive termination. Unlike in the US, where most if not all are considered “at-will employees” who can be terminated at any time, a r ticle 282 of the Labor Code requires specific causes for termination. a s due recognition is given to “ k a Blas,” known as the father of the Labor Code, kudos also goes to Secretary Toots Ople, the daughter, who has been a stalwart in protecting rights of migrant workers, long before her appointment as the very first head of the Department of Migrant Workers.

From this very fabric of demonstrations and government actions, workers’ demands appear to be given the proper attention in our statutes only after organized street activities. Thankfully, the Philippine government would normally open its ears to usher in the necessary reforms as expressed in the streets. Indeed, a surfeit of accomplishments sits on the shoulders of our predecessors and for this alone, Labor Day undeniably ought to be celebrated. The battle, however, seems to have no end as more labor-related issues would crop up. This time though, self-regarding forces have been lurking around to induce lawmakers into favoring capital over labor without regard to justice. More specifically, I have recently heard of “agents” and “promoters, ostensibly engaged by maritime companies, surreptitiously swinging a rider into the proposed Magna Carta for Filipino seafarers. This anticipated law, while aiming to secure the better rights of our sea-based workers, stands to

gender equality (No. 5), industry, innovation and infrastructure (No. 9) and partnership for the goals (No. 17. Other SDG goals can be achieved by Pagcor with Tengco’s thrust in the agency.  We understand that Pagcor is now looking at the present crop

be tainted with one iniquitous clause mastered into inclusion by these brash employer-companies. The controversial stipulation, “inserted” almost at the conclusion of the bill’s second reading in the lower house of Congress, seeks to mandate employers to place into an escrow account any monetary judgment won by complaining-seafarers at the NLRC- and NCMB-levels. at p resent, such monetary awards, granted either by labor arbiters or voluntary arbitrators, are immediately executory or accorded to the winning seafarer regardless of any other remedy instituted by their losing party-employers. If said rider were to be approved into law, then the hapless seafarers, some perhaps beset with a work-related ailment or injury, will be constrained to slave it out for another five years or so in the a p pellate courts before they can actually utilize what is due them. However which way one puts it, the seafarer is at a most disadvantageous position as against his “adversary” that can unnecessarily extend a labor case until eternity.

Unfortunately, the bill with this rider was approved by the lower house and is now in the Senate.

For our Filipino seamen, the peril continues especially since their opponents are not only well heeled, but also have devious minds whose shadows prowl into the principles of our legislators. This 2023, therefore, is no ordinary Labor Day celebration for these seafarers as it can be a day of unrest, if not anxiety.

So, to our workers in general, the seafarers and myself in particular, our paths may be lined with confusion and impediment at times. Since food on our table may be a

of CSR it is doing with a view to tweaking them so that more beneficiaries can be reached. One advocacy that concerns education issues will be scrapped and in its place a new advocacy will be put up. a s ide from this, it is reviewing its suite of gaming of-

spawn of our sweat and blood, it seems difficult to secure and savor just one day of rest. ye t our orientation should not be focused on mere physical rest. We are told to enter our Heavenly Creator’s “rest”—a place in as much as it is a circumstance. When we rely on God’s promises and toil for Him and not for the world, no hard labor can exhaust us. Otherwise stated, it is a matter of perception. Collossians 3:23-24 of the Bible inspires us: “Whatever you do, do it from the heart for the Lord and not for people. you know that you will receive an inheritance as a reward. you serve the Lord Christ.” With this as our predicate, each day of work should stir us both into productivity and peace.

In Biblical accounts, no man was as hard working, yet was so at rest than Jesus Christ. The Gospel of Mark, chapter 5 is a repository of this truth. On one occasion, Jesus walked for miles, traveled by boat across a lake and back, restored a demon-possessed man, raised Jairus’ daughter from the dead, healed a woman from a 12-year bleeding struggle, and preached about God’s mercy and love—all in a day’s work. But Jesus was never drained of energy and never grumbled. He did not feel exhausted simply because He knew He was serving His Father in heaven and dedicated the work of His hands to Him.

a s we celebrate yet another Labor day, may we renew our minds to be at rest in God’s promises and consider Him as our true employer and master. ye s, we all should work hard but still be at rest, which can only be possible with Him and through Him.

A former infantry and intelligence officer in the Army, Siegfred Mison showcased his servant leadership philosophy in organizations such as the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Malcolm Law Offices, Infogix Inc., University of the East, Bureau of Immigration, and Philippine Airlines. He is a graduate of West Point in New York, Ateneo Law School, and University of Southern California. A corporate lawyer by profession, he is an inspirational teacher and a Spirit-filled writer with a mission. For questions and comments, please e-mail me at sbmison@gmail.com.

ferings so that it could level up its income stream and thus increase its nation-building thrust. We tip our hat to Tengco, who we can say has already eclipsed his father whom we covered in the Development Bank of the Philippines in the late ’70s.

Time to prioritize social justice‘Growing the Platform Economy’

By Gilbert F. Houngbo

May 1st is widely known as Labor Day, a day when we celebrate the contribution of workers worldwide. It is a moment for pride, celebration and hope.

a f ter three years of the Covid-19 crisis, followed by inflation, conflict, and food and fuel supply shocks, we badly need this. But the promises of renewal made during the pandemic, of ‘building back better’, have so far not been delivered for the great majority of workers worldwide.

Globally, real wages have fallen, poverty is rising, and inequality seems more entrenched than ever.

Enterprises have been hit hard. Many could not cope with the cumulative effects of unexpected events. Small and micro-enterprises were particularly affected, and many have ceased operations.

People feel that the sacrifices they made to get through Covid-19 have not been recognized, let alone rewarded.

Their voices are not being heard clearly enough. This, combined with a perceived lack of opportunities, has created a disturbing level of mistrust.

It doesn’t have to be like this. We are still the masters of our fate. But if we are to shape a new, more stable, and equitable world, we must choose a different path. One that prioritizes social justice.

I believe this is not only doable but also essential for a sustainable and stable future. So, how do we get there?

First and foremost, our policies and

actions must be human-centered, to allow people to pursue both their material well-being and their spiritual development in conditions of freedom and dignity, economic security and equal opportunity. This approach is not new, it was set out and agreed in the aftermath of World War II, when the ILO’s international membership signed the 1944 Declaration of Philadelphia.

This visionary document set out guiding principles for our economic and social systems, that they should not be turned exclusively to hitting specific growth rates or other statistical targets, but to address human needs and aspirations.

This means focusing on inequality, poverty alleviation and core social protection. The most effective way to do this is by providing quality jobs so that people can support themselves and build their own futures—“Decent Work for a l l,” as Sustainable Development Goal 8 terms it.

It means realistically addressing the long-term structural transformations of our time; ensuring that new technology creates and supports employment; pro-actively facing the challenges of climate change and ensuring we offer the jobs, skills training and transition support necessary for workers and businesses to benefit from the new low-carbon era; treating demographic changes as a “dividend” rather than a problem, with supporting action on skills, migration and social protection, to create more cohesive and resilient societies.

We also need to reassess and refashion the architecture of our social and eco-

Dr. Selva Ramachandran

nomic systems, so that they support this change of course towards social justice, rather than continuing to channel us into a policy “doom loop” of inequality and instability. We must reinvigorate labor institutions and organizations so that social dialogue is effective and vigorous. We must review laws and regulations affecting the world of work, so that they are relevant and up-to-date and able to protect workers and support sustainable businesses.

To make all this happen, we need to recommit to international cooperation and solidarity. We must enhance our efforts and create greater policy coherence, particularly within the multilateral system, as United Nations SecretaryGeneral a ntonio Guterres calls it.

This is why we need a Global Coalition for Social Justice. This Coalition will create a platform to bring together a broad range of international bodies and stakeholders. It will position social justice as the keystone of the global recovery, so that it is prioritized in national, regional and global policies and actions. In sum, it will ensure that our future is human-centered.

We have the chance to reshape the world we live in—economically, socially and environmentally. Let us take this opportunity and move forward to build the equitable and resilient societies that can underpin lasting peace and social justice.

LIkE the rest of the world, Covid-19 has widely impacted people in the Philippines, especially the vulnerable groups such as the poor, the elderly, women, and children. Labor and employment in the country have been transformed by the indelible impact of the pandemic. In april 2020, the country experienced a slump in employment with the unemployment rate reaching as high as 17.7 percent. The underemployment rate was high at 18.9 percent in april 2020 (vs. 13.5 percent in april 2019). Furthermore, during the enhanced community quarantine implementation, 2/3 of businesses were pushed to stop their operations. Despite these losses, Filipinos were quick and steadfast to adjust. among the measures quickly adapted during such unprecedented times is to shift to digital.

Despite long-standing barriers to the mass adoption of digital technologies, the Philippine government’s imposition of lockdowns in response to the Covid-19 pandemic has facilitated a dramatic expansion of the country’s Platform Economy. Many businesses, including those of small entrepreneurs, began to use digital technologies to make their businesses thrive. These new age entrepreneurs include Filipinos who had recently started a business after losing their jobs to the pandemic. In a UNDP Rapid Response Survey of MSMEs, digitalization was the most popular demand strategy for both female

(70 percent) and male (52 percent) respondents (or 62 percent overall). Shifting to a digital economy by providing digital training and expanding Internet connectivity to MSMEs was considered vital in facilitating national economic recovery.

The UNDP report titled “Placing the Platform Economy: Gender, Digital Divides, and the Geography of Platform Participation in the Philippines” highlights the rapid growth of the use of digital platforms for business, commerce, or social interactions or what can be called as the Platform Economy. It especially tells the story of how digital platforms have been used by women in the Philippines to cope with the Covid-19 crisis, especially on ensuring financial stability, balancing their responsibilities (such as care work, community, or other economic responsibilities), or upgrading their skills. Platform Economy is seen to be a great equalizer—enabling women and other sectors to access more opportunities to contribute to economic activities, while also juggling other responsibilities.

The rapid growth of the platform sector could come with substantial “gender dividends,” given the greater rate of women’s participation, lower pay gaps, and increased flexibility that can allow women to finesse their care and economic responsibilities.

These trends have fueled debates on how these forms of digitalization might reshape countries’ economic geography and open new channels for recovery in the post-pandemic period.

On one hand, the integration of economic activities into digital platforms has been hailed by observers for its potential to reduce transaction costs, improve productivity and efficiency, create new tax bases, and generate new jobs and commercial opportunities in information and knowledgeintensive industries. On the other, the platform sector’s transformative potential is widely recognized to be constrained in the short term by severe digital divides.

It bears emphasizing that there is great economic potential for the country to go beyond closing the digital divide by having a localized approach to promoting inclusion in digital interventions. The role of a more place-based, localized approach to promoting inclusion—especially critical in light of local government resources increasing due to the Mandanas transition—is likewise borne out by the Philippines’ largest success to date in encouraging the growth of knowledge economy opportunities nationwide: the business process outsourcing sector.

Suffice to say, the Philippines has a growing need and potential for digitalization. Now more than ever, we need to be committed and steadfast in strengthening partnerships and the technical support to provide the much-needed assistance in making this digital shift in the Philippines successful and effective.

Gilbert F. Houngbo is the Director-General of the International Labor Organization

Dr. Selva Ramachandran is the UNDP Philippines Resident Representative

Banks go tight on Q1 biz loans, easy on HHs WTO expert: SEA’s trade data will be better in ’23

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

OFC DOMESTIC CLAIMS IN Q4 UP 8.1% TO P7.86T

For the second quarter of 2023, most banks expect to maintain their credit standards for CRELs, while the DI-based method shows a net tightening of lending standards for CRELs in the next quarter.

M eanwhile, most respondent banks or 51.5 percent maintained their credit standards for loans extended to households in the first quarter of 2023. The DI approach reflected a net easing of lending standards for consumer loans, particularly for credit card loans and auto loans.

DOMESTIC claims of other financial corporations (OFCs) grew 8.1 percent in the last quarter of 2022, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported.

T he data showed domestic claims of OFCs rising to P7.86 trillion in the October to December period in 2022 from P7.28 trillion in the same period in 2021.

loans extended to households and nonfinancial corporations increased,” it added.

B y component, BSP data showed that claims on other sectors, specifically the private sector, comprised the bulk of the OFCs’ domestic claims during the quarter, followed by claims on DCs and the central government.

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

B ased on the first quarter 2023

Senior Bank Loan Officers’ Survey (SLOS), BSP said diffusion index (DI)-based results showed a net tightening of loan standards for the 29th consecutive quarter, with banks citing reduced tolerance for risk and deterioration of borrowers’ profiles.

T he SLOS, BSP said, consists of questions on loan officers’ perceptions relating to the overall credit standards of their respective banks, as well as to factors affecting the supply of and demand for loans to both enterprises and households.

“ The net tightening of credit standards for business loans in Q1 2023 is reflected in the stricter collateral requirements and loan covenants, and more use of inter -

est rate floors,” BSP said. The net easing of credit standards for household loans in Q1 2023 is reflected in the lengthened loan maturity and easing of collateral requirements for credit card loans, as well as lengthened loan maturity and narrower loan margins for auto loans,” it added. Data showed a majority of bank participants or 76.7 percent reported generally unchanged credit standards for commercial real estate loans (CRELs).

M eanwhile, DI-based results showed a net tightening of loan standards for CRELs in the first quarter of 2023 for the 29th consecutive quarter, with banks citing reduced tolerance for risk and deterioration of borrowers’ profiles.

Bank respondents attributed the easing of lending standards for consumer loans to the following factors—improvement in profitability of banks’ portfolios; optimistic economic expectations; increased risk tolerance; and improvement in borrowers’ profiles,” BSP said.

I n the first three months of the year, BSP said more than half or 58.1 percent of surveyed banks reported generally unchanged credit standards for housing loans. However, the DI-based method indicated a net tightening of loan standards for residential real estate loans.

T he tightening was attributed to several reasons: the deterioration in the profitability and liquidity of banks’ portfolios; weakening profile of borrowers; and banks’ reduced tolerance for risk.

T he OFCs is a comprehensive measure of the claims and liabilities of the OFCs. This refers to institutional units providing financial services other than banks, non-banks with quasibanking functions, nonstock savings and loan associations, and the central bank.

“ The rise in the OFCs’ domestic claims in Q4 2022 was due to their higher claims on depository corporations [DCs], on central government and on other sectors. In particular, the OFCs’ claims on DCs expanded, owing mainly to the growth in the sector’s deposits in banks and holdings of bank-issued equity securities,” BSP said.

“ Likewise, the OFCs’ claims on the central government grew on account of increased holdings of government securities. Similarly, the OFCs’ claims on other sectors, particularly the private sector, rose slightly as

T he data showed claims on other sectors accounted for 52.1 percent or P4.098 billion in the fourth quarter of 2022. This was followed by claims on depository corporations at 24 percent or P1.89 during the quarter in 2022, and net claims on the central government at 23.9 percent or P1.88 billion during the period.

T he BSP also said net foreign assets of OFCs declined by 2.3 percent to P261.1 billion in the fourth quarter of 2022 from P267.3 billion in the same quarter in 2021, as the sector’s liabilities grew faster than its claims on nonresidents.

The increase in the OFCs’ foreign liabilities was due mainly to higher loans payable to nonresidents. Meanwhile, the growth in foreign claims was primarily on account of increased investments in debt securities issued by nonresidents,” BSP said.

SOUTHEAST Asia’s trade performance may improve by at least 3 percent this year as the region expands trade with big economies such as China, the chief economist of the World Trade Organization (WTO) said.

W TO Chief Economist Ralph Ossa and his team at the multilateral body estimated that the trade of the Asean region would grow by 3 percent this year both in terms of exports and imports.

Ossa explained that the trade performance of Asean countries “tend to be close but slightly higher” than the overall trade performance of Asia.

For example, the average annual growth of Asean exports since 2010 was at 4.4 percent, 0.4 percentage points higher than the 4 percent annual growth posted by Asia, according to Ossa’s virtual presentation. It was also the same trend in terms of imports as Asean’s average import growth was at 4.7 percent during the same period compared to Asia’s 3.7-percent growth rate.

“ If this tendency holds up, we should expect export and import volume growth of over 3 percent in 2023 [for Southeast Asia],” Ossa said in his virtual briefing with some Southeast Asian and Pacific journalists held in Bangkok, Thailand recently.

BANKS tightened their lending standards for corporations but eased these requirements for households looking for loans in the first three months of the year, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

Companies

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

Monday, May 1, 2023

San Miguel Brewery income soars on higher sales in Q1

By VG Cabuag @villygc

Revenues for the period went up by 29 percent to P38.3 billion from P29.7 billion last year on the positive sales performance of both its domestic and international operations amid the continued easing of Covid-19 restrictions.

SM b posted a consolidated operating income of P8.4 bil-

lion, up by 25 percent compared to last year.

The company said domestic beer volumes grew 26 percent on the back of new brand campaigns and off takegenerating programs, complemented by relaxed restrictions. Its international operations, meanwhile, posted a 28-percent in-

crease in sales volume on the back of its exports business and hong Kong operations.

Volumes, however, are still 16.4 percent short of 2019 prepandemic levels, the company said.

SMb started its recovery in the domestic market last year when its net income rose by almost 5 percent to P19.54 billion.

Revenues reached P121.85 billion driven by the significant volume growth, better brand mix, and the full year impact of the October 2021 price increase.

Its overseas operating income for the year 2022 was higher by 33 percent at $46.1 million, largely driven by favorable volumes, increased selling prices and managed fixed expenses, tempered by increasing production costs.

Sales in the hong Kong, south

China and Vietnam operations were lower at year-end. The zero Covid-19 policy of the hong Kong and China governments resulted in curbs and restrictions that affected the volumes of the hong Kong and South China operations. however, the volume declines in these markets were reduced by focused programs to recover volume in San Miguel brewery hong Kong Limited and the continued re-penetration drive efforts with wholesaler incentive trade support in South China.

“The extended on-premise and domestic restrictions in the first semester largely affected the volumes of the Vietnam operations but was cushioned by the growth of San Miguel brands in the last half of the year as a result of sales expansion programs,” SMb said.

ERC issues rate cap for GEAP

By Lenie Lectura @llectura

The energy Regulatory Commission ( eRC) has released over the weekend the ceiling rate for the second round of Green energy Auction Program (Ge A P) scheduled in June.

The newly-issued the Green e n ergy Auction Reserve (G e A R) prices for rooftop solar is P4.7156 per kilowatt hour; P4.2395 per KWh for ground-mounted solar; P4.7565 per kWh for floating solar; P5.9823 per kWh for wind; and P5.1475 per kWh for biomass.

The preliminary Ge A R price for waste-to-energy will be released later prior to the public consultations scheduled on May 11 for Luzon stakeholders, May 15 for Visayas, and May 16 for Mindanao.

The hydro run-of-river will not be included in G e A 2 to make way for e R C’s feed-in-tariff (FIT)-2 and FIT-3 for hydro run-of-river.

“The issuance is pursuant to DO e DC 2021-11-0036, Providing the Revised Guidelines for the Green e n ergy Auction Program (G e A P) in the Philippines, where the e RC shall determine the G e A R

Prices which are the maximum price offers in per kWh that shall be used as the ceiling price in the auction,” the e R C said.

Under the terms of reference (TOR) for G e A 2, the total auction capacity requirement for 2024 is targeted at 3,600 megawatt (MW).

Of which, 2,400MW is allotted for Luzon auction, 870MW for Visayas, and 330MW for Mindanao. In terms of technology, ground-mounted solar is capped at 2,025MW; 235MW for rooftop solar; 1,200MW for offshore wind, and 140MW for biomass.

The Department of e n ergy (DO e ), meanwhile, has scheduled a pre-bid evaluation of registration documents on May 15 and targets to complete it by May 17. Disqualified bidders will be notified. h o wever, they can still request for reconsideration.

The first round of G e A was conducted in June last year. It generated almost 2,000MW of capacities that were committed to deliver energy from 2023 to 2025 at a competitive price lower than or equal to the G e A R prices.

During the G e A 1, the DO e issued 18 Certificate of Awards of

renewable energy capacity, which are committed to go onstream beginning this year.

After Ge A 2, the DOe will conduct Ge A 3 in the fourth quarter for geothermal and impounding hydro. The DOe will develop a specific auction policy and guidelines for Ge A4.

The DO e plans to conduct the G e A annually to encourage more R e investments in the country.

B1

CEB shifts to EV to service workers

CebU Pacific (Ceb) is transitioning its Juander Shuttle service to 100 percent electric, zeroemission minibuses for the commuting needs of its employees.

Ceb provides the Juander Shuttle service for free to transport its employees to and from its main office in Pasay City to various pick-up and drop-off locations along selected routes within Greater Metro Manila.

“Ceb is excited to roll out a more

sustainable commuting service for our employees with the 100 percent electric COMeT vehicles. This program is part of the Company’s efforts to decarbonize our operations, which in this case is the shift from the use of diesel-powered

vehicles to a more sustainable electric alternative,” said Felix Dan Lopez, C eb s Chief hu man Resources Officer. “At the same time, the bigger COMeT will accommodate more riders due to its larger seating capacity. It also offers safety and connectivity features that will serve our commuting employees better,” he added. The electric powered minibuses, called the Community Optimized Managed electric Transport, or COMeT, are provided by GeT Philippines, Inc. COMeT vehicles are fully air-conditioned and equipped with retractable ramps for persons with disabilities. They are installed with a media system, display monitors, and internet connection for the use of the passengers.

ETERNAL PLANS INKS PARTNERSHIP WITH AETERNITAS

Eternal Plans, Inc. and Aeternitas Chapels & Columbarium have recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that seeks to provide top-class memorial services to plan holders of Eternal Plans. The partnership between the two companies will enable plan

San Miguel Brewery Inc. (SMB), the beer unit of conglomerate San Miguel Corp., said its income for the first quarter rose 38 percent to P6.8 billion from the previous year’s P4.93 billion on higher sales volume.

Tax court stops BIR, BOC levy on alkylate imports

By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

THE Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) has nullified the legal opinion issued by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) which held that alkylate, a product of distillation, is subject to excise tax under Republic Act (RA) 8424 (National Internal Revenue Code or NIRC).

Consequently, the CTA enjoined the BIR and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) from demanding or collecting excise tax and value-added tax on petitioner Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. (PSPC).

PSPC has paid the BOC, under post, the amount of P3.49 billion that was demanded by the agency for its alkalyte imports for the period 2014 to 2020.

Prior to this, the Supreme Court (SC) issued a decision on March 15, 2014, which affirmed the suspension order by the CTA for PSPC’s alkylate importation from January 10 to June 2012 amounting to P1.99 billion.

The SC also ruled that the CTA correctly refused to issue a suspension order on the further taxation of PSPC’s shipment of the petroleum additive, alkylate. It also remanded to the CTA the PSPC’s petition for a temporary restraining order on future taxation of its alkylate shipment.

Nullified by the CTA was Document M-059-2012 issued by the BIR on June 29, 2012 in response to the letter of the BOC requesting for a formal legal opinion on whether the Collector of the Customs of the Port of Batangas could collect excise taxes on PSPC’s alkylate importations.

The BIR in Document M-059-2012 held that alkylate was similar to naphtha as a product of distillation, thus, subject to excise tax and corresponding valueadded taxes (VAT).

Afterwards, then BOC Commissioner Rozzano Rufino B. Biazon issued Customs Memorandum Circular (CMC) 164-2012 on July 18, 2012, directing its collector to take “appropriate action” based on Document M-059-2012.

As a result, on October 1, 2012, the BOC sent a demand letter to PSPC for the deficiency excise taxes, inclusive of interest and penalties, in the amount of P1.99 billion as computed by the BIR. This prompted the PSPC to file a petition for review with the CTA assailing the legality of Document M-059-2012.

In its petition, PSPC claimed that its constitutional right to due process was violated when the BIR issued Document M-059-2012 without prior notice, hearing and publication and when the same was made to apply retroactively. The CTA agreed on PSPC’s argument, noting that the SC has previously ruled that if the interpretative regulation substantially increases the burden of those governed, public participation and publication are required.

In other cases, the CTA said the SC ruled that without prior notice, hearing

and publication, the taxpayer would not have been liable for tax.

“There is no doubt that the assailed BIR issuance here substantially increases the burden of the taxpayer [petitioner] hence, it should have complied with the requirement of prior notice, hearing and publication before it could be given effect,” the CTA declared in a 50-page ruling penned by Associate Justice Jean Marie Bacorro-Villena.

The CTA pointed out that PSPC has been importing alkylate since May 2010 and the Authorities to Release Imported Goods’ (Atrig) issued for the said importations commonly stated that it is exempt from excise tax since it is not among those articles enumerated under Title VI of the NIRC of 1997 and per Laboratory Report dated January 21, 2009.

Thus, the CTA said petitioner is not being held liable for its alkylate importations from May 2010 to August 2011.

“As such, Document M-059-2012 should have complied with the requirement of prior notice, hearing and publication before applying the same to petitioner’s importations. As the records reveal clearly, petitioner was not even notified of its issuance much less heard before the same was given effect,” the CTA said in nullifying the assailed issuance.

“Given the lapses that amount to a violation of petitioner’s right to due process, Document M-059-2012 should be struck down for being illegal and unlawful,” it added.

Furthermore, the CTA said Document M-059-2012 also violated Section 246 of the NIRC and PSPC’s right to due process when it was made to apply retroactively.

Sec. 246 states that “any revocation, modification or reversal of any of the rules and regulations promulgated… by the Commissioner shall not be given retroactive application if the revocation, modification or reversal will be prejudicial to the taxpayers, except…where the taxpayer deliberately misstates or omits material facts from his return or any document required of him by the BIR and where the facts subsequently gathered by the BIR are materially different from the facts or where the taxpayer acted in bad faith.”

Likewise, the CTA said alkylate is not subject to excise tax as it is not a product of distillation similar to naphtha. En totale, it cannot be said that alkylate is a product of distillation. Hence, its importation should not be subject to excise tax in the absence of a law which clearly, expressly and unambiguously impose such tax on the said article,” the CTA said.

Likewise, the CTA noted that the SC recently declared in the case of Petron Corp. v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue that alkylate does not fall under the category of other similar products of distillation, thus, not subject to excise tax.

BOC welcomes WB report on Customs performance

THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) has welcomed the World Bank Logistics Performance Index (LPI) report citing the country’s significant improvement in trade facilitation and customs performance over the weekend. In a statement, BOC Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio expressed satisfaction with the report, stating that the improved customs ranking proves the effectiveness of the Bureau’s trade facilitation program.

“The latest results of the World Bank prove that the BOC is on the right track as regards trade efficiency,” Rubio was quoted in a statement as saying. “We shall continue these trade facilitation efforts while implementing new measures to maximize the performance of Customs processes.”

The World Bank LPI, measures countries’ ability to trade goods across borders with speed and reliability. It reported that the Philippines moved up 17 places from 60th in 2018 to the 43rd spot this year out of 139 countries.

Economies are rated based on customs performance, infrastructure, international shipments, logistics competence and equity, timeliness and tracking and tracing metrics.

The survey, which was conducted from September 6 to November 5 last year, consulted logistics professionals to

BSP eases rules for entities with Islamic banking units

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas

The BSP said the guidelines allow conventional commercial banks (KB) or subsidiary banks of a universal bank (UB) or KB, which meet the minimum capital requirement for their respective banking category,

to operate an IBU within a transitory period not exceeding five (5) years.

“The BSP aims to incentivize the conventional banks to test, explore and develop the market for Islamic banking products and services with

prudential safeguards to support the entry of a critical mass of Islamic banking players in the country,” BSP Governor Felipe M. Medalla said.

Qualified conventional banks with IBU will also be accorded prudential relief in meeting the minimum capital requirement which shall be based on the actual number of branches/units being used in Islamic banking operations.

The application of BSP’s enforcement framework provides prudential safeguards to ensure accountability on the committed business plan and capital build-up plan after the transitory period of covered banks with IBU to promote market discipline in the financial system.

Earlier, the BSP said it is working to support the Associate Qualification in Islamic Finance (Aqif) certification of 55 Islamic Finance Coordination Forum (IFCF) representatives

and agencies.

The BSP said it is working with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in these efforts. To date, 50 BSP personnel have attained the Aqif certification.

The BSP said the move is in recognition of the need for continuous capacity-building activities and attaining formal certification, such as the Aqif program of the Islamic Banking and Finance Institute Malaysia (IBFIM).

These kinds of efforts were the reasons for Ibfim’s recent conferment of the “Outstanding Industry Collaboration Award” to the BSP.

The IFCF is composed of the BSP, ADB, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Insurance Commission, the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos and the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

BIR asked to honor ‘gentleman’s agreement’ on VAT

By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie

THE chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means on Sunday urged the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to issue the necessary rules and regulations to implement resolutions to VAT-related concerns of registered business enterprises immediately, as “these matters have already been exhaustively discussed both on their end in the Executive and on our end in Congress.”

House Committee on Ways and Means Chairman Jose Ma. Clemente “Joey” S. Salceda urged BIR Commissioner Romeo D. Lumagui Jr. to issue the rules and regulations on the clearer and smaller negative list on VAT zero-rating for registered exporters, the rules on simplified VAT refunds and the application of the transitory period for the 5-percent gross-income-earned (GIE) for domestic enterprises without delay.

“Last Tuesday, we reiterated this in the Committee on Ways and Means,

during our regular hearing. [Finance] Secretary [Benjamin E.] Diokno already issued the directive this week to the BIR; at least on the zero-rating. So, we expect at least that one by next week. [There’re] No more issues left to study or discuss there,” Salceda said through a statement his office issued.

According to the lawmaker, the transition period for the GIE in lieu of all taxes was part of a “gentleman’s agreement.”

Congress’s intent SALCEDA also reiterated that the intent of Congress on the transitory period for the recipients of the GIE incentive in lieu of all taxes should be respected and reflected in policy.

“The transitory period, in particular, should be respected. It should have been respected from the start. Look, the 5-percent GIE was only an incentive insofar as it was in lieu of all national and local taxes. The PEZA Law [Republic Act 7916] very clearly nested that tax rate under the heading ‘Exemption from National and Local Taxes.’ So, let’s respect that,”

Perspectives

assess how easy or difficult it is to trade manufactured goods with various countries. The survey was conducted during the term of Yogi Filemon L. Ruiz.

In particular, the Philippines ranked 59th in customs performance this year, up from 85th in 2018, it said.

Moreover, the BOC has conducted a study over the years to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of border procedures relating to goods imports, exports and transit movements.

It aided the bureau in identifying and addressing relevant bottlenecks in an efficient manner.

A complete assessment of trade facilitation needs and priorities was also evaluated and implemented, as well as periodic monitoring and measuring of the outcomes of specific initiatives, policies and programs, the Customs’ study said. Rubio said the BOC is now working to achieve a digital approach to Customs processes to further enhance its effectiveness.

“We will continue to automate our systems and processes, computerize our work and modernize our facilities and procedures,” the customs’ chief said.

“We are setting our goals towards the achievement of our priority programs under the guidance of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.,” Rubio added. Raadee S. Sausa

Salceda added.

The lawmaker said “that was the deal we made with affected industries.”

“We will sunset your incentives for a more performance-based regime; but everybody under the current regime gets a break for ten years. That was the gentleman’s agreement,” he added.

“We lose respectability as an investment destination if we suddenly quibble about these things after we made that agreement with stakeholders,” Salceda added. Salceda also reiterated that the Create law was amendatory of the GIE perk, “as is clear in the amending clause.”

“But it did not repeal that incentive. It only gave a deadline,” he added.

Salceda said he would send a letter “again” to Diokno this week “to reiterate the intent and interpretation of Congress of the law it wrote and enacted.”

“I want to avoid the scenario of having the courts decide this matter. Because then, both Executive and Legislative lose all manner of latitude on this issue. It’s a tax issue. We should get it sorted among the two branches,” Salceda said.

‘Still too complex’ SALCEDA added that the VAT-refund system “leaves much to be desired” nearly five years after the enactment of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (Train) Law, which promised “the successful establishment and implementation of an enhanced VAT refund system” under Section 31 of the law (Republic Act 10963).

“The BIR cites the stringent procedures of the Commission on Audit as a reason it is careful about the VAT refund system. So, I want to revisit how [the] COA audits the BIR for VAT refunds and propose that the key performance indicator be the speed at which it delivers the refund, rather than whether it gives it at all. This is not government money, remember. This is taxpayer money that the government is withholding,” he said.

“The refund is the service. When the BIR delays the service, that should be what is subject to COA [Commission on Audit] scrutiny, not the release of the refund,” Salceda added.

What could the world of construction look like in 2030?

EVEN for an industry that has experienced its fair share of volatility, the past few years have been dramatic for engineering and construction (E&C). Covid-19, massive supply chain disruption, continued material shortages, raging inflation, the war in Ukraine and major talent gaps—these phenomena come on top of long-standing challenges of a variable performance record, poor productivity, inability to attract graduates and school leavers, boom-and-bust economic cycles, low contractor margins and continued lack of cost certainty for owners.

With some exceptions, the E&C sector remains a technology laggard and is struggling to get to grips with data and analytics—despite swimming in data. Major technology players are already eying up the sector, seeking to use their data mastery and fast innovation to steal market share.

Environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals are also having a huge impact. On one hand, E&C firms aim to be at the frontline of delivering sustainable infrastructure, energy production, factories, offices, schools, hospitals and homes, as well as carbon capture, biodiversity and other sustainability projects. On the other hand, the industry is a massive emitter of carbon, with concrete alone responsible for approximately eight percent of global CO2 annually.

The E&C industry in the Philippines has been immensely affected by the pandemic. In addition to health and safety concerns, the pandemic has highlighted the need for sustainable solutions in the industry. As the world

moves towards a greener future, the E&C industry in the country also started embracing sustainable practices to reduce its impact on the environment.

KPMG in the Philippines Deal Advisory Head and Infrastructure Sector Head Michael Arcatomy H. Guarin shares that “implementation of green building practices through the use of materials with low environmental impact, energy-efficient systems and sustainable site development can help reduce the environmental consequences of construction projects.”

“The future of construction and engineering in the Philippines is expected to be shaped by various factors in the coming years, including technological advancements, sustainability reporting, infrastructure development and economic shifts. Hence, business leaders in the E&C sector must commit to their ESG goals through data-driven digital innovations, performance evaluation and risk management,” Guarin added.

The E&C industry in 2030

IT’S now 2030 and the sector has made huge strides, working together to modernize, innovate and consolidate, learning lessons from other global industries and harnessing technologies and new ways of working. E&C companies are in much better financial shape, with healthy margins and the ability— and courage—to say “no” to high-risk or high-carbon projects. The threat from technology disruptors has not gone away, but the sector is adapting well to new competitors and welcoming them into the construction ecosystem. And

the structure of E&C is less fragmented, with greater collaboration.

A step change in project performance

PRODUCTIVITY has improved dramatically, with a much higher record of on-time, on-budget, high-quality projects. The widespread use of data sharing, common data standards and interoperability creates wide-ranging transparency across the value chain, enabling project managers to identify and address issues swiftly, to help minimize delays and cost overruns. Whether it’s a measurement error, a leaking pipe, or damage to a vital substructure, the early resolution means that projects can resume with limited negative impact.

Decision-making has been greatly enhanced through the use of IoT, AI, ML, automation and analytics, with sensors able to detect problems that would previously have been unseen.

The E&C industry’s productivity has improved immeasurably, thanks to up-to-the-minute benchmarking on why certain teams are not performing.

And the growing application of D&A has unlocked the potential of predictive forecasting and maintenance, enabling project managers to keep clients wellinformed of progress, tackle potential problems before they arise and keep equipment operational to help minimize shutdowns.

Pushing the innovation envelope

IN a few short years, E&C has embraced innovation with open arms. Compa-

nies have adopted startup mentalities, through innovation labs or hubs separate from the main business, where employees are encouraged to take risks to accelerate and improve performance. Many have also acquired startups from within and beyond the sector and worked in partnership with other leading-edge players in the construction ecosystem. And the sector has gained mastery over data, with E&C companies frequently considered to be “data companies that build things.” These advances have been helped by an influx of talent from nontraditional sources like data science, AI and other technology companies, as well as mainstream business candidates attracted by innovation in the sector.

Risk management from a higher altitude

IN 2030, risk management has reached the same levels of maturity that health and safety had achieved by 2023. Thanks to the ability to aggregate risk at an enterprise level, contractors and owners now have a clearer view of portfolio risk. This helps avoid bids that could push the business beyond its accepted risk limit, as well as spotting potentially damaging risks earlier and taking decisive action to prevent project failure.

This article is for general information purposes only and should not be considered as professional advice to a specific issue or entity. The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the BusinessMirror, KPMG International or KPMG in the Philippines. Email ph-kpmgmla@kpmg.com.

THE

(BSP) modified the minimum capitalization requirement for conventional banks with Islamic banking units (IBUs), which could provide more flexibility in licensing an IBU of qualified conventional banks.

Why is China trying to mediate in russia’s War With ukraine?

By Joe Mcdonald The Associated Press

Chinese leader Xi Jinping said Wednesday that Beijing will send an envoy to Ukraine to discuss a possible “political settlement” to Russia’s war with the country.

Beijing has previously avoided involvement in conflicts between other countries but appears to be trying to assert itself as a global diplomatic force after arranging talks between s a udi Arabia and i r an in March that led them to restore diplomatic relations after a sevenyear break.

Xi told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a phone call that a Chinese envoy, a former Chinese ambassador to Russia, would visit Ukraine and “other countries” to discuss a possible political settlement, according to a government statement.

it m ade no mention of Russia or last year’s invasion of Ukraine and didn’t indicate whether the Chinese envoy might visit Moscow.

The Xi-Zelenskyy phone call was long anticipated after Beijing said it wanted to serve as a mediator in the war.

Why does this matter?

Chin A i s the only major government that has friendly relations with Moscow as well as economic leverage as the biggest buyer of Russian oil and gas after the United s t ates and its allies cut off most purchases.

Beijing, which sees Moscow as a diplomatic partner in opposing U s domination of global affairs, has refused to criticize the invasion and used its status as one of five permanent U n s e curity Council members to deflect diplomatic attacks on Russia.

Zelenskyy earlier said he welcomed a Chinese offer to mediate.

Why did China do this?

Xi’s government has pursued a bigger role in global diplomacy as part of a campaign to restore China to what the ruling Communist Party sees as its rightful status as a political

and economic leader and to build an international order that favors Beijing’s interests.

That is a sharp reversal after decades of avoiding involvement in other countries’ conflicts and most international affairs while it focused on economic development at home. i n M arch, s a udi Arabia and i r an issued a surprise announcement, following talks in Beijing, that they would reopen embassies in each other’s capitals following a seven-year break. China has good relations with both as a big oil buyer.

Last week, Foreign Minister Qin Gang told his i s raeli and Palestinian counterparts that his country is ready to help facilitate peace talks.

Wednesday’s statement warned against the dangers of nuclear war, suggesting Beijing might also have been motivated by what it sees as the growing danger of a more destructive conflict.

Mediating between Ukraine and Russia would increase China’s presence in e a stern e u rope, where Beijing has tried to build ties with other governments. That has prompted complaints by some e u ropean officials that China is trying to gain leverage over the e ur opean Union.

Political science professor Kimberly Marten of Barnard College at Columbia University in n ew York doubted China would succeed in a peacemaker role.

i have a hard time believing that China can act as peacemaker,” she said, adding that Beijing has been “too close to Russia.”

What are China’s relations with Russia?

Chin A i s the closest thing President Vladimir Putin’s isolated government has to a major ally.

Xi and Putin issued a joint statement ahead

What are China’s relations with Ukraine?

of the February 2022 invasion that said their governments had a “no limits friendship.”

Beijing has tried to appear neutral but has repeated Russian justifications for the invasion.

Xi received a warm welcome from Putin during a visit to Moscow in March. The Chinese defense minister visited Russia this month.

China has stepped up purchases of Russian oil and gas for its energy-hungry economy, helping to offset lost revenue resulting from Western sanctions. i n e xchange, China gets lower prices, though details haven’t been disclosed.

Marten said the Xi-Zelenskyy call was “kind of a slap at Russia, because Russia has been very keen to portray China as its ally.” s h e said the direct China-Ukraine contact “indicates China is taking at least a step away from Russia.”

Analysis: China’s Ukraine plan mixes peace, self-interest

By Joe Mcdonald

The Associated Press

Chinese leader Xi Jinping faces daunting obstacles if he is serious about trying to help end Russia’s 14-month-old war in Ukraine.

The biggest: n either side is ready to stop fighting. Xi’s plan to send an envoy to Ukraine allows his government to deflect criticism of its support for Moscow and pursue a bigger role as a diplomatic force. h i s announcement

Wednesday in a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy prompted optimism Beijing might use its warm relations with Russia’s Vladimir Putin to push for peace. That was followed by skeptical questions about whether Beijing is more focused on ending an invasion it refuses to criticize, or serving its own interests.

China’s starting point is a peace proposal issued in February that called for a ceasefire, negotiations and an end to sanctions against Russia. it o ffered few details, but repeated Russian accusations that Western governments were to blame for the invasion.

China has good reasons to want to see the war ended. it j olted the Chinese economy by pushing up oil, wheat and other commodity prices. Beijing also warned Wednesday about the dangers of nuclear war, after Russia announced earlier it would move atomic weapons into neighboring Belarus.

“China’s self-interest happens to align with ending the war,” said John Delury, an international relations specialist at Yonsei University in s e oul.

“Beijing has no interest in seeing Russia humiliated, nor is it in China’s interest for Russia to be triumphant,” Delury said. “The best option is a cease-fire and, with it, economic opportunities to participate in Ukraine’s postwar reconstruction.”

Wednesday’s statement gave no indication how China might recommend addressing the questions the two countries are fighting over, including Crimea, the Black s e a peninsula seized by Moscow from Ukraine in 2014.

Playing peacemaker helps Beijing in Europe

B Y p laying peacemaker, Beijing might also be looking to separate e u ropean allies from the United s t ates, which Xi accuses of trying to block China's economic and political rise.

Beijing is trying to repair relations with e u rope after an uproar over a Chinese ambassador’s comment that former s o viet republics might not be sovereign countries. That group includes Ukraine, and e u ropean Union members e s tonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

Leaders including French President e mm anuel Macron have visited Beijing and appealed for help with Ukraine, highlighting the challenges faced by Washington in holding together allies to oppose China’s assertive policies abroad.

“Trying to drive a wedge between the U s and e u ropean partners is an important goal,” said Alexander Gabuev of the Carnegie e nd owment for i nternational Peace. “For that, China needs to pretend that it’s an active force for peace.”

Xi’s call with Zelenskyy might sustain e ur opean hopes that China can be persuaded to “wield its influence to help end the war” but is “unlikely to change the Western assessment of Beijing’s stance as one of ‘pro-Russian neutrality,'” said e u rasia Group analysts in a report.

Xi shows he doesn’t always support Putin

The announcement gives Beijing a chance to show it doesn't always agree with Moscow, though the differences might be too subtle for Western critics. They complain China helps Putin resist Western sanctions by purchasing Russian oil and gas and provides po -

litical support.

Xi’s government sees the Kremlin as a partner in opposing U s domination of global affairs. China has used its status as one of five permanent U n s e curity Council members to block efforts to censure Russia.

Xi and Putin said in a joint statement before the February 2022 invasion their governments had a “no limits friendship.” Their navies held joint exercises with i r an in March.

Despite that, the Chinese government says they have a “non-alliance” relationship. Beijing has promised not to supply armaments to either side in the Ukraine war.

“China has never taken one side,” said Da Wei, an international relations specialist at Tsinghua University in Beijing and director of its Center for s t rategic and s e curity s t udies.

“Which Western leader has maintained communication with leaders of both parties directly involved in the crisis?” said Da. “ i think this call is an indication of China’s fair and impartial objective in promoting peace talks."

A Chinese statement Wednesday also cited “mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity” as a foundation of relations with Ukraine.

While Russia is trying to move borders by annexing portions of Ukraine, Beijing is intensely sensitive about respecting territorial sovereignty. it says borders must be respected and no country has a right to meddle in another’s affairs.

Beijing’s effort to raise global profile

Posi T i onin G itself as a mediator also helps Beijing as it pursues a bigger role in managing global affairs as part of efforts to restore China to what the Communist Party sees as its rightful place as a political, economic and cultural leader.

Beijing should “actively participate in the reform and construction of the global governance system” and promote “global security

Chin A w as Ukraine’s biggest trading partner before the invasion, though on a smaller scale than Chinese-Russian trade.

i n 2 021, Ukraine announced plans for Chinese companies to build trade-related infrastructure.

Zelenskyy’s government was more ambivalent toward Beijing after it was clear Xi wouldn’t try to stop Putin’s war, but the two sides have remained amicable.

“Before the full-scale Russian invasion, China was Ukraine’s number one trading partner. i believe that our conversation today will give a powerful impetus to the return, preservation and development of this dynamic at all levels,” an official Ukrainian readout of the call reported.

Qin, the foreign minister, promised this month China wouldn’t provide arms to either

side, a pledge that benefits Ukraine, which has received tanks, rockets and other armaments from the United s t ates and e u ropean governments.

The Chinese ambassador to France set off an uproar in e u rope when he suggested former s o viet republics—a group that includes Ukraine—might not be sovereign nations. That was in line with Putin’s comments denying Ukrainian sovereignty.

Beijing then reassured former s o viet states it respected their sovereignty and said the ambassador's comments were a personal opinion, not official policy.

e l izabeth Wishnick, of the U s - based think tank C n A a nd Columbia University’s Weatherhead e a st Asian i n stitute, said in an email: “ i w onder if Xi’s call was set up quickly to deflect attention” from the uproar over the Chinese ambassador’s remarks.

initiatives,” Xi said in March. A proposal for a “Global s e curity i n itiative” issued in February said China is “ready to conduct bilateral and multilateral security cooperation with all countries.”

Also in March, s a udi Arabia and i r an announced the end of a 7-year diplomatic split following Chinese-organized talks. This year, Xi’s government has also offered to mediate i s raeli-Palestinian talks, set up a new Middle e a st security structure, and help African countries resolve disputes.

i f B eijing can organize peace talks, “that backs up Xi Jinping’s ambitions to being a global power,” said Delury.

China’s diplomatic ambition is a reversal from decades of staying out of other countries’ disputes and most international affairs to focus on economic development.

it s peacemaking initiatives are also at odds with confrontational Chinese behavior toward its neighbors in territorial disputes and threats to attack Taiwan, the self-ruled island democracy claimed by Beijing as part of its territory.

Dim hopes for peace talks Ze

government said in a statement

his conversation with Xi might lead toward “possible interaction with the aim of establishing a just and sustainable peace for Ukraine.” Zelenskyy said March 29 he had invited Xi to visit, but neither government has indicated whether that might happen.

Despite that, political analysts see little chance for progress. Ukraine is believed to be preparing a new offensive to recapture Russian-occupied territory.

A resolution is “maybe years, even decades, away, because the Russian and Ukrainian positions are still miles apart,” said Gabuev.

s h i Yinhong, an international relations specialist at Renmin University in Beijing, noted Russia’s Foreign Ministry has said peace talks are “almost impossible," while Zelenskyy stressed to Xi the importance of recovering all captured territory.

n either side in the war materially echoed China’s initiative, which fell far short of what they were striving for,” said s h i.

Joe McDonald has reported from China for The Associated Press since 1997. AP researcher Wanqing Chen in Beijing and AP writer Andrew Katell contributed.

RUssiAn President Vladimir Putin, right, speaks to Chinese President Xi Jinping as they attend an official welcome ceremony at The Grand Kremlin Palace, in Moscow, Russia, March 21, 2023. sE rg E K A r pu K h in, s p utni K Kr E m lin p o ol

Filbert Kung captures Milan

Reimagining men’s fashion with refreshed brands

FROM Mindanao to Milan, the illuminating talent of photographer Filbert Kung knows no boundaries. Having honed his craft in Manila’s fashion scene, he has since worked in New York, Miami, Rio de Janeiro, Paris, Dubai and Seville.

In perhaps a Filipino first, Kung will hold a photography exhibit on May 16 at the five-star, neoclassical Hotel Principe di Savoia in the fashion capital of Milan. Titled Blinded by the Light, the exclusive one-day-only event is in collaboration with the City Angels charity organization.

“This exhibit was the idea of my Italian manager, Carlo Riva, with the help of Italy’s ‘Queen of Public Relations,’ Daniela Javarone, when I was in Italy for Milan Fashion Week in February. My publicist, Now PR LA, which represents me in the US, gave its all-out support to the idea,” Kung says.

Self-taught in photography, the boy from Tangub City, Misamis Occidental, has come a long way. For corporate accounts, magazine covers, red-carpet coverage and fashion editorials, Kung has captured beautiful Filipinos such as Sara Meier, Ria Bolivar, Paolo Roldan, Maureen Wroblewitz, Jo Koy, Kylie Versoza, Pia Wurtzbach, Megan Young and Lovi Poe.

He has also trained his camera on Maggie Q, Harry Hamlin, Tom Hanks, Glenn Close, Angelina Jolie and Timothée Chalamet.

“I photographed [How To Get Away With Murder actor] Charlie Weber for a cover of an LA-based magazine called La Palme in 2018. He’s such a kind person to work with. The Big Little Lies cast [Laura Dern,Nicole Kidman, Zoe Kravitz, Reese Witherspoon and Shaileene Woodley] I met and photographed during the Golden Globes Awards in 2019, the same year when I shot Lady Gaga when she gamely posed with her finger on her nose. It was such a lovely moment,” Kung recalls.

“I photographed Chris Evans for the advertising campaign of Smart Telecom. It was the most challenging. It happened in January 2021, the height of Covid infection in LA. The Screen Actors Guild was very strict and did not allow photoshoots in LA. We had to move everything and shoot in Boston, with limited people and very strict protocols,” he relates. “I still have a long list of people that I dream of working with. I just finished two big covers with two personalities that will be out soon.”

As per the production notes, Blinded by the Light represents “the irony of using the lens to capture moments that the untrained human eye may not perceive at first glance,” as Kung “creates his signature photography style that satisfyingly combines boldness, simplicity and emotion. He is widely renowned for his black-and-white images that transcend the bounds of physical and traditional beauty, and capture the real emotion and souls behind his subjects.”

Among the illustrious Italians that will be featured are PR maven Daniela Javarone; Mario Boselli, senior adviser to the Made in Italy Fund and honorary chairman of the National Chamber

of Italian Fashion; Ugo Cilento, who provides ties, suits and tux to royalty and presidents of Italy; Jody Brugola, current president of his namesake company which manufactures hexagon socket head bolts; and Paolo Fiorelli, owner, chairman and CEO of Mbe Etc WorldWide.

Kung was one of the local scene’s brightest talents in fashion photography when he decided to leave the comforts of home and trained his lenses on the international market.

“Moving to the US wasn’t really part of my plan. When I was on vacation in New York, I just realized that I have bigger opportunities there. I also felt more accepted and more valued when it comes to my photography. I feel the freedom of creating something, things I see and love without judgement. So I decided to stay,” he shares. For him, building a life abroad is challenging. In his situation, he went to the US by himself without any concrete plans. It was his first time living alone. There was even a time that he needed to transfer apartments and look for a new one in the middle of

It’s all about the eyes for Albert Kurniawan

Kurniawan founded his own makeup brand in 2018 and he named it after his mother Tevianty. In 2019, Teviant was officially launched to the public.

For the brand’s launch in 2019, Kurniawan collaborated with Evangelista for four 12-pan eyeshadow palettes named Queen, Mademoiselle, Señorita and Amore.

Teviant products are meticulously developed and painstakingly made with Kurniawan himself visiting the brand’s factories and laboratories in Europe several times a year to ensure the quality, stability and uniqueness of each formula and product.

Of course, we all know what happened in 2020 and Teviant was not spared from the effects of the pandemic.

winter during a Christmas holiday.

“It was tough but I kept on moving forward. A lot more challenges followed but I remained strong because of my vision and goals,” Kung shares.

“Currently, I’m based in Los Angeles, having moved here in 2016 from New York. I was also here during the Covid-19 pandemic.”

With his forthcoming exhibit, Kung welcomes everyone to see fleeting moments of reflection from his personal point of view as the man behind the lens. There are plans to take the exhibit to London after Milan. And, perhaps, to Manila.

What would it take to become a world-class Filipino photographer?

“It takes a lot of courage and perseverance. It’s tough but everything you imagine can be attainable if you work and pray hard enough. You need to put yourself out there to be seen and heard. You must develop this aura of strength and a completely different mindset from what you are used to in the Philippines. You must learn to work alone and not rely on anyone. It’s not easy but it’s going to be worth it.” n

FAMOUS retail brand Rustan’s is taking men’s fashion to new heights with the official launch of its revamped menswear collection, featuring a fresh new set of innovative brands. With a keen eye for the extraordinary and a commitment to excellence, the retailer has carefully curated an exceptional collection of men’s fashion brands that are sure to impress. From the seasoned and discerning to the young and vibrant, Rustan’s Man 2.0 is designed to cater to every taste and style preference.

At the launch event held recently, Rustan’s Man unveiled new international brands and new collection pieces from local designers. The night featured exciting games and activities that elevated one’s fashion game and style to the next level. Among those who attended were Victor Basa, Sam Ajdani, DJ Jimmy Nocon, Chef Francis Tolentino, Miko Carreon, BJ Pascual, and more.

Guests were able to interact with their favorite skin-care brands, Malin + Goetz and Clarins, at the activity station where they played air hockey and “Guess the Routine” for exclusive prizes. They also learned the art of fragrance layering with Jo Malone. For the more competitive crowd, the Gaming Library did not disappoint as they presented a variety of modern board games perfect for group bondings. Refreshments were served by Philippine Wine Merchants, which sampled Sapporo beer and Glen Moray whiskey.

I’VE always had this impression that Albert Kurniawan was the child of rich parents who helped him get ahead in the beauty business. It turns out that while his parents are indeed rich, the makeup artist’s success story is his own. His father, at some point, actually cut him off financially.

The Indonesia-born Kurniawan came to the Philippines 15 years ago with P5,000. He fell in love with the country and decided to stay here. Before that, he was studying interior and fashion design in Singapore.

It was Kurniawan’s friend Queenmelo Esguerra, who then worked at the GMA Network-owned QTV, who gave the makeup artist the break that he needed. He also later apprenticed with makeup artist Patrick Rosas.

Kurniawan caught the public’s attention because of the makeup looks he did for actress Heart Evangelista. For the past 12 years, he has also worked with top makeup brands in the country, including Nars and Laura Mercier.

“I believe everyone was affected by the pandemic. I was depressed. I gained 20kg because eating became my outlet,” said Kurniawan during the launch of his new eye makeup products at fine dining restaurant Lore Manila. He dealt with his anxiety and depression by being upfront about it and talking to people about how he felt.

For the brand’s first official launch, Teviant focused on its eye makeup products, because Kurniawan said both brow and eye makeup are equally important.

“I can never choose between the two.”

Eye Intensifier is Teviant’s award-winning eye pencil that now comes in waterproof formula. This eye pencil delivers high-color pay-off but is gentle on the eyes, and is also ecofriendly. Each pencil is shaped differently as the manufacturer only used wood from fallen trees. Eye Intensifier comes in seven shades: Termagant (Intense Black), Cleo (Rustic Golden Green), Flesh (Nude), Dobi (Rose Gold), Doyenne

(Champagne) from the previous collection, Gold Rush (Yellow Gold), and Nipah (Brown). Liquid Eyeliner Pen stays on for up to 18 hours. This

easy-to-use liquid formula comes in Black, Chocolate Brown, Burgundy, and Sangria.

Mon Cheri Mascara is a waterproof, smudge-proof and long-wearing formula that comes with two brushes. Aside from the regular spoolie brush, there is also a smaller version for the lower lashes and to coat the upper lashes as well.

Multi-Glaze is a duo pen that comes in two formulas— eyeshadow stick and liquid eyeshadow, both of which can be used on its own, and can also be applied together for maximum effect. There are six shades, including Little Bride (Golden Sunset and Antique Copper), Nectar (Metallic Cacao and Ashy Purple), Dahlia (Magenta Metallic and Cashmere Rose), Agnes (Burnt Plum and Sheer Glittery Copper), Alabaster (Rustic Metallic Mauve and Golden Rose), and Final Walk (Antique Rose Gold with Gold Dust and Sheer Champagne).

Eyebrow Tint is four-progned felt-tip liner that mimics fine hair strands when applied for a three-dimensional and microbladed effect. Precise, long-wearing, waterproof, sweat-resistant, and paraben-free, it’s a product that can be used even when you swim. There are five shades: She (Khaki Brown), Her (Ash Brown), Midwife (Beige Brown), Harlot (Cinnamon Brown), and First Born (Coal Gray).

Brow Mate is a thin eyebrow pencil that can be used to draw in hair-like strands. It comes in Deep Brown, Medium Brown, and Neutral Brown.

Teviant is available at www.teviantbeauty.com, leading department store counters, LOOK branches, Lazada, Shopee, Zalora, BeautyMNL, Edamama, and the brand’s own TikTok shop.

CLOCKWISE Bessie Badilla in Amato Couture, Dubai 2018; Keely Shaye Smith and Pierce Brosnan, Los Angeles 2019; Charlie Weber for La Palme magazine, Los Angeles 2018; Vglow CEO and former actress Ella V, Los Angeles, 2023; Brian May of Queen, Los Angeles 2018; Filbert Kung

Calaca celebrates 188th founding annivesary with CalacAtchara Festival starting May 1

Pepsi encourages young Pinoys to embark on new food quests

MUCH has been said about Gen Z and the characteristics that set them apart from older cohorts. In general, those born between 1997 and 2012 are digital natives who are empowered multitaskers and always up for an adventure. With less restrictions to mobility, Gen Z are among the first to embrace the return to travel and exploration, especially with friends.

Gen Z Filipinos, like others in their age group, are driven by their quest for identity and authenticity; thus their penchant for exciting, memorable experiences. After the community lockdowns, they have proven to be keen in testing their boundaries through new pursuits.

In keeping with the times, Pepsi has kept its thumb on the pulse of the youth. The global well-loved beverage brand encourages young, optimistic Filipinos to celebrate living in the now by showcasing shared moments of togetherness in the spirit of discovery. Pepsi is helping the Filipino youth discover their new personal dining favorites through food adventures and exploration.

“Regardless of the tongue-incheek generational stereotypes, Gen Z refuses to be classified into any hard-and-fast boxes. Pepsi remains a prime mover in inspiring the youth

to go out of their comfort zones and make new memories through food and drink,” said Frederick D. Ong, President and Chief Executive Officer of PepsiCola Products Philippines, Inc. (PCPPI), the exclusive manufacturer of PepsiCo beverages in the country.

“For decades, Pepsi has been a refreshing companion to Filipino food favorites—from pizza and pasta to grilled meat and barbecues. We aim to complement the Pinoy palate, especially that of Gen Z foodies, as they define their

tastes as they go out and experience the world of taste for themselves,” Ong added.

PCPPI is the exclusive manufacturer of PepsiCo beverages in the country. Other than Pepsi, it distributes wellloved brands such as Mountain Dew, 7-Up, Mirinda, Mug, Gatorade, Sting, Tropicana, Lipton Iced Tea, Milkis, Chum Churum Soonhari, and Premier Purified Water. For more information about PCPPI and its products, please visit www.pepsiphilippines.com.

GMA, Nestlé PH launch Reduce, Reuse, Recycle advocacy campaign through Kalikasanovela series

“As artists, it’s our responsibility to use our platforms influence for good, especially when it comes to matters concerning the environment. Being part of the Kalikasanovela series is my way of doing this—by helping spread awareness about the plastic waste problem in the Philippines,” said Umali.

For Madrid, it’s not enough to just talk about these advocacies, you also have to practice what you preach. “Understanding that if all of us will do small acts to reduce, reuse, and recycle can have a big positive impact on the environment. I know we can do it. We just have to start now.”

AHIGHER level of revelry comes to the new city of Calaca, Batangas with its much awaited CalacAtchara Festival from May 1 to 10, 2023.

Celebrating its 188th founding anniversary with the theme: “Calaca Rising: Higher Power,” Calaca beams the energy of its people with highlights of its culture and history, as it underscores its remarkable transition as the first city in Western Batangas.

Mayor Sofronio “Nas” C. Ona Jr., who led Calaca in the cityhood elevation, states : “This year’s CalacAtchara showcases and honors our people’s talents, creativity, dedication, and energies to propel our new city forward. I enjoin Calacazens, Batangas neighbors, and delighted visitors to check out our announced programs on this historic celebration.”

An opening program is set on May 1 with Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go gracing the occasion.

“Green Power: Calaca City Agri-Fair” is from May 1 to 10, and banners products under the One Barangay, One Product Program and Livelihood programs in all 40 barangays. A “Pinaka Contest” recognizes products with the “mostest” by participants.

“Power of Story: Calaca Film Festival” runs from May 1 to 9 with stories of courage and empowerment. Full length and short stories which uplift the spirit and provide perspectives across dramatic themes are featured. It also signifies the openness of Calacazens to embrace modern art expressions, celebrating freedom of expression and awareness.

On May 3, 2023, “Power Within: Ms. Gay Calaca City 2023” competition highlights and honors LGBTQ talents while on May 5, 2023,

the first Binibining Lungsod ng Calaca will be chosen through “Empowered Women: Bb. Lungsod ng Calaca 2023.”

A city fest is only a fest with street dancing. On May 6, 2023 “Calascope Street Dance and Exhibition” takes place as a kaleidoscope of ingenuity and brilliance with the Deped Calaca community presenting its own colorful dances.

Calaca as a center of development and a promising hub for investors is manifested in the “Power of Light Float Parade: Illuminating the city of Calaca” on May 7. Marvelous light floats signify the role of industries for city growth.

Outstanding men, women and organizations of Calaca get center stage on May 9 with Gawad Parangal Grand Power Ball Higher Power Awards.

Culminating these is “Araw ng Calaca Mayor’s Night” on May 10, marking the 188th founding anniversary . Pumped up energy from popular talents of the country caps off the event on a high note, as well as presents a powerful backdrop to future festivities.

Other events that will further liven the celebration are Horseback Riding, Mountain Bike Challenge, Car and Motor Show, Job Fair, Barangay Power Up Challenge, Power Pups Dog Show, Power Play Inter-Barangay League, Photo Exhibit, Fun Run and Zumba and Ground breaking Ceremony for the City Hall Annex Building and National Government Center.

The schedule of the CalacAtchara is posted at Gawang Calaca PIO, an official Facebook account, and at City of Calaca, another official FB page of the city.

THE plastic waste crisis has been a longstanding environmental problem in the country largely due to the gaps in solid waste management (SWM) systems, including recovery, segregation, and recycling. According to the World Bank, 2.7 million tons of plastic waste is generated in the Philippines each year. The country also has one of the highest rates of mismanaged plastic waste globally, resulting in plastics ending up as litter and in landfills, and eventually leaking into bodies of water.

To help address this, GMA Network and Nestlé Philippines forged a partnership for the planet with the aim to promote proper SWM and engage more Filipinos in building a movement for environmental sustainability through educational content. One of its highlights is the launch of the Kalikasanovela series starring SPARKLE artists.

Through four 30-second videos, GMA and Nestlé PH tapped on the Filipinos’ love of entertainment and storytelling to communicate the importance of the 3Rs—reducing, reusing and recycling plastic waste—and inspire consumers to embrace their role as stewards for the planet.

“This marks a milestone as we launch Kalikasanovela, a fusion of our love for storytelling with our love for the

environment. It is our belief in GMA that we need a concerted and cooperative effort to save our Earth and keep it livable. This is why our partnership with Nestle is very significant for us. With our complementary strengths and the same vision, we hope to encourage as many Filipinos to be more responsible in their everyday living and be kinder to our environment,” said Angel Javier Cruz, Vice President and Head of Corporate Affairs and Communications of GMA Network.

Each Kalikasanovela episode makes use of a well-loved Filipino movie and TV series genre to tell a short story about plastic waste. It also shows Nestlé PH’s initiatives and milestones in addressing the plastic waste crisis, including upcycling sachets into school chairs, reducing plastic in their product packaging, collecting and diverting over 60 million kilos of plastic waste from the environment, and educating its employees to reduce, reuse, and recycle plastics in their homes.

In celebration of Earth Day, GMA Network and Nestlé Philippines launched the Kalikasanovela last April 17, 2023, wherein– together with Sparkle artists Bianca Umali, Ruru Madrid, and Sofia Pablo who starred in Kalikasanovela episodes Katok, Ibaon, and Sirena, respectively talked about their experiences and learnings from participating in the project.

“Instead of using single-use plastics when I eat out or shop, I bring reusable items to reduce my consumption,” Pablo shared. “There are many alternatives to single-use plastics that are readily available in the market from water bottles and utensils to shopping bags. It’s up to us to make that choice to help our planet in our own little ways.”

Other SPARKLE artists who starred in the series include Sanya Lopez for Paalam, and Allen Ansay for Sirena. You can watch all Kalikasanovela episodes on GMA 7 and the digital platforms of GMA and Nestlé Philippines.

“We thank GMA Network for sharing our vision of a waste-free future. Our goal for the Kalikasanovela series and this partnership as a whole is to inspire more Filipinos to be part of the solution in addressing the plastic waste problem even in ways as simple as reusing, reducing and recycling plastic waste. We have to remember, tayo ang bida sa ating kwentong pangkalikasan. Together, we have what it takes to create a better world and shape a waste-free future for our children and for generations to come,” said Jose Uy III, SVP & Head of Corporate Affairs of Nestlé Philippines.

Last year, 400 GMA employees, including SPARKLE artists, joined sustainability workshops, and volunteered in coastal cleanup and tree growing activities together with Nestlé PH employees and other partners such as the Climate Change Commission (CCC) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

SUMMER is finally here and we know everyone is itching to jet off to their next destination. But before you hit the road, make sure you have all your vacation essentials. And where better to shop than at the Paseo Outlets at Greenfield City? With up to 80 percent off on your favorite brands, you can find everything you need for your summer getaway all in one place.

Be summer-ready with American Eagle Outfitters Outlet where you’ll find comfy summer outfits that are on fleek and perfect for a casual day out. At the Bench Depot, you’ll find a variety of summer essentials including Kashieca pieces that embody chic and feminine styles along with Cotton On's more playful and colorful looks.

If you’re looking for something more luxe, check out 158 Designer's Blvd. and F&F for luxury brands at discounted prices. You should also definitely head over to Brandsmart, a treasure trove of trendy OOTDs from Zara, Pull&Bear, Massimo Dutti and loads more.

The Outlet is sure to be your go-to store for classic, timeless pieces that never go out of style from Gap, Banana Republic, and Old Navy. You can also get your 90s denim fix from the Levi's Factory Outlet and complete your summer look with the latest pairs from the Crocs outlet.

Looking to hit the beach? Then make a bee line for the only Speedo outlet in the country, where else but at your favorite outlet mall! And don’t forget to shield your eyes from the summer sun in style with Oakley Vault and Sunglass Haven‘s luxury designer brands of

sunnies like Ray-Ban, Oakley, Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, Dior, Carrera, Fendi, and Hugo Boss, to name a few.

Get fit and ready for your summer adventure with the adidas outlet, Nike Factory Store, Under Armour Outlet, and Park Outlet where you'll find a wide selection of athletic wear, shoes, and accessories that are perfect for your active lifestyle.

Check out other summer travel musthaves at the following outlet stores: Fusion Outlet (Sperry, Keds, Saucony, Merrell), Giordano Outlet, Marks & Spencer Outlet, Payless Shoesource, Timberland Outlet, west elm Outlet, Pottery Barn Outlet

Pack them all up in a travel-ready bag from the Samsonite Outlet and you’re all good to go!

With so many deals to explore, this shopping paradise makes for a fantastic summer getaway all on its own. With its vast, wide-open spaces, lots of greens and fields, fresh air, and sunshine, the Paseo Outlets is a stunning setting for a chill day with the fam. Of course, furbabies included!

So why not make the Paseo Outlets your ultimate summer destination? With its unbeatable prices, unique offerings, and refreshing ambiance, you're sure to have a summer experience like no other. Head on over and make unforgettable memories with your family and friends while scoring great deals on your summer travel must-haves.

The Paseo Outlets is located along Tagaytay Balibago Road, Greenfield City, Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

EXPLORE the world of taste with Pepsi. Pinoy pop sensations and Pepsi celebrity endorsers SB-19 encourage young Filipinos to embark on new food adventures with gusto.

IN photo from left to right are SPARKLE artists Allen Ansay, Sofia Pablo, Ruru Madrid, and Bianca Umali are joined by Senior Vice President and Head of Corporate Affairs of Nestlé Philippines Jose Uy III, and Vice President and Head of Corporate Affairs and Communications of GMA Network Angel Javier Cruz during the media launch for Kalikasanovela series.

The New ChaNNel is borN, led by aN iNvolved aNd digiTal mom

ALTHOUGH our overall health situation has considerably improved, we cannot totally say that the pandemic is over but we can look back at the three-year pandemic and focus on some of the good and fruitful opportunities that were brought about by the global crisis.

While the extended isolation produced many tales of companies that closed down including many media outlets, the other side of it surprised us by anything and everything new which was born out of need and innovative ideas such as start up companies and enterprising techpreneurs. Some businesses which rose to prominence included Grab Food, Angkas, Lalamove, and Shopee which led the way into the lives of hungry and bewildered consumers.

Online streaming platforms also sprouted from the huge communication gap brought about by the pandemic. One example of a company that was brought about by an opportunity from crisis is The New Channel or TNC as it is now known.

One of streaming’s earliest local adaptors, TNC was co-founded and started by a young entrepreneur Apple Esplana-Manansala, who simply challenged the old by offering new ways of consuming social media content.

The idea was driven by a vision to build and sustain connections that will provide businesses and individuals a platform where they can reach out, communicate, and collaborate with each other online.

content creation

A PP LE h appens to be the daughter-in-law of a very dear friend Ellen de Jesus Manansala, but that was not the reason Apple touched base with me during the pandemic. She had seen and read this PR Matters column and knowing that I had also authored a book “Pinoy Manners”, she introduced the idea that I might want to venture into a new social media platform where I could express my ideas and concepts via a different medium that would include video. Of course, I was

very interested in the beginning and I met with her a couple of times online where she explained to me that she had already paved the way for other content creators to have their own “shows” which would all be included in The New Channel. I eagerly discussed with her some of my personal topics that I felt strongly about and she did find them worth producing, but as we slowly went back to our normal load of work again for my agency, I found myself telling her maybe we can make a go of it in the future when I can better concentrate on her suggested digital platform with me as a content creator.

By offering shows 24/7, The New Channel opened doors to a whole new world of creators.

In an instant, pocket series, indie producers, niche sponsors and limited editions found a platform both free-thinking and without time constraints.

The New Channel became synonymous to “the new platform” and streaming became the new broadcast.

TNC is a showcase for Filipino talent and global influencers that promote cultural intelligence and ingenuity. It has shows being streamed around Asia and the US aside from the Philippines.

“It’s amazing how The New Channel has grown and become this game-changer, the alternative platform that gives creators a home. We’re here to help grow Filipino talent and boost our industry of producers, key opinion leaders, influencers and entrepreneurs,” says Apple.

“Naturally it was not easy.

The New Channel had to devise ways to stay afloat and survive. Of course, we must be up to date, we need to study the needs of the people, learn about the audience and know how to deliver what they need,” Apple adds.

Less than three years from its first show, The New Channel has since expanded beyond streaming, beyond online content creation with well-placed exposure in some Asia Pacific events.

apple manansala’s work background

WHAT is the background of

Apple Manansala that led her to pursue this innovative new platform?

A graduate of Fine Arts with a major in advertising, Apple Esplana-Manansala is the coowner and Vice President of PuzzleBox BPO Inc., a 10-year-old 24/7 operating BPO which she and her husband Erwin Ernesto Manansala started together.

Puzzlebox which is based in BGC, Manila offers digital and intelligent outsourcing solutions and services multiple, high-profile clients across several verticals such as customer support management, social media strategy and content production, game support testing and management, web and ecommerce management among others. For over 20 years, she has worked as a marketing and business development executive for companies such as SM Supermalls, Level Up! Inc., Galileo Enrichment Learning Program and advertising’s Adobo magazine. Prior to Adobo magazine, Apple was also a part of the Village Choice, a marketing platform that created stories within exclusive villages, making her well-versed in media and advertising.

the new channel as an alternative to tv TODAY Apple sits as the President and Chief Executive Producer of The New Channel Media Corp. or TNC. One only has to view their website: www.thenewchannel. com to see how it continues to change the breadth and manner of consuming social media content.

Success has also proved fruitful for Apple, who spent most of 2022 fronting TNC and cementing the brand into a relevant and trusted partner.

Spring boarding from this success, The New Channel started this year with new doors opening. Firstly, TNC is on track in sealing the deal on a global content distribution partnership with Zondra TV, making some chosen TNC shows available on cable in the US and Australia. Another partnership is also in the works to grow the reach of TNC’s YouTube Channel.

The woman at the helm of TNC also sits on the Board of the Creator and Influencer Council of the Philippines (CICP) this year.

“We levelled up; we learned a lot. And 2022 was very kind to The New Channel. We did our homework, remained vigilant, and we went outside our comfort zone. We dropped the ball a few times, but we picked it up every time. We rolled it, we bounced it. And thankfully, this month of May, TNC will be celebrating its third year as a digital marketing partner for events here and abroad,” says Apple.

a mother who loves her Family DES PITE her very hectic schedule, multiple jobs and a plate full of responsibilities, Apple remains grounded and always makes sure to make time and honor her biggest inspiration which is her family.

“Of all the many roles that I do, the best one that I would always choose is being a mother to my son Andrei who means the world to me. My family is still

my top priority among all my responsibilities. After all, they are the main reason I work hard at all the things I do.”

It is heartening to know a woman, a wife and a mother like Apple who has found her own niche in the communications industry. May there be others like her who will keep on creating and innovating in the face of so many changes and challenges that the media and the world is undergoing. I am looking forward to hearing more updates from TNC and her other projects in the years to come. For more updates and new online shows, watch and follow The New Channel through its official social media accounts: https:// www.facebook.com/TNCnow/, https://www.youtube.com/@TNCNow, https://www.linkedin.com/ company/thenewchannel/. Listen to TNC on Spotify via https://tinyurl.com/TNCNOWSpotify

PR Matters is a roundtable column by members of the local chapter of the United Kingdom-based International Public Relations Association (Ipra), the world’s premiere association for senior communications professionals around the world. Joy Lumawig-Buensalido is the President and CEO of Buensalido PR and Communications. She was past Chairman of the IPRA Philippine chapter for two terms.

PR Matters is devoting a special column each month to answer our readers’ questions about public relations. Please send your questions or comments to askipraphil@ gmail.com.

n GrabFood helps businesses thrive postpandemic by FutureprooFinG Filipino msme s MANILA, PHILIPPINES—In commemoration of Filipino Food Month, online delivery platform GrabFood reaffirmed its commitment to future-

proofing the reach and business viability of Filipino cuisine. With its tech solutions and support mechanisms, the platform is optimistic that the local food industry can achieve the optimum reach and commercial activity necessary to promote the culinary identity of the country in the post-pandemic era.

“A country’s culinary identity is a hallmark of its culture. This Filipino Food Month, GrabFood is proud to be a partner of Filipino restaurateurs in making sure that proudly Pinoy flavors get the attention and business

they deserve as we transition to the post-pandemic era,” said Grab Philippines Director for Deliveries Greg Camacho.

b oosting success of Filipino m sme s amid post-pandemic consumer behavior T HE p ost-pandemic era is ushering in a shift in consumer behavior. According to a regional Grab study, 9 out of 10 consumers now prefer brands with an integrated online-to-offline experience, a clear indication of the clamor for digital convenience as people dine in-store.

To ensure that Filipino food businesses, particularly micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), succeed during the post-pandemic consumer behavior shift, GrabFood has provided them with technology that enables them to better adapt to changing consumer needs.

Through Scan-to-Order, Self Pick-Up, Find & Dine, and Mix & Match, GrabFood has handed Filipino merchants the power of digital convenience and created an agile food ecosystem that supports businesses, reinforces the country’s cultural identity

and awakens people’s fascination with Filipino cuisine.

Scan-to-Order is a dine-in solution that will allow consumers to both order and pay for dine-in orders using the Grab app, while Self Pick-Up allows consumers to order ahead and pick up their orders from merchants. These solutions enable consumers to skip queues in-store and allow merchants to better manage their order capacity. Find and Dine, meanwhile, enables consumers to discover new restaurants around their vicinity, optimizing the discoverability of merchants

present on the platform. Lastly, Mix & Match allows eaters to order from several merchants with just one order fee. Additionally, Grab has also designed accessible and hasslefree financing support geared at stimulating business recoveries such as quick cashouts, cash loans, and flexible schemes. Through these solutions, GrabFood is optimistic that Filipino food businesses will make it through the postpandemic era and continue to promote the culinary identity of the country.

apple e splana-m an ansala, is the president and chief executive producer of the new channel media corp. or tnc, an online new media platform which was launched during the global pandemic.

Brookside Open features Lim’s return to action

FORMER tennis prodigy Alberto Lim makes his much-awaited return to competitive play in the Brookside Open National Championships beginning Monday at the Brookside Hills courts in Cainta, Rizal.

Lim, who has dominated the junior circuit and vied in a number of Grand Slam junior events even reaching the second round of the Australian Open in 2017, went on a hiatus because of illness but has since worked his way back to form in time for this week’s championship backed by Rep. Michael John “Jack” Duavit. But the former singles champion will have his hands full in his first competition after the pandemic, facing off with Kenrik Ng at 9 a.m. in one of the matches kicking off the Group A tournament organized by Brookside Tennis Club president Allan del Castillo and held under the Palawan PawnshopPalawan Express Pera Padala (PPS-PEPP) tennis program put up by Palawan Pawnshop president and CEO Bobby Castro.

Multi-titled Jose Maria Pague, Vicente Anasta, Nilo Ledama, Ronard Joven, Noel Damian, John Mari Altiche, John Tomacruz and Loucas Fernandez banner the 64-player draw that also includes Eric Tangub, Alexis Acabo, Alberto Villamor, Noel Salupado, Rollie Anasta, Chat Conta, Marco Macalintal and Elvin Geluz.

Also on tap are the Legends competitions set May 5 to 7 and the Juniors play from May 11 to 14. For details, contact tournament organizer Bobby Mangunay at 0915-4046464.

Brice Baisa, coming off a string of two-title romps in the PPS-PEPP juniors, also levels up as he takes on Mateo Rivas at 8 a.m. Other first round clashes pit John Kendrick Bona against Carlos Miguel Angeles, Juan Pablo Gonzaga versus Miguel Iglupas, Martin Lopez against Rey Pascua, Herald Aton versus Jay Caiman, Adan Carbonilla against Hans Villespin, and Nikko Lumahang versus Sean Manubay in the lower half of the draw.

John Renest Sonsona, meanwhile, battles John Eric Ayson, Lance Fernandez tangles with Francisco Santos, Zhul Pantaran mixes it up with Jude Ceniza, Marc Suson trades shots with Carlos Santiago, Roy Tan collides with Harvey Gilbuena, Eury Gaspar tests Juan Carlos Lapore’s mettle, Samuel Davila faces off with Hans Asistio, and Vince Serna takes on Nicolas Gutierrez in the other first round matches in the upper bracket. Anasta and Pague, on the other hand, banner the men’s doubles cast with Ledama and John Steven Sonsona gaining the No. 2 seeding followed by the Damian-Villamor and Lim-Bryan Saarenas pairs.

EMOTIONAL LADY TAMS Far Eastern University (FEU) head coach Tina Salak and the Lady Tamaraws get emotional as the sing their alma mater hymn following a 25-22, 26-28, 25-15, 25-17 loss to the Adamson University Lady Falcons in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines women’s volleyball action Sunday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan. FEU closed out its season at 6-8 won-lost, a huge leap from a 1-13 card last season. Adamson University enters the semifinals with a 10-4 card.

THINKS PARIS

B J R

MAKING the knockout stages of the FIBA World Cup

2023, admittedly, is a remote possibility for Gilas Pilipinas to achieve.

So why not the Paris 2024 Olympics?

Gilas head coach Chot Reyes believes that’s a silver lining of a possibility.

“Win a game or two and we could be the best team in Asia,” Reyes said.

For the Philippines to make the Paris Olympics is for Gilas to emerge with the best-placed record among Asian teams in the World Cup.

The path will be through the so-called universality rule that an international federation applies to guarantee universal participation in the Olympic Games—in FIBA’s case that all seven continents has at least one team playing in Paris.

The rule states that “the FIBA World Cup 2023 will produce seven directly qualified national teams for the Olympic Games with host France receiving automatic qualification” and seven sports will include two teams from the Americas, two from Europe and one each from Africa, Asia and Oceania.

Iran made the Tokyo Olympics by becoming the best Asian team in the 2019 World Cup in China with two wins and three losses.

“That’s the goal and that’s the dream,” Reyes said. “So

hopefully, we can get a win or two in this World Cup to give us a chance to qualify for the Olympics.”

“That’s why I’m also looking at the other groups because it’s important that our other Asian competitors are in tough groups,” he said. “The best Asian team is the one that goes to the 2024 Olympics.”

After Saturday’s draw at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, the Philippines, ranked No. 40 in the world, landed in Group A with No. 10 Italy, No. 23 Dominican Republic and No. 41 Angola.  The Philippines faces Dominican Republic on August 25 at the Philippine Arena, followed by an August 27 game against Angola and August 29 match against Italy at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Reyes said China drew a “pretty good group” with South Sudan in Group B, same with Iran with Ivory Coast in Group G.

“Those are teams that they can beat. So you know, as much as I was looking at our group, I’m also looking at what the other Asian teams drew because we’re going to find out there who’s the best placed Asian team.”

Despite drawing Sudan, reigning Asian Games champion China has two-time Olympic silver medalist and world No. 6 Serbia and No. 20 Puerto Rico in its group, while Iran has world and european champion Spain and No. 13 Brazil as company. Reyes said the 12 players for Gilas will be based on chemistry and not on individual talent.

USA OPENS WORLD CUP 2023 CAMPAIGN VS. NEW ZEALAND

THE United States will open Basketball World Cup play against New Zealand this summer, with Greece and Jordan also awaiting the Americans in the group stage.

And the earliest the US can see France in an Olympic final rematch is the semifinals.

The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) held the World Cup draw in Manila on Saturday, when the 32 teams that qualified for the field found out their initial matchups for the tournament that runs from August 25 through September 10. The Americans—the four-time defending Olympic champions who finished seventh at the most recent World Cup in 2019—play New Zealand on August 26, then face Greece and likely Giannis Antetokounmpo on August 28, and conclude group-stage play August 30 against Jordan.

“It’s comforting to kind of know who we’re playing,” USA Basketball managing director Grant Hill said. “The big unknown has been there since we started

Jumping on Wrexham bandwagon

planning and preparing. And at least now we have an idea of who we’re playing and who we potentially could be playing in the second round.”

The US will play all its group stage games in Manila, while Jakarta, Indonesia, and Okinawa, Japan, will also play host to some group games. Medal rounds are in Manila, so the US won’t have to travel at all during the tournament.

The Americans will play Greece in August at Abu Dhabi in an exhibition. They met in the World Cup at China four years ago. Antetokounmpo is expected to play for Greece; his Milwaukee Bucks were hoping for a deep National Basketball Association (NBA) playoff run but lost to the Miami Heat in Round 1.

“They were eliminated recently, so Giannis will have maybe a longer offseason than he’s had in recent years,” Hill said. “That’s scary.”

The Americans—who will be coached by Golden State’s Steve Kerr in the tournament—were drawn

into Group C, one of eight four-team groups for the opening round. The US is planning to announce its roster in June or July.

“To our friends around the world, join our new ‘Thrilla in Manila,’ the 2023 Basketball World Cup edition,” said Manuel Pangilinan, a FIBA Central Board member from the Philippines—using the phrase coined for the Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier fight in Manila in 1975.

Defending World Cup champion Spain is in Group G, with Iran, Ivory Coast and Brazil as its opening opponents. France—which plans to have Victor Wembanyama on its roster—is in Group H, along with Canada, Latvia and Lebanon.

France beat the Americans in the quarterfinals of the 2019 World Cup, eliminating the US from medal contention and starting the spiral to a seventh-place finish at that event, the worst finish ever for an American team featuring NBA players. AP

OU can’t write this,” quipped actor Rob McElhenney to no one in particular.  The Wrexham Dragons, of which he co-owns with fellow actor Ryan Reynolds, was engaged in a roller coaster ride of a match against Grimsby Town. There was one goal after another and by the end of regulation, both teams were level, 4-4, and they were going into extra time.

Then in the 199th minute, with less than a minute to play before going into a penalty shootout, Grimsby’s Luke Waterfall scored in the 199th minute. Right at death’s door. A late goal of which hardly any team can recover from. Gimsby were winners and moving on.

Wrexham was not going to get promoted. For the 14th straight season, they were staying put in the National League. Furthermore, they lost a heartbreaking FA Cup title game to Bromley, 1-nil.

As Reynolds and McElhenney walked off the Wrexham pitch, the latter said, “There’s always next year.”

True enough, this past 2022-23 season, Wrexham, won the league and were promoted to the next level, the English

“We’re putting the best team together and we’re not putting a group of superstars,” he said.

Reyes also said the 32nd Cambodia Southeast Asian Games is also a major concern.

“My other concern right now is to prepare the best team for the SEA Games,” he said.

The World Cup is set August 25 to September 10.

CLASH OF STARS PHILIPPINE Basketball Association legend

Kenneth Duremdes shakes hand with Maryhill College Parents and Teachers Association president Dr. Marnie Baybayan to signify their preparedness to face Quezon Province’s best players in the “Clash of Stars” on May 6 at the Quezon Convention Center in Lucena City.

Football League 2 in the penultimate match of the campaign, a 3-1 win over Boreham Wood. Their star striker Paul Mullin scored two scintillating goals with either foot. On the run and hitting the far post. Incredible!  The Wrexham Dragons closed out their league campaign on a good note with a 1-1 draw with Torquay United this past April 29. Ted Lasso has nothing on this and I have to say that I enjoy watching the aforementioned television series about an American Football coach hired to manage a Premier League squad with the hope that he will fail.

Watching “Welcome to Wrexham” the reality series documentary on Disney-Plus, I was riveted to every episode. There were one or two episodes of the 18-episode first season that I felt dragged out, but otherwise, it was thoroughly enjoyable and riveting; well-produced.  like the fact that the series not only featured their celebrity owners but also the players, the coaching staff, the backroom staff, and several supporters.

Their stories too were just as fascinating including hooligan Jonny Barkley and his stunning girlfriend Saskia Barkley

who was unable to land a job because of her relationship with a football hooligan.

Wrexham AFC and their promotion has got to be one of the great underdog stories of all time. The first season of their celebrity owners coming in, they came within a whisker of promotion. The team’s inability to do so only added more to the drama and greatly heightened the Hollywood ending.

And that the “Welcome to Wrexham ‘’ series that goes hand-in-hand with the purchase of Wrexham AFC, was inspired by the equally magnificent series “Sunderland ‘Til Die”, only make it better.

I am not a fan of Sunderland, but that two season series has got to be heart-breaking and painful. Your heart goes out to them even if you don’t root for them. Hopefully, they too can move back up to the Premier League.

Other football underdog stories that one simply cannot write—Denmark winning the 1992 European championships. Greece winning Euro 2004. There Celtic defeated Inter Milan for the 1967 European Cup. The Italians were laughing at Celtic thinking the game was over before it was

ACTOR Jack Nicholson attends Game 6 of the series between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday in Los Angeles. AP

Jack Nicholson back as Lakers superfan

LOS ANGELES—Jack is back.

Los Angeles Lakers superfan Jack Nicholson was watching at courtside for the first time in nearly two years Friday night when his team hosted the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 6 of their firstround playoff series.

The 86-year-old Nicholson hadn’t been in his usual seats in the Lakers’ downtown arena since last season’s opening game in October 2021, but the three-time Academy Award-winning actor returned to his famed spot near the opposing bench with his son.

Nicholson was a fixture in the last half-century of Lakers history, cheering on the team through several eras of success after getting his season tickets in 1970. He was the most prominent face in the Lakers’ gallery of celebrity fans, his sunglasses and famous grin ever-present at courtside—and occasionally on the court if he was particularly displeased by an official’s call.

Nicholson cheered while the Showtime Lakers racked up championships and captured Hollywood’s imagination, and he remained an avid fan while they won five more titles in the Kobe Bryant era. He famously adjusted his shooting schedules and personal meetings to keep himself free to catch every big Lakers game. Nicholson rarely attended games after fans returned to the Lakers’ building following the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the chance to watch the Lakers attempt to win a playoff series at home for the first time since 2013 was irresistible to their No. 1 fan. AP

Team Ilustre claims overall title in COPA Golden Goggle series

TEAM Ilustre East Aquatic scooted 30 gold medals—17 of them in BiFin—to emerge overall champion of the Congress of Philippine Aquatics Inc. (COPA) Golden Goggle series’ third and fourth legs at the Teofilo Yldefonso pool at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Malate, Manila. Jamesray Mishael Ajido, the national juniors record holder in boys 13-under who led his team’s 21 gold medal haul on Saturday—bagged three BiFin and one classical gold medals as Team Ilustre amassed 4,682 points to rule the tournament powered by Speedo and supported by the Philippine Sports Commission and Milo.

Ajido topped the BiFin freestyle events in 100 meters in 52.27 seconds, 200 in 1:56.15 and 50 in 22.80. The seventh grader from Montessori Integrated School-Antipolo added a fourth gold in the boys 100 meters backstroke in 1:02.47.

The other gold winners in BiFins for Team Ilustre were Zoe Adrienne Terrible in girls 16 years 200 free (2:16.11), 50 free (27.56) and 100 free (1:00.25); Yoana Ysabelle Bersamin in girls 13 years 200 free (2:20.83), 200 free (2:56.99) and 50 free (28.57); Rio Rafaella Balbuena in girls 17 years 200 free (2:18.59), 50 free (27.17), 100 free  (1:02.67) and 100 backstroke in classical swim (1:20.87) and Andrina Rose Victor in girls 9 years 200 free (3:01.76).

Also contributing to Team Ilustre’s coffers were Luke Amber Arano in boys 17 years 50 free (22.33), Allyssa Cabatian in girls 15 years 50 free (26.02) and 100 free (57.27), Ethan Dulin in boys 15 years 100 free (55.77), Claine Lim in girls 13 years 100 free (1:20.24) and Ruth Sula in girls 15 years 100 free (1:21.54).

“We included BiFin to expose the discipline to our young swimmners,” COPA president and Batangas First District representative Eric Buhain said.

“The crowd was excited about BiFin,” tournament director Chito Rivera said.

COPA will stage the Inter-School and Inter-Club Championships on May 20 and 21 in the venue.

even played. Celtic won, 2-1, with Stevie Chalmers putting Celtic ahead with a goal in the 84th minute.

Back to Wrexham, what a boost for this Welsh town that wholeheartedly opened their arms to McElhenney and Reynolds who conducted themselves quite incredibly.

I first saw McElhenney when my old company Solar Sports’ sister channel ETC was showing It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia where the actor starred. Reynolds, I first saw in Green Lantern.

Because of the duo’s celebrity status, they were able to get Tik Tok and Expedia as shirt sponsors.

Speaking of shirts, I jumped on the Wrexham bandwagon when their North American owners bought in. Since then, I have been unable to purchase a jersey! No joke. It has always been sold out.

For sure I will get a kit for the next season to celebrate their EFL promotion.

Now, Season 2 of “Welcome to Wrexham” cannot come soon enough. If you have seen it, watch it. It’s worth the time you put into bingeing the series.