BusinessMirror May 10, 2023

MONDAY’S POWER OUTAGE PART OF NGCP REVIEW

Expect more yellow alerts–DOE

By Lenie Lectura @llectura

THE Department of Energy (DOE) expects the issuance of yellow alert warnings to continue for the rest of the year, following Monday’s rotational brownout after the tripping of a transmission line that disrupted operations at a major power plant.

“We have potential yellow alerts for the entire month of May. Now, the way that was computed was a worst-case scenario. We assumed that Ilijan power plant will not yet come in. If that power plant comes

in, then the yellow alert warnings will be reduced,” said DOE Undersecretary Rowena Guevara at a news conference on Tuesday.

See “DOE,” A2

School students bring murals to life with their artistic flair in the “Imagine Rotary, Dream Big, Take Action” competition held from May 8 to 10, 2023. The event aims to develop learners’ creative potential while instilling an understanding of the value of murals in the community. NONOY LACZA

ELECTRONICS PULL DOWN EXPORT EARNINGS IN Q1

By Andrea E. San Juan

EXPORT receipts declined by more than 13 percent as the value of the Philippines’s usual export winners plunged by double digits in the first quarter, according to the latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

Figures from the PSA showed that export earnings in January to March fell by 13.2 percent to $16.86 billion, from last year’s $19.43 billion.

Receipts from electronic products—the country’s top

Asean

By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

PRESIDENT

Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said he will push for more international synergy during the 42nd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit as more countries look to the regional bloc as the “growth center for the global economy.”

Among the countries now closely monitoring the economic

See “Asean,” A2

export—dropped by 17.5 percent to a little over $9 billion, from $10.913 in the first quarter of 2022.

Shipments of coconut oil, the country’s top farm export, nosedived to $320.37 million, from last year’s $598.89 million.

PSA data also showed that total earnings from agrobased products were lower by nearly 19 percent during the period. Shipments of farm products reached $466.31 million.

Other commodity groups

See “Electronics,” A2

Cooperation within

more vital than ever–Marcos

IMAGINING ROTARY Manuel Roxas High

THE COUSIN ALSO RISES John Ivan Cruz flies high in Phnom Penh and wins the men’s floor exercise gold medal of gymnastics at the 32nd Cambodia Southeast Asian Games on Tuesday. Cruz is a cousin of two-time world champion and Tokyo Olympian Carlos Yulo, who has won two gold medals in Cambodia in men’s all-around and parallel bars. ROY DOMINGO

Sectors lag, slowing March factory output growth–PSA

By Andrea E. San Juan

In a report it published on Tuesday, the PSA said the volume of production index (VoPI) registered a year-on-year increase of 2.2 percent in March, but slower than the February annual growth of 5.2 percent.

“The slower annual growth of VoPI in March 2023 was mainly brought about by the lower annual rates in the same top three industry divisions that contributed to the slower growth of VaPI [Value of Production Index] during the period,” the PSA said.

These three industry divisions are the manufacture of beverages

(4.9 percent in March from 20.9 percent in February), manufacture of chemical and chemical products (-25.5 percent, from -7.8 percent), and manufacture of basic metals (18.6 percent, from 28.1 percent).

Like VaPI, the statistics agency said 11 out of the remaining 19 industry divisions posted negative annual growth rates in March.

“The highest annual decline was led by manufacture of wearing apparel registering an annual downturn of -40.2 percent,” it added.

In contrast, 8 industry divisions posted year-on-year increases during the period. The highest annual

upturn was led by manufacture of transport equipment recording an annual increment of 25.3 percent.

The VoPI for manufacture of food products registered an annual increment of 0.4 percent in March. PSA said this was slower compared with its annual growth rates in February at 1.4 percent and March 2022 at 0.7 percent.

“The slower increase in the annual growth of VoPI for manufacture of food products in March 2023 was primarily contributed by the annual decline in manufacture of dairy products industry group with -0.5 percent from 15.3 percent annual increase in the previous month,” the PSA said.

“Other primary contributors to the slowdown in the year-on-year growth of VaPI for manufacture of food products were manufacture of other food products exhibiting faster annual decline of -8.4 percent during the period from -4.9 percent in February 2023; and processing and preserving of meat posting lower annual increment of 5.4 percent in March 2023 from 9.6 percent in the previous month,” it added.

Based on responding establish -

DOE. . .

ments, PSA said the average capacity utilization rate for the manufacturing sector in March reached 73 percent from 72.7 percent in February.

“All industry divisions reported capacity utilization rates of more than 50 percent during the month,” the PSA said.

The top 3 industry divisions in terms of reported capacity utilization rate were manufacture of machinery and equipment except electrical (82 percent), manufacture of transport equipment (81.8 percent), and manufacture of rubber and plastic products (77.6 percent).

The proportion of establishments that operated at full capacity (90 percent to 100 percent) was 21.7 percent of the total number of responding establishments. Meanwhile, 38 percent operated at 70 to 89 percent capacity, while 40.3 percent operated below 70 percent capacity.

Asean. . .

Continued from A1

prospects in Asean are India, China, United States as well as those from Europe, Latin America, and Africa, according to him.

“That is why it is very important that we go and continue to discuss amongst other Asean leaders of all the member states of how we can maximize and find that extra synergy from our working together,” Marcos said during his departure speech at the Villamor Airbase in Pasay City last Tuesday.

He noted that cooperation within Asean is more important than ever as it deals with pressing issues including developments in the South China Sea, and the situation in Myanmar, which is currently still under civil war.

Also to be tackled during the event is the possible membership of Timor-Leste in the Asean.

“I will join other Leaders of Asean to advance our community-building efforts in the region and ensure the well-being and security of our people, in line with Indonesia’s chairmanship theme of Asean Matters: Epicentrum of Growth,” Marcos said.

“This is a continuation of the process that we had begun where deriving from the idea and the principle and the concept of Asean Centrality in the face of the challenges that we have to answer, not only as single nations, but as this political aggrupation that is Asean,” he added.

During the summit, which starts on May 10, Marcos said he will push for the country’s interests including achieving economic growth, attaining food and energy security, promoting trade and investment, combating transnational crimes such as the trafficking in persons, and protecting migrant workers in crisis situations.

The President will also be participating in the 15th Brunei Darussalam-IndonesiaMalaysia-Philippines East Asian Growth Area as well as the Asean Leaders with the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), and Representatives from the Asean Business Advisory Council (Asean-BAC), Asean Youth, and the High-Level Task Force on the Asean Community Post-2025 Vision.

“In these meetings, we will have the opportunity to highlight the importance of strengthening cooperation in the BIMP-EAGA subregion to sustain its thriving economy, the strong partnership between the executive and legislative bodies of ASEAN, the pivotal role of private sector and the youth in advancing growth and shaping the future as well as the future direction of the Asean Vision,” Marcos said.

Continued from A1

Based on the updated Luzon grid power demand outlook, DOE said the yellow alert could be issued on weeks 18 to 21 of May, weeks 22 to 24 in June, weeks 32 to 34 in August, weeks 35 and 38 in September, weeks 39 and 42 in October, and week 47 in November.

A y ellow alert means thin power reserve.

Guevara stressed that the projected 15 yellow alert warnings for the remainder of 2023 could happen if the Ilijan power plant is not able to come on line by May 26, if the committed power projects’ target commercial operations do not happen, and if there are further delays in transmission projects.

B ased on the same projection, there are no red alert warnings. Guevara, however, is not discounting the possibility that last Monday’s red alert—the first for the year—could recur.

A red alert status is issued when power supply is insufficient to meet consumer demand and the regulating requirement of the transmission grid.

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has been instructed by the DOE to explain the circumstances that caused the outage affecting over 300,000 customers of the Manila Electric Company (Meralco).

NGCP’s initial investigation on the sequence of events that led to the red alert in Luzon grid last May 8 showed that the Bolo-Masinloc 230kV Line 2 tripped. This line is N-1, or operates with a redundancy. The load carried by Line 2 was automatically transferred to Line 1 when the former tripped. Each of Lines 1 or 2 is more than capable to singularly carry the entire loading of the Bolo-Masinloc 230kV facility at any time.

T hereafter, two of three Masinloc Units tripped. Together with other units already on forced outage, total power lost to the grid was 1,354MW.

“Given the N-1 contingency in place at NGCP’s Bolo-Masinloc Line, and the automatic transfer of loads from Line 2 to Line 1, the tripping of 2 Masinloc units was both unexpected and undesirable,” the NGCP said in a statement.

As of press time, Unit 1 of Masinloc was successfully and fully reintegrated to the grid, and Unit 2 was integrated at a derated capacity of 150 MW.

We are coordinating with Masinloc power plant and other grid-connected generating plants on the way forward and to ensure that protection settings are in sync between generating plants and NGCP,” added NGCP.

Greenpeace weighs in ENVIRONMENTAL group Greenpeace campaigner Khevin Yu observed that the country’s power supply is “highly centralized, relying on big power plants,” making it vulnerable to incidents like unscheduled maintenance and equipment breakdown, and at risk of damage due to strong typhoons and other climate impacts.

As El Niño looms along with more power outages and shortages, we reiterate the fact that our fossil fuel-dependent energy system remains unreliable, and that we need to expedite a just transition to renewable energy,” he added.

“Our energy mix is still dominated by coal and other dirty energy sources, which have proven to be inflexible during times of high demand. This is the same thing we experienced in the past few years, and it’s only going to get worse and more costly for consumers,” said Yu in a statement.

Senate Energy Committee Vice Chairman Sherwin Gatchalian said the DOE and the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) should hold the NGCP accountable should they find fault or negligence on the part of the transmission concessionaire.

“ There can be no valid excuse for NGCP for its failure to conduct a comprehensive audit of its facilities, given that system disturbances have already led to brownouts in Panay and Negros Islands just a month ago.

DOE S ecretary Raphael Lotilla said the NGCP’s performance will be taken into account in the rate rebasing review being undertaken by the ERC.

“The next step for us is to use this audit report as a basis...it is not a case of blame throwing. What we want to do is to establish in an objective manner, what are the weak links, what are the problems in the transmission system and what can we do in order to address these problems,” said Lotilla.

He said the first NGCP audit is a review of the grid operator’s financial capability, “but with observations as well on the technical side.”

The DOE, he said, “will follow that with a regulatory performance audit and by a contract performance review, which is to be conducted by PSALM and Transco as the counterparties to the NGCP concession agreement.”

L otilla stressed that the DOE and other agencies have helped NGCP fast-track the completion of long-delayed transmission projects and free up stranded power supply.

“Notwithstanding these efforts, these projects still have not been completed. The recent prolonged power outages in Panay and Negros, and the power interruption experienced yesterday have been traced principally to inadequacies in the transmission system,” said Lotilla.

Electronics. . .

Continued from A1

that posted significant declines in earnings are articles of apparel and clothing accessories; miscellaneous manufactured articles, travel goods and handbags, and processed tropical fruits.

The top 5 buyers of Philippine-made products in the first quarter were China, Japan, the United States, Hong Kong, and Singapore.

According to the PSA, the country’s import bill during the period slid by 3.3 precent to $31.43 billion, from last year’s $32.51 billion.

The Philippines recorded lower purchases of electronic products, iron and steel, cereals and cereal preparations, and medicinal and pharmaceutical products.

The country’s top sources of imported goods in the first quarter were China, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, and Thailand.

The cumulative trade deficit as of the end of March widened by 11.4 percent to $14.57 billion, from the previous year’s  $13.08 billion, as import payments continued to outpace export earnings.

In March alone, export sales reached $6.53 billion, 9.1 percent lower than the $7.18 billion recorded last year.

“In March 2023, the country’s total external trade in goods amounted to $17.98 billion, which indicates an annual decline of 5.1 percent from its level of $18.95 billion in the same period of the previous year. In February 2023, its annual decrease was recorded at -14.2 percent, while in March 2022, it expanded at an annual rate of 16.2 percent,” the PSA said.

Of the total external trade in March, the agency said 63.7 percent were imported goods, while the rest were exported goods.

FACTORY output growth in March slowed due to the tepid performance of a number of industry divisions, including the manufacture of beverages, according to the latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

www.businessmirror.com.ph

The Nation

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz  @joveemarie

S urigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, chairman of the House dangerous drugs committee, issued the statement after the disclosure of Geoffrey Hinton, a former Engineer of Google and dubbed as the “Godfather of AI,” that the new technology he himself helped develop poses danger to society and humanity.

“The ‘AI Godfather’ himself, Geoffrey Hinton, had been quoted in news reports as saying ‘AI could kill humans and there might be no way to stop it.’ This is aside from alarms raised by advocacy groups and tech insiders that the new crop of AIpowered chatbots could be used to

By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

SEN. Francis Escudero advised the Philippine Navy to “shelve its plan” to buy submarines and instead prioritize buying boats “for disaster and relief.”

“Before it borrows money to buy submarines,” the senator suggested,

“the Philippines should first acquire locally-made ships, like floating hospitals and rescue boats.”

T he senator suggested that will “aid people and towns hit by typhoons, which are getting frequent and stronger.”

Escudero hastened to clarify, however, “I am for stronger Navy,” adding “I am a great fan of our sailors.”

But, he stressed, “The reality is we cannot realize our submarine dreams if what we have is a ‘salbabida’ budget.”

Escudero, however, held out hopes that “perhaps, when our finances improve, then we can give the Navy the ships it deserves,” noting, “Sabi nga, a rising tide raises all ships.”

With economic buoyancy comes

spread misinformation and displace jobs,” the lawmaker said. Barbers, quoting news reports, said the wave of attention around ChatGPT late last year helped renew a race among tech companies to develop and deploy similar tools in their products. “And based on reports, OpenAI, Microsoft and Google are at the forefront of this trend, but IBM, Amazon, Baidu and Tencent are working on similar technologies.”

“I don’t want to sound like an alarmist. But we have no way of stopping the global use and development of AI. And while we acknowledge the benefits that AI might bring, we should also seri -

ously consider the great risks and dangers it poses to society and humanity,” he said.

Early this year, Barbers filed a bill seeking the creation of an agency called Artificial Intelligence Development Authority (AIDA), a superbody that would undertake the tasks, duties and responsibilities in the development and implementation of a national AI strategy.

T he bill, entitled “An Act Promoting the Development and Regulation of AI in the Philippines,” seeks to address the potential risks and challenges by providing for a comprehensive framework for the development and regula -

tion of AI in the country.

“ While the Philippines recognizes the importance of AI in the development of the country, the rapid phase of technological advancement in AI also poses risks and challenges that must be addressed to ensure that its benefits are maximized, and its negative impacts are minimized, if not avoided,” he said.

B arbers said that while many Filipinos are looking at AI’s positive potential, there should be an agency that would act as a “watchdog” to guard against unscrupulous individuals that would take advantage of or use it for their selfish or criminal ends.

Creation of AI regulation ‘superbody’ pushed Sen. Escudero prods Navy to set aside sub acquisition plan…for now

the ability to buy more Navy ships,” the senator pointed out.

Escudero affirmed that he supports the Navy Modernization Plan, adding, “in fact, I am of the opinion that the current shopping list should be nudged up a bit.”

But in so far as the planned purchase of two diesel-electric attack submarines for a total price tag of

P70 billion, “I think this should be shelved at the moment,” he said, adding, “And to their credit, the Navy Command said the purchase can wait.”

Meanwhile, it was suggested, “the government should increase its inventory of boats that can be used for disaster and relief.”

At the same time, the senator

noted “one good suggestion is to commission the building of multipurpose vessels which can serve as floating hospitals, barracks of rescue workers, cargo bay for rescue equipment, emergency power plant, food pantry, among others. Moreover, this could be rapidly deployed to areas whose roads and power have been cut off.

POLITICAL parties represented in the House of Representatives have committed to support the passage of 13 remaining priority bills of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. before the sine die adjournment on June 2.

L eaders of Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD), PDP-Laban, Nacionalista Party (NP), National Unity Party (NUP), Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), and Party-list Coalition Foundation Inc. (PCFI) gave the commitment during an all-party caucus late Monday presided over by Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, who is president of Lakas-CMD. “ We will try to achieve that objective on a best-effort basis. The bills on deck will complement those that we have already passed and which support the Agenda for Prosperity and eight-point socioeconomic roadmap of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.,” Romualdez said.

D eputy Speaker and Pampanga 3rd District Rep. Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr., and Reps. Johnny Pimentel of Surigao del Sur and Rida Robes of San Jose City represented PDP-Laban in the party leaders’ caucus.

NP was represented by Reps. Eleandro Jesus Madrona of Romblon, Robert Ace Barbers of Surigao del Norte and Janette Garin of Iloilo.

NPC was represented by Quezon Rep. Mark Enverga and Ilocos Sur Rep. Kristine Meehan Singson and NUP by Antipolo City Rep. Robbie Puno and Camarines Sur Rep. LRay Villafuerte.

A ko Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, PCFI president, spoke for his group.

Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco, BHW Partylist Rep. Angelica Natasha Co, Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Brian Yamsuan also joined the meeting.

Speaker Romualdez convened the caucus shortly after presiding over the first day of session Monday after the Holy Week recess of Congress.

H e told his colleagues they have only four weeks to approve the remaining priority bills, asking them to maximize the time so that the House could pass all the urgent measures identified by President Marcos in his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) in July last year and later adopted by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC).

Deputy Speaker Gonzales said he and other party leaders responded positively to the Speaker’s appeal.

“ We hope we could do it in the short

time we have before our annual mandatory adjournment. We are ready to go the extra mile to accomplish the task,” Gonzales said.

For his part, Barbers said, “President Marcos’ legislative priority will benefit the Filipino people and these measures deserve our support.”

O n Sunday, Romualdez bared that President Marcos approved 11 additional bills, including the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) as part of LEDAC, bringing to 42 from the original 31 the total number of priority administration measures.

O n Monday, the House of Representatives approved on third and final reading House Bill (HB) No. 7751, or the proposed Department of Health Specialty Centers in Hospitals Act that aims to expand health-care services by establishing specialized care centers in hospitals under the supervision and control of the Department of Health (DOH).

T his was part of the original eight remaining SONA-LEDAC priority measures the House is aiming to approve in the homestretch of the First Regular Session of the 19th Congress.

T he seven other bills from original LEDAC measures are the enabling law for the natural gas industry, National Land Use Act, Department of Water Resources and Services and creation of Water Regulatory Commission, Budget Modernization Act, National Defense Act, amendments to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act, and the bill on a unified system of separation, retirement, and pension for uniformed personnel.

T he six measures from 11 new LEDAC bills are 1. Bureau of Immigration Modernization and 2. Infrastructure Development Plan/Build, Build, Build, program, which is now for committee report preparation; 3. Philippine Salt Industry Development Act; 4. Philippine Ecosystem and Natural Capital Accounting System (PENCAS), 5. National Employment Action Plan, and 6. Amendment to the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act are under committee/ technical working group (TWG) status.

W hile the five measures from 11 new LEDAC bills were already approved by the House of Representatives:

1. Amending the AFP Fixed Term Bill (transmitted to the President), 2. Ease of Paying Taxes,

3. Maharlika Investment Fund, 4. Local Government Unit Income Classification, and 5. Amendment to Universal Health Care Act (all were already transmitted to the Senate).

ALAWMAKER on Tuesday urged his colleagues to speed up the enactment of a law creating a “superbody” to protect the public from the risks and dangers posed to society and humanity by the emerging global technological phenomenon called artificial intelligence (AI).

Political parties vow passage of remaining priority bills before sine die adjournment

Vittorio V. Vitug

Rice farmers receive ₧5.8B worth of aid as of March–DA

By Raadee S. Sausa @raadeeboy

THE government has distributed assistance to rice farmers amounting to P5.8 billion as of March, a Department of Agriculture (DA) official said.

In a statement, DA Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban said, “more than 1.178 million rice farmers received support under the Rice Farmers Financial Assistance amounting to P5.8 billion as of March.”

T he department has also extended fertilizer assistance and fuel discount vouchers to cushion rising production costs, he added.

I n addition, the DA also provides marketing support through

the different modules of the Kadiwa program, which has enhanced food mobilization and consistently connected farmers and fishers with consumers nationwide.

Globally, the Philippines’ local produce, specifically durian and dried pili, have accessed international markets through partnerships with foreign countries.

Panganiban said that for durian alone, a total of $268 million in revenue was generated from the shipment of 28,000 kilos to China in April.

Moreover, he said interventions are also underway to make sure that the hog industry affected by the African swine fever (ASF) is

rehabilitated and improved.

Under the swine repopulation program of the government, a total of 19,486 heads of live pig were distributed to more than 8,000 swine raisers, Panganiban said.

L astly, the undersecretary highlighted the successful interception of smuggled agricultural products through collaborative efforts of various agencies, as well as the public’s cooperation.

“ We are inspired to intensify our public service by the stories and experiences of our farmers and fishermen regarding the Department’s support to them, including the assistance we provide in their agricultural and fishing activities,” Panganiban said

New SBMA chief sets path for Subic Freeport

By Henry Empeño Correspondent

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—

during the 2023 Farmers’ and Fisherfolk’s Month celebration recently.

For her part, DA Undersecretary Agnes Catherine Miranda said that the event aims to recognize the invaluable contribution of Filipino farmers and fishers in nation building.

During the pandemic, amid the various challenges, the country’s food heroes continued to strive and sustain agricultural productivity, ensuring that the nation’s food security would not collapse, she added.

True enough, our nation could only be strong and able to go forward with their hard work, tilling our lands, and harvesting the bounties of our seas to put food on the table of every Filipino,” she said.

BOI leads launch of online cold chain database project

By  Andrea E. San Juan @andreasanjuan

THE Board of Investments (BOI) colaunched DeliverE 2.0 online platform, a cold chain database project, which it said is set to boost strategic investment promotions and data-driven policy-making.

I n a statement released on Monday, the investment promotion agency said the Philippine

National Cold Chain Committee (NC3) led by BOI, InsightsSCS Corp. and United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Philippines, with backing from the Philippine Cold Chain Industry, recently launched the DeliverE 2.0 online platform.

T he DeliverE 2.0 system, which BOI said received funding from UNIDO’s Global Partnership for Improving the Food Cold Chain in the Philippines (FCC) Project, is the “brainchild” of InsightSCS Corp. in collaboration with BOI.

“With this innovative system, farmers can easily locate nearby facilities for cold storage of their agricultural produce,” the BOI statement read.

Corp., underscored the system’s potential to revolutionize the food industry by bridging the gap between producers and cold storage facilities.

BOI Governor and NC3 Co-Chairperson Marjorie O. Ramos-Samaniego said the cold chain database project is a “prime example” of successful collaboration and partnership between the government, private sector, and development partners, resulting in a high-impact project with far-reaching benefits.

Harking back to the spirit of volunteerism that made this free port progressive, newly appointed Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Jonathan D. Tan on Monday defined his administration’s direction and urged employees to help create a sustainable business community here.

“SBMA people are known for their spirit of volunteerism and this is where I want to anchor our service on,” Tan said.

Pointing out that his goal is to make Subic more progressive, he said there is a need to encourage more investors into Subic and, thus, create more jobs. “If we do right, we will go far,” he added.

T he new Subic chief addressed SBMA employees and local government officials from around Subic during Monday’s flagraising ceremony at the SBMA main office, making his first public appearance here following his appointment by Malacañang on April 28.

tors. We want future locators to see what we can offer them. We want a better work environment for us all,” Tan said.

“ Our passion to serve should be driven by our collective actions to work without coercion or by mere compliance alone. It is to work with pride and dignity on what we do and why we serve that makes volunteerism a genuine call for service,” he added.

To attain these goals, Tan stressed the need for commitment and dedication from SBMA employees. “Change starts with people and in people. It starts with us. Let’s work together for a better and stronger Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority,” he said.

Tan also stressed that it was public service and his intention to help the community that brought him to Subic. He said that respect, open communication, collaboration, and teamwork would be the SBMA’s rules of engagement under his leadership.

Pierre Carlo Curay, CEO and Co-Founder

of InsightSCS

According to the BOI, the DeliverE 2.0 is a “game-changing” system that offers a “comprehensive” database of cold chain warehouse service providers nationwide, providing “valuable” insights into location-specific data on cold storage capacities and demand-supply gaps.  M oreover, the agency said, “This powerful tool enables businesses to make better-informed decisions and allows for location specific cold chain promotion.”

In addition, BOI noted the development of DeliverE 2.0 has led to the successful gathering of relevant baseline data on energy consumption and refrigerant use of cold storage service providers.

Tan, a former mayor of Pandan town in Antique, replaced former Olongapo mayor Rolen Paulino Sr. who resigned on April 15 after serving as SBMA head since March last year.

Paulino, who took his oath of office last Friday as director of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority, was not present in Monday’s ceremony, breaking tradition here for a formal turnover between outgoing and incoming administrations.

T hose who attended the ceremony included Olongapo City Vice Mayor Jong Cortez, Zambales town Mayors Elmer Soria of San Marcelino and Edsel Lonzanida of San Antonio; and Bataan Mayors Jopet Inton of Hermosa and German Santos Jr. of Dinalupihan.

In his message to SBMA employees, Tan revealed his administration’s directions and development plans, and then emphasized the role of employees to attain them.

“ We want to create a progressive and sustainable business community. We want to regain the trust and confidence of our present loca-

T he new chairman also gave the assurance that his office will always be open to employees, and that he would listen to local government units around the Subic Freeport. “Although I am not from Olongapo, Zambales, or Bataan, we will help each other as family,” he vowed.

Tan brought to Subic vital experiences as a businessman and local government executive for three terms in Antique. Named as one of the country’s Most Outstanding Mayors in 2012, a feat he shared with city mayors like Alfredo Lim of Manila and Edgardo Pamintuan of Angeles, Tan also served as president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) in Antique, and official of LMP-National from 2013-2016.

W ith his trademark JDT program, which stood for jobs, development and tourism, Tan was recognized for enhancing the local tourism industry, resulting in the inclusion of Pandan among the 77 tourism development areas identified by the Department of Tourism.

T an’s initiative to source out funds from the Senate was said to have paved the way for more development projects in his hometown.

DOJ chief: Bantag sends second surrender feeler

JUSTICE Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Tuesday claimed that a second surrender feeler was sent through one of his friends by suspended Bureau of Corrections  (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag who is wanted for allegedly masterminding the killing of radio broadcaster Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa and an inmate who allegedly acted as middleman identified as Cristito Palana Villamor.

H owever, Remulla expressed doubts on Bantag’s sincerity to surrender to authorities and undergo trial for the two murders.      There were two feelers sent. One through a Cabinet official and another through one of my friends but it looks like they’re not really serious in surrendering,” Remulla told reporters in an interview.

Earlier, Remulla said Bantag sent his first surrender feeler through a Cabinet official whom he declined to identify.

T he Mabasa family, through its spokesperson lawyer Berteni Causing, previously said they

doubted the surrender feeler, adding it could be another delaying tactic of Bantag.

W hen asked if Bantag set some conditions for his surrender, Remulla said: “One of the topics being discussed was the place of detention and we are amenable to special arrangements for DG [director general] Bantag and Mr. [Ricardo] Zulueta.”

I think they are trying to avoid being put into BuCor for obvious reasons,” Remulla added. Bantag and Zulueta are the subjects of warrants of arrest issued by the regional trial courts of Las Piñas and Muntinlupa in connection with the Lapid and Villamor murders.

T hey were also the subjects of a hold departure order (HDO) issued by the court to prevent them from leaving the country.

R emulla said the second surrender feeler from Bantag was made to Remulla’s friend from law enforcement six days ago while he was in the United States as part of the official delegation of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.  Joel R. San Juan

Suspended Rep. Teves seeking asylum in Timor Leste–Remulla

By Joel R. San Juan  @jrsanjuan1573

JUSTICE Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Tuesday confirmed that Negros Oriental Third District Rep. Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves is now in Timor Leste trying to seek asylum in an apparent bid to evade possible prosecution for his alleged role in the killing of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo and nine others last March 4.

In an interview, Remulla told reporters that he had written Department of Foreign Affair (DFA) Secretary Enrique Manalo informing the latter of the steps being undertaken to designate Teves as a terrorist.

T he Department of Justice (DOJ) chief also asked the DFA to relay to Timor Leste the position of the DOJ that Teves should not be given asylum as the Anti-Terrorism Council-Technical Work -

ing Group (ATC-TWG) has already convened to discuss the possibility of declaring Teves a terrorist aside from being a person of interest in several murder cases.

Remulla’s letter was in response to DFA’s letter dated April 29, 2023 wherein the latter relayed confidential information from the country’s ambassador to Timor Leste that the suspended lawmaker is in the capital city of Dili where he applied for a protection visa with intent of asylum.

There is a special provision in law for that if you want to seek asylum, usually just for political purposes. But we don’t see any political reasons for him to seek asylum in Timor Leste,” Remulla said.

It’s really for not wanting to face the consequences of certain actions by which he [Teves] is being held to account for in our courts of law,” he added.

Meanwhile, Remulla said mur-

der charges are now being readied against Teves in connection with the killing of Degamo and nine others.

We were about to file the cases, but a few more details are being ironed out but the filing of cases will happen anytime. I think the latest is on Monday but we are trying to do it by Friday. I’m asking them to hasten things up because it’s been more than two months since the murders. [They] might as well file the cases…” Remulla said.

A side from being implicated in the Degamo killing, Teves is also facing multiple murder charges before the DOJ over the 2019 killing of former Negros Oriental Board Member Miguel Dungog and two others, as well as complaints of illegal possession of firearms.

Teves, who refused to return to the country over fears for his safety, has denied any link or involvement in the killing.

E leven persons who allegedly participated in the gruesome crime have   been charged and are facing trial for nine counts of murder, 13 counts of frustrated murder for the victims who sustained serious injuries and three (four counts) of attempted murder for the victims who sustained non-fatal injuries.

Remulla also said the prosecutors will “convert” the cases from nine counts of murders to 10 following the death of one of those critically injured victims of the attack identified as Fredelino “Putok” Cafe Jr., an employee of the Negros Oriental Provincial Engineering Office. C afe died last Sunday or more than two months after a group of armed men stormed Degamo’s residence in Pamplona town while he was meeting with his constituents and fired upon them, instantly killing the government and eight persons.

Sen. Poe seeks probe into human trafficking, cyber fraud operations involving Clark firm

By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

SEN. Grace Poe, keen to dig deeper into two anomalies, filed a resolution to investigate reported human trafficking and cyber fraud

operations at the Clark Sun Valley Hub Corporation in Pampanga.

Poe, the presiding chairperson of the Senate Committee on Public Services, stressed probers “need to uncover the true scale and roots of human

trafficking in the country.”

This is an insidious crime that must stop,” the senator vowed as she filed Senate Resolution No. 595, citing a raided firm operating inside Clark Freeport Zone, resulting in the rescue

of 1,048 alleged human trafficking victims of different Asian nationalities, including Filipinos. Poe noted the rescued workers were reportedly forced to engage in cyber fraud involving cryptocurrency.

There is an urgent need to determine the supposed existence and cease the operations of these ‘scam hubs’ in the country for the protection of our citizens and foreign nationals that are being victimized by this kind of human

trafficking scheme,” she added. At the same time, the senator reminded, “The Bureau of Immigration must explain the presence of the foreign workers and show what kind of visas they hold.”

quality and customer experience at or better to set targets. Lead the Country Management Office, help the organization balance scalability with governance across various parameters and provide platforms for employee engagement across the sites in the country.

Basic Qualification: Certified Diploma in Accounting and Finance.

Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above

WHALE CLOUD TECHNOLOGY PHILIPPINES, INC. Unit 1812 18th Floor High Street South Cofporate Plaza Tower 1, 26th Street Corner 9th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

237.

LIN, KEYU Mandarin Sales Manager Brief Job Description: Demonstrate ability to communicate, present and influence credibly and effectively at all levels of the organization. Facilitate communication between parties who speak two different languages.

Basic Qualification: College Graduate. With proven experience as Mandarin Sales Manager. Superior computer skills including proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel and Powerpoint).

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

*Date Generated: May 9, 2023

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 National Capital Region located at DOLE-NCR Building, 967 Maligaya St., Malate Manila, within 30 days after this publication.

Please inform DOLE National Capital Region if you have any information on criminal offense committed by the foreign nationals.

Canada expels China diplomat for alleged threats to lawmaker

By Rob Gillies The Associated

Press

TORONTO—The Canadian government is expelling a Chinese diplomat whom Canada’s spy agency alleged was involved in a plot to intimidate an opposition lawmaker and his relatives in Hong Kong.

A senior government official said Toronto-based diplomat Zhao Wei has five days to leave the country. The official spoke on condition of anonymity, as they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.

It wasn’t immediately clear if he’s left yet.

Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie

Joly said in a statement that Canada declared Toronto-based diplomat Zhao Wei “persona non grata.”

“We will not tolerate any form of foreign interference in our internal affairs,” she wrote. “Diplomats in Canada have been warned that if they engage in this type of behavior, they will be sent home.”

Canada’s spy service indicated that in 2021 opposition Conservative lawmaker Michael Chong and his Hong Kong relatives were targeted after Chong criticized Beijing’s human rights record. Canada’s spy agency has not released details publicly.

Chong has been critical of Beijing’s treatment of Uyghur Muslims in China’s Xinjiang province.

It became public after a Globe and Mail report last week. Chong said he learned about it from that report, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau denied knowing about it earlier.

“This should have happened years ago,” Chong said Monday.

“I hope that this makes it clear not just to the People’s Republic of China, but other authoritarian states who have representation here in Canada, that this crossing the line of diplomacy into foreign interference threat activities is utterly unacceptable here on Canadian soil.”

On Monday, China’s embassy in Ottawa issued a statement that accused Canada of breaching international law and acting based on anti-Chinese sentiment. It said the move has “sabotaged” relations between China and Canada and promised unspecified retaliatory measures.

China has previously insisted it does not interfere in other countries’ internal affairs, but says it will respond to what it calls provocations.

The Canadian government took its time to decide whether to proceed, with both Joly and Trudeau warning about backlash from Beijing.

Last week, Joly said that Beijing could threaten the safety of Canadians and the prosperity of the country in retaliation for any expulsion, but Joly now says that is worth that risk.

“This decision has been taken after careful consideration of all factors at play,” she wrote.

The revelation about Chong is the latest in a string of foreign interference attempts allegedly made by the Chinese government in Canada in recent years, including efforts to meddle in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections.

Trudeau has appointed former governor general David Johnston to further study the issue, including whether a public inquiry is needed.

China expels Canadian envoy in tit-for-tat countermeasure

BEIJING—China announced the expulsion of a Canadian diplomat on Tuesday in retaliation for Ottawa ordering a Chinese consular official to leave the country over alleged threats he made against a Canadian lawmaker and his family.

The Foreign Ministry said China was deploying a “reciprocal countermeasure to Canada’s unscrupulous move,” which it said it “firmly opposes.”

It said Jennifer Lynn Lalonde, the top Canadian diplomat in the business hub of Shanghai, has been asked to leave by May 13 and that China “reserves the right to take further actions in response.”

The Canadian Embassy in Beijing had no immediate comment on the expulsion order.

Canada earlier on Tuesday said that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government is expelling a Chinese diplomat whom Canada’s spy agency alleged was involved in a plot to intimidate an opposition lawmaker and his relatives in Hong Kong.

China took control of the former British colony in 1997, and in recent years has effectively ripped up an agreement to maintain its unique political and civil rights for 50 years by gutting its democratic institutions and free press. China regularly uses threats against family members to intimidate critics in the Chinese diaspora, particularly those from minority groups.

A senior Canadian government official said Toronto-based diplomat Zhao Wei has five days to leave the country. It wasn’t immediately clear if Zhao was still in Canada.

Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly said in a statement that Canada declared Zhao “persona non grata” and that Canada would “not tolerate any form of foreign interference in our internal affairs.”

“Diplomats in Canada have been warned that if they engage in this type of behavior, they will be sent home,” she said.

Canada’s spy service indicated that in 2021, opposition Conservative lawmaker Michael Chong and his Hong Kong relatives were targeted after Chong criticized Beijing’s human rights record. Canada’s spy agency has not released details publicly.

Chong has been critical of Beijing’s treatment of members of the Turkic Muslim Uyghur ethnic group in China’s Xinjiang region, hundreds of thousands of whom have been detained in prison-like political reeducation camps. China says attendance at what it calls vocational training centers is purely voluntary and aimed at eliminating tendencies toward

Asean relief convoy attacked in Myanmar; no casualties

By Grant Peck The Associated Press

Nay Phone Latt, a spokesperson for the National Unity Government, an underground group that calls itself the country’s legitimate government and serves as an umbrella organization for opponents of military rule, denied that its armed wing, the People’s Defense Forces, had carried out the attack.

He said the convoy was going to the office of the Pa-O National Liberation Organization, an ethnic group living in the area, to distribute aid to displaced people.

Myanmar’s capital, Naypyitaw. The area is part of the self-administered zone of the Pa-O ethnic minority. It is governed by the Pa-O National Organization, which is allied with the military government. Other Pa-O groups support the resistance.

Muslim extremism while teaching job skills.

Chong said Zhao’s expulsion should have happened years ago.

“I hope that this makes it clear not just to the People’s Republic of China, but other authoritarian states who have representation here in Canada, that this crossing the line of diplomacy into foreign interference threat activities is utterly unacceptable here on Canadian soil,” Chong said.

In a statement posted on its website, the Chinese Embassy in Ottawa said Zhao’s expulsion was “based on rumors of the socalled ‘China Interference’ hyped up by some politicians and media.”

“This has seriously violated international law, basic norms governing international relations and the related bilateral agreements, and sabotaged the China-Canada relations,” the statement said. It added that “all consequences arising therefrom shall be borne by the Canadian side.”

“China never interferes in other countries’ internal affairs,” it said.

China in recent years has expelled members of the foreign media in retaliation for their reporting or limitations placed on members of the entirely Communist Partycontrolled Chinese state media posted in the US and elsewhere.

Expulsions of diplomats are much more rare. In 2020, China ordered the closure of the US Consulate in the southwestern city of Chengdu in retaliation for Washington ordering the closure of the Chinese Consulate in Houston, which it said was a center of state-sponsored commercial espionage. China denied the allegation.

The revelation about Chong is the latest in a string of foreign interference attempts allegedly made by the Chinese government in Canada in recent years, including efforts to meddle in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections.

Trudeau has appointed former Governor General David Johnston to further study the issue, including whether a public inquiry is needed.

China-Canada relations nosedived after China detained former diplomat Michael Kovrig and entrepreneur Michael Spavor, shortly after Canada arrested Meng Wanzhou, chief financial officer of telecoms giant Huawei and the daughter of the company’s founder, at the behest of US authorities who accused her of fraud.

State-run television MRTV reported that the attack on the convoy with delegates from the Asean Coordinating Center for Humanitarian Assistance and the Indonesian and Singaporean embassies occurred Sunday in eastern Shan state and was carried out by “terrorists.” The report did not say which organization the “terrorists” were from. The military government uses the term “terrorists” for a wide range of forces opposed to military rule.

The report said the gunmen opened fire with small arms and the security team accompanying the convoy returned fire. A security vehicle was damaged, but no one in the convoy was injured, it said.

The “heinous” attack made it more difficult for displaced people as the government tries to improve relations with other countries to

alleviate the situation, the report said.

MRTV said the government is cooperating in providing humanitarian assistance under a Five Point Consensus reached by Asean in 2021 in an effort to help restore peace in Myanmar after the army seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021.

The military government has not implemented most parts of the consensus, which calls for an immediate end to violence in Myanmar, dialogue among all parties, the appointment of a special envoy, humanitarian assistance by Asean, and a visit by the special envoy to Myanmar to meet with all parties. Its failure to carry out the agreement has caused Asean to bar Myanmar’s military leaders from its top-level meetings.

“We condemn those who carried out this attack on a convoy that came to give aid and support to people fleeing the war,” Nay Phone Latt said. “It is believed that this attack was carried out by a group that did not want this aid to reach the PNLO-controlled area. It is only the terrorist military council and their subordinate factions who do not want humanitarian aid and diplomats to reach the PNLO, which is deeply involved in the revolution” against the military government, he said.

Khun Tun Tin, vice chairman of the Pa-Oh National Liberation Organization, confirmed that the attack took place five miles (eight kilometers) before the convoy reached the PNLO’s office in Shan state’s Hsi Hseng township, and that the group’s secretary was in the convoy.

The PNLO signed a nationwide cease-fire agreement with the previous military-backed government in 2015 and recently joined peace talks with the head of the ruling military council, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing.

The township is about 128 kilometers (80 miles) northeast of

Since early 2022, over 5,000 people have taken shelter in Hsi Hseng due to fighting between the army and the resistance forces. The latter include the Karenni National Progressive Party—an ethnic minority militia battling the army—and their allies in the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force and the National Unity Government-affiliated People’s Defense Forces.

The Karenni have been fighting for decades for greater autonomy.

The People’s Defense Forces were formed by the pro-democracy movement after the 2021 military takeover, and are allied with groups such as the Karenni.

The 2021 military takeover prompted nationwide peaceful protests that security forces suppressed with lethal force, triggering armed resistance that UN experts now characterize as civil war.

Urban guerrillas are active in major cities, and the loosely organized People’s Defense Forces, along with their allies in ethnic minority guerrilla groups, regularly strike military columns and outposts.

Civilians have borne the brunt of brutal military offensives in the countryside, including the use of artillery and airstrikes, which have displaced more than a million people, causing a humanitarian crisis.

AP wins public service, photo Pulitzers for Ukraine coverage

By David Bauder AP Media Writer

NEW YORK—The Associated Press won two Pulitzer Prizes on Monday for its coverage of the war in Ukraine, earning recognition for its breaking news photography of the Russian invasion, as well as the prestigious public service award for its startling—and exclusive—dispatches from the besieged port city of Mariupol.

AP journalists were also finalists in two Pulitzer categories, for breaking news photography of Sri Lanka’s political crisis and for feature photography of the Ukraine war’s impact on older people.

For the public service award, the Pulitzer judges acknowledged AP—which had the only international journalists in Mariupol for nearly three weeks—for capturing notable images of an injured, pregnant woman being rushed to medical help and Russia firing on civilian targets.

AP’s Mariupol team was made up of videojournalist Mstyslav Chernov, photographer Evgeniy Maloletka and video producer Vasilisa Stepanenko on the ground in the besieged city, and reporter Lori Hinnant in Paris.

Other winners of two Pulitzers apiece were AL.com, of Birmingham, Alabama, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and The Washington Post.

The Pulitzers honor the best in journalism from 2022 in 15 categories, as well as eight arts categories focused on books, music and theater. The public service winner receives a gold medal. All other winners receive $15,000.

Kyle Whitmire, of AL.com, won a commentary award for “measured and persuasive columns” about Alabama’s Confederate heritage and a legacy of racism.

His Alabama colleagues John Archibald, Ashley Remkus, Ramsey Archibald and Challen Stephens won a local reporting award for a probe into a local police force.

It was a second Pulitzer win for John Archibald, who previously won in 2018

for commentary, and the first for his son, Ramsey Archibald. Remkus and Stephens were also picking up their second Pulitzers, after being part of a team that won in 2021 for national reporting.

“The recognition is tremendous and we’re grateful our work is being honored on the national stage like this,” Kelly Ann Scott, editor in chief and vice president of Alabama Media Group, said in a statement.

“This is local journalism at its best—and local journalism is the heartbeat of this country’s journalism in general.”

The New York Times was honored with an international reporting award for its coverage of Russian killings in the Ukrainian town of Bucha. Pulitzers were also given for work surrounding the US Supreme Court’s decision overturning the Roe v. Wade abortion standard, the government’s policy of child separation at the border, and welfare spending in Mississippi.

The Washington Post’s Caroline Kitchener won for “unflinching reporting” on the consequences of the abortion decision, including the story of a Texas teenager who gave birth to twins after new restrictions denied her an abortion. The Post’s Eli Saslow won for feature writing.

The Los Angeles Times won for breaking news for its stories revealing a secretly recorded conversation with city officials making racist comments. The newspaper’s Christina House won for feature photography, for her images of a 22-year-old pregnant woman living on the street.

The AP coverage of Mariupol, according to the Ukrainian city’s deputy mayor, focused the world’s attention on the devastation there and ultimately pressured Russians to open an evacuation route, saving thousands of civilian lives.

“They told the world of the human toll of this war in its earliest days,” AP Executive Editor Julie Pace said during a staff Zoom celebration. “They served as a counterweight against Russian disinformation, and they helped open up a humanitarian corridor out of Mariupol with the power of their work.”

The AP team that won for breaking news photography included Maloletka, who was part of the Mariupol coverage, along with Bernat Armangue, Emilio Morenatti, Felipe Dana, Nariman El-Mofty, Rodrigo Abd and Vadim Ghirda.

AP’s director of photography, David Ake, credited winners in the breaking news photography category for simply staying put in a war zone to bear witness.

“You can’t make the moment that

captures the world if you’re not there, and being there is often dirty and difficult and dangerous,” he said.

Pulitzer Prize Board co-chair Neil Brown highlighted the dangers faced by journalists, noting the imprisonment in Russia of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich on spying charges, which his family and the newspaper vehemently deny. Brown said the board demands Gershkovich’s immediate release.

BANGKOK—A convoy including diplomats representing the Association of Southeast Asian Nations on a mission to provide humanitarian assistance to displaced people in strife-torn Myanmar has been ambushed, state media and a member of an ethnic minority militia said Monday.

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

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

4

POGO 1 Building, Covelandia Road, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

Able to speak, read and write Chinese and Malaysian language

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

Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description:

Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

SHIGEZANE, MAMORU

16 NAKASHIMA PHILIPPINES CORPORATION 2nd Street, North Drive, Cavite Economic Zone, Tejeros Convention, Rosario, Cavite

LEE (SPOUSE OF SON), YOUN SUK Basic Qualification: College graduate Salary Range: Php30,000 - Php59,999

KIM, CHOYEON QA Manager Brief Job Description: Accomplish quality assurance human resource objectives by recruiting, selecting, orienting, training, assigning, scheduling, coaching, counseling and discipline to the employees Basic Qualification: Must have experience in quality control industry Salary Range: Php30,000 - Php59,999

17 PANASONIC MANUFACTURING PHILIPPINES CORPORATION Ortigas Avenue Extension, San Isidro, Taytay, Rizal/Laguna Technopark, Don Jose, City of Santa Rosa, Laguna

Department Head for Production and Engineering

Brief Job Description:

Support and educate activities for related departments

YAMAGUCHI, AKIHIRO

General Manager of Air Conditioning Philippines (PACPH)

Brief Job Description:

Plans the company’s annual sales and marketing strategies and provides general directions to the management teams based on regional directions and company’s mission and objectives

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

Salary Range: Php30,000 - Php59,999

Basic Qualification: College graduate with experience in the same field

Salary Range: Php150,000Php499,999

Basic Qualification: Excellent command of Nihongo and has 10-years work experience as Supervisor/ Manager in global operation of commercial air conditioning and specialist channel development in appliance company

Salary Range:

Php150,000Php499,999

18 PRICON MICROELECTRONICS, INC. No. 14 Ampere St., Light Industry & Science Park 1, Diezmo, City of Cabuyao, Laguna

MATSUZAKI, YOICHI

General Manager

Brief Job Description:

To provide technical support on the quality management of IC sockets & connector assembly

NOZAKI, TADASHI

19 PRICON MICROELECTRONICS, INC. No. 14 Ampere St., Light Industry & Science Park 1, Diezmo, City of Cabuyao, Laguna

General Manager

Brief Job Description:

Provide technical training to local staff, particularly engineers and technicians whenever a new product and/ or equipment is transferred from the head office (YEC) to PMI.

TSUJIMURA, HIROYUKI

20 ROHM MECHATECH PHILIPPINES, INCORPORATED Lots 4-5, Block 5, Complex Avenue, People’s Technology Complex, Maduya, Carmona, Cavite

Leadframe Department Manager

Brief Job Description:

Develop employees of the department

Basic Qualification: 25 years total experience in IC Socket design, connector and manufacturing technology, particularly in quality control & quality assurance

Salary Range:

Php90,000 –Php149,999

Basic Qualification:

25 years total experience in IC Socket design, Connector and manufacturing technology, particularly in quality control & quality assurance

Salary Range:

Php90,000Php149,999

Basic Qualification: With 10 years and above work experience in a Manufacturing Industry

Salary Range:

Php30,000 - Php59,999

LANDSAFE TRAVEL AND TOURS AGENCY Ground Floor, Paseo De Bacoor, Molino III, City of Bacoor, Cavite CHUKWU, CHUKWUDI KENNETH Sales And Marketing Officer Brief Job Description: Join and attend cultural group meetings of African Community in the Philippines Basic Qualification: Excellent oral and written communication skills Salary Range: Php30,000 - Php59,999 8 MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Island Cove II, Covelandia Road, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite AUNG NAING OO Burmese Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese and Burmese language Salary Range: Php30,000 - Php59,999 9 MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Island Cove II, Covelandia Road, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite CHEN, XUEJIN Chinese 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 10 MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Island Cove II, Covelandia Road, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite LI, LI Chinese 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 11 MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Island Cove II, Covelandia Road, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite LI, YUNSEN Chinese 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 12 MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Island Cove II, Covelandia Road, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite WANG, JIANHONG Chinese 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 13 MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. Island Cove II, Covelandia Road, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite WANG, YUQIN Chinese 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

The World

UN report: Female Afghan UN employees harassed, detained

By Rahim Faiez

The Associated Press

ISLAMABAD—Some Afghan women employed by the United Nations have been detained, harassed and had restrictions placed on their movements since being banned by the Taliban from working for the world body, the UN said Tuesday.

Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers informed the United Nations early last month that Afghan women employed with the UN mission could no longer report for work.

“This is the most recent in a series of discriminatory—and unlawful—measures implemented by the de facto authorities with the goal of severely restricting women and

girls’ participation in most areas of public and daily life in Afghanistan,” the UN said in a report on the human rights situation in the south Asian country.

Taliban authorities continued to crack down on dissenting voices this year, in particular those who speak out on issues related to the rights of women and girls, the report said.

The UN report cited the March arrest of four women who were released the following day during a protest demanding access to education and work in the capital of Kabul and the arrest of Matiullah Wesa, head of PenPath, a civil society organization campaigning for the reopening of girls’ schools.

It also pointed to the arrest of a women’s rights activist Parisa Mobariz and her brother in February in the northern Takhar province.

Several other civil society activists have been released— reportedly without being charged—following extended periods of arbitrary detention by the Taliban Intelligence service, the report said.

The measures will have disastrous effects on Afghanistan’s prospects for prosperity, stability and peace, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, UNAMA said in the report.

“UNAMA is concerned by increasing restrictions on civic space across Afghanistan,” said Fiona Frazer, the agency’s human rights chief.

The Taliban previously banned girls from going to school beyond the sixth grade and blocked women from most

public life and work. In December, they banned Afghan women from working at local and nongovernmental organizations—a measure that at the time did not extend to UN offices.

The report also pointed to ongoing extrajudicial killings of individuals affiliated with the former government. On March 5 in southern Kandahar, Taliban forces arrested a former police officer from his home, then shot and killed him, according to the report. During the same month in northern Balkh, a former military official was killed by unknown armed men in his house, it said.

“Arbitrary arrests and detention of former government officials and Afghanistan National Security and Defense Force members also occurred throughout February, March and April,” added the report.

In a separate report released Monday, the UN strongly criticized the Taliban for carrying out public executions, lashings and stonings since seizing power in Afghanistan, and called on the country’s rulers to halt such practices.

In the past six months alone, 274 men, 58 women and two boys were publicly flogged in Afghanistan, said the report.

The Taliban foreign ministry said in response that Afghanistan’s laws are determined in accordance with Islamic rules and guidelines, and that an overwhelming majority of Afghans follow those rules.

The Taliban began carrying out such punishments shortly after coming to power almost two years ago, despite initial promises of a more moderate rule than during their previous stint in power in the 1990s.

Under the first Taliban regime from 1996 to 2001, public corporal punishment and executions were carried out by officials against individuals convicted of crimes, often in large venues such as sports stadiums and at urban intersections.

The main Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, condemned Monday’s UN report about public executions and other punishments carried out by Afghanistan’s new rulers. In a tweet, he called the UN concerns baseless, saying the Taliban follow Islamic, or Sharia, law, which he claimed has strengthened the judicial system.

The Taliban did not immediately comment on the latest report about the treatment of Afghan women working for the UN or other rights violations.

Police raid global consulting firm as China starts anti-spy campaign

CHINA has launched a nationwide antiespionage crackdown on consulting firms, according to state media, accusing one global company of leaking state secrets and having ties with foreign intelligence agencies.  On orders from China’s central government, authorities carried out synchronized operations in cities including the financial powerhouses of Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Suzhou, a provincial TV channel in Jiangsu province reported Monday night. The state broadcaster didn’t say where it got the information or provide a timeframe for the raids.

State security officials visited the Suzhou branch of Capvision, a consulting firm with headquarters in New York and Shanghai, the broadcaster said. Capvision employees in the city that neighbors Shanghai were questioned and some items were searched and seized, according to the report, which didn’t identify whether other firms were also targeted.

Security officials have found Capvision accepted consulting projects from overseas companies with close ties to foreign governments, military and intelligence agencies, according to a Tuesday report shared by the official WeChat account of the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission, the Communist Party’s top legal body.

Capvision said in a statement posted to its WeChat account on Monday evening that it will resolutely stick to national-security policies and take the lead to guide the healthy development of the consulting industry.

China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin called the probe  “normal law enforcement actions”

designed to develop a “wellregulated” sector, at a regular briefing in Beijing on Tuesday.

Beijing has taken several steps in recent months to tighten foreign access to sensitive information amid growing tensions with the US, despite Premier Li Qiang’s recent vow to establish a “broad space” for foreign companies in China.

The government last month passed a vague new counterespionage law that expanded the list of activities that could be considered spying, intensifying the risks for foreign firms.   US consultancies—often used by overseas investors and multinational companies to conduct due diligence and research in China—are particularly in the spotlight. In recent weeks, authorities have questioned staff at the China offices of US consultancy Bain & Company and targeted New York-based due-diligence enterprise Mintz Group.

“Foreign companies need to assess whether the work they’re doing in China might be viewed as supporting a hostile agenda,” said Gabriel Wildau, managing director at advisory firm Teneo Holdings LLC in New York. “Information that on its face doesn’t appear sensitive or relevant to national security might be viewed as such if it’s used in the context of providing advice in service of an anti-China or pro-decoupling agenda.”

It’s not clear where the red lines are, so any work that sits in a gray area should probably be performed outside China, Wildau added. “My sense from the recent incidents is that Chinese staff and longterm expatriates are at greater risk than visiting executives,” he said.

State secrets

CHINESE authorities have recently found that “overseas institutions with complex

backgrounds” have relied on domestic consulting companies to steal state secrets, according to the Tuesday report shared by the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission.

The report cited a police officer from Shanghai’s national security bureau as saying Capvision also accepted consulting projects in sensitive fields such as national defense and cutting-edge technology. This compelled its staff members to call military enterprises and sensitive research units for information—both areas where Washington has imposed trade restrictions on China in recent months.

In that environment, Beijing has pushed to curtail access by overseas firms to Chinese data sources, in part, in response to a series of reports written by US research institutions that have reinforced Washington’s hard line on China, the Wall Street Journal reported this week, citing people with knowledge of the matter.

Chinese services such as Wind Information Co. in recent months stopped providing detailed data on the nation’s companies to overseas clients. The Cyberspace Administration of China, the country’s powerful Internet overseer, also notified data providers in March to restrict overseas access to sensitive information such as patents and statistics, the Journal reported, citing people who have consulted with Chinese authorities.  Registry databases at Qichacha and TianYanCha— companies that provide similar services—have also been inaccessible for some time to users outside mainland China, according to several people familiar with the matter. With assistance from Li Liu, Jacob Gu, Lucille Liu, Jon Herskovitz, Rebecca Choong Wilkins and Sarah Zheng/Bloomberg

PHL durians making Chinese go bananas

THe shipment of the first batch of durians, a fruit that is banned by some hotels and on transportation service in Southeast Asia, signaled the opening of an additional revenue stream for Filipino planters. Local growers from Davao sent the first shipment of 28 tons (or 28,000 kilograms) of durians to Beijing. (See, “Durian is now one of Davao City’s top export crops,” in the BusinessMirror, April 10, 2023). The actual shipment happened after a series of farm inspections in Davao City and business-to-business negotiations since December 2022.

Durian producers in the region are optimistic that China will buy more of their crop, as the Chinese are known to be fond of the pungent fruit. The first shipment is just a fraction of the estimated 40,000 metric tons (MT) of durians that Davao City produces annually, so in terms of the capacity of the region to supply the requirements of the Chinese market, it is more than capable of doing so. The export to China could encourage other planters to ramp up output in anticipation of the increase in demand for durians.

The opening of the Chinese market for durians is certainly good news for a country that continues to struggle to diversify its agricultural exports. Based on a report published by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) in September 2022, bananas remained as the major fresh fruit export of the Philippines based on data from 2017 to 2021. However, its share in terms of export earnings in 2021 fell by nearly a third as total volume shipped declined by 36.1 percent to 2.43 million metric tons, from the previous year’s 3.8 MMT.

Durian producers and local officials would do well to remember the experience of banana exporters. After years of dominating certain markets, Philippine bananas are now competing with Latin American countries, such as Guatemala, which stripped the Philippines of its status as the world’s second-largest exporter of the fruit. Apart from the increasing competitiveness of other exporters, local banana producers also struggled to meet increasing demand as pests drastically reduced output and rising production costs made it difficult for traders to ensure stability of prices.

In the case of Philippine durian, one of its closest competitors is its neighbor in Southeast Asia. Vietnamese farmers are again ramping up their durian production to take advantage of the appetite of the Chinese market for the fruit. (See, “Coffee drinkers pay more as farmers prefer growing durians in Vietnam,” in the BusinessMirror, May 4, 2023). VnExpress, a Vietnamese online news site, said in a report last March that Chinese farmers are finally growing durian successfully in China’s southern regions.

China imported over 800,000 MT of durian valued at $4 billion last year as demand for the fruit in the East Asian nation continues to soar. The initial shipment from the Philippines is just a small fraction of this volume, which indicates that there is a lot of room for growth. Taking advantage of the opportunities presented by the appetite of the Chinese for Philippine durian is another matter, something that requires foresight and careful planning.

Deal or default? Biden, GOP must decide what’s on the table

By Zeke Miller, Seung Min Kim & Josh Boak | The Associated Press

WASHINGTON—Before President Joe Biden and congressional leaders can even try to avert an unprecedented US government default, their initial challenge on Tuesday will be to agree on what exactly they’re talking about as they hold their first substantive meeting in months.

With the government at risk of being unable to meet its obligations as soon as June 1, raising the specter of potential economic calamity, Republicans are coming to the White House hoping to negotiate sweeping cuts to federal spending in exchange for allowing new borrowing to avoid default.

Biden, on the other hand, is set to reinforce his opposition to allowing the country’s full faith and credit to be held “hostage” to negotiations— and to affirm his willingness to hold talks on the budget only after default is no longer a threat.

The chasm between these diametrically opposite postures is fomenting uncertainty that is already roiling financial markets and threatens to turn into a tidal wave that swamps the country’s economy if not resolved.

Default, officials say, would have sweeping impacts, threatening to disrupt Social Security payments to retirees, destabilize global markets and tilt the nation into a potentially debilitating recession.

Biden’s Oval Office meeting with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, Senate Majority Leader

Chuck Schumer and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell was set to begin at 4 p.m.—after US financial markets close for the day. Expectations for a breakthrough are low.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen acknowledged the “very big gap” between Democrats and Republicans in an interview Monday with CNBC.

“They’re very far apart,” she said. “The president hopes to establish a process for discussing and compromising on those issues, but he’s not willing to do it with a gun to not only his head—more importantly, it’s a gun to the head of the American people and the American economy.”

Already looking past the meeting, Biden on Wednesday is set to go to Westchester County, N.Y., where he plans to deliver a speech on how proposed spending cuts approved by House Republicans could hurt teachers, older adults needing food aid and veterans seeking health care.

It’s part of a broader campaign by Biden to try to paint the Republican cuts as draconian. Aides believe that message both strengthens his position in talks with the GOP and boosts his nascent 2024 reelection

effort. His Wednesday visit will be to a congressional district won by Biden in 2020, but that is now represented by a Republican, Rep. Mike Lawler.

While calling for a “clean” increase to the debt limit, Biden has said he is open to discussion about how to reduce the federal deficit. His budget plan would trim deficits by nearly $3 trillion over a decade, mainly through tax increases on the wealthy and changes such as letting the government negotiate over prescription drug prices.

By contrast, the bill that passed the House with Republican votes would achieve $4.5 trillion in deficit savings through cuts in spending, eliminating tax breaks for investing in clean energy, and reversing Biden’s plans to reduce the burdens of student loan debt.

McCarthy, R-Calif., has staked his speakership on extracting some concessions from Biden in exchange for raising the borrowing limit, with some of his members insisting they would withhold their votes on a debt measure unless all of their proposals made the final legislation.

While the financial markets have started to show some jitters, the business community has thus far largely avoided backing either side in the showdown and instead called for a deal to be struck.

“Securing a bipartisan path forward to raise the debt ceiling could not be more urgent,” said Josh Bolten, the head of the Business Roundtable, a group that represents CEOs. “The cost of a default, or even the threat of

a default, is simply too high.”

Biden’s refusal to negotiate on the debt limit is informed by his firsthand experience in 2011, when he was Barack Obama’s vice president and the administration made painful concessions to Republicans in an effort to avoid default. Biden has told aides it’s an experience he refuses to repeat, not just for himself, but also for future presidents.

“There is no Plan B,” Bharat Ramamurti, deputy director of the National Economic Council at the White House, told CNN on Monday. “Our plan is for Congress to act to address the debt limit, without conditions.”

Notably, though, the administration has not ruled out a short-term increase in the debt limit that would align the deadline to increase federal borrowing authority with the talks on government spending that must be resolved by Sept. 30.

Though memories of the 2011 debt-limit standoff—which also featured a Democratic president and a Republican speaker—remain fresh in minds across Washington, aides to McConnell, the Senate GOP leader, have started to point to another, more recent battle as a more instructive example.

In 2019, former President Donald Trump and Nancy Pelosi, then the newly reinstalled Democratic House speaker, reached a broader fiscal deal that not only raised the nation’s borrowing authority for two years but staved off automatic budget cuts that both parties deplored.

China tells US to ‘reflect deeply’ over downturn in ties

BeIJING—China’s foreign minister told the US ambassador on Monday that Washington is responsible for the downturn in relations between the two countries and must “reflect deeply” before ties can return to a healthy track, an official said.

Qin Gang’s comments follow a suspension of serious dialogue on a range of issues between the world’s largest economies, increasingly at odds over tariffs, attempts by Washington to deprive China of cuttingedge technology, and China’s claims to self-governing Taiwan and large parts of the South and East China Seas.

China’s Foreign Ministry quoted Qin as telling Ambassador Nicolas Burns that a “series of erroneous words and deeds by the US” since a meeting in November between US President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping “have undermined the hard-won positive momentum of Sino-US relations.”

“The US side should reflect deeply, meet China halfway, and propel China-US relations out of the difficulties and back on the right track,” Qin was quoted as saying. The United States should “cor-

rect its understanding of China and return to rationality,” Qin said, repeating his earlier accusation that the US is attempting to suppress and contain China. Beijing routinely cites US political and military support of Taiwan as infringing on its sovereignty.

Qin said ties had “grown icy” and the priority was to stabilize them “and avoid a downward spiral and unanticipated events.”

The US should stop “undermining China’s sovereignty, security, and development interests,” particularly through support of Taiwan’s independent identity, Qin said.

China says Taiwan must come under its rule, by force if necessary, while the United States says the relationship between the sides must be resolved peaceably. US law requires it to treat threats to Taiwan, including a military blockade, as a matter of “grave concern,” though it remains

ambiguous under what conditions US forces could be dispatched to defend the island.

Despite the lack of formal diplomatic relations, the US is Taiwan’s largest supplier of military hardware and diplomatic support, even while it continues to maintain relations with Beijing. Biden has been seen as going a step further by repeatedly saying that the US would back Taiwan militarily, and America has been upgrading basing arrangements with the Philippines, located just south of Taiwan.

US-China military contacts have been on hold for years, and China’s top staff refused to answer a call from Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin after then-Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan last year. China retaliated for the visit by staging a naval and air force blockade of Taiwan and cutting off channels of communication with the US on issues from environmental protection to maritime security.

At a daily briefing Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin described the meeting

between Qin and Burns as “a normal diplomatic arrangement.”

In a tweet, Burns said he met with Qin and “discussed challenges in the US-China relationship and the necessity of stabilizing ties and expanding high-level communication.”

In comments to a US think tank last week, Burns said Washington has been consistent in its approach toward Taiwan and insists that “any resolution of the (crossTaiwan Strait) differences has to be peaceful.”

“We hope that the government here in China will commit itself to a peaceful resolution of the dispute,” Burns said in an online discussion with the Washington-based Stimson Center.

The US “has the obligation as well as the interest to make sure that we can provide defensive arms to Taiwan so that the Taiwan authorities can have a proper defense and we can help them build up a deterrence,” he said.

“If Taiwan has a sufficient deterrence in place, and if other countries around the world are supporting a

King’s pledge of service defines UK’s modern monarchy

By Danica Kirka | The Associated Press

LONDON—If one thread ran throughout the festivities marking the coronation of King Charles III, it was the idea of public service.

it was there when Charles stood before a choirboy at Westminster Abbey on Saturday and promised to serve. it was there in the words of his son, Prince William, during Sunday’s concert at Windsor Castle. And it is there in the day of volunteerism that the king called for on Monday’s holiday in the UK.

it ’s a strange word from the lips of a king—not exactly the stuff of fairy tales, or monarchs leading armies into battle, or shouting, “Off with their heads!” it ’s been more than 260 years since a British king led troops in the field, and Charles is legally barred from meddling in politics.

despite the trappings of medieval power on display at the coronation, a modern monarchy links the royal family to the people of the United Kingdom and the 14 other countries Charles serves as head of state.

His grandfather, King George V i, is remembered for staying in London during the German bombing raids of World War ii showing the people that he was with them.

Devil and deep blue sea

All were invited to the abbey to honor their service to their communities.

Prince William picked up the theme Sunday night as 20,000 people gathered in the shadow of Windsor Castle for a concert headlined by Lionel r ichie, Katy Perry and Take That.

After saluting his father’s work to protect the environment and help the disadvantaged, William turned his attention to others.

“i also want to express my pride and gratitude for the millions of people who serve—in the forces, in classrooms, hospital wards and local communities,” he said. “i wish i could mention you all. Your service inspires us.”

The theme carried through to Monday’s final act of the holiday weekend, a less-glitzy affair that is being called “The Big Help Out.”

Hoping to inspire a new generation of volunteers, Buckingham Palace asked people around the country to donate a few hours to local charities.

DEVIL and deep blue sea is the appropriate description at the WPS under the circumstance in sequel to our last week’s subject, due to lack of space.

There is no choice, indeed. We did everything neighborly. This country depended on blah-blahs and bundles of diplomatic protests, which filled up the Sino dumpster. China continues to illegally seize and occupy our territorial waters and EZ, harass, intimidate and bully our fisher folks and maritime vessels.

Exasperated, Senator Bong Go constantly urges China to cease any form of bullying or encroachment in the WPS following the repeated near collision instigated by China against Philippine vessels. Go insists, “what is ours is ours.”

We got no military might yet to confront Chinese aggression, and by circumstance forced to ally with friendly forces such as the US, Japan and Australia who share our cause.

I am particularly amazed at the energy level of President Bongbong. After a non-stop official meeting and activities with US government officials led by President Joe Biden, the Defense and the business community, PBBM and his Party went to the UK.

ventilated in the media.

comprehensive tour of the UK’s second busiest, the Gatwick Airport, to learn from its best practices.

We do this, unless we have given up on the West Philippine Sea to the aggressor.

Our 17th President is doing right.

We must protect our lands and seas against China led by Emperor Xi Jinping.

n n n

Pr ESidEnT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is cited by an opposition media entity as a jet setter. Well, as one reads this piece, Marcos, since becoming the President, has been to 13 countries, the last one being indonesia, after attending King Charles coronation in the UK.

There is no need to explain why he needs to reintroduce the Philippines, invite and secure investors and renew and strengthen various forms of alliances that has been well

Aside from multi-billion dollars investment and military hardware committed by Japan and the US, for instance, we find the forging of clearly defined stronger alliances against our neighbor’s threat to the peace and stability of the Asia-Pacific lanes as the strongest argument for the overseas trips. That’s a very huge accomplishment, worthy of the taxpayers’ money and cost involved in over a dozen foreign trips. Some sectors may not see the light, but i’m citing verifiable facts.

i am particularly amazed at the energy level of President Bongbong. After a non-stop official meeting and activities with US government officials led by President Joe Biden, the defense and the business community, PBBM and his Party went to the UK.

i thought that would be the end of his US-UK work overseas. no, because before flying back home, Marcos, with Speaker Martin romualdez and Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista didn’t waste time and took a

The firsthand observation and meeting with the Global i n frastructure Partners, which runs one of UK’s busiest gateways, educated and served as an eye opener, leading PBBM to state that “our vision for safe, efficient and sustainable airports in the Philippines is one step closer to reality.” it provided him and the Group with valuable insights on how our government “can develop the truly world class airports we aspire to build in the Philippines.”

Well, The Bridge would like to thank Mr. President. now, we see a visible sign of relief for local and foreign tourists considering our main gateway to the world, na ia, is one the worst airports in the world with flight disruptions occurring one after another. Thanks or no thanks, curse, as we hear it, in part, on the negligence or incompetence of the officials running it. Obviously, uneducated in the science or art of applying potential problem analysis.

Perhaps, not too different from what the dHSUd -nCr and Calabarzon or dEnr- region 4A and dPWH, Quezon-2d are doing.

To know why and more, we invite all to watch Tulay TV Show on PTV4, every Sunday, 12nn or @youtube, hosted by yours truly.

His mother, Queen Elizabeth ii endeared herself to the nation with 70 years of public duties, sprinkling a bit of royal stardust on communities from Belfast to Brighton. As a young princess, she pledged that “my whole life, whether it be short or long, will be devoted to your service.”

She did it not just with mundane ribbon cuttings and tree plantings, but also by boosting the morale of health care workers during the pandemic and supporting charities that helped veterans and the disadvantaged.

Charles’ reign, and the future of the monarchy, will rest on whether he and his heir, Prince William, can maintain that link in a country that is much less deferential to royalty than the one that cheered Elizabeth’s coronation in 1953.

“it ’s a marriage between the monarch and the people,’’ said former BBC royal correspondent Michael Cole. “His life has been dedicated to service. And i think that you’re going to see that more and more and more. He’s very committed to it. He’s utterly sincere and it will be up for other people to judge—and i hope they judge fairly and honestly— because nobody can doubt his good intentions.’’

Throughout the weekend, Charles pledged to serve and recognized the service of others. When he walked into Westminster Abbey on Saturday morning, with four page boys carrying the train of his flowing robe, he walked past prime ministers and global dignitaries.

But in the side chapels, out of sight of the cameras, were hundreds of the usually anonymous people who make the United Kingdom tick. People like Barbara Swinn, a librarian from York, Kim Beck, who works with Afghan refugees in Solihull, and naomi Brock, who does community work and looks after four foster children, and well as five of her own, in Olney.

continued from A14

it ’s a modern role for a modern monarchy.

As Britain’s ceremonial head of state, the king is symbol of stability and unity that helps the nation celebrate its victories and consoles it during times of adversity.

Some argue that these duties are better performed by an elected head of state, not a 74-year-old man who inherited wealth and status by an accident of birth. But supporters argue that Britain is better off with a hereditary monarch, above the fray of party politics, who doesn’t have to face voters regularly.

That debate, muted recently out of respect for the aging queen, is likely to intensify during Charles’ reign. There were rumblings of that over the weekend, when police arrested anti-monarchist protesters.

“These arrests were not about protecting people from harm, but about protecting the king from embarrassment,” said Graham Smith, head of the campaign group r epublic. “ it was the state wanting to stamp down dissent in order to present an image of a grateful and consenting public at the time of the coronation.”

Others grumbled that the coronation was too filled with the trappings of the Church of England for a country that isn’t very religious, too much medieval pageantry for a modern nation that has ditched many of the formalities of the past, and too much military involvement for a diminished world power.

These traditions provide the historical underpinnings of the monarchy and give the royal family its majesty and its mystique.

But Charles—and William— know that’s not enough.

A day after the crown was placed on Charles’ head, William ended his speech—like his grandmother decades earlier—by pledging to continue his father’s work. “i commit myself to serve you all,” the heir said.

tions of spying on sensitive military sites despite firm Chinese denials.

Qin was due to depart Monday for visits to Germany, France and norway amid China’s fraying relations with Europe over alleged unfair trade practices, human rights abuses and Beijing’s support for russia in its war against Ukraine.

How those fleeing Ukraine inspired US border policies

Associated Press

The

By Colleen Long & Elliot Spagat |

WASHINGTON—Shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine, refugees from the threatened nation started showing up at Mexico’s border with the United States. Roughly 1,000 Ukrainians a day flew to Tijuana on tourist visas, desperate to reach US soil.

The volume was overwhelming the nation’s busiest border crossing in San d i ego. i n Tijuana, thousands of Ukrainians slept in a municipal gym hoping for a chance to cross into the US.

i n response, the administration announced it would admit up to 100,000 Ukrainians for two years—if they applied online, had a financial backer and entered through an airport. At the same time, border officials turned back Ukrainians who arrived on foot at the US border.

The Biden administration has considered those policies to be so effective that a similar model has become the centerpiece of a broader border policy rolling out in earnest Thursday as pandemicrelated restrictions end that had allowed US officials to quickly turn away migrants crossing illegally.

The results are sure to be a test for President Joe Biden, who is seeking reelection as the border shifts back into the political spotlight and r e publicans seek to portray him as soft on security.

“Our model is to build lawful pathways and then to impose consequences that the law provides on those that do not avail themselves of those lawful pathways,” Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas told reporters last month.

it ’s a shift away from the more open immigration policies that characterized Biden’s first year as president in favor of an approach that pairs beefed-up enforcement with expanded legal pathways and diplomacy.

“ i think they have a fighting chance, over time, to turn this into a real system that is both more fair and more controllable,” said Andrew Selee, president of the Migration Policy i n stitute, a nonpartisan immigration think tank.

This account is based in part on interviews with more than a dozen current and former administration officials who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations.

Within his first month in office, Biden signed a slew of executive actions to undo Trump-era policies. He backed legislation to provide a path to citizenship for millions in the country illegally. He stacked his administration with immigrant advocates eager to push back against what they saw as anti-immigrant policies by Trump.

But alarms rang almost immediately when nearly 19,000 children traveling alone were stopped at the border in March 2021. Senior officials met twice weekly to strategize, moving children out of badly overcrowded Border Patrol facilities to emergency shelters, including convention centers in California and military bases in Texas.

While the number of unaccompanied children eased, a “daily dashboard” monitored by top officials showed overall arrivals continuing to rise, especially families.

Most of the people coming to the US border illegally are fleeing persecution or poverty in their home countries. They ask for asylum and have generally been allowed into the US to wait out their cases. That process can take years under a badly strained immigration court system, and it has prompted increasing numbers to come to the border hoping to get into the US.

gration advocacy groups had left the administration, some exasperated that their views weren’t gaining more traction and feeling that Biden was not as focused on the US-Mexico border as he was on other issues. That left officials with more centrist views in charge. Mayorkas and others were worried that Ukrainians could be unsafe in their travels and their circuitous route to the US was further straining border resources. That led to the “Uniting for Ukraine” policy, under which 128,000 people have been allowed into the US, with tens of thousands more approved to come. And the number of Ukrainians coming on foot essentially stopped.

“We built at incredible speed and it proved successful,” Mayorkas said.

and ni caragua, and they increased the number of people: 30,000 from each of the four nationalities would be allowed in as long as they flew in, met background checks and had sponsors. Mexico agreed to take the same number back from those four countries who cross the border illegally.

“We can’t stop people from making the journey, but we can require t hem to come here in an orderly way under US law,” Biden said in announcing the policy.

Soon, the administration was reporting that Cubans, Haitians, n i caraguans and Venezuelans made up only 3 percent of illegal crossings in March, down from 40 percent in d e cember.

The US has now declared the Covid-19 emergency over, and the restrictions will end this week that have allowed US officials to turn away migrants more than 2.8 million times since March 2020.

The Biden administration has bolstered its centerpiece policy with other moves meant to clamp down at the border and open up other pathways for migrants.

Contacts between Washington and Beijing have been fraught for months since US Secretary of State Antony Blinken abruptly canceled a Beijing trip aimed at easing US-China tensions in February. That came after a large high-altitude Chinese balloon was shot down after it sailed across the US, drawing Pentagon accusa-

Chinese President Xi and his russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, declared their governments had a “no limits” friendship before Moscow’s February 2022 attack on Ukraine.

Beijing has refused to criticize the Kremlin over the invasion but has tried to appear neutral and has called for a cease-fire and peace talks. AP

The policies have been criticized by the left as too much like former President d o nald Trump’s. Others wonder whether anything Biden does will stop the flow of migrants along the southern border, and whether the new policies can survive expected legal challenges and a lack of resources.

But some immigration experts think it may be a balanced approach that results in fewer illegal crossings while still providing a haven for those fleeing persecution.

Most of the people coming to the US border illegally are fleeing persecution or poverty in their home countries. They ask for asylum and have generally been allowed into the US to wait out their cases. That process can take years under a badly strained immigration court system, and it has prompted increasing numbers to come to the border hoping to get into the US.

Even though many ask for asylum, the legal pathway is narrow and most do not meet the standard.

By the time r u ssia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, many officials with close ties to immi-

The administration turned its focus to other people coming to the border illegally who could not be easily returned to their home countries. Venezuelans had become the second-largest nationality at the border after Mexicans, and in October 2022, they became the second group where the policy would apply. i f they crossed illegally on foot, 24,000 would be returned back over the border to Mexico. i f t hey came by air, with sponsors, the US would take in 24,000.

Comments@andalbilly@yahoo.com peaceful resolution, one would hope that that would lead the Chinese to understand the consequences of the use of force in the Taiwan Strait,” Burns said.

Meanwhile, Cubans and nicaraguans had pushed illegal crossings to the highest levels on record in d e cember, as Fox n e ws aired live reports of hundreds of waiting migrants under the banner: “Biden’s Border Crisis.”

r e publican-led states had sued to keep the Covid-19 restrictions in place. And Biden officials were waiting to see if a bipartisan immigration bill in Congress could actually pass. it didn’t.

So in January, Biden announced the policy would be expanded again to people from Cuba, Haiti

Last week, the administration said it would admit 100,000 people from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador who come to be reunited with their families in the US. n e w immigration hubs in Guatemala, Colombia and perhaps elsewhere will field applications to come to the United States.

But border officials are also speeding up the process asylum seekers go through, to more quickly expel those who fail. And it’s finalizing a new rule—similar to a Trump policy that was blocked in court—to make obtaining asylum extremely difficult for anyone who passes through another country, like Mexico, to reach the US border.

Meanwhile, the number of Venezuelans illegally crossing the border is rising again. Administration officials are waiting to see whether it’s a temporary blip related to the end of Covid-19 restrictions.

Mayorkas acknowledged the concerns during a tour of Texas’ r i o Grande Valley last week. i n t he end, he said, nothing is a substitute for congressional action.

“We have a plan, we are executing on that plan,” Mayorkas said.

“Fundamentally, however, we are working within a broken immigration system that for decades has been in dire need of reform.” Spagat reported from San Diego.

SENATORS PROD DOH ON MENTAL HEALTH PRIORITY

EXPRESSING alarm over the spike in suicides among the young and the calls for help at public hotlines, senators on Tuesday pushed for reforms in the Department of Health’s priorities in order to devote more resources and better services for the rising problems of mental health.

A t a hearing by the Senate Committee on Health chaired by Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go, data on the sharp and steady rise in the calls received by the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) were among the indicators cited by Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian to illustrate the problem, which grew during the pandemic.

I n 2019, before the Covid-19 health crisis, the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) received 3,125 calls, of which 712 were deemed “suicide-related,” according to Department of Health data cited by Gatchalian.

That number grew to 11,017 total calls; while the suiciderelated calls grew fourfold to 2,841 in 2020, the first year of the pandemic.

I n 2021, the total calls numbered 14,897, and the suiciderelated ones spiked to 5,167, the data showed.

A t the hearing, Senator

Go, presiding officer, vowed to make mental health services “affordable and available” always. “Let’s help the helpless and the hopeless, lalo na yung walang matakbuhan,” said Go.

At the same time, Sen. Gatchalian expressed serious concern over the high number of suicide incidents among public school students in the country despite the enactment of Republic Act (RA) 11036 or the Mental Health Act which integrates mental health into the education system.

D uring the public inquiry of the Committee on Health and Demography on the implementation of RA 11036 Tuesday, Gatchalian noted that there were about 2,147 attempted suicides that were reported in public schools and a total of 404 students committed actual suicide during the school year 2021-2022.

One Life [lost]  is too many, Mr. Chairman. That’s why the Committee on Basic Education, which yours truly chairs, will be sponsoring a bill that will go deeper into the mental health and wellness programs of our basic education institutions,” Gatchalian said.

Butch Fernandez

House votes 256-0 to pass anti-financial scamming bill

By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie

THE House of Representatives has endorsed for Senate approval the proposed Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act to protect all persons from various cybercrime schemes by regulating the use of bank accounts and e-wallets.

W ith 256 affirmative votes and 0 vote without abstention, lawmakers approved last Monday on third and final reading House Bill 7393, which seeks to prohibit and punish financial crimes such as acting as money mule, performing social engineering schemes, and committing economic sabotage.

T he bill will be transmitted to the Senate for its own deliberations.  The bill defines a money mule as a person who obtains, receives, acquires, transfers or withdraws money, funds or proceeds derived from crimes, offenses or social engineering schemes, and related prohibited acts.

It also defines social engineering scheme as the use of deception or fraudulent means by a person to obtain confidential or personal information, including sensitive

identifying information of another person.

T he measure defines economic sabotage as a prohibited act committed by a syndicate, or committed in large scale or using a mass mailer. An act is deemed committed by a syndicate when carried out by a group of three or more persons conspiring and confederating with one another. It is deemed committed in large scale when perpetrated against three or more persons, individually or as a group.

T he bill empowers the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to investigate cases involving violations of the provisions of this proposal, to apply for cybercrime warrants and orders under the pertinent provisions Republic Act No. 10175, and to secure the assistance of law enforcement authorities in its investigation, enforcement

and implementation of cybercrime warrants and related orders.

T he measure mandates the establishment of a cooperative mechanism among concerned government agencies, banks and covered financial institutions, private sectors and other concerned stakeholders to ensure effective prosecution of cases and enforcement of the law.

It also provides for a “safe harbor clause” whereby no bank or institution, or any of its directors, officers or employees, shall be subject to any action, claim or demand in connection with, and shall be held free and harmless from liability for any act done in compliance with an order for inquiry or examination of or other financial accounts from BSP.

T he bill provides that banks and other financial institutions shall ensure that access to their clients’ accounts are protected by the highest level of security, including multi-factor authentication (MFA), security redundancies, and other accountholder authentication and verification processes. Provided that, such security levels are proportionate and commensurate to the nature, size and complexity of their operations.

T he measure also provides that crimes defined and penalized un -

der the Revised Penal Code, as amended, and special laws, if committed by and through the acts as defined in this proposal, shall be covered by the relevant provisions of this proposed bill. Provided, that the penalty to be imposed shall be one degree higher than that provided for by the Revised Penal Code, as amended, and special laws, as the case may be.

Penalties

THE bill penalizes persons found guilty of acting as money mules with imprisonment of six months and one day to six years (prision correccional), or a fine of at least P100,000 but not exceeding P200,000, or both.

It penalizes persons performing social engineering schemes with imprisonment of six years and one day to 12 years (prision mayor), or a fine of at least P200,000 but not exceeding P500,000 or both. The maximum penalty shall be imposed if the victims include senior citizens aged 60 years old or above.

It also penalizes persons found guilty of offenses constituting economic sabotage with life imprisonment and a fine of not less than P1 million but not more than P5 million.

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

Wednesday, May 10, 2023

‘Strong consumer spending will lift Shell core earnings’

By Lenie Lectura @llectura

“For the remainder of the year, we expect that we will grow core earnings by at least in line with the GDP growth in the country, which is between 6 to 7 percent.

That’s mainly driven by the expectations on the increase motorization in the country and improved consumer spending for the remainder of the year, as well as the overall demand recovery for the country,” said PSPC Chief Financial Officer Reynaldo Abilo during an online news briefing.

PSPC posted a net income of P4.075 billion last year, up 5.7 percent from the previous year’s P3.85 billion.

The oil firm has set aside up to P6 billion in capital expenditures (capex) this year to mostly fund its mobility business. Abilo said the amount would be funded internally and would be utilized for the expansion of its mobility footprint and the improvement of its supply chain network.

“If you look at last year, we invested P5 to P6 billion of capex. For 2023, we are planning to invest the same level. Approximately about 60 percent of that is for mobility business. We will continue to grow our footprint profitably by about 40 to 60 sites. At the same time, we are going to

refresh some existing sites to have more and broader mobility offer for our customers.

We are also ramping up investment in supply chain to make sure assets remain competitive and reliable to deliver demands and requirements of customers,” said Abilo.

PSPC is the country’s secondlargest oil company with over 1,100 retail stations nationwide.

The oil firm would have 5 import terminals by 2025. It has already put up 3 terminals in Batangas, Subic and Cagayan de Oro. Construction is ongoing for its fourth medium-range capable

import terminal in Darong, Davao del Sur, which will supply the growing energy requirements of the southern region.

“We are on track in terms of having 5 medium-range import facilities by 2025. Our fourth import facility in Southern Davao, Darong, is expected to be completed by 2024,” added Abilo.

The oil firm recently received a favorable decision from the Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) in relation to the P3.5 billion in taxes slapped on alkylate imports.

The CTA ruled that alkylate is not subject to excise tax and granted PSPC’s amended petition for review.

During the briefing, Shell Pilipinas President and CEO Lorelie Quiambao-Osial said the company would seek to recover the amount it has paid under protest.

“For the alkylate case, when it comes to payments, we’re talking about P9.8 billion in total. Of that, P4.5 billion was paid under protest and we are going to seek recovery of that amount through administrative and legal processes once the decision is final and executory,” she said.

B1

JG Summit swings to profit in Jan-Mar

JG Summit Holdings Inc., the holding firm of the Gokongwei Group, said it had a core net income P4.4 billion in the first quarter, a reversal of the previous year’s core net loss of P689 million, on the back of the recovery of its airline business.

Factoring in noncore items such as foreign exchange gains, the group’s reported bottomline also improved to P5 billion for the period from a net loss of P2.8 billion last year.

Revenues grew 28 percent to P82.3 billion from the previous year’s P66.6 billion.

The company said its revenues from Cebu Air Inc. tripled, while it saw sustained growth momentum across its property and food segments.

There were sizable increases in its equity earnings from Manila Electric Co. and its dividends from PLDT Inc.

“Despite the lingering market challenges on the petrochemicals industry, most of our core businesses are now poised to approximate or even eclipse their pre-pandemic highs with strong recovery in our airline, consistent growth of our food driven by buoyant demand, and the reliability of our real estate earnings,” Lance Y. Gokongwei, president and CEO of JG Summit, said.

“We are also seeing inflation easing out, and this should further re-

sult in margin recovery across our portfolio. We are continuing to invest for growth with our planned capex [capital expenditures] program in place such as new aircraft deliveries for CEB [Cebu Pacific], land banking and development projects for RLC [Robinsons Land Corp.] and capacity additions for URC [Universal Robina Corp.], to name a few.” Sales of food unit URC for March hit a new record high as consumer demand remained buoyant. Revenues for the quarter totaled P39.8 billion, up 11 percent from last year.

The company said it saw higher foot traffic and retail spending in malls, larger contributions from its residential projects, higher bookings in its hotels, and a steady growth in its office segment.

Cebu Pacific, the company’s airline business, returned to fullquarter profitability after the heavy disruption brought about by the pandemic. Systemwide revenues tripled to P20.9 billion on the back of the strong recovery in its core passenger business and ancillary businesses.

By the second quarter, the company said it expects to reach prepandemic systemwide capacity driven by the continuous recovery of the tourism industry and the strengthened operations of Clark and Cebu hubs. VG Cabuag

PiliPinas shell Petroleum Corp. (PsPC) is optimistic that its core earnings will rise by 6 to 7 percent this year on the back of higher demand for oil.

Megaworld, liquor unit to get a chunk of AGI’s 2023 capex

By VG Cabuag @villygc

Caroline l Kabigting, the company’s investor relations officer, said during the Philippine Stock e x change’s STAR event that of the P70-billion capex, some P55 billion will be used by Megaworld Corp. to fund its various developments, P7 billion for emperador Inc. and the balance of P2 billion for Golden Arches Development Corp. This year’s capex is 22 percent higher than the previous year’s P57 billion in expenditures.

“We have outlined our growth strategies for enterprise businesses, because we believe in the prospects of our and our group’s execution capabilities. We are doing all

this as we continue to strengthen our position as a truly premium lifestyle conglomerate,” Kabigting said.

Megaworld, she said, will launch three new townships this year, likely in l u zon and Mindanao. The property developer, which already has 30 townships to date covering 5,170 hectares of land all over the country, will launch about P60 billion worth of projects.

“And that should help generate its target reservation sales of P130 billion this year,” she said.

o v er the next few years, Megaworld is also looking at expanding

its office gross leasable area (G l A ) by 207,000 square meters, and its shopping mall G l A by 160,000 square meters. It is targeting to add about 3,160 hotel room keys in the next 5 years.

For e m perador, it envisions international operations to contribute at least half to the business by 2025 from the current 35-percent share.

To hit this target, e m perador intends to double its branded single malt sales and that has been growing by 18 percent annually in 2020 to 2022. It wants to achieve a high single-digit growth in brandy sales, which it already achieved last year.

“ e m perador will also continue to implement its three-pronged strategy CPI: C is to ‘contemporize’ as it builds brand equity among the millennials and Gen Zed markets. P to ‘premiumize’ as it focuses on single malt and higher margin premium products. And I to ‘internationalize’ as it continues to build its pres-

Globe closes deal on 160 telco towers

By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

Globe Telecom Inc. has closed the sale of 160 telecommunications towers for P1.9 billion, the company said in a disclosure on Tuesday.

ence in the biggest spirits market markets like China and North America,” she said.

For Travelers International Hotel Group Inc., which holds Tan’s resort and gambling business, the company has posted a turnaround in operations last year.

To sustain such growth, it is rebuilding the share of its premium mass gaming segments gross gaming revenues to 50 percent from the current 40 percent, Kabigting said.

“It is also looking at further expanding its VIP business to increase charter operations. And it aims to further improve its foot traffic at the New Port World Resorts complex,” she said.

For Golden Arches, which holds the master franchise to operate McDonald’s in the country, it is planning to launch 50 stores throughout the country backed by a capex budget of about P4 billion, half of which will be shouldered by Tan as the group owns 49 percent of the company.

Megawide returns to profitability in 2022

MeGAWIDe Construction Corp. said it recorded a consolidated net income of P2.8 billion in 2022, a reversal of the P893.2million loss it incurred in the previous year.

Consolidated revenues amounted to P14.4 billion, down by 11 percent from the previous year’s P16.29 billion, due mainly to the construction business.

The company said the results included exceptional gains from the airport transaction, representing part of the frontloaded value from the divestment in GMR Megawide Cebu Airport Corp. (GMCAC) and one-off items related to terminated projects in the construction segment that were affected by the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.

“The Covid-19 pandemic affected Megawide in multiple fronts, particularly in terms of our operations and financial position. Alongside these challenges were opportunities, which we believe will help us address most of these concerns,” edgar Saavedra, the company’s chairman and Ceo said.

Among these developments were newly-awarded projects and the monetization of investment in GMCAC, concessionaire for the award-winning Mactan Cebu International Airport.

New projects in 2022 included contract package-104 of the Metro Manila Subway System, additional packages for the Suncity Westside City Resorts complex and supply and build contracts of pre-cast materials for 3 new locations of PhirstPark Homes’ residential developments.

These brought the company’s order book to P50.8 billion as of end-2022 and among the biggest

According to the regulatory filing, the 160 Globe towers were sold to Miescor Infrastructure Development Corp. (MIDC), an affiliate of Manila e l ectric Co. (Meralco).

“Globe and MIDC are one in getting this partnership up to speed with the latest batch’s closing, and we undertake to turn over more in the coming months. I am delighted that our tower initiatives continue to provide enormous support in our corporate financing and in the acceleration of our network expansion, which are essential as we digitally enable Filipinos one innovation at a time,” Globe CF o said Rizza Maniegoe a la said.

Miescor acquired 123 ground0based towers and another 37 rooftop towers from Globe.

“We are dedicated to supporting network operators in meeting the evolving needs of businesses and consumers in this rapidly evolving digital age. o u r

shared goal is to transform the Philippine digital landscape and enable greater access to digital services for all Filipinos,” MIDC President and C e o Helen Grace Marquez said.

This latest tranche is part of the over 7,000 towers that Globe has sold to different tower companies. With the latest closing, a total of 1,020 towers have been transferred to MIDC, whose total order was 2,180 towers. Globe will then lease the towers back for an initial 15-year period.

“We are certain that our partnership with MIDC reinforces this objective and are excited to see what we can accomplish together,” said Cu. o n Monday, Globe announced another P5.4-billion sale and lease back transaction, a deal signed with Unity Digital Infrastructure Inc. With this development, the gross proceeds of the transactions will be “close to P100 billion, of which we turned over 44 percent and received P40.5 billion already.”

in the company’s history.

“The transaction involving the company’s airport subsidiary GMCAC proved very timely and provided us more flexibility to pursue our broader growth agenda. Specifically, it enabled us to ease our balance sheet by de-levering a portion of our bank debts and de-risk our assets from forecasted global economic slowdown and the RussianUkraine conflict,” Saavedra said.

As of end-December 2022, Megawide’s total interest-bearing loans and borrowings declined to P27.8 billion from P49.5 billion by the end of December 2021, with bank debtto-equity ratio significantly narrowing to 1.4 times from 2.6 times.

“The move also unlocked funds that we believe will accelerate our diversification into more recycle-resilient, scalable, and emerging growth segments and strengthen our stakeholder base, as we explore other ventures and pursue a more focused eSG agenda,” Saavedra said.

The company recently signed a Shareholders’ Agreement with Singapore-based evolution Data Centers to design, build and operate a state-of-the-art carrier-neutral data center in the Philippines, facilitating Megawide’s pivot towards digital infrastructure. Megawide is also fast-tracking the expansion of its transit-centric developments around lu zon to connect to the Paranaque Integrated Terminal e xchange via hub-and-spoke model.

outside lu zon, Cebu2World Development Inc. is engaged in its Carbon Market Redevelopment Project, which will further renew the urban landscape of Cebu. VG Cabuag

AlliAnce Global Group inc., the holding firm of businessman Andrew Tan, on Tuesday said it will spend some P70 billion in capital expenditures this year, a chunk of which will go to its property development arm and its liquor business.

‘TRUE LOVE’

Ms. Miriam L. Sanchez: The success story of ‘Mama Mia’s Sweet Delight’

By Jean S. Resurreccion

Ramadhan trade fair in Cotabato nets

P16.9-M sales

By Manuel T. Cayon @awimailbox Mindanao Bureau Chief

DavaO C i T Y—The trade fair

mounted in Cotabato City during the month-long fasting period of the Ramadhan raked in P16.9 million for exhibitors and sellers in Cotabato City.

The Bangsamoro Ministry of Trade, i n vestment and Tourism (MT i T ) said the Ramadhan Trade Fair 2023 also generated 200 jobs to 54 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSM e s) and more than 20 other food vendors.

Snooky Gani, chief of e nterprise and Trade Development Division, said the total revenue in the fair exceeded the target sales of P12 million.

The fair was started on March 21 and up to a p ril 20 at the Bangsamoro Government Center (BGC) in Cotabato City.

She also said the MSM e s were provided with a venue “to showcase, promote, and sell products made by our local entrepreneurs, which also helped increase the revenue.”

“The trade is also a way to enable other people from outside the Bangsamoro region to better perceive and understand diverse cultures working together towards economic recovery and seeking cultural solidarity,” Gani said.

The Ramadhan Trade Fair runs 30 days annually with a minimum target of 50 entrepreneurs showcasing Halal products and services, she said. “This gives us a strong motivation to pursue efforts such as this to further support MSM e s i n the region.”

The exhibitors featured local products such as native delicacies, processed foods, souvenirs, garments and fashion accessories, and other genuine local products.

The trade fair awarded the Most Promising MSM e / e n trepreneur to Hassaraff Seafoods and Grill Restaurant, Realuxe Cafe and a lDiwan Restaurant and the Best Dressed Booth to K3 Cellphone a c cessories Store, Samra’s Maguindeli and Greatea Café.

Losing her job gave her the nightmare that she might not be able to support her child without an adequate income. However, it made her realize that this was the path that God had chosen for her.

Cooking and baking always captivated and enthralled her. These two had a way to relieve her stress and allow her to say loud and proud that she enjoys what she does. Her cell group leader and colleagues gave her a simple mixer as a farewell gift on her last day and this gift served as her sign to finally start something she’s always wanted: her own baking business.

She decided to take steps to pursue her love of baking. She mustered the courage to place a to-go snack in front of her humble abode. She began selling her home-made siomai as well as burger and sandwiches. When her business began to grow, she decided to enrol in a baking school.

Mama Mia’s “Mia,” her nickname, should be her primary business name. However, because everyone she knows kept referring to her by the name “Mama Mia,” she decided to adopt the name and thus “Mama Mia’s Sweet Delight” was born. She describes herself as a loving mother who is compassionate in doing what she enjoys.

Despite the difficulties she faces, she will never regret her decision to start her own business. “it was the best decision she could have made.”

Made with love

Ma M a Mia’s Sweet Delights caters to health-conscious individuals who want to enjoy pastries without worrying about their health, giving her products a distinct value proposition. Her famous baked goods include brownies, banana bread, and crinkles. She also supports co-local farmers and producers by incorporating their products into her recipes, such as tablea, ground coffee, bananas, squash, and calamansi. Mia is meticulous in selecting her raw materials that are low in sugar and made of high-quality, natural ingredients.

Challenges and difficulties

iN starting her own business, one of the challenges she had faced as a

start-up was building brand awareness and attracting customers. Since she is not a techy person, as she is having a hard time marketing her products and developing a strong online presence through the use of social media platforms for her to reach a wider audience. additionally, managing cash flow and ensuring that the business is profitable is a daunting task for her who is starting out with just limited knowledge of it.

Moreover, navigating the legal and regulatory requirements of starting is also an overwhelming task for her as a new entrepreneur.

it is important for Mia to have a solid business plan in place to help her mitigate these challenges and increase her chances of success. Though she struggles, she made sure to find a way to overcome this, and that is why seeking guidance and mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs or business coaches also became a valuable resource for her.

Furthermore, the constantly evolving market and industry trends require her business to be adaptable and innovative in its strategies to stay competitive and succeed in the long run. By acknowledging and addressing these challenges early on, Mia believes that she can position herself for success and growth in the long term.

For her, starting a business requires perseverance and dedication to overcome the challenges that arise along the way.

Mompreneur meets DTI

THe Department of Trade and industry (DT i ) provides support to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMes) by offering various programs and services, such as training, consultancy, financing assistance, and market development. These initiatives aim to improve the competitiveness of MSMes, increase their productivity and profitability,

and ultimately contribute to the overall growth and development of the Philippine economy.

One of the most notable programs under DT i is the establishment of Negosyo Centers all over the country, which serve as a onestop-shop for MSMes. These Negosyo Centers offer services, such as business registration assistance, product development and testing, business advisory services, and access to financing programs and market linkages. These services are provided free of charge, making it more accessible for MSMes to avail of the resources they need to start or expand their businesses.

With the help of the Negosyo Center Cabuyao City, Mia was guided in applying her business to DT i and other legal and regulatory requirements that she needed to acquire. The center has provided her with one-on-one coaching sessions to help

ability, and export expansion.

eventually, in 2019, she was selected as one of the mentees under the KMMe Program (Kapatid Mentor Me Program). This is a 10-module mentorship program that optimizes weekly face-to-face interactions between the mentors and the mentees with the key goal of boosting the entrepreneurial capacity through improved access to mentorship, money and market. Through this, she was able to accelerate her personal and professional skills as an entrepreneur and was able to improve her competitiveness and innovation.

The catastrophe aT the height of her learning, an unfortunate event occurred and that was when Covid-19 hits the world. a total lockdown was implemented. People were forced to stay in their houses and many entrepreneurs shut their businesses. The pandemic has changed how people work, learn and interact as social distancing guidelines have led to a more virtual existence, both personally and professionally.

Maintaining a business in the midst of a pandemic was extremely difficult for Mia. it was difficult for her to obtain her primary ingredients during the first few weeks of the pandemic because transactions were restricted. Small business owners like her struggled to make ends meet.

Getting back on the feet

her hone her skills and assist her in various aspects of business that she is concerned about, such as building her brand, attracting customers, and developing a business plan.

Mia then took part in DT i Laguna’s SMeR a (Small Medium enterprise Roving academy) program, through Negosyo Center Cabuyao City. it is a continuous learning program designed to help MSMes become more competitive in domestic and international markets. These seminars consist of various business modules tailored to the needs of business entrepreneurs across seven learning stages: start-up and capability building, market awareness, market readiness, export readiness, export market entry, export sustain-

HOW e veR for her, the pandemic was the ideal time to learn and create new products based on what was available, so she came up with the idea of new banana bread variants such as the BananaSquash and Tsoko Banana Bread. Being confined was not so bad because it gave her more time to spend with her family and it also gave her a chance to become innovative and create whatever was available. it a lso gave her the opportunity to share her baked goods with the local barangay, police, and medical personnel.

a f ter the pandemic has subsided, Mia joined the OTOP Next Gen Program (One Town One Product) in the middle of 2020. Despite the pandemic, she never gets tired of learning new things to improve herself, thus turning this unfortunate situation into an opportunity.

The OTOP Next Gen Program enables localities and communities

to determine, develop, support, and promote products or services that are rooted in their local culture, community resource, creativity, connection, and competitive advantage. a s their own “pride-of-place,” these are offerings where they can be the best at or best renowned for. it endeavors to capacitate “OTOPreneurs” to innovate and produce market-ready products and services.

Through the OTOP Next Gen Program, Mia was able to level up the quality of her products. i n addition to this, she was able to broaden her horizon to come up with new or better offerings with significant improvement and innovation in product development, design, packaging, standards compliance, marketability, production capability, brand development, among others. a f ter completing these vital programs, Mia started to join several trade fairs and exhibitions. With the learnings and skills that she acquired, she challenged herself and tried to move out of her comfort zone. She was able to participate in numerous local and national food trades and bazaars from 2019 to 2022. venues include but not limited to Cabuyao Municipality Food Bazaars, University of the Los Baños, Festival Mall in a l abang, World Trade Center and SMX Convention Center in Pasay, ay ala Malls Solenad, and SM City Santa Rosa and SM Megamall.

eventually, Mama Mia’s Sweet Delights tried to apply as a supplier at one OTOP Hub in Laguna and was approved to be one. Now, she is presently a supplier at not just one OTOP Hub but at two—enchanted Kingdom OTOP Hub and UPLB OTOB hub—with one of her carrier products, Calamansi Crinkles.

One true love

B U S i N e S S is an unforgiving field that can be harsh on those who do not have the drive to succeed. it can be challenging to land a position in this field if you don’t have the right qualifications, and you will need to put in a lot of effort if you want to make it in this tough industry.

For Mia, being passionate about your work will help you to stay motivated and achieve success in your career, but it is not always enough to succeed. a s she said, “love what you do and follow your heart; don’t be afraid to be learned from and be mentored by those who have already achieved success. They too have experienced hardships and failures before reaching the success they have. Continue to pursue learning and pieces of training. i f it is your one true love, you will never get tired of nurturing it.”

Logistics company expands further in PHL, abroad to reach out to more Pinoys, MSMEs

By Roderick L. Abad @rodrik_28

Contributor

BeXCS Logistics Solutions inc., a 100-percent Filipino-owned company rooted in Bulacan, announced that it is set to expand its footprint not only in the Philippines but also in neighboring countries such as Hong Kong and Taiwan on the back of the growing e-commerce industry and the constant increase in number of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

Seen benefiting businesses, especially micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMes), as well as endconsumers that require an efficient and reliable delivery partner, such initiative will be made possible with

the company’s international alliance with Taiwan’s XTurn, XMart, BXBase, 3S Biotech, e a K engineering Consultants & Technology Co. Ltd., Royal Global Business Center Corp., Cloud8 Taiwan Restaurant, and Taiwan Chamber of Commerce inc.

To promote cross border trade, Be XCS will be the fulfillment and distribution partner for the import and export of goods between the two neighboring countries with the help of the Taiwan Philippine economic Corp. a lso, it has a tie up with Ta MMee of Hong Kong, along with italian Chamber of Commerce inc., Philippine e- Commerce a ssociation, PLDT and aquaskin PH.  i m very much overwhelmed because they have been supporting

us, and it doesn’t just show the camaraderie between Filipinos. What i m very excited about is that other countries are coming together with the Philippines to bring the lives of our people to a higher level,” Marjorey Rubio, chairperson of Be XCS Logistics and CeO of BeXCS Worldwide, told reporters at a recent briefing in Pasay City.

These collaborations, according to her, are aimed at serving the rising population of OFWs in both east a sian countries, and the thriving online sellers. Being an aggregator of logistics, Be XCS has local partners in each country in order to utilize their resources from warehousing to fleet.

“We are integrating our system to them so that we can be at par with

the competition in both Hong Kong and Taiwan,” she said.

Formerly Bulacan ex press Courier Services, Be XCS started its operations in 2019, catering to online sellers and suppliers. Since then, it has grown into three business lines: Be XCS Franchise, Be XCS Logistics, and Be XCS Worldwide. in terms of annual revenue, just for last year, we were able to hit at about $168,000. That’s just for logistics alone,” Rubio cited.

a p art from going global, the homegrown firm seeks to broaden its local footprint, with the opening of more outlets and major hubs in Luzon, visayas and Mindanao.

a l l these branches in total will be at about 1,300 plus to cover the

entire archipelago. But for this year, we are aiming to open 278 branches across the Philippines this year, of which 81 will be owned by Be XCS,” she revealed of their plan in addition to their current 30 plus outlets in Luzon and Cebu. “We are looking at opening in the second and third quarters [of this year].”

To help achieve this goal, the company has offered its franchise line, specifically for Filipino workers abroad.

The top executive said that they are aware that the hard-earned money of a lot of them is not usually handled well for their future. Hence, they provide them a good investment opportunity.

“[Most of] our OFWs do not have

a business that they can go home to. So we are prioritizing the applications for our OFW community,” she noted.

What’s more, she bared the upcoming establishment of 37 sorting facilities nationwide, which will complement their fleet of 15,000 motorcycles and 6,000 trucks and vans. in the coming years, Be XCS Logistics aims to further reach more places where we can provide more opportunities, especially to our Filipino people, whether they are here in the Philippines or abroad. Be XCS Logistics also aims to broaden its horizons by tapping more markets across the globe and building partnerships with other businesses and nations,” Rubio said.

Ev Erything started in 2015.

When Ms. Miriam “Mama Mia” L. Sanchez lost her job, she made a decision that would change her life forever.

MiriaM L. Sanchez poses for a snapshot with her sweet creations at a local outlet. Photo courtesy of DtI-Laguna negosyo center, c abuyao cIt y

Retailers back VAT-refund scheme for tourists

By Andrea San Juan

Among the Association of Southeast Asian Nation (Asean) countries, the Philippines is “probably one of the few countries left that don’t implement a VAT refund scheme for tourists,” PRA Chairman Paul A. Santos said in a news briefing

last Monday. Santos noted there’s a need to implement the tax measure to encourage outbound tourists to do their shopping in the Philippines.

“Shopping is an integral part of the tourist experience. You go visit

a country like Hong Kong or Singapore, apart from seeing the sites [and] eating, the next thing that you do is shop,” he said on the sidelines of the “Philippine Furniture Furnishings Market” event in Pasay City.

“You want tourists to spend more of their dollars or euros in Philippine shops. We look at the VAT and dutyfree exemption extended to these visitors as well,” the PRA chairman added. Santos stressed that the country’s current legislation doesn’t have a “mechanism that authorizes this scheme.” Instead, he noted, the only exemption scheme that the country has is the de minimis rule in the Customs Modernization Act.

“But it just says that certain imports but it refers to imports, not

domestic purchases whose VAT and duty components should be refunded back to tourists,” Santos said.

He also noted that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. himself has endorsed the measure to Congress, adding that “we will probably see some action from the Congress when they resume sessions in July.”

Last March, the House of Representatives endorsed for Senate approval the bill creating a VAT refund mechanism for non-resident tourists.

This, after lawmakers—voting 304 affirmative and 4 negative— approved on third and final reading House Bill (HB) 7292 to expand the country’s competitiveness in tourism vis-à-vis its peers in the regions.

The bill seeks to allow foreign

tourists to claim a VAT refund on purchased goods worth at least P3,000 per transaction from accredited retailers. The measure also entitles tourists to claim VAT refund through service providers on goods purchased.

The bill, however, provides that goods must be taken out of the country within 60 days from the date of purchase.

HB 7292 also seeks to empower the secretary of the Department of Finance to adjust the threshold, taking into account administration costs in process refunds, consumer price index and other market conditions, upon the recommendation of the Tourism Secretary and the chief of the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

The bill defines tourist as a foreign pass holder who is a non-resident individual not engaged in trade or business in the Philippines.

The principal author of the bill, House Committee on Ways and Means Chairman Joey Sarte Salceda, said this proposal was already approved in principle by the President when it was brought up by the Private Sector Advisory Council.

If enacted into law, Salceda said he expects between P10 billion to 40 billion in increased sales from local suppliers for the first year of the implementation of the provision in the bill.

(See full story here: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2023/03/07/ lower-house-endorses-bill-to-refund-vat-for-tourists/)

Tax-amnesty availment bill nears approval House committee OKs bill against tax fraud

By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie

THE House of Representatives

last Tuesday approved on second reading the proposal extending the availment of estate tax amnesty for another 2 years.

Through viva voce voting, lawmakers approved House Bill 7909 extending the period of availment of estate tax amnesty by two years as it postponed the deadline of application from June 14, 2023, and reset it to June 14, 2025, amending Section 6 of Republic Act (RA) 11213, as amended.

HB 7909 is expected to be approved on third and final reading next week.

The bill extends the coverage of availment of estate tax amnesty from those who died on or before December 31, 2017, to December 31, 2021, amending Section 4 of RA 11213 as amended.

The bill was principally authored by Speaker Martin G. Romualdez and House Committee on Ways and Means Chairman Jose Ma. Clemente “Joey” S. Salceda.

According to Salceda, an estate tax is a tax on the right of the deceased person to transmit the estate to lawful heirs and beneficiaries.

“The easier the assets can be passed on to their productive users, the better it will be for the economy,” Salceda said.

Family sensitivities

THE bill also seeks to amend the following: RA 8424 (National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended by RA 10963 (Train Law); RA 11213 (Tax Amnesty Act); and, RA 11569, (An Act Extending the Estate Tax Amnesty and for Other Purposes, Amending Section 6 of RA 11213).

Under the current ecosystem, people seeking to avail the amnesty are expected to pay tax at a rate of 6 percent based on the decedent’s total net estate (or net undeclared estate if there’s a previously filed estate tax return) at the time of death.

On the other hand, if the allowable deductions applicable at the time of death exceed the value of gross estate, a minimum payment of P5,000, as the case may be, is expected.

RA 11213 was passed to provide taxpayers immunity from the payment of estate taxes until June 15, 2021.

However, Salceda said the pandemic hampered the settlement of estates, which to begin with, is inherently challenged by family sensitivities.

“To give people more time to settle estates, we extended the estate tax amnesty from June 15, 2021, to June 14, 2023, by enacting RA 11569 last Congress. We also streamlined the procedure by removing the requirement of proof of settlement in the payment

of the estate tax under the same law,” he said.

Last time

SALCEDA said he hopes this will be the last time the Congress extends RA 11213—because it defeats the purpose of tax compliance if violations will always be forgiven.

Finance Assistant Secretary Dakila E. Napao had said the Department of Finance is supporting the passage of the measure given its laudable intention.

“Through this bill, those with unsettled or unpaid estate taxes are encouraged to clear themselves of their obligations and transfer the property to rightful heirs and help the government increase tax collections,” Napao said.

Although not a revenue measure, Napao said collections from the estate tax have reached P7.4 billion from 2019 to March 2023.

Bureau of Internal Revenue Assistant Commissioner Maria Luisa I. Belen earlier said the estate amnesty tax program has been an effective tool in achieving the State policy objectives of enhancing revenue administration and collections.

Belen said the proposed extension of the program will provide the much needed relief to taxpayers who are struggling to settle their tax obligation due to financial difficulties brought by the pandemic.

solon asks Congress to probe planned LBp-DBp merger

REP Rufus B. Rodriguez (Cagayan de Oro, 2nd District) called on the leadership of the House of Representatives to investigate the proposed merger of the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) and the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP).

According to Rodriguez, there’s a need to amend or repeal the laws respectively governing the two stateowned lenders by another law. He explained the latter would provide for the fusion of the two banks, together with the mandate, objectives, organization and relevant details governing the operation of the emerging entity.

“Let us look into the legal basis of this proposal. It is my opinion that the merger cannot take place without Congress passing an enabling bill,” Rodriguez said last Tuesday. The DBP was created under Republic Act (RA) 2081 of 1958 and the LBP was established by RA 3844 of 1963. Rodriguez said the LBP and the DBP had been created primarily to support the agriculture sector and small and medium enterprises.

In particular, the LBP was organized to help millions of farmers and beneficiaries of the government’s agrarian reform programs, he added.

“I would like to find out if the two banks have been true to their mandates, how much they have lent to farmers and agrarian reform beneficiaries and small and medium businesses and how much funds they have made available to other borrowers, including large corporations,” Rodriguez said.

He pointed out that such information could be gathered from LBP and DBP officials and from beneficiaries during his proposed investigation. Rodriguez said he would also like to know how much the LBP has paid to landowners and payments still to be made, if any.

He said he is also interested in listening to those opposed to the proposed merger, like DBP employees, according to some reports.

“I am willing to support this proposal, if it could be shown that it would benefit our farmers and agrarian reform beneficiaries and small businesses and our people in general, if it would help the banking sector. But we have to do it the proper, legal way,” the Mindanao lawmaker said. Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

THE House Committee on Ways and Means approved last Tuesday a bill criminalizing tax racketeering and increasing the penalty for syndicated tax fraud from 2 years to 20 years.

House Committee on Ways and Means Chairman Jose Ma. Clemente “Joey” S. Salceda said his House Bill (HB) 7653 will make the act of “coordinated” tax fraud a separate crime with graver penalties under the National Internal Revenue Code, as amended.

The House tax panel, however, deleted the provision in Salceda’s proposal that would have made the offense non-bailable.

“Such nefarious activities must be defined and criminalized since it constitutes economic sabotage, following the doctrine that taxes are the lifeblood of the state,” Salceda said.

In March alone, the Bureau of Internal Revenue announced the filing of charges for evasion of taxes worth P25.5 billion against corporations using fictitious, or “ghost,” receipts. The bill defines tax racketeering as “attempts to engage in any

coordinated scheme or operation to repeatedly or consistently evade or defeat any tax imposed under this code through the fraudulent use of receipts.”

Salceda also pushed for higher penalties on the offense, citing that even if the BIR tries to catch incidents of large-scale tax fraud, “it will not have a proportional deterrent effect.”

“Despite these efforts, however, they will be charged with crimes that ordinary or smaller tax violators can be charged with. That is because the Tax Code enumerates various forms of tax evasion as criminal liabilities, but does not address the systematic and coordinated scheme to evade taxes,” Salceda said.

The lawmaker also proposed that the crime be made nonbailable.

“The measure seeks to provide stiffer penalties depending on a person’s degree of participation in the offense as a deterrent to the commission of such crime. We must remember that other than uncollected revenues, investigating and prosecuting tax crimes

places added burden not only to tax collection agencies but to our courts as well,” Salceda said.

In order to cure questions of constitutionality of making the offense non-bailable, Salceda proposed that the prescribed penalty be increased to reclusion perpetua

However, during the discussion of the committee, members moved to retain the original 17-to20-year penalty and keep the offense bailable.

Salceda acceded to the request but also pointed out that “at least the bill provides a stronger deterrent.” The bill also penalizes accomplices in government with perpetual disqualification from public office in addition to 10-17 years in prison.

“They cannot operate without friends in high places. So, that has to be punished more stiffly, as well.”

The tax code currently penalizes tax fraud through fake receipts with a two year prison term, but Salceda emphasized that “these pertain to individual crimes, not syndicated efforts to defraud the government.”

Recover, reconnect, reform

SEJONG, South Korea–

Around 120 kilometers to the south of Seoul, this smart city in the country’s central region was founded in 2007 as the new national capital of South Korea. Created from scratch, it has been patterned after the masterplanned capitals of Canberra in Australia, Brasilia in Brazil and Putrajaya in Malaysia.

To date, 12 of the 17 Cabinetlevel government ministries have relocated to the de facto administrative capital of the South Korean republic. Sejong is also the home of Korea Development Institute, the nation’s leading think tank. Yet it has not helped in the decongestion of Seoul Metropolitan Area, whose 26 million people comprise half of South Korea’s entire population of 51.7 million. In fact, most of the country’s economic activities are still centered in Greater Seoul that includes the city of Incheon and the province of Gyeonggi in the northwestern part of South Korea.

Last week, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) held its Board of Governors’ 56th Annual Meeting in Incheon, which hosts the country’s main international airport and seaport. More than 5,000 delegates attended the four-day conference at Songdo Convensia with the theme of “Rebounding Asia: Recover, Reconnect and Reform.” The participants included finance ministers, central bank governors and CEOs of regional banking institutions, with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol as the keynote speaker.

During the opening session, ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa launched the Innovative Fi-

nance Facility for Climate in Asia

and the Pacific (IFCAP), the first ADB financing vehicle to serve as a one-stop shop for climate finance. Also a global first in terms of scale and scope, IFCAP will multiply ADB’s lending capacity through leverage and it can unlock funds up to $15 billion for new climate projects.

Sejong’s designation as the planned new capital hit a snag when the Constitutional Court ruled that Seoul must remain as the national capital as well as retain the office sites of the President, the National Assembly and the Supreme Court. It was only in 2012 when the Sejong Special SelfGoverning City was established by combining all of Yeongi County, three townships of Gongju City and one township of Cheongwon County.

For an analogy closer to home, the creation of Quezon City as the Philippines’s national capital was dealt a setback when then President Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. issued a presidential decree in 1976 reverting the national-capital status to the City of Manila, while the whole of Metro Manila was declared as the seat of the national government.

Recently, the Philippine Supreme Court decided with finality that jurisdiction over the Fort Bonifacio Military Reservation— where the Bonifacio Global City

Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

(BGC) complex is located—belongs to the City of Taguig due to its superior legal rights and historic title. The judgment also covers several barangays in the City of Makati that were previously known as the Enlisted Men’s Barrios or EMBOs.

Although the City of Makati has filed a second motion for reconsideration to elevate the case to the Supreme Court en banc, the final decision of the High Court’s third division stated that “no further pleadings, motions, letters, or other communications shall be entertained” as it ordered the immediate issuance of an entry of judgment.

The end of this three-decadeslong land dispute between the two local government units marks the beginning of a new chapter for Taguig and its people. Over the past decade, Taguigeños have seen the progressive transformation of their city into a rising central business district after the Philippine Stock Exchange and many top corporations transferred their headquarters to BGC.

In a way, Taguig is not the only winner in this territorial contest. With both parties placing their trust in the legal system, it is the rule of law that has prevailed— similar to what happened here in Sejong a decade ago when the local authorities opted to respect the South Korean Constitutional Court’s decision to retain Seoul as the national capital.

Joseph Gamboa is the vice-chairman of the Finex Ethics Committee and director of Noble Asia Industrial Corp. The views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the opinion of these institutions and the BusinessMirror. #FinexPhils

THE Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) said it is hoping the government will heed its call to implement value-added tax (VAT)-free shopping for tourists.

Finex Free enterprise Joseph Araneta Gamboa

TOP iNTErviEW qUESTiONS jOBSEEkErS SHOULd ASk NOW

By Matthew Boyle | Bloomberg News

JOBSEEKERS face a tougher road today than a year ago, when many companies couldn’t hire fast enough. So the questions applicants ask during the interview process are more important than ever to suss out if the role is a dream job—or a nightmare waiting to happen.

Google searches for “What three questions should I ask an interviewer” rose more than sixfold between March 2022 and the same month this year, according to Semrush, a digital marketing company. Many young jobseekers forget that an interview is a two-way street, and they should be asking plenty of questions too, said Shawn VanDerziel, executive director at NACE. Those questions should display your interest in, and knowledge of, the employer, while politely ferreting out details on aspects of the job that are most important to you—whether that’s the career trajectory, the work-from-home policy or how performance is evaluated. (Don’t ask about vacation days in the first meeting, or it will be a short interview.)

While first-interview questions can focus more on the company, its recent performance (has hiring slowed?), and whether you’re a cultural fit there, your questions should get more specific as you move to subsequent rounds. Ask about job responsibilities, the sort of projects you’ll be tackling, and the team you’ll be on. Another good query for a prospective colleague: If you could change one thing about your job, what would it be?

No matter what you’re asking about, career counselors advise, insist on specifics so companies can’t get away with vague or squirrely responses. If they wax on about their inclusive culture, ask them how their approach to Zoom meetings or who sits in what desk reflects what they hold dear. If the HR rep says they’re committed to professional development, ask what the typical career path is for someone in that role. How is feedback delivered? How do they approach performance reviews?

A particularly tricky topic is flexible work, as corporate policies on returning to the office (RTO) can change on the fly, and might vary depending on the role or department. Nearly three in four college grads are more likely to apply for a job that allows them to work remotely, Monster found, and half of them wouldn’t apply for a job that insisted on full-time office work. If working from home is important, ask the employer if they’ll share their RTO policy. It helps if it’s in writing, but remember there are no guarantees. If the job listing says “remote” or “hybrid,” ask what exactly that means, and what are the chances that it will continue that way, said career advisor Amy Feind Reeves.

Definitions of flexible work can vary, so do your research before the interview. Read what the company’s leadership has said about the value of in-person work, and compare that with what employees are saying on platforms like Glassdoor and Blink. If there’s a disconnect, look elsewhere. Issues like RTO are so new that “they’re not in the rule book,” said Lindsey Pollak, a career expert. “We’ve never been through this before.”

These days, it’s likely that the first interview will be on Zoom. One tip there: Paste reminders of things to ask on the edges of your computer screen, so you can refer to them without breaking eye contact. And whether it’s in person or virtual, your questions should help establish a rapport during the interview. There’s nothing worse than a rapid-fire interrogation, Schur said, so remember to listen carefully to their responses, which will also help guide your line of questioning. Once you get a good vibe going, feel free to probe a bit further on certain topics. Money talks, but experts say you shouldn’t talk money until the final stages of the interview process—or better yet, wait until you’re offered the job. “Until you have a written job offer, you have nothing,” Reeves said.

Throughout the process, trust your intuition, said Craig Benson, director of the University of Missouri Career Center. If you’re not getting the answers you want, maybe they misunderstood your question. So ask again, gently. If it’s still unclear, “there may be reason to think that the employer is not being transparent,” he said, giving you every reason to look elsewhere.

Managing with foresight

WHEN I was still a trainer, I noticed that two managers in our department had different leadership styles. One was easily flustered and would only address issues as they came. Even if there was a clear list of what needs to be done, she always got sidetracked by an emergency. In the end, her team was always asking her questions on what to do next.

On the other hand, the other manager was always so organized and maintained her composure. Her team had answers for every question, everyone knew what they were doing, and the team worked well with each other. I discovered later that they exemplified a reactive leader and a proactive one.

The first manager is a reactive leader. Such leaders have no process in place to address recurring issues, or if they do have a process, it is not enforced consistently. They have to be hands-on all the time and provide direction every single step of the way. They have poor communication skills and when something goes wrong, no one in the team takes accountability. On the other hand, the second manager is a proactive leader. Their work processes are clear and known by all team members. They understand the need to communicate especially during turbulent times, and they lead by rallying their team to succeed. When their team fails, they take responsibility for their team’s actions and learn from the experience.

Proactive leaders anticipate problems and take steps to mitigate risks. They understand that they are responsible for a team that depends on them for direction and protection, so they take the time to plan ahead so that their team reaches a common goal.

Because of this, their team can focus their attention on developing creative solutions for challenges they encounter. The proactive leader then becomes solutions-based in approaching issues, and they become faster in assessing and responding to changes in their environment. But how does one become a proactive leader?

The first thing a proactive leader does is make their team understand and agree on a common vision by planning ahead. The team needs to understand where everyone is going so that they can find ways to support the leader’s vision. Your goal for the team should be so clear that they can articulate it on their own, and they can see how their work contributes to the achievement of the team’s overall goals. If they know where their efforts go, it becomes easier for them to be on board.

Of course, it takes time to plan but you need to sit down with your team so that everybody is aligned in terms of expectations. It is easier for team members to own a leader’s vision if they were involved in its development. So, provide opportunities for team members to give their feedback.

But as the leader, you need to develop the foresight on what is happening in your industry, and to decide

MAKATIMED OFFERS PRECISION ONCOLOGY CANCER GENETICS TESTING

THE country’s top health institution, Makati Medical Center recently announced a new subspecialty service in cancer genetics.

This innovative service aims to identify highrisk individuals through genetic testing and provide personalized care based on their genetic profile.

The new offering at Makati Medical Center (www.makatimed.net.ph have diseases affecting multiple generations, those with specific patterns of malignancies involving several family members, those with more than one primary cancer, and those whose family members develop cancer at a young age.

To provide this innovative service, MakatiMed has enlisted experts trained in the field of oncogenetics.

These experts will conduct pre-test and posttest counseling, and they will be a vital part of the program. Additionally, the health institution is working to provide comprehensive genomic analysis and predictive cancer testing for all family members who may want to avail this offering.

Cancer affects millions of people worldwide, and the introduction of cancer genetics through precision oncology at Makati Medical Center represents a significant step forward in the fight against cancer.

It is also a testament to MakatiMed’s commitment to providing the highest quality health care to its patients.

when to take calculated risks.

A proactive leader also involves their team not only in planning the team’s goals but also in the decision-making process. A leader can do this by offering alternative solutions and letting the team decide which course of action is best. These moments are crucial in teaching your team to develop criticalthinking skills. Even if you know the best course of action, by providing alternatives you help your team understand why certain decisions are the best ones. This trains your team how to process new challenges and issues so that they can arrive at the best course of action.

If you want to keep abreast of what is happening to different projects in your team without micromanaging, use project management tools or a self-made project tracker dashboard so that you can monitor assigned tasks. These tools help you look at what projects are at risk, and what might be delayed. This helps you reassign resources to where they are most needed and ensure workloads are balanced and equitably distributed.

To help your team cope with new demands or environments, identify what your team needs to develop to adapt. This means knowing your team’s motivations and their professional development needs so you can find opportunities for them to grow. When your team is properly trained and equipped to do their work, you are in a better position to trust them to do the work that you assign them. It also helps them have the confidence to face new challenges by

leveraging what they already know.

You also need to know how your reactions and comments affect your team. Remember that your team looks up to you for guidance and strength. If you quiver in the face of new challenges, chances are that your team will feel worse. Your team will depend on you to lead them in the right direction. You have to trust in your team’s abilities to deliver and do well. On the other hand, your team expects you to provide direction and guidance.

To reduce issues from escalating into crises, understand your team’s dynamics and find ways to diffuse the tension when team members do not seem to get along. Provide venues where your team can develop good working relations with each other, and provide them opportunities to interact in a non-work environment so they can get to know each other better. This will also provide you insights on why certain teammates do not get along so you can find ways for them to work professionally. Remember that you influence the kind of work environment your team will have to operate in.

All in all, to be a proactive leader means always thinking about what is best for your team. It means always being a step ahead so you can clear roadblocks to your team’s success. It means providing direction to your team in the midst of uncertainty. It means putting your team’s interest above your own.

To be a proactive leader, your team needs to trust

The US Navy 7th Fleet Band at

THE US Navy 7th Fleet Band Far East Edition gave mallgoers a taste of all-American music during a recent performance at SM Megamall with their repertoire of traditional New Orleans-style jazz and American Top 40 hits.

Known for sharing their passion for advancing peace and goodwill through music, the US 7th Fleet Band Far East Edition is a popular music ensemble known for its incredible versatility.

Transforming from a brass band to a rock band to a jazz combo, the group can be heard playing contemporary hits, jazz, classic rock, local regional favorites, and anything in between.

US Navy musicians comprise the band, which has been featured at major events throughout the Indo-Asia Pacific region, and has entertained hundreds of thousands of people over the years.

During their visit to Manila, the five-piece ensemble also held

SM Megamall

workshops and performances at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (University of the City of Manila), Saint Scholastica’s College, and the Philippine High School for the Arts.

PHOTO

The performance of the US Navy 7th Fleet Band was presented by the United States Embassy in the Philippines, and is one of the exciting cultural events at SM Megamall.

Luminisce introduces EMFACE, a new and ground-breaking anti-aging technology

THE skin is a powerful reflection of one’s overall health – and age.

Philbeautiq awards: A night of sparkling artistry to recognize make-up artists

ON the 26th of March 2023, Okada in Manila was abuzz with excitement as Philbeautiq International Academy Inc. hosted a ceremony to recognize the exceptional talent displayed by their trained and professional semipermanent make-up artists.

This event, attended by Philbeautiq leaders who are also known as Philmasters, was a momentous occasion for all the graduates who were recognized for their hard work and dedication.

As a premier training institution for aspiring semi-permanent makeup artists, Philbeautiq International Academy Inc. takes pride in providing top-notch education to its students. The graduates who attended the ceremony were stunning and looked every inch the professionals they had become.

The highlight of the evening was when Grandmaster and CEO Diana Ilano presented the awards and recognitions to the graduates. It was a moment of pride and accomplishment for everyone involved, especially the graduates who had worked tirelessly to achieve their goals.

One of the graduates who caught the attention of the audience was Jessa Macaraig, CEO, and owner of The Pretty You. She had trained at Philbeautiq International Academy Inc. and had graduated as a semipermanent make-up artist.

In an interview, Macaraig had this to say to aspiring beauty enthusiasts: "Never stop learning, and if you plan to invest in a beauty academy, make sure it is legit and credible."

She also emphasized the worth

of the investment she made with Philbeautiq International Academy Inc. According to her, the experience was priceless, and she will always treasure

it. The training, guidance, and support she received from Philbeautiq helped her turn her passion for beauty into a successful business.

Select Power Mac Center stores all over the country now accept devices for repair, maintenance service

CUSTOMERS can now enjoy the convenience of dropping off their Apple devices that need premium repair or maintenance service at select Power Mac Center (PMC) or The Loop stores with a minimal shipping fee.

Apart from accessibility, customers can trust that their precious devices are in good hands at Mobile Care Service Center — PMC’s Apple Authorized Service Provider — which will be handling all the necessary repair services with its Certified Engineers and exclusive access to genuine parts.

The retail drop-off service is available for all Apple users in the Philippines who bought devices from Power Mac Center and other stores, whether in or out of warranty. Mobile Care Service Centers

accept iPhone 7 series or later, MacBook Air early 2015 model or later, MacBook Pro 2017 model or later, and iMac 2017 model or later.

“By maximizing the nationwide presence of our retail stores, we help more customers reach us faster when they find themselves in need of repair or maintenance services. This is a testament to Power Mac Center’s commitment as the go-to shop for all things Apple in the Philippines. We take pride in being able to provide premium and comprehensive services to all loyal Apple fans,” said Jim Laguio, PMC Director for Service.

To avail the service, customers must be able to show proof of purchase for validation. For safety purposes, they are

asked to back up or migrate their files beforehand, remove all accessories and personal information, disable all security passwords from the device, deactivate FindMy, and provide their own packaging, preferably the original box. Once the service transaction is complete, the device will be delivered directly to the customer’s preferred address.

Power Mac Center drop-off locations include Luzon branches namely Robinsons Ilocos Norte, SM City Tuguegarao, Robinsons Tuguegarao, Robinsons La Union, SM City Urdaneta Central, SM City Pampanga, Harbor Point, Vista Mall Bataan, SM City Fairview, SM City San Lazaro, SM City Sta. Rosa, SM City San Pablo, SM City Bacoor, SM City Dasmariñas, Fora Mall, SM City Batangas, SM City Lipa, SM City Lucena, SM City Daet, SM City Legazpi, SM City Sorsogon, and SM City Puerto Princesa; SM City Roxas in the Visayas; and Robinsons Iligan in Mindanao.

Meanwhile, The Loop drop-off locations are Xentro Mall Vigan, SM City Baguio, SM Center Dagupan, and SM City Calamba for Luzon branches; D’Mall Boracay in the Visayas; and SM City General Santos in Mindanao. New and upcoming stores may also be added in this list in the future.

Fully equipped to offer fast and efficient repairs, Mobile Care Service Centers accommodate personal and enterprise service requirements. It has full-service locations nationwide including The Annex at SM City North EDSA, SM City Marikina, Northeast Square Greenhills, The Podium, Glorietta 5, S Maison, Festival Alabang, SM City Clark, Robinsons Galleria Cebu, Festive Walk Mall Iloilo, Abreeza Mall, KCC Mall de Zamboanga, and Limketkai Center in Cagayan de Oro.

For all service-related inquiries and other details, get in touch with PMC via landline at (02) 8725-4762, email <serviceupdate@powermaccenter.com>, or the Mobile Care Viber Community at https://bit.ly/PMCRepairRetailDropOff.

As time goes by, wrinkles appear and the skin begins to sag. The problem, though, is farther than skin-deep.

Luminisce Holistic Skin Innovations recently introduced EMFACE, a revolutionary technology that addresses the effects of aging on the skin and muscle in a single treatment. It is the world’s first and only needle-free device with such an effect.

After recently rolling out the Pico Suite, a new advanced laser technology for skin care, Luminisce is yet again adding the latest state-of-the-art tech with EMFACE.

EMFACE addresses the decrease in facial muscle tone, which leads to wrinkles and sagging. It emits two energies:

Synchronized Radiofrequency (RF) and HIFES – a feature that produces a synergistic effect in the facial soft tissues.

Synchronized RF heats the dermis and increases levels of collagen and elastin fibers, a procedure that remodels and smoothens the skin.

Meanwhile, HIFES selectively contracts muscles and increases the density and quality of muscle structure, which lifts facial tissues.

EMFACE can have a lifting effect of as much as 23 percent and approximately 30 percent increase in muscle tone, resulting in a tightened face, reduction in wrinkles, and younger-looking skin.

Each EMFACE session lasts for only 20 minutes and does not require extensive pre- and post-preparation. Beyond facial cleansing, patients lay down and relax during the treatment. Patients will feel involuntary muscle contractions and heating sensation - the same feeling to being treated in a hot stone massage.

“It is extremely important for us at

CAMILLE Prats with EMFACE machine

Luminisce to bring the latest skincare technology to our patients,” says Dr. Khaycee Reyes, founder of Luminisce. “EMFACE is a non-invasive yet powerful treatment that provides facial rejuvenation through a unique set of synergistic effects. We are very proud to offer EMFACE and add this technology to our clinics at Luminisce.”

Book a consultation with a Luminisce dermatologist today by calling 0977-8044601 or email patientsupport@luminisce. com. Visit Luminisce’s website at www. luminisce.com.

Grill expert Mang Inasal continues anniversary celebration with special Mother‘s Day treats

MANG Inasal, the country’s Grill Expert, continues its year-long 20th anniversary celebration by giving moms back-to-back treats this Mother’s Day.

“We want to make all our mommy customers feel how much Mang Inasal values them and their support to us over the past two decades,” said Mang Inasal

business unit head Mike V. Castro. “We will make them enjoy their Ihaw-Sarap favorites and Unli-Saya experience whether dine-in, takeout, or delivery.”

From May 8 to 14, moms will get FREE extra scoop of Selecta Ube Ice Cream for every purchase of Extra Creamy Halo-Halo Regular via dine-in, takeout, and delivery.

Making the season extra special is the launch of the Mang Inasal Palabok Fiesta Size, a big serving of the well-loved noodle dish perfect for a group of 10. The Palabok Fiesta will complete any Mother’s Day gettogether especially when partnered with the now-popular bundled group meals, Mang Inasal Family Fiesta (good for four to six people) and Buddy Fiesta (good for two to three people), which are both bilaos of IhawSarap Chicken and Pork Inasal favorites with a platter of Java Rice.

Also running for the whole month of May is the FREE DELIVERY promo for a minimum spend of P600 when customers order via Mang Inasal Delivery App or https:// manginasaldelivery.com.ph.

Want more Mang Inasal exclusives NOW?

Visit www.manginasal.com for the latest updates, https://manginasaldelivery.com.ph for delivery deals, and follow Mang Inasal on social media!

Environment friendly activities to highlight PHL-Aussie Friendship Day celebration in Iloilo

ENVIRONMENTAL endeavors will highlight the Philippines-Australia Friendship Day celebration in Iloilo City on May 19 to 21, 2023.

Mayor Jerry Treñas and Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Her Excellency HK Yu PSM will lead the Friendship Day Tree Planting and the unveiling of Australia’s donation of wayfinders and bike racks at Plaza Libertad on May 20 at 9am.

The 3K, 5K and 10K Heritage Run will kick off from Freedom Grandstand, Esplanade at Muelle Loney to Casa Real, Calle Real and back on May 20 from 5am to 8am. Those interested are invited to register at Iloilo City Sports Office, Citadines formerly Amigo Hotel, or online thru https://bit.ly/ PHAUHeritageRun.

Treñas issued Executive Order No.

046 declaring May 22, 2023 PhilippinesAustralia Friendship Day in conjunction with Presidential Proclamation 1282, Series of 2016, and in recognition of

enduring friendship between the Australian Government and the City of Iloilo.

Australia has supported Iloilo City through capacity building programs for school officials and educators, construction of classrooms, sustainable livelihood programs and agricultural research, the EO stated.

The city government recognizes the enduring friendship between the two countries, from its deep historical ties with Australia through trade and peopleto-people links, to the growing number of Australia-educated Filipinos from Western Visayas who form part of the vibrant Australia Global Alumni community.

“The strong ties have opened up more opportunities for growth and progress. We welcome the continued engagement as it upgrades its partnership from comprehensive to strategic,” the EO added.

The Australian Embassy brings the annual celebration to Iloilo City this year from different parts of the Philippines in previous years.

CLI aIms to be more aCtIve In soCIaLIzed housIng program

By Rizal Raoul S. Reyes

In a recent online press briefing, CLI senior executive vice-president and chief operating officer Jose Franco Soberano disclosed the company is ready to take a more active role in socialized housing to address the housing shortage in the country.

“Socialized housing is close to our hearts and we’ll definitely do more. The location of socialized housing projects shouldn’t be far from the needs of our residents,” Soberano told the Business Mirror during the interview. He said the cost of building a unit is a huge challenge for developers like CLI. According to Soberano, the maxi -

mum price for CLI is P580,000 per unit. He said CLI also needs to look for an affordable project site to make the housing project affordable to the buyers. “We should also be particular that the location should be one hour away from the major city,” Soberano pointed out.

Despite the challenges facing the socialized housing program, Soberano remains optimistic “because the government is doing its part to make sure the ceilings are reasonable so that we will not compromise the quality of a good product.”

Soberano said CLI has successfully

completed Villa Casita North, a socialized housing project located in Barangay La Paz, Bogo City and is one of the company’s best sellers. It is CLI’s first foray into the socialized housing market. Right now, CLI is developing another socialized housing project in Mactan.

According to the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), the country has a 6.5 million housing backlog that could reach the 10-million mark in 2028. From 2021 to June 2022, the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), the DHSUD produced 294,142 housing units, while the National Housing Authority provided housing assistance to 85,174 families.

Aside from socialized housing projects, the DHSUD formed a partnership with local government units (LGU) to develop a Local Shelter Planning (LSP) manual to guide them in responding to the housing demand. Meanwhile, Soberano said CLI experienced a rousing start in 2023, posting a consolidated revenue growth of

KMC opens in QC its first flexible office development for this year

By Roderick L. Abad

COWORKING spaces provider KMC

Solutions Inc. has inaugurated its newest location and first development for this year—an opening salvo for more flexible offices the company will offer this year.

The SM North EDSA Tower 1 in Quezon City is timely as many employees seek to rebuild their social capital, which global management consulting firm McKinsey defines as “the presence of networks, relationships, shared norms, and trust,” following the isolation and disruption caused by the Covid-19 crisis.

As a result, office spaces are now shifting from an individual-focused work environment to a social hub that espouses cooperation and innovative, unscripted collaboration. Workplaces in a hybrid setup allow for the in-person mentoring, meetings, and team communication, valued in particular by increasing numbers of Gen Z employees, but with the seamless versatility for staff to enjoy the ease and efficiency of a working day at home.

“The pandemic has given businesses in the Philippines the opportunity to rethink how they get the most out of their employees. Flexible working from a hybrid office is the future our businesses need,” said KMC Solutions Vice President for Marketing Gian Reyes.

“Hybrid working is emerging as the leading choice in the way we work. Companies that fragment their offices and offer multiple, smaller locations can offer the best of both working worlds and consequently attract and retain the best talent,” he added.

Acknowledging this change, KMC has designed the SM North EDSA Tower 1 in a way that it caters to the various require -

ments of modern businesses and their employees. It has 553 seats across 2,449 square meter (sq m) of floor space.

A stone thrown away from transit hubs, pedestrian walkways, shopping malls, and restaurants, this workspace is fully equipped with hot desks and retractable outlets alongside a pantry, mind and body training room, shower facilities, and an ice cream machine. With KMC’s community-oriented approach and stateof-the-art facilities, it is poised to become a center for networking, creativity, and career growth.

“Our new office layouts are sensitive to the changing nature of work, with flexible solutions that allow for truly collaborative, meaningful professional engagement. We cater to individuals that need space to express themselves, employees who work best from the sofa, or people that need the structured surroundings of a more traditional office. Our flexible working philosophy means everyone can find the environment that drives their focus, creativity, and innovation,” Reyes explained.

KMC plans to open two more sites in

May: the Jollibee Tower along Emerald Street in Ortigas, Pasig City, with 741 seats over 1,869 sq m of floor space; and the 5,590-sq-m Lexmark, a Philippine Economic Zone Authority-accredited building located Cebu Business Park, which will have 1,215 seats. Like SM North EDSA Tower 1, each boasts state-of-the-art tech and business facilities and fully equipped social amenities, making hybrid work more achievable and sustainable for Filipino businesses.

At present, KMC’s total footprint spans across 27 buildings, aggregating to 106,442 sq m. Businesses and individuals renting its office developments can expect flexible workspace designed for human moments. Each site strikes a balance between privacy and openness, with the need for social interaction taking equal precedence alongside business function.

“For businesses in the Philippines, the future of work is clear. People work best when they have the flexibility to work how they are programmed to work, not how they are forced to by traditional workplace norms,” Reyes stressed.

33% in the year’s opening quarter to P4.78 billion from P3.58 billion.

“Our unwavering commitment to excellence at CLI led to double-digit expansions in sales, hotel operations, leasing, and management fees,” Soberano said. “We believe that our remarkable Q1 2023 financial performance sets the tone for the rest of the year, inspiring confidence in our shareholders while reinforcing our position as the leading developer in VisMin and a major contributor to Philippine real estate.”

The company’s net income to parent posted a 10% year-on-year growth, reaching P888 million, which is attributed to the strong performance across all business units at CLI. On the other hand, Q1 consolidated net income soared to P1.17 billion, 43% higher year-on-year.

CLI also achieved a 33% growth in revenue from real estate sales totaling P4.71 billion, on the back of the increased number of qualified units for revenue recognition and construction progress.

The company also had a significant 16% year-on-year growth as reservation sales take-up hit P5.22 billion. The company’s eco -

nomic flagship brand, Casa Mira, accounted for 52% of the sales. By location, Cebu made up the bulk of the sales with 40% generated from all project areas across VisMin. CLI’s hotel operations also showed a remarkable recovery, with a YoY growth of 79% to P29 million driven by improved room rates as business and tourism travel normalized further in 2023.

Soberano said CLI is also planning to establish a presence in Southern Luzon in the provinces of Bicol and Batangas. Aside from Palawan, we want to be present in Camarines Sur, Naga City and Lipa City. Looking ahead, CLI is also building its brand in the tourism and leisure market. Three new hospitality projects, namely lyf Cebu City in Base Line Center, Citadines Bacolod City and The Pad Co-Living in Banilad High Street, are scheduled to commence operations this year.

Soberano said these projects are expected to contribute to the company’s hotel revenue, with CLI managing a total of 657 keys by the end of the year—more than a threefold increase from the 180 rooms in 2022.

LAGUNA, PHILIPPINES—Lagunabased property developer P.A. Alvarez Properties and Development Corporation (P.A. Properties) and Japanese property developer Hankyu Hanshin Properties Corporation (HHPC) reinforced their growing partnership through another Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on March 24, 2023.

The MOU will be instrumental in spurring more property developments in Laguna, Pampanga, and Metro Manila while supporting PA Properties’ commitment to provide Filipinos with quality

homes and help ease the housing backlog in the country.

This is not the first time that P.A. Properties banded together with the Osakabased property developer, as the two companies inked their first deal back in 2017. The companies expanded their developments through a joint venture agreement that built the Idesia communities.

Projects stemming from the partnership between the two companies include properties in Dasmariñas (Idesia Dasmariñas, Idesia Heights), Lipa (Idesia Lipa), and Cabuyao (Idesia Cabuyao).

Major Visayas-Mindanao (VisMin)

developer Cebu Landmasters Inc.

(CLI) wants to be more active in the government’s socialized housing program.

P.A. Properties reinforces partnership with Hankyu Hanshin

Cebu Landmasters first co-living project The Pad in banilad High Street will have 256 rooms that can accommodate up to 440 persons. The 5-story property, which is a walk away from Cebu IT Park, is set to open in Q3 2023.

Cebu Landmasters is set to open three new hospitality projects with 477 keys scheduled to commence operations this year including lyf Cebu City in base Line Center whose lobby (architect’s perspective) is shown in the photo above.

IN photo (from left): P.A. Properties Vice Chairman Jonathan G. Lu, HHPC executive Officer Masahiko Toda, and P.A. Properties Chairman Romarico T. Alvarez

WIM Mendoza clinches silver

PHNOM PENH—Woman International Master Shania Mae Mendoza clinched silver in ouk chaktrang for the Philippines’ fourth medal from chess in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games Tuesday at the Royal University.

Mendoza yielded the gold to following a second-game setback to Doan Thi Hong Nhung of Vietnam.

They drew in the first game and Doan secured the win, and the gold, in the women’s singles 60-minute event.

It was the Philippine team’s third medal in the ouk chaktrang following the bronze of Venice Vicente in the men’s side and the silver of Mendoza and Woman Grandmaster Janelle Mae Frayna in the  double 60-minute play.

The fourth medal was a bronze from the men’s quadruple 60-minute courtesy of Grandmasters Joey Antonio and Darwin Lalylo and International Masters (IMs) Paulo Bersamina and Jan Emmanuel Garcia.

The Philippines shoots for the elusive gold on Thursday as Jackson Hong and IM Angelo Young plunge into action in the men’s singles, and WIM Marie Antoinette San Diego begins her campaign in the women’s five-round singles.

Young and Jackson return to the chess hall in the rapid team event on May 14, to be followed by Bersamina and Garcia in the blitz team on May 15. Josef Ramos

Pencak silat bets deliver 4 bronzes

PHNOM PENH—Pencak silat contributed four bronze medals to Team Philippines’ coffers on Tuesday in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games Tuesday at the Chroy Changvar Convention Center.

A ngelone Abardo Virina got her bronze in female Class A division (45-50 kgs) after she lost, 26-57, to Indonesia’s Nadhrah Binte Sahrin in semifinal play.

R odgielyn Parado suffered the same fate in Class C (55-60 kgs) at the hands of Thi Cam Nhi of Nguyen of Vietnam, 23-29.

It was a similar scenario in the male division, where Gregmart Benitez (Class C) and Ian Christopher Calo (Class E or 65 -70kgs) yielded to their opponents.

Th ailand’s Phiraphon Mittasan shut the door on Benitez 20-0 while Indonesian Tito Hendra Kurnia sent off Calo 45-21.

The four joined the silver-winning men’s artistic ganda double tandem of Alfau and Almohaidib Abad and the third-placer women’s artistic regu team of Franchette Elman, Sharia Jizmundo and Jessapituan dela Cruz in Team Pencak Silat’s honor roll.

Four more tanding fighters are seeing action in the semifinals in Angel-Ann Singh (Female Class D), Dines Dumaan (Male Class A), Denmark Abduradad (Male Class D) and Joash Cantoria (Male Class H).

They shoot for a finals seat against Indonesia’s Atifa Fismawati, Vietnam’s Van Thong Bui and Duy Tuyen Nguyen, respectively. Jun Lomibao

It’s been like another day at the office for EJ at SEAG

By Josef Ramos

PHNOM PENH—It was one day in the office for Ernest John “EJ” Obiena at the 32nd Southeast Asian Games and a little over 24 hours after smashing his own men’s pole vault record flew back to his training base in Formia, Italy.

CRUZ, BESANA SHINE ALONGSIDE YULO

tried hard to win a gold so we can take home three,” said Yulo, who topped the bars with a score of 14.850, ahead of Vietnamese Phuong Thanh Dinh (14.400) and Malaysian Ng Chun Chen (13.100). He became the first Filipino athlete to win two titles in the Games and also with the most medals counting his silver—he scored 14.000 to lose his rings crown to Van Khanh (14.200) of Vietnam.

Yulo’s second cousin Cruz topped the floor exercise with 13.850 points while Besana dominated the vault with 14.425 points.

By Jun Lomibao

PHNOM PENH— Carlos Yulo topped the parallel bars for his second gold medal in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games on Tuesday.

But Cambodia would be remembered not only for the twotime world champion Yulo, but for a cousin of his and another one who’s passionately following the Tokyo Olympian’s track.

John Ivan Cruz snatched the gold medal in floor exercise and Miguel Besana reigned supreme in vault on a day when Yulo had to settle for silver in the rings.

I ronically, it was Yulo who drew motivation from his teammates after missing the rings gold.

When Ivan [Cruz] and Miguel [Besana] won gold medals, I really

The national artistic gymnastics team ended its campaign with four gold and two silver medals, the other silver coming from the men’s team event last Monday.

It was a challenging second day for me,” said Yulo, who won the individual all-around gold Monday.

ulo, Cruz and Besana pulled off the three-gold swing before Philippine Olympic Committee President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino and Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Dicky Bachmann.

V ietnam’s Phuong Thanh Dinh bagged silver in the bars with 14.400 points, while  Malaysia’s Chun Chen Ng got bronze with 13.100.

Thailand’s Tikumporn Surintornta, on the other hand, landed the floor exercise silver with 13.800 points with Indonesia’s Joseph Hatogan claiming bronze with 13.500.

Every sacrifice I did in the Philippines and all the hardship finally paid off,” Cruz, 21, said. “This medal will tremendously help my family.”

B esana also beat a Thai, Tikumporn Surintornta, who managed 14.150 for the silver Hai Khang Trinh of Vietnam was third a with 14.050 points.  The gymnasts’ domination of three events highlighted a five gold medal haul for Team Philippines—whose participation is supported by the POC and PSC—which also saw long jumper Janry Ubas finally becoming a SEA Games champion by ruling his pet event with a jump of 7.85 meters, and swimmer Teia Salvino breaking the games and Philippine records in the 100m backstroke.

W ith the five-gold haul, the Filipino contingent raised the country’s harvest to 24 golds on top of 35 silver and 38 bronze medals, good for fourth overall as of 8 p.m. Tuesday.

First-time host Cambodia continued to show the way in the medal tally with a 37-36-35 harvest, with last year’s overall champion, Vietnam, hot on its heels with a harvest of 34-31-44. Thailand was running third with a 33-26-39 haul.

I rish Magno and Riza Pasuit, meanwhile, won convincingly to advance to the boxing finals at the Chroy Changvar Center Hall G.

M agno, the 31-year-old Tokyo Olympian, is in the women’s flyweight final after beating Indonesian Novita Sinadia, 5-0.   She will face Thailand’s Jutamas Jitpong in the finals on Saturday.

Pasuit, 30, defeated Singaporean Nur Sabrina Binte Mohd Faizal, 3-2 in women’s lightweight and will take on Vietnamese Thi Linh Ha in the finals. With Josef Ramos

Filipino golfers fall by 7 strokes in second round

PHNOM PENH—Paolo Wong fell to a share of 19th place after faltering with a 75 in men’s play of golf on Tuesday in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games.

L ois Kaye Go and Rianne Malixi also stayed too far behind despite carding 68s in the second round of the women’s contest also on Tuesday.

Enrique Dimayuga bounced back strong from a 73 with a near-flawless 68 in hot conditions but the new national team member remained seven strokes behind steady Khanh Hung Le, who broke away from a first round tie with Malaysian Malcolm Hung with a 65 behind a solid eagle-spiked backside 31. The Vietnamese took the solo lead with a 10-under 134 total but braced

Walker miracle saves Lakers

ANTHONY DAVIS, the structural foundation of the Los Angeles Lakers, was his usual self in the first half yesterday, firing 19 points to help his team keep the Golden State Warriors at bay.

Then Davis fell almost cemetery silent in the final two quarters, attempting only four times. Two swished the nets for just a measly total of four points for him in the last half.  But am I getting ahead of the story?

C an’t help it.

T he three-time SEA Games champion accomplished his goal of making sure he wins with a flourish—he broke the record of 5.46 meters he set in Hanoi last year by clearing 5.55 meters, got to 5.60 and settled at 5.65 meters.

“What a way to kick off my outdoor campaign,” said Obiena on Monday night soaking wet from rain at the Morodok Techno National Stadium.

Up next for the world No. 3 is a continental competition on June 6 in Poland and after that the world championships in Budapest from August 19 to 27 and the Hangzhou 20th Asian Games from September 23 to October 8.

Hopefully I can go 5.82-meter in Poland or even higher,” Obiena said.

The qualifying window for the Paris 2024 Olympics starts on June 1 and Obiena wants to clear the minimum 5.82-meter standard the soonest. He set the Asian standard at 5.94 meters last year.

That’s the goal—Paris,” he said.

There’s no Tondo vacation for Obiena, who practically flew in and out to showcase his world class act in Cambodia where his opponents couldn’t do better than 5.20 metets. He was asked by Vitaly [coach Petrov] to resume training for the big ones and I’m very happy on what I saw with EJ,” Obiena’s father Emerson told BusinessMirror. “He’s durable than ever, stronger and smarter than before.”

Philippine Olympic Committee President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino awarded the gold to Obiena in a belated ceremony at Morodok stadium on Tuesday. He went sat for lunch with Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association President Terry Capistrano before packing his things to catch a flight to Italy with his physiologist Antonio Guglietta.  E ight athletes figured in the men’s pole vault final with Thailand’s Kasinpob Chomchanad and Patsapong Amsamrang making the podium.

for a daunting challenge in the last 18 holes as Ratchanon Chantananuwat bettered Le’s seven-under card with a 64, also highlighted by an eagle on the par-5 No. 11.

The fancied Thai, winner on the Asian Tour event last year, threatened at 136 for joint second with Malaysian Anzon Xiang, who also shot an eight-under card.

Hung slipped to fourth at 137 after a 68 even as Dimayuga moved from tied 15th to a share of seventh with Vietnam’s Dang Minh Nguyen, who shot a 69, still seven shots behind Le at 141.

A idric Chan also recovered with a 68 but still stood far off at joint 15th at 144 while Wong fumbled

Despite the final-half slump, Davis’s 23 points and 15 rebounds remained huge in the Lakers’ 104-101 thriller of a win before a confetti-tossing crowd at Los Angeles’s crypto. com Arena.

W ith a 3-1 series lead magnificently co-authored by LeBron James (23 points, 10 rebounds), Austin Reaves (21 points, with 7 points in the third quarter) and, yes, the seldom-used Lonnie Walker IV, the Lakers can wrap up the duel tomorrow (Thursday, Philippine time) at Chase Center in San Francisco, CA. Even a team like the four-time National Basketball Association (NBA) champion Warriors, being down 1-3 in a best-of-seven series, will need divine intervention—not to mention Steph Curry (31 points, 14 assists, 10 rebounds)— for the miracle of resurrection to happen.

Speaking of miracles, where did this dude surnamed Walker IV come from?

Dispatched unerringly Tuesday by Laker coach Darvin Ham, Walker stunningly came up with 15 fourth-quarter points, including the last two free throws for a 104-101 Laker lead with mere ticks remaining that proved to be the game’s final count.

P reviously, Walker could only produce 23 points in 11 NBA games.  But in just two games in the ongoing playoffs, he had 21 points.

I f that’s not a miracle, what is?

LeBron James said it all:  “Walker won the game for us today.”

A men.

with a frontside 39 marred by a double-bogey on the par-5 No. 8 to fall to a share of 19th with teammate Jaden Dumdumaya, who carded a 71.

In women’s play, Thai Eila Galitsky moved in the threshold of an expected gold medal finish with a 66 as she grabbed the lead at 135, now one stroke ahead of erstwhile leader Ng Jing Xuen of Malaysia, who slowed down with a 69 after a 67 for a 136, setting the stage for a final round shootout with the

GILAS OFF TO ROUSING START

PHNOM PENH—Malaysia was easy picking for Gilas Pilipinas

on Tuesday in 32nd Southeast Asian Games men’s basketball action at the Morodok Techo National Stadium Elephant Hall 2.

Gilas’s 94-49 rout in its games debut serves as a fitting warm up for tougher games ahead especially in post-pool play.

Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser had 15 points and five rebounds, while Justin Brownlee made 11 points and four rebounds in his SEA Games debut.

A rvin Tolentino had 10 points, while De La Salle big man Michael Phillips had nine points and 15 rebounds as Gilas Pilipinas dominated the Malaysians right from the opening tip.

We challenged the first group to get us off to a good start. It’s really their responsibility to start us off well,” Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes said.

The team takes a one-day break before battling host Cambodia, which is beefed up by six naturalized players including the trio of Sayeed Pridget, Brandon Peterson, and Darrin Dorsey, members of the 3x3 team that won the gold.

The respite will also enable Calvin Oftana to heal after suffering a strained calf muscle after a slip in the first half.

We have a casualty right away.

Calvin Oftana strained a calf muscle that’s why we didn’t play him anymore in the second half,” Reyes said.

The women’s competition begins Wednesday, with the Philippines battling Cambodia at 3 p.m. (4 p.m. Philippine time).

Gilas took a 33-12 lead at the end of the first quarter and never looked back, even leading by as much as 50 points.

Phillips wowed the Filipino fans at the venue with his energy, highlighted by two slams. Josef Ramos

PHILIPPINE Olympic Committee President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino awards the gold medal to Obiena in a belated ceremony on Tuesday.