BusinessMirror May 20, 2024

Analysts: PHL may not be able to cut rates ahead of Fed

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) may not have sufficient resources to cut interest rates ahead of the United States Federal Reserves, according to foreign analysts.

I n its latest Philippine update, ANZ Research stated that while the country’s current account deficit was receding, this is “still not at comfortable levels.”

I n 2023, the country’s current account deficit narrowed to $11.21 billion from the $18.26 billion recorded in 2022. It can be noted that in 2020,

the country had a current account surplus of $11.578 billion and a deficit of $5.943 billion in 2021. “ We also think that it would be difficult to move ahead or in sync with the US Fed. Though the current account deficit is receding, it is still not at comfortable levels,” ANZ research said. “We, therefore, expect the first rate cut of 25bp [basis point] to materialize in the first quarter of 2025.”

O n Friday, the BSP said it is eyeing to cut key policy rates twice in the second half of the year. BSP Governor Eli M. Remolona Jr. told reporters this may be delivered in increments of 25 basis points as early as August.

T his means, the maximum rate cut that is expected to be delivered by the Monetary Board is 50 basis points by the end of the year. If the BSP will cut rates by a maximum of 50 basis points, this will place key policy rates at 6 percent by the end of the year. S hould this happen, the BSP would be cutting its policy rates ahead of the United States Federal Reserve which is expected to deliver its rate cuts starting in September. (See: https:// businessmirror .com.ph/2024/05/17/ bsp-keeps-rates-but-eyes-2-cuts-in2nd-half/)

“All in all, macroeconomic conditions are becoming more and more balanced

and the central bank’s ‘monetary policy freedom’ from the Fed is increasing,” HSBC Asean economist Aris Dacanay said. Although we don’t think the level of improvement is large enough for the BSP to cut ahead of the Fed, it may be enough for the BSP to keep its monetary stance steady if another episode of Fed repricing occurs,” he added. However, Citi’s economist for the Philippines Nalin Chutchotitham said that despite recent adjustments in inflation projections, they maintained their initial estimate that BSP will deal a 25 bps cut in August.

DOF: GROWTH WILL HIT LOW END OF 6-7%

By Reine Juvierre S. Alberto

THE Philippines’ economic growth could settle within the lower end of the national government’s target of 6 to 7 percent this year, according to the Department of Finance (DOF).

D uring the SMC-EJAP Business Journalism Seminar on Saturday, Office of the Chief Economist Undersecretary Domini SD. Velasquez said this could be achieved if the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 6.1 percent consistently in the second to fourth quarter of the year.

T he country is poised to be one of the fastest-growing economies among Asean countries, with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) projecting the Philippines to lead Asean-6, China, and the global economy in 2024 and 2025.

“ We need 6.1 percent for the rest of the year to actually reach that 6 percent. I think that’s very achievable,” Velasquez said at the weekend.

T he Philippine economic growth settled at 5.7 percent in the first quarter of 2024, higher than the 5.5 percent recorded in the last quarter of 2023, but slower than the 6.4 percent posted in the first quarter last year. (See: https:// businessmirror .com.ph/2024/05/09/ phl-economy-posts-5-7-growthin-q1-of-2024-psa/). When we look at it, moving forward, it seems that the Philippines will be growing at this kind of pace,” Velasquez said.

T he economist banked on the government’s expectations on household consumption, which contributes around 80 percent of the GDP, to continue improving in the coming quarters.

IPOPHL MAKES SITE-BLOCKING BIS VS TOP PIRACY WEBSITE

By Andrea E. San Juan @andreasanjuan

THE Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) said it has issued its first siteblocking request against 11 sites under the YTS brand, one of the top piracy websites in the world. The decision of IPOPHL’s IP Rights Enforcement Office (IEO) revealed that the websites associated with YTS are “hosting pirated versions of movies or TV shows, allowing users to access these illegal copies by downloading them through links on same website or by streaming them online.”

The IEO found that the 11 sites associated to YTS, namely yts.mx, yts.rs, yts.do, ytsuproxy. to, yts.dirproxy.com, yts.unblocked. love, y tssss.jamsbase.com, y ts. lt, yts.ag, yts.am and torrents.yts.rs., all committed piracy or copyright infringement, violating Section 216 of the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines, as well as Memorandum Circular 23-025 or the Rules on Voluntary Administrative Site Blocking,” IPOPHL said in a

statement over the weekend.

The country’s intellectual property rights watchdog said infringers were operating by using “various methods” to distribute and access copyrighted material illegally, including via peer-to-peer networks for sharing files, hosting content on illegal streaming websites, distributing files through direct downloads and using tools like virtual private networks (VPNs) to hide their activities. According to the decision of IPOPHL’s enforcement arm, the websites under complaint are also listed in the World Intellectual Property Organization’s (WIPO) Alert, a data-sharing platform on piracy of the global IP organization.

The YTS is the official home of YIFY, one of the world’s most prolific sites involved in the illegal replication and distribution of copyright content,” IPOPHL explained. IPOPHL cited a 2015 report from the Motion Picture Association (MPA) of America which said that the site has a library of some 4,500 “infringing” motion picture titles.

See “IPOPHL ,” A2

THE Department of Finance (DOF) will not impose a rate hike in excise taxes, particularly on sin taxes, amid the expected drop in revenues to be collected this year, according to its chief economist.

T his, after Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto said sin tax and value-added tax (VAT) collections could decline this year due to the slowdown in household consumption. (See: https:// businessmirror .com.ph/2024/05/16/ revenue-take-may-dip-on-slower-spending).

O ffice of the Chief Economist Undersecretary Domini SD. Velasquez said that the government will not increase the tax rate of sin taxes but instead attempt to plug the much-needed taxes leaking from the e-marketplace.  What they’re looking at is not a hike. We are not there yet except for the existing [annual tax rate

increase],” Velasquez said during the EJAP-SMC Business Journalism Seminar on Saturday.

V elasquez underscored the state’s lower collections of sin taxes and put the blame on illicit trade and consumers’ shift to ecigarettes, such as vaping products, sold in the e-marketplace.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on Household Final Consumption Expenditure (HFCE) showed that demand for alcohol products and tobacco contracted by 2.7 percent in the first quarter of 2024.

M eanwhile, data from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) showed that excise taxes on tobacco dropped to P21.975 billion as of the first quarter of the year, down by 20 percent or P5.495 billion from the P27.471 billion collected in the same period a year ago.

PEDAL FOR PEOPLE AND PLANET Thousands of families and bike enthusiasts joined the “Pedal for People and Planet” event at the weekend,

DA arm reports drastic drop in pork inventory to 50K MT

By Ada Pelonia

THE country’s pork inventory has declined by nearly a quarter, according to data from the attached agency of the Department of Agriculture (DA).

Data from the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) showed that pork inventory in cold storage facilities nationwide dropped by 24.79 percent to 50,658 metric tons (MT) as of May 13 from last year’s 67,359 MT. Figures from the agency revealed that a chunk of the inventory during the period consisted of imports at 49,899 MT. This was lower than the 64,214 MT in the previous year. Pork from local raisers plummeted to 758 MT, from 3,145 MT recorded last year since the African Swine Fever (ASF) continued to stunt the country’s pork output. O n a monthly basis, the latest frozen pork inventory was 2.45 percent lower than the 51,929 MT recorded volume last April 15, NMIS data showed.

IPOPHL

The country’s IP rights watchdog said the issuance stemmed from a complaint filed by the MPA, Inc.

According to an MPA statement, IPOPHL’S site blocking order and forthcoming blocking actions will have a “substantial impact on the Philippines piracy landscape.”

“ We will continue to work closely with

the Philippines’government and creative industry in the fight against the scourge of digital piracy,” the MPA also noted. The MPA’s member studios include Netflix Studios, LLC; Paramount Pictures Corporation; Sony Pictures Entertainment, Inc.; Universal City Studios LLC; Disney Enterprises, Inc.; and Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., among others. For his part, IPOPHL Director General Rowel S. Barba said this site-blocking order is a “major win” for the Philippine creative industry. “ We encourage more stakeholders to

N MIS data also showed that dressed chicken inventory slid by 10.36 percent year-on-year to 43,632 MT.

T he bulk of the inventory consisted of imports at 27,460 MT, lower than last year’s 31,641 MT.

Cold storage facilities in Region 3 and Region 4-A held a chunk of the pork inventory during the period. Both regions also accounted for the bulk of the dressed chicken inventory, according to NMIS.

T he agency said its latest frozen pork inventory came from accredited commercial and in-house cold storage, such as slaughterhouses and meat processing plants.

For the dressed chicken inventory, the agency said its data excluded freshly chilled chicken and mechanically deboned meat, adding that the inventory for those already in distribution channels

come forward, file a complaint and further disrupt access to piracy websites,” Barba noted. The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) issued on May 16 a memorandum order directing all internet service providers (ISPs) to effect the immediate blocking of the websites and report within five days the actions they have taken.

As of May 18, almost all ISPs that are signatories to the site-blocking memorandum of understanding have cut access to the sites, said IPOPHL.

was not included.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that the seasonally adjusted value of livestock production recorded a 1.8 percent decrease.

Hog was the top contributor to the contraction in the value of production during the first three months of 2024,” the PSA said.

T he country’s local hog industry continues to grapple with the ASF which spurred culling activities and led to a decline in hog output to 1.793 million metric tons (MMT) last year. This is lower than the nearly 2.3 MMT of recorded hog production before the ASF hit the country.

A SF is a contagious swine disease with a 100 percent fatality rate which affects domestic pigs and wild boar. It has been reported in several countries around the globe.

“ We expect that consumption will increase as inflation continues to moderate,” Velasquez said.

W ith stable inflation, household consumption will further increase, which will then prop up the economy’s growth since this is considered as a “heavy lifter” in terms of growth, Velasquez explained.

Household spending posted a growth of 4.6 percent, the slowest in 14 years, according to the Household Final Consumption Expenditure (HFCE) data by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

Data showed that consumption spending accounted for 74.5 percent of the country’s GDP in the first quarter this year.

Household spending

VELASQUEZ remained optimistic that even in a high-inflation environment, household consumption can still grow to around 5 percent.

However, local economists said that household spending cutbacks would persist in the coming quarters unless inflation can be tamed.

(See: https://businessmirror com.ph/2024/05/10/spendingcutbacks-to-continue-say-experts).

I nflation accelerated to 3.8

To bolster the government’s revenue collections, Velasquez said the DOF and its attached agencies, the BIR and the Bureau of Customs (BOC), will prioritize zeroing in on indirect taxes, particularly excise tax and value-added tax (VAT), for tobacco and alcohol, including petroleum.

“ The plan is to ensure that we collect the correct amount from [these] products,” Velasquez said. Under Republic Act 11467 signed in 2020, the excise tax rate on cigarettes rose to P63 per pack in 2024 and will increase by 5 percent in the succeeding years. It is projected to generate P125.8 billion this year.

E xcise tax rates for vapor products, such as those with nicotine salt and classic nicotine, will also increase by 5 percent every year starting in 2024.

A lcohol products, such as distilled spirits, wines, and fermented liquors, will also increase by 6 percent every year starting in 2025.

T he DOF estimated this will raise P137.2 billion from 2020 to 2024.

T he incremental revenues to be collected from the increased excise taxes on sin products will earmark the Universal Health Care program.

Velasquez said the increased tax rates for the following years will help plug tax leakages but most important, the efficiency of tax administration.

H owever, Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto said “tax increases do not necessarily equate to revenue increase,” but instead taxing transactions done through e-commerce.

T he government has raised P1.418 trillion in revenues so far for the first quarter, 33 percent of its revenue target of P4.3 trillion for 2024.

T he BIR aims to collect P326.195 billion in excise taxes this year. It collected P59.359 billion, or 18.20 percent of its target, as of the first quarter of 2024, down by 6.97 percent compared to the P63.804 billion recorded in the same period last year. Reine Juvierre S. Alberto

over to the local governments of Roxas in Palawan; Medelin, Carmen, Carcar, and Moalboal in Cebu; Dauis in Bohol; Manolo Fortich in Bukidnon; and Samal Island in Davao Del Norte. These tourist rest areas are not mere rest stops. These are comprehensive facilities that prioritize the convenience of every tourist’s journey,” said Torurism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco for her part.

percent in April this year, faster than the 3.7 percent recorded in March, driven by a “surge” in food inflation.

F urthermore, Velasquez also cited the country’s unemployment rate, which went down to 3.9 percent in March 2024 from 4.7 percent in the same month last year, as a contributor to the economy’s growth. Underemployment also inched down to 11 percent yearon-year from 11.2 percent.

[The] share of wages and salary workers [to the GDP] are increasing—that’s an important indicator also in the market,” Velasquez added. I n terms of government consumption, Velasquez said it has sufficient fiscal space to spend on projects.

T he government expects an increase in its spending in the coming months with public construction under the General Appropriations Act (GAA) and official development assistance (ODA).

T he state ramped up its infrastructure spending from January to February this year by 6.7 percent to P120.5 billion, to fund the government’s road infrastructure programs and defense modernization projects.

Nonetheless, Chutchotitham said there could be “some risks of delay” on the cut if BSP sees the need to wait for further cooling in inflation or if the Fed pushes back its rate cut to after the third quarter of the year. We think the BSP would not want to cut way ahead of the Fed, as a precaution over potential negative market reactions,” Chutchotitham said. “In any case, our current expectation is that the policy rate would fall to 5.75 percent by end-2024, and to 5 percent by end-2025, as we forecast inflation to stabilize near the middle of the policy target band post July ’24. Certainly, there remains risks of more gradual rate cuts, depending on both economic growth and inflation developments.”

M eanwhile, Nomura’s Euben Paracuelles maintains that the BSP will likely keep its monetary policy tight for longer. This was despite Remolona’s pronouncement that the Monetary Board is less hawkish in its most recent meeting.

This line makes the tone of the policy statement clearly hawkish, in our view, giving an indication that the current policy settings, which BSP previously described as ‘tight’, will be retained for some time,” Paracuelles said.

Slower consumption

DACANAY also noted that given the latest developments in the country’s economic growth, the slowdown in the country’s growth to 5.7 percent in the first quarter of the year was “healthy” for an “overheating” economy.

B ased on the latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the first quarter growth of 5.7 percent was slower than the 6.4 percent posted in the first quarter of last year.

A major contributor to the slowdown was the tepid 4.6-percent growth in Household Final Consumption Expenditure (HFCE) due

The TRA’s roof is made of anahaw, a traditional material in the Ilocos Norte region, giving it a distinctive look. The facility has an information center, coffee lounge, free-use charging stations, as well as clean restrooms with showers. A breastfeeding room is also dedicated to lactating mothers. Local products such as mushroom chips, bagnet chips, tamarind candies, virgin coconut oil, juices like mulberry, tamarind, dragonfruit, and tamarind, wines from dragonfruit and bugnay, as well as woven bags, blankets, and table runners from micro-, small, and medium enterprises are also

to high inflation N ational Statistician Claire Dennis S. Mapa said this was the slowest in 14 years, sans the pandemic years. Consumption spending accounted for 74.5 percent of the country’s GDP in the January to March period this year.

(See: https:// businessmirror com.ph/2024/05/10/spendingcutbacks-to-continue-say-experts/).

We would argue that, to a certain extent, the deceleration in growth was healthy to the economy. Recall that the Philippine economy was overheating in 2022 and 2023, with investment in the economy much more than what it was saving,” Dacanay said.

“ With demand slightly slowing—partly due to the BSP’s tight monetary stance—chart 1 shows that the investment- saving gap has returned to balance. This implies that the economy does not need to borrow abroad as much as before, and as the economy cools, we can expect the current account deficit to narrow further,” he added.

B ased on PSA data, HFCE for food and non-alcoholic beverages slowed to 0.5 percent from 0.6 percent in the fourth quarter and 9.9 percent in the first quarter of 2023.

T he data also showed consumption for education slowed to 3.8 percent in the first quarter of 2024 from 8.3 percent and 11.5 percent in the fourth and first quarters of 2023, respectively.

T he PSA also said spending for restaurants and hotels slowed to 11.9 percent in the first quarter of 2024 from 15.6 percent in the fourth quarter and 20.2 percent in the first quarter of 2023.

S pending for vices—alcoholic beverages and tobacco—contracted 2.7 percent in the first quarter of 2024. In the last quarter of 2023, spending for these items posted a growth of 0.6 percent and in the first quarter last year, 7.4 percent.

sale. At least 20 more TRAs will be constructed in other destinations such as San Jose Del Monte City, Bulacan; Lobo, Batangas; Brooke’s Point, Palawan; Tabaco City, Albay; Lagonoy and San Jose, Camarines Sur; Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental; Tubungan, Iloilo; Jordan, Guimaras; San Remigio, Antique; Tacloban City, Leyte; Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat; General Luna, Surigao Del Norte; Lingayen, Pangasinan; Sabtang, Batanes; Guiuan, Eastern Samar; Initao, Misamis Oriental; Bontoc, Mountain Province; Tagbilaran City, Bohol; Bongao, Tawi-Tawi, and Sulu.

SOUTHMONT: WHERE ELEVATED LIVING MEETS THE

By Candy P. Dalizon Contributor

THE southern region of Metro Manila has emerged as a preferred destination in recent decades, seamlessly blending nature’s beauty and open spaces with modern conveniences that prioritize comfort and security. This desire for a balanced lifestyle has led many families, even businesses, to Cavite where the real estate scene has evolved significantly.

Today, Cavite is a haven to premium large-scale, exclusive estates. Silang, a first-class urban municipality in Cavite known for its rich history and natural charm, has emerged as a thriving location for living and relocating due to several factors that appeal to a wide range of individuals and families.

Silang presents an alternative living choice away from the fast-paced hustle of Metro Manila while remaining connected to it. Conveniently located just south of the metro, the province is also nearby leisure destinations such as Batangas and Tagaytay. In fact, Silang’s beauty is often mistaken for its neighbor, Tagaytay. Both areas boast a cool climate, high terrains, and lush landscapes. Driven by its strategic loca-

tion, strong infrastructure, and diverse industries, Silang now finds itself experiencing rapid economic growth. The area has many manufacturing, technology, and service companies, which creates job opportunities for residents. It is also known for its family-friendly atmosphere, prioritizing both education and community engagement.

Southmont: An elevated and holistic community

A joint venture by developers Ayala Land and Cathay Land, Southmont is an 800-hectare mixed-use estate master-planned to offer a holistic living experience. Complimented by breathtaking views of rolling hills, lush greenery, and the majestic Mt. Makiling, it will surely offer a heightened living experience for the community.

Situated along the Cavite growth corridor, Southmont brings together a vibrant mix of residential, commercial, institutional, and leisure components that provide a dynamic living environment.

Southmont is set to become one of the most connected estates with a direct connection to CALAX and access to other major thoroughfares such as Sta. Rosa – Tagaytay Road, Pook Road, and the upcoming CTBEX (Cavite Tagaytay Batangas

Expressway) and Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) Cavite Extension. Its strategic location ensures seamless connectivity to key Metro Manila cities, placing residents and investors alike within easy reach of all the essential services and amenities you need. Moreover, with its location at an average of 200m to 389m above mean sea level (AMSL), Southmont is distinctly defined by its cool temperature, gently rolling terrain, and stunning vistas.

Nestled amidst flourishing businesses, educational institutions, and recreational facilities, families will also find their ideal homes in a variety of Ayala Land residential offerings. Residential communities from Ayala Land Premier, Alveo, Avida, and Amaia will be built within the estate.

Ayala Land Premier's Lanewood Hills, situated across close to 70 hectares, offers generously sized lots averaging 630 sqm.

Alveo Land currently offers two residential developments with Verdea and Hillside Ridge. Launched as the first devel-

opment in 2018, Hillside Ridge offers an average lot size of 350 sqm. Hillside Ridge Village Center was concurrently launched, offering commercial lots that further complement the Southmont estate. Verdea was launched in 2022, featuring lots averaging around 300 sqm.

Looking ahead, Southmont is set to introduce Avida and Amaia developments, enriching the estate's existing residential offerings. Additionally, a new commercial development is in the pipeline, set to enhance the community's convenience and vibrancy. With these upcoming additions, Southmont continues to evolve as a dynamic and inclusive community that will cater to the diverse needs and aspirations of its residents.

Complementary to the residential landscape are the mixed-use town centers. These will house a diverse mix of businesses, including

offices, retail shops, restaurants, hardware stores, grocery stores, among others, to ensure that future residents have everything they need at their fingertips.

Beyond the necessities, Southmont will also foster a sense of community through its central anchors - a church, and a state-ofthe-art sports facility that will encourage residents to embrace an active lifestyle, promoting health and well-being for all. Envisioned as a community designed for effortless movement, Southmont's upscale estate road network will seamlessly integrate designated pedestrian walkways and dedicated bike lanes. It will also have its own transport terminal to increase mobility both inside the estate, and to nearby cities and key destinations. More than just a place to live, Southmont will be a place to connect, grow, and thrive in the High South.

A4

Monday, May 20, 2024

FMJr orders probe of ‘wiretapping’ by Chinese Embassy; Masinloc fishermen undeterred by China’s arrest threat

PRESIDENT Marcos has vowed to investigate the alleged wiretapping by the Chinese Embassy in Manila against the Armed Forces’s Western Command.

This as the New Masinloc Fishermen Association on Sunday expressed determination to continue fishing at the West Philippine Sea (WPS) despite China’s threat to detain individuals “trespassing” on the South China Sea.

“We are looking into it [wiretapping] because the fact of the matter is there have been mentions of a tape that ‘confirms’ that there was this agreement [between China and the Philippines],” Marcos said in a media interview Saturday night.

Marcos said it is still early to come up with any conclusion until he hears for himself the contents of the supposed tape.

Meanwhile, Leonardo Cuaresma,

president of the Zambales-based association, condemned China’s threats to jail WPS “trespassers,” saying that Filipino fishermen know that they are only fishing in the Philippine territory. China should not do that because we know our law. We are not violating anything based on our fishery law. Aside from that, we’ve not bullied or harassed any of their [Chinese] countrymen, Cuaresma said in Pilipino in a radio interview. “Alam namin na ’yan ay teritoryo natin at pag-aari ng Pilipinas [We know that (the WPS) is Philippine territory and owned by the Philippines]. Kung kaya’t wala silang dapat gawin sa bagay na ’yan. T hat is why they are not allowed to detain anybody in that area],” he added.

On the alleged tape recording of a supposed conversation between a Chinese diplomate and a senior Filipino military

commander, Marcos said: “It’s in the possession of the Chinese Embassy and the Chinese government. So, until they release it, it’s harder to believe and to accept that there was an agreement.”

Asked if he has directed government agencies to be extra careful about it, Marcos said “there is no directive like that,” but emphasized an existing policy on the issue.

The President added that the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) are working together to make the country’s cybersecurity more robust and secure.

He said they are already planning to bring some Filipino experts, who are among the world’s best, to work for the government as “free agents” to help bolster the country’s cybersecurity.

“Some of the best people in cybersecurity

Australian ‘member’ of Sinaloa drug cartel falls

THE Bureau of Immigration on Sunday announced the arrest of a “high-profile”

Australian drug trafficker suspected of being a member of the notorious Mexican Sinaloa drug cartel.

Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said Gregor Johann Haas, 46, was arrested on May 15 in Bogo, Cebu, by the BI’s Fugitive Search Unit (FSU).

are actually Filipino but they are civilians so we have to bring some of them,” Marcos said.

“I don’t know if we can find an arrangement for them to work for the military, to work for government agencies. Maybe as a free agent? We’ll see,” he added.

Cuaresma also appealed to the government for the deployment more personnel and maritime assets to patrol the WPS daily.

We might need to exert our full strength to sent China the message that that place is not their territory.

Marcos on Saturday also condemned China’s threat, saying that that kind of action “would be completely unacceptable to the Philippines.”

“The position that we take is that that is unacceptable, and we will take whatever measures to always protect our citizens,” Marcos said.

trafficking and money laundering activities.

Senators denounce China’s threat to detain ‘trespassers’ at WPS

By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

SENATORS over the weekend urged China to rescind her reported new regulation allowing the Chinese Coast Guard to detain “trespassers,” whOle prodding the Department of Foreign Affairs to immediately validate the report and act accordingly.

This, as the Senate invited ranking Chines embassy officials as well as the former commander of the Armed Forces’s Western Command to the Senate investigation into the alleged recording of a supposed “new model” deal with China.

Sen. Francis Tolentino said on Sunday that a “polite invitation,” not a subpoena, was sent to the Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines, as well as the Consul General of China.

In addition, Tolentino also said Vice Adm. Alberto Carlos, former Wescom chief has also been invited to the hearing.

if confirmed, would heighten tensions even further between countries sharing the South China Sea. It would also further jeopardize Filipino fishermen, who have been suffering harassment from Chinese elements.

In an interview with DWIZ’s Cely Bueno, Z ubiri said, China “should follow the code of conduct and still open access in the Indo-Pacific.”

He added, “The tension will definitely become more heated. I am alarmed by such developments.” First of all, “there are claimants there, several claimants. It’s not just the Philippines with a claim there—Malaysia, Brunei, and Vietnam also have claims in those areas. Under the United Nations Convention on the Laws of Sea, there should be freedom of navigation here in these areas of the West Philippine Sea, South China Sea.”

This means, Zubiri explained, “anyone who fishes there, or a cargo ship, should be able to cross without being apprehended by these claimant countries. That is under Unclos, there should be freedom of navigation and free and open access in the Indo-Pacific region.”

Indonesian authorities have accused Haas of being a member of Sinaloa drug cartel responsible for the attempt to smuggle into Indonesia five kilos of illegal methamphetamine drug substance hidden in a shipment of floor ceramics last year.

Further investigation conducted by

Haas was arrested by virtue of a standing red notice issued by the Interpol in connection with the criminal charges filed against him in Indonesia.

Indonesian authorities on arrested drug couriers revealed that the shipment was sent by Haas from Guadalajara, Mexico.

An arrest warrant was issued against Haas last January 29 by the national narcotics board of Indonesia which filed a drug smuggling case against him.

The BI said the Sinaloa cartel, a large international organized crime syndicate based in Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico, specializes in drug

FMJr on photo with Guo: It doesn’t mean anything

PBy Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

RESIDENT Marcos said the picture posted by the mayor of Bamban, Tarlac, Alice Guo with him during his election campaign in 2022 fails to clear the doubts on her identity.

The cartel has reportedly been operating in Mexico since the 1980s, and is considered to be one of the largest drug trafficking organizations in the world.

Tansingco described Haas’s arrest as a major accomplishment of the BI in its continuing drive to flush out wanted foreign criminals in the country.

Haas is now detained at the BI warden facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City pending deportation proceedings.

Joel R. San Juan

As of Saturday, Marcos said both investigations are still ongoing.

Tolentino said the Chinese Embassy cannot be compelled to face the investigation owing to diplomatic protocols and international law. However, he said that a case may be filed against diplomats if they are found violating the laws of the host country.

Deputy Minority Leader Anna Theresia Hontiveros said China’s threat “only affirms China’s reputation as a rogue nation,” noting it comes on the heels of the successful 100-boat civilian convoy that resupplied Filipino fishermen in Bajo de Masinloc of Scarborough Shoal while being shadowed by Chinese ships.

For his part, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, chairman of the Committee on National Defense, said, “We’re awaiting the pronouncement of the Department of Foreign Affairs if they have received any official document on this. Nonetheless, we have taken note of this matter. While we respect China’s right to safeguard its territorial interests, we also emphasize the importance of adhering to international norms and agreements.”

If China proceeds to carry out its reported new policy, said Zubiri, “that’s an arbitral, unilateral move that’s illegal under the Unclos.” He noted that China is a signatory to Unclos. He said the Philippines should protect Filipinos from “illegal detention and arbitral detention,” noting that under Philippine statutes, a life sentence is meted out on people convicted of illegal detention. Imagine, he said, the Chinese apprehending a foreigner deemed a ‘trespasser’, and keeping them for 30 days—“that cannot be, that cannot be.”

“That’s international rule of law. International rules of law should be followed.

“So, I’m appealing to the Chinese government, please don’t do that; that imperils everyone.”

In an interview with the media after the signing of an alliance agreement between the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) and the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) on Saturday, Marcos reiterated that he does not personally know Guo.

the lack of information on the identity of the local government official prior to her election in the 2022 polls.

“That proves nothing. You know how many pictures I take in during the campaign. It must be in the thousands per day. I accommodated all who asked for a selfie with me. So [that picture] doesn’t mean anything,” Marcos said. Guo posted the pictures last week after the President expressed his concern on

During a a Senate hearing on the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) in Bamban, Tarlac, the issue on Guo’s citizenship was raised.

The Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) and the Senate are now conducting their investigation on Guo, who is now being suspected of being a Chinese “sleeper” spy.

Go champions local economic, education development

S EN Christopher “Bong” Go participated in the blessing and inauguration ceremonies of two major local projects during his visit to Guagua, Pampanga, ensuring enhanced community services and economic growth.

Former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo hosted the activities in her district. They were also joined by Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, former Rep. Mikey Arroyo, Govm Dennis Pineda, Mayor Anton Torres, Vice Mayor Jun Lim, town councilors and barangay officials, among others.

The first event was the inauguration of

“As I said, there is also an ongoing investigation by the Senate. So, let’s allow the executive side and the legislative side to do their work and continue their—continue our investigation,” he added.

Aside from the issue on her identity, Guo is now facing a possible suspension from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) for issuing a business permit to a POGO in Bamban, where she allegedly has a 50 percent stake.

the new Guagua Public Market building, a project funded by the local government. Designed to accommodate around 250 more vendors, this new market structure aims to boost local commerce and provide vendors with a safer, more organized environment to conduct their business.

Go emphasized the importance of supporting local businesses, stating, “Mahalaga na bigyan natin ng sapat na suporta ang ating mga lokal na nego-

The Philippines, stressed Estrada, “remains committed to upholding our rights and interests in the West Philippine Sea. We hope China will likewise respect the rights of other nations operating in these waters. We encourage all parties to exercise restraint and seek peaceful solutions to disputes.”

For his part, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri predicted the new Chinese regulation, of detaining foreigners they deem to be illegally crossing their borders,

syante. Sa bagong palengkeng ito, hindi lang natin binibigyan ng mas maayos na lugar ang ating mga tindero at tindera, binibigyandinnatinsilangpagkakataong umasenso pa lalo.”

Hontiveros also said, “Should Beijing dare push through with this illegitimate regulation, the Philippines’ may be forced to sue them again in the Hague Tribunal.”

In the meantime, as advised by retired Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, the government must now urge allies such as the US, Japan, Australia, France, and other like-minded nations to oppose this flagrant violation of international law by joining our patrols within our Exclusive Economic Zone.

The second highlight of the day was the opening of the New Guagua Community College Building and Student Center, funded by the national government through Go’s support as vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance. The new facilities are expected to benefit the 1,200 students present during the inauguration, providing them with modern educational spaces conducive to learning.

“Edukasyonangsusisamasmagandang kinabukasan. Ang pagkakaroon ng mga bagong gusali at pasilidad para sa ating mga estudyante sa Guagua ay isang malaking hakbang patungo sa paghubog ng mga lider at tagapagbagong-loob ng ating bayan,” Go remarked.

Teodoro warns hoarders, price manipulators

By Rex Anthony Naval

THE Department of National Defense (DND) is ready to help other government agencies going after hoarders of basic commodities and price manipulators, who are preying on consumers as the country transitions to the La Niña weather phenomenon, its Defense Secretary Gilbert C. Teodoro said on Sunday.

Teodoro issued this warning during the fifth meeting of the Presidential Task Force on El Niño as the government prepares for the La Niña weather phenomenon that is usually characterized by heavy rains.

He added curbing price manipulation and holding hoarders accountable will be among the priorities in government response.

“Access to affordable basic commodities such as rice is exceptionally crucial to millions of Filipino consumers. Any sudden fluctuation in the price of rice resonates on the daily lives of Filipinos,” Teodoro said. During the task force meeting held at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, early this month, Teodoro said the DND is ready to provide support to agencies involved in the price monitoring of basic necessities and prime commodities.

“Whatever support is needed by the Department of Trade and Industry

and the Department of Agriculture... rest assured we are here ready to assist them,” he added.

Teodoro said there is a need to intensify price and supply monitoring efforts in markets to protect consumers from profiteering amid the weather phenomenon. Under President Marcos’s Executive Order 53, which directs the government to streamline, reactivate, and reconstitute the old El Niño task forces under EO 16 (s. 2001) and Memorandum Order 38 (s. 2019), Teodoro was appointed chairman of the task force, with Science and Technology Secretary Renato U. Solidum designated as co-chairman.

Signed on January 19, 2024, Marcos’s executive order directs the task force to develop a comprehensive disaster preparedness and rehabilitation plan for El Niño and La Niña to provide “systematic, holistic, and results-driven interventions” to help the public cope and minimize their devastating effects.

The President also designated the following officials as task force members: Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga, Secretary of Agriculture Francis Tiu Laurel Jr., Secretary of Health Teodoro J. Herbosa, and Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan.

Evaluation of Edsa busway almost complete

By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

BAGUIO CITY—The Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center may soon complete the evaluation of the unsolicited proposal for the development of the Edsa Busway, a ranking official said over the weekend.

At the sidelines of the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines (Ejap)-San Miguel Corp. (SMC) Business Journalism Seminar, PPP Center Deputy Executive Director Jeffrey Manalo said the agency is now at “the tail end” of the review process.

“We will be following up with them. Because the DOTr [Department of Transportation] needs to decide whether they will proceed to the next stage or return the proposal,” he said.

When prodded for the recommendation of the center, Manalo declined to provide further details, including whether or not the government should pursue a solicited or an unsolicited track for the project.

In February, the PPP Center and the

DOTr conducted a market sounding activity for the Edsa Busway PPP. The project involves the financing, design and construction of enhanced bus stations, operations control centers and parking depots, and the purchase, operations and maintenance of a highcapacity busway plying through Circumferential Road 4 and other major and feeder roads.

Since then, Megawide Construction Corp., according to Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, has submitted an unsolicited proposal for the project.

“I understand the proponent still has pending documents they need to submit,” Bautista said.

As this progresses, the DOTr continues to move forward with the feasibility study of the Edsa Busway deal. It targets to finish the study within 2024 with a public bidding targeted for 2025.

Currently, there is an operational busway system along Edsa. It was started during the Covid pandemic and has since been touted as the “most efficient road transport so far.”

Legislator urges renewal of Meralco franchise

By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie

CONGRESSMAN from Min-

Adanao on Sunday called for the grant of a fresh legislative franchise to Meralco, saying that doing so will send a strong signal of economic stability to potential investors—whether local or foreign.

Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, a member of the House of Representatives’ Committees on Energy and on Economic Affairs, recently filed House Bill 9813 for the grant of a 25-year legislative franchise to Meralco—a measure that the lawmaker emphasized is necessary to build investor confidence in the country.

This early on, Rodriguez said a legislative franchise should be granted to Meralco to show the government’s commitment to achieving energy security.

“Renewing the franchise of Meralco will show potential investors that capital-heavy investments can benefit from long-term stability here in the Philippines as it is safeguarded by the government. This in turn will result in improved service and economic conditions for Filipinos in the long run,” Rodriguez, who also sits as vice chairman of the House Committee on Trade and Industry, said.

Compared to areas serviced by electric cooperatives, Rodriguez said

DOE eyes longer power plant maintenance work to avoid unscheduled shutdowns

TBy Lenie Lectura @llectura

HE Department of Energy (DOE) is proposing a longer maintenance work schedule for power plants to minimize unforeseen power plant outages and any negative impact on the plant’s output.

“The first line of defense against power outages is the power plant itself and then of course the second, is maintenance where if there were failures to live up to the standards...then that would enable the Energy Regulatory Commission [ERC] also to take steps,” Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla told reporters.

“Now, the other [option] that we’re also looking at, and I have mentioned this, is that we should allow also the plants sufficient time to do maintenance work. We’re comparing the amount of time that we allow the plants to undertake those works,” said Lotilla.

He did not cite a time frame and if the proposal could be applied to all types of power plants. “We’ll have to take a look, of course, at these things. It’s just that we do observe. Yes, as s a general observation that there are...We have to afford everyone enough time,” said Lotilla.

Under the current ERC interim rules, pulverized coal plants are allowed for a combined forced and unforced unavailable days of 44.7 a year; circulating fluidized bed (CFB) coal for 32.3 days; combined cycle gas plants at 20.2 days; gas turbine at 29.2 days; diesel at 19 days; geothermal at 19.7 days; hydro at 29.9; oil-fired thermal at 58.6 days and biomass plants at 39.7 days.

Lotilla said the allowed power plant outages in other countries are longer. “In other jurisdictions, even advanced countries, developed countries like Japan, they have longer periods for maintenance work. Because then, they will be able to really inspect the different parts of the plant.”

“We are looking as well into these. It’s not only from a purely punitive standpoint. But you see, preventive maintenance is very important. And just like in aircraft, you have to have regular maintenance to be done, and enough time to carry out the mainte-

Meneleo Carlos Jr., 95

Mfaster development can be observed in areas serviced by Meralco.

“Meralco-powered areas have demonstrated rapid economic growth in the past decades compared to those serviced by electric cooperatives. On this basis alone, it is imperative for the government to sustain this development in support of our economic trajectory,” the lawmaker added.

Rodriguez similarly highlighted Meralco’s initiatives to promote consumer interests which are easily overlooked.

The power distributor’s efforts to maintain a high level of service stability and reliability at the least cost consistent to its mandate and its initiatives to extend help even beyond its service area through its social development programs have benefitted not just its customers but even the underserved Filipinos in other parts of the country.

The lawmaker reiterated that Meralco has such a huge responsibility that it would be a disservice to compromise the welfare of consumers because of unfounded issues and allegations.

Meralco’s franchise is set to expire in 2028. As the largest electricity distributor in the country, Meralco services 7.8 million customers in Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal, and select areas in Pampanga, Laguna, Batangas, and Quezon.

nance work,” said Lotilla.

The proposal is not meant to “minimize concern” amid the recurring red and yellow alerts brought about by power plant scheduled maintenance outages, unplanned outages, and prolonged outages, he added.

The DOE earlier said that more yellow, and possibly red, alerts are expected in the coming weeks as the country has already exceeded its forecasted demand given the prevailing heat levels amid the El Niño phenomenon. The scorching heat, aggravated by El Niño, has affected the performance of the power plants. In fact, the actual demand of 9,301 megawatts (MW) for this year has already surpassed the forecast of 9,226MW for 2025.

“But, I think, the concern is that are they able to live up to the standards of reliability that the Energy Regulatory Commission has imposed. But the existing power of the ERC to impose penalties is limited and therefore it may not produce the kind of deterrent effect that we would like to have.

The ERC is authorized to impose penalties ranging from P50,000 to a maximum of P50 million for violations by power industry players. These penalties are being remitted to the National Treasury.

ERC Chairwoman Monalisa Dimalanta said her office has called for an amendment of Republic Act 1936, or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (Epira) of 2001, that will redirect penalties it will collect into refunds to Filipino consumers inconvenienced by power outages.

“In fact, one of the recommendations that we made for the Epira amendment is to allow ERC the authority to order the application of penalties for return, either in the form of refund or discounts, to the consumers that suffer the inconvenience or the violation that resulted in the interruption of service,” Dimalanta said.

“Right now, we don’t have the authority. But if there is an amendment in the law, then we can have that authority to make the application,” she added.

There had been calls in the past to lift restrictions for periods allotted for maintenance shutdowns and forced outages of power plants. However, the ERC earlier emphasized that removal of the restrictions is not viable.

The outage limit is necessary to ensure that power generators will be able to provide consistent power to the grid. It also prevents price abuses from generators whose power plants break down

frequently, such as coal plants reaching the end of their life span.

The ERC has already begun its probe and has directed power plant operators to submit their estimated timelines for the resumption of their operations. “We will continue to monitor their timely compliance. We are fully aware of the difficulties brought about by these power disruptions and affirm our commitment to a thorough investigation,” said Dimalanta.

The Philippine Independent Power Producers Association (PIPPA) earlier petitioned to lighten penalties on power outages and lift restrictions on the secondary price caps.

Lotilla added that his office is pushing for the use of artificial intelligence (AI) that would provide faster analysis in identifying the causes of plant outages.

“As far as fears that there is collusion, that certain plants are not operational or break down intentionally in order to deliver certain plants, as I’ve said, we are introducing artificial intelligence and big data analytics in order to identify what is this possible aberrant behavior or anti-competitive behavior, if any. And this can be a basis for ERC and the Philippine Competition Commission to act on,” said the energy chief.

Director Patrick Aquino of the DOE’s Energy Utilization Management Bureau earlier said a Japanese company is offering the technology that could also help anticipate potential problems.

ENELEO J. CARLOS JR., businessman and industrialist known for his stewardship of the pioneering Philippine chemical conglomerate Resins Inc. as well as his active involvement in various national business organizations, died peacefully Friday night, May 17, at the age of 95.

Carlos, who held top positions and key roles in the Federation of Philippine Industries, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Bishops-Businessmen’s Conference for Human Development, among others, was an officer of Resins since its incorporation in 1955.

He took over as company president in 1980 following the retirement of his father, Resins founder Meneleo Carlos Sr., and led the expansion of its range of businesses.

Carlos represented the business sector in government-led multisectoral bodies such as the negotiating panel for the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant, Council of Advisers of Energy Affairs, and Committee on Power Conservation and Demand Management (Power Patrol).

He was recognized as the Grandfather of “RO-RO,” the roll on/ roll off project that facilitates seamless movement of people and goods from Mindanao to Luzon through Visayas.

An advocate of the wood industry and trees as a solution to climate change, he was bestowed in 2015 the coveted MOLAWIN (Most Outstanding Leadership Award in the Wood Industry) by the Philippine Wood Producers Association.

Mr. Carlos has stated that his dream has always been to help the development of the country and its people.

His wake will be at the Queen of Angels Chapel, Riverbanks Center, Barangka, Marikina City, 2pm to 10pm from Sunday, May 19 to Tuesday, May 21. Interment is scheduled for Wednesday morning, May 22.

EnE rgy Secretary r a phael Lotilla

A8 Monday, May 20, 2024

Report: PHL agri imports reach $4.34B in Q1

THE country’s purchases of agricultural products from abroad again exceeded exports in the first quarter, according to the latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

PSA data showed that agricultural imports in January to March reached $4.434 billion, larger than the $1.722 billion the country earned from farm exports. Compared with the year-ago level, agricultural imports fell by 0.3 percent.

“The country’s total agricultural trade in the first quarter of 2024, which amounted to $6.07 billion, posted an annual increase of 2.6 percent.

In the fourth quarter of 2023 and first quarter of 2023, the total agricultural trade recorded annual decreases of 0.8 percent and 8.4 percent, respectively,” PSA said.

“In the first quarter of 2024, total agricultural exports was recorded at $1.72 billion or 28.4 percent share to the total agricultural trade, while agricultural imports accounted for $4.34 billion or 71.6 percent of the total agricultural trade.”

Cereals, including rice and wheat, were the country’s top food imports at $1.172 billion or nearly 28 percent higher than the $916.94 million recorded last year. It accounted for 27 percent of import payments in the first quarter.

The top five sources of cereals for the Philippines were Vietnam, the United States, Australia, Thailand and Brazil.

The other major agricultural imports during the period were residues and waste from the food industries, miscellaneous edible preparations, meat and edible meat

offal, and dairy produce. Agricultural exports during the period were higher by 10.7 percent compared with the $1.56 billion recorded in 2023.

‘Poultry output will rise in Q2 despite ill effects of El Niño’

TThe top five farm exports were edible fruit and nuts; animal, vegetable, or microbial fats and oils and their cleavage products; preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts or other parts of plants; preparations of meat, of fish, of crustaceans, mollusks; and tobacco and manufactured tobacco substitutes.

“Among the commodity groups, edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or melons, which was valued at $517.96 million, comprised the largest share of 30.1 percent to the total agricultural exports in the first quarter of 2024,” PSA said.

The top buyers of Philippine farm products were the European Union, the US, Japan, and countries belonging to Asean.

“Among the Asean membercountries, Malaysia was the top buyer of agricultural exports worth

$75.72 million or a share of 34.1 percent to the total value of agricultural exports to Asean membercountries in the first quarter of 2024,” PSA said.

“Among the EU member countries, Netherlands was the country’s top destination of agricultural commodities worth $150.04 million or 47.3 percent of the total agricultural exports to EU member countries for this quarter of 2024.” In the first quarter, the total balance of trade in agricultural goods was recorded at negative $2.62 billion, which reflects a deficit with an annual drop of 6.5 percent. In the fourth quarter of 2023, the trade deficit went down by 6.6 percent, while the trade deficit in the first quarter of 2023 posted an annual increment of 9.8 percent, according to PSA.

By Ada Pelonia @adapelonia

HE poultry subsector would be hard-pressed to repeat its strong performance in the first quarter, as El Niño is making it more challenging to raise broilers, according to the United Broiler Raisers Association (Ubra).

Ubra Chairman Elias Jose Inciong said, however, that poultry output could still expand by 4 percent yearon-year in the April to June period.

The figure is slower than the 5.9-percent growth the subsector posted in the first quarter, when it buoyed the agriculture sector’s performance.

“The 4-percent growth is normal for the second quarter. There are [production] challenges because of El Niño,” Inciong told the BusinessMirror in a phone interview.

“[However], the rate of increase will be lower when compared with the first quarter. But there will be an increase unless conditions turn out to be extremely difficult for the whole country.”

Inciong noted that the last two weeks of April up to early May was

daunting for the broiler sector despite the investment of growers in climate-controlled facilities.

“If your heat index is 42 [degrees Celsius], you’ll end up with 35 degrees Celsius, which will place your flock, especially broilers, under so much stress.”

He noted that climate-controlled facilities have an increased loading density to make up for the additional investments.

While the intense heat killed broilers, Inciong said the mortality rate is not yet “alarming.” He said, however, that El Niño caused a delay in harvest.

“In terms of mortality, it is not alarming. It is almost a regular scene in the industry during the dry season, when you will usually encounter challenges.”

Broilers would usually refuse to eat until night time, when the temperature is not stifling and this leads to a spike in mortalities.

“If you feed your chickens at noontime, your mortalities would be very high because of the heat stress,” Inciong said in a mix of English and Filipino.

In a recent report, the Philippine Statistics Authority said the crops, livestock, and fisheries subsectors recorded declines in terms of the value of their output in the first quarter.

The poultry subsector prevented the performance of Philippine agriculture from falling into negative territory.

Poultry output in the first quarter was valued at P68.76 billion, 5.9 percent higher than the previous year’s level.

“Interventions and assistance provided by the government allowed the agriculture sector to fare better this time compared to periods in the past when we had El Niño,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said in a statement.

“The impact of reduced rainfall and hotter temperatures were evident in lower crops and fisheries production in the first quarter. If El Niño will persist through the second quarter, we’re cautiously optimistic that the interventions we have taken will allow the agriculture sector to mend and return better results between April and June.”

Marcos to distribute land titles to farmers in Central Visayas

By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

PRESIDENT Ferdinand

Marcos Jr. is set to distribute a total of

2,866.5 hectares of agricultural lands to 2,426 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs), turnover farm-to-market roads worth P100 million, and far machinery worth P17.5 million to farmers in the Central Visayas Region.

The distribution of the land titles on May 20 will be held at the Lamberto Macias Sports and Cultural Complex in Dumaguete, Negros Oriental.

The President together with, Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary Conrado M. Estrella III and other key officials from the DAR will lead the distribution of land titles and various support services to the ARBs.

A total of 2,426 ARBs will receive Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOAs) issued under the Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling Projects or SPLIT project. The agricultural

lands are in the provinces of Bohol, Cebu, and Negros Oriental.

Seven farm-to-market roads (FMRs) worth P100 million were constructed and funded under the Agrarian Reform Fund. All are located in Negros Oriental in the municipalities of Amlan, Dauin, Ayungon, Tanjay, Bais City, Tayasan and Bindoy.

The president will also turn over farm machinery and equipment worth P17.5 million to nine agrarian reform beneficiaries’ organizations (ARBOs) in the region implemented under the Climateresilient Farm Productivity and Support Program. The machines for turnover are tractors, tricycles, floating tillers, grass cutters, food dehydrators, and corn mills.

The SPLIT project involves the parcelization or subdivision of Collective Certificate of Land Ownership Awards into individual titles of agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in 78 provinces spread in 15 regions nationwide.

It has three major components—parcelization

of collective CLOAs, capability building, and project management and monitoring and evaluation.

The total project cost estimated at $473.5 million will finance DAR’s requirements for technical, administrative and logistical support to deliver the parcelization and individual titling of the remaining collective CLOAs in five years, from 2020 to 2024.

The project was financed through a loan from the World Bank and counterpart funds from the national government.

SPLIT aims to improve land tenure security and stabilize property rights of ARBs in their CARP-awarded lands through accelerated parcelization of CCLOAs and generation of individual titles. This objective is in support of the government’s development goals of reducing poverty and promoting economic growth in the countryside by improving the beneficiaries’ control over their awarded lands to enable them to improve their productivity, income and investment decisions.

Spot silver tops $30 an ounce to hit highest since 2013

SPOT silver surpassed $30 an ounce to hit the highest level in more than a decade.

The precious metal closed 6.5 percent higher at $31.49 an ounce Friday, the highest since February 2013. It has soared 32 percent this year, outpacing gold and making it one of the year’s best-performing major commodities.

Silver’s rally comes amid surging investor interest, an increasingly supportive macroeconomic backdrop and a projected fourth annual market deficit. The price rally accelerated Friday, helped by spillover sentiment in the broader metals markets.

“This week was kind of the recreation of the meme stock,” Phil Streible, chief market strategist at Blue Line Futures, said Friday in a phone interview.

“Those speculators naturally look for different areas to exploit. And silver is usually the one that they favor.”

Silver was a target market of Reddit retail traders in 2021 amid a buying stampede in GameStop Corp. and other small-cap stocks that captivated the financial world.

The precious metal’s break through the $30 level may trigger substantial buying activity by exchange-traded funds—increasing the risk of a silver squeeze, according to TD Securities senior commodity strategist Daniel Ghali.

Investors remain net sellers of physically backed silver ETFs, with holdings down 1.7 percent as of Thursday, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. In the week ending May 14, money managers boosted their bullish wagers on Comex silver futures to the highest in more than two years. Gross shorts held by these investors accounted for 11 percent of total open interest as of May 14.

Although silver’s rally has outpaced gold’s, it is still relatively cheap.

The two precious metals move largely in tandem as both offer similar macro- and currency-hedging properties. With gold hitting a record on central bank buying, retail interest in China and a resurgence in bets that lower United States interest rates are on the way, silver has gone along for the ride. Although there’s been scant interest from investors in silver-backed exchange-traded funds, physical sales have picked up, including at Singapore-based dealer Silver

Bullion Pte.

Silver has a dual character, valued both for its uses as a financial asset and an industrial input, including for clean-energy technologies. The metal is a key ingredient in solar panels, and with robust growth in that industry, usage of the metal is expected to reach a record this year, according to the Silver Institute. Against that backdrop, the market is headed for a fourth year in deficit, with this year’s shortage seen as the second biggest on record.

Copper prices

COPPER vaulted toward a record in London and nickel spiked nearly 8 percent, capping a week of big moves in industrial and precious metals markets as bullish investors pile in and bearish bets unravel.

Global benchmark copper contracts on the London Metal Exchange rallied as much as 2.8 percent on Friday to within striking distance of an all-time high set in March 2022. Copper prices had already hit records in New York and Shanghai this week, as the global market reels from a short squeeze centered on the Comex exchange.

Precious metals were also on a tear on Friday, with silver surging to an 11-year high, and gold rallying back toward an all-time peak reached in April. Strong gains in copper are spilling over to silver as the metal is also considered an industrial commodity given its usage in things such as solar panels, according to Phil Streible, chief market strategist at Blue Line Futures.

“While there were

For

May 20, 2024

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

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

NO. ESTABLISHMENT

1 KUBOTA KASUI WATER OPERATION, INC.

Ground Floor, LTI Administration Building II, Laguna Technopark, Biñan, City of Biñan, Laguna

2 MERIT LEGEND SOLUTIONS INC.

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

3 MERIT LEGEND SOLUTIONS INC.

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

4 MERIT LEGEND SOLUTIONS INC.

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

5 MERIT LEGEND SOLUTIONS INC.

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

6 MERIT LEGEND SOLUTIONS INC.

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

7 MERIT LEGEND SOLUTIONS INC.

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

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

TAKEDA, HISATO

Vice President For Management

Brief Job Description:

Act as President in the absence of the latter and shall have the other powers and duties as may from time to time be assigned by the board of directors or President

KAW CHAIN RAIN

Burmese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description:

Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

MA, JUN

Chinese - Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

CAI, XIAOMEI

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description:

Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

GAO, FENG

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

SIMMONS, HILIARY JAKE

Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

LAI CHEN KAIT

Malaysian Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and customer

Basic Qualification: Must have a bachelor’s degree in Engineering, fluent in Japanese and English language

Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999

Basic Qualification:

Able to speak, read and write Chinese and Burmese language

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

Basic Qualification:

Able to speak, read and write Chinese language

Salary Range:

Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification:

Able to speak, read and write Chinese language

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

Basic Qualification:

Able to speak, read and write Chinese language

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

Basic Qualification:

Able to speak, read and write Chinese and English language

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

Covelandia

Ground Floor 8A & 9, Garden Plaza Mall Waling Waling Street, Garden Villas 3, Ibaba, City of Santa Rosa, Laguna

16 MMS BULKSHIP MANAGEMENT (PHILIPPINES), INC.

Room 302, Mms Bldg., Old Nia Road, Bayanan, City of Bacoor, Cavite

17 PORTAL STEELS INC.

9039 GP, Maguyam Road, Bancal, Carmona, Cavite

18 PORTAL STEELS INC.

9039 GP, Maguyam Road, Bancal, Carmona, Cavite

PASIC NAJDAN

Director

Brief

9

8

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite PHUA TWANN

Covelandia Road,

TAKEDA, NOBUYUKI Admin Assistant Manager

Brief Job Description: Communicate with Japanese owners, flag state and Japanese banks

YANG, TINGJUN Continuous Casting Operator

Brief Job Description: Ensure the machines are regularly checked and cleaned

HU, ZHONGQIANG Furnace Operator

Brief Job Description: Monitor equipment to ensure that it is in good working order and that production goals are being met

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Japanese and English language and with working experience of more than two years in Japanese company. Salary Range:

Qualification:

- Php 59,999

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

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

Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

US national security adviser and Saudi’s crown prince meet to discuss ‘semi-final’ security deal

By Jon Gambrell The Associated Press

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates—

President Joe Biden’s national security adviser met early Sunday with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss what the kingdom described as the “semifinal” version of a wide-ranging security agreement between the countries.

The announcement by the state-run Saudi Press Agency comes as the strategic deal had been upended after Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people and saw 250 others taken hostage back to the Gaza Strip.

In the time since, a punishing Israeli airstrike campaign and ground offensive there has killed over 35,000 Palestinians, endangering the security deal that had included Saudi Arabia diplomatically recognizing Israel for the first time since its founding in 1948.

Saudi state media released no images of Jake Sullivan and Prince Mohammed meeting in Dhahran, a city in the kingdom's far east that's home to its state-run oil giant, the Saudi Arabian Oil Co. known as Saudi Aramco.

“The semi-final version of the draft strategic agreements between the kingdom and the United States of America, which are almost being finalized—and what is being worked on between the two sides in the Palestinian issue to find a credible path—were discussed,” the statement released after the talks said.

That included “a two-state solution that meets the aspirations and legitimate rights of

the Palestinian people” and “the situation in Gaza and the need to stop the war there and facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid,” the statement added.

Saudi Arabia has long called for an independent Palestinian state to be created along Israel’s 1967 borders, with east Jerusalem as its capital. However, that likely may be untenable for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose government hinges on support from hardliners who oppose a two-state solution and support Israeli settlements on lands Palestinians want for that state.

The White House had acknowledged Sullivan’s trip and that he would later head on to Israel, where he's scheduled to meet Netanyahu on Sunday. However, there was no immediate statement from the US on the discussions, other than to say they would be

"including the war in Gaza and ongoing efforts to achieve a lasting peace and security in the region.”

Saudi Arabia has long relied— like other Gulf Arab nations—on the US to be the security guarantor for the wider Middle East as tensions over Iran’s nuclear program in recent years have spilled over into a series of attacks. The proposal now being discussed likely would deepen that, and also reportedly includes access to advanced weapons and possibly trade deals as well.

Saudi Arabia has also pushed for nuclear cooperation in the deal that includes America allowing it to enrich uranium in the kingdom—something that worries nonproliferation experts, as spinning centrifuges opens the door to a possible weapons program.

As ethnic armed group claims to have captured town in western Myanmar, Muslim Rohingyas flee again

By Grant Peck | The Associated Press

BANGKOK—A powerful ethnic armed group

fighting Myanmar’s military government in the country’s western state of Rakhine claimed Saturday to have seized a town near the border with Bangladesh, marking the latest in a series of victories for foes of the country’s military government.

Members of the state’s Muslim Rohingya ethnic minority, targets of deadly army-directed violence in 2017, appear to have been the main victims of fighting in the town of Buthidaung, where the Arakan Army claims to have chased out forces of the military government.

There are contradictory accounts of who is to blame for the reported burning of the town, compelling its Rohingya residents to flee.

The competing claims could not be verified independently, with access to the Internet and mobile phone services in the area mostly cut off.

Khaing Thukha, a spokesperson for the Arakan Army, told The Associated Press by text message from an undisclosed location that his group had seized Buthidaung after capturing all the military’s outposts there.

The Arakan Army is the well-trained and

this image from a video, Rohingya refugees walk at the Balukhali refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh on February 2, 2021. a powerful

Prince Mohammed has said the kingdom would pursue a nuclear weapon if Iran had one. Iran in recent weeks has increasingly threatened it could do so.

Iran’s mission to the United Nations in New York meanwhile confirmed that Tehran held indirect talks with US officials in Oman last week. Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency quoted the mission as describing the talks as “an ongoing process.”

“The negotiations have not been the first and will not be the last of their kind,” the mission said, according to IRNA. Oman, a sultanate on the eastern edge of the Arabian Peninsula, has been the site of US-Iran talks in the past, including under Biden despite the tensions between the two nations.

the government in February recruited Rohingya living in displacement camps to do military service. Both coercion and promises of citizenship were reportedly employed to get them to join.

Nay San Lwin, a co-founder of the Free Rohingya Coalition group based outside of Myanmar, said in a Friday email to the AP that the Arakan Army had warned Buthidaung's Rohingya residents to evacuate the town by 10 a.m. on Saturday, and that more than 200,000 Rohingya seeking refuge there in houses, government buildings, a hospital, and schools, were in an extremely dangerous situation.

He also alleged that the Arakan Army had fired on a school and a hospital where displaced Rohingya are sheltering, resulting in deaths and injuries.

By Simina Mistreanu & Ken Moritsugu

The Associated Press

TAIPEI, Taiwan—In a campaign ad for Taiwan’s president-elect Lai Ching-te, incumbent President Tsai Ing-wen was shown driving with Lai in the passenger seat, exchanging reflections on their years governing together. Tsai later turned over the driving to Lai, who was joined by running mate Bi-khim Hsiao.

The message was clear: Lai would steer the island in the direction set by Tsai, who after eight years in power was barred from running again.

Lai, 64, will take office Monday. Continuing Tsai’s legacy means aiming to strike a balance between cultivating Taiwan's unofficial alliance with the United States and maintaining peace with China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory, to be retaken by force if necessary.

Lai is also expected to build on some of Tsai’s domestic reforms, despite political gridlock. Lai and Tsai’s Democratic Progressive Party has lost the majority in the legislature, making it hard for Lai to push through legislation, including the approval of crucial national defense budgets.

Tsai, 67, has been Taiwan’s first female president and one of Asia’s few female leaders who didn’t hail from a political dynasty. Her legacy will be tied to defending the island’s sovereignty from China while refashioning it as a credible partner for the US and other democracies. She will also be remembered for overseeing the legalization of same sex-marriage, steering Taiwan through the Covid years and kickstarting the island's military modernization.

She leaves office with high approval ratings. A recent poll by broadcaster TVBS showed 42 percent of respondents were satisfied with her eight-year performance. Her predecessor, Ma Ying-jeou, left office with approval ratings of around 23 percent.

Tsai’s popularity partly reflects a shift in Taiwan’s identity.

A vast majority of residents now identify as Taiwanese as opposed to Chinese and want to be governed separately from Beijing. Taiwan and China have had different governments since a civil war in 1949 saw the Nationalists flee to the island while China's Communist Party took control of the mainland.

sifying trade relationships and increasing military spending including submarine development. She also elevated Taiwan’s standing on the international stage, said outgoing Foreign Minister Joseph Wu.

“Her leadership style is very moderate, but at the same time very firm in dealing with any kind of international pressure,” he said.

“She strengthened awareness of Taiwan around the world and its ties with the international community,” said Bonnie Glaser, the director of the Indo-Pacific program at the German Marshall Fund of the United States.

‘Tsai 2.0’

L A I who served as vice president during Tsai's second term, came across as more of a firebrand earlier in his career. In 2017, he described himself as a “pragmatic worker for Taiwan’s independence,” drawing Beijing's rebuke. He has since softened his stance and now supports maintaining the status quo across the Taiwan Strait and the possibility of talks with Beijing.

“Lai has spent the last twoplus years trying to convince the world that he is Tsai Ing-wen 2.0,” said Lev Nachman, an assistant professor at National Chengchi University.

well-armed military wing of the Rakhine ethnic minority movement, which seeks autonomy from Myanmar’s central government. It is also a member of an armed ethnic group alliance that recently gained strategic territory in the country's northeast on the border with China.

The group said in a Saturday statement on the Telegram messaging platform that fighting was ongoing on the outskirts of Buthidaung as its troops chased after the retreating army soldiers and local Muslims it said were fighting alongside them.

Khaing Thukha said the Arakan Army’s troops were caring for Muslim villagers fleeing the fighting.

He denied allegations by Rohingya activists on social media that the Arakan Army had set fire to the town, which is mostly populated by Rohingya.

members of the Rakhine minority, as having illegally migrated from Bangladesh. The Rohingya face a great amount of prejudice and are generally denied citizenship and other basic rights.

The Rohingya were the targets of a brutal counterinsurgency campaign incorporating rape and murder that saw an estimated 740,000 flee to neighboring Bangladesh as their villages were burned down by government troops in 2017.

Ethnic Rakhine nationalist supporters of the Arakan Army were also among the persecutors of the Rohingya minority. However, the 2021 military coup that ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi shifted political alignments, with a resistance movement against military rule—a position shared by the Arakan Army—counting the Rohingya population among its allies.

Rohingya have lived in Myanmar for generations, but they are widely regarded by many in the country’s Buddhist majority, including

Lingering tensions between the ethnic Rakhine Buddhists and the more than 600,000 Rohingya are still living in Rakhine flared when

Aung Kyaw Moe, a Rohingya who is deputy minister for human rights in the resistance movement's shadow National Unity Government, wrote on his Facebook page on Saturday that Buthidaung had been burned to “a pile of ash” and that its residents had fled to rice fields outside of town. He did not clearly lay blame for the arson, but said the situation was dire for those who fled.

“A comprehensive and impartial investigation needs to be carried out and those responsible must be held accountable,” he wrote. “Revolution against the military dictatorship is not a license to do anything you want. 'War has rules.’”

The Arakan Army’s Khaing Thukha described the allegations his group was responsible were baseless, claiming the houses caught fire due to the airstrikes by the military government. He also said retreating army troops and what he called their allies in “terrorist organizations”—meaning Rohingya guerrilla groups—and local Muslims inducted into the military also set fire to houses as they retreated.

The military government has a well-established record of burning down villages as it battles prodemocracy and ethnic separatist groups opposed to military rule. i

Tsai veered from the more China-friendly policies of the previous ruling party, the Kuomintang. By the end of Ma’s tenure, the frequent exchanges with Beijing were making many Taiwanese nervous, said Shelley Rigger, a Taiwan expert at Davidson College.

Beijing called Tsai a separatist after she refused to acknowledge the 1992 Consensus, an agreement which says Taiwan is part of “One China.” While pulling away from Beijing, however, Tsai left a door open for communication.

“President Tsai has always said that Taiwan, under her leadership, is happy, willing and eager to have dialogue with Beijing, just not on terms unilaterally imposed by Beijing,” said Wen-Ti Sung, a fellow with Washington-based think tank Atlantic Council.

China has not only declined to speak to Tsai but also ramped up military and economic pressure on the island, sending warships and military jets near it daily.

Beijing prevents countries it has diplomatic relations with from having formal ties with Taipei. During Tsai’s tenure, it intensified a campaign to lure away the island’s few diplomatic partners.

During Tsai’s years in office, China poached almost half of Taiwan's diplomatic allies, bringing the remaining number to 12. Tsai pushed back by diver -

Lai will build on Tsai's efforts to strengthen ties with the US, which doesn’t formally recognize Taiwan as a country but is bound by its own laws to provide the island with the means to defend itself.

By some measures, Lai’s greatest uncertainty on the foreign policy front might come from Washington. A new Donald Trump administration could throw off whatever balance Tsai has achieved in Taipei’s relations with Washington and Beijing, Nachman said.

What’s next at home

D UR ING Tsai’s tenure, Taiwan became the first society in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage, though critics say she skirted political responsibility by leaving the decision up to the Supreme Court and a series of referendums. She oversaw a controversial pension and labor reform and extended the military conscription length to one year. She also kickstarted a military modernization drive, including a program for building indigenous submarines at more than $16 billion each. Tsai’s leadership during the Covid pandemic split public opinion, with most admiring Taiwan’s initial ability to keep the virus largely outside its borders but criticizing the lack of investment in rapid testing as the pandemic progressed.

Editor: Angel R. Calso

Ultimatum forces Netanyahu to grapple with postwar Gaza plan as fighting rages

By Joseph Krauss The Associated Press

JERUSALEM—Israeli Prime Minister

Benjamin Netanyahu is under mounting pressure from his own War Cabinet and his country’s closest ally over postwar plans for Gaza, even as the war with Hamas shows no sign of ending.

On Saturday, Benny Gantz, a member of the War Cabinet and Netanyahu’s main political rival, said he would leave the government on June 8 if it did not formulate a new war plan including an international, Arab and Palestinian administration to handle civilian affairs in Gaza.

security establishment over the course of the war, with officials warning that the lack of any such planning was turning tactical victories into strategic defeat.

With no one else to govern Gaza, Hamas has repeatedly regrouped, even in the hardest-hit areas that Israel previously said it had cleared. Heavy fighting has erupted in recent days in the built-up Jabaliya refugee camp in the north and the Zeitoun neighborhood on the outskirts of Gaza City. Israeli troops are meanwhile pushing into parts of the southern city of Rafah in what they say is a limited operation. The fighting there has displaced some 800,000 people, many who had already fled from other areas, and severely hindered the delivery of humanitarian aid.

establishing a Palestinian state.”

Netanyahu added, however, that he still thought the emergency government was important for prosecuting the war, and that he “expects Gantz to clarify his positions to the public.”

Netanyahu's government is also deeply opposed to Palestinian statehood.

In a statement issued after the ultimatum, Netanyahu said Gantz’ conditions would amount to defeat for Israel, abandoning most of the hostages, leaving Hamas intact and

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, the third member of the Cabinet, has also called for a plan for Palestinian administration, and said in a speech this week that he wouldn't agree to Israel governing Gaza itself. The United States has meanwhile called for a revitalized Palestinian Authority to govern Gaza with assistance from Saudi Arabia and other Arab states ahead of eventual statehood. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan is expected to push those plans when he visits Israel on Sunday. So far, Netanyahu has brushed them all off. But Gantz’ ultimatum could reduce his margin for maneuver. Netanyahu has ruled out any role for the Palestinian Authority in Gaza, saying he plans to hand civil responsibilities over to local Palestinians unaffiliated with it or Hamas. But he has also said that it’s impossible to make any such plans until Hamas is defeated because it has threatened anyone who cooperates with Israel.

elon Musk arrives in Bali to launch starlink satellite Internet service

By Firdia Lisnawati & Niniek Karmini

The Associated Press

ENPASAR, Indonesia—Elon

DMusk arrived in Indonesia's resort island of Bali on Sunday to launch Starlink satellite Internet service in the world's largest archipelago nation.

The billionaire head of Tesla and SpaceX and owner of social platform X arrived by private jet on the idyllic "island of the gods," which is renowned for its tropical beaches, terraced rice paddies, mystical temples and colorful spiritual offerings.

Musk is slated to launch the service alongside Indonesian President Joko Widodo in a ceremony later Sunday at a public health clinic in Denpasar, the provincial capital of Bali. Musk will also sign an agreement on enhancing connectivity in the country's health and education sectors, said Indonesia's Coordinating Minister of Maritime and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, who welcomed Musk at the airport. Pandjaitan, a close ally of Widodo, did not provide more details about the agreement between the Indonesian government and Musk's SpaceX, the aerospace company that operates Starlink services.

He said launching the service at a health clinic aligns with Starlink's broader mission of providing affordable access to high-speed Internet services, particularly in underserved and remote regions.

Indonesia is a vast archipelago of 17,000 islands sprawled across three time zones with a population of more than 270 million.

“Our remote regions need Starlink to expand high-speed Internet services, especially to help with problems in the health, education and maritime sectors,” Pandjaitan told reporters ahead of the ceremony in Denpasar. Communication and Informatics Minister Budi Arie Setiadi said earlier that local Internet providers, which rely on base transceiver stations to transmit signals, are unable to reach outer islands because they have lim -

Gantz’ departure would leave Netanyahu even more beholden to his far-right coalition allies, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who could more easily bring down the government if he doesn't meet their demands.

They have called for Israel to reoccupy Gaza, encourage the “voluntary emigration” of Palestinians from the territory and reestablish Jewish settlements that were removed in 2005.

Critics of Netanyahu, including thousands who have joined weekly protests in recent months, accuse him of prolonging the war for his own political survival. Gantz, who brought his centrist party into the government days after the October 7 attack that triggered the war, warned Netanyahu not to “choose the path of fanatics and

lead the entire nation to the abyss.”

Netanyahu denies such accusations, saying he is focused on defeating Hamas and that elections would distract from the war effort.

Polls indicate Netanyahu would be driven from office if new elections were held, with Gantz most likely to replace him. That would probably mark the end of Netanyahu's long political career and expose him to prosecution over longstanding corruption charges.

Israeli media have reported growing discontent within the country’s

Indirect talks mediated by the United States, Qatar and Egypt aimed at a cease-fire and the release of scores of hostages held by Hamas meanwhile appear at a standstill, with many of the hostages' families and their supporters blaming the Israeli

Hot weather poses new risk as thousands remain without power after Houston storm

By Lekan Oyekanmi

David J. Phillip & Ken Miller The Associated Press

HOUSTON—As the Houston area works to clean up and restore power to hundreds of thousands after deadly storms left at least seven people dead, it will do so amid a smog warning and scorching temperatures that could pose health risks.

National Weather Service meteorologist Marc Chenard said on Saturday that highs of around 90 degrees (32.2 C) were expected through the start of the coming week, with heat indexes likely approaching 100 degrees (38 C) by midweek.

ited coverage. Starlink’s satellites, which remain in low orbit, will help them deliver faster Internet speeds with nationwide coverage.

During his first in-person visit to Bali, Musk is also scheduled to participate in the 10th World Water Forum, which seeks to address global water and sanitation challenges.

Musk spoke in 2022 at the B-20 business forum ahead of a summit of the Group of 20 leading economies that took place in Bali. He joined the conference by video link weeks after completing his heavily scrutinized takeover of Twitter.

Musk's visit comes just weeks after Apple CEO Tim Cook met Widodo on April 17 and said the company would “look at” manufacturing in Indonesia. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella visited on April 30 and said the company would invest $1.7 billion over the next four years in new cloud and artificial intelligence infrastructure in Indonesia.

Indonesia under Widodo has promoted development of the digital technology and information sectors, aiming to achieve the government's Golden Indonesia 2045 Vision. The country hopes to become one of the world's top five economies with a GDP of up to $9 trillion, exactly a century after it won independence from Dutch colonizers. Karmini reported from Jakarta, Indonesia.

“We expect the impact of the heat to gradually increase...we will start to see that heat risk increase Tuesday into Wednesday through Friday,” Chenard said.

The heat index is what the temperature feels like to the human body when humidity is combined with the air temperature, according to the weather service.

“Don’t overdo yourself during the cleanup process,” the weather service’s Houston office said in a post on the social platform X. In addition to the heat, the Houston area could face poor air quality during the weekend.

Heavy rainfall was possible in eastern Louisiana and central Alabama on Saturday, and parts of Louisiana were also at risk for flooding.

The Houston Health Department said it would distribute 400 free portable air conditioners to area seniors, people with disabilities and caregivers of disabled children to contend with the heat.

Five cooling centers also were opened— four in Houston and one in Kingwood.

Hundreds of thousands remain without power

T H e widespread destruction of Thursday's storms brought much of Houston to a standstill. Thunderstorms and hurricane-force winds tore through the city—decimating the facade of one brick building and leaving trees, debris and shattered glass on the streets. A tornado also touched down near the northwest Houston suburb of Cypress.

More than a half-million homes and businesses in Texas remained without electricity by midday Saturday, according to Power-

Outage.us. Another 21,000 customers were also without power in Louisiana, where strong winds and a suspected tornado hit.

“It’s been a madhouse out here,” Cypress resident Hallie O'Bannon said. "You know we don’t have any power. No hot water. It’s been really crazy.”

“ e v eryone is pretty resilient, and everyone’s just trying to get back to normal and help each other out and the best way we can,” O'Bannon added.

CenterPoint e ner gy, which has deployed 1,000 employees to the area and is requesting 5,000 more, said power restoration could take several days or longer in some areas, and that customers need to ensure their homes can safely be reconnected.

“In addition to damaging CenterPoint e

How PHL can become a destination of choice for foreign investment

THe recent news of Fujifilm Business Innovation Corp. searching for a new site for its plant highlights the shifting dynamics in global manufacturing. As foreign companies reassess their operations in China, the Philippines stands poised to seize this opportunity and position itself as an attractive investment destination. With Japan’s interest in the Philippines, as well as the country’s favorable economic indicators, it is crucial for the government to take the necessary steps to improve the investment climate and unlock the nation’s vast potential. (Read the BusinessMirror story: “Fujifilm eyes PHL, others as potential new plant sites for multifunction printers,” May 15, 2024).

Naoki Hama, Fujifilm Business Innovation Corp.’s president and CEO, acknowledged the risks associated with manufacturing in China and expressed interest in exploring alternative locations such as the Philippines, India and Vietnam. The Philippines, with its stable population growth and strong GDP performance, offers an enticing prospect for foreign investors. However, to fully capitalize on this opportunity, the government must address certain challenges.

One of the key considerations for any foreign investor is the availability of skilled professionals. Hama highlighted the high demand for IT professionals, emphasizing the need for the Philippines to cultivate a robust talent pool in this field. By investing in education and training programs that produce skilled IT developers, the country can position itself as a hub for technology-driven industries, attracting more companies like Fujifilm.

Moreover, the government must prioritize improving the investment climate by addressing infrastructure deficiencies and streamlining bureaucratic processes. Reliable electrical supply, efficient ports, and political stability are crucial factors that investors evaluate when considering long-term investments. While the Philippines has room for improvement in these areas, the government’s commitment to enhancing the investment climate can make a significant difference.

It is also worth noting that the Philippines recently received a favorable credit rating from the Japan Credit Rating Agency, Ltd., attesting to its high and sustained economic growth, resilience to external shocks, and solid fiscal base. This recognition reinforces the country’s potential to attract foreign investments and should serve as an impetus for the government to enhance its efforts in creating an investor-friendly environment.

Furthermore, as Bloomberg reported, Southeast Asia is emerging as a tech hub, driven by factors such as generative AI and increasing technology adoption. The Philippines must position itself as a key player in this technological revolution by fostering innovation, supporting research and development initiatives, and providing incentives for tech companies to establish their presence in the country. By doing so, the Philippines can tap into the projected $1 trillion boost to the region’s economy by 2030, as estimated by consulting firm Kearney.

While foreign companies are gradually leaving China due to various factors, it is essential for the Philippines to proactively position itself as a viable alternative for investment. The government must showcase its commitment to economic growth, infrastructure development, and creating an enabling environment for businesses. By addressing challenges and capitalizing on opportunities, the Philippines can attract foreign companies seeking stability, skilled professionals, and a conducive business environment.

The potential for the Philippines to become a destination of choice for foreign investment is within reach. However, the country must first address lingering challenges to cement its position. Reliable infrastructure, from power grids to port logistics, remains an area for improvement. The good news is that these are addressable problems. With concerted effort from policymakers to streamline regulations and upgrade infrastructure, the Philippines can position itself as Southeast Asia’s premier destination for high-tech manufacturing and innovation. Now is the ideal time for government officials to take action. Global companies are actively seeking alternatives to China, and the Philippines has an opportunity to capitalize. By seizing this moment and decisively tackling its remaining challenges, the Philippines can unlock a future of prosperity and progress. The path forward is clear—all that’s needed is the political will to take it.

BusinessMirror

Will lawmakers approve the divorce bill this time?

TRISING SUN

He recent approval by the House of Representatives of House Bill No. 9349 on second reading marks a pivotal moment for the country as backers of the bill seek to reinstitute absolute divorce in the Philippines. Since 1999, lawmakers have filed bills to legalize divorce, but none have been successful.

HB 9349, principally sponsored by Albay 1st District Rep. Edcel Lagman, was approved two months after the committee on population and family relations referred the bill to the plenary.

This legislative development is a significant step toward addressing the realities of marital discord and the need for legal avenues to end hopeless and unsuccessful marriages. It offers an easier and less expensive path for many Filipinos trapped

in toxic and abusive relationships.

For decades, the Philippines has remained the only nation, along with the Vatican, to prohibit divorce. This leaves countless individuals, especially women, in desperate situations because there are no legal means to leave difficult marriages.

During pre-colonial times, indigenous cultures in the Philippines had their systems for dealing with marriage and its dissolution. Divorce was practiced among various ethnic

groups, allowing marital separation for reasons such as infidelity, abandonment, or failure to bear children. However, the arrival of Spanish colonizers in the 16th century brought significant changes to the legal landscape, including marriage laws. Under Canon Law, divorce was not permitted, and marriages became indissoluble except through annulment, which was strictly regulated by the church. The grounds for absolute divorce outlined in HB 9349—including legal separation, annulment, psychological incapacity, irreconcilable differences, and domestic abuse—reflect the bill’s comprehensive approach to addressing the multifaceted issues faced by those in difficult marriages.

Critics of the bill have raised concerns about the potential misuse of divorce by those who may be merely unhappy in their marriages. However, Rep. Lagman has assured that divorce proceedings will be subject to rigorous scrutiny, ensuring that only those with valid grounds can obtain a divorce. This safeguards against

frivolous filings and underscores the bill’s intent to address genuine cases of marital distress. The financial implications of divorce versus annulment are also noteworthy. Annulment, which can cost from P150,000 to P300,000 and take up to four years, is a prohibitive and lengthy process. In contrast, divorce proceedings under the proposed bill would be more affordable and resolved within a year, offering a more accessible and expedient solution for those seeking to dissolve their marriages.

The Senate’s parallel efforts, with the recommendation of Senate Bill No. 2443, further signal a growing consensus on the need for divorce legislation. In September 2023, the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality recommended the approval of this bill, which seeks to institute absolute divorce in the country. SB 2443 is a substitution of consolidated Senate Bills 147, 213, 237, 554, 555, 1198, and 2047 on the Dissolution of Marriage Act.

Financial scandals and sham chapters threaten the legacy of the Knights of Rizal

TLITO GAGNI

HeR e appears to be a concerning issue within the Knights of Rizal, an esteemed Order of Chivalry dedicated to spreading the noble ideals and teachings of our revered national hero. Recent revelations have shed light on certain financial irregularities that are being discreetly concealed, giving rise to a detrimental cancerous growth within the organization.

Regrettably, the profound significance of the motto “non omnis moriar,” solemnly uttered by neophytes as an oath, is in danger of losing its essence. This motto, intended to preserve the enduring ideals symbolized by Rizal, is now undermined by recent audit findings that flagrantly violate fundamental accounting principles. These findings expose a disheartening depletion of trust funds, neglect in paying real estate taxes, and a lack of accountability regarding contributions from foreign members.

Whispers of concern now surround the issues at hand, as aggrieved minority members of the Knights of Rizal come forward with corroborating testimonies. Sadly, their voices have been stifled by an unexpected development—the establishment of over 100 chapters in Angono, Rizal, and elsewhere, which

has resulted in the denial of election rights for the protesting Trustees. Thus, the cancerous growth cannot be excised due to the admittance of several chapters in a quaint town in Rizal known for its artists, which resulted in the non-election of wellmeaning Trustees. The Angono chapters of the Knights of Rizal show the extent of the demise of the sense of decency within the organization that was created by Republic Act 646. The creation of the Knights of Rizal, as mandated by RA 646, was intended to serve a significant purpose. This purpose revolves around the diligent study of Dr. Jose Rizal’s teachings, with the aim of fostering their dissemination and adoption amongst all segments of Filipino society. Furthermore, the RA emphasized the importance of inspiring our citizens, through both words and actions, to emulate and embrace

A member of the Knights of Rizal, Nasser S. Sharief, a CPA, told me about the “disturbing allegations that have surfaced that threaten to undermine the Order’s prestigious legacy.” He cited the admittance of sham Angono chapters that resulted in the padding of votes that allowed the election of Trustees that are now being questioned by minority members.

the exemplary principles imparted by our national hero. The RA also sought to instill a profound sense of patriotism and Rizalian chivalry within the members of the organization. Additionally, it aimed to foster a strong sense of unity among Filipinos as they collectively honored the memory of Dr. Jose Rizal and organized commemorative programs in remembrance of his birth and martyrdom.

A member of the Knights of Rizal, Nasser S. Sharief, a CPA, told me about the “disturbing allegations that have surfaced that threaten to undermine the Order’s prestigious legacy.” He cited the admittance of sham Angono chapters that resulted in the padding of votes that allowed the election of Trustees that are now being questioned by minority members.                          Sharief, secretary-general of the Southeast Asian Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that the creation of many chapters in

Angono, Rizal prevented the complaining members from being voted as Knights of Rizal Trustees, which would have triggered the expose’ on the financial shenanigans. He said that the newly established chapters primarily consist of five members, predominantly tricycle drivers, and other individuals who may not possess the qualifications necessary to effectively propagate the teachings of Dr. Jose P. Rizal. There were 133 chapters (equivalent to 532 votes) petitioned for disqualification to include 38 Angono, Rizal Chapters. The petitions were dismissed without due process and proper investigation.                        The creation of the chapters was meant to sweep under the rug the financial shenanigans that have been unearthed, according to Sharief, and to stop the move to “unearth the anomalies that evoke the darkest chapters of Rizal’s novels, that the arch-villain Padre Dámaso and other dubious characters had suddenly leapt out of its pages to devour what is left of the national hero’s legacy.”

The financial scandals that have been unearthed in an audit that did not pass muster in the present members of the Order of the Knights of Rizal are now threatening to extinguish the flames of the teachings that Rizal embodied.

Sharief said: “Our response to this crisis will determine the future of the Order. Shall we remain passive, or

Atty. Jose Ferdinand M. Rojas II

When tax and accounting rules meet

IJoel L. Tan-Torres

DEBIT CREDIT

TemPorarILy shift from my ongoing series “Philippines as a global tax leader” and write on important developments in the accountancy sector that have significant impact on the field of taxation.

I refer to the recent release by the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) of guidelines on tax planning and related services revisions to the International Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants (the Code) on April 14, 2024. (https:// www.ethicsboard.org/publications/ final-pronouncement-revisions-codeaddressing-tax-planning-and-relatedservices).

I have been following the evolution of the work on these IESBA guidelines of the Code since it started way back in September 2019. I appreciated the motivation enunciated then of the need to address the “ethical implications of aggressive tax planning of professional accountants, both in business and in public practice.” I have been in tax practice for over four decades and was the Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner from 2009 to 2010. All through these years, I have a keen knowledge of the risks and adverse implications of such aggressive tax planning in terms of cutting the revenue collections of the BIR and the reputational as well as economic and legal damages that can impact the erring taxpayers, accountants and tax pactitioners.

The leak of data from the Panama Papers in 2016, Paradise Papers in 2017, the Pandora Box Papers in 2021, and the Hongkong Shanghai Bank Corporation (HSBC) case in Switzerland in 2019, disclosed irregular practices of rampant global tax evasion and money laundering. The Paradise Papers scandal revealed how over 100 multinational corporations, including Nike and Apple, evaded substantial amount of taxes by shifting money offshore. The Pandora and Panama Papers investigations further exposed global tax evasion and money laundering with the use of offshore companies in tax haven countries. There were over 200 Fiipinos included in these listings.

The HSBC case involved the bank’s marketed schemes for wealthy customers to shield their savings from tax authorities by setting up holding companies in Panama and the British Virgin Islands to circumvent withholding taxes on interest income earned The investigations of these scandals indicated that a great number of the cases resulted with the tax consultants and professionals involved in effecting the irregularities.

In the Philippines, the recent crusade of BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. against fake “ghost” receipts and warehouses that were raided containing untaxed excisable articles revealed that there were accountants and tax advisors abetting the commission of tax crime. The objective of the IESBA’s Tax Planning Standards is to provide a

continued from A12

shall we strive to embody the courage and moral fortitude of Rizal himself? The time for decisive action and stringent oversight is now. We owe it to the legacy of our national hero and to the future generations who will seek to follow in his footsteps.”

“It is imperative that we heed the call to action, recognizing the Knights of Rizal as a cornerstone

POGO or POGuo?

IIn the Philippines, the recent crusade of BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. against fake “ghost” receipts and warehouses that were raided containing untaxed excisable articles revealed that there were accountants and tax advisors abetting the commission of tax crime.

“principles-based framework and a global ethical benchmark applicable to tax planning services and activities” rather than the often abused purely mechanical and legalistic approach. The guidelines “establish a consistent point of reference for all professional accountants, as well as other tax professionals, who are strongly encouraged to use the standards, when dealing with tax planning, to ensure due consideration of public interest as well as potential reputational, commercial, and wider economic consequences for their clients or employing organizations.”

The IESBA pronouncement will be effective for tax planning activities or services beginning after June 30, 2025. These proposed revisions to the Code are for public comments, prior to Philippine adoption. The Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) is spearheading the compilation of comments until the deadline of June 15, 2024 and the subsequent review of the guidelines. These will then be submitted to the Professional Regulatory Board of Accountancy, which shall issue the resolution to implement these prior to the June 30, 2025 target date.

It is appropriate that the stakeholders in the accountancy and tax community participate in the process of effecting these guidelines. These include PICPA, Tax Mnagement Association of the Philippines, the business and other industry associations, and the Bureau of Internal Revenue, which will be benefitted most with these standards of ethical tax planning practices.

I am sure that our coordinated and dedicated pursuit of adopting these guidelines will propel our courtry’s standing in the global tax community, which is ever vigilant to curb irregular and unethical tax practices.

To be continued

Joel L. Tan-Torres was the former Commissioner of the Bureau of Internal Revenue. He has also held the various positions of Dean of the University of the Philippines Virata School of Business, Chairman of the Professional Regulatory Board of Accountancy, Tax partner of Reyes Tacandong & Co. and the SyCip Gorres and Velayo & Co., and director of various corporate boards. He is a Certified Public Accountant who garnered No. 1 in the CPA Board Examination of May 1979. He is now back to his tax and consultancy practice and can be contacted at joeltantorress@yahoo.com and his firm JL2T Consultancy.

of our national identity. The necessity for transparency, accountability, and unwavering adherence to Rizal’s principles have never been more pressing. As both members and guardians of Rizal’s enduring legacy, it is our solemn obligation to restore the integrity of the Order. In doing so, we will ensure that it shines once again as a radiant beacon, inspiring us, upholding honor, and fostering a profound sense of pride in our beloved Philippines,” he passionately emphasized.

Siegfred Bueno Mison, Esq.

THE PATRIOT

am inclined to revisit the quaint municipality of Bamban, Tarlac. af ter all, I was assigned there when I was a young lieutenant serving the 7th Infantry Division. I heard that a World War II museum houses relics and other artifacts, along with historical information on the Japanese occupation during WW II in the Philippines. Bamban holds historical significance as a notable location along the route of the Bataan Death march, commemorated by the solemn Death march marker. Lately, my curiosity about this place has been piqued due to news reports revolving around the municipality’s lady mayor, a lice L. Guo.

It all started with the Senate investigations on issues concerning Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations. The lady mayor’s name was then linked to two POGO firms in Bamban—Hongsheng Gaming Technology Incorporated and Zun Yuan Technology Incorporated. Per reports, Hongsheng was raided in February 2023 and was replaced by Zun Yuan in the same location. It was raided yet again in March 2024 for charges of alleged human trafficking and serious illegal detention. For the latter date, at least 875 people were rounded up at the compound of Zun Yuan, following complaints of a Vietnamese national who escaped from the facility. Last week, 165 of Zun Yuan’s workers were deported to Pudong District, Shanghai, China. During the hearing, Senator Win Gatchalian bared Guo’s alleged ties to the firms, citing an electric billing statement of Zun Yuan and a vehicle seized during the raid, which was registered under her name. To these allegations, Mayor Guo boldly answered that she used to be an incorporator of Baoufu or the compound where the Pogo firms were located but she later divested before she became a mayor. As to the vehicle found in the compound (probably the pearl white Rolls Royce), Guo said she used to own it but the same was also sold in 2020.

The Senate panel head, Senator Risa Hontiveros, could not be swayed, as she delved into the personal background of the lady mayor,

‘Queen

Dwhich inquiry merited more questions than answers.

Guo’s identity as a Filipino citizen was evidently assailed in the same Senate hearing. And she claimed that she did not know her mother, even when residents in Bamban claimed to have seen her with her mother, father and siblings for quite some time since she was 10 years old.

Guo’s father, Jian Zhong Guo (Filipino name: Angelito Guo), with whom she grew up raising hogs, was registered as Chinese national in the documents pertaining to his embroidery business. Mayor Guo likewise stated that she was homeschooled until high school and never got into college, but she could not remember the name of the homeschool provider.

Interestingly too, Hontiveros revealed that there was no hospital record of Guo’s birth, and that the mayor only had her birth certificate registered in the year 2013 when she was already 17.

Based on her certificate of candidacy in the 2022 elections, Guo was born on July 12, 1986. She won the elections as an independent candidate with 16,503 votes, besting her rival by a small margin. Prior to assuming the role of mayor in Bamban, Alice L. Guo was a relatively unknown figure, as per reports.

Even President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. recently stated that no one among Tarlac’s local politicians had heard of Guo before her victory in the 2022

Even President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. recently stated that no one among Tarlac’s local politicians had heard of Guo before her victory in the 2022 elections. Apparently, the crux of the matter is that Guo’s identity as a Filipino citizen is being questioned over her alleged involvement in an illegal POGO firm.

elections. Apparently, the crux of the matter is that Guo’s identity as a Filipino citizen is being questioned over her alleged involvement in an illegal POGO firm.

The implications must be serious as both the Office of the Solicitor General and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) have formed their respective teams to gather information on the lady mayor’s possible connection with illegal POGO operations. The investigation could go as far as questioning Guo’s right to “holding or exercising public office,” according to the OSG. Thus, too, per the Commission on Elections, Guo runs the risk of facing perjury charges should her alleged foreign origins be proven to be true. Under the law, only Filipino citizens—either natural born or naturalized citizens—are eligible to run for a mayoralty position. The Comelec, however, does not require from a candidate any other documentation to prove their age or citizenship, apart from their sworn oath upon filing of their COC. And with Mayor Guo, no protest or quo warranto petition was filed against her.

Through it all, the core issue raised during the Senate hearing is the determination of the lady mayor’s possible link to China as its “spy” to infiltrate the Philippines and wield influence on the government. Whether our government agencies ran slack somewhere in the “handling” or monitoring of Mayor Guo is another story altogether. The identity crisis hounding Mayor Guo seems to spin the roulette for a national crisis.

Without pre-judging Mayor Guo, it is imperative that we understand our solid identity. Our belief in a cemented identity produces correct existence, just as one Pastor says that

right believing produces right living (not the other way around). Hence, our strong conviction that we are Filipino citizens generates actuations that should be aligned with our being as a Filipino. For instance, a true Filipino should feel offended when he hears news reports that a foreign coast guard vessel is harassing a fellow Filipino in our own maritime territory. Any person who believes he is a Filipino but does not feel infuriated against those water cannon activities is not a true Filipino.

The identity crisis in citizenship is as real as in the spiritual realm. Nonetheless, with appropriate knowledge, the predicament can be readily resolved. As believers of Jesus Christ, our identity is fortified and can never be altered. One pastor from Toronto, Canada says it more accurately: “If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, your core identity is that you are a child of God,” citing what Paul wrote in Ephesians 1:5-6 of the Bible that “He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One.” John 1:12 reminds us: “But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God.”

Our identity as children of God (right believing) should lead us to right living. When asked about his identity, a firm believer ought not to do a “Guo” and claim “I don’t remember.” When grounded in faith, a believer can confidently remember everything that Jesus Christ did for him and the rest of the world. There is neither the question of POGO or POGuo, Chinese or Filipino, spy or patriot—but only “children of our Heavenly Father.”

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

of Tears’ and the debate on divorce

KuwEnTOng PEyuPS

Ivorce is one of the main issues in “Queen of Tears,” a South Korean television series that follows the journey of a married couple as they navigate their marital crisis.

The series depicts the crisis and rekindling of love between Hong Hae-in (Kim Ji-won), a third-generation chaebol heiress of Queens Group, and Baek Hyun-woo (Kim Soo-hyun), the lawyer son of farmers. With their three-year-old marriage on the rocks, Hyun-woo is on the brink of divorcing Hae-in, but everything changes when she is diagnosed with a rare type of brain cancer.

“Queen of Tears” refreshingly details how to rekindle that dying spark of intimacy.

The number of divorces in South Korea in 2023 reached 92,400, with the average age of getting divorced stood at 49.9 for men and 46.6 for women.

South Korean law prescribes three types of divorce: 1) agreement [uncontested] divorce; 2) mediation; and 3) by trial [contested] divorce).

The grounds for divorce include (a) adultery, or an act of unchastity; (b) malicious desertion, abandonment; (c) extreme maltreatment of one spouse by the other spouse or parents-in-law; (d) extreme maltreatment of one spouse’s parents by the other spouse or parents-in-law; (e) more than 3 years of unknown death of life of spouse and (f) any

other serious reason irreconcilable to continue to be in marriage

The Philippines is often cited as the “only country in the world” where divorce is illegal, aside from the Vatican City.

The legalization of divorce has been opposed on religious grounds wherein among those groups who oppose it is the Roman Catholic Church.

Opponents of legalization of divorce have argued that the state sanctioning such process is unconstitutional on the basis of the provision that mandates the state to uphold the “sanctity of marriage and its being the foundation of the family.”

However, the country acknowledges the concept of “Recognition of Foreign Divorce,” if the divorce was validly obtained abroad and one of the parties involved is a foreigner, allowing Filipinos who have divorced abroad to have their marital status changed in the Philippines.

House Bill No. 9348, or the proposed Absolute Divorce Act that seeks to reinstate divorce in the country as a means of dissolving marriages, was recently approved by the House of Representatives on second reading on May 15, 2024.

The bill was approved two months

Justice Leonen noted that before the Spanish colonial period, the Philippines did have divorce laws, but it was during the Spanish colonial period when absolute or no-fault divorce was prohibited in the Philippines.

after the House committee on population and family relations referred it to the plenary.

Under the bill, the following are considered grounds for absolute divorce:

a. Physical violence or grossly abusive conduct directed against the petitioner, a common child, or a child of the petitioner;

b. Physical violence or moral pressure to compel the petitioner to change religious or political affiliation;

c. Attempt of respondent to corrupt or induce the petitioner, a common child, or a child of the petitioner, to engage in prostitution, or connivance in such corruption or inducement;

d. Final judgment sentencing the respondent to imprisonment of more than six years, even if pardoned;

e. Drug addiction or habitual alcoholism or chronic gambling of the respondent

f. Homosexuality of the respondent;

g. Contracting by the respondent of a subsequent bigamous marriage, whether in the Philippines or abroad;

h. Marital infidelity or perversion or having a child with another person other than one’s spouse during the marriage, except when upon the mutual agreement of the spouses, a child is born to them through in vitro fertilization or a similar procedure

or when the wife bears a child after being a victim of rape;

i. Attempt by the respondent against the life of the petitioner, a common child or a child of the petitioner;

j. Abandonment of petitioner by respondent without justifiable cause for more than one year;

k. When the spouses are legally separated by judicial decree for more than two years, either spouse can petition the proper Family Court for an absolute divorce based on said judicial decree of legal separation.

“The antiquated form from our colonial past is still codified in our laws and is still being reiterated in jurisprudence 135 years later,” said Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen. Justice Leonen noted that before the Spanish colonial period, the Philippines did have divorce laws, but it was during the Spanish colonial period when absolute or no-fault divorce was prohibited in the Philippines. Leonen was my professor at the University of the Philippines College of Law.

“Perhaps if we truly want justice, we will see how antiquated our laws are. If we truly are for justice, we will feel how we impose a burden that is a vestige of our colonial past, that even our colonizer chose to no longer impose on their own people,” Leonen said, adding that Spain had already changed their law decades ago.

Peyups is the moniker

Gagni . . .

Dennis gorecho

PBBM: INFRA DEVT HOLDS KEY TO LURING TOURISTS TO PHL

By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo

@akosistellaBM Special

MALACAÑANG underscored the importance of infrastructure development in attracting more foreign tourists to the Philippines.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr stressed this as he inaugurated on May 17 Northern Luzon’s first tourist rest area in Saud Beach, Pagudpud in Ilocos Norte, and referred to President Corazon C. Aquino’s original b alikbayan p rogram in 1989, which aimed to attract 1 million tourists then. “ Now, we are targeting 10 times that. And we have started to approach that. But there are many aspects to tourism. It’s not just the beautiful beach. It’s not just the beautiful rest house or the nice hotels and the resorts that they stay in,” h e s aid in his keynote address.

To achieve the goal to attract 10 million b alikbayan ( homecoming Filipinos) tourists in the country, “the government must build infrastructure and facilities to ensure ease in traveling and tourists’ e asier access to the country’s top destinations,” he said. The Department of Tourism (DOT) has again reworked the original b alikbayan p rogram and launched the B isita Be My (BBM)

Guest p rogram in 2022 to encourage overseas Filipinos to bring their extended family and friends the country.

M arcos Jr. said his administration was also working to improve regional gateways to and increase connectivity from other countries to their end destinations in the Philippines, without passing by Manila. “ We will make it so that people will travel from abroad directly to Laoag, directly to Bohol, directly to CDO [ Cagayan de Oro], directly to Tacloban. All of these other places that we want to promote as tourist destinations,” he said.

W hile Ilocos Norte hosts the Laoag International Airport, the latter currently has no direct flights from abroad. DOT data showed I locos Norte accounted for more than 20 percent of tourist arrivals in Region 1 ( Ilocos Region). The province received more than 3.5 million same-day visitors in 2023. Around 515,000 domestic and foreign tourists stayed longer in i ts h otels and resorts.

The DOT aims to attract 7.7 million international tourists this year, including foreigners, overseas Filipinos, and balikbayan. Meanwhile, under DOT’s Tourist Rest Area (TRA) program, eight have already been completed and turned

Govt sets Oct. 3 deadline for tariff-tweak rules for PPPs

BBy Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

AGUIO

CITY—The government has set a deadline for regulatory bodies to issue standards on tariff adjustments for PublicPrivate Partnership (PPP) deals.

PPP Center Deputy Executive

Director Jeffrey Manalo said regulatory bodies that govern key infrastructure deals concerning the private sector should come up with the guidelines on October 3.

“ The October 3 deadline, according to the law, is for regulating bodies to issue their guidelines and procedures on how PPPs that they regulate would determine the initial tariff to be set and how adjustments will be made through -

out the concession period,” he said during the Economic Journalists Association of the PhilippinesSan Miguel Corp. Business Journalism Seminar.

T hese guidelines will help ensure that the government will be able to temper tariffs on user fees—for instance, on tollways—while allowing the private partner to recoup its investment.

H istorically, tariff adjustments on PPP deals have been contentious:

Some even have had to see delays spanning almost a decade before being approved. These include projects on expressways, water, and rails.

M analo said PPP contracts are built on a mutual gain among the government, the public, and the private sector partner.

B y partnering with the private sector, the government will get a boost in its infrastructure program, freeing up public funds that could be used in other social programs.

I nfrastructure projects under the PPP program will democratize access to various services for the public, while the private partner will benefit by recouping its investments.

A ccording to Manalo, there are 125 projects under the PPP Program, which currently has an estimated cost of about P3.03 trillion or about $60.56 billion.

“ These are in various stages, including those that are under procurement, so prior to award. Then we also have those that are in the approval stage. Also unsolicited proposals are under review of implementing agencies

and those that are under earlier project stages—under PDMF [Project Development and Monitoring Facility] study or a study done by another consultant of the implementing agency,” he said.  Broken down, there are 103 projects under the national level — 64 of which are solicited while 39 are unsolicited.

L ocally, there are seven solicited deals, while 15 projects were proposed by the private sector.

P PP deals in advanced stages include the Tarlac-Pampanga-La Union Expressway Extension, the Upgrade, Expansion, and Maintenance of the Laguindingan Airport, the New Bohol International Airport, the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital Cancer Center, and the Dialysis Center for the Renal Center Facility of the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center.

T hese are for “possible award by the end of 2024.”

Next year, the government aims to award the following projects: Bislig City Bulk Water Supply, Bislig City Septage, and the Negros Occidental Bulk Water Supply.

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

Red Planet optimistic about prospects in PHL, says exec

By Andrea E. San Juan @andreasanjuan

Budget hotel chain Red Planet plans to open more branches in Visayas and Mindanao in the next five years as it is optimistic about its growth prospects in the Philippines.

“Our hotel is doing very well here and the budget market on our level is not yet in oversupply. There is more opportunity here to develop. There is also higher demand,” Red Planet Hotels CEO Florent Humeau told reporters last Friday.

Red Planet used to have branches in Japan and Indonesia but the pandemic prompted the company to shutter their hotels in the two countries.

“In the Philippines, we have guar-

STOCK-MARKET OUTLOOK

anteed business and it helped a lot. So, we managed to keep all our hotels open,” said Humeau. In fact, Humeau said Red Planet plans to open 3 to 4 hotels in the country in the next 5 years.

“We think that within the next three to five years we can maybe open one hotel every year. Every year starting maybe next year, so maybe you know in five years there will be three to four hotels.” Currently, Red Planet has hotels

noticeably dragged the index’s weighted ePS [earnings per share].” Chartwise, the market’s support is still seen at 6,400 and resistance is seen at 6,700.

stock pick

MayBaNK Securities has maintained its buy rating on GT Capital holdings Inc. (GTCaP) after its share price fell 14 percent from its P730 peak in February, possibly due to concerns of a weaker Philippine peso hurting margins. “But it’s still up 7.54 percent year-todate and we remain positive as it’s trading at a 60-percent discount to NaV [net asset value] with a robust outlook as auto sales

in the Philippines and Thailand. It has 14 hotels in the Philippines and 5 in Thailand.

Humeau said Red Planet already has 10 hotels in Metro Manila. He said the locations in the pipeline will be in Visayas and Mindanao.

He said the company is keen on Davao and Cagayan de Oro where Red Planet hotels “were quite successful.”

He said Red Planet is also keeping an eye on Cebu City.

“We see that domestic tourism in the Philippines is increasing and when I say tourism I’m not only thinking of leisure but also business,” he said.

“Our market is very corporate, business-related especially in the kind of hotels right, we are in the business area. So we think there is demand, there is opportunity.”

He noted that the occupancy rate of Red Planet hotels in the Philippines is at 75 percent.

As for international tourism, Humeau said, “it’s not getting as fast as we could see. We don’t see the revenge travel in the Philippines that I can see in China, in Japan, in Indonesia, for example. But in the Philippines, not yet.”

Meanwhile, Red Planet announced that it is opening by the end of this month its flagship hotel in Bonifacio Global City (BGC). This hotel is expected to house 245 rooms.

“This is our biggest inventory. We have 245 rooms. It’s our flagship because of location because of newest product because of number of rooms,” Humeau said.

Red Planet Hotels said it has 2,453 rooms across the country.

The company said the budget hotel industry in the Philippines hosts more than 15,000 budget hotel rooms, catering to a “diverse clientele of domestic and international travelers.”

volume continues to rise. We cut our 2024 net income forecast 2 percent to P28.3 billion to factor in higher cost of goods sold for Toyota Motor Philippines.” GTCaP shares closed last week at P630 apiece.

Meanwhile, Philstocks has recommended trading Converge Information and Communications Technology Solutions Inc. as from a technical perspective, the stock is moving sideways with an upward bias as it creates higher lows.

“We suggest entering the stock once it creates another higher low or once it hits P9.53,” the broker said.

Converge shares were last traded at P9.74 apiece. VG Cabuag

were Keppel Philippines Properties Inc., Keppel Philippines holdings, Inc. a and B shares, roxas holdings Inc., DoubleDragon Corp., Integrated Micro-electronics, Inc., I-remit Inc. and anglo Philippine holdings Corp. Top losers, meanwhile, were LMG Corp., United Paragon Mining Corp., anchor Land holdings Inc., Medco holdings Inc., SSI Group Inc., Prime Media holdings Inc. and atok-Big Wedge Co. Inc. this week

Share prices may extend its gains this week, still mostly on bargain hunting. Japhet Louis O. Tantiangco, senior research analyst at Philstocks Financials Inc., said at its current level, the local market is still “attractive.”

“The prospects of a possible rate cut by the BSP as early as august following their less hawkish stance in their latest meeting may also give sentiment a boost next week. With these, the market could move with an upward bias. Next week, investors are also expected to continue digesting first quarter corporate results,” he said.

2Tradeasia said it retains the view that expectations must be tempered as inflation will dictate the rate cycle changes.

“Disappointment from past ‘deferral’ of rate hikes might also drive weaker rallies hinged on a third quarter pivot,” it said.

“First-quarter earnings, as expected, have so far been softer sequentially, with the footnote being that core results are much better and indicate healthier-thanexpected earnings potential, at least in our coverage universe. Key holding firms, power, banking, select property and consumer, posted low-to-mid doubledigit growth, while more cyclical sectors

Group opposes early renewal of Meralco franchise

By Lenie Lectura @llectura

En E RG y consumer advocacy group People for Power (P4P) coalition warned against the early renewal of the Manila Electric Co.’s (Meralco) franchise.

“If we give Meralco an early franchise renewal, we are giving them a free pass on all the allegations against them,” said P4P Convenor Gerry Arances. See related story in A5 Economy, “Legislator urges renewal of Meralco franchise.”

Meralco’s franchise is valid until 2028. Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Salceda, who chairs the House committee on ways and means, filed a measure to extend Meralco’s existing franchise for another 25 years or until 2053.

“Giving them a decades-long franchise now will remove the ability of the government to hold them to account and protect consumers,” Arances said.

Meralco, for its part, said the filing of separate bills to renew the legislative franchise by veteran and respected lawmakers is “a firm validation of the relentless efforts of the utility firm to deliver power and serve millions of Filipinos.”

“Granting the franchise renewal would allow Meralco’s growing number of customers to continue enjoying stable and reliable electricity service, which is vital in powering not just households but also industrial and commercial customers that drive the country’s economic progress. As a highly-regulated entity, Meralco has always been strictly compliant of the laws and regulations governing its franchise,” said Meralco Vice President and Head of Corporate Communications Joe Zaldarriaga.

Sta Rosa City Rep. Dan Fernandez, vice chairman of the House committee on energy, however, opposed House Bill 9793.

“The fact that Meralco is pushing for an early renewal shows that they want to escape any responsibility for any findings that the House of Representatives or any government body might find in an investigation into their practices.”

Continued on B2

Companies

Countryside acquires stake in Roxas Holdings

By VG Cabuag @villygc

Countryside investments

Holdings Corp., the firm of businessman Leandro Antonio L. Leviste, has signed a term sheet with Manuel V. Pangilinan to invest some P5 billion for an initial 71.6-percent in listed firm roxas Holdings inc.

“Countryside’s investment will help Roxas Holdings service debt to avoid bankruptcy, increase the tax revenues of the municipality of Nasugbu, and create more and better jobs for the benefit of local farmers and former sugar industry workers,” Leviste said in his Facebook post.

Roxas Holdings currently owes banks, including Bank of the Philippines, BDO Unibank Inc. and stateowned Land Bank of the Philippines some P4.4 billion. It also has trade payables amounting to P1.4 billion.

The land of Roxas Holdings is beside some 2,494 hectares owned by Roxas and Co. Inc. (RCI), another listed firm chaired by Pedro O. Roxas.

RCI was recently served a notice of collection and threatened with foreclosure over unpaid real property taxes by the municipality of Nasugbu. This comes amid a longstanding land dispute between RCI and an estimated 50,000 residents and agrarian reform beneficiaries.

Once the largest integrated sugar company in the Philippines, Roxas Holdings owns Central Azucarera Don Pedro Inc., a sugar refinery and sugar mill, and 236 hectares in Nasugbu, Batangas. It also owns San Carlos Bioenergy Inc., a bioethanol plant in Negros Occidental.

Roxas Holdings shuttered its sug-

ar business in March, after 97 years in operations.

RCI, meanwhile, has debts amounting to P4.3 billion, half of which is owed to BPI. BPI’s exposure to RCI and Roxas Holdings amounted to P4.3 billion.

BPI’s debt exposure to RCI includes a P228-million loan due since August 2023 and a P474.5-million loan due since September 2023.

Prior to the Roxas Holdings deal, Leviste was already the largest individual shareholder of RCI, acquiring 10 percent of its outstanding shares.

In compliance with Section 19 of the Securities Regulation Code on

mandatory tender offer, Leviste also recently disclosed to the Securities and Exchange Commission his intention to increase his stake in RCI to over 15 percent. These investments form part of Countryside’s plan to invest over P5 billion to develop Leviste’s home province of Batangas.

“Countryside previously stated that its investments are aimed at solving social issues. The company believes that equitable compensation and partnering with local communities is key to ensuring the success of any investment,” Leviste said. He said he will fund this investment from the proceeds of the sale of shares in SP

to

Meralco PowerGen Corp. Along with Metro Pacific Investments Corp., the said firms have purchased shares in SPNEC for P20.4 billion. Most of SPNEC’s assets are in Nueva Ecija, where the company is developing a 3,500-hectare solar project.

SPNEC also owns and operates a 63 megawatts solar farm in Calatagan, a neighboring town of Nasugbu, Batangas. In an earlier interview, Leviste said that some of the lands of Roxas Holdings would be suitable for solar farm development.

Group opposes early renewal of Meralco franchise

Continued from B1

Fernandez cited a number of reasons, most of which are related to higher power rates. He noted Meralco’s continuing use of 14.97 percent as its weighted average cost of capital (WACC) which has been used as the ceiling for its profit margin since 2011. Legislators questioned the figure, saying it should have gone lower because the 14.95 percent was arrived at 13 years ago.

Aside from Fernandez, Surigao del Norte Rep. Johnny Pimentel also opposed Meralco’s early franchise renewal.

In February, Meralco reported that its net income in 2023 rose by 34 percent to P38 billion from P28.4 billion in 2022 due to robust energy sales and higher earnings from its power generation businesses. The utility firm also recorded a higher Consolidated Core Net Income (CCNI) of P37.1 billion in 2023. Meralco reported that 64 percent of its CCNI came from its power distribution business while 26 percent came from its power generation business under Meralco PowerGen Corp. (MGen).

MGen contributed P9.7 billion to Meralco’s CCNI, 80 percent higher than the P5.4 billion posted in the same period in 2022, driven by continuing positive performance of PacificLight Power Pte. Ltd. (PacificLight), the recovery of Global Business Power Corporation (GBP), and the contribution of MGen Renewable Energy, Inc.’s (MGreen) solar power projects. As of end-2023, MGen had combined power generation capacity of 2,240 megawatts in the Philippines and in Singapore.

New Energy Corp. (SPNEC)

Pangilinan-led

Photo from www.sPnec.Ph

New invoicing system for imports soon up

By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

RESIDEn T Ferdinand R. Mar-

Pcos Jr. has ordered a 2-year roll out period of the pre-border technical verification (PBTV) and electronic invoicing for imported goods.

It will be enforced in three phases. It will initially cover agriculture goods, then non agriculture goods with health and safety issues and, finally, other goods misdeclared to avoid duties and taxes.

Marcos gave the timeline to the newly-created Committee for PreBorder Technical Verification and Cross-border Electronic Invoicing through Administrative Order (AO) 23 dated May 13, 2024, but only released to the media last Sunday.

Once implemented, the PBTV is expected to help decongest Philippine ports by making sure all imported commodities are screened before being shipped to the country. The Cross-Border Electronic Invoicing System (CBEIS), meanwhile, aims to monitor international trade transactions of all imported goods.

Chaired by the Department of Finance (DOF), the Committee will formulate the implementing rules and regulation (IRR) for the PBTV of imported goods by accredited testing, inspection and certification (TIC) companies before they are ex-

Banking&Finance Pag-Ibig releases ₧101.5M for govt housing program

ported to the Philippines. The members of the committee include the secretaries of agriculture, trade, energy, health, environment and natural resources and information communications technology. Likewise, the Bureau of Customs commissioner and the director general of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) were designated members of the committee. Two nonvoting representatives from dulyrecognized industry associations, to be appointed by the committee chairman, upon recommendation of the body, would also be included as members.

BOC will serve as the main implementing agency of AO 23.

The Committee will also set the procurement procedures for the CBIES, which will serve as the single electronic platform for the creation, uploading and storage of electronic invoices of imported commodities covered by the digital verification certificate from accredited TIC Companies.

The Committee is also expected to issue the guidelines for third-party TIC accreditation. It must submit to the Office of the Executive Secretary a bi-annual report on the implementation of AO 23.

The President said that the “conduct” of the PBTV and the procurement of the CBEIS shall be at no cost to the Philippine government.

ADB to fund transport projects worth ₧3 billion

THE Asian Development Bank (ADB) is looking to finance at least $3 billion worth of transportation projects in its pipeline projects until 2028.

In a brief from the ADB Philippine Transport Sector, the list of transportation pipeline projects already includes four projects but only two have cost estimates.

The projects with cost estimates are the $2 billion Laguna Lakeshore Road network (LLR n) project set for approval this year and the $1 billion Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Line 4 (Ortigas to Rizal) set to be approved next year.

“These projects are prepared under the ADB financed Infrastructure Preparation and Innovation Facility (IPIF), which is supporting the preparation, pre-implementation and early implementation of climate-resilient transport infrastructure projects in the Philippines,” the document sent to reporters stated.

The LLR n project features the construction of a 37-kilometer climate-resilient expressway along Laguna Lakeshore for completion in 2028, improving efficiency of road travel.

The MRT Line 4 project, meanwhile, is a fully elevated railway mass-transit system, 13.4- kilometer long, with 10 stations, serving the eastern side of Metro Manila including the highly populated areas of the province of Rizal. Based on the list, other projects to be included in the pipeline but still doesn’t have publicly-available product documents are the Central Mindanao High Standard Highway (CMHSH) Project and the Central Luzon Corridor Rail network Extension (CLCR nE) project.

The CMHSH project will construct a “climate- and disaster-resilient” 65-kilometer road corridor. It will run from Cagayan de Oro City to Malaybalay City, Bukidnon, to promote the economic development and improve accessibility between north-central and southern Mindanao.

The project is proposed to be cofinanced with Japan International Cooperation Agency. It is slated for approval by the ADB Board in 2027. The CLCR nE project, mean-

while, intends to extend the north–South Commuter Railway system along the Central Luzon Corridor.

It will establish a predominant freight railway network to improve multimodal logistics and connect seaports in Central Luzon with Metro Manila. The project is slated for approval by the ADB Board in 2028.

The ADB noted that the financing amount and approval dates of all the projects in the pipeline are still subject for confirmation.

“In addition, [the] ADB is supporting the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) with the preparation of feasibility studies and detailed engineering design for future projects in the road, railway, metro rail, public transport, maritime transport and shipping sector through the third tranche of the IPIF,” the ADB said.

The ADB said the current portfolio in the transport sector includes nine projects and $11.48 billion of approved financing.

The largest project is the $4.3-billion South Commuter Railway Project (approved in 2022) followed by the $2.75 billion Malolos Clark Railway Project approved in 2019. Other large projects are: the $2.11-billion Bataan Cavite Interlink Bridge (approved in 2023) and the $1.01 billion Davao Public Transport Modernization Project (approved in 2023).

The list also includes the three tranches of the IPIF worth $500 million in 2017, 2019 and 2023. The IPIF finances the feasibility studies, procurement of consultants, detailed engineering and preparing bid documents, among others.

The portfolio also includes the following: the $380-million Improving Growth Corridors in Mindanao Road Sector Project approved in 2017; the $175-million Metro Manila Bridges Project approved in 2021; the $138-million Epifanio de los Santos Avenue Greenways Project approved in 2020; and, the $100-million Emergency Assistance for Reconstruction and Recovery of Marawi approved in 2018. Cai U. Ordinario

TBy Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

HE Home Development Mutual Fund or Pag-IBIG Fund has made its fourth disbursement to the Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program, according to the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD).

The DHSUD said the Pag-IBIG Fund released P101.5 million for the 4PH program project in Bocaue, Bulacan. This is the smallest of the four disbursements of Pag-Ibig, which started with the P13-billion revolving credit lines for the national Housing Authority and the Social Housing Finance Corp.

In April, Pag-IBIG also released developmental loans totaling P200

THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) announced it intercepted the shipment of more than 28,000 reams of smuggled cigarettes in Lanao del norte on Tuesday, May 14.

The BOC said in a statement on Sunday the 2nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade, Armor Division, Philippine Army seized a total of 28,202 reams of cigarettes stored in 564 boxes. The cigarettes were estimated to be worth P22.561 million based on current market value, according to the BOC.

The shipment also contained 230 boxes of diapers and the Isuzu Wing Van used to conceal and transport the smuggled cigarettes to the country. The smuggled cigarettes were confiscated at a checkpoint in Baranggay

million to two separate “Pambansang Pabahay” projects in Luzon and Visayas. Meanwhile, the Palayan City Township Project received a similar loan amounting to P350 million in February.

“This release is yet another welcome support that will certainly fire up the implementation of ‘Pambansang Pabahay’ as we bring the plans into actual development. It is an as-

Magoong, Linamon, Lanao del norte, according to the BOC.

The BOC said Customs examiners determined the cigarettes were manufactured outside the Philippines. Without the required Import Commodity Clearance from the national Tobacco Administration ( n TA ), the shipment violated Sections 117 (Regulated Importation and Exportation), 113 (1) (A) (Property Subject to Seizure and Forfeiture), and 1401 (Unlawful Importation or Exportation) of Republic Act (RA) 10863, or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).

The BOC said the shipment was also a violation of RA 10643 or the “Act to Effectively Instill Health Con-

THE Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) announced it recently launched a new digital tool called “Property Inventory Application” (PIA) which is aimed at enhancing the management of government properties. The PIA is part of the GSIS’s commitment to strengthen the protection and stability of government infrastructure.

“With [the] PIA, we are not just making it easier to manage property records, we’re also enhancing how we assist government agencies in protecting their assets through insurance,” GSIS President and General Manager Jose Arnulfo A. Veloso was quoted in a statement as saying. “It’s a major step towards strengthening our country’s infrastructure.”

Developed internally by the GSIS, the PIA addresses the challenge of annually accomplishing and submitting the property inventory form, a mandate enforced by both GSIS and the Commission on Audit (COA).

Traditionally, tracking government property records was a manual, slow, and error-prone process that often resulted in incomplete data and risks in asset management. The PIA simplifies this process, ensuring that all government property are well-documented and properly managed. With the information at our fingertips through the PIA, government response to calamities will also be enhanced.

The PIA is being rolled out initially to last year’s GSIS Seal of Protection awardees, including the city governments of Pasig and Makati (Gold); Valenzuela, navotas, San Juan, Pasay, Paranaque, Quezon (Silver); and, Manila and Muntinlupa (Bronze). Property officers from these cities attended the “Introduction and Hands-on Training on How to navigate the Property Inventory Application” workshop last May 7 where they were trained on how to effectively use the system.

“By introducing this technology, GSIS is enhancing its capability to fulfill its responsibilities, helping to make the Philippines’s infrastructure safer and more stable,” Veloso added. “It will future proof the gains of the government.”

surance that we can sustain the construction under the pro-poor 4PH,” DHSUD Secretary Jose Rizalino L. Acuzar said.

The latest disbursement will finance the development and construction of the Bocaue Bulacan Manor (BBM) Housing Project in Barangay Batia for Bocaue residents and government employees.

Situated on a sprawling 14-hectare site, the project will have five multilevel condominium buildings, each with 14 floors. A total of 1,888 families are expected to benefit from this initiative, addressing the need for decent and affordable housing in the area.

The BBM project follows a comprehensive development plan, transforming the area into a sustainable township. Residents will have access to essential amenities, services and sources of income.

The Pag-IBIG Fund is a key shelter agency of the DHSUD, the lead implementing agency of “Pambansang Pabahay.” Acuzar chairs the Fund’s Board of Trustees.

sciousness Through Graphic Health Warnings on Tobacco Products.”

The BOC added that District Collector Alexandra Y. Lumontad issued a Warrant of Seizure and Detention (WSD) against the subject goods and vehicle upon the recommendation of Collector nasrudin D. Guro of the Sub-Port of Iligan, in accordance with RA 10863, in relation to RA 10643 and other relevant Customs rules and regulations.

Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio reaffirmed the BOC’s stance on safeguarding the country’s borders from illicit trade.

“The dedication of the Port of CDO’s operatives in securing our borders from illicit cigarettes is truly commendable. Aligned with

A tripartite memorandum of agreement (MOA), among the DHSUD, Pag-IBIG Fund and the local government unit (LGU), has already been signed by the parties that will implement the project. The MOA outlines the details on the implementation and responsibilities of the parties.

“We have been monitoring the progress of this project from the beginning and we are glad to witness that it has now come into fruition. We will continue doing so until we have actually awarded the units to the rightful beneficiaries, particularly those who are most in need, at the lowest possible cost” Secretary Acuzar assured.

Pag-IBIG Fund CEO Marilene C. Acosta, for her part, has reassured the public of the Fund’s stability and commitment to the 4PH program. Acosta stressed that the Fund is capable and stands ready to provide financing for incoming 4PH program proponents through its direct developmental loan program.

the President’s directive to the BOC, we will continue to intensify crackdowns on the illicit tobacco trade,” Rubio was quoted in a statement as saying.

Earlier, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. appealed to the BOC and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to ramp up their efforts in curbing tobacco and vape products smuggling to protect the country’s local tobacco industry.

“Enforcement and anti-smuggling and all that. You really have to beef them up and I think we’re doing that,” the President said. “There will be [more efforts] with the Bureau of Customs and BIR so that we can improve performance with that regard.”

CENTRAL BANKS PRIMED Shoppers enter the Oxford Circus London Underground station in central London, United Kingdom. Inflation-related releases across the Group of Seven will prime central bankers for crucial June interest-rate decisions, just as they meet in Italy to discuss the state of the world economy. Days after US data revealed cooler-than-expected consumerprice growth, the UK, Canada and Japan will all publish numbers for April that are likely to go in the same direction. A euro-zone wage report, meanwhile, will also offer key evidence sought by policymakers. BLOOMBERG

Jesus is their savior, Trump is their candidate: Why Evangelicals and conservative Christians support Trump in 2024

By PETER SMITH The Associated Press

As Donald Trump increasingly infuses his campaign with Christian trappings while coasting to a third Republican presidential nomination, his support is as strong as ever among evangelicals and other conservative Christians.

“Trump supports Jesus, and without Jesus, America will fall,” said Kimberly Vaughn of Florence, Kentucky, as she joined other supporters of the former president entering a campaign rally near Dayton, Ohio.

Many of the T-shirts and hats that were worn and sold at the rally in March proclaimed religious slogans such as “Jesus is my savior, Trump is my president” and “God, Guns & Trump.” One man’s shirt declared, “Make America Godly Again,” with the image of a luminous Jesus putting his supportive hands on Trump’s shoulders.

Many attendees said in interviews they believed Trump shared their Christian faith and values. Several cited their opposition to abortion and LGBTQ+ rights, particularly to transgender expressions.

Nobody voiced concern about Trump’s past conduct or his present indictments on criminal charges, including allegations that he tried to hide hush money payments to a porn actor during his 2016 campaign. Supporters saw Trump as representing a religion of second chances.

And for many, Trump is a champion of Christianity and patriotism.

“I believe he believes in God and our military men and women, in our country, in America,” said Tammy Houston of New Lexington, Ohio.

“I put my family first, and on a larger scale, it’s America first,” said Sherrie Cotterman of Sidney, Ohio. “And I would any day of the week, take a president that openly knows he needs the strength from God over his own.”

In many ways, this is a familiar story.

About 8 in 10 white evangelical Christians supported Trump in 2020, according to AP VoteCast, and Pew Research Center's validated voter survey found that a similar share supported him in 2016. But this is a new campaign, and that support has remained durable—even though Republican voters in the early primaries had several openly conservative Christian candidates to choose from, none of whom faced the legal troubles and misconduct allegations that Trump does. In the Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina Republican primary contests earlier this year, Trump won between 55 percent and 69 percent of white evangelical voters, according to AP VoteCast.

Trump even criticized one competitor, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, for signing strict abortion curbs into law. In past years, some Trump surrogates have portrayed Trump as friendly to the LGBTQ+ community.

Trump was the only Republican candidate facing scores of criminal charges, ranging from allegations that he conspired to overturn his 2020 election defeat to his current trial on allegations he falsified business records in seeking

illegally to sway the 2016 election with hush money to porn actor Stormy Daniels.

Trump was also the only GOP candidate with a history of casino ventures and two divorces, as well as allegations of sexual misconduct—one of them affirmed by a civil court verdict.

Republican primary voters still overwhelmingly chose Trump.

This has frustrated a minority of conservative evangelicals who see Trump as an unrepentant poser, using the Bible and prayer sessions for photo props. They see him as lacking real faith and facing credible, serious misconduct allegations while campaigning with incendiary rhetoric and authoritarian ambitions.

Karen Swallow Prior, a Christian author and literary scholar who has spoken against fellow evangelicals’ embrace of Trump, said this support in 2024 is familiar but “intensified.”

In the past, she said Trump supporters hoped but weren’t certain that Trump shared their Christian faith.

“Now his supporters believe themselves,” she said. “Despite the fact that Trump clearly wavers on abortion and he wavers on LGBTQ issues, those things are just ignored, they’re just erased out of the narrative.”

At the Ohio rally, several attendees cited their belief that Trump has followed the Christian path of repenting and starting a new life.

“We’ve all come from sinning. Jesus sat with sinners, so he’s going to sit with Trump,” Vaughn said. “It’s not about where Trump came from, it’s about where he’s going and where he’s trying to take us.”

The Ohio rally, like other Trump events, featured a recording of the national anthem sung by some of those convicted for crimes related to the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, whom Trump called “patriots.”

At the rally’s entrance, one group handed out pamphlets urging attendees both to “trust in Jesus Christ for your salvation” and to support the “J6 patriots.”

Caleb Cinnamon, 37, of Dayton, identified as a Christian and said opposing abortion is a top priority. He cited Trump’s three Supreme Court appointments, who proved decisive in the 2022 decision overturning of the Roe v. Wade precedent that had legalized abortion nationwide.

“Donald Trump’s really the first president who’s not only vocalized an anti-abortion stance but also put action behind it,” he said.

“Republicans since the 1990s were saying ‘We’re going to do this about abortion,’ and then they don’t.”

Jody Picagli of Englewood, Ohio, said her Catholic faith and views on abortion are central.

“I’m a big right-to-life person,” she said. “That’s huge for me. And just morals. I think the moral compass is so out of whack right now. And we need religion and church back in here.”

She acknowledged that, with the Supreme Court turning the abortion issue over to the states, a future President Trump may not impact abortion law.

“But I know he’ll never go to an abortion clinic and visit it, like our vice president did,” she said, alluding to Kamala Harris’ tour of a Planned Parenthood clinic in Minnesota in March.

Christian supporters of Trump did also cite non-religious issues— from foreign policy and immigration to gas prices and inflation.

Robert Jones, president of the Public Religion Research Institute and an author of books on white supremacy in American Christianity, said the strong evangelical support for Trump isn’t surprising. But he said that in a 2023 PRRI poll, less than half of white evangelicals said

He added that Trump’s rhetoric about immigrants “invading the country and changing our cultural heritage” resonates with his audience.

The slogan “Make America Great Again” echoes an “ethno-religious vision of a white Christian America, just barely underneath the surface,” Jones said.

He acknowledged the racial lines aren’t absolute, with Trump attracting Black supporters such as South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott. The Ohio rally included a vast majority of white attendees but with some Black and other ethnic groups represented.

Earlier this year, Trump hit multiple applause lines in speaking to a conservative audience at the National Religious Broadcasters convention.

“We will protect Christians in our schools and in our military and our government,” Trump said. “We will protect God in our public square....I will protect the content that is pro-God.”

Trump pledged a federal task force to fight the “persecution against Christians in America” and “the toxic poison of gender ideology,” saying “God created two genders, male and female.”

Trump’s rallies take on the symbols, rhetoric and agenda of Christian nationalism, which typically includes a belief that America was founded to be a Christian nation and seeks to privilege Christianity in public life.

Trump endorsed a Bible edition that includes US founding documents and the lyrics to Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA.”

“This is a Bible specifically for a kind of white evangelical audience that sees themselves as the rightful inheritors of the country,” Jones said, citing a 2023 PRRI poll in which about half of white evangelicals agreed that God intended America as a promised land for European Christians.

Trump’s campaign events have the feel of a worship service. The former president has shared a “God Made Trump” video depicting him in messianic terms. Jones said Trump builds on the messianic theme with statements like, “They’re not after me, they’re after you. I’m just standing in the way.” But Mark DeVine, a Southern Baptist pastor and seminary professor from Birmingham, Alabama, wrote in the online journal American Reformer that conservative Christians support Trump because “elected Democrats and Democrat-serving, unelected bureaucrats” have an “evil” agenda on issues ranging from abortion to gender to the border to pandemic lockdowns that kept churches closed.

“Trumpers want to shield themselves, their children, their communities, and the nation they love from the woke, totalitarian onslaught now being unleashed upon them where they live, work, study, play, and worship,” he wrote. At the Ohio rally, some said they believed the nation or its founding documents, such as the Bill of Rights, had Christian origins, though historians dispute such assertions.

that abortion was a critical issue to them personally. More than half said that five others were a critical issue, including human trafficking, public schools, rising prices, immigration and crime.

“One of the biggest myths about white evangelical support for Trump is this idea that it’s really about abortion and they’re holding their nose and voting for Trump,” Jones said.

Some Trump supporters voiced hope for a more Christian America. Thomas Isbell of Greensboro, North Carolina, who has set up vending booths for years at Trump rallies around the country, said his “God, Guns & Trump” shirts are a top seller.

“It’s a Christian country,” he said, adding that if he were president, he would only allow public worship by Christians.

“We’re not going to set up a temple to no other gods in our land,” he said.

A supporter of Donald trump attends a rally for the former president in Vandalia, ohio, on saturday, March 16, 2024. AP/Jessie WA r dA r ski

H Ats reading, “God, Guns and trump,” and “Jesus is my savior, trump is my president,” are sold at a campaign rally for former president Donald trump in Vandalia, ohio, on saturday, March 16, 2024. trump, who is coasting into a third republican presidential nomination, continues to draw strong support from evangelicals and other conservative Christians. AP/Jessie WA r dA r ski

UNIQLO CELEBRATES GLOBAL 40TH ANNIVERSARY WITH ‘THANK YOU FESTIVAL’

UNIQLO Philippines will launch a very special edition of its “Thank You Festival” this coming May 24 to June 2, celebrating the brand’s global 40th anniversary. The much-anticipated festival is a gesture of Uniqlo’s deep gratitude toward every customer who has embraced the brand over the years. During the festival, new services, exciting promotions, and limited-edition Uniqlo novelty items will be available for all those who shop in Uniqlo stores nationwide and on www.uniqlo.com/ph

During the “Thank You Festival,” Uniqlo will give thanks to its customers with the gift of an exclusive, limited-edition novelty item. For every P3,500 singlereceipt purchase from any Uniqlo store and online store from May 24 to May 30, customers will receive a free Packable Duffle Bag, perfect for upcoming holidays, travels and everyday life. To avail this limited-edition item, customers just have to scan their Uniqlo App upon payment in any physical store.

Another exciting gift during the festival is the Upcycled Pouch made from upcycled denim scraps from Uniqlo’s alteration services. Those who shop for their favorite items during the first two hours upon store opening can get this item for FREE with any amount purchased at a Uniqlo store and through Click & Collection from May 31 to June 2. These pouches were made together with Bukas Palad Foundation, a non-profit and non-governmental organization that provides sustainable development, education, livelihood to children, elderly, urban poor and victims of calamities and disasters.

In celebration of Uniqlo’s global 40th anniversary with interactive in-store experiences from May 24 to June 2, all Uniqlo stores will feature “Thank You Mirrors” wherein customers can take selfies in their favorite Uniqlo outfits. By posting their selfie on Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok with the hashtag #UniqloThankYouFestival, customers will have a chance to win P5,000 worth of Uniqlo items. Through this interactive element of the festival, customers can engage and share in the celebrations, creating a community-centric experience.

Uniqlo is also expanding its popular UTme! service to SM Seaside City Cebu and SM Lanang Premier. This service allows customers to create personalized T-shirts by combining photos, images and text in any way they like. The expansion of UTme! highlights Uniqlo’s commitment to providing clothing that is made for everyone.

With the expansion of UTme! comes a selection of brand-new designs from Potato Corner, beloved global Philippine food franchise, and Studio Dialogo, Manila-based design studio.

The Potato Corner and Studio Dialogo UTme! designs will also be available in select Uniqlo stores in Metro Manila.

In collaboration with Disney Philippines, an exclusive Thank You Festival design featuring Mickey will be available in select Metro Manila stores starting May 24. UTme! T-Shirts and UTme! Tote Bags with this limited-edition collaboration will be available in Uniqlo Manila Global Flagship Store; SM Mall of Asia; C3 Annex; SM Megamall; SM North Edsa; SM Seaside City Cebu; and SM Lanang Premier.

Miss Universe Philippines 2024 most likely

THIS year’s edition of Miss Universe Philippines is a wish fulfillment for me, sort of. In 2019, when rumors swirled that a separate pageant for the most prestigious beauty competition was forthcoming, I wished that past winners will have another shot at the top plum. (This only happened, though, in 2020, when Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. lost the franchise.)

ALL-STARS

HERE’S what I wrote in part:

“For an All-Stars, only titleholders (except Miss Universe Philippines winners) will be allowed to compete. Runnersup and finalists are not welcome. “Past editions have had a wealth of beauties that came close to winning the MUP title. I would love to see compete, provided they haven’t aged out, Miss International 2018 1st Runner-up Maria Ahtisa Manalo, Miss Intercontinental 2018 Karen Gallman, Miss Supranational 2017 Top 10 Chanel Olive Thomas, Miss Intercontinental 2017 1st Runner-up Katarina Rodriguez; “Miss Grand International 2016 1st Runner-up Nicole Cordoves, Miss Globe 2015 Ann Colis, Miss Intercontinental 2015 1st Runner-up Christi Lynn McGarry, Miss Supranational 2014 Top 20 Yvethe Marie Santiago, Miss Intercontinental 2014 2nd Runner-up Kris Tiffany Janson and Miss Supranational 2013 Mutya Johanna Datul.”

As it turned out, some of my dream contenders are vying for the most coveted crown this year: Kris, Christi and Ahtisa. The three instantly became the formidable frontrunners. Add Cyrille Payumo of Pampanga, who was Miss Tourism International 2019.

‘LOVE FOR ALL’

This fifth edition will be held at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay on May 22. Outgoing queen Michelle Marquez Dee will crown her successor, who will represent the Philippines at the Miss Universe 2024 pageant in Mexico. It will be presented by Miss Universe 2022 R’Bonney Gabriel, Alden Richards, Gabbi Garcia, Tim Yap and Jeannie Mai with performances by the band Lola Amour, drag queen Marina Summers, and Thai heartthrob Metawin Opas-iamkajor.

My sentimental favorite is my hometown girl, the lovely Lynn Eirene Lomongo, 18, whom I witnessed being crowned as Miss Universe Philippines Cagayan de Oro back in January.

She’s one of the youngest contestants in a field of highly accomplished women. I’ve seen the delegates up close and personal during their press presentation back in February at the Hilton Manila in Pasay City and at the Sponsors’ Night presented by Bingo Plus at The Manila Hotel in early May, which was graced by Miss Universe 2023 Sheynnis Palacios of Nicaragua.

Ahtisa (26), as always, is beauty incarnate. A complete package, she’s arguably The Girl to Beat. A compelling presence is the athlete Alexie Brooks (23) of Iloilo City, though I wish she wouldn’t channel Zozibini Tunzi (Miss Universe 2019) too much as that beauty template has triumphed already. A beguiling beauty is the Baguio lass Tarah Valencia (23). Cainta, Rizal’s Stacey Gabriel (25) is charm personified. With her strong catwalk skills, Palawan’s Raven Doctor (18) has proven to be a strong contender.

Victoria Velasquez Vincent (28) of Bacoor, Cavite, has that aristocratic air reminiscent of beauty queens from a de buena familia. Kayla Jean Carter (27) of Northern California is as articulate as she is captivating. Pampanga’s Cyrille Payumo (26) possesses that unique quality found in cinema’s screen sirens.

The lifting of age restrictions has enabled my other favorites such as Kris (34), Christi (33) and Christina de la Cruz Chalk (31) of the United Kingdom to pursue their Miss

Universe passions. As does married mother of two, Selena Antonio Reyes of Pasig (38).

ALL’S WELL AT the onset, as much as this bardagulan of beauties delighted fans, there was a certain sadness that some of the awesome women in contention would be wasted because there was only a single crown up for grabs.

However, the Miss Universe Philippines Organization and The Miss Philippines announced that four more crowns will be awarded after the MUPh pageant. A caveat: the four new titles hold restrictions.

Miss Supranational Philippines is only for 18 - 32 years of age who have never been married, divorced, or have children while Miss Charm Philippines I for 18 - 29 years of age with a minimum height of 168 cm (5’6).

Miss Eco International Philippines is for 20 - 31 years of age with a minimum height of 168 cm (5’6) while Miss Cosmo Philippines is for 18 - 30 years of age who are unmarried and childless.

ALL-IN

PIA WURTZBACH, Miss Universe 2015, went all-out for her support for her Binibini 2015 sister, Christi. Her “endorsement” was echoed by fellow queens Hannah Ruth

Andrea Brillantes manifests Beauty Milk Melon endorsement

Bea Borres. During Andrea’s introduction to the media as the face of Beauty Milk Melon, one of the revelations that Andrea made is that she loves this drink because she loves milk. It was also Bea Borres who hooked up Andrea with Dear Face CEO Jonah Sison-Ramos, who was happy to learn that the young actress wasn’t just a Beauty Milk Melon supporter but is also a Water sign like her. “Andrea’s commitment to selfcare and holistic wellness aligns perfectly with the brand’s values. We believe she will be able to inspire individuals to embrace a healthier lifestyle, try new things and enter into their new era of self-care as well,” said Sison-Ramos. “This collagen drink is more than just a beauty supplement, it’s a holistic approach to self-care,” she attested. Right now, Andrea is in a good place in terms of her health and wellbeing. She doesn’t workout but tries to stay active. She takes Beauty Milk Melon and this has helped her to sleep earlier.

The actress also believes in surrounding herself with good people to stay focused.

“Hindi na rin ako masyadong lumalabas [I don’t go out that much anymore],” said Andrea, who wore a lovely shade of yellow that looked good with her tan.

Beauty Milk Melon is a TikTok-viral drink that’s a favorite of beauty enthusiasts. It has ingredients which promote quality sleep, stronger hair, nails, muscles and joints, and good gut health. Its other benefits may include improving the quality of sleep and boosting radiance and skin elasticity.

Andrea takes Beauty Milk Melon twice a day dissolved in a glass of water.

NAIL CARE AS PART OF SELF-CARE

Aileen Magante, the operations manager of Nail Addik by Creative Nails, embarked on a partnership with CND (Creative Nail Design) Philippines in 2019. Initially tasked with supporting two branches of Nail Addik, Magante’s dedication and strategic vision

Sison, Samantha Bernardo, Ann Colis and Rogelie Catacutan. Even her former mother hen, Esther Swan, agreed. The outspoken Pia posted:

“Imagine being told your biggest dream is off-limits due to age. That to be Miss Universe, you’d have to be under 27. Not anymore.

“@christi.mcgarry and I go waaay way back in 2015 when we competed together 9 years ago and despite being ‘competitors’ during the pageant, we grew to be really good friends through the years. When I was going for Miss Universe, not even for a single moment did I feel she didn’t want me to win or that she wished for me to fail. Christi was always proud and supportive of me. Christi worked hard and had big dreams too. She knew one day her time would come. She wanted to be Miss Universe too.

“But last year, when the age limit was lifted, she had a chance again. With unwavering support, she’s back in the game. She’s built a career as a model, host, DJ, entrepreneur, environmental advocate...this girl isn’t afraid of the grind. I believe in her as much as she believed in me. Christi’s a well-rounded woman, respectable, kind, professional and and a STUNNER.

“I’m so proud of her growth and courage. If Miss Universe were tomorrow, she’d be ready.

“Our next Miss Universe might just be her.” n

led to the expansion of Nail Addik to 16 branches across the Philippines. Magante has remained steadfast in her commitment to maintain quality standards and uphold the values of the Nail Addik Way (Nail Addik’s standards following the CND nail care system).

For Aileen, the key to balancing motherhood and career lies in meticulous planning, effective delegation, and prioritizing self-care. Recognizing the importance of setting clear standards and fostering a supportive work environment, she emphasizes the need for balance and self-care.

One of her favorite rituals involves using CND’s Nail

and strengthening nail

DoubleDragon’s To T a l e q ui T y T o surpass p 1 00 billion for T h e firs T T i me in 2024

DoubleDragon is one of the very few companies that has not only positioned a diversified hard asset portfolio spread out across the Philippines; it also happens to be one of the very few that has organically developed a novel assetlight concept and highly unique business model in Hotel101 (H b n b ) that is portable and exportable to other continents globally. The export of Hotel101 is expected to eventually become one of the major u S Dollar inflow generator to the Philippine economy

DoubleDragon Corporation is expected to exceed P100 b i llion in Total e q uity for the first time this year 2024. The Company is positioned to become one of the few companies in the Philippines with Total e q uity at 12 digit level.

DoubleDragon Corporation is also one of the few companies in the Philippines with credit rating P r S a a a (Triple a ) from Philippine r a ting Services Corporation, the highest rating tier by Phil r a tings.

DoubleDragon’s string of titled investment properties strategically planted in prime locations spread out in l u zon, Visayas, Mindanao and o v erseas serves as its strong underlying solid foundation.

o n top of its string of diversified hard assets portfolio in the Philippines, DoubleDragon happens to be one of the few companies in the Philippines that was able to organically develop a novel and unique business model and brand in Hotel101 that is highly portable and exportable to multiple continents.

The upcoming Hotel101 g lobal listing in the uS to further strengthen DoubleDragon’s

balance sheet.

DoubleDragon Corporation recently reported Consolidated n e t Income grew

+23.25% year-on-year to P15.93 b i llion for the year ending December 31, 2023, with Consolidated r e venues at P24.74 b i llion for the same period.

Total a s sets of the Company are up

+15.59% year-on-year to P181.24 b i llion as of December 31, 2023. Total e q uity grew

+15.88% year-on-year to P94.57 b i llion as of December 31, 2023. DoubleDragon’s Debt-to- e q uity ratio stood at a very healthy 0.64x as of December 31, 2023.

In less than 10 year, DoubleDragon has completed over 1.3 million square meters of diversified asset portfolio consisting of a chain of provincial community malls in l u zon, Visayas and Mindanao, office buildings in Metro Manila, hotels in the Philippines and overseas, and warehouse complexes around the country.

DoubleDragon is one of the few companies that operates its modern community malls in the countryside, as far as Cotabato City, Koronadal City, Dipolog City in Zamboanga Del norte and Isulan Sultan Kudarat that further stimulates the countryside local economy, but at the same time enables the positive economic growth to be felt by the real provincial countryside. DoubleDragon is one of the very few companies that has commercial investment as far as b a silan Sulu in the b a ngsamoro a utonomous r e gion.

DoubleDragon’s nationwide Philippine portfolio of titled hard assets footprint strategically located in l u zon, Visayas and Mindanao, is expected to fully mature by 2025.

new RaFI Microfinance CEO Vows to Boost Support for

Pinoy Microentrepreneurs

Ra M O n a b oitiz Foundation Inc., (R a F I) Microfinance, Inc. recently announced the appointment of its new CEO, Tom Kocsis.

With his leadership, R a F I Microfinance as a social enterprise is poised for sustainable growth, dedicated to enhancing the lives of its clients and advancing financial inclusion.

“Despite challenges, Filipinos are resilient entrepreneurs, needing only market and financial access,” said Kocsis.

Kocsis brings with him substantial experience that will guide him in his new role, along with a proven record of accomplishment of leadership

in retail banking and SME relationship management in the United States and the microfinance industry in a f rica.

He has vast experience in launching diverse digital access channels, creating, and offering innovative deposit solutions, and leading major technology projects, including impact finance operations in South a m erica and India.

Kocsis is committed to leading the organization and its mission toward continued growth and impact by expanding its reach and strengthening partnerships, while upholding the highest standards of regulatory compliance.

Lenovo study reveals why CEOs, CIOs are often misaligned on aI

aRECE n T study by Lenovo has revealed a notable divide between CEOs and CIOs concerning the strategic deployment and scaling of a r tificial Intelligence ( a I ) within companies. This issue emerges amidst the rapid a I adoption in a S E a n markets, including the Philippines, where a I has been growing at a compound annual growth rate of about 40 percent.

Driven by a fear of falling behind competitors, many executives are aggressively pursuing a I integration, resulting in plans to increase a I s pending by 45 percent in 2024 compared to the previous year. CIOs, however, are grappling with more immediate operational challenges such as cybersecurity, talent retention which are further complicated with emerging technologies like g e nerative a I ( g e n a I ). With limited budgets and

a risk-sensitive outlook, nine percent of CIOs even view a initiatives as a potential distraction.

Lenovo’s comprehensive survey involved 900 IT and business decision-makers and was particularly focused on the impact of g e n a I . The study provides critical insights as to why there are differing outlooks within the C-suite regarding the technology’s potential and challenges. Some of the key insights from the study include:

n Surge in a I Investment: Companies are significantly increasing their a I budgets, with a 45 percent rise in spending, indicating a rush to capitalize on a I technologies.

n Mixed perceptions about a I ’s potential: While 46 percent of CIOs believe in a I ’s transformative impact, their enthusiasm is tempered by practical

DoubleDragon expects its Hotel101 subsidiary being an a s set-light business model to become one of the major homegrown brand and business model e x port to other countries that would generate a significant u S Dollar inflow to the Philippines.

Hotel101 is also expected to further elevate the globally renowned Filipino brand of hospitality to each of the country where Hotel101 eventually operates.

DoubleDragon Corporation’s principal shareholders are Injap Investments Inc led by Mang Inasal Founder e d gar Injap Sia II and Honeystar Holdings Corp led by Jollibee Founder Tony Tan Caktiong.

“DoubleDragon, despite being a relatively newer player in a highly competitive industry dominated by long established giants that came way many decades ahead, is grateful for the grit and hard work of our team and support of all our stakeholders that enabled DoubleDragon to demonstrate that the business landscape of the Philippines is a playing field that allows entrepreneurs to thrive, inspiring more and more entrepreneurs to build more start-ups and push it forward to eventually become large entrenched players over time,” said DoubleDragon Chairman e d gar “Injap” Sia II.

a s an entrepreneur myself who started in the province, I firmly believe that a country that produces a continuous flow of new players that are able to grow and not just a handful of old players is vital for a robust and healthy economy that will contribute towards a First World Philippines,” added Injap Sia.

R a F I Microfinance, a program under the Economic Well-Being Cluster of R a F I, has been dedicated to empowering and supporting microentrepreneurs nationwide for the past 25 years.

considerations of deployment and effectiveness.

n CIOs’ reserved stance on g e n a I : Despite the excitement around g e n a I , it ranks only fourth on the technology priority list for CIOs, who remain cautious about its current stage of maturity and integration challenges.

n Preference for secured cloud environments: a significant 69 percent of CIOs prefer hosting a I workloads in non-public cloud environments, indicating a strategic preference for controlled, secure computing spaces.

n Challenges in securing a I talents: a b out 45 percent of CIOs report difficulties in hiring for a I -related roles, which is crucial for driving a I i nnovation and implementation.

“We recognize the challenges that come with adopting a I as much as we also acknowledge the immense potential it can bring to our business and people,” says Michael n g an, g e neral Manager of Lenovo Philippines. “a s the landscape of a I r apidly evolves, it’s imperative for organizations to navigate the complexities with a unified vision,” he shared.

Lenovo’s solid infrastructure solutions, together with a vast network of independent software vendors (ISVs), guarantee seamless and adaptable a I implementations suitable for companies of varying sizes. Moreover, through Lenovo’s a I Innovators Program, a collaboration with leading software partners, Lenovo delivers tailor-made, ready-to-implement a I s olutions that span the entirety of customer operations.

Last year, the global service provider unveiled its comprehensive vision “a I for a l l” at the 9th g l obal Tech World Event in a u stin, Texas. For more information, visit www.lenovo.com/ph/en/.

Magna Prime Chemical Technologies, Inc., a prominent figure in the construction and chemical industry, has successfully realized its goal of acquiring an ISO 9001:2015, certified by S g S Philippines, the world’s leading testing, inspection, and certification company. Fueled by its passion for excellence and the steadfast determination to fortify its position in the market, the company finally gained international acclaim.

This means that Magna Prime observes and stands by the requirements and follows the fundamental concepts and principles of the ISO quality management system (QMS) effectively and efficiently. With this standard, the company is confident and always poised to provide quality products and services.

“It is to see our country be at par with worldclass construction chemical products,” says Magna Prime’s main man, inventor, and a g ora aw ardee Derrick Tan, as he mused over the company’s motivation to pursue an ISO certification.

Recognizing the importance of ISO, Tan underscores the pivotal role of delegation within the organization:

a s signing the appropriate task to capable individuals is crucial. a s the company expands, without well-established systems and processes, chaos ensues. ISO serves as a resolution for a streamlined organization poised for sustainable growth and success,” he said.

With ISO certification, Magna Prime guarantees that its expansion is supported by efficient processes, enabling it to sustain high standards of efficiency and quality amidst growth, thereby solidifying its standing as a frontrunner in the global construction chemical products market.

Tan emerged as a pioneering inventor, boasting four patents that seamlessly address the challenges and alleviate the concerns within the construction industry.

“Magna Prime now owns three successful brands—Buildrite Construction Chemicals, Sinclair Paints, and Max Bond a d hesives. By bridging the gaps, educating the industry, and innovating new products and methodologies, we established the construction chemical category in the Philippines.” Tan continues.

Magna Prime’s success underscores its steadfast commitment to quality, exemplified by ISO 9001:2015. Their QMS ensures excellence across operations—from product development, manufacturing, sales and distribution, and service delivery, to customer relations, ensuring satisfaction for both business partners and customers—guaranteeing unparalleled quality in every touchpoint of the business.

“We maintain up-to-date processes, equipped

with instruments and testing methods that meet and exceed industry standards,” Tan added.

Furthering the company’s commitment to excellence, Magna Prime is consistently proactive in maintaining its standards by tightening Supplier a c creditation to ensure the highest quality raw materials and strengthening the Customer Relations team for more hands-on service. Within the organization, the company is also resolute in establishing precise departmental Quality Objectives, fortifying each team through strategic reorganization, augmenting Risk and Opportunity Management to alleviate future challenges, and acquiring new laboratory equipment to ensure adherence to a S TM standards for all products.

These stand as a testament to Magna Prime’s dedication, ensuring that each process and service offered are streamlined to deliver exceptional quality consistently.

a s Magna Prime ascends to reinforce its prominence towards global standardization, its unwavering commitment to its core values—Hiya, Malasakit, Tiyaga, and Malikhain—remains steadfast. This commitment extends to ensuring that all product and service quality strictly follow international benchmarks.

“We need to get ourselves organized, because if we would not be organized in our own home, how can we go external? How will the market trust us?” emphasizes Tan, reflecting the company’s dedication to maintaining integrity and excellence in both domestic and international markets.

In its pursuit of excellence and fortification within the market, Magna Prime Chemical Technologies, Inc. achieved this significant milestone guided by its founder, Derrick Tan, the company now stands shoulder-to-shoulder with global leaders in construction chemical products.

TWU x SIHOO launches flagship showroom at ayala Malls

TWU Furniture Corporation (Things We Use PH), together with Shenzhen Sihoo Intelligent Furniture Co., Ltd., (Sihoo), launched TWU x Sihoo, its flagship showroom in the Philippines. Prior to this initiative, TWU was already the official distributor of Sihoo branded products in the Philippines.

“We are pleased to finally have a place for people to experience the difference and the possibilities of living with ergonomic solutions, and how this could fit into their everyday lives,” shares Rose Sunga, Co-Founder of TWU, “To find a partner in Sihoo is a privilege, since we share the same values and mission of bringing exceptional products to enhance people’s health and comfort.”

TWU started in 2020 when founders Rose Sunga and a l drich Tang saw a need to address the demand for ergonomic solutions in a market moving towards a sedentary lifestyle. Since it started, they largely sold their products online. Market response was overwhelmingly positive, a signal that people were ready to invest more on their health and comfort. The company is now taking its mission to a new level with the launch of its showroom, an avenue for people to experience the difference of using products with sophisticated engineering in mind.

“It’s only too easy for people to overlook the

Manila Bay

little adjustments and changes they can do to improve their efficiency and well-being. We believe that leveraging technology and engineering, and curating a portfolio of products that make use of these elements could make a difference to so many, whether it’s for work, medical, or recreational purposes,” says a l drich Tang, co-founder of TWU. Sihoo specializes in crafting furniture imbued with advanced intelligent engineering principles as demonstrated in its line of ergonomic chairs and standing desks. Whether it’s for gaming, home office, or on-site offices, it enables users to work or game with proper support and comfort. all products are subjected to Business + Institutional Furniture Manufacturers a s sociation (BIFMa) standards, alongside additional certifications: ISO quality management system certification, CQC attestation, and S g S international certification inspection standards.To further their commitment, the Sihoo Ergonomics Research Institute was also built for continuous research.

The showroom marks a significant milestone for TWU and Sihoo, a joint commitment to innovation, customer experience, and dedication to excellence. With its sleek design, interactive displays, and knowledgeable personnel, the showroom promises premium first-hand experience of ergonomic solutions to its customers.

Tom Kocsis

www.businessmirror.com.ph

My daily app companion—Viber

WHAT app on your phone can’t you live without?

Given its 71 percent user penetration rate in the Philippines, it would be hard to find a single Filipino who is not yet a user of the leading communications app Rakuten Viber. This application is one convenient tool for maintaining connections, both in my professional and personal life.

As a leading app in the Philippines, Viber stands out for its reliability, user-friendly features, and ability to bring people together. Just last year the super app reported 106 percent growth in the Philippines owing to new features focused on serving both individual users and businesses.

“Knowing and responding to these personal and business communication needs of our users has resulted in growth in the usage of new features and solutions. This growth tells us we are on the right track in always prioritizing our customers,” said Senior Director APAC at Rakuten Viber David Tse.

In our agency, since Viber has been our client for several years now, even before the pandemic, we have been constant and consistent users of Viber in our daily chats, internally, and with our clients too.

Have I already mentioned that I have at least 25 different Viber groups composed of family, friends, social circles, church, and professional groups that I often have a difficult time tracing where I received a particular message? It’s true and I’m sure many of you can relate to that. The key is to name each group uniquely so you don’t get confused.

I am also sure you’ve also used or heard people use ‘Viber’ as a verb, with people saying “please Viber me!” as a way to invite others to stay connected. While I've been a Viber user for years, I’m still discovering new uses for the app. For example, everyone knows you can use it to text and call. And to share photos! But how many know it has a suite of productivity-enhancing features and even a chatbot for

Serving coffee for the love of it at Sulok co ffee

MANILA, PHILIPPINES—Caf -

feine is not a fix at Sulok Coffee.

The specialty coffee cart conducts its business away from the many notions associated with popular coffee culture: fuel, palpitation, and caffeine kick. For its Founder and Managing Director Miguel Vasquez, not participating in that rat race has brought him fulfillment in unexpected ways. He takes each sip as a reminder to take things slow—a rest from the

noise, a respite from the flurry.

“I use coffee as a means of slow living,” Miguel shared with adobo Magazine. Whether a leisurely sip in the morning, or that comforting break from work on the day throughout, coffee plays a role in not overfilling his days, something that he decided to share through his pop-up coffee cart.

Despite Sulok being one year young, coffee is embedded in Miguel’s childhood. Growing up in a family of professed coffee addicts, he has no shortage of experiences involving the drink. From enjoying the Makati café chain that offered the first latte art in the country to working part-time as a barista, he knew that his pas -

sending small treats?

Productivity features

A L o NG -T IME mainstay of the Viber app is My Notes. It’s a helpful and easy-to-use feature found just above your chats. It can be used to send and forward messages to yourself for later and even set reminders with a simple right-click. It’s great for jotting down a note for appointments or even to pick up chicken and veggies from the grocery and then having it notify you of the reminder a few hours later. I know someone who has completed doing a book by using My Notes while on the go.

folders

To help declutter your online conversations, Viber also released Folders. As the name implies, Folders allows you to sort different conversations into select folders marked “Work,” “Family,” “Friends,” and so forth. This feature reduces the risk of sending messages to the wrong recipients. If, like me, you often juggle multiple conversations, it’s a valuable asset to have.

ai on viber oF co urse, you can hardly talk about productivity these days without mentioning the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). According to the average of findings from three separate studies, AI enhances employee productivity by 66 percent. These studies found that AI allowed workers to take on increased volumes of work while also improving the quality of their final output.

Viber has certainly taken note of AI’s usefulness, recently releasing an AI Chat Summarizer that uses technology from ChatGPT creators o p enAI to quickly scan through your messages and present a brief summary of what you may have missed. It’s a handy tool for catching up on group chats and ensuring you’re never behind.

Share treats

Bu T n ot all features on Viber focus solely on productivity.

sion always leaned towards sharing quality coffee.

“In 1997, we were at the opening of the first ever Starbucks [in the Philippines]. Me, my lolo, and my dad, were at the opening at 6750 Makati, and my lolo ordered coffee. At the time I couldn’t drink coffee, so I ordered hot milk with cinnamon,” he recounted. This early encounter was followed by a lifetime of coffee devotion: scouring shops for beans, café hopping, planning overseas trips with café pilgrimage in which he would imagine his own shop someday.

“Coffee is such an exciting world, because it gives you different taste palates depending on what you want.”

o t hers, like the Treats on Viber chatbot, help users show kindness and gratitude to one another. This special chatbot, made in partnership with Korean onlineto-offline mobile commerce company Share Treats, allows users to send and request treats from popular brands via online gift cards and passes, including food chains, shopping destinations, and services, making sharing gifts online as easy as sending a message. u s ers just have to subscribe to the Treats on Viber chatbot, select a brand and treat, send their payment for the treat, and then send the treat to friends or family, or request treats from contacts.

What makes Viber especially helpful is its emphasis on privacy and security. Personal chats and calls are encrypted end-to-end, meaning not even Viber can read messages as they go from sender

Much like how coffee connoisseurs have made drinks an extension of their personalities, Miguel shared that there is no universal perfect cup of coffee. The same way everyone has a favorite ice cream flavor, “coffee is more of a unique taste per individual.”

“The perfect cup is a cup you enjoy and brings you joy,” Miguel said. In Sulok’s case, they craft the balance in each drink: not too sugary, not too milky, but with each flavor profile present. With every grind of the espresso machine, the hissing of the milk steaming, Sulok serves well thought-out classic options or its signature take Tisoy (Espresso with vanilla and condensed milk) or Ma -

to recipient. More importantly, Viber maintains it does not retain messages on servers, uses secure connections, and does not sell customer information.

It’s important to highlight that all the mentioned features are completely free to access. There have been some concerns in the past among my friends about potential charges for maintaining Viber features, such as group chats. But it should be clear that any attempt to charge you for these features is a scam. So please don’t believe it when you receive a text saying Viber will start charging for future texts.

All in all, Viber isn’t just a convenient app to have on your phone.

In my case it’s become an integral part of my daily life, strengthening my connectivity and empowering my connections to other people in every way. I’m certain it can do the same for many of us, if only we

nila Sky Latte (an espresso with vanilla and hint of cinnamon.)

Miguel chalks it up to the person behind the counter— or in this case, the cart—who scrupulously crafts each drink from beans to cup. A good barista tends to the calibration of the machine, he explained. “What people often overlook is a good barista that can calibrate the beans every day, every event to perfection. Calibration is one of the most important things that you will need because that actually brings out the flavor of the coffee.”

Sulok distinguishes itself from the rapidly rising coffee culture with its very ethos: hinay-hinay lang. Roughly trans -

took the trouble of investigating all its capabilities. For more information, you may check Viber’s other features here: https://www.viber.com/en/ features/

PR Matters is a roundtable column by members of the local chapter of the United Kingdom-based International Public Relations Association (Ipra), the world’s premiere association for senior communications professionals around the world. Joy Lumawig-Buensalido is the President and CEO of Buensalido PR and Communications. She was past Chairman of the IPRA Philippine chapter for two terms.

PR Matters is devoting a special column each month to answer our readers’ questions about public relations. Please send your questions or comments to askipraphil@ gmail.com.

lating to take it slow, but also be gradual, the phrase was his consideration when developing the Sulok brand: somewhat equivalent to the siesta, or the habitual tambay when around good company.

“If you’re having a bad day and you just want to have your favorite cup of coffee for 10 minutes, you’ll feel good.”

With a concise drinks menu and neat concept, Sulok shows promise from its humble corner coffee cart. Whether they go the way of the instantly booming coffee kiosks, Sulok is not one to partake in the people-pleasing approach of business. Miguel shared, “Take out the pressure and fill that cup with enjoyment and passion.”

g if ting with Share treats on v ber

ai chat summarizer

B8

mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph

Editor:

Obiena, Yulo strike golds

By Josef Ramos

Eof

University of California Los Angeles, beating Norway’s Simon Guttormsen, who only mark his season best 5.70 meters.

Five Americans also got to 5.70m but KC Lightfoot bagged the bronze medal after the countback.

The event didn’t last long as the other athletes finished their campaign at 5.70,” said Obiena’s physiotherapist Antonio Guglietta in a chat message to the BusinessMirror “ He was left alone at 5.80, we prefer a finish like this to safeguard his health,” Guglietta said. “There was no need to take risks for the first event of the season.”

Obiena started at 5.45 then 5.60 and 5.70 en route to the gold medalclinching 5.80 meters to redeem

himself from a ninth-place finish at the world indoors in Glasgow last March.

I’m so proud of him, what a way to start the outdoor build up to Paris,”

Obiena’s confidante Jim Lafferty said. “A very tough field and he walked away with the win.”

Obiena’s qualified for the Paris Olympics in July along with 11 other Filipino athletes.

L auren Hoffman, meanwhile, placed fifth in the women’s 400 meters hurdles at 55.84 seconds also at Drake, bolstering her ranking points for Paris.

The US’s Anna Cockrell won gold in 53.75 seconds, Jamaica’s Andrenette Knight bagged silver in 54.69 and another American, Cassandra Tate, got bronze in 55.02.

H offman, 25, is currently No. 27 in the women’s 400 hurdle rankings, well inside the top 40 cutoff for the Olympics.

Yulo gets 2nd gold in Tashkent

CARLOS YULO annexed the men’s floor exercise gold medal to the allaround title to assert his reputation as one of the most dominant gymnasts in the continent.

the final was off the 15.233 points he tallied in the qualifying round, it was enough for the 24-year-old former twotime world champion to bring home two gold medals from the Asian Gymnastics Men’s Artistic Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

I’m so excited to watch how Carlos [Yulo] progressed in this competition,” Gymnastics Association of the Philippines president Cynthia Carrion told BusinessMirror on Sunday. “He’s getting better every day.”

T he Olympics-bound Yulo sent fellow Paris qualifier Milad Karimi of Kazakhstan to second place with 14,600 and Yang Yanzhi of China to third place with 14,200 points.

Yulo, who now has three floor exercise gold medal in continental competitions, however, finished sixth in the rings with 13,533 points, but was in the final of vault, parallel bars and horizontal bar that were played late Sunday.

A lso qualified for Paris are Aleah Finnegan and Levi Jung-Ruivivar.

Asian cycling body honors Tolentino

THE Asian Cycling Confederation (ACC) will confer on PhilCycling president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino the 2024 ACC Merit Award during the continental body’s Congress next month in Kazakhstan.

ACC secretary-general Onkar Singh informed Tolentino of the award in a correspondence dated May 16.

The Executive Committee of the Asian Cycling Confederation has decided to confer the 2024 ACC Merit Award for your exemplary service towards the development of the sport of cycling in your region,” Singh said in his letter to Tolentino.

“ I feel honored,” said Tolentino, president of the Philippine Olympic Committee who was first elected president of the PhilCycling in 2008.

T he ACC Congress is scheduled on June 6 at the Hotel Kazakhstan in Almaty. Under Tolentino’s watch at PhilCycling, Daniel Caluag raced in men’s BMX racing at the London 2012 Olym-

Constantino

home course in Villamor Golf Club

HA lthough Yulo’s 14,933 points in

C ambodia Southeast Asian Games gold medalist John Ivan Cruz, meanwhile, finished fourth in the floor exercise with 13,966 score.

Evangelista, Melencio, Santor top COPA swim meet

AISHEL EVANGELISTA , Patrica Mae Santor and Ricielle Maleeka

Melencio were handed the Most Outstanding Swimmer awards on Sunday at the close of the Congress of Philippine Aquatics “One For AllAll For One” National Capital Region Swimming Championship at the Teofilo Yldefonso Swimming Center inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

The 14-year-old Evangelista, a Grade 8 student at the University of Santo Tomas, topped the boys’ 200-meter butterfly in two minutes and 20.16 seconds, the 100m backstroke in 1:07.94 a nd the 50m freestyle in 26.83.

E vangelista finished with eight gold medals and one silver in the three-day tournament sanctioned by the Philippine Aquatics Inc. (PAI) and supported by Speedo and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).

Melencio dominated the girls 18over class, clocking 1:11.21 to win the 100m backstroke over Raven Alcoseba (1:11.96) and Dianna Cruz (1:17.31). She won the 50m free in 28.97, beating against Milcah Mina (29.17) and Shairinne Floriano (29.51).

M elencio, an Ateneo freshman, earlier won the 400m IM (5:30.21), 200m freestyle (2:17.63), and

PVL breaks new ground with first-ever Rookie Draft

100m free (1:02.76).

S antor, a member of the Philip pine Team in the Asian Age Group t ilt last February in Clark, won the girls’ 16-under 200m butterfly (2:27.53) over Savinnah O liveros (2:42.38).

The 16-year-old Santor also won the 400m Individual Medley (5:21.84), 200m freestyle ( 2:18.47), 100m freestyle (1:04.16), 100m butterfly (1:06.89), while leading the squad in the 400m medley relay (4:56.87). She had a silver medal in the 100m breaststroke.

the AFC will pick fifth to 12th in descending order.

ARMIE CONSTANTINO shoots for a third straight victory on the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour (LPGT) in the International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) Villamor Ladies Philippine Masters unfolding Tuesday at the Villamor Golf Club in Pasay City.

T HE Premier Volleyball League (PVL) will hold its first-ever Rookie Draft on July 6 that will be a landmark event designed to boost team rosters with fresh talent and enhance the league’s competitive balance. T his comes on the heels of another successful PVL All-Filipino Conference (AFC) where Creamline beat Choco Mucho for its fourth straight AFC championship and eighth overall crown. The draft will allow teams to select players who have not previously competed in the league with the order of selection determined by a lottery for the first round and a reverse ranking based on the previous AFC standings for subsequent rounds.

players for a fairer acquisition process.

The draft lottery is also intended to discourage “tanking”—deliberately losing games to secure a higher draft pick—by not automatically awarding the top pick to the worst-performing team.

A fter Creamline and Choco Mucho, the order of the draft is Petro Gazz first, then Chery Tiggo, PLDT, Cignal, Akari, Nxled, Farm Fresh, Galeries Tower, Capital1 and Strong Group. One of the draft’s primary goals is to prevent bidding wars between teams for

S trong Group will have a 40-percent chance of nabbing the first pick in the lottery scheduled to take place on June 24, followed by Capital1 (30 percent), Galeries (20 percent) and Farm Fresh (10 percent).

Teams ranked eighth to first in

The second and subsequent rounds will follow the reverse order of the AFC standings, with the team having the worst record picking first. Drafts are the great equalizer in pro leagues,” PVL commissioner Sherwin Malonzo said. “This season, we will hold our first-ever draft with guidelines influenced by some of the top leagues in the world.”

E ligibility for the draft requires applicants to be at least 21 years old by December 31, 2024, with no necessity for collegiate playing experience or academic qualifications.

but the way it ended says much of what he brought into this Liverpool club—exciting, heavy metal football, never say die. Then Joe Allen scored the equalizer, 3-3, with scant seconds to spare while the snow was falling down. It was surreal. Anfield went nuts. I went nuts.  Just like Klopp’s stay in Liverpool. I n that post-match press conference, I got to speak to Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger and Klopp, and that made me happy. In fact, in my time covering football, I got to speak to Jurgen five times. We got a selfie and he signed a Liverpool DVD for me. He even acknowledged the shirt that I wore that first time around—it was the last shirt on sale at the LFC shop in Anfield that said, “The Normal One” which is how Jurgen described himself.  How lucky can a

where Go finished joint 22nd and Fortuna withdrew in the second round because of the extreme heat.

W hile recent rains have provided some respite, the weather forecast for the week in Pasay City isn’t comforting, adding another layer of challenge and excitement to the title chase.

A dding to Constantino’s advantage is her familiarity with the course she calls home—she beat top amateur Rianne Malixi in sudden death in the 2022 Match Play Championship under rainy conditions.

Completing the cast are Gretchen Villacencio, Apple Fudolin, Rev Alcantara, Kristine Fleetwood, Lucy Landicho, Velinda Castil and Kayla Nocum. Some pros will also participate in the pro-am tournament today (Monday), joining amateur players and guests from the sponsoring ICTSI and other key supporters of the event.

ERNEST JOHN “EJ” OBIENA attracts fans at the University of California Los Angeles’s Drake Stadium as Carlos Yulo makes it a two gold medal haul in Tashkent.

HARMIE CONSTANTINO is the player to beat in the 54-hole championship which offers a top purse of P750,000.

Chair Dickie rides Philippine Sports Commission chair Richard “Dickie” Bachmann (red shirt) rides the inaugural Shopwise Bike Fest at the Vermosa Sports Hub in Imus City, Cavite, that attracted an impressive 2,243 cycling enthusiasts.

RICIELLE MALEEKA MELENCIO with swimming icon Eric Buhain.

CYCLING president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino gets a merit award.