BusinessMirror May 29, 2023

NGCP opens ₧10-B transmission line

By Lenie Lectura @llectura

THE National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has finally energized the Hermosa-San Jose 500-kiloVolt (kV) transmission line, an Energy Project of National Significance  (EPNS) valued at P10.2 billion and is crucial to the Luzon grid.

“ The Hermosa-San Jose 500kV project is a major component in our planned Luzon 500kV transmission backbone. Despite many challenges, our teams worked 24/7 to complete this facility. With the energiza -

tion of the line comes the improved transmission from generation sources towards the load center Metro Manila and nearby provinces,” said NGCP in a statement on Sunday.

T he 500kV Hermosa-San Jose line, which spans the provinces of Bulacan, Pampanga, and Bataan, will strengthen transmission services and accommodate new bulk power generation from the Bataan area.  It was energized at 7:22 a.m. of May 27.

B esides the new transmission line from Bulacan to Bataan, the project includes the construction of a new Hermosa 500kV Substation, which will enable better volt -

age regulation and power transfer from existing 230kV facilities in the area.

T he project was provisionally approved by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) with a cost of  P10.2 billion. However, the ERC has only allowed the partial recovery of P9 million or less than one percent of the actual project cost.

Given the urgent need to widen the transmission highway along the Bataan corridor, NGCP implemented the HSJ, setting aside for later, the issue on recovery approvals from the ERC. “Our priority has and will always be doing what is best for the public.

Financial considerations can take a back seat and be threshed out later,” said Henry Sy Jr., major stockholder and the company’s former president and CEO. “We hope to correct the impression that the consumers are somehow shortchanged with how rates are computed. Our commitment has never wavered: we serve the public, and we work within the legal and regulatory framework of our concession and franchise,” Sy emphasized.

NGCP is slated to complete other critical projects in Visayas and Mindanao in the coming months.

BusinessMirror

NG EARNINGS FROM TAX REFORMS HIT P200B IN ‘22

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

THEnational government’s earnings last year from the various tax reforms of the previous administration, like the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion [TRAIN] law, expanded by more than a quarter to over P200 billion on the back of the opening of the economy.

I nternal Revenue data released by the Department of Finance (DOF) showed that cumulative taxes collected from the various tax reform packages last year reached P202.8 billion, 26.35 percent over the P160.5 billion recorded in 2021.

“ The total collection was 26.3 percent or P42.3 billion higher than the 2021 full-year incremental revenue of P160.5 billion on the back of full economic recovery due to lifting of stringent quarantine measures,” the DOF said in a recent statement.

L ast year’s collection brought the total additional revenues generated by the government from the various tax reforms, which started with the TRAIN law in 2018, to P709.9 billion.

T he DOF data showed that revenues from almost all tax packages in effect posted increased collections last year.

Total collections from the TRAIN Law amounted to P216.5 billion in 2022, 27 percent or P45.5 billion higher than the 2021 collection of P171.0 billion,” the finance department said.

See “NG,” A2

BACOLOD TOURISM BACK IN BUSINESS; ARRIVALS PICK UP

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

Virna Ascalona Tan is pretty excited about the brisk business among tour operators and guides these days. “Our association [of tour operators in Negros Occidental] usually coordinates requests from

Manila-based travel agencies, and many of our tour guides are so busy, some cannot accommodate the growing demand. So it’s a good sign that everyone is not so free!” she told the BusinessMirror

B ased on data provided by the city tourism office, it appears Bacolod is indeed back in business. Last year, visitor arrivals were recorded at 618,612, of which 587,695 were do -

mestic travelers, and foreign travelers accounted for almost 31,000. This was already 77 percent of the pre-pandemic arrivals of 803,911 in 2019. Last year’s arrivals also generated close to P11.7 million in visitor receipts, which is 75 percent of the P15.8 million earned by the economy from tourism in 2019.

W ith this, Jessamine Marielle L. Madayag, Bacolod City’s senior tour -

PIT collection grows 28.6%   on reopening of economy

THE national government’s personal income tax (PIT) collections last year rose by 28.6 percent on an annual basis to P623.7 billion due to the reopening of the economy coupled by a more efficient collection system.

B ureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) data submitted to the Department of Finance showed that the national government’s PIT collections last year grew P138.5 billion from the P485.2 billion recorded in 2021. Collections further in 2022 as the economy fully reopened with the lifting of quarantine restrictions which further increased demand for labor,” the DOF said in a recent statement.

T he DOF noted that the employment rate in December last year improved to 95.7 percent while the unemployment rate was at its lowest in more than 22 years at 4.3 percent or since April 2005.

ism operations officer, projects arrivals this year to reach “700,000, with some 70,000 to 100,000” accounted for by visitors during the Masskara Festival in October.

T he city brought back the festival for the first time last year, since the pandemic closures. She added, after the Bacolod Chicken Inasal Festival over the weekend, other major festivals seen bringing in tourists this year

See “Bacolod,” A2

T he DOF added that better collections from self-employed and professionals (SEPs) boosted the overall earnings from PITs, offsetting the reduction in income taxes of the 99 percent of income taxpayers because of the TRAIN law.

PIT collections from SEPs last year reached P285.8 billion, 39 percent more than the P205.5 billion the government earned in 2021, based on the DOF-BIR data.

“ The improved collection is attributed to the TRAIN Law provisions. In particular, the TRAIN law provides an option to SEPs to pay a simpler flat tax of eight percent

See “PIT,” A2

PRIDE Arnis students practice their craft in front of the iconic Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, Cavite—the very place where the Philippine Declaration of Independence from Spain was proclaimed on June 12, 1898. As the nation commemorates National Flag Day on May 28, their mirrored reflections remind us of the indomitable spirit that flows through generations. NONIE REYES

EU-Asean biz council pins hopes on EU-PHL FTA

By Andrea E. San Juan

commence anew within the year, saying Europe is “lagging behind ‘’ other partners of Southeast Asian countries in terms of FTAs.

“ I would hope they can announce the recommencement this year, I think it’s very important. Europe is lagging behind other partners of Southeast Asia in terms of FTAs. We need more negotiations,” EU-Asean Business Council Executive Director Chris Humphrey told reporters on the sidelines of the recent European-Philippine Business Dialogue media briefing.

Humphrey noted that FTA discussions with the Philippines are “easiest” compared to some of its counterparts within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations

(Asean) region.

[From] the discussions I’ve had previously, with the administration here, and from the comments that the President made in Brussels in December, it is quite clear that some of those obstacles for the Philippines are not that big,” the EU-Asean Business Council official said.

He said the “ambition gap” between Europe and the Philippines is “much closer” than it is between Europe and some of the Asean countries.

Hence, he added, “I think an FTA negotiation with the Philippines

Continued from A1

Our stakeholders can be assured that we will continue our grid improve -

would progress more quickly and will stand a chance of being done relatively fast and relatively fast in FTA terms means probably … I think the chance here is there.”

When the talks were running a few years ago, progress has been made. If you talk to the negotiators on the EU side like I have done, their view is we think we can move quite briskly with the Philippines,” he said.

A month ahead of Trade Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual’s European Investment Mission, Humphrey said, “We’ll be using that as another opportunity to push the case.” He quoted European businesses as citing the need to re-commence negotiations. Moreover, he said “there’s a lot of pressure now being applied on the European Commission for that to happen.”

He added, “You need the FTA in place to enable you to keep trading with Europe and get more investments from Europe as well.”

For Europe, he said “the advantages are clear,” as the Philippines is a “great place to come and do business. We all know that. You are having a tremendous growth rate. You’ve got a marvelous workforce, you have huge actual resources, you

ment, expansion, and reinforcement initiatives to deliver quality and reliable transmission servic -

have great potential.”

A s for the sectors that could benefit from an FTA between Europe and the Philippines, “I think anybody who’s manufacturing goods, agricultural sector will be beneficial for the Philippines, you know, to export more agricultural products to Europe, under an FTA.”

In return, he said, the European businesses “coming in renewable energy; energy efficiency areas are going to be huge ones for them. You would hope also, that automotive can do a lot more here from Europe, particularly with a push towards electrification.”

I n a statement last week, Trade Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual said the Philippines is “keen on pursuing the resumption of negotiations concerning the Philippines-EU FTA.  Pascual stressed that a successful negotiation of the FTA will provide these benefits: Help the Philippines secure additional duty-free market access beyond those covered by the [EU Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus] EU GSP+ scheme; Provide a conducive framework for attracting greater investments from the EU; and put the Philippines on a par with other Asean countries aggressively pursuing FTAs with the EU.

es,” said NGCP.  S enator Sherwin Gatchalian  earlier urged the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to penalize the NGCP for delayed transmission projects that adversely impact the country’s electricity supply.

“ I strongly suggest to the commission to enforce fines and penalties so we can impose discipline on NGCP. We are not seeing discipline because a lot of projects are delayed,” Gatchalian said, referring to the delayed projects of NGCP that include backbone projects.

A t a recent public hearing conducted by the Senate Committee on Energy, ERC Chairperson Monalisa Dimalanta disclosed that the completion of about 66 transmission projects is currently delayed, excluding 6 projects of national significance. The bottom line is that the projects are delayed and what are the penalties involved because we can’t just let this go. The reason why there is impunity is that there are no penalties imposed. The delayed projects are affecting the entire electric power industry and pose risks for the future of the country,” Gatchalian emphasized.

He also urged ERC to review the rate-setting methodology when it comes to NGCP’s transmission projects.

“ Why are we allowing them to collect from consumers upon the commencement of the project without a defined timeline as to when they can continue to collect for a project? This leads to perverse incentives because if the project is delayed for 40 years, they can also collect for 40 years, lalo na’t delayed pa ang rate reset nila,” he said.

Continued from A1

Collections from Package 2+ or the Sin tax laws amounted to P65.3 billion in 2022, 23 percent or P12.4 billion higher than the 2021 collection of P52.9 billion,” it added.

M eanwhile, collections from Package 1B, or the Tax Amnesty law, declined by almost 70 percent to P1.4 billion from P3.2 billion in 2021, while revenue losses from the CREATE [Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises] law grew by 18 percent year-on-year to

on gross sales in lieu of the income and percentage tax,” the Finance department said.

“ Moreover, it lessens the cost of filing by decreasing the frequency of filing and paying from eight times a year to just four times a year,” it added.

Upon the implementation of the TRAIN law in 2018, the government’s income tax collections from SEPs immediately more than doubled to P132.7 billion from P52.3 billion in 2017.

It rose to P189.4 billion in 2019 before dropping to P162.6 billion in 2020 because of Covid-19-related restrictions imposed by the government and the world that crippled economic activities.

However, income tax collections from SEPs rebounded quickly in 2021 to P205.5 billion.

Meanwhile, PIT collection from individuals receiving compensation returned to the P300-billion territory last year, five years after the government lowered and simplified income tax for most Filipino workers.

PITs of compensation earners last year reached P337.9 billion, 20.8 percent higher than the P279.7 billion collected in 2021.

T he last time that the PITs from compensation earners reached the P300-billion mark in recent years was in 2017 at P317.7 billion, a year before the TRAIN law was implemented.

Under the TRAIN law, compensation earners with an annual income of not over P250,000 were exempted from paying personal income tax. At the same time, other taxpayers, except for the richest, also experienced tax cuts.

N onetheless, DOF-BIR data showed that PITs from compensa -

tion earners have been increasing annually since 2019 and even during 2020 at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

D OF-BIR data also showed the amount of revenues it foregone because of the tax cuts of compensation earners: P111.7 billion in 2018, P104.2 billion in 2019, P114.1 billion in 2020, P77.1 billion in 2021 and P51.1 billion in 2022.

CIT collections

MEANWHILE , DOF-BIR data showed that Corporate Income Tax (CIT) collections last year rebounded after three consecutive years of decline.

C IT collections by the national government in 2022 rose by 5.2 percent to P495.5 billion from P471 billion in 2021, based on the DOFBIR data shared with the media.

This growth in collection reflects the full reopening of the economy,” the DOF said.

H istorical data showed that CIT collections were on a downward trend from 2019 to 2021—a decline attributed by DOF to the drop in withholding tax at the source because of the lowering of the tax rate from 32 percent to 15 percent as mandated by the TRAIN law.

T he DOF also noted that the government incurred losses from CIT collections in 2021 and 2022 due to the CREATE law that retroactively lowered the CIT.

“As part of the economic relief and recovery package due to the pandemic,” the national government incurred losses of P51.1 billion and P59.2 billion from corporate income tax collection in 2021 and 2022, respectively, it said.  Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

Continued from A1

include the Masskara Festival and the Diwali Festival in November, a collaboration with the Punjab and Sikh communities in the city, and in December, the city has a collaboration with the West Negros University in celebrating the Festival of Lights.

Spillovers from Boracay

“ WE’VE been getting tour groups with foreigners, most of them married to former residents of Bacolod, and a few senior citizens,” said Tan, who also owns T3  Trips Tickets Tours, a tour operator, which also has a branch in Iloilo City. “We’re also thankful for Boracay because many of the tourists we have now are spillovers from them. It’s so easy to come to Western Visayas,” and visit the provinces that comprise it, “because there are so many entry-exit points with their own airports.”

Meanwhile, she observed that the European tourists are not so enamored with historical structures in the city  “but are into interactive experiences with locals.” This bodes well for the Slow Food Movement, Tan noted, which plans to offer coffee trails and visits to cacao nurseries, positioning the city as a Slow Food travel destination in Asia. “After coming from Manila where they ate rich food, they come here and they like eating a simple chicken tinola, talking to the local cooks…authentic experiences with the locals,” she said.

T he MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions, exhibitions) business in the city is also picking up with two events per month, which are usually held at the SMX Convention Center.

P80.4 billion.

“ The major gains in 2022 were seen in the imported petroleum excise tax, sweetened beverage excise tax, documentary stamp tax, tobacco and alcohol sin taxes,” the DOF said.

T he national government raked in P132.6 billion in imported petroleum excise tax, 10.7 percent more than the P119.8 billion it collected in 2021.

The higher excise collection was due to higher volume of oil imports and the implementation of the fuel marking program of

Locals, domestic travelers lift restos

FOR his part, Bob Magalona, president of the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Negros Occidental (Herano), likewise said their members have reported brisker business, which started in 2022 as the alert levels came down when Covid cases decreased.

“Although these are still revenues,” he admitted, and members have yet to hit their 2019 profit stride.

M agalona, who also owns the 58-year-old Bob’s Restaurant, said locals and domestic travelers have aided the local restaurant industry’s recovery: “People come here from Manila, from Cebu, from Davao, so it’s local customers.” Even during the pandemic, he noted, Bob’s restaurants and cafes, “had to remain open, although with a skeleton force, and we divided them among branches. So we would get Grab orders, then people started coming in...” Herano has 70 members, “but because of the growth of hotels, they will spin off into their own group.

There are so many big hotels na, I think about 23,” he noted, with more coming in to offer guests the slower, relaxed lifestyle for which the City of Smiles is known.

P roperty developer Megaworld Corp., for one, will be putting up a Kingsford Hotel in the company’s township property, the second after its hotel in Manila. The 12-story condotel will have 300 room keys and good-sized meeting and convention facilities, that will help Bacolod become a major MICE destination in the country.

the national government,” the DOF said.

E xcise collections from sweetened beverages rose 12.7 percent year-on-year to P44.3 billion, while tobacco excise tax earnings reached P15.7 billion, 2.6 percent more than the P15.3 billion the government collected in 2021.

F urthermore, alcohol excise tax improved by 23.0 percent with P31.8 billion collection, while documentary stamp tax collection rose by P12.2 billion year-on-year to P58.8 billion, according to the DOF.

THE

EU-Asean Business Council hopes negotiations  for the Philippines-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) would

UNMATCHED: New San Jose Builders still a leading sports-inspired residential condo builder

By Patrick Miguel

BEING active is basically the epitome of maintaining physical health, among other things. For New San Jose Builders, Inc. (NSJBI), combining residential spaces that accommodate the residents’ need for being active is possible. It is evident in their five sports projects, all sports-inspired residential condominiums.

New San Jose Builders is known for iconic landmarks, namely its acclaimed heritage hotel, the Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar in Bagac, Bataan and the Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar events place in Quezon City. Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar takes pride in being the largest

heritage resort in the country that was recently awarded the Best Historic Hotel in Asia and the Pacific by the prestigious Historic Hotels Worldwide Group.

New San Jose Builders is also part of the development of the Philippine Arena, the largest indoor arena in the world which has a seating capacity of 55,000 people.

One of the first and largest real estate developers and construction companies in the Philippines, NSJBI has been building quality affordable houses to make every Filipino's dream of owning a home come true. An established full-range property developer, the company’s projects have changed and elevated the living

landscape of Metro Manila such as in Manila, Quezon City, Caloocan City, Makati City, and Bonifacio Global City.

“NSJBI also pioneered the sports tower condominium concept to promote healthy and active city living,” said Leo Barrosa, Chief Operating Officer of New San Jose Builders, Inc.

Established in 1986, New San Jose Builders has since been truthful to its thrust of “Building Homes, Uplifting Lives.” This property developer has dedicated itself to helping every Filipino own their dream house, as it keeps on building affordable yet quality residential units in the best locations within and outside Metro Manila.

Here are the five sports tower condominiums worth looking into:

Victoria Sports Tower Station 2 SET along EDSA, Metro Manila’s biggest thoroughfare and just steps away from the Kamuning MRT station, the sports tower offers residential units and leasable spaces that promote an active lifestyle with its sports-focused amenities. It is an integrated mixed-use development that offers the best in city living being at the forefront of business, leisure, beauty and wellness, entertainment and sports.

Victoria Sports Tower Station 2 is designed to have enough space for all kinds of athletic business and wellness activities. It houses an entire sports complex with topnotch amenities such as swimming pools, water spa, basketball court, wall climbing facility, fencing court, fitness gyms, table tennis, tennis court, badminton court, bistro dart and billiards, bowling alley,

theatre, club lounge, dance studio, business lounge, function rooms and children’s playground. The project takes great pride in its top-notch state-of-the-art pieces of fitness equipment.

The tower has eight private gym rooms equipped with a private shower, jacuzzi and exercise equipment, among others.

It also features professionalgrade indoor basketball, volleyball, badminton, tennis court, and table tennis courts. But should you want to take a rest day and just relax, the tower offers a movie house with 54 lazy boy chairs for a wonderful filmwatching experience.

Victoria Sports Tower Monumento

THIS tower is the very first skyscraper in Caloocan City. It has 57 floors of residential and commercial spaces.

“This architectural wonder will be the center of business, entertainment, leisure, beauty and wellness, and sports,” said Barrosa.

This tower is advertised not only for career-oriented people but also for every family. It can accommodate various kinds of tenants with nuanced needs, with choices ranging from a studio unit, a combined unit, to a triple combined unit. Its promise as a sports tower is accomplished with its gym, mixed martial arts and boxing rings, basketball court, table tennis, bowling alleys and billiards space.

The tower is very accessible as it is located within the heart of the city, just a 5-minute walk to the LRT Monumento station, important establishments such as schools, hospitals, commercial centers, places of worship and transportation hubs.

Victoria de Hidalgo

SET in the center of Hidalgo Street, Quiapo, Manila, Victoria de Hidalgo will be a self-sustaining development designed with an elevated concept of condominiums.

The standout high-rise residential development offers affordable city living without compromising quality living in an advantageous and strategic location in the heart of Manila. This condominium concept aims to provide utmost comfort and convenience to the middle market segment.

VictoriadeHidalgohas25residential levels and can accommodate car owners with 593 parking slots. The condominium also offers a billiards hall, tennis court, badminton court, basketball court, a fitness gym, water spa and swimming pool.

Victoria de Valenzuela

THIS tower has three dormitory levels and 32 residential levels. It accommodates, overall, 145 dormitory units and 1,617 residential units.

More than this, the Victoria de Valenzuela also has three levels of commercial spaces.

Like the other towers, this tower also has single units, combined units, and triple combined units.

Sports is also the center of this tower that has swimming pools, fitness gym, water spa, multipurpose room and sky garden. Victoria de Valenzuela lets you live life at your own pace with its wide array of amenities from leisure to fitness.

Victoria de Manila 2

HOUSING excellent sports facilities, Victoria de Manila 2 offers majestic

sunset views to residents. Facing the beautiful Manila Bay, the outstanding high-rise project has direct access to the university belt and major transportation hubs making it easier for students and professionals to travel to and from their school or workplace. Its sports complex include swimming pools, basketball court, volleyball court with dug out, tennis court, badminton court, billiards and dart hall, bowling alley, fitness gym and multi-purpose room. With its development expertise offering unmatched quality and affordability, New San Jose Builders is committed to provide homes that are built to last and endure the test of time.

Thanks to its outstanding homebuilding standard and track record, apparently seen in its impressive portfolio of prime residential condominiums, service and recreational facilities, transport infrastructures, leisure and sustainable townships, NSJBI is among the few select Quadruple A-rated construction companies and was recognized as one of the Top 10 property developers in the country by BCI Asia Philippines, Inc.

To foster camaraderie and promote a welcoming community for unit owners, residents and tenants, New San Jose Builders launched its first inter-condominium basketball league last May 14, 2023. Games are on every Saturdays from 5PM to 8PM at the Victoria Sports Tower Station 2. For more information about these five sports tower condominiums and other NSJBI projects, call 0917 3002206 or visit the New San Jose Builders’ official Facebook page @newsanjoseofficial for updates.

The Nation

Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

DPWH told to enter into deal with LWUA on RROW

By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

Tagum City court convicts execs for syndicated estafa

By VG Cabuag @villygc

In his 4-page legal opinion issued on May 18, 2023, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla said while the LWUA is an attached agency of DPWH, the latter doesn’t have control over the former.

“ We advise that DPWH has to enter into a MOA with LWUA on the RROW and the cost of relocation, among others… Stated differently, any party may enter into a MOA,

regardless of whether a party is an attached agency of another party,” the DOJ said.

T he DOJ issued the legal opinion upon the request of DPWH Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan in order to settle the issue on the claim for compensation of local water districts (LWDs).

T he DPWH noted that the LWUA and the Philippine Association of

Water Districts (PAWD) initially drafted and proposed a MOA to the department to address the issue of RROW and cost of relocation of water district facilities affected by widening projects.

Specifically, the DPWH is asking the DOJ whether or not it is necessary for the department to enter into a MOA with LWUA considering that the latter is an attached agency of the DPWH.

Serve as guidance

LIKEWISE, the DPWH asked the justice department whether or not local water district agencies are entitled to compensation in instances when a need for a relocation of water pipelines occurs.

I f local water districts (LWDs) should be compensated, the DPWH asked the DOJ on the necessary mode and means of payments under the existing rules of the Commission on Audit (COA).

L astly, the DPWH asked the DOJ’s guidance on whether or not the compensation for LWDs can be derived from the right of way funds of the department.

T he DPWH noted that the LWUA and the Philippine Association of Water Districts (PAWD) initially

drafted and proposed a MOA to the department to address the issue of RROW and cost of relocation of water district facilities affected by road widening projects.

In response, the DOJ noted that in its Opinion 098 issued in 1988, it held that the “DPWH shall bear the expenses only for serviceable pipes/ sewers affected DPWH infra projects.”

“ This opinion may serve as guidance that in the event of relocation of affected water and sewer facilities, the DPWH may bear the cost of relocation, and may therefore, accept the proposal from PAWD under Section 2 of the MOA,” it added.

However, the DOJ deferred to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) as to DPWH’s queries pertaining to the allowable mode and means of payments and on whether or not the compensation can be derived for ROW funds of the department.

“

We regret that we cannot issue an opinion thereon as the matter falls within the ambit of the Department of Budget and Management. Pursuant to its mandate the DBM shall be responsible for the efficient and effective utilization of government funds and revenues,” the DOJ said.

THE lower court of Tagum City has found the officers of Tagum City-based Rigen Wellness Product Marketing (Rigen Marketing) guilty for their unauthorized investment-taking activities. The executives were also sentenced to life in prison for syndicated estafa.

T he Tagum City Regional Trial Court-Branch 2 convicted Rigen Marketing CEO Rico John Colorines Garcia and its auditor King Paul Bryan for the crime of syndicated estafa in two criminal cases dated April 11 and May 2. The said case stemmed from earlier filings of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

T he two were sentenced to the penalty of life imprisonment in both cases, alongside payment of actual damages totaling P2.01 million and moral damages amounting to P120,000, plus an interest of 6 percent per year.

T heir co-accused—Rosenda Colorines Garcia, Christine Palijo, Romen Samuel Wabina and Jemeilyn Tacay—remain at large.

T he cases stemmed from the complaints of two individuals who were enticed to invest in Rigen Marketing, after the executives allegedly promised income returns of up to 400 percent within a span of 30 days.

R igen Marketing executives claimed that profits were generated

Japan turns over flood mitigation project to Cagayan de Oro LGU

Story & By Manuel T. Cayon @awimailbox

DAVAO CITY–The Japanese government turned over to the Cagayan de Oro City government last Friday the second package of a project that seeks to mitigate the flooding of the city’s downtown area.

Funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the project consisted of a 2.3-kilometer floodwall with a boulevard along the Cagayan de Oro river. The Japanese also introduced a technology for underground soil improvement using a non-vibratory sand compaction piles method to minimize building site disruption.

T he turnover of the Contract Package 2 of the Flood Risk Management Project for Cagayan de Oro River (FRIMP-CDOR) was held in Barangay Puntod, Cagayan de Oro City.

I n his message during the turnover ceremony, Kinoshita Akito, the second secretary of the Em -

bassy of Japan, said the project’s flood control structures would protect the people and economy of Cagayan de Oro City from future floods. He said the new dike road would also improve the city’s road network and help reduce traffic congestion.

T he entire project was signed on March 7, 2019, between officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways and Toyo Construction Co. Ltd. The Contract Package 2 is one of the project’s three contract packages designed to mitigate flooding along the Cagayan de Oro River in Misamis Oriental, the embassy said.

C agayan de Oro City and the province, along with Iligan City and Lanao del Norte, sustained the heaviest impact of the late season Typhoon Sendong in December 2011. Almost 1,500 persons died. Cagayan de Oro City has since evacuated all informal residents along the Cagayan de Oro River and declared it a no-build zone for residents.

Govt lays down EPR protocols across the country for ‘Betty’

By Rene Acosta @reneacostaBM

THE emergency preparedness and response (EPR) protocols of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) have been activated in different parts of the country as the government prepared for the direct impact of Typhoon Betty (interna -

tional name Mawar).

O ffice of Civil Defense (OCD) and NDRRMC Spokesman Assistant Secretary Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV explained that EPR protocols are sets of actions that must be undertaken by various government agencies and local government units (LGUs) before the onslaught of the storm and during response operations.

We have already identified and

activated appropriate emergency preparedness and response protocols in different regions to be affected by the weather disturbance,” OCD Administrator and NDRRMC Executive Director Undersecretary Ariel F. Nepomuceno said.

“ We continue to coordinate with different agencies on preparations for Super Typhoon Betty. This is to ensure that all necessary measures

are in place from the national down to the local level,” Nepomuceno added.

T he protocols were adopted as the state weather bureau PAGASA reported Betty’s continued deceleration on Sunday as it moved westward within the country’s area of responsibility, although at least dozen provinces in Northern Luzon still remained under Storm Signal Number-1.

from investments in cryptocurrency and foreign exchange trading. “ It has been held that where one states that the future profits or income of an enterprise shall be a certain sum, but he actually knows there will be none, or that they will be less than he represents, the statements constitute an actionable fraud where the hearer believes him and relies on the statement to his injury,” the court said.

Citing the case of People v. Balasa, the court noted that Rigen Marketing employed fraud when its officers pretended to have the authority to solicit investments from the general public when it did not have such authority.

[T]he promised high-yielding venture was unsustainable, as Rigen Marketing was not really engaged in any legitimate business,” the court said.

“ The totality of the testimonies of the witnesses, documentary evidence on record, and findings of the SEC all point to both accused Garcia and [Auditor] as the perpetrators of a grand scheme to defraud investors of their investments in their company, Rigen Marketing,” the court said.

T he SEC has warned the public against investing in Rigen Marketing as early as May 24, 2019, through an advisory posted on its website.

T he agency issued a cease and desist order on June 11, 2019, directing the group to stop engaging in investment solicitation activities unless it secures the necessary licenses from the SEC.

Compliance with intl labor pacts seen to lure investors

By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

THE country’s largest labor group said the country’s compliance to international labor conventions will help bring more investments in the country.

This is the key to upgrading our attractiveness to foreign direct investments (FDIs) and to locators whose products are marketed to progressive economies whose consumers place primacy on good governance and good labor practices. Good human rights and good labor practices, after all, is good economics,” Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) Vice President Luis Manuel C. Corral was quoted in a statement as saying.

Corral made the pronouncement last Sunday after President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. announced last week that he will be pushing for the completion of the Philippine-European Union Free Trade Agreement (EU-PH FTA) and renewal of the EU GSP-Plus. M arcos said that both arrangements are expected to further boost the country’s trade with European nations.

Weather forecasters warned the country may start experiencing strong rains associated with the typhoon beginning today.

A lejandro said a total of 1,679 teams from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection and Philippine Coast Guard are already on standby for search, rescue and retrieval operations.

Trade chief calls for making WTO ‘effective, responsive’

TRADE Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual called on his counterparts at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Ministers Responsible for Trade (APEC MRT) meeting to make the World Trade Organization (WTO) more “effective and responsive” in addressing modern challenges, such as keeping pace with technological developments, among others.

A statement issued by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) last Saturday said Pascual stressed anew that international trade is a “strong force” that can accelerate the achievement of sustainability goals and promote inclusiveness. T he Trade chief said digital trade has

“immense potential” to promote inclusive growth and development, as it is a “good equalizer” in business.

Likewise, he noted the DTI’s various initiatives to support micro-scale, small-sized and medium-scale enterprises (MSMEs).

Pascual highlighted the 1,400 business centers across the country. He said these centers assist small merchants in digitalization that will enable them to reach wider markets and earn bigger profit, which will also assist in the digital transition of MSMEs.

To back this domestic initiative, the DTI chief brought the call to the international stage. The DTI said Pascual underscored the need for modern rules to

keep pace with the digital economy and technological developments yet while being consistent with the country’s sustainability and inclusive trade agenda.

Agreements

PASCUAL also shared that the Philippines has joined in the “successful” conclusion of negotiations on domestic regulation and continues to support the work on developing disciplines on e-commerce and investment facilitation.

As for other agreements at the WTO, the Philippines’s Trade chief also highlighted the benefits of the conclusion of the Fisheries Subsidies Agreement. Andrea San Juan

T UCP, however, noted that currently the country has yet to show “firm commitment” to the observance of human rights and international labor standards based on the findings of the High Level Tripartite Mission of the International Labor Organization (ILO).

A ccording to Corral, the country’s observance of ILO Convention 87 has been the subject of at least three high-level technical missions of the ILO since 2009.

T he latest, he added, was the January 2023 High Level Tripartite Mission (HLTM), which reiterated the long-standing concerns on antiunion violence, political profiling and impunity.

“ State security forces must stop viewing legitimate trade unionism from the prism of anti-insurgency. This aberrant perspective has led to aggressive red-tagging and political profiling of even responsible labor centers whose union leaders and members are only exercising their fundamental labor rights,” he added.

T he labor leader urged the concerned government agencies to address the matter to prevent “derailment” of the efforts of the President to attract more investors in the country.

THE Department of Justice (DOJ) has advised the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to enter into a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Local Waterworks and Utilities Administration (LWUA) on the road right of way (RROW) and cost of relocation affected by road widening projects.

Friday, May 26, 2023, photo shows the 2.3-kilometer boulevard on a floodwall along the Cagayan de Oro river, which is the second phase of a flood-mitigation project funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

IPOPHL cites inclusion of pharma firms in MOU

THE recent inclusion of two pharmaceutical firms in an eCommerce agreement to combat counterfeit goods will help the Philippines shed its image as among the top sources of fake medicines in the world.

This the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) believes after eight entities became part of the e-commerce Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that aims to “lay down a code of practice and strengthen coordination” among e-commerce platforms and brand owners in protecting intellectual property (IP) rights online.

The MOU “officially” added these new members: Pearson Education South Asia Pte. Ltd., BrandShield Systems Plc., Puma S.E., Treasury Wine Estates Ltd., Honeywell International Inc., Josefina Manufacturing Inc., Pharmaceutical Security Institute (PSI) and Sanofi S.A.

The IPOPHL said it expects the recent inclusion in the MOU of Francebased Sanofi and Singapore-based PSI will boost the country’s efforts to prevent the online proliferation and sale of counterfeit medicine.

The IPOPHL added these pharmaceutical firms’ support is aligned with the agency’s goal of clearing out the findings by the United States Trade Representative (USTR) in its 2023 Special 301 Report. The report stated the Philippines is among the top sources of counterfeit medicines globally.

The IPOPHL added that it sees the MOU “enhances” the agency’s existing MOU with PSI signed on November 28, 2021. The agency said it partnered with PSI to combat the increase of counterfeit medicines and pharmaceutical products in the market.

The agency said the partnership

involves capacity-building, raising awareness and exchanging critical information for investigation, seizure and prosecution purposes to addressing challenges in delivering safe medicines and ensuring integrity in the distribution of pharmaceuticals online.

While the Philippines has remained out of the watch list of the USTR Special 301 Report for the 10th consecutive year, the report, which identifies US trading partners that violate intellectual property rights, “once again” cited the Philippines as one of the “leading sources of counterfeit medicines distributed globally.” (Related story here: https://businessmirror. com.ph/2023/04/28/us-keepsphl-out-of-intellectual-propertywatch-list-for-10th-consecutiveyear/)

Meanwhile, IPOPHL Director General Rowel S. Barba said the IPOPHL aims to continue to add more members to the e-commerce MOU amid a “growing sentiment” to curb counterfeit goods and piracypromoting posts over the internet.

“We hope we contribute to building a safe e-commerce environment for consumers and brand owners alike,” Barba said.

According to IPOPHL, the recent signing which was supported by the International Trademark Association (INTA) and the United Kingdom IP Office (UKIPO), took place on the sidelines of INTA’s 2023 Annual Meeting in Singapore on May 16,2023.

The “landmark” MOU among e-commerce platforms and brand owners had its first annual review on May 12. (Full story: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2022/05/25/ ipophl-gains-major-headway-infight-against-counterfeits-andonline-piracy/) Andrea San Juan

New Cebu pier to spur trade, create more jobs

By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie

LAWMAKERS said last Sunday

they believe that Liloan Cebu’s new Pier 88 would spur trade, generate business and create more jobs as it is expected to be the economic gateway of Bohol, Camotes Islands, Leyte and Metro Cebu.

Speaker Ferdinand Martin G.

Romualdez and Deputy Speaker and Cebu Rep. Vincent Franco D. Frasco said Pier88 will not only connect Liloan with other ports in the Visayas, including Bohol, Camotes Islands, Leyte, but help decongest the traffic in northern Metro Cebu, particularly in Consolacion and Mandaue City, by providing an alternative mode to land transport via sea transport from Liloan to Mactan and Cebu City.

Liloan’s Pier88 Port is set to open at the end of May and will serve commuters from the Visayas.

“Significantly cutting the travel time by half, residents from the northern parts of Cebu who commute daily on the way to their respective workplaces in the cities of Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu and Cebu, would greatly benefit from having this alternative mode of transportation by sea,” Frasco said.

After eight years as a concept, Liloan’s Pier88 Port had its groundbreaking ceremony on October 22, 2019, followed by the causeway inauguration on October 24, 2021.

“By the end of this month, it shall have its grand opening,” Frasco said.

Mixed-use development

THE project is a partnership between the Municipality of Liloan, Pier88 Ventures Inc., Topline Group of Companies, Vikingland Corp. and FL Port Management Corp.

“Not only will passengers be relieved of the stress and anxiety due to traffic, they will be able to relax knowing departure and arrival times are more certain while they take in the fresh sea breeze while aboard the ferries. Once they arrive in Mactan Is-

PHL keen on joining US-led Indo-Pac trade framework

By Andrea San Juan

Pascual expressed this view during his meeting with officials of the US-Apec Business Coalition during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 2023 Ministers Responsible for Trade (MRT) meeting. The Apec-MRT gab focused on trade and investment opportunities between the US and the Philippines, according to a statement issued last Saturday by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

According to the DTI, their chief emphasized that Manila is keen in participating in the IPEF, a US-led economic framework among 14 member countries.

“Our participation in IPEF is significant as it is a mechanism that will offer tangible benefits, which will further boost our economic recovery efforts such as more opportunities to cooperate on trade and investment,” Pascual said. “We are mainly inter-

ested in the areas of supply chain integration and strengthening crisis response.”

Nations joining the United States in the IPEF are Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam.

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

Addressing constraints

THE countries collectively said the pandemic showed the significance of strengthening economic competitiveness and cooperation and securing critical supply chains, while stimulating job growth and improv-

ing economic opportunities. The IPEF’s creation stems from Washington’s predilection against negotiating “traditional” free trade agreements (FTA) as cited by US Trade Representative (USTR) Katherine Tai in a roundtable discussion with local media last April.

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

Instead, the US Trade official zeroed in on the US-led IPEF as “one of our highest priorities right now.”

“And it is really important to us that the Philippines is at the table and participating,” Tai was quoted in the reports as saying.

According to Pascual, the IPEF “is the platform we’re using to push for this formalized trade relations between the Philippines and the US.”

While IPEF is not a trade agreement that covers market access, “it provides a way of addressing certain process constraints,” the Trade chief said last month.

US GSP

ASIDE from the IPEF, Pascual also emphasized the need for the immediate re-authorization of the US Generalized System of Preferences

(US GSP). The Philippines’s eligibility for the US GSP expired on December 31, 2020.

The GSP deal is a unilateral preferential trade arrangement by the US to over 100 beneficiary developing countries.

According to DTI, Pascual highlighted the “robust” trade scheme that the Philippines has created for companies exporting to the US market.

Further, he emphasized that the reauthorization will spur more investments, generate jobs and promote skills development. Likewise, Pascual continued to convey the country’s desire to establish an FTA with the United States, noting the “vast trade and investment opportunities available between the two economies.”

In terms of industry development, Pascual highlighted the tariffs on electric vehicles in the country were eliminated, current investment regimes on solar, wind and tidal energy were liberalized and the duty-free status of imported meat, rice, corn and coal were extended to respond to global supply chain disruptions.

The US is a key trading partner of the Philippines. In 2022, the US was the country’s top export market and 5th largest import market. Relative to this, exports expanded by 5 percent in 2022 and imports grew by 15 percent from 2021, DTI said.

Installment payment for real estate tax amnesty proposed

SENATOR Sherwin T. Gatchalian advocates allowing installment payments for taxpayers availing of the impending extension of the real estate tax amnesty period.

land or Cebu City, the passengers are just walking distance to the MEPZ and downtown Cebu City,” Frasco said.

The lawmaker added that Pier88 will be an economic gateway to the already progressive and developed town of Liloan and of its neighbors, the Municipality of Compostela and Danao City.

“Pier88 is envisioned to be a mixed-use development that will not only function as a port but shall also feature a mall, restaurants and leisure spaces which will generate more job opportunities for the residents of Cebu,” Frasco said.

Unwavering support

FOR his part, Romualdez said the enhanced mobility in the region will generate new business opportunities, bolster economic growth and create jobs for the people.

The Speaker was among the top government officials who accompanied President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., who was the guest of honor in the grand launching of Pier 88.

“The significance of this project cannot be overstated, as it will create countless opportunities for businesses, create job opportunities and contribute to the overall development of our community,” Romualdez said. He also commended the local government of Liloan, the private sector and the people of the municipality for working together to bring the visionary concept into reality.

“This project would not have been possible without the collaboration and support of our government partners, private investors and, most importantly, the resilience and unwavering support of the people of Liloan,” Romualdez said.

“The House of Representatives remains firm in our support for the Build Better More infrastructure program of the Marcos administration that would uplift the lives of our people by enhancing the quality of critical infrastructure in our transport sector, digital connectivity, power and energy and health-related initiatives,” Romualdez added.

Foreseeing the extended estate tax amnesty will draw in late taxpayers, Gatchalian said he aims to include a provision allowing an installment-payment feature in the proposed measure extending estate tax amnesty. He said doing so would “encourage more taxpayers to avail of the tax reprieve.”

The senator recalled such provision stemmed from comments made by Tax Management Association of the Philippines President Suzette Celicious-Sy at a recent public hearing on the proposed measure that some taxpayers simply do not have the financial capacity to pay for their respective estate taxes.

“Kailangan nating tulungan ang mga kababayan natin na walang masyadong kapasidad na makapagbayad ng estate tax. Importante ang probisyon na ito para mas maging epektibo ang extension na gagawin para sa estate tax amnesty,” Gatchalian said. [We need to help our countrymen who do not have much capacity to pay estate tax. This provision is important for the extension to be made for the estate tax amnesty to be more effective.]

The senator recalled that “as proposed, those who will avail of such feature will be allowed to pay the estate tax due on installment within a period of two years.”

Presiding as chairman of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, Gatchalian filed Senate Bill 2197 amending Republic Act 11213 to extend by two years and “simplify the process of availing of

By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

ATOTAL of 111 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in the province of Sarangani have recently received their electronic land titles from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).

The distribution of the electronic land titles is part of the DAR’s implementation of parcellation activities under the “Support to Parcelization of Land Through Individual Land Titling,” or “Split,” project to boost the ARB’s individual ownership of the lands they have been tilling for decades.

Implemented under the project, the program aims to fast-track the subdivision of collective or co-owned Certificate of Land Ownership Award (CCLOA) into individual land parcels and issue individual titles.

Anecito Hibanada, former chairman of the Fleischer Estate Integrated Multi-purpose Cooperative (Feimco) said that although the previously issued CCLOA gave them rights to till their own lands, they experienced several contentions as there arose countless issues on management.

Hibanada said that it was in 1996 when Feiimco was awarded with 214 hectares.

“We encountered ups and downs as an ARB cooperative involving land ownership. But now differences and contentions will surely be avoided through the Split project and, with God’s grace, we proudly say that we have fully paid our amortization,” he added.

In a ceremonial distribution of e-titles, DAR-12 Assistant Regional Director H. Roldan A. Ali, Al-Hajj recognized how the ARBs benefited from tilling their lands, as he had seen them able to provide for the necessities of life, send their children to school, and able to improve their living conditions.

Ali, Al-Hajj said they expect the parcelization of land would improve the ARBs’ security of tenure.

“Strengthening their property ownership will eventually lead to more successful agricultural ventures,” he added.

Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Cenon S. Original said that, to date, the DAR provincial office of Sarangani has already distributed under the SPLIT Project about 807 e-titles to 555 ARBs, covering an area of 816.2879 hectares.

the estate tax amnesty program.”

To encourage more taxpayers to avail of the tax relief, Gatchalian also aims to expand the coverage of the estate tax amnesty program by including estates of decedents who passed away on or before December 31, 2021, to include those who lost a loved one at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. This, as the Gatchalian bill noted that the current program only covers the estate of those who passed away on or before December 31, 2017.

“To make it easier for those who want to avail of the tax amnesty program,” the lawmaker adds that the enabling bill also aims to “exclude the submission of proof of settlement of the estate, whether judicial or extrajudicial, as one of the requirements set by the Bureau of Internal Revenue for those who want to

What would boost the capitalization and valuation further is a consistent stream of capital. That’s why I was hoping to securitize some government dividends, but ensure that the equivalent amount is invested by the MIF in infrastructure projects. That way, it’s GAAneutral, and it also attracts more capitalization for the fund. But anyway, this will be a collegial process,” he said.

According to Salceda, listing also subjects the MIF to certain transparency and corporate governance standards.

Being listed in the stock market places you under shareholder scrutiny, and that would help ensure good governance and performance,” Salceda added.

avail of the estate tax amnesty program.”

Moreover, the senator is keen to “institutionalize a platform that would allow electronic filing of return and payment of estate tax, a step further towards simplifying and making it easier for taxpayers to fulfill their obligations. He asserts “it is important that paying taxes be easier and simpler.” Importante na mas madali at mas simple ang proseso ng pagbabayad ng buwis hindi lamang para mas maging mahusay ang pangongolekta ng buwis kundi para mas marami sa ating mga kababayan ang tumupad sa kanilang mga tungkulin,” Gatchalian said. [It is important that the process of paying taxes is easier and simpler not only to make tax collection more efficient but also so that more of our citizens can fulfill their duties.]

Butch Fernandez

Salceda said he also appreciates “removing the special tax privileges on MIF. Taxes are a good way to recover investments into the fund.”

That also addresses certain “neutrality” rules in other countries. Some developed countries like Australia tend to avoid dealing with corporations with special state privileges because of what’s called ‘government neutrality’ requirements. So, we’ll have a freer hand making or receiving investments from such countries,” Salceda said.

Anyway, we’re studying. So, for a definitive position, ask me again once the Senate is done. But we’re ready for what the House leadership decides to do, whether bicam or adoption,” the lawmaker said.

as soon as we come back,” Zubiri said. Apart from the Maharlika Investment Fund Act, eight more Ledac priority measures are already in advanced stages in the Senate, with the followings bills pending second reading approval: the Ease of Paying Taxes Act; the Magna Carta for Filipino Seafarers Act; the Act Institutionalizing the Automatic Income Classification of Provinces, Cities, and Municipalities; the New Philippine Passport Law; amendments to the Public-Private Partnership Act; the Internet Transactions Act; the Mandatory ROTC Act; and the Center for Disease Control Act.

The Senate will continue to prioritize the quality of our measures over the speed of our performance or the quantity of our output, but we do expect to be able to devote more time to our plenary duties, now that most of our major Commission on Appointments (CA) work has already been dealt with.” Zubiri said the CA duties of the 13 senators, which consumed much of their morning schedules, made it a challenge for them to work out the schedules of the Senate. “But we are nevertheless proud of what we have been able to accomplish without sacrificing the quality of our bills, and we are ready to get right back to work in the Second Regular Session.”   Butch Fernandez

THE Philippines is interested in the areas of supply chain integration and strengthening crisis response under the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), Trade Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual said.

111 Sarangani farmers get e-titles under SPLIT

Republic of the Philippines DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT Regional Office No.

4th

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

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

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

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

PHUNG, THI TAM Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

EUGENE KHOO TENG SHEN

14 BRICKHARTZ TECHNOLOGY INC.

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

Malaysian Customer Service

Brief Job Description:

Ensure outstanding customer satisfaction by maintaining strong working relationships

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

Salary Range: Php30,000Php59,999

Basic Qualification:

Has excellent problemsolving and communication skills in Mandarin and Malaysian, with related BPO experience

Salary Range: Php30,000Php59,999

Basic Qualification:

15 BRICKHARTZ TECHNOLOGY INC.

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

DING, YAZHU

Mandarin Customer Service

Brief Job Description:

Ensure outstanding customer satisfaction by maintaining strong working relationships

FENG, BIAO

16 BRICKHARTZ TECHNOLOGY INC.

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

Mandarin Customer Service

Brief Job Description:

Ensure outstanding customer satisfaction by maintaining strong working relationships

REN, ZHENGHUI

17 BRICKHARTZ TECHNOLOGY INC.

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

Mandarin Customer Service

Brief Job Description:

Ensure outstanding customer satisfaction by maintaining strong working relationships

WANG, RICHAO

18 BRICKHARTZ TECHNOLOGY INC.

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

Mandarin Customer Service

Brief Job Description:

Ensure outstanding customer satisfaction by maintaining strong working relationships

Has excellent problemsolving and communication skills in Mandarin, with related BPO experience

Salary Range: Php30,000Php59,999

Basic Qualification:

Has excellent problemsolving and communication skills in Mandarin, with related BPO experience

Salary Range: Php30,000Php59,999

Basic Qualification:

Has excellent problemsolving and communication skills in Mandarin, with related BPO experience

Salary Range:

Php30,000Php59,999

Basic Qualification:

Has excellent problemsolving and communication skills in Mandarin, with related BPO experience

Salary Range: Php30,000Php59,999

19 BRICKHARTZ TECHNOLOGY INC.

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

WANG, WENSEN

Mandarin Customer Service

Brief Job Description:

Ensure outstanding customer satisfaction by maintaining strong working relationships

Basic Qualification:

Has excellent problemsolving and communication skills in Mandarin, with related BPO experience

Salary Range: Php30,000Php59,999

Basic Qualification:

20 BRICKHARTZ TECHNOLOGY INC.

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

ZHANG, XING

Mandarin Customer Service

Brief Job Description:

Ensure outstanding customer satisfaction by maintaining strong working relationships

Has excellent problemsolving and communication skills in Mandarin, with related BPO experience

Salary Range:

Php30,000Php59,999

Basic Qualification:

21 BRICKHARTZ TECHNOLOGY INC.

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

22 HUADING INDUSTRIES CORPORATION

Block 7, Lot 3, Suntrust Ecotown, Sahud Ulan, Tanza, Cavite

VU, MINH NAM

Vietnamese Customer Service

Brief Job Description:

Ensure outstanding customer satisfaction by maintaining strong working relationships

LIN, RONGYU Polishing Manager

Brief Job Description: Oversee operation of Polishing department and preparation of work instruction and processes

Has excellent problemsolving and communication skills in Mandarin and Vietnamese, with related BPO experience

Salary Range: Php30,000Php59,999

Basic Qualification: With experience in stone manufacturing and polishing

Salary Range: Php30,000Php59,999

23 LEADING SUCCESS (PHILS.) GARMENTS INC.

Bldg. 1, 2 & 3, Golden Mile Avenue, Golden

Basic Qualification: College graduate with ability to read and interpret blue prints and design models

Php149,999

Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree or Master’s degree in a relevant discipline or MBA

tative Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

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

Range: Php30,000Php59,999

25 MAPEI PHILIPPINES INC.

Building 7, Panorama Compound 6, Laguna Technopark- Annex, Biñan, City of Biñan, Laguna

operations

MUNGALL, ROBERT JOHN

Infrastructure Manager

Brief Job Description: Develop effective proposals and manage negotiations, responsible for sales turnover and profitability

Salary Range: Php90,000Php149,999

Basic Qualification: At least a Bachelor’s/ College Degree, familiar with

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

DUONG VAN MUOI Vietnamese Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

NGUYEN GIA TAI

34 MOA CLOUDZONE CORP.

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

35 RISO PACKAGING TECHNOLOGY CORP.

Purok 1, Lima Technology Center, Bugtong Na Pulo, City of Lipa, Batangas

Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description:

Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

HAN, MENGXUAN Sales Manager

Brief Job Description:

Oversee local and regional; sales, promotions and campaigns, planning local. Planning local and directing the hiring and training of new sales representative

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese and Vietnamese language Salary Range: Php30,000Php59,999

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

Salary Range: Php30,000Php59,999

Basic Qualification: With at least 2 years relevant work experience in sales department

Salary Range:

Php30,000Php59,999

House ‘may adopt’ Senate Maharlika bill

By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie

ALEADER of the House of Representatives said the lower chamber is studying the Senate’s version of the Maharlika Investment Fund to ensure its faster approval in Congress.

House Committee on Ways and Means Chairman Joey Sarte Salceda said the chamber is also talking to stakeholders and experts to see whether the two Houses need a bicameral conference committee to resolve the disagreeing provisions of the two bills or the Senate version is acceptable, as it stands.

Well, I don’t want to preclude their processes. I think they’re in the period of interpellation right now, and will probably take up amendments and approval next week, at the earliest,” Salceda said at the weekend. This follows last week’s lengthy interpellations of the chief sponsor, Senate Banking committee chairman Mark A. Villar.

S enate leaders had indicated they aim to have the certified bill approved on second and third reading this week, before going into recess until late July.

“ There’s still enough time to approve it before SONA, for sure. But whether there is bicam or not, whether the House ratifies the Senate version, as SP Zubiri suggested, really depends on the final output,” Salceda added.

“ Right now, my comment is I see that they removed all special exemptions to civil service rules, and to audit. Now, that’s well and

good, but from a corporate operations point of view, that also presents certain challenges,”said Salceda.

I n December 2022, the House approved on the third and final reading House Bill (HB) 6608 creating the MIF with “key safeguards that the lower chamber incorporated in the MIF bill to ensure proper utilization and prevent misuse of the sovereign wealth fund.”

S enate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri has said they are looking to approve the proposed Maharlika Investment Fund bill by this week.

“ That’s why when we sought to redesign it with the help of experts last December, the solution we came up with is to just incorporate it basically like any other corporation. In Singapore, with Temasek—the famous sovereign wealth fund—they have a term for that. Government-linked corporations. It’s not governmentowned or controlled. So, the fiscal exposure of the government is limited, but it is accountable to the public,” said Salceda.

R ight now, Salceda said it appears that MIF will be a GOCC in every sense.

That has operational pros and

Senate crams to pass major priority bills before adjourning

THE Senate leadership expects majority and minority senators to regularly muster a quorum to pass pending bills in their last week of session before Congress adjourns the First Regular Session of the 19th Congress.

Given  one week left before the sine die adjournment for a break lasting until the State of the Nation Address in late July,  senators are also expected to give third-reading approval on three more priority bills of the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council. These are the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act, the Regional Specialty Centers Act, and the Maharlika Investment Fund Act, which has been certified urgent by Malacañang.

A longside these priority bills, the Estate Tax Amnesty Act is also set to be approved on third reading. Once these bills are adopted by the House of Representatives or approved in the Bicameral Conference, they will be sent to Malacañang for the President’s signature together with the measure on the Condonation of Unpaid Amortization and Interests of Loans of Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries.

I f the four abovementioned priority bills are signed into law, the First Regular Session will have produced seven priority measures of the administration, including the SIM Registration, the Act Postponing the Barangay Elections, and the AFP Fixed Term Law, which have already been passed into law.

I am proud to say that the Senate has performed very well for the First Regular Session, which typically tends to have a slow

cons,” added Salceda, who headed the working group designated by the House to write its version.

“Of course, the House version was a ‘first draft,’ and we expected the conversation to continue, and we are ready to go to bicam, if need be,” Salceda said.

Public listing, strategic partners

IF there is a bicameral conference called for the bill, Salceda said, and if he is made part of it, he will propose provisions on public listing and the inclusion of multilateral banks and institutions as strategic partners.

Multilateral banks would be very good strategic partners. I believe that and that is also what the experts I talk to suggest. I think there has to be provisions allowing them to be equity investors from the start, or at least before public listing,” Salceda said.

“ Their expertise and credibility—you want that from the get-go. So, it’s wise to provide for their early entry,” he said.

S alceda added that “government-linked companies also tend to attract a certain valuation premium when listed in the stock market, so I think it’s wise to offer it up for public ownership.”

“ If you list it, and it’s a GLC, generally, it attracts a valuation premium of around 20 percent. Typically, the price-to-asset ratio for most companies is around 1.3. With P500 billion in MIF assets under the current design, you could easily attract valuations of P780 billion. Easily. I think more,” Salceda added.

Continued on A5

More safe spaces for kids, women in BARMM

start in any Congress, because we are essentially starting from scratch and studying all of the bills anew,” said Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri. “With the Senate being composed of twenty-four republics, we have to hear everyone’s perspectives out, toward the betterment of our measures. Thankfully, we have all developed a great working relationship with one another, and we have been able to give due time for everyone to carefully debate and deliberate on all the measures that go through our committees and the plenary.”

“And now that our Senate committees have really gone into full swing, and been churning out more measures for plenary deliberations, then we can look forward to an even more productive Second Regular Session.”

O verall, the Senate has thus far produced six bills into law, including four of national application. At the moment, 16 bills await the President’s signature, including amendments to the National Cultural Heritage Act.

Three bills are pending in a conference committee, including the act Standardizing and Upgrading the Benefits for Military Veterans and the One Town, One Product Act.

Six bills have also been approved by the Senate on third reading, and are now pending in the House of Representatives, with four more set to be approved on Monday, including and the Estate Tax Amnesty Act, which was approved on second reading, right after the House of Representatives transmitted it to the Senate a few weeks prior.

DAVAO CITY—A com -

munity gymnasium was turned over to an interior barangay in Pigcawayan town of North Cotabato as part of efforts to build public buildings to be tagged safe spaces for children and for community gatherings.

I nterior and Local Government Minister Naguib Sinarimbo inaugurated the gymnasiumcum-activity center at Barangay Lower Baguer, in Pigcawayan Cluster to the  Special Geographic Area (SGA) “to provide safe space for children and foster public dialogue among the locals”.

“ Through the center, it will be easier for the locals to hold community events, gatherings, and other recreational activities, and give children safe space to play and learn,” he said.

T he center was funded under the Bangsamoro Integrated Rehabilitation and Development (BIRD) program, a five-year all-inclusive development initiative of the Office of the Chief Minister.

T he MILG also distributed relief to residents of Cotabato City and barangays in the SGA, and gave six photocopiers to SGA barangays of Buricain, Lower Baguer, Lower Pangankalan, Datu Mantil, Matilac and Libungan Toreta.

T he SGA comprises 63 barangays spread over six North Cotabato towns which opted to be under the jurisdiction of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, rather than Region 12. Manuel T. Cayon

The World

Editor: Angel R. Calso

US-led Pacific group reaches deal on supply chain resilience

By Eric Martin

Commerce Secretary Gina Rai -

mondo made the announcement on Saturday alongside US Trade Representative Katherine Tai at a gathering of ministers from countries participating in the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework.

The US began the initiative, known as IPEF, as a way to counter China’s growing influence and make up for lost ground after pulling out of previous efforts to set regional trade rules.

The IPEF countries include Japan, India and South Korea, which all rank among the 10 biggest national economies in the world. The nations included in the framework represent about $38 trillion in economic output.

The framework is the most significant American economic engagement in the region since President Donald Trump pulled out of the TransPacific Partnership in 2017, but it stops short of reducing tariffs like

a traditional free-trade agreement, which some countries have sought.  Raimondo on Saturday said

the IPEF supply chain agreement includes creating a “response network” to provide emergency com -

munications on supply chains and the establishment of a labor rights advisory board.

Bottlenecks

R A I m on D o s ees the framework’s supply chain work aiming to avoid the kind of bottlenecks that occurred during the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as future layoffs and stoppage of manufacturing and assembly lines. The supply chains agreement will offer a “concrete, practical solution” to future disruptions, Raimondo said during a separate briefing earlier in the week.

Steps on supply chains include establishing a council to coordinate in different sectors; preparing emergency responses; and creating a labor rights advisory board to address worker training.

n o s ectors are singled out in the agreement, because the US will need to work with partners to determine what’s most important, Raimondo said, while adding that she anticipated it would be useful for technolo -

gies like computer chips and other critical inputs.

Supply chains are one of the four “pillars” in the framework that countries began discussing last year—along with clean economy, which focuses on the transition to renewable energy and fighting climate change; fair economy, which includes taxation and corruption issues; and trade.

Raimondo said the US will be working to reach an overall agreement for the remaining aspects of the framework by the time that Biden hosts leaders from the AsiaPacific Economic Cooperation forum in San Francisco in n o vember. While an agreement on supply chains marks progress, some of the remaining pillars could be harder to resolve, such as trade, in which India isn’t participating because of concerns about potential environment and labor commitments. Trade is also an issue where, historically, countries have struggled to come to agreement. Bloomberg News

Fourteen countries in uS-led Indo-Pacific trade talks agreed on supply chain coordination, the most substantial progress so far in President Joe Biden’s new initiative for the region.

Biden, GOP reach debt-ceiling deal; Congress must approve it to prevent calamitous default

By Lisa Mascaro, Mary Clare Jalonick, Zeke Miller & Kevin Freking The Associated Press

WASHINGTON—President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy reached an “agreement in principle” to raise the nation’s legal debt ceiling, but now Congress must rush to approve the spending cuts package in a matter of days to avert a potentially disastrous US default.

The agreement risks angering both Democratic and Republican sides as lawmakers Sunday begin to unpack the concessions made to compromise. n egotiators agreed to some Republican demands for increased work requirements for recipients of food stamps that had sparked uproar from House Democrats as a nonstarter. But they stopped short of greater spending cuts overall that Republicans wanted.

Support from both parties will be needed to win congressional approval before a projected June 5 government default on US debts.

The Democratic president and Republican speaker reached the agreement after the two spoke Saturday evening by phone. The country and the world have been watching and waiting for a resolution to a political standoff that threatened the US and global economies.

“The agreement represents a compromise, which means not everyone gets what they want,” Biden said in a statement late Saturday night. “That’s the responsibility of governing,” he said.

Biden called the agreement “good news for the American people, because it prevents what could have been a catastrophic default and would

have led to an economic recession, retirement accounts devastated, and millions of jobs lost.”

McCarthy in brief remarks at the Capitol said that “we still have a lot of work to do.”

But the Republican speaker said: “I believe this is an agreement in principle that’s worthy of the American people.”

With the outlines of a deal in place, the legislative package could be drafted and shared with lawmakers in time for House votes as soon as Wednesday, and later next week in the Senate.

Central to the package is a two-year budget deal that would hold spending flat for 2024 and increase it by 1% for 2025 in exchange for raising the debt limit for two years, pushing the volatile political issue past the next presidential election.

Driving hard for a deal to impose tougher work requirements on government aid recipients, Republicans achieved some but not all of what they wanted. The agreement would raise the age for existing work requirements on ablebodied adults without children from 49 to 54, but Biden was able to secure waivers for veterans and the homeless.

The two sides had also reached for an ambi -

tious overhaul of federal permitting to ease development of energy projects. Instead, the agreement would put in place changes in the landmark 1970s’ n a tional Environmental Policy Act that will designate “a single lead agency” to develop environmental reviews, in hopes of streamlining the process.

The deal came together after Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told Congress that the United States could default on its debt obligations by June 5—four days later than previously estimated—if lawmakers did not act in time. Lifting the US debt limit, now at $31 trillion, allows more borrowing to pay the nation’s already incurred bills.

Biden also spoke earlier in the day with Dem -

U.S. ‘won’t tolEratE’ China’S MiCron ChipS ban: raiMondo

By Sam Kim & Eric Martin

Co M MERCE S ecretary Gina Raimondo said the US “won’t tolerate” the recent decision by Chinese authorities to ban chips by Micron Technology Inc. in some critical sectors, using her sharpest language yet to describe Washington’s reaction.

“We see it as, plain and simple, economic coercion,” she said, using a phrase both sides have lobbed at each other amid recent tensions. “We won’t tolerate it, nor do we think it will be successful.”

The latest technology tensions between the two global powers kicked off last Sunday, when the Cyberspace Administration of China warned operators of key infrastructure against buying Idaho-based Micron’s chips, saying it found “relatively serious” risks after concluding a review it announced in March. That followed a sweeping ban by the US in o c tober on exports to China of high-end chips and the technology to make them.

Raimondo’s comments Saturday come after the two sides had a chance this week to air their grievances in person and pledged to keep com -

munications open going forward. Raimondo met with her counterpart, Wang Wentao, in Washington on Thursday, followed by a similar meeting Friday with United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai.

Those meetings are part of a broader intention by the President Joe Biden’s administration to restore high-level discussions with Beijing, including potential visits to China by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and further direct talks between Biden and President Xi Jinping.

“You’ll continue to see ongoing dialogue now,”

Deputy US Trade Representative Sarah Bianchi said earlier Saturday in a separate interview. “How difficult those conversations will be or what they’ll lead to, I don’t know, but the conversation in and of itself is actually quite important.”

It’s unclear what steps the US might take after the Micron action, which the US commerce chief reiterated at her press briefing was done with “no basis in fact,” adding that Washington is engaging with its partners in how to respond.

Representative Mike Gallagher, a Wisconsin Republican who leads a China-focused congressional committee, has called for adding Changxin Memory Technologies Inc. to a US list of firms

with restricted access to American technology.

A similar step was a blow to Chinese network giant Huawei Technologies Co. Raimondo on Saturday didn’t respond to a question about any possible action against Changxin Memory, which plans to file for a domestic initial public offering this year that could value it at more than $14.5 billion.

South Korea, a major trade partner with China and security partner with the US, is stuck in the middle of the spat as its memory chipmakers Samsung Electronics Co. and SK Hynix Inc. are poised to potentially gain from Micron’s loss of market share in China. Both Washington and Beijing have been lobbying their counterparts in Seoul.

Wang’s commerce ministry said in a statement over the weekend that he had met South Korea’s Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun on Friday and that they had agreed to strengthen dialogue and cooperation on semiconductor supply chains. A separate statement from Ahn’s office Saturday about the talks made no reference to semiconductors, only “stabilizing the supply and demand of key raw materials and components.” Bloomberg News

South Korea to avoid cashing in on China’s US chipmaker ban

By Sam Kim

So UTH K orea will avoid capitalizing on China’s ban on a US chipmaker, seeing the move by Beijing as an attempt to drive a wedge between Seoul and Washington, according to a person familiar with the situation.

The South Korean government won’t encourage its memory-chip firms to grab market share in China lost by Micron Technology Inc., which has been barred for use in critical industries by Beijing on national security grounds, said the person, who asked not to be identified as the topic is politically sensitive.

China is the biggest market for South Korea semiconductor firms Samsung Electronics Co. and SK Hynix Inc. and home to some of their factories. Their continued operations in China are dependent on licenses granted by Washington, giving the US some leverage over Seoul’s decisions on how it balances its economic engagement with both countries.

South Korea is also wary of taking advantage of the Micron situation as it sees the US as a key long-term partner for its semiconductor industry and doesn’t want to disrupt that relationship, said the person.

China’s Micron decision has drawn South

Korea into the US-China battle over technology access and national security. While Washington is Seoul’s top security partner, China is South Korea’s biggest trade partner.

Export controls

WA SHI n GT on , a long with allies in Japan and the n e therlands, has imposed a series of export controls on chip making equipment and knowhow to Beijing as the world’s top two economic powers increasingly square off in trade and technology.

“A broader ban of Micron semiconductors puts South Korea in the worst of both worlds,” said Troy Stangarone, senior director at the Korea Economic Institute. If South Korean companies don’t help with filling the gap left by Micron, China may penalize them the way it did for Seoul’s previous decision to deploy on its soil a US anti-missile defense system, known as Thaad, he said.

The Financial Times reported earlier this month that South Korea signaled it would allow its companies to fill the gap left by China’s Micron ban. The government in Seoul denied that, saying it had yet to announce any formal position.

It remains unclear whether China would expand its crackdown on US chipmakers or how the US will respond to Beijing’s ruling on Mi -

cron. The two sides have recently tried to lower tensions and restore high-level talks, including meetings this week between top commerce officials in Washington.

Micron gets about 11% of its revenue from companies headquartered in mainland China. The company estimates total sales to China— combining direct sales plus indirect through distributors—comes to about 25% of revenue.

It said May 22 it was still evaluating the impact of the critical information infrastructure ban.

In a briefing on Saturday, US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said the US was speaking to allies about China’s action on Micron. “We see it as plain and simple economic coercion,” she said. “And we won’t tolerate it, nor do we think it will be successful.”

The Chinese commerce ministry said in a statement after talks with South Korea amid the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Detroit this week that the sides had agreed to strengthen cooperation on semiconductor supply chains.

A separate statement from the South Korean trade ministry made no reference to chips and instead said they discussed cooperation on stabilizing critical commodities and components. Bloomberg News

ocratic leaders in Congress to discuss the status of the talks. White House officials will brief House Democrats on a Sunday video call.

McCarthy commands only a slim Republican majority in the House, powered by hard-right conservatives who may resist any deal as insufficient as they try to slash spending. But compromising with Democrats for votes, he risks losing support from his own rank-and-file, setting up a careerchallenging moment for the new speaker.

Both sides have suggested one of the main holdups was a G o P e ffort to expand work requirements for recipients of food stamps and other federal aid programs, a

longtime Republican goal that Democrats have strenuously opposed. The White House said the Republican proposals were “cruel and senseless.”

Biden has said the work requirements for Medicaid would be a nonstarter. He had seemed potentially open to negotiating changes on food stamps, now known as the Supplemental nu trition Assistance Program, or S n A P, despite objections from rank-and-file Democrats.

Americans and the world were uneasily watching the negotiating brinkmanship that could throw the US and global economy into chaos and sap world confidence in the nation’s leadership.

Anxious retirees and others were already making contingency plans for missed checks, with the next Social Security payments due next week.

Yellen said failure to act by the new date would “cause severe hardship to American families, harm our global leadership position and raise questions about our ability to defend our national security interests.”

Any deal would need to be a political compromise in a divided Congress. Many of the hard-right Trump-aligned Republicans in Congress have long been skeptical of the Treasury’s projections, and they are pressing McCarthy to hold out.

Lawmakers are not expected to return to work from the Memorial Day weekend before Tuesday, at the earliest, and McCarthy has promised lawmakers he will abide by the rule to post any bill for 72 hours before voting. Associated Press writers Stephen Groves, Fatima Hussein, Farnoush Amiri, Seung Min Kim and video journalist Rick Gentilo contributed to this report.

Iraq announces plans for $17 billion transport project for Asia-Europe link

By Salar Salim The Associated Press

IRBIL, Iraq—Iraq’s prime minister on Saturday announced plans for a $17 billion regional transportation project intended to facilitate the flow of goods from Asia to Europe.

The announcement was made at a one-day conference in Baghdad that convened transport ministers and representatives from Iraq, the Gulf countries, Turkey, Iran, Syria, and Jordan.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said the planned Development Road project would facilitate the movement of goods from the Gulf to Europe by way of the Grand Faw Port in Basra, in southern Iraq, which would be connected to Turkey, then to Europe, through a network of railways and highways.

A centerpiece of the project will be the development of the Grand Faw Port and a “smart industrial city” adjacent to it, alSudani said.

The planned project, which would involve the construction of about 1,200 km (about 745 miles) of railways and high -

ways, will be “an economic lifeline and a promising opportunity for the convergence of interests, history, and cultures,” said al-Sudani, adding it will “make our countries a source for modern industries and goods.”

He did not say how the project would be financed but noted that Iraq would “rely heavily on cooperation... with brotherly and friendly nations.”

The countries participating in Saturday’s conference agreed to establish joint technical committees to move the project forward.

Iraq’s relations with the Gulf countries have been strained in recent decades, as Iran-backed militias rose in prominence in Iraq in the wake of the US-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein and opened a power vacuum in the country.

However, there have been signs of improving relations with the country’s neighbors. In January, Iraq hosted the eight-nation Arabian Gulf Cup in Basra, the first international soccer tournament the country had hosted in more than four decades.

nEW DELHI — A government official in India has been suspended from his job after he ordered a water reservoir to be drained so he could retrieve his smartphone, which he had dropped while taking a selfie.

Food inspector Rajesh Vishwas dropped his Samsung smartphone in Kherkatta dam in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh last week, The Times of India newspaper reported.

Vishwas first asked local divers to jump into the reservoir to find the device, claiming it contained sensitive government data. But after the initial efforts to retrieve his smartphone failed, he asked for the reservoir to be emptied using diesel pumps.

o v er the next three days, more than 2 million liters of water were pumped out from the reservoir, which is enough to ir -

rigate at least 1,500 acres of land during India’s scorching summer, local media reported.

In videos that went viral on social media, Vishwas is seen sitting under a red umbrella as diesel pumps run to drain water from the reservoir.

Vishwas told local media the water in the reservoir was unusable for irrigation and that he had received permission from a senior official to drain it.

The smartphone was eventually retrieved but wouldn’t even start because it was waterlogged.

Authorities later suspended Vishwas after he was widely criticized for wasting water resources.

India is one of the most water-stressed countries and extreme temperatures had led to severe water scarcity, causing crop losses, forest fires and cuts to power. AP

Indian official suspended after he drains reservoir to retrieve phone he dropped while taking selfie

Agriculture/Commodities

Mindanao farm project gets World Bank’s nod

By Raadee S. Sausa @raadeeboy

T he Washington-based multilateral lender said over the weekend that its board of directors had given the gosignal for the Mindanao Inclusive Agriculture Development Project (MIADP).

It said around 120,000 farmers and fishers in selected ancestral domains in Mindanao are set to benefit as the program aims to increase agricultural productivity, resilience, and services while also protecting the natural resources of these ancestral domains.

T he lender noted that Mindanao contributes 33.4 percent of the total value of agricultural production in the Philippines, exceeded by Luzon at 39.2 percent and followed by Vi -

sayas at 27.4 percent.

It added that the southern Philippine main island has a considerable amount of agricultural land in ancestral domains that remains unused or under subsistence cultivation by indigenous peoples.

T he lender said several barriers hinder development in ancestral domains, including inadequate road infrastructure, frequent landslides causing extended periods of isolation, and limited access to technical services, markets, finance, electricity, the internet and telephone services.

T he MIADP will fund infrastructure investments to help address some

Insurtech provider sets sights on PHL coffee farmers

By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

REGIONAL insurance tech -

nology (insurtech) provider

Igloo plans to introduce its blockchain-based parametric index insurance to coffee farmers in the Philippines.

Mario Berta, Igloo’s Country Manager for the Philippines, said similar to its first implementation to rice farmers, the Weather Index Insurance will help cover more underinsured communities and industries in the Philippines.

“ Weather Index Insurance is a product that we introduced in order to protect farmers and communities

across Southeast Asia from unforeseen climate hazards. While initially introduced for rice farmers, we’ve seen from its success the product’s scalability to cover other sectors like coffee farms, which is one of the robustly growing segments in the region,” he said.

T he plan comes after Igloo introduced index insurance to coffee farmers in some markets in Southeast Asia, a part of what is called the coffee belt.

Southeast Asia is said to be one of the biggest coffee producers in the world.

W hile Vietnam and Indonesia are responsible for the majority of global coffee output, Berta said “the

Philippines is also an important global producer” with industry revenue expected to reach $6.7 billion in 2023, citing data from statistics portal Statista.

T he local market is also expected to grow annually by 5.69 percent until 2025.

Coffee production is not only a long-term and labor-intensive investment, but it is also one that is constantly under threat of climate hazards which provide difficult growing conditions due to extreme climate–affecting farmers and disrupting supply chains.

B erta also noted that while there are several insurance products on the market for coffee farmers,

“they share a common problem of incompatibility with the real, frequent risks faced by coffee farming families.”

He added that the damage assessment process is also “complex and time-consuming, which creates the risk of additional financial hardship for farmers.”

B erta said the Weather Index Insurance eliminates the need to individually verify claims thereby reducing transaction costs and enabling faster payouts to farmers.

T his is done by collecting and monitoring rainfall data to calculate claims using pre-assigned values for losses due to natural causes. The business rules governing claims

payout being hosted on a public blockchain help leverage the attributes of transparency, consistency, and “unbiasedness, thereby making the setup credible.”

“ The Philippines being an agricultural powerhouse and one that is at a higher risk of suffering from the impacts of climate change, is a country we believe will benefit from having Weather Index Insurance,” said Berta.

We are currently working with our partners to make this product available in the country and other markets in the near future. In addition, we are also exploring expanding the product’s coverage to include other indices such as earthquakes.”

Australian trade chief eyes China export breakthrough for barley

AUSTRALIA’S barley sector may be the next beneficiary of the thawing relationship with Beijing, Trade Minister Don Farrell said following another meeting with his Chinese counterpart.

Farrell, speaking in Detroit after his third meeting with Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao in the past two months, said he expects China will remove its 80 percent tariffs on Australian barley exports within the next few weeks. Australia recently suspended its World Trade Organization case to give Beijing an opportunity to review the matter.

I intend to persist and persevere with all of those trade impediments, with a view to resolving them as quickly as we possibly can,” Farrell said in an interview Saturday. “We’re making progress, but the job is not finished,” he said, adding he expected China to remove the barley tariffs after Beijing’s review “if it’s done properly.”

T he comments are the latest sign ties between Australia and its top trading partner are on the mend in the wake of the election of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s Labor government a year ago, with timber exports to China recently following the resumption of coal shipments earlier in 2023. Wine, crayfish, hay and to some extent meat, where not all butchers have received approval from Beijing, remain outstanding issues, Farrell said.

T he lifting of timber-export restrictions came after Farrell visited Beijing and held talks with Wang earlier this month. The ministerial-level discussions are a breakthrough after the Chinese government took punitive actions on a range of goods in 2020, furious at a call by then-Prime Minister Scott Morrison for an international investigation into the origins of Covid-19 in Wuhan.

Even as Canberra aims to negotiate an end to sanctions on billions of dollars worth of its agricultural exports, Beijing is pushing for better access for investment and Australia’s support for China joining the 11-country Comprehensive and

Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership. That’s a sensitive issue given that Canberra is closely tied to the United States on security and relations between Beijing and Washington are extremely strained.

Farrell participated in a meeting of the trade bloc in Detroit and said that his counterparts are focused on finalizing the incorporation of the United Kingdom, the first country to join since 2018. After that, members will talk about the additional nations that have asked to join, Farrell said, pointing out that he had told Wang such decisions must be made by consensus.

It’s just not a case of, you know, what Australia might or might not want to

do,” Farrell said. “It’s a case of what the rest of the countries wish to do.”

Even as it seeks to mend trade ties with China, Australia is pushing to diversify away from the nation, which accounts for about 30 percent of its total trade—more than the US, Japan, South Korea, India the UK and Germany combined, Farrell said.

T hat push includes new free-trade agreements with India and the UK.

Farrell was in Michigan for talks on the US-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, and this upcoming week will be in Brussels in a bid to finalize a deal with the European Union.

We can walk and chew gum, so we can continue to build on our trading relationship with China, stabilize that relationship, but also diversify our economy so that we have a range of a range of choices,” Farrell said.

Europe’s wheat fields AS extreme weather wreaks havoc on crops in the Americas and North Africa, Europe’s breadbasket is thriving, with ample wheat harvests keeping global food costs under control.

Across northern and eastern Europe, fields are abundant after plentiful spring rain. The strong outlook for the world’s top wheat shippers has helped prices fall to less than half of last year’s record highs, buffering the impact of drought in other growing regions and the shortfall wrought by the war in Ukraine.

of these barriers and “foster stronger connections between ancestral domains and markets,” the World Bank said in a statement.

T hese will include the rehabilitation or restoration of roads and bridges, the installation of agricultural tramline systems, and the construction of small-scale and solar-powered irrigation systems.

I n addition, the project will provide potable water systems and postharvest facilities such as storage units and trading posts.

Ndiamé Diop, WB country director for Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand said, “Mindanao is home to about 25 percent of the Philippines’s population but accounts for 35 percent of the country’s poor.”

Poverty in indigenous cultural communities is even higher, with 68 percent living below the poverty line. Initiatives that aim to improve people’s living conditions while actively involving them are vital for strengthening inclusive growth in the country.”

T he Department of Agriculture will manage and implement MIADP.

KAMICO offers technology for cultivating mango, strawberries—DA

KOREAN agricultural machinery manufacturers belonging to the Korea Agricultural Machinery Industry Cooperative (KAMICO) want to assist the Philippines by sharing technology and innovations for cultivating mango and strawberries, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).

T his bodes well for lowering foodimport bills and could help keep inflation in check. Still, much hinges on June weather, and tight global reserves mean markets remain on edge.

“It’s still a long road to harvest,” said Sebastien Poncelet, senior analyst at Paris-based Agritel. “But for now the situation is OK.”

S o far, signs are positive. The blockbuster European crop could push global wheat output to new records in 2023-24, the US Department of Agriculture forecasts. More than 90 percent of France’s soft-wheat has been rated “good” or “very good,” the best in more than a decade, and the government projects the bloc’s total output at 131.5 million tons this year—about 6 percent above the 5-year average.

Vegetation is “really nice” after April and May rains, and sunshine is now arriving, said Philippe Heusele, General Secretary of French growers group AGPB. Cool, wet weather also put German crops on good footing, said Johann Meierhoefer, Agriculture Division Head at farm lobby DBV.

I n Romania, production could increase by 13 percent in a rebound from last year’s drought, according to Agritel. Ricardo Luis, who oversees a 5,000 hectare (12,355 acres) farm in the south of the country, is optimistic.

If it rains soon, he said, “the situation in some areas can pass from good to very good.” Bloomberg News

K AMICO officials led by its chairman, Shin Gil Kim, made the offer during their recent visit to the DA office in Quezon City where they held discussions on the proposed establishment of a 20-hectare farm machine and equipment assembly plant in the Philippines. Apart from farm machines, KAMICO said they can share with local farmers their technology for cultivating fruits as well as their Korean orchard farming method.

K AMICO is a federation of Korean agricultural machinery manufacturers. The DA said they have about 700 companies as members.

A griculture Senior Undersecretary Domingo F. Panganiban said the proposed facility will be one of the flagship projects of the DA.

D uring President Ferdinand R. Marcos’ visit at the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) in April, he announced his intention to strengthen and expand the local agri-fishery manufacturing industry, to reduce the country’s reliance on imported machinery and equipment. PhilMech, an agency attached to the DA, entered into an agreement with KAMICO in November 2016. The agreement seeks to “enhance the skills of Filipino agriculture engineers and upgrade the capabilities of PHilMech in developing farm machinery.”

T hrough its standardization and quality programs in the manufacture of farm machinery, PhilMech said KAMICO has performed a big role in the development of South Korea’s agriculture equipment industry.

K AMICO, a special status non-profit corporation of agricultural machinery manufacturers, also spearheads the export efforts for South Korean-made farm equipment. Raadee S. Sausa

Govt wants to expand Masbate’s cattle production via assistance to ARBOs

By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

THE Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has provided 8 agrarian reform beneficiaries’ organizations (ARBOs) with equipment and starter kits worth P3 million to boost cattle production.

T he project is expected to benefit 369 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in Masbate, a province with a long history of rearing and fattening cattle, earning it the title “Rodeo Capital of the Philippines.

Until today, cattle production is a significant source of income for the farmers in the province, providing year-round work and additional revenue during the off-season.

T he provision of equipment and starter kits is part of DAR’s Sustainable Livelihood Support (SLS) under the Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support (CRFPS) program which aims to sustain the farmer’s agricultural productivity amid the challenge posed by climate change and natural calamities. E ach of the 8 organizations received 3 cattle heads, as well as equip -

ment and starter kits tailored to their specific needs.

T he Tambobo-San Andres Farmers’ Association (TAMSANDRESS FARMERS) received a feed pellet machine, feed miller, pulverizer mill, and 3 cattle heads. while the Daraga Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organization (DARBO) received a tri-bike, 2 units of water pump, 2 units of mechanical weighing scale, and 3 cattle heads.

T he Bangad Multi-purpose Cooperative received a rototiller, motorcycle with a hauler sidecar, grass cutter, and 3 cattle heads. The Igang

ARB Multi-Purpose Cooperative also received a rice thresher, tri-bike, and 3 cattle heads.

T he Miaga Pag-asa ARC Cooperative received a rice reaper, rice thresher, water pump, grass cutter, and 3 cattle heads while the MultiPurpose Cooperative of San Vicente Uson Farmers (MPCSVUF) received a hand tractor with implements, a motorcycle with a hauler sidecar, and 3 cattle heads. DAR said the Jamorawon MultiPurpose Cooperative received 2 units of water pumps, 2 units of grass cut -

ters, a floating tiller, a rice thresher, and 3 cattle heads. Lastly, the Imelda Agrarian Reform Community Cooperative also received a coconut dehusker and 3 cattle heads.

M asbate agrarian reform chief Herald R. Tambal said the project would not only generate additional income for the beneficiaries but will also contribute to the further growth of the province’s cattle industry, as outlined in the nine primary goals of DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella III, which include providing essential support services to ARBs.

Tambal said the cattle given to the ARBOs are “excellent starting points” for those who wish to engage in breeding or fattening, and he encouraged them to capitalize on the provided farming equipment, which is essential for expanding or establishing a profitable business.

A ccording to DAR’s OIC-chief for support services Amadeo C. Cediño, Jr., these resources “offer a valuable opportunity for ARBOs and their families to generate a sustainable source of income,” as long as they are utilized in the proper way.

THE World Bank (WB) announced that it had approved a $100-million loan for a program which aims to increase farm productivity in Mindanao.

PHOTO FROM WWW.DA.GOV.PH

editorial

Filipino doctor bags WHO health award

THe World Health Organization Prizes and Awards are given to recognize major achievements in public health. The candidates are nominated and recommended by each prize and award selection panel. The WHO executive Board selects the winners that are presented during the World Health Assembly, which is the world’s highest health policy setting body and is composed of health ministers from member states.

During a momentous ceremony at the 76th World Health Assembly in Geneva on May 26, seven awardees were recognized for their outstanding contributions to public health. They come from Bahrain, China, Guatemala, Lebanon, Nepal, Thailand and the Philippines.

“The 2023 public health prizes and awards celebrate people who have made a significant contribution to global health, and whose work has extended far beyond the call of normal duty,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “At a time when the world faces many challenges, each is an inspiration and a reminder of the progress that can be made to improve health and wellbeing for all.”

The Selection Committee for the Emirates Health Foundation Award 2023 of the World Health Organization gave this year’s award to a Filipino doctor—Dr. Maria Asuncion Silvestre. A renowned clinician and researcher, Dr. Silvestre is a passionate advocate for exclusive breastfeeding, which is why she established “Kalusugan ng Mag-Ina” (Health of Mother and Child), a nongovernmental organization.

The WHO citation reads: “Dr. Maria Asuncion Silvestre has used her experience as a practitioner in her community and her findings as a researcher to improve the health of mothers and newborns. She designed a pioneering protocol consisting of a simple set of choreographed actions for health workers attending a mother during delivery and her newborn immediately after birth and during the first week of the child’s life. This affordable Essential Intrapartum and Newborn Care Protocol helps to bridge the health equity gap. Her work has helped save lives at national level and beyond. In collaboration with her national government and 17 other countries of the WHO Western Pacific Region, Dr. Silvestre scaled up the “First Embrace” campaign for Early Essential Newborn Care, a set of simple WHO-recommended and cost-effective interventions.”

“I designed a pioneering protocol called “Basic Care During Childbirth and Newborn Care” consisting of a simple set of procedures for health workers who take care of the mother during childbirth and the care of her newborn immediately after birth and during the first week of his life. Its aim was to propose a range of affordable interventions that could be replicated in the context of any amount of resources, thereby helping to close the health equity gap and ensuring optimal conditions for exclusive breastfeeding,” said Dr. Silvestre at the award ceremony “Nonseparated, the mother/newborn pair is our first food system. We should protect it as passionately and as furiously as we protect our agricultural lands, our coral reefs, and our rainforests. We sought to “rechoreograph” actions in the first minutes to hours after birth, eliminating unnecessary actions, so we formulated a timebound sequence of steps. Many health facilities in my country and elsewhere implemented the Protocol and reaped the benefits. Evidence shows that receiving at least one of the four core steps was protective, the more elements of essential care received, the more newborn survival improved. Breastfeeding saves lives,” she added.

In light of her research findings, Dr. Silvestre has made significant efforts to influence medical curricula in the Philippines and to forge close partnerships with public health authorities to expand her research and design datadriven policies to serve the most vulnerable populations. She has published numerous books and taught pro bono.

Her work has helped save countless lives nationally and beyond, having collaborated with 17 countries in the WHO Western Pacific Region to scale up the Embrace campaign for essential early newborn care.

For committing herself to the development of breastfeeding in the mainstream of pediatric education and sharing with the world her pioneering protocol called “Basic Care During Childbirth and Newborn Care”, Dr. Silvestre richly deserves the 2023 WHO public health award. We salute Dr. Silvestre for her selfless efforts that helped save lives not only in the Philippines but also in other countries. May there be more people like Dr. Silvestre in this world!

For the millions who are unemployed

RISING SUN

AfeW times a week, Riza would go live online to sell Chinamade apparel, most of them brand-new items that are very affordable. She buys them by the sack and sells them online for cheap. She was able to buy a small e-bike so her husband could handle most of the deliveries more easily. Riza is just one of the Philippines’ adult workers who are currently unemployed (19 percent as of March this year; that’s 8.7 million filipinos). But because she has three children and plenty of bills, she needed to find a way to earn money while staying home to take care of the kids.

Aside from live selling, many Filipinos are turning to informal occupations: cooking or baking food items to sell online, participating in pop-up stores to sell pre-loved or DIY items, capitalizing on their skills and interests to be able to offer services like hosting, designing, coaching, and many more. The new digital/online platforms are creating new possibilities for enterprising Filipinos.

Aside from live selling, many Filipinos are turning to informal occupations: cooking or baking food items to sell online, participating in pop-up stores to sell pre-loved or DIY items, capitalizing on their skills and interests to be able to offer services like hosting, designing, coaching, and many more. The new digital/ online platforms are creating new possibilities for enterprising Filipinos.

Others have turned to freelancing. The country’s gig economy has been flourishing for years now since it offers many Filipinos the opportunity to get paid as virtual assistants, encoders, writers, graphic designers, researchers, and so on. But the challenges related to the gig economy seem endless, and that merits a different discussion.

Many Filipinos are relying on jobs being offered abroad, leaving their

families at home so they could earn a decent living. There are Pinoys who are leaving stable jobs in the country to go abroad because our local wages are so low. Never mind the heartache related to leaving their loved ones behind.

The OFW community has taken a hit with Kuwait’s recent suspension of working visas for Filipinos. Our kababayans are boarding ships, working on farms, taking care of the sick and elderly in other countries, teaching, working as domestic helpers, etc. just to make ends meet.

G-7 funnels $44 billion for Ukraine war

LITO GAGNI

WiTH the G-7 countries funneling more funds for the Ukraine conflict, with budgetary and economic support seen reaching $44 billion by early 2024, the war is expected to continue to the last Ukrainian. Already, by end-2022, the National Bank of Ukraine has received about $32.1 billion in international aid.

Of that amount, the US allocated the largest amount ($12 billion), followed by the European Union ($8 billion), the International Monetary Fund ($2.7 billion), Canada ($1.9 billion) and Germany ($1.5 billion). Yet, with this funding support, citizens from other countries continue to protest the ongoing conflict. By way of analogy, the continued funding is likened to a rich man who pays money to an assassin, gives him a weapon and teaches him how to use it correctly and shows the target, but the rich man remains unprosecuted

By way of analogy, the continued funding is likened to a rich man who pays money to an assassin, gives him a weapon and teaches him how to use it correctly and shows the target, but the rich man remains unprosecuted for the crime.

for the crime.

This is how China has repeatedly criticized the actions of the West. China has told the United Nations that one year into the Ukraine war, “brutal facts offer ample proof that sending weapons will not bring peace.” “Adding fuel to the fire will only exacerbate tensions. Prolonging and expanding the conflict will only make ordinary people pay an even heftier price,” China’s UN Deputy Ambassador Dai Bing told the UN General Assembly in February. These words of the Chinese rep-

resentative to the UN confirm Russia’s position. In an address to the UN Security Council, Russia’s Permanent Representative Vasyl Nebenzya accused the collective West of using the territory of Ukraine as a testing ground and dragging out an armed conflict until the last Ukrainian.

The ambassador recalled the enormous funds allocated by the West to pump Ukraine with weapons. Nebenzya cited as an example the actions of the European Union, which reported that it had allocated 16 billion euros to the Kyiv regime. Nebenzya stressed that the range of weapons sent to Ukraine had significantly increased.

Lately, many people around the world have been voicing their concern about this uncontrolled supply

After all this time, how come we can’t provide stable jobs for our own people?

The labor sector has been asking for decent salaries for many years now. Aside from that basic demand, more jobs are needed urgently, workers’ rights have to be upheld/implemented, and job security must be offered to more workers, which again opens up the conversation on contractualization, which is still rampant in the country. The laundry list of labor issues is quite long. There’s a new Social Weather Stations survey released recently stating that 69 percent of Filipino adults are finding it hard to get a job these days. Just thinking about the fresh graduates this year and the students going into college now is enough to make anyone wonder: What’s the government’s game plan? Apparently, we haven’t fully recovered from the economic consequences brought about by Covid. It’s not sustainable to keep relying on Filipinos’ resourcefulness. We need to be able to give our people good opportunities on our own shores.

of weapons in Ukraine falling into the hands of terrorists and criminals. In fact, the presence of hightech weapons supposedly supplied to Ukrainian forces has been cited by the media.

For one, Pulitzer Prize winner American journalist Seymour Hersh raised huge concerns, including the resale of portable elite missile systems that can shoot down planes at significant altitudes. Hersh stated that early in the conflict, Poland, Romania and other bordering countries were “flooded with weapons” supplied by the West to Kiev.

He pointed out that “various commanders”—often not generals, but colonels and others—received shipments of weapons and personally resold them or dumped them on the black market. Last December, military expert Peter Suchiu wrote in an article for “19 Forty Five” that military equipment supplied by Western countries to Ukraine would surface on the black market in other parts of the world.

Hungary has also repeatedly criticized the European Union for its position on Ukraine. Hungarian Foreign See “Gagni,” A13

Atty. Jose Ferdinand M. Rojas II

Joel L. Tan-Torres

DEBIT CREDIT

Part 11

ThE enforcement actions against erring certified Public accountants involved in the fake Official Receipt for sale scam is cascading. On May 22, 2023, the Bureau of Internal Revenue revoked the BIR accreditation of Jennifer cunanan Roncesvalles, cPa, to practice tax in the BIR. Ms. Roncesvalles is the external auditor who negligently issued the unqualified certificate attesting to the regularity of the financial statements of companies that were criminally charged for selling fake ORs.

This action is on top of the other cases filed previously by the BIR against the CPA last March 2023. These include a criminal case filed with the Department of Justice for violation of the provisions of the National Internal Revenue Code, and an administrative case for the revocation of the CPA professional license filed with the Professional Regulatory BOArd of Accountancy (BOA).

As a former chairman of the BOA, I fully support these actions against erring CPAs who practice “notarial” services. These CPAs are a disgrace to the accountancy profession for irregularly signing unqualified audit opinions or clean bills of health of the financial reports of their clients without even conducting the appropriate procedures. These notarial CPAs immediately sign these audit certificates within minutes of receipt of their measly audit fees. While other CPA auditors discharging their functions are charging the appropriate amount of professional fees for their work that involves several hours and days, the notarial CPAs are content in collecting fees for as low as P5,000 per signed unqualified audit opinion.

The Accountancy law of 2004 mandates the BOA “to conduct an oversight into the quality of audits of financial statements through a review of the quality control measures instituted by auditors in order to ensure compliance with the accounting and auditing standards and practices.” The BOA is tasked to audit the auditors via the Quality Assurance Review program. These QAR inspections can ferret out which among the CPA external auditors are properly discharging their duties or merely rendering “notarial signing” services.

During my term as BOA chairman, the BOA Resolution 244 Series of 2015 was issued that provided for the revised guidelines and procedures for the conduct of QAR. There were other measures that I initiated to jumpstart the implementation of the QAR. There were several hurdles and challenges that I encountered in the process. The saga of QAR during my term as BOA chairman from 2014 to 2018 was full of twists and turns and will be the subject of my articles in the future.

While the requirement for the implementation of QAR has been in the law since 2004, presently, it is just on its preparatory phase prior to the actual conduct of the

continued from A12

Minister Péter Szijjártó said on May 17 that Budapest would continue to block the allocation of funds from the European Peace Facility for military aid to Ukraine.

Budapest has blocked the allocation of the eighth tranche of 500 million euros from the so-called European Peace Facility. This structure was created at the initiative of the European Commission in 2021 to “enhance the ability to prevent conflicts and strengthen international security”.

In fact, after the start of the Russian special operation, almost all the funds have already been spent to finance the purchase of weapons and their subsequent

As a former chairman of the BOA, I fully support these actions against erring CPAs who practice “notarial” services. These CPAs are a disgrace to the accountancy profession for irregularly signing unqualified audit opinions or clean bills of health of the financial reports of their clients without even conducting the appropriate procedures.

QAR inspections. The BOA is still in the pre-start up phase and doing consultations on the revisions of the guidelines, conducting information and training campaigns, hiring of personnel, and a host of other activities. The BOA has targeted the initial set of inspections only by January 1, 2024. More information on the QAR activities can be sourced from https:// qaroffice.com/.

Clearly, the BOA’s full implementation of the QAR is long delayed. If the QAR program is in place, the BOA could readily utilize this to support the investigation of the case filed by the BIR against the erring CPA. The BOA could conduct an inspection of the documents and working papers of the charged CPA to ascertain if she has conducted a diligent audit work. The BOA inspection can be focused on the availability and content of the audit working papers. For “notarial” auditors, the absence or lack of substance of the working papers is their weakest link and indicator of no substantive audit work done in their engagements.

The BOA should act resolutely on the case now pending its investigation. With a fast response and securing relevant information from the QAR inspection of the working papers and documents of the CPA, the BOA may be able to identify to the BIR the supporting cast in this riveting Tele-tax-novela.

To be continued.

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

shipment to Ukraine. Hungary has previously expressed disapproval of the use of the fund’s resources exclusively to finance military assistance to Kyiv. The conflict in Ukraine continues to be of concern to most people in the world. Thousands-strong demonstrations under the slogan “Bulgaria - Zone of Peace” were held in April in 32 Bulgarian cities. The biggest action was held in the capital city of Sofia. We understand it drew some 12,000 participants who insisted that Bulgaria remain in the zone of peace and refrain from taking part in armed conflicts. They demanded “peace, not war,” stressing that weapons supplies to Ukraine would not help normalize the situation but, on the contrary, would entail more casualties.

The ‘Celebration Project’

Siegfred Bueno Mison, Esq.

THE PATRIOT

Each day around the world, there is a reason to celebrate. The UN estimates that each day, around 385,000 babies are born worldwide. In the Philippines, this number is 3,739 babies born daily in 2021 (156 babies born per hour) as per Philippine Statistics authority. Such facts are the likely reason why the happy Birthday song is sang the most all over the world. a simple search on the web reveals that every day commemorates a special event, whether a birthday, an anniversary, or a milestone.

In the United States, Memorial Day is celebrated every last Monday of May. Americans honor those who served in the military who were largely responsible for the peace and liberty in the Land of The Free and Home of the Brave. More than 50 years ago, the US Congress passed the Uniform Holidays Bill to use federal holidays to create three-day weekends. From time to time, the Philippines, by presidential fiat, moves regular holidays if they fall on a weekend, to a weekday to achieve the same purpose. Our own Congress should follow the same model by legislating that regular holidays be celebrated on a Monday closest to those respective dates. We often anticipate or second-guess presidential announcements regarding the “adjustment” of celebration of holidays, which are usually fixed on certain dates. Employees do so for purposes of vacation; employers for the purpose of compensation. As such, we should have a law that can perhaps declare that Araw ng Kagitingan (April 9) will be celebrated on the second Monday of April; Labor Day (May 1) to be commemorated

on the first Monday of May; National Heroes’ Day (August 30, 2021) on the last Monday of August; Bonifacio Day (November 30) on the last Monday of November; Rizal Day (December 30) on the last Monday of December. Of course, Christmas Day and Easter holidays will not be legislated given that these days ought to be celebrated on those fixed dates as per religious tradition.

Whether it is a natal or death anniversary, Filipinos naturally have this knack of making the day meaningful, either through lavish parties or charity events. My friend JB has been celebrating his natal anniversaries the past years by sharing his 3Ts (time, talent, and treasure) with those around him. In particular, he makes it a point to invite family and friends to help those economically challenged in gift-giving activities.

In these celebrations, our stomachs as well as our hearts are full, knowing that God loves a cheerful giver.

Among the three, JB and I agree that sharing time is the most important among the 3Ts. Time is a scare resource and there are occasions when mere presence is already

Through it all, I have realized that there is a certain value in celebrating “the everyday.” And I need not wait for a life accomplishment to happen because waking up each morning instantly calls for a celebration. Other people are robbed of time by failing to wake up the next day. The least we can do to show our gratitude for being alive is to give our “least”—be it in the areas of our time, our talent, or our treasure. When we start each day from a point of gratitude and celebration, we are bound to have scores of joy for the rest of the day.

a gift much appreciated by others. Just by showing up on an important occasion for instance is an effortless way of demonstrating how the relationship is valued. Lending a listening ear or a shoulder to cry on to a friend in distress are gifts that can have a thousandfold return, especially when the gesture is sincere. My friend and dive coach Ross has developed this attitude of going out of her way to share her time as part of sharing her blessings. She does so, not only during her natal anniversaries, but also on a regular basis. Her dive students often call her for diving queries but also for some advice about life and love. To JB and Ross, time spent to uplift the souls of others is time well spent here on earth. Both do not wait for a special occasion to celebrate and share the gift of time, talent, and treasure. They just commemorate to revel on each day that the Almighty God has given them. We ought to follow their lead as they both chose to live

what the Bible tells us in Philippians

4:4-5 “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.” Both JB and Ross have developed a personal brand of a Celebration Project by happily sharing their time, all the time. Indeed, there is a reason to celebrate each and every day. We ought to venerate each day not because of anniversaries but because each day gives us an opportunity to share our blessings. As the Psalmist said, “This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.”(Psalms 118:24). Through it all, I have realized that there is a certain value in celebrating “the everyday.” And I need not wait for a life accomplishment to happen because waking up each morning instantly calls for a celebration. Other people are robbed of time by failing to wake up the next day. The least we can do to show our gratitude for being alive is to give our “least”—be it in the areas of our time, our talent, or our treasure. When we start each day from a point of gratitude and celebration, we are bound to have scores of joy for the rest of the day. There would be no need to adjust dates of regular holidays for vacation or compensation purposes since each day is a “holy day” worthy of a celebration.

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.

As Elizabeth Holmes heads to prison for fraud, many puzzle over her motives

By Michael Liedtke | AP Technology Writer

SaN JOSE, ca lifornia—as Elizabeth holmes prepares to report to prison next week, the criminal case that laid bare the bloodtesting scam at the heart of her Theranos startup is entering its final phase.

The 11-year sentence represents a comeuppance for the wide-eyed woman who broke through “tech bro” culture to become one of Silicon Valley’s most celebrated entrepreneurs, only to be exposed as a fraud. Along the way, Holmes became a symbol of the shameless hyperbole that often saturates startup culture.

But questions still linger about her true intentions—so many that even the federal judge who presided over her trial seemed mystified. And Holmes’ defenders continue to ask whether the punishment fits the crime.

At 39, she seems most likely to be remembered as Silicon Valley’s Icarus—a high-flying entrepreneur burning with reckless ambition whose odyssey culminated in convictions for fraud and conspiracy.

Her motives are still somewhat mysterious, and some supporters say federal prosecutors targeted her unfairly in their zeal to bring down one of the most prominent practitioners of fake-it-till-you-make-it—the tech sector’s brand of self-promotion that sometimes veers into exaggeration and blatant lies to raise money.

Holmes will begin to pay the price for her deceit on May 30 when she is scheduled to begin the sentence that will separate her from her two children — a son whose July 2021 birth delayed the start of her trial and a 3-month-old daughter conceived after her conviction.

She is expected to be incarcerated in Bryan, Texas, about 100 miles (160 km) northwest of her hometown of Houston. The prison was recommended by the judge who sentenced Holmes, but authorities have not publicly disclosed where she will be held.

Her many detractors contend she deserves to be in prison for peddling a technology that she repeatedly boasted would quickly scan for hundreds of diseases and other health problems with a few drops of blood taken with a finger prick.

The technology never worked as promised. Instead, Theranos tests produced wildly unreliable results that could have endangered patients’ lives—one of the most frequently cited reasons why she deserved to be prosecuted.

Before those lies were uncovered in a series of explosive articles in The Wall Street Journal beginning in October 2015, Holmes raised nearly $1 billion from a list of savvy investors including Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison and media mogul Rupert Murdoch. It was the duping of those investors that led to her prison sentence and a $452 million restitution bill.

Holmes’ stake in Theranos at one point catapulted her paper wealth to $4.5 billion. She never sold any of her stock in the company, though trial evidence left no doubt she reveled in the trappings of fame and fortune — so much so that she and the father of her children, William “Billy” Evans, lived on a palatial Silicon Valley estate during the trial.

The theory that Holmes was running an elaborate scam was buttressed by trial evidence documenting her efforts to prevent the Journal’s investigation from being published. That campaign compelled John Carreyrou—the reporter responsible for those bombshell stories—to attend court and position himself in Holmes’ line of vision when she took the witness stand. Holmes also signed off on sur-

Her motives are still somewhat mysterious, and some supporters say federal prosecutors targeted her unfairly in their zeal to bring down one of the most prominent practitioners of fake-it-till-youmake-it—the tech sector’s brand of self-promotion that sometimes veers into exaggeration and blatant lies to raise money.

veillance aimed at intimidating Theranos employees who helped uncover the flaws with the bloodtesting technology. The whistleblowers included Tyler Shultz, the grandson of former Secretary of State George Shultz, whom Holmes befriended and persuaded to join the Theranos board.

Tyler Shultz became so unnerved by Holmes’ efforts to shut him up that he began sleeping with a knife under his pillow, according to a wrenching statement delivered by his father, Alex, at her sentencing.

Holmes’ supporters still contend she always had good intentions and was unfairly scapegoated by the Justice Department. They insist she simply deployed the same over-the-top promotion tactics as many other tech executives, including Elon Musk, who has repeatedly made misleading statements about the capabilities of Tesla’s self-driving cars.

According to those supporters, Holmes was singled out because she was a woman who briefly eclipsed the men who customarily bask in Silicon Valley’s spotlight, and the trial turned her into a latter-day version of Hester Prynne—the protagonist in the 1850 novel “The Scarlet Letter.”

Holmes steadfastly maintained her innocence during seven oftenriveting days of testimony in her own defense—a spectacle that caused people to line up shortly after midnight to secure one of the few dozen seats available in the San Jose courtroom.

On one memorable day, Holmes

recounted how she had never gotten over the trauma of being raped while enrolled at Stanford University. She then described being subjected to a long-running pattern of emotional and sexual abuse by her former lover and Theranos conspirator, Ramesh “Sunny” Balwani, and suggested his stifling control blurred her thinking.

Balwani’s lawyer, Jeffrey Coopersmith, denied those allegations during the trial. In Balwani’s subsequent trial, Coopersmith unsuccessfully tried to depict his client as Holmes’ pawn.

Balwani, 57, is now serving a nearly 13-year prison sentence for fraud and conspiracy.

When it came time to sentence the then-pregnant Holmes in November, US District Judge Edward Davila seemed as puzzled as anyone about why she did what she did.

“This is a fraud case where an exciting venture went forward with great expectations and hope, only to be dashed by untruth, misrepresentations, hubris and plain lies,” Davila lamented while Holmes stood before him. “I suppose we step back and we look at this, and we think what is the pathology of fraud?”

The judge also hearkened back to the days that Silicon Valley consisted mostly of orchards farmed by immigrants. That was before the land was ceded to the tech boom beginning in 1939 when William Hewlett and David Packard founded a company bearing their surnames in a one-car garage in Palo Alto—the same city where Theranos was based.

“You’ll recall the wonderful innovation of those two individuals in that small garage,” Davila reminded everyone in the rapt courtroom. “No exotic automobiles or lavish lifestyle, just a desire to create for society’s benefit through honest hard work. And that, I would hope, would be the continuing story, the legacy and practice of Silicon Valley.” Michael Liedtke has been covering Silicon Valley for The Associated Press for 23 years.

45th CATHOLIC MASS MEDIA AWARDS

WHO CAN NOMINATE?

PROFESSIONAL LEVEL :

Entries may be submitted by any person or organization wishing to direct the attention of the CMMA to a meritorious program, series, article, material and the like. A person or a company may submit more than one entry in each category. Entries need not be Christian and nominees need not be Catholics. All entries must be those media works released from May 2022 to April 2023.

STUDENT LEVEL:

All bona fide students enrolled in any of the participating schools, colleges and universities within the school year 2022-2023.

ADVERTISING

Best TV Ad-Branded

Best TV Ad-Public Service

Best Digital Ad-Branded

Best Digital Ad-Public Service

MUSIC

Best Inspirational Song-Religious

Best Inspirational Song-Secular

Best Music Video

PRINT / E-PUB

Best Children’s Magazine

Best Editorial Cartoon

Best Investigative Report

Best Local Community / Parish Newspaper

Best News Coverage

Best News Photograph

Best Opinion Column

Best Short Story

Best Special Feature

Best Comic Story

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Best Youth Magazine

Best Family-Oriented Magazine

RADIO (AM OR FM) / PODCAST

Best Business News

Best Counseling Program

Best Public Service Program

Best Drama Program (Episodic or Serial)

Best Educational Program

Best Entertainment Program

Best News Commentary

Best News Program

Best News Feature

TELEVISION

Best Adult Educational / Cultural Program

Best Children and Youth Program

Best Comedy Program

Best Drama Series / Program

Best Entertainment Program

Best News Magazine

Best News Program

Best Public Service Program

Best Special Event Coverage

Best Talk Show

Best Tv Special (One-Time feature)

Best Station ID

FOR INQUIRIES PLEASE WRITE OR CALL:

THE CMMA Secretariat Office: 5/f Dominga Building III , 2113 Chino Roces Ave. corner Dela Rosa Street, Makati City 0922-8568220  0922-8356147

thecatholicmassmediaawards@yahoo.com www.facebook.com/Official CMMA

SUBMISSION OF ENTRIES FOR CMMA:

 Student—April 24–June 23, 2023

 Professional—April 24–June 30, 2023

SOCIAL MEDIA

Best Website

Best Vlog

STUDENT CMMA

Best Student Organ-Grade School

Best Student Organ-High School

Best Student Organ-College

Best Short Film (Documentary or Narrative)

Best TV Production (Documentary or Narrative)

Best Student Public Service-Radio Ad

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Best Literary Publication

SERVIAM AWARD

Individual

Corporate / Institutional

ST. JOHN PAUL II AWARD

Companies

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

Monday, May 29, 2023

ERC sets initial GEAR rate for waste-to-energy tech

By Lenie Lectura @llectura

The energy Regulatory Commission (eRC) has released the preliminary green energy auction reserve (GeAR) price for waste-toenergy technology.

In a notice, the ERC announced that it has initially set the GEAR price for waste-to-energy at P6.4698 per kilowatt hour (kWh).

The ERC has set a public hearing on june 1 to discuss the comments of industry stakeholders on the proposed GEAR price.

“All interested parties are required to submit their comments on

or before May 31,” the agency added. The total auction capacity requirement for biomass waste-toenergy has been set by the ERC at 10 megawatts (MW).

Earlier, the agency released the ceiling rate for the second round of Green Energy Auction Program (GEAP) scheduled next month.

The newly-issued green energy

auction (GEA) prices for rooftop solar is P4.7156 per kilowatt hour; P4.2395 per KWh for groundmounted solar; P4.7565 per kWh for floating solar; P5.9823 per kWh for wind; and P5.1475 per kWh for biomass.

The hydro run-of-river will not be included in GEA2 to make way for ERC’s feed-in-tariff (FIT)-2 and FIT-3 for hydro run-of-river.

Under the terms of reference (T oR ) for the second round of the GEA, the total auction capacity requirement for 2024 is targeted at 3,600MW. o f which, 2,400MW is allotted for Luzon auction, 870MW for Visayas, and 330MW for Mindanao.

In terms of technology, groundmounted solar is capped at 2,025MW; 235MW for rooftop solar; 1,200MW

for offshore wind, and 140MW for biomass.

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

During the GEA1, the DoE issued 18 Certificate of Awards of renewable energy (RE) capacity, which are committed to go onstream beginning this year.

After GEA2, the DoE will conduct GEA3 in the fourth quarter for geothermal and impounding hydro.

The DoE will develop a specific auction policy and guidelines for GEA4.

The DoE plans to conduct the GEA annually to encourage more RE investments in the country.

‘PHL must stop online felons’

THE Philippines must immediately act to prevent cyber attacks which could cause economic losses, according to global cybersecurity solutions provider Fortinet.

Fortinet Philippines Country Manager Alan Reyes said the company has detected and defended their customers in the country from an average of 23 million viruses, botnets and exploits per day in ja nuary to March.

“This is higher than the mean of 84 million per quarter last year,” he told the businessMirror on the sidelines of the company’s recent media briefing in Taguig City.

The cost for each security breach in the country was pegged at $1 million or P55 million over the last 12 months.

This, he said, makes it a more lucrative business for hackers who have become more sophisticated in their tactics.

“In cybersecurity, the bad guys only have to be successful once,” Reyes said. “[so imagine the cost of the] 23 million per day in order for them to get into the system.”

Like anywhere else in the world, both the public and private sectors are not spared from the prying eyes of these online felons, according to the company.

Locally, he enumerated that the top three verticals at risk of viruses during the period in review were the government, manufacturing, and retail/hospitality.

botnets challenged financial services institutions, technology, and retail/hospitality.

Meanwhile, retail/hospitality, technology, and government experienced attempts to infiltrate their systems.

based on a new Asia-Pacific sA sE study of IDC commissioned by Fortinet, Reyes said 86 percent of all the decision-makers surveyed agree that cybersecurity skills is in shortage right now, and this increases the cyber risks. The study explored cybersecurity leaders’ perspectives on hybrid work.

He added that 45 percent of them have difficulties in getting the right talent with the right certifications.

“They find that people in their companies, or employees are not cyber aware, or does not even have the basic concept of what cybersecurity is.”

Adding to the threats is the complexity brought about by many ap-

plications presently available in the network that are already distributed across different infrastructures, either on-premise, in the Cloud, or in data centers.

“Now, imagine the next complexity that there are too many people, with too many devices, accessing too many applications in too many places,” Reyes said. “And because we have too many vendors to talk to, that in a way is harder for people taking the accountability to manage the technology and the process.”

While there is a constant initiative to invest or upgrade the cybersecurity system in the country, Reyes said education will also be helpful in

addressing cyber attacks.

“Here in the Philippines, the No. 1 attack is phishing. And in my opinion, the No. 1 tool against phishing is really awareness,” he said. so I think the most important thing we need is the cooperation of the government, the public sector, and also the media to have security awareness training across all sectors. Even the simple cybersecurity measures for kids who are always connected to the internet, we should also do that.”

Given country’s growing requirement for cybersecurity talents, Reyes said it is high time for the Philippines time to offer it as a separate course and not merely as an elective in colleges and universities.

Without citing the exact figure, Reyes said cyber attacks in the country will continue to increase in sophistication and scale.

“It’s a subset of the digital transformation. As we become more digital, cyber threats also grow,” he said. Roderick L. Abad

B1

Recruitment site registered users in PHL hit

Bossjob, an online recruitment site operated in the Philippines by Etos Adtech Corp., said it recorded over 2.9 million registered users in the Philippines.

The company also announced that it secured a $5-million funding.

The company is venturing into singapore and Indonesian markets this month, with the Hong Kong market in plan for the third quarter. They also anticipate serving more than 30 million users in southeast Asia by 2026.

To accelerate its expansion goals, bossjob is offering free trials to companies this year.

This marks a significant milestone for bossjob, which entered the Philippine market in 2018 at a time when the local recruitment market is relatively traditional.

“Legacy recruitment websites, created in the Web 1.0 era, have outdated matching capabilities and business models based on selling job ads and resumes, which do not meet the expectations of

2.9M

companies nowadays in terms of efficiency and effective cost per hire,” b o ssjob co-founder and C o o Kiat How Quak said. some firms rely on headhunters, but their high commission rates, typically 20-30 percent of a hire’s annual salary, pose a significant burden for small and medium-sized enterprises.”

The company said it is focused on improving hiring efficiency by offering direct chat and highly accurate AI-matching for both talents and employers on bossjob’s mobile application. so far, more than 10,000 companies in the Philippines are utilizing their platform, including brands such as sM Investments Corp. and Accenture as well as bP o firms like Acquire bPo Philippines and Foundever.

b o ssjob has entered the Philippine market with its model of mobile, direct chat and artificial intelligence-matching. It claimed to introduce direct chat into the recruitment scene. VG Cabuag

Perspectives

The supply chain trends shaking up 2023

DISRUPTIONS to supply chain operations are set to stay in 2023, whether they are existing or new geopolitical conflicts, inflationary pressures and the recessionary environment, climate change weather events, or other issues yet to emerge. They can all impact access to goods and how they flow to their final destination, create port holdups, reduce container and ocean freight availability, and surge prices, among other concerns.

In 2023, amid these disruptions, there will likely be some key supply chain trends to manage. Managing your organization’s response to these can be a critical opportunity in the year ahead.

The retail industry in the Philippines also had its fair share of challenges from the disruptions in supply chain operations. The trade tensions between major global economies resulted in trade barriers, import restrictions and regulatory measures, increasing the expenses associated with importing goods and materials for the retail sector in the country.

Furthermore, extreme weather events like typhoons, floods and droughts can cause disruptions in supply chains. These events damage infrastructure, disrupt transportation systems and cause delays in product deliveries, resulting in higher costs for retailers and reduced product availability for consumers.

Here are some of the supply chain trends to watch for:

Nations are skeptical about cooperation. Geopolitical tensions have seen nations turn inward and become skeptical about cooperation and interdependence. When it comes to the supply chain, this caution is fair, as if tensions escalate, essential materials may be inaccessible, or major trade routes could be shut down. Therefore, governments and industry leaders are exploring domestic selfsufficiency in material supply and manufacturing. Short of this, they are looking to build ‘friend shoring’ relationships― trade links with like-minded and most likely geographically close countries (‘nearshoring’) where the supply of goods will likely be more secure.

Cybercriminals are ramping up. In 2023, cybercriminals will likely be even more sophisticated when it comes to infiltrating supply chains to damage or steal from businesses. The supply chain can offer vulnerabilities that provide external parties with a pathway to get into your systems, particularly via your supplier network. Criminals could also hack in through basic warehouse equipment such as a barcode reader or via Internet of Things devices applied within your manufacturing and other operational sites. Cyber risk will likely be compounded if you rethink your supplier networks and make changes to “friendshore” and/or “nearshore” or invest in new technologies.

Material access is in turmoil. In the year ahead, a second wave of unplanned supply chain risks will likely be realized. Organizations may experience limited access to critical inputs for manufacturing, or even spare parts and critical maintenance items. In an aligned challenge, key commodity prices and availability may fluctuate―whether that be fuel/diesel, construction items like timber, steel and resin,

or plastic for packaging. Building resilient supply chains to combat future disruptions and adapt to new changes quickly will be key to help navigate these risks.

Manufacturing footprint is changing shape. While accessing critical materials in 2023 may be challenging, so too will be manufacturing for many of the same reasons including the rapid rise in energy costs and price surge of key inputs. Therefore, global corporations with manufacturing operations will be re-evaluating their manufacturing footprint. Friendshoring and nearshoring will again be considered, however, there may be deeper thinking around whether manufacturing needs to be—and can be—done entirely onshore. This shift can’t happen overnight, but wheels will be put in motion.

Retail and distribution supply chains are morphing. While getting goods into the hands of consumers in 2023 might appear easier than in earlier COVID-19 times, it will likely not be simple or inexpensive. There may be more consumption mechanisms and channels than ever, and costs are not showing any signs of letting up, partially due to the close link to the complex manufacturing challenge, but also to the difficulty in getting goods into the hands of a more-demanding-than-ever consumer. The prevalence of last-mile delivery challenges, coupled with reliance on suppliers that are often experiencing difficulties also, means global and local retailers may need to review their inventory distribution network and create a seamless experience around a unified commerce approach.

Technology investment is accelerating. Over the past year, investing in a cloud-based digital transformation strategy was a key trend, and in 2023 this trend is likely to accelerate as organizations seize technology as a strategy to mitigate their growing concerns around inflationary pressures and economic stagnation. While technology transformation often focused on the back office and better customer engagement, supply chain and operational capabilities will be front and center in 2023. Importantly, there will likely be a greater investment to uplift supply chain planning maturity, and automation of warehouse and operational tasks, as well as in gathering better end-to-end supply chain analytics to create enhanced visibility.

Supporting this trend is a move from some major technology suppliers towards holistic supply chain platforms. Rather than offering supply chain capabilities as discrete add-on systems, they are bringing them all together in one platform, aiming to provide a seamless user experience.

The excerpt was taken from https:// kpmg.com/xx/en/home/insights/2022/12/ the-supply-chain-trends-shaking-up-2023. html.

© 2023 KPMG Intl Ltd., a private English company limited by guarantee, has Philippine partnership R.G. Manabat & Co. as a member firm. All rights reserved.

more information, email ph-kpmgmla@kpmg.com or visit www.home.kpmg/ph.

Subsidies to state-run firms fell 18.9% in Q1 to ₧21.308B

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) data showed that government subsidies during the 3-month period declined by nearly P5 billion as subsidies across government corporations fell on a yearly basis.

Total subsidies to major non-

financial government corporations (NFGCs) reduced slightly to P12.737 billion in the first quarter from P12.738 billion in the same period last year.

The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) accounted for almost

Banks rejecting Natl ID in transactions face fines

By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

Gatchalian

SENATOR Sherwin T.

alerted the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) at the weekend to remind banks they could be penalized for refusing to recognize the National ID.

The senator cited Republic Act (RA) 11055 (Philippine Identification System Act), which compels banks to accept the National ID as “sufficient proof of identity for financial transactions” and any bank that refuses to recognize it will be fined P500,000.

Gatchalian issued the call amid continuing complaints some banks refuse to recognize the National ID as proof of identity as the card doesn’t display the person’s signature.

“This is not the intention of the law,” the senator said, stressing that the National ID system is “meant to simplify public and private transactions.”

Gatchalian prodded the BSP to “immediately look into this issue and ensure that all financial institutions, especially the Land Bank [of the Philippines] and Development Bank of the Philippines, adhere to the law.”

BSP memorandum

M O REOVER Gatchalian invoked the BSP Memorandum M-2021-057 stating that the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), one of the implementers of the law, has clarified that the non-inclusion of a handwritten signature as part of the Philippine

identification (PhilID) was deliberate and aligns with other national ID systems such as India, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, among others.

The lawmaker added the law also intends to promote greater security in transactions through stronger methods of verification and lower risk of forgery.

At the same time, Gatchalian pointed out that the same memo specifies that the Philippine Identification System allows both offline and online means of authenticating one’s identity in accordance with Section 5 of RA 11055 and Section 12 of its revised implementing rules and regulations. Identity authentication is made through the PhilID physical security features, QR code digital verification, biometric verification and SMS onetime password.

He also notes banks would normally require two or more IDs and other documentary requirements when opening a bank account. However, those with only one valid ID, usually from the low-income sector, are rejected, the senator added.

“There shouldn’t be a need for another valid ID if the individual concerned only has the National ID,” Gatchalian asserted, stressing that the National ID “should be considered as an official, reliable and sufficient proof of identity.”

In addition, the senator encouraged the public to report to BSP any bank that refuses to accept their national IDs in their transactions.

80 percent of the funding that went to NFGCs.

During the first three months, NIA, an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture, received P10.184 billion in subsidies, 32.29 percent higher than the P7.698 billion it got in the first quarter of last year.

Treasury data also showed that subsidies to the National Food Authority (NFA) grew by four percent to P1.235 billion from P1.1188 billion in the first quarter of last year.

Meanwhile, subsidies to other government corporations plunged by 37.74 percent to P8.427 billion from P13.536 billion last year due to fewer state-owned firms getting subsidies and at a reduced amount in the first quarter.

Treasury data showed that only

27 other government corporations received subsidies during the threemonth period compared to 36 in the same period last year. The Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. received the bulk of the subsidies extended to other government corporations at P5 billion. However, the amount of subsidies it got was P2-billion lower than the P7 billion it received in the first quarter of last year, Treasury data showed. In March alone, the state’s total subsidies to its various firms and corporations remained relatively flat at P10.795 billion compared to the P10.717 billion recorded a year ago. Of the total, P6.668 billion went to other government corporations, while the remaining P4.127 billion funded major NFGCs, according to Treasury data.

After 2 mos, EO creating panel on inflation signed

By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. finally created a new interagency committee to keep the country’s inflation within the government’s target.

Under Executive Order (EO) 28, Marcos said the Inter-Agency Committee on Inflation and Market Outlook ((IAC-IMO) will provide advisories to the Economic Development Group (EDG) to keep the prices of basic goods and services, particularly food and energy, stable.

The committee will monitor the main drivers of inflation and their proximate causes.

The scope of its assessment will cover supply-demand situations for essential food commodities, the impact of natural and man-made shocks to supply chains, as well as global and domestic developments, which affect the prices of basic goods.

The IAC-IMO will use the result of its monitoring to come out with recommendations “to curb price spikes and promote food security” such as importation, which it will consolidate in a report to be submitted to the EDG for its consideration every quarter or as the circumstances may require.

The report shall include recommendations on short, medium, and long-term measures to manage inflation.

Last April, the government announced its target to keep the country’s inflation within five to seven percent this year.

EO 28 said the Committee was also mandated to maintain a dashboard containing relevant information on prices, as well as supply and demand for food and energy commodities.

The new issuance also reorganized the government’s Economic Development Cluster into the EDG “to ensure that the integration of programs, activities, and priorities toward sustained economic growth remains efficient and effective.”

In March, Finance Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno announced that the President has approved in principle the creation of the IACIMO.

However, Marcos only signed EO 28, which formally established the Committee, last Friday.

The IAC-IMO will be chaired by the secretary of the National Economic and Development Authority and co-chaired by the head of the Department of Finance.

The Department of Budget and Management secretary will serve as its vice chair and its members will include the respective secretaries of the Department of Agriculture, Department of Energy, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Trade and Industry, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

SGS proposal vs smuggling of farm goods supported

By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie

ASENIOR lawmaker on Sunday welcomed the recommendation of Swiss company Société Générale de Surveillance SA (SGS) to conduct pre-shipping inspections to stop the smuggling of agricultural goods in the country.

Cavite Rep. Elpidio F. Barzaga Jr. said through a statement the SGS proposal was an effective practice that was first adopted under the administration of President Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr., the father of the current president.

posal and do a cost analysis just to be sure that no burden would be passed on to consumers once the government accepts SGS’ services.

Barzaga, who chairs the House committee on natural resources, lauded the President’s move to consider seeking SGS’ services, saying it shows the government’s seriousness in fighting smuggling, especially of agricultural imports.

tions at the ports of origin since the company was in charge of the valuation, classification and the release of clearance for all imports.

The practice continued during the first Aquino administration and the Ramos presidency but the contract was eventually canceled by the Estrada administration because of allegations of corruption that hounded the Economic Intelligence and Investigation Bureau (EIIB), which was tasked then to monitor SGS.

The PCO said conducting PSI and conformity assessment procedures would ensure that the quantity and other specifications of the goods conform with sanitary and phytosanitary import permits and test the presence of diseases, among others.

The SGS claims it would address smuggling and contain the spread of diseases such as African Swine Fever and Avian Flu, clarifying also that inspection and testing fees would be paid for by the exporter.

and opinions

herein are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the BusinessMirror, KPMG International or KPMG in the Philippines. Email phkpmgmla@kpmg.com.

The proposal by SGS was pushed during a meeting last week between President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and SGS Vice President George Bottomley and SGS Philippines Managing Director Cresenciano Maramot. Marcos and the SGS executives also discussed the proposal to expand the services of the Swiss multinational company to include agricultural products since the SGS is only inspecting fuel imports. Marcos has vowed to study the pro-

“That’s a good move. It makes a lot of sense because there will practically be no interference from the Bureau of Customs (BOC) anymore. If, for example, the shipment is from China, SGS inspects it in China before it is shipped, then clearance is given so, when it arrives in the Philippines, you will only release it,” said the lawmaker who is also a CPA-lawyer.

The Department of Finance and the World Bank awarded a 5-year contract to SGS in the last days of the first Marcos administration for the comprehensive import supervision scheme (CISS) at the BOC.

The SGS was then authorized to conduct pre-shipment cargo inspec-

It was reported that from 1987 to 1998, the CISS was able to increase annual customs collection at an average rate of 30.1 percent.

The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) earlier cited the UN Commodity Trade data for the Philippines that showed a 20.48-percent discrepancy in the reported values of agricultural imports from 2010 to 2021, resulting in revenue losses for the government.

For vegetables, roots and tubers, the discrepancy was 34.74 percent while for swine meat (fresh, chilled, or frozen), the discrepancy was 1.89 percent.

Under the arrangement, the SGS will create a digital invoice in a standardized format prescribed by the authorities on an online government platform for registered or authenticated agricultural exporters, sellers and suppliers.

The invoices would be available in real-time to the BOC, the Department of Agriculture and the Bureau of Internal Revenue. According to the SGS, this mechanism would deter importers from manipulating or falsifying invoices and, instead, increase tax compliance and enable cross-agency trade data reconciliation.

THE total amount of subsidies extended by the national government to state-run institutions and firms fell by 18.9 percent in the first quarter to P21.308 billion from P26.274 billion last year, latest government data showed.

THE TECH REVOLUTION: US Congress takes aim at social media giants

By Mary Clare Jalonick The Associated Press

WASHINGTON—Most

Should TikTok be banned? Should younger children be kept off social media?

Can the government make sure private information is secure? What about brand new artificial intelligence interfaces? Or should users be regulating themselves, leaving the government out of it?

Tech regulation is gathering momentum on Capitol Hill as concerns skyrocket about China’s ownership of TikTok and as parents navigating a post-pandemic mental health crisis have grown increasingly worried about what their children are seeing online. Lawmakers have introduced a slew of bipartisan bills, boosting hopes of compromise. But any effort to regulate the mammoth industry would face major obstacles as technology companies have fought interference.

Noting that many young people are struggling, President Joe Biden said in his February State of the Union speech that “it’s time” to pass bipartisan legislation to impose stricter limits on the collection of personal data and ban targeted advertising to children.

“We must finally hold social media companies accountable for the experiment they are running on our children for profit,” Biden said.

Tech companies have aggressively fought any federal interference, and they have operated for decades now without strict

federal oversight, making any new rules or guidelines that much more complicated.

A look at some of the areas of potential regulation:

Children’s safety Sever A L House and Senate bills would try to make social media, and the internet in general, safer for children who will inevitably be online. Lawmakers cite numerous examples of teenagers who have taken their own lives after cyberbullying or died engaging in dangerous behavior encouraged on social media.

In the Senate, at least two competing bills are focused on children’s online safety. Legislation by Sens. r ic hard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Marsha Blackburn, rTenn., approved by the Senate Commerce Committee last year would require social media companies to be more transparent about their operations and enable child safety settings by default. Minors would have the option to disable addictive product features and algorithms that push certain content.

The idea, the senators say, is that platforms should be “safe by design.” The legislation, which Blumenthal and Blackburn reintroduced last week, would also obligate social media companies to prevent certain dangers to minors—including promotion of suicide, disordered eating,

substance abuse, sexual exploitation and other illegal behaviors.

A second bill introduced last month by four senators—Democratic Sens. Brian Schatz of Hawaii and Chris Murphy of Connecticut and r e publican Sens. Tom Cotton of Arkansas and Katie Britt of Alabama—would take a more aggressive approach, prohibiting children under the age of 13 from using social media platforms and requiring parental consent for teenagers. It would also prohibit the companies from recommending content through algorithms for users under the age of 18.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has not weighed in on specific legislation but told reporters last week, “I believe we need some kind of child protections” on the internet.

Critics of the bills, including some civil rights groups and advocacy groups aligned with tech companies, say the proposals could threaten teens’ online privacy and prevent them from accessing content that could help them, such as resources for those considering suicide or grappling with their sexual and gender identity.

“Lawmakers should focus on educating and empowering families to control their online experience,” said Carl Szabo of NetChoice, a group aligned with Meta, TikTok, Google and Amazon, among other companies.

Data privacy

B I D e N S State of the Union remarks appeared to be a nod toward legislation by Sens. e d M arkey, D-Mass., and Bill Cassidy, r - La., that would expand child privacy protections online, prohibiting companies from collecting personal data from younger teenagers and banning targeted advertising to children and teens. The bill, also reintroduced last week, would create a so-called “eraser button” allowing parents and kids to eliminate personal data, when possible.

A broader House effort would attempt to give adults as well as children more control over their data with what lawmakers call a “national privacy standard.”

Legislation that passed the House e n ergy and Commerce Committee with wide bipartisan support last year would try to minimize data collected and make it illegal to target ads to children, usurping state laws that have tried to put privacy restrictions in place. But the bill, which would have also given consumers more rights to file lawsuits over privacy violations, never reached the House floor.

Prospects for the House legislation are unclear now that r e publicans have the majority. House e n ergy and Commerce Chairwoman Cathy McMorris r o dgers, r - Wash.., has made the issue a priority, holding several hearings on data privacy. But the committee has not yet moved forward with a new bill.

Tiktok ban/China

L AWMAK e r S i ntroduced a raft of bills to either ban TikTok or make it easier to ban it after a combative March House hearing in which lawmakers from both parties grilled TikTok C e O S hou Zi Chew over his company’s ties to China’s communist government, data security and harmful content on the app.

Chew attempted to assure lawmakers that the hugely popular video-sharing app prioritizes user safety and should not be banned due to its Chinese connections. But the testimony gave new momentum to the efforts.

Soon after the hearing, Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley, a r e publican, tried to force a Senate vote on legislation that would ban TikTok from operating in the United States. But he was blocked by a fellow r epu blican, Kentucky Sen. r a nd Paul, who said that a ban would violate the Constitution and anger the millions of voters who use the app.

Another bill sponsored by r e publican Sen. Marco r u bio of Florida would, like Hawley’s bill, ban US economic transactions with TikTok, but it would also create a new framework for the executive branch to block any foreign apps deemed hostile. His bill is cosponsored by r e ps. r a ja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., and Mike Gallagher, r -Wis.

There is broad Senate support for bipartisan legislation sponsored by Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Mark Warner, D-va ., and South Dakota Sen. John Thune, the No. 2 Senate r e publican, that does not specifically call out TikTok but would give the Commerce Department power to review and potentially restrict foreign threats to technology platforms.

The White House has signaled it would back that bill, but it is unclear if it will be brought up in the Senate or if it could garner support among House r e publicans.

TikTok has launched an extensive lobbying campaign for its survival, including by harnessing influencers and young voters to argue that the app isn't harmful.

Artificial intelligence

A N e W er question for Congress is whether lawmakers should move to regulate artificial intelligence as rapidly developing and potentially revolutionary products like AI chatbot ChatGPT begin to enter the marketplace and can in many ways mimic human behavior.

Senate leader Schumer has made the emerging technology a priority, arguing that the United States needs to stay ahead of China and other countries that are eyeing regulations on AI products. He has been working with AI experts and has released a general framework of what regulation could look like, including increased disclosure of the people and data involved in developing the technology, more transparency and explanation for how the bots arrive at responses.

Schumer has said that any eventual regulation should “prevent potentially catastrophic damage to our country while simultaneously making sure the US advances and leads in this transformative technology.”

The White House has been focused on the issue as well, with a recent announcement of a $140-million investment to establish seven new AI research institutes. v ic e President Kamala Harris met Thursday with the heads of Google, Microsoft and other companies developing AI products.

Democrats and Republicans agree that the federal government should better regulate the biggest technology companies, particularly social media platforms. But there is very little consensus on how it should be done.

The season of easy living

TO smoothly and stylishly carry on despite the high temperatures, look no further than global style-setter COS, which has launched its Mens Summer Capsule Collection.

T his latest edit is an awakening of spirits, built to evoke feelings of freshness and leisure through pieces in lighter fabrication that’s fit for the warm season.

Pairings are kept light and airy, with an overall color palette that ranges from classic neutrals to aquatic tones, while a key print motif takes inspiration from the movement of water.

Versatile, carefree and pared back, the collection’s pieces are summer-ready and made for days spent on the go, using materials like linen and seersucker to keep warm days easy.

Featuring Korean top model Taemin Park and up-and-coming Japanese fashion star Yugo Takano, the imagery is shot with a lot of natural lighting to best capture the spirit of the collection and complement its fresh take on color and cut.

T he Mens Summer Capsule Collection is now available at the COS Store Manila, SM Aura Premier.

Cherry and the Big Apple

IN its efforts to bring the best shows they can possibly create for the Filipino community of New York City, Neocolors Productions & Advertising Inc. and Neocolors Productions & Advertising International Inc. have been mounting stylish spectacles that celebrate our artistry, beauty and ingenuity.

Neocolors is a one-stop print advertising boutique based in the Philippines which successfully registered its New York branch in 2016. Their initial offering was when they brought Miss World 2013 Megan Young, Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach and Miss International 2016 Kylie Verzosa to grace the Philippine Independence Day celebrations in June 2017.

T hen in 2019, Neocolors CEO Dr. Christine

May Daguno-Canoy collaborated with two acclaimed designers, Albert Andrada and Barge Ramos, to star in Fabulous Philippines for New York Fashion Week Bridal.

“ Coming out of the pandemic, we wanted to do a project while maintaining the same level of enthusiasm and commitment that we always have,” Daguno-Canoy said over the phone from New York on Saturday. “This year, we will be holding Fabulous Philippines 2 featuring ‘Exuberant Fibers’ by Cherry Samuya Veric, who will combine the piña of Aklan and the Inabel of Abra to embody the many fusions and innovations that capture Filipino clothing ingenuity.”

F abulous Philippines 2 is set on June 3, 2023, 7:30 pm, at the Gold Room of Astoria World Manor, Queens, New York. This time, Megan Young will be joined by Miss Universe 2010 Fourth Runner-up Venus Raj and GMA actor Xian Lim. The stars will also grace the grand parade in celebration of the 125th Philippine Independence Day in partnership with the Philippine Independence Day Council under PIDCI President Nora Galleros.

“In the middle of the pandemic, we created a virtual fashion show that aired during the 123rd Philippine Independence Day Celebration in 2021. It featured the collection of Cherry Veric. Now that face-to-face events are possible, he was first in mind to be featured so we can do the show in person albeit with a few tweaks to the theme,” said Daguno-Canoy.

“ The show advocates the local weaving community of the Philippines. We take pride in using local fabrics in Cherry’s collection as much as we take pride in showcasing local brands such as MX3, which is the leading food supplement brand in country with Venus Raj as their brand ambassador. We are also working with Vista Land, the No. 1 developer in the country which will bridge Filipinos to their hometowns,” added Daguno-Canoy.

Veric, 41, from Ibajay, Aklan, burst into the

fashion scene via Project Runway Philippines. His outsanding designs have been showcased at Philippine Fashion Week, Paris Fashion Week, New York Fashion Week, Western Canada Fashion Week, and at Howard University. He was honored as one of

The best pink blushes for morenas

WHEN I started to buy more expensive makeup for myself, the staff of makeup stores and counters would immediately show me plum, maroon and dark brown shades whenever I would ask them for blush recommendations. Wearing pink was highly discouraged for morenas like me. Well, thanks to improvements in shade matching and inclusivity in the beauty industry, pink makeup is no longer just for fair-skinned people. My initiation into pink blush was Benefit Bella Bamba, a warm-toned watermelon pink with shimmer that has since been discontinued. I loved Bella Bamba so much that I hoarded about four of them so that two years after it went off the market, I still had some left.

So here are some of my recommendations for the best pink blushes for morenas. The TikTok-viral Dior Backstage Blush in Rosy Glow is not on this list, not because the color isn’t suitable for morenas but, because it takes around for swipes to show up on my skin. They’ve since released other shades but I haven’t tried them yet. Also not included is the Charlotte Tilbury Lightwand in Pinkgasm because although the color is lovely, it doesn’t last long, especially if you wear a mask. It also lifts your foundation.

NARS ORGASM

THIS glowy peachy pink shade is perhaps one of the most famous blushes in the world. It suits most skin tones and is long-lasting. You just need one swipe on your skin for the color to show up. One NARS Orgasm blush is reportedly sold every 20 seconds. It has shimmer so you should apply it with a fluffy brush. If you have a lot of texture on your skin, NARS Orgasm isn’t for you but to make it work, you can layer it over

a matte blush. Orgasm is so popular that NARS has created a whole line around it, including a lip gloss, color stick, and liquid blush.

RARE BEAUTY SOFT PINCH IN HAPPY

THIS bright medium pink with warm undertones is a liquid blush from Selena Gomez’s bestselling makeup line. When I was in Singapore last year, there was no Rare Beauty blush available in Sephora as everything was soldout so I ordered it from the US when the brand offered a limited-edition three-piece set last year. I honestly have a love-hate relationship with the formula of the Soft Pinch blush but for some reason, Happy is easier to blend than the others. Also, it is true that Soft Pinch is super pigmented. A small dot will do for one cheek.

CHUCHU BEAUTY COLOR BENTO IN THINK PINK

THIS warm-toned pink blush comes with an eyeshadow palette and seriously, these Color Bentos are Chuchu Beauty’s most underrated products. The blush is a bit powdery but it has decent pigmentation and longevity. For around P299, it’s a good buy because you also get four eyeshadows with it. This would be perfect for a student on a budget. The brand recently released blush duos in heart-shaped compacts and those have gotten good reviews as well. I have personally not tried them but my friends who have them say the new blushes are good as well.

FENTY BEAUTY CHEEKS OUT IN CRUSH ON CUPID

THIS cream blush is a warm-toned dark pink. It looks shockingly bright in the pan but is actually subtle and just gives the cheeks a flush of color. The coverage is sheer but it’s buildable. What I love about this

the top five Asian haute couture designers of 2016 in Chongqing, China.

For his New York show, his fourth in the fashion capital but his first as a solo artist, he will present Maria Clara Takes New York By Storm

“It will highlight the cool, perky and playful side of Filipiniana aesthetics. Filipiniana need not be too formal or old. I try to show in this collection that Filipiniana can be sporty, edgy and very urban,” Veric explained. “There are 30 pieces included in the collection, with a mix of women’s and men’s clothing plus my signature haute-couture touches. The pieces are all new, as fresh as they can be.”

Veric’s forever muse is socialite-philanthropist Tessa Preito. But his New York show will be fronted by Xian, Megan and Venus as his muses.

“Because their faces show not only our beauty but also our diversity. I think what makes us unique is our ability to blend the many influences and make them whole and original: from Chinito to Morena to Mestiza,” said the Far Eastern University fine arts graduate.

What does he love about showing in New York?

“Everything that matters happens in New York—be it art, commerce, music, or fashion. I also just love the fact that New York is a real city. There is grit as well as gold. But staging my Filipiniana collection in the Big Apple is also a statement: the streets of New York are fit for the contemporary Pinoy baro’t saya.”

n Cherry Samuya Veric: Unit 240 Ramona Apartments; 1555 M.Adriatico St.; Ermita, Manila; +63-0916-6074388;@cherryveric

blush is that it may be a cream but it doesn’t lift your foundation. It is also easy to blend and lasts beyond six hours even if you sweat.

BENEFIT IN WILLA

THIS blush is part of Benefit’s Wanderful World collection, which was launched last year. PomPom is a neutral rose so it’s not a bright pink. It is warmtoned and is light-medium in tone. It has a sheen but no glitters. What I love about this formula is that the powder is so finely milled and applies so smoothly. It’s also very long-lasting with a wear time of about eight hours even during the summer.

SUNNIES FACE AIRBLUSH IN DOLL

SUNNIES Face in Doll is also a warm-toned pink. I love this formula and the colors in the brand’s blush collection. I just wish they were more long-lasting but truthfully, I think the brand’s appeal is that it’s for lowmaintenance beauties who don’t need blush that will stay on their faces for hours. I am not the market and it’s okay. I will still buy the blush because the color and formula are so nice. I also like how easy it is to blend Airblush. You don’t even need a brush for it. You can easily apply and blend with your fingers.

CLINIQUE IN HEATHER POP

THE Clinique Cheek Pop formula is so underrated. It’s smooth and is also very easy to blend. The product is packed quite densely so you need a bit of effort to pick up the product. It looks so natural and is long-lasting, too, with a wear time of six-eight hours. Heather Pop is a luminous pink that’s quite light and works well for a subtle and “clean” look.

 Sketches for Maria Clara Takes New York By Storm

 Cherry Samuya Veric

UST-FMS book wins 2023 International Association of Business Communicators Gold Quill Award

All that you need for an enjoyable summer getaway is in Iloilo City

de-stress with a soothing massage and indulge in some pampering at 15 percent discount for package takers. If you still can’t get enough of the sun, you can take pleasure in the posh resort-feel of the hotel’s picturesque pool area with its glorious sunset view. Spend the day lounging by the poolside with a refreshing drink in hand or keeping your cool and making a splash in the water.

ENJOY a splendid summer vacation with all the comforts and conveniences you need at Richmonde Hotel Iloilo for as low as P5,300 nett.

DESPITE the rains, summer is still in full swing, so if you’re looking to explore more of the charm and beauty of the Philippines, then Iloilo City is your best bet for a fun and exciting getaway with its myriad of attractions that will appeal to any kind of traveler!

Preparing a trip for your family, friends, or even just for yourself is simple and easy with Richmonde Hotel Iloilo’s ILOILO SUMMER GETAWAY PACKAGE which comes complete with all the essentials for a splendid visit to the City of Love. Get luxurious and spacious accommodations in the heart of premier township Iloilo Business Park, and just a few steps away from the modern and trendy Festive Walk Mall.

Enjoy a sumptuous buffet of international breakfast favorites at the hotel’s all-day dining restaurant, The Granary, to fuel up your adventure-filled day. Sightsee in comfort and get the most out of your day trips with guided tours you can book through the hotel at 15 percent discount. Whether you enjoy the sun and sand, food, history and culture, nature, farms and gardens, religion, and popular tourist attractions, there is a tour for you. Available tours include heritage, pilgrimage, countryside farm, culinary, mystery house, Isla de Gigantes, Sicogon Island, and Guimaras. After a day of exploration, you can relax in the comforts of your room and

The Iloilo Summer Getaway room package also includes 10 percent discount on food and beverage orders which can both be availed either at Zabana Bar or BizBar. For those who want to keep the adrenalin rush after an exhilarating tour, the hotel’s Fitness Center gym is available for use 24/7.

The Iloilo Summer Holiday package rates are marked down until June 30, 2023 and start at only P5,300 nett for Sunday to Thursday stays and P5,500 nett for Friday and Saturday stays.

For inquiries and reservations, call Room Reservations at +6333 328-7888 or mobile number 0917-5809642; or email stay@richmondeiloilo.com. To get instant confirmation, book online at www.richmondehoteliloilo.com.ph. Terms, conditions, and blackout dates apply to this promotion. Rates are not valid in conjunction with other promotions and discount privileges.

Per DTI Fair Trade Permit No. R6ILO-04-024, Series of 2023.

BDO Foundation, PGPC construct new school building in Catarman, Northern Samar for elementary kids

MORE than 130 students stand to benefit every year from a new three-classroom school building constructed by BDO Foundation and the Philippine Geothermal Production Company, Inc. (PGPC) in Baybay Elementary School in Catarman, Northern Samar.

The result of an agreement signed by the foundation and PGPC, the partnership project aims to address the shortage of classrooms in the school and provide teachers and students an environment conducive for learning.

The structure was turned over to administrators in ceremonies led by BDO Foundation president Mario Deriquito, BDO Foundation program director Rosemarie Espinosa, PGPC chief finance officer Ian Jason Aguirre, PGPC director for legal and corporate affairs Ma. Fe Guirnalda-Lucero, and PGPC government affairs lead Victor Dugan. BDO Unibank and BDO Network Bank officers in the province also witnessed the official opening of the building together with school officials.

“The shortage of classrooms affects the academic performance of students,” Baybay Elementary School principal

Noel Dolorzo shared. “The new building will help in the development of our learners. It will also serve as an evacuation site for the community during calamities. Thank you, BDO Foundation and PGPC, for your assistance.”

The structure is the latest project of the foundation and PGPC, a pioneering geothermal energy company that provides clean, reliable and renewable energy to meet the Philippines’ power requirements. BDO Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of BDO Unibank, previously collaborated with the geothermal firm for the construction of other school buildings as part of post-Typhoon Yolanda rebuilding efforts.

THE UST Faculty of Medicine and Surgery concluded its 150th anniversary celebrations with a highlight finish, bagging a gold in the prestigious IABC Gold Quill Awards for 2023 with Honora Medicum: 150 Years of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery University of Santo Tomas, a coffeetable book produced in cooperation with the publishing powerhouse Media Wise Communications/MUSE Books. The golden win, announced this April by the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC), puts the UST-FMS among just a handful of Philippine organizations to have earned the distinction from IABC. The IABC Gold Quill Awards recognizes and awards excellence in strategic communication, with hundreds of entries from around the world vying for the international awards every year.

The 380-plus page Honora Medicum celebrates UST-FMS’s 150-year history and elaborates on the institution’s pivotal roles in medical education and in public health in the Philippines, highlighted by UST-FMS’s major contribution to the country’s response to the Covid epidemic.

That historic journey is told through the unique prism of the institution’s integration of faith and science in its academic programs, with UST-FMS harnessing the collective expertise and experiences of its graduates and faculty to put Honora Medicum together—45 interviewees/contributors and 23 writers in all, including UST-FMS Dean Ma.

Lourdes P. Domingo-Maglinao, USTFMS regent Fr. Angel A. Aparicio, O.P., and former Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III.

Honora Medicum garnered high praises from the international panel of IABC judges, with one saying that it is a “fascinating and moving body of work, with both the visual and writing. . .Marking any historical moment is not an easy feat, and this work sample comes together nicely in publication form to honor the impact and legacy of the institution in a lasting way.”

UST Faculty of Medicine and Surgery

Assistant Dean Dr. Remedios Dee-Chan, M.D. will receive the award on behalf of the UST-FMS. All winners will be presented their trophies at the IABC World Conference on June 6, 2023 in Toronto, Canada.

Calauan, Laguna partners with RCBC to promote greater financial inclusion, digital transformation

CALAUAN, a 2nd class municipality in Laguna, takes a big leap to promote greater financial inclusion and massive digital transformation of its local government and residents in its quest to become a “Smart City” by collaborating with the country’s multi-awarded and leading challenger bank, the Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC).

and Digital Payments Transformation Roadmap which targets to onboard 70 percent of the adult Filipino population into the formal banking system and digitize 50 percent of all retail payments by the end of 2023.

The corporate citizenship initiative in Catarman supports the partners’ shared advocacy to aid underserved communities affected by disasters. The municipality has been severely affected by Super Typhoon Odette and other disasters in recent years.

Supportive of the Department of Education’s Adopt-A-School program, the construction of the school building included the provision of blackboards, tables, chairs and electric fans.

As part of joint efforts to aid educators and learners in disaster-affected areas, BDO Foundation and PGPC constructed a new school building in Baybay Elementary School in calamity-stricken Catarman, Northern Samar.

Power Mac opens 100th location in SM City Bataan

Reseller, Apple Authorized Training Provider, and Apple Authorized Service Provider in the country. It also recently obtained “Apple Premium Partner” (APP) status, which is the global tech giant’s newest and highest distinction of reseller retail stores globally, with the opening of the Philippines’ first APP store in Power Plant Mall.

In a grand ceremony during the celebration of the municipality’s Pinya Festival, RCBC Executive Vice President and Chief Innovation and Inclusion Officer Lito Villanueva and Calauan Mayor Roseller Caratihan, with the presence and support of all the members of the Municipal Council, sealed the partnership between RCBC and Calauan LGU through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding as the initial step towards developing a framework that will propel Calauan's economic growth and create a thriving digital payment ecosystem for the municipality. Under this engagement, RCBC shall provide a payment gateway and digital disbursement solution for the LGU, and access to banking services in the barangay level through its various digital innovations such as DiskarTech, ATM Go, and NegosyanTech digital mSME, among others.

In the same event, RCBC launched its Moneybela Barangayan Banking to kick-off initiatives to go down to the communities of Calauan and directly engage with the people as part of its financial inclusion advocacy. The RCBC Moneybela aims to onboard the unbanked and underserved individuals in Calauan to the formal financial system by spreading digital financial literacy and assisting in the opening of Basic Deposit Accounts through RCBC DiskarTech. RCBC strongly supports the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP)’s National Financial Inclusion Strategy

In his message, Villanueva said, "This day marks a historic chapter, both for the Municipality of Calauan and RCBC. It signifies the beginning of a meaningful public-private partnership for the people of Calauan. We are very excited for this, and we fully support your vision for Calauan to be a Smart City.”

Villanueva also added, “Through our technology, it will be easier for Calaueños to pay taxes and other fees to the local government, the delivery of financial assistance to those in need will be expedited, and essential financial services will be brought closer to every Calaueño.”

Speaking to the attendees from various barangays in Calauan, Caratihan commended RCBC and underscored the significant benefits that the partnership brings to the residents of Calauan. He highlighted the positive impact of the collaboration, stating that it will facilitate the accessibility of assistance to the local community. By simply registering and visiting the barangay, individuals can receive the support they need. Mayor Caratihan proudly mentioned that Calauan is at the forefront among LGUs in Laguna, being the first to establish such a program.

Launched in October 2022, the RCBC MoneyBela Barangayan Banking is a flagship program of RCBC to bring banking services closer to remote and rural communities. Last year, RCBC piloted this initiative during the Kadayawan Festival in Davao City and Masskara Festival in Bacolod City, and early this year, in the Dinagyang Festival of Iloilo City.

POWER Mac Center (PMC) is celebrating its biggest milestone yet—the opening of its 100th location nationwide in the brand-new SM City Bataan.

This new store is an addition to the wide network of PMC and The Loop retail branches as well as Mobile Care Service Centers nationwide. PMC’s strategic locations enable the company to provide the best Apple experience to all Filipinos wherever they are across the archipelago.

“With every location we reach, we aim to make a home for communities that share our passion for technology and build great experiences for them. As we open our 100th home, we celebrate those communities and look forward to serving more in the near future,” said

Joey Alvarez, PMC Director of Product Management and Marketing.

Established in 1994, Power Mac Center is a recognized Apple Premium Reseller, Apple Authorized Education

PMC SM City Bataan at the Second Level Cyberzone is the second branch in the province and the seventh overall location in Central Luzon, following branches in SM City Pampanga, SM City Telabastagan, SM City Clark (Mobile Care service center), Vista Mall Bataan, SM City Olongapo Central, and Harbor Point Mall.

Visit a Power Mac Center location near you and find more online by following PMC on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and YouTube and The Loop by PMC on Facebook and Instagram.

Another look at Artificial Intelligence: The Pros and Cons for communicators

IT usually takes me at least two days to finish a column, sometimes even weeks for me to think and decide on a topic that I want to write about.

The topic of Artificial Intelligence has been percolating in my mind for at least two months now but the more I thought about it, the more articles I encountered by writers from various media/ publications which discouraged me from pursuing it. What more can I say?

Imagine, I had read that AI was tested on passing bar exams, on writing poetry and even on creating food recipes and they all were successful! Now we also know that writers in Hollywood are vigilantly protesting the use of AI because it is threatening their careers and work opportunities.

So, I wanted to check for myself how this ChatGPT works if I were to make it write this column. How long would it take?

I wanted to demonstrate and prove that AI should be handled with the utmost caution because while it offers a wealth of possibilities and assistance to us communicators and even to many other careers, I can argue that any creative effort that the AI is poised to take over will not prosper if it is not supervised or handled by a human mind.

So, I tried it and below was my specific direction. The succeeding article was produced in seconds (less than a minute actually). I’m

printing it here for you to judge whether AI/ChatGPT is really a useful tool for us communicators.

MY DIRECTION: Please write an article about the pros and cons of using AI or ChatGPT for communications and public relations practitioners. Please include examples.

Title: Exploring the Pros and Cons of AI and ChatGPT for Communications and Public Relations

Practitioners

Introduction: As technology advances, the utilization of artificial intelligence (AI) and natural language processing (NLP) tools like ChatGPT has become increasingly prevalent in various industries. Communications and public relations (PR) practitioners, responsible for managing organizational messaging and interactions with the public, have also started exploring the benefits and drawbacks of incorporating AI into their work. In this article, we delve into the pros and cons of using AI and ChatGPT in the realm of communications and PR, shedding light on their potential and limitations.

Pros of Using AI and ChatGPT:

1. Efficiency and Time-Saving: AI-powered chatbots and language models enable communications and PR professionals to automate rou -

tine tasks, such as responding to frequently asked questions or handling basic inquiries. This frees up valuable time that can be allocated to more strategic initiatives, fostering greater productivity and efficiency. For instance, a PR team can deploy an AI chatbot on their website or social media platforms to provide instant responses to common queries, ensuring prompt customer service without requiring manual intervention.

2. Scalability and Availability: AI-powered solutions have the capacity to handle a large volume of inquiries simultaneously, making them scalable and available 24/7. Unlike human agents, AI chatbots do not require breaks, sleep, or vacations, ensuring uninterrupted service delivery. This availability enhances customer satisfaction and can lead to stronger relationships with the public. For example, a government agency could utilize an AI chatbot to disseminate information and handle citizen inquiries around the clock, creating a seamless user experience.

3. Data-Driven Insights: AI systems have the ability to process vast amounts of data quickly and extract valuable insights. By analyzing conversations and interactions with the public, PR practitioners can gain a deeper understanding of audience preferences, sentiments, and trends. This data-driven approach facilitates targeted messaging, personalized engagement, and strategic decision-making. For instance, analyzing AI-generated chat logs can reveal common concerns or misconceptions held by the public, helping PR practitioners tailor their messaging accordingly and address key issues proactively.

Cons of Using AI and ChatGPT:

1. Lack of Human Touch: One significant drawback of relying solely on AI for communications and PR is the potential loss of human touch and empathy. ChatGPT, while capable

of generating coherent responses, may lack the emotional intelligence and nuanced understanding that humans possess. In sensitive or complex situations, human interaction can be vital for building trust and fostering genuine connections. Therefore, a balance between AI-driven automation and human intervention must be struck to maintain authentic communication.

2. Misinterpretation and Bias: AI models are trained on vast amounts of data, and biases present in the training data can inadvertently influence their outputs. This can result in the generation of biased or incorrect information, potentially leading to reputational damage or miscommunication. It is crucial for PR practitioners to monitor and review the AI-generated content to ensure it aligns with organizational values and objectives. Regular updates to the training data and ongoing fine-tuning of the AI models can help mitigate these risks.

3. Technical Limitations: AI systems, including ChatGPT, are not infallible and may encounter limitations. They may struggle with understanding complex or ambiguous queries, resulting in inaccurate or irrelevant responses. Additionally, AI models may face challenges in adapting to rapidly evolving language trends, cultural nuances, or context-specific requirements. PR practitioners should be aware of these limitations and employ appropriate safeguards to minimize the risks of miscommunication or misinformation.

Conclusion: AI and ChatGPT offer valuable opportunities for communications and PR practitioners, streamlining processes, enhancing efficiency, and generating data-driven insights. However, the limitations and potential pitfalls should not be overlooked. By striking a balance between automation and human touch, monitoring for biases, and address -

ing technical limitations, PR professionals can harness the power of AI to augment their work and improve overall communication strategies. Adapting to these new technologies requires careful consideration, ongoing evaluation, and a commitment to maintaining ethical and responsible practices in public relations.

The above “essay” was produced by ChatGPT in less than a minute. While it presents many of the facts that I could have researched myself, I totally agree with its advantages (efficiency, availability and data driven insights) and the disadvantages: that it lacks the “emotional intelligence”, “human touch“ and the “empathy and intuition” which I normally would have used if I wrote it myself. Plus, I think it’s too research-focused, straightforward, technical although sufficiently informative.

But you have to agree with me that while this article lacks my personal inputs, it still is a quick and complete gathering of data which is most helpful for time-challenged practitioners of public relations and communications.

What do you think? Please comment and give me your thoughts. We would appreciate your feedback.

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.

MIAMI—The Boston Celtics were a tenth of a second away from elimination. The Miami Heat were a tenth of a second from the National Basketball Association (NBA) Finals.

Derrick White owned that final moment.

W hite scored on a putback as time expired and the Boston Celtics moved to the brink of the greatest comeback in NBA playoffs history, holding off the Miami Heat, 104-103, on Saturday night to force a Game 7 in the Eastern Conference finals.

Derrick White, like a flash of lightning, just came out of nowhere and saved the day, man,” Boston’s Jaylen Brown said. “An incredible play.”

W hite knew it was good. Referees reviewed it, but it didn’t take long to give the official word.

E lation for Boston. Devastation for Miami.

Ball came to me,” White said. “I made the shot.”

Perhaps Boston will call it The Shot.

W hite became the second player in NBA history to hit a buzzerbeater with his team trailing and facing elimination—

Michael Jordan’s “The Shot” for Chicago against Cleveland in 1989 being the other. I was just

AMAZING!

Primož Roglič all but secures the

Giro d’Italia title on Saturday by overtaking leader Geraint Thomas on the penultimate stage despite a mechanical problem on the mountain time trial. Roglič started the stage 26 seconds behind Thomas—who was trying to become the oldest Giro champion in history—but finished the route 40 seconds quicker than the British cyclist after the demanding climb of the Monte Lussari. The Slovenian moved into the leader’s pink jersey, 14 seconds ahead of Thomas going into the race’s mainly ceremonial final stage Sunday. AP

LIKE A FLASH OF LIGHTNING!

happy,” White said. “Season was on the line. We don’t want to go home.”

J ayson Tatum scored 31 points, Brown scored 26 and Marcus Smart added 21 for the Celtics, who became only the fourth NBA team to erase a 3-0 deficit in a best-of-seven series and force a deciding game.

The others in that club—the 1951 New York Knicks in the NBA Finals, the 1994 Denver Nuggets in the second round and the 2003 Portland Trail Blazers in the first round—all lost Game 7, all on the road.

B oston, however, is going home for its shot at history. Game 7 is Monday night on the Celtics’ floor, a matchup that’ll decide who meets the Western Conference champion Denver Nuggets in a title series that will start Thursday.

It’s a seven-game series,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “There’s nothing better than Game 7s.”

Jimmy Butler made three free throws with 3.0 seconds left—the foul was originally called with 2.1 seconds left; referees put 0.9 seconds back on after reviewing the play to see if it was a three-point try that Al Horford fouled him on— for a one-point Heat lead. It capped a Miami rally from 10 points down with less than fourth minutes remaining. T he Celtics had White

World slots staked in Ironman races

MORE than a hundred berths in three Ironman World Championships will be up for grabs when the Century Tuna full Ironman and the Subic Ironman 70.3 races are held on June 11 at the country’s premier triathlon hub in Subic Bay.

The organizing The Ironman Group/ Sunrise Events Inc. said 50 slots will be disputed for the world meet in Nice, France, and another 25 seats will be staked in the Kona, Hawaii, championship for the top finishers in the grueling 3.8-km swim, 180-km bike and 42-km run race.

Thirty spots for the World Championships in Lahti, Finland, on the other hand, will be there for the taking in the equally challenging 1.9-km swim,

90-km bike and 21-km run (Ironman 70.3) battle, paving the way for the most number of world tilt slots ever offered in local Ironman races.

This only guarantees a spirited, furious duel in various age group categories for slots in these World Championships, the ultimate goal of each endurance racer,” said The IRONMAN Group/SEI general manager Princess Galura.

The Nice tilt will be staged on September 10 while the Kona, Hawaii event is set on October 14. The 70.3 championship in Finland will be held on August 26 and 27 under the Nordic midnight sun.

Meanwhile, registration is ongoing via www.ironman.com/ ironmanphilippines or www.ironman. com/im703-subicbay

Kaya captures PFL crown in style

KAYA Football Club (FC) Iloilo captured the title that has eluded them the past six years following a 3-1 victory over Stallion Laguna FC, 3-1, last Saturday for its first Philippines Football League crown at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

Goals from Tamon Horikoshi, Jhan Melliza and Jarvey Gayoso pushed Kaya’s total to 55 points on 18 wins, one draw and three losses, edging Dynamic Herb Cebu, which blew its title hopes when it was held to a goalless draw by Stallion last Tuesday.

I’m so happy with the championship,” said Kaya’s Japanese coach Yu Hoshide, who has made the country his home in the last decade.

“I really appreciate the support from everyone, the fans, supporters

UE rides theme ‘fUEling the Future’ as UAAP returns to 21-sport format

UNIVERSITY of the East (UE) will get all bases loaded as host of Season 86 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP).

U nder the theme “fUEling the Future,” Season 86 chairman and UE president Dr. Zosimo Battad announced that the league will revert to its pre-pandemic program catering to 60 events in 21 sports in the juniors’ and seniors’ divisions.

events but it’s still in the early stages and we are still in the process of discussion, so we need to iron out the rules and regulations first,” said Roque, who embarks on his second hosting after Season 77. My first time was Season 77, and with the help of the seven other

B8 Monday, May 29, 2023 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph

Editor: Jun Lomibao

inbound the ball on the game’s final possession, and he passed to Smart—who missed a threepointer. But White sprinted from the inbound spot to the rim, the ball fell into his hands and he got the lay-in away just before time ran out to extend Boston’s season.

There had been other buzzerbeaters from players whose teams were facing an elimination game, but before Saturday, only Jordan’s came with his team trailing.

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla was asked what went through his mind at that moment.

Nothing,” Mazzulla said. “Game 7.”

Butler scored 24 points and Caleb Martin had 21 for the Heat, who are trying to pull off their own improbable trek to the title series by being only the second No. 8 seed to make the NBA Finals. They’ve now lost as many games this week—three—as they had in their first 14 playoff games this spring combined on the way to ousting No. 1 Milwaukee, then No. 5 New York and taking what was supposed to be an insurmountable 3-0 lead over the second-seeded Celtics. We’ve got to go on the road and do something special,” Butler said. “But we’ve got a special group.” AP

Boxers back to zero in hunt for Asiad berths

By Josef Ramos

EVERYONE’S back to square one

as the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) starts its traditional selection process on who will compete in this September’s Hangzhou Asian Games—a qualifier for next year’s Paris Olympics.

A nd that includes Tokyo Olympics silver medalists Carlo Paalam and Nesthy Petecio, who won two of the four boxing gold medals at the Cambodia 32nd Southeast Asian Games, as well as bronze medalist now professional Eumir Felix Marcial It boils down to the usual box off for the Asian Games—for those who want to qualify for the Olympics,” ABAP head coach Pat Gaspi told BusinessMirror on Sunday.

There are limited weight classes in the Asian Games, that’s why the selection process won’t be easy,” Gaspi said. “The process starts this week.”

member universities, it was a breeze,” he said.

Season 86 opens in September with UE forming two major committees— overall hosting committee which Battad heads and theopening and closing ceremonies committee headed by UE Office of Cultural Affairs director Gener Caringal.

B attad also said UE aims to make the Final Four in men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball, while maintaining its reign in fencing and judo.

A t least 40 boxers in the national pool are expected at the Philippine Sports Commission training camp inside Teachers’ Camp in Baguio City on Monday to kick off their Hangzhou campaign.

Much of the attention would be on Paalam, who fought as a bantamweight after Tokyo on orders of the ABAP coaching staff to give way to natural flyweight Rogen Ladon. Paalam needs to revert to flyweight and will have to figure in a box off with Ladon, who settled for a silver medal in Phnom Penh.

That’s for sure, Carlo needs to go down in weight,” Gaspi said. “Ladon?

we hope they enjoyed this title celebration like we did.”

I n a touching moment, Kaya’s players and general manager Paul Tolentino handed the PFL trophy to one of the club’s founders, Chris Hagedorn, at the height of the title celebration.

Th is was a testament to the club’s longevity, stability and ability to build a squad from the ground up— most of Kaya’s homegrown players have been with the club for more than five years.

Ceres won the first two editions of the PFL, before United City FC took the next two.

It’s Kaya’s turn to come out on top in a season where UCFC withdrew just after the year started.

All’s not well in football

FIRST and foremost, I am for a professional football league and its tier-system. Despite its struggles, I think it is still good. I’d hate to say these are baby steps because everyone has been at it for years.

I w ill not point to the Covid-19 pandemic as the problem

We would like to announce that our theme will be ‘fUEling the Future,’” said Battad during Saturday’s Season 85 closing and turnover ceremony at the Mall of Asia Arena.

It will be a tough job. We have 85 years of UAAP tradition to live up to, but with the very experienced sports director [Rod Roque] by my side, I know we can do it, and we are confident that with the support of everyone, we will be able to host Season 86 of the UAAP,” Battad added.

S eason 86 president Roque, UE’s Athletic Director, also revealed that the league is looking to include new events in the coming season.

There are talks about the inclusion of additional sporting

because all the problems were even there before.

H aving said that … from the United Football League in 2010 all the way to the current Philippines Football League (PFL) this 2023, there have been six champions.

O f those six, only two still play in top flight football—Stallion and Kaya.

Philippine Air Force still competes but not in top flight. Global, Ceres and United City have all fallen by the wayside.

Th is current PFL season where Kaya was crowned league champions for the first time in its illustrious history, we saw two clubs leave mid-season—United City and the Azkals Development Team.  They are the latest in a long line of top clubs to have dissolved, folded, or in the case of the Armed Forces of the Philippines clubs, competed elsewhere.

A nd it is sad to see men’s football in disarray.

I h ave previously written about this—the departure of the top clubs, a clear indication that all is not well.

I f the problem of some top clubs in international football is financial fair play (see Man City and Paris St. Germain), locally, it’s financial capability. It seems everyone was excited about the sudden surge

in popularity of football in 2010 that a lot of things were overlooked. And with every year, you could see the gap between the moneyed squads and those with none.

T hen teams started dropping out. Even the teams with so-called money eventually ran into trouble because it is not sustainable. It is mere disposable income with hardly any returns.   Teams should be assessed for

n Their financial capability, n   Operational requirements, n   And a fan base.

The operational term is “assess.” That means submission of documents that should be vetted. All the characters behind every club should have proper documents so everyone knows who they are; not some person based abroad who is unreachable.

I n the haste to open a pro league, teams were accepted when they hardly had much. Many of them do not even pay their players. So much for being called professional. This is a result of that poor planning and management.  D o you need to do away matches? It sounds great, but

He needs to work hard and prove that he’s worthy of the Asian Games slot.”

The Hangzhou and Paris Olympics programs have men’s flyweight, featherweight, lightweight, welterweight, middleweight, light heavyweight, heavyweight and super heavyweight, while the women’s class has flyweight, featherweight, lightweight, welterweight and middleweight.

Petecio, 31, said she wants to return to the Olympics

I’m not in full condition yet physically and mentally, but I’m getting there,” said the 2019 world champion Petecio.

The window for Hangzhou includes overseas competitions in Kazakhstan and Thailand and a possible training camp in India.

The Hangzhou 20th Asian Games are set September 23 to October 8.

there are cost implications to everything. Maybe, not yet. In due time, yes.

L ook at it this way, the English Football Association does not run the Premier League. They have a bit of oversight and veto power but they do not run the day to day operations. It is the league that takes care of that.

T he German Bundesliga was founded by the German Football Association but is now operated by the German Football League.

M aybe that is some food for thought in running the league.  I s a television partner a must?

Well, yes. But I ask, what product? Are there enough eyeballs, views and interest to warrant such?

The league must concentrate on building its competition, the teams, and even a strong and sound marketing plan. As it is said, build it and they will come.

A ll I can say is I hope they can look at all this with an open mind (they are so defensive when it comes to criticism eh simple lang naman ang tanong tama ba o mali? Good luck for the next season and hopefully, it is much better.

BOSTON’S Derrick White sinks the putback that sent the Eastern Conference finals to a Game 7. AP

UNIVERSITY of the East President Dr. Zosimo Battad receives the torch symbolic of the school hosting Season 86.