FOR CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION AT COP29 NEGOTIATORS STRUGGLE TO SECURE FUNDING FOR CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION AT COP29
By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario
MACTAN,Cebu—The
country’s balance of payments (BOP) swung to a deficit in October and posted its steepest decline in nine months, according to the latest data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).
Based on the latest data, the BOP posted a $724-million deficit in October 2024 from a $1.5-billion BOP surplus recorded in October 2023. This is the steepest decline since the deficit of $740 million in January.
However, BSP Governor Eli M. Remolona Jr. said the data also showed that the country remains insulated from a tariff war given the dependence of the Philippines on the services sector.
“Our balance of payments show that our service exports are just as large as our goods exports. In our service exports we have BPO revenues, business processing revenue and then we have remittances from abroad,”
By Bless Aubrey Ogerio
GWYNETH Acle, 21, thought leaving college and working at a business process outsourcing (BPO) company would fast-track her career growth.
However, just months into the job as a customer service representative, she resigned, frustrated with the workplace’s “rigid environment” and “lack of opportunities for personal development.”
"You can really say there’s favoritism when it comes to team
Inflation
ACTAN, Cebu—The rising costs of goods and services are main considerations that could prompt the Monetary Board to maintain key policy rates in its meeting in December, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).
BSP Governor Eli M. Remolona Jr. told reporters here, however, that the central bank still expects inflation to be within their expectations. The overall target for inflation is 2 to 4 percent.
In the last meeting of the Monetary Board, the BSP said its riskadjusted inflation forecast for 2024 eased to 3.1 percent from 3.3 percent
in the previous meeting. However, the risk-adjusted forecasts have increased slightly to 3.3 percent for 2025 and 3.7 percent for 2026.
“Inflation pressures may cause us maybe to pause a bit but weak growth may cause us to cut,” Remolona told reporters on the sidelines of the two-day 2024 BSP-International Monetary Fund Systemic Risk Dialogue here.
BSP Assistant Governor for the Monetary Policy Sub-Sector Zeno Ronald R. Abenoja also told reporters that the next inflation print will reflect some of the typhoon impact in October.
As for the impact of typhoons
in November, Abenoja said, some of these could be reflected in the December inflation print.
As of November 20, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) estimated that the total agriculture damage caused by Tropical Cyclones Nika, Ofel, and Pepito reached P8.64 billion.
This is composed of P5.72 million worth of damage in Central Luzon or the rice granary of the Philippines and P2.92 million in Region 1 or the Ilocos region.
However, Abenoja told reporters that the Department of Agriculture estimated that about 70 percent of
the rice planted for the season had been harvested when the typhoons made landfall in these regions. He said the BSP will work closely with the Interagency Committee on Inflation and Monetary Outlook (IAC-IMO).
“So we will check, we will coordinate with the IAC-IMO, yung Interagency Committee on Inflation and Monetary Outlook to have a broader sense noong impact ng typhoons sa different commodities as well as yung mga non-food din na pwedeng adjustments this November, December,” Abenoja said.
Arangkada PHL bares new proposals for air transport
managers that get prioritized for requests and incentives, even though they lack knowledge of the tools and workflow,” she said. “Also, the salary wasn’t enough to support a family, if you had one.” Her experience reflects a growing trend among Filipino Generation Z workers who are focused on career advancement and skill development. A recent Ateneo de Manila University study revealed how this generation, born between
TBy Andrea E. San Juan @andreasanjuan
HE Arangkada Philippines Project, the advocacy arm of the Joint Foreign Chambers (JFC), has unveiled its recommendations for government to address the “structural barriers” that limit Philippine air transport efficiency and competitiveness.
Among the recommendations cited by Arangkada is the need to create a Philippine Airports Authority to take over airport operations and development, allowing the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) to focus solely on regulatory oversight, enhancing both safety and efficiency.
Arangkada’s policy brief explained
that the proposed reform aims to transfer the functions of CAAP to a new entity (organizational de-linking) outside of CAAP.
“This entity will be responsible for the development and commercial functions of all CAAP airports,” the policy document noted.
Arangkada pointed out that “evidence reveals that organizational delinking provides greater flexibility to the regulator to focus on its core function.”
Pending bills in the 19th Congress on de-linking the CAAP functions include House Bill 02234 and Senate Bill 1073.
BSP...
Continued from A1
Earlier, Remolona said the BSP has no plans to break its easing cycle despite the country’s slower-than-expected growth in the third quarter and the uncertainties surrounding the Trump administration in the United States.
However, Remolona told reporters here on Tuesday that the Monetary Board will still leave room to pause in December as they remain keen on a “gradual” easing of the country’s monetary policy.
Remolona also said the reduction in policy rates will still be done in increments of 25 basis points. For next year, the BSP expects a reduction of 100 bps or less, depending on prevailing economic conditions.
Remolona said the slowdown in the country’s economic growth in the third quarter is “an aberration” and that the fourth quarter will likely see an improvement in the economy’s performance. Apart from the election of Trump, Remolona said the next big news will be the latest inflation print. He said the BSP expects the November inflation rate to remain within the target band of 2 to 4 percent. (See: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2024/11/20/bspgradual-easing-remains-the-strategy/) Cai U. Ordinario
PHL peso falls to 25-month low against the greenback
By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario
The Philippine peso depreciated against the United States dollar, hitting its lowest level in 25 months.
The peso weakened to 58.91 against the US dollar, a drop from 58.81 on Tuesday. This was the lowest level of the Philippine peso since it closed at P58.94 on October 20, 2020. It opened at 58.8 to the greenback, and traded between 58.925 and 58.77 to the US dollar. This brought the midweek’s average to 58.871 to the greenback.
The total traded volume reached $1.094 billion, 25.75 percent lower than the $1.47 billion posted on Tuesday.
This week, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Eli M. Remolona Jr. confirmed that the BSP has been intervening in the foreign exchange market.
But these interventions are limited to “small amounts,” just enough
to prevent a sharp depreciation of the currency.
It may be noted that since the Philippines is a net food and oil importer, a sharp depreciation in the peso or high volatility in the exchange rate, could become inflationary for the country.
“No, we don't worry so much about whether the peso depreciates or appreciates. We worry about the pass-through effect. But for now, medyo okay pa naman,” Remolona, however, said.
Bloomberg’s gauge of the currency fell for a third day on Tuesday after rising to a two-year high last week. Momentum indicators are signaling further upside may be limited in the short-term. Investor flow has become less one-sided, according to traders, and views about the curren -
cy’s direction are starting to become more circumspect.
“The strong-dollar trend after the US election is certainly entering more choppy waters,” said Antony Foster, London-based head of Group-of-10 spot trading at Nomura International Plc.
The world’s reserve currency has been rallying since late September, fueled in part by Presidentelect Donald Trump’s plans to raise tariffs, and concern his agenda will boost inflation and deter the Federal Reserve from cutting interest rates. The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index is up 5.3 percent this year.
On the technical side, the dollar’s slow stochastics, a momentum indicator, signal the currency has reached so-called overbought territory. JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s emerging market FX Risk Appetite Index triggered a short dollar signal at the November 15 close, according to Niraj Athavle, head of sales and
marketing at the bank in Singapore.
Investor views about the fundamentals of other major currencies are also a factor. The euro has bounced off support at $1.05 after a three-month retreat. Additional technical support for the single currency sits at its 2023 low of $1.0448.
“The sentiment toward the euro here is very mixed, with some talking about parity and below, and others believing this is the dip to buy,” Nomura’s Foster said. “We have seen quite a few accounts taking profit on euro shorts, but by no means all accounts.”
The dollar is also struggling to advance past 155 yen, even though Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda avoided giving a clear hint on Tuesday that he will raise interest rates at the central bank’s December meeting.
“Flows have been two way in the yen” for the most part, Foster said. With reports from Bloomberg News and the Philippine News Agency
from tariffs,” he said. Based on the latest data, the goods deficit reached $65.899 billion. This is composed of exports amounting to $55.394 billion and imports, $121.293 billion. The general merchandise data on a BOP basis, BSP said, reached a deficit of $67.221 billion. This is composed of exports worth $54.023 billion; imports, $121.244 billion; and re-exports, $93 million.
The data also showed that services, meanwhile, posted a suplus amounting to $18.699 billion. This is composed of services exports worth $48.32 billion and imports, $29.621 billion.
The BSP data also showed primary income reached $4.432 billion, which is worth noting since it posted a 43.2-percent growth. This is composed of receipts amounting to $16.363 billion and payments, $11.931 billion.
“China remains our number one source of imports to the Philippines. If those imports cannot enter the United States easily, then they might [shift their] imports and [could lead to] probably less expensive imports than before. But those are kind of second-round effects that we have to figure out,” Remolona said.
“We don’t know exactly what the tariffs will be, and because of the size of the tariffs that are being contemplated, we don’t really know what the effects will be. So we have to wait and see and then we’ll figure it out,” he added.
In its policy brief, the Arangkada Project explained that Section 78 of the RA 9497 mandates CAAP to be responsible for the planning, development, construction, operations, maintenance, or expansion of airports.
“As a technical regulator, CAAP also regulates facilities that it develops and operates. This creates inefficiencies and conflicts of interest. Stakeholders attribute issues such as the lack of convenience and comfort at airports, breakdown of airport equipment and facilities, lack of water and amenities in restrooms, and other challenges to the conflicting functions within CAAP,” the policy brief noted.
“Such a division is crucial for streamlining operations, enhancing safety, and ensuring that Philippine airports meet global standards,” Arangkada said in a statement on Wednesday.
The JFC’s advocacy arm also proposed an “independent” Philippine Transportation Safety Board (PTSB) to conduct “objective investigations into aviation incidents for better accountability and transparency.”
Arangkada also stressed the need to “modernize” the Civil Aeronautics Act of 1952 to position the Civil Aeronautics Board as an “independent economic regulator, prioritizing consumer protection in an increasingly globalized air travel market.”
The brief pointed out that as the ownership of airports changes from public to private hands, economic regulation may become more necessary to ensure airport service pricing promotes welfare of airport users.
Arangkada Philippines Project issued the policy brief with the title “Philippine Air Transport Infrastructure: A Policy Brief Update.”
The policy brief highlights airport infrastructure updates since Arangkada’s last airport brief from 2016, including post-pandemic recovery, sustainability, and technological advancements, and recommends legislative reforms to unlock the full potential of Philippine air transport and establish the nation as a “premier” aviation hub in Southeast Asia.
“The catalytic effects of air transportation to the economy through critical sectors like tourism and trade depend on the quality of our transport infrastructure,” said the brief.
bilities also play a critical role. “Family is a significant motivator for their work, as they strive to provide a good life for their loved ones,” the Ateneo researchers explained.
1995 and 2012, is driven by a mix of personal achievement, financial stability, and the pursuit of meaningful work.
These young workers differ from other generations' motivations, which are shaped by growing up in an era of economic uncertainty and technological innovation.
“Financial security is one of Gen Z’s motivating factors, as they view work as an avenue to earn and save money for their future,” the researchers noted. “[But] they also want their work to have an impact on others and society.”
According to the study, Millennials often prioritize engaging work and collaboration, while Gen X values job security and stability over rapid growth. Baby Boomers, known for organizational loyalty, often stay with one employer long-term but are less focused on career advancement.
In contrast, many of the Gen Z, like Gwyneth, are willing to move on from jobs that fail to meet their expectations.
For this cohort, familial responsi -
To retain Gen Z employees, the study suggested that companies offer more than just job stability and traditional benefits.
Organizations are encouraged to foster environments that support skill development, social impact goals, career advancement, and flexible hybrid work arrangements.
After leaving her first job, Gwyneth found a better opportunity at another BPO company that offered a higher salary and more flexible work arrangements—a change that gave her a clearer sense of what she wants in her career.
“I’m not just asking for kind employers; just want ones who know how to run a business without exploiting employees. There are plenty of companies willing to negotiate with you about your wants and needs at work,” she said.
The Ateneo study, titled “Motivating Filipino Generation Z employees at work: enablers and outcomes” was published in October 2024 in the journal Evidence-based HRM.
However, BSP data showed the cumulative BOP position reached a surplus of $4.4 billion in January to October 2024. This is higher than the $3.2-billion surplus recorded in January to October 2023.
The surplus reflected in part the continued net inflows from personal remittances, trade in services, and net foreign borrowings by the national government. Furthermore, net foreign direct and portfolio investments contributed to the BOP surplus.
The BOP position reflects a decrease in the final gross international reserves (GIR) level to $111.1 billion as of endOctober 2024 from $112.7 billion as of end-September 2024.
The latest GIR level represents a more than adequate external liquidity buffer equivalent to eight months’ worth of imports of goods and payments of services and primary income.
Moreover, it is also about 4.4 times the country’s short-term external debt based on residual maturity.
These projects are expected to create 1,250 jobs for local Filipinos.
“CPF will lease farms in these regions to breed parent stock (PS) pigs, producing thousands of weaned piglets each year. These piglets will then be transferred to Wean-Finish/Grow-out Farms in various locations until they reach market weight,” the investment promotion agency noted.
To ensure environmental sustainability, BOI said CPF Philippines will “integrate” a biogas system for waste treatment in each facility.
In addition, the company will invest in advanced farm equipment, including Climate Control Systems for pig buildings, Feed Silos and Automatic Feeding Systems, Central Feed Silo Systems, Farrowing Pens and Crates, Gestation Pens, and both Diesel and Biogas Generators.
CPF Philippines is a subsidiary of Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company Limited (CPF), one of Thailand's leading agro-industrial and food conglomerates. In the Philippines, CPF is a key player in the agricultural and food sector, the BOI noted.
The Green Lanes system, established through Executive Order No. 18 in February 2023, aims to accelerate and simplify the permit and licensing processes for strategic investments, driving economic growth and innovation in the Philippines. Andrea E. San Juan
US–Austin
IBy Rex Anthony Naval
T is in the best interest of the
United States to help the Philippines modernize its Armed Forces, US Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III said in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan on Tuesday. Austin made the statement when asked if there will be changes in the military relationship between the two countries once President-elect Donald Trump assumes office in January.
“I won’t speculate on what the next administration will do. What I can tell you is what I know. And what I know is that I’ve seen strong support for the Philippines in both parties in the United States. And my guess is that it will continue to see that going forward. This relationship is important,” Austin said in reply.
“And I think that’s evident to most people. And I think it’s in our best interest, as I said before, both of our best interests, to continue to develop our relationship and help the Secretary [Gilberto Teodoro] meet his goals in terms of modernization so that he can continue to protect his sovereign interests and the people of the Philippines, protect fishing rights and those kinds of things,” the US defense chief emphasized.
With this in mind, Austin believes that the Philippines will continue to remain an important ally for the United States for many, many years to come.
“And the strength of our alliance, I think, will transcend changes of administration going forward. So, again, I won’t speculate on any changes in policy or anything that the new administration may bring on board. But I will say that this is an important country, not only to me, but to the people from both parties right in the United States,” he added.
On Tuesday, Teodoro and Austin visited Antonio Bautista Air Base in Puerto Princesa.
Antonio Bautista Air Base is one of the nine RP-US Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca) sites in the country.
Last Monday, the US defense chief signed the General Security of Military Information Agreement (Gsomia) with Teodoro and co-led the groundbreaking ceremony for the new bilateral Combined Coordination Center.
“As part of his visit to the Philippines, Secretary Austin traveled to Palawan on November 19, 2024, where he and Secretary Teodoro visited Antonio Bautista Airbase, one of nine EDCA sites, as well as the Philippines Western Command, or Wescom, which leads Philippine efforts in the South China Sea,” the joint press statement said.
The two defense chiefs also discussed efforts to advance operational planning and deepen bilateral and multilateral cooperation with like-minded partners in the South China Sea. Continued defense relations with RP in best interest
Congressmen say 4 no-show OVP officials may face criminal charges
LEGISLATORS on Wednesday warned four officials of the Office of Vice President Sara Duterte, including her assistant chief of staff, that they would soon face criminal charges and possible imprisonment for repeatedly defying invitations and subpoenas issued by a committee of the House of Representatives.
Manila Rep. Joel Chua, who chairs the Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, issued the warning after the four failed to attend the committee’s inquiry for the sixth time.
Chua’s panel is looking into the alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds received by the OVP (P500 million) and the Department of Education (P112.5 million) in 2022 and 2023 when the Vice President was education secretary.
Facing possible criminal charges were Lemuel Ortonio, OVP assistant chief of staff; Gina Acosta, OVP special disbursing officer; Sunshine Fajarda, former Department of Education (DepEd) assistant secretary; and her husband Edward Fajarda, former DepEd special disbursing officer.
In the course of Wednesday’s sixth hearing, Chua and members of his committee collectively expressed their frustration over the repeated refusal of the four to attend the committee’s inquiry, with Kabataan Rep. Raoul Manuel declaring, “Mr. Chairman, nilolokona tayongmgaito.”
Chua said his committee would not hesitate to file criminal charges against the four, saying, “They are public officers, and under the law, they have the duty to attend congressional hearings.”
In fact, he said the Supreme Court had declared in one case that attendance in a House or Senate hearing “is mandatory when one is summoned.” He added that failure to honor a congressional subpoena “is subject to criminal sanctions under Article 150 of the Revised Penal Code.”
The code imposes the penalty of arresto mayor (one month and one day to six months), or a fine of P40,000 to P200,000, or both, on “any person who, having been duly summoned to attend as a witness before Congress, its special or standing committee and subcommittees…refuses without legal excuse to obey such summons…”
It further provides: “The same penalty shall be imposed upon any person who shall induce disobedience to summons or refusal to be sworn by any such body or official.” The law also penalizes a summoned wit -
House panel seeks fast cleansing of birth records
By Ada Pelonia @adapelonia
THE leaders of the House Quad Committee on Wednesday filed a bill seeking to fast-track the cancellation of birth certificates fraudulently obtained by foreigners.
House Bill 11117 titled “Fraudulent Birth Certificate Cancellation Law,” also covers those involved in illegal drug operations and other criminal activities associated with Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogos).
The bill was introduced by Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio “Dong” D. Gonzales Jr. Deputy Speaker David “Jay-Jay” C. Suarez; QuadCom Chairmen Robert Ace Barbers, Bienvenido Abante Jr., Dan Fernandez, and Joseph Stephen “Caraps” Paduano; and Quad -
Com vice chairman Romeo Acop. “A birth certificate is the most basic document a Filipino citizen must have. It is a document which provides the imprimatur of the State that an individual is a Filipino and opens to the individual vast opportunities unavailable to foreigners, such as practicing a profession, pursuit of certain businesses, or even to run for public office,” the bill’s explanatory note said. The lawmakers filed bill after testimonies in the QuadCom
indicated that thousands of foreigners have secured Philippine birth certificates through fraudulent means. They said these schemes likely involved collusion with public officers.
“These foreigners must have gotten aid from public officers from local civil registry offices to secure such falsified birth certificates for consideration,” the authors said.
Even with enough evidence of fraud, lawmakers noted that current procedures require a judicial order to cancel a birth certificate, which is a process that could take years.
In the meantime, they said the fraudulent documents allow foreign nationals to engage in crimes such as illegal drugs, money laundering, and human trafficking in the Philippines.
“This sad state of affairs cannot be allowed to continue,” they said.
Under the proposed legislation, a Special Committee on Cancellation of Fraudulent Birth Certificates would be created.
This would be chaired by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Registrar General, with members from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG). The committee would be empowered to investigate complaints, subpoena evidence, and issue decisions on fraudulent birth certificates within 30 days of receiving evidence.
The bill also seeks to penalize public officials and private individuals involved in facilitating fraudulent registrations.
“It is time to put an end to these unlawful activities. Being a Filipino citizen should not be so easily acquired or given away by unscrupulous and selfish individuals who only wish to attain Filipino citizenship to fuel their self-interests. Being a Filipino is something that we should always honor and zealously protect,” the authors said.
DILG chief hurdles CA panel, assured of confirmation
Fness who “refuses to be sworn or placed under affirmation or to answer any legal inquiry…”
It is not clear if in the history of the Philippine Congress, a resource person or witness had been jailed for refusing to obey a House or Senate subpoena.
But in the United States, there have been instances when public officers suffered imprisonment for defying Congress.
Just last month, an ally of newly elected US President Donald Trump finished his four-month-jail-term for refusing to comply with a subpoena of the US House of Representatives.
Aside from criminal charges, Deputy Speaker and Quezon Rep. David “Jay-jay” Suarez suggested that the committee look into the possibility of filing administrative cases against the four OVP officials.
Chua, Suarez, Manuel and other committee members expressed exasperation over the repeated refusal of the Ortonio and his colleagues to attend the inquiry and answer questions on the use of the P612.5-million OVP and DepEd CIFs.
Suarez said Ortonio even promised to show up in Wednesday’s hearing but was absent.
Manuel said the common excuse of the four that they were on “official travel” was “petty.”
“It’s a convenient excuse. Dinasilanatitinag sa contempt and arrest order,” observed Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong. Taguig City Rep. Pammy Zamora moved that the committee forward the contempt and arrest orders against Ortonio, Acosta and the Fajardas to the Bureau of Immigration with a request that a “lookout bulletin be issued to prevent them from fleeing the country to evade our investigation.”
Upon motion by Ako Bicol Rep. Jil Bongalon, Chua cited Ortonio in contempt a second time “for disrespecting the committee.”
Chua said if Zuleika Lopez, Vice President Duterte’s chief of staff, was able to show up in Wednesday’s inquiry after a trip to the United States, she could not understand why the four could consistently defy his committee.
Responding to questions from committee members, Lopez and Rosalynne Sanchez, who heads the OVP administrative services department, could not tell who signed the travel orders for Ortonio, Acosta and the Fajardas, and what places they were allowed to travel to.
The common answer of the two was they have not seen the travel orders.
However, they admitted that it is “the head of the agency,” referring to VP Duterte, who signs travel orders.
ORMER Cavite governor Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla breezed through the Commission on Appointments’ Committee on the Interior and Local Government which on Wednesday endorsed for plenary approval his ad interim appointment as Secretary of the Interior and Local Government.
Remulla initially intended to run for his third and last consecutive term as the governor of Cavite in the 2025 elections. However, he withdrew his certificate of candidacy on October 7, six days after filing it, and was appointed by
President Marcos as SILG, succeeding Benhur Abalos, who resigned to run for the Senate.
Remulla served as the governor of Cavite from 2019 to 2024 and from 2010 to 2016, and had previously served as vice governor and as provincial board member of Cavite. His brother, Crispin Remulla, is the current Secretary of Justice.
Before the confirmation hearing, Sen. Lawrence Go supported Remulla saying, “With Governor Remulla at the helm, I am sure he will serve the public with excellence. Just continue the fight
against drugs, criminality and corruption in the government. I have full confidence not only in your ability but also in your heart for our countrymen.”
CSC chief too ALSO on Wednesday, the ad interim appointment of Marilyn B. Barua-Yap as chairperson of the Civil Service Commission was endorsed by outgoing Sen. Cynthia Villar. “On behalf of the Committee on Constitutional Commissions and Offices, it is my honor and privilege to submit to this august body
Cyclones casualty now at 9 dead, 14
injured
DBy Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga
AYS after typhoon Pepito is gone, the number of casualties continues to increase with reports belatedly coming in, the National Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) said.
The Situation Report issued by the NDRRMC on Wednesday for the combined effects of Nika, Ofel, and Pepito, the number of fatalities went up to nine killed, 16 injured and four missing.
Seven of the fatalities were from Ambaguio, Nueva Ecija, including an 8-year-old child who was buried alive in a landslide amid the onslaught of Super Typhoon Pepito.
Meanwhile, the Office of the Civil Defense clarified that one of the fatalities in Daet, Camarines Norte, was involved in a vehicular accident.
Cyclones displace .7 million people
THE NDRRMC meanwhile reported an increasing number of affected persons.
The agency said a total of 721,369 persons from the Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon), Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan), Bicol, and Metro Manila were pre-emptively evacuated.
The total number of affected families has reached 820,831 or 3,031,171 individuals living in 5,859 barangays of 455 cities and towns in 34 provinces.
The inclement weather, characterized by violent winds and heavy rainfall, plus the storm surges and coastal inundation in both Southern and Northern Luzon have displaced a total of 442,857 persons
who fled their homes at the height of the typhoons.
A total of 2,693 evacuation centers were put up in various locations to accommodate the families whose houses were destroyed or damaged, or remain flooded.
Massive flooding, damage
The NDRRMC said a total of 290 areas in the Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, and Bicol were flooded during the onslaught of three successive severe weather disturbances. Massive landslides were also reported in those regions.
There were 22,421 damaged houses, and 158 damaged infrastructures including roads, bridges, government offices, utility services, flood control, and schools.
The estimated damage to infrastructure has now reached P1.55 billion.
A total of 21 cities and towns are now in a state of calamity because of the devastation. Meanwhile, 67 percent or 150 cities have restored power and electricity services, while 62 percent or 8 of the 13 cities and municipalities that were affected by the series of storms have been restored.
Govt focuses on relief, rehab
THE government is now focusing on relief and rehabilitation efforts for regions severely hit by Super Typhoon Pepito (international Man-yi), the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) administrator, Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno, said Wednesday.
“Well nasa relief efforts pa rin tayo and then nasa rehabilitation unti-unti, especially s a Catanduanes, na heavily hit. Pero maramirintinamaan,angAurora, Pangasinan, Isabela, marami rin doon,” he said in a media interview.
Early recovery measures
“EARLY recovery” measures in Catanduanes are ongoing, with building materials like galvanized iron sheets, repair kits, and food items sent by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Nepomuceno said. Similar efforts are also ongoing in Isabela and Pangasinan and other areas affected by the super typhoons, he added.
Nepomuceno said there is no shortage of relief items and other materials that are being delivered to the local governments.
He attributed it to the policy of prepositioning relief items and manpower, which largely consists of uniformed personnel, and transportation assets to affected communities.
Shelter response fund
THE Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) 5 (Bicol) confirmed on Wednesday that a P15 million emergency shelter response fund has been allotted for families whose homes were destroyed by Pepito in Catanduanes.
The DHSUD-5 director, lawyer Richard Manila, said the assistance was allocated for housing materials and essentials to be distributed to affected households in the province.
“For the housing materials and essentials [HOME], we have earmarked P15 million and cash assistance of P10,000 and P30,000 for partially damaged and totally damaged houses through the Integrated Disaster Shelter Assistance Program (Idsap),” he said.
Manila personally visited Catanduanes and reported to Gov. Joseph Cua the initial assistance ready for victims of Pepito.
Home repair kits
“THE mayor of the 11 towns and Governor Cua were able to tell us what they need. Most of
for confirmation the nomination of Barua-Yap, for a term expiring on 02 February 2029, to replace Karlo Alexei B. Nograles,” Villar said in her endorsement speech. Nograles resigned from the CSC to run for mayor of Davao City.
“Attorney Barua-Yap’s dedication to public service spanning over three decades is marked with excellence and integrity. And her background in Law, Public Administration, and legislative reform makes her exceptionally qualified for the esteemed position of Chairperson of the Civil Service Commission, Villar said. Butch Fernandez
them need construction materials for them to rebuild their homes destroyed by Pepito,” Manila said.
He said the home repair kit includes eight galvanized iron sheets, 10 pieces of one-fourth plywood, 24 pieces of lumber, and two kilograms of nails.
He said the home repair kit can help build a temporary shelter for the typhoon victims.
“For the Idsap, they need to comply with the requirements needed, such as a letter request from the mayors, disaster reports, and beneficiary eligibility sheets that need to be filled out by the local government as the basis of our validation team,” he said.
Manila said that once the local governments submit their request, they could start processing the cash assistance under Idsap. 408 schools damaged, 244 classrooms destroyed THE Department of Education (DepEd) 5 (Bicol) reported that 408 schools were damaged and 244 classrooms were completely destroyed by Super Typhoon Pepito.
Mayflor Marie Jumamil, chief of the DepEd-5 Public Affairs Unit (PAU), said the data was based on the Rapid Assessment of Damages Report (RADaR) conducted across various school divisions in the region. The affected schools included 108 in Catanduanes, 144 in Camarines Sur, 113 in Camarines Norte, and 43 in Naga City. Of the 244 classrooms that were completely damaged, the distribution was as follows: Catanduanes, 102; Camarines Sur, 128 and Camarines Norte, 14. Also, a total of 3,848 learners were displaced by the super typhoon.
Jumamil added that DepEd-5 has sent its regional DRRM team to Catanduanes to further assess infrastructure damage and address the immediate needs of students and teachers in the hardest-hit areas. With Philippine News Agency
Thursday, November 21, 2024
‘Before
importing veggies,
fish, check disconnect in farmgate, retail prices’
TBy Ada Pelonia @adapelonia
HE broad agriculture sector
coalition Sinag urged the Department of Agriculture (DA) to check the “disconnect” between farmgate and retail prices prior to issuing import plans.
Sinag executive director Jayson Cainglet issued the statement after the DA recently said it is mulling over the importation of vegetables and possibly expand fish imports to stabilize prices following the “historic” damage brought by major typhoons on local plantations.
Cainglet said they would prefer that DA first consult the sectors and industries to know the extent and actual damage per commodity, the inventory and situation across the value chain, and possible collaboration of the agency and the agricultural industry.
“There is no problem [with
importing] if there is a need. Unfortunately, the issue of high retail prices is always equated [with] the need to import,” he said.
“If the point of view is retail prices, baka pwede muna tingnan ang [it might be good to check the] disconnect [between] farmgate and retail prices,” he added.
According to Cainglet, the farmgate price of galunggong at the consignation ranges between P120 and P180 per kilo, but the retail price stood at P320 per kilo.
Cainglet also noted that vegetable production was mostly small-scale and one of the few agricultural sectors that is yet to be penetrated by imports.
“Why open the floodgates for importation now? Let us instead help rebuild the livelihoods of our vegetable growers,” he added.
Veggies, fish imports
AGRICULTURE Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said DA
Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. directed the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) and the High-Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) to check the volume and supply of highland and lowland vegetables in the country.
He added that the BPI and HVCDP were tasked to provide the agriculture chief recommendations for possible strategies to augment supply within the week.
“One [possible strategy] is to check [the] supplies from other regions and secondly, possible importation of key agricultural commodities,” De Mesa told reporters on Tuesday.
However, he maintained that the agency’s priority is still checking for other sources that could supply highland and lowland vegetables to Luzon from other regions, such as those in Visayas and Mindanao.
“The priority is to get the vegetables from other vegetable-
House bill expands benefits to firms that
THE passage of a bill that expands the benefits that may be enjoyed by companies who will hire senior citizens will allow the country’s elderly to augment their retirement income by getting regular employment, a lawmaker on Wednesday.
House Bill 10985, which promotes job opportunities for senior citizens by expanding the benefits companies get from hiring seniors from an additional 10 percent deduction on their taxable income to 25 percent, recently hurdled the third and final reading in the lower chamber. The measure also waives government
fees on clearances and documents for senior job seekers.
The House Committee on Ways and Means chairman, Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda, promoted the increase in the tax benefit for companies that hire senior citizens as chairman of the House’s tax committee.
“Senior citizens who wish to continue working benefit immensely from gainful employment. And the companies that hire them benefit from their experience, wisdom, and accumulated years of expertise. They also have excellent work ethic,” Salceda
producing areas and regions. If that will be enough to temper the prices, there is no need to import. But if there’s a necessity to import, we will do that,” De Mesa said.
The DA official explained that agricultural areas hard hit by the onslaught of successive super typhoons would be hard-pressed to recover.
He described the typhoon damage as severe, adding, “What happened is historical …extraordinary circumstances,” De Mesa said.
The DA is also eyeing the additional importation of 8,000 metric tons (MT) of small pelagic fishes as successive typhoons hit the country amid the closed fishing season. These would include galunggong, mackerel, moonfish and bonito.
The agency earlier authorized the importation of 30,000 MT of pelagic fish to augment supply during the closed fishing season.
hire seniors
said in a statement.
“I championed this proposal because it is also performance-based. The revenue losses only come if the companies actually hire seniors.”
He said, the pension under the Social Security System (SSS) is “inadequate” for funding the needs of old age, which is why many of those who reached retirement age still want to continue working.
“We need to solve that, for sure, but the structural reforms in the country’s pension system won’t benefit this generation of pensioners. So, for those who wish to augment their retirement income with work, the opportunities should be available.” Salceda said.
“This bill is part of a package of reforms we introduced to open opportunities for seniors. Earlier this year, we got Department of Labor and Employment to allow
seniors to benefit from its Tupad program. We are also pushing for more job retraining programs for seniors who wish to continue working,” he added.
Meanwhile, Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said that retired or elderly individuals should not just be left to fend for themselves or depend entirely on their monthly pension.
“It’s about time we help ensure automatic employment allocation for Filipinos aged 60 and above,” Romualdez was quoted in the statement as saying.
“They [senior citizens] should also be given the opportunity to be given post-retirement careers, like for example doing menial jobs that are not physically strenuous. Let’s allow them to be still productive citizens of the country. If advanced economies can do it, why can’t we?” he added. Ada Pelonia
Senators assail CHED’s reduction of poor college students’ subsidy
By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM
IN the midst of the Senate deliberations on the 2025 budget for State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), the congressional Educational Comission 2 co-chairman, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian expressed opposition to the reduction of the tertiary education (TES) subsidy from the original P60,000 per grantee to only P20,000 for those enrolled in private colleges and universities and from P40,000 to P20,000 for those studying in public schools.
The Unified Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education Act (UniFAST) Memorandum Circular 5, series of 2023, reduced the subsidies.
The reduction is expected to negatively affect the poorest of the poor, especially those enrolled in private HEIs, who now find themselves with subsidies only partially covering the cost of college education, Gatchalian said.
Under Republic Act 10931 or the UniFAST Law, the TES provides financial assistance to qualified students enrolled in colleges and universities, aiming to ease financial burden on students from low-income families by offering subsidies for tuition and other educational expenses.
It was established to enable the poorest of the poor, specifically those under the Listahanan 2.0, to go to university.
The Commission on Higher Education justified the reduction saying that it was meant to accommodate more grantees, given that the agency only had 200,000 slots available compared to the 1.6 million applications received.
Gatchalian noted that “they [CHED] thus lowered the amount to increase the number of grantees. We don’t want the scenario where we give the subsidy and they don’t finish.”
He added that “it is either they [present grantees] will drop out in the middle of the academic year or not continue their studies altogether.”
Moreover, he senator reminded that the amounts should “be enough for students to graduate.”
“I believe that the P60,000 and P40,000 are the amounts that will incentivize as well as cover the expenses of the student in order for them to finish,” he added.
Gatchalian likewise emphasized the importance of students not only starting their education but also finishing it.”
“We want our students to graduate.
Marami nga tayong napapag-aral, pero hindi naman tapos. As opposed to konti lang, pero tapos. “With the current reduced rate, the completion rate may drop even lower.” Currently, CHED reported that completion rates of TES grantees stand at 79.2 percent, but Edcom 2 warns that this could drop with the reduced financial support.
Budget bill sponsor Sen. Pia Cayetano echoed this concern, pointing out that financial difficulties remain one of the primary reasons for students discontinuing their studies.
“Findings of Edcom 2 showed that financial challenges are the biggest deterrent to finishing,” she noted, warning that “the threat there is that bababa yung graduation rates.”
Moreover, Cayetano likewise highlighted the need to explore creative solutions to expand access to higher education, particularly through short-term degrees.
“If you look at it in the long run, where do we get the money?” she asked. “If students have the option to earn an associate degree after two years, they can choose to pause their studies and return later. Pero this is not widely available in many state colleges and universities [SUCs]. In my opinion, CHED should only adjust the subsidy amount if an opt-out option or similar flexibility is in place, because I don’t want this 79.2 percent completion rate to decline further.”
“Based on EDCOM analysis, this reduction in the subsidy amount will effectively limit the choices of TES grantees, and will likely exclude the poorest of the poor from going to college, defeating the intent of the law,” said EDCOM Executive Director Dr. Karol Mark Yee. “For example, grantees could only realistically apply to five programs: Elementary Education, Technology and Livelihood Education, Criminology, Industrial Technology, and Technical-Vocational Teacher Education. Notably these same college programs are the ones that are already, very much oversubscribed.”
Sen. Alan Cayetano, who is also Edcom 2 co-chairman, also urged CHED to review and assess the best allocation of resources for student support. “Perhaps CHED should do a study kungmagkanotalagaangdapat i-allocate sa subsidies, scholarships, and other aids. It’s not really on whether we should spend more on education, but rather on what is the right mix of student loans, aids, and scholarships, and what is the role of the SUCs vs. the private,” he suggested.
Indonesia on Veloso release: It’s a prisoner transfer deal
By Malou Talosig-Bartolome
THE Indonesian minister coordinating law, human rights, immigration, and corrections agencies in Jakarta said Filipino death row convict Mary Jane will likely be transferred to a Philippine prison in December 2024—and not released.
Yusril Ihza Mahendra, minister of Menko Kumhan Imipas, said Indonesian President Prabow Subianto has “approved” the prisoner transfer policy after coordinating among the ministries concerned.
To be able to effect the transfer of Veloso, Yusril said, the Philippine government must fulfill the following conditions:
1. Recognize and respect the final decision of the Indonesian court in punishing its citizens who are proven to have committed criminal acts in the territory of Indonesia.
2. The prisoner is returned to his country of origin to serve the remainder of his sentence there in accordance with the Indonesian
court decision.
3. Transfer and security costs during the trip are borne by the country concerned.
“After returning to his country and serving his sentence there, the authority to train the prisoner shifted to the authority of his country,” Yusril said in a statement.
As for granting of clemency, leniency, or pardon of Veloso while she is jailed in the Philippines, President Marcos Jr. has the authority to grant it.
“In the case of Mary Jane, who was sentenced to death in Indonesia, it is possible that President Marcos will grant pardon and change her sentence to life imprisonment, considering that the death penalty has been abolished in the Philippine criminal code, so this step is within the full authority of the President of the Philippines,” Yusril added. So far, the Indonesian coordinating ministry has received the official request from Philippine Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla regarding transferring
Veloso to a Philippine jail.
Last week, this request was discussed during their meeting with the Philippine Ambassador in Jakarta, Gina Jamoralin.
‘Release’ clarified THE Indonesian coordinating minister denied that death row convict Veloso would be released, contrary to some reports from Manila.
The Filipino worker will only be “returned to her country or origin through a policy of transferring prisoners or ‘transfer of prisoner.’”
“There is no word ‘free’ in President Marcos’ statement. ‘Bring her back to the Philippines’ means bringing her back to the Philippines,” Yusril said.
Indonesia is also making arrangements similar to Australia and France.
“At the APEC meeting in Peru, the Australian prime minister also conveyed this request to President Prabowo and he answered that he was considering and processing the request,” he said.
DMW ready for Veloso AMID ongoing efforts by the government to bring home and to free Mary Jane Veloso, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said it is ready to provide additional aid to her and her family.
“So, we look forward to, of course, welcoming Mary Jane back home of course, in the context of whatever decision or judgement will be made, in Indonesia,” DMW Secretary Hans J. Cacdac said in an television interview with state-run PTV last Wednesday.
“On the welfare side which is the area of DMW anyway, we stand ready to provide any necessary assistance,” he added.
He noted this is on top of the financial aid provided by DMW to Veloso’s family since the start of the Marcos administration.
Last Wednesday, President Ferdinand Marcos announced Veloso will soon “come home” after her 14 years of detention in Indonesia, where she was convicted of drug trafficking. With Samuel P. Medenilla
Marcos Jr. looking at JICA for country’s green transition
By Samuel P. Medenilla
@sam_medenilla
RESIDENT Ferdinand Mar -
Pcos Jr. is seeking more technical expertise from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to help in the country’s green transition.
During the courtesy call of JICA President Tanaka Akihiko in Malacañang last Wednesday, Marcos said he is open to further suggestions from JICA on other projects, which can reduce the country’s carbon emissions and disaster mitigation efforts.
He noted JICA is now not only financing local infrastructure projects, but also environmental protection and sustainability initiatives.
“JICA has always been an important partner of the Philippines. It started only with infrastructure, but now you have also expanded into other areas so we hope we can continue, especially the green projects we have now,” Marcos said.
“I think they are going very well and I don’t think we will have particular problems, but if there
is anything more that we can do from the Philippine side, we will be happy to hear any suggestions from JICA,” he added.
Tanaka said he appreciates the openness of the Marcos administration in involving JICA in its other projects, particularly those in minimizing the impact of natural calamities.
“On this occasion, we think you, Mr. President, has some observations about how to tackle these types of natural disasters and what sort of things that you consider JICA can be part of your work, that will be ex-
tremely appreciated,” Tanaka said.
He also expressed his condolences to the victims of the six typhoons, which hit the country last month.
JICA is an official government agency of Japan, which implements technical cooperation and Official Development Assistance (ODA).
Among the ongoing JICAfunded projects in the Philippines is the North-South Commuter Railway, Metro Manila Subway, and the Pasig-Marikina River Channel Improvement Project Phase 4.
Sept residential construction up 4.4%, but total value drops
By Bless Aubrey Ogerio
THE Philippine Statistics Authority on Tuesday showed that the construction industry saw a 4.4 percent uptick in September this year, with 14,063 building permits approved. However, the overall value of these projects declined by 4.8 percent.
Residential construction dominated the construction activity, comprising 66.5 percent of all
approved projects (9,354). This segment experienced a 10 percent year-over-year growth, primarily driven by a 78 percent increase in single-type house constructions (7,293).
Despite the surge in residential units, the total value of residential construction dipped three percent to P18.97 billion. The largest contributor, single-type houses, accounted for P11.68 billion.
Non-residential construction, while experiencing a slight two
percent decline in the number of projects (2,987), saw a 5.8 percent increase in value to P18.61 billion. Commercial buildings were the main driver, constituting 66.6 percent of the non-residential construction value (1,989).
The addition, alteration, and repair, as well as other constructions—although categories that are a smaller portion of the overall activity—also experienced value declines. Notably, the value of other constructions plummeted
Slow internet hinders Pinoys’ use of AI–obstreet report
By Justine Xyrah Garcia
THE country’s sluggish internet speed continues to impede the widespread adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) among Filipinos, Jobstreet by Seek, an employment platform, said on Wednesday.
According to Agustin Juanego, Jobstreet’s “hirer” marketing manager, the number of AI users in the Philippines could significantly increase if more people had access to reliable and fast internet connectivity.
“I really think that the biggest step would be, of course, to help improve the connectivity of the Filipinos,” he told BusinessMirror.
Insights from Jobstreet’s Decoding Global Talent Report 2024, which surveyed 6,498 Filipino respondents, revealed that 46 percent use AI tools at least once a month.
Younger professionals aged 18 to 24 emerged as the most frequent users, leveraging AI more regularly compared to other age groups.
However, AI adoption varies significantly across industries, with higher usage reported in digitalization and data science (71 percent), information and technology (65 percent), and marketing and media (59 percent).
In contrast, sectors such as transport and logistics, as well as craft professions, reported the lowest AI adoption at 37 percent.
Juanego attributed these disparities not only to poor connectivity but also to uneven access to the skills needed to navigate AI technology effectively.
He called for nationwide improvements in internet speed and reliability, particularly in remote and underserved areas.
This would empower more people to embrace new technolo -
gies,” he added.
The Jobstreet report, which examined generative AI’s impact on the labor market of over 180 countries, also highlighted skills gap as a significant hurdle to AI adoption in the Philippines.
More than half or 59 percent of Filipino respondents acknowledged the need for specialized training to enhance their AI proficiency.
“Improving internet connections all over the country, especially in far-flung islands would empower more people to embrace new technologies,” he added.
Juanego suggested that integrating AI-focused programs into school curricula could address this, but he noted that the private sector may need to take the lead in the initial phases.
Despite these challenges, Filipinos are showing a growing enthusiasm for AI.
by a significant 91.2 percent, contributing only P260 million.
In terms of the total floor area of construction, it reached 3.11 million square meters, a 1.8 percent decrease year-overyear. Residential buildings, while constituting nearly half of the total floor area, saw a 3.7 percent decline.
Conversely, non-residential buildings exhibited a modest 0.4 percent increase, hinting at largerscale commercial developments.
The report revealed that 51 percent of respondents are eager to learn by watching educational videos and 49 percent through self-study means via reading materials.
Of these figure, 40 percent said they spend time learning at least once a week, while another 33 percent engage in learning on a monthly basis.
This trend indicates a shift in attitudes toward AI, which had been met with skepticism in previous years.
“I think for the vast majority… they’ve been able to see that, okay, this machine can write, but it can’t write like me….they could be more excited that it’s now something that they can use themselves to improve their own work,” Juanego said.
He added that AI is increasingly seen as a tool for enhancing productivity rather than replacing workers, sparking greater interest in its practical applications.
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Brief Job Description:
study. Competent in Microsoft applications including Word, Excel, and Outlook. Knowledge of file management, transcription, and other administrative procedures or a related field. With good communication and interpersonal skills.
Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999
Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in business or related field of study. Competent in Microsoft applications including Word, Excel, and Outlook.
Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999
Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in business or related field of study. Competent in Microsoft applications including Word, Excel, and Outlook. Knowledge of file management, transcription, and other administrative procedures or a related field. With good communication and interpersonal skills.
Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999
CHINA ENERGY ENGINEERING CORPORATION LIMITED (ENERGY CHINA PHILIPPINES BRANCH OFFICE) Unit 916 9th Floor High Street South Corporate Plaza Tower 1, 26th Street Corner 9th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig
14. HUANG, YAXIONG Chief Technical Manager
Brief Job Description: Organize and monitor all technical activities for various projects and ensure compliance to all objectives and prepare appropriate budgets and coordinate with various staff to ensure customer satisfaction.
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YIV, Ukraine—Ukraine fired several American-supplied longer-range missiles into Russia, officials said Tuesday, marking the first time Kyiv used the weapons that way in 1,000 days of war.
The use of the Army Tactical Missile System, known as ATACMS, came as Russian President Vladimir Putin formally lowered the threshold for using nuclear weapons, opening the door to a potential nuclear response by Moscow to even a conventional attack by any nation supported by a nuclear power. That could include Ukrainian attacks backed by the US.
A Telegram channel affiliated with the Ukrainian military posted a video Tuesday that it says shows US-supplied ATACMS missiles being fired from an undisclosed location in Ukraine. The Associated Press could not independently verify the date and location the video was filmed.
According to a US official, Ukraine fired about eight of the missiles, and just two were intercepted by the Russians. The official said that the US was still assessing battle damage, but that the missiles struck an ammunition supply location in Karachev, a city of about 18,000 people in Russia’s Bryansk region. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence assessments.
The developments marked a worrying escalation in the conflict that has repeatedly ratcheted up international tensions. US officials recently expressed dismay at Russia’s deploy -
ment of North Korean troops to help it fight Ukraine, while Moscow seethed when Washington eased restrictions on the ATACMS in recent days.
The 1,000-day mark has magnified scrutiny of how the war is unfolding and how it might end, amid signs that a turning point may be coming with US President-elect Donald Trump entering the White House in about two months’ time. Trump has pledged to swiftly end the war and has criticized the amount the US has spent on supporting Ukraine.
Neither Russia nor Ukraine can sustain the war for a long time, analysts say, though Russia would be able to keep going for longer due to its vaster resources. Ukraine’s forces are under severe Russian pressure on the battlefield at places on the about 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) front line where its army is stretched thin. Ukrainian civilians, meanwhile, have repeatedly been attacked by Russian drones and missiles.
Ukraine claimed Tuesday that it hit a military weapons depot in Russia’s Bryansk region overnight, though it didn’t specify what weapons it used. The Ukrainian General Staff said multiple explosions and detonations were heard in the targeted area around Karachev.
Asked at a news conference if Ukraine had struck the Bryansk region ammunition depot with ATACMS, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declined to provide any details. However, he said, “Ukraine has longrange capabilities, including domestically produced long-range drones… and now we have ATACMS as well.”
In a statement carried by Russian news agencies, the Russian Defense Ministry said the military shot down five ATACMS missiles and damaged one more. The fragments fell on the territory of an unspecified military facility and sparked a fire, but didn’t cause any damage or casualties, it said. Neither side’s claims could be independently verified.
Karachev is roughly 115 kilometers (70 miles) from the Russia-Ukraine border. Ukraine in the course of the war has been able to reach much deeper into the vast country—but with drones rather than missiles.
For instance, Russian officials have reported intercepting Ukrainian drones over Moscow, which is about 500 kilometers (310 miles) from the
border and most recently Izhevsk, a city about 1,450 kilometers (900 miles) from the frontier.
Earlier on Tuesday, Ukrainian officials reported a third Russian strike in as many days on a residential area in Ukraine killed at least 12 people, including a child.
The strike by a Shahed drone in the northern Sumy region late Monday hit a dormitory of an educational facility in the town of Hlukhiv and wounded 11 others, including two children, authorities said, adding that more people could be trapped under the rubble.
On Sunday, a Russian ballistic missile with cluster munitions struck a residential area of Sumy in northern Ukraine, killing 11
US envoy optimistic on Israel-Hezbollah truce; Gaza starvation worsens as aid trucks looted
By Kareem Chehayeb, Wafaa Shurafa & Fatma Khaled
The Associated Press
BEIRUT—A United States envoy said an agreement to end the IsraelHezbollah war is “within our grasp” after talks in Lebanon on Tuesday.
However, there was no such optimism in the Gaza Strip, where the looting of nearly 100 aid trucks by armed men worsened an already severe food crisis.
Amos Hochstein, the Biden administration’s pointman on Israel and Lebanon, arrived as Hezbollah’s allies in the Lebanese government said the militant group had responded positively to the proposal, which would entail both its fighters and Israeli ground forces withdrawing from a UN buffer zone in southern Lebanon.
The buffer zone would be policed by thousands of additional UN peacekeepers and Lebanese troops. Israel has called for a stronger enforcement mechanism, potentially including the ability to conduct military operations against any Hezbollah threats, something Lebanon is likely to oppose.
An Israeli airstrike on Tuesday hit a Lebanese army base in the southern town of Sarafand, killing three soldiers, the army said—the second deadly strike on Lebanese soldiers in as many days. The Israeli military did not immediately comment. At least 41 soldiers have been killed by Israeli bombardment the past month, according to the Lebanese army.
Hochstein said he held “very constructive talks” with Lebanon’s Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, an ally of Hezbollah who is mediating on the group’s behalf.
“Specifically today, we have continued to significantly narrow the gaps,” the envoy told reporters after the two-hour meeting. “It’s ultimately the decisions of the parties to reach a conclusion to this conflict. ... It is now within our grasp.”
Berri said the “situation is good in principle,” although some technical details remain unresolved. The Lebanese side was waiting to hear the results of Hochstein’s
talks with Israeli officials, he told the Asharq al-Awsat newspaper.
Israeli siege blocks food to northern Gaza for more than 40 days, UN says THE United Nations humanitarian office says virtually no food or humanitarian aid has been delivered to northernmost Gaza for more than 40 days because of the Israeli military’s siege there.
Experts say famine may already have set in in the north, where Israel has been waging a weekslong offensive that has killed hundreds of people and driven tens of thousands from their homes.
So far in November, OCHA reports that 27 out of 31 planned humanitarian missions to the north were rejected by Israel and the other four were severely impeded, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Tuesday. Devastated towns like Beit Hanoun, Beit Lahiya and parts of Jabaliya remain cut off, he said.
Asked whether the UN believes Israel is trying to force the estimated 75,000 Palestinians in northern Gaza to move south by denying the aid deliveries, Dujarric replied:
“I can’t speak to the intentions of the Israeli government and the Israeli policy. We’re just seeing the result of it and trying to deal with it.” Israel says it puts no restrictions on the quantity of aid entering Gaza and that it is working to increase the amount. This month, it opened a new crossing into central Gaza. So far it has reported a few dozen trucks entering through it.
The flow of aid is at nearly the lowest level of the entire 13-month war. So far this month, Israel says it let into Gaza an average of 88 trucks a day – less than half the highest rate of the war, in April, which aid groups say was still too low.
From the aid that does enter, only about half actually reaches Palestinians because Israeli military restrictions and fears of theft often prevent the agency from collecting truck cargos at the border, according to UNRWA, the UN agency with the biggest role in the humanitarian operation.
Food prices soar in central Gaza after looting
THE theft in Gaza over the weekend of nearly 100 trucks loaded with food and other humanitarian aid sent prices soaring and caused shortages in central Gaza, where most of the population of 2.3 million people have fled and where hundreds of thousands are crammed into squalid tent camps.
On Monday, a crowd of people waited outside a shuttered bakery in the central city of Deir al-Balah. A woman who had been displaced from Gaza City, identifying herself as Umm Shadi, said the price of flour had climbed to 400 shekels (over $100) a bag, if it can even be found.
Nora Muhanna, also displaced from Gaza City, said she was leaving empty-handed after waiting five hours for a bag of bread for her children. “From the beginning, there are no goods, and even if they are available, there is no money,” she said.
The UN said armed men stole food and other aid from 98 trucks over the weekend, the largest single incident of its kind since the war began. It did not say who was behind the theft.
Dujarric, the UN spokesman, said the convoy of 109 trucks was instructed by the Israeli military to take an “alternative, unfamiliar route” after the aid was brought through the
Kerem Shalom crossing, and that the trucks were robbed near the crossing itself.
Israel accuses criminal gangs and Hamas of stealing aid, allegations denied by the militant group.
Al-Aqsa TV, operated by the militants, said Hamas-run security forces in Gaza had launched an operation against looters, killing 20 of them.
Bassem Naim, a senior Hamas official based abroad, said the looters were young Bedouins who operate east of Rafah near Israeli military positions.
The Hamas-run government had a police force that maintained public security before the war, but they have vanished in many areas after being targeted by Israeli strikes. Hamas says it has taken measures to prevent looting and price-gouging in markets.
But the biggest problem is not theft –it’s the low amount of aid Israel allows into Gaza, said Tamara Alrifai, communications director for UNRWA.
“Take aid into a war zone a few trucks at a time, what do we expect a displaced, hungry and traumatized population to do?” she said.
Shurafa reported from Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip and Khaled from Cairo. Associated Press writer Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations contributed.
people and wounding 84 others.
On Monday, a Russian missile barrage sparked apartment fires in the southern port of Odesa, killing at least 10 people and wounding 43.
Zelenskyy said that the series of aerial strikes proved that Putin wasn’t interested in ending the war.
“Each new attack by Russia only confirms Putin’s true intentions. He wants the war to continue. Talks about peace are not interesting to him. We must force Russia to a just peace by force,” Zelenskyy said.
Zelenskyy told European Union lawmakers in a speech via video link that Russia has deployed about 11,000 North Korean troops along Ukraine’s borders and that the number could swell to 100,000.
He appeared in person at the Ukrainian parliament, where he presented what he called a “resilience plan” to dig in against the relentless Russian onslaught. He said he expects pivotal moments to occur in the war next year.
The plan outlines new approaches to army management, including the creation of a military ombudsman position and a new system of handling military contracts.
There are no plans to lower the mobilization age from the current 25, even though Ukraine is shorthanded on the front line, especially in infantry.
Ukraine urgently needs to tackle its manpower difficulties on the front, but it can use the longer-range missiles in the meantime to slow the
tempo of Russia’s recent advances, said Jack Watling, an analyst at the Royal United Services Institute, a London think tank.
“Ukraine’s partners can do little to change the character of the fighting on the line of contact, but by targeting capabilities that are currently giving Russia a battlefield advantage, time can be bought,” Watling wrote Tuesday.
Next year, Zelenskyy said, Ukraine plans to produce at least 30,000 longrange drones and aims to manufacture 3,000 long-range missiles, reducing its dependence on Western military support.
A fuller version of the plan will be presented next month, he said.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said Western countries are debating further help for Ukraine— “more aid, more money we have to make available to them, particularly now that the North Koreans have come on board,” he said in Brussels.
Meanwhile, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola led a special plenary session on Ukraine marking “one thousand days of terror, suffering and unimaginable loss. One thousand days of courage, resilience and unbreakable spirits.”
“Your people are an inspiration to all who value freedom around the world,” she told Zelenskyy.
The Associated Press writer Lorne Cook in Brussels contributed to this report.
Negotiators struggle to secure funding for climate change adaptation at COP29
By Melina Walling, Sibi Arasu & Seth Borenstein The Associated Press
BAKU, Azerbaijan—With time running down, negotiators at the United Nations annual climate talks on Wednesday returned to the puzzle of finding an agreement to bring far more money for vulnerable nations to adapt than wealthier countries have shown they’re willing to pay.
Pressure was building to drive a deal by the time COP29, as this year’s summit is known, concludes this week. COP29 President Mukhtar Babayev asked negotiators to clear away the technical part of talks by Wednesday afternoon so they can focus on substance.
That substance is daunting.
Vulnerable nations are seeking $1.3 trillion to deal with damage from climate change and to
adapt to that change, including building out their own cleanenergy systems. Experts agree that at least $1 trillion is called for, but both figures are far more than the developed world has so far offered.
Negotiators are fighting over three big parts of the issue: How big the numbers are, how much is grants or loans, and who contributes.
At a session where negotiators
relayed their progress Wednesday, Australia’s climate minister Chris Bowen, one of the ministers leading talks on the money goal, said that he’s heard different proposals on how much cash should be in the pot. As well as the $1.3 trillion proposed by developing countries, nations proposed figures of $900 billion, $600 billion and $440 billion, he said.
But “parties also made the point that resolving the contributor base is important to that conversation on other issues,” Bowen said.
The chair of the Like-Minded Group negotiating group, Diego Balanza, said the group are hearing a figure of $200 billion in negotiating corridors. That’s not enough, he said.
“Developed countries whose legal obligations it is to provide finance continue to shift their responsibility to developing countries,” Balanza said.
South Africa’s climate minister Dion George, one of two ministers leading talks on how to cut fossil fuels, said that “all parties confirmed their commitment to de -
livering on the Dubai consensus reached last year” when countries pledged to transition away from fossil fuels.
New Zealand’s climate minister Simon Watts were also “very encouraged” by movement on so-called Article 6, a proposal to slash emissions through— among other things—a system of carbon credits that allow nations to pollute if they offset emissions
elsewhere.
But a lot was still left to work out.
Alden Meyer of the European think tank E3G and veteran negotiations analyst summed up the state of negotiations on Wednesday by saying the word of the day at the talks is “circle… as in going around in circles.”
“All presidencies must at this point show that they have what it
takes to move from administration to leadership,” German climate envoy Jennifer Morgan said. “They must set the expectation for ambitious outcomes across the board.... It is now up to the presidency to ensure that we move at full speed towards a green future.”
Half the world away in Rio, Brazil, where the Group of 20 summit was wrapping up on Tuesday, the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the group of the world’s largest economies that “the success of COP29 is largely in your hands.”
“That goal, the financial goal, in its different layers, must meet the needs of developing countries, beginning with a significant increase in concessional public funds,” he said.
And the president of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, said developed nations should consider moving their 2050 emission goals forward to 2040 or 2045.
“The G20 is responsible for 80% of greenhouse effect emissions,” he said. “Even if we are not walking the same speed, we can all take one more step.”
Asean defense chiefs meet in Laos amid rising tensions with China, US transition
By Jintamas Saksornchai
The Associated Press
IENTIANE, Laos—South -
Veast Asian defense chiefs and representatives met in Laos on Wednesday for security talks at a time of increasing maritime disputes with China in the Asia-Pacific and as the transition to a new US president looms. US Secretary of Defense
Lloyd Austin was set to join the meetings of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations defense ministers in Vientiane, where many will be looking for assurances before President-elect Donald Trump’s return to power in January.
Austin just wrapped up meetings in Australia with officials there and Japan’s defense minister, where they pledged their
support for Asean and their “serious concern about destabilizing actions in the East and South China Seas, including dangerous conduct by the People’s Republic of China against Philippines and other coastal state vessels.”
In addition to the United States, other nations attending the twoday Asean meetings include Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and China.
Along with the Philippines, Asean member states Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei have competing claims with China in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims almost entirely as its own territory.
Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos are the other Asean members.
Opening the talks, Laotian Defense Minister Chansamone Chan -
yalath said he hoped for productive meetings that would “become a standard for us to continue Asean’s cooperation in defense, including how to handle, thwart, and manage security threats in the present and in the future.”
As China has been more assertively pushing its claims in recent years, Asean members and Beijing have been negotiating a code of conduct to govern behavior in the sea, but progress has been slow.
Officials have agreed to try to complete the code by 2026, but talks have been hampered by sticky issues, including disagreements over whether the pact should be binding.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who has called for more urgency in the code of conduct negotiations, complained at the meeting of Asean leaders last month that his country “continues to be subject to harassment and intimidation” by China’s actions, which he said violated international law.
Chinese and Philippine vessels have clashed repeatedly this year, and Vietnam in October charged that Chinese forces assaulted its fishermen in disputed areas in the South China Sea. China has also sent patrol vessels to areas that Indonesia and Malaysia claim as exclusive economic zones.
At the meeting of Asean leaders last month, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Washington was “very concerned about China’s increasingly dangerous and unlawful activities in the South China Sea which have injured people, harm vessels from Asean members and contradict commitments to peaceful resolutions of disputes.”
He pledged that the US would “continue to support freedom of navigation, and freedom of overflight in the Indo Pacific.”
In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said US and other non-regional militaries present in the sea were the main source of instability.
“The increasing military deployment and activities in the South China Sea by the US and a few other non-regional coun -
tries, stoking confrontation and creating tensions, are the greatest source of instability for peace and stability in the South China Sea,” Mao said.
It is not yet clear how the incoming Trump administration will address the South China Sea situation.
After Austin’s meetings in Australia, the Defense Department said the US, Australia and Japan had agreed to expand joint drills and announced a defense consultation body among the three countries’ forces to strengthen their cooperation.
When asked Tuesday while in the Philippines about whether the strong US defense support would continue for the country under Trump, Austin said he would not speculate.
It remained unclear whether Austin plans to meet China’s Defense Minister Dong Jun on the sidelines of the Asean meetings, but Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani is expected to meet with Dong to express his concerns over Beijing’s military activities, Japan’s NHK reported.
Japan has protested that a Chinese military aircraft violated its airspace briefly in August, and in September Japan expressed “serious concerns” after a Chinese aircraft carrier and two destroyers sailed between two Japanese islands.
The meetings are also likely to touch on the tensions in the Korean Peninsula, the RussiaUkraine war, and the wars in the Middle East. They also expect to discuss other issues, including natural disasters, cybersecurity and terrorism.
Another thorny regional issue is the civil war and humanitarian crisis in Asean member Myanmar. The group’s credibility has been severely tested by the war in Myanmar, where the army ousted an elected government in 2021, and fighting has continued with pro-democracy guerillas and ethnic rebels.
The Associated Press writer David Rising in Bangkok contributed to this report.
Rice import arrivals surpass 2023 shipments
IBy Ada Pelonia @adapelonia
MPORTED rice shipments that arrived in the Philippines reached a record 4 million metric tons (MMT) as of midNovember, according to the latest data from the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI).
Figures from the attached agency of the Department of Agriculture (DA) showed that 4.06 MMT of imported rice have been shipped to the Philippines from January 1 to November 14. This volume exceeded the 3.606 MM of rice the Philippines bought last year.
Of the volume that arrived in the Philippines, data from BPI indicated that over 3.16 MMT came from Vietnam, which maintained its status as the country’s top source of imports.
Thailand was the second-largest supplier as it accounted for 514,586.42 metric tons (MT). This was followed by Pakistan with 184,079.48 MT, Myanmar with 163,845.75 MT, and India with 22,179.58 MT.
Agriculture Assistant Secretary
Groups, govt at loggerheads over sugar supply situation
THE Sugar Council and National Congress of Unions in the Sugar Industry (NACUSIP) expressed concern over the drop in sugar millgate prices, which they attributed to a supply glut.
However, Sugar Regulatory Authority (SRA) Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona said raw and refined sugar levels are 35 to 37 percent below the levels recorded last year.
“The SRA and the DA [Department of Agriculture] believe that these are the proper levels and claims of oversupply when our sugar stock levels have been constant the past 2 months are completely false,” Azcona told the BusinessMirror on Monday.
In a joint statement, the Sugar Council and NACUSIP claimed that the SRA and DA’s recent announcement of delaying the importation of sugar until May 2025 failed to explain the reason behind the drop in sugar prices over the past few weeks.
“An apparent decrease in demand has consequently caused the steady drop in prices,” the Sugar Council said.
The council stressed that the SRA should address this concern, reiterating its worry over “current oversupply of imported and locally produced sugar, relative to demand, in the market.”
They also noted the 98-percent decline in refined sugar production to 1,314 metric tons (MT) as of October 20 from 58,990 MT in the same period last year, based on SRA data.
“It should be noted that a considerable amount of locally produced raw sugar is withdrawn for refining, but if there is more than enough supply of imported refined sugar, it makes no business sense for refineries to withdraw raw sugar. Hence, demand for it goes down and mill gate prices drop.”
Figures from the SRA showed that 135,833.20 MT of the 240,000 MT imported refined sugar authorized under Sugar Order (SO) 5 have entered the country.
“If the ‘no further importation’ pronouncement aims to arrest the drop in mill gate sugar prices over the past weeks, the fundamentals to firm up prices are woefully absent,” the council said.
For his part, Azcona said the decision that there would be no sugar imports until the end of harvest next year was an “honest” announcement made by the agency and the DA to inform the stakeholders of the government’s plans.
“Their opinion that it was meant to curb prices is as it is, their own opinion based on their perception.”
Azcona also added that all of the agency’s plans are discussed in stakeholder meetings, the last of which was on August 6 attended by Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. The council, he said, did not attend the meeting.
“The SRA and the DA believe that the council should attend stakeholders’ consultative meetings so that they would be informed of the plans and policies of the sugar industry.” Ada Pelonia
Arnel V. de Mesa said the agency expects the country’s rice shipments to hit 4.5 MMT before yearend.
“Our projection is that imports could reach 4.5 MMT before the year ends,” de Mesa told report -
ers in a briefing on Tuesday. “This also reflects our efforts to curb smuggling. The figure represents the real amount of rice that enters our country’s borders.”
President Marcos Jr. earlier
signed Republic Act (RA) 12022 or the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act, which he said would enable the government to apprehend the cartels behind the price and supply manipulation of agricultural products.
Meanwhile, former Agriculture Undersecretary Leocadio Sebastian had said that the Philippines would have to bring in more rice shipments as bad weather widened the projected shortfall in domestic production.w (See: https://businessmirror.com. ph/2024/11/06/foreign-farmswill-plug-rice-supply-shortfall/)
Citing data from the DA, Sebastian said rice planters lost about 900,000 MT due to El Nino and the recent storms. This figure excludes the impact of severe tropical storm Kristine on local plantations.
“Because of the projected short -
fall this year, we may have to bring in more supply either in December or in January (2025),” he said. He noted that a minimum of 400,000 MT could enter the country in the last two months of 2024. However, “it could be more depending again on how our traders will also be reacting to the global market.”
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently adjusted upward its initial estimate for the country’s imported rice purchases this year to 5 MMT from 4.7 MMT, noting a surge in shipments from Vietnam as the country grappled with the impact of El Niño and storms.
The DA said the Philippines may end 2024 with a palay output of 19.41 MMT, 3.24 percent lower than the record 20.06 MMT it produced last year. The projected 2024 palay output is equivalent to 12.69 MMT in milled terms.
Bill creating fisheries department hurdles House panels
APROPOSED measure seeking to create a separate department that will manage the country’s fisheries and aquatic resources secured the approval of two committees of the House of Representatives.
The measure, which will create the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DFAR), hurdled the House Committee on Aquaculture and Fisheries Resources chaired by Bicol Saro Partylist. Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan and the House Committee on Government Reorganization represented by its vice chairpersons Kabayan Partylist Rep. Ron Salo and General Santos City Rep. Loreto Acharon.
Both committees approved during the joint hearing the substitute bill consolidating 13 similar measures seeking to create the DFAR,
subject to the amendments introduced by Albay Rep. Joey Salceda and Tingog Partylist Rep. Jude Acidre.
Yamsuan said establishing the DFAR would help fulfill the country’s goal of attaining food security and safeguard the welfare of 2.5 million Filipinos dependent on the country’s oceans and inland water bodies for their livelihood.
“This proposed measure is not merely about governance—it is about ensuring that our marine life and those who depend on them thrive in the face of modern challenges,” he said.
“With the creation of DFAR, we are casting a wide net for sustainable development and economic prosperity. This is an opportunity to give our fisherfolk and marine ecosystems the future that they deserve while creating a legacy
that will ripple across generations.”
The lawmaker pushed for the passage of the DFAR bill amid concerns over the Philippines’s declining fish catch.
Citing data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), he said the country produced 1.02 million metric tons (MMT) of fish in the second quarter, down by 6.2 percent from the 1.07 MMT recorded in the same period a year ago.
Aquaculture and municipal fisheries recorded significant decreases in production, which account for 46.3 percent and 25.5 percent, respectively, of overall production.
“Filipinos heavily depend on fisheries for economic growth, food security, and rural livelihoods. Yet, the sector grapples
with multifaceted challenges, such as illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing (IUUF), habitat degradation, aging fisherfolk population, and the many impacts of climate change,” said Yamsuan. He said establishing a department focused on sustainable aquatic resource management would address these challenges.
“This independent agency, detached from the Department of Agriculture, will reduce bureaucratic hurdles, streamline decision-making processes, and give the much-needed specialized attention and technical expertise to meet the sector’s unique needs,” he said.
“With a robust institutional backing, I am certain that the DFAR will help unlock the full potential of this vital industry for generations to come.”
Ada Pelonia
At UN climate talks, farmers argue for a share of money dedicated to fighting climate change
BAKU, Azerbaijan – Extreme heat ruined the pineapples on Esther Penunia’s small farm in the Philippines this year, more disappointment than catastrophe since Penunia doesn’t depend on the farm for a living. But Penunia worries about the millions of small farmers in her part of the world who do depend on rice paddies, coconut groves and vegetable patches that are all threatened by climate change.
That’s why she’s hoping that countries at this year’s United Nations climate summit will dedicate some of the money for fighting climate change to agriculture—and the family farmers who feed most of the people in many parts of the world.
“You don’t help small farmers, where will you get your food?” wondered Penunia, secretary general of the Asian Farmers As -
sociation. “Who will farm for you? Who will catch the fish, who will get the honey, who will plant your vegetables?”
Many countries, especially in the Global South, need money to help pay for the months of recovery when typhoons wreck fields, to insure farmers against more extreme droughts and to prepare for a hotter world with better seeds, better fertilizers and better water infrastructure. But there’s a massive gap between the $1 trillion in climate finance that poorer countries need, according to experts from the World Resources Institute, and what richer countries are prepared to pay.
Whatever deal is reached, it’s certain that the money will have to be stretched. And there’s debate about exactly how much money should go toward agriculture and how much toward cutting fossil fuel emissions.
Strengthen community engagement in agri development–experts
EXPERTS underscored the critical role of community engagement and inter-sectoral collaboration in achieving food security and sustainable agricultural development during a recent conference hosted by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (Pids).
They also called for better alignment of budgets and greater access to financial and social services for farmers.
Held under the theme, “Agricultural Development for Food Security: Addressing Challenges to Technological Transformation, Sustainability, and Good Governance,” the conference gathered experts to explore strategies that can address pressing challenges in agriculture.
Pids organized the event in partnership with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Southeast Asian Regional Centre for Graduate
Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). In the first session, discussions centered on fiscal policies and schemes that drive competitive growth and food security.
Dr. Mario Lamberto, of the University of the Philippines-Public Administration Research and Extension Services Foundation Inc., started the discussion by emphasizing the need for improved access to formal credit for farmers. He stressed the importance of lending institutions like Land Bank to better serve rural areas.
“Land Bank should adapt to electronic banking, and it should be the leader in the countryside… They can go anywhere, and farmers can contact Land Bank easily.” Building on this, Pids Senior Research Fellow Roehlano Brio -
nes, presented their observations on policy changes in agriculture since the 1960s. He noted positive developments, including increased subsidies, sustained provision of public goods like infrastructure and research, and tariff reductions that allow local production to remain competitive.
However, Briones called for stronger coalitions among farmers, consumers, and environmental groups to push for further tariff reforms and resist the restoration of detrimental non-tariff barriers.
“If we want to reduce these tariffs further, have a more even tariff reform program, and hold firm against restoration of these more egregious non-tariff barriers, then these coalitions need to form, be strengthened, and be sustained.”
Further emphasizing the importance of local engagement,
Dr. Cielito Habito, Chairman and Founding Partner of BrainTrust Inc., suggested a strategy of “provincializing” agricultural development. Habito highlighted the agricultural sector’s significant contribution to the national GDP, and advocated for empowering local governments to more effectively support agricultural workers.
“Instead of leaving municipal agricultural workers to fend for themselves, we must deliberately capacitate local governments to do their job for them.”
The second parallel session shifted focus to the practical aspects of agricultural production, particularly the role of irrigation and governance in sustaining agricultural productivity.
Dr. Arlene Inocencio, Professor at the School of Economics in De La Salle University Manila
Small farmers get less than 1 percent of climate finance, according to a report last year from the Climate Policy Initiative. At the same time, food systems—all the processes involved in making, shipping and disposing of food—account for about a third of planetwarming greenhouse gas emissions.
Farmers’ efforts to adapt to a warming climate get harder the hotter it gets, Ismahane Elouafi, executive managing director of CGIAR, a global partnership for agricultural research, said in a statement. At a COP29 panel on climate-smart solutions for smallholder farmers, she added: “If we want to solve the issue, how could we not invest in a sector that is having a third of the problem?”
Praveena Sridhar, chief science and technical officer of Save Soil, a movement aimed at raising awareness about soil health, offered
discussed the significant impact of climate change on agriculture, alongside the rising costs of food, fertilizer, and fuel.
“Perhaps the goal, if there is only one thing we can focus on, is to increase water productivity and its sustainability. Ideally, this goes with climate change resilient infrastructure,” Inocencio said. She also recommended equalized allocations for irrigation that enable the production of other high-value crops alongside rice, allowing wider coverage for food security.
On governance, Dr. Fermin Adriano, Advisory Council Member of the Asian Development Bank Institute, recommended looking into policies that foster long-term agricultural sustainability.
“We need to provide public goods instead of production inputs, which will only last you the cropping season, and will only benefit individual farmers, compared to public goods that will benefit the community, and
a simpler reason for why countries should help fund agriculture’s adaptation to climate change. As hard as it is to agree on cutting fossil fuel use, it should be easier to support farming solutions proven to work. “We have not figured out the puzzle yet,” she said. “Why not look at the puzzle pieces we have figured out and start moving?” Yet others worry that doing so would distract from tackling the biggest problem— fossil fuels.
Zeke Hausfather, a research scientist with the nonprofit Berkeley Earth, said in an email that there is “real potential” in land management changes to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. But the most that could cut emissions globally is around a billion tons a year, he said—just a tiny fraction of the 40 billion tons of carbon dioxide the world emits every year. AP
will be useful for a longer period of time,” he said. He also advocated for private sector investment in agricultural research, technology transfers, and the establishment of an agency to coordinate extension services with provincial governments, ensuring that regional agricultural needs are met. Dr. Liborio Cabanilla, Professor at the College of Economic and Management in UP Los Baños, echoed recommendations for a specific and regionalized approach to agricultural development.
“The philosophy of the community-driven development is to involve the communities in local development decisions because it’s the right of the citizens,” he said. This approach, he said, yields higher productivity as farmers take ownership of the development of crop varieties, and higher engagement in environmental and community protection.
WORKERS carry sacks of rice inside a mill in Kalasin province, Thailand, on Monday, November 20, 2023. LUKE
DUGGLEBY/BLOOMBERG
Aligning education and industry needs in STEM education
ThE recent remarks by Education Secretary Sonny Angara highlight a pressing issue within our education system: the disconnect between classroom learning and industry needs, particularly in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
Despite a decade-long initiative to promote STEM education, many graduates still struggle to meet the demands of the workforce. This misalignment poses a significant challenge not only for students but also for industries that are increasingly reliant on skilled professionals. (Read the BusinessMirror story: “STEM gaps widen as classroom learning lags behind careers,” November 17, 2024).
Angara’s observations underscore a dual deficiency in the skill sets of graduates: they lack both hard skills—such as scientific and mathematical knowledge—and soft skills, including work attitudes and stress management. This gap is alarming, especially in a rapidly evolving job market where adaptability and critical thinking are as essential as technical expertise. The Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) results, indicating rising mathematics anxiety among our learners, further complicate the situation. Such anxiety can hinder learning and diminish confidence, exacerbating the issue of preparedness for real-world challenges.
In response to these challenges, Angara has proposed significant reforms, including the introduction of a revamped Matatag curriculum aimed at strengthening foundational competencies. By aligning educational standards with those of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, the Department of Education seeks to ensure that students not only learn but also retain the skills necessary for future employment.
Moreover, the suggestion to expand STEM to STEAM—integrating Arts and Design into the curriculum—reflects a modern understanding of the interdisciplinary nature of many contemporary careers, particularly in the age of artificial intelligence. This approach could foster creativity alongside critical thinking, preparing students for roles that require both technical proficiency and innovative problem solving.
A significant contributor to the skills mismatch is the lack of effective career guidance for students. Angara’s call for improved career information points to a crucial area that needs attention. Many students leave the education system without a clear understanding of the available career paths and the skills required for them. Initiatives such as the “Day of the Future,” which connects students with real-world work experiences, represent a positive step toward bridging this gap. By immersing students in actual workplace environments, these programs can inspire and inform them about potential career trajectories. While educational institutions play a vital role in preparing students for the workforce, the responsibility does not rest solely on their shoulders. Angara rightly emphasizes the need for government intervention to facilitate collaboration between educational institutions and industry sectors. As the Philippine Statistics Authority reports indicate, a significant number of recent graduates are struggling to find employment, underscoring the urgency of this issue. By fostering partnerships between schools, universities, and businesses, the government can create pathways that not only enhance student employability but also address the specific needs of industries facing skill shortages.
The disconnect between education and industry in the STEM field presents a multifaceted challenge that requires a coordinated response. By reforming curricula, enhancing career guidance, and promoting experiential learning opportunities, the DepEd can play a pivotal role in equipping students with the skills necessary for success in the modern workforce. However, this must be a collaborative effort involving educators, industry leaders, and government agencies. Only through such synergy can we hope to bridge the gap and secure a brighter future for our graduates in an increasingly competitive global landscape.
Less uncertainty ahead?
Oto 36. E-mail: news.businessmirror@gmail.com www.news.businessmirror@gmail.com Printed
John Mangun
OUTSIDE THE BOX
n december 21, 2023 I wrote, “The year 2024 will be the Year of Uncertainty.” here we are a little over a month away from bringing in 2025 and 2024 has not failed our “uncertainty” expectations.
Were you one of the $1.5 billion bettors that bought “Trump Will Be the Next President” at $0.40 and made a 150 percent profit? Did you see that uncertainty coming? Maybe you believed that the Federal Reserve would lower its interest rate by 150 basis points this year and bought that idea at $0.43 last April. The price did go to $2.53 in September but is now trading at $0.50. A miracle might still happen on December 18. Or might not.
Then again Fed Chair Jerome Powell said that the US economy is strong enough and that there is no urge for rushing to rate cuts. Who would have expected that? One week ago, November 14, the odds were 83 percent for another rate cut. Now the odds are 62 percent.
Bettors were a little hopeful for an end to the war in Ukraine in 2023,
giving it a 24 percent chance on September 25. That chance is currently 7 percent.
While uncertainty exceeded our expectations in many ways, some expectations remained reasonably certain. Look at this headline from late 2023/early 2024. “PSEi to hit 7,500 level this year—First Metro Investment.” That was correct and even improved upon. The PSE Composite Index reached a high at 7,600 in October. Then again “COL Financial sets 7,100 level as base projection for PSEi in 2024.”
With the likelihood of a ‘Santa Claus’ rally still a possibility, ending 2024 at 7,000 would be welcomed. The Philippine Stock Exchange may have been volatile but perhaps not that uncertain despite all the gloom and doom.
I wrote in that final column of
By Erik Hertzberg
CAnAdA’S budgetary watchdog says Justin Trudeau’s government has likely blown past a self-imposed fiscal guardrail, and is warning about the consequences of delaying the release of final spending and revenue numbers.
Yves Giroux, the country’s parliamentary budget officer, expects the federal government ran a deficit of C$46.8 billion in 2023-24. That’s deeper than the C$40 billion forecast by Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland in the April budget, and would break a key fiscal pledge she’s offered as evidence of her party’s spending discipline.
The government has until the end of the year to provide the numbers, but usually releases them in October, as they did last year. The delay raises questions about whether the numbers are worse than expected, which would add complications for Trudeau as his party struggles to regain traction with the electorate.
In an interview, Giroux said the
holdup “goes against fiscal transparency and accountability” and leaves the country’s lawmakers to vote and approve hundreds of billions of dollars in spending and tax measures without knowing the state of the country’s finances. The numbers are finalized when revenue and spending tallies for the fiscal year are totaled, and the amount of time it takes to complete that process can vary.
Giroux’s office has been outspoken about setting a firm release date for the fiscal numbers, and suggests a deadline of Sept. 30 every year instead of leaving it to the incumbent government to hand over the final tally when it’s convenient for them.
“If it’s good news, they can play it up. If it’s bad news, they may try to
A few weeks ago I said that “The longer term will still be “uncertain” as the US under whomever gains the highest office is still an unpredictable economically, domestically, and geopolitically wounded animal.” That holds true. However there might be less uncertainty now to the extent that Trump has made clearer his vision—or plan or whatever you choose to call it—for the future.
2023: “When you are uncertain about the present and the future you experience indecision and hesitancy. The world seems unreliable, and the future vague. Uncertainty creates fear.” Fear can cause two extreme behaviors: paralysis or irrational activity. Neither of these creates sensible and productive results.
A few weeks ago I said that “The longer term will still be “uncertain” as the US under whomever gains the highest office is still an unpredictable economically, domestically, and geopolitically wounded animal.” That holds true. However there might be less uncertainty now to the extent that Trump has made clearer his vision—or plan or whatever you choose to call it—for the future.
To wit: The wars cannot be al-
lowed to continue let alone to escalate. The US will not be bullied by either Russia or China, or any of their proxies. The US must begin to be more self-sufficient.
The obvious and critical question is whether any of those can be accomplished. There are tremendously strong forces at work that want the global condition to remain exactly as it is right now.
I wrote a month ago that I will label 2025 for the moment as “The Year of Hard Choices.” Alternatively, I might say that the future is going to be a period of destruction, “creative destruction.” Joseph Schumpeter coined the term in an economic sense that it was “A process in which new innovations replace and make obsolete older innovations” or “The deliberate dismantling of established processes in order to make way for improved methods of production.”
There are many global non-war issues—sovereign debt levels, price inflation, unstable economic growth, confused monetary policy—that are being faced by all nations. The postCovid period has not been a return to any semblance of normalcy. Positive change is coming—must come—and it probably will not be easy or pretty.
E-mail me at mangun@gmail.com. Follow me on Twitter @mangunonmarkets. PSE stock-market information and technical analysis provided by AAA Southeast Equities Inc.
find a more appropriate time where it gathers less attention,” Giroux said.
“It’s quite likely that the government will have blown its own self-imposed target of a C$40 billion deficit.”
The government also hasn’t yet announced when it plans to provide an update on Canada’s current and future fiscal and debt issuance picture, which, in recent years, has been delivered in the form of a so-called fall economic statement. That’s typically a mini-budget outlining expected changes to spending and revenues, and may also contain the final 2023-24 numbers.
Giroux, who became the country’s third parliamentary budget officer in 2018, is quick to point out that the government’s fiscal guardrails were selected by the Liberals themselves. Failing to meet those targets may dent credibility in the eyes of Canadians, but he’s not expecting major consequences in markets.
“They need to blow their fiscal targets pretty significantly for that to have a material impact on the cost of financing,” he said. At a news conference Tuesday,
Freeland said she had no announcement to make regarding the fall economic statement, and said her government “is committed to being a responsible manager of the country’s economy and the country’s finances.”
Spending pressures
W HILE the Bank of Canada was fighting to bring inflation to heel, Freeland faced pressure from economists to restrain government spending. She introduced her fiscal anchor in last November’s fall economic statement, promising to hold the 2023-24 deficit at or below the C$40.1 billion forecast in the 2023 budget, and maintaining a declining deficit-to-GDP ratio. Currently, the deficit is about 1.4 percent of Canada’s gross domestic product, compared to over 6 percent in the US—but the northern nation doesn’t enjoy the luxury of having the world’s reserve currency. Still, Canada has an AAA credit rating and investors seem happy to buy up the country’s debt. The spread between Canada and See “Trudeau,” A27
Cabangon Chua
Since 2005 ✝
Japan’s exports beat expectations in October amidst rising uncertainties in global markets
By Erica Yokoyama
exports picked up more than expected in October as demand from China and the rest of asia held firm even in the face of mounting uncertainties in overseas markets.
Exports rose 3.1 percent from a year ago, led by strong growth in shipments of chip-making equipment, especially sales to China, the Ministry of Finance reported Wednesday. The return to growth followed the first fall in exports in 10 months in September. The October result outpaced economists’ consensus estimate of a 1 percent gain, and was also supported by shipments of medical goods to the US.
Imports climbed 0.4 percent, compared to the 1.9 percent decline forecast by economists. The trade deficit widened to ¥461.2 billion ($2.98 billion) from ¥294.1 billion.
The stronger-than-expected growth will stoke hopes that Japan’s economy can stay on the recovery path with trade providing renewed support. While the country’s gross domestic product expanded for a second consecutive quarter in the period through September, the pace slowed as net exports weighed on overall results.
“Today’s data raise hopes for a pickup in external demand in the October-December quarter,” said Hiroshi Miyazaki, senior research fellow at Itochu Research Institute. “The Chinese government’s stimulus measures have halted deterioration in their economy, reversing a previous decline.”
Last month exports to China gained 1.5 percent after slipping 7.3 percent in September with exports of semiconductor-manufacturing gear jumping by a third. In the world’s second largest economy there are signs that aggressive stimulus efforts undertaken by the government are starting to bear fruit in some sectors, pushing up consumption.
Japanese exports in October rose even though the yen strengthened versus the dollar relative to the same period last year. Last month the yen averaged 145.87 to the dollar, 2 percent stronger than a year earlier, the ministry said. The growth in shipments comes as officials fret over the prospects for global commerce now that Donald Trump is preparing to return to the White House. Global business leaders are bracing for the impact of rising protectionism if Trump makes good
continued from A26
US 10-year yields is now more than 100 basis points, near the widest on record. While that in part reflects slower growth and cooler inflation prospects in Canada, it’s also a sign that markets may have less of a problem with the size of the country’s federal deficits relative to the US.
At the height of the inflation spike, it was important politically for the government to assure Canadians it was helping to cool price pressures and allowing Governor Tiff Macklem to start cutting rates. Affordability has rocketed to the top of voters’ concerns, and Trudeau’s Liberals have been about 20 points behind the Conservatives in most polls for over a year.
Now, it’s less clear that fiscal constraint will have the same perceived payoff. Since June, the central bank has cut interest rates from 5 percent to 3.75 percent, and inflation is hovering near the 2 percent inflation target.
The stronger-than-expected growth will stoke hopes that Japan’s economy can stay on the recovery path with trade providing renewed support. While the country’s gross domestic product expanded for a second consecutive quarter in the period through September, the pace slowed as net exports weighed on overall results.
on his pledge to implement sweeping tariffs on 60 percent of imports from China and 20 percent from the rest of the world.
Some regions are already showing slackening demand. In October, shipments to the US fell 6.2 percent, while those to Europe declined 11.3 percent, both continuing to decrease from the previous month.
Japan’s central bank is closely monitoring the trajectory for external demand. Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda said on Monday that the bank must carefully assess various risks, including those pertaining to the US economy, and their likely impacts, even as he cited the growing likelihood that the Federal Reserve will manage to achieve a soft landing.
A major concern over trade going forward is US President-elect Donald Trump’s pledge to impose goods tariffs. The precedent from the previous US-China trade war in 2018-2019 underscores the potential impact, as a 1 percent increase in tariff-inclusive export prices led to a 0.35 percentage-point decline in profit margins for Chinese exporters, according to research from Stanford University’s Center on China’s Economy and Institutions. A similar dynamic could offset the benefits of yen depreciation for Japanese firms, eroding profitability gains.
“We’re not at a stage yet where Trump’s tariff policies clearly start impacting export volumes or the behavior of exporters,” said Miyazaki. But “there’s still a sense of uncertainty. We need to keep watching the policy stance of the upcoming Trump administration.” With assistance from Paul Jackson and Takashi Umekawa /Bloomberg
Can golf help tame Trump at G-20? The next host is already asking
By Brian Platt, S’thembile Cele and Alberto Nardelli
Flattery will only get you so far. Don’t show weakness, never grovel, and always ask the difficult questions. as world leaders left rio de Janeiro after the last major summit of the Biden era, that was the advice for south africa’s Cyril ramaphosa among veteran diplomats familiar with Donald trump’s approach to the annual Group of 20 gatherings.
Ramaphosa, who is relatively inexperienced on the biggest global stage, will play host next year to the first G-20 meeting after Trump returns to the White House. And he’ll need to quickly get up to speed.
Rio had its share of chaos, with events consistently running late and the organizers failing to stage a family photo with all of the leaders, despite making two separate attempts. But there was also a sense of calm before the storm.
Joe Biden maintained a relatively low-key presence, holding only a few bilateral meetings, avoiding personal attacks on his fellow leaders and signing up to the final communiqué without protest—despite some last-minute shenanigans from the host, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil.
It’s unlikely the US delegation will behave the same under Trump, as Canada’s Justin Trudeau can attest.
Trudeau was in charge of proceedings at the 2018 Group of Seven in Quebec, which veered off the rails at the last minute after he managed to offend the US leader. Trudeau is due to host the G-7 again in June in what is likely to be Trump’s second-term debut on the global stage.
“The challenge of working with an American president that doesn’t always put multilateralism and, you know, summitry at a high priority is going to be real,” Trudeau said Tuesday in his closing press conference. “There’ll be new challenges in this
one, I have no doubt. But we’ve done this before.”
Ramaphosa, for his part, is relaxed about the prospect of dealing with Trump at what will be the biggest gathering of world leaders in South Africa since the 2013 funeral of Nelson Mandela.
As one of South Africa’s richest men, he’s confident that he’ll be able to strike up a rapport with another businessman-turned-politician, according to people close to the South African leader. They also both enjoy golf, so Ramaphosa is thinking about whether they might be able to strike a bond over 18 holes.
That strategy was given credence by the recent intervention of billionaire Johann Rupert, South Africa’s richest man, who helped to set up a call between Ramaphosa and Trump just days after the US election, according to people close to the pro.
Officials in Pretoria sees Trump fundamentally as a dealmaker and they believe they can work with his transactional style. They will be ready to make concessions and think he’ll be aligned on major issues such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Ramaphosa has also sought to cozy up to South Africa’s prodigal son, Elon Musk, who became one of Trump’s closest allies over the election campaign, appearing at rallies and even joining calls with other world leaders, including Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Musk has
Trudeau’s experience in 2018 shows how fast events can spiral out of control, especially if there are issues with US policy that can’t be brushed under the carpet.
been lobbying Ramaphosa to help him win approval to expand Starlink, his satellite-based Internet service, into South Africa.
The first test of Ramaphosa’s strategy is likely to come in February when Marco Rubio, Trump’s nominee for secretary of state, potentially attends the G-20 foreign minister’s meeting. Trudeau offered advice to Ramaphosa on how to handle these meetings on the sidelines of the meeting in Rio.
Trudeau’s experience in 2018 shows how fast events can spiral out of control, especially if there are issues with US policy that can’t be brushed under the carpet.
Everything had gone smoothly at La Malbaie in Quebec until the very last moment. Trump had even boarded Air Force One to return to Washington when he caught wind of comments that Trudeau had made at his closing press briefing.
Asked by reporters whether he would retaliate against Trump tariffs, Trudeau said a response was on the table. “As Canadians, we are polite, we’re reasonable, but also we will not be pushed around,” he said.
Trump began furiously posting to Twitter, saying Trudeau “acted so meek and mild” to his face at the summit before making big statements to the press. He instructed US officials not to endorse the communiqué and called Trudeau “very dishonest and weak.”
For the most part, Trump and Trudeau have moved on since then and they successfully renegotiat -
Russia’s war against Ukraine is entering dangerous new phase
By Alan Crawford
VlaDimir putin’s war on ukraine is escalating after months of bloody attrition. as the conflict entered its 1,000th day, ukraine took advantage of its newly granted long-range missile capabilities to strike a military base on russian territory. moscow, which has warned against such action, stepped up its threat of a nuclear response to conventional attacks.
ed a North American trade deal. But Trudeau may still be in for a hard time.
He is deeply unpopular in Canada and likely heading for defeat in an election due in the next year. And that’s made him a target for Trump’s inner circle.
“He will be gone,” Musk posted on X recently. Mike Waltz, Trump’s pick for national security advisor, has said Trudeau’s conservative opponent will “send Trudeau packing in 2025 [finally] and start digging Canada out of the progressive mess it’s in.” Europeans too know they are in for a rough ride whatever happens. Trump and his inner circle despise the European Union and everything it stands for and nothing is going to change that, so EU leaders might as well not worry about it too much, said one senior diplomat.
One summit veteran suggests concentrating on a few issues that the rest of the group can agree on and then trying to bring Trump on board. Keep the focus narrow and don’t overcomplicate things, the diplomat added.
Another said that Ramaphosa would be wise to try and make an issue appear to be Trump’s idea. One way would be to find comments he’s made in the past and explain how they influenced the language in the communiqué.
Trump has stereotypes about different countries, said a third, and he can be caught off guard with proposals he doesn’t expect from a particular nation.
“I had some good conversations at this G-20 with South Africa,” Trudeau said. “When we stay focused on what matters for Canadians, on the principles and the things that are impacting everyone around the world, including American citizens, there’s always ways of getting through.” Bloomberg
The US signaled it wouldn’t adjust its nuclear posture in response to Russia’s decision to change its doctrine. A National Security Council spokesperson, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the move wasn’t a surprise.
gion of Bryansk, according to local Ukrainian reports later confirmed by Russia’s Defense Ministry. The Russians reported that they downed five out of the six missiles launched and there were no casualties. Neither Ukraine’s General Staff nor Defense Ministry would comment on what systems were used.
sider the inflationary consequences of their spending. With economic growth waning, the central bank is actually looking for the country’s growth to pick up in order to stick a soft landing.
Trudeau’s government may also be pressured to spend more and provide boutique spending or tax breaks ahead of an election expected by late October 2025. While consumer confidence is rising, eroded purchasing power remains a challenge for incumbent governments around the world.
On Monday, the government released supplementary spending estimates showing higher expenses for 2024-2025. Whether or not it’s publicly or politically desirable, there may be more room for Canada’s government to run deeper deficits. Giroux said the country’s fiscal trajectory is sustainable in the long run.
“There is room for either more spending or tax reductions or a combination of both. That doesn’t mean it’s desirable to do that,” he said.
Speaking to lawmakers last month, Macklem said he didn’t see a need to comment on fiscal policy now that price pressures are closer to target, a reversal from his remarks last year, when he warned that policymakers needed to con -
“Maybe it’s desirable to invest in some areas or reduce taxes in other areas, but maybe the best course is to reduce the debt-to-GDP ratio, and that’s up to the electorate to decide.” With assistance from Jay Zhao-Murray/ Bloomberg Trudeau. . .
The twin developments early on Tuesday rattled investors who have long tuned out of the war’s daily grind, prompting a rush into haven assets. In reality, the recent arrival of North Korean troops to support Russian forces on the battlefield had already upped the ante.
The prospect of Donald Trump’s return to the White House in January and his pledge to end the war in short order has created a new sense of urgency for Ukraine and its allies.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been pleading for more weapons to strengthen his hand, the Biden administration is sending Kyiv as much aid as possible before they leave office, and Germany’s Olaf Scholz called Putin last week to sound him out on talks. The Russian leader showed no interest in compromise, Scholz reported.
“The current situation offers Putin a significant temptation to escalate,” Tatyana Stanovaya, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, said in a post on X. Such a move would allow both Putin and Trump to blame Joe Biden for the spiraling conflict and serve as a premise for direct talks, she said.
“This marks an extraordinarily dangerous juncture,” she added, since Putin may be trying to convince western leaders they have to choose between a nuclear conflict or a settlement on Russia’s terms.
The news sent investors scrambling into some of the world’s safest assets. The yield on 10-year Treasur-
ies fell as much as seven basis points, while the rate on equivalent German securities dropped 11 basis points. The moves also spread to the currency market, lifting the Japanese yen and Swiss franc.
Still, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov sought to calm worries about a nuclear escalation, even as he accused the West of escalating the conflict. “We are strongly in favor of doing everything not to allow nuclear war to happen,” he said at the G-20. “A nuclear weapon is first and foremost a weapon to prevent any nuclear war.”
But Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, who spoke with Putin last month, warned that if Moscow is threatened “he won’t hesitate for a second—he will use nuclear weapons.” The Russian leader wouldn’t seek nuclear confrontation now, though, as his forces are doing well on the battlefield, Vucic said in Belgrade on Tuesday.
The US signaled it wouldn’t adjust its nuclear posture in response to Russia’s decision to change its doctrine. A National Security Council spokesperson, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the move wasn’t a surprise.
The attack came as Biden and Scholz were gathered with other Group of 20 leaders at a summit in Rio de Janeiro where maneuvering over Russia’s war has been one of the major points of contention.
The host, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil, has tried to shut
down debates over the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza in order to focus on climate change and poverty. But his heavy-handed and, at times, chaotic management of the meeting has left many other leaders ill-tempered.
Adding to the sense of unease, two undersea data cables were damaged in the Baltic near the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad Monday. Governments in the region have repeatedly reported cyber attacks, disinformation and incursions by Russian jets and have warned that they will be under threat if Putin secures victory in Ukraine. The Swedish police said it started a probe into the cable breaches as possible sabotage.
“Something is going on there,” German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said.
The origins of this week’s developments can be traced back to Pyongyang’s intervention in the theater of war last month, a move that came in defiance of warnings from Washington.
That was the shift that persuaded Biden to drop his longstanding opposition to long-range strikes on Russia with the American-made Army Tactical Missile Systems, known as ATACMS. Deploying North Korean troops in combat took the situation to “another level,” Oleksandr Polishchuk, Ukraine’s ambassador to India, said in an interview in New Delhi Monday.
Ukraine’s first strike with those missiles hit an ammunition depot in the western Russian border re -
Later in the day, Putin signed a decree expanding Russia’s nuclear doctrine under which Moscow could consider using atomic weapons, his spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. Under the revised guidelines, the Kremlin could use nuclear weapons in response to an attack on its soil by Kyiv using conventional Western weapons. Russia will also view an attack by a non-nuclear state that is supported by a nuclear power as a joint assault.
“This is Putin’s typical MO—escalating before talks,” Timothy Ash, a senior EM sovereign strategist at RBC BlueBay Asset Management, said in a blog post. “Putin is assuming he will have to sit down and talk peace with Trump at some time over the next few months.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, addressing the European Parliament in Brussels, urged governments not to “fear doing even more” to aid Kyiv’s defense against Russia.
Zelenskyy didn’t mention the use of ATACMS, although he did offer an apparent dig at German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who has refused to follow Biden’s lead and send Germany’s long-range missiles to Kyiv and he irritated Zelenskyy with his outreach to Putin. Scholz faces a snap election in February after the collapse of his three-way coalition.
“While some European leaders think of elections, Putin is focused on winning this war,” Zelenskyy said. With assistance from
Andrea Dudik, Marton Kasnyik, Alice Gledhill, Piotr Skolimowski, Thomas Hall and Misha Savic.
Thursday, November 21, 2024
2nd Front Page
Peza investment approvals for 11 months reach ₧186B
By Andrea E. San Juan @andreasanjuan
THE Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza) said it approved P186.09 billion in investments in the January to November 13, 2024 period, already surpassing the P175.71 billion in investment pledges recorded for full-year 2023.
In a statement on Wednesday, the investment promotion agency said the Peza Board greenlighted 222 new and expansion projects in the 11-month period. According to Peza, these are projected to generate more than $3 billion in exports and “boost” employment with the creation of 60,000 direct jobs.
The P186.09-billion approved investments in the almost 11-month period is 32 percent higher than the investment pledges of P140.88 billion investments approved in the same period in 2023.
After the November 13 Board meeting of Peza, the investment promotion agency said it approved
P62.34 billion investments in the first half of the month, which came from 24 new and expansion projects. These projects are expected to generate $300 million in exports and create over 20,000 jobs. According to Peza, a “wide range” of industries constitutes the 24 newly approved and expansion projects for November 13,2024. Among these projects, 12 will be engaged in export activities, six in IT services, two in domestic market-oriented projects, and one each in facilities, logistics, utilities, and ecozone development across NCR, Calabarzon and Regions III, V, VII, and X.
According to the investment pro -
THERE are now 167 projects certified under the green lane valued at P4.457 trillion, according to the Board of Investments (BOI).
“As of November 14, 2024, the One-Stop Action Center for Strategic Investments has certified a total of 167 projects worth P4.457 trillion,” BOI said in a statement on Wednesday.
Of these 167 projects certified under green lane, majority or 136 projects are Renewable Energy. These RE projects are worth P4.06 trillion. In terms of project cost, Digital Infrastructure trails behind RE-approved projects under the green lane with P346.33 billion, equivalent to six projects.
Meanwhile, there are 22 projects on Food security valued at P13.95 billion and three projects on manufacturing worth P32.55 billion.
The BOI approved five more Renewable Energy projects under the green lane in the first half of November 2024.
Ernesto Delos Reyes, Director for BOI’s Investment Assistance Service explained that these five recently-approved projects are not yet included in the projects being monitored.
Of the 162 projects being tracked by the investment promotion agency under the green lane, 120 projects are in the pre-development stage; 36 projects are in the construction stage; 2 projects are in the pre-operation stage and 4 projects are already operational.
BOI data showed two renewable energy projects and two digital infrastructure projects are already operational.
One of the projects in the preoperation stage is on renewable energy and another is on food security.
Of the 36 projects in the construction phase, 20 are renewable energy projects, 2 are on digital infrastructure, 11 are on food security and 3 are on manufacturing.
Of the 120 projects in the predevelopment stage, 108 are renewable energy projects, 2 are digital infrastructure projects, 10 are food security projects. In two separate statements, the in -
vestment promotion agency attached to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said it recently awarded green lane certification to offshore wind power and agricultural projects.
“The Board of Investments (BOI) awarded the Green Lane Certification to Buhawind Energy Philippines (BEP), a joint venture between Yuchengco-led PetroGreen Energy Corporation (PGEC) and Denmark’s Copenhagen Energy (CE), for its three offshore wind power projects with an aggregate target installed capacity of 4,000 gigawatts (GW),” BOI said. With an investment amount of P694 billion, BOI said these three offshore wind power projects will soon operate in Northern Luzon, Northern Mindoro, and East Panay. From construction to operation, the projects are expected to generate over 50,000 jobs for Filipinos.
“The collaboration between PGEC and CE combines extensive expertise in the Philippine energy market with international offshore wind development experience,” said the BOI.
BOI said the 1.980 GW Northern Luzon Offshore Wind Power Project in Ilocos Norte is scheduled to begin operations in 2030; while the 0.990 GW Northern Mindoro Offshore Wind Power Project will follow in 2031. The 0.990 GW East Panay Offshore Wind Power Project by BuhaWind Energy East Panay Corporation in the provinces of Iloilo and Guimaras is set to start in 2033.
Another set of projects awarded a green lane certification is Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF) Philippines Corporation for its 20 new breeding farm projects, representing a total investment of P10.55 billion.
The BOI said CPF is the first company to receive a Green Lane certification for agricultural projects since the initiative's launch in 2023.
According to the BOI, the new breeding farms will be established in various provinces across the Philippines, including Nueva Ecija, Isabela, Tarlac, Palawan, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, South Cotabato, Pangasinan, Southern Leyte, Surigao del Norte, and Negros Occidental.
motion agency, included in the approved projects were four big-ticket locator projects worth P60.25 billion, with one domestic market enterprise injecting more than P50 billion investments.
Meanwhile, Peza noted that Elmer Francisco Motor Corporation is expected to enjoy a longer incentive package under the CREATE MORE law.
The investment promotion agency said this firm will engage in the manufacturing and assembly of electric vehicles, parts and components in Camarines Norte.
“This project is seen to support the government’s initiatives to increase the utilization of EVs in the domestic market and make the Philippines a part of the global chain of electric vehicles,” Peza noted.
Meanwhile, Peza said another domestic market enterprise and an export enterprise, with a combined total investment exceeding P3 billion, are expected to drive further growth in the regions through the construction of a liquid fuel depot in Cebu and the manufacturing of additional vehicle parts and components in Batangas.
A “significant” new ecozone development project was also approved, led by a fully Filipino-owned developer
with more than P4 billion of investments to be located in Concepcion, Tarlac.
By providing critical infrastructure and support, Peza said this development project aims to attract more businesses, boost local economic activity, and strengthen Tarlac’s growing role as a hub for industrial and commercial enterprises.
“This approval also marks a crucial step toward expanding regional investment opportunities and contributing to the country’s broader economic goals,” it added.
With the approved investments in the 11-month period, Peza said it is on track to achieve its P200-billion investment approvals goal for the year.
Meanwhile, Peza Director General Tereso O. Panga stressed anew that the CREATE MORE law “empowers” Peza and its mandate to support [foreign direct investment] FDI-driven exports, job creation, and sustainable economic growth, “helping build a globally competitive and inclusive Philippines.”
“We look forward to working with stakeholders to maximize these benefits and drive transformative impact across the nation,” Panga said in a statement on Wednesday.
TESDA BRACES FOR A.I. WORLD WITH NEW COURSE
By Justine Xyrah Garcia
WITH the growing impact of artificial intelligence (AI) in the labor market, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) on Wednesday announced plans to introduce a new system capable of creating and updating course curricula faster and more effectively.
Speaking at a Swiss chamberled discussion on the role of AI in the Philippines, Executive Director El Cid Castillo said Tesda—like any other government agency— must keep up with technological advancements to enhance Filipinos’ employability.
“There's a lot that the world offers and we want to explore it, we want to exploit it for the advantage of the Filipino workforce,” Castillo explained. For its 2025 proposed budget, the agency earlier asked for an additional allocation of P74.66 million for its services, promising a more “innovative, efficient, and responsive” approach to addressing the labor market's evolving demands. A part of this additional allocation will be used for the AI course builder which intends to streamline Tesda’s processes by
BUILDER
automating the creation and updating of training regulations and competency standards. It will also ensure that technical and vocational education programs remain relevant, adaptive, and future-ready.
“We know that the future is now. If we will not work on the competencies of our workforce, they will have difficulty in going into the mainstream of work,” Castillo said.
While embracing AI’s potential, the executive director gave assurances that these advancements are not intended to replace workers but to shift job roles through technological adaptation.
“It’s not that humans will be replaced by AI, their job roles will just be disrupted with the use of technology,” he explained. Aligned with its “adopt and adapt strategy,” Castillo added that Tesda aims to equip the workforce with the necessary skills to thrive in an AI-driven economy.
In addition to the AI-powered course builder, Tesda also plans to roll out other tech-driven initiatives next year, including an AIpowered labor market researcher and a scholarship information system—all with an aim to prepare more Filipino workers for the demands of the digital age.
By Reine Juvierre Alberto @reine_alberto
OFFSHORE gaming operators disguised as business process outsourcing (BPO) companies must be examined and held accountable, according to gaming regulator Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor).
In a statement, Pagcor emphasized that offshore gaming companies misrepresenting themselves as BPOs should be treated as a “serious concern.”
“To effectively address illegal gaming operations, companies that misuse the BPO designation must also be scrutinized and held
accountable,” it said. This comes after Pagcor denied its jurisdiction over BPO company Central One Bataan in Bagac, Bataan, raided by authorities on October 31 for allegedly operating as a scam hub.
Central One reportedly ran love scams and cyberscams as well as online gambling operations, which is supposedly regulated by Pagcor.
Pagcor Regulatory Officer
Joseph Lobo said Central One Bataan is under the jurisdiction of the Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB), and not
of Pagcor. This refutes allegations by the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (Paocc) that Central One needed to obtain a permit from Pagcor to operate online gambling.
Pagcor on Tuesday also cited Republic Act No. 9728, which grants the AFAB the power to oversee certain tourism-related activities within the Freeport Area of Bataan including games, amusements, recreational and sports activities subject to the approval and supervision of Pagcor.
“This underscores the fact that while AFAB may regulate specific activities and exercise authority within its jurisdiction,
its power to issue licenses for gaming operations remains conditional and subject to Pagcor’s oversight and approval,” Pagcor explained. In accordance with the law, Central One Bataan’s participation in online gaming activities falls under Pagcor’s jurisdiction and regulatory authority. However, Pagcor’s records indicate that Central One Bataan is not among the entities licensed by the agency to legally operate such operations.
“Pagcor shares the perspective that offshore gaming companies misrepresenting themselves as BPOs should be treated as a serious concern,” it added.
Editor: Jennifer A. Ng
Meralco to spend ₧25B on distribution business in ’25
By Lenie Lectura @llectura
The Manila electric Co. (Meralco) is allotting “a minimum of P25 billion” for its capital expenditures (capex) for its distribution business in 2025.
The utility firm is engaged in power distribution and generation.
Meralco Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Ronnie L. Aperocho said the amount is “only for the distribution” business of the utility firm. “Generation is not included. The budget for generation is much higher.”
Meralco said it has spent P26 billion for capex in January to September. Of the amount, P15.3 billion was utilized for distribution network projects that included new connections, asset renewals, and load growth projects, among others. The balance was used for the development of solar power plants and facilities for the telco tower business.
‘Tim
JThe programmed P25-billion capex for next year’s distribution business is higher than this year’s P22 billion. Meralco needs to further strengthen its network as the country can be struck by around 20 typhoons a year.
“More on grid resilience, storm hardening exactly. We have a parade of storms so the integrity of our distribution system is really, sort of in danger if our system is not really that storm-hardened,” added Aperocho.
For its overall capex, Meralco Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan said the numbers for 2025 will be higher than that posted in 2024. “I believe so, mainly driven by Terra Solar. And
of course, we continue to invest in the distribution side.”
“Well, Terra Solar has been full swing in terms of capex, right? And I do hope we could close on the gas plants because I think plant number 2, Excellent Energy, should be operational by 2025. So, that will involve some degree of capex as well.”
Terra Solar Philippines, Inc. (TSPI) is a subsidiary of Solar Philippines New Energy Corp. (SPNEC) which, in turn, is controlled by MGEN Renewable Energy Inc. (MGreen).
Meanwhile, MGreen is a whollyowned subsidiary of Meralco Powergen Corp. (MGen), which is a whollyowned subsidiary of Meralco.
TSPIisconstructinga3,500-megawatt peak (MWp) solar power plant paired with a 4,500 MW hour battery energy storage system (BESS) in Central Luzon.
Site operations are already underway for the project, with the team dedicated to hitting energization targets on time—the first phase of 2,500 MWp to be completed by 2026 and the second phase by 2027.
Ho Wan to improve JFC results’
By VG Cabuag @villygc
OLLIBEE Foods Corp. (JFC)
said folding Tim Ho Wan into JFC will improve its financials, as the restaurant is considered the leading brand in the Chinese cuisine category.
Richard Shin, Jollibee’s CFO, said he expects to complete the transfer of ownership Tim Ho Wan from Titan Dining LP by January 2025. He said, however, that it will not be consolidated into the Jollibee balance sheet.
“So, what we’re doing from now until January is all the legal matters that needs to be done,” he said, adding that after inclusion it will improve Jollibee’s return on invested capital.
“This brand, for us represents the lead brand in our fourth pillar, and that’s the Chinese cuisine. And what
we’ve really seen is that the Cantonese cuisine, whether it’s dim sum or barbecue meat or wok fried dishes, which Tim Ho Wan has all three.”
Jollibee confirmed that it has booked an P810-million windfall in the form of a revaluation gain from selling its stake in Tim Ho Wan to the parent company.
During the firm’s briefing with stock analysts, Abacus Securities Corp. confirmed that the amount of the revaluation gain.
“This brings Jollibee’s performance into a new light because recurring net income for both the third quarter and nine months will have to be adjusted for the said amount,” Abacus said.
Jollibee said that it has signed an agreement with a subsidiary of Titan Dining LP (Titan Fund) for the transfer of ownership and management
TSPI recently awarded an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract to China Energy Engineering Group Co. Ltd. (Energy China) for the first phase of the project.
Under the EPC contract, Energy China will guarantee a seamless, turnkey delivery of key components for the project. Energy China and its affiliates will oversee all aspects, including procurement, design, engineering, permitting, manufacturing, testing, logistics, and on-site delivery, ensuring the project is executed efficiently and comprehensively.
As part of the agreement, Energy China will also provide warranty coverage, promptly address any defects, and implement robust operational and maintenance protocols to ensure the project’s long-term reliability and success.
Additionally, they will develop specialized training programs for local teams and collaborate closely with stakeholders to facilitate the smooth integration of the project into the national grid, including the incorporation of the BESS.
ALTERNERGy Holdings Corp. (ALTER), through its unit Alternergy Tanay Wind Corp. (ATWC), has received from Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) and Security Bank Corp. the first tranche of the P8-billion funding for its 128-megawatt (MW) wind power project in Tanay, Rizal.
An initial P1.5 billion was injected into the Tanay Wind Power Project, the renewable energy firm said Wednesday.
“The construction of the Tanay Wind Power Project is on full steam as more capital is infused. Our project financing facility has released the first drawdown following successful completion of the conditions precedent set by the lenders,” said Carmen G. Diaz, ALTER chief finance officer.
Diaz expressed appreciation to BPI and Security Bank for working collaboratively to ensure that the drawdown is secured in a timely manner.
The release of the remaining amount from its lenders will happen after all requirements for the succeeding draw are met.
Aside from the project finance fa-
cility, the Tanay Wind Power Project has also received a total of P1.5 billion as equity capital as of September. “With more fund infusion on a timely manner, the construction of the Tanay Wind Power Project is progressing as scheduled,” Diaz added. The Tanay Wind Power Project is the largest project to date which is part of ALTER’s 500-MW capacity target by 2026. It is expected to be completed by end-2025.
The company has proposed to construct an interconnection project worth P2.2 billion to connect the wind power project to the Luzon grid. The construction of the proposed interconnection project is a prerequisite for the testing and commissioning, and ultimately, the commercial operations of the Tanay wind power project.
The Tanay Wind Power Project located in Tanay, Rizal broke ground on June 4, 2024. This project will directly contribute to the national goal of attaining a 35-percent renewable energy share in the power generation mix by 20230 and 50 percent by 2040. Lenie Lectura
of Tim Ho Wan business from Titan Fund to its wholly-owned subsidiary, Jollibee Worldwide Pte. Ltd (JWPL).
JWPL has held a 92-percent participating interest in Titan Fund since January this year.
Jollibee said the acquisition will only amount to S$20.2 million, corresponding to the 8-percent participating interest held by the other investors in Titan Fund.
Tim Ho Wan was founded in 2009 by chefs Mak Kwai Pui and Leung Fai Keung in Hong Kong. In 2010, Tim Ho Wan earned its own one Michelin star and was once called the “most affordable Michelin-starred restaurant in the world.”
“This brand is known for bringing the best of Hong Kong to the world through its world-renowned dishes, barbecue pork buns and other specialties.”
Emirates: PHL retail store is first in East Asia
By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan
GULF carrier Emirates launched on Wednesday its retail store concept in Manila, a first in East Asia, signaling the carrier’s rosy outlook for the Philippine market.
Located at Shangri-La The Fort in Bonifacio Global City, the 221-square meter “retail destination” is designed as a one-stop shop where customers can explore Emirates’ products and services.
“This is something that is an important component of our being closer to our customer as part of enriching the experience that we offer. We believe that Filipinos prefer to be engaged more face-to-face… By having that in mind, the Emirates World will bring in that sort of experience,” Emirates Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer Adnan Kazim said in an interview.
Furthermore, another feature of the new retail store is Emirates A380 onboard lounge display, giving customers a first-hand look at the “premium touches that define Emirates’ products” in the sky.
Kazim noted that the decision to launch the first Emirates World shop in East Asia in the Philippines highlights the market’s strategic importance to the airline.
Emirates operates 28 weekly flights to and from Manila, Cebu, and Clark, connecting millions of passengers annually between the Philippines, Dubai, and beyond.
“The Philippines was selected among the first ones in East Asia because of the kind of commitment we have towards this market. It’s a big market. It’s well appreciated from the service side of it. We have a big operation coming in here with 28 weekly services that we operate to three airports. So that’s the least we could do to bring it back.”
Kazim noted that Emirates World will help push Emirates as the preferred airline for the Manila-Dubai route.
Kazim described the Emirates World concept as an “Apple-inspired” customer engagement platform, where visitors can browse a “curated selection” of Emirates-branded merchandise and travel accessories. They can also book their flights through the store.
“It will really help because based on the experience we have with many other retail shop that we opened with this kind of concept, immediately we have seen a spike in bookings— we have seen more intake and more people wanted to experience this new world of Emirates to get that sort of engagement.”
He added: “So definitely I think we’re quite optimistic that the Emirates World in Manila will bring the boost and will bring more customers, particularly being in a prime location.”
Aside from the Philippines, Emirates has retail spaces in Hong Kong, London and Nairobi, with more stores set to progressively roll out to key markets with an estimated investment of AED 100 million over the next three years as part of the airline’s retail strategy.
Kazim also cited the strong ties between the United Arab Emirates and the Philippines, noting that Emirates has played a vital role in facilitating travel and trade between the two nations. He also hinted at plans for growth, contingent on bilateral agreements between the governments.
BSP steps in to maintain trust after GCash ‘glitch’
By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario
MACTAN, Cebu—The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) expects to complete its investigation on the GCash fiasco next month.
See “BSP,” B4
‘Tax exemption period excludes nonprofits, retirement benefits’
By Reine Juvierre Alberto @reine_alberto
THE Bureau of Internal Revenue
(BIR) has excluded nonprofit groups from the validity period of the Certificate of Tax Exemption (CTE) issued to corporations and entities in the Philippines.
Based on Revenue Memorandum Circular 123-2024 issued by Internal Revenue Commissioner Romeo D. Lumagui Jr., the 3-year validity period of the CTE does not apply to nonstock and nonprofit educational institutions, homeowners’ associations and nonstock savings and loan associations.
Likewise, the validity period is also not applicable to an employee’s retirement benefit plan.
STATE-run Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) will provide a “benefit disbursement solution” for the social service program of the Bangsamoro Region in Muslim Mindanao (Barmm) to further bridge the financial inclusion gap in the Barmm. The solution was solidified last Tuesday, after DBP President and CEO Michael O. de Jesus and Barmm Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD) Minister Raissa H. Jajurie signed a memorandum of agreement to distribute financial assistance to beneficiaries of several programs.
De Jesus said the agreement will
As such, issued CTEs of the corporations and employees’ retirement benefit plans remain valid and effective unless recalled or revoked by the BIR.
“If there are material changes in the character, purpose or method of operation of the corporation or in the provisions of the employees’ retirement benefit plan, which are inconsistent with the basis for income tax exemption, the CTE shall
accelerate the delivery of essential funds to disadvantaged households, “affording them better livelihood opportunities and a chance to improve their way of life.”
“We are confident that this partnership will pave the way for digital payments transformation, which is critical for driving financial support to our kababayans nationwide,” de Jesus added.
DBP’s disbursement facility through PESOnet electronic fund transfer facility and other means of electronic fund transfer will facilitate the disbursement of the cash to those in the Barmm. Currently, Jajurie said, social
Saudi wealth fund a
SAUDI Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund—chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman—has become a key vehicle for the kingdom to silence international criticism, Human Rights Watch said in a report.
The Public Investment Fund lacks oversight and has also been complicit in human rights violations in pursuit of the crown prince’s vision to shake up the country’s economy and society, according to the report released on November 20.
“To mute criticism and deflect from the country’s rights record, PIF investments in foreign jurisdictions provide incentives for silence on Saudi Arabia’s poor rights record, proliferate distorted narratives of reform, and build support for Mohammed bin Salman,” the report said.
be subject to revalidation,” Lumagui cleared.
A CTE shall be valid for a period of three years from the date of its effectivity unless revoked or canceled earlier. However, nonstock and nonprofit educational institutions are exempted from this rule.
“The BIR noticed that there is still confusion as to the validity period of a CTE considering the implementation of other laws and revenue issuances,” Lumagui said.
The BIR cited Section 30 of the National Internal Revenue Code, which provides a list of 11 types of entities that are granted exemption from payment of income taxes.
These entities include the following: nonprofit labor; agricultural or horticultural organizations; mutual savings banks with no capital stock represented by shares and cooperative banks without capital stock for mutual purposes; and, beneficiary societies or associations to benefit members.
workers—designated as special disbursement officers—would have to bring with them the money to be distributed to persons with disabilities, solo parents, and orphans, among others.
“We set a date and ask all the beneficiaries to come at a certain day, line up, and give them the cash [directly],” she explained.
Jajurie said that with the DBP facility, a customized card can be issued to beneficiaries individually where cash assistance can be transferred, withdrawn or used for other purposes.
To roll out the funds immediately, electronic wallets and existing cards
Cemetery companies operated for the benefit of their members and religious, charitable, scientific, athletic or cultural nonstock corporations are also exempted from payment of income tax.
The other entities include: nonprofit business leagues; chamber of commerce or board of trade; nonprofit civic leagues; nonstock and nonprofit educational institutions; government educational institutions; farmers’ or mutual typhoon or fire insurance firms; and, mutual ditch or irrigation companies. Also in the list are mutual or cooperative telephone companies of which income consists of assessments, dues and fees collection to meet its expenses.
Farmers’, fruit growers’, or like associations organized as a sales agent for marketing their members’ products and returning the proceeds on the basis of the quantity of produce finished by them shall not be taxed, according to the Tax Code.
in other banks may be used in the meantime.
For the first phase of the agreement, the allowances of para-social and day care workers will be disbursed through DBP’s facility given that they already have existing bank accounts. This is targeted to be operational immediately.
The second phase, aimed to be launched in the first quarter of 2025, will be the disbursement of aid and subsidies to beneficiaries of various social welfare programs in BARMM.
In 2025, Jajurie said about P1.4 billion will be allocated for various social service programs in the region. Reine Juvierre Alberto
tool to silence critics–Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch cited the 2023 framework agreement between the PGA Tour and PIFbacked LIV Golf that included a “non-disparagement clause” preventing the US-based circuit’s officials from criticizing Saudi Arabia’s human rights record. The report also highlighted what it said was forced evictions of people living in areas of Saudi Arabia that the PIF is developing, which it said in some cases resulted in detentions and death sentences.
Representatives for the PIF declined to comment. The government has said in the past that residents are offered generous compensation to move away from areas earmarked for development by entities related to the PIF.
Prince Mohammed transformed the fund from a sleepy
domestic holding company into one of the most high-profile global investors in less than a decade. The nearly $1 trillion entity is now a key instrument of the country’s soft power projection internationally and one of the most important vehicles for the crown prince’s push to wean the Saudi economy off oil.
While MBS, as the crown prince is known, has unleashed a wave of changes to Saudi society including defanging the religious police and allowing women to drive, he’s also launched an “unprecedented” crackdown on dissent, Human Rights Watch said. He has also concentrated power within the PIF, giving himself near total control of the fund, according to the report. Overhauls of the fund and its management by MBS, have placed him as chairman of its
board and a government committee overseeing its operations, and allowed him to install key allies in powerful positions. Since becoming prime minister in 2022, he also has the ability to appoint board members.
Middle East sovereign wealth funds are often controlled by members of ruling families. For example, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, another $1 trillion fund in neighboring United Arab Emirates, is chaired by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a brother of the country’s president.
While the PIF’s disclosures are limited compared to Norway’s $1.7 trillion wealth fund, in recent years it has started publishing accounts and an annual report, and detailing governance procedures on its website. Bloomberg News
Bill boosting remittance of OFWs get House OK
By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie
THE Lower House approved two key legislative measures on their third reading, aiming to address financial challenges faced by overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) while safeguarding their hard-earned remittances.
Lawmakers unanimously passed last Monday House Bill (HB) 10914 (“Free Financial Education Act for OFWs and Their Families”) and HB 10959 (“OFW Remittance Protection Act”).
The two bills will now be transmitted to the Senate for its own deliberations.
HB 10959 proposes a 50-per -
cent discount on remittance fees for OFWs sending money back to the Philippines. As an incentive, banks and financial intermediaries offering this discount will be allowed to claim it as a tax deduction.
The measure requires all banks and non-bank financial intermediaries to consult the Department of Finance (DOF), the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the Department of Migrant Workers (DNW) before making any adjustments to remittance fees, ensuring transparency and accountability in the process.
Cash sent by OFWs average at more than $30 billion yearly–the fourth largest in the world after
India, Mexico and China–has been keeping the local economy afloat for several decades.
“This is one way of showing our unsung heroes, our more than 10 OFWs across the globe, that we really care for them, and we have the compassion to help them lighten their burden for all their sacrifices, being the breadwinners of their families,” Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez said.
The provisions of the Act shall be applicable to all OFW remittances, whether voluntary or mandated by law, orders, issuances or rules and regulations.
The measure also listed several “prohibited acts,” violation of any of which shall be subject
Go pushes for student loan moratorium bill
AS the Philippines is reeling from the devastation of six powerful typhoons in just one month, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go called for swift action to ease the burden on students and families in disaster-stricken areas.
With this, Go has co-authored and co-sponsored Senate Bill No. (SBN) 1864, or the proposed “Student Loan Payment Moratorium during Disasters and Emergencies” Act, which is now awaiting the President’s approval to become law.
“Hindi na biro ang hirap na dinaranas ng ating mga kababayan. Sunodsunod na bagyo, baha, at kawalang katiyakan sa kinabukasan. Hindi natin hahayaang maging dagdag-pasanin pa ang student loans sa gitna ng ganitong kalamidad,” Go said.
The proposed law promises to deliver urgent financial relief by suspending student loan payments during and after disasters, allowing students and families to breathe easier as they rebuild their lives.
“Ang tanong marahil ng maraming kabataang mag-aaral: Dapang dapa kami sa delubyo, paano na ang student loan ko?” Go said.
Kaya natin isinulong ang Student Loan Payment Moratorium During Disasters and Emergencies bill para naman mabigyan ng palugit ang mga estudyanteng may pagkakautang pero hindi makabayad dahil tinamaan ng kalamidad at iba pang sakuna,” he added.
With Typhoon Pepito marking the sixth storm to batter the country in just one month, the damage is overwhelming: over 160 lives lost, thousands of families displaced, and entire communities drowning in billions of pesos worth of destruction.
“Mga estudyante at pamilya nila, lubog ngayon sa hirap habang bumabangon sa baha. Hindi natin puwedeng hayaan na pati edukasyon nila ay malunod dahil sa hirap at pagkakautang,” Go stressed.
Go stressed that the mere fact that students needed to get loans to continue their studies show their desire to finish and attain quality education. This determination, he said, should be acknowledged and supported rather than be a burden for them to achieve their dreams.
Bigyan natin ng sapat na pagkakataon ang kabataan na makapagtapos ng pag-aaral dahil sila ang pag-asa at future leaders ng ating bayan. Hindi dapat maging hadlang ang kahirapan para marating ang kanilang mga pangarap,” he said.
If signed into law, Senate Bill (SB) 1864 will defer payments for students residing in areas declared under a State of Calamity or Emer-
. . continued from B3
BSP Payments and Currency Management Sector Deputy Governor Mamerto E. Tangonan told reporters here it will take another 15 days to complete the investigation.
Tangonan said, however, that executives of GCash operator GXchange Inc. (GXI) has assured the BSP that all account holders affected by what the firm says as a “system glitch” have been “made whole” and all the funds that were deducted have been returned to affected accounts.
gency. It will apply to loans for Higher Education and Technical-Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programs, giving Filipino students much-needed breathing room to focus on their studies. The measure is part of Go’s broader push to protect the right of every Filipino to quality education, which he believes is a cornerstone of national recovery.
Ang edukasyon, hindi lang para sa sarili. Ito ang susi para sa isang mas maliwanag na kinabukasan para sa pamilya at bayan. Kaya kapag may ganitong kalamidad, hindi na dapat tayo nag-aatubili na tulungan sila,” he added.
The senator has also called for the immediate prioritization of the bill, emphasizing how essential it is in the wake of disasters like Typhoon Pepito and the five other storms that preceded it.
“This is not just about policy. This is about survival. Ang bawat araw na walang moratorium ay isang araw ng pasakit para sa kabataan na pilit bumabangon mula sa trahedya,” Go concluded.
Aside from this bill, Go has also championed various scholarship programs of the government in line with his mission to provide inclusive and quality education. Also, Go earlier co-authored and co-sponsored Republic Act (RA) 11510, which institutionalizes the Alternative Learning System (ALS) to improve basic education delivery to underserved and disadvantaged students; RA 11984, or the “No Permit, No Exam Prohibition Act”, which prohibits educational institutions from denying students the right to take exams due to unpaid fees; RA 12006 or the “Free College Entrance Examinations Act,” waiving entrance exam fees at private higher educational institutions for qualified top students; as well as RA 11997, or the “Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act,” which increases the teaching supply allowances for public school teachers. In addition, Go has co-authored and co-sponsored SBN 1360 which seeks to expand the coverage of the tertiary education subsidy by amending RA 10931, the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, which was enacted during the term of former President Rodrigo Duterte. Furthermore, Go has also been pushing for the passage of his proposed SBN 1786, which seeks to mandate public HEIs to establish Mental Health Offices on their campuses. This aligns with his belief that mental health should receive the same level of attention and care as physical health.
it’s a small number. It’s just a hairline crash.”
Depending on the gaps found during the investigation, Tangonan said among the actions that could be done by BSP is to create additional regulation. However, he said the creation of additional regulation is the last resort for the BSP. The BSP also has the option to make adjustments to its enforcement of regulations. Tangonan also said that should violations be identified, it is within the purview of the BSP to impose sanctions.
to a penalty of imprisonment of a minimum of six months to a maximum of six years, and a fine of P50,000, but not exceeding P750,000.
Meanwhile, HB 10914 mandates the integration of comprehensive financial literacy training into the Pre-Departure Orientation Seminars (PDOS) and Post-Arrival Training Seminars (PATS). These programs will provide OFWs with critical knowledge in consumer protection, credit management, and debt avoidance to better protect their earnings.
The bill mandates the DMW, the DOF, the BSP and other agencies to spearhead the implementation of these programs.
“We want to be thorough in this because we want to assure the public that it’s safe and that we are keeping it that way. So to instill that trust, we have to tell the public what happened, what we’re going to do about it, and how do they protect themselves from it if it happens,” Tangonan explained.
“So, therefore, we will not dispense with any effort at getting at the root cause of this because that’s very important, you know. Payments is built on trust. So, if you don’t trust it, no one will use it. And we don’t get the benefits,” he added.
Tangonan said based on their estimate, the glitch affected 0.002 percent of all fraudulent transfers reported to the BSP as of 2023.
“If you compare it to the number of transactions that we have or the number of customers that digital payments has, it’s a very very, very small number,” Tangonan said. “So,
“Well, this is hypothetical. Of course, if there are infractions [and/ or] non-compliance, of course, that’s the course of action to take,” Tangonan said.
Earlier, the BSP said it mandated GXI, a subsidiary of Mynt (Globe Fintech Innovations Inc.) to immediately resolve the unauthorized deduction on the wallets of GCash users. The BSP has said that GXI should swiftly complete the process of refunds that it has initiated. The central bank also required the company to regularly update the BSP on the matter. Based on the initial report of GXI to the BSP, the incident was attributed to a system error. GXI, however, assured that all accounts of GCash users remain secure and that they are now in the process of refunding the deductions (See: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2024/11/12/ bsp-tells-e-wallet-operator-toresolve-deductions-mess/).
United States Embassy salutes
Filipino and American veterans
AMB. MaryKay Carlson paid tribute to military-service members from her country and the Philippines on Veterans Day, as she cited their contributions to freedom and democracy.
“On Veterans Day, we honor American and Filipino service men and women still in uniform, those who have moved on to new opportunities outside of the military, and those who have passed,” Carlson remarked during a ceremony at the Manila American Cemetery in Taguig City. “We owe you our freedom.”
The ambassador shared that next year will mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War 2—80 years since Philippine and US forces, shoulder-to-shoulder, succeeded in their fight to defend freedom and liberate the Philippines.
THE British Chamber of Commerce Philippines (BCCP) supported the recent Philippine Economic Briefing (PEB) in London led by Finance chief Ralph G. Recto.
Director-trustee Chris Nelson represented the chamber at the October 31 briefing that carried the theme: “PH On-the-Go: Fast-Tracking Economic Progress.”
Key presentations and panel discussions that saw the participation of the largest British multinational corporations focused on the country’s macroeconomic updates such as inflation, interest rates and economic outputs.
Sen. Usec. Irineo Espino of the Department of National Defense (DND), Defense Attaché Col. Edward Evans of the US Embassy, as well as American Battle Monuments Commission chair and retired US Army General Michael Garrett attended the ceremony alongside Filipino and American veterans, veteran-service organizations, and members of the diplomatic corps.
“Veterans Day reminds us of the courage and dedication of all who have fought for peace and freedom— including the Filipino veterans who stood alongside American forces,”
“Even before our 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty, we fought together side-by-side,” she added. “That bond of shared sacrifice by our veterans resonates through the decades, and still animates our alliance [with our ever-deepening security ties].”
Espino said. “The DND, through the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office, remains steadfast in our commitment to promote the welfare and wellbeing of our veterans. We remember their legacy, so their courage could continue to inspire future generations.”
“The Manila American Cemetery is not only a sacred American space, but also Filipino soil honoring our shared history and shared sacrifice,” Garrett said. “To our Filipino hosts—
including our friends and neighbors right here in Manila, and all who are among America’s oldest partners here in Asia—I want to thank you for allowing us to honor our fallen here on your land.”
Nearly 50 million men and women have worn the uniform of the US, with about 20 million still in active service. Of those, 69,000-plus have Filipino heritage, representing the second-largest foreign-born US veteran population after Mexico.
Climate action: A cornerstone of enhanced Canada-PHL cooperation
By Amb. David Hartman
CLIMATE change and the environment are top-of-mind for many at this time of year. Globally, the annual Conference of the Parties on biodiversity and nature concluded earlier this month, and negotiations on climate change are drawing to a close.
Here in the Philippines, “Climate Change Consciousness Week” is underway. And in early December, the country will convene the board of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage. The meeting in Manila will be the first such meeting since it was selected as host of the board in July 2024. The selection of the Philippines to play a leading role on addressing loss and damage from climate change is no surprise. It is at the frontlines of climate change, and this year has been no exception. Canada stands with the Philippines in mourning the loss of life and in supporting relief and recovery efforts. The impact on livelihoods and the economic toll cannot be understated. The data is staggering: More than 9.5 million persons were affected by tropical cyclones Kristine and Leon (international names Trami and Kong-rey, respectively) in recent weeks and by some estimates, 3 percent of gross domestic product is lost annually from climate change-driven extreme weather.
While the Philippines is highly exposed to natural hazards by virtue of its geography, there is growing resolve among government and civil society to enhance climate-adaptation and disaster resilience. And Canada is proud to be a partner in supporting such efforts. Working with trusted implementing partners with strong links to national
and local governments, our work includes supporting ecosystem restoration for enhanced livelihoods; assisting local governments to better assess, plan for, and implement disaster resilience and climate-adaptation measures; implementing agro-forestry practices to enhance agricultural yields while protecting biodiversity in indigenous communities; and incentivizing the private sector to invest in climate adaptation. Across the three main island-regions, our interventions engage with and respond to local community needs, address the differential impact on women and girls, and seek to model solutions that can subsequently be replicated and scaled. Alongside adaptation and resilience efforts, the Philippines is also taking steps toward a clean energy transition, as reflected in the update of the “Philippine Energy Plan 2023-2050.” Such a shift needs to go hand-in-hand with energy security and affordability without which societal buy-in and growth rates, among the highest in the Asean Region, will be hard to sustain. This includes addressing the transition’s potentially adverse impacts on the labor force, while maximizing the upside such as skills training
for the new renewable energy economy.
Canada is supporting the Philippines in taking on this challenge. First, we support technical assistance to the government—including policies and regulations related to decarbonization. Next, we support the financing required to enable the energy transition mainly through our multilateral development bank partners.
Canada is the second-largest donor to the “Climate Investment Funds-Accelerating Coal Transition Initiative.” Its “Investment Plan for the Philippines,” approved in June 2024, allocates $500 million (P29.3 billion) toward the early retirement or repurposing of coal-fired plants, while supporting efforts to add renewable-energy capacity and advancing a just transition.
‘Accelerating the transition’ BUT governments can’t do this alone. As important as public finance is for climate action, the private sector must play its role both in terms of mobilizing financing and delivering technological solutions at scale to bring down costs and accelerate the transition. And governments would do well to focus efforts on promoting private sector investment and innovation.
At the regional level, including in the Philippines, Canada is helping incentivize the private sector’s role on climate action, including by de-risking investments. For example, in June of this year we launched a new CA$360 million (P15.1 billion) fund along with the Asian Development Bank to support privatesector climate action and nature-based solutions in the region. This builds upon the CA$750 million (P31.5 billion) of additional capitalization to FinDev Canada
(our bilateral development-finance institute) announced alongside the launch of Canada’s “Indo-Pacific Strategy,” and for which climate action (in the infrastructure, agri-business and forestry sectors) is a top priority.
Canada’s private sector is also at the leading edge of climate solutions ranging from energy efficiency, microgrid and smart grids to hydro power, carbon capture, and hydrogen. And, of course, critical minerals are essential for the energy transition. The Philippines is blessed with an abundance of such mineral deposits, and Canadian extractive sector companies today—among the world’s foremost proponents of responsible mining—are well-positioned to help further develop this sector. Important in achieving this goal is a stable and predictable regulatory regime, incentive structures that are fit for purpose, and the ability to secure social license. It should be possible to address the real concerns of affected communities including indigenous peoples, respect the rights of environmental defenders engaged in peaceful advocacy, as well as promote sustainable and environmentally sound extraction of critical minerals… Not easy, but possible and I would argue, essential. This is Canada’s learned experience.
Climate action is already a cornerstone of my country’s partnership with the Philippines. Of the CA$94.2 million (P3.9 billion) in international aid for the latter in Canada’s 2022-23 fiscal year, coinciding with the launch of our Indo-Pacific Strategy, at least two-thirds went to aid climate action and disaster resilience.
I look forward to the continued growth of our partnership and portfolio in the months and years ahead.
Recto emphasized the ever-growing relations of the United Kingdom and the Philippines in multiple areas covering tourism, health care manufacturing and overall foreign direct investments inflows that total £585.74 million as of July 2024.
“If there’s a country that can stand witness to the best the Philippines can give the world, it’s most probably the UK,” he said. “The presence of around 250,000 Filipinos here…today is a testament to this… [It is a powerful symbol of what happens whenever and wherever you open an opportunity for our countrymen]. We always deliver.”
Inflation in the country was also reported to stay within the target range of 2 percent to 4 percent in the next
two years, which will create a more conducive business environment. This parallels a recent report by the Philippine Statistics Authority that October 2024 inflation recorded a slight uptick at 2.3 percent. The National Economic and Development Authority attributed this to recent weather disturbances that challenge food supply and security. Meanwhile, the British Chamber said that it has also worked closely with the UK’s Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board to encourage more British meat exports to the country to cushion the effects of inflation and help ensure food security. It also noted developments on its supported priority legislation, which include the recently passed “Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act” that aims to protect the country’s local agricultural sector and safeguard legitimate importers.
With the UK being the Philippines’ 21st-largest trading partner, eighthlargest source of tourists, and fifthlargest source of overseas Filipino remittances, BCCP cites the importance of the annual briefing to reinforce the growing bilateral trade relations and further identify opportunities with British investors. These, the chamber said, will allow the country to achieve its upper-middle income status and become more regionally competitive along with its Southeast Asian neighbors.
THE Chiayi Christian Hospital’s medical mission team from Taiwan went to remote towns of the Philippines, as it provided medical services to underprivileged people and signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the provincial government of Negros Oriental to deepen the two republics’ medical cooperation.
The hospital’s superintendent Dr. Chen Wei led more than 20 team members to the country last month, as they conducted free medical services in the towns of Mabinay and Bais in Negros Oriental, as well as in Pasig City in Metro Manila. The three medical missions served more than 1,000 local residents and offered services: orthopedics, pediatrics, and traditional Chinese medicine.
In Pasig City, the medical team partnered with sister-hospital Rizal Medical Center, as members used their portable ultrasound machine to diagnose several cases of heart failure and bone deformities that required urgent care.
During the visit, Chiayi Christian Hospital signed an MOU with the provincial government of Negros Oriental to establish a long-term cooperative relationship. Dr. Chen said that the medical mission was not just an immediate relief effort, but also aimed to “establish long-term and sustainable medical support plans through cooperation with local health-care institutions.” Since 2001, the Taiwanese hospital has been providing long-term medical services and community support to the Philippines. This year, they made their first visit to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (Teco) in the Philippines, where they were received by Deputy Representative Yang Deng-shi. Yang pointed out that the hospital’s medical mission embodies the “Taiwan Can Help” spirit, and hoped for further deepening of cooperation with the Philippines in the future, especially in providing medical expertise and support to remote areas that will bring more aid to the Filipino people.
US service members lay a wreath during the Veterans Day ceremony with Amb. MaryKay Carlson (from right), American Battle Monuments Commission chair Michael Garrett and Defense Department senior undersecretary Irineo Espino.
HARTMAN
TECO deputy representative Yang Deng-shi (long-sleeved gentleman in center) met with the Chiayi Christian Hospital team who came to the Philippines
Health& Fitness
Experts, patient groups highlight the importance of multidisciplinary care in lung cancer treatment
By Candy P. Dalizon
In observance of Lung Cancer Awareness Month, seven medical societies and patient advocacy groups collaborated to raise awareness and advocate for multidisciplinary care in lung cancer treatment.
l ung cancer is a major health concern in the country. With a high smoking rate, the Philippines faces a significant burden of lung cancer.
“ t he multidisciplinary team approach is very important because there is no one doctor who can diagnose and treat cancer. It’s because there are so many advancements na hindi na kaya ng iisang doctor para malaman kung ano yung next step na gagawin [It’s because there are so many advancements that a single doctor can no longer figure out what the next step should be],” said Dr. Josephine tolentino, President of the Philippine Society of Medical Oncology (PSMO).
Dr. tolentino was one of the speakers during the forum “ n avigating the l ung Cancer Care Continuum: A Unified Approach” held on n ovember 13, 2024 at eDSA Shangri- l a, Mandaluyong City.
Open communication
A MU lt IDISCIP l I n AR y team approach, where various specialties collaborate, promotes open communication and coordination among healthcare providers, leading to improved patient safety and better overall outcomes.
A multidisciplinary lung cancer team typically includes pulmonologists, oncologists, thoracic surgeons, radiologists, pathologists, palliative care specialists, cancer nurse specialists, and other allied health professionals.
Dr. tolentino pointed out that based on their studies, early involvement of
a multidisciplinary team upon diagnosis significantly improved patient outcomes and survival rates for lung cancer.
“Just in case you are already diagnosed with cancer or if you think you have one, ask your doctor, Doc pwede po ba tayo mag multidisciplinary meeting with other doctors [Doctor, can we schedule a multidisciplinary meeting with other doctors]? I think you should be proactive in asking for that as patients,” said Dr. tolentino.
Aside from Dr. tolentino, experts from various medical societies participated in the discussion, highlighting the crucial role of each specialty in the continuum of lung cancer care and management. Dr. Janeth Samson, President of the Philippine College of Chest Physicians (PCCP); Dr. Josephine l apena, President of the Philippine Academy of Family Physicians (PAFP); Dr. Karlos Aleta, President of the Philippine Association of t horacic and Cardiovascular Surgeons (PAtACSI); Dr. h erdee l una, President of the Philippine Society of Oncologists Inc. (PSO); Dr. Ma. teresa Benedicto of the Philippine Radiation Oncology Society, and Dr. Joey Joson of the Philippine Society of hospice and Palliative Medicine discussed their specific roles and how to execute the multidisciplinary team approach, which is highlighted by taking a deeper look into a patient’s lifestyle and situation.
Unified approach
DR . Samson stressed the need for a unified approach among all key stake -
holders to battle lung cancer, including committing due diligence to find the right diagnosis, optimal approach, and minimizing the number and invasiveness of procedures.
Hindi po lahat ng cancer pare-pareho ng treatment [n ot all cancers have the same treatment]. We will go to the procedure that will give us the best diagnosis,” said Dr. Samson.
For her part, Dr. Joson said palliative care should be incorporated early in the treatment process, parallel to disease-focused interventions to optimize quality of life and symptom management. Guidelines highlight managing pain, dyspnea, fatigue, and psychological distress using both pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches. t his multidisciplinary approach ensures comprehensive care that addresses physical, emotional, and social needs.
Transforming the landscape of lung cancer care
DR . Cyril tolosa, Medical Affairs Director of biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca Philippines, underscored how each accurate intervention can help make the healing journey easier for patients.
“AstraZeneca is driven by its bold ambition to eliminate lung cancer as a leading cause of death worldwide, and that includes transforming the landscape of lung cancer care here in the Philippines through early intervention and innovative treatment options,” said Dr. tolosa.
“We’re positive that through this multidisciplinary collaboration with seven medical societies and lung cancer patient groups, we can create real world impact to further improve health outcomes of our lung cancer patients,” he added.
Dr. tolosa related that earlier this year, the collaboration of AstraZeneca and Ayala h ealthcare h oldings, Inc. or AC h ealth successfully integrated an AI-based chest x-ray tool into key hos -
GO HEALTHy THiS HOLiDAy SEASOn, GET A HEALTH CHECK
By Rory Visco Contributor
WITH a little over a month before Christmas, invitations to join parties and the gastronomic extravaganza have started. Food will definitely be served in these parties despite the high food prices. In this country where Christmas celebrations start in September, expect many people to gain more unwanted pounds.
And that unwanted weight gain might lead to more ailments like Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and cardiovascular diseases, two of the most prolific killer diseases in the country. CKD is often the end result and is highly connected to other ailments like hypertension and diabetes. Experts have said that problems with the kidney is one of the first to arise when complications start to develop since the heart cannot pump blood efficiently to the body anymore. Diabetes, meanwhile, may also cause CKD as high blood sugar can damage blood vessels in the kidneys and the heart.
Health monitoring, healthy lifestyle ACC ORDING to medical professionals from Boehringer Ingelheim Philippines, a twostep screening process can be done to check on the kidney’s health. One is the creatine test that measures the waste product of the body, and where the estimated glomerular filtration (eGFR) rate can be computed as well.
The second test on kidney health is the urine albumin-creatinine ratio (uACR) test where a urine sample is used to measure albumin, or the level of protein present in the urine. The pharma giant said there are two primary conditions that often lead to CKD: diabetes and hypertension. There are also lifestyle factors that put people at risk for CKD like age, smoking, family history of CKD, and obesity, plus unhealthy lifestyles where people eat food with high levels of sugar and
sodium, often found in processed food and drinks. Exposure to constant stress, including living a sedentary lifestyle are also some of the CKD culprits.
“The alarming rise in CKD cases in the Philippines calls for immediate action. Every hour, a Filipino faces the possibility of chronic renal failure, and over 2.3 million are already living with this silent disease. Attending events that promote early detection and raise awareness are crucial in order to save lives and improve health outcomes,” according to Dr. Greta Cortez, Head of Medicine at Boehringer Ingelheim Philippines.
Holiday gift of health AS the Christmas season nears, why not give family, friends, or loved ones with holiday gifts that support a healthy lifestyle for their well-being?
Some of these gifts may include cooking tips or recipes to promote heart and kidney health, those with low sodium or sugar levels, or using the power of spices to enhance the flavor of food without using sugar or salt, coupled with the use of non-stick cookware or the air fryer for health-conscious cooking of soups, meals, or stews.
A blood pressure monitor can also be a good holiday gift to allow early detection or for immediate medical attention just in cases of abrupt changes in blood pressure.
In cases when hunger pangs set in and overthe-counter snacks should be avoided absolutely, a gift of heart-healthy snacks such as unsalted nuts in the likes of almonds or walnuts and the like, whole-grain crackers, even dark chocolates due to flavonoids and its cardiovascular benefits, although it should be taken in small quantities.
Reading materials such as books on kidney and heart health that offer valuable information on managing CKD and cardiovascular diseases may do the trick and also serve as a constant reminder to take proactive steps
pitals within the AC health network. t his allows patients to undergo early screening for lung nodules and assess their risk of malignancy.
“ t his collaboration enhances the accessibility of advanced diagnostic technology and enables healthcare providers to offer timely and accurate evaluations potentially improving patient outcomes,” said Dr. tolosa.
Lung cancer screening awareness
C A n C e R screening involves testing for cancer before symptoms develop. By the time symptoms appear, cancer may have begun to spread. e arly detection allows for timely treatment, potentially improving outcomes.
Dr. Samson said high-risk individuals, including heavy smokers, those aged 50 to 75, and individuals with a family history of lung cancer, should consider lung cancer screening. Former smokers who quit within the past 15 years and those with a history of tuberculosis or occupational exposure to carcinogens like arsenic, radon, and asbestos are also at increased risk.
Dr. Samson pointed out that the only recommended screening test for lung cancer is low-dose computed tomography (also called a low-dose C t scan, or l DC t ).
Patient groups as partners Al SO present during the event were members of the l ung h ealth Alliance of the Philippines or l ung h AP and Carmen Auste, Vice President of the Cancer Coalition Philippines (CCPh ). e merito Rojas, l ung h AP founding member, said that “without decisive action, the social and economic impact of lung disease will continue to escalate, resulting in increased morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs, especially out-of-pocket expenses, which is about 44 percent
on health and well-being.
Gift of Health is to get CheCKD
BEF ORE the month ends, Boehringer Ingelheim (Philippines), Inc. will bring back its “It
Starts With U: Get CheCKD” activity in order to further amplify the importance of raising awareness on the link between cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic (CRM) diseases and kidney health.
Together with Dialysis Philippines Support Group (Dialysis PH), Kidney Transplant Association of the Philippines (KITAP), and Philippine Alliance of Patient Organizations (PAPO), Boehringer Ingelheim (Philippines), Inc. will bring back the event on November 30, 2024, at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay in Parañaque City in time for the holiday season.
The event will feature educational talks and new booths focused on the two diseases, a booth where Boehringer Ingelheim will talk of their educational website that aims to empower individuals with information about CKD and related health conditions. It offers valuable insights on prevention, risk factors, and complications, encouraging patients to take proactive steps toward better health and seek professional care when needed.
There will be the Movement CheCKD Zone that will encourage guests to lead a healthier lifestyle through live Zumba and POUND® sessions; the Nutrition CheCKD Zone where healthy food stations will offer kidney-healthy snacks. The Health CheCKD Zone will have health and lifestyle stations where guests can check their blood pressure, heart rate, temperature, and even have one-on-one consultations with doctors. If determined to be at risk for CKD, patients can avail the free two-step screening process for kidney health. There will also be the Check Your Choices, a life-sized board game where visitors can have a fun learning experience on how kidneys work and how they may care for it.
of our healthcare costs.”
to address these challenges, we formed the l ung h ealth Alliance of the Philippines, a non-government organization to bring together survivors of cancer and other lung diseases, caregivers, and other stakeholders with the common goal of reducing the morbidity and mortality of lung diseases. We have also solicited the support of renowned medical professionals to guide us with their wisdom as our technical advisors.”
“We need to push for early detection and lung screening. We need sustainable funding and we need to develop a strategy. together with your support, we can make an impact,” said Rojas. Auste on the other hand called on stakeholders, specifically authorities, to put a bigger emphasis on the voice of lung cancer patients.
“ Kailangan natin palakasin ‘yung boses ng survivors. Ang paniniwala po natin, anumang guideline or standard na gagawin, ito ay mas magiging responsive at makabuluhan kung nandoon ang lived experiences ng ating mga pasyente [We need to amplify the voices of survivors. We believe that any guideline or standard that we will create will be more responsive and meaningful if it is based on the lived experiences of our patient],” said Auste.
At the event’s conclusion, representatives of the medical societies and patient advocacy groups committed to strengthening their partnership against lung cancer. Dr. Samson also announced the launch of the PCCP l ung Cancer registry which will further provide a caring, efficient network for lung cancer patients and their families.
t his registry represents a critical step towards enhancing the knowledge base and improving outcomes for individuals affected by lung cancer,” explained Dr. Samson.
SM Foundation modernizes San Pablo Health Center to serve Ormocanons
SM Foundation continues to support the government in improving healthcare access for Filipinos through its partnerships with local communities.
Recently, the Foundation turned over its 210th Wellness Center, the San Pablo District Health Center (SPDHC), to the local government of Ormoc.
Established in 2009, the SPDHC serves as a vital satellite office of City Health, strategically located near the main road leading to Ormoc’s most distant barangays including Cabintan, Gaas, Tongonan, and Liberty. The center serves a population of over 37,000 across 37,673 households.
“Healthcare is essential to human wellbeing. It forms the backbone of strong and resilient communities, yet many still face barriers to accessing adequate healthcare,” said Connie Angeles, SM Foundation Executive Director for Health and Medical, during the turnover ceremony. “For years, SM Foundation has worked hand in hand with the government to help bridge this gap.”
Editor: Anne Ruth Dela Cruz
PAREnTS PUSH FOR ADDiTiOnAL MEASURES vS. TObACCO, vAPE PRODUCTS
By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco
Ahe A lth advocacy group considers the recent court ruling of the Supreme Court (SC) affirming the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) regulatory authority over the health aspects of tobacco products a victory, ensuring the protection of the youth and future generations.
t he Parents Against Vape (PAV) is rejoicing over the SC’s “milestone decision” that underscores the need to safeguard the health of the children and communities, holding tobacco products and vapes to rigorous standards of public health protection.
t his decision upholds our international commitments under the W h O (World h ealth Organization) Framework Convention on tobacco Control, strengthening our responsibility to prioritize the welfare of Filipinos over industry interests. We stand firm in our commitment to protect future generations from the harmful effects of these products and will continue to advocate for science-based regulations to ensure a healthier tomorrow for all Filipinos,” PAV said.
Clear message t he SC, PAV said, has sent a clear message: the health impacts of tobacco products are within the FDA’s mandate.
Furthermore, the group has demanded the following actions to reinforce the protections afforded by this decision:
To promote a healthier environment, SM Foundation incorporated air-cleaning paints throughout the center and installed a rainwater catchment system. The Foundation also implemented SM DigiKonsulta for online consultations and electronic medical records management, essential for PhilHealth’s Konsulta Benefits.
Ormoc City Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez expressed her gratitude to SM Foundation, noting that “This renovated health center will serve as a model for other facilities that the city plans to build in order to serve its constituents.” The center’s strategic location beside the upcoming City Unified Hospital further enhances its role in the community’s healthcare infrastructure.
To date, SM Foundation has established and renovated more than 200 Wellness Centers, serving over six million patients nationwide.
The newly refurbished health center, which previously underwent repairs after Typhoon Yolanda in 2013, now boasts of improved facilities including a dedicated breastfeeding area, a lounge for elderly and pregnant patients, a children’s play area, a pharmacy, a dental clinic, and a nurse’s station with 24-hour service. The center continues to provide essential services such as family planning, medical consultations, childcare and nutrition, mental health services, and dental care.
Reinstatement of exclusive regulatory powers over vape and tobacco products to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from the Department of trade and Industry (D t I). Public health concerns demand that a health-focused body like the FDA, rather than the D t I, regulate these products, ensuring that decisions are guided by health science and not economic incentives. Increase the minimum age for accessing vape and tobacco products to 21 years. e xtensive research indicates that raising the legal access age helps reduce early initiation, with studies showing that 90 percent of adult smokers began before the age of 21. Raising the minimum age to 21 will protect the most vulnerable age group, the youth, from exposure and addiction, mitigating long-term health and social consequences. Restrict vape flavors to only tobacco and menthol. l imiting vape flavors to tobacco and menthol is essential, as research shows that flavored vapes are overwhelmingly attractive to young users, enticing them with over 15,000 options. Studies also reveal that the youth are more likely to initiate vape use with sweet or fruity flavors, which creates a pipeline to lifelong addiction.
Safer environment In light of the SC’s decision, PAV said that these steps are necessary to create a safer environment for the youth.
With the SC decision, PAV said that they stand committed to ensuring that the regulatory framework reflects the critical need to protect young Filipinos from the dangers of tobacco and vape products. t his is a decision that Parents Against Vape will support as we remain vigilant in our mission to protect our youth,” the group concluded.
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Three ways to make fitness fun for you and your children
TO today’s generation of kids, the word “play” has taken on a whole different meaning from their parents’ and grandparents’ definitions. Their version of “play” is usually done indoors in a dark room, and involves an electronic gadget like a cellphone, tablet, computer, or console. If there’s anyone getting any action in this kind of play, it’s the avatars or characters on the screen, as kids control their every move from the comforts of their seats or beds.
Parentlife
“It’s this type of ‘play’ that may lead youngsters to develop noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) years before they become adults,” says Bernadette C. Benitez, MD, Head of the Department of Pediatrics of top hospital in the Philippines, Makati Medical Center (MakatiMed, www.makatimed.net.ph). The World Health Organization (WHO) recognized that physical inactivity is a contributor to the rise in overweight and obesity and a leading risk factor for global mortality.
“Obesity, in turn, can lead to noncommunicable diseases [NCDs] like diabetes, hypertension, cancer and heart disease which are thought to be a middleaged person’s diseases, conditions that happen over time owing to poor lifestyle and eating habits. Children are likely to develop such diseases early if they live sedentarily and maintain a diet of processed food.”
The figures to back up this claim are certainly alarming. According to a 2021 report from the WHO, the incidence of overweight among Filipino adolescents has tripled in the last 15 years. Percentages of stroke and heart attack among the young are slowly creeping up too. Those in the 18 to 49 age bracket make up 10 percent of stroke victims in the country. Cardiologists are also seeing Filipinos in their 30s or younger suffering a heart attack.
Exercise, even at a moderate pace for 30 minutes 3 to 5 times a week, offers a slew of benefits. It keeps your weight down, boosts your energy, reduces elevated cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar, improves your mood and concentration, and makes you sleep better.
But how do you get your gadget-wielding kids to play the way you and other children used to—out of the house and participating in activities that make them run, sweat, jump and have a good time?
“By serving as a role model and being active yourself,” says Benitez. “There are enough studies to show that parents who are fit—meaning, they exercise or engage in physical activities regularly and eat a balanced diet—raise fit or physically active kids. No problem if you haven’t exercised in years or are off your ideal weight. Use this opportunity to get into shape and invite your children to join you in this journey. Make it a shared goal to reach a target weight, run a certain distance at a specific time, or swim as many laps. Above all, make it fun for everyone involved.”
Here are three ways to redefine your kids’ meaning of “play”:
n TEACH THEM HOw YOU PLAYED “Remember how you and your friends looked forward to agawan base, patintero, piko and other games back in the day? Introduce these street games from simpler times to your kids and organize ‘mini tournaments’ with other parents and kids,” Benitez advises. “End the sessions with servings of healthy snacks like nuts, fresh fruits, and fresh juices.”
n LEARN SOMETHING NEw TOGETHER Can’t swim to save your life? Never climbed a vertical wall? Now’s the time to do it! “If kids are scared or shy to begin a new activity with strangers, the comforting presence of Mom or Dad will put them at ease and likely make them want to stay, especially if a parent is participating in it,” Benitez points out.
n COMMIT TO A COMMON GOAL “An example for this is signing up for a manageable distance for you and your youngster to run—a 1K, 3K, or 5K is doable— then spend the next weeks or months training for it together,” says Benitez. “This makes you motivate each other to show up, stick to the program, and push yourselves to do better. Sharing a goal to get fit is a great way to solidify relationships, too. After the race, you’ll definitely have something to talk about for years to come.”
‘Screen-free’ holiday presents: Our power as gift-givers
ONE of the most common concerns in my interactions with parents is their fear of whether their child has ADHD. Based on the National Institute of Mental Health, “Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a developmental disorder marked by persistent symptoms of inattention and/or hyperactivity and impulsivity that interfere with functioning or development. Symptoms begin in childhood and can affect daily life, including social relationships and school or work performance.”
According to the National Library of Medicine’s article “Screen time and childhood attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a meta-analysis” published on May 11, 2023, their study found a positive correlation between screen time and the risk of ADHD. “Excessive screen exposure may significantly contribute to the development of ADHD in children.” (pubmed.ncbi.nlm. nih.gov/37163581/ )
As the holiday season approaches, I thought it would be great to spotlight the powerful role of family and friends as gift-givers and as positive influences to our children. As tempting as it is to reach for the latest gadgets and tech toys to give as gifts, there’s a growing movement to promote screen-free holidays, encouraging families to reconnect, spark creativity
and foster imagination. Here are some thoughtful gift ideas to inspire a tech-free, fun-filled holiday season:
n CLASSIC TOYS AND GAMES FOR FAMILY BONDING: Puzzles and pretend play toys are my top picks. I found The Learning Journey Glow-in-the-Dark puzzles are specially interesting because of the “wow” effect after the forming of the puzzle. Puzzles have so many benefits especially in teaching a child patience but in my experience, children find more fun if done together first with the family. For pretend play, I like the Melissa and Doug Salad Set, Sandwich Counter and the La Patisserie Bake Shop. It has recipe instructions that can be done together with our children. It is interesting to discover brain builder toys that combine pretend play like the Topbright Ice Cream Colorful Number Cognitive Learning Box.
n BUILDING AND SCIENCE TOYS: Lego sets and building blocks encourage creativity and problemsolving skills. Science kits help develop critical thinking. Consider sets themed around interests of both your child and yours, like space, dinosaurs, or flags of the world. I love this new PLUS PLUS building pieces and sets from Denmark. Imagine one type of puzzle block can form both flat and 3D structures. National Geographic kits are my annual gifts since it has many varieties and are gender-neutral.
n ARTS AND CRAFTS TOYS: Art supplies like paints, crayons, markers and sketchbooks can spark creativity and imagination. I prefer gifting durable Crayola on-the-go sets which I encourage my parentfriends to bring when eating out so children’s default is writing, instead of asking for your phone or tablet. DIY art tools are also lots of fun. I particularly like the Crayola Mini Marker Sprayer because I like the fun in creating free art together as a family. We can even encourage children to make homemade gifts like cards, artwork, or baked goods. These personalized gifts show thoughtfulness and effort. I remember a
time when my daughter did a coupon book, where there were redeemable offers like “Special Smoothies”.
n OUTDOOR ADVENTURES: Encourage outdoor activity with sports equipment like pools, balls or bikes. Camping gears are great for families who love the outdoors, like tents, sleeping bags and backpacks that can inspire family adventures. Tents with airbeds are fun to set up even in our own backyard or even indoors for pretend play and a nice space to chat with our kids. I saw Bestway tents and airbeds at Ace Hardware.
n EXPERIENCES OVER THINGS: Tickets to shows, museums, classes, workshops or events are great gifts to encourage learning new information and adventure. Consider tickets to a theater performance, concert, or sporting event. Local museums, zoos and aquariums often offer family-friendly exhibits and activities. Sign up children for classes in cooking, art, music, or sports. Plan family outings like picnics, hikes, or visits to historical sites.
It is also good to remind our family about the value of trying to “un-plug” a little this holiday.
Here are some tips for screen-free moments this holiday:
n Set limits: Establish clear guidelines for screen time during the holiday season. Consider a “screenfree zone” during mealtimes and family gatherings.
n Plan activities: Create a schedule of activities to keep everyone engaged and entertained. Incorporate a mix of indoor and outdoor activities to cater to different interests.
n Lead by example: As parents and caregivers, model screen-free behavior. Put away your own devices and participate in family activities. By choosing thoughtful, screen-free gifts and planning engaging activities, you can contribute to a holiday season filled with play, connection, and happy family learning memories. n
Coughs and Christmas? Here’s how to deal with this frustrating combo
THE “ber” months are here and soon enough we will be caught in a whirlwind of year-end work deadlines, company parties, and meet-ups with friends. The Philippines is known for having the longest Christmas holiday season. This means that preparations start as early as now: taking out the holiday decorations, shopping for presents, scheduling gatherings with family and friends, and planning the meals that will accompany all the celebrations.
Aside from the holiday hubbub, the last quarter of the year also pushes us to our goals. We rush in the morning for meetings, followed by deadlines, and end the day with evening commitments. Unfortunately, a sudden coughing fit during a party can interrupt conversations and diminish our enjoyment, affecting both our productivity and social interactions. It’s also frustrating when a cough disrupts an important pitch or a fun gathering with friends. With so much on our plates during the holidays, this is not the time to be bogged down by a cough with phlegm.
When our schedule is on overdrive, consumers need a dependable partner to prevent an irritating cough from slowing us down. For this, there is the new Solmux Advance. Available in tablet and liquid, Solmux Advance has the trusted efficacy of Carbocisteine
and Zinc that help thoroughly remove phlegm, bacteria, and viruses from the lungs, providing fast relief from cough. Curious readers can also check out the videos made by trustworthy content creators Nurse Dashbee, CK De Leon, Nathan Portez, Adrian Insigne, Chico
Cruz, and Denisse Sy as they got to learn and witness firsthand how the formulation is made during the brand’s factory tour. The Zinc in Solmux Advance is what helps boost the immune system, aiding in fast recovery and preventing coughs from worsening. This advanced formulation is perfect as the holiday season is filled with late-night activities and many festive indulgences that often lead to overloading our immune system. Indeed, to stay in sync with the holidays and maximize its cheer, it really is a must to support our immune system. Aside from having ready stocks of Solmux Advance at home and in your holiday purses, it is advised to eat healthy and remain mindful of one’s mental and physical well-being this Christmas time. A strong immune system is key to making the most out of every party while pushing ourselves to
Suzara named executive VP of v’ball body
RAMON “TATS” SUZARA was elected president of the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) only last September and just over the weekend was named executive vice president (EVP) of the of the sport’s world body International Volleyball Federation or FIVB.
“It’s a great distinction and honor to be named as executive vice president of the FIVB because it will give Philippine volleyball great opportunities ahead,” said Suzara, who will carry out the task under Brazil’s Fabio Azevedo, who was elected new president of the FIVB during its 39th General Assembly and Elections last week in Porto, Portugal.
“Not only will our national teams benefit, but the entire Philippine volleyball,” Suzara said. “We are very thankful to the FIVB, former president Dr. Ary Graça, and new president Fabio Azevedo for trusting me as new FIVB executive vice president.”
Suzara will serve as EVP for four years as he also carries out his responsibilities as AVC head and president of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF).
He was joined in the congress by PNVF vice president Ricky Palou, secretary-general Donaldo “Don” Caringal and director Tonyboy Liao in Porto.
Suzara presented to more than 200 members of the FIVB a comprehensive preview to the Philippines’ first-time and solo hosting of the FIVB Men’s World Championship from September 12 to 28 next year.
Great Rafa officially retires
MALAGA, Spain— Rafael Nadal bit his lower lip and his reddened eyes welled with tears as he stood alongside his Davis Cup teammates for Spain›s national anthem Tuesday before what he—and everyone—knew might be the last match of his career.
Hours after Nadal’s 6-4, 6-4 loss to Botic van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands was over, the evening did turn out to represent the 22-time Grand Slam champion’s farewell to professional tennis, because the Dutch eliminated the Spaniards in the quarterfinals just after midnight. And it was during an on-court, postmatch ceremony to honor Nadal that he cried and cried, at the singsong chorus of “Raaa-faaa” from the spectators, at the video showing highlights from his more than two decades on tour and the collection of recorded tributes from current or former players such as his Big Three rivals Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams, Conchita Martinez and Andy Murray, and stars from other sports such as golf›s Sergio Garcia or soccer’s David Beckham.
“The titles, the numbers, are there, so people probably know that, but the way I would like to be remembered is as a good person from a small village in Mallorca,” the 38-year-old Nadal told the flag-waving, sign-toting crowd at the sold-out Palacio de Deportes Jose Maria Martin Carpena. “Just a kid that followed their dreams, worked as hard as possible.... I have been very lucky.” He had said beforehand that his
trophy for his country, not about pondering his impending retirement, which he announced last month would come after this event.
But he acknowledged after playing that “the emotions were difficult to manage,” and that he felt nerves out there amid the roars of an adoring audience that mostly showed up for one player and one player only.
After Nadal, a 14-time French Open champion, was beaten on the indoor hard court in southern Spain, he became a cheerleader for his heir apparent, Carlos Alcaraz, who evened the matchup against the Netherlands at 1-all by getting past Tallon Griekspoor, 7-6 (0), 6-3, in the other singles match.
But then van de Zandschulp and Wesley Koolhof clinched the victory for the Dutch by defeating Alcaraz and Marcel Granollers, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (3), in the deciding doubles match.
Even if Spain had managed to get past the Netherlands, Nadal said that if he were his team’s captain, he wouldn’t pick himself to play again in the semifinals after that performance against the 80th-ranked van de Zandschulp.
At least he was in a joking mood after the result put a stop to his 29-match winning streak in Davis Cup singles. The only other blemish on his record, which stood at 29-1 entering Tuesday, came in his 2004 debut.
“I lost my first match in the Davis Cup, and I lost my last one,” Nadal said with a
Samahang Plaridel media golfest set Tuesday at Villamor Golf Club
THE Association of Philippine Journalists-Samahang Plaridel Foundation Inc.—chaired by veteran journalists Rolando Estabillo with Evelyn Quiroz as president—will hold a golf tournament for media personalities and friends in both the government and private sectors.
Dubbed as the “8th Samahang Plaridel Golf 2024,” the one-day fund-raising competition is scheduled at the Villamor Golf Club in Pasay City on Tuesday. More than 100 golfers are expected to join the fun and excitement of the tournament sponsored by House Speaker Martin Romualdez, Philippine Sports Commission headed by chairman Richard Bachmann, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Rizal Park Hotel, Construction Workers Solidarity Partylist and JD Legaspi Construction.
A Final Four primer
Also supporting the tournament are Senate President Chiz Escudero, Senator Win Gatchalian and Reps. Ace Barbers, Erwin Tulfo, Salvador Pleyto and Mike Defensor, as well as Mayor Isko Moreno, Governor Abdusakur Mahail Tan, Apat Dapat Partylist and the International Container Terminal Services Inc.
The other backers are Basic Environmental Systems and Technologies Inc., Starpay Corporation, Metro Pacific Investment, SOGO Hotel, Go For Gold, Actionlabs, Hatasu, SylPaulJoyce, Luxuriant Automotive Group, Suzuki, Isuzu, Grab, JBL, Blade, Autohub, BCDA, Clean Fuel, Gateway, Autobot, Subaru and Honda. A Jetour Ice Cream electric vehicle, a Segway e-scooter and P100,000 in cash from the Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines president Oliver Gan will be at stake for the hole-in-one winner.
IN the Miss Universe beauty pageant, it’s called the Top 12. In music talent competitions like American Idol, it’s “the semifinals.” In corporate circles, it’s called “shortlisting.” In sports tournaments, it’s the Final Four.
The Final Four is when the going gets tough and the tough get going. The last four teams come out swinging and hope that their best is good enough. This is what sports fans refer to as “the exciting part.” Marked by intense action where players of all four teams bring their A Game, the results of this elite competition is highly unpredictable. No matter if a team swept or dominated the elimination round, past glory is wiped clean off every team’s slate. In the same manner, the “weaker” teams that may have squeaked through to enter the Final Four get the chance to gain the upper hand if they can beat the two top-seeded teams twice. Anything goes in the Final Four.
Right now is Final Four season in the men’s basketball tournaments of the National Collegiate
wide grin. “So we close the circle.”
When a forehand found the net to close his last match, Nadal walked to the net for a quick hug with his opponent.
“That was a tough, tough match to play,” said van de Zandschulp, noting that he idolized Nadal while growing up.
In certain ways, this was, unmistakably, the Nadal that van de Zandschulp— and so many others—can remember.
The white headband, marked with the red bull logo Nadal made famous.
The white tape wrapped around all four of his left, racket-holding fingers. The water bottles by his sideline bench, placed just so. There was the occasional ace right on a line. The occasional serve-andvolley foray. The occasional over-the-shoulder putaway. And, yes, the occasional uppercut and scream of “Vamos!”
There also were—neither to Nadal’s or most of the 9,200 spectators’ liking—several points where he looked like a oncedominant figure diminished by age and injuries. AP
weekend, November 23, with Mapua University and De La SalleCollege of Saint Benilde as first and second seeds, respectively. San Beda University and host school Lyceum of the Philippines are third and fourth, respectively.
That means the Lyceum Pirates have to beat the Mapua Cardinals twice to get a coveted finals appearance. The Red Lions have to do the same to the Blazers if they want to repeat their magical championship run last year.
The UAAP is yet to begin its Final Four tussles in the first week of December, right after the Cheerdance Competition that happens on December 1. As of the moment, only three teams— the De La Salle University Green Archers, University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons and University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers—are already in the Final Four.
The identity of the fourth seed is still a mystery, depending on the performance of the University of the East Red Warriors at the time of writing against the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons.
If the Red Warriors win, they automatically take fourth seed. If they lose, they’ll have to slug it out with the Adamson Soaring Falcons in a playoff game, and whoever wins that becomes No. 4.
In terms of Final Four appearances, some teams are more prone to make it than others. In the NCAA, the San Beda Red Lions have been there most often with 20 Final Four appearances followed by Colegio de San Juan De Letran with 18.
By Josef Ramos
THE game will definitely start with a haka as New Zealand always does but regardless of how fearsome the Kiwis would appear in their traditional Māori dance, Chris Newsome and his Gilas Pilipinas teammates will be ready.
“It’s a battle of two undefeated teams and New Zealand is going to be a tough adversary because they play very physical,” Newsome told BusinessMirror on the eve of Gilas’s match in the second window of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Asia Cup 2025 qualifiers.
“They’re a physical team, and everyone knows that,” Newsome added.
The Philippines-New Zealand game is set at 7:30 p.m. at the SM Mall of Asia Arena and on Sunday, Gilas takes on Hong Kong also at 7:30 p.m. in the same venue.
The last time Filipino basketball fans got a glimpse of the Tall Blacks doing the
THE country’s top professionals and rising stars battle it out in a high-stakes knockout format at the International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) The Country Club (TCC) Match Play Invitational starting Tuesday at the challenging TCC layout in Laguna.
The four-day event ending November 29 will showcase the finest players from the recently concluded 10-leg Philippine Golf Tour (PGT) and Ladies PGT headlined by Tony Lascuña and Harmie Constantino.
haka was during the Olympic Qualifying Tournament for the Rio de Janeiro Games on July 5, 2016, also at the MOA Arena with what’s now called Gilas 1.0 absorbing an 89-80 loss after a highly physical game witnessed by 13,000 fans.
On Thursday in an all seats taken MOA Arena, Newsome and co. are up for a tough grind against a team that’s ranked No. 22 in the world, 12 rungs above the Philippines.
“It’s very important for us to dictate how the game is going to be played and not let them dictate in our home court,” said the Meralco Bolts standout. “Defense will be our priority, that’s what we’ve been polishing for the last two weeks.”
Head coach Tim Cone and Gilas have been training at the Inspire Academy of Sports in Calamba since November 15.
Cone is again expected to rely heavily on naturalized player Justin Brownlee, his resident import at Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, andtwo-way players Scottie Thompson, Dwight Ramos and CJ Perez, as well as big men Kai Sotto, June Mar Fajardo, Japeth Aguilar, Mason Amos,
Both players emerged as the Order of Merit (OOM) champions and are the players to watch in the head-tohead competition.
The switch to match play introduces a fresh dynamics where head-to-head clashes demand strategic brilliance, mental resilience and the ability to perform under pressure.
Lascuña leads the charge as the No. 1 seed in the men’s tournament that stakes a total prize fund of P2 million.
At 54, the Davaoeño remains a force to be reckoned with, but he’ll
The San Sebastian Stags are next with 15, followed by Jose Rizal University with 13, Mapua, 12; University of Perpetual Help System Dalta, 10; College of Saint Benilde, 5; Lyceum University, 5; Philippine Christian University, 4; and Arellano University, 2. Of these NCAA teams the most successful team to go beyond the Final Four is San Beda, with 23 seniors’ championships (and another 23 for its juniors team). The Letran Knights come next with 20 titles. No wonder the battles between Knights and Lions are so intense.
In the UAAP, Ateneo de Manila has the most Final Four appearances at 23, followed by De
and Jamie
Cone hinted he has aces up his sleeves.
“I don’t think they have seen a team like the team we have assembled so I think we got a shot at beating them,” said Cone adding that their opponents “look a lot younger but athletic with a brand new coach.”
“But we want to certainly protect our home court,” he said.
The Philippines and New Zealand enter the second window with a 2-0 wonlost card from the fist window earlier this year with Gilas beating Hong Kong, 94-64, and Chinese-Taipei, 106-93, and the Tall Blacks conquering Chinese-Taipei, 89-69, and Hong Kong, 88-49. Gilas has yet to beat the Tall Blacks after absorbing 88-63 and 106-60 setbacks in last year’s FIBA World Cup qualifiers and a 92-75 loss in the Asia Cup in 2022,. Judd Flavell is coaching New Zealand which will parace veteran Corey Webster and Tom Vodanovich.
need to draw on every ounce of experience to fend off challenges from younger and equally determined competitors. His first-round opponent, No. 32 Rico Depilo, might seem an underdog on paper, but rankings often mean little in the unpredictable landscape of match play. No. 2 Angelo Que and No. 3 Reymon Jaraula also face their own challenges with Que taking on No. 31 Elee Bisera, and Jaraula clashing with No. 30 Jerson Balasabas.
Newsome, Gilas brace
Carl Tamayo, Kevin Quiambao
Malonzo.
MORE responsibilities are now in the hands of Ramon “Tats” Suzara.
CHRIS NEWSOME knows the Tall Blacks will be tough nuts to crack. FIBA Photo
