BusinessMirror October 07, 2024

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

ILIPINOS may have heaved a sigh of relief as inflation cooled in September but one of the causes, lower rice prices, may be temporary and lead to greater volatility in domestic prices of the staple, according to an economist.

A teneo de Manila University economist Leonardo Lanzona Jr. told BusinessMirror that a decrease in international rice prices could also make the country more dependent on imported rice.

Th is dependence may lead to the country’s increased vulnerability brought by global market prices. This could translate to higher inflation each time rice or oil prices would spike.

“ The decline in inflation is fundamentally short-term in nature as this is driven by external factors. While these policies offer temporary relief, they expose the Philippines to risks associated with global market volatility,” Lanzona said. The country’s tariff and monetary policies, in general, have allowed the economy to be immediately affected by international developments such as rising interest rates and prices, Lanzona added.

I bon Foundation Inc., meanwhile, said despite the slowdown in rice inflation to 5.7 percent, the price of regular-milled rice in the National Capital Region (NCR), for instance, still increased by P3 or about 7 percent to P46 in September 2024 from P43 in September 2023 while

well-milled rice rose by P4 or 7 percent to P53 from P49. But rice varieties priced over P50 per kilo tend to be more common at the market. Some one-third of domestic palay costs are from imported inputs, not yet counting further oil-dependent transportation costs to bring rice to retailers and consumers,” Ibon said.

Worth noting, Ibon also said, is the inflation experienced by the poorest Filipinos at 2.5 percent in September.

This is slower than the 4.8 percent in August 2024 but was faster than the 1.9 percent average inflation rate experienced by all income households.

I bon noted that expensive rice impacts the poor more heavily because around 54.93 percent of their budget goes to food. Based on the data from the Philippine Statistics Authority

(PSA), rice has a weight of 17.87 percent in the Consumer Price Index of the poorest Filipinos.

T he group also stressed that wages are not keeping up with high prices. Ibon estimated that across all regions, the average nominal wage of P448 is 63.1 percent short of the average family living wage (FLW) of P1,213 for a family of five, as of September 2024. In the NCR, even with the July 2024 wage hike, the P645 nominal wage is P561 or 46.5 percent short of the P1,206 NCR FLW. T he disparity between the nominal wage and the FLW is most glaring in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim See “Rice,” A2

NG SUBSIDIES DECLINE

SBy Reine Juvierre S. Alberto

UBSIDIES provided by the national government to state-run corporations went down by almost a quarter to P87.025 billion as of the end of August 2024, according to the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr).

Data from the Treasury showed subsidies declined by 24.89 percent, or P28.838 billion, to P87.025 billion from January to August 2024 from the P115.863 billion recorded in the same period in 2023.

T he bulk, or a total of P59.434 billion, of the government subsidies were allotted to major non-financial government corporations. This represents a 42.39-percent increase compared to the P41.740 billion extended to these entities last year.

The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) is the largest recipient, obtaining half or 56 percent of the total subsidies to government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs), amounting to P48.885 billion as of end-August 2024.

A mong the major non-financial government corporations, the National Housing Authority (NHA) followed NIA with P3.799 billion in subsidies. The National Food Authority (NFA) and National Electrification Administration (NEA) also received P2.250 billion and P2.088 billion, respectively.

Budgetary support to other government corporations significantly declined by 222.90 percent year-on-year to P22.805 billion as of end-August 2024 from P73.637 billion. The Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management (PSALM) Corp. was allocated P8 billion; followed by the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) with P2.228 billion; and the Philippine Rubber Research Institute (PRRI), P1.546 billion.

By Lenie Lectura

KBy Andrea E. San Juan @andreasanjuan

EY provisions expected in Create More, which could be signed into law in a week or two, will ease investors’ headache as this will level the interpretation of local government units (LGUs) and implementation of taxes, among others, according to the IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (Ibpap).

or

What I like to say is that Create More eliminates a lot of uncertainty and confusion in the different interpretations of specific laws and tax effect of laws because a lot of LGUs in this country...occasionally have different interpretation and

implementation of taxes including the issuance of business permits,” Ibpap President Jack Madrid told reporters on the sidelines of the recent IT-BPM Summit.

So I think that is one major headache that investors will now not have to have because of this clarification,” added Madrid.

The Ibpap chief said this after Frederick Go, Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs, laid out the key provisions in Create More that will be beneficial for the IT-BPM industry. M adrid, however, pointed out that the improved clarity on work

‘LAB FOR ALL’ President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. engages a person with disability during the rollout of the government’s “LAB for ALL” project in Pasig City recently. The LAB for All, a priority project of First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos, provided free medical and other state services to 1,500 beneficiaries. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

FILING FRENZY (Clockwise from top left) Candidates filed their certificates of candidacy over the weekend for next year’s midterm elections: Sen. Pia Cayetano seeks reelection; Erwin Tulfo, congressman and former DSWD secretary, is running for senator; former Comelec commissioner Rowena Guanzon and singer and government executive Jimmy Bondoc are also vying for a Senate seat. Leila de Lima, recently acquitted after years of detention, is running under the Mamamayang Liberal Party-list, alongside former congressmen Teddy Baguilat and Erin Tañada. Meanwhile, former Vice President Leni Robredo, pictured with election lawyer Romulo Macalintal, filed her COC for Naga City mayor, marking her return to politics in her hometown. ROY DOMINGO, JUSTINE GARCIA, BLESS OGERIO/ROBREDO PHOTO COURTESY OF ROMY MACALINTAL

Meanwhile, subsidies extended to government financial corporations soared by 660.89 percent to P4.786 billion as of the end of August 2024, compared to the P629 million in the same period a year ago.

T he Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) acquired the largest share at P2.797 billion, followed by the Small Business Corporation (SBC) with P1 billion and Social Housing Financing Corporation (SHFC) with P749 million.

Subsidies in August also down FOR the month of August, subsidies also fell by half or 51.92 percent to P9.100 billion, compared to P18.929 billion in the same month a year ago.

Month-on-month, subsidies declined by 15.10 percent from P10.719 billion in July 2024.

Major non-financial government corporations received a total of P6.034 billion while government financial institutions and other government corporations obtained P1.984 billion and P1.082 billion, respectively.

A mong all the GOCCs, NIA again led the recipients, receiving the highest amount with P5.600 billion, followed by PCIC with P1.897 billion and Local Water Utilities Administration with P287 million.

Th is year, the government is set to provide P188.230 billion in subsidies to state-run corporations. In 2025, this will substantially decrease by 11.9 percent to P165.898 billion due to losing corporations, according to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

PHL chicken imports seen growing slightly in 2025

By Ada Pelonia

THE country’s chicken meat imports will “grow slightly” to 480,000 metric tons (MT) in 2025 from the projected 470,000 MT for this year, as demand outpaces production growth, the US Department of Agriculture-Foreign Agricultural Service in Manila (USDAFAS Manila) said.

“ The price competitiveness of imported chicken products vis-àvis domestically produced remains very attractive, especially for food service and institutional buyers seeking to maintain specific price points,” the USDA-FAS Manila said in its latest report.

It also noted that chicken meat production is forecast to expand by nearly 4 percent to 1.63 million metric tons (MMT) ready-to-cook (RTC) in 2025 buoyed by declining feed costs, fewer areas affected by bird flu, and adverse impacts of African swine fever (ASF) on pork production.

Despite high operating costs, primarily due to high domestic corn prices, the chicken meat sector rapidly expanded in the first and second quarters of 2024. FAS Manila anticipates that this growth will generate positive momentum for 2025,” the report read.

“ The recent decline in imported soybean meal prices, another major component of the broiler feed ration, will carry into 2025 and help offset some

Continued from A1

flexibility was not among the enhanced provisions mentioned.

“ What he did not talk about... maybe I shouldn’t comment on it... was also improved clarity on work flexibility. But he did not mention this specifically for [Philippine Economic Zone Authority] Peza

locators,” said the Ibpap chief.

“ So I’ll just leave it there. Let’s wait for the [Implementing Rules and Regulations] IRR of Create More but the good news is that the Create more was approved in the bicameral level,” he added.

In his remarks, Go revealed the

of the corn cost in the ration overall.”

T he USDA-FAS Manila revised upward the 2024 production estimate to 1.57 MMT RTC following the decrease in areas with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and improvements in biosecurity practices among some broiler operators.

However, the report said that challenges such as the tight supply of day-old chicks (DOC) would temper the growth of chicken meat production.

A ccording to the report, DOC imports in 2024 were lower than the same period in 2023, translating to a surge in DOC prices.

It added that the limited supply of breeding stock was further applying pressure on the growth potential of

amendments in the Create More, majority of which were included in Ibpap’s wish list when hearings were still ongoing, would be improved.

One of these provisions, Go said, is “It authorizes Investment Promotion Agencies [IPAs] so that’s PEZA, BOI, CDC, SBMA, etc. to approve projects within a P15-billion threshold without need of going up to [Fiscal Incentives Review Board] FIRB for approval. So this should speed up the process.”

P rior to Create More, IPAs could only approve up to P1 billion of investments, which means that over P1 billion has to go to FIRB for approval. Now, with the expected signing of Create More, the investment threshold has been increased to P15 billion.

W hile the Create More law was still being discussed, this particular provision was already enshrined in FIRB Resolution No. 003-24.

“FIRB already adjusted it but that’s temporary. FIRB can always take it back. Now it’s a law,” Go explained to reporters on the sidelines of the International IT-BPM Summit on Thursday.

A nother provision that Create More will introduce is the registered business enterprise (RBE) local tax of not more than 2 percent gross income, which he noted is “in lieu of all local taxes, fees and charges.” He expressed the belief that such “will address a lot of your concerns.”

M adrid earlier proposed at a Senate hearing that the 2 percent be reconsidered and lowered. He added that there is a need to insert the word “fees” after taxes so that the LGUs can no longer impose any charges on top of the 2 percent, as other LGUs used to still impose other fees on RBEs.

A nother key provision that Go divulged is on exempting donations of capital equipment, raw materials,

Manila…

This reporter reached out to Rosenthal and Zero Point Zero Production Inc., which produces Somebody Feed Phil, but they have yet to respond as of press time. Known as the creator of the long-running Emmy award-winning sitcom “Everybody Loves Raymond,” Rosenthal now travels the world savoring the cuisines of different countries and engaging with various cultures across the globe in his positive entertaining style. Now shooting its eighth season, Somebody Feed Phil is described as “amusing, feel good, and spirited” by Netflix.

The renewed focus on the Philippines in the gastronomy arena comes on the heels of its strong showing at the recent global slow food event, Terra Madre Salone del Gusto in Turin, Italy. Before the end of the five-day event, its organizer, SlowFoodInternational,announcedthatBacolod City, Negros Occidental, will be the host of Terra Madre Asia Pacific next year, edging out Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, which also wanted to host the regional event. (See, “PHL wins bid to host Terra Madre Asia Pacific in 2025,” in the BusinessMirror, October 4, 2024.)

I n June, the Philippines also hosted the First UN Tourism Regional Forum on Gastronomy Tourism in Asia and the Pacific,

the chicken meat sector.

Higher prices mean more commercial raisers are willing to load DOCs and turn them into broilers 2835 days later. The elevated DOC prices will temper production growth in the rest of 2024 and 2025,” the report read.

Meanwhile, the report noted that 2025 consumption of chicken meat would increase to 2.11 MMT RTC driven by economic and population growth, slower inflation, and the prevalence of ASF.

“Chicken meat consumption is estimated to grow faster than the other main animal proteins produced in the Philippines, buoyed by a robust economic growth, a sustained increase in population, and the continued impact of ASF on the swine sector.”

spare parts or accessories from taxes and duties, “if donated to government or any agencies or political subdivisions, including GOCCs in addition to those donated to Tesda, state-owned colleges, DepEd, and Ched.”

G o said the IT-BPM industry earlier prodded the government to revisit the problem of donating old computers to the government, saying the IT-BPM firms were being taxed for doing so.

Go also noted that Create More “liberalizes” the qualifications of goods and services for VAT and duty incentives “by shifting the term directly and exclusively used to directly attributable to…and explicitly includes the negative list in the revenue regulation memorandum, which now includes for bank exemption janitorial security, financial consultancy, marketing, promotion, services and services rendered from administrative operations.”

He added, “I hope you’re happy.”

The President’s economic czar also divulged that Create More “explicitly exempts” RBEs under a 5-percent Special Corporate Income Tax (SCIT) rate from all national and local taxes, local fees and charges.

M oreover, to give RBEs more time to adjust to these changes in regulations, Go said the measure “extends the sunset period for incentives by more than three years, in short, from April 2031 to December 2034.”

A fter laying out these changes, the Ibpap chief said, “Let’s wait for Create More to be passed into law. But it’s the step in the right direction.”

Go, for his part, said “I think this will be signed into law in a week or two. I hope. Because it still has to be transmitted from Congress to Palace. It hasn’t been transmitted yet.

Continued from A12

where Frasco announced the creation of a Gastronomy Action Plan for the country. The UN World Tourism Organization also proposed the establishment of a gastronomy center for Asia Pacific in the Philippines. Several celebrity chefs such as the late Anthony Bourdain (No Reservations/Parts Unknown), Andrew Zimmern (Bizarre Foods), and the like, have visited the Philippines, with Bourdain even once declaring Cebu lechon as “the best pig in the world” in 2008. Long declared as the “next big thing,” or the “next big American trend” as far as 10 years ago, Filipino cuisine has only become mainstream in the last two years with the increasing popularity of ube (purple yam) as an ingredient in frozen dairy products and pastries, the further international expansion of Jollibee, and the award of a Michelin star to Chicago-based restaurant Kasama in 2022. The restaurant was also featured on the popular chef-based series, “The Bear.” (https://tinyurl.com/4959sm6p)

Ju st recently, Chef David Chang (Momofuku) cooked Filipino dishes on his Netflix show, “Dinner Time Live” with FilipinoAmerican stand-up comedian Jo Koy as one of the guests.

Continued from A1

“It is under evaluation and that’s a possibility,” said Tamayo. O nce privatized, Tamayo said the CAAP will “ideally…be regulators.” What is heavy for us are the airports. We’re not supposed to be operators of the airport,” the CAAP chief added.

L ast week, the CAAP upgraded its Communications, Navigation, Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) system “without any operational disruptions or flight diversions.”

T his was meant to enhance the efficiency, safety, and reliability of air traffic management across Philippine airspace.

Continued from A1

Mindanao (BARMM), with a nominal wage of P361 which is 82.4 percent short of the region’s P2,047 FLW. Government should also take steps to ensure cheaper and more efficient domestic production of Filipino goods and services instead of increasingly relying on the global market,” Ibon said. “ Improved local production to meet the nation’s needs is the only long-term solution to job creation as well as making basic goods and services accessible and affordable for Filipinos,” it added.

Inflation battle over HSBC Asean economist Aris Dacanay said the latest inflation print may signal the end of the country’s battle with inflation. This is no small feat, as he said this is “because of a mix of both hard work and luck.” Dacanay noted that the last time inflation was at this level was when the Philippines was in lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic. “ It almost feels too good to be true as the Philippine economy went through an inflation surge that lasted for almost two years. But we think the September CPI marks the day that the BSP’s inflation battle is finally over,” Dacanay said. He said hard work came from monetary and non-monetary authorities. The BSP’s decision to keep policy rates high, which peaked at 6.5 percent representing a 450 basis point increase, kept inflation expectations anchored.

N on-monetary measures, he said, helped reduce trade barriers for commodities such as rice, coal, and pork. This moved to ensure Filipino consumers have access to more affordable imported alternatives.

P art of the country’s good luck is lower fuel prices and the appreciation of the peso against the US dollar in September. Ample supply of rice also helped keep prices low.

Luck is also a big factor moving forward. India, the world’s largest exporter of rice, just lifted its trade restrictions on the grain. This comes at an opportune time for the Philippines since retail rice prices haven’t decreased yet, even with the 20 percentage point tariff rate cut in July,” Dacanay said.

O n Friday, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) disclosed that the country’s inflation rate averaged 1.9 percent in September, the lowest in four years or since the 1.6 percent posted in May 2020.

T he inflation recorded by food and non-alcoholic beverages slowed to 1.4 percent in September 2024. This commodity group posted an inflation rate of 3.9 percent in August 2024.

N ational Statistician Claire Dennis S. Mapa said the slowdown in inflation was driven by cheaper food and non-alcoholic beverages, which accounted for 69.1 percent of the downtrend.

R ice prices alone only posted an inflation rate of 5.7 percent, the slowest since the 4.2 percent posted in July 2023.

(See: https://businessmirror.com.

More Congress members seek Senate seat

By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie

MORE members of the House of Representatives have filed their certificates of candidacy for the Senate, while others aim to retain their positions in the lower chamber.

Deputy Majority Leader for Communications Erwin Tulfo, who officially joined the ruling Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD), filed his COC on Sunday.

Tulfo, who is leading in the surveys among the senatorial candidates of President Marcos’s Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas, which is composed of major political parties, including Lakas-CMD.

Tulfo, meanwhile, weighed in on the possibility of a “Tulfo dynasty” emerging in the Senate following the decision of his brother Ben to run as an independent candidate. Erwin emphasized that the decision lies in the hands of the voters, who will ultimately choose who they want to represent them in the upper chamber.

When asked about their political performance, Erwin pointed out that voters should evaluate the ac -

complishments of his older brother Raffy in the Senate and his own contributions in the House of Representatives. He acknowledged that the family shares a common advocacy focused on helping the underprivileged.

“All of us [Tulfos] are pro-poor. Our platform this time is aligned with the administration’s marching orders to continue the government’s poverty alleviation programs,” Erwin said.

However, he stressed that while the government often focuses on the marginalized, the middle class— such as professionals, sales clerks, and security guards—tends to be overlooked.

“People always focus on the marginalized, but what about the middle class? It’s time to pay attention to their needs, especially when it comes to their calls for higher wages and better benefits,” Erwin said.

He noted that the government must ensure that the working class, particularly those in the middle-income bracket, also receive adequate support.

Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez administered, meanwhile, Tulfo’s oath as the Lakas-CMD’s 112th member in the House of Representatives.

“Rep. Erwin Tulfo is a tremendous asset to both our party and the nation, embodying not only seasoned public service but also courage and integrity,” Romualdez said.

“Congressman Erwin’s track record speaks for itself, and we are honored to welcome him into Lakas-CMD. His fearless advocacy for the underprivileged and commitment to improving the lives of ordinary Filipinos make him a perfect fit for our mission of nation-building,” Romualdez said.

Also, Deputy Speaker Camille Villar officially filed her certificate of candidacy for Senator, positioning herself as a fresh, millennial voice for the Filipino people.

Villar emphasized her deep connection to the Filipino values of Sipag (hard work) and Tiyaga (perseverance), principles instilled in her by her parents, Sen. Cynthia Villar and businessman Manny Villar.

Villar aims to uplift the economy by creating not just jobs, but progressive employment opportunities that can elevate the standard of living for Filipinos.

Also, Rep. Bonifacio Bosita of the

1-Rider party-list group surprised many by filing his COC for senator, running as an independent.

Reelection

ILOILO Rep. Janette Garin is seeking reelection and filed her COC on Saturday.

As she filed her COC, the House Deputy Majority Leader vowed to continue to push for legislation to uplift the lives of the Filipinos.

Garin has authored and co-authored a number of bills since she took office, including the creation of the Department of Health Specialty Centers Act, the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, and the E-Governance Act.

She was also one of the authors of the newly passed law—Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers.

Moreover, as the vice chairperson of the Committee on Appropriations, the lawmaker vowed to ensure that the national budget is properly spent.

“We will guarantee that public funds are being allocated efficiently and in alignment with their intended purposes,” Garin said.

Zambales Rep. Jay Khonghun also formally announced his bid for reelection as the First District representative of the province in the House, hoping to continue championing various causes aimed at improving the lives of his constituents and safeguarding the integrity of government services.

After habagat, typhoons, ITCZ brings more rains

AFTER weeks of rains induced by tropical cyclones and the southwest monsoon or habagat, the weather bureau reported that an Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) is now affecting Southern Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said that light to moderate rains and thunderstorms are expected in those areas and advised people living near or within flood-prone and landslide-prone areas to take precautions.

“People living near the mountains slopes and in the low-lying areas of the above-mentioned river systems and the local disaster risk reduction and management councils concerned are advised to take necessary precautionary measures,” Pagasa said.

In its General Flood Advisory 1 for Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) issued at 6:00 a.m. on October 6, Pagasa said watercourses likely to be affected include rivers and

tributaries in Laguna, particularly Pagsanjan, Pila-Sta Cruz, San Juan, and Cristobal. Also affected are the Laboc, Canas, Ylang-ylang, Imus, and Maragondon rivers and their tributaries in Cavite. Rivers and their tributaries in Quezon, Rizal, and Batangas are also to be affected. In Quezon: Upper Umniray, Lower Bokbok, Malaking-Ilog, Iyam, Macalelon, Catanauan, Silongin, Lagda, Pagsanjan, Malaybalay, Maapon, Bucal, Lakayat, Tignoan, Agos, Anibawan and Upper Kilbay- Catabangan in Quezpn; Upper Marikina and Kaliwa, in Rizal; and Lian, Banabang, Molino, Pansipit, Kap[umpong, Rosario-Lobo and Upper Bolbok (Lawaya) in Batangas.

Pagasa also said ITCZ is expected to bring moderate rains and thunderstorms that will affect rivers and tributaries in Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Romblon, Palawan, and Marinduque.

DOE, DENR simplify process for OSW permits

TBy Lenie Lectura @llectura

HE Department of Energy

(DOE) has simplified the process in the issuance of permits for offshore wind (OSW) projects with the assistance of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Under the current system, developers of renewable energy projects, including OSW, are required to secure various compliance with the DENR, such as foreshore lease agreements, forest land use agreements, and miscellaneous lease agreements, before they can proceed with exploration and development.

To streamline the process, the agencies signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on Friday.

Within 30 days of the execution of the MOA, the DOE will provide

After habagat, typhoons, ITCZ brings more rains

These include the MalaylayBaco, Pulang Tubig, Mag-asawang Tubig, Butas, Pula-AgsalinBansud, Sumagui, Bongabong, Baroc, Bulalacao, and Balete in Oriwental Mindoro; Abra de Ilog, Caguray, Labangan, Lumintao, Anahawan, Monpong, Amnay, Pola, Pagbahan, Mamburao, Ibod, and Bugsanga-Magbando in Occidental Mindoro; all rivers in Romblon; Tawairan-Tagum and Boac in Marinduque.

In Palawan, rivers and tributaries to be affected area Lian, Barbakan, Rizal, Caramay, Langogan, Babuyan, Bacungan, Iwahig Penal, Inagauan, Aborlan, Malatgao, Apurauan, Baton-Baton, Armaywan, Iwahig, Panitian, Pulot, Lamakan, Kinlugan, Eraan, Tiga Plan, Malabangan, Ilog, Bansang, Conduaga, Culasian, Iwahig, Oakayan, Canipaan and Busuanga, and Coron.

Affected in the Bicol Region are rivers and their tributaries in Camarines, Norte, Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Albay, Masbate, and Camarines Sur.

In the Visayas, to be affected are the Leyte, Northern Samar, Southern Leyte, Samar, Eastern Samar, and Biliran rivers.

In Mindanao, some rivers in Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, and Zamboanga Sibugay are also likely to be affected. Jonathan L. Mayuga

the DENR with a list of identified OSW service contracts. If and when the OSW developer is ready to start with the pre-development phase, the DENR will validate this through the list submitted by the DOE. Once validated, the next step for the OSW developer is to comply with certain requirements from the DENR. Thereafter, the OSW developer can proceed with the construction.

However, if an area falls within an environmentally critical zone or is subject to prior vested rights, the DENR may impose additional conditions or deny access altogether. The list will be regularly updated, in collaboration with the DENR, to reflect new offshore wind energy service contracts and development activities. Officials said during the signing that this landmark agreement streamlines the process of explor -

ing, utilizing, and developing OSW projects, while ensuring that environmental safeguards are in place at every stage.

With this MOA, the DOE stressed that OSW energy service contracts now provide sufficient authority to advance these projects without needing separate agreements.

“This MOA is a crucial step in realizing the goal of the administration of President Marcos to deliver the first kilowatt-hours from offshore wind projects by 2028. By streamlining the process for accessing critical areas, we are paving the way for a rapid and responsible rollout of offshore wind projects, which will contribute significantly to our clean energy transition,” said Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla.

Also, with this agreement in place, the government is now in a

ENERGY ON THEIR MIND The Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines (Ejap) in partnership with Aboitiz Power Corp., held its first Renewable Energy Forum at the Securities and Exchange Commission’s SecECenter in Makati City. The forum discussed government and private sector initiatives toward achieving the Philippines’s 35 percent renewable energy target by 2030 and 50 percent by 2050. From left, Ejap Board Member Alena Mae Flores, AboitizPower Chief Engineering and Project Officer Don Paulino, Philippine Daily Inquirer Business Editor Tina Arceo-Dumlao, Energy Secretary Raphael Perpetuo Lotilla, Ejap President Jerome Morales, Board of Investments Director Ernesto delos Reyes Jr., Energy Regulatory Commission Director Sharon Ocampo-Montaner, SEC Commissioner Javey Paul Francisco, and Ejap Secretary Maria Bernadette Romero pose for a photo during the event.

Cement makers vow to promote safety in logistics operations

CEMENT manufacturers sealed their commitment to promoting safety in their logistics operations through the signing of a Transport Safety Pledge. Members of the Cement Manufacturers Association of the Philippines (CeMAP) signed tge Transport Safety Pledge as a symbol of ongoing commitment to logistics safety.

In a statement, the members said they recognize the importance of keeping roads safe alongside the inherent risks associated with trucking and delivery logistics. As such, CeMAP has undertaken proactive measures to mitigate and minimize these risks by fostering a strong safety culture among its members.

“We believe that safety is of greatest importance in everything we do. Our commitment to safety extends beyond the confines of our own manufacturing opera -

Solo parents now entitled to free PhilHealth coverage

ASENIOR lawmaker on Sunday said solo parents are now entitled to free Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) coverage as part of the expanded economic benefits granted to single parents.

Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte issued the statement in the wake of the recent release of guidelines by PhilHealth for the implementation of the law, which extends more comprehensive support to solo parents.

Villafuerte emphasized that the staterun issued guidelines last month regarding the free healthcare services now available for solo parents and their registered dependents. These services can be accessed through the Solo Parents Offices (SPOs) or Solo Parent Divisions (SPDs) in their cities or towns.

“Alongside a monthly

single parents are now entitled to free PhilHealth coverage,” Villafuerte said. Under PhilHealth Circular 2024-0020, which was published on September 28, both working and non-working solo parents are automatically covered by PhilHealth. Solo parents are eligible to avail of the KonSulTa Package, allowing them and their dependents to register with a PhilHealth-accredited healthcare provider of their choice.

The new law under RA 11861 significantly increases the benefits for solo parents. Among the expanded provisions, it raises the age threshold for dependents from 18 to 22 and broadens the definition of a spouse to include partners in common-law relationships, as defined by the Family Code. PhilHealth’s automatic coverage aligns with Section 2(a) of RA 11861, which mandates the State to “provide adequate social services, promote full employment, and improve the quality of life.” The law aims to support solo parents by assisting in the provision of basic needs and extending

better position to attract investments and fast-track the development of OSW projects.

Energy Undersecretary Sharon Garin said after the MOA signing that the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) may shoulder the cost needed to modernize three priority ports that will be utilized by OSW projects.

“The DOE does not have a… PPA is willing if it’s within… if they can, all three ports, yes. But if not, then maybe we have to cut it down to two or maybe find funding from other sources. Let’s wait first for the asset evaluation so that they can quantify how much is needed. But it won’t be a one-year project, probably a twoyear project or multi-year.

So, it’s just necessary to know how much construction costs. So, to also know how much the charge is. So, that will take time. Maybe by next year, maybe we’ll know

exactly,” said Garin.

Last month, the DOE and PPA announced their partnership to support OSW development. The PPA will undertake the detailed engineering designs to upgrade the facilities to ensure that they could handle the installation, commissioning and operational requirements of OSW projects.

PPA General Manager Jay Santiago assured the DOE that they would be responsible for the feasibility study and infrastructure development for the three ports—the Currimao port in Ilocos Norte, the Port of Batangas and the Jose Panganiban port in Camarines Norte.

The Currimao port is located near 13 OSW service contracts with a total potential capacity of 9,489 megawatts (MW), with three projects already in advanced predevelopment stages.

The Port of Batangas, meanwhile, is strategically positioned to support 29 OSW service contracts with a combined potential capacity of 24,300 MW. The DOE said six projects are in advanced pre-development stages, including permitting, licensing and data gathering.

Lastly, the Jose Panganiban port is located near 14 OSW service contracts that can potentially bring in 8,150 MW of capacity.

“We are working hard that we will have at least our first kilowatt hour by 2028. It is not an easy task because you have to have a port, have financial closure, you also have suppliers in your supply chain. The government and the developer still need to do a lot. But what is nice is everybody is working together so that we can get to that point. Everything needs to be ready so they can construct,” added Garin.

House leaders see inflation drop

LBy Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie

EADERS of the House of Representatives on Sunday expressed optimism that inflation will continue to decline or remain within the government’s 2024 target range of 2 percent to 4 percent as they reaffirmed commitment to the exercise of the chamber’s oversight function, particularly through the five-committee panel tasked with investigating smuggling, hoarding, price manipulation, and other trade-disrupting practices.

Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez said the QuintaCom would also check on the enforcement of the recently signed Republic Act 12022, or the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act.

tions and into our communities, especially during the transport of our products,” said CeMAP President Reinier Dizon. “By signing the safety pledge, we demonstrate our unwavering dedication to ensuring the safety and security of all individuals involved in our operations, at all levels.”

CeMAP Executive Director Renato Baja added that safety is a collective effort that requires collaboration and vigilance from all stakeholders. “By placing safety at the center of all our policies, CeMAP aims to create and sustain a culture among our members where every employee, partner, and community member feels safe and protected and return home to their families at the end of every workday,” Baja said.

Cement members include CEMEX Holdings Philippines, Inc., Holcim Philippines, Inc., Republic Cement, and Taiheiyo Cement Philippines, Inc. Lenie Lectura

social welfare benefits. For employed solo parents, premium contributions to PhilHealth will be shared equally between the employer and the national government. The Circular outlines that dependents of solo parents include children 22-years-old and below who are unmarried and unemployed, as well as those over 22 with physical or mental

He assured that the House will continue to support the national government in ensuring affordable and accessible food for the Filipino people.

Romualdez’s pledge came following the Philippine Statistics Authority’s report that inflation dropped to 1.9 percent in September, the lowest in four years, down from 3.3 percent in August and 4.4 percent in July.

“The intervention measures taken by the government under the leadership of President Marcos Jr. are now yielding positive results,” Romualdez said.

He specifically cited the President’s decision to drastically cut the rice import tariff from 35 percent to just 15 percent and the direct sale of rice to the public through Kadiwa stores.

“These twin steps have significantly reduced the retail price of rice, from above P50-P60 per kilo to P40-P42 per kilo, or by at least 20 percent,” Romualdez added.

disabilities that render them unable to support themselves.

Villafuerte also highlighted other significant benefits, including a seven-day parental leave with pay for solo parents, regardless of employment status, and priority access to telecommuting programs as part of RA 11165, or the Telecommuting Act of 2018.

Solo parents earning P250,000 or less

The Speaker also lauded the President’s flagship programs, such as the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair (BPSF) and Presidential Assistance to Farmers, Fisherfolk, and Families (PAFFF). These initiatives have provided more than P10 billion in government services and cash aid, benefiting over 2.5 million Filipino families in 24 locations nationwide.

“Aside from the cash aid distributed in BPSFs, which will definitely boost the spending power of the people and stimulate the local economy, the services offered here, like employment requirements, help citizens get jobs or seek livelihoods,” Romualdez said.

“This has a multiplier effect for our country. When people have jobs and livelihoods, it benefits not only the local economy but that of the whole country’s as well,” he added.

The House Committee on Appropriation chairman, Ako-Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co commended the Marcos administration for reducing inflation to 1.9 percent in September, the lowest rate in over four years.

Co highlighted the government’s success in stabilizing prices, notably through tariff cuts on imported rice, but stressed the importance of complementing short-term measures with long-term strategies, such as boosting local agricultural production.

“We must prioritize strengthening food security by supporting our farmers. Congress is prepared to pass necessary legislation and allocate needed funds to help our agricultural sector thrive,” Co said.

He also echoed Socio-economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan’s call for increased investment in agricultural infrastructure.

Co emphasized the importance of

annually are also entitled to a 10 percent discount and VAT exemption on essential items like infant formula, food supplements, and doctor-prescribed medicines for children aged six years and below. Villafuerte noted that the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) had issued guidelines for implementing these tax privileges last year. The Department of Health (DOH) and

improving irrigation systems, building post-harvest facilities, and providing farmers with access to high-quality seeds and modern technology.

Also, Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda welcomed the surprisingly low inflation in September, noting that it gives the Marcos administration room for more ambitious spending on economic and social services.

He acknowledged the positive impact of falling food prices but cautioned that rice inflation, at 5.7 percent, remains a concern.

Salceda also mentioned the formation of a five-committee panel focused on food security, which aims to achieve key goals, including lowering rice prices to P20 per kilo and reducing agricultural production losses. Salceda said one of the most significant and urgent objectives is to bring down the retail price of rice to P20 per kilogram.

Also, he said the QuintaCom aims to increase the annual gross value added (GVA) growth in agriculture to at least 2 percent. The goal is for the agricultural sector to catch up with the population growth rate, ensuring that food production meets the demands of a growing population.

He said agricultural production losses currently account for as much as 30 percent of output, with post-harvest losses in vegetables and fruits reaching 42 percent and 28 percent, respectively.

He said the QuintaCom aims to reduce these losses by half, setting a target of 15 percent for overall agricultural production losses.

Also, the lawmaker said the QuintaCom intends to make livestock and poultry prices in the Philippines competitive within the Southeast Asian region.

University of the Philippines-National Institutes of Health (UP-NIH) estimate that there are around 14 to 15 million solo parents in the country.

Villafuerte assured that under RA 11861, solo parents earning minimum wage or below would also receive a monthly cash aid of P1,000 from their local governments. Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz

Long line for BOI green lane applicants, mostly for REs

By Andrea E. San Juan @andreasanjuan

NEARLY P2 trillion worth of projects are waiting to be approved under the green lane, with renewable energy projects occupying a huge chunk of the pipeline, according to the Board of Investments (BOI).

“There are still about 90-plus projects on line, mostly RE,” Ernesto C. Delos Reyes Jr., BOI Director for Investment Assistance Service (IAS), told reporters on the sidelines of the Ejap-AboitizPower Renewable Energy Forum on Friday.

Delos Reyes said the green lane projects lined up are worth almost P2 trillion.

With investment projects under the green lane hitting P4.3 trillion as of September 2024, Delos Reyes unveiled BOI’s initiatives in improving the permitting and licensing process of investments.

For one, BOI is drafting a Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) among the 38-government agency members of the Investments Facilitation Network (INFANet) focusing on the implementation of Executive Order

No. 18 (EO 18), the measure meant to expedite, streamline and automate government processes for strategic investments for green lane.

According to Delos Reyes, this JMC aims to align national government agencies and LGUs in terms of information dissemination on the green lane.

“We are focused on streamlining. Some government agencies still need [to be brought on the same page] because they still have their own policy,” said the BOI official.

Meanwhile, Delos Reyes said BOI is also considering a cap on investments for acceptance in the green lane.

Currently, he said, they are having a hard time because there is no threshold. The BOI Board has yet to approve the proposal to put a cap.

“But what we are ensuring is to sustain the operations that’s why the financials are important. Is this covered by a loan or they will invest?”

Delos Reyes noted.

He said the threshold that could be put in place may be aligned with the cap implemented by the Department of Energy (DOE) on the “Energy Projects of National Significance (EPNS) in

compliance with the Philippine Energy Plan” which is reflected in Executive Order No. 30.

This pertains to “major energy projects identified and endorsed by DOE as ‘projects of national significance’ that are in consonance with the policy thrust and implementation of the Philippine Energy Plan (PEP).”

Among the attributes an EPNS must possess are: capital investment of at least P3.5 billion; must contribute to the country’s economic development; has “consequential” economic impact.

Delos Reyes underscored the importance of putting a threshold, saying this will filter the investments that will really qualify under the green lane.

The activities under the 2022 Strategic Investments Priority Plan that may be considered as strategic investments for green lane services are: Clean Energy Sources (Renewable Energy, Hydrogen, Nuclear, including energy storage); Green Metals (Mining and Mineral Processing); Electronics; Defense-related Projects; Aerospace; Electric Vehicles Manufacturing/Assembly including Charging Stations and Batteries; Pharmaceuti -

cals including vaccines and essential drugs and medicines included in the Philippine National Drug Formulary (PNDF); LNG Storage and Regasification, among others.

According to Delos Reyes, Strategic investments are defined as those having a “significant capital” or investment to the country; consequential economic impact; positive impact on the environment; significant contribution to the country’s balance of payments; with complex technical processes and engineering designs; and will bring about improvement in the country’s infrastructure capabilities.

Since Renewable Energy projects have long gestation periods, Delos Reyes said most of the green lane projects that have been certified are still in their predevelopment stage.

But as of September 2024, Delos Reyes said two projects are already starting their commercial operations: the Cayanga-Bugallon Solar Project in Pangasinan, ERC approval of which was facilitated through the Green Lanes, and the Calabanga Renewable Energy Project now operating and with the Green Lane endorsement.

Day 6: Famous pols, celebs file COC, Cona for ‘25 polls

By Bless Aubrey Ogerio

OTABLE political personali -

Nties submitted their certificate of candidacy (COC) and certificate of nomination and acceptance (CONA) during the sixth day of filing on October 6, at the Manila Hotel Tent City.

Musician-lawyer Jimmy Bondoc ws the first to file for candidacy on Sunday for a Senate seat under the PDPLaban banner, joining the list of celebrities seeking to hold public office.

The “Let Me Be The One” singer, a solid Duterte supporter, is the former president of the Philippine Amuse -

By Manuel T. Cayon @awimailbox

DAVAO CITY—From a coastal garbage segregator using artificial Intelligence to digitized issuance of permits and licenses, students from a Davao del Norte school pitched their digital applications to amazed representatives of government regulatory agencies who mentored them to create new applications for the blue, or marine, economy.

Students of the Davao del Norte State College (DNSC) in Panabo City, Davao del Norte “took the challenge to develop and pitch tech startup solutions for ocean and Blue Economy in a startup hackathon event on September 19-21, 2024 at the DNSC campus” said the school’s technology business incubator called Blue Economy Underpinning Global Sustainability through Adaptive Innovations (Bugsai).

The hackathon produced outstanding apps like the Reverse Ecobase startup, an AI-enabled self-segregating bin for coastal wastes from the startup team Ecolife. This one bagged the top prize. The start up group, Phar Company came up with its EcoMart, e-commerce platform that will market processed marine-based products. It won the second place.

The students’HEXA group showed its apps called SeaPass App which digitalizes the issuance of permit and license for the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).

“There is a huge opportunity in the Blue Economy, especially that the Philippines is an archipelagic country. Many people are relying on the ocean for their livelihood so it should also be given enough attention in terms of innovation and technology. We want to take that role as BUGSAI TBI,” said Dr. Jesebel R. Besas, project leader of the DNSC Bugsai TBI, which is supported by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

ment and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor). He aims to resolve poverty and corruption Rep. Erwin Tulfo of the ACT-CIS party-list will also vie for a Senate seat under the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD). He plans to join his brother Raffy in the Upper House, where his other brother Ben is also a candidate.

In response to questions over the potential “Tulfo Dynasty,” Erwin, a former Social Welfare and Development, secretary said that it is up to the voters whom to support in the  elections. He, however, said he would back the anti-political dynasty law if

Forty students participated in the hackathon. They come from bachelor programs in Information Systems, Information Technology, Fisheries and Aquatic Studies, Marine Biology, and Entrepreneurship.

The DOST-DNSC’s TBI Bugsai said the activity was the first TBI in Davao del Norte “to immerse the students in brainstorming startup ideas and ICT-based solutions that will benefit the industries and sectors that are relying on the ocean resources”.

The hackathon featured a reverse pitch session where representatives from the BFAR Davao, Panabo City Agriculturist Office-Fisheries Development and Production Program, and Panabo City Environment and Natural Resources Office (PCENRO) shared with students the challenges in the fisheries sector, ocean environment, and in the delivery of their services to their blue economy stakeholders.

The speakers mentored the students as they spent a whole day ideating their ICT-solutions with the addition of Teks.io founder Carlo B. Canda to provide insights related to technology implementation,” the school said.

The event was capped by a pitching presentation of 11 teams, paneled by local Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) president Reynaldo Gulane and human resource development professional and entrepreneur Sharmaine Cabugwason.

Startup ideas varied in applications, from value chain management systems and applications for the fisheries sector, ecommerce and virtual marketplace, to permit and licensing system for fisherfolks, water quality monitoring applications for aquaculture and mariculture, incentivizing coastal waste segregator and collector.

in September

It was supported by the DOST Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development.

elected to the Senate.

“We let the people decide, nasa kamay po yan ng tao[that’s in their hands. If they want just Raffy, no problem. If they want two, fine. If they want three Tulfos in the Senate, that’s up to the people, because we don’t have a law. If there’s a law then that’s it, matitigil po yan [that will stop],” he said, partly in Filipino.

Article II, Section 26 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution prohibits political dynasties, but directs Congress to craft the enabling law to make this happen.

Sen. Pia Cayetano also made her

re-election bid official under the Nacionalista party, which is part of the Marcos administration’s “Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas.”

Pia, who was with her brother Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, declined to respond to reporters’ questions.  Wilson Amad, a former vice presidential aspirant, and Sixto Baflor Lagare, who was declared a nuisance candidate thrice in the past elections, filed their COC for senator.

Former Commission on Elections commissioner Rowena Guanzon, who spent 32 minutes talking about the party and responding to media questions, filed her candidacy papers as the

Comelec on accepting Guo’s COC: All are treated equally

THE Commission on Elections on Saturday reiterated its purely ministerial role in the week-long period of filing of certificates of candidacy (COC).

The poll body’s statement follows mounting calls on social media for Comelec to reject the COC of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo in case she would once again try her luck in public office.

“We treat everyone equally. Regardless of who they are, the warmth of our welcome here and in all places where candidacies are filed is consistent. We do not discriminate or exclude anyone,” Comelec chairman George Garcia said in Filipino.

The poll chief also debunked allegations of bias within the commission, emphasizing that the Comelec’s duty is “purely ministerial.”

This means that it can only accept and acknowledge all aspirants who will submit their complete duly signed, notarized, and stamped documents before the poll body.

“I hope we can understand this matter in the right context,” Garcia said.

He explained that those who submit their COCs are not automatically candidates. Therefore, the Comelec still has the authority to disqualify them based on three grounds: (1) declaration as a nuisance candidate; (2) a petition seeking to cancel COC

first nominee of the P3PWD party-list (Komunidad ng Pamilya Pasyente at Persons with Disabilities).

Epanaw Sambayanan party-list filed its nomination certificates, led by first nominee Marlon Bosantos, a lawyer, and second nominee Lorraine Badoy, a former spokesperson of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, who also faced complaints for tagging people and groups as “terrorists” without basis.

Bosantos and Badoy aim to advocate for indigenous people’s rights and protect them from being “victimized, tormented, and exploited” by the Communist Party of the Philippines, New People’s Army, and National Democratic Front-Philippines.

due to age, residency, or citizenship; and (3) a decision from the Ombudsman to perpetually disqualify someone from holding public office.

“If there is a perpetual disqualification to hold public office due to a decision from the Office of the Ombudsman, we will cancel that candidacy. This is very clear, even if that person has appealed to the Court of Appeals,” Garcia added. However, should the CA issue a temporary restraining order on the charges against the person in the Ombudsman, the supposed perpetually disqualified candidate might be able to run.

According to the poll chief, two weeks after the filing period, the Comelec will issue a notice for those candidates it believes should be disqualified from the national and local  race.

“The public can expect that we will not hesitate to apply the law if the law needs to be applied,” he said.

Guo’s lawyers announced on October 4 that the former mayor would seek reelection in Bamban, Tarlac, despite her ongoing detention at Pasig City jail on charges of human trafficking, corruption, money laundering, and tax evasion linked to her involvement in the Philippines Offshore Gaming Operator hub. Justine Xyrah Garcia

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT-Teachers) filed its CONA, with Antonio Tinio running as the first nominee, while Helene Dimaukom and David San Juan are the second and third nominees, respectively. They were accompanied by Rep. France Castro, who entered the Senate race.

Ako Padayon Pilipino party-list, which supports affordable electricity rates, also submitted its papers with the first nominee Benjo Belando, former Cagayan de Oro representative and former executive director of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board. About eight senatorial candidates and 14 party-list candidates filed on October 6.

Davao N. ICT students pitch apps in blue economy ‘hackathon’

Israeli strike on mosque kills 19 Palestinians amid intensified bombardment of northern Gaza, Beirut

By Wafaa Shurafa & Samy Magdy The Associated Press

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip—An

Israeli strike on a mosque in the Gaza Strip early Sunday killed at least 19 people, Palestinian officials said, as Israel intensified its bombardment of northern Gaza and southern Beirut in its widening war on Iran-allied militant groups across the region.

Israel is still battling Hamas in Gaza nearly a year after its October 7 attack, and has opened a new front against Hezbollah in Lebanon, which has been trading fire with Israel along the border since the war in Gaza began. Israel has also vowed to strike Iran itself after it launched a ballistic missile attack on the country last week.

The widening conflict risks drawing in the United States, which has provided crucial military and diplomatic support to Israel, as well as US-allied Arab countries that host American forces. Iran-allied militant groups in Syria, Iraq and Yemen have also joined in with long-distance strikes on Israel.

Strikes across Gaza and new evacuation orders

T H e strike in Gaza hit a mosque where displaced people were sheltering near the main hospital in the central town of Deir al-Balah. Israel said it targeted a Hamas command and control center embedded among civilians, without providing evidence.

An Associated Press journalist counted the bodies at the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital morgue. Hospital records showed that the dead were all men, while another man was wounded. The military meanwhile announced a new air and ground offensive in Jabaliya, in northern Gaza, home to a densely populated refugee camp dating back to the 1948 war surrounding Israel’s creation. It circulated photos and video footage showing a column of tanks heading toward the area.

The military said its forces had en -

circled Jabaliya as warplanes struck militant sides ahead of their advance. Over the course of the war, Israel has carried out several large operations there, only to see militants regroup. Israel also ordered new evacuations in northern Gaza, which largely emptied out in the early weeks of the war when Israel ordered its entire population to flee south. Up to 300,000 people are estimated to have remained there despite harsh conditions and heavy destruction.

“We are in a new phase of the war,” the military said in leaflets dropped over the area. “These areas are considered dangerous combat zones.”

Avichay Adraee, a spokesman for the Israeli military, said it has expanded the so-called humanitarian zone in southern Gaza, urging people to head there. The zone includes sprawling tent camps where hundreds of thousands of people have already sought refuge, and Israel has carried out strikes inside it against what it says are fighters sheltering among civilians.

Palestinian residents reported heavy Israeli strikes across northern Gaza. The Civil Defense, first responders who operate under the Hamas-run government, said several homes and buildings had been hit and they were not able to reach them because of the bombardment.

Many posted about the airstrikes and mourned their relatives on social media. Imad Alarabid said in a Facebook post that an airstrike on his home in Jabaliya killed a dozen of his family members, including his parents. Local journalists said one of their

colleagues, Hassan Hamd, was killed in artillery shelling on his home in Jabaliya. He had worked as a freelance TV reporter and his footage had aired on Al Jazeera and other networks. Anas al-Sharif, an Al Jazeera reporter in northern Gaza, confirmed his death.

The latest strikes add to the mounting Palestinian death toll in Gaza, which is nearing 42,000, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. The ministry does not differentiate between civilian and militant deaths, but many of the dead were women and children.

Hamas-led militants killed some 1,200 people in the Oct. 7 attack and took another 250 hostage. They are still holding around 100 captives, a third of whom are believed to be dead.

Heavy bombardment of southern Beirut

In Beirut, airstrikes lit up the skyline and loud explosions echoed across the southern suburbs, known as the Dahiyeh, throughout the night, as Israel struck what it said were Hezbollah militants sites. The strikes reportedly targeted a building near a road leading to Lebanon’s only international airport and another formerly used by the Hezbollah-run broadcaster Al-Manar.

Israel’s military confirmed it was striking targets near Beirut and said about 30 projectiles had crossed from Lebanon into Israeli territory, with some intercepted.

Hezbollah said it successfully targeted a group of Israeli soldiers in

By Samya Kullab & Elise Morton The Associated Press

KYIV, Ukraine—Ukrainian forces said they shot down a Russian fighter plane on Saturday while Russia claimed it made gains in Ukraine’s east.

The Russian bomber was shot down near the city of Kostiantynivka in the Donetsk province, head of the Kostiantynivka Military Administration Serhiy Horbunov was quoted as saying by Ukraine’s public broadcaster, Suspilne. Photos showed charred remains of an aircraft after it landed on a house that caught fire.

Also in the partially occupied Donetsk province, Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed Saturday that it had taken control of the village of Zhelanne Druhe.

northern Israel “with a large rocket salvo, hitting them accurately.” It was not possible to confirm the claim.

At least 1,400 Lebanese, including civilians, medics and Hezbollah fighters, have been killed and 1.2 million driven from their homes in less than two weeks. Israel says it aims to drive the militant group away from its border so that tens of thousands of Israeli citizens can return to their homes.

Iranian-backed Hezbollah, the strongest armed force in Lebanon, began firing rockets into Israel almost immediately after Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack, calling it a show of support for the Palestinians. Hezbollah and Israel’s military have traded fire almost daily.

Last week, Israel launched what it said was a limited ground operation into southern Lebanon after a series of attacks killed longtime Hezbollah leader Hassan n a srallah and most of his top command. The fighting is the worst since Israel and Hezbollah fought a month-long war in 2006. n i ne Israeli soldiers have been killed in ground clashes that Israel says have killed 440 Hezbollah fighters.

It is not possible to verify battlefield reports from either side.

Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, told reporters in Damascus that “we are trying to reach a cease-fire in Gaza and in Lebanon.” The minister said Middle e a stern and other countries had put forward initiatives, without elaborating. Magdy reported from Cairo.

If confirmed, the capture would come three days after Ukrainian forces said they were withdrawing from the front-line town of Vuhledar, some 33 kilometers (21 miles) from Zhelanne Druhe, following a hard-fought two-year defense.

Although unlikely to change the course of the war, the loss of Vuhledar is indicative of Kyiv’s worsening position, in part the result of Washington’s refusal to grant Ukraine permission to strike targets deep inside Russian territory and preventing Kyiv from degrading Moscow’s capabilities.

Zelenskyy will present his victory plan to allies

U K RAI n IA n President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Saturday that he will present his “victory plan” at the Oct. 12 meeting of the Ramstein group of nations that supplies

arms to Ukraine.

“We will present the victory plan— clear, concrete steps towards a just end to the war. The determination of our partners and the strengthening of Ukraine are what can stop Russian aggression,” he wrote on X, adding that the 25th Ramstein meeting would be the first to take place at the leaders’ level.

Zelenskyy presented his plan to US President Joe Biden in Washington last week. Its contents have not been made public but it is known that the plan includes Ukraine’s membership of n ATO and the provision of long-range missiles to strike inside Russia.

Russia shells southern Ukraine and a Ukraine drone hits a bus Me A n WHI l e two people died in Russian shelling in Ukraine’s southern Zaporizhzhia region, regional Gov. Ivan Fedorov said. Ukraine’s air force said that Russia had launched three guided missiles and 13 attack drones at Ukraine overnight into Saturday. It said the missiles were intercepted, three drones were shot down over the Odesa region and 10 others were lost. n ine people were wounded when a Ukrainian

Thousands join huge pro-Palestinian

rallies around the globe as Oct. 7 anniversary nears

By Giada Zampano & Sylvia Hui

The Associated Press

Rattacks on

approached. Huge rallies were held in several e u ro

pean cities, with gatherings expected to continue over the weekend and peak on Monday, the date of the anniversary.

In Rome, several thousands demonstrated peacefully Saturday afternoon until a smaller group tried to push the rally toward the center of the city, in spite of a ban by local authorities who refused to authorize protests, citing security concerns.

Some protesters, dressed in black and with their faces covered threw stones, bottles and paper bombs at the police, who responded with tear gas and water cannons, eventually dispersing the crowd. At least 30 law enforcement officers and three demonstrators were injured in the clashes, local media reported.

The rally in Rome had been calm earlier, with people chanting “Free Palestine, Free l eb anon,” waving Palestinian flags and holding banners calling for an immediate stop to the conflict.

In l ondon , thousands marched through the capital to Downing Street amid a heavy police presence. The atmosphere was tense as pro-Palestinian protesters and counterdemonstrators, some holding Israeli flags, passed one another.

Scuffles broke out as police officers pushed back activists trying to get past a cordon. At least 17 people were arrested on suspicion of public order offenses, supporting a proscribed organization and assault, l o ndon’s Metropolitan Police said.

In the northern German city of Hamburg, about 950 people staged a peaceful demonstration with many waving Palestinian and l e banese flags or chanting “Stop the Genocide,” the DPA news agency reported, citing a count by police. Two smaller pro-Israeli counterdemonstrations took place without incident, it said.

Several thousands protesters gathered peacefully at Paris’ Republique Plaza in a show of solidarity with the Palestinian and l e banese people. Many were waving Palestinian flags while holding posters reading “stop the genocide,” “free Palestine,” and “hands off l e banon.”

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators also gathered at n e w York’s Times Square to call for a cease-fire, chanting “Gaza!” to a drumbeat. Some wore keffiyeh scarfs, waved Palestinian and l e banese flags and held a large cardboard image of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin n et anyahu with red paint symbolizing blood across his face. Hui reported from London. AP journalists Sylvie Corbet in Paris, Jamey Keaten in Geneva, John Minchillo in New York, Ashraf Khalil in Washington and Niniek Karmini in Jakarta, Indonesia, contributed to this story.

South Korea leader says North Korea wants uS attention by showing off nuclear might

By Hyung-Jin Kim The Associated Press

SEOUL, South Korea—North Korea’s recent disclosure of a nuclear facility was likely an attempt to grab US attention ahead of next month’s presidential election, and the North will likely stage major provocations like a nuclear test explosion and a long-range missile test, South Korea’s president says.

Health workers in Lebanon describe deadly Israeli attacks on colleagues and fear more

By Sarah El Deeb & Bassem Mroue

The Associated Press

BEIRUT—Israel’s military struck outside the gates of a hospital in southern Lebanon without warning on Friday, killing seven paramedics and forcing the facility to close, the hospital director told The Associated Press a day after one of the most deadly attacks on health workers in the weeks since fighting escalated between Israel and Hezbollah.

The account of the Friday airstrikes that flung hospital doors o ff their hinges and shattered glass was the latest to detail attacks that Lebanon’s health ministry says have killed dozens of health workers.

Marjayoun hospital director Mounes Kalakesh said that even before Friday’s attack, ambulance crews in the area were so reluctant to operate that the facility had not received anyone wounded for days.

“We have not been able to work. There was fear and panic among the staff,” he said.

Kalakesh said the government hospital didn’t receive any warning from Israeli forces before the attack, even though nearby villages have received such warnings to evacuate.

Heavy floods, landslides in Bosnia prompt international rescue efforts

SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina—

Rescue teams from Bosnia’s neighbors and European Union countries on Sunday were joining efforts to clear the rubble and find people still missing from floods and landslides that devastated parts of the Balkan country.

Bosnia sought EU help after a heavy rainstorm overnight on Friday left entire areas under water and debris destroyed roads and bridges, killing at least 18 people and wounding dozens.

Officials said that at least 10 people are still unaccounted for, many of them in the village of Donja Jablanica, in southern Bosnia, which was almost completely b uried in rocks and rubble from a quarry on a hill above.

Residents there have said they heard a thundering rumble and saw houses disappear before their eyes.

arriving to help. Bosnia is a candidate country for membership in the 27-nation bloc.

Authorities said Croatian rescuers have already arrived while a team from Serbia is expected to be deployed in the afternoon, followed by a Slovenian team with dogs. Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Czechia and Turkey have also offered help, a government statement said. Sunday is the date of a local election in Bosnia. Election authorities have postponed voting in the flood-hit regions, but the flooding has overshadowed the vote across the country. Ismeta Bucalovic, a resident of Sarajevo, Bosnia’s capital, said “we are all overwhelmed by these flooding events.

It is a charge that Lebanese officials and hospital directors, including Kalakesh, deny. Lebanon’s he alth minister has accused Israel of committing “a war crime” by targeting medical teams and paramedics.

T he health ministry on Thursday said 40 paramedics, firefighters and health care workers had been killed in Israeli attacks over three days, making it even more challenging to care for people wounded in the intense fighting.

T he ministry has said more than 100 health workers have been killed in the year since the war in Gaza began and since Israel and Hezbollah s tepped up exchanges of fire along the border.

The paramedics with the Islamic Health Committee are part of the coordinated health ministry response to crises in Lebanon. Other c ivil defense teams have expressed concern for their safety, with some

Israel has not commented specifically on the incident. Friday’s a ttack came hours before Israel’s Arabic-language military spokesman accused the Hezbollah militant g roup, based in southern Lebanon, of using ambulances to transport weapons and fighters, and warned medical teams to stay clear of the group. The spokesman provided no evidence.

saying they came under attack while clearly identified and operating in areas where they were transporting the wounded or putting out fires.

Israeli strikes have landed near the Marjayoun hospital before but never had come so close, Kalakesh said. He described the paramedics dying in their burning vehicles.

The 45-bed hospital is now shut down.

“I am responsible for this staff. I must protect them,” Kalakesh said, explaining the decision to evacuate. At the time of the Friday attack, there were 30 staff in the hospital. His team was already exhausted after a year of working close to the front line.

Other groups have expressed concern.

A Lebanese Red Cross convoy, escorted by Lebanese troops and coordinated with the U.N. peacekeeping f orce in Lebanon, came under fire on Thursday. A Lebanese soldier was killed and four Red Cross volunteers were wounded.

Separately on Thursday, Israeli forces struck rescue teams with the Islamic Health Committee in Beirut’s southern suburbs and the southern village of Odeissah, killing at least four.

I n Odeissah, responding ambulances were hit by Israeli fire and t hree medics who were wounded in the initial attack were killed as rescuers tried to reach them, the health m inistry said. In the Beirut suburbs, the team working to remove rubble from the initial airstrike was hit in a drone attack that killed a driver and wounded seven, said Islamic Health Committee spokesman Mahmoud Karaki.

Targeting the health sector undermines the safety net for the public, Karaki said. He said 145 of his t eam members have been wounded over the past year.

Lebanon’s health ministry has said nine hospitals and 45 health care centers have been damaged during that time.

Chiang Mai battles widespread flooding; evacuations ordered amid rising waters

By Jintamas Saksornchai

The Associated Press

ANGKOK—Chiang Mai,

BThailand’s northern city popular with tourists, was inundated by widespread flooding Saturday as its main river overflowed its banks following heavy s easonal rainfall.

Authorities ordered some evacuations and said they were working t o pump water out of residential areas and clear obstructions from waterways and drains to help water recede faster. Dozens of shelters were set up

South...

Continued from A7

They say Kim likely thinks a win by Republican candidate Donald Trump, whom he engaged in high-stakes nuclear diplomacy in 2018-2019, would increase his chances to get what he wants than Democratic candidate Kamala Harris. During campaigns, Trump boasted about his personal ties with Kim, while Harris said she won’t “cozy up to tyrants and dictators like Kim Jong Un who are rooting for Trump.”

The September 13 disclosure of the nuclear site showed Kim’s defiance of US-led efforts to eliminate his advancing nuclear program. It was North Korea’s first unveiling of a facility to produce weapons-grade uranium since the country showed one at its main Yongbyon nuclear complex to visiting American scholars led by nuclear physicist Siegfried Hecker in 2010. Hecker said the centrifuge hall shown in the recent North Korean photos was not the same one that he saw in 2010.

across the city to accommodate residents whose homes were flooded.

T he Chiang Mai city government said the water level of the Ping River, which runs along the eastern edge of the city, was at critically high levels and was rising since Friday. However, the provincial irrigation office on Saturday forecast that t he water level was likely to remain stable and recede to normal in about five days.

Thai media reported that efforts to evacuate elephants and other animals from several sanctuaries and p arks on the outskirts of the city were continuing Saturday. About

125 elephants along with other animals were taken to safety from the E lephant Nature Park, from where some escaped on their own to seek higher ground. About 10 animal shelters in the area have been flooded.

C hiang Mai Gov. Nirat Pongsitthavorn said that the latest flooding, t he second in six weeks, exceeded expectations.

Thailand’s state railway suspended service to Chiang Mai, with trains o n the northern line from Bangkok terminating at Lampang, about 1 1/2 hours ride to the south. Chiang Mai International Airport said it was operating as usual on Saturday.

Flooding was reported in 20 Thai provinces on Saturday, mostly in the north. At least 49 people have died and 28 were injured in floods since August, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation said. I n the Thai capital Bangkok, the government said Saturday it will let more water flow out of the Chao Phraya Dam in the central province of Chai Nat over the next seven days, as it risks exceeding it capacity. The release of the water may affect residents downstream who live near waterways in Thailand’s central region, including Bangkok and surrounding areas.

sidelines of the Asean summit.

Luigi Soreca, who heads the EU mission in Bosnia, said on X that the EU stands with Bosnia and that teams are

Death toll from Hurricane Helene rises to 227 as grim task of recovering bodies continues

FBy Bruce Schreiner The Associated Press

RANKFORT, Ky.—The death toll from Hurricane Helene inched up to 227 on Saturday as the grim task of recovering bodies continued more than a week after the monster storm ravaged the Southeast and killed people in six states.

Helene came ashore Sept. 26 as a Category 4 hurricane and carved a wide swath of destruction as it moved northward from Florida, washing away homes, destroying roads and knocking out electricity and cellphone service for millions.

The number of deaths stood at 225 on Friday; two more were recorded in South Carolina the following day. It was still unclear how many people were unaccounted for or missing, and the toll could rise even higher.

Helene is the deadliest hurricane to hit the mainland US since Katrina in 2005.

sistance.

“It is the first step in the recovery process,” she said. “We can provide immediate relief in terms of serious needs assistance to replace food, water, medicines, other life safety, critical items, as well as displacement assistance if you cannot stay in your home.”

Helene’s raging floodwaters shocked mountain towns hundreds of miles inland and far from where the storm made landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast, including in the Tennessee mountains that Dolly Parton calls home.

“North Korea seems to have recently disclosed its nuclear facility in order to draw attention from the United States and the international community in the run-up to the US presidential election, and it is likely that North Korea will carry out additional provocations such as nuclear tests and ICBM (intercontinental ballistic missile) launches going forward,” Yoon said. Yoon didn’t elaborate whether South Korea has detected any suspicious activities in North Korea that indicate its preparations for nuclear and ICBM tests. He said South Korea is closely monitoring North Korea’s movements through the South Korea-US combined intelligence and surveillance assets. North Korea has conducted six underground nuclear tests since 2006, and numerous ICBM test-launches in recent years. Additional tests are likely meant to further hone its nuclear and missile capabilities. Many observers assess North Korea has yet to possess functioning nuclear missiles that can reach the US mainland, though it likely has ones that can strike all of South Korea and Japan.

which has called Yoon “a traitor” and ignored his calls for dialogue.

There are some potential worries about the South Korea-US alliance if Trump returns to the White House. He had previously asked South Korea to drastically increase its share for the cost of the US military deployment on its soil. Some experts say Trump’s possible push for a new round of negotiation with Kim could complicate Yoon’s approach on North Korea’s nuclear program. But Yoon said that he’s confident that the “ironclad” South Korea-US alliance will continue to advance steadily regardless of the outcome of the US election.

“There is a firm bipartisan support for the ROK-US alliance in the United States,” Yoon said. “Numerous leading US Democrats and Republicans have publicly stated their staunch support for the alliance and are continuously visiting Korea for consultations to enhance the bilateral relations.”

Since his inauguration in 2022, Yoon, a conservative, has made a stronger military alliance with the United States the center of his foreign policy to cope with North Korea’s evolving nuclear threats. He’s also taken a major step toward moving beyond historical disputes with Japan to beef up a trilateral Seoul-Washington-Tokyo security partnership. Such moves have enraged North Korea,

The ROK stands for the Republic of Korea, South Korea’s formal name.

Yoon also expressed confidence that South Korea and Japan will continue to advance their bilateral ties under Japan’s new Cabinet led by Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who took office last week. Yoon’s office said the two countries are discussing arranging a meeting between Yoon and Ishiba on the

Yoon said he believes North Korea’s nuclear threats against South Korea are aimed at fomenting internal divisions in South Korea and tightening its domestic control with heightened military tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

“The North Korean regime’s past claim that its nuclear development was never intended to target the Republic of Korea, since we are one nation, has been debunked,” Yoon said.

Asked about North Korea’s repeated launches of trash-carrying balloons toward South Korea, Yoon said that North Korea “will face consequences that it will find difficult to withstand” if the safety of South Korean people is jeopardized. He didn’t elaborate what specific steps his government is considering.

Before visiting Laos, Yoon is to travel to the Philippines and Singapore.

At the Asean-related summits, Yoon said that a key issue that South Korea plans to raise other than the North Korean nuclear program is the establishment of the ROK-Asean comprehensive strategic partnership. He said South Korea will further expand

About half the victims were in North Carolina, while dozens more were killed in Georgia and South Carolina.

The city of Asheville, in the western mountains of North Carolina, was particularly battered. A week later workers used brooms and heavy machinery to clean mud and dirt outside of New Belgium Brewing Company, which lies next to the French Broad River and is among thousands of city businesses and households affected.

So far North Carolinians have received more than $27 million in individual assistance approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said MaryAnn Tierney, a regional administrator for the agency. More than 83,000 people have registered for individual assistance, according to the office of Gov. Roy Cooper.

In Buncombe County, where Asheville is located, FEMA-approved assistance has surpassed $12 million for survivors, Tierney said Saturday during a news briefing.

The country music star has announced a $1 million donation to the Mountain Ways Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to providing immediate assistance to Hurricane Helene flood victims. In addition, her East Tennessee businesses as well as the Dollywood Foundation are combining efforts, pledging to match her donation to Mountain Ways with a $1 million contribution. Parton said she feels a close connection to the storm victims because so many of them “grew up in the mountains just like I did.”

“I can’t stand to see anyone hurting, so wanted to do what I could to help after these terrible floods,” she said. “I hope we can all be a little bit of light in the world for our friends, our neighbors— even strangers—during this dark time they are experiencing.”

tion with

such

“This is critical assistance that will help people with their immediate needs, as well as displacement assistance that helps them if they can’t stay in their home,” she said.

She encouraged residents impacted by the storm to register for disaster as -

Walmart US President and CEO John Furner said the company, including Sam’s Club and the Walmart Foundation, would increase its commitment and donate a total of $10 million to hurricane relief efforts. In Newport, an eastern Tennessee town of about 7,000, residents continued cleaning up Saturday from the destruction caused by Helene’s floodwaters. Mud still clung to the basement walls of one Main Street funeral home. The ground-floor chapel of another nearby was being dried out, a painting of Jesus still hanging on the wall in an otherwise barren room. Associated Press journalists Jeff Roberson in Newport, Tennessee; Hannah Fingerhut in Des Moines, Iowa; and Denise Lavoie in Richmond, Virginia, contributed.

A truck and ambulance burn after

An aerial view shows the area destroyed by a landslide in Donja Jablanica, Bosnia on Saturday, October

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

Report: PHL raw sugar production will improve

By Ada Pelonia

THE country’s raw sugar production is projected to reach 1.85 million metric tons (MMT) in marketing year (MY) 2025 as the improvement in weather conditions will allow the expansion in harvest area, according to an international report.

The forecast of the United States Department of Agriculture-Foreign Agriculture Service (USDA-FAS Manila) is higher than the Sugar Regulatory Administration’s projected output of 1.78 MMT for the current crop year which kicked off on September 1.

“Improvement in weather

conditions from the previous El Niño is expected to provide better production in MY 2025,” the USDA-FAS Manila said in its latest report.

It also estimated MY 2025 sugarcane area at 389,500 hectares (ha) due to an increase in area planted, particularly in Mindanao.

“The loss of area in Luzon due to land conversion to residential and commercial purposes will only partly offset area expansion in Mindanao,” the report read.

“The prevailing high prices will continue to encourage farm -

ers to plant sugarcane instead of shifting to other crops like, corn, cassava, and banana,” it added, noting that about 85 percent of sugarcane areas are small farms.

Last month, the SRA issued Sugar Order (SO) 1 which indicated

Govt keen on irrigation scheme to boost food output

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) is planning to forge partnerships with other government agencies to collect rainfall which can be used for irrigation to boost the country’s food production.

Agriculture Undersecretary for Operations Roger Navarro noted that the Philippines gets around 2.6 meters of rainfall every year that is not harnessed.

Navarro said the DA recently met with officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) to consolidate their efforts not only in controlling floods but also in using available water for irrigating farmlands.

“The problem is that there are flood control schemes, but these do not take into consideration the production areas,” he told reporters on the sidelines of a recent event held in Taguig City. He said the DPWH’s role is to ensure that floods reach the sea, while the DA sees to it that farmlands have enough water for crops.

“Now under our convergence efforts, the DPWH will work on the main canal, while the DA would like to do the peripheral canal. That canal will be used for channeling water to farm areas,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino.

Navarro said a memorandum of agreement for the convergence efforts will be signed before the

year ends since this is “a priority.”

Among the signatories are the DA, DPWH, NIA, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Meanwhile, the DA said it plans to conduct a monthly dialogue with farmers, businessmen, and traders of every agricultural commodity to bolster local output.

(See: https://businessmirror. com.ph/2024/10/01/da-to-conduct-monthly-dialogue-withfarmers-businessmen-tradersof-key-commodities-to-bolsterlocal-output/)

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said that with the number of agricultural commodi -

that raw sugar output in crop year (CY) 2024-2025 will drop by 7.29 percent to 1.78 MMT from the previous year’s 1.92 MMT. CY 20242025 started last September 1.

“[The projection] is based on the effect of El Niño on standing crops—those that were planted from October 2023 to May this year,” SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona said.

SO 1 noted that the production estimate for the current crop year was due to the anticipated negative effect of the prolonged dry spell, “unless the La Niña phenomenon brings about an increase in production.” (See: https://businessmirror.com. ph/2024/09/05/phl-raw-sugaroutput-to-fall-by-7-29-sra/)

Despite the bleak production outlook for the current crop year, the SRA made an assurance that the Philippines has enough supply of sugar until the second quarter of 2025.

“Based on our estimates, includ -

ties to boost, the monthly dialogue would help the DA attend to the needs of every industry.

“There’s many of them [agricultural commodities]. We really need to focus, and DA must assign someone for each industry,” Laurel told reporters, partly in Filipino in a recent forum in Makati City.

“Now, all of our Undersecretaries, all Assistant Secretaries, and directors, we will be assigning one of them to each and every commodity that we have in the Philippines.”

The agriculture chief said the DA officials would have to submit a monthly report on what they agreed upon with the stakeholders and what should be done in the succeeding months. Ada Pelonia

Antique adopts first provincial resolution promoting ‘regenerative agriculture’

THE province of Antique recently made a major milestone as it adopted a resolution promoting the use of regenerative agriculture for all sectors of its agricultural industry.

The resolution, introduced by Pio Sumande Sr. of the provincial board of Antique, and co-sponsored by several other provincial board members, underscored the role of regenerative agriculture in maintaining a sustainable and productive farming ecosystem, while providing enhanced resilience to climate change.

GSK Plc, Sanofi and CSL Ltd. secured $72 million from the United States government to ramp up production of bird flu vaccines as a nationwide outbreak among livestock and poultry has led to several human infections that have raised concerns about further spread.

The companies will use the funds to fill vials and pre-filled syringes with stockpiled vaccine ingredients, aimed at raising the country’s total supply of readyto-use doses to 10 million within the first quarter of 2025, Dawn O’Connell, the Department of Health and Human Services’ assistant secretary for preparedness and response, said in an interview with Bloomberg News.

The H5N1 bird flu strain has killed hundreds of people over the past two decades and is recognized as a pandemic threat. Al -

It can be recalled that Biotech for Life, a project under the Department of AgricultureBiotechnology Program Office (DA-BPO), held a forum in Antique focusing on agriculture and food security.

During the event, biotechnology expert Dr. Saturnina Halos gave an in-depth presentation on regenerative agriculture and explained that the method takes the best of traditional and modern agricultural practices and blends them together for optimum productivity and sustainability.

most all human cases in the current US outbreak, including two new cases identified Thursday in California, have stemmed from exposure to sick animals, causing only mild disease. However, state and federal health officials are still investigating an unusual case in Missouri, where the patient had no prior animal exposure, to determine if there was human-tohuman spread, though none has yet been identified. The Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response has worked with flu vaccine manufacturers since 2005 as part of a program aimed at averting pandemics. The latest award, which includes $37.9 million for CSL, $23.4 million for Sanofi and $10.5 million for GSK, would more than double the nation’s supply of shots targeting bird flu.

“That is enough to get a real response going, should one be

For many, regenerative agriculture is a relatively new concept. But it has actually been around since the 80s. In the early 2010s, it experienced a resurgence in light of the increasing impacts of climate change.

According to Halos, regenerative agriculture maximizes productivity and sustainability by promoting practices that improve soil health, and reduce the volume of harmful emissions such as greenhouse gases.

For its part, the province of Antique plans to follow up the resolution with an official ordi -

needed,” O’Connell said.

Under the agreement, GSK, Sanofi and CSL will also make additional bulk vaccine ingredients matched to circulating strains of bird flu. The virus driving the current outbreak hasn’t mutated in a way that would affect the efficacy of the stockpiled vaccines, O’Connell said.

Some long-used flu vaccines are made using eggs, and Sanofi will provide a continuous supply of them to the US to address potential bird flu outbreaks or other purposes.

As of Thursday, bird flu was detected in 254 dairy herds across 14 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. With the additional two cases in California, the outbreak has now infected 16 people in the US. Both sick farmworkers in California have been offered antivirals and are recovering, CDC Principal

nance to codify the integration of regenerative agriculture into its industry practices.

This will involve increasing the use of natural, or organic biofertilizers and biopesticides and decrease the use of their synthetic counterparts.

When asked for her recommendation, Halos said she hopes the provincial officials would coordinate with the DA to set up test farms in the region to better assess the needs of farmers and implement ideal methods of integrating regenerative farming practices.

supply

Deputy Director Nirav Shah told reporters Friday.

As infections continue, ASPR has steadily ramped up investment in shots. The agency has made at least $380 million in awards this year to fund development and production of bird flu vaccines, including an experimental mRNA shot from Moderna Inc.

Although farm workers who come into contact with animals are at higher risk of contracting H5N1, O’Connell said, there’s no current reason to deploy bird flu shots to them or the general public.

“The risk to human health remains low, but it’s prudent for us to be prepared in this way,” she said. Finland is the only country to begin vaccinating its population against bird flu. If genetic changes occur in circulating H5 viruses, then similar measures might be considered here, said Richard

ing the actual stock on hand and the imports that will arrive, we will have enough sugar possibly until the end of the milling season in May or June 2025,” said Azcona.

The SRA recently authorized the importation of 240,000 metric tons of refined sugar to beef up domestic supply.

The sugar policy for CY 20242025 also mandated the classification of the entire output for the current crop year as “B” or for the domestic market.

Domestic raw sugar withdrawal, according to SO 1, would reach 2.2 MMT.

Meanwhile, the USDA-FAS Manila sees sugar demand for MY 2025, which also began in September, to remain flat at 2.2 MMT.

“The high prices of sugar and products containing sugar will continue to discourage increases in consumption,” the report read.

“The high inflation rate affected consumers and focused their spending on basic commodities.”

THE benchmark for world food commodity prices saw its fastest increase in 18 months in September, with quotations up for all covered commodity groups, led by sugar, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) reported Friday.

The FAO Food Price Index, which tracks monthly changes in the international prices of a set of globally-traded food commodities, averaged 124.4 points in September, up 3 percent from August and 2.1 percent higher than its corresponding value a year earlier.

The FAO Sugar Price Index registered the largest increase in September, rising by 10.4 percent from the August level. This was driven by worsening crop prospects in Brazil and concerns that India’s decision to lift restrictions on sugarcane use for ethanol production may affect export availabilities from the country.

“Worsening crop prospects in Brazil, due to prolonged dry weather and fires that damaged sugarcane fields in late August, were the main drivers of the increase in global sugar prices. Additionally, concerns that India’s sugar export availability could be affected by the government’s decision to lift restrictions on sugarcane use for ethanol production also contributed to the overall increase in world sugar prices.”

Despite the increase, the sugar price index was still 37 points lower than its value a year ago.

The cereal price index, meanwhile, inched up by 3 percent in September, led by higher wheat and maize export prices. “International wheat prices increased due largely to concerns over excessively wet conditions in Canada and the European Union, though this was partly offset by competitively priced supplies from the Black Sea region.”

FAO said world maize prices also climbed, influenced by low water levels on key trans -

portation routes along the Madeira River in Brazil and the Mississippi River in the United States of America.

“By contrast, the FAO All Rice Price Index declined by 0.7 percent, partly reflecting generally quiet trading activities.”

Vegetable oil prices were higher by 4.6 percent in September from August, with higher quotations across the board for palm, soy, sunflower and rapeseed oils.

“The rise in international palm oil prices was due to lower-than-expected production in major Southeast Asian producing countries, while the rebound in soyoil quotations was primarily due to lower-than-expected crushings in the United States of America.”

The FAO Dairy price Index went up by 3.8 percent in September, with quotations up for whole milk powder, skim milk powder, butter and cheese.

The UN agency said average international meat prices rose slightly due to higher poultry meat prices driven by strong import demand for Brazil’s product. World bovine and pig meat prices remained stable, while those for ovine meat declined slightly from August levels. FAO also said world wheat production is expected to increase by 0.5 percent in 2024 from the previous year, as improved yield prospects in Australia more than compensate for a significant cut to the European Union’s forecast due to excessively wet conditions.

“By contrast, global production of coarse grains is now expected to decline by 0.8 percent from 2023, with smaller crops in the European Union foreseen to outweigh higher maize output anticipated in the United States of America. World rice production in 2024/25 is now forecast to

Webby, a bird flu researcher at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis. For now, he said, “I think it’s a tad premature to do any form of mass vaccination at this stage.”

Missouri case HEALTH authorities have identified 112 health-care workers who were exposed to the Missouri patient who was hospitalized with bird flu, but had no known animal exposure, CDC officials said on the call. Health officials are focusing on six contacts who had respiratory symptoms.

A CDC investigation is looking whether the exposed people developed antibodies to bird flu, which would signal an earlier infection. The Atlanta-based public health agency expects to have results from these tests in mid-to-late October, according to Demetre Daskalakis, the director of the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. The agency said it’s updating its tests to limit false positives. Bloomberg News

Leveling the playing field: How RA 12023 can bring fairness to PHL’s tax system

THe recent enactment of Republic Act 12023, imposing a 12 percent Value Added Tax (VAT) on non-resident digital service providers (DSPs), marks a significant step towards a more equitable tax system in the Philippines. President Marcos’ assertion that this isn’t a “new tax,” but rather a measure to level the playing field, is largely accurate. (Read the BusinessMirror story: “New law seen generating P100 billion in taxes,” October 2, 2024).

For too long, local DSPs have borne the burden of VAT while their international counterparts enjoyed a competitive advantage, operating within the Philippines without contributing their fair share to the national coffers. RA 12023 finally addresses this disparity.

The projected revenue generation of over P100 billion in five years is substantial, offering the potential for significant improvements in public services. The allocation of funds towards classrooms, rural health units, and farm-tomarket roads directly addresses pressing infrastructural needs. Furthermore, the 5 percent allocation for the development of creative industries is a welcome addition, recognizing the growing importance of this sector in the Philippine economy. This demonstrates a forward-thinking approach, investing in the very industries that are subject to the new tax.

However, the success of RA 12023 hinges on effective implementation and enforcement. The optimistic projections from the Department of Finance (DOF) rely heavily on a 70 percent compliance rate among non-resident DSPs.

The international nature of these companies presents unique challenges, requiring a robust and coordinated approach involving international cooperation and potentially legal battles. The “reputational risk” mentioned by DOF Director Euvimil Nina R. Asuncion is a significant factor, but its effectiveness remains to be seen.

The enforcement mechanisms outlined in RA 12023, including penalties, website blocking, and reputational risks for non-compliant DSPs, are essential to uphold tax compliance. These deterrents, coupled with the proactive efforts of the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Department of Information and Communication Technology, are vital in ensuring that non-resident DSPs adhere to their tax obligations.

As the government gears up for the implementation of RA 12023 in 2025, it is imperative for all DSPs, both local and non-resident, to register with the BIR for VAT collection if they meet the stipulated sales thresholds. Compliance with tax laws not only contributes to a fairer business environment but also sustains the government’s capacity to provide essential services to its citizens.

The exemptions granted to online educational platforms and financial institutions are justifiable, recognizing their distinct roles and the potential negative consequences of taxing these services. This demonstrates a nuanced approach, avoiding the pitfalls of overly broad taxation.

The success of this legislation will not only depend on the BIR’s ability to collect taxes but also on its transparency and accountability. Regular updates on revenue collection, compliance rates, and enforcement actions are crucial to maintain public trust and ensure the effective utilization of funds.

Republic Act 12023 embodies a vital and long-overdue reform to our tax system, providing a necessary and timely adjustment to address the country’s evolving fiscal needs. While challenges remain in its implementation, the potential benefits—both in terms of revenue generation and the leveling of the playing field for local businesses—are significant.

The government must now prioritize effective enforcement and transparent reporting to ensure that the ambitious goals of this legislation are realized.

BusinessMirror

T. Anthony C. Cabangon

Preparing for the 2025 national elections

WRISING SUN

e can see how candidates are preparing for the upcoming elections, but it is just as important for voters to prepare early for the benefit of our beloved country.

As the 2025 national elections in the Philippines draw near, it’s clear that this is not just about choosing new leaders but also about determining the future of our democracy. It’s high time we, as citizens, take stock of the current situation and push for the necessary changes to ensure a more transparent and fair electoral process.

One key factor to examine is the role of social media, which has become a powerful tool for political campaigns, giving candidates direct access to voters. While this accessibility has significant advantages, it also carries risks.

The spread of misinformation, disinformation, and propaganda through “troll farms” poses a serious

threat to fair elections. Fake news can easily distort public perception, making it crucial to enforce stronger regulations on political advertising across these platforms.

Fact-checking efforts and partnerships with tech companies to flag false or misleading content are essential for maintaining a healthy political environment. Social media has the potential to be a positive force, but only if its misuse is effectively addressed.

The importance of voter education cannot be overstated. An informed electorate is vital to making meaningful choices at the polls.

Civic organizations, the media, and schools should intensify ef-

Through activism and online platforms, young voters have the opportunity—and responsibility—to demand accountability from leaders and push for progressive reforms. Empowering the youth is crucial, whether through voter registration drives, awareness campaigns, or by amplifying youth-led movements. Their participation in the electoral process is not only necessary—it has the power to shape the nation’s future.

forts to promote political literacy. Citizens need to go beyond merely casting votes—they must understand the platforms, backgrounds, and qualifications of the candidates they support.

To achieve this, the government, private sector, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) must work together to ensure voter education programs reach all Filipinos, particularly those in rural and underserved communities.

With a large number of young Filipinos expected to vote in 2025,

The ‘fake’ news on the closure of Kalangitan Sanitary Landfill

WLITO GAGNI

iTH President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. initiating the government initiative to fight “fake” news, the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) has tamped down on the so-called “garbage crisis” that is supposed to ensue with the closure of the Kalangitan Sanitary Landfill, whose lease expired this weekend.

Going on hard drive, the “news” disseminators cite that hospital wastes and other garbage that are being dumped at the Kalangitan site in Capas, Tarlac will no longer have any sanitary landfill sites that can accommodate the 3,500 tons that go to the said landfill.

The garbage crisis being painted seemed accurate. With the closure of Kalangitan, where will the garbage trucks dump their haul? But a cursory examination will reveal the rubbish that the said news is as there are not just one or two but three sanitary landfills that can fill in for that vacuum that will arise with the nonextension of the Kalangitan Sanitary Landfill by the BCDA. It is not a surprise that the pres-

ence of three other landfills in the area were not being cited in connection with the closure of the Kalangitan Sanitary Landfill. What is being churned out is that with the closure and the ensuing “garbage crisis,” there will be no place where garbage can be thrown. This so-called “crisis” has been a hot topic for some time. Well, the fake news disseminators have failed to foresee that the BCDA, which wants the area to be converted to more productive enterprises and thereby assure economic growth, has taken to heart President Marcos’ directive to weed out the fake news floating in the air and thereby disabuse the brickbats that come their way to Malacanang. In the case of the Kalangitan clo-

In the case of the Kalangitan closure, there are actually not just one or two sanitary landfills but three within the area to avert the so-called “garbage crisis” being bandied about.

sure, there are actually not just one or two sanitary landfills but three within the area to avert the so-called “garbage crisis” being bandied about. Thus, if one were to zoom in on the Kalangitan landfill, three other sites will come into view, something that the news disseminators do not want others to see. By just focusing on the Kalangitan dumpsite, the socalled crisis may enter the minds of readers and listeners. But then, the closure will not actually affect the daily garbage hauls for three other sites that can fill in for the Kalangitan vacuum.

There is the 91-hectare Category 4 Sanitary Landfill in Floridablanca, Pampanga, which can process up to 3,500 metric tons, which is what the Kalangitan now accounts for. And then there is Eco Protect Management Corp., which operates a 34-hectare facility. Finally, there’s Prime Waste Solutions Inc. in Porac, Pampanga.

All three facilities can accommodate about 11,000 metric tons of garbage per day, three times that

the youth have the potential to be game-changers in this election. But are they more politically aware and socially engaged, or are they apathetic and uninformed?  Through activism and online platforms, young voters have the opportunity—and responsibility—to demand accountability from leaders and push for progressive reforms. Empowering the youth is crucial, whether through voter registration drives, awareness campaigns, or by amplifying youth-led movements. Their participation in the electoral process is not only necessary—it has the power to shape the nation’s future. Stricter measures are needed to ensure transparency in campaign financing, along with stronger efforts to combat rampant vote buying. Additionally, more robust systems must be put in place to make voter registration more accessible, particularly for overseas Filipino eorkers and marginalized communities.

As we approach the 2025 elections, it is essential to recognize that the responsibility rests with us—the people—to hold leaders accountable and to ensure that our votes truly matter.

of Kalangitan’s daily waste haul. So there is no crisis to speak of. What will happen will be unbridled economic growth with the development plans that are being readied for the closed garbage site in Capas, Tarlac. Based on the math, there is a lot of space for garbage. These facilities have even bigger capacity than Kalangitan. So why is anyone claiming there’s a crisis? In truth, the closure of the sanitary landfill will redound to the benefit of the residents in the New Clark City and even fill in the coffers of the government treasury. As BCDA officials emphasized, the redevelopment of what used to be the Kalangitan Sanitary Landfill in Capas, Tarlac will accelerate growth in the province and provide jobs to more Filipinos. In fact, even those who work in the said landfill can be accommodated for the jobs that will be created with the use of the facility for better economic alternatives. The 100-hectare facility will be rezoned under the BCDA masterplan as conceptualized in its New Clark City Master Development Plan. We understand that about 30,000 jobs are expected to be opened once the sanitary landfill has been decommissioned. After all, its lease contract expires this weekend.

It is axiomatic for the government officials to now address is-

Atty. Jose Ferdinand M. Rojas II

Forthcoming evolution of the CPA licensure examination

IOne heck of a family business

Joel L. Tan-Torres

DEBIT CREDIT

Part five

STIll remember that time in May 1979 when I took my Certified Public Accountant licensure Examinations. At that time, 4,599 examinees took the seven tests of the CPAlE for four days. We had to undergo the traditional way of answering the examinations by using long columnar yellow sheets to show our computations for the accounting and auditing questions. We had to do these without the use of calculators and had to rely on mental calisthenics. After completing the tests, we had to wait around five months until October 1979 when the results were released. It was well worth the effort and time of waiting…I was proclaimed as having garnered the number-one ranking among the 1,324 passers, representing a passing rate of 22 percent.

Events have moved fast since that time. I have since been very much involved in the accounting, taxation, and learning sectors. In the span of over four decades of my career, I have been actively involved in the profession and the business community. In the public sector area, I was appointed as Chairman of the Professional Regulatory Board of Accountancy (BOA), Commissioner of Internal Revenue, Dean of the University of the Philippines School of Business, and member of several international accounting institutions. In the private sector, I became a tax partner in two big accounting firms, a member of the board of directors of several companies, and founded and managed several businesses. I was very much involved also in various business and professional organizations, doing advocacy and other community activities.

I had been engrossed in advocating for reform in the accountancy learning and education system and CPALE. I have written several articles in this column and participated in many meetings and forums to discuss the vision and direction of the accountancy profession and education sector. Much still has to be done for these.

I fully support the recent initiative of the BOA on enhancing the CPALE syllabi along the lines of the American Institute of Certified Accountants (AICPA) Evolution Examination. I have also been involved in the ongoing Commission on Higher Education Committee for Accountancy review of the Policies, Guidelines, and Standards for the Graduate and undergraduate accountancy programs. Industry and academe have several collaborations to improve accounting education to better address the needs and standards of the business community. These are positive developments. But, I believe that the pace of these initiatives should be accelerated. The demands of the global and local community in this age of Industrial Revolution 4.0 and Globalization 4.0 calls for competence and learning in such attributes as Artificial Intelligence, Technology, and Automation, and the “4Cs” soft skill competencies of Critical thinking, Creativity, Communication, and Collaboration.

I hope that the evolution of the CPALE will pave the way for the Philippines to attain accountancy global standards. My recollection brings me back to the time when I was taking my CPALE. I had to exercise

continued from A10

sues regarding news that are being floated in this new digital space that allowed fake news to proliferate. For instance, in the Kalangitan landfill closure, the garbage crisis sought to be communicated is turning out to be just rubbish.

I had been engrossed in advocating for reform in the accountancy learning and education system and CPALE. I have written several articles in this column and participated in many meetings and forums to discuss the vision and direction of the accountancy profession and education sector. Much still has to be done for these.

critical thinking, communication skills, and creativity to answer the CPALE questions. We were required then to provide supporting computations and presentation of solution formats that should be understandable to the BOA examiners checking these formulations presented in the columnar worksheets. The element of guesswork in the multiple choice type of questions in the current version of the CPALE was not an issue in the examinations when we took the board examinations. I was not able to research when this practice of presenting solutions to support the answers for the CPALE was discarded. I speculate that this change took place in 2004 when Republic Act 9298 or the Revised Accountancy Law was passed. This law, in Section 17, provided that the BOA shall submit to the Professional Regulatory Commission the ratings obtained by the CPALE examinees within 10 calendar days after the examination. I guess this prompted the BOA to resort to a simplified way of correcting the test questionnaires to meet the deadline mandated by law. The AICPA Evolution Examination clearly provides a framework that emphasizes the use of critical thinking and analytical skills for those taking the examinations. The use of Task-Based Simulation tests will compel candidates to prepare for the examinations with this mindset. Is this also the direction of the Philippine CPALE?

To be continued

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

The BCDA response to the debunked garbage crisis in this regard should become the template for the government communications machinery to take to heart. They should not need any directive from Malacanang to tackle any supposed crisis so that the minds of the public will be disabused especially in this era of TikTokers and IG tweets.

Siegfred Bueno Mison, Esq.

THE PATRIOT

IN the words of senatorial candidate Danilo Ramos of MAKABAYAN, the Senate is not a family business. But it is, unfortunately. It is not a figment of imagination that the Philippine legislature can really be composed of a handful of siblings—Cayetano, Estrada/Ejercito, Villar, and Tulfo. But the family business in politics has transcended the upper house of the legislature as it has permeated in several local government units where at least 75 percent of district representatives come from one family tree as per Ateneo School of Government study. Just consider a few of the past, current, and potential family-run local government units in the country.

For three decades and running, the Abalos family starting from the patriarch Benjamin Abalos Sr. and family members Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr., Carmelita “Menchie” Abalos, Charisse Abalos-Vargas, David Angelo “Gelo” Vargas, Benjamin “Benjie” Abalos III, Jonathan Abalos, Jonathan Clement “JC” Abalos II, and Arsenio Abalos has ruled over Mandaluyong. Same thing in Makati when the family patriarch, Jejomar Binay lorded over the city since 1986 up to the present with family members taking over its reins—Elenita Binay, Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay Jr., Mar-Len Abigail “Abby” Binay and Maria Lourdes “Nancy” Binay. In my father’s home province of Camarines Sur, members of at least three generations of the Villafuerte family have “served” different parts and in different capacities starting from Luis Villafuerte Sr. to his son Luis Raymund “LRay” Villafuerte to his own son Luigi Villafuerte. We also have the Singsons of Ilocos Sur, the Dys of Isabela, and more recently, the Dutertes of Davao! This column will take more than a million of word space to name all of these “family businesses” in politics.

Often discussed in several circles, perhaps except Congress, the matter of political dynasties remains in limbo. As currently worded, Article 2, Section 26 of the Philippine Constitution states: “The State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law.” Powerful families ruled over

the land since the pre-colonial era, where local leaders or “datus” and their respective family members led their small group of communities. Leadership was practically “inherited,” in the same fashion as our current state of politics where wives, sons, daughters, etc. succeed the patriarch if only to circumvent the constitutionally mandated term limits. Ironically, however, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao took the lead when its own legislature passed an electoral law that included an anti-dynasty provision, which partly reads: “Nominees submitted by the Regional Political Parties [RPP] shall not be related to each other within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity.” Such a provision will go through a litmus test in the 2025 elections. Some are not optimistic since powerful families in BARMM have at their disposal a war chest of guns, goons, and gold, to confuse the uninformed voters. Others like me believe that a strong political will is a must to uphold and implement this provision since its success, though unlikely, can result to a radical redistribution of influence away from dynastic relatives and disrupt the profitability of one heck of a family business.

President Marcos Jr., whose own family is a dynasty by itself, can make use of his presidential powers amid his favorable trust rating and popularity to push Congress, certifying any bill defining political dynasty as urgent, to make a similar law just like what BARMM did. Obviously

President Marcos Jr., whose own family is a dynasty by itself, can make use of his presidential powers amid his favorable trust rating and popularity to push Congress, certifying any bill defining political dynasty as urgent, to make a similar law just like what BARMM did.

counterintuitive for any person to do an act adverse to his own interest, it is not impossible if guided by the Holy Book. We all heard of an old proverb that states: “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” meaning that the traits of a child have been generally passed down from the parents. My brother Salvador Jr. perfectly exemplifies this proverb as his traits of discipline, integrity, and hard work, as displayed in years of public service, are mirror images of our father, the late Salvador Sr. This same proverb, however, was expounded and amplified by Pastor Nathan Schneider to mean that: “The apple never rolls so far that it does not make known whence it came.” Believers ought to be reminded of what Jesus said in Matthew 7:18-20, which says, “A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.” By way of analogy, the patriarch in political dynasties serves as the tree, as the offsprings serve as the fruits. While Jesus referred to false leaders as bad fruits, as those who claim to follow the Lord but do so for appearance’s sake, we can correlate the same principle to family members of supposedly good dynasties, if ever there was one. Fruit can also refer to the product of a person’s labor. Just as a tree’s output is the fruit, so is a leader’s production as measured by his legacy to his followers. These so-called legacy fruits can be abused. Political dynasties perpetuate themselves in power by launching project after project, making them appear as if only their families could do the same. No one else. These dynastic politicians proudly and shamelessly put up signages bearing their family names in these schools, roads,

bridges, etc. as if they funded them and not the taxpayers. Just look at Rizal province, where public facilities such as basketball courts and pedestrian waiting sheds bear or depict the name Ynares! As such, the newer generation of politicians who bear the same name as their forefathers have significant advantages in following the footsteps of their predecessors. Their incumbent political families have concretized a strong base of support thru these “fruits”, much to the disadvantage of newcomers and challengers.

Most of the children of these politicians are the same as their ancestors in every respect. Yet sometimes, there’s one who will be different, hopefully. For believers who will cast their votes in a few months, they need to discern whether these members of powerful clans not only exhibit good governance but Godly leadership as well. The family brand can be deceiving or misleading. Recently, some candidates prominently appeared together with their relatives in politics both as a “family brand” and a “show of force,” when they filed their respective candidacies. For instance, when interviewed shortly after she filed her candidacy, Camille Villar appeared with her father Manny and brother Mark in tow, both of whom with senatorial experiences. For these reasons, in the political arena, not everyone who shares the same name can have the same attributes of leadership. Look at the fruits of both predecessors and successors. Such fruits, which are best reflected by their actions in the past, should reverberate much louder than words uttered during this forthcoming election campaign. For me, governance is never about the family name of the leader; it is more about how much the leader can effectively govern.

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

EU tests mettle to take on China with new EV tariff fight

By Jorge Valero

ThE European Union unleashed one of its most powerful economic tools on China, imposing tariffs on electric vehicles in a move that increases the risk of retaliatory measures and backfiring on domestic consumers and companies.

The EU voted on Friday to boost tariffs as high as 45 percent, arguing that Beijing provides unfair subsidies to its carmakers. China denies that claim and has threatened its own tariffs on European dairy, brandy, pork and automobile sectors. Its commerce ministry warned that the tariffs would “shake and hinder” the confidence of Chinese companies in Europe.

While the bloc is aligning with the US’s more aggressive approach to taking on Chinese trade practices, the latest move intends to comply with World Trade Organization rules.

French President Emmanuel Macron warned this week that Europe’s economic model “needs to be reset,” and that failure to account for the US and China’s greater domestic investment and market protections could be an existential threat for the EU. The bloc’s leaders are expected to unveil a new competitiveness roadmap next month.

Janka Oertel, a director at the European Council on Foreign Relations, said the vote “marks a pivotal moment for the future of EU-China relations.” She said successful implementation of the tariffs would strengthen the EU, giving it “momentum to continue addressing market distortions, critical dependencies, and emerging security challenges

across various industries.”

Former European Central Bank President Mario Draghi shared similar concerns as Macron last month when delivering a much-anticipated report on Europe’s competitiveness. He said that the EU would face a “slow agony” if the bloc didn’t invest in its economic transformation to better contend with competition posed by Beijing and Washington.

The China Council for the Promotion of International Trade said in a statement on its Wechat account that the nation’s EV makers have been cooperating with “utmost sincerity” and hope to resolve the disputes properly under WTO rules, through price commitments and other means. The European Union Chamber of Commerce in China urged the parties to “consider a negotiated solution.”

EU economic growth has been persistently slower than in the US over the past two decades, driven by smaller advances in productivity, Draghi said. And the consequences of the slow response to the challenge posed by China’s aggressive industrial plans, with billions of dollars invested in subsidies, are already felt in some of the key industries.

“We still think the Chinese government will probably respond proportionally to the tariffs, for instance, by targeting non-auto EU

imports such as certain agricultural goods,” said Bloomberg economists Antonio Barroso and Gerard DiPippo.

While Volkswagen AG and Mercedes-Benz Group AG are struggling with waning relevance in China, BMW AG has been tripped up by an expensive recall, and Stellantis NV is getting hit by poor sales in the US. All of them have issued profit warnings in the past month, with VW considering closing plants in its home market Germany for the first time.

After European carmaker shares took a beating in the past weeks following the profit warnings, they recovered a bit on Friday’s tariff vote. The Stoxx 600 autos and parts index rose, but that’s because the news was already priced in, said Tom Narayan, an analyst at RBC Europe. The index is still down more than 10 percent this year—despite the ever-ascending Ferrari NV in the mix.

After years of failed attempts to address long-standing bilateral irritants, including China’s industrial subsidies or the restricted access to its vast market, the EU has gradually hardened its stance as it witnessed the steadfast progress of Chinese firms in the digital and clean tech sectors, fueled by their control of critical materials.

As the world’s largest trading bloc, Europe is the main beneficiary of multilateralism, with half of its GDP tied to international trade. But the hostile international environment marked by the US and China’s rivalry and the fight to secure raw materials to accelerate economic growth is forcing the EU to rethink its approach.

While EV tariffs deliver on Europe’s current political priorities, they’re not without economic risks. Coming in the wake of a once-in-ageneration inflation shock, the prospect of potential full-blown global trade wars erupting comes with the danger of renewed consumer-price pressure. ECB policymakers are set to deliver a third interest-rate cut when they meet on October 17, but the backdrop could yet stoke doubts in their resolve. Aside from the trade environment—further threatened by the possibility of Donald Trump retaking the White House—resurgent oil prices and a still-resilient US economy might also give officials pause for thought.

The World Bank warned in August that central banks’ war over inflation isn’t won just yet. The Washingtonbased institution said protectionist measures like tariffs raise production and shipping costs and, if such barriers to trade persistent, they “may eventually prompt producers to pass them on to consumers.”

“We want a level and fair playing field, but not a trade war. That is why we now need a negotiated solution to the issue of countervailing duties,” German Economic Minister Robert Habeck said in a statement Friday on Instagram. “Together Europe is strong, divided it becomes a pawn of others. And if Europe does not react as one, China’s aggressive industrial war will continue in other sectors too.” With assistance from

Monday, October 7, 2024

PPA, BOC team up to crack down on port overstayers

By Lenie Lectura @llectura

THE Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) said over the weekend there is a need to review the importation process to address overstaying containers.

What we want to coordinate with the Bureau of Customs [BOC] is perhaps these importers should not be allowed to delay the filing of their importation entry when their shipments arrive. So, what we are doing now, we are gradually reviewing the process not only in the PPA, but we are also coordinating with the Bureau of Customs so that we, two agencies, can streamline the process,” said PPA General Manager Jay Santiago in a radio interview. U nder the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, importers should claim their

shipments not exceeding 30 days upon payment of duties and taxes.

S ince the PPA does not have jurisdiction over the consignees, Santiago said unclaimed shipments after 30 days are reported to the Department of Agriculture (DA) and endorsed to the BOC. “We have formal endorsement there for that, to dispose,” said Santiago in Filipino. H e said there are instances when some importers wait for a month to file import entries for cargo, despite this already being unloaded in the ports, to save on storage cost. “Because that’s

only P700 a day [per container]….

It’s just a small amount for P700 times 30 days, for example, around P21,000. That’s a small amount… The importer was able to save, for sure. If they put it outside or in a private warehouse, they will actually spend more money there,” Santiago explained.

I n its website, the PPA said it provided the DA the list of consignees who have not yet released their rice shipments at Manila South Harbor (MSH) and Manila International Container Terminal (MICT).

S antiago, in a letter to DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, said a total of 819 TEUs arer currently at MSH and MICT, with 40 TEUs exceeding 30 days at MICT. At MSH, a certain rice shipment remains unclaimed despite BOC clearance, with dwell time reaching 287 days.

T he PPA has directed the head of operations and engineering of Asian Terminal Inc. (ATI), the terminal operator of MSH, to report the overstaying containers to the BOC for appropriate disposition in

accordance with Section 1129 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act concerning abandoned containers.

We believe that having this information on a regular basis will help both PPA and DA identify trends, address any challenges promptly, and improve overall service delivery,” said Santiago.

A s of September 30, the PPA said there are 135 TEUs of pork shipments, 101 TEUs of chicken, and 24 TEUs of onions at the ports. The PPA reported that 21 containers of pork have remained at the port for over 30 days, despite BOC clearance, with five containers exceeding 1,000 days in dwell time.

F or chicken shipments, 22 containers cleared by the BOC are still at the port, with 12 of them surpassing 600 days in dwell time.

M eanwhile, four onion containers have not yet received OLRS (On-Line Release System) clearance, which refers to the electronic release instructions for import shipment generated by the BOC’s electronic to mobile system.

By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo @akosistellaBM Special

to the BusinessMirror

THE Department of Tourism (DOT) apparently did.

T he affable Phil Rosenthal, host of the popular Netflix series

“Somebody Feed Phil,” was in the city recently, and had lunch at the DOT office in Makati, with Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, and other heads of the DOT attached agencies. Mark Lapid, chief operating officer of the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, posted a selfie with Rosenthal and Frasco on his Instagram account on October 3, 2024 with the caption: “Thank you for visiting the Philippines and appreciating our Kapampangan food sir PHIL ROSENTHAL @philrosenthal with our tourism secretary @ christinafrasco #somebodyfeedphil #lovethephilippines.”

O ne tourism official asked

B usiness M irror not to write about Rosenthal’s visit yet, “because we might not be able to cook up [the project],” but confirmed the lunch, adding, “We want him to return because he’s here for a very short time. He has a lot of engagements.” The official added that Rosenthal’s visit was handled privately and the host was just brought to meet Frasco.

A nother official disclosed that, for the destinations Rosenthal and his team visited, “The DOT was the one who arranged and engaged. I think we can’t say they were here until the episode comes out. But it’s amazing that he’s here though, right?” One official, who also attended the lunch said, “I think I heard they were going to Tagaytay, but they’re here for a short visit only.” Based on Rosenthal’s latest post on social media, he’s already back in New York with his dog, Murray.

See “Manila,” A2

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

B1 Monday, October 7, 2024

SEC wants to create ‘fast lane’ for energy companies

By VG Cabuag @villygc

The Securities and exchange Commission (SeC) will streamline its processes to make it easier for energy firms to raise capital through the stock market starting next year.

SEC Commissioner Javey Paul D. Francisco said the effort is akin to setting up a “fast lane” as the agency will designate dedicated personnel that will prioritize investments in the energy sector.

“The general concept to make it easier for them to comply with the process. We will have a dedicated staff. (It’s better than) just passing through the regular process,”

Francisco said at the sidelines of the EJAP-AboitizPower Renewable Energy Forum held recently.

Some of the requirements, however, may not be waived, such as the minimum public float of 15 percent since this is mandated by law.

“Here at the SEC, we reiterate our commitment to the government’s efforts in promoting renewable energy by enabling their growth. Access to

capital and fostering investment flows are crucial in allowing companies to expand and transition to more renewable power sources,” he said.

“We will be officially launching these guidelines soon, together with our counterparts from the Energy Regulatory Commission [ERC}, to further promote the initiative to covered companies.”

The agency earlier approved a program called SEC POWERS or Securing and Expanding Capital for PowerGen Operators and Wholesale Electricity and Retail Services.

The SEC POWERS simplifies the registration of securities for power generation companies and distribution utilities.

Under the guidelines, the SEC Markets and Securities Regulation Department shall complete the review of the registration statement of such companies within 45 days

from filing, in accordance with the requirements of the Securities Regulation Code (SRC); the Revised Corporation Code of the Philippines; and pertinent issuances of the SEC.

The guidelines are in line with Republic Act 9136, or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (EPIRA), which mandates power generation companies and distribution utilities to offer and sell at least 15 percent of their shares to the public.

The guidelines also waive the minimum public float requirement of 20 percent for listed companies, in favor of the 15-percent minimum requirement under EPIRA.

The simplified procedure is expected to enhance the inflow of private capital and broaden the ownership base of the power generation, transmission and distribution sectors, as provided under the EPIRA Law.

Globe adopts responsible AI roadmap

GLObE Telecom Inc. has adopted the GSMA’s industryfirst Responsible AI (RAI) Maturity Roadmap to track, maintain and improve AI use.

The roadmap, based on insights from McKinsey and a group of leading operators, provides a structured framework for telecommunications companies to assess their current AI maturity level and identify areas for improvement. This allows them to align their AI strategies with responsible practices, ensuring fairness, transparency, and accountability in AI applications.

The roadmap addresses five core dimensions--a company’s vision, values, and strategic goals; operat-

ing model and AI governance; technical controls to ensure compliance with regulations; collaboration with third-party ecosystems; and corporate change management and communication.

Globe said it views responsible AI as “a critical component” in driving sustainable digital transformation. by adopting the GSMA RAI Maturity Roadmap, “Globe ensures that its AI will not only deliver business value but also contribute to sustainable development.”

Speaking at the GSMA’s Mobile 360 series held in Seoul, South Korea, Globe’s Chief AI Officer Anton bonifacio said there is a need for early action towards responsible AI use.

“We’ve seen in the internet age, it took the world longer to prioritize cybersecurity, data privacy, ethics, and governance. I think we do have a great opportunity in this new technology to do it right much earlier, whether that’s in terms of privacy or security, and just ensuring that the human is still at the center, especially with something this disruptive.”

Through the GSMA initiative, Globe can also share its own learnings as it goes through AI adoption.

“Maintaining a balance between rapid innovation and ethical development is crucial. We can’t wait for perfect standards and policies before moving for-

PHI n M A E ducation Holdings Inc. (PEHI), a subsidiary of conglomerate Phinma Corp., confirmed the receipt of the initial investment of P2.52 billion from investment firm KKR.

In a statement last Friday, Phinma Education announced the completion of the initial investment of KKR. This initial remittance represents 70.22 percent of KKR’s total investment amount of P3.59 billion.

Funds managed by KKR have also acquired all of the shares in PEHI owned, directly or indirectly, by Asian Development ba nk, nederlandse Financierings- Maatschappij voor Ontwikkelingslanden n V., and Kaizen Private Equity II Pte. Ltd., who all invested in the company in 2019.

The transaction, first announced in May 2024, has closed following the completion of the customary regulatory approvals.

“We have already started working together in several areas,” shared Dr. Chito b Salazar, President and CEO of Phinma Education. “We are leveraging KKR’s global experience and networks to help us improve our completion rates, refine growth strategies, and reach more underserved students.”

PLDT Inc. (PLDT) vowed to enable free internet access in all state universities by 2025 in line with the government’s broader digitalization goals.

Since 2022, PLDT Group, through its corporate business unit PLDT Enterprise, has successfully activated 1,000 Wi-Fi hotspots across 220 public Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in 60 provinces, providing critical internet access for students and educators.

PLDT Chief Operating Officer Menardo Jimenez Jr. emphasized the importance of sustaining and expanding these efforts to ensure that digital education remains accessible and uninterrupted.

“Continued support is necessary to maintain this transformative initiative,” Jimenez said in a statement. “We are calling for renewed efforts to make digital education accessible in all state universities by 2025. This vision aligns with the

advocacy of our chairman, Manny V. Pangilinan, who has long been a champion of initiatives that promote education and digital transformation for Filipinos.”

This move, PLDT said, is “a testament to its full support to the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).”

Expanding connectivity in HEIs supports the Private Sector Advisory Council’s (PSAC) broader push for digital inclusion, where PLDT is among the founding members of the Digital Infrastructure Sector along with its wireless arm, Smart Communications Inc.

Lead Convenor Sabin Aboitiz, Sector Head Myla Villanueva, and the collaboration of local telcos at PSAC will be pivotal in steering digitalization efforts, which include the planned activation of key Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas starting this year, according to PLDT. Lenie Lectura

ward, but we also can’t move forward without them. The GSMA roadmap provides the necessary framework to achieve this balance, ensuring we can reach an ethical and responsible ground as we drive AI adoption in Globe.”

The GSMA, a global organization that unifies mobile operators around the world, developed the RAI Maturity Roadmap to address the growing importance of AI in the telecommunications industry. This marks the first time an entire sector has committed to a common approach to AI.

Globe is among 19 mobile network operators from around the world that have adopted the roadmap. Lenie Lectura

Yanson 4 told to surrender land titles

THE Court of Appeals has ordered four Yanson siblings to surrender several titles and documents deemed by the lower court as essential evidence in a criminal case.

The 20th Division of the Court of Appeals Cebu City, on July 30, but was only received by the lawyers on September 1, amended a decision and ordered Roy Yanson, Ma. Lourdes Celina Y. Lopez, Ricardo V. Yanson Jr. and Emily V. Yanson, or the “Yanson 4,” to surrender certificates of title and related documents they previously admitted to be in their possession.

The said decision was signed by Associate Justice b a utista G. Corpin Jr. and concurred by associate justices Mercedita G. Dadole-Ygnacio and Ma. Consejo M. Gengos Ignalaga. The Yanson 4 took over Vallacar Transit Inc. (VTI) in 2019, but the group of matriarch Olivia V. Yanson recaptured the management.

The court’s amended decision grants the petition for certiorari filed by the VTI management led by company president and CEO Leo Rey V. Yanson and corporate secretary Olivia V. Yanson.

The CA directed the Yanson 4 to submit to the custody of the trial court various original and certified true copies of certificates of title and related docu-

ments admitted to be in their possession.

The amended order was directed to Yanson 4, along with Judge Ana Celester P. b e rnad, presiding judge of the Regional Trial Court b r anch 44 in b a colod City, Vallacar Transit and Hernan b Omecillo.

b e rnad previously denied the urgent motion to order the four Yanson siblings to surrender the documents they seized from VTI in 2019. The judge also denied the motion for reconsideration on the case.

The items include original certificates of title of the Yanson group of bus companies’ properties and those registered under the name of the Yanson family as well as supporting documents such as tax declarations, vicinity maps, deeds of sale, memorandum of agreements, among others.

Court records show that on

June 9, 2020, the acting b a colod City prosecutor accused the Yanson 4 of the crime of qualified theft.

As charged in the prosecutor’s information, the respondents, representing themselves as the new officers of VTI, took and carried away various items, including important documents to which they had access by reason of their fiduciary capacity in the company.

“To clarify, it is meant as an ancillary measure in order to secure the effective adjudication and enforcement of the rights of all the parties, once the main case has run its proper course,” the CA said. “Ours was a grant of provisional relief so as to preserve the status quo, until such time that the merits of the main case can be heard by the trial court,” the CA said.

“Our assailed decision simply directed respondents Yanson to surrender the subject documents, as indicated in the information and admitted in their letter to the register of deeds and comment to the DOJ, to the trial court in order to place these in custodia legis. Such relief being ancillary to the main case, the parties can flesh out a list of the subject documents with the court a quo, submitting any other supporting documents as the latter may require,” it said. VG Cabuag

B2

Monday, October 7, 2024

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

Suweco warns of rotational brownouts in Catanduanes

By Lenie Lectura @llectura

Sunwest water and electric Co. Inc. (suweco) warned of rotational brownouts in Catanduanes due to the national Power Corp.’s (nPC) unpaid dues amounting to P285 million.

suweco, which was founded by Legazpi-based entrepreneur el izaldy Co., is a major power player in Catanduanes, sorsogon, Romblon and Antique. It operates several mini-hydro and diesel power plants.

It decided to scale down its operations starting October 5 because of the state firm’s unilateral deferment of payments related to suweco’s subsidy billings, some of which have been overdue since May 2024.

t he company said it has been “promptly sending” its subsidy billings to nPC but despite being duly received by them, the submissions are partially unprocessed and unpaid as of last Friday.

Additionally, an attempt to transmit the subsidy billing for the month of August has been made but was unjustifiably refused by the nPC- small Power ut ilities Group (sPuG), bringing to a cumulative outstanding amount due to suweco to a total of P285,215,641.

sPuG areas are those that are not connected to the national grid and therefore depend on dieselpower sets.

t he refusal of nPC to settle its obligation to suw eCO stems from the decision of the energy Regulatory Commission (eRC) under Case no. 2023-123 RC dated January 23, 2024, dismissing the application of First Catanduanes electric Cooperative Inc. (Ficelco)

STOCK-MARKET OUTLOOK

Last week Share prices went up for the fifth straight week despite episodes of profit-taking, but trading activity has been waning.

The benchmark Philippine Stock exchange index gained 39.62 points to close at 4,467.92 points. The main index was down at the start of trading week on Monday but regained most of its losses on Tuesday. It was generally up afterwards, especially when the government announced the September inflation rate at a four-year low of 1.9 percent. average value of trade reached P5.73 billion. Foreign investors, who cornered 52 percent of the trades, were still net buyers at P1.98 billion. all other sub-indices ended mixed. The broader all Shares index closed higher by 71.22 points to 4,041.65, the Financials index rose 54.39 to 2,393.77, the Industrial index gained 115.78 to 9,933.47, the holding Firms index was down by a mere 0.77 to 6,329.44, the Property index fell 23.94 to 2,965.06, the Services index increased 32.37 to 2,293.58 and the Mining and Oil index 286.48 to 9,077.86.

For the week, gainers led losers, 140 to 100 and 22 shares were unchanged.

Top gainers were Lorenzo Shipping Corp., anchor Land holdings Inc., Philippine racing Club Inc., raslag Corp., Jackstones Inc., Lepanto Consolidated Mining Co. a shares and Golden MV holdings Inc.

Top losers, meanwhile, were Uniholdings Inc., Philippine Trust Co., easycall Communications Philippines Inc., Cemex holdings Philippines Inc., SOCresources Inc., Bright Kindle resources and Investments Inc. and IPM holdings Inc. this week

Share prices may fall this week as tensions in the Middle

and suweco for the approval of the 2nd Amendment to their electricity supply Agreement (esA). suweco timely filed its motion for reconsideration before the eRC on March 12, 2024.

suweCO has repeatedly reiterated to nPC that its motion is still pending for resolution before the eRC, hence its decision is not yet deemed final and executory. Moreover, under the terms of the universal Charge for Missionary electrification (uCMe) agreement, deductions from billing collections are not permitted.

nPC has yet to respond to suweco, giving the latter no choice but to implement a scale down of its operational schedule through rotational brownouts averaging up to three hours per day.

we are hoping for the understanding of the thousands of member-consumers of Ficelco who will be directly affected by the brownouts. we have done everything in our control to prevent this, but unfortunately, nPC has taken a position adverse to the member-consumers of Ficelco by its refusal to honor its obligations,” said Floro P. Barrameda, Business unit Head of suweco.

w h ile su weco remains committed and steadfast in providing reliable power to the residents of Catanduanes at a reasonable cost, the lack of subsidy settlements by n P C has resulted to operational constraints that led to these adjustments as we are not comfortable in collecting the full rate of electricity (without any subsidy) or the tr ue Cost Generation Rate to the member-consumers for Ficelco since the rate will be higher and burdensome on them.”

east were seen as a downside risk to the positive market sentiment.

Japhet Louis O. Tantiangco, senior research analyst at Philstocks Financials Inc., said an escalation of tensions are expected to raise oil prices and cause negative spillovers to the rest of the global economy. hence, it is expected to weigh on sentiment,” he said. “On a positive note, the below expected inflation print of the Philippines for September is seen to boost market sentiment due to its positive implications on the local economy.”

“The low inflation figure could mean stronger household consumption which would benefit our overall economic growth given its significant contribution. The low inflation also strengthens the case for the continuation of the BSP’s [Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas] monetary policy easing.” Investors may also watch out for upcoming government data including the labor force survey, foreign trade, and foreign investments data for clues on the local economy, he said.

With favorable inflation dynamics, Broker 2Trade as ia said speculation is high for what could be a 50-basis point rate cut from the BSP in as early as this month during the October 17 policy meeting of the Monetary Board.

“ r e call that consensus initially penciled two cuts or 25 basis points each for the October and December meetings; expectations have shifted since the Fed cut big in September, and central banks globally are in a cat-and-mouse game to get ahead of the curve,” it said.

“Despite uncertainties as to the magnitude, the direction towards looser policy remains strong up until 20252026, and positioning towards sectors that will benefit from the constructive impact of lower rates is reiterated, with a more immediate focus to exporters, cyclicals, and banking, amid the current forex advantage and sharply improved consumer confidence heading well into fourth quarter.” Chartwise, the market may continue to test the 7,400 level. If it holds its ground at the said line this will be considered as its support while its next resistance is seen at 7,700, Tantiangco said.

stock picks MayBanK Securities maintained its buy rating on Manila electric Co. (Meralco) as the stock was the favorable choice in the current low-price environment,

Banking&Finance

Macasaet steps down as SSS president, CEO

THE Social Security System (SSS)

announced that its President and CEO, Rolando L. Macasaet, has stepped down from his position effective October 6 after nearly two years with the state-run pension fund. Macasaet, who has been the head of SSS since January 5, 2023, was also vice-chairman of the Social Security Commission, the policy-making body of the SSS.

“Throughout his tenure, he championed the goal of ensuring every Filipino receives a pension,” read a statement the SSS issued.

The pension fund also credited Macasaet for its intensified membership drives, extending social security coverage to all, including those in remote areas. He launched initiatives to bring services closer to grassroots communities and implemented programs benefiting SSS employees nationwide.

One of his notable achievements as SSS chief is expanding access to social security protection for more Filipinos through extensive membership coverage drives nationwide, according to the SSS.

Under his leadership, the SSS recorded a historic high of three million new members from January to September 2024, more than double the number of new members recorded during the same period last year.

“SSS typically averages around one million new members annually in previous years. However, for just the first half of 2024, we have already doubled that number due to our intensified efforts,” Macasaet was quoted in the statement as saying.

With this progress, the SSS is optimistic of reaching four million to five million new members by year-end.

Protection

MACASAET is also seen as having advocated for SSS coverage for job order (JO), contract of service (COS) and barangay workers who are excluded in the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) due to their employment status. During his term, over half a million JO, COS and barangay workers in government can now access social security benefits through the “KaSSSangga Collect” program.

This program aims to provide essential SSS coverage to JO, COS and barangay workers serving local government units (LGUs), national government agencies (NGAs), state universities and colleges (SUCs) and local water districts. As of August 2024, there are more than 3,300 “KaSSSangga Collect” partners across the country, according to the SSS.

Macasaet acknowledged the necessity of delivering government services to communities through innovative initiatives like its “eWheels” and “eCenter sa Barangay.” The SSS said its “eWheels” traveled to remote barangays with vehicles equipped with laptops and staffed by branch personnel to provide services to members in grassroots communities.

The SSS also launched the e-Center sa Barangay, a collaboration with LGUs

Sustained expansion in bank lending drove Aug liquidity

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

HIGHER bank lending to firms and households drove the increase in domestic liquidity in August, according to the latest data released by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

The data showed the country’s domestic liquidity or M3 grew 5.5 percent to about P17.4 trillion in August 2024 from P16.53 trillion in August 2023.

BSP said outstanding loans of universal and commercial banks (U/ KBs), net of reverse repurchase (RRP) placements with the BSP, increased at a faster rate of 10.7 percent yearon-year in August 2024.

to establish a center that will be operated by personnel trained to assist denizens in using the “My.SSS” portal.

“By bringing services directly to the doorsteps of these communities, he helped many recognize the importance of SSS membership,” the pension fund’s statement read.

Pension booster

MACASAET is also said to have spearheaded the launch of the “MySSS Pension Booster,” the rebranded Worker’s Investment and Savings Program (WISP) and “WISP Plus,” designed to assist members in enhancing their savings and retirement funds. The program offers a target annual return rate of up to 7.2 percent this year.

Members will receive their accumulated savings in the pension booster as a lump sum and/or monthly pension upon retirement, tax-free, along with their retirement benefits from the Regular SSS Program.

“Saving for retirement should commence from the first day you start earning money. The optimal time to begin is today while you are young. When you retire, you will appreciate the immense value of establishing a retirement fund early in your life,” Macasaet said.

Since assuming leadership of the SSS, Macasaet has also advocated for the relocation of SSS branch offices to shopping malls nationwide, enhancing accessibility for members and employers.

In addition to their strategic locations, Macasaet noted that the SSS can save nearly P1 billion because shopping mall owners provide SSS with office spaces that are rent-free for five years.

“We also achieve savings on renovation costs since the mall operators cover the renovation fit-out works, including architectural, electrical, mechanical and plumbing tasks,” he added.

Website MACASAET demonstrated his commitment to continuous improvement by launching the new SSS website.

He is also credited to have played a crucial role in revitalizing the SSS’s brand identity on its 67th anniversary through the “SSS Brand Refresh,” ensuring it accurately reflects the organization’s commitment to delivering accessible, reliable and compassionate support to its members and their families both in the Philippines and worldwide.

These initiatives are part of the SSS’s pledge to modernize its approach and service delivery to better meet the diverse needs of Filipino workers.

A standout aspect of Macasaet’s leadership was his ability to listen, according to the SSS.

“He actively sought feedback from members, employers and other stakeholders through the Stakeholders’ Forum, where he gathered insights to help shape SSS policies,” the SSS said.

“He considered the voices of those who benefit from these services because, for him, every piece matters.”

“The BSP will continue to ensure that domestic liquidity conditions are consistent with the prevailing stance of monetary policy, in line with its price and financial stability objectives,” the BSP said.

The BSP said domestic claims expanded by 10 percent year-on-year in August, compared to 11.4 percent in the previous month.

The data showed claims on the

private sector grew by 11.9 percent in August, faster than the 12 percent posted in July due to “sustained expansion in bank lending to nonfinancial private corporations and households.”

Net claims on the central government increased by 8.5 percent from 14.1 percent in the previous month, due to continued borrowings by the National Government.

Net foreign assets (NFA) in peso terms rose by 2.4 percent year-onyear in August, compared to 11.2 percent in July. The BSP’s NFA grew by 7.7 percent, while the NFA of banks contracted, largely due to higher bills and bonds payable.

Meanwhile, the increase in bank lending was driven by loans to residents, net of RRPs, which grew by 10.9 percent in August from 10.4 percent in July.

BSP also said outstanding loans to non-residents increased at a slower rate of 1.5 percent in August, down

from 9.2 percent in July 2024.

“Looking ahead, the BSP will continue to ensure that domestic liquidity and lending conditions are aligned with its price and financial stability objectives,” BSP said.

Loans for production activities increased by 9.4 percent in August from 8.8 percent in July driven by loans to transportation and storage accounted for 23.4 percent of the total. This was followed by real estate activities with a share of 13.2 percent of the total and wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles with a 10.7-percent share.

BSP also said loans to the manufacturing sector accounted for 9.8 percent of the total while electricity, gas, steam and air-conditioning supply had a 7-percent share. Consumer loans to residents increased at a slower rate of 23.7 percent in August from 24.3 percent in July, driven by credit card lending.

Go calls for PhilHealth expansion of coverage

SENATOR Christopher “Bong”

Go reiterated his appeal to the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) to expanding healthcare benefits, particularly for the country’s top ten leading causes of death.

Presiding over the Senate Committee on Health and Demography hearing on October 2, Go emphasized the necessity of addressing these key health issues through preventive care coverage and improved benefit packages.

“Our mission for much improved public healthcare and expanded health services does not end with the scrapping of the [single period of confinement] policy,” Go said in his opening remarks. “Patuloy nating kalampagin ang PhilHealth upang mas lalong mapabuti natin ang mga healthcare benefits and services, lalo na para sa mga mahihirap nating kababayang Pilipino.”

Go called out PhilHealth’s capacity to do more, stating that the agency has ample resources but has yet to fully maximize its services to benefit Filipinos.

May pera po eh, buti sana kung walang pera ang PhilHealth. Merong reserve fund kaya nga po winalis ng National Treasury kasi sobra-sobra po ang inyong pera. Bakit hindi kayo mag-isip ng marami pang mga benefit packages, increase case rates, para lesser out-of-pocket expenditure?” Go questioned.

In response, PhilHealth Executive Vice President Eli Dino D. Santos confirmed that the agency is working on delivering its promises. Santos also stated that the agency is committed to increasing case rates by 50 percent across the board before the end of November. Furthermore, the PhilHealth is set to release an expanded dental benefits package by December 2024, as well as guidelines for emer-

US inflation set to buoy labor mart-focused Fed

US inflation probably moderated at the end of the third quarter, reassuring a Federal Reserve that’s shifting more of its policy focus toward shielding the labor market.

The consumer price index is seen rising 0.1 percent in September, its smallest gain in three months. Compared with a year earlier, the CPI probably rose 2.3 percent, the sixth-straight slowdown and the tamest since early 2021. The Bureau of Labor Statistics will issue its CPI report on Thursday.

The gauge excluding the volatile food and energy categories, which provides a better view of underlying inflation, is projected to rise 0.2 percent from a month earlier and 3.2 percent from September 2023.

In the wake of surprisingly strong job growth for September reported on Friday, the gradual slowdown in inflation suggests policymakers will opt for a smaller interest-rate cut when they next meet on Nov. 6-7.

Fed Chair Jerome Powell has said projections issued by officials alongside their September rate decision point toward quarter-point rate cuts at the final two meetings of the year.

The CPI and producer price index are used to inform the Fed’s preferred inflation measure, the personal consumer expenditures price index, which is set for release later this month.

Friday’s report on producer prices— a gauge of inflationary pressures faced by businesses—is also projected to show tamer inflation. The same day, the University of Michigan issues its preliminary October consumer sentiment index. The Fed will also release minutes of the central bank’s September meeting on Wednesday. Neel Kashkari, Alberto Musalem,

Adriana Kugler, Raphael Bostic and Lorie Logan are among an array of Fed officials speaking in the coming week.

In Canada, officials will release the final jobs report before the next Bank of Canada rate decision, a crucial input for Governor Tiff Macklem, who expects to see further loosening of the labor market. The central bank will also publish surveys of business and consumer expectations for economic growth and inflation.

CB rate decisions this week

ELSEWHERE, central banks from New Zealand to South Korea may cut rates, France will reveal its budget, and the European Central Bank will publish minutes of its September policy meeting.

It’s a big week for monetary policy in Asia, with two central banks likely to cut rates and another inching closer to doing so.

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand is expected to follow its August pivot to an easing cycle by trimming rates by a half percentage point, to 4.75 percent, when the board meets on Wednesday, as weakness in payroll data kindles labor market concerns.

The Bank of Korea will probably trim its benchmark by a quarter point on Friday after inflation decelerated to the slowest pace in more than three years, with the decision hinging on whether conditions in the housing market have cooled enough.

The Reserve Bank of India is seen holding its repurchase rate and cash reserve ratio steady, with many economists looking for a quarter-point cut to the repo rate by year-end. And Kazakhstan’s central bank will decide on Friday whether to resume its easing campaign. Bloomberg

gency care coverage. Despite these assurances, Go remained firm in holding the agency accountable, stating that promises made must translate into real benefits for the Filipino people.

“Asahan po ninyo na tututukan po natin ito at hinding-hindi tayo papayag na mapako ang ipinangakong ito ng PhilHealth sa taumbayan,” Go said.

One of the critical points raised during the hearing was the need to focus on the leading causes of death in the Philippines. Dr. Anthony C. Leachon, a health advocate, stressed that any increase in case rates should target the most common and deadliest diseases.

Leachon argued that these conditions account for 80 percent of deaths in the country and should be prioritized to have a more significant impact on public health.

Go echoed these concerns, questioning why more concrete actions

had not been taken to address the top diseases. He pointed out that despite PhilHealth’s ample resources, many high-cost conditions continue to place a heavy burden on patients.

In his remarks, Go supported the call for more transparency, asking PhilHealth to provide concrete numbers on how much of their reserve funds would be used for benefit expansion and what measures were in place to prevent the mismanagement of these funds in the future.

Magkano ba’ng kailangan ninyong iwan sa inyong reserve fund na huwag munang gamitin? Dahil kailangan po ito for… sana walang pandemya ang darating sa buhay natin. Kung kailangan n’yo talagang mag-reserve fund, magkano ’yung dapat ni-reserve at magkano ’yung pwede ninyong gamitin pa to expand benefit packages, to increase case rates, para lesser out-of-pocket expenditure sa atin,” he said.

➜ SECB names new Chief Economist

SECURITY Bank Corp. (PSE: SECB) announced that starting October 8, former Assistant Trade Secretary Angelo B. Taningco will take over the responsibilities of the lender’s former Chief Economist Robert Dan J. Roces. Taningco has more than 25 years of leadership and technical experience spanning academe, banking, consulting and government. He is currently the head of Research under SECB’s Financial Markets Segment. He was formerly the head of research of SB Equities Inc. and the bank’s Chief Economist. Taningco also taught at the De La Salle University as Assistant Professor of Economics. He was also a former consultant for the Asian Development Bank, the Asean+3 Research Group (2005-2014) and the Government Service Insurance System. Taningco was also a researcher at the Asian Institute of Management and Clemente Asia. He finished his MS Economics and AB Development Studies at DLSU and acquired PhD units in Economics at the Ateneo De Manila University.

➜ UBP unit feted

THE Union Bank of the Philippines (PSE: UBP) announced that its Human Resource Group was recently cited by LinkedIn Inc. as an “AI Pioneer.” “As the leader in the digital transformation of banking here in the Philippines, UBP has a strong commitment to being at the forefront of technological advancements, integrating it into our products, services and operations for a seamless customer experience, but also making sure our workforce is equipped with the digital skills they need to keep up with the ever-changing technological landscape,” UBP Chief Human Resource Officer Michaela Sophia R. Rubio was quoted in the statement as saying. According to LinkedIn, it awarded UBP as the lender has invested in training and development programs on artificial intelligence (AI) to increase the percentage of AI-skilled employees. UBP was also able to surpass the global industry average in AI skills penetration, demonstrating its visionary approach to talent development and ensuring employees have an edge to perform at a global industry level. Rizal Raoul Reyes

➜ Zero-day vulnerabilities targeted

BETWEEN January 2023 and September 2024, Kaspersky Digital Footprint Intelligence experts identified 547 listings to buy and sell exploits targeting software vulnerabilities. These advertisements are posted on various dark web forums and shadow Telegram channels, with half involving zero-day and one-day vulnerabilities. However, it is difficult to confirm whether these exploits are functional, as the dark market is rife with scams. Additionally, Kaspersky found that, on average, the cost of exploits for remote code execution vulnerabilities amounted to $100,000. Exploits are tools used by cybercriminals to take advantage of vulnerabilities in various software programs, like those from Microsoft, to commit illegal activities, such as gaining unauthorized access or stealing data. More than half of the dark web posts (51 percent) offered or sought to purchase exploits for zeroday or one-day vulnerabilities. Zero-day exploits target undiscovered vulnerabilities that software vendors have not identified and patched yet, while one-day exploits focus on systems that do not have the patch installed.

This March 12, 2024, photo, shows social security system (sss) President and CEO Rolando L. Macasaet (left) during a courtesy visit to Philippine Ambassador to singapore, h s Excellency Medardo G. Macaraig. Photo courtesy social security system

Explainer

Close Call: How a sHooting sHook trump’s Campaign trail

By Jill Colvin The Associated Press

DonalD Trump was onstage at a rally on long Island last month, talking about taxes, when he appeared momentarily spooked by something he’d spotted over his shoulder.

“I thought this was a wise guy coming up,” he explained, joking that he was getting his elbow ready to fight back.

“You know I got a little bit of a yip problem here, right?” he added to laughs, using a term familiar to golf aficionados to describe a phenomenon once blamed on performance anxiety where players suddenly lose the ability to make easy shots. “I was all ready to start duking it out.”

It was a fleeting moment passed off as a joke. But as he returns to Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday for a rally at the site where a gunman opened fire in July, grazing his ear with a bullet, the scare underscores the lasting fallout for the candidate and his campaign even as much of the national attention has shifted to other crises.

Beyond the two attempts on his life in as many months, the former president and GOP nominee faces ongoing death threats from Iran, which has also been blamed for hacking top campaign officials and allies, exacerbating anxieties already heightened by a steppedup security apparatus and new restrictions on how he can campaign.

Trump’s allies insist he was not fundamentally changed by the gunman who fired from an unsecured roof at the rally in July or the would-be assailant in September who shoved a rifle barrel through the fence at his West Palm Beach golf course.

The picture of Trump standing, with blood streaked across his face, as he raised his fist and shouted “Fight!” has become the indelible image of the campaign.

“When you almost lose your life, it stays with you. It stays with him,” said Florida Rep. Byron Donalds, a close Trump ally. “But that doesn’t change his resolve. His resolve is just as strong as it ever has been.” Threats have reshaped how he campaigns

T Rum P s taffers are on edge. There have been death threats directed at his aides, and his team isn’t as able to quickly organize the mass rallies that have always been the signature of his campaigns.

Armed security officers now stand guard at the campaign’s Florida headquarters, and staff have been told to remain vigilant and alert.

Events have been canceled and moved around because the u S. Secret Service lacked the resources to safely secure them. Even with the

use of glass barricades to protect Trump onstage, there are concerns about holding additional rallies outdoors due to fears about drones.

Trump has accused President Joe Biden’s administration of intentionally denying security resources to help Vice President Kamala Harris, his Democratic opponent, by preventing him from addressing large crowds.

“They couldn’t give me any help. And I’m so angry about it because what they’re doing is interfering in the election,” he said in a recent Fox News interview.

u S Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi said in a statement that Trump “is receiving heightened levels of u S S ecret Service protection” and that “our top priority is mitigating risks to ensure his continued safety at all times.” Biden expressed concern for Trump after both assassination attempts, saying in September, “Thank God the president is OK.”

Trump also now travels with a larger security footprint, with new traffic restrictions outside his m a r-a-Lago home in Florida, and a line of dump trucks and big guns on display outside Trump Tower in New York when he’s staying there.

As reporters filed into his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, for a press conference this summer, guests—including a little girl wearing a red, white and blue bathing suit—were forced to exit their cars and go through airport-style metal detectors as their vehicles were searched for bombs.

Trump’s campaign last week was briefed on continued threats from Iran in presumed retaliation for his administration’s killing of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani, an act that prompted Iran’s leaders to vow revenge. In August, a Pakistani man alleged to have

links to Iran was charged in a plot to carry out political assassinations on u S s oil. Law enforcement did not name the targets of the alleged plot, but legal filings suggest Trump was a potential target. Iranian hackers have also been charged with stealing information from Trump’s campaign and trying to pass it along to news organizations. In m a y, prosecutors say, the men charged began trying to penetrate the Trump campaign, successfully breaking into the email accounts of campaign officials and other Trump allies. They then sought to “weaponize” the stolen campaign material by sending unsolicited emails to people associated with Biden’s campaign. None of the recipients

who worked for Biden responded.

The cyberattacks have forced some staff to change their email addresses and others to be wary of communicating online.

Trump already faced unprecedented legal jeopardy for a presidential candidate, with four criminal indictments—one resulting in a felony conviction with sentencing delayed until after the election, one case dismissed, and two pending—along with civil lawsuits that carry hundreds of millions of dollars in potential penalties.

“I think that from our perspective, just from the campaign standpoint, operationally, if there’s one group of people that can handle something like this thrown in their lap, it’s the team that Donald

Trump assembled to run this campaign, just based on everything we’ve had to deal with, whether it’s lawsuits to keep him off the ballot, to indictments, to assassination attempts,” Trump campaign senior adviser Chris LaCivita said.

Trump talks of divine intervention

A S f or Trump, he speaks more often publicly of divine intervention, musing that God saved him in order to save the country. He also often says that assailants only go after consequential presidents.

“Obviously, when you come within a half an inch of a very different outcome, that’s going to impact you,” said New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, another ally who said she

spoke to Trump the morning after the Butler shooting.

“Of course, those moments really make you consider a higher power, why you are so committed to helping save this country,” she said. “I think it has further empowered and energized President Trump.”

Trump was recently asked by NewsNation if he’s concerned about his safety ahead of his return to Butler. “Well, I’m always worried,” he responded.

“I’m going back to Butler because I feel I have an obligation to go back to Butler. We never finished what we were supposed to do,” he said. “And I said that, when I was shot, I said, we’re coming back. We’re going to come back. And I’m fulfilling a promise; I’m fulfilling really an obligation.”

His most loyal supporters at his rallies, including the one on Long Island where he joked about the “yips,” haven’t been dissuaded from seeing him in person.

“I know some people are scared to come, but I’m not,” said Eileen Deighan, 63, a nurse from nearby Yonkers, New York, who said she was inspired by Trump’s decision to keep on campaigning given the threats.

“The fact that he didn’t give up, he’s willing to fight for our country, how could you not support that?’ she asked. “That will that he has—doesn’t give up. It’s very contagious.”

Trump told his supporters at a rally in Wisconsin on Saturday that he would continue fighting “no matter what obstacles and dangers are thrown on our path.” But he had another point to make.

“I tell you what, I had a good life before I did

Style

IS THIS THE ‘HOLY GRAIL’ OF THERAPEUTICS?

EXOSOMES, extracellular nanovesicles that signal skin cells to regenerate, promote skin healing, and soothe inflammation, are the new frontier in rejuvenation. Exosomes hasten skin renewal, something which slows down as we get older.

However, not all exosomes are the same. E-50 Exosomes are unique because they are customized, pure, and highly effective as they are produced using a special process. This process ensures that they’re packed with growth factors, proteins and lipids.

Facial Care Centre, a trusted name in skincare in the Philippines for over 40 years, brought Exoderm to the country. Exoderm contains E-50 Exosomes, which was developed by exosomes expert Dr. Young Seob Lee.

“E-50 is about reprogramming our cells so they could behave a little bit younger. I am 36 and with exosomes, I am hoping my cells will behave like I am 28. If we’re doing other treatments like peeling or fractional laser, the skin will be more receptive and we will see faster results,” said Mike Lee, CEO of PrimaCure, the company behind E-50 Exosomes.

Facial Care Centre calls Exoderm “your dream skin elixir.” Think of it as something that helps your skin repair and rejuvenate itself from the inside out. These exosomes are like tiny messengers that tell your skin cells to get to work. They stimulate collagen production and this helps to smooth out wrinkles and fine lines. Exoderm also helps improve skin tone and texture and reduce inflammation.

Exoderm is not a filler (so it won’t give you that distinctive pillow face) nor is it a toxin, which prevents the muscle from moving. What Exoderm does is refresh your face. You know how sometimes you think you look tired? Exoderm helps to get rid of that look.

Studies have shown that E-50 Exosomes can significantly improve skin quality. In one study, women who received the treatment saw a reduction in wrinkles, improved skin elasticity, and a more even skin tone. Another study showed that E-50 Exosomes can even help to improve the skin’s structure and function.

“It’s like the Holy Grail of therapeutics,” said Mike Lee. Exoderm combines microneedling with exosomes to deliver powerful results. Microneedling creates tiny channels in the skin, which allows the exosomes to penetrate deeper and work their magic. A handheld microneedling device focusing on the superficial layer of the skin (0.3 to 0.5) is used for this. The treatment finishes with TargetCool, which uses CO2 to further enhance the effects of the exosomes. There is little to no pain or even discomfort, and there’s very little downtime (except that you can’t wash your face or wear makeup for six hours).

Talk to the experts at Facial Care Centre to see if Exoderm is the right skin rejuvenation treatment for you.

WATSONS AT INTERNATIONAL COASTAL CLEANUP DAY

I WOULD never wake up early during the weekends but I’d make an exception for certain people and things. One of these is Watsons’ participation in the International Coastal Cleanup Day along SM By The Bay on September 21. This was the second straight year that Watsons partnered with mall operator SM for this. Being present at activities like this gives you a sense of helplessness and feelings of hope at the same time. Helplessness because there is so much waste and that’s just at the surface, but also hope because I’ve actually seen the number of volunteers double this year.

A total of 110 Watsons employees joined the initiative along with thousands  of other volunteers from various organizations, and communities from both the public and private sectors. These volunteers collected a total of 115,200 kilograms of trash and debris from the coastal area. In 2023, this initiative resulted in collecting 100,000 kilos of trash by over 17,000 volunteers from the private and public sectors.

“One of our goals for this project is to inspire the spirit of volunteerism by Watsons employees serving as an example. Any undertaking this big requires the cooperation of many. And that’s what we hope to achieve with this project—to get people to believe in our cause of advocating toward a sustainable future and be inspired to take action,” said Sharon Decapia, SAVP for marketing, PR and sustainability of Watsons Philippines.

To learn more about Watsons’ sustainability efforts and how you can be part of future initiatives, visit your nearest Watsons store or checkout the Watsons App, which you can download via the App Store, or Google Play.

The Watsons solutions for common skincare concerns

address that. You don’t want to age and age because of these factors. So you have to contradict that. “Pigment is really a concern among Filipinos.

to maybe lighten your tone or make it even, know the products. There are a lot of good products. Like niacinamide.

n For more skin-care tips and updates, follow Watsons Philippines on Instragram (@watsonsph), on Facebook (@WatsonsPH), and on Tiktok (@watsonsphilippines).

Glow up and glow on with The Body Shop’s new power duo

VITAMIN C has been one of the most Googled skincare ingredients in recent years. And with over 6 billion views on TikTok for #VitaminC, it looks like the popularity of this glow-getting ingredient isn’t going anywhere. It’s no surprise that the recently renovated Vitamin C range from The Body Shop has become of one the brand’s topselling skincare lines. This year, the brand introduces an all-new “intense” moisturising format, the Vitamin C Glow Boosting Intense Moisturiser. Featuring the same refreshing and citrusy scent of the wider Vitamin C range, this richer version of the cult-favourite Glow Boosting Moisturiser has been packed into a new, nourishing, whipped cream texture. After just one use of the Vitamin C Glow Boosting Intense Moisturiser, people found that their skin was instantly more radiant looking and felt replenished with moisture for 48 hours, double the length of the existing Glow Boosting Moisturiser, making it the perfect pick for those with drier skin types. It’s specifically crafted to pair perfectly with The Body Shop’s Glow Revealing Serum to reveal your bestever glow. The star of the collection,

it boasts 10 percent vitamin C, and is one of the brand’s top 10 Most Loved products. The Vitamin C Glow Boosting Intense Moisturiser replenishes skin with moisture, and is clinically proven to help to reduce dark spots and boosts skin’s luminosity, for skin that looks more radiant with a more even tone and texture. The formula is enriched with natural-origin vitamin C, derived from corn and sugar cane, bakuchiol

and olive-derived squalane. Many beauty fans will know the benefits of squalane, a hugely hydrating ingredient that mimics the natural oils found in our skin. Olive-derived squalane stands out as a superior alternative to traditional squalane methods for several compelling reasons. Using sustainable and cruelty-free methods, it relies on the byproducts of the olive oil industry, minimizing waste and

reducing the need for harvesting from shark liver oil or other animal sources. It also keeps the skin looking plump and hydrated without compromising on marine welfare. Bruno Oliveria, global research and innovation expert at The Body Shop, says: “Our Vitamin C range is one of the most popular skincare ranges at The Body Shop and a lot of work went into perfecting this new formula. Users love the overall experience of the formula, including the scent and the richness. The user trials speak for themselves, and we are especially proud to incorporate olive-derived squalane.” Create the ultimate skincare routine with the latest power couple from The Body Shop: the all-new Intense Moisturiser paired with the bestselling Vitamin C Serum. Clinical studies showed that when using both products together after 4 weeks, 87 percent said their skin’s luminosity looked renewed, 81 percent said their skin tone looked more even, and 93 percent said their skin felt intensely moisturised. The Body Shop’s new Vitamin C collection is available at Body Shop stores and online at www.thebodysbop. com.ph.

CL tourism officers welcome North Phil Expo 2024 with Focus on ‘Tourism and Peace’

BDO partners with PCCI for 50th PHL Business Conference and Expo

APFC Permanent Representative of Philippine Franchise Association; and Sergio Ortiz Luis Jr., President of Philexport pose for a group photo during the 50th Philippine Business Conference and Expo Contract Signing with Co-Presenter and Sponsors.

BDO Unibank Inc. (BDO) has formalized its partnership with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) to sponsor the 50th Philippine Business Conference and Expo (PBC&E) last August 19, 2024 through a ceremonial contract signing. The highly anticipated event will be held on October 22 to 23, 2024 at the Marriott Grand Ballroom with business leaders, policymakers, international partners, and industry experts to discuss key issues and factors that are driving the future of the Philippine economy.

BDO’s involvement in this landmark event highlights its steadfast commitment to empowering Filipino entrepreneurs and enterprises across various sectors.

Under the theme “Embracing Innovation. Empowering Business.

Enriching Lives.” the conference will feature keynote speeches and panel

discussions designed to provide participants with strategic insights on how to leverage global developments to enhance competitiveness, improve market access, and strengthen value chain, among other core competencies.

“We are honored to be part of this significant event, a platform where

vital economic policies and emerging trends converge to shape our nation’s business landscape. Our partnership with PCCI reinforces our commitment to fostering growth in the business sector, which is crucial for uplifting communities and promoting sustainable development across the country,” said BDO President and CEO Nestor V. Tan.

The PBC&E, organized annually by PCCI, stands as the largest business gathering in the Philippines. This year’s conference will convene representatives from PCCI’s 135 local chambers and 60 business councils nationwide, offering unparalleled networking opportunities and business matching to encourage collaboration between local businesses and their international counterparts.

Sneaker Seekers: Eastwood City’s Must-Visit Shoe Stores

SNEAKER culture has taken the world by storm, and Eastwood City is no exception. Quezon City’s entertainment capital offers a treasure trove of shops for sneakerheads and casual wearers alike, whether you’re hunting for your most coveted grails or just looking for the perfect pair to complete the fit.

Lace up and explore these top spots to cop some kicks:

Foot Locker stands as the premier destination for sneakerheads looking to score the latest releases without breaking the bank. This iconic retailer offers a solid selection of fresh kicks at retail prices, ensuring that fans of all styles can find what they need amidst the booming reseller market. Foot Locker keeps the sneaker culture alive and thriving for both casual wearers and dedicated collectors with its extensive range of brands and its own exclusive drops.

2/F Eastwood Mall

Sneaker Box Manila elevates the sneaker shopping experience with its curated selection of high-end kicks and

exclusive designer collaborations. This specialty store boasts rare sneakers and offers a wide range of designer streetwear brands that perfectly complement any sneaker collection.

Sneaker Box Manila is the ultimate destination to find unique and eyecatching pieces for those seeking to stand out in the shoe game. 2/F

Eastwood Mall

Adidas is making waves once again with the triumphant resurgence of iconic silhouettes that have stood the test of time. Sneakerheads and casual fans are buzzing over classics like the Sambas, Forums, and Gazelles, each bringing a nostalgic flair to modern wardrobes. These kicks are perfect for anyone looking to blend vintage vibes with contemporary streetwear With their stylish designs and rich heritage.

G/F Eastwood Mall

Puma expertly balances timeless designs with a fresh wave of aesthetics, offering a diverse range of styles that cater to every taste. The brand is also making headlines with notable

collaborations, including partnerships with Ferrari and rising star athletes like LaMelo Ball to carry classic silhouettes and cutting-edge releases. Puma remains a powerhouse in sneaker culture, appealing to both loyal fans and new enthusiasts alike. G/F Eastwood Mall

New Balance is leading the charge in making the “dad shoe” aesthetic a fashionable statement, seamlessly blending style and functionality. Known for their exceptional comfort, sneakerheads are flocking to models like the 2002R and 550, which showcase the brand’s signature quality and design. With a reputation for delivering both classic looks and modern flair, New Balance has successfully captured the hearts of a new generation of sneakerheads. G/F Eastwood Mall

For more updates on the latest happenings, visit megaworldlifestylemalls.com or call their hotline at 8-462-8888 or follow their social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram (@ MegaworldLifestyleMalls), and TikTok (@megaworldlifestylemalls).

THE Association of Tourism Officers of Central Luzon (ATOCEL) proudly presents the North Phil Expo 2024, a three-day celebration of tourism and culture, set to take place from October 18 to 20, 2024, at SM City Clark. This year’s theme, “Tourism and Peace,” is in line with global initiatives spearheaded by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), emphasizing tourism’s role in promoting peace, unity, and cultural exchange among nations.

The Expo promises an exciting mix of tourist destinations, hotels, airlines, and traders from across Central Luzon. Attendees will get a chance to explore a diverse range of offerings, including handicrafts and local delicacies, ideal for early holiday shopping.

One of the key highlights of North Phil Expo 2024 is the participation of the Provincial Economic Enterprise

Development Office (PEEDO) of Palawan, making its debut at the event. PEEDO’s involvement adds a new dimension to the Expo, bringing the flavors, traditions, and tourism offerings of Palawan to the heart of Central Luzon.

“We are excited to welcome the participation of Palawan this year, which further enriches the experience for our visitors and exhibitors,” said Eliseo Dela Cruz, President of ATOCEL. “The North Phil Expo serves as a platform not only for business but also for peace, unity, and cultural exchange through tourism. We invite everyone to experience the vibrant cultures of Central Luzon and beyond.” Stay tuned for more details about North Phil Expo 2024 and explore the best of Philippine tourism and culture. For inquiries, please contact the PETCO office at (02) 8536 9870 or email at northphilexpo@ gmail.com

‘Illuminated Echoes: The Sound of Light’ by Frederick Espistola opens at The Gallery Bar

MANILA , Philippines – September 26, 2024 – Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria’s hangout spot, The Gallery Bar, opened its doors on September 25, 2024, to the much-anticipated art exhibit, Illuminated Echoes: The Sound of Light, featuring the works of renowned Filipino multidisciplinary artist, Frederick Epistola.

Epistola, celebrated for his innovative abstract art, once again impressed guests with his collection that explores the interplay between light and sound. The artworks on display showcase a series of striking compositions blending visual art with the evocative qualities of auditory perception, offering a multisensory experience that transcends traditional artistic boundaries.

The exhibit is open to the public, with artworks available for sale until January

25, 2025. For purchase inquiries, visitors can refer to the payment details available on each artwork’s labels or approach The Gallery Bar staff for further assistance.

The Gallery Bar is a space within Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria, known as the ultimate hangout spot after a long day. Designed to tickle the senses with an eclectic mix of music, food, and art, serving as a perfect backdrop for this extraordinary exhibition. The bar is open daily from 3 PM to 11 PM, with live music performances every Thursday and Friday starting at 7:30 PM.

“We thank Mr. Frederick, the master of these wonderful creations, for adding meaning and beauty to the transformed Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria,” added General Manager Pat Puyat. The exhibit is poised to attract art enthusiasts, collectors, and hotel guests alike, contributing to the rich cultural landscape of the city.

Cove Manila lights up on October 19 with ‘Glow in The Dark: A Neon Full Moon Party’ Philippines’ top DJs. The event will feature

COVE Manila at Okada Manila will host one of the most electrifying events of the year this October 19 with “Glow in the Dark: A Neon Full Moon Party.” This event is set to dazzle guests with a night of vibrant neon lights, heart-thumping beats, and standout performances by some of the

IN the photo are, from left, Michael G. Tan, President of Asia Brewery Inc.; Aaron Co, Vice President for Investor Relations of SM Investments; George T. Barcelon, Independent Director of BDO Unibank Inc.; Nestor V. Tan, President and CEO of BDO Unibank Inc.; Eunina Mangio, President of Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Atty. Cynthia M. De Castro, Assistant Vice President for Government Affairs and Advocacy Group of San Miguel Corporation; Alegria S. Limjoco, Director for International Relations and

Building a legacy Brand

THIS September, Doc Mar -

tens was warmly welcomed when it made its comeback to the Philippines.

It’s hard to believe that what is perceived as a “cool brand” is 64 years old.

With that, it’s safe to say that the brand has achieved icon status, says Sydney Sladovnik in an article in Inc.com.

“The British shoe brand has stood the test of time over the last 64 years,” he says. What originally started as a workwear boot “has transcended trends through the decades—from punk style in the 1990s to the hipster Tumblr era of the 2000s to today’s celebrity influencer culture and even the workplace.

It has in short, become a legacy brand, much like Barbie which started its fashion doll in 1959, and created so much buzz when it launched a movie last year. Closer to home, we have San Miguel Corporation, which started out with beer in 1890, and has since grown into a conglomerate with the passing of time.

As communicators, we often not only have to grow our brands, but continue to making them exciting through the years. In this year’s Fast company Innovation Festival, Doc Martens global cre -

n GCash B aG s awa R d s fo R em PLoymen T PR o G R a ms

aT h R a s I a, h R e xC e L L e n C e a nd T he sT ev I e awa R d s MANILA, PHILIPPINES— GCash, the Philippines’ leading finance super app and largest cashless ecosystem, shines as an Employer of Choice at the prestigious HR Asia, HR Excellence, and Stevie Awards, taking home accolades in multiple categories.

“We strive to make our standards for workplace excellence at par with international standards. These accolades at the HR Excellence Awards and Stevie Awards affirm we are headed in the right direction,” GCash Chief People Officer Robert Gonzales said. “At GCash, we pursue a multi-faceted HR approach, encompassing workplace compensation, leadership opportunities, streamlined hiring, diversity and inclusion, mental health, and anti-harassment, among many other initiatives. We are also intentional with the culture that we build and nurture, in view of our mission to enable Finance for All.”

GCash celebrates its second consecutive win as one of HR Asia’s Best Companies to Work For, an honor given to top

employers in the region based on metrics such as employee engagement and workplace culture.

GCash also won HR Asia’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) award for the first time, which recognizes companies that have become an outstanding example in promoting belongingness. For the company, these initiatives begin in the hiring process, where the company actively seeks out employees from relevant groups, such as women, the LGBTQIA+ community, persons with disabilities, and more, in various settings such as schools, seminars, and expos.

All employees are required upon onboarding to undergo sensitivity training, which covers various topics such as inclusion principles, anti-harassment and micro aggressions, among others. This is on top of company-wide initiatives such as the banner program, DEI x DEI, a foundational course that will enable employees not just to speak the language of inclusion with each other but to be able to practice inclusive responses that create safe spaces for all.

Meanwhile, employees with same-sex partners are also entitled to GCash’s Life Partner benefits, offering health insurance, disability and accident insurance, bereavement coverage, wellness allowances,

ative director Darren Leon McKoy took part in a fireside chat to discuss “what makes the brand iconic and why the ‘ugly shoes’ have become a classic.”

“Achieving a legacy has more to do with simplicity than trendiness”, he says. As a person obsessed with brand DNA, he stays true to Doc Marten’s DNA.

That’s how the brand sustains through the years, he says, sharing with us How Doc Martens Has Transcended Trends to Stay Relevant for over 60 Years.

Resist Trends

A STRATEGY that stands the test of time is keeping customers educated and refreshing their memories their memories of the brand’s origin story, says McKoy.

While it’s common for businesses to innovate, or try a new product, McKoy says he’s learned to through his time with other brands like Adidas and North Face that businesses don’t always need to hop on a trend to stay relevant.

While there’s always the temptation to push the brand into new spaces, changes—if made, they don’t need to be radical.

Doc Martens maintains the promotion of its classic shoes,

and access to mental health apps like KonsultaMD and Mind You.

Moreover, inclusive communities and networks are encouraged at GCash, such as the “Queer Peers CommYOUnity” (for LGBTQIA+ employees) and the Limitless League CommYOUnity (for persons with disabilities). GCash also rolls out regular internal campaigns and events, such as “True You,” which covers various initiatives like the SheCan! recognition program for women, employee self-declaration survey, basic sign language classes, and many more.

GCash is also a partner of advocacy-led organizations such as the National Council on Disability Affairs and Philippine Financial & Inter-Industry Pride.

Meanwhile, at the HR Excellence Awards, GCash was honored as the Gold Winner for Excellence in HR Communication Strategy, which recognizes companies with effective communication strategies within their HR function. The company’s HR team was also named the Best HR Team. With these awards, GCash proves it is consistently seeking feedback on employee needs and preferences, implementing strategies to address these.

In other categories, GCash bagged silver for Excellence in Total Rewards Strategy, and bronze for Employer of the

the 1460 and Jadon boots and the 1461 Oxford loafers. The brand experiments with different leathers and might tweak a style, but otherwise, it keeps R &D minimal, he says.

Look at customers

WHILE visiting from the UK, McKoy shared that he visited a store in New York City. Visiting a store “is the simplest way to gain insight and inspiration from customers—how they style the shoe, what they ask for, and how they interact with the brand.”

He believes that if a brand isn’t willing to see its customers in person, “then you’re wasting your time.”

McKoy also recommends looking at what resonates with the younger generation because “they are both customers and good predictors of what will resonate in the future.”

He adds that the brand has a large team of Gen-Z employees, and constantly showcase a

Year and Excellence in Retention Strategy.

Moreover, GCash scored a back-to-back victory at the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, winning gold for Employer of the Year (Financial Services) for a second consecutive year. This solidifies GCash’s dominance in the financial technology industry, not only in terms of scale and performance but workplace excellence—crucial in promoting digital financial inclusion.

GCash was also awarded gold for Achievement in Benefits Design and Administration, which recognizes notable single achievements, or a series of achievements, related to benefits design and/or administration.

GCash’s other accolades at the Stevie Awards include silver for Recruiting or Talent Acquisition Team of the Year and Best Youth Employment Strategy, and a bronze for Achievement in Employee Engagement.

“We listen to the pulse of our employees, who are now more discerning in what they are looking for in workplaces,” added Robert Gonzales. “GCash is delighted to be meeting their needs and priorities.”

“GCash has come a long way in becoming the Philippines’ first and only US$5 billion unicorn. It was a team effort we’ve built throughout the years,” GCash President and CEO

diverse range of young people “wearing the shoe in everyday settings on its Instagram such as parks, festivals, Pride Events, or simply walking the street.”

Bolster Intellectual Property SUCCESSFUL businesses need a good product, but branding need good intellectual property. When you visit a Doc Marten store, its walls are black, just like the color of its signature leather.

The imagery on its Instagram is a mix of grainy videos, warmtoned filters, and bright flash photography of people walking on the street, sitting on concrete steps, and gathering in urban crowds.

McKoy says all of these contribute to the brand’s intellectual property, or the grungy vintage vibe that becomes inherent when customers think of the brand.

The brands that succeed never lose sight of where they came

Martha Sazon said. “Thanks to our brilliant, creative, and hardworking employees, we have an empowered organization that enables millions of Filipinos to thrive every day, prepare for a rainy day, and plan for their one day. To pursue our mission of Finance for All, we need an empowered workplace where everyone is valued and inspired to make a difference.”

MANILA, PHILIPPINES— Beauty is for everyone, and Robinsons Department Store made it possible for people to explore the hottest trends in “Beauty All Access” last September 11 to 15 at Robinsons Place Antipolo.

Beauty All Access was the place to be for beauty pros and casuals alike, offering a full shopping journey from across renowned brands, like Maybelline, L’Oreal Olay, Bobbie, Colourette, Nivea, Garnier, and so much more. Beauty enthusiasts scored products of up to 50% off to achieve the TikTokpopular cherry cola look and mochi skin.

Robinsons Department Store also prepared games and activities to keep things fun.

from. And Doc Martens always returns to its core. In the 1940s, Doc Martens was the symbol of rebellion and hard work. It became synonymous with the working class, British culture, and personal strength all of which remain relevant today.

“Go back to what makes your brand special,” he says. “Don’t forget that.”

PR Matters is a roundtable column by members of the local chapter of the United Kingdom-based International Public Relations Association (IPRA), the world’s premier association for senior professionals around the world. Millie Dizon, the Senior Vice President for Marketing and Communications of SM, is the former local chair.

We are devoting a special column each month to answer the reader’s questions about public relations. Please send your comments and questions to askipraphil@gmail.com.

The event culminated in the Beauty Forum on September 14, a big gathering of shoppers and influencers sharing their love of all things beauty and self-expression.

Beauty f or um: w h ere beauties are v I Ps T HE B eauty Forum had all the elements of a fun fair and the hype was next-level. It was teeming with excited beauties who spent the afternoon shopping for their favorite products. VIP Cards were also given out to record the participants’ experiences, and they were given a chance to win prizes in the raffle draw.

Between shopping sprees, they got to watch jaw-dropping performances by drag queens Muah Dayaw, Riley Nicole, and Stare Decisis. Each of them showcased their lip-syncing prowess and artistry in makeup and style, inspiring the audience to embrace their own uniqueness. During the brand talks, local beauty experts shared their makeup and skincare insights and inspiring stories of selfexpression. The Q&A and meet and greet sessions afterward was also a great opportunity for beauties to get more nuggets of wisdom from the experts.

Robinsons Department Store’s Beauty All Access was a celebration of all kinds of beauty. It brought people together to rave about their favorite products and learn about new trends that fit their lifestyles.

LBJ’s rookie son: ‘New beginnings’

ALM DESERT, California—

PBronny James said his famous father gave him encouragement and advice after his National Basketball Association (NBA) preseason debut with the Los Angeles Lakers.

L eBron James also made it clear he’s proud of his son as they move toward another chance to play together on Sunday night.

B ronny scored two points and blocked three shots during the Lakers’ loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night at Acrisure Arena as LeBron sat out the preseason opener, watching his son from the Lakers’ bench. “ Yeah, there was some stuff we talked about,” Bronny said. “I would rather not go into detail, but just support and, ‘Keep working hard, keep being confident in yourself.’ Stuff like that.”

A fter Saturday’s practice, LeBron acknowledged his satisfaction in seeing Bronny’s next basketball step in a tumultuous year-plus for his oldest son, who was in high school only 16 months ago. It was great to see Bronny out there,” LeBron said.

Bronny recovered from a frightening cardiac arrest in July 2023 and played part of one season at Southern California before entering the draft and being picked by the Lakers in the second round.

Every rank that you climb is always an adjustment to get used to it,” LeBron said. “So when he went to middle school to high school to USC and now to the pros, it’s always an adjustment he makes. So with more and more time he’s on the floor with pros, the speed, the cadence and all those things, you get better and better. And you’ve got to [remember] that he lost pretty

Fuller goes full throttle for RoS

TBy Josef Ramos

AKE if from coach Yeng Guaio but Aaron Fuller’s turned out as the most cost efficient among the imports in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Governors’ Cup that’s now in its semifinals stage. Loose change [barya barya],” said Guiao on Rain or Shine’s import who brought them past Magnolia in the quarterfinals last Saturday and into the semifinals against TNT Tropang Giga next week.

The Elasto Painters eliminated the Timpladoes, 113-103, in Game 5 of their duel at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City with Fuller contributing 26 points and nine rebounds.

G uiao won’t say how much the team pays Fuller—just like every other team in the league—but PBA imports get an average of $25,000 (roughly P1.5 million) a month.

Fuller though, according to Guiao, is no ordinary import.

“ We opted for somebody like Aaron [Fuller] in this conference because he knows our system already,” Guiao said. “I know him because he played for me when I coached NLEX.”

Fuller played for Guiao in 2018 and helped bring the Road Warriors to the quarterfinals also of the Governors’ Cup. He’s not that expensive, but he’s a fighter, a leader and very hardworking,” he added.

Fuller’s determination was tested by Magnolia’s physical defense in the series especially in Game 2—which they badly lost, 121-69—when Ian Sangalang poked accidentally his left eye.

He defied doctors’ advice to wear a mask in Game 3 and scored 29 points in their 111-106 overtime win.

Despite Magnolia coming back in Game 4 to tie the series, 100-129, Fuller continued to go full throttle.

Aaron’s value is simple—we will not be around if not for Aaron,” Guiao said. “He carried us on his broad shoulders.”

Aboitiz Cup in Tarlac

much almost a third of a season last year because of the condition, but he’s got better and better every day. He’s continued to put the work in.”

Bronny played 16 minutes went 1 for 6 from the field, but he showed off his defensive abilities in a series of plays that prompted Lakers coach JJ Redick to describe him as “disruptive” to opponents.

Bronny saw the entire experience as an important milestone in his journey, but just another step.

I’d say it’s a game for new beginnings, me just trying to go out there and get a feel for the game, get comfortable, like how I did in summer league,” Bronny said. “I feel like it’s the same thing, basically. Just go out there and feel things out.”

Bronny could play alongside his father for the first time Sunday night when the Lakers host the Phoenix Suns in Los Angeles’ second game in the

A ng alam namin ’yang Aboitiz Cup ay sa Cebu, then Davao, and later, Batangas, but now, nandito na sa Tarlac,” beamed Glenn Caritativo who aside from being a Tarlac Football Association president was also a city councilor.

“This is a long time coming.”

Th is long-running football program was organized with the help of the Central Luzon Football Association.

It was doubly a thrill for Caritativo who has given his life to football. As a youngster, he studied at Don Bosco Tarlac and played on the school varsity team. After college, he played for Mapua and won a couple of National Collegiate Athletic Association titles.

W ithout many events or even football pitches, football hasn’t really picked up in the province that is called the “Melting Pot of Central Luzon” for its mix-mash of various ethnic groups that also translates into some of the best cuisine throughout the nation.

However, a couple of Tarlaqueños have given this province hope in terms of contributions for football.

P reviously, Tarlac was making a name for itself as a producer of basketball and volleyball talents.

Golden Tigresses go unbeaten

Super League Collegiate Pre-season Championship Sunday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

Other than a little challenge to close out the third set, the Golden Tigresses had a cakewalk to stay unbeaten behind pool leader University of the East (3-0).

Kyla Cordora led UST’s

Xyza Gula chipped in eight points and Margaret Altea had seven points for UST.

Jona Perdido and Regina Jurado added six points each in the Tigresses’ strong follow-up to a 4-set decision over Lyceum of the Philippines University last Saturday.

Bianca Plaza pushed UST at match

point, 24-17, on a quick attack but Mapua refused to go down without a fight as it answered with three straight points before Cordora closed it out. The Lady Cardinals, led by Alyanna Ong’s eight points, remained winless

L eBron and Anthony Davis will both play against the Suns, Redick confirmed Saturday. Both superstars sat out of Friday’s loss to rest after a week of training camp following a long summer that included gold medals at the Paris Olympics. I think we want to carry over with what we did today at practice,” LeBron said. “I think we were very intent on what we want to accomplish going forward. I think [Friday] was one of those first games. It’s been a while since a lot of guys have played in a game setting, and it looked that way.” AP

Superal, del Rosario lead talented cast in ICTSI Iloilo Golf Challenge

PRINCESS SUPERAL, Pauline del Rosario, Chanelle Avaricio, Daniella Uy and Marvi Monsalve will be in a

the P1 million 54-hole championship.

Superal, returning to the local circuit after competing on the Step Up Tour in Japan, is out to make her Ladies Philippine Golf Tour comeback following her 11th place finish at the Lakewood Championship last June.  Del Rosario, on the other hand, is coming off the Epson Tour season, while Uy, Avaricio and Monsalve resume their quests after playing in Taiwan and Thailand.

Adding further excitement to the tournament organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc. are Harmie Constantino, the season’s winningest player with three victories, and fellow champions Florence

INDIANAPOLIS—Hollywood star Keanu Reeves made his professional auto racing debut on Saturday in an event in which “The Matrix” and “John Wick” star spun out at famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

and continued driving, signaling he was uninjured.

Tarlac natives who made it to pro basketball include Jimbo Aquino, KG Canaleta, Jake Pascual and Ato Ular.

L ocal fans gravitated to women’s volleyball when Major Baron and Myla Pablo became superstars in University Athletic Association of the Philippines women’s volleyball with La Salle and National University, respectively.  Football, though, is growing.

There’s JR Suba, a graduate of Don Bosco who moved up to San Beda in the NCAA, then represented the Philippines in the Southeast Asian Games after which he played professional football for Mendiola FC.

A nd there’s Red Sajonia who played for the University of the Philippines’ women’s football team and is currently on the women’s national team’s coaching staff.  That means we have talent,” Caritativo offered. “We just need football fields and events to grow the game that we love.”

A side from the local Bosconians, the youth teams of military base Camp Servillano Aquino (also located in Tarlac) have the unenviable advantage of having a proper pitch.

D uring the football cup this past weekend, the technical knowhow, spacing on the field and technique was on full display much to the delight of the weekend crowd. There are other pitches such as the one located at the Tarlac Recreational Park and New Clark City.  For the game to grow,” we need to

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aren’t many events or even football pitches that teams as far as Tuguegarao in Cagayan (that is almost an eight-hour drive) come to participate. “ It’s a love for the game, and being inspired by our men’s and women’s

HINDI makatulog yung mga bata sa sobrang excitement.”

Th at was how youth football coach Herbert Valenzuela described his young wards at the Gerona Football Club the night before the first Aboitiz Football Cup was played at Don Bosco Technical Institute in Tarlac City.

KEANU REEVES spins out at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in pro auto racing debut. AP

RAIN or Shine’s Aaron Fuller in action against Magnolia’s Calvin Abueva in Game 5.

BRONNY JAMES sees the entire experience as an important milestone in his journey, but just another step. AP

KYLA CORDORA improvises as she goes on to lead University of Santo Tomas’s balanced offense.

Coachella Valley. Sunday is also Bronny’s 20th birthday.

Bisera, Sarah Ababa, Chihiro Ikeda, Mafy Singson and Mikha Fortuna. K orean prodigy Jiwon Lee will also on a mission to bounce back from her final-round collapse at Forest Hills. A fter winning the Lakewood crown as an amateur and capturing a pro title at Splendido Taal, Lee is eager to bounce back from her last-round 80 in Antipolo City that allowed compatriot and junior golfer Yunju An to steal the spotlight.

ompleting the competitive roster are Pamela Mariano, Apple Fudolin, Rev Alcantara, Kristine Fleetwood, Lucy Landicho, Velinda Castil and Kayla Nocum.

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