BusinessMirror October 09, 2023

450 Pinoys in Israel war zone; govt orders full ops

By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla & Malou Talosig-Bartolome @maloutalosig

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R.

Marcos Jr. on Sunday announced all concerned government agencies have been mobilized to ensure the safety of Filipinos in Israel after it suffered surprise attacks from militant Hamas forces during the weekend.

“The President has instructed the Department of Migrant Workers [DMW] and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration [OWWA] to locate and account for all overseas Filipino workers

[OFWs] and their families in Israel,” the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said in a statement.

450 Pinoys

THERE are around 450 Filipinos in south Israel and Gaza Strip where intense fighting is happening between the renewed war between Israeli forces and the Hamas group. Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Paul Raymund Cortez said based on the accounts of the Honorary Consul in southern Israel, the OFWs are safe.

T here are 150 Filipinos in Gaza Strip, most of them spouses of Palestinians. The DFA could not confirm reports on social media that Filipinos

and Thais were taken hostage at the border.

Cortez said all the 1,500 Filipino agricultural students in southern Israel are all accounted for, dismissing rumors that one of the Filipino agricultural students was kidnapped by Hamas.

I sraeli Ambassador to Manila

Ilan Fluss said Israel is in a state of war and they could not ascertain all people who have been taken as hostages, including foreigners.

W hen asked if Israel can guarantee the safety of 150 Filipinos in Gaza, Ambassador Fluss could not give such a guarantee because it is a military operation.

This is a war against terrorism.

The Palestinian citizens and those who are not Hamas operatives, they are not our enemies. We recommend to Palestinian citizens and the others to get away from Hamas. Israel has always tried its best not to get people involved by operations. I think more than that, we cannot say more than that because it is a military operation,” Fluss said during a Zoom meeting.

T here are 50,000 OFWs in Israel and most of them are in Tel Aviv, Haifa and other northern parts of Israel.

Cortez said the DFA has not upgraded the contingent alert status in Israel.

BusinessMirror

SEPT GIR HITS7-MONTH

LOW ON DEBT PAYMENTS

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

I n its latest report, the BSP said the country’s GIR at the end of September stood at $98.7 billion, almost a billion dollars lower than the $99.6 billion recorded reserves in end-August.

T he country’s latest GIR level is the lowest in seven months or since the $98.216 billion recorded amount in February.

The month-on-month decrease in the GIR level reflected mainly the National Government’s [NG] payments of its foreign currency debt obligations and the downward adjustments in the value of

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ [BSP] gold holdings due to the decrease in the price of gold in the international market,” it said.

L ikewise, the country’s net international reserves, which measures the difference between its reserve assets and reserve liabilities, decreased by $800 million to $98.7 billion in September from $99.5 billion in August.

L iabilities include short-term foreign debt and credit and loans from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

See “Sept,” A2

By Andrea E. San Juan @andreasanjuan & Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie

WITH growing optimism surrounding the country’s economic landscape, a senior trade and investment commissioner said Australia is deepening its trade, economic, and educational links with the Philippines.

A ccording to Christopher Lim, a senior trade and investment commissioner at the Australian Embassy in Manila, Austrade recognizes the tremendous potential for economic growth in the Philippines.

There’s never been a more exciting time to work on issues relating to the Philippines because we are very bullish about the prospects for Philippine economic growth, and correspondingly, we are also very focused and also very hopeful about increasing links between Austra -

EL NIDO RESORTS LISTED ANEW AMONG ‘BEST’ IN THE WORLD

lia and the Philippines in terms of trade, economic, and education ties,” he said in a media roundtable interview last Friday.

A ustrade is the Australian government’s trade, investment, and education promotion agency.

F rom Austrade’s perspective, Lim said there has been a remarkable increase in the number of Australian companies venturing into the Philippines.   “ We have seen a huge uptick in the number of Australian companies coming into the Philippines, and these Australian companies range from agrifood, education institutions, mining firms, tech companies, and cybersecurity companies,” he said.

In 2022, Lim said the bilateral trade relationship between the two countries had flourished.

Notably, he said, the Philippines has become Australia’s 15th largest export partner, signaling room for further growth.

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

EL NIDO Resorts (Lagen, Miniloc, and Pangalusian) once more made it among The 50 Best Resorts in the World as voted by readers of popular international  publication Conde Nast Traveler (CNT).

T his is the eighth consecutive year that the resorts group, operated by Ayala Hotels and Resorts Corp., made the list. This year, it was ranked 39th in the world.

The list was topped by L’Horizon Resort & Spa in Palm Springs.

E l Nido Resorts was likewise ranked second among the Top 20 Resorts in Asia in the Readers’ Choice Awards, with a score of 98.65. It was followed by Shangri-La Boracay in third place (97.91), and Shangri-La Mactan was in 12th place (94.39). The

category was topped by The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi.

T hree Philippine island destinations also landed among this year’s Top Islands in Asia: Boracay placed third with a score of 90.74, Palawan ranked sixth (89.71), and Siargao ranked 10th (87.37). The regional category was topped by Bali (91.08) and Koh Samui (91.07).

Contributor to tourism growth

OVER 600,000 readers voted in CNT’s various categories including The Best Hotels in the World, The Best Spas in the World, The Best Cities in the World, among others.

I n a news statement, Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said, “This achievement reflects the hard work, dedication, and sustainable tourism

THE Philippines’s gross international reserves (GIR) fell below $99 billion in endSeptember on a monthly basis as the state paid off some of its foreign currency debt, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

and the Volunteer Fire Brigade of Pasay City, and the Turnover of the Fire Tanker. The event took place at the SM Mall of Asia on

A PALESTINIAN man sits in the rubble of a building struck by an Israeli airstrike, in Gaza City on Sunday, October 8, 2023 following Saturday’s unprecedented, multifront attack by the militant Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip. The Hamas fired thousands of rockets as dozens of Hamas fighters infiltrated the heavily fortified border in several locations by air, land, and sea, killing hundreds and taking captives. Palestinian health officials, meanwhile, reported scores of deaths from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza. AP PHOTO/FATIMA SHBAIR

THEY’RE BACK Gilas Pilipinas arrives at the Naia Terminal 1 on Sunday, Oct. 8, flying home via PR 337 of Philippine Airlines with the gold medal in men’s basketball at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. The national squad beat Jordan, 70-60, to end the Philippines’s 61-year drought for gold.

PHL raises $1.26B, above target, in 2nd sale of RDBs

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

THE Marcos Jr. administration raised $1.26 billion from its tender of retail dollar bonds (RDBs), exceeding the $1-billion borrowing target from the country’s second sale of RDBs.

Bureau of Treasury (BTr) Deputy Treasurer Erwin D. Sta. Ana said the national government awarded a total of $1.26 billion out of the total $1.28 billion bid it received during the little over a week offer period of the RDBs.

Sta. Ana disclosed that the rejected bids, amounting to $25 million, were all recorded during the rate-

setting auction last September 27.

(Relatedstory: https://businessmirror .com.ph/2023/09/28/ manilas-retail-bond-offeryields-611-2m/) T he state initially raised $611 million from the first day of its second RDB offering, the first under the Marcos Jr. administration, last September 27.

Continued from A1

“The value of two-way trade has grown to AUD 6 billion in the 2022 calendar year, and that’s an increase of 18 percent from 2021. The other sort of element is that the Philippines is Australia’s 15th largest export partner,” he said.

L im cited another development: the export of Philippine Carabao

mangoes to Australia, signaling potential avenues for agricultural trade.

“There are also sorts of things going the other way, which we are very excited about. For instance, the sweetest mangoes in the world, the carabao mangoes, have been exported to Australia and have

T he amount was only 96 percent of the $636.2 million tender that day as some bids were higher than the acceptable level for the national government.

T he state’s minimum target borrowing for the RDBs was at $200 million, which was later on upsized to $1 billion due to better- thanexpected demand from the public.

T he RDBs had a coupon rate of 5.75 percent and a maturity period of 5.5 years.

We upsized it from $1 billion, to $1.26 billion and then we closed it,” Sta. Ana told reporters in a recent press briefing. In the auction we have a cutoff rate. It is a Dutch auction; once you get it at that rate then there goes the volume. Also, the corresponding volume did not entertain higher yield, the other [bids] exceeded the 5.75-percent coupon rate,” he added.

reached Sydney and Perth,” he said.

T he demand for these delectable mangoes in Australia and improved quality, timeliness, and supply chain management could boost these exports further, he said.

L im said there’s a big potential for increasing exports from the Philippines to Australia.

Agriculture products are big here. There are big items that big companies control, such as wheat

Sta. Ana noted that the RDB tender had a “good turnout” despite the present market conditions of elevated inflation and high interest rates.

The fact [that] we were able to upsize from the initial target of $1 billion is a very good signal,” he said.

T he amount raised in the country’s second RDBs was lower than the $1.593 billion recorded in its maiden issuance last October 2019.

H owever, Sta. Ana explained that the two results are “incomparable” since the initial offering targeted institutional buyers while the latest tender focused on individuals, such as Overseas Filipino workers. He added that the market conditions surrounding the two tenders were also “much different.”

“ We wanted to encourage the OFWs to invest so that they would learn to invest,” Finance Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno said.

and oats; that’s a big component. But the areas that we are pushing and that we really want a lot of people to enjoy more are Australian beef, wine, dairy, and fruit, as well as lamb and stone fruit. I think that’s really good, and that also helps with the Philippines’s food security,” he said.

Australia and the Philippines already have a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) under the Asean-AustraliaNew Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA).

Moreover, Lim said Australia has emerged as an educational destination for Filipino students, with approximately 30,000 Filipino students studying in the country.

“ I think there’s room for improvement there. In terms of st udents, we now have 30,000 Filipino students studying in Australia. This is much larger than what it was before the pandemic. Before the pandemic, we reached a high of 18,000; now it’s 30,000,” he said.

M eanwhile, Lim noted that regulatory clarity, simplification, and consistency are essential for fostering a conducive business environment in the Philippines.

W hile challenges exist, Austrade commends the efforts of the President’s Anti-Red Tape Authority (Arta) in addressing regulatory hurdles, he said.

I think, of course, that in a regulatory environment, we’d like to see a lot more clarity, a lot more simplification, and also consistency in what we call the imposition of policies and how the policy is actually carried out. We do know that there are challenges in the Philippines, but on the other hand, there are countering forces, such as the President’s Arta, which has been extremely helpful in actually helping.

. . certain situations,” he added.

Sept...

efforts of our country, from our local communities, national and local government agencies, and stakeholders who have strived tirelessly to preserve and enhance the beauty of these islands.”

S he added, “The awards inspire us to continue developing and promoting the Philippines as a premier travel destination in Asia and the world. Our commitment to sustainable tourism practices has not only captivated the hearts of travelers but has also contributed significantly to the growth of our nation’s tourism industry.”

From January to September 29, over 4 million international tourists visited the Philippines. Of the total, 3.67 million were foreign nationals while the rest at 337,426 were overseas Filipinos. (See, “Philipines nears international arrivals goal of 4.8M—DOT,” in the BusinessMirror, October 2, 2023.)

Major travel trends

MEANWHILE ,  CNT found major trends among travelers based on its survey.

It noted 69 percent of respondents said they traveled to “newto-them” places, while 47 percent “returned to familiar and favorite destinations.” Of the total respondents, 61 percent said they traveled internationally, while 39 percent took local trips. Some 43 percent said they visited family, 23 percent said they took “solo trips,” which CNT said may indicate a hot new trend.

N early 65 percent took a

trip which lasted a week or longer, while 41 percent traveled for 11 days or more. “Roughly one in four took trips lasting over two weeks,” said CNT.

Wellness was also a major pursuit by travelers. “Among our readers, 70 percent said they took trips with the goals of relaxation in mind; 28 percent specified that wellness was part of their travel intentions.” Adventure travel was also prevalent with 63 percent of respondents saying they went on a few such trip; while 38 percent traveled to celebrate birthdays, honeymoons, and other festivities. Thirty-eight percent of respondents also took group trips with friends.

Travelers have been “sneaking in” more getaways, with 51 percent saying they took weekend getaways, while 28 percent said they were able to go on short, mid-week getaways. About 9 percent said they took remote work trips, blending leisure trips with work.

M any travelers also took “bucket-list” dream trips. “In 2022, 22 percent of survey respondents said they plan to take a once-in-a-lifetime trip. So many of you had great follow through: about 36 percent of this year’s said they took a bucketlist trip.”

For the rest of the year, three in four survey respondents said they were booked on two or more trips, while 10 percent said they had seven more planned trips. About 34 percent of respondents also said they already had one to three trips for 2024.

Such responsibility may include diversion, transportation, and disposal of recovered waste and the cleanup in coastal and public areas. Failure to meet the required percentages will draw a penalty ranging from P5 million to P10 million.

W ith 2023 on its final stretch, Leones conceded that some OEs will be delayed in meeting the target of diverting 20 percent of their very own plastic waste by the end of this year.

So where are we? We’re still fighting it. Not much has really happened over the past year. Only 9 percent of our plastics are recycled. That is the reason why there is really no success so much in our EPR that is coming in,” Cagayan de Oro City Second District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez said, when pressed about the current situation of solid waste in the country.

how to address garbage problem, particularly the management of plastic wastes,” he said.

Needed measures, change

ALTHOUGH they are not covered yet by the EPR law at present, MSMEs are encouraged to practice EPR voluntarily or become a part of the network of OEs, Collectives or PROs that do so.

But if I were asked, medium [enterprises with a capitalization or asset value of] P30 million up to P100 million should be required also. That’s the problem with our businessmen, especially the Filipino-Chinese companies, they are not complying. So we are going to invite them to come in our future roadshow. If they do not come, we will visit them,” said Rodriguez.

Continued from A1

Despite the decline in GIR, the country’s import cover remains above seven months.

“ The latest GIR level represents a more than adequate external liquidity buffer equivalent to 7.3 months’ worth of imports of goods and payments of services and primary income,” the BSP said.

“ Moreover, it is also about 5.7 times the country’s short-term external debt based on original maturity and 3.6 times based on residual maturity,” the BSP added.

T he BSP’s reserve assets consist of foreign investments, gold, foreign exchange, reserve position in the IMF and special drawing rights.

T he BSP said short-term debt based on residual maturity refers to outstanding external debt with original maturity of one year or less, plus principal payments on mediumand long-term loans of the public and private sectors falling due within the next 12 months.

S tatistics show that this has been a constant challenge nationwide as the rates steadily grow annually while recovery and recycling levels lag behind. Of the estimated 61,000 metric tons of solid waste generated daily all over the country, up to 24 percent is plastic. The biggest of these are packaging materials or SKUs (stock keeping units) of different fast-moving consumer goods (FMCGs), plastic cutlery and bags. Most of such litter end up in bodies of water, thus, making the Philippines one of the largest contributors of plastic waste dumped into the ocean globally.

W ith barely three months before the year ends, some firms are still not sure about what an EPR is all about, or if they are covered or not by the law. According to Leones, it is not very clear in the EPR law whether the delegation of responsibility goes to the industries and producers. The same goes with the LGUs under RA 9003.  “ Our objective now, under RA 9003, is that LGUs have their own solid waste management program. It’s required. Failure of submission will lead to a legal case. That’s also what will happen with the EPR law. So what we need to do now is the partnership framework. We have to merge or consolidate the LGUs with industries and producers so that we can have an effective strategy on

“Certainly, in two or three more years, I will file a bill to include the medium enterprises. If they’re not included, nothing will happen.”

T he principal author of the EPR law, likewise, bared his other legislative measures to help realize it. These include bills that will incentivize the recycling industry and the inclusion of plastic waste management in the school curriculum.

Meanwhile, he urged DENR to revisit the provision of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) to allow industries or companies to collect both rigid and flexible plastics even if they produce just any of them.  P er the environment undersecretary, the agency interprets it this way: if a company produces only rigid plastics, then they can only recover rigid plastics because they do not produce flexibles. But if the industry or a company is producing rigid and, at the same time, flexible plastics, then they are allowed to collect both rigid and flexibles

We welcome that proposal,” Leones said of their willingness to revisit their IRR for it to become consistent with the provision of the EPR law. “So we’re just awaiting an official letter from the industry. And as soon as we receive that, we will sit down, we’ll ask the UNDP [United Nations Development Programme] and, perhaps, GIZ to help us analyze and come up with a good interpretation of what is really the intention of the law.”

• Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

Franchisers seek to bolster PHL brands in global mart

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie

SEEING a promising future ahead, the Philippine Franchise Association (PFA) aims to bolster the presence of Filipino franchise brands in the global market in the coming year and is seeking support from the national government.

In recent years, Philippine Franchise Association (PFA) President Sam Christopher Lim said there has been a notable increase in the ambition of Filipino brands to expand and establish a global presence.

During an interview last October 2, Lim said internationalization of Filipino brands has been driven by increased exposure, government support, and the willingness of Filipino entrepreneurs to share their knowledge and experiences with aspiring international brands.

“In the coming years, we want to join a lot of these franchise shows internationally and bring our delegations there,” he said.

Franchise Asia, an annual event, has played a significant role in catalyzing the international aspirations of Filipino brands. The event not only facilitates networking but also provides invaluable exposure to international markets.

According to Lim, many Filipino entrepreneurs have attended Franchise Asia and found inspiration from successful international brands, further fueling their desire to go global.

While exposure is crucial, it is often not enough, and government support plays a vital role in assisting Filipino brands to enter international markets, added Lim.

Lim said countries like Korea, Indonesia, and Thailand offer substantial government subsidies to their entrepreneurs to participate in international trade shows and expand their businesses globally.

“If you look at Korea, you look at Indonesia, and you look at Thailand. Some of them bring in delegations here. So we want to work more with the government to be able to support this because they know if they support us, we’re going to be exporting entire brands,” he said.

Lim said this support from the government eases the financial burden on businesses and allows them to compete on a global scale.

He said the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has been a steadfast supporter of the PFA and its mission.

“We were very close to DTI. DTI has been a supporter ever since the start of the PFA, and we wouldn’t be where we are without the support of DTI. But when it comes to internationals, we always talk to a lot of their consuls,” he said.

In addition to financial support, Lim said Filipino brands are looking for policy recommendations that can foster long-term growth in the franchising industry, which includes collaborations with organizations like the World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO) and the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL).

“We work with, let’s say, the World Intellectual Property Office

BIR prodded to go after tax dodgers using fake receipts

SENATOR Sherwin T. Gatchalian goaded the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to step up a crackdown against tax dodgers using “ghosts and fake receipts.”

Gatchalian prodded the BIR to intensify efforts to “eliminate the proliferation of ghost and fake receipts,” stating that “such activities are denting government revenues and adversely affecting” micro-scale enterprises.

According to the solon, ghost receipts pertain to receipts issued with no or fictitious underlying transactions; no actual sale took place but a receipt was issued. Fake receipts, on the other hand, are receipts that are not duly authorized by the BIR as they are meant to understate the sales.

According to BIR Commissioner Romeo D. Lumagui Jr., the estimated total value of ghost receipts issued has already reached P1.3 trillion. Based on the income tax and valueadded tax rates of 25 percent and 12 percent, respectively, the government has lost at least P370 billion in revenues from the use of ghost receipts by various businesses.

“This is a serious issue. We are talking about a trillion pesoworth of fraudulent receipts going around the system; and it’s affecting not only government collection but also taxpayers who are doing honest business,” Gatchalian said noting one particular case of the use of fake receipts was brought to his attention.

“They bought something but they were issued fake receipts. As a result, they can’t claim their input VAT because it was disapproved by the BIR,” he related during a hearing on the proposed budget of the Department of Finance and its attached agencies.

While the BIR has already filed criminal cases against the buyers and sellers of ghost receipts, Gatchalian emphasized the need to further intensify the campaign to improve government revenue collection and protect small businesses that fall prey to sellers of ghost receipts or enterprises that issue fake receipts.

In June this year, the BIR filed criminal cases against buyers of ghost receipts that led to revenue loss amounting to P17.9 billion. The agency also filed cases against sellers of ghost receipts in March, including four “ghost” corporations that cost the government about P25.5 billion in revenue loss. The legislator explained that for transactions involving large sums of money, it is usually challenging to prove the buyer’s innocence because such transactions usually involve banks and similar financial institutions.

“I just want to flag to the BIR that these things are happening and we are getting some information about them. Just submit to us a report on what the agency is doing in fighting ghost receipts and these types of fake receipts,” he told BIR officials. Butch Fernandez

because IPOs are always one of the big issues, and with IPOPHL as well. So we’ve actually had MOUs [memorandum of understanding] with them to help support some of our brands; continuous training; it’s really training; and that support to go international—that’s what we needed from the government,” he said.

“The franchising industry in the Philippines is known for its openness and willingness to share knowledge.

Established Filipino brands, such as Jollibee and Bo’s Coffee, have been generous in sharing their secrets and experiences, contributing to the growth of the industry as a whole,” he said.

The Philippine franchising industry is projecting 10-percent to 13-percent growth in the next five years, with the food, retail, and service sectors driving the growth, according to an official of the PFA.

In 2022, PFA said the industry generated P27 billion in revenues. For 2023, the industry is targeting 13 percent growth from last year.

Meanwhile, this year’s International Franchise Expo is expected to gather over 1,000 international and local franchise brands in the food, retail, and service sectors.

Coinciding with the Expo are the “twin meetings” of the Asia-Pacific

Franchise Confederation (APFC) and the World Franchise Council (WFC), hosted by the Philippines from October 25 to 27.

“These events, along with the other activities on Franchise Asia week, will be attended by hundreds of delegates from 30 franchise association members of the WFC, including 16 from the AsiaPacific region that comprise the APFC and 16 European national franchise associations,” he said.

Marcos to discuss disaster readiness with UN officials

By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

THE Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General (SRSG) for Disaster Risk Reduction

H.E. Mami Mizutori and key government officials will visit the Philippines to meet with Pres. Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. and members of His Cabinet to discuss the country’s hosting of the 2024 Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDRR).

To be launched on October 13 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City, the

Asia Pacific’s largest biennial conference on disaster risk reduction will gather representatives from the national and local government, the private sector, academe and scientific institutions, civil society, international development partners and other stakeholders.

The conference next year is expected to draw over 3,000 high-level international delegates. The APMCDRR serves as the primary regional platform that brings together global leaders to monitor, review, and enhance cooperation for the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 at the regional level.

On September 26, Marcos signed Administrative Order 9 creating the Interagency Committee for the 2024 APMCDRR.

AO 9 designated the Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Secretary of the Department of National Defense (DND) to be the co-chairmen and lead the preparations for the conference.

Mizutori, who also heads the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), will also serve as keynote speaker at the “Barangay Leaders for Resilience Forum” on October 12. The forum is coorganized by the DENR, the DND Office of

Civil Defense (OCD), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the National Resilience Council (NRC).

Over 300 barangay leaders from the Province of Bataan, Province of Rizal, Ormoc City, and Siargao, Surigao del Norte are expected to showcase their respective good practices in the fields of environmental protection, climate action, and disaster risk reduction. These local government units (LGUs) are the pilot sites of the DENR’s “Transdisciplinary Approach for Resilience and Environmental Sustainability through Multistakeholder Engagement” project.

The forum will also commemorate the 32nd anniversary of the passage of the Local Government Code of the Philippines, which recognizes local government units as the frontliners for disaster risk reduction.

Mizutori’s official visit to the Philippines coincides with the celebration of the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction observed globally every October 13.

Solons urge heightened security on PhilHealth hacking aftermath

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie & Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

LAWMAKERS urged for heightened security as the hacking of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) computer system further unravels.

Last Sunday, House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France L. Castro issued a statement saying the hacking should serve as a wake-up call for government agencies to be extra vigilant in protecting the data of their members, as SIM card registration and the national ID database may be the next targets of hackers.

Castro made a statement after the National Privacy Commission (NPC) said it found a “staggering” amount of files equivalent to more than 730 gigabytes (GB) of data that had been leaked from PhilHealth.

“This is really shocking considering that millions of PhilHealth members’ data is in there. Now imagine if these hackers target the database of SIM registration as well as that of the national ID system; the majority of Filipinos’ private data would be compromised,” said the lawmaker.

The NPC said it had completed an initial analysis of 650-GB worth of compressed files from the data dump claimed by Medusa, a clandestine group that admitted hacking into PhilHealth computers and holding the information it stole for a $300,000 (about P17 million) ransom.

“The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) at the very least should devise guidelines or minimum requirements for cyberdefense for all

450 Pinoys in Israel war zone; govt orders full ops

Continued from A1

“ The Department of Foreign Affairs is monitoring the situation of Filipinos in the Middle East. The Philippines will continue to look after the welfare of Filipinos who are affected by the current situation,” DFA Secretary Enrique Manalo said in a tweet.

Ongoing monitoring

Last Saturday, DMW said it already coordinated with the Philippine Embassy in Tel-Aviv, Israel to monitor the status of Filipinos in the affected areas.

“ We are talking to many of them and their relatives, and we are accounting them one at a time. They have different situations. There are some who are in shelters and others, who were able to evacuate,” DMW officer-in-charge Hans J.

BI starts procurement process for body cams

By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) announced

last Sunday the agency has started the procurement process for body cameras that will be used by secondary inspectors of the agency.

BI Commissioner Norman G. Tansingco said a total of P16 million has been allotted for the purchase of the body cameras that would help monitor the activities of its secondary inspectors.

According to Tansingco, the cameras to be procured will be capable of live-streaming so his office can monitor activities of airport personnel.

Tansingco said he is eyeing the deployment of the body cameras by the end of the year.

“Body cameras will ensure that our immigration officers are effective and remain accountable for their actions as law enforcers,” Tansingco noted.

“It would be easier for us to investigate complaints of misconduct with the use of body cams. It would also remind our officers to always be professional in the conduct of their duties,” he added.

Apart from body cameras, the BI also shared that they are procuring additional electronic gates to replace 50 percent of their manual operations by 2026.

Last month, the BI disclosed its plan to use artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies for its services and processes as an added layer of security in international ports of entry and exit.

The technological upgrades, Tansingco said, is part of the BI’s drive to modernize its operations to be at par with foreign counterparts . He also expressed optimism that the BI’s modernization will not only make the processing of travelers faster and smoother but also prevent various illegal activities involving immigration personnel.

government agencies and repositories of data.

It is almost laughable if it is not so dangerous that PhilHealth even sent out the alert that it was hacked through free email, which is both unofficial and more prone to hacking,” Castro was quoted in the statement as saying.

“The DICT should build unhackable systems, or at the very least the best cyberdefense available, so that we would not be a favorite target of hackers, and if it cannot be done, then the government should stop collecting sensitive data from Filipinos that can be exploited by unscrupulous groups and individuals,” said the Deputy Minority Leader.

Blind eye

MEANWHILE, Dr. Anthony C. Leachon said the recent data breach at PhilHealth is a wake-up call, highlighting the critical importance of proactive leadership and addressing neglect promptly.

Leachon, former special adviser for noncommunicable diseases of the Department of Health (DOH), said the breach of PhilHealth’s data has put the entire universal healthcare system at risk, jeopardizes the foundation of the country’s national insurance system. He added the breach also has the potential to perpetuate a significant error.

In 2021, Leachon said there was a comprehensive recommendation for PhilHealth to upgrade its information technology (IT) system.

“[The] PhilHealth did not follow the recommendations of a great study to upgrade the information and technology systems. They turn a blind eye to this finding,” he said.

Leachon said the failure of leadership is evident when an organization struggles to guide its members and coordinate their efforts

Cacdac said in Filipino in a radio interview on Sunday.

Within the day, we could have more OFWs and their relatives touch base with us,” he added.

H e said they were able to account for at least 20 Filipino caregivers who were staying in shelters on the Israel side near the Gaza strip.

DM W called on Filipinos to heed the advice of the Israeli government to stay put in their current location since possible evacuation initiatives remain unsafe during the weekend.

It ur ged Filipinos, who will need aid from Israel, to relay their concerns to its joint task force with OWWA, which can be reached through the following numbers: +6321348, +639083268344, +639271478186, +63920517059 and 1348.

“ They can also monitor further announcements at DMWs website and Facebook page,” Cacdac said.

with a sense of urgency.

“This deserves a senate and a congressional hearing so we can prevent future cyber attacks not only for DOH and PhilHealth but for the whole of government,” he said.

“Neglect is a luxury we cannot afford, especially when it comes to the security of sensitive healthcare data. It is time to crack the whip and ensure that the necessary steps are taken to protect our healthcare system and the welfare of our citizens,” he added.

Enhanced cybersecurity

SENATOR Sherwin T. Gatchalian also called on all government agencies and the private sector to beef up their protection against cybersecurity threats, taking note that the hacking of Philhealth remains unresolved.

Gatchalian filed Senate Bill (SB) 2066, or the Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Act. The proposed measure mandates all covered critical information institutions (CII) to adopt and implement adequate measures to protect their information and communications technology (ICT) systems and infrastructures and respond to and recover from any information security incident.

It also mandates the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to determine and update information security standards and require CII institutions to comply with such standards. It mandates the National Computer Emergency Response Team (NCERT) to act as the central authority for computer emergency response teams in the country and to administer the centralized information security incident reporting mechanism that would cover industries that include banking and finance, broadcast media, emergency services and disaster response,

Existing reports

AS of Sunday morning, DMW said it has no reports of any Filipino injured or killed from the said attacks.

It did not c onfirm the alleged reports of Filipinos, who were captured along with some Thai workers by Hamas forces.

D uring a major Jewish holiday on Saturday, the Hamas forces launched thousands of rockets and deployed ground troops from the Gaza strip to Israel, killing at least 300 people and injuring 1,500 others.

In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared war against Hamas and ordered airstrikes in Gaza.

O n Sunday, Hezbollah forces from Lebanon also fired mortar strikes in northern Israel to show support to Hamas.

The Philippines condemns the attacks, especially against civilian populations,” the Office of the President said in a brief statement issued last Sunday.

The Palace also condoled with those who lost family members from the attacks and said it “understands” Israel’s right to exercise

energy, health, telecommunications, and transportation, among others.

According to Gatchalian, more Filipinos and businesses rely on digital technologies to perform their daily tasks, especially after the Covid-19 pandemic. On the average, Filipinos are estimated to use and consume 4.3 more digital services compared to pre-pandemic years. E-commerce also continues to grow exponentially and sales are expected to be valued at $10.3 billion by 2025, the senator said, citing estimates made by GlobalData.

“It is high time that we take the necessary steps to protect our critical information infrastructure by ensuring, at the minimum, compliance with international standards and globally accepted best practices for cybersecurity,” Gatchalian stressed.

“With the increased use of digital technologies in our daily lives, malicious actors from casual scammers to highly sophisticated state-based groups, hunt for vulnerabilities in ICT systems and networks to steal information, disrupt essential services, and profit from attacks,” said Gatchalian, citing as an example the ongoing cyberattack on PhilHealth’s database wherein cybercriminals have asked for $300,000 in exchange for handing over decryption keys, as well as deleting and not publishing the data they illegally obtained.

“The adoption and implementation of minimum information security standards is a globally accepted best practice to provide guidance, which would lead to more efficient use of resources, improved risk management, consistent delivery of critical and essential services and effective protection of the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information that is vital to the nation,” he added.

self-defense following the said incidents.

NFA ready to borrow to buy 500K mt palay from farmers

Continued from A12

“As soon as peak harvest occurs, our farmers will rely more on NFA to stabilize palay prices. The P23-per-kilogram [buying price] will help stabilize palay prices that are needed to keep planting intentions for the next crop more positive,” Bioco told reporters in a recent interview.

When farmers have more money, they can provide more for the next crop, which is important given the higher risks due to possible effects of El Niño,” he added.

F ederation of Free Farmers Chairman Leonardo Q. Montemayor concurred with Bioco, noting that the NFA’s current buying price levels should be a “competitive alternative” to the private traders’ offer when the current harvest peaks.

Bong Go demands justice for Filipino fishermen in tragic maritime incident; extends support to bereaved families

SENATOR Christopher Lawrence “Bong”

T. Go, addressed the recent maritime tragedy off Bajo de Masinloc that claimed the lives of three Filipino fishermen, by calling for immediate justice, extending assistance to the grieving families, and emphasizing the need for accountability and protective measures to safeguard Filipino fishermen in the country’s territorial waters.

In an interview on Thursday, October 5, after attending the World Teachers’ Day celebration in Antipolo City, Go expressed his condolences to the families of the fishermen, stating, “Una, nakikiramay po akosanaulilangpamilyangmgakababayan natingmangingisdananasawipomatapos ponu’ngnaiulatnapagkabanggangisang commercial vessel diyan po sa Masinloc.”

“Bukas po ang aking opisina para tumulong sa kanila, and in fact, nakipagcoordinate na po ako sa kanilang pamilya, saanak.Atnakapagbigaytayongkaunting abuloy,” he said.

Go, a member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Peace and Order and the Senate Committee on National Defense, called for immediate justice for the victims.

“Nananawagan po ako na mabigyan kaagad ng hustisya, at narinig ko naman po,nangakoangatingPangulo,Pangulong Bongbong Marcos, na mabigyan po ng hustisya,” he said.

He emphasized that such incidents should not happen again, especially to small fishermen who are merely trying to make a living.

“Kung ano talaga ang totoo. Sana ay

“It is possible [tha t they would procure 500,000 MT of palay]. The P23 per kilogram buying price is attractive,” Montemayor, a former agriculture secretary, told the B usiness M irror

However, other rice industry players said the P9 billion budget of NFA would only be enough to procure around 390,000 MT of palay.

Orly Manuntag, co-founder of Philippine Rice Industry Stakeholders Movement, pointed out that NFA’s higher buying price would be able to command the farm-gate prices offered by rice traders in the on-going harvest season.

“If the farmer would sell to private traders and the private traders would buy below P23 per kilogram, the farmer would just opt to sell to the NFA instead to the private traders,” Manuntag said.

Financial targets

For Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc. (PCAFI) President Danilo V. Fausto, the NFA must not resort to borrowing just to meet its procurement target as such could deepen agency’s existing debt.

“Let the market play. Let’s not go back to the old regime where it buys high and sells low,” Fausto told the BusinessMirror.

Furthermore, the NFA targets to post a net loss of less than or equal to P7.5 billion this year, according to its 2023 performance scorecard.

The NFA’s outstanding bank loans at the end of August stood at P112.06 billion, per agency reports.

Sinc e the enactment of the rice trade liberalization law in March 2019, the NFA has been reduced to a buffer stocking agency mandated to procure stocks solely from local palay farmers. The NFA’s stocks can only be distributed to local government units and even government agencies for relief operations and calamity responses.

matigil na rin po ‘yung naiuulat na mga harassment, lalong-lalo na po dito sa maliliit nating mangingisda na wala pong ginawa kundi maghanapbuhay, mangisda nga po,” added Go.

The tragic event unfolded on the morning of October 2 at around 4:20 a.m., as the Filipino fishing vessel “Dearyn” was anchored roughly 85 nautical miles to the northwest of Bajo de Masinloc. A reported collision with a commercial ship led to the unfortunate loss of life for the boat’s captain and two of its crew members, although 11 individuals managed to survive the incident.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) released the names of the deceased: Decter Laudencia, who was the captain of the boat, along with crew members Romeo Mejeco, aged 38, and Benedict Olandria, aged 62. All hailed from Brgy. Calapandayan in Subic, Zambales.

In an effort to identify the foreign ship involved in the collision, the PCG has been rigorously investigating the matter.

Go said that the tragedy underscores not just the immediate need for justice but also the longer-term issues that Filipino fishermen face, including their livelihood and territorial rights.

“Kaya nga po nangingisda para may maitustos sa pamilya. Sila pa ang naging biktima, nabunggo pa at namatay pa. Buhaypaangbinuwisnila.Dapatmabigyan ng hustisya at isaalang-alang po kung saan ang hanapbuhay nila...Atin ‘yan eh. ‘Yung lugar na nangingisda sila—atin po ‘yan. Karapatan po ‘yan ng mga [Filipino] fisherman,” concluded Go.

DFA, DTI joint statement on ManilaCanberra meet

UPON the invitation of Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong and Minister for Trade and Tourism Don Farrell, Secretary for Foreign Affairs Enrique A. Manalo and Secretary of Trade and Industry Alfredo E. Pascual will travel to Australia to jointly preside over the 6th Philippines-Australia Ministerial Meeting (PAMM) on 10 October 2023 in Adelaide, South Australia.

The 6th PAMM represents an important opportunity to chart the course of the newly established Strategic Partnership between the Philippines and Australia, building upon the recent meeting between President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Manila last month.

Key areas of discussion will include bilateral trade, investment, and economic relations, security and maritime cooperation, development cooperation, people-topeople exchanges, and regional and global issues of mutual interest. The Philippines and Australia share a steadfast commitment to advancing peace, stability, and prosperity in the region, amplifying the significance of this meeting.

Both Secretaries hold strong confidence that the forthcoming PAMM will contribute to the deepening and broadening of cooperation between the Philippines and Australia across diverse domains, ultimately benefiting both our nations.

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

NIA: Rice granary is most vulnerable to El Niño

THE National Irrigation Administration (NIA) has identified Central Luzon, the

Of the 257,600 hectares of farms nationwide that have been tagged as vulnerable areas, NIA said 85,000 hectares are in Region 3. Central Luzon is considered as the top producer of rice in the Philippines. The other vulnerable farms identified by the NIA are in Region 12 (27,00 hectares); Region 9 or Zamboanga Peninsula (13,000 hectares); Region 7 or Central Visayas (14,000 hectares); Region 6 or Western Visayas (15,000 hect -

ares); Region 4-B or Mimaropa (17,000 hectares); and Region 1 or the Ilocos Region (24,000 hectares).

“So we will encourage farmers on those identified areas to plant high-value crops. NIA is coordinating with the Department of Agriculture for the preparation and positioning of seeds,” Josephine Salazar, officer-in-charge of NIA’s Engineering and Operations, said in a statement issued by the Presidential Communications Office.

NIA said it has prepositioned seedlings to over 200,000 hectares of farmland for protection against

Sugar, corn prices higher in September–FAO report

INTERNATIONAL sugar prices went up in September due to increasing concerns over a tighter supply outlook in the upcoming 2023/2024 season, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

In its latest report, FAO said its sugar price index averaged 162.7 points in September, up 14.5 points or 9.8 percent from August. This marked the second consecutive monthly increase and pushed the index to its highest level since November 2010.

“The hike in prices mostly stemmed from increasing concerns over a tighter global supply outlook in the upcoming 2023/24 season,” FAO said.

“This mainly reflects early forecasts pointing to production declines in key sugar producers, Thailand and India, due to drierthan-normal weather conditions associated with the prevailing El Niño event.”

FAO said higher international crude oil prices also contributed to the increase in world sugar prices.

“However, the large crop currently being harvested in Brazil, amidst favorable weather conditions, combined with the weakening of the Brazilian Real against the United States dollar, limited the month-on-month increase in world sugar prices.”

As for maize, international prices rose by 7 percent in September, driven by a number of factors, including strong demand for Brazil’s supplies. Also putting pressure on prices are slower farmer selling in Argentina and increased barge freight rates due to low water levels on the Mississippi River in the US.

“Among other coarse grains, world sorghum prices also firmed in September, in line with maize price trends, while barley prices remained essentially stable,” FAO said.

“By contrast, international

wheat prices continued to drop, falling by 1.6 percent month-onmonth, underpinned by ample supplies in the Russian Federation, where production prospects were lifted in September.”

However, the FAO Food Price Index was stable in September as increases in sugar and maize prices were offset by the declines in quotations for vegetable oils, dairy and meat.

The FAO Food Price Index, which tracks monthly changes in the international prices of globally-traded food commodities, averaged 121.5 points in September, compared to 121.4 points in August. At this level, the index is 10.7 percent below its value a year ago and 24.0 percent below its alltime high reached in March 2022.

The FAO Vegetable Oil Price Index declined by 3.9 percent from August, with international quotations for palm, sunflower, soy and rapeseed oils all down, driven in part by elevated seasonal production and

the possible effects of the El Niño phenomenon next year. Salazar also said the agency

abundant global export supplies.

“The FAO Dairy Price Index declined by 2.3 percent from August, its ninth drop in a row, impacted by lackluster global import demand and ample stocks in leading producing regions. The euro’s relative weakness against the US dollar also weighed on international dairy prices.”

FAO also said the meat price index dipped by 1 percent from the previous month, with a mixture of weak import demand and ample global export availabilities pushing down quotations for pig, poultry, and ovine meats.

“By contrast, international bovine meat prices rebounded on the back of a strong import demand for lean beef, especially in the US.”

FAO said the rice price index fell by 0.5 percent month-on-month in September, while remaining as much as 27.8 percent above its year-earlier value.

“The slight decline in September was driven by generally low import demand, although price falls tended to be capped by lingering uncertainties regarding India’s rice export restrictions and progressively thinning supplies ahead of new-crop harvests in Asia.”

is preparing to set up immediate measures such as positioning of seedlings for the identified farmlands that have high value crops.

“For the overall direction of NIA po ngayong 2024, we are also preparing for the El Niño as well,” she said. “Under our proposed budget for 2024, mayroon na po kaming mga immediate na measure for that.”

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., who is the concurrent Agriculture chief, has directed a whole-ofgovernment approach against the looming impact of the dry spell.

Agriculture Assistant Secretary for Operations Arnel de Mesa had said that the Department of Agriculture needs to coordinate “very closely” with the NIA for the timing of the planting of rice.

Preliminary data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority

(PSA) showed that palay production in April to June went up by 1.1 percent to 4.24 million metric tons (MMT) from the previous year’s 4.2 MMT.

Despite the increase in unmilled rice output during the period, PSA said the volume of crops production in the second quarter was lower at 17.87 MMT.

“This exhibits an annual decline of -0.9 percent compared with the same period of the previous year at 18,050.56 thousand metric tons.”

The annual decline in the volume of crop production during the quarter was mainly brought about by the annual decreases noted in the production of corn (-0.8 percent), sugarcane (-11.3 percent), rubber, cup lump (-8.5 percent), and sweet potato (-7.5 percent).

Samuel P. Medenilla

Palawan declared African swine fever-free anew

PUERTO Princesa, Palawan—This province was once again declared an African swine fever (ASF)-free zone following a recent epidemic that broke out on an island barangay in Magsaysay town.

The Provincial Veterinary Office (ProVet) announced Friday that Palawan has been given a clean bill of health by the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) following the decisive action of line provincial government offices that led to the speedy containment and subsequent eradication of ASF in the affected village.

Dr. Darius Mangcucang, officer-incharge of the ProVet, said the province is now classified as a “dark green zone” under the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) national zoning prevention and control plan, indicating that no active ASF cases remain here.

“Dark green zone means that Palawan remains ASF-free. Although we had an incursion of ASF, we were able to contain it right away. The disease did not leave Barangay Cocoro. The virus did not even reach the other villages of Magsaysay town,” Mangcucang said in Filipino.

His explanation came after the BAI, on ProVet’s request, certified the municipality

of Magsaysay, along with the rest of the province, ASF-free because of the rapid and complete containment of the outbreak in Cocoro.

The ASF-free stamp allows piggeries here to resume the exportation of their products outside of the province, it added.

This was done after blood samples collected from pigs in the towns of Magsaysay and nearby Cuyo between September 18 and 19 all tested negative for the disease. Mangcucang said the tests confirmed that Palawan is once again ASF-free.

It can be recalled that in July, agriculture and veterinary authorities reported the unexplained deaths of domestic pigs in the vicinity of Cocoro, prompting the ProVet to launch an investigation aided by the BAI.

On Auguse 24, the BAI determined that ASF was the cause of the deaths of roughly 300 pigs that occurred in the village Mangcucang said the virus may have come from Antique, where there is ASF.

He said after the ASF-free confirmation, all areas in Magsaysay and Cuyo towns, with the exception of Barangay Cocoro, are permitted to again transport swine outside of Palawan.

Philippine News Agency

China’s giant iron ore buyer starts supply talks with miners

CHINA Mineral Resources Group Co., the buying agency set up to increase Beijing’s clout in iron ore, is in negotiations with Rio Tinto Group and other leading miners over next year’s supply, according to people familiar with the matter.

In the talks with the world’s four largest suppliers—which also include BHP Group Ltd., Vale SA and Fortescue Metals Group Ltd.—the group is seeking preferential terms on transport, grades and delivery arrangements, the people said. They asked not to be named as the conversations are not public.

China imports three-quarters of the world’s iron ore to feed its mammoth steel industry, and has long sought to improve its bargaining position, with even more urgency now given mills are under financial pressure.

Beijing established CMRG in July last year, unsettling the mining industry.

After a slow start, several large mills—including China Baowu Steel Group Co. and Ansteel Group Co.—have now handed over negotiations around their long-term supply contracts with the big four miners, according to the people.

That could increase CMRG’s bargaining power, even if the mills are still responsible for spot-market procurement.

CMRG also represents some small- and medium-sized steel producers on part of their purchases, the people said.

It’s unclear that Beijing’s gambit would rapidly up-end existing pricing structures, but it could be the biggest shake-up of the $160 billion iron ore trade since the advent of the spot market a little over a decade ago, ultimately threatening a key source of revenue for mining industry giants.

“A buyer cartel is only going to break confidence and discourage capacity expansions,” Philip Kirchlechner, a director at consultancy Iron Ore Research Pty Ltd., said in emailed comments.

Steel mills including Baowu will have to defer to government instructions, but it’s still difficult to enforce “a kind of Chinese procurement OPEC,” he said.

China Baowu, Ansteel and Beijing’s State-Owned Assets Supervision and Administration Committee, which oversees central government SOEs including CMRG, didn’t immediately comment on the matter during a week-

long holiday period in China.

A Fortescue spokesperson said the company was unable to comment on confidential discussions, but was continuing to engage with CMRG. BHP and Rio declined to comment on the negotiations, while Vale said it couldn’t immediately comment.

Resource security is not a new concern for Beijing, but it has become an even more pressing

priority for authorities at a time of rising geopolitical tension and in the context of the global supply chain disruptions of recent years. That has added urgency to the need to resolve what officials see as the unequal balance between major miners and China’s 500 or so steel mills.

China’s steel industry, the world’s largest, has been struggling with a downturn in demand

due to a years-long property crisis and a disappointing postvirus economic recovery. Despite that, iron ore prices have been stubbornly resilient. Benchmark prices in Singapore rose almost 10 percent last quarter to trade at about $115 a ton, only slightly lower than where they started the year.

Prior to 2010, iron ore prices were fixed for a whole year in

annual talks led by the biggest miners and steelmakers in Europe and Asia. But the rapid expansion of Chinese demand in the early 2000s spurred the creation of a separate spot market that was often out of whack with annual prices. Annual negotiations became increasingly fraught, and BHP eventually spearheaded the move to floating prices that’s been in place since then.

The pricing of large procurement deals is currently based on spot benchmark indexes. That structure will be difficult to change, limiting CMRG’s ultimate impact on price—though it can more easily influence other conditions.

As part of China’s long-running efforts in commodities markets, CMRG is also hoping to see more supplies to be priced in yuan instead of dollars, but it’s challenging due to the complexity in hedging and arbitrage trades, said the people.

CMRG’s negotiations have been complicated by mills’ existing, individual long-term contracts with miners, the people said. The buying group is now attempting to harmonize the different contracts. Bloomberg News

country’s rice granary, as the most vulnerable to El Niño.

A FREIGHT train carrying iron ore travels along a track near a Rio Tinto Group rail yard in Karratha, Western Australia, Australia, June 22, 2022. CARLA GOTTGENS/BLOOMBERG

Editor: Angel R. Calso

Hezbollah and Israel exchange fire as Israeli soldiers battle Hamas on second day of attack

By Tia Goldenberg & Wafaa Shurafa The Associated Press

TEL AVIV, Israel—Israeli soldiers fought to repel Hamas militants on Sunday and exchanged fire with the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, raising the prospect of a broader regional

conflagration a day after an unprecedented surprise attack on southern Israel by Palestinian militants that killed at least 250 and left Israelis stunned and reeling.

The Hamas militants broke out of the blockaded Gaza Strip and rampaged through nearby Israeli communities, taking captives, including women, children and the elderly, while Israel’s retaliation strikes leveled buildings in Gaza and its prime minister said the country was at war.

Hezbollah struck Israeli positions in a disputed area along the border with Syria’s Golan Heights, and Israel’s military responded with armed drone strikes on Hezbollah targets in a disputed area where the borders of Israel, Lebanon and Syria meet.

The flare-up on Israel’s northern border threatened to draw into the battle a fierce enemy of Israel’s which is backed by Iran and estimated to have tens of thousands of rockets at its disposal.

In an assault of startling breadth, Hamas gunmen rolled into as many as 22 locations outside the Gaza Strip early Saturday morning, including towns and other communities as far as 15 miles (24 kilometers) from the Gaza border, while Hamas launched thousands of rockets at Israeli cities. They killed at least 250 people, including 26 soldiers, and took hostages as Israel’s military scrambled to muster a response.

On Sunday, the Israeli military said its forces were fighting Hamas incursions in eight places. An Israeli military spokesperson said that two hostage situations had been “resolved,” but did not say whether all the hostages had been rescued alive.

Israel struck 426 targets in Gaza, its military said, flattening residential buildings in giant explosions. That included a 14-story tower that held dozens of apartments as well as Hamas offices in central Gaza City. Israeli forces fired a warning just before.

At least 256 people in the Gaza Strip were killed in Israeli strikes, including 20 children, and close to 1,800 wounded, the Palestinian Health Ministry said. Israeli media, citing rescue service officials, said at least 250 people were killed and 1,500 wounded in Saturday’s attack, making it the deadliest in Israel in decades.

Hamas fighters took an unknown number of civilians and soldiers captive into Gaza.

The conflict threatened to escalate with Israel’s vows of retaliation, and attacks by Hezbollah.

Hezbollah fired dozens of rockets and shells on Sunday at three Israeli positions in a disputed area along the country’s border with Syria’s Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Israel and Hezbollah are arch -

enemies and have fought several wars in the past, the most recent a 34-day conflict in 2006 that left 1,200 dead in Lebanon and 160 in Israeli. Tensions have been simmering along Israel’s northern border for months.

Hezbollah said in a statement that the attack using “large numbers of rockets and shells” was in solidarity with the “Palestinian resistance.” It said the Israeli positions were directly hit. Israel’s military fired back using armed drones at the Lebanese areas.

By attacking Israeli positions in a disputed area rather than Israel proper, Hezbollah appears to be trying to avoid an all-out conflict with Israel.

In a televised address Saturday night, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the military will use all of its strength to destroy Hamas’ capabilities.

“All the places that Hamas hides in, operates from, we will turn them into ruins,” he added. “Get out of there now,” he told Gaza residents, who have no way to leave the tiny, overcrowded Mediterranean territory.

Overnight, the Israeli military issued warnings in Arabic to communities near the border with Israel to leave their homes for areas deeper inside the tiny enclave.

Gaza’s 2.3 million people have endured a border blockade, enforced to varying degrees by Israel and Egypt, since Hamas militants seized control in 2007.

Previous conflicts between Israel and Gaza’s Hamas rulers brought widespread death and destruction in Gaza and days of rocket fire on Israeli towns. The situation is potentially more volatile now, with Israel’s far-right government stung by the security breach and with Palestinians in despair over a never-ending occupation in the West Bank and suffocating blockade of Gaza.

The strength, sophistication and timing of the Saturday morning attack shocked Israelis. Hamas fighters used explosives to break through the border fence enclosing Gaza, and then crossed with motorcycles, pickup trucks, paragliders and speedboats on the coast.

In an amateur video, hundreds of terrified young people who had been dancing at a rave fled for their lives after Hamas militants entered the area and began firing at them.

Among those killed Saturday was Col. Jonathan Steinberg, a senior officer who commanded the Israeli military’s Nahal Brigade, a prominent infantry unit. Before daybreak Sunday, militants fired more rockets from Gaza, hitting a hospital in the Israeli coastal town of Ashkelon, said senior hospital official Tal Bergman. Video provided by Barzilai

ing thousands of Palestinians in its prisons. Hecht confirmed that a “substantial” number of Israelis were abducted Saturday.

Associated Press photos showed an elderly Israeli woman being brought into Gaza on a golf cart by Hamas gunmen and another woman squeezed between two fighters on a motorcycle. AP journalists saw four people taken from the kibbutz of Kfar Azza, including two women. In Gaza, a black jeep pulled to a stop and, when the rear door opened, a young woman stumbled out, bleeding from the head and with her hands tied behind her back. A man waving a gun in the air grabbed her by the hair and pushed her into the vehicle’s back seat.

Medical Center showed a large hole punched into a wall and chunks of debris scattered on the ground of what appeared to be an empty room and a hallway. The military said patients had been evacuated from Barzilai before the strike. School was canceled across Israel.

Around 3 a.m., a loudspeaker atop a mosque in Gaza City blared a stark warning to residents of nearby apartment buildings: Evacuate immediately. Just minutes later, an Israeli airstrike reduced one nearby five-story building to ashes.

After one Israeli strike, a Hamas rocket barrage hit four cities, including Tel Aviv and a nearby suburb. Throughout the day, Hamas fired more than 3,500 rockets, the Israeli military said.

The shadowy leader of Hamas’ military wing, Mohammed Deif, said the assault was in response to the 16-year blockade of Gaza, and a series of recent incidents that have brought Israeli-Palestinian tensions to a fever pitch. Over the past year, Israel’s far-right government has ramped up settlement construction in the occupied West Bank, Israeli settler violence has displaced hundreds of Palestinians there, and tensions have flared around the Al-Aqsa mosque, a flashpoint Jerusalem holy site.

“Enough is enough,” Deif, who does not appear in public, said in the recorded message. He said the attack was only the start of what he called “Operation Al-Aqsa Storm” and called on Palestinians from east Jerusalem to northern Israel to join the fight.

The Hamas incursion on Simchat Torah, a normally joyous day when Jews complete the annual cycle of reading the Torah scroll, revived painful memories of the 1973 Mideast war practically 50 years to the day, in which Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, aiming to take back Israeli-occupied territories.

Comparisons to one of the most traumatic moments in Israeli history sharpened criticism of Netanyahu and his far-right allies, who had campaigned on more aggressive action against threats from Gaza. Political commentators lambasted the government and military over its failure to anticipate what appeared to be a Hamas attack unseen in its level of planning and coordination.

Asked by reporters how Hamas had managed to catch the army off guard, Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, an Israeli army spokesman, replied, “That’s a good question.”

The abduction of Israeli civilians and soldiers also raised a particularly thorny issue for Israel, which has a history of making heavily lopsided exchanges to bring captive Israelis home. Israel is hold -

Thailand’s government said that two of its citizens may have been abducted, though the Israeli government could not immediately confirm the details. Thousands of Thai citizens work in Israel, many of them in the agriculture sector. Israeli TV reported that workers from the Philippines were also among the captives.

Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has put the country’s air force on standby to evacuate its citizens if needed. The Philippine government said it was still working to verify the reports.

A major question now was whether Israel will launch a ground assault into Gaza, a move that in the past has brought intensified casualties. Netanyahu vowed that Hamas “will pay an unprecedented price.” But, he warned, “This war will take time. It will be difficult.”

Israel’s military was bringing four divisions of troops as well as tanks to the Gaza border, joining 31 battalions already in the area, a spokesperson said.

Hamas said it had planned for a potentially long fight. “We are prepared for all options, including all-out war,” the deputy head of the Hamas political bureau, Saleh al-Arouri, told Al-Jazeera TV. “We are ready to do whatever is necessary for the dignity and freedom of our people.”

In Gaza, much of the population was thrown into darkness after nightfall as electrical supplies from Israel—which supplies almost all the territories’ power—were cut off. Netanyahu’s office said in a statement that Israel would stop supplying electricity, fuel and goods to Gaza.

US President Joe Biden said from the White House that he had spoken with Netanyahu to say the United States “stands with the people of Israel in the face of these terrorist assaults. Israel has the right to defend itself and its people, full stop.”

Saudi Arabia, which has been in talks with the US about normalizing relations with Israel, called on both sides to exercise restraint.

The kingdom said it had repeatedly warned about the danger of “the situation exploding as a result of the continued occupation (and) the Palestinian people being deprived of their legitimate rights.”

The attack comes at a time of hist oric division within Israel over Netanyahu’s proposal to overhaul the judiciary. Mass protests over the plan have sent hundreds of thousands of Israeli demonstrators into the streets and prompted hundreds of military reservists to avoid volunteer duty — turmoil that has raised fears over the military’s battlefield readiness.

Palestinians demonstrated in towns and cities around the West Bank on Saturday night. Palestinian health officials said Israeli fire killed five there, but gave few details. Shurafa reported from Gaza City. Associated

Press writers Isabel DeBre, Julia Frankel and Josef Federman in Jerusalem; Issam Adwan in Rafah, Gaza Strip; and Bassem Mroue in Beirut contributed to this report.

Fire and smoke rises following an israeli airstrike in Gaza City on Saturday, October 7, 2023. The militant Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip carried out an unprecedented, multi-front attack on israel at daybreak Saturday, firing thousands of rockets as dozens of Hamas fighters infiltrated the heavily fortified border in several locations by air, land, and sea, killing dozens and stunning the country. Palestinian health officials reported scores of deaths from israeli airstrikes in Gaza. AP Photo/FAt im A Shb A ir

Death toll from strong earthquake that shook Afghanistan reaches over 2,000

ISLAMABAD—The death toll from strong earthquakes that shook western Afghanistan has risen to over 2,000, a Taliban government spokesman said Sunday. It’s one of the deadliest earthquakes to strike the country in two decades.

a powerful magnitude-6.3 earthq uake followed by strong aftershocks killed dozens of people in western a f ghanistan on Saturday, the country’s national disaster authority said.

But a b dul Wahid r a yan, spokesman at the Ministry of Information and Culture, said the death toll from the earthquake in Herat is higher than originally reported.

a b out six villages have been destroyed, and hundreds of civilians have been buried under the debris, he said while calling for urgent help.

t h e u n ited Nations late Saturday gave a preliminary figure of 320 dead, but later said the figure was still being verified. Local authorities gave an estimate of 100 people killed and 500 injured, according to the same update from the u N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian a f fairs.

t h e update said 465 houses had been reported destroyed and a further 135 were damaged.

“Partners and local authorities anticipate the number of casualties to increase as search and rescue efforts continue amid reports that some people may be trapped under collapsed buildings,” the u N. said.

d i saster authority spokesperson Mohammad a b dullah Jan said four villages in the Zenda Jan district in Herat province bore the brunt of the quake and aftershocks.

t h e u n ited States Geological Survey said the quake’s epicenter was about 40 kilometers (25 miles) northwest of Herat city. It was followed by three very strong aftershocks, measuring magnitude 6.3, 5.9 and 5.5, as well as lesser shocks.

a t l east five strong tremors struck the city around noon, Herat city resident a b dul Shakor Samadi said. a l l people are out of their homes,” Samadi said. “Houses, offices and shops are all empty and there are fears of more earthquakes. My family and I were inside our home, I felt the quake.” His family began shouting and ran outside, afraid to return indoors.

t h e World Health Organization in a f ghanistan said it dispatched 12 ambulance cars to Zenda Jan to evacuate casualties to hospitals. “a s d eaths & casualties from the earthquake continue to be reported, teams are in hospitals assisting treatment of wounded & assessing additional needs,” the u N a gency

said on X, formerly known as tw itter. “WHO-supported ambulances are transporting those affected, most of them women and children.”

te lephone connections went down in Herat, making it hard to get details from affected areas. Videos on social media showed hundreds of people in the streets outside their homes and offices in Herat city.

Herat province borders Iran. t he quake also was felt in the nearby a fg han provinces of Farah and Badghis, according to local media reports.

a b dul Ghani Baradar, the ta libanappointed deputy prime minister for economic affairs, expressed his condolences to the dead and injured in Herat and Badghis.

t h e ta liban urged local organizations to reach earthquake-hit areas as soon as possible to help take the injured to hospital, pro -

vide shelter for the homeless, and deliver food to survivors. t h ey said security agencies should use all their resources and facilities to rescue people trapped under debris.

“We ask our wealthy compatriots to give any possible cooperation and help to our afflicted brothers,” the ta liban said on X.

Japan’s ambassador to a f ghanistan, ta kashi Okada, expressed his condolences saying on the social media platform X, that he was “deeply grieved and saddened to learn the news of earthquake in Herat province.”

In June 2022, a powerful earthquake struck a rugged, mountainous region of eastern a f ghanistan, flattening stone and mud-brick homes. t h e quake killed at least 1,000 people and injured about 1,500.

Hamas attack prompts blame around israeli intelligence

By Peter Martin

Saturday’

S surprise attack on Israel by the Palestinian group Hamas may represent one of the biggest failures by Israeli intelligence since the yo m Kippur war of 1973.

t he attack involved dozens of infiltrations by land and sea, together with rocket attacks—a sophisticated assault that involves the kind of planning and coordination that intelligence agencies are supposed to pick up on. Hundreds have been killed on both sides.

While Israeli officials have said for months that Palestinian militant groups were preparing for violence, the timing and scale of the attack appear to have caught Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by surprise. Israel and its ally the u S —which contributed $3.3 billion to Israel in defense spending in 2022—were already weighing who was most responsible and how it happened.

“It’s shocking to me that they were able to do it without Israel or the un ited States picking up on it,” said Martin Indyk, a former u S ambassador to Israel and a fellow at the Council on Foreign r e lations.

“Failure to prepare. Failure to have troops along the border, failure of the fence along the border that they paid millions of shekels for.”

t h e attack is all the more shocking given that it comes 50 years after Israel’s failure to head off a surprise attack that Egypt and Syria launched on the Jewish holiday, yo m Kippur. t h at intelligence failure prompted the creation of a commission to figure out what went wrong and became the subject of countless books and scholarly articles.

Israeli officials said it was far too soon to know what went wrong, and

rejected any comparison to 1973.

“Please don’t give Hamas the sophistication of the yo m Kippur War,” Israeli d e fense Forces spokesman r ic hard Hecht said. “I know there are a lot of questions about the intelligence. Please stop asking. r i ght now we’re fighting. I’m sure there will be a lot of discussions about the intelligence down the road.”

Intelligence professionals typically distinguish between failures of collection, failures of analysis, and failures by policymakers to heed warnings from intelligence agencies.

For starters, there was the simple fact that Israel was in the middle of a holiday. a nd already, questions are being raised about whether Israel’s army and intelligence services were distracted by domestic infighting.

Israelis have protested for months against Netanyahu’s efforts to strip power from the nation’s judiciary. t h e country is also in negotiations with the u S a nd Saudi

a r abia on a complex three-way deal in which Washington would offer security guarantees to r i yadh.

“ t h e real problem here is likely that the Israelis simply did not believe that Hamas would risk a crossborder infiltration,” said a a ron d a vid Miller, senior fellow at the Carnegie endowment for international peace and a former state department Middle East negotiator.

t h e lack of sufficient Israeli forces in that area was a grievous failure.”

t h e u S C ongress will need to ask tough questions, given that Israeli and u S intelligence agencies should have been expected to detect an attack on this scale, according to a congressional staffer who asked not to be identified discussing private conversations.

t h e failure is all the more striking given that Israel’s security services devote substantial resources to monitoring Palestinian society, including Hamas, through networks of human sources, as well as surveillance technology.

Surprise attacks Sur Pr I SE attacks have often galvanized massive responses by the targeted countries. Pearl Harbor and September 11 both heralded the start of new wars and major shakeups in the u S ’s security services.  Within hours of Saturday’s attack, the Israeli d e fense Forces had launched Operation Swords of Iron, carrying out air strikes against targets in the Gaza Strip. Prime Minister Netanyahu declared that Israel is “at war.” CI a director William Burns canceled a keynote speech he was due to give on Saturday evening at t h e Cipher Brief t h reat Conference in Sea Island, Georgia, in order to work on the crisis, according to conference organizer Suzanne Kelly. a t the conference, retired Navy a d miral James Stavridis, who was Supreme a l lied Commander at N at O a nd regularly liaised with Israeli officials, described the incursion as a “shocking intelligence failure.” He said that while he was not surprised by Hamas’ decision to attack, he was “very surprised” by the tactics the group has adopted, including the speed, fatalities and taking of hostages, which he said would be “high-end bargaining chips.”

Emily Harding, a former CI a M iddle East analyst, said the attack, which must have been planned for months, was especially surprising given how capable Israel’s intelligence services have become.

“It’s highly surprising the Israelis missed that planning,” said Harding, a senior fellow Center for Strategic and International Studies. “ t i me will tell what really happened—there will be months-long investigations to piece together what the I dF a nd Mossad knew and when they knew it.” With assistance from Katrina Manson / Bloomberg

An aerial view of the outskirts of Herat, Afghanistan on Monday, June 5, 2023. Two 6.3 magnitude earthquakes killed hundreds of people in western Afghanistan’s Herat province on Saturday, October 7, 2023, the country’s national disaster authority said. AP Photo/Rod R i go Abd

Burning cars following a rocket attack in Ashkelon on October 7. Photog RAPh e R: Kobi Wolf/ b loombe R g

Monday, October 9, 2023

Investigators search for answers days after Russian attack on village café

By Hanna Arhirova & Joanna Kozlowska

The Associated Press

HROZA, Ukraine—UN and local investigators searched for answers on Saturday at the site of a Russian missile strike on a small Ukrainian village that days earlier turned its sole cafe to rubble and killed nearly 52 people gathered for a dead soldier’s wake, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other top officials in Kyiv. Local residents that same day began laying their lost friends to rest.

Representatives from the United Nations Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) spent much of the day speaking with local residents and survivors in Hroza, in the northeastern Kharkiv region, according to a statement shared with the Associated Press.

“My initial conversations with local residents and survivors indicate that virtually all those killed were civilians and that the target itself, a busy village cafe and store, was also clearly civilian,” Danielle Bell, who led the team that visited Hroza on Saturday, was cited as saying in the UN statement. “What happened here is yet another tragic reminder of the deadly impact Russia’s invasion has had on Ukraine’s civilians,” Bell added.

The village cafe was obliterated and whole families perished after the missile strike on Thursday cut short a wake for Andriy Kozyr, a soldier from Hroza who died last winter fighting Russia’s invading forces in eastern Ukraine.

According to Ukrainian news reports, he was initially laid to rest elsewhere in Ukraine, as his native village remained under Russian occupation.Kozyr’s family decided to rebury him in Hroza more than 15 months following his death, after DNA tests confirmed his identity, and the cafe reopened especially to let residents honor his memory.

His son Dmytro Kozyr, also a soldier, was among those who died in the attack alongside his wife Nina, who was just days short of

her 21st birthday. As of Saturday, Ukrainian law enforcement and the regional prosecutor’s office put the number of victims at 52.

Only six people in the cafe survived, and the town is trying to fathom why and how the wake was targeted. Dmytro Chubenko, spokesman for the regional prosecutor, said on Friday that investigators are looking into whether someone from the area transmitted the cafe’s coordinates to the Russians— a betrayal to everyone now grieving in Hroza. Among them are Kateryna Tarannyk and her brother Dmytro Androsovych, whose parents were killed at Kozyr’s wake and buried on Saturday at a small cemetery on the village’s outskirts. Relatives of Tetiana Androsovych, 60, and Mykola Androsovych, 63, gathered alongside Hroza residents under a grim grey sky, as rain kept falling into the fresh open graves nearby that had been dug for other victims.

Tarannyk and her brother stood embracing each other, gazing at their parents’ closed caskets, throughout the Orthodox service.

“It feels like you’re in a bad, incomprehensible dream, waiting to wake up. It’s just unbearable,”

Tarannyk told the AP.

Tarannyk had come to the funeral from Slovakia, where she had fled with her child in the early days of the war. She set off immediately upon hearing the news of the missile strike. Just a week ago, her parents had visited her in Slovakia.

“They were so happy,” she recalled. Together, they had made plans for Tarannyk’s child to visit the grandparents in spring. Before the couple was laid to rest, Tarannyk approached each casket in turn and silently said her goodbyes, gently stroking the dark green velvet fabric covering the coffins. The missile strike was “treacherous, cruel, and unjust,” she said with anger in her voice.

Oleksii Androsovych, Mykola’s brother, rushed to the village cafe immediately after the missile hit. He found his brother’s body next to that of his wife, whose head

was missing. For Oleksii, it was likely the first of many funerals for his friends and neighbors that will be held in Hroza over the coming days and perhaps months, as not all victims’ bodies have been identified yet.

Mykola and his wife were buried several rows on from Kozyr, the soldier whose wake they had attended.

The tiny village cemetery has grown substantially in the last two days, as fresh graves keep appearing.

Ukrainian police have identified 48 out of the 52 civilians killed by the missile blast, according to the chief police investigator for Kharkiv province. In a Facebook post, Serhii Bolvinov said that investigation teams were “gathering up dead bodies, literally piece by piece.”

Hroza, which had a population of about 500 before the war, was seized by Russia early in the war before being recaptured by Ukraine in September 2022 along with neighboring areas. It’s only 30 kilometers (19 miles) west of Kupiansk, a key focus of the Russian military effort. Zelenskyy visited the area Tuesday to meet with troops and inspect equipment supplied by the West.

Ukrainian officials said the village was hit by a precision Iskanderstyle missile, which is said to have an accuracy of 5 to 7 meters (yards).

Elsewhere, a pro-Kremlin politician in Ukraine’s Russian-occupied south died of his injuries Saturday after his car was blown up, local Moscow-installed authorities reported. A Telegram post by Vladimir Saldo, a Kremlin-appointed regional leader, identified the politician as Vladimir Malov, the secretary of a local branch of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s political party, United Russia.

It was not immediately clear who was behind the deadly attack on Malov. But guerrilla forces loyal to Kyiv have for months operated behind enemy lines, killing pro-Moscow officials, blowing up bridges and helping the Ukrainian military by identifying key targets.

Kozlowska reported from London. Associated Press writers Jamey Keaten in Geneva also contributed.

Trump inserting himself into the messy race to become the next House speaker

By Stephen Groves & Jill Colvin

The Associated Press

WASHINGTO—Donald Trump is again testing the power of his endorsement. With an early morning social media post on Friday, Trump inserted himself into the chaotic race to replace Kevin McCarthy as House speaker by backing Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan for the post. The move was the latest example of Trump attempting to flex his influence within a Republican Party he has already fundamentally reshaped in the eight years since his first White House bid.

“I think he does well. I hope he does well,” Trump, the front-runner for the 2024 GOP nomination, said of Jordan in a Friday interview with Real America’s Voice. “He’s got competition, as you understand. And they’re friendly with me, too. Very nice people and good people. We’ll see what happens.”

With Trump’s firm grip on the GOP base, his endorsement can effectively clear the field in many congressional primaries. But the speaker’s race is more complex, an intraparty fight that will play out in secret at points and in a tense environment with many Republicans furious about McCarthy’s ouster.

Jordan is facing at least one other candidate—House Majority Leader Steve Scalise—who is also on good terms with Trump. It’s unclear whether anyone has enough votes to win the gavel and if Jordan were to lose, another Trump ally could emerge.

Taken together, the dynamics mean that Trump’s backing of Jordan may do little to sway the results. And that may not ultimately matter much. Regardless of who becomes the next speaker, Trump has undeniable sway over House Republicans. It was his supporters—led by Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz— who orchestrated McCarthy’s ouster and who have driven much of the House GOP’s agenda. They have been unable or unwilling to pull themselves from his grip and now find themselves heading toward another presidential election with him at the top of the ticket, even as many in the party worry about his electability in November and his potential impact on down-ballot races.

But other factors are at play in the complicated deliberations. Speaker’s elections are contests that can turn on personal relationships and deals between lawmakers that fall outside ideological lines. It also remains unclear how much political capital Trump intends to use whipping votes on Jordan’s behalf. While Trump was poised to support Jordan, he was angry that Texas Rep. Troy Nehls broke the news before he was ready, according to two Republicans familiar with his thinking who spoke on condition of anonymity. A Trump spokesman did not respond to requests for comment Friday.

Trump’s 11th-hour interventions helped McCarthy win the speakership after 15 rounds of voting back in January, but the holdouts in that case were Trump allies. This time most hardline conservatives were already lining up behind Jordan. Instead, Jordan has been courting

Republican moderates, trying to convince them that they will be heard if he is elected, despite his reputation as a hard-liner. Trump’s endorsement ties Jordan even closer to the former president, potentially making it more difficult for moderate members to support him.

For his part, Jordan said the endorsement would aid his bid for the gavel.

“He’s the leader of our party, and I think he’s going to be the next president,” Jordan told reporters Friday at the Capitol.

Beyond the immediate dynamics on Capitol Hill, Trump’s involvement in the speaker’s race speaks to his outsized role in the party. More than three months before the first votes of the 2024 campaign, Republicans are increasingly open in referring to Trump as the party’s leader. That’s despite the fact that he faces four separate criminal indictments.

And as he appears once again in a strong position to capture the GOP nomination, Trump’s penchant for the spotlight is on display.

After creating a media firestorm Monday when he showed up at his civil fraud trial in New York, Trump quickly jumped on the speakership news that threatened to shift attention from his direction. After several of his closest allies raised the fanciful notion that Trump himself could potentially serve as speaker—perhaps on an interim basis—Trump stoked and flirted with the notion of swooping in to save the leaderless caucus from the chaos he has helped to stoke. Colvin reported from New York. AP Congressional Correspondent Lisa Mascaro contributed to this report.

editorial

Security awareness training among govt workers needed

Hacking incidents have affected many big companies and government agencies in recent years, including a 2018 Facebook data breach that enabled attackers to access millions of user data. That year, it was discovered that political consulting firm cambridge analytica had obtained access to the personal information of millions of Facebook users without their consent. This was made possible by access control vulnerability in the social media’s application programming interface (aPi) that allowed third-party developers to access user data.

The scandal brought to light the issue of data privacy and the need for stricter access control measures. Facebook faced widespread criticism for mishandling users’ personal information and was fined $5 billion by the US Federal Trade Commission for violating users’ privacy.

No one knows the number of hackers around the world since many of those with malicious intentions are unidentified. However, some hackers join the ethical hacking community. Based on the 2018 Hacker Report, there are more than 166,000 registered ethical hackers worldwide.

India and the United States were the top countries where hackers were located, with 43 percent combined representatives. Russia, Pakistan, and the United Kingdom follow, with 14 percent combined representatives, according to the HackerOne hacker community.

CrowdStrike, the company that discovered that the Russians had hacked the Democratic National Committee, said that Russian hackers are known to be the fastest hackers. They can access a computer network in just 18 minutes, while Korean hackers gain access in two and a half hours, and Chinese hackers need four hours.

In the Philippines, a recent hacking incident stole personally identifiable information (PII) of Philippine Health Insurance Corp. members and its employees.

PhilHealth was hacked by the Medusa group, and the hackers were demanding a $300-million ransom in exchange for the deletion of the stolen PhilHealth files posted on the dark web. PhilHealth President and CEO Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. said the insurer will not pay the ransom, but it had to spend P172 million to buttress its cyber defense.

This is the “unfortunate truth” about the outcome of the Medusa ransomware hack on PhilHealth, Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Undersecretary Jeffrey Dy said. He explained that the agency has found PhilHealth-related PIIs being leaked on the dark web, coming from the breach that recently happened.

Dy said “the ball is now on the court of those who were affected by the data leak to practice basic cyber hygiene,” which includes not answering calls or text messages from numbers or people you don’t know, constantly changing passwords, and spotting signs of scams, among others.

“Data breaches always happen. This happens internationally as well, other countries were also hit by the ransomware. So it’s still best to practice basic cyber hygiene,” he explained, adding that the DICT is now launching basic cyber hygiene information campaigns to educate Filipinos on how to avoid scams brought about by the Medusa attack.

By the time you finish reading this editorial, about five corporations or government agencies have been hacked. According to a Clark School study at the University of Maryland, cyber attacks happen every 39 seconds. Hacking costs many businesses and companies trillions of dollars per day. In 2021, hacking attack costs an estimated $6 trillion, up from around $2 trillion in 2019.

It’s a gargantuan task to fight hackers from just about every corner of the globe. A government agency like PhilHealth can’t do it alone. It would do well for national leaders to create multiagency groups to tackle the problem of cyber security. As an old saying goes, “You are only as strong as the weakest link.” To solve this issue, government agencies need to roll out security awareness training among employees. The idea is to make government employees more conscious of Internet security to reduce the kind of mistakes that can launch an intrusion or trigger a cyber attack.

Employee training and teamwork will go a long way to protect data that may compromise millions of citizens, like the PhilHealth members that are now made more vulnerable to cyber attacks because of the agency’s failure to mitigate cyber risks.

October is National Indigenous Peoples month

RISING SUN

THe national commission on indigenous Peoples (nciP) officially opened the 2023 iP Month celebration and 26th indigenous Peoples’ Rights act commemoration at the Presidential Management Staff (PMS) Building in the city of Manila on October 2, 2023. The iPR a or Republic act 8371 was signed into law by then President Fidel V. Ramos on October 29, 1997, to promote the rights and welfare of 110 ethnolinguistic groups found in seven ethnographic regions. Proclamation 1906-a, s. 2009, signed by then President gloria Macapagal-arroyo, declared October as the national indigenous Peoples Month. Presidential Proclamation no. 486 s. 2003 also declared October 29 of each year as national indigenous Peoples Thanksgiving Day.

This year’s month-long celebration bears the theme, “Pagpapayaman ng Pamanang Kultura at Katutubong Yaman Tungo sa Mas Maliwanag na Kinabukasan Para sa Bagong Pilipinas.” This year’s theme highlights the importance of preserving our rich cultural heritage, the value of remembering our indigenous roots, and unity among Indigenous Cultural Communities. It reminds us of the role of IPs in nation building and their contributions to Philippine history and culture.

NCIP Chairperson Jennifer Pia Sibug-Las said that the month-long observance is an avenue to promote reconciliation and understanding between our IP brothers and sisters and non-IPs so that they may be able to overcome the barriers of discrimination and be able to actively participate in nation building. It is also a way to show our appreciation for the exceptional contributions that the Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPs) have made and a means to express our hope that

This year’s month-long celebration bears the theme, “Pagpapayaman ng Pamanang Kultura at Katutubong Yaman Tungo sa Mas Maliwanag na Kinabukasan Para sa Bagong Pilipinas.” This year’s theme highlights the importance of preserving our rich cultural heritage, the value of remembering our indigenous roots, and unity among Indigenous Cultural Communities. It reminds us of the role of IPs in nation building and their contributions to Philippine history and culture.

as we enrich our cultural heritage and ancestral resources, we will have a brighter future for the new Philippines.

The whole month of October is filled with different activities, in partnership with our ICCs/IPs and other partner stakeholders, including other government agencies, IP organizations, local government units (LGUs), and the private sector, nationwide. These activities aim to further respect, recognize, protect, and promote the rights and wellbeing of ICCs/IPs.

These activities include Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) campaigns, Cultural Sensitivity orientations, inter-agency field

NIA bares thrusts for dry spell in 2024

LITO GAGNI

WiTH the el niño phenomenon seen wreaking havoc on the country’s food security, it is heartwarming to hear about a government agency utilizing data analytics to prepare the country for the worst, with a dry spell seen hitting us for a longer duration next year. Science has finally dawned on us and it is a good thing that the national irrigation administration (nia) is trying to be on top of the situation.

The way Ms. Josephine Salazar, NIA OIC deputy administrator for engineering and operations, spelled it out during the Saturday News Forum at Dapo Restaurant, we believe the government can nip in the bud any crisis in food security that may arise, such as that of the rice supply situation that led to a hefty uptick in the inflation rate for August.

For one, NIA is coordinating with the Department of Agriculture for the pre-positioning of seeds for highvalue crops in areas with irrigation problems, which can be had from an analysis of data of the preceding

years. This is what the government needs.

By identifying areas that will have problems with irrigation due to the dry spell, NIA plans to connect with the DA to tell farmers to switch to high-value crops. In that way, the farmers will benefit by weaning them away from crops that will need irrigation. So far, NIA has identified around 257,600 hectares of agricultural land as most vulnerable to the adverse impact of the El Niño phenomenon.

These lands have an estimated yield of about 1.46-M metric tons of rice. Knowing this data, the government

visitations, tree planting activities, capacity-building workshops, festivals, celebrations, webinars, medical and wellness missions, cultural dance performances and presentations, a barefoot challenge, photo exhibit, trade fairs, indigenous games, assistance and equipment turnovers, conferences, poster-slogan contests, artists’ assemblies, support to Dayaw 2023, courtesy visits, and a thanksgiving program. A fellowship dinner with former NCIP Chairpersons, Commissioners, and Executive Directors, among others, will be implemented to commemorate IPRA’s 26th year.

In addition, there will be two fashion shows namely, Gayak 2: Dahon Fashion Show and Kislap

2: Lakbay Hibla. The Dahon Fashion Show will highlight the masterpieces of innovative designer JM Ganuan, using leaves as the primary material. This happens on October 27, 2023 at the Estancia Mall, Capitol Commons, Pasig City. On October 29, 2023, Kislap

2: Lakbay Hibla will be launched at the Eastwood Richmonde Hotel, showcasing Philippine indigenous fabrics in travel.

The NCIP, on behalf of the ICCs/ IPs all over the country, invites everyone to support and join the celebration and observance of the 2023 IP Month and 26th IPRA Commemoration.

according to NIA are: Soccsksargen (27,000 hectares), Ilocos Region (24,000 hectares), Mimaropa (17,000 hectares), Western Visayas (15,000 hectares), Central Visayas (14,000 hectares), and Zamboanga Peninsula (13,000 hectares).

can then have a handle on the amount of rice that will have to be imported for the dry spell.

Aside from this, the municipal agriculture officers in each of the municipalities to be affected by the El Nino phenomenon can embark on an information campaign to tell the farmers about the need for them to switch to other crops, notably highvalue crops.

According to NIA, they will be prepositioning seeds for high-value crops for distribution to the farmers whose lands will be affected by the dry spell. Central Luzon has been identified as the most vulnerable, with 85,000 hectares of land tagged as prone to the negative effects of the phenomenon, characterized by less than normal rainfall and prolonged dry spell.

Aside from Central Luzon, the other regions that will be affected

Ms. Salazar said NIA has already relayed to the above-mentioned areas the need for farmers to plant highvalue crops to mitigate the impact of the El Niño. This is part of the El Nino action plan that the agency crafted in July.

Altogether, the plan sets forth the water delivery schedule, utilization of Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) technology, diversification of crops, and the use of early maturing and drought-resistant crop varieties, the provision of production and the use of solar technology.

For now, around 68 percent or 2.1 million hectares of the 3.1 million hectares of potential irrigable area in the country have already been irrigated. Another focus of NIA is the use of solar-powered irrigation projects, which will result in lower irrigation fees for farmers.

With the technology, farmers who pay around P1 million for ir-

Atty. Jose Ferdinand M. Rojas II

Joel L. Tan-Torres

DEBIT CREDIT

The october 2023 Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Licensure examination results were released by the Professional regulatory Board of Accountancy (BoA) last week. out of 8,734 examinees, only 2,740 passed, for a 31.37 percent passing rate. Now is a good time to assess the aftermath of this event.

For these passers, they have some time to savor their well-deserved accomplishment before they proceed with their career pursuits as newly minted CPAs. Are they ready to showcase their competencies as fullpledged CPAs that are commensurate to the expectations of their potential employers, clients, or entrepreneurial partners?

For those who did not pass the licensure examinations, this is the time for reflection and re-invigoration. Failure is not a game-ender. There’s the next set of examinations this coming May 2024 to strive for. There’s also the option of applying for work because the demand for nonCPA accountants is growing.

For the accounting schools, this is the time for celebration with the students who brought honor to their alma mater by doing well in the CPA exams. However, for those schools with accounting students perenially performing badly in the examinations, it is time that these schools assess the option of closing down their accounting program. That may be the best decision for those schools that have failed to produce graduates who are able to pass the CPA examinations.

A study of the May 2019 CPA examinations results disclosed that out of the 468 schools with examinees for the licensure tests, 65 percent of these are below the national passing rate. And 180 out of 468 or 38 percent of these schools have zero passing rates. This dismal performance of a great number of accounting schools points to the lack of financial support and teaching resources as the reasons for their sub-standard performance.

questions and processes in the CPA

examinations. One recommendation is to allow for the outsourcing of the preparation of questions that can be included in the test bank of BOA.

Siegfred Bueno Mison, Esq.

The aftermath Be a better ‘balimbing’ THE PATRIOT

The name Benedict Arnold is virtually a definition of a traitor in military history. Considered as the most famous turncoat in American history, Arnold was a general in the Continental Army under George Washington. But while in command at West Point in 1780, Arnold secretly gave the British inside information, not just about the fort, but about American strategy.

One of the Founding Fathers of America, Alexander Hamilton, considered Arnold’s betrayal as “the blackest treason” he could imagine, not only because of the act of spying but for offering to surrender West Point (a very important military garrison at that time) to the British in exchange for 20,000 pounds. Incidentally, such offer was made on September 21, 1780, the same day as Proclamation 1081, or the day when Martial Law was declared in the Philippines on September 21, 1972.

The term “turncoat” is derived from the act of literally turning one’s coat inside out to hide one’s affiliation. As a concept, turncoatism, as in the habit of changing sides, became culturally acceptable then and now.

star-shaped fruit found mostly in Southeast Asia, reminds us of the “fickleness and duplicity of Filipino politicians.” Apparently, the concept of “turncoats” has lent additional tang to the already sour  balimbing  fruit because of the perfidious tag. But the Philippines is not pressing any brakes to switching sides and obviously, to the perennial reference to the fruit Then and now, we see politicians changing from one political party to another. Survival is the key. According to Romy Garcia, a former senior research assistant at the UP College of Public Administration, “Sabi nga ng Pinoy, just go with the weather, insidious but very effective in insuring self-perpetuation.”

Quimbo’s act of pushing for a gargantuan amount of confidential funds in the budget of the Department of Education and in the Office of the Vice President is contrary to the collective position of the Liberal Party. Yet, Quimbo remains as a member of the Liberal Party as it said that “the enduring tradition of the Liberal Party is to allow its members to take independent views on national issues in recognition of a member’s freedom of expression and dissent.”

In Biblical history, Saul who eventually became known as Paul the Apostle, is one turncoat for the ages!

Before being a defector, several years after the crucifixion of Jesus, Saul was “a Pharisee of Pharisees” and actively persecuted the followers of Jesus Christ in Jerusalem, the first of whom was Stephen. It took one earth-shaking experience for Saul to convert and preach the Gospel in going against his core beliefs as a Pharisee and eventually become Paul, the author of 13 epistles in the Bible.

Saul eventually became Paul, the most ardent follower of Christ as he was greatly convinced that acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, not the observance of the many Jewish rules, was all that was needed to receive God’s promise of salvation.

Benedict Arnold was a traitor during the American Revolution but can be regarded as a hero by his British contemporaries.

A study of the May 2019 CPA examinations results disclosed that out of the 468 schools with examinees for the licensure tests, 65 percent of these are below the national passing rate. And 180 out of 468 or 38 percent of these schools have zero passing rates. This dismal performance of a great number of accounting schools points to the lack of financial support and teaching resources as the reasons for their sub-standard performance.

Each BOA examiner is required to maintain a test bank consisting of thousands of self-prepared questions as the source of the items for the CPA exam tests that the examiner administers. Being an examiner myself during my stint as the Chairman of the BOA from 2014 to 2018, I have to admit that I do not have a monopoly of knowledge of the questions that can form part of the test subject that I am assigned to. I am convinced that outsourcing this process to accounting professionals and experts can provide support and inputs to the BOA examiners. By instituting a policy of confidentiality and other controls, this outsourcing can be implemented and will certainly improve the quality of the CPA licensure examinations.

In British politics, for example, the great Winston Churchill switched sides not once but twice! When his predecessor, the former Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin made Winston Churchill the Chancellor in 1924, he reportedly said: “Anyone can rat, but it takes a certain ingenuity to re-rat.”

In Philippine politics, no less than former President Ferdinand Marcos was a turncoat, referred to as balimbing in this day and age, as he moved from the Liberal Party to the Nacionalista Party in 1965.

Voters and politicians alike, who shift support from one political side to another, do so mostly for selfish reasons. One political science professor once said that  balimbing, a

There have been initiatives to punish turncoats or political parties in Congress but to no avail. I see no law forthcoming given that our current political arena favors most Filipino politicians who stand to benefit without one. Ending turncoatism does not need a law. I think voters’ education will have greater impact, as they need to understand that political parties in the Philippines rarely police their own ranks. Take the case of House of Representatives member Stella Quimbo, whose academic achievements at the University of the Philippines, Diliman ought to reflect competence if not credibility in economics. Rep. Quimbo has drawn flak for her defense of the confidential funds of Vice President Sara Duterte. Her partymates have opined that

In one of his writings, particularly in Galatians 1:11–12, Paul said: “I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.” The conversion of Paul, in spite of his early but intense efforts to eradicate Christianity, can be regarded as proof of Divine Grace.

In the Philippines, when balimbings jump from one party to another, most would see it as disloyalty to the party, but not necessarily disloyalty to the country. Some Catholics have switched religious affiliations due to various reasons. When believers convert, some will focus on divergence in details resulting to intense disagreement, while others will embrace the convergence in doctrines for the sake of love of one’s neighbor. For as long as a person believes in One Great God, who exists in three persons, and having the same attributes, to me, there are no sides to switch sides from. All of us can become better turncoats when we repent from our sinful ways. All told, changing sides to walk in God’s path demonstrates the fact that He has the power to use everything, even the vicious persecutor in Saul, to fulfill His plans here on earth. Let’s all become a better balimbing by way of a genuine “changing sides” and leave a life that conforms to the ways of the world towards a life that pleases God. By renewing of our minds, through reading the Bible often, praying always, and depending on the Holy Spirit within us in all that we do, we can all put off our old self, filled with corrupt through deceitful desires, and put on our new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:22-24). Only with God’s grace can we end the perfidious tag and see the day when the term  balimbing would connote a positive stance.

For the BOA, it should take the lead in addressing the shortcomings or gaps identified by or attributed to the various stakeholders. The present passing rate of 31 percent has increased from the 14 percent level for the October 2019 examinations under the present BOA. While increasing the passing rate has been the desire of most of the stakeholders in the accountancy profession, the BOA should have discussions on how to improve the quality of the accountancy profession.

Focusing on the specific areas of education and licensure certifications, these would include such factors as the accounting curriculum, its delivery, the licensure examination preparation and assessment processes, and a host of others. The BOA and the accounting education sector have made initiatives on these but at a slow pace. I have disclosed in a previous column about the BOA’s initiative of assessing the American Institute of CPA Evolution Examination system as a model for the revision of the Philippine CPA Examination. I support this move that addresses the outcomes of developing the skills and competencies of new CPAs for today and in the future.

The BOA can look further at solutions to improve the preparation of

continued from A1o

Finally, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) can provide another enhancement dimension in the CPA Licensure Examinations. Presently, the examinations are all Multiple Choice type of questions. While this type of examination allows the fast correction of the voluminous number of test questionnaires, these are limited for their inability to test narrative answers and computational solutions and inducement for guesswork for the examinees. Now, there are available technologies using AI that can be used in the correction and assessment of test responses for questions that will require critical thinking responses, showing computations, and providing narrative discussions. And these can be accomplished in a relatively short period of time.

I hope that these outcomes will soon move forward to its realization.

Joel L. Tan-Torres was the former Dean of the University of the Philippines Virata School of Business. Previously, he was the Commissioner of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, the chairman of the Professional Regulatory Board of Accountancy, and partner of Reyes Tacandong & Co. and the SyCip Gorres and Velayo & Co. He is a Certified Public Accountant who garnered No. 1 in the CPA Board Examination

powered irrigation projects for additional 791 sites to provide irrigation water supply to 39,694 hectares nationwide. That will mean more rice output or high-value crops where needed.

The NIA is likewise proposing another P30-billion worth of solar-

By relying on data analytics, NIA is providing the government a better template for preparing for food security problems that may arise. After all, PAGASA expects the intensity of El Niño to escalate next month, with January to March resulting in severe dry spell and with that knowledge, it can prepare better.

German theologian, Johann Peter Lange, considered as a poetical theologian par excellence, referred to the grace of God as that “no fall so deep that grace cannot descend to it” and “no height so lofty that grace cannot lift the sinner to it.”

Being a turncoat or a balimbing, or changing sides does not necessarily equate to being evil, especially in the case of Paul. After all, one’s traitor can be a hero to the other side.

Stella Maris: 103 years of service to seafarers and fishers regardless of belief or race

Pope Francis emphasized that the port welfare workers must “help the people of the sea to know Jesus Christ and to live according to His teachings.”

Filipino seafarers in the development of the Philippines as a maritime nation. Stella Maris Philippines is tasked with coordinating efforts between the public and private sectors.

Pinoy Marino Rights

For 103 years, the Stella Maris acts as the Catholic Church’s missionary work to the peoples of the sea, particularly seafarers, whether they are on merchant, passenger, war or fishing vessels.

Founded in Glasgow, Scotland on October 4, 1920, Stella Maris (formerly known as Apostleship of the Sea/AOS) provides practical and pastoral care to all peoples of the sea, regardless of nationality, belief or race through chaplaincies in ports in all continents of the world.

In addition to offering welcome and hospitality on ship visits, Stella Maris staff assist seafarers in distress, whether due to unsafe/exploitative working conditions or long periods of isolation onboard the vessel.

There are more than 230 chaplains and thousands of volunteers who staff Stella Maris centers and reach out to seafarers in more than 300 ports in 41 countries.

In 2012, Pope Benedict spoke during its 23rd World Congress at the Vatican: “Today, the Church sails across the seas to bring the Gospel to all nations, and your presence in ports throughout the world, your daily visits to ships docked in these ports and the fraternal welcome you give to the crews whilst in port are a visible sign of your concern for those who are not able to receive ordinary pastoral care.”

In 1969, Stella Maris became a founding member of International Christian Maritime Association

(ICMA) to encourage collaboration and mutual assistance among seafarers’ ministry organizations. ICMA is a free association of 29 charitable organizations working for the welfare of seafarers, fishers and their families. These organizations represent various Christian churches and communities that operate in more than 400 seafarers’ centers in more than 100 countries.

It is the mission of ICMA to promote unity, peace and tolerance as it is the duty of every chaplains, ship visitors, and volunteers and advocates for seafarers’ welfare to serve the stakeholders regardless of nationality, religion, culture, gender or ethnic origin.

During the 2019 ICMA conference in Taiwan, Pope Francis quoted portions of Pope St. John Paul II’s 1997 Apostolic Letter, Stella Maris, on the maritime apostolate as guidance for port welfare workers to “strive to see that the people of the sea are provided abundantly with whatever is required to lead holy lives; to recognize and promote the mission which all the faithful—and in particular the laity—are called to exercise in the Church and in the maritime world in accordance with their specific state.”

It was during its 100th anniversary celebration in 2020 when the name of AOS was changed to “Stella Maris,” the Latin title of its patron Mary, Star of the Sea, and the name by which most of the Catholic centers for seafarers are known.

A seafarer’s faith is his most powerful weapon in overcoming difficult emotional, or even dangerous, shipboard conditions and in making life at sea bearable in many ways.

Religion assists seafarers in coping with dangerous and emotionally challenging workplaces. It offers them strength, hope, and peace in relation to their daily work and social relationships on board the vessel.

Stella Maris was introduced in the Archdiocese of Manila in 1958 by His Eminence Rufino Cardinal Santos.

The Stella Maris Philippines is tasked to coordinate with the public and private sectors in activities related to the National Seafarers’ Day (NSD) celebration.

NSD is celebrated every last Sunday of September annually, as per Proclamation Nos. 828 and 1094 by the late President Fidel V. Ramos, aiming to recognize the vital role of

There are currently 14 Stella Maris centers nationwide: four in Luzon (Manila, Batangas, Pangasinan and La Union), five in Visayas (Cebu, Bohol, Iloilo, Leyte) and five in Mindanao (Basilan, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, General Santos City, Iligan). Masses, novenas, and prayers for the safe voyages of seafarers are traditional aspects of the annual NSD. Additionally, wreath-laying and flowerthrowing activities honor deceased seafarers and fishers, as well as those who have perished or gone missing at sea.

The 28th NSD was held on September 25, 2023, with the theme “Marinong Filipino: Patuloy sa Pangangalaga ng Karagatan.”

In 2022, the number of Filipino seafarers deployed reached 489,852, with corresponding dollar remittances amounting to $6,715,880,000. The sea-based sector’s remittances comprise at least 22 percent of the total OFW dollar remittances.

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. rigation will now be paying around P400,000, a 60 percent reduction that will redound to the benefit of farmer-families. In September, NIA allocated P1.7 billion for the programmed solar-irrigation projects in 183 sites nationwide that will irrigate a new area of 2,168 hectares.

Atty. Dennis R. Gorecho heads the seafarers’ division of the Sapalo Velez Bundang Bulilan law offices. For comments, e-mail info@sapalovelez.com or call 0917-5025808 or 0908-8665786.

Dennis Gorecho

‘MORE THINGS MUST BE DONE TO MAKE EPR LAW SUCCEED’

Roderick L. Abad @rodrik_28

Contributor

CAGAYAN DE ORO—

While more and more industry players are seen likely to join in the national effort to successfully implement the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Act, more things should be done in terms of refining its rules, as well as enforcing its provisions in order to meet its goals.

T he EPR Act, which amended the 20-year-old Republic Act (RA) No. 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, was proposed and subsequently lapsed into law in July 2022. It extends the responsibility of a company or producer to the post-consumer stage— guaranteeing that the materials and waste of the products they manufacture, import, distribute or sell do not end up just being thrown out, but are rather recovered, reused, recycled or allowed to decompose ecologically.

More than a year after its enactment, Undersecretary Atty.

Jonas R. Leones of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) revealed that there are a total of 719 who have already enlisted and submitted their EPR Programs to

the agency as of September 30— of which 114 are Obliged Enterprises (OEs), 53 are Collectives, 307 are Producer Responsibiity Organizations (PROs), and 248 are micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

So far, we’re optimistic because when we passed the law, around 10 to 20 had enlisted. Two months ago, there were 500 to 600 only. But, surprisingly, now we have reached 719. So we only need 281. If we can be helped by all industries of Region 10 that can comply, perhaps, we can meet the 1,000 target by end of this year,” he said in a press conference during the national roadshow dubbed “Rethinking Plastics: EPR Paving the Way Towards Circularity,” conducted by the DENR and Nestlé Philippines in Cagayan de Oro City last October 6.

U nder the law, companies called OEs with total assets of over P100 million are required to adopt and enforce policies for the right handling of their plastic packaging waste, with auditing and yearly compliance reports to be submitted. For the first year of the EPR implementation, OEs need to divert 20 percent of their very own plastic waste by end of 2023. It then increases to 80 percent by 2023.

NFA ready to borrow to buy 500K mt palay from farmers

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

H igh-ranking agriculture officials disclosed that the NFA plans to be more aggressive in procuring unmilled rice from farmers this harvest season after its buying price was raised to as much as P23 per kilogram.

The NFA was given an instruction by the President [Marcos Jr. to procure] as much as possible this season. They are targeting at least 500,000 MT and they plan to borrow [money] if need be, if [its] current funds [are] not enough,” Agriculture Undersecretary for Rice Leocadio S. Sebastian said in a recent Senate hearing. S ebastian explained that the NFA is keen on using all of its budget, totaling about P10 billion,

for its procurement program this fourth quarter.

He pointed out that the NFA budget rose to such a level due to some carryover funds from last year.

He added that the NFA’s procurement target is above its optimal procurement level of 350,000 MT.

S en. Risa Hontiveros asked why the NFA would borrow money if it has carryover funds, to which Sebastian responded that it is just a contingency plan.

“ If they still need more funds.

They have a credit line with the Land Bank [of the Philippines] and DBP (Development Bank of the Philippines,” Sebastian said.

T he Department of Budget and Management (DBM) confirmed to

the BusinessMirror that the NFA has indeed unused funds from last year that it can still utilize this year.

T he NFA’s available budget at the end of June 30 stood at P9.686 billion, comprising P1.215 billion in unused funds last year and P8.471 billion as available budget for this year, according to the DBM.

Since this year, the NFA has been given a state subsidy of P9 billion. The rice agency’s subsidy is expected to remain at the same level next year.

Struggling to procure

THE NFA’s palay procurement target seems to be in line with its goal of maintaining a 300,000-MT buffer stock in rice form under its 2023 performance scorecard approved by the Governance Commission on GOCCs (GCG).

T he NFA has been struggling to meet its procurement target on a monthly and quarterly basis, based on its accomplishment reports.

I n the first quarter, the NFA explained that it was unable to meet its 66,390 MT procurement target since the period was not a harvest season and the only available stocks were spillovers from the previous cropping season.

I n the second quarter, the NFA was only able to purchase 6 percent or about 12,900 MT of palay out of

its 213,170.5 MT procurement target. The NFA cited the lean months as the reason behind its dismal procurement status in April to June.

T he only time that the rice agency was close enough in reaching at least half of its procurement target was in January, when it purchased 7,552.2 MT of palay from local farmers. The NFA had a 16,307.5 MT procurement goal in January.

T he NFA procured the least volume of palay in August when it was only able to purchase 285.25 MT, only a percentage of its 26,568.5 MT target. The NFA explained that the high buying price by private traders and low available stocks due to the lean months affected its procurement program.

Bounce back

NFA Administrator Roderico R. Bioco is confident the agency can procure more rice this harvest season, with the buying price raised to P23 per kilogram.

T he NFA Council, chaired by Marcos Jr. in his concurrent capacity as agriculture chief, approved the increase in the rice agency’s buying price in late September. The NFA is now buying dry palay at P23 per kilogram and wet palay at as much as P19 per kilogram.

Continued on A4

By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie

LOCAL governments hosting mineral mining and energy development within their regions are poised to receive a collective share of P12.8 billion from the national treasury’s income derived from the commercial utilization of the nation’s natural resources, Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel said on Sunday.

P imentel said the P12.8 billion has been appropriated in the 2024 national budget that the House of Representatives recently approved on third and final reading.

“ The amount is 27 percent greater than the P10.1 billion that provincial, city, municipal and barangay governments are getting this year as their ‘national wealth use’ share,” Pimentel said.

Pimentel emphasized that this substantial funding infusion will empower local governments to initiate new projects aimed at generating additional employment and livelihood opportunities for their communities.

The money will enable local governments to pursue new projects that will create additional employment and livelihood opportunities for their communities,” Pimentel said.

Under the Local Government Code of 1991, local governments are entitled to 40 percent of the national treasury’s gross earnings from mining taxes, royalties from mineral reservations, forestry charges, and fees and revenues from energy resources generated from their areas.

Under the law, the share is allocated as follows: 20 percent to the province; 45 percent to the component city or municipality; and 35 percent to the barangay.

I n cases of highly urbanized or independent component cities, 65 percent goes to the city and 35 percent to the barangay.

U nder the law, local government must appropriate the funds to bankroll local development and livelihood projects.

A s to local governments obtaining their shares from the extraction of hydrothermal, geothermal and other

energy assets, at least 80 percent of the money must be spent to lower electricity prices in the communities that supplied the resources.

A total of 39 mining companies operating around the country produced nearly $2 billion (P112.7 billion) worth of metallic minerals from January to June this year, up almost 40 percent compared to the output of the same semester in 2022, according to the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB).

T he MGB attributed the huge increase in production value to the strong prices of nickel, gold and copper. Nickel accounted for P51.32 billion of the value produced. Gold and copper accounted for P46.44 billion and P12.84 billion, respectively, while the combined output of silver, chromite and iron ore reached P2.07 billion.

Su rigao del Sur, Pimentel’s province, is among the regions producing nickel, along with Surigao del Norte, Agusan del Norte, Palawan, and Zambales. About 68 percent of the world’s nickel output is utilized in the production of stainless steel.

STATE-RUN National Food Authority (NFA) stands ready to borrow money from state-run banks should it need more cash in meeting its target of buying 500,000 metric tons (MT) of palay from local farmers this harvest season.

‘National wealth use’ share of LGUs projected to reach ₧12.8B in 2024

TONDO TEETH DRIVE The Rotary Club of Manila on Saturday kicked off its community oral health program in Balut, Tondo, Manila, in partnership with Mithing Pangarap Educational Foundation, Teeth Cloud and Alliance of Canadian Dental Hygienists who conducted free dental check-up, oral cleaning and examination of 100 students under the supervision of Dr. John Cutter, Luming Woellhaf, Jeff Lord and their staff. RUDY ESPERAS

Companies

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

Monday, October 9, 2023

ERC releases revised CSP guidelines for power deals

By Lenie Lectura @llectura

In a 135-page resolution, the ErC has set the maximum term of power supply agreements (PSa s) for one year for emergency power supply agreements (EPSa), 10 years for financial PSa s, 15 years for physical PSa s, and 20 years for PSa s involving renewable energy (r E) plants. a l l of these terms will be reckoned from commencement of supply.

“The periods are intended to align with the covered periods under the Distribution Development Plans [DDPs] of DUs and in recognition of the r E targets set by the DoE [Department of Energy],” the ErC said.

Physical PS a s involve specific power plants while financial PS a s a re not power-plant specific since

the DU will just require a volume to be supplied for particular purposes such as baseload, mid-merit, or peaking.

The ErC also ruled that the tariff structure for financial PSa s will be fixed for the duration of the contract term. For physical PSa s, the tariff structure and cost-components must be indicated by the DUs in its Terms of reference (Tor).

The ErC said the process for the procurement of EPS a s is now “simplified,” with more robust timelines for evaluation to meet the emergency power needs of DUs. For instance, the DU, within five days from the occurrence of the force majeure, must notify the ErC and

the D oE of such fortuitous event.

To facilitate stakeholder compliance with the new framework, the ErC has provided comprehensive checklists of prefiling requirements for PSa s procured through CSP or exempted from such CSP, as well as PSa templates prescribing minimum standards for both physical PSa s and financial PSa s

The CSP guidelines indicate that PSa s submitted to the ErC for approval will now be reviewed on two levels: the first involves a process review to determine compliance with the CSP guidelines, and the second is a substantive review to determine the PSa’s reasonableness in terms of tariff, costs, risk allocation, and other contractual terms.

There is also a protest mechanism dedicated for DUs. The ErC said DUs are now afforded remedies, such as blacklisting of suppliers, in case a winning bidder fails to deliver the DU’s supply requirements after signing the PSa

T he release of these CSP guidelines, the agency said, marks a significant step towards ensuring transparency, accountability, and competitiveness in the supply of power in the least-cost manner to

the DU’s captive market.

“Taking into consideration the comments submitted by the stakeholders, and those made during the public consultation, the ErC approved the implementing guidelines for the procurement, execution and evaluation of PSa s,” the resolution read.

The Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) had opposed the 10-year maximum contract term proposed by the ErC The utility firm said the ideal PSa should be valid for a maximum of 20 years.

Meralco also said mandating a fixed energy price will result in higher cost to consumers since it will drive power suppliers to factor in their offered rates the risk of nonrecovery costs, or firms will not participate in the bidding at all because of such risk.

The CSP is the process wherein a power supplier is chosen to supply electric power requirements of a distribution utility through transparent and competitive bidding. This method of procuring power supply contracts is a level playing field in which everybody competes, thus reflecting the lowest possible cost for consumers.

Duty Free accused of union busting

By Patrick V. Miguel

Alabor group has claimed that Duty Free Philippines Corp. (DFPC) has retrenched most of its union leaders and that it failed to fulfill its obligations in paying workers’ separation pay and other benefits.

Federation of Freedom Workers (FFW) said DFPC has retrenched all of the union leaders in the country except one and that “no separation pay is yet granted to affected employees for four months since separation.”

“Sixteen officers from the union

Exec: Group gives nod to Smart network

SM a rT Communications Inc. on Sunday claimed that it has the “best rated upload speeds, download speeds, and latency experience” across Philippine operators, citing an award from independent benchmarking organization umlaut.

Smart Network Head Eric Santiago said the company received the “best in Test” award from German organization umlaut, noting that this reflects the investments of Smart in building its network.

a c cording to Santiago, umlaut found Smart posted an overall score of 745 out of a maximum of 1,000 points. The report, which included 1.9 billion samples collected from February to July, also showed Smart ahead in terms of mobile HD/UHD video, gaming and oT T voice classes.

“ou r investments over the years in strengthening our integrated fixed and wireless networks have enabled us to deliver enhanced mobile services to our subscribers across the country.”

a s of the end of June, the PlDT Group has a total fiber footprint of over 1.1 million kilometers, while its mobile network now covers 97 percent of the population with 3G, 4G, and 5G connections. Lorenz S. Marasigan

president to board members were served with notices of separation, while all union officers of our rival union are retained or given new appointments,” United Workers of Duty Free Philippines (UWDFP-FFW)-FFW President Ernesto Manganlindan said in a statement.

Meanwhile, a petition for certiorari for injunction is pending in the r e gional Trial Court ( rT C) 195 of Parañaque. a c cording to UWDFP-FFW, the government-run entity has moved forward with its reorganization without approval from the o f fice of the President of the Philippines.

STOCK-MARKET OUTLOOK

Its constitutionality is questionable, the labor group added.

Earlier in May, DFPC cited the pandemic as the reason for reducing its manpower to 345 from 700.

“It is the duty of any responsible organization to uphold the rights and dignity of its workforce, and such actions against unionized workers are unacceptable,” said FFW.

l a st March, the group renewed its appeal to President Mracos to halt the enforcement of Duty Free’s reorganization plan, which is expected to lead to the retrenchment of over 700 workers.

Top losers, meanwhile, were e ast Coast Vulcan Corp., Imperial resources Inc., a siabest Group International Inc., Liberty Flour Mills Inc., atok-Big Wedge Co. Inc., Manila Bulletin Publishing Corp. and Chemical Industries of the Philippines Inc.

this week

Share prices may go down this week due to a slew of negative news that could discourage investors. Broker 2Tradea sia said global capital markets generally reacted to soaring treasury yields in the past week such as the 10-year US treasury yields in particular hitting near-2007 highs which have caused risk assets to fall sharply.

“While this has been expected on some level, the ‘higher-for-longer’ interest rate rhetoric is creeping in and making it more difficult to not pick treasury yields, which are perceived to be risk free, over other asset classes. Gold is down 11 percent from its highs in the second quarter, higher mortgage rates are slowing down real estate, the Dow just wiped most of its year-to-date gains, etc.”

The silver lining is that US inflation has decelerated the most in September, it said.

“The President has the authority to stop this ill-prepared plan as he has the power to do so under Section 5 [a] [6] [i] of r e public a c t 10149, also known as the G o CC [Government- o w ned and Controlled Corporation] Governance a c t of 2011,” FFW said in a statement.

The group urged the President to postpone DFPC’s rightsizing plan “indefinitely” until its issues can be ironed out. FFW made the pronouncement after the DFPC management released the implementing rules and regulations for the rightsizing plan.

here is to hoping that short selling activity will lead to more efficient price discovery in the near-term. In the meantime, keep a flexible hand in trades while global markets forces find their equilibrium,” the broker said.

Immediate support for the main index is seen at is 6,150 points, and resistance level at 6,400 points.

stock picks

BrOk er re gina Capital Development Corp. gave a buy rating when its support price holds for the stock of GT Capital holdings Corp. (GTC aP) after it snapped its three-day winning streak, as it concluded trading Thursday down by over 3 percent at P570.

“Given that the indicators are now in harmony, the downward bias on GTC aP has intensified. ergo, traders may want to gradually take a position on GTC aP in the event that its support manages to end the week without getting beaten.”

GT Capital’s share price closed Friday at P570 apiece.

Meanwhile, it gave the same rating on the stock of ayala Land Inc. (aLI) as its shares have started to follow a downward trend after last week’s rally brought it below P30.

B1

the Property index declined 16.34 to 2,597.27 and the Services index lost 2.29 to 1,506. For the week, losers outnumbered gainers 133 to 88 and 31 shares were unchanged. Top gainers were Concrete aggregates Corp. B shares, Ph resorts Group holdings

In the Philippines, the inflation rate in September marked the second consecutive monthly increase. a s s uch, the Monetary Board will more likely raise interest rates by another 25 basis points during its next meeting in November.

“The advent of short selling in the local equities market unironically coincides with this period in the market cycle where the odds are stacked against equities, at least from a broader market perspective;

“The stock is above both the 50day and 200-day moving average.

Technical readings are indicating buying pressure however these bars are starting to thin out as the stock appears to be on the downward trend. Ideally it would be a good opportunity to accumulate once a L finds its support,” it said. ayala Land shares were last traded last week and closed at P28.45 apiece. VG Cabuag

can

natural gas as transition fuel’

LoPE z-l ED First Philippine Holdings Corp. (FPH) cited the importance of natural gas as transition fuel while the industry works on six conditions before the country can fully replace conventional fuel with renewable energy (r E).

During a recent forum hosted by the Net z ero Carbon a l liance (NzC a), the chief sustainability officer of FPH said the country must be able to “pull off all six requirements if (it) wants to be 100-percent r E .”

The NzC a now has 20 members that have committed to carbon neutrality.

based on studies conducted by lU T University in Finland and the UP College of Engineering, a g nes de Jesus said a full r E transition can be done without tapping gas as a bridge fuel.

a s a country, we need to put in place six things. First, solar is preferred. So, that’s check. That is dominant in our environment. We have 40,000 megawatts [MW] of potential solar in the Philippines,” said de Jesus.

The second is energy storage system (ESS), which will make viable use of intermittent renewable sources such as solar and wind by efficiently storing the energy for electricity when the sun is not shining or the wind is not blowing.

The ESS also minimizes power wastage and redirect otherwise unused capacity to remote areas, are regarded as the best and most sustainable technical solution to the country’s power quality and reliability issues. They are seen to balance and improve access to power nationwide.

“If we are to replace conventional fuel with r E it has to be utility-scale batteries, but they said that the cost must be substantially reduced. Not only that, you need lithium. So, you need to compete with the world for lithium or our energy policymakers

must include lithium in the diversification plan,” de Jesus said.

The third requirement is funding.

“We need to build up funds. based on their projection, there will be an increase from 20 billion euros to 55 billion euros per year to operate the total energy system. So that’s around P3.3 trillion a year and that amount before was for fossil fuel,” she said.

The other requirements are transmission lines, carbon capture, and policies.

“We need [transmission lines] everywhere the demand is so we can put in the r E . In spite of it all, we still need natural gas for peak load for certain periods. We also need a carbon capture in the equation. l a st is policy. If we cannot put all those six together then we cannot pull out natural gas for now because there will be economic dislocation. While natural gas is a transition fuel, there are studies that it may not be in sequence, that the shift to r E can also be simultaneous. We need to put our act together as a country to get all of this to get these six requirements if we want to be 100 percent r E ,” said de Jesus.

The government is bent on increasing r E ’s share in the energy mix to 35 percent by 2030 and 50 percent by 2040. a s of last year, r E capacity stood at 22 percent.

Transitioning to clean energy to achieve the country’ s energy security goals require a transition fuel capable of providing baseload generation that would fill in the gap when existing coal-fired power plants start to retire.

Natural gas is seen as a suitable transition fuel by which the private sector investments in this technology will be facilitated as a way to enable the viability of large r E capacity additions and ensure the reliability and security of the power system. Lenie Lectura

The energy Regulatory Commission (eRC) released on Sunday the revised competitive selection process (CSP) guidelines governing power supply contracting of distribution utilities (DUs).

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Photo from www.netzerocarbonalliance.Ph

Perspectives

Be cyber smart!

THE Internet is an incredible tool for children to learn, socialize and have fun. However, with one in three Internet users being under 18 years old, the risks associated with online activity are significant and continue to grow. Last year, approximately three out of four children worldwide experienced at least one cyber risk.

In the Philippines, where Internet usage among children and adolescents is widespread, educating both parents and children about the potential risks associated with online activities is crucial.

KPMG in the Philippines Technology Consulting Partner Gilbert T. Trinchera shares: “Much like in many other countries, Filipino children are active users of social media platforms and other online services for their personal and educational use. This exposes them to various risks such as cyberbullying, online predators and scams. Initiating discussions about online safety early, setting clear ground rules and monitoring Internet activity are essential for Filipino parents to safeguard their children’s online experiences.”

Considering the Philippines’s rapid progress in the technology sector, it is vital to advocate for secure online habits and responsible engagement with emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence or AI. These initiatives are essential not only for the welfare but also for the future achievements of Filipino youth.

Start talking to your kids about Internet safety at a young age. By having these discussions early on, you can help them make smart choices and develop healthy online habits. Educating them about responsible Internet use, privacy protection and potential dangers will also protect them from risks. It’s never too early to establish a foundation for safe Internet usage.

n Young people are always eager to learn. Teach them how to create secure passwords, recognize secure webpages, avoid scams, practice appropriate online behavior and other skills for safe online activity.

n Don’t give out personal information. Remind children to never give out personal information, like their full name, home address, passwords or phone numbers, to anyone they don’t know.

n Be careful with strangers.

Talk to kids about the potential dangers of interacting with strangers online and warn them against ever meeting anyone in person without your knowledge and consent.

n Ask questions. Be sure to ask your child questions about their online activities, such as what sites they visit and who they communicate with. Encourage them to be open about what they’re saying and seeing online.

n Set clear ground rules. Moderate screen time by setting boundaries for how long your child is online and what they can do. Screen time unrelated to schoolwork can be made available after homework is complete or on weekends.

n Restrict Internet access and monitor activity. You don’t have to be a cyber pro to protect your children online. Parental control apps and those built into devices and Wi-Fi routers are user-friendly. These controls allow you to set access times, monitor Internet activity and block website categories. Knowing what your kids are doing online can help to keep them safe.

n Practice what you preach. Set

a good example with your own online presence. Demonstrate safe behavior and practices.

Social media safety tips

SOCIAL media platforms have become an integral part of our daily lives and valuable tools for communication and entertainment. However, there are also significant risks associated with these platforms, especially for children.

Children’s misuse of social media can expose them to various dangers, including cyberbullying and online predators.

Here are some tips to help keep your children safe:

n Age restrictions. Most social media platforms have age restrictions. Ensure they are followed and monitor their use.

n Pause before posting. Teach your children to be mindful of the comments and pictures they post and stress never to share personal information like their age, school, address or full name. Explain that once it’s online, it remains on the Internet. This is especially important as kids grow and look for summer jobs—most employers will do a basic online search of potential candidates.

n Follow your child. Monitor social media activity by following your child online. You don’t have to participate, just view profiles and posts regularly.

n Review social media parental guidance pages. To learn more about protecting your child’s social media accounts review parental guidance pages.

n Ensure your child’s profile is always set to ‘private’ mode.

Navigating the world of AI

AS artificial intelligence (AI) programs gain popularity, it’s common for children to become curious about them. However, having conversations with kids about responsible and appropriate tech usage is crucial.

Explain to your kids how AI technology works so they can appreciate its benefits, understand its potential limitations and learn how to use it effectively. Give them some examples they may already be familiar with to help them comprehend what it is.

Talk to your kids about AI technology that excites them. Get them thinking about how the programs could help them learn and grow. Encourage them to be critical of the information they get from new technology and to use their creativity to complement AI.

Children should understand that AI has limitations that can cause inaccurate and biased results. Hackers can also manipulate AI by changing data, which can lead to wrong predictions. Remind kids that AI lacks emotional understanding and cannot replace human relationships and connections.

The full article could be found here: https:// kpmg.com/xx/en/home/insights/2023/09/getcyber-smart.html

© 2023 KPMG Int’l Ltd. is a private English company limited by guarantee. R.G. Manabat & Co., a Philippine partnership, is a member-firm of a global organization of independent memberfirms affiliated with KPMG Int’l Ltd. All rights reserved. Email ph-kpmgmla@kpmg.com or visit www.home.kpmg/ph.

This article is for general information purposes only and should not be considered as professional advice to a specific issue or entity. The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the BusinessMirror, KPMG International or KPMG in the Philippines.

PCSO not exempt from giving dividends to Treasury–DOJ

By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

THE Department of Justice (DOJ) has told the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) it is not exempt from declaring and remitting dividends to the national treasury.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin

C. Remulla made known its position in response to the letter sent by PCSO General Manager Melquiades

A. Robles seeking the DOJ’s legal opinion on the PCSO’s exemption from Republic Act (RA) 7656, or the Government-Owned or Controlled Corp. Dividends Law, which requires GOCCs such as the PCSO, to declare dividends and remit at least 50 percent of their annual dividends to the national government. Robles sought the legal opinion from the DOJ after the Department of Finance (DOF) demanded the PCSO to remit dividends to the Bureau of Treasury pursuant to RA 5656 in a letter dated April 18, 2023.

The PCSO is opposing DOF’s demand saying, for one, that it has no net earnings that can be declared dividends and remitted to the national government. The GOCC added that any balances (income or earn-

ings) from PCSO funds revert to and form part of the PCSO Charity Fund intended to health programs, expansion of existing ones, medical assistance and services. The PCSO added that all disbursements from the Charity Fund are subject to the approval of the Chief Executive.

The PCSO also cited several laws passed subsequent to RA 7656 that mandate the GOCC to provide and hold in trust funds for various purposes and programs of the national government. The GOCC further rejected the DOF’s demand on the ground that its “unique operational constraints” prevent declaration and remittance of net receipts in addition to the mandatory contributions.

Finally, the PCSO said that and additional burdens may impair the business viability of state-run lotteries.

Likewise, the PCSO pointed out that in 2016, the Office of the

Online lender borrows P1B to boost relending

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

ONLINE lending firm

Asialink Finance Corp.

(Asialink) said it raised P1 billion from two financial institutions, including a government corporation, to boost its relending portfolio to small-scale and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Asialink said it borrowed P600 million from state-owned Small Business Corp. and another P400 million from Yuanta Savings Bank Philippines Inc.

Asialink pointed out that the fund would be used to sustain its operations as it lends about P1.3 billion per month to companies, particularly SMEs “that find it hard to borrow from banks.”

“The small and medium companies are the backbone of economies, big and small. They provide jobs in all corners of our country and help the economy grow. They are a strategic economic and social pillar and therefore should be supported,” Asialink CEO Robert B. Jordan Jr. was quoted in a statement the firm issued last Sunday.

Jordan explained that their “insignificant” individual sizes hinder SMEs from securing bank loans because of “tight” lending policies and restrictions that banks need to comply with.

“The big banks are also not designed to lend small amounts and work with hundreds of thousands of such small borrowers,” he said. “Asialink fills that gap.”

According to the executive, the firm has more than 45,000 borrowers and that its repayment rate is higher than that of banks.

“We charge higher than bank rates but we can approve a loan within a day for repeat clients and require fewer documentation. In the end, as their businesses grow, everybody is happy,” Jordan added.

The executive claims that the unbanked SMEs require “at least hundreds of billion pesos” yearly to sustain and grow their businesses.

“Asialink will continue to grow with these corporations. The more funds we raise, the more we can lend to them for their businesses to prosper,” Jordan said.

Government Corporate Counsel (OGCC) issued Opinion 198 declaring that the GOCC is not covered by RA 7656.

The OGCC’s legal opinion also stated that remitting to the national government would be a direction violation of its charter since its earnings are already allocated by law for certain expenses.

Furthermore, the OGCC said while the PCSO cannot remit dividends to the national government, it is the public at large that in a way reaps the benefits through vital public service that the PCSO renders.

The DOJ, however, noted that it has desisted from passing upon issues that have already been the subject of official action by other officials or offices—in this case the DOF—over which the justice secretary has no revisory authority.

Remulla added that the opinion of the Secretary of Justice need not bind the DOF, which is the primary agency responsible for the implementation of RA 7656. Furthermore, the DOJ chief noted that the OGCC has already answered PCSO’s query through its 2016 opinion.

“As much as possible we avoid reviewing opinions of the OGCC because, while it is true that this Department exercises supervision and control over OGCC, it has adopted a policy of acting sparingly on requests for review or confirmation of any opinion rendered by the OGCC, un-

less the same is patently erroneous,” Remulla said.

However, for PCSO’s guidance and information, the DOJ issued certain observations with regard to the issues.

On the issue that PCSO’s mandate does not oblige it to declare and remit dividends to the national government, the DOJ noted that Section 1 of RA 1169 or the PCSO Charter mandates the agency to be the principal government agency for raising and providing funds for health programs, medical assistance and services and charities of national character.

Remulla added that GOCC Dividends Law applies to all GOCCs, except those which are created by law to administer real or personal properties or hold funds for the use of its members.

The law also named the GOCCs exempted from remitting dividends to the national government but the justice secretary said the PCSO is not one of them.

“A review of PCSO’s Charter, RA 1169, readily shows that it was neither created or organized by law to administer real or personal properties, nor to hold funds in trust for the use of its members. Applying the provisions of Section 4 of RA 7656 therefore, it would seem that PCSO is not an exempt GOCC and must, as mandated by law, declare and remit dividends to the National Government,” the DOJ said.

Tyme Bank expanding in SEA, to Vietnam first in ’24

By VG Cabuag @villygc

TYME Bank Holdings Ltd., a digital bank minority owned by the Gokongwei group, announced it is focusing its expansion in Southeast Asia in the coming years as it looks on putting up banking operations in Vietnam and Indonesia.

Nathaniel Clarke, the CEO of GoTyme Bank, its Philippine unit, and founding member of the Tyme Group, said the bank may sign an agreement with a Vietnamese partner by the first quarter next year and start its operations in Vietnam by 2025.

“Vietnam actually has very similar demographics (with the Philippines). There is a large population over on 100 million underserved, we feel like there’s a gap in the market, when it comes to customer experience in service. So I think it’s kind of a logical next step,” Clarke said.

He noted that while the firm’s “origin story is in South Africa, we’re not focused on expansion in Africa, we’re focused on Southeast Asia, with Vietnam being number one.”

“As Tyme group, our home now is increasingly in Southeast Asia,” he added.

Clarke said Tyme already has some 300 people in Vietnam working on product development and engineering hub. It has its headquarters in

Singapore, leading strategy, business development, data, analytics and artificial intelligence functions.

“Interestingly, our largest office (is in Vietnam), because a lot of our products and engineers and designers are there. They serve both South Africa and the Philippines. So even though we don’t have a consumer brand, we are already actually quite well known in the market,” Clarke said. “And we have a lot of team members who understand the market. So that would obviously make it easier to start a new business there.”

The executive said they hope to sign a deal with a local bank in Vietnam by next year, but a consumer launch may actually take a year before it can start.

In the Philippines, Gotyme Bank Corp. is set to launch lending products in the next few months.

Albert Raymund O. Tinio, the company’s co-CEO, said that the payment system operator will offer lending for small-scale and medium-sized enterprises. Tinio said GoTyme will also offer salary loans, first for employees of JG Summit Holdings Inc. before offering it to the public.

The company will also offer a “buynow, pay later” scheme, just like what Neuroncredit Financing Co. Inc. (doing business as Atome Philippines) is doing. That product still needs approval from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Clarke said.

Pushing 80? You’re in line for a cash gift if Centenarians Act gets amended

By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie

ELDERLY Filipinos can soon receive cash gifts by the time they reach 80 years or 90 years of age, under a measure approved by both the Senate and the House of Representatives. The proposal aims to give a monetary bonus not only to centenarians but to octogenarians and nonagenarians as well, a senior lawmaker said last Sunday.

Camarines Sur Rep. LRay F. Villafuerte said lawmakers from the House and Senate will now reconcile both measures via the bicameral conference (bicam) process in order

to come up with a final or enrolled bill for submission to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for his approval and signing into law.

Villafuerte issued a statement following the issuance of Memorandum Circular (MC) 34 that directed all national government agencies, state corporations, government financial institutions (GFIs), and local government units (LGUs) to support proelderly activities for the annual celebration of the Linggo ng Katandaang Filipino (Elderly Filipino Week).

In MC 34, Malacañan Palace ordered the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) to spearhead programs in support of Republic Act

(RA) 11350, or the NCSC Act.

Proclamation 470 (series of 1994) had declared the first week of October each year as Linggo ng Katandaang Filipino, in recognition of the elderly sector’s role in nation-building.

“Seldom do Filipinos reach the age of 100, so what better way for the national government and the Congress to show our country’s appreciation for the significant contributions of our grandparents and other seniors to society during their relatively more productive years than to give them cash gifts not only when they become centenarians but even when they turn 80 and then 90 years old,” said Villafuerte, one of the authors of

the House version of this measure.

The lawmaker was the lead author of House Bill (HB) 302, which was one of the bills consolidated with HB 7535 that the House passed on third and final reading last May before the adjournment of the first regular session of the 19th Congress, in a bid to amend RA 10868. Also called the “Centenarians Act of 2016,” the law mandates granting a P100,000 cash gift to Filipino centenarians.

HB 7535 proposes to raise the P100,000 cash gift to centenarians to P1 million and add a bonus of P25,000 each to senior citizens when they turn 80, 85, 90, and 95 years old. The bill mandates the NCSC to

take over this project’s implementation from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

RA 10868 tasked the DSWD with taking charge of distributing to centenarians the cash gift and the accompanying letter of felicitation from the President for each beneficiary. Senators already passed Senate Bill (SB) 2028—their counterpart to HB 7535—last month before the Senate and the House took their September 30 to November 5 congressional recess.

SB 2028 keeps the current cash gift of P100,000 and felicitation letter from the President for every centenarian, as provided under RA

10868, but proposes a bonanza of P10,000 each when senior citizens reach 80 years old and P20,000 at the age of 90.

Under HB 7535, “initial funding for the cash gifts shall still come from the DSWD, but the subsequent outlay for this project’s continued yearly implementation shall be included in the annual GAA (General Appropriations Act).

Camarines Sur Reps. Miguel Luis R. Villafuerte and Tsuyoshi Anthony G. Horibata, plus the BicolSaro party list, were the other authors of HB 302. According to the Department of Social Welfare and Development, there are 662 Filipino centenarians.

UNVEILING THE ‘NONES’:

A deep dive into the perspectives and lifestyles of the religiously unaffiliated

By Peter Smith The Associated Press

Mike Dulak grew up Catholic in Southern California, but by his teen years, he began skipping Mass and driving straight to the shore to play guitar, watch the waves and enjoy the beauty of the morning. “and it felt more spiritual than any time i set foot in a church,” he recalled.

Nothing has changed that view in the ensuing decades.

“Most religions are there to control people and get money from them,” said Dulak, now 76, of Rocheport, Missouri. He also cited sex abuse scandals in Catholic and Southern Baptist churches. “I can’t buy into that,” he said.

As Dulak rejects being part of a religious flock, he has plenty of company. He is a “none”—no, not that kind of nun. The kind that checks “none” when pollsters ask “What’s your religion?”

The decades-long rise of the nones—a diverse, hard-to-summarize group—is one of the most talked about phenomena in US religion. They are reshaping America's religious landscape as we know it.

In US religion today, “the most important story without a shadow of a doubt is the unbelievable rise in the share of Americans who are nonreligious,” said Ryan Burge, a political science professor at Eastern Illinois University and author of The Nones, a book on the phenomenon.

The nones account for a large portion of Americans, as shown by the 30 percent of US adults who claim no religious affiliation in a survey by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

Other major surveys say the nones have been steadily increasing for as long as three decades.

So who are they?

They’re the atheists, the agnostics, the “nothing in particular.” Many are “spiritual but not religious,” and some are neither or both. They span class, gender, age, race and ethnicity.

While the nones’ diversity splinters them into myriad subgroups, most of them have this in common: They. Really. Don’t. Like. Organized. Religion. Nor its leaders. Nor its politics and

social stances. That’s according to a large majority of nones in the APNORC survey.

But they’re not just a statistic.

They're real people with unique relationships to belief and nonbelief, and the meaning of life.

They’re secular homeschoolers in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas, Pittsburghers working to overcome addiction. They’re a mandolin maker in a small Missouri town, a former evangelical disillusioned with that particular strain of American Christianity. They’re college students who found their childhood churches unpersuasive or unwelcoming.

Church “was not very good for me,” said Emma Komoroski, a University of Missouri freshman who left her childhood Catholicism in her mid-teens.

“I’m a lesbian. So that was kind of like, oh, I didn’t really fit, and people don’t like me.”

The nones also are people like Alric Jones, who cited bad experiences with organized religion ranging from the intolerant churches of his hometown to the ministry that kept soliciting money from his devout late wife— even after Jones lost his job and income after an injury.

“They should have come to us and said, ‘Is there something we can do to help you?’” said Jones, 71, of central Michigan. “They kept sending us letters saying, ‘Why aren’t you sending us money?’”

Although he doesn’t believe in organized religion, he believes in God and basic ethical precepts. “People should be treated equally as long as they treat other people equally. That’s my spirituality if you want to call it that.”

These days, if a visiting relative wants to attend church, he’ll go along, “but I’m not prone to listening to anybody telling me this is the way it should be,” Jones said.

About 1 in 6 US adults, including Jones and Dulak, is a “nothing in particular.” There are as many of them as atheists and agnostics combined (7 percent each).

“All the media attention is on atheists and agnostics, when most nones are not atheist or agnostic,” Burge said.

Many embrace a range of spiritual beliefs—from God, prayer and heaven to karma, reincarnation, astrology or energy in crystals.

“They are definitely not as turned off to religion as atheists and agnostics are,” Burge said. “They practice their own type of spirituality, many of them.”

Dulak still draws inspiration from nature.

“It just feels so good to be next to something so timeless,” he said, sitting in his yard in the Missouri River town he now calls home.

He finds similar fulfillment in his two-story workshop, where he makes the latest of thousands of mandolins he has created over the decades, enabling people to “share the joy of music.”

“It feels spiritually good,” Dulak said. “It’s not a religion.”

Burge said the nones are rising as the Christian population declines, particularly the “mainline” or moderate to liberal Protestants.

“This is not just some academic exercise for me,” said Burge, who pastors a dwindling American Baptist church in Mt. Vernon, Illinois. It’s “what I’ve seen every single Sunday of my life the last 16 years.”

The statistics show the nones are well-represented in every age group, but especially among young adults. About four in 10 of those under 30 are nones—nearly as many as say they're Christians.

The trend was evident in interviews on the University of Missouri campus. Several students said they didn’t identify with a religion.

Mia Vogel said she likes “the foundations of a lot of religions—just love everybody, accept everybody.” But she considers herself more spiritual.

“I’m pretty into astrology. I’ve got my crystals charging up in my window right now,” she said. “Honestly, I’ll bet half of it is a total placebo. But I just like the idea that things in life can be explained by greater forces.”

One movement that exemplifies the “spiritual but not religious” ethos is the Twelve Step sobriety program, pioneered by Alcoholics Anonymous and adopted by other recovery groups. Participants turn to a “power greater than ourselves”—the God of each person’s own understanding—but they don’t share any creed.

“If you look at the religions, they have been wracked by scandals, it doesn’t matter the denomination,” said the Rev. Jay Geisler, an Episcopal priest who is spiritual advisor at the Pittsburgh Recovery Center, an addiction treatment site.

In contrast, “there’s actually a spiritual revival in the basement of many of the churches,” where recovery groups often meet, he said. For some, Geisler said, the God of

their understanding is “GUS,” for Guy UpStairs. Or “SAM,” for Sure Ain’t Me.

“Nobody’s fighting in those rooms, they’re not saying, ‘You’re wrong about God,’” Geisler said. The focus is on “how your life is changed.”

Participants echoed those thoughts recently at the center. In keeping with the Twelve Step tradition of anonymity, they shared their experiences on condition only their first names be used.

“I grew up Methodist, but I don’t follow any religion,” said John, 32. “I don’t believe in a big, bearded dude in the sky.” But after surviving overdoses, he knows that “something has been watching over me.”

Some identified as Christian, but skip evangelizing in favor of supporting each others’ individual paths.

“I don’t push my belief on anybody,” said Linda, 57. “The pain bonds us.”

Those interviewed said their newfound community is essential to their recovery—and the lack of community contributed to their initial fall into addiction.

Scholars worry that, as people pull away from congregations and other social groups, they are losing sources of communal support.

But nones said in interviews they were happy to leave religion behind, particularly in toxic situations, and find community elsewhere.

Jones agreed that church connections can have benefits—but not for him.

“When you need references and you need other things, those people are

there to support you,” he said. “But again, what are you willing to sacrifice of your own beliefs to develop that kind of relationship?”

Marjorie Logman, 75, of Aurora, Illinois, now finds community among other residents in her multigenerational apartment complex. She doesn’t miss the evangelical circles she was long active in.

“The farther away I get, the freer I feel,” she said, criticizing churches for prioritizing money over caring for people. She recalled seeing church leaders tell people with depression their problem was sin or demonic possession—piling guilt upon unaddressed mental illness.

When she was recovering from an injury at a nursing home in 2010, Logman said, her husband was home by himself in despair and died before she could return home. She said her pastor refused to visit him because he hadn’t been involved in church. She now identifies as agnostic. “I’m not throwing in the towel on everything,” she said. “I still believe in a higher consciousness.”

Even far from urban centers, nones are finding community.

Adria Cays and Ashley Miller, who live in nearby towns in northwest Arkansas, helped found a group for parents homeschooling according to secular principles.

Even in a predominantly Christian region of the Ozarks, they found “people like us who were approaching education and just raising their children from a more secular view,” said Miller, 35.

The women's families regularly share hiking adventures on Instagram. While they don’t describe their explorations as spiritual, they aim to inspire wonder and purpose in their children.

“We really want them to have a deep connection to nature,” said Cays, 43.

Added Miller: “We are part of something bigger, and that is the Earth. There is meaning just in being.”

AP journalists Linley Sanders, Emily Swanson and Jessie Wardarski contributed.

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

The poll of 1,680 adults was conducted May 11-15 using a sample drawn from NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the US population. The margin of sampling error for all respondents is plus or minus 3.4 percentage points.

Roughly a dozen people attend pastor Ryan Burge's Sunday service at First Baptist Church in Mt. Vernon, Illinois, Sunday, September 10, 2023. For Burge, the rising number of “nones” and the dwindling number of religious is not simply a statistic, but a fact that he's been witnessing in his own parish for the past 16 years. AP/Jessie WA r dA r ski

Pa S to R Ryan Burge, an associate professor of political science at Eastern Illinois university and author of the Nones, a book on the growing number of religiously unaffiliated americans, poses for a portrait at First Baptist Church in Mt. Vernon, Illinois, Sunday, September 10, 2023. AP/Jessie WA r dA r ski

A canvas for authentic self-expression

ONE of the most enduring global brands recently opened its biggest store in one of the largest malls in the world. Levi’s, the iconic American name, showed its commitment to Asia by unleashing an immersive store at SM North Edsa.

Beauty brand started with macaroon lip balm and took market by storm

A LEADING beauty brand known for its innovative and highquality products, MQ Cosmetics is celebrating its remarkable journey from a humble macaroon lip balm to becoming a sensation in the digital world. With a commitment to delivering quality products that enhance natural beauty, MQ Cosmetics has captivated the hearts of beauty enthusiasts worldwide.

MQ Cosmetics first made its mark in the industry with the introduction of their signature product, the Macaroon Lip Balm. This unique lip balm, inspired by the delicate and vibrant colors of macarons, quickly gained popularity for its long-lasting formula, moisturizing properties, and wide range of stunning shades. The Macaroon Lip Balm became an instant hit among beauty enthusiasts, setting the stage for MQ Cosmetics’ rapid growth and success.

Building on the success of the Macaroon Lip Balm, MQ Cosmetics expanded its product line to include a diverse range of beauty essentials. The brand offers a comprehensive selection of skin care and makeup products that cater to every skin tone and preference. Each product is meticulously formulated using the finest ingredients, ensuring quality.

As MQ Cosmetics continues to expand its presence and, the brand remains dedicated to empowering individuals to express their unique beauty. With a focus on inclusivity, MQ Cosmetics celebrates diversity and encourages self-expression through makeup. By offering a wide range of shades and products suitable for all skin types, MQ Cosmetics aims to make beauty accessible to everyone.

“MQ Cosmetics started with a simple idea—to create products that enhance natural beauty while reflecting individuality,” said Joycenyl Reyes. “We are thrilled to have achieved such success in a competitive market, and are grateful for the support of our loyal customers. We will continue to innovate and deliver exceptional beauty products that inspire confidence and self-expression.”

MQ Cosmetics’ success story is a testament to their dedication to quality, innovation and ethical beauty. As it continues to grow and expand its product offerings, the brand remains committed to empowering individuals and celebrating the beauty in diversity.

More information is available at www.mqcosmetics.com.

Located at the second floor of the City Center, the NextGen store concept boasts of the most comprehensive selection of Levi’s products in the country. The welcoming, well-lighted space includes a style lounge, fitting rooms, and a special personalization area.

NEXTGEN

“WE are pleased to open one of the largest Levi’s NextGen stores in the Philippines at SM North Edsa, with the goal of delivering a one-stop, immersive, high-quality shopping experience that will resonate with fans of Levi’s—both new and existing,” Charisse Chua, country manager, Levi Strauss & Co. Philippines, said in a statement.

“This store is emblematic of our commitment to bringing quality retail experiences and services to our customers, especially as we continue to expand our retail footprint in this country. In addition to offering the widest range of Levi’s products in the Philippines, the store will offer customization services through our Tailor Shop—a nod to customers looking to make their Levi’s® pieces truly one-of-a-kind, and truly their own.”

The Tailor Shop offers personalized shopping guidance from in-store Levi’s experts. It is an alteration, restoration and customization station much suited to youngsters whose bywords nowadays are “authenticity,” “self-expression” and “individuality.”

A new piece or a vintage item can be jazzed up at the Tailor Shop, through embroidery, patches, pins, fabric paneling, or a collage of all these. That way, even if you own a recognizable pair of 501 jeans, or a classic Trucker jacket, the new accents will certainly make your outfit unique and timeless.

The store continues the brand’s direct-toconsumer strategy of delivering high-quality apparel to customers right where they shop.

“As a longtime partner of Levi’s, we are proud to bring its largest store in the Philippines to life here at SM North Edsa,” said Jeffrey Lo, senior vice president and business unit head of SM Retail, one of Levi’s franchise partners in the Philippines.

“We remain committed to delivering top-notch products to savvy consumers in the Philippines. As one of the largest malls in the country, SM North Edsa is the ideal home for this store, serving as a great location where Levi’s can continue to cater to the evolving needs of the modern Filipino shopper.”

NEWJEANS

LIKE its local retail counterparts, Levi’s has looked into the universal appeal of K-pop stars and tapped the girl group NewJeans as its latest global ambassadors. The pretty and talented South Koreans are featured in the brand’s new campaign promoting what else but “the power and joy of authentic selfexpression.”

Composed of Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin and Hyein, the girls embody the brand’s youthful energy. Besides being cited by Billboard and the Guinness Book of Records as well as performing at Lollapalooza, they also star in a fashion short film showing them choosing 501 jeans, then customizing, accessorizing and styling them in their own individual ways. They all then turn to the camera and ask, “How will you wear yours?”

In a fashion campaign the girls are seen wearing Levi’s Ribcage Wide Leg Women’s Jeans, Low Loose

Jeans, and Ankle Column Skirts, Baggy Cargo Pants, 501 Shorts, and Baggy Dad Jeans.

Incidentally, these ensembles were somewhat replicated during the styling workshop by Yanna Lopez and the DIY Back Patch Charm Making Workshop by Tropik Beatnik SM Mall of Asia Central Atrium on September 30 and at the Levi’s Robinsons Ermita on October 7.

“It’s been so rewarding to partner with a brand that has both an incredible past and looks toward the future. This campaign encourages people to discover and express their unique style by showing the different ways you can wear Levi’s 501 jeans and really make them your own,” said NewJeans in a statement.

“We are excited for our fans to explore how the collection can be customized with the Levi’s Tailor Shop. We know they can take these clothes in some really unique directions, and we can’t wait to see what they come up with.” ■

Estee Lauder Companies, SM Supermalls kick off breast cancer awareness campaign

any age.

■ Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women aged 29 to 50.

■ Men can also get breast cancer.

■ Annual mammograms don’t guarantee that breast cancer will be found early.

Data from the World Health Organization revealed that as of 2020, breast cancer is the majority type of cancer among Filipino women at 31 percent.

AT the kick-off of the partnership between Estee Lauder Companies and SM Cares for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, general and oncologic surgeon Dr. Bernice Navarro of St. Luke’s Hospital talked about the misconceptions people have about breast cancer. Here are the facts presented by Navarro:

■ You can get breast cancer even if you live a healthy lifestyle.

■ Wearing a bra cannot cause breast cancer.

■ You can get breast cancer even if no one in your family has had it.

■ A bump, pinch, or trauma cannot cause breast cancer.

■ Antiperspirant cannot cause breast cancer.

■ Consuming too much sugar cannot cause breast cancer.

■ A lump doesn’t necessarily mean breast cancer.

■ Early stage breast cancer can recur.

■ Breast cancers are treated differently depending on the characteristics of the cancer and patient preference.

■ Age doesn’t matter. You can get breast cancer at

The WHO said there were 86,484 cases of cancer in the Philippines, of which, 27,163 are breast cancers.

Breast cancer also has a mortality rate of 10.7 percent, or 9,926 deaths, the third most fatal cancer in the country only behind lung cancer and liver cancer.

The good news is that breast cancer can be curable and the earlier it is detected, the more chances there are for survival.

breast Lauder for over 30 years. One of the leading organizations

Estee Lauder Companies has supported breast cancer awareness in the Philippines and globally for over 30 years. One of the leading organizations in the fight against the disease is the Estée Lauder Companies’ Breast Cancer Campaign.

The movement was started in 1992 by Evelyn Lauder, who also set up the Breast Cancer Research Foundation a year later. Since its creation, both the campaign and the foundation have donated over $108 million to lifesaving research efforts, which have led to massive breakthroughs in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

In the Philippines, the campaign has donated more than $360,000 dollars to help rehabilitate the East Avenue Medical

Center and provide the muchneeded bio-hood equipment at the Philippine General Hospital. To kick off Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Estee Lauder Companies, SM Cares and St. Luke’s Hospital provided free clinical breast examinations at SM Megamall over the weekend.

Sharyn Wong, the country general manager of Estee

donate $25 to the Breast Cancer Research

Lauder Companies, also announced that for every use of the hashtag #TimeToEndBreastCancer, Estee Lauder’s global headquarters will donate $25 to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation to support breast cancer awareness.

“The breast cancer campaign is the cornerstone of the company’s social investment for women’s advancement and health,” said Wong.

“The breast cancer campaign is the investment for women’s advancement and

Also present during the event were doctors from St. Luke’s Hospital, SM Supermalls president Steven Tan, and breast cancer survivors who talked about their respective journeys.

THE Estee Lauder Companies, in partnership with SM Cares, celebrates over 30 years of commitment to help end breast cancer.

PHOTO FROM SM SUPERMALLS

“We at SM Supermalls, through our corporate Lauder in support of life-saving research breast exams that will help underprivileged patients,” said Tan. On Friday night, SM Supermalls lit up some of its

“We at SM Supermalls, through our corporate responsibility arm SM Cares, join hands with Estee Lauder in support of life-saving research breast exams that will help underprivileged patients,” said On Friday night, SM Supermalls lit up some of its landmarks such as the SM Megamall Time Sculpture, the Mall of Asia globe, and the SM Lanang Premier fountain in pink.

“SM Supermalls will also have a breast cancer awareness roadshow,  which will spread knowledge about breast cancer to employees and business partners. Through educational initiatives and interactive activities, the roadshow aims to equip individuals with the tools and information they need to detect breast cancer,” said Tan.

knowledge about breast cancer

NEWJEANS Minji, Hanni, Hyein , Haerin and Danielle

PRC Chairman hailed as ‘Man of Exemplary Influence’ by PCS

THE Philippine Cancer Society (PCS) honored Philippine Red Cross Chairman/CEO Richard Gordon as a “Man of Exemplary Influence” for his decades-long service to the country as a humanitarian volunteer and leader, and an advocate of legislation supporting humanitarian organizations.

At a ceremony last September 27, 2023 PCS credited Gordon’s exemplary leadership that spanned decades of unwavering commitment to serve.

Gordon, who was a past member of PCS’ Board of Trustees, explored a possible collaboration with PCS to help the most vulnerable, specifically cancer patients.

“I am deeply honored by this award from the Philippine Cancer Society. My parents instilled in me compassion for other people, and this award is a testament to how my parents brought me up – having the values of kusang loob, malasakit, and kapwa-tao,” Gordon said

“To our kababayans who are cancer patients, know that there are people who are ready to support you, and among them are the people at Philippine Cancer Society and its donors,” Gordon addressed cancer patients.

The PCS highlighted Gordon’s track record of public service. As Olongapo City Mayor and Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Chairman, Gordon led a joint

Philippine-American civilian and military rescue effort in the collapsed Central College of the Philippines in Cabanatuan City and the rescue of thousands of college students stranded in Baguio City for reunification with their parents after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Central Luzon in July 1990. Food supplies were also airlifted to the affected populations. Gordon also co-led the rehabilitation operations of Central Luzon after the earthquake. As Department of Tourism Secretary,

he led the rescue of kidnapped tourists at Dos Palmas in 2001. As Chairman and CEO of the Philippine Red Cross from 2004 to present, he is at the helm of the country’s premier humanitarian organization, leading not just its disaster responses but also its other services, such as blood collection and dispensing and emergency medical services. As senator, Gordon was instrumental in the enactment of a law that requires media companies to allot more airtime to information on emergencies and responses.

Allianz PNB Life bags HR Excellence Award for Workplace Excellence, CSR Campaigns at 2023 HR Excellence Awards

as a healthy and sustainable form of transport, and to supply biking infrastructure and education. Aside from projects that included installing artful bike racks, a solar-powered cyclist pit stop, and a bike lane along a major thoroughfare, it has expanded to include a livelihood component by offering bike maintenance repair training for SOS Children’s Village Kaagapay program participants from Iloilo, Cebu, and Tacloban.

14 Years of NWR sees Epic Transformation Into PHL’s Most Multi-Faceted Integrated Resort

NEWPORT World Resorts (NWR) has gone beyond the traditional definition of an integrated resort (IR) and has transformed itself into the most multi-faceted leisure hub in the country in just 14 years. From a single building structure into a multiwing complex that makes the most of its prime location within a 25-hectare property, NWR now boasts of a newer and bigger world of epic experiences.

The country’s pioneering IR first opened its doors in 2009 at the sprawling Newport City township, conveniently located across the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA)

Terminal 3. Securing the very first license from the Philippine Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), the initial offering consisted of a gaming complex, a live theater venue, and an all-suite luxury hotel. Fourteen years and P124 billion in investments later, Newport World Resorts stands as a premier leisure destination that is now officially 100 percent Filipino-owned.

NWR is home to five international hotel brands, Manila Marriott Hotel, Sheraton Manila Hotel, Hilton Manila, Holiday Inn Express Manila-Newport City, and Hotel Okura Manila, along with two affiliate hotels, Belmont Manila and Savoy Manila. To this day, the Newport Boulevard that spans the length of the property is hailed as the shortest boulevard in the country with the most hotel offerings.

Over and above these hotels’ 3,580 key count, considered as the highest in a single property, the hotels support tourism beyond a gamut of accommodations but also through 15,000 square meters of event spaces for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE).

The Marriott Grand Ballroom alone contributes over 8,000 sqm of function space, including the largest pillarless ballroom in the country. The main ballroom alone can accommodate up to 4,000 guests for cocktails and 2,500 for a banquet setup. Collectively, these MICE venues have hosted over 2,000 events through the years.

Travel and leisure are almost always complemented by dining and degustation.

NWR, with over 70 dining outlets, boasts of a wide mix of culinary options that range from casual to fine dining. The diverse customer base of NWR, breaching the 100 million count in total foot traffic, have even given rise to a new segment of diners who seek a “fine casual” setting.

The Whisky Library is the new talk of the town having curated the largest collection of whiskies in Manila, with an inventory worth over P100 million.

The Newport Performing Arts Theater (NPAT) has stood for as long as Newport World Resorts has been around. The brightest stars of both the local and international entertainment scene have graced the award-winning stage to perform in front of thousands of live audiences. In total, there are 12 entertainment venues scattered throughout NWR. In 14 years, over 50,000 hours of live entertainment have been performed altogether.

NWR has the most vibrant nightlife offerings in this part of the Metro, from the days of Opus and Republiq. The tradition has carried on to this day with KAO Manila and House Manila.

NWR’s initial gaming offers were housed within the Newport Garden Wing. A decade later, the Newport Grand Wing was opened. Now, up to 2,000 gaming machines and over 40 gaming tables can be found across the whole complex.

Further innovating the thrill of the game, NWR innovated its membership program into EPIC Rewards. Effectively elevating experiences, partnerships, incentives, and choices for guests and patrons, the program has breached the two million membership count.

WORKPLACE culture is integral to an organization’s success as it helps promote employee performance, productivity, and engagement. A strong, positive culture that promotes company values motivates everyone to do their best work.

Working together towards unified goals to support its mission to secure the Filipino future has enabled Allianz PNB Life (AZPNBL) to focus on providing the best possible financial journey experience to its clients, which contributes to its strong year-on-year performance. The company’s strong performance is not only evident in its financial results but also in its people capital.

As a testament to its commitment to promote an engaging and positive workplace culture, Allianz PNB Life was recently recognized in several categories of the HR Excellence Awards, which honors the best-in-class HR teams and individuals, for their ground-breaking and impactful work executed across the entire HR function to champion the way forward.

AZPNBL won two Gold Awards at the HR Excellence Awards, Excellence in Workforce Flexibility and Excellence in Workforce Mobility, a recognition of the company’s effective response to harness digital tools and offer streamlined and timely services to its clients and employees. As it is cognizant that work culture and attitude are ever-evolving and that workers’ attitudes and behavior toward work must be taken into consideration to bring out the best in them, the company was able to match their passions with their responsibilities, to show respect to their right to dignity of work, while maintaining a proper balance of achieving organizational goals and targets through proper and responsible work.

As such, AZPNBL laid the groundwork for its employees to have the choice and be flexible in the manner in which they can

do their work. With proper guidance in adhering to pre-pandemic principles from HR and their line managers, employees can choose when, where, and how they can do their work, while maintaining a high quality of output and a results-based measurement system that assures that goals are met.

As AZPNBL shifted to hybrid ways of working, it is also important to mitigate and handle risks both in real life and online.

The company won a Bronze Award for Excellence in Crisis Management Planning through its Allianz PNB Life Protection and Resilience program, which focuses on building safety and protection of the company’s “software” and “peopleware”.

Communication materials promoted cyber-safety, with regular training and seminars on disaster preparedness for employees and Life Changers. These utilized creative and practical ways of building capacities of AZPNBL employees so that they will be up-to-date on cybersecurity issues, and be equipped with basic knowledge on handling emergency situations during natural disasters.

As the company continues its robust growth in the industry, it also reaches out to communities to promote inclusivity and sustainability with several impactful campaigns through its Corporate Social Responsibility programs. The Ride Safe initiative, which promotes cycling as a mode of transportation in four major cities within Metro Manila, won a Silver recognition from the HR Excellence Awards and Most impactful CSR Initiative at the Insurance Asia Awards 2023.

Aside from helping clients achieve their financial goals, AZPNBL encourages them to build a better tomorrow and secure their future through various sustainability initiatives that are geared not just for its clients, but also its communities.

AZPNBL partnered with public and private organizations to promote biking

The Seeds of Tomorrow project, which also won an award at the Insurance Asia Awards 2023 for Most Creative Campaign focused on sustainability and food security. Through this project, Allianz Protect policyholders were given the opportunity to contribute a percentage to the World Wide Fund for Nature Philippines’ (WWF-PH) Food Shed Farming Enterprise Project.

Along with its strong performance in the industry, these CSR activities have helped create awareness and build credibility and trust for AZPNBL among Filipinos. Allianz PNB Life Chief Marketing Officer Gino Riola says, “Our vision is to Secure the Future of Filipinos not only through our innovative products and services that are designed to meet lifetime financial planning and wealth accumulation, but also through extending our support for Filipino communities through programs that will reach even future generations. This is in keeping with the Allianz Global initiatives to create positive social impact through the way we run our organization and by using our expertise as an insurer, investor, and asset manager.”

AZPNBL was likewise recognized as a Great Place To Work by the Global Authority on Workplace Culture for July 2023 to July 2024, and was awarded as Life Insurer of the Year among Asian insurers by Insurance Asia News and Most Outstanding Life Insurance Company –Philippines by International Business Magazine in 2022.

Joseph Gross, Allianz PNB Life President and CEO says the recognitions serve to inspire the company to continue offering exceptional products, services, and solutions in its commitment to serve Filipinos. “We are looking forward to strengthening our market leadership with our continuous and relevant innovation that includes the digitalization of our insurance policies, along with the expertise, dedication, and Filipino brand of caring from our Life Changers.”

Highlighting NWR’s world of culinary excellence are the award-winning chefs that fire up the kitchens of the property’s signature restaurants that include some of the metro’s best. A notable dining guide has named nine NWR restaurants in its prestigious roster, the most citations given to a single property.

Casa Buenas remains a popular choice for gourmands with its exquisite Filipino-Spanish menu and illustrious interiors. Newly opened

At its core, it is NWR’s belief that people should make the most out of life. The same belief drives its commitment that everyone and every generation will have the opportunity to live life to the fullest. Through sustainability and corporate citizenship, NWR leverages its business operations to help improve lives, protect the environment, and contribute to the economy. Through the company’s long history, over 20,000 jobs have been generated. The property-wide sustainability initiative, I LOVE Earth, NWR Foundation, and Original Pilipino Performing Arts (OPPA) Foundation, have generated over P2.4 billion total community assistance for an estimated 4 million beneficiaries, coupled with significant investments in sustainable business practices, totaling P228 million and counting.

DMCI Holdings, SMPC recognized for Corporate Governance Excellence by esteemed organization

DIVERSIFIED engineering conglomerate DMCI Holdings and its integrated energy subsidiary, Semirara Mining and Power Corporation (SMPC), have been recognized as the top-performing Philippine listed companies by the esteemed Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD).

DMCI Holdings and SMPC received the prestigious 3 Golden Arrow award, a testament to their sustained commitment to top-tier corporate governance standards. Both entities have been consistently recognized as ASEAN Corporate Governance Scorecard (ACGS) Golden Arrow awardees since 2019.

This recognition emphasizes their unwavering dedication to the principles outlined in the Philippine Code of Corporate Governance and to the adoption of internationally acclaimed corporate governance practices, as endorsed by the ACGS.

In determining the awardees, the ACGS employs a comprehensive evaluation

process that covers several facets: protecting shareholders’ rights and ensuring their equitable treatment, forging robust relationships with diverse stakeholders, promoting transparency and accountability through timely disclosure of vital information, and the board’s strategic direction, vigilant management oversight, and steadfast accountability to both the company and its shareholders.

Reflecting on the honor, DMCI Holdings and SMPC Chairman Isidro A. Consunji said, “These awards reflect our commitment to good corporate governance at DMCI Holdings and SMPC. We believe in the importance of transparency, accountability, and ethical business practices to build trust with our stakeholders and support steady growth.”

The awarding ceremony, which commemorated the significant achievements of over 100 Philippine listed companies, was held at the Okada Hotel last September 28.

ALLIANZ PNB Life Chief HR Officer, Kathy Oliva, and Chief Marketing and Sustainability Officer, Gino Riola (7th and 8th persons from the left), proudly accept two awards at the 2023 HR Excellence Awards ceremony, joined by their colleagues from Human Resources, Protection and Resilience, and Market Management.

PICTURED from left to right are DMCI Holdings Executive Director and Chief Finance Officer Herbert M. Consunji; DMCI Holdings Chairman and President Isidro A. Consunji; Valerie Anne A. Consunji; DMCI Holdings Independent Director Dr. Bernardo M. Villegas; DMCI Holdings Lead Independent Director Atty. Cynthia R. Del Castillo and DMCI Holdings Director Luz Consuelo A. Consunji

Marketing

A book resource for diverse professions

ISENTIA S Lady Ochel Espinosa, Grupo Agatep’s Norman Agatep, and Michelle AgatepBayhon, Megaworld’s Harold Geronimo, Ogilvy’s Leah Huang, Comm & Sense’s Charlotte Reyes, DDB Group’s Jerome Bayhon

IPRA Philippines President Noel Rene Nieva (third from left) with fellow members, Department of Budget and Management Usec. Wilford Wong, the book’s contributing authors Joy Buensalido, Claire Papa, and Ritzi Villarico-Ronquillo; with Dr. Joseph Adrian Buensalido, and BDO Unibank’s Jeanie Osorio, representing her late uncle, PR stalwart and contributing author, Bong Osorio.

Salterio.

K APAMILyA S through the years: (left photo) ANC news anchor Ron Cruz, Jeanie Osorio, niece of former ABS-CBN Corporate Communication Vice President Bong Osorio; ABSCBN’s Myan Marucut-Soliven, and news producer Andrea Taguines; PR Matters contributing author Ritzi Villarico-Ronquillo; and (right photo) Albert Gamboa and Pixie Crisanto-Nepomuceno.

Metrobank Foundation’s Chito Sobrepena and The Diarist’s Anna Sobrepena with PR Matters contributing authors and IPRA Philippines members Charisse Chuidian, Jingjing Villanueva-Romero and Claire De Leon-Papa.

IPRA Philippines’ Joy Buensalido, Edd Fuentes and Charisse Chuidian with guests BusinessMirror editor-in-chief Chuchay Fernandez, Philippine Star Lifestyle editor Millet Mananquil, and New World Makati Hotel’s Francine Arias.

BusinessMirror publisher C. Anthony Cabangon, Elaine Adecer Go and Daphne Osena Paez with contributing book authors Charisse Chuidian and

the PR Matters book, please email books@buensalido.com.ph or call or send a Viber message to 0920 9542980.

FILIPINO FINTECH STARTUP PACKWORKS FURTHER EMPOWERS UNBANKED SMALL BUSINESSES MANILA, PHILIPPINES—The Philippines’ micro, small, and mediumsized enterprise (MSME) sector is described as the most underbanked sector in Asia despite comprising 99 percent of the country’s registered business establishments.

The 2022 Annual Report on National Strategy for Financial Inclu -

IT w as heartwarming to see the support for PR Matters from PR and communication colleagues, media, guests and friends at the book launch on September 27, 2023 that also became a warm minireunion for attendees.

PR Matters, a limited edition, continues to be a fast-selling book. Browsing through the articles, one can discover a treasure trove of firsthand experiences, practical advice, and valuable

sion (NSFI) by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reveals that microenterprises use significantly fewer formal financial services than small and medium enterprises.

One of the main challenges seen is the stringent requirements set by formal financial institutions. Additionally, many MSMEs lack knowledge about available financial services and how to access them. The lack of access to regulated credit and financing programs also forces them to live cash-in-hand, unable to get loans when they need them, which limits their growth potential.

Recognizing these challenges in the sector, Packworks, which offers a business-to-business (B2B) FMCG marketplace for sari-sari stores, is

insights that are applicable to students and professionals from different fields and disciplines.

A special shout-out to my IPRA Philippines colleagues: Noel Rene Nieva, Claire de Leon-Papa, Abi Ho-Torres, Wilford Wong, Richard Burgos, Charisse Chuidian, Malou Espina, Edd Fuentes, Jingjing Villanueva-Romero, Karen Villanueva, Kane Errol Choa, Tats LocsinChan, Ferds Bondoy, Rowena Reyes, Red Samar and our book

forging strategic partnerships with financial service providers aimed at seeking affordable and accessible services that can empower over 270,000 micro-retail stores across the country to grow their businesses.

Packworks has recently penned partnerships with Cebuana Lhuillier and 1Sari Financing Corporation to provide sari-sari stores access to secure, reliable, and affordable microloan services.

Through these partnerships, Packworks aims to offer sari-sari stores various financial services to further promote financial inclusion and empowerment, which could expand their businesses.

Packworks Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Bing Tan said that

ANC news anchor Ron Cruz, IPRA Philippines’ members and contributing book authors Richard Burgos and Ritzi Villarico-Ronquillo, Telum Media’s Nico Regino, Grab Philippines’ PR head Arvi Lopez, and Ripple 8 Managing Partner Mich Orosa-Ople.

doyennes Millie Dizon and Joy Buensalido.

The book, plus the regular Monday articles in “PR Matters” the column, will hopefully be a legacy and guide not only for PR professionals but most importantly, for everyone regardless

sari-sari stores are a fundamental part of the country’s grassroots retail industry.

“Sari-sari stores significantly contribute to the economic fabric of the Philippines. Our objective is to enhance financial inclusion, tap into untapped growth potential, and fortify the foundation of our retail industry. We are actively pursuing these goals through strategic partnerships aimed at providing accessible and affordable financial services to empower the sari-sari store sector,” Bing said. The services are particularly timely as the Christmas season approaches, known to be the busiest time for businesses. Enabling sari-sari stores to access essential

of field and discipline. After all, communication and PR are enablers in any organization, business, profession, institution and relationship.

Communication and public relations are built over time, and meant to be built to last.

For orders or book reservations of the limited edition of

financial services allows them to efficiently replenish their inventory, ensuring they are well-prepared to meet the heightened demand for various items during this festive period.

In line with its commitment to promoting financial inclusion and empowering sari-sari stores, Packworks is partnering with social development organization Bayan Academy through its SariSkwela program. This initiative provides sari-sari stores access to learning modules on microentrepreneurship, further equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed to enhance their businesses.

Founded in 2018, Packworks has been empowering “saripreneurs”

PR Matters is a roundtable column by members of IPRA Philippines, the local chapter of the United Kingdom-based International Public Relations Association, the world’s premier association for senior communications professionals around the world. Ritzi Villarico-Ronquillo, APR, IABC Fellow is a Consultant, Coach and Speaker on Business Communication and Strategic Public Relations with 43 years of experience in leading internal and external communication and PR in corporate, communities, academe and associations.

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.

through its integrated mobile app ecosystem that allows them to process their business’s inventory, bookkeeping, and data collection. Packworks’ store partners are able to access pricing tools, inventory management, sales and revenue tracking, and working capital loans through the Sari.PH app for microstores and Sari.PH Pro app for megastores. Packworks also has Sari IQ, a business intelligence tool utilizing data analytics to understand and predict consumer behavior, enabling retailers and multinational brands to make datadriven decisions that boost sales for sari-sari store owners and expand their product offerings to a larger customer base.

IPRA Philippines President Noel Rene Nieva emceed the book launch program.

PR friends: Ritzi Villarico-Ronquillo, Red Samar, Jingjing Villanueva-Romero, Marline Dualan, Alexis Torres, Abi Ho-Torres, Charlotte Reyes, Malou Espina, Karen Villanueva

PRSP contingent: DDB’s Cherie Mijares, Grupo Agatep’s Michelle Agatep-Bayhon and Norman Agatep, Ogilvy’s Leah Huang, Mang Inasal’s Ed Timbungco, iSentia’s Lady Ochel Espinosa, Megaworld’s Harold Geronimo, Metrobank Foundation’s Chito Sobrepena; and the book’s contributing authors, Ritzi Villarico-Ronquillo and Malou Espina.

IPRA Philippines members and contributing authors Claire Papa of Unilab, Abi HoTorres of Maynilad, Jingjing Villanueva-Romero of Stratos, and Charisse Chuidian of City of Dreams Manila with Jun de Leon, BusinessMirror publisher C. Anthony Cabangon, Peachy Guioguio, Ivy Mendoza, and Leah

Jingjing Villanueva-Romero.

K E y N OTE speaker Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas Deputy Governor Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, The Diarist Anna Sobrepena and Metrobank Foundation President Chito Sobrepena

PLDT’s Maxine Loyola and Marist Marquez, and Anchor Land’s Bernadette Lunas

GOOD JOB IN HANGZHOU!

By Jun Lomibao

HANGZHOU—The 19th

Asian Games ended with a romantic and touching closing ceremony on Sunday evening with Team Philippines going home with four gold medals—each of them representative of the Filipino athletes’ resilience in a continental multi-sport event that boasts of a semblance with the Olympic Games themselves.

“

It’s worth a thousand golds!” so said Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino on the men’s basketball team’s success in bringing home the gold medal after 61 long years of waiting.

But those words don’t undermine the achievements of the three other gold medals won by Ernest John “EJ” Obiena in men’s pole vault and Meggie Ochoa and Annie Ramirez in jiu-jitsu.

EJ was a class act, a cut above the rest,” said Tolentino of the world No. 2 pole vaulter who cleared 5.90 meters in winning his first gold medal but smashing the Asian Games record at the same time.

Meggie and Annie were a picture of the Filipino athlete, resilient amid the odds,” he added.

The Philippines finished with a 4-2-12 gold-silver-bronze tally, only three bronze medals short of the haul in Jakarta, but with a better position this time at No. 17 in the medal tally.

It’s still a very, very good finish, better than all our previous Asian Games because of our victory in basketball,” Tolentino said. “We had four golds, an Asian Games record from Obiena and two from jiu-jitsu, replacing the two that we lost in women’s golf.”

He added: “We finished 17th overall and that’s another accomplishment. Let’s look at the final placing and not the number of medals.”

A lthough Olympic bronze medalist Eumir Felix Marcial lost the men’s light heavyweight gold medal on what many said was a hometown decision, Tolentino said his medal glittered like gold in the games where host China emerged overall champion for the 11th consecutive games practically unchallenged.

That’s our fifth gold medal,” he said. Marcial also as importantly clinched a return ticket to the Olympics in the process.

POC slams PSC on seeking liquidation report on Bangkok 1998 Asian Games

20—a day after Tolentino and top POC officials arrived here, the same day Hangzhou welcomed the Philippine delegation in a formal flag-raising ceremony at the Asian Games Village and three days before the opening ceremony.

Why send the letter on September 20? Why not after the closing ceremony? Perhaps October 10 when we have all gone home,”

Tolentino told Filipino reporters covering the on Saturday, the morning after the Philippines bagged the men’s basketball crown for its fourth gold medal in the games.

I kept this to myself since the start of the games, but after I reached my goal of four gold medals, I couldn’t keep this to myself any longer,” Tolentino said. “It’s that bad.”

Hangzhou ‘23 bids goodbye

HANGZHOU—China couldn’t be denied in claiming an 11th consecutive overall championship in the 19th Asian Games which ended on Sunday with a runaway harvest of 201 gold medals. With 111 silver and 71 bronze medals across the host’s unreachable perch atop the medal standings, China stood tall and mighty anew in the 45-nation Asian Games that topped the Olympics in expected attendance of 10,500 athletes in the Paris Olympics next year with 12,417 athletes seeing action in 481 events over 19 days of competitions in 40 sports.

The Hangzhou organizers also reported sales of more than three million tickets in the games China has hosted for the third time after Beijing 1990 and Guangzhou 2010— not to mention the Summer Olympic Games in 2008 and the Winter Olympics only last year.

Japan and South Korea, two countries worthy of challenging the Chinese juggernaut, could only settle for crumbs and had 52 and 42 gold medals, respectively. The organizers of the games, meanwhile, put up a romantic and touching closing ceremony to bid an emotional farewell to all participants.

The Philippines also won four gold medals in the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang, failing to defend the titles in all four of them.

Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo missed retaining her weightlifting gold medal because she competed in the next heavier weight class at 49 kgs. She wound up fourth but it was enough for her to send a message that by Paris 2024, she’ll be ready to rule again.

Women’s gold didn’t have the same cast as in 2018. Gone were individual gold medalist Yuka Saso, who’s reverted to Japanese citizenship, and Bianca Pagdangan, who’s neck deep in the professional tour.

L eft to fight on was the third member of that gold medal-winning team in Jakarta, Lois Kaye Go.

involved in top tier sports, more so in the POC—he was elected interim president in 2018 and officially got the post in 2020.

Tolentino added that the particular PSC check of P10 million was released only in September 2016, 18 years after the Bangkok games.

While we were here on the first day [September 19] and waving the Philippine flag, they sent us the letter with an instruction “to answer within five days” upon receipt,” he said. “Give me one valid reason for the Filipino people on the timing of the sending the letter.… Why? To distract us? That’s malicious intent…bad faith.”

Tolentino slammed the move as opposed to teamwork at the Asian Games where winning gold—or a bronze—is a tough task.

We’re not working as a team here,” he said. “Perhaps the PSC’s looking for ways to get back at the POC and in their haste, they did that through this unliquidated issue.”

But she only had young sensation Rianne Malixi as partner in the three-to-play, two-to-count format and they wilted under the pressure of the pros who are now allowed to compete in the games.

M argielyn Didal was a disappointment in skateboarding and had as excuse an ankle injury that hasn’t fully healed. She didn’t make any decent run and was DNF for did not finish.

C arlo Paalam and Nesthy Petecio, silver medalists in Tokyo, didn’t get

that automatic berth for Paris after failing to reach the final of boxing. Both vowed to go for Olympic berths through the world championships.

Team Philippines went for one final run at a fifth gold medal on Sunday but Junna Tsukii lost to Cambodia’s Srey Phrea Chronn, 3-2, in women’s -50 kgs of kumite in karate.

Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Richard Bachmann was on hand to cheer for Tsukii, the last Filipino athlete to compete in the games.

Tsukii: I’m sorry, I couldn’t win it

HANGZHOU—Junna

Tsukii exited early in women’s -50 kgs of kumite in karate as the Philippines lost its last hope for a medal in the 19th

A ccording to the Asiad Daily, with records broken, legends created and friendships built on and off the field of competition, Hangzhou wrapped up the quadrennial celebration of athletic achievement, mutual respect and continental unity on Sunday night at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium. The use of technology again impressed everyone, following the stunning opening ceremony, but in a more romantic and aesthetic way.

Jun Lomibao

Asian Games on Sunday morning.

Cambodia’s Srey Phea Chonn beat Tsukii, 3-2, in their round of 16 face-off. I’m sorry I couldn’t win it. She was faster and yet I controlled the match,” Tsukii said. “At one point, she grabbed me and I didn’t touch anything from her body, but the referee gave me a penalty and that was crucial.’’

Tsukii, a 2022 World Games champion, hastily assaulted Chonn on the tatami and scored with a right straight to the body. But 22-year-old Chonn retaliated with her longer reach and went up 2-1 after connecting twice to the delight of the crowd at the Linping Sports Centre Gymnasium.

The Filipino-Japanese found an opening and his Chonn in a brief exchange of strikes to level the count.

But the Cambodian rushed to Tsukii, a two-time Karate 1 Premiere League champion, and with a flurry sneaked a punch. We gave everything, we did our best, so we must keep our heads up,’’ said the 32-year-old Tsukii.

Tsukii dropped on her knees and began crying inconsolably as her corner questioned the decision that fell on deaf ears.

HANGZHOU—Philippine Olympic Committee (POC)

president Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino declared war against the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) accusing the government sports arm for coining a new meaning for teamwork.

Tolentino’s disgust stemmed from a PSC letter to the POC indicating a P10 million unliquidated financial assistance to the Olympic organization for Filipino athletes’ participation in the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games.

Th e letter, coursed through the PSC’s in-house Commission on Audit (COA) office, was dated September

Th e unliquidated P10 million is traced back to the term of Cristy Ramos as president of the POC, which had experienced issues with the PSC, then chaired by Philip Ella Juico. Ramos sought Malacañang’s help for the Bangkok 1998 campaign with then President Fidel Ramos heeding the request that cascaded down the government sports arm. The financial assistance for the Bangkok campaign was sourced from the Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corp. but was eventually deducted as the government gaming body’s contribution to the PSC.

We weren’t even born yet [in 1998],” said Tolentino, who in 1998

hasn’t been very good.

New golden age of PHL Sports

THE national men’s basketball team won its first gold medal since 1962 after beating Jordan in the 19th Asian Games.  Well, we

as

He added: “Is that the right thing to do? Is that from someone who’s in his right mind if we’re supposed to be on the same team in these Asian Games?”

The PSC also asked the POC to liquidate P2.5 million in financial assistance to athletes and officials in last year’s Vietnam Southeast Asian Games and another P600,000 for the national swimming team’s preparation and participation in the Cambodia SEA Games last May.

“ That P2.5 million [Vietnam] we can liquidate because it was spend for the air fare of athletes and coaches who flew early for the SEA Games, even Commission [Olivia] Bong Coo availed herself of that early departure to Vietnam,” Tolentino said. Jun Lomibao

Th is is the first time that a Philippine basketball team defeated Iran and China—the two dominant powers of Asian basketball in one tournament. Whether they are in rebuilding mode or not is beside the point—a win, is a win.

A nd we should be thankful that Australia and New Zealand opted not to participate (over Covid concerns).

Those two have simply taken over the region with both Iran and China getting their butts kicked big time.

At least now, the Philippines are kings of Asia.

D uring our last participation in the Asian Games, we almost did not send a team; not until the furor forced the local officials to send a team. And guess what, that team still had its best finish in years. That was Jordan Clarkson’s debut with the national team, if I remember correctly.

Now, this squad has followed it up with a tough act that led to a gold medal.

W hat also makes these feats amazing is both Asian Games squads were formed rather hastily and yet conducted themselves very very well.

It’s painful but we have to move on,’’ Tsukii, still teary-eyed an hour after the match, said. Jun Lomibao

Mall clinics, tourneys up as Pickleball gets big boost

PICKLEBALL , considered as the fastest growing sport in the US and in other parts of the world in the last five years, expects to pick up steam in the local sporting front with Ayala Malls at the forefront of boosting its popularity through staging of clinics and inter-mall tournaments at its mall chains.

We feel it’s a unique sport that can bring lots of different types of

people together and in my eyes, this fits perfectly into what we want Ayala Malls to be—a place where everybody is welcome and at home,” said Mariana Zobel de Ayala of Ayala Malls.

No less than Mariana’s father Jaime, mother Lizzy, and brother Jaime

Alfonso led the launch of the event at the Greenbelt Fashion Walk in Makati City last Friday through an exhibition

So it is possible! Imagine if the team were formed with the right personnel and so on.

The cool thing too is this gives the team confidence ahead of the Olympic qualifiers for next year.

I c ame away thinking—man, Tim Cone is just amazing. The man never stops winning! At every stop, he has been a winner. I know he will not want to talk about himself or call attention to his accomplishments but still, credit has to be given. I have watched him from afar and within the locker room as he has gone about his business and I can only say that I am thoroughly impressed.

Tim…is the GOAT of local basketball.

A s for Justin Brownlee…I thought those days of longserving imports—let me amend that to long-serving and bemedalled imports—were over. Really. After Norman Black, Bobby Ray Parks and Sean Chambers there weren’t many. But Brownlee has assimilated himself in an outstanding manner.

His humble attitude and ability to adapt has made him crucial to Barangay Ginebra’s success. And now, he has further-

game in front of huge mall goers.

To further help promote and popularize the racket sport, courts will be set up at various Ayala Malls aside from the one currently placed at Market! Market! at BGC (Bonifacio Global City).

C linics, in fact, will be conducted starting today (Saturday) with the inter-mall tournament to be held starting next month.

more cemented his place in the hearts of Filipino sports fans.

I f we had a monarchy, he should be knighted! Or he should be conferred some award.

Th is win—including the ascent of the Philippine National Basketball team in the last 10 years—has been nothing short of remarkable. All of a sudden we are finishing well in Fiba Asia, making the Fiba World Cup, and now winning in the Asian Games.

W hen you see how Philippine sports has emerged also in gymnastics, pole vaulting, volleyball, tennis, and football, you can see that it is helping the country emerge on all fronts on an international stage.

You have new heroes from the Filipinas to Alex Eala to EJ Obiena to Carlos Yulo to the Azkals to Gilas Pilipinas and others. We have Filipinos playing football, basketball, and volleyball in leagues abroad. How amazing is that?

Th at’s the golden effect; this new Golden Age of Philippine sports.

I a m just glad to be able to witness all this and I am excited to see where all this goes next.

PHILIPPINE Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino unleashes his pent-up disgust and disappointment.

NONIE REYES (CANON EOS R6)

JUNNA TSUKII bursts into tears after her defeat. NONIE REYES (CANON EOS R6)

TEAM North Korea performs during the team free routine artistic swimming competition at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou Sunday. AP