BusinessMirror September 05, 2023

Moody’s Analytics sees Aug inflation at 4.8%

MOODY’S Analytics expects the country’s inflation rate to average 4.8 percent in August, faster than the actual rate of increase in commodity prices in July.

T his is the low end of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) forecast of 4.8 to 5.6 percent in August. The higher inflation expectation of the BSP was due in part to the steady climb of rice prices.

T he BSP also noted that inflation may be higher in August due to weather disturbances, the sharp rise in fuel prices as well as

increased transport costs.

T he central bank noted that higher train fares and toll rates, and the peso depreciation are the primary sources of upward price pressures in August.

I n July, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that inflation slowed to 4.7 percent, the lowest in 16 months. However, even during the briefing, the PSA already said rice prices have been climbing and could be the cause for high inflation.

P SA data showed rice inflation averaged 4.2 percent in July 2023, the highest since

February 2019 when the increase in the commodity’s prices was at 4.5 percent. The Rice Trade Liberalization (RTL) Act was implemented in March 2019. (Full story here: https:// businessmirror .com. ph/2023/08/04/rice-pricehike-may-dampen-momentum-to-tame-inflation/).

T his may have prompted the President to issue Executive Order No. 39 which mandated a price ceiling of P41 per kilo for regular-milled rice and P45 per kilo of well-milled rice. (Full story here: https:// business -

mirror .com.ph/2023/09/02/ pbbm-sets-nationwide-cap-onrice-price/).

I n a statement issued after the President set a price ceiling on the country’s staple, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan backed the issuance of EO 39 saying that a temporary ceiling price on rice will give Filipinos a much-needed reprieve in terms of high inflation as well as discourage hoarding. (Full story: https:// businessmirror com.ph/2023/09/04/neda-riceprice-cap-temporary-necessary/). Cai U. Ordinario

BSP ADOPTS VARIABLE RATE FORMAT FOR RRP

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

THE Bangko

Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) will shift to a variable-rate format with a predetermined offer volume in the auction for the overnight reverse repurchase (RRP) facility this week.

I n a statement, BSP said this shift will take effect on Friday, September 8, and is part of its planned reforms which started with the adoption of the interest rate corridor (IRC) framework in 2016.

T he BSP believes the shift will help strengthen the price discovery process by providing market participants and monetary authorities alike a market-determined interest rate that conveys the prevailing cost of and demand for overnight funds in the financial system.

“ They [reforms] are largely operational in nature and do not constitute any shift in the BSP’s monetary policy stance. These initiatives are geared towards enhancing the transmission of monetary policy by strengthening the link between monetary policy strategy and implementation,” BSP said in a statement.

W ith this change, BSP said its monetary policy rate shall be called the “Target RRP Rate” and that it will introduce a formal operational target, to be called the “Overnight [ON] RRP Rate.”

T he BSP said it will signal its monetary policy through the Target RRP Rate. The rate will be set after the meeting of the Monetary Board on the BSP’s monetary policy stance.

A s for the ON RRP rate, BSP said this is an operational target that is market-determined and considered a short-term interest rate.

T his is used by central banks as a guide on a day-to-day basis in terms of using their monetary instruments to reflect the prevailing monetary policy stance.

By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie

THE House of Representatives is working closely with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to allocate P2 billion in cash assistance for retailers affected by the rice price ceiling imposed by the Palace, Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez announced on Monday. R omualdez instructed Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co, the chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, to immediately coordinate with DBM for the swift allocation of the P2 billion.

Our goal is to ensure that we can extend assistance to rice retailers

who may be affected by this rice price ceiling, as it is a directive from our President aimed at protecting consumers,” Romualdez explained.

Co said his committee has coordinated with DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman to explore avenues for the allocation under the 2023 General Appropriations Act.

“We will promptly engage with the DBM to expedite the release of the P2 billion funds for our rice retailers,” Co said.

R omualdez vowed Congress’s commitment to fortifying and bolstering the resilience of essential food supply chains.

He earlier disclosed plans to also engage with leaders of rice retailers

later this week to hear their concerns on potential financial losses from the rice price ceiling.

“ The government is not insensitive, so we want to listen to their concerns, and we will try to find a solution to address their fears of incurring losses,” the Speaker said.

We are aware that they have high costs from traders, but our priority is the public’s difficulty in buying rice,” he added.

P resident Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday issued Executive Order No. 39, setting prices at P41.00 per kilo for regular milled rice and P45.00 for well-milled rice starting September 5. This action was prompted by government intelligence indicating that certain un -

PBBM

By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

Ferdinand R.

PRESIDENT

Marcos Jr. said the government will tap the P6.4-billion sustainable livelihood program (SLP) fund of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to provide aid to smallscale rice retailers affected by the price ceiling under his Executive Order (EO) No. 39.

I n his speech before flying to Indonesia to attend the 43rd Association of Southeast Asian Nation (Asean) Summit and related summits, the chief executive disclosed the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) are now coming out with the list of qualified beneficiaries for the initiative through the help of rice retailer associations.

The rice retailers should have nothing to worry about. We understand that you will face an ordeal [because of EO 39], since you will suffer losses. The government is there to provide you assistance so you can recoup your losses from the price cap,” Marcos said in Filipino.

The DSWD already assured us it has the fund so that once we compute the profit losses of rice retailers, we will provide them with the corresponding aid,” he added.

scrupulous traders planned to hike rice prices to as high as P70.00 per kilo.

R omualdez compared this situation to what occurred with onion prices when onion cartels raised them to P800 per kilo.

“ Naturally, the President had to act swiftly to counter this illintentioned plan by a select few,” said Romualdez.

R etailers, however, expressed their dissatisfaction, noting that they procure rice from traders for nearly P50 per kilo.

But rest assured, the government is committed to supporting our retailers affected by this executive order,” said the Speaker.

D SWD Secretary Rexlon “Rex”

T. Gatchalian confirmed they have sufficient SLP funds to finance the cash grants for the affected retailers.    “

We know the capital of the small rice retailers will be affected [by EO 39]. That is where DSWD will come in as ordered by the President to ensure their needed capital will not be exhausted because of the Executive Order,” Gatchalian said.

Other assistance

HE said DSWD already has the necessary mechanism in place to immediately facilitate the payout as soon as they get the list of beneficiaries from DTI and DA.

vows aid for rice retailers; off to Asean meet

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. leaves for Jakarta, Indonesia, on Monday (September 4, 2023) to participate in the 43rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Summits from September 5 to 7, 2023. At the summit, he will push for Philippine priorities in Asean and work with other Asean Members. The priorities include a rules-based international order, including in the South China Sea, food security, climate justice, tapping the potential of the digital and creative economies, migrant worker protection, as well as combating Trafficking-in-Persons. ALFRED FRIAS/NIB-PNA

Pascual tells Asean business to invest in nickel processing

By Andrea E. San Juan

TRADE and Industry Secretary

gaging with several partners at the multilateral, regional, and bilateral levels to pursue a framework that could mobilize sustainable investments to the Philippines.”

Pascual encouraged businesses, particularly the companies and major conglomerates in the nickel power business present at the regional summit to invest in the country’s downstream processing of nickel, as this will help the country move up the global value chain.

Part of our strategic approach is to leverage these resources and enable us to move to higher value activities by developing domestic mid to downstream processing of minerals, with high regard to sustainability,” the Trade chief said.

transitions to a greener economy.

I n a separate forum last week, Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (Philexport) President Sergio R. Ortiz-Luis Jr. expressed hope that mining is among the items in the country’s exports that could be developed further.

T he Philexport chief said the Philippines should be able to export processed ores like nickel rather than exporting simple ores.

We have one of the biggest supplies of nickel and it is very heavily needed by industrial countries like Japan, China,” Ortiz-Luis said at a media forum organized by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) last week.

The shift to variable-rate RRP auction format will yield a market-determined rate for overnight funds, the ON RRP rate, that conveys the results of the daily RRP auctions,” BSP said.

The ON RRP rate is an appropriate operational target given the regularity of RRP auctions as well as the market participants’ familiarity with the instrument,” it added.

T he BSP said ON RRP rate is expected to move closely around the Target RRP Rate. Any deviations of the ON RRP rate from the Target RRP Rate will reflect changes in liquidity conditions from time to time, or when deviations from the liquidity forecasts occur.

S hould this occur, BSP said the ON RRP rates are expected to revert and move in line with the policy rate over time as the RRP auction size is adjusted with observed demand.

‘More credible yield curve’

MEANWHILE , Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said the latest development from the BSP will lead to a “more credible yield curve.”

R icafort added that this will also complete the Philippine Bloomberg Valuation Service (BVAL) tenors “from 1-month to 30-year tenors that are market-determined and vary every day, based on market and liquidity conditions per day.”

W ith this shift, Ricafort expects that the 1-day to 30-day tenors will also “reflect the true cost of funds as determined by market forces every day.”

R icafort said this shift will particularly benefit shorter tenors which he said are not as dynamic and market-determined as they should be.

“

During the Asean Investment Forum Session 2 billed as “Global Supply Chain and Sustainable Investment” held on September 2 in Jakarta, the country’s Trade chief highlighted the opportunities that the Philippines aims to leverage to enhance its participation in supply chains of critical sectors and key goods.

Part of the development strategy of the Philippines to enhance economic performance and global value-chain participation is to work with global partners and to increase international engagements to create a more conducive environment for investments,” Pascual said.

Currently, he said, “we are en -

Gambit

HOUSE Committee on Ways and Means Chairman Joey Sarte Salceda backed the setting of a rice price ceiling “as a signal against potential

This strategically positions the country in the regional and global value chains of clean technologies and we will need reliable partners in investments to realize this,” he added.

Meanwhile, Pascual said the Philippines is also taking a “tailored” approach to encourage more investments in the manufacturing of electric vehicles (EVs) as the country

price manipulation and hoarding in the domestic rice market” and said that “it worked” as a signal to the global market.

“As long as we have a gameplan

I n January 2023, Pascual said critical minerals such as nickel and copper can be used for “downstream industries” such as electric vehicle battery manufacturing, hyperscale data centers, and renewable energy projects.

A mong the multinational companies that have expressed interest to expand mining and processing operations in the Philippines is Glencore, a Swiss multinational company.

for the next steps—such as boosting local rice supply and diversifying our import sources—we will come out of this crisis strong,” Salceda said.

As a signal to the global market, the actions of the Marcos administration have also worked. You see, the behavior of the Philippines massively affects the movement of global rice prices. So, our signaling that we will be aggressive against price manipulation seems to have shown the world market that we will not condone artificial jumps in the price of rice,” he elaborated.

A s a sign that the initial shock in price last July was “artificial,” Salceda cited world rice spot prices, which, at USD332.4 per metric ton, are now lower than the July peak of USD 384 and are almost at the preIndian export ban price of USD 332.

T his, he said, basically says “that we should be able to source from other countries. Asean partners like Vietnam and Thailand are also some of the world’s leading producers. We should work on hammering out agreements with them by now.”

S alceda also said the country should consider sourcing from other non-Asean countries like Pakistan and the United States.

“ We also did something similar during an earlier rice price crisis, in 2008, when the NFA imported rice from California and distributed it to its outlets.”

“ We’ve seen this crisis before. We know how to deal with it. It mostly involves signaling to our world partners that we will not over-import, so that they don’t anticipate and drive prices up.”

Salceda recalled that in the 2008 rice price crisis, India imposed a similar export ban, which also disturbed the world rice markets and pushed up the price of rice in the Philippines.

“ This will dissipate because the source of the world price increase is artificial. The world price situation is also starting to normalize,” Salceda added.

Flexible order

SALCEDA , however, appealed that EO 39 “be made more flexible to address regional market conditions.”

The situation will vary per region, so a national rice price ceiling should be made more responsive to local supply-demand dynamics.”

“ In rice deficit or totally ricedependent areas like NCR, the situation will be different from, say, a rice-surplus region like Region II. So, some update to that EO will be necessary most likely when it plays out later,” he said.

B SP said the market will be able to generate useful information on liquidity conditions and how they relate to the prevailing stance of monetary policy.

“ The introduction of an explicit operational target will provide monetary authorities with an important market-based indicator that can help in assessing the effective stance of monetary policy,” BSP said.

T he cash aid was among the measures discussed during the meeting of Marcos with concerned Cabinet members and rice stakeholders on Monday to help retailers and farmers affected by EO 39.

A side from the SLP, the government will provide the affected retailers with loan programs, logistics support and market linkages through DTI.

A s for farmers, they will be linked to supermarket chains and other retailers, finding alternative markets, and promoting bulk buying or advance purchases as well as providing transport for rice stock purchased at the level of the price ceiling or above to Diskwento Caravan sites and selling directly to consumers.

Necessary measure

EO 39 imposed a price cap of P41 per kilogram (kg) for regular milled rice (RMR) and P45 per kg for wellmilled rice (WMR) nationwide to address the surge in the price of the food staple.

M arcos defended the need for the price ceiling to address the recent spike in rice prices, which he attributed to attempts of smugglers and hoarders to manipulate the prices of the food staple amid the ongoing harvest season.

“As much as possible, I don’t want to tamper with the market and let it do its work...but our market is being manipulated so the government has to step in by putting in place the price ceiling for the price of rice,” he said.

To help keep the prices stable, the DA will also conduct inventory and supply management of rice among major rice producers as well as intensify its enforcement of rice prices.

Meanwhile, the rice trader members of the Philippine Rice Industry Stakeholders Movement (PRISM) have committed to sell rice at P38 per kilogram.

If the report is true, someone should be liable for the unauthorized and clearly illegal  transfer of funds to the Office of the Vice President [OVP] in 2022. These serious allegations and reports demand immediate investigation,” said Hontiveros, partly in Filipino.

H ontiveros noted that there was no “confidential fund” item for OVP in 2022 na to which the funds could be transferred. “In

[This will also] effectively transmit monetary policy, especially the key local policy rate, now at a 16-year high of 6.25 percent in a more dynamic and market/determined manner every business/ trading day to reflect the true cost of funds for both borrowers and lenders in the market/economy, thereby promoting greater transparency and efficiency in the market,” Ricafort said.

T he price cap will continue to take effect starting on September 5, 2023 until it is lifted by the President.

T he chief executive said he expects the price cap will be temporary until the peak of the harvest season and the arrival of the rice imports from the private sector.

“ The rice supply will be coming in the second week of September. These include the harvest from the Philippines and those which are imported. There will be no reason to raise the price of rice and we can bring it back to the price that we are used to,” Marcos said.

B ased on DA’s weekly monitoring report in Metro Manila, the retail price of RMR is P51 per kg and P52.45 for WMR from August 28, 2023 to September 1, 2023.

Constant monitoring

MARCOS said he will continue to monitor the situation on rice prices even during his participation at the ongoing 43rd Asean Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia from September 5 to 7.

A t the summit, he said he will push for Philippine priorities in Asean and to work with other Asean Member States.

T he priorities include a rulesbased international order, including in the South China Sea, strengthening food security, calling for climate justice, tapping the potential of the digital and creative economies, protecting migrant workers in crisis situations, as well as combating Trafficking-inPersons.

“

My administration will continue to ensure that our constructive engagements with Asean, our Dialogue Partners, and stakeholders serve our national interest and the well-being of the Filipino people,” the President said.

T he chief executive will also lead in government initiatives to secure more foreign investments from Indonesia.

the General Appropriations Act [GAA] for 2022, there were zero items for any confidential funds earmarked for the Office of the Vice President. So, was there a ghost transfer?”

S he added, “while it is true that the law allows the Presidentamong certain other officials—to realign or transfer appropriations which have become ‘savings,’ these savings cannot augment a non-existent item in the GAA.”

Alfredo E. Pascual encouraged businesses present at the 43rd Asean summit to invest in the downstream processing of nickel, among others, noting that it is part of the Philippines’s “strategic” approach to enable the country to move to higher value activities in the regional and global value chains.

Court clears Kerwin Espinosa of illegal possession of explosives, firearms rap

By Joel R. San Juan   @jrsanjuan1573

The Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Manila

City on Monday acquitted self-confessed drug lord Kerwin e s pinosa  of the charges of illegal possession of explosives and firearms, which were allegedly seized from his residence at Sitio Tinago, Barangay Binolho, Albuera, Leyte.

In a 46-page resolution issued by Manila

RTC Branch 16 Presiding Judge Janice YuloAntero, the court held that the prosecution failed to convince the court that Kerwin is guilty of violation of Section 1 of Republic Act 9516 (illegal possession of explosives) and violation of Section 28 (b) of R A 10591 (illegal possession of firearms).

“Be that as it may, this Court rules and so holds that even without his recantation, the prosecution miserably failed to prove the guilt of accused Rolan e s pinosa... alias ‘Kerwin e s pinosa’ beyond reasonable doubt that he was in effect in control and possession over the firearms/weapons and ammunition [and] neither was he in actual nor constructive possession of the same,” the trial court declared.

Following the acquittal, Kerwin is now left with only one remaining criminal case which is the illegal drug charge pending before a trial court in Baybay City, Leyte.

It can be recalled that on June 13, 2023, Kerwin  was allowed to post bail in the said case due to the failure of the prosecution to prove that the evidence against him and his co-accused is strong.

Kerwin  and his co-accused identified as Alfred Batistis, Bryan Anthony Zaldivar, Jose Antipuesto and Marcelo Adorco  were charged

with violation of Section 26 (B) in relation to Section 5, Article II of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

The drug case was filed based on Kerwin and his co-accused’s own admissions before the Philippine National Police (PNP), the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)  and the Senate that they conspired to commit illegal drug trading.

however,  the trial court, citing the rules on evidence, held that an extrajudicial confession is not enough and must be supported by the corpus delicti or the body of the crime.

It noted that  the list of exhibits submitted by state prosecutors to support their case did not include illegal drugs or drug proceeds.

Last June 9, 2023, the Makati RTC Branch 65 also cleared e s pinosa and Adorco of drug trafficking charges after the prosecution also failed to provide enough evidence against them.

Their co-accused, Peter Lim and Ruel Malindangan,  are still at large.

In 2021, the Makati RTC Branch 64 granted e spinosa’s demurrer to evidence after the court said the prosecution failed to prove its case for conspiracy for drug trading.

In acquitting Kerwin in the illegal possession of explosives and firearms case, the court gave weight to Adorco’s counteraffidavit executed on August 11, 2020 where he recanted his sworn statement dated August 4, 2016.

Adorco recanted his statement that he was the bodyguard/driver of Kerwin, and that the firearms and ammunition recovered from the e s pinosa compound were owned by the accused.

“The truth being is that he was the bodyguard and driver of Mayor e s pinosa,

especially during cockfights; that the firearms and ammunition were all taken from the houses of Mayor e s pinosa and that accused Kerwin has no knowledge about these,” the court said.

Likewise, the trial court noted that the pieces of explosive bullets and rifle grenades allegedly recovered from Kerwin’s residence were not offered by the prosecution as evidence.

“Thus, any evidence which a party desires to submit for the consideration of the court must formally be offered by the party, otherwise, it is excluded and rejected,” the ruling read.

“Consequently, the pieces of explosive bullets and rifle grenades subject of the present case against the accused are inadmissible as evidence,” it added.

Kerwin is the son of Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando e s pinosa who was killed by policemen inside the Leyte sub-provincial jail in Baybay City in November 2016 along with co-accused Raul Yap.

The policemen raided the mayor’s prison cell by virtue of a search warrant issued by the court based on the claim that he and Yap were in possession an unlicensed firearm,  several rounds of live ammunition and illegal drugs while in detention facility.

Both espinosa and Yap were killed after they allegedly fired at the raiding team from the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-Region 8 who were serving the search warrants.

The elder e s pinosa and Kerwin were asked by then President Duterte to surrender to authorities over their involvement in illegal drug trade.

e s pinosa heeded Duterte’s call while Kerwin and his family left the Philippines on June 21, 2016.

h e  was arrested in Dubai in October of the same year and was deported to Manila on November 16, 2016.

2 mishaps in one week: Groups press ‘legal protection’ for VIP

By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

Protectors of the Verde Island Passage (VIP) on Monday pressed the government anew to bestow “legal protection” for one of the country’s most productive water bodies following two oil spill threats in the marine corridor in a span of one week.

Protect VIP, a coalition of environmental groups, community-based groups, and conservation advocates, issued the call following the sea mishaps that happened in Occidental Mindoro and Batangas.

On September 3, MV Joegie 5, loaded with 15,000 liters of diesel in its fuel tank, ran aground in Paluan, Occidental Mindoro, while on August 27, the fishing vessel FV Anita DJ II was carrying 70,000 liters of marine diesel when it capsized in the waters off Calatagan, Batangas. Occidental Mindoro and Batangas are both part of the five provinces surrounding the VIP.

These two sea mishaps came following the sinking of MV Princess Empress off the coast of Naujan, Oriental Mindoro on February 28, 2023. The incident caused an oil spill in the waters of the provinces of Antique, Batangas, Oriental Mindoro, and Palawan, which eventually threatened the VIP.

Communities affected by the Mindoro oil spill are still reeling from the adverse environmental and socioeconomic impact of the oil spill, which prompted authorities to declare a fishing ban in the affected areas.

“Having two marine accidents in a span of one week is alarming for a place as ecologically important as the Verde Island Passage.

Given how busy of a shipping lane the VIP is, such accidents illustrate how vulnerable the rich marine life is without legal protection. The government failed to act on the biggest lesson of the Oriental Mindoro oil spill and has let more than six months go by without affording any protection at all to the Amazon of the oceans,” Father Edwin Gariguez, lead convenor of Protect VIP said in a statement.

Brent Ivan Andres, environmental scientist and Head of the Oceans, Coastal Communities, and Climate Program of the Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development, also warned against the impending traffic of liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers plying the VIP as Batangas is poised to be the host of several LNG projects.

“As VIP is the center of the center of marine biodiversity in the world, we should treat every potential ecological harm in this marine corridor with extra precaution. With

the existing five gas plants and one operational LNG terminal on top of the eight power plants and seven terminals in the pipeline, the government should be alarmed by the duress this will bring to the VIP. This highlights the need for its inclusion in the ENIPAS [Expanded National Integrated Protected Area Systems] Act and ban of shipping toxic cargos along the area to safeguard the VIP from numerous threats,” Andres added.

Gariguez also questioned why shipping vessels are allowed to set sail despite bad weather, which was the case with the three recent marine accidents in the VIP.

“The impacts of climate crisis such as the increased intensity and frequency of typhoons and strong wave actions contribute to the capsizing of major vessels have caused massive oil spills in the Philippines, including the Mindoro Oil Spill and 2006 Guimaras oil spill. Without legislated protection and regulated shipping lanes, oil spills in the VIP will continue to occur and will continue to jeopardize the livelihoods of thousands of people relying on its waters. We ask the government and concerned agencies, including the Philippine Coast Guard to urgently address this crisis and apply the learnings from the past oil spills,” Gariguez added.

Rep. Villafuerte lauds passage of OTOP law

LAWMAKERS hailed the signing of Republic Act (RA) 11960, also known as the “One Town, One Product” (OTOP) Philippines Act, that will boost the country’s exports sector.

According to Camarines Sur Rep. LRay F. Villafuerte, the law institutionalizes the OTOP program of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). He added it provides for a strategic program to round off the Philippine Export Development Plan (PEDP) 2023-2028.

“This newly signed OTOP law will prop up PEDP 2023-2028, which aims to transform our country into an export powerhouse of high-value products and services,” said Villafuerte, a co-author of Republic Act (RA) 11960. RA 11960 was signed into law on August 25 by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

He added that the OTOP Law was enacted after the Philippines joined the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). Villafuerte considers the RCEP as the biggest free trade pact that could benefit Filipino exporters by way of possibly higher sales of their lower-taxed goods to other RCEP-member economies.

The law mandates the OTOP Philippines Program as a government stimulus for micro-sized, small-scale and medium-sized companies (MSMEs) in the countryside.

The law mandates the development of indigenous raw materials, utilizing local skills and talents and featuring local traditions across the country, provided that simplified requirements and procedures are adopted for beneficiaries to easily access the components of the program.

The OTOP Philippines Program covers products and skills-based services known to an area or locality. This includes processed foods, agricultural-based products, home and fashion products, arts and crafts and skills-based services.

The law provides a package of assistance for MSMEs with viable products in order to develop new, innovative and more complex products with significant improvement in the areas of quality, product development, design, packaging, standards or regulatory compliance, marketability, production capability and brand development, among others.

Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez explained that the law also aims to assist rural communities in growing the local economy and become “more market-oriented and innovation-driven.”

He added the law promotes the convergence of initiatives from local government units (LGUs), national government agencies and the private sector “in developing and promoting Philippine products, whether for export or the domestic market.”

The law mandates the DTI to create the OTOP Program Management Office that will oversee the OTOP Philippines Program.

The DTI is also mandated to establish the OTOP Philippines Trustmark, an assurance that the products under the program represent the country’s best.

The agency’s regional and provincial offices and respective LGUs would determine the beneficiaries of the OTOP program.

Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

Agri damage due to ‘Habagat,’ two typhoons now at ₧584M

It also reported that families affected by these weather disturbances have now totaled 140,101.

This is equivalent to 514,153 persons residing in 1,756 barangays in Regions 1,2, 3, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Region 6, Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) and the National Capital Region.

Of this number, 915 families or 3,251 individuals are being served in 52 evacuation centers and another 2,410 families or 10,052 persons being aided outside.

Let’s build a Sustainable Future

food sustainability and security remains a big task in the Philippines. It is a daunting endeavor, but not impossible.

We have to say goodbye to plastic waste.

According to environmental experts, the total clean-up of plastic pollution in seven major rivers across Southeast Asia will cost $297 million. In addition, plastic pollution is costing these countries $23,100 to $270,000 per square kilometer of coral reef. The proper management of plastic wastes must include plastic bags, sachets, labels, laminates, and both rigid and flexible plastic used for such products.

There is no question that we must get rid of single-use plastic!

By Henry J. Schumacher

BUSINESS and government must

understand how sustainability requirements filter down throughout companies and government operations.

This can be broken down into P192,654,708.85 for Region 2; P5,737,325.56 in Region

3; P29,678,492.99 for Mimaropa; P356,128,079.72 for Region 6; and P560,990 for the Cordillera Administrative Region.

Around 16,982 farmers and fisherfolk were reported affected by these damages.

Meanwhile, the NDRRMC placed infrastructure damage at P130,251,200 and these were reported in Region 2, Mimaropa, and Region 6.

The NDRRMC also said that it has a confirmed report of one death in Region 6, even as it is validating another fatality in the CAR along with one missing in Region 6.

Houses damaged were placed at 1,349 and these were reported in Regions 1, 2, 3, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Region 6, and the CAR. Rex Anthony Naval

Gas, diesel prices at the pump continue to climb this week

By Lenie Lectura @llectura

ANOTHER round of oil price increase takes effect this week, extending price hikes for diesel and kerosene to nine consecutive weeks and eight for gasoline.

Oil firms on Monday announced they would adjust pump prices by P0.50 per liter for gasoline products, P1.20 per liter

for diesel, and P1.10 per liter for kerosene.

T he price increase takes effect for most oil firms at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, September 5.

Last week, oil companies implemented an increase of P0.30/liter for gasoline, P0.70/liter for diesel and P0.80/liter for kerosene. These price adjustments resulted in a year-to-date net increase of P14.80/ liter for gasoline, P9.50/liter diesel and P6.64/liter for kerosene.

Oil firms adjust their prices every week

Higher incomes, opportunities under ‘Tatak Pinoy’ bill seen

By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

CITING expectations of higher incomes and more opportunities for Filipinos, Senator Juan Edgardo M. Angara foresees the Senate getting closer to approve an enabling bill crafted to “further develop industries, propel our economy forward, create more opportunities and higher incomes for Filipinos.”

Four years in the making, Angara recalled that his “Tatak Pinoy” advocacy is now a bill included in the priority legislation certified by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and is now “set for debates in plenary.”

In sponsoring Senate Bill (SB) 2426 or the proposed “Tatak Pinoy” Act, Angara reminded it is “about time that a national strategy to hasten the growth and transformation of the Philippine economy through strong collaboration between

government and the private sector is put in place.”

“For true economic development to happen, it needs to be pursued collectively and collaboratively by all sectors of society,” Angara said.

“Supporting domestic industries and hastening the process of transforming the Philippine economy demands that stakeholders from the public and private sectors organize, plan, align and integrate their respective efforts,” Angara added.

The senator recalled that “Tatak Pinoy” as a strategy is “so comprehensive” that it took Angara over an hour to finish his speech in order to demonstrate to his colleagues and the public about how the measure can change the economic profile of the Philippines and more importantly, uplift the lives of the people.

“A key to making this vision of an economically strong Philippines happen,”

to reflect movements in the world oil market. Based on Department of Energy’s (DOE) latest monitoring, global prices continue to rise as a result of OPEC+ reduction of supply until September.

The upward trend would likely continue in the weeks to come due to the production cuts by o ne million barrels of oil per day (bpd) by Saudi Arabia. Russia also announced export cuts of 300,000 bpd, following a 500,000-bpd cut in August.

Angara said, “is to empower domestic enterprises, be it the small, medium or even the industry giants to become more globally competitive; to help them produce more sophisticated products; and provide exceptional, world-class services.”

According to the senator, “for true economic development to happen, it needs to be pursued collectively and collaboratively by all sectors of society.”

“Supporting domestic industries and hastening the process of transforming the Philippine economy demands that stakeholders from the public and private sectors organize, plan, align and integrate their respective efforts.”

Looking into the steps taken by countries that were able to become more prosperous over time, Angara noted that a lot of their success has to do with their intentional shift towards producing more complex or sophisticated products and aggressively supporting and promoting their goods and services domestically and overseas. The lawmaker asserted that the country couldn’t be content with what it is already producing, but “should constantly diversify in order to widen its basket of goods.”

Please allow me to highlight a few areas for your considerations.

The quality of the environment.

A sustainable community sees itself as existing within a physical environment and natural ecosystem and tries to find ways to co-exist with that environment. It does its part by avoiding unnecessary degradation of the air, oceans, fresh water, and other natural systems. It tries to replace detrimental practices with those that allow ecosystems to continuously renew themselves.

I was shocked to read that water wasted annually is equivalent to half of Angat Dam capacity. Around 488 million cubic meters of water a year are lost to waste, mainly in water districts outside Metro Manila, says the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA). Of course, the recent and present flooding in many parts of the country cannot be seen as reasons to neglect the water management. It is trusted that the LWUA finds partners in government and the private sector to see water management as part of disaster resilience.

Disaster resilience and mitigation

WE must understand that a community must be resilient in the face of inevitable natural disasters like typhoons, earthquakes, floods, and drought. The community must take steps to ensure that such events cause as little damage as possible, that productivity is only minimally interrupted, and that the quality of life remains at (or quickly returns to) high levels. A disaster-resilient community further takes responsibility for the risks it faces and tries to be self-reliant. Ensuring

Degradable plastic is another option that needs to be taken seriously. That’s why Matter makes all sorts of goods with plant-based biopolymer and fiber. Think trash bags, food storage containers, tableware, plates, and bowls. They’re like sustainable superheroes of the real world.

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n Return valuable nutrients to the soil

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Check out Matter and replace your (garbage) plastic items with something a lot better. I suggest you look at Matter products to buy or to develop your own.

A Sustainable Suture can be created by integrating sustainable consumption and production principles into policymaking, business practices, and consumer behavior. Furthermore, investing in new technologies is crucial.

There is hope that government, nongovernment organizations, the private sector, and sustainability advocates will do their share to attain the dream of a Sustainable Future. The nation’s commitment to maintain a delicate equilibrium between growth and sustainability on one side, and environmental stewardship on the other, is a holistic approach that encompasses people, planet, and prosperity!

In this context, I thoroughly enjoyed Lazarda’s annual environment, social and governance (ESG) impact report, highlighting four pillars under its ESG commitment: empowering communities, a future-ready workforce, environmental stewardship, and effective governance.

I look forward to your comments. Please email me at hjschumacher59@gmail.com/

ALOCAL toxic waste advocacy group on Monday urged concerned government agencies to conduct post-market surveillance of Christmas lights and decorations being sold in the market to ensure that the products pass the quality and safety standard regulations.

The call was made as public markets started to sell Christmas lights and decors for early shopping, prompting the group BAN Toxics to raise the alarm to the public against poor quality and substandard products.

TBT Patrollers of BAN Toxics noticed the early selling of Christmas lights and decorations in stores in Pasay City over the weekend and started documenting the varieties of holiday products.

The team found out that the decors had no proper labeling, while the Christmas lights have no Philippine Standard (PS) mark or Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) sticker indicating its product safety and quality.

The sale of improperly labeled and/or unregistered holiday decorations can be a potential source of toxic chemical exposure such as lead and cadmium that may cause unreasonable risk to public health,” Thony Dizon, Toxics Campaigner of BAN Toxics said in a statement.

“We call the attention of our regulatory

agencies to conduct post-marketing surveillance in public markets and eventual confiscation of the products if they do not comply with the regulation in the country,” he added.

Last year, the group issued a warning over the sale of holiday lights that contain high levels of lead and cadmium ranging from 25,500 parts per million (ppm) to 224,000 ppm, way above the 1,000 parts per million (ppm) limit for lead. The lights also had cadmium ranging from 265 ppm to 506 ppm, which is above the 100 ppm limit for cadmium under the European Union Directive on Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS).

Lead exposure can have serious consequences for the health of children. At high levels of exposure to lead, the brain and central nervous system can be severely damaged causing coma, convulsions and even death, while cadmium exerts toxic effects on the kidneys as well as the skeletal and respiratory systems. It is classified as a human carcinogen.

“BAN Toxics will continue to conduct market monitoring to raise awareness against toxic chemicals in consumer products to protect the public against hazards to health and safety,” the group lamented.

Jonathan L. Mayuga

Govt urged to keep tighter watch on ‘toxic’ Christmas decors, lights

AGRICULTURE damage sustained by five regions due to the inclement weather caused by the southwest monsoon and typhoons “Goring” and “Hanna” have now totaled P584,759,593.12, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council’s (NDRRMC)’s Monday morning update.

Banana growers shift to grains production in Davao del Norte

By Manuel T. Cayon @awimailbox | Mindanao Bureau Chief

CITY–Small banana growers have switched to grains production after the pestering Panama Disease kept spreading in sprawling banana farms of Davao del Norte, the Provincial Agriculture Office (PAGRO) has reported.

Th is came out in the agency’s recent monitoring of the total hectarage of agricultural crops, especially for rice and corn areas in Davao del Norte.

F rom 7,000 hectares several years ago, corn production areas in Davao del Norte have now reached more than 10,000 hectares, said

PAGRO Senior Agriculturist and Provincial Corn Focal Omar T. Ayco.

Ayco attributed the shifting of crops to the “wide devastation” caused by Fusarium Wilt, or Panama Disease, infestation that has affected banana plantations but which has the dire consequence on small-scale banana farms due to

costly management and preventive measures. He said farmers are now planting their former banana farms with rice or corn, especially with the assistance provided by the PAGRO as part of the “Kawsa sa Agrikultura ug Panginabuhian sa Barangay” or Kaagapay Program.

T he provincial government has purchased two units of backhoe to reconstruct banana farms into rice paddies and corn fields, while it provided them with hybrid seeds and fertilizer to restore the productivity of lands left idle and abandoned.

A Yellow Corn Enhancement Program of the PAGRO entitles farmers with free hybrid yellow corn seeds and fertilizers, while the same assistance is also being given to farmers planting white corn “especially now that white corn consumption has increased as alternative to rice consumption,” Ayco said.

Ayco has encouraged farmers to maximize the income opportunities of corn production as market buying prices are relatively high at P16.80 to P18.50 per kilo for yellow corn, and P20.00 to P24.00

per kilo for white corn.

PAGRO Senior Agriculturist Jefferson O. Cerbito, meantime said a similar increasing trend of rice production areas in Davao del Norte was also noted.

Cerbito said the rice farms are now about 19,000 hectarage and still expected to increase.

These used to be rice lands but they converted to bananas, and then they go back to rice farming due to Fusarium Wilt,” he said.

O f the 19,000 rice areas, 15,000 hectares are irrigated and 4,000 are upland rain-fed rice areas mostly in tribal communities, he said.

The PAGRO and the Department of Agriculture have extended assistance to them with upland rice seeds for distribution to tribal farmers, as well as giving hybrid and in-bred rice seeds and fertilizer.

Rep. Yamsuan says PNP budget enough to cover training for cops

THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Monday announced it would continue to conduct “bilateral and multilateral activities” that will enhance its capabilities of defending the country’s sovereignty and national territory.

It made the statement after it announced that Philippine and US warships are conducting a “bilateral sail” in Philippine waters located west of Palawan.

“ The AFP shall continue to be involved in bilateral and multilateral activities that will contribute to the AFP’s capability development to perform its mission of protecting the country’s national sovereignty and national territory,” AFP public affairs office chief Lt. Col. Enrico Gil Ileto said in a statement.

Deployed for the bilateral sail activities were the Philippine Navy’s guided-missile frigate, BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150) and the US Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, USS Ralph Johnson (DDG-114).

The activity is done under the Mutual Defense Board–Security Engagement Board framework that aims to develop operational interoperability between the navies of the two countries,” Ileto added. He said the AFP’s Western Command Naval Task Force 41 and the US 7th Fleet will carry out a “division tactics” rehearsal, enhancing interoperability between the two navies.

In particular, this event aims to provide an opportunity for the Philippine Navy and the US IndoPacific Navy to test and refine existing maritime doctrine and demonstrate their defense capabilities in line with the shared commitment of upholding peace and security in the Indo-Pacific Region,” Ileto said. Rex Anthony Naval

AMID allegations of illegal arrests and other irregularities committed by law enforcers, a lawmaker on Monday asked the Philippine National Police (PNP) to ensure the continuing education and training of its uniformed personnel by utilizing the P1.47 billion budget allocated for education and training of the national police this year.

Bicol Saro Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan issued the statement after learning during the recent hearing of the House Committee on Public Order and Safety that some PNP officers accused of conducting illegal drug buy-bust operations apparently lacked sufficient knowledge of police operational procedures.

O n questioning the team leader who led an alleged illegal drug buy-bust operation in San Pedro, Laguna, Yamsuan learned that the former had never undergone any retraining or refresher course on police operational procedures since he entered the PNP in 2010.  “ So in his 13 years in the service, he never underwent the mandatory training required of police officers. This lack of training and continuing education in the PNP is among the

reasons why problems occur during police operations and why there are missteps and irregularities committed,” Yamsuan said.

Proper training would help prevent misconduct among police officers, added Yamsuan, who is a former assistant secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), which supervises the PNP.

“Don’t help our police officers after they have committed mistakes. Help them and teach them the proper police procedures before they conduct their operations so that no one’s future will be destroyed,” he said.

At the briefing conducted by the House Committee on Appropriations for the proposed 2024 budget of the DILG, Yamsuan queried the PNP Chief,  Police Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr., on how the police organization has been spending its funds for the education and training of its officers.

Yamsuan noted that for 2024, the PNP has proposed a total budget of P1.26 billion for the education and training of its uniformed personnel, a decrease of almost 15 percent from the actual appropriations of P1.47 billion given to this

same program for 2023.

The sum of P300 million under the PNP’s police education program for 2023 involves training for law enforcement officers conducted by prosecutors and representatives of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to help improve evidence gathering and conviction rates in criminal cases.

A report quoting the DOJ said that 80 percent of cases filed by prosecutors are dismissed by the courts because of lack of evidence or technicalities. These shortcomings are often committed by law enforcers at the scene of the crime.

Yamsuan said he would fully support the PNP if it needed additional funding for its police education program next year.

The lawmaker told Acorda about the apparent lack of knowledge of police officers about their operational procedures, despite the budget given to the PNP for education and training.

Yamsuan cited anew as an example the police officer who admitted during the hearing of the public order and safety committee that he had never undergone any retraining or refresher course on police opera-

tional procedures since becoming a member of the PNP.

Acorda, for his part, said that such an admission was “alarming” and that the PNP would check why the officer had never undergone any training despite the fact that this is mandatory for all PNP uniformed personnel.

The PNP chief said that mandatory training is required for officers applying for promotion. “Specialization” training is also offered by the PNP to all its uniformed personnel, Acorda added.

This is precisely the problem with the PNP now,” Yamsuan told Acorda. “The PNP encounters problems with illegal arrests, entrapments, and drug buy busts  in the conduct of their operations.”

Lawyers are required to undergo MCLE [Mandatory Continuing Legal Education], I think, every two or three years. How come law enforcers appear not to have this kind of continuing education when this is very important, especially when the PNP is constantly scrutinized and placed under a microscope when performing their duties?” Yamsuan added. Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

PN,

Malaysian Navy hold week-long naval exercises

AS part of its efforts to enhance its cooperation and interoperability with its Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) counterparts, the Philippine Navy (PN) will be hosting the 24th iteration of “MALPHI LAUT” from September 4 to 8. T he activities will be held at the Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao’s (NFEM) area of jurisdiction and aims to enhance combined planning, tactical and operational level training and level up interoperability between the two naval services.

“

This week-long maritime training activity will involve sailors and naval special operations forces from the RMN and PN operating jointly on land, air, and at sea,” NFEM spokesperson Lt. Cmdr. Jerome Bryan Mauring said in a statement issued on Sunday.

He added this iteration marks the first conduct of maritime training activity (MTA) series in the Eastern Mindanao area of responsibility.

Mauring said an “arrival ceremony” was tendered to the participating RMN ships, KD Selangor (F176), its newest generation patrol, and KD Sundang (112), a littoral mission ship, at Captain Feranil Pier, Naval Station Felix Apolinario, Panacan, Davao City on September 3.

The RMN delegation was received by the Commander, Naval Task Force 71, Captain Constancio Arturo M. Reyes Jr., together with the commanding officers of the participating PN vessels,” he added.

A fterwards, an operations planning was conducted at NFEM headquarters in Davao City where the harbor and at-sea activities designed to allow both navies to undertake complex maritime training, utilizing diverse naval platforms and operating areas.

The PN and RMN’s collaboration has served as a cornerstone for peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

The PN and RMN are committed to strengthen their longstanding alliance, reinforce maritime security efforts, and address common border threats and challenges.

Rex Anthony Naval

More business groups join appeal for reversal of MIAA chief’s dismissal

THINK tank Stratbase ADR Institute, along with other business groups, on Monday expressed concern over an Office of the Ombudsman order to dismiss Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) chief Cesar Chiong on the basis of an anonymous letter, pointing out the complaint is dubious and that those telling the truth should be more forthcoming about their identities.  “ Transparency is a cornerstone of good governance, especially in a long-term, high-impact area such as airport infrastructure,” said

Stratbase ADR Institute president Victor Andres Manhit.

Manhit’s call was joined by the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCII), Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (FINEX), Makati Business Club (MBC), IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP), Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines Foundation Inc. (SEIPI), Justice Reform Initiative (JRI), Integrity Initiative and Brotherhood of Christian Busi-

DOLE-NCR lifts work stoppage order for QC Hall project after fatal mishap

THE Department of Labor and Employment-National Capital Region (DOLE-NCR) has lifted a work stoppage order (WSO) covering a Quezon City Hall project following fatal accident at the construction site that killed one worker and injured three others.

In a report submitted by DOLENCR Regional Director Sarah Buena S. Mirasol to labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma, the WSO was lifted after QC Hall’s service contractor MRBII Construction Corporation “addressed their violations.”

The primary cause of the ac -

cident is the poor structural provision of the existing wall, which upon demolition eventually collapsed, affecting four workers and fatally affecting one [of them],” Mirasol said in a report.

I n an occupational safety and health (OSH) investigation conducted by the QC Field Office, the labor inspectors said that the four workers were at the excavation site of the structure set for demolition and were caught right under the collapsed wall.

The injured workers were identified as Erwin Ramos, Joshua Garcia,

and Christian Manposte.

Meanwhile, worker Rachel Erezo suffered a head injury that caused his immediate death.

The construction firm assured financial aid to the victims, including Erezo’s beneficiary. They also promised immediate deployment to the surviving workers once they are medically cleared.

The QC Hall engineering department will prepare a corresponding city ordinance for strict compliance of OSH standards of all construction projects that will be procured by local government units. Patrick V. Miguel

nessmen and Professionals.

We hope that there will be a deeper probe into this case based on solid evidence and that the accusers should not hide behind [the cloak of] anonymity if their charges have real basis,” Manhit added.

T he Ombudsman’s order was triggered by an anonymous complaint after 285 personnel were reassigned by Chiong to improve the efficiency of airport services.

I n a statement, Chiong pointed out that his predecessors at MIAA were not subjected to any legal issues

even though larger numbers of personnel were previously reassigned.

C hiong’s petition with the Court of Appeals cited that 646 employees were reassigned by former M/Gen. Jose Angel Honrado (Ret.), while Eddie Monreal likewise revamped 397 personnel.

The anonymity raises suspicions on the veracity of the complaint,” said CitizenWatch Philippines coconvenor, lawyer and former congressman Christopher Belmonte. “The accusers should not be afraid to reveal their identities if their al-

legations have solid basis.” Patrick Climaco, secretary general of BK3, said he was dismayed by the dismissal order. “It is puzzling that the order was based on an anonymous letter,” he said in Filipino. “ The accusers should not hide anything if there is truth or evidence in their statement,” he added. I n an earlier statement, the nine business groups issued an appeal to the Ombudsman to reverse its decision, citing the exemplary performance of Chiong’s as airport manager. Rizal Raoul S. Reyes

NTF-ELCAC official calls for Reds’ surrender

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie

AN official of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) urged Filipinos waging Asia’s longest insurgency to lay down their arms.

In a statement released by the Palace over the weekend, NTF-ELCAC Director Jose Descallar said that the 55 years of communist rebellion “only brought hardship, misery and death to the people as the rebels fought for an ideology that is irrelevant already.” Our government is here. Our people are here. The Filipino families are here, and I hope you will put down your weapons. Join us in building a peaceful, stable, comfortable Philippines, a new Philippines where we are all united, working together to build our nation,” Descallar was quoted in the statement as saying.

The government has been winning the war against the insurgents and expects to achieve a strategic victory soon, according to Descallar.

Citing available data, the NTF-ELCAC official said the body started in 2018, confronting 89 guerilla fronts. Today, he said there are only 20 guerilla fronts in existence after the government successfully dismantled 69 in the past four and a half years.

Descallar added that of the 20, 19 are weakened guerilla fronts, and only one remains to be dismantled in Northern Samar.

So, when we say strategic victory, these are the 19 weakened guerilla fronts and only one that the AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines] is confronting,” he explained. “There are still concerns about the armed [group], but they may not be able to initiate such an armed struggle to [bring] down our government. So that’s your strategic victory.”

Descallar cited that under the Barangay

Development Program (BDP), the government has been building farm-market roads, school buildings, health centers, electrification, and water systems in conflict-affected areas and vulnerable communities.

Currently, there are 3,187 barangays under the three-phased program of the BDP, Descallar said. In total, the government appropriated P28.4 billion for the development of these barangays, he added.

Last week, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said the government must not sit on its laurels and should continue with responsive actions to encourage communist insurgents to return to the fold of the law to sustain rural development. Marcos said that change would happen when people have jobs and livelihoods. The President added these could be realized through the continuing agrarian reform program and other poverty-alleviation efforts of the government.

DAVAO

Military holds bilateral, multilateral activity to boost defense capability

Southeast Asia leaders besieged by thorny issues as they hold summit without Biden

By Niniek Karmini & Edna Tarigan

The Associated Press

JAKARTA, Indonesia—Southeast

Asia leaders led by Indonesian host President Joko Widodo are gathering in their final summit this year, besieged by divisive issues with no solutions in sight: Myanmar’s deadly civil strife, new flare-ups in the disputed South China Sea, and the longstanding United States-China rivalry.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations meetings will open Tuesday in the Indonesian capital Jakarta under tight security. The absence of US President Joe Biden, who typically attends, adds to the already somber backdrop of the 10-state bloc’s traditional show of unity and group handshakes.

After discussions Tuesday, the Asean heads of state would meet Asian and Western counterparts from Wednesday to Thursday, providing a wider venue that the US and China, and their allies, have used for wide-ranging talks on free trade, climate change and global security. It has also become a battleground for their rivalries.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang was set to join the meetings, including the

18-member East Asia Summit. There, he would meet US Vice President Kamala Harris—who will fly in lieu of Biden—and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

While skipping Asean, Biden will fly to Asia for the G-20 summit in India, then visit Vietnam to elevate ties. Washington says Biden was not relegating the bloc to a lower rung of geopolitical priorities and cited the US president’s effort to deepen America’s engagement with the region.

“It’s hard to look at what we’ve done as an administration, since the very beginning, and come away with a conclusion that we are somehow not interested in the Indo-Pacific or that we are deprioritizing the Southeast Asia nations and those relationships,” John Kirby, a national security spokesperson, said at a news briefing Friday in Washington.

In November, Biden attended the Asean summit meetings in Cambodia and in May 2022 hosted eight of the bloc’s leaders at the White House to demonstrate his administration’s commitment to their region while dealing with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The Biden administration has also been strengthening an arc of security alliances in the Indo-Pacific, including

in Southeast Asia, alarming China.

Marty Natalegawa, a respected former foreign minister of Indonesia, expressed disappointment over Biden’s non-appearance, but said such red flags were more alarmingly emblematic of Asean’s declining relevance.

“The absence of the US president, while it is disappointing and symbolically significant, is for me the least of the worry because what’s more worrisome actually is the more fundamental structural tendency for Asean to become less and less prominent,” Natalegawa told The Associated Press in an interview.

Founded in 1967 in the Cold War era, Asean has a principle of non-interference in each member state’s domestic affairs. It also decides by consensus, meaning even one member can shoot down any unfavorable decision or proposal.

Those bedrock rules have attracted a starkly diverse membership, ranging from nascent democracies to conservative monarchies, but have also restrained the bloc from taking punitive actions against state-sanctioned atrocities.

The bloc currently groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Xi will skip G-20 summit in India as bilateral relations remain icy

BEIJING—Chinese President Xi Jinping is apparently skipping this week’s Group of 20 summit in India as bilateral relations remain icy.

Instead, Premier Li Qiang will represent China at the Sept. 9-10 gathering, the Foreign Ministry said Monday in a one sentence notice on its website.

Natalegawa said Asean’s failure to effectively rein in Myanmar’s military government from committing human rights atrocities and its “deafening silence” when a Chinese coast guard ship recently used a water cannon to block a Philippine supply boat in the disputed South China Sea, underscore why the group’s aspiration to be in the center of Asian diplomacy has been questioned. Member states have turned to either the US or China for security, he said.

“Absenteeism by Asean is leading to unmet needs, and those needs are being met elsewhere,” he said.

Myanmar’s civil strife, which has dragged on for more than two years after the army ousted the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, and the South China Sea disputes were again expected to overshadow the Jakarta summit agenda, as in previous years. Indonesia tried to swing the focus to boosting regional economies with an upbeat theme this year—“Asean Matters: Epicentrum of Growth”—but the geopolitical and security issues have continued to pester and spark diplomatic fallouts.

The European Union has warned that its relations with Asean may be affected if it has to deal with Myanmar

Relations between China and India have grown frosty over their disputed border, and three years ago the tensions resulted in a clash in the Ladakh region that killed 20 Indians and four soldiers. It turned into a longrunning standoff in the rugged mountainous area, where each side has stationed tens of thousands of military personnel backed by artillery, tanks and fighter jets.

Frictions have also risen over trade and India’s growing strategic ties with China’s main rival the United States. Both India and China have expelled the other’s journalists.

India recently overtook China as the world’s most populous nation and the two are rivals in technology, space exploration and global trade.

Chinese and Indian military commanders met just last month and pledged to “maintain the peace and tranquility” along their disputed border, in an apparent effort by the sides to stabilize the situation.

The Line of Actual Control separates Chinese- and Indian-held territories from Ladakh in the west to India’s eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh, which China claims in its entirety. India and China fought a war over their border in 1962. As its name suggests, the line divides the areas of physical control rather than territorial claims.

According to India, the de facto border is 3,488 kilometers (2,167 miles) long, but China promotes a considerably shorter figure.

In all, China claims some 90,000 square kilometers (35,000 square miles) of territory in India’s northeast, including Arunachal Pradesh with its mainly Buddhist population.

India says China occupies 38,000 square kilometers (15,000 square miles) of its territory in the Aksai Chin Plateau, which India considers part of Ladakh, where the current faceoff is happening.

China, in the meantime, began cementing relations with India’s archrival Pakistan and backing it on the issue of disputed Kashmir.

Firefights broke out again in 1967 and 1975, leading to more deaths on both sides. They’ve since adopted protocols, including an agreement not to use firearms, but those protocols have fractured.

Other than the potential effects on China-India relations, Xi’s absence at the summit will also eliminate the possibility of an interaction with US President Joe Biden. China-US relations remain at a historic low despite recent visits by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and other officials to Beijing.

Xi has accumulated more power at home than any Chinese leader since Mao Zedong, and has adopted an increasingly aggressive approach to what he views as China’s territorial interests in the South China Sea and toward self-governing Taiwan, which China threatens to annex by force if necessary.

in any leadership role. Following the EU warning, Myanmar’s military-led government, which has not been recognized by—but remains a member of—Asean, gave notice that it may not be able to chair the regional bloc as scheduled in 2026, two Southeast Asian diplomats told the AP.

Asean leaders would have to decide in Jakarta whether to ask the Philippines to replace Myanmar as host for that year, said the diplomats, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of a lack of authority to publicly discuss the issues.

Myanmar could also not assume a three-year role starting next year as coordinator of Asean-EU relations, according to the two diplomats.

Myanmar’s generals and their appointees have been barred from attending Asean’s leaders and foreign ministerial meetings, including this week’s summit meetings, after the military government failed to fully comply with a five-point peace plan that called for an immediate end to violence and the start of dialogue between contending parties, including Suu Kyi and other officials, who have been locked up in jail since they were overthrown.

About 4,000 people have been

killed and more than 24,400 people arrested since the army takeover in Myanmar, according to the advocacy group Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.

In a crucial reform that would allow Asean to respond faster and prevent such crises from degenerating into deadly disasters, its member states have discussed proposed rules that would allow the group to make a decision even in the absence of consensus from all member states, one of the two diplomats said.

Dinna Prapto Raharja, a Jakartabased analyst and professor on international relations, said Asean’s credibility is on the line if the Myanmar crisis drags on. While the bloc has no conflict-resolution mechanism for such domestic strife, it should be flexible enough to harness its clout and connections to help address such problems.

“Asean continues to say that it’s so difficult, it’s so complex,” she said. But, “as time goes by, all these opportunities simply evaporate.”

The Associated Press journalists Jim Gomez and Andi Jatmiko in Jakarta, Indonesia, and Christopher Megerian in Washington contributed to this report.

Francis inaugurates clinic on 1st papal visit to Mongolia: ‘It’s about charity not conversion’

By Nicole Winfield & Saruul Enkhbold

The Associated Press

ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia—

Pope Francis wrapped up the first-ever papal visit to Mongolia on Monday by inaugurating a church-run homeless clinic and shelter, insisting that such initiatives aren’t aimed at winning converts but are simply exercises in Christian charity.

Francis toured the House of Mercy, a three-story structure housed in an old school, which the local church has opened as an expression of the roots that it has taken in the three decades that the Catholic Church has had an official presence in Mongolia. It was the final event of an historic four-day visit to a region where the Holy See has long sought to make inroads.

Several of the foreign-staffed Catholic religious orders in Mongolia run shelters, orphanages and nursing homes to care for a population of 3.3 million where one in three people lives in poverty. But the new clinic for homeless people, people with disabilities and victims of domestic violence is aimed at showing the outreach of the Mongolian Catholic Church as a whole to its local community.

“The true progress of a nation is not gauged by economic wealth, much less by investment in the illusory power of armaments, but by its ability to provide for the health, education and integral development of its people,” Francis said at the shelter, urging Mongolians rich and poor to volunteer to help their fellow citizens.

Currently, some 77 missionaries minister to Mongolia’s Catholics, who with around 1,450 people constitute one of the tiniest Catholic flocks in the world. But only two Mongolian men have been ordained priests, and no Mongolian women have decided to join religious congregations as nuns.

These foreign missionaries say the biggest challenge facing them is to cultivate a truly local Mongolian church, with trained lay people who are well inserted into the fabric of society. That, they hope, will eventually lead to more religious vocations so that foreign missionaries become less and less necessary.

“We have to make this a church of

Mongolia, one that has the flavor of this land, of its steppes, of its sheep, goats, of its ger,” said the Rev. Ernesto Viscardi, an Italian priest of the Consolata missionary order who has been based in Mongolia for 19 years.

“There are 77 of us missionaries. We’re all great, all saints, everyone works well,” he said laughing. “But we have to think about making the local church grow, so that the (Mongolian) people take their church in hand. Otherwise we colonize Mongolia anew, and that makes no sense.”

In urging everyday Mongolians to volunteer to help the poor, Francis said charity work wasn’t just for the idle rich but for everyone. And he denied that Catholic charity was about winning new converts.

“Another myth needing to be dispelled is that the Catholic Church, distinguished throughout the world for its great commitment to works of social promotion, does all this to proselytize, as if caring for others were a way of enticing people to ‘join up,’” Francis said. “No! Christians do whatever they can to alleviate the suffering of the needy, because in the person of the poor they acknowledge Jesus, the Son of God, and in him the dignity of each person.”

Francis’ comment was a tacit acknowledgement of the competition for souls in places like Mongolia, which banned religious observation during decades of Soviet-allied communist government. Now, religious freedom is enshrined in the Mongolian constitution, and a variety of Christian and evangelical churches have taken root here.

Some, such as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, boast a much bigger presence in Mongolia

and claim far more members than the Catholic Church. But in a sign that Catholics weren’t competing with the Mormons or other Christian churches, Francis invited their leaders to an interfaith meeting on Saturday in Ulaanbaatar to show their common concern for promoting a more peaceful and harmonious world.

In seeking to encourage Mongolia’s tiny Catholic flock, Francis has insisted that their small size doesn’t matter and that their success shouldn’t be measured in numbers. “God loves littleness, and through it he loves to accomplish great things,” Francis told priests, nuns and bishops from around the region during a Saturday encounter in the cathedral.

Francis came to Mongolia to give a word of hope to the young church, but also to make a geopolitically important foray into a troubled region for the Holy See, particularly given neighboring China’s crackdown on religious observance.

On Sunday, Francis gave a special shout-out to Chinese Catholics, issuing a warm word of greeting from the altar of Mass at the Steppe Arena.

On Monday, Oyunchimeg Tserendolgo, a social worker at a public school, brought a group of her students to see Francis outside the shelter. She said she felt she had to come see the pope even though she herself isn’t Catholic.

“I wish for Roman pope to live a long life and to bring more goodness not only to Mongolia, but to the rest of the world,” she said as she held a photo of the pontiff. “When I heard that pope is leaving today, I had to come here to pay my respects. I am so glad I got a glimpse of him. Just so happy.”

POPE Francis arrives to preside over a mass at the Steppe Arena in the Mongolian capital Ulaanbaatar on Sunday, September 3, 2023. Francis is in Mongolia to minister to one of the world’s smallest and newest Catholic communities. Neighboring China’s crackdown on religious minorities has been a constant backdrop to the trip, even as the Vatican hopes to focus attention instead on Mongolia and its 1,450 Catholics. AP/LOUISE DELMOTTE

The World

First Africa Climate Summit opens as continent of 1.3 billion demands more say and financing

By Cara Anna & Evelyne Musambi The Associated Press

NAIROBI, Kenya—The first African Climate Summit is opening with heads of state and others asserting a stronger voice on a global issue that affects the continent of 1.3 billion people the most, even though they contribute to it the least.

Kenyan President William Ruto’s government and the African Union launched the ministerial session on Monday while more than a dozen heads of state began to arrive, determined to wield more global influence and bring in far more financing and support. The first speakers included young people, who demanded a bigger voice in the process.

“For a very long time we have looked at this as a problem. There are immense opportunities as well,” Ruto said of the climate crisis, speaking of multibillion-dollar economic possibilities, new financial structures, Africa’s huge mineral wealth and the ideal of shared prosperity. “We are not here to catalog grievances.”

And yet there is some frustration on the continent about being asked to develop in cleaner ways than the world’s richest countries—which have long produced most of the emissions that endanger climate—and to do it while much of the support that has been pledged hasn’t appeared.

“This is our time,” Mithika Mwenda of the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance told the gathering, claiming that the annual flow of climate assistance to the continent is a tenth or less of what is needed and a “fraction” of the budget of some polluting companies.

“We need to immediately see the delivery of the $100 billion of climate finance pledged annually by rich countries to developing ones,” said Simon Stiell, executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. More than $83 billion in climate financing was given to poorer countries in 2020, a 4 percent increase from the previous year but still short of the goal set in 2009.

“We have an abundance of clean, renewable energy and it’s vital that we use this to power our future prosperity. But to unlock it, Africa needs funding from countries that have got rich off our suffering,” Mohamed Adow of Power Shift Africa said ahead of the summit.

Outside attendees to the summit include the US government’s climate envoy,

John Kerry, and United Nations SecretaryGeneral Antonio Guterres, who has said he will address finance as one of “the burning injustices of the climate crisis.”

As Kenya’s president spoke, hundreds of people joined a “people’s march” on climate in Nairobi holding signs demanding the targeting of fossil fuels. Ruto in the past has said the “addiction” to them must end. One project being protested is the TotalEnergies-funded 897-mile (1,443-kilometer) East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline in Uganda and Tanzania.

The UN has estimated that loss and damage in Africa due to climate change are projected to be between $290 billion and $440 billion, depending on the degree of warming.

Ruto’s video welcome released before the summit was heavy on tree planting but didn’t mention his administration’s decision this year to lift a yearslong ban on commercial logging, which alarmed environmental watchdogs. The decision has been challenged in court, while the government says only mature trees in state-run plantations would be harvested.

“When a country is holding a conference like we are, we should be leading by example,” said Isaac Kalua, a local environmentalist.

Kenya derives 93 percent of its power from renewables and has banned singleuse plastic bags, but it struggles with some other climate-friendly adaptations. Trees were chopped down to make way for the expressway that some summit attendees used to travel from the airport, and bags of informally made charcoal are found on some Nairobi street corners.

Ruto made his way to Monday’s events in a small electric car, a contrast to the usual government convoys, on streets cleared of the sometimes poorly maintained buses and vans belching smoke.

Elsewhere, nearly 600 million Africans lack access to electricity despite the vast potential for solar and other renewable power.

Other challenges for the African continent include simply being able to forecast and monitor the weather in order to avert thousands of deaths and billions of dollars in damages that, like climate change itself, have effects far beyond the continent.

“When the apocalypse happens, it will happen for all of us,” Ruto warned.

Desmond Tiro in Nairobi, Kenya, contributed to this report.

Erdogan seeks to persuade Putin to revive Ukraine grain export deal

By The Associated Press

THE presidents of Russia and Turkey meet on Monday, with Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan seeking to persuade Russia to revive an agreement that allowed Ukraine to export grain and other commodities from three Black Sea ports despite the war.

Russian President Vladimir Putin in July refused to extend the agreement, which was brokered by Turkey and the United Nations a year earlier.

Russia complained that a parallel deal promising to remove obstacles to Russian exports of food and fertilizer hadn’t been honored. It said restrictions on shipping and insurance hampered its agricultural trade, even though it has shipped record amounts of wheat since last year.

The leaders are to meet in the Black Sea city of Sochi, where the Russian president has a residence.

Since Putin withdrew from the initiative, Erdogan has repeatedly pledged to renew arrangements that helped avoid a food crisis in parts of Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Ukraine and Russia are major suppliers of wheat, barley, sunflower oil and other goods that developing nations rely on.

Data from the Joint Coordination Center in Istanbul, which organized the Ukraine shipments, shows that 57 percent of the grain from Ukraine went to developing nations, with the top destination being China, which received nearly a quarter of the food.

Russia has repeatedly attacked the Odesa region, Ukraine’s main Black Sea port area. On Monday, the Ukrainian air force said it intercepted 23 of 32 drones that targeted the Odea and Dnipropetrovsk regions, but did not specify damage caused by the drones that got through.

The Turkish president has maintained close ties to Putin during the 18-month war in Ukraine.

Turkey hasn’t joined Western sanctions against Russia following its invasion, emerging as a main trading partner and logistical hub for Russia’s overseas trade.

Nato member Turkey, however, has also supported Ukraine, sending arms, meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and backing Kyiv’s bid to join NATO.

Erdogan angered Moscow in July when he allowed five Ukrainian commanders to return home. The soldiers had been captured by Russia and handed over to Turkey on condition they remain there for the duration of the war.

Putin and Erdogan—authoritarian leaders who have both been in power for more than two decades—are said to have a close rapport, fostered in the wake of a failed coup against Erdogan in 2016 when Putin was the first major leader to offer his support.

The Sochi summit follows talks between the Russian and Turkish foreign ministers on Thursday, during which Russia handed over a list of actions that the West would have to take in order for Ukraine’s Black Sea exports to resume.

Erdogan has indicated sympathy with Putin’s position. In July, he said Putin had “certain expectations from Western countries” over the Black Sea deal and that it was “crucial for these countries to take action in this regard.”

UN Secretary-General António Guterres recently sent Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov “concrete proposals” aimed at getting Russian exports to global markets and allowing the resumption of the Black Sea initiative. But Lavrov said Moscow wasn’t satisfied with the letter.

Describing Turkey’s “intense” efforts to revive the agreement, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said it was a “process that tries to better understand Russia’s position and requests, and to meet them.”

editorial

UN chief bares dreaded recipe for annihilation

The United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution declaring August 29 every year as the “International Day against Nuclear Tests” on December 2, 2009. The resolution also called for increased awareness and education “about the effects of nuclear weapon tests and the need for their cessation as one of the means of achieving the goal of a nuclear-weapon-free world.”

Global efforts to stop nuclear tests have focused on three possible benefits: Environmental, non-proliferation, and disarmament. The impetus that led to the conclusion of the Partial Test Ban Treaty of 1963—which outlawed nuclear tests in the atmosphere, underwater or in outer space—was influenced by the outpouring of demands from civil society, as well as at the United Nations, for efforts to put a halt to the environmental contamination from nuclear tests.

The international instrument to put an end to all forms of nuclear testing is the 1996 Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. Unfortunately, this has yet to enter into force. The CTBT has 196 member states—186 have signed it and 178 have ratified it. But the pact has not taken effect because it needs ratification by the eight nations that had nuclear power reactors when the UN General Assembly adopted the treaty 27 years ago.

At a high-level meeting of the UN General Assembly to observe the “International Day against Nuclear Tests” this year, there was no indication that those eight countries—the United States, China, Egypt, Iran, Israel, North Korea, India and Pakistan—were moving toward ratification.

How close is the world to a nuclear Armageddon? Will the Ukraine war trigger a deadly nuclear confrontation?

In his article published by the Council on Foreign Relations —If Russia Goes Nuclear: Three Scenarios for the Ukraine War —J. Andrés Gannon said the odds remain slim, but an increasingly desperate Vladimir Putin could use Russia’s nuclear arsenal to turn its fortunes in the Ukraine war. “While the Ukraine conflict is not an existential threat to Russia, Putin could perceive it as a threat to himself. He likely fears that losing the war would mean losing power or his life. As the likelihood of that prospect increases, Putin could view nuclear weapons as a last resort for self-preservation, no matter the external costs,” Gannon said.

“Any use of nuclear weapons in this conflict on any scale would be completely unacceptable to us as well as the rest of the world and would entail severe consequences,” said US President Joe Biden. This vague declaration is intentional and consistent with a long-standing US policy of “strategic ambiguity” aimed at giving US policymakers flexibility in deciding how to respond to nuclear events.

Former CIA director and retired Army Gen. David Petraeus gave a more graphic response. He told ABC News: “Just to give you a hypothetical, we would respond by leading a Nato—a collective—effort that would take out every Russian conventional force that we can see and identify on the battlefield in Ukraine and also in Crimea and every ship in the Black Sea.”

From the Associated Press: An alarming rise in global distrust and division coupled with efforts by countries to improve the accuracy and destructive power of nuclear weapons is “a recipe for annihilation,” the United Nations chief warned. In a statement marking the International Day Against Nuclear Tests, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that with nearly 13,000 nuclear weapons stockpiled around the world, “a legally binding prohibition on nuclear tests is a fundamental step in our quest for a world free of nuclear weapons.”

The Doomsday Clock is a symbol that represents the likelihood of a human-made global catastrophe, in the opinion of the members of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. A hypothetical global catastrophe is represented by midnight on the clock, with the Bulletin’s opinion on how close the world is to one represented by a certain number of minutes or seconds to midnight, assessed in January of each year.

The clock’s original setting in 1947 was seven minutes to midnight. It has since been set backward eight times and forward 17 times. The farthest time from midnight was 17 minutes in 1991, and the nearest is 90 seconds, set on January 24, 2023.

Will the world be closer to midnight in January 2024? Let’s pray that no global leader with nuclear arsenal would be crazy enough to commit self-destruction that may lead to human extinction.

Privatization lures foreign investors

Manny B. Villar

THE EnTrEprEnEur

There is still a misconception that selling certain government assets like those that provide essential public services is a mistake. Commonly referred to as privatization, this arrangement gives the private sector a hand at running certain state operations and allows non-government corporations to earn profits—when the state (as some critics argue) should be the one posting the revenues.

But privatization is more than revenues and profits. It is about rendering efficient services to the public—which the government is poor at for several reasons, including budgetary constraints.

To debunk the arguments of skeptics, there is no guarantee that tolls, fees and fares of essential services will not increase if their operations remain with the government. The state is not managing a charity. It, too, needs revenues to keep the bureaucracy afloat.

Many developing nations, and even the advanced economies, resort to privatization to raise the state coffers and save money at the same time. By disposing of the assets, the government improves its financial health by reducing the burden incurred in subsidizing the operations of the privatized operations. The exercise enables the government to free some of its financial resources

and reduce its administrative burden. It also allows the government to fund more important sectors like health, education, mass housing and other infrastructure projects such as bridges and ports.

Privatization also aims to introduce efficiency. Private companies are driven to innovate and provide better quality to consumers because the government can always rescind the concession or contract awarded to them, if they run afoul of the terms or conditions of the agreement.

Letting the private sector run the operations of big infrastructure projects in the Philippines is a clear signal to foreign investors that the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is serious in his promise to make the nation business-friendly.

I am pleased to learn that the government is pushing with the privatization program and inviting

More plans and less panic

John Mangun

ONe fundamental tenet I consider of highest importance is to see the historical perspective of whatever subject you are talking about. “historical perspective is understanding a subject in light of its early phases and subsequent evolution.” everything must be put in context and the one that matters is “The history.”

Today, the “expert” and the “illiterate” alike twist history for context to support their views and often to fool and manipulate The People. We find statements like this. “This was the strongest storm/heatwave/ flood/etc. in recorded history.” There is no mention that the “history” is only from 1976 because that is when data for this type of event started being “recorded.”

Ornithologist and expert on the birds of the Caribbean, James Bond, was born on January 4, 1900. He died

local and foreign investors to join the Philippine infrastructure program. The Department of Transportation just last week disclosed its plans to open the bidding for the operations and maintenance contracts of Metro Manila Subway and the North-South Commuter Railway projects in the fourth quarter of 2023.

These are two mega infra projects that surely will catch the attention of major investors, and which I believe the private sector can handle well.

Per the statement of Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, the bidding for the MMSP would likely start in the fourth quarter and until the first quarter of next year. Worth P76.89 billion, the 36-km MMSP includes operations and maintenance of subway trains, stations, depot and other systems infrastructure for a concession period of 15 years of full operations.

Another item up for auction is the operations and maintenance contract of the North-South Commuter Railway Project that is also set in the fourth quarter until the first quarter of 2024.

The 147-km. NSCR system, worth P204.6 billion, includes O&M of trains, stations, depot and other systems and infrastructure for a 15-year concession of full operations in addition to the partial operations period.

The privatization of these two projects alone is enough to convince the foreign business community that the Philippines is, indeed, open for business.

Mr. Bautista’s announcement is in sync with what Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno told the Indonesian business community last week. Mr. Diokno promoted the Philippines’ competitive investment ecosystem to his audience during the Philippine Investment and Financial Briefing on August 23, 2023 at the Philippine Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia.

The Philippines, per Mr. Diokno’s statement, is wasting no time in building a fertile business and investment ecosystem for private players in order help foster the development of high quality, modern and sustainable infrastructure in the country.

President Marcos, in his earlier State of the Nation Address, committed to pursue high-impact investments in public infrastructure, digitalization and human capital development for inclusive and sustainable economic growth. The government has revised the implementing rules and regulations of the Build-Operate-Transfer Law to strengthen the financial viability and bankability of Public-Private Partnership projects.

Local and foreign investors are choosy and meticulous in their investment preference. But if they see a government intent on welcoming them and serious in privatization, they will readily embrace the host and place their bet on the Philippines.

For comments, send e-mail to mbv_secretariat@vistaland.com.ph or visit www.mannyvillar. com.ph

in 1989. Here is the historical perspective of his life. When Bond was 14 years old, World War I started; it ended when he was 18, with 22 million killed.

The war ended, a Spanish Flu epidemic hit and lasted until he was 20, killing some 50 million. Age 29 comes and with it the Great Depression. Bond was 33 when the Great Depression ended.

Turning 41, the US was pulled into World War II. Between his 39th and 45th birthday, 75 million

people perished. At 52, the Korean War starts and five million die. The world faces the prospect of Global Thermonuclear war with the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. At age 75, the Vietnam War ends with as many as 1.3 million killed.

James Bond did not live to witness the Soviet Union collapse. But he did see the invention of radio, talking movies, penicillin, the ballpen, heart transplantation, and manned spaceflight.

The world from my 73 years of historical perspective looks like a

relaxing day at the beach in comparison to what James Bond witnessed during his 73 years. The data proves that fact globally, with the national exceptions the result of bad governments. In 1950, the average life expectancy at birth was 48.5 years. In 2019, it was 72.8 years. Out of every 1,000 live births in 1950, 20.6 children died before their fifth birthday. That number was only 2.7 in 2019. In 1950 the at-birth life expectancy in the Philippines was 55 years. It is now 71. Infant mortality was 15 per 1,000 live births then. Now it is 3. The mean years of schooling for Filipino children was 2 years and now it is 9 years. You would not believe any of that from listening to the press and politicians.

William Randolph Hearst Sr. was born 100 years too early in 1863. He said in 1898 that in his newspaper, “If it bleeds, it leads” after seeing that stories involving horrific incidents were the ones that sold papers. See “Mangun,” A17

China’s fury over Fukushima water casts pall on Asean forum

By Bloomberg News

CHINa’s outrage over Japan’s release of treated wastewater from the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant has dimmed prospects for improved ties when top officials of the two countries meet this week.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Chinese Premier Li Qiang will attend the Asean summit in Jakarta in what could have been a chance to stabilize relations. Instead, Li might use the meeting with Southeast Asia nations and South Korea as an opportunity to berate Kishida in front of regional dignitaries.

Beijing has been the most vocal opponent to Japan’s move to discharge treated radioactive water into the ocean. Even though scientists, including at least one from China who contributed to an International Atomic Energy Agency-led review of the plan, have said the release will have a negligible impact on people and the environment, the backlash was immediate and extreme.

The government banned all Japanese seafood imports, prompting Tokyo to threaten World Trade Organization action. State media dialed up criticisms of the move. People called for boycotts of Japanese products. The Japanese embassy, consulates and schools in China were pelted with eggs and stones.

With the Asean summit starting Tuesday, Beijing may seize the chance to push back against Tokyo’s increasingly cozy ties with Washington and Seoul. US President Joe Biden hosted a three-way summit with Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in August that left China increasingly isolated.

“Anything that China can do to sow division between Japan and its regional partners, it will do,” said Bates Gill, executive director of the Asia Society Policy Institute’s Center for China Analysis.

Fraught relations between China and Japan have laid the groundwork for public mistrust of the water release. Chinese state media promoted cartoons, including one that depicts a monster rising from the ocean apparently spawned by radiation. Hu Xijin, former editorin-chief of Global Times, posted a clip from The Simpsons on his X account showing a three-eyed fish.

“The disinformation campaign around the water release has geopolitical context,” said Hamsini Hariharan, a China-focused researcher at Logically, a company that provides fact-checking services using AI.

“This is part of a larger campaign to point out how the US and its allies are failing the world and people across the world,” Hariharan said. “It’s definitely to discredit Japan but is part of larger foreign policy goal that China has.”

The Chinese government has repeatedly said Japan failed to prove the release is safe and harmless to people and the environment. By dumping the water, Japan is spreading the risk to the rest of the world, according to Beijing.

The incident may also be a useful distraction from China’s own problems. The world’s second-biggest economy is slowing, debt is rising, the property market is in the doldrums and youth unemployment has soared to a record.

“The disinformation campaign around the water release has geopolitical context,” said Hamsini Hariharan, a China-focused researcher at Logically, a company that provides fact-checking services using AI. “This is part of a larger campaign to point out how the US and its allies are failing the world and people across the world.”

“Domestically, I think that China’s playing a diversionary strategy,” said Yinan He, an associate professor in the Department of International Relations at Lehigh University. “This is a good opportunity for the government to divert public attention away from domestic problems to Japan.”

How far it will affect Japan’s economy remains to be seen. Fisheries exports make up a tiny proportion of Japan’s gross domestic product. Ill feeling could hamper an anticipated increase in Chinese tourism to Japan, although such downturns have in the past been short-lived, Bloomberg Economics said.

Relations between the two Asian giants hit their lowest point in decades in 2012 due to a territorial dispute over a group of islands in the East China Sea. It took former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe almost two years to secure a meeting with President Xi Jinping from which point ties gradually warmed.   Kishida himself scored a formal meeting with Xi on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum in Bangkok in November last year, at which the two leaders asserted their desire to improve relations.

There are signs China wants to work on ties. Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his South Korean counterpart that he supports Seoul’s efforts to resume three-way summits that include Japan. China and South Korea exchanged views on Japan’s wastewater discharge, Beijing said in a statement late Thursday.

Nonetheless, Kishida looks unlikely to succeed with a plan to send Toshihiro Nikai from his ruling party on an ice-breaking mission to China as soon as this month, Jiji Press said Monday. The agency cited sources close to the politician known for his ties to Beijing as blaming the simmering anger from China over the water release.

China and Japan are engaged in a “quarrel,” said Alfred Wu, associate professor at the National University of Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. He doesn’t expect things to become as bad as 2012 when there were mass protests, but doesn’t see a swift resolution either.

“It’ll take time to go back to normal,” he said. “It’ll take weeks, months or even more. Then the China side will gradually cool down.” With assistance from Stephen Stapczynski, James Mayger and Jon Herskovitz / Bloomberg

atty. Mabel L. Buted

Tax Law for Business

Last year, I wrote about some of the issues and challenges surrounding the implementation of the value added tax (Vat) incentives as modified by CREatE these included the parameters and limitations introduced in the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) that were not included in the law. this year, in response to the cries of the affected parties, the concerned authorities introduced changes to the rules and addressed some of these concerns.

To recall, while the law did not limit the registered enterprises that are entitled to VAT zero-rating on local purchases, the IRR limited the availability of the VAT zero-rating incentive to registered export enterprises. These are the entities engaged in the manufacturing, assembling or processing and information technology and business process outsourcing activities, and whose activities will result in the direct exportation and/or sale of their products or services to another registered export enterprise that will form part of the final export product or export service of the latter, of at least 70 percent of the total production or output.

Domestic Market Enterprises (DMEs or those that are not Export Enterprises) and Service Enterprises are not qualified. This rule affected mostly those entities that are not entitled to other incentives

other than the VAT zero-rating on purchases, like those enterprises engaged in logistics service activities in support to exporters, or the ELSE (Ecozone Logistics Service Enterprise) companies. These are the companies that provide critical support to export manufacturing companies in terms of their requirements for logistics to facilitate their import and export shipments, procurement of raw materials, inventory management, just-in-time deliveries, localization, and process customization.

With the new changes, ELSEs are now considered export enterprises entitled to VAT zero-rating, if they meet the 70 percent threshold criteria. Their local purchases will be entitled to the VAT at 0 percent, but these will apply only to the goods and services that are directly and exclusively used in their registered projects. Further, to qualify for the VAT

incentives, they must be engaged in both the (a) establishment of a warehouse storage facility; and (b) importation or procurement from local sources and/or from other registered enterprises of goods for resale, or for packing/covering (including marking, labeling), cutting or altering to customers’ specification, mounting and/or packaging into kits or marketable lots for subsequent sale, transfer or disposition for export.

Those engaged only in the trucking and forwarding services, including those in other service activity areas (janitorial, security, banking and financial, consultancy, marketing and promotion, other administrative functions) are still not qualified for VAT zero-rating on their purchases.

Prior application for the VAT zero-rating or the prior approval from the tax authority before the qualified business enterprises can avail themselves of the incentives has also been removed in the rules. Similar to the procedures before, registered business enterprises can now avail themselves of VAT zero-rating on their local purchases on the basis of the Certification of VAT Zero-Rating issued in their favor.

In addition to this requirement, they must show too to their local suppliers their Certificates of Registration with the BIR and with their Investment Promotion Agency. As their VAT zero-rating still applies only to their purchases of goods and services that are directly and exclusively used in their registered activities, they must also provide sworn

affidavits, stating that the goods and services bought are directly and exclusively used in the production of goods and completion of services to be exported. Authorities could have saved themselves of the need to make changes had they issued the implementing rules based on what our legislators intended the laws to be. Nonetheless, this is a development that we gladly need and welcome. These changes to the previous rules under CREATE and the IRR are part of the government’s efforts in implementing reforms in the way we do business in the country. And I am still hopeful that the remaining issues would be addressed soon.

To the concerned parties (registered business enterprises and suppliers), the availment of the incentive is still subject to the post-audit investigation by the tax authority. Hence, it is very important to know these basic documents and requirements and preserved for future substantiation purposes in case the entitlement is challenged during audits and verifications.

The author is a junior partner of Du-Baladad and Associates Law Offices (BDB Law), a member firm of WTS Global.

The article is for general information only and is not intended, nor should be construed as a substitute for tax, legal or financial advice on any specific matter. Applicability of this article to any actual or particular tax or legal issue should be supported therefore by a professional study or advice. If you have any comments or questions concerning the article, you may e-mail the author at mabel.buted@ bdblaw.com.ph or call 8403-2001 local 160.

Vice President Kamala Harris to face doubts and dysfunction at Southeast Asia summit

By Chris Megerian | The Associated Press

WasHINGtON—Vice President Kamala Harris will deepen her outreach to southeast asia this week at an international summit in Jakarta, Indonesia, where she’ll try to erase doubts about Us commitment to the region stirred by President Joe Biden’s absence.

It’s Harris’ third trip to Southeast Asia and fourth to Asia overall, and she’s touched down in more countries there than any other continent. The repeat visits, in addition to meetings that she’s hosted in Washington, have positioned Harris as a key interlocutor for the administration as it tries to bolster a network of partnerships to counterbalance Chinese influence.

This latest journey is another opportunity for Harris to burnish her foreign policy credentials as she prepares for a bruising campaign year. She’s already come under attack from Republican presidential candidates who say she’s unprepared to step up if Biden—the oldest US president in history—can’t finish a second term.

John Kirby, a White House national security spokesman, said Harris has “made our alliances and partnerships in the Indo-Pacific a key part of her agenda as vice president,” and he described her itinerary as “perfectly in keeping with the issues that she’s been focused on.”

But Biden’s decision to skip the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, known as Asean, has caused some frustration, particularly because he’s already going to be in India and Vietnam around the same time. The president’s proximity makes his nonattendance “all the more glaring than would otherwise be the case,” said Marty Natalegawa, Indonesia’s former foreign affairs minister.

However, Natalegawa conceded that Asean is struggling to convince world leaders that it deserves to play a central role in the region. That’s even though the alliance represents more than 650 million people across 10 nations that collectively have the world’s fifth largest economy.

The organization has not resolved civil strife in Myanmar, which saw a military coup two years ago and has been disinvited from meetings. A peace plan reached with the country’s top general did not lead to any progress.

Negotiations over territorial claims in the South China Sea remain bogged down as well, and Asean faces internal disagreements over global competition between the United States and China. Some members, such as the Philippines and Vietnam, have sought closer ties with Washington, while Cambodia remains firmly in Beijing’s orbit.

“We can complain all we want about other countries not respecting us or not coming to our summits,” Natalegawa said. “But ultimately, it is actually a point of reflection.”

Unless Asean becomes more effective, Natalegawa said, “we may end up with less and less leaders turning up.”

Kirby, the national security spokesman, rejected the idea that Biden was snubbing the organization or the region.

“It’s just impossible to look at the record that this administration

has put forward and say that we are somehow walking away,” Kirby said, noting that Biden already hosted the first-ever Washington summit with Asean leaders last year.

Ja-Ian Chong, an associate professor of political science at the National University of Singapore, said Harris’ presence helps the US cover its bases at an event that may not prove productive on key issues.

“You want to show that you’re paying attention, you send the vice president,” he said.

Harris is scheduled to depart Monday morning and spend two days enmeshed in meetings in Jakarta. Her office has not yet detailed her schedule, but she’s expected to attend summit events and hold individual talks with some foreign leaders.

Soon after Harris returns from Indonesia, Biden is headed to India for the annual Group of 20 summit, which pulls together many of the world’s richest countries and is a staple of any presidents’ calendar. Then he plans to stop in Vietnam, where he’s focused on strengthening ties with a country that is an emerging economic power.

“I don’t fault the administration for the choice that they made. It’s just unfortunate that they had to make that choice,” said Gregory B. Poling, who directs the Southeast Asia program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Leaders are gathering in Jakarta amid heightened tension over the South China Sea after Beijing released a new official map that emphasizes its territorial claims there.

The map has angered other nations that consider the waters to be part of their own territory or international byways. The South China Sea is a critical crossroads

for global trade.

US officials and analysts believe Beijing’s aggressive approach to the region has created an opening for Washington to forge stronger partnerships.

“In many ways, the PRC is doing its work for us,” said David Stilwell, using the acronym for the People’s Republic of China. Stilwell served as the assistant secretary of state for the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs under President Donald Trump.

Although much of Biden’s recent attention has been on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, he’s left no doubt that he considers China to be the top foreign policy challenge for the US. He’s described much of his agenda, both domestic and overseas, as an effort to deter Beijing from supplanting Washington as the most powerful worldwide force.

Sometimes his warnings take a darker turn. During a recent fundraiser for his reelection campaign in Park City, Utah, Biden described China as a “ticking time bomb” because of its economic and demog raphic challenges.

“That’s not good because when bad folks have problems, they do bad things,” he said.

Harris has previously visited Singapore and Vietnam, Japan and South Korea, and the Philippines and Thailand.

Many of her travels have been geared toward the global rivalry with China.

Speaking from the deck of a US Navy destroyer docked near Tokyo last year, Harris said China has “challenged freedom of the seas” and “flexed its military and economic might to coerce and intimidate its neighbors.” Associated Press writer Edna Tarigan contributed from Jakarta, Indonesia.

Continued from A16

The term “Yellow journalism” was used to describe the publishing war between Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer, both using heavy reliance on unnamed sources, exaggerations of events, and panic sensationalism. Today both Hearst and Pulitzer

might own television stations but would also have 10 million followers on “X” and do podcasts with 100 million viewers. Historical perspective is not allowed to disrupt the narrative.

“Agri group warns ‘rice crisis.’”

“Rice supply and price crisis loom on the horizon.” I asked in a totally un-scientific survey since when has the Philippines had to import rice?

—10 years, 25 years, 50 years, or 100 years?

From the paper “The Rice Crisis in the Philippines” by Jomar H. Mendoza: “The Philippines has been importing rice since the Spanish period. The long queues of people buying rice are not new. The same scenario happened in the 1930s, 1970s and in the middle of 1990s.”

Another scholarly paper by Nor-

malyn Yap Tibao at Taiwan’s National Chung Hsing University. “Rice production in the Philippines had been rapidly growing since 1970s until the early 1980s when the country achieved self-sufficiency, having a surplus enabling the country to export a small amount. Over the past 20 years or so, the country lost nearly half of its irrigated land to rapid urban development.”

Previously, was there any rice farming on the “400-hectare selfsustaining network,” the “600-hectare township,” or the “2,400-hectare mixed-use development” near Sta. Rosa, Laguna?

decision must be made.” In order to move toward any sort of rice—let alone food—self-sufficiency, the nation needs a comprehensive forward Plan not more Panic headlines and comments. Mangun. . .

me

MIGRANTE: DROP IACAT RULES PERMANENTLY

AMIGRANT advocate group has vowed to continue its protest against the new controversial travel requirements of the InterAgency Council Against Trafficking (Iacat) until it is finally scrapped.

I n a statement, Migrante International said the 2023 Revised Iacat Guidelines on Departure Formalities for Filipino Passengers Traveling Abroad remain a threat for Filipino travelers, including overseas Filipino workers (OFW) since it is implementation is merely suspended by the Department of Justice (DOJ).

“ This suspension is a temporary victory of OFWs, Filipino migrants and all Filipinos as the IACAT’s policy violates Filipino travelers’ right to travel, increases the burden that they shoulder, and does not address the root causes of human trafficking,” Migrante said.

We continue to call on OFWs, migrant Filipinos and all sectors of society: let us remain vigilant. We have to be on the lookout for efforts to revive this much-hated policy, and make noise when needed,” it added.

U nder the revised guidelines, self-financed travelers

are required to present confirmed return or roundtrip tickets, evidence of hotel reservation or lodging arrangements, proof of financial capability or income source, and verification of employment, in addition to the customary travel prerequisites.

I acat said the additional requirements were meant to intensify the government’s campaign against human trafficking.

T he guidelines were supposed to take effect last Sunday, but DOJ opted to defer its implementation upon the criticism raised by several lawmakers and migrant advocate groups.

M igrante lauded the calls in the Senate for an investigation on the policy.

It noted it is open to participating in such discussions to push for the welfare of OFWs.

We also assert our main statements on this issue: the government should go after human traffickers, and not their victims. It can only counter human trafficking effectively if it starts creating decent jobs at home -- and stops its intensification of the country’s labor export program,” Migrante said. Samuel P. Medenilla

Senate tackles DepEd’s confidential funds, 12-fold rise in textbook budget

By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

ASENATE Finance subcom -

mittee on Monday opened its scrutiny of the 2024 budget of the Department of Education, but Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros sought an explanation on how the P150 million it sought in “confidential  funds” would help it fulfill its mandate to provide a solid basic education for Filipino children without duplicating the work of security agencies.

For his part, Minority Leader Koko Pimentel asked DepEd to justify the spikes in certain items in its proposed 2024 budget, especially the 12-fold (from P998 million  to P12 billion) increase in the outlay for textbooks,  and the doubling of the school-based feeding program budget from P5.6 billion to P11.7 billion.

O fficials led by Vice President and DepEd Secretary Sara Z. Duterte explained that the schoolbased feeding program needs bigger funding because they extended the period for the program from just 120 days to 188 days, or the entire school days calendar. This,  she explained, is meant to prevent the 1.6 million children at risk of malnutrition and stunting from  sliding back to these should their parents be unable to sustain them “because of a reduction in their caloric intake.”

A s for the textbooks, Assistant Secretary Gina Gonong explained to Pimentel that the textbooks fund swelled 12 times because they are working “under the new curriculum” and because they are fully implementing  the ideal textbookstudent ratio of 1:1.

To this, Pimentel wondered aloud why the DepEd is rushing to roll out new books under its new curriculum, when in fact, it is still awaiting the results of the Edcom II and other similar curricular reviews.

He and the other senators appeared satisfied, though, with the justification of the doubled schoolfeeding budget, given that stunting

PHL issued 2K SPSICs in 2 mos for rice-gap imports

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

THE Philippines issued over 2,000 sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances (SPSICs) for the importation of close to 2 million metric tons (MMT) of rice in the past two months to plug the shortfall in its local supply.

L atest Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) data showed that it has approved some 2,082 SPSICs for rice imports from July to August, which would be allowed to enter the country until October under existing rules and regulations.

T he total number of SPSICs has a corresponding combined volume of 1.969 MMT, according to the BPI, which regulates rice importation as mandated by the rice trade liberalization law.

T he BPI issued 1,319 SPSICs with an import volume of 1.273 MMT in July and at least 763 SPSICs last month with a volume of 696,163.75 MT, according to the agency’s data report as of August 24.

M anila-based Orison Free Enterprise Inc. had the most issued SPSICS at 277 with a corresponding import volume of 417,720 MT, according to the BPI data.

It was followed by Pangasinan-

based Morsi Agri Trading with 96 SPSICs for a total import volume of 152,280 MT.

R ice imports with approved SPSICs can enter the country within 60 days from issuance if they are sourced from Asean countries or within 90 days if from Myanmar and outside the Asean region.

T he Philippines is projected to import a record level of 3.9 MMT of rice this year to plug the shortfall in its production and meet growing local demand for the staple, according to the United States Department of Agriculture.

B PI data showed that some 156,711.75 MT of rice entered in July and 206,461.398 MT arrived from August 1 to 24.

From January to August 24, the country has already imported about 2.203 MMT of rice, with Vietnam accounting for nearly 90 percent of the total volume.

R ice imports from Vietnam, as of August 24, reached 1.981 MMT, according to the BPI. International rice market watchers have reported that the price of the grain in the global market, from Vietnam and Thailand, has risen in recent months due to India’s export ban on non-basmati white rice and broken rice.

India’s prohibition of Indica white rice exports also occurred at a time of seasonal tighter availabilities in major global suppliers of rice, particularly those located in Asia, where new crops are still being planted for harvest as of September/October,” the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization said in an earlier report.

T he movements in the global rice market have been reflected in the Bureau of Customs’ (BOC) reference prices for imported rice.

T he reference price for 5-percent broken rice from Vietnam, as of August 27, stood at $0.623 per kilogram, 23.61 percent higher than the $0.504 reference price recorded in end-July, according to BOC documents.

B OC documents also showed that the latest reference price for 5-percent broken rice from Vietnam is already 61.82 percent higher than the $0.385 per kilogram benchmark level recorded in August 2022.

Upward rice price movements locally have been influenced by the

increase in world market prices, tight supply, and weather disturbances, according to pundits. Some government officials have claimed that price manipulation is also driving rice prices to increase.

Inflation driver

NO less than the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has sounded the alarm that rising domestic rice prices are contributing to faster inflation in the country. (Related story: https:// businessmirror .com.ph/2023/09/01/bsprice-fuel-storms-drove-augustinflation/)

T he Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) earlier warned that rice may again be the cause of higher inflation in the coming months as data showed prices returned to levels that were seen prior to the implementation of a law that sought to bring down the price of the staple.

P SA data showed rice inflation averaged 4.2 percent in July 2023, the highest since February 2019 when the increase in the commodity’s prices was at 4.5 percent. The Rice Trade Liberalization (RTL) Act was implemented in March 2019. (Full story here: https:// businessmirror com.ph/2023/08/04/rice-pricehike-may-dampen-momentumto-tame-inflation/)

has been identified as leading risk to the well-being of future generations, and is deemed a threat to productivity and competitiveness of the labor force.

In her opening statement at the Senate panel’s DepEd budget hearing, presiding Senator Pia Cayetano first welcomed Vice President and DepEd Secretary Duterte, the heads of the attached agencies, DepEd undersecretaries other officials and staff.

O n the subcommittee agenda were the proposed budgets under fiscal year 2024 of the National Expenditure Program (NEP) of DepEd and its attached agencies:

■ For DepEd Office of the Secretary, in the NEP,P712,444,092,000; In the National Academy of Sports, it’s P195,167,000;

■ In the National Book Development Board, P128,471,000; For the National Council for Children’s Television, it is P62,080,000;

■ For the National Museum of the Philippines, it is P1,014,202,000;

■ For the Philippine High School for the Arts, it is P98,241,000; and

■ For the Early Childhood Care and Development Council, it is P221,166,000.

Confidential funds

DUTERTE , meanwhile, explained to Hontiveros that DepEd needs  its P150-million confidential funds to carry out its mandate to provide “accessible, equitable, quality basic education” by providing “a safe and enabling environment for learners and safe space for teaching and nonteaching personnel.”

D uterte explained also that the DepEd must protect learners and personnel from the threats of insurgency, terrorism, violent extremism and gangsterism, as well as child pornography.

Hontiveros earlier also raised the controversial ‘confidential funds’ of the Office of the Vice President used in the last quarter of 2022: “How can they validly transfer funds to an allocation that doesn’t exist in the first place?”

Ex-EMB head  ‘missing’ since March–source

By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

WILLIAM CUNADO, the former Director of the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), has not officially resigned, and neither did he officially file his retirement, a source said.

Cunado’s status is “complicated” and the DENR is at a loss as to his status for now because the former EMB chief has not reported back to work since filing a leave of absence.

Cunado was among the officials removed from their posts by DENR Secretary Maria Antonia YuloLoyzaga who issued a series of special orders in January this year.

Cunado was replaced by Gilbert

Gonzales as Director of EMB and who will be performing in a concurrent capacity as OIC Assistant Secretary for Luzon and Visayas.

However, Cunado who is supposed to be on “floating status” and was assigned to report to the office of DENR Undersecretary Miguel Cuna, has not reported back to work since then.

He is still part of the DENR.  But he is a no-show here in the DENR since March,” an official of the DENR who spoke on condition of anonymity said.

“As far as the DENR is concerned, he is not officially retired or even resigned,” the official said, adding that Cunado’s status is currently “on leave”.

Sought for interview by the BusinessMirror on the issue of land reclamation, Cunado defended the

grant of environmental compliance certificates (ECCs) for land reclamation projects in Manila Bay, saying the proponents of the projects complied with the requirements of the law.

T he BusinessMirror learned that in Manila Bay alone, during Cunado’s stint as EMB Director, a total of eight reclamation projects were granted ECCs.

E arly this month, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. ordered the suspension of all reclamation projects in Manila Bay pending the conduct of a cumulative impact assessment by the DENR.

Subsequently, at the budget hearing for DENR early this month, YuloLoyzaga bared that she is ordering an investigation to determine if there was an irregularity in the issuance of ECCs and vowed to im-

pose sanctions if concerned DENR officials committed infractions.

S ought for comment, Cunado said it was in his capacity as EMB Director to approve ECC applications, adding that the proponents of the projects applied and went through the tedious process before having their projects approved.

None of the three ongoing land reclamation projects were granted ECCs during Cunado’s term as they were granted area clearances and ECCs before he assumed the top EMB post in 2021.

T he BusinessMirror learned that a total of 18 ECCS were granted by the DENR and most of these were during the past administration, under the leadership of then Secretary Roy A. Cimatu, who resigned his post due to health reasons before the last presidential election.

SB19 IN BOSTON Filipino P-Pop idol group SB19 set the stage ablaze as the guest performers at the final leg of JVKE's What Tour Feels Like tour at the iconic House of Blues, situated just across the street from the legendary Fenway Park in Boston at the weekend. As the final chords of the encore filled the venue, confetti rained from the ceiling, creating a magical atmosphere. SB19 and JVKE joined the ecstatic crowd for a memorable selfie, capping an unforgettable night that validated the power of music to unite people from around the world. TROI SANTOS

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

Companies

Tuesday, September 5, 2023

Govt sets auction for power capacity from renewables

By Lenie Lectura @llectura

ne xt year is the auction for the unsubscribed 8,000 megawatts (m W ) from gea-2 while gea-3 in november is for geothermal, hydro run-of-river, and pump-storage hydro,” said Doe Undersecretary rowena guevarra, adding that the capacities for gea 3 will be announced upon the release of the notice of auction.

Under the gea-2, a total capacity of 11,600 m W installation target

was auctioned off. t he Doe received bid offers totaling 3,580.76 m W but the capacity was later trimmed to 3,440.756m W after the bid bonds of three potential winning bidders were not accepted for failure to comply with the terms of reference. Hence, 8,159.24mW of capacity were unsubscribed.

t he energy regulatory Commission (erC) earlier said there will be another green energy auction

reserve (gear) price for the 8,159 megawatts (m W ) of unsubscribed renewable energy (r e) capacity.

“If the unsubscribed would be auctioned off again then the rates for that would be different,” erC Chairperson monalisa Dimalanta said.

a total of 105 winning bids have been issued notices of awards by the Doe for the gea-2 last July 3. t he 3,440.756 m W of renewable energy (r e) capacities have been committed for development and installation from 2024 to 2026.

t he gea program was designed to continuously trigger the increase of r e capacity in the country, which will help realize the government’s target of 35 percent r e in the energy mix by 2030 and 50 percent by 2040.

t he first round of gea was conducted in June last year. It generated almost 2,000m W of capacities that were committed to deliver energy from 2023 to 2025. During the gea1, the Doe issued 18 certificates of award of r e capacity, which are

committed to go onstream beginning this year.

t he Doe will develop a specific auction policy and guidelines for gea- 4.

l ast July, lawyer Jose m l ayug Jr., co-chairman of the european Chamber of Commerce’s renewable energy and ef ficiency Committee, said regulators must come up with “the most optimal rates” to attract more bidders to the government’s green energy auction.

“Ultimately, price is the most significant factor in endeavors like this (gea), so it should be set at a level that is most optimal to all stakeholders,” he said.

“We laud the efforts of the Doe and erC [energy regulatory Commission] in the aggressive transition to renewables with the ambitious r e installation targets. While the Doe did not meet its aspiration in this round, it would be good to review and assess several factors that yielded such results.”

MPIC inks LRT deal with Hartasuma

By VG Cabuag @villygc

Conglomerate m e tro

Pacific Investments Corp.

(mPIC) on monday said it has signed a deal with ma laysia’s Hartasuma Sdn Bhd. which seeks to refurbish the current rolling stock of light r a il transit line 1 (lrt-1) and explore other possible means of transport.

t he agreement was signed by Hartasuma’s group executive Director tan Sri r avindran menon and mPIC’s Chairman and Ceo manuel V. Pangilinan.

“We look forward to learning from the expertise of Hartasuma’s over 28 years in the rail engineering and transport industries, and to applying these lessons to our operations in the Philippines. t here is a lot for us to share. together, we intend to explore innovations that can help us build the transport infrastructure of

By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

UBX Philippines Corp., the fintech arm of the aboitiz family, said its online lending marketplace SeekCap recorded a 50-percent surge in the volume of loans disbursed during the first half. according to UBX President and Ceo John Januszczak, SeekCap disbursed P688 million in loans during the first six months of the year, a 50-percent increase from the P459 million disbursed the year prior.

He attributed the growth to UBX’s strengthened partnerships with the public and private sector to reach more micro, small and medium enterprises (mSmes) that need access to business loans.

traditionally, mSmes are the most disadvantaged when it comes to financing, because the stringent requirements of banks for loans are geared against them. a big part of our mission towards financial inclusion involves democratizing loans in their favor to create new opportunities for Filipinos everywhere and to contribute to overall economic development,” Januszczak said.

He added that SeekCap also recorded a 10-percent increase in the

the future,” Pangilinan said. mPIC said its partnership with Hartasuma will pave the way for “diverse initiatives,” including the development of rolling stock refurbishment projects in the Philippines and the exploration of cable car systems for tourism and urban transport.

t hese ventures will not only transform the transportation landscape of the country but will also create a thriving industry that will support economic progress by fostering skill development, creating numerous employment opportunities for Filipinos, and enhancing local manufacturing and supply chain capabilities.”

m PIC, through its subsidiary l ight r a il ma nila Corp. (lrmC), operates and maintains 20 stations of lrt-1 and is expanding with the construction of 5 new stations for the Cavite extension project.

With an active interest in future public-private partnership

B1

TH e Securities Clearing Corporation of the Philippines (SCCP), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Philippine Stock e x change Inc. (PSe), has migrated to a shortened settlement cycle of 2 days of clearing after the transaction ( t+2).

t h is migration is a significant advancement in the domestic capital market and will align the Philippines with major international markets such as the United States, most e u ropean Union member states and the major markets in the a s ia-Pacific region, the PSe said.

“We are pleased with the smooth transition to the shortened settlement cycle. We are grateful to all market participants for supporting this initiative,” said PSe President and C e o r a mon S. monzon, who also serves as president and C e o of SCCP.

Preparations for the t+2 migration commenced immediately after the m a rch 27 implementation of SCCP’s new clearing and settlement system, which is capable of accommodating any settlement cycle.

m a rket participants, including stockbrokers, custodian banks, the Philippine Depository and tr ust Corp., stock transfer agents, PSe ’ s

issuer regulation division and the Capital m a rkets Integrity Corp. all took part in working group discussions, readiness activities and testing sessions over a 5-month period, to ensure that the market was ready for a t+2 settlement cycle.

o n august 10, the SCCP received the approval of the Securities and e x change Commission for its request to migrate to the t+2 settlement cycle on a u gust 24.

t he PSe said the launch of the shortened t+2 settlement cycle will reduce various risks of unsettled trades under a t+3 regime and will promote more efficiencies in Philippine capital market.

a s ide from aligning the settlement cycle with major international markets, we expect that market participants will soon experience the benefits of operating in a t+2 environment,” monzon said.

o n a u gust 29, the SCCP settled two batches of trades where the first batch comprised of the last t+3 trades executed on a u gust 23 and the second batch comprised of the first t+2 trades which were executed on a u gust 24. a l l transactions were settled before their respective settlement deadlines.

VG Cabuag

opportunities in the light rail sector, m P IC aims to leverage Hartasuma’s expertise to enhance the local content and capabilities in train manufacturing, ultimately nurturing a self-sustaining industry ecosystem.

menon, meanwhile, expressed his optimism about the collaboration.

“We are very honored to partner an extremely reputable and established infrastructure player in mPIC. We look to value add our collaboration and assist mPIC in achieving its goals. t he construction market in the Philippines is expected to grow by some 7 percent in 2023 following a growth of 12.1 percent in 2022,” he said. t here is a lot of demand and interest in rail infrastructure projects as the government looks to improve regional connectivity through the development of transport infrastructure. We look forward to participating in some of this growth.”

number of loan applications recorded as of end-June.

Januszczak said that as businesses continue to grow amid economic recovery, more and more enterprises seek accessible loans to keep up with the demands of their trade.

to keep up with the demand, SeekCap partnered with more lenders to offer a “wider” choice to borrowers. UBX increased its portfolio of lender partners by 22 percent at end-June.

“It is important to us in SeekCap to have a wide range of lenders to ascertain the inclusiveness of the platform. Different enterprises have different needs, and we believe we can address this by being agnostic and being open to multiple lenders with different product specialties,” UBX Business l e ad for

l e nding m a gellan Fetalino said.

SeekCap is an online lending marketplace that offers loan products from UBX’s partner banks. It promises to process loan applications “as fast as 24 hours.”

For the rest of 2023, SeekCap plans to partner with more mSme ecosystems, e-commerce, franchising, and wholesale players to further its reach.

“Financial inclusion is an ongoing endeavor. most importantly, it’s collaborative. at least 99 percent of businesses in the Philippines are classified as mSmes, and by providing them with access to funding is to make a significant impact. We hope to make more opportunities for them in the future by ensuring the success of our lending platform,” Januszczak said.

The third round of the Green energy Auction (GeA) is scheduled in November this year while the unsubscribed capacities from the second round of GeA will be auctioned off next year, an official of the Department of energy (DOe) said Monday.

‘Migration to T+2 will align PHL with major international markets’

Govt opens Sept borrowing program on high note

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

THE national government opened its domestic borrowing program this month on a high note as it raised the full P15 billion from the sale of Treasury bills (T-bills) on the back of easing yields sought by investors.

The price of misdeeds

WHAT does the statement

“Crime does not pay” mean?

“Crime doesn’t pay” is focused on the risk involved in “crime.” If you involve yourself in criminal activity, there is an inherent risk in getting caught. The higher the payout of the crime, the higher the risk of getting caught and, consequently, the higher the sentence. Therefore if you get caught “crime doesn’t pay.”

Simply put, lawbreakers do not benefit from their actions and they always suffer the consequences later. Most of criminals get caught as they near their golden years. The irony is that due to the degree of the crime they committed, they are given life imprisonment (reclusion perpetua) or, worse, the maximum penalty, which is the death sentence. Examples of heinous crimes that are punishable by death are illegal drugs trafficking and murder, What if the crime is nonpayment of debt? Is there a punishment? Sad to say there is none as of now. There is no one who has been imprisoned for not paying his debt.

There are stories of people getting killed over unpaid debt, which lends truth to the adage, “Debt is death to those who mismanage it.” once I overheard someone say that “Debt sounds like death. It might be the cause of your death.”

Actually, the Bible has this to say: “The wicked borrows and does not pay back, but the righteous is gracious and gives.” ( Psalm 37:21)

If there is a death sentence for heinous crime, there is also an equivalent penalty for nonpayment of debt: the debt sentence. The most accurate description of a penalty of being a debtor is found in Proverbs 22:7: “The rich rules over the poor; and the borrower become the lender’s slave.”

Years ago, a friend borrowed money from me. However, I could no longer get hold of him on the day he was supposed to pay me back and days after that.

Then I realized I had power over him. He was afraid to see me face to face. Even if he is not physically my slave, mentally, he has become a slave not to me but to money. His fear of facing me has become his punishment. Worse, he just destroyed in just a short period of time the credibility he built over the years. The consequence of his action exceeds the value of the money he owed. one of the most common personal finance crimes is to use the credit card and pay the minimum

day T-bills fetching the most offers.

The investors’ bids for the T-bills were as follows: P13.242 billion for the 91-day securities; P15.043 billion for the 182-day debt paper; and, P19.275 billion for 364-day instruments.

The average yield asked by investors across three tenors was lower on a weekly basis and were also below their secondary market benchmark rates.

The 91-day T-bills fetched yields ranging from 5.5 percent to 5.6 percent with its average rate settling at 5.552 percent. The same debt paper had an average yield of 5.573 percent last week and a current secondary market rate of 5.708 percent.

edmund lao

perSonal finance

amount due. A credit card is a good financial tool. Used properly, it can be your slave. Abused properly, it can be your biggest problem. It is highly possible that majority does not know how credit cards can work against them.

Let us say the debt is P10,000. The minimum amount payable is P500 and interest pegged at 3.5 percent per month on the balance. Without considering other fees, it will take 33 months and P16,400 to pay off the original debt. Including the other hidden fees will result to a lifetime payment (like life imprisonment) and a never-ending accumulation of debt due to its compounding effect.

Most of the time, when people borrow money, they have a bad habit of using their home as collateral. According to Proverbs 22:2627, “Do not be a man who strikes hands in pledge or puts up security for debts; if you lack the means to pay, your very bed will be snatched from under you.”

This verse makes perfect sense. I had a friend who loans out money in exchange for real estate property as collateral. of ten times, the borrower would default on his payment. Then later, the borrower will be ejected after the court judged in favor of the lender. The borrower has no choice but give up his property and look for house for rent. Instead of saving more money, he will be renting his shelter for the rest of his life, which is also equivalent to life imprisonment.

The penalty for committing a crime depends on its degree. The higher the degree, the bigger the punishment. However, all of the penalties translate to one thing: loss of freedom. With debt, one also loses financial freedom. He will always be running after money to pay debtors. He will be the perpetual slave of money and also of his debtors. If innocence of the law excuses no one, then the only solution to avoid the debt sentence is not to be financially innocent.

If crime does not pay, then it pays to invest in financial education!

Edmund Lao is a Registered Financial Planner of RFP Philippines. To learn more about personal financial planning, attend the 104th RFP program in October 2023. For more details, please email info@rfp.ph.

Meanwhile, the average yield for the 182-day T-bills was at 5.966 percent compared to its previous week’s 5.993 percent and secondary market level of 5.988 percent. The 182-day T-bills’ yields were from a low of 5.948 percent to a high of 5.985 percent. The 364-day T-bills fetched an average rate of 6.198 percent with a yield range of 6.17 percent to 6.22 percent. It was down from its 6.297 percent and 6.263 percent rate recorded last week and secondary market benchmark level, respectively.

Tracking US bonds

RIZAL Commercial Banking Corp.

Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said the easing of investors’

asking yields tracked movements in the US economy such as the Federal Reserve’s future policy rate action and declining US Treasury bond yields.

“Treasury bill auction yields also eased after Fed fund futures now priced in no more Fed rate hike or pause for the rest of 2023 (compared to the previous week’s +0.25 Fed rate hike priced in on the Fed rate-setting meeting on November 1, 2023),” Ricafort said in an e-mail interview.

“T-bill yields also eased again after U.S. Treasury bond yields also corrected lower for the 2nd straight week, with the 10-year benchmark 10-year US Treasury yield at 4.18 percent, near 3-week lows and down

from the immediate high of 4.36 percent posted on August 22, 2023 and down for 15-year highs recently,” he added. For this month, the national government plans to borrow a total of P180 billion from the domestic market through the tender of government securities, according to the Treasury.

The Treasury will auction P60 billion worth of T-bills across four auctions with a programmed amount of P15 billion per tender.

Meanwhile, the Treasury would auction off Treasury bonds four times next month with an offering amount of P30 billion each or a total of P120 billion.

Pagcor delivers aid after Marikina River’s water level rose

AMIDST days of incessant rains in Metro Manila due to the southwest monsoon (habagat), the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) wasted no time to deliver immediate relief to the flood-prone Marikina City, a statement from Pagcor read.

The state-run gaming agency said that on September 2, it turned over to Marikina City’s Administrator Janet S. obispo a total of 5,000 relief packs, consisting of 3,000 food packs and 2,000 non-food packs. The food packs contained rice, canned goods, coffee and chocolate drinks while the non-food packs included blankets, mosquito nets, bath towels, slippers and hygiene kits, Pagcor’s statement read.

The relief items will be distributed to families from low-lying areas in the city that are easily submerged in flood water, it added.

According to Pagcor Chairman and CEo Alejandro H. Tengco, the agency took the initiative to promptly send much-needed aid to the locals of Marikina, after the city was recently submerged in flood due to the southwest monsoon enhanced by Typhoons Goring and Hanna.

“We learned a few days ago, Marikina River’s water level reached 15.7 meters, prompting the city government to prepare for evacuation of residents. Because of this, I immediately ordered our Corporate Social Responsibility Group to deliver aid for affected families,” Tengco was quoted in the statement as saying.

About a month ago, Pagcor also delivered food and non-food packs to more than 31,000 families in various parts of Central and Northern Luzon, who were affected by the onslaught of Typhoon Egay and Typhoon Falcon.

‘Study fiscal impact of lower govt staff’s retirement age’

By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

SENAToR Sherwin T. Gatchal-

ian is seeking a rigid actuarial analysis and the fiscal implications of lowering the compulsory and optional retirement age for government personnel.

“It seems everyone supports the reduction of mandatory and compulsory age retirement and everyone agrees that upon retirement, the basis of pension computation should be one salary grade higher,” Gatchalian noted at a recent public hearing conducted by the Senate Committee on Civil Service on the proposal.

The hearing also tackled a separate measure that calls for the automatic promotion of government officials and employees upon retirement from government service.

“The sustainability of such a pension design boils down to the computation of the life of the fund,” Gatchalian said during the hearing.

“Also, if you want to maintain the life of the fund, I want to know how much the government is going to subsidize in terms of equity as both proposals call for an early payout or a bigger payout.”

The senator was referring to the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), which provides social security coverage for employees in the public sector.

Gatchalian emphasized the need for the GSIS to be present during the hearing “to enlighten us and provide

Robust fintech devt needs updated regulations–SEC

us with the computations.”

As chief of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, he has been receiving calls for legislation that would allow public school teachers to retire early. At the recent hearing, Gatchalian also asked the Civil Service Commission to study the pension systems in different countries and determine the best practices.

The senator said lawmakers “need to find out the best practices being done in other countries in terms of civil servant retirement so we will have an idea of how other jurisdictions are doing this.

“Some trends are changing such as life expectancy, which will affect pension schemes; and we should study those very carefully,” the lawmaker added.

Gatchalian had earlier filed Senate Bill 944, which seeks to amend Republic Act 8291 (Government Service Insurance Act of 1997) to lower the compulsory and optional retirement age of government employees from 65 years old to 60 years old and from 60 years old to 55 years old, respectively. The measure has already been approved by the House of Representatives in January this year.

“If approved into law, there will be employment opportunities for more Filipinos, particularly the younger generation who are more adept in new methods and technological advancements which are now becoming essential in the workplace,” Gatchalian said.

By Roderick Abad @rodrik_28 Contributor

AN official of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) believes that while financial technology (fintech) is now a dynamic industry in the country, a lot of work needs to be done to least regulate the operations of fintech firms.

“To move forward in relation to finance, you do need to make it easier. And fintech is a game-changing initiative to be able to make it more palatable and easier for everyone,” SEC Commissioner Kelvin Lester K. Lee told reporters in a recent interview in Makati City. “So I can see why it’s so active, so vibrant here in the Philippines.”

Based on industry association reports, there are now at least 285 fintech firms in the country.

“By far, most of the fintech companies that have come here have been legitimate [in their operations]. Barring one or two that have issues we’re working on and doing something about,” Lee said. “So I foresee that legitimate fintechs will continue to be a major player in relation to the economy of the Philippines as a whole.”

The SEC official said that representatives of the Singapore Fintech Association recently met with him and expressed interest to invest and expand the operation of some of its member-companies.

“That tells you something about the Philippine ecosystem: that there’s a lot of palpable interest here,” Lee said.

The SEC commissioner, likewise, cited an area in Poblacion, Makati City, he said is referred to as the “Sinigang Valley,” or the local version of the American “Silicon Valley.”

“A lot of the venture capitalists are

there [in ‘Sinigang Valley’]. In fact, I’ve spoken to one venture capitalist whose focus are large, young fintech-related companies,” Lee said.

Lee said a potential investor also informed him that a substantial share of capital inflows from Asean neighbors go to the Philippines’s fintech space. This, he attributed, to “a very open ecosystem policy-wise.”

“We want to keep an open mind and, at the same time, keeping investors and financial stability safe within the country. So it’s [a] delicate balancing act. But for now, it seems that the interest and the openness remains there,” he said.

Since fintech often outpaces regulations, the SEC must adapt and regularly make its rules up-to-date to effectively cover rising technologies, such as artificial intelligence, blockchain technology, chatbots, etc., according to Lee.

“Nevertheless, the SEC is always careful not to over regulate the fintech space so as not to hamper innovation,” he added.

As it allows new modes of trading and investment via evolving technologies that could be detrimental to market integrity, the agency has to monitor and control platforms that make trading possible in various assets, including cryptocurrencies and digital tokens, so as to avoid market manipulation, fraud and insider trading, the SEC official further explained.

In view of this, Lee said that the SEC continues to work on changes in the regulations of digital currency that will be out for public comment either in the third or fourth quarter of this year and, hopefully, implemented by the first quarter of 2024.

It is also important for the SEC to hire experts and constantly train its personnel, he added.

BPI inks deals with retailers to allow opening of bank accounts outside branches

last Monday its partnerships with retailers to make

such action possible. Consumers can now open a deposit account and apply for core BPI products at Ayala-brand shopping centers, department stores of Robinsons Retail Holdings Inc. (RRHI), PG Lawson Inc. stores, Uncle John’s stores of Robinsons Convenience Stores Inc., Seaoil Philippines Inc. stores, and RRHI’s drug stores .

BPI Agency Banking Head Jose

Raul E. Jereza said consumers must scan the BPI product QR codes that are available at these stores to access the lender’s services. Jereza said these services include opening a savings account as well as applying for credit cards, loans, and various insurance products.

“The extension of BPI’s presence

to our partner stores means the reimagination of the customer journey with the vision of a smooth and intuitive application process,” he added. BPI said the partner stores, in conjunction with its network of 700 plus branches, more than 2,000 automated teller machines (ATMs), and digital platforms, are “set to cater effectively to the diverse banking

needs of Filipinos.”

Jereza said they expect would recruit more brick-and-mortar stores in their ecosystem in the coming months. This expansion strategy will further augment the network of customer touchpoints where BPI’s services are available.

The lender also promoted its 7-month old flagship store at Lazada

Group’s “LazMall” platform citing more than 50,000 followers. Thousands of applications have been successfully processed through this platform, the lender said.

BPI cited in its statement a lending window on this platform has been opened to small-scale and mediumsized enterprises operating within the Lazada Group’s platform.

In this September 2, 2023 photo, volunteers the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. and the city government of Marikina unload the state-run gaming agency’s relief donation to the city.

CREDIT: PhIlIPPInE AmusEmEnT AnD GAm nG CoRP

Art BusinessMirror

ON display at the lobby of Belmont Hotel Manila at Newport City in Pasay is the establishment’s first art exhibition, composed of 20 watercolor paintings and 15 sculptures. Hiraya, A Visual Feast of Filipino Culture runs until September 16.

A modern reimagination of Filipino art in ‘Hiraya’

Belmont Hotel Manila is the establishment’s first art exhibition, titled Hiraya, A Visual Feast of Filipino Culture. Mounted in partnership with multi-disciplinary creative and events agency ArtisteSpace, the group exhibit features a rich collection of paintings and sculptures of five Filipino artists: Joel Ajero, Wilfredo “Yeye” Calderon, Rene Canlas, Rolan Guina, and Joie Pabilando.

TODAY’S HOROSCOPE By

Eugenia Last

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Kat Graham, 32; Rose McGowan, 48; Michael Keaton, 70; Raquel Welch, 81.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Get ready to implement all the changes you want to make. Consider what needs updating, then start the ball rolling. Get your facts straight and papers in order, and put a smile on your face as you head in a direction that will encourage you to explore what life has to offer. An open mind, coupled with enthusiasm and desire, will promote happiness. Your numbers are 8, 13, 22, 27, 32, 36, 49.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): You have more opportunities than you realize. Connect with someone who shares your interests or direction. You’ll be offered valuable information that can lead to a new, exciting position. A meaningful relationship will take a positive turn. ★★★

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Spend more time on self-improvement and less trying to change or convert others to see things your way. Social events that include using your attributes to help a cause will have an impact on how others treat you. ★★★★★

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Stick to the truth and question anything that sounds unrealistic. Pay attention to what others have to say, and you’ll be privy to information that can help you advance. Time spent with someone you love will help resolve pending problems. ★★

“With wild imagination, enough creativity, and the right vision, we can come up with artworks that are more universal in terms of appeal, especially in a venue like Belmont with international guests,” he said. “We’re confident that these artworks from our Filipino artists will appeal to any race, any gender, any nationality.”

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Act more and talk less. If you make promises you cannot keep, you will put a dent in your reputation. Learn from the experience you have regarding issues concerning joint ventures, contracts and medical issues. ★★★

WHEN it comes to Filipino art, it’s not all sprawling fields and mountains in the distance. An ongoing group exhibition proves the point with captivating depictions of the Filipinos’ modern realities, from making their way through the rainy city or taking a breather at the beach.

On view round-the-clock until September 16 at

‘Serve’ book launch

SEATED, from left: Sol Juvida, Judy Taguiwalo, Jo-Ann Maglipon, Angie Castillo; (standing, from left): Diwa Guinigundo, Sonny Coloma, Rey Vea, Manolet Dayrit, Elso Cabangon, Butch Dalisay, Ed Gonzales, Jaime Florcruz, Alex Aquino and Senen Gloriosa.

NINETEEN editors of campus newspapers from the period of 1969 to 1972 are launching Serve, a book that tells their stories from the period before, up to, and beyond the country’s martial law regime.

Published by the Ateneo de Manila University Press, Serve will be launched at Fully Booked at the Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, on September 9, 2023, from 5 to 9 pm.

Karina Bolasco, the country’s premier publisher and immediate past head of the Ateneo Press, is guest speaker at the launch.

Topics covered by the 19 authors go from their individual discoveries about faith and politics to their common epiphanies about economy and government, and from their personal encounters with desecrations of human rights, the environment, children and women to their collected memories about a life and a time that, pared to its minimum, were both unkind and dark.

“They were fearless college editors from 1969 to 1972,” the book cover reads. “Martial law profoundly changed the course of their lives. Here are their stories.”

“Being an airport hotel, we’re right beside the gateway to the Philippines—what better place to showcase Filipino works to our balikbayans and guests visiting the country for the first time,” Sonny Alvaro, Belmont Hotel Manila general manager, said during the show’s recent opening. Anton Magpantay, ArtisteSpace managing director, said that the exhibition was originally planned to be an Independence Day showcase, but had to moved due to scheduling issues. Nevertheless, the concept proves timeless, as Hiraya aims to show that

Four of the five featured artists in Hiraya ply their trade in watercolor. They are each part of the Kulay sa Tubig Competition Hall of Fame, a distinction reserved for the practice’s best-of-the-best who have won the tilt at least three times over the past 35 years.

Multi-awarded watercolorist Joei Pabilando, for one, presents his mastery of illustrating raindrops running in the foreground. His watercolor pieces create the impression of the viewer peeking through a clear-glass window on a rainy day. In On His First Day we see a tricycle crossing the wet and busy streets of

pathways anyway for any budding patriot interested.”

The authors were actively involved in the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP), an alliance founded on July 25, 1931, by four college student publications: The National of National University, The Varsitarian of the University of Santo Tomas, The Philippine Collegian of the University of the Philippines, and The Guidon of Ateneo de Manila.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Absorb what’s going on around you, and offset negativity in whatever way you can. Look at your options, then consider how to use your skills and qualifications to suit the changing trends. A partnership will bring you closer to your goal. ★★★

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Do some research, and you’ll find something that motivates you to improve your lifestyle. A change of heart will help you discover what you want to do next and give you the nerve to put your thoughts and plans in motion. ★★★

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Charm, wit, socializing and exploring what life has to offer will set your imagination free to roam the possibilities ahead of you. Take responsibility for your happiness, and follow your heart to the place that makes you feel at home. ★★★★

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Take responsibility for your life and what you are up against, and you’ll realize what’s required to turn things around. Stop waffling and start knocking off what’s on your to-do list. You’ll be surprised how quickly the tide will turn. ★★

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You’ll have decisions to make and people to deal with who are challenging but worth your while. Don’t back down; if you want something, go after it wholeheartedly. It’s time to put the past behind you and live life your way.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Think outside the box, and you’ll come up with a progressive plan that will make your life easier. Set anyone straight who tries to talk you into something extravagant, and you’ll prosper. Negotiate a deal that sets you free. ★★★

It is a testament to their spirit that, today, they choose once again to be fearless and reveal their life’s learnings.

A sequel to the book Not on Our Watch (2012), edited by Jo-Ann Q. Maglipon, Serve is also edited by Jo-Ann, a journalist of 47 years.

“This is not a book by old people reminiscing about old times, like our elders might of the war,” says Jo-Ann. “Not that

there’s anything wrong with personal bits of history, even of a war from just 78 years ago, or a dark regime from just 51 years back. These, in fact, may exactly be what we need to get to know us and the country better. That said, all the stories in Serve have everything to do with today. Writers have taken care not to indulge. Always, they were aware that others need not be interested in them or their lives, but they offer forward

The book’s authors are Alexander Aquino, Elso U. Cabangon, Jones T. Campos, Sonny Coloma, Bob Corrales, Mercy M. Corrales, Butch Dalisay, Manuel M. Dayrit, Jaime A. Florcruz, Senen D. Glorioso, Eduardo T. Gonzalez, Diwa C. Gunigundo, Sol Juvida, Derly Magcalen, JoAnn Q. Maglipon, Thelma Sioson, Chito Sta. Romana, Judy M. Taguiwalo, Angie Tocong, and Rey Vea.

Copies will be available at all Fully Booked shops and online at www. unipress.ateneo.edu; go.ateneo.net/Lazada; go.ateneo.net/Shopee; and books.unipress@ ateneo.edu.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Good things are heading your way. Discuss your plans with someone you respect, and the input you receive will give you the incentive to pursue your goal. A moneymaking deal will pan out, and a promise made will be honored. ★★★

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): A chance to turn something you want to do into an adventure will attract attention and encourage someone you find inspiring to join you in your pursuit of happiness. Look at the possibilities, and put long-term plans in motion. ★★★

BIRTHDAY BABY:

You are energetic, resourceful and charismatic. You are adventurous and curious.

‘begin at the beginning’ BY ZACHARY DAVID LEVY

‘Equalizer 3’ cleans up, while ‘Barbie’ and ‘Oppenheimer’ score new records

Barbie, David back for action-packed series ‘Maging Sino Ka Man’

WITNESS the versatility of Barbie Forteza and David Licauco, as they explore action adventures and romantic moments in GMA Network’s remake of the hit movie, Maging Sino Ka Man. The phenomenal love team of Barbie and David steps out of their comfort zones and portrays unique and iconic roles in the highly-anticipated TV adaptation.

Beginning September 11, follow the story of Monique and Carding who came from two different worlds—one is an heiress of a business empire whose life is in danger, while the other is a petty thief who looks after orphans.

The two are fated to meet and discover a common past that could either build or tear them apart. How will Monique and Carding turn each other’s world upside down?

The breakthrough pairing will surely bring swoon-worthy nights to viewers once again. But this time, fans will be seeing more of their irresistible sense of humor and heart-pounding action stunts.

Barbie even shared her preparations for the series where she will play dual roles as Monique, a passionate artist, and as Dino, her boyish disguise. “I watched one of my favorite actresses, Hilary Swank, to get a reference for the role of Dino. Then I thought of making Monique more sophisticated and liberated to emphasize the difference between the two characters. I always like to challenge myself into making my characters more complex yet relatable and full of depth,” said Barbie.

David also highlighted how challenging it is to portray Carding: “Hindi naman ako nahirapan sa action scenes because I always work out and I’m an athlete. Pero ’yung memorization of action scenes, it’s not that easy. Also, sanay ako na palaging mayaman ang roles ko, but with Carding, talagang 180 degrees turn around siya. Kaya ’yun ang naging challenge sa ’kin.

Set to breathe life to equally important roles in the special limited series are some of Sparkle’s most sought-after stars: Juancho Triviño as Gilbert Arnaiz, Faith Da Silva as Cleo Ramirez, Mikoy Morales as Gordon a.k.a. Libag, and Rain Matienzo as Tetay.

Maging Sino Ka Man also comprises some of the country’s most respected artists in film and television: ER Ejercito, Jeric Raval, Jean Saburit, Juan Rodrigo, Antonio Aquitania, and Jean Garcia. Completing the star-studded cast is the special participation of Al Tantay and Tonton Gutierrez.

Maging Sino Ka Man is made possible under the supervision of GMA senior vice president for entertainment group Lilybeth G. Rasonable, with executive producer Darling Pulido-Torres. The creative team behind this much-awaited series is led by Enzo Williams as director.

Maging Sino Ka Man airs Mondays to Fridays at 8 pm on GMA and at 9:40 pm on GTV. Global Pinoys can also catch the program via GMA Pinoy TV. For more stories about the network, visit www.GMANetwork.com.

By Lindsey Bahr The Associated Press

THE third installment in the Denzel Washington-led Equalizer franchise topped the domestic box office this weekend with $34.5 million according to studio estimates on Sunday. By the end of the Monday holiday, Sony expects that total will rise to $42 million.

Labor Day signals the end of Hollywood’s summer movie season, which will surpass $4 billion in ticket sales for the first time since the pandemic thanks in no small part to Barbie and Oppenheimer, which are still netting records even after seven weeks in theaters. This weekend, Greta Gerwig’s Barbie officially became the biggest movie of 2023 with over $1.36 billion globally, surpassing The Super Mario Bros. Movie, while Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer sailed past $850 million globally to become the no. 3 movie of the year and Nolan’s third highest grossing.

The Equalizer 3 arrived at a fraught time for Hollywood, with actors seven weeks into a strike for fair contracts with major entertainment companies and movie theaters bracing for a somewhat depleted fall season as a result.

The ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike meant Washington was unable to stump for the movie, which was directed by his frequent collaborator Antoine Fuqua and brings his vigilante character Robert McCall to Italy’s Amalfi coast. While the lack of a major star on a promotional tour would normally be considered a liability for a film’s box office potential, Equalizer 3 may be the rare exception that could withstand a rollout without Washington’s help simply because it’s a recognizable franchise.

“One of the biggest movie stars in the world took us out on a high note,” said Paul Dergarabedian, the senior media analyst for comScore. “Studios often coast to Labor Day, but Sony was smart to choose this weekend to open the Equalizer 3.”

Sony opened the R-rated Equalizer 3 in over 3,900 locations in North America, including on IMAX and premium large format screens, where it opened in line with the previous two films which both went on to make over $190 million globally. With cofinancing from TSG and Eagle Pictures, the film carried a $70 million production price tag. The film received generally positive reviews from critics (76 percent on Rotten Tomatoes) and overwhelmingly positive reviews from audiences, who gave it an “A” on CinemaScore and a five-star PostTrak rating.

“It’s uncanny the consistency of the Equalizer franchise,” Dergarabedian said.

What matters most to Rocco Nacino

became the ultimate challenge that we needed to hurdle. But it was completed at the most perfect time, especially now that we have our son.”

No doubt that fatherhood becomes Nacino. When he talks about his son, there is a different kind of sparkle in Nacino’s eyes and he talks a lot faster than usual because his excitement surges uncontrollably.

“I try my best to be as hands-on as I can in raising our first-born, EZ. Melissa and I complement each other as far as how we want to raise our child, and I truly adore my wife as she is the most devoted and selfless mother this early.”

Overseas, it made $26.1 million, contributing to a $60.6 million global debut.

In second place, Barbie added $10.6 million over the weekend in the US and Canada, pushing its domestic total to $609.5 million. Warner Bros.’ other main theatrical offering, Blue Beetle added $7.3 million to take third. The DC superhero film has grossed $56.6 million in three weekends in North America. Fourth place went to Sony’s Gran Turismo: Based on a True Story, which is projecting $6.6 million through Sunday, down 62 percent from its first place opening weekend, and $8.5 million including Monday.

Oppenheimer landed in fifth place on the domestic charts with an estimated $5.5 million ($7.4 million including estimates for Monday) from 2,543 theaters. This brings its domestic total to $310.3 million and its

Continued from B4

Manila.

Roland B. Guina also depicts the everyday with his hyper-realistic paintings. The former animation and comics illustrator, who has worked on big Disney projects, such as The Little Mermaid, Winnie the Pooh and Tarzan, presents intricately-detailed pieces. Morning Climb shows a boy climbing a coconut tree, while Abandoned features a deserted truck consumed by the forest and the years.

global take to $851 million.

The Universal film opened in China on Wednesday, playing on 35,000 screens, where it is estimated to have made $30.3 million in its first five days. A significant portion of that ($9.3 million through Sunday) came from 736 IMAX screens.

This summer had its share of hits, flops and surprises, with “Barbenheimer” accounting for over $900 million of the $4 billion haul.

“The summer box office is vitally important and a strong indicator of the health of the industry,” Dergarabedian said.

“Many were really skeptical that we could get to $4 billion. We’re hitting it literally in the final days of the summer. It’s a reminder that any hit or miss makes a profound impact on the bottom line.” n

Wilfredo “Yeye” Calderon, who’s also a filmmaker, brings to the table his landscape works, including Bukal Falls and Shore Fishing Rene Canlas captures eyes and minds with his “contemporary representational” illustrations, including that of the faithful in Dalangin

Lastly, Hiraya presents the creations of the show’s lone sculptor, Joel Ajero. His abstract sculptures are classified as functional art pieces, made of old wood and wrought iron.

He has prepared for the show 15 sculptures, including the whimsical wrought iron candleholders with fruits displayed at the front desk of Belmont

Hotel Manila.

According to Alvaro, Belmont’s art showcase is not just a one-off event. They plan to have more art exhibitions in the future that showcase Filipino talent at its finest.

“Belmont Hotel Manila, as a property of Megaworld Hotels & Resorts, has been intentional in delivering service, amenities and an overall hotel experience that embraces Filipino culture. We are very proud of being a homegrown brand,” he said.

“Hiraya is now part of our advocacy. The whole idea is that on an ongoing basis, we will be highlighting the best of Filipino talents.” n

THERE seems to be no stopping GMA Network leading man Rocco Nacino in fulfilling his many dreams one at a time. And all these manifestations are unravelling because he plays his cards right, consistently trusts his instincts, and is fearless when it comes to making major decisions and taking huge leaps of faith. Just in his mid 30s, Nacino has achieved more than what other actors his age have accomplished. He has built a beautiful home out of his savings from the time he joined the StarStruck artista search in 2009. This house now in Antipolo serves as his private sanctuary with his wife Melissa Gohing and their 11-month-old baby Ezren Raffaello.

“It took years of hard work and patience to finally complete our home,” he told us, adding, “There were a lot of sacrifices that were made and the pandemic

Nacino added that EZ has already started teething, and he enjoys adding new stuff to his food list. “I guess all new parents feel that their babies are growing up too fast, because we simply want to enjoy and share every priceless moment with our child and sometimes freeze these beautiful moments if we only could.”

Time management is also Nacino’s power tool.

“The life of an actor can at times be complicated, but it is also something that we can get used to and sway it to our advantage. In general, most of the TV work are done every other day, so that means only half of the week is allotted to tapings. So on free days, there is still a lot that can be done.”

Aside from his bread and butter for more than a decade now, Nacino also finds time to teach jujitsu to the village kids, an activity he says he finds “ very

fulfilling.” Jujitsu has been Nacino’s go-to sports because it is both a physical and mental activity. He is also a Naval Special Operations Command (Navsocom) reservist and an active member of the

Nurse Corps of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Being a registered nurse, Nacino set aside his dreams of becoming a medical doctor to give way to show business. “I was initially planning to pursue medicine that’s why I took up nursing as a pre-med course, but fate had other plans.” Just a few years ago, Nacino decided to take up a postgraduate course in nursing and even graduated with honors. “I thought I had nothing to lose since I can use it as a fallback in the future, say when I decide to live overseas—I can use that as a good entry point for an alternative career. What matters most to me at this time is that I always have options, I always have choices to provide a better life for the special people in my life, and find many reasons to be happy, so I could also make others happy.”

Nacino continues to keep his options open, and affirms that the best is yet to come. At the moment, he has wrapped up work for GMA’s newest afternoon drama series The Missing Husband, where he plays the titular role.

Rocco Nacino’s name continues to expand. He is now 2nd Lieutenant Enrico Raphael Quiogue Nacino, RN, master of arts in nursing, honorary Navsocom member, NurseCorps of the AFP. To many, he is an esteemed actor. To his wife Melissa, he is an amazing husband. To his son EZ, he is a wonderful daddy. And to some of us, he is a good friend.

‘Hiraya’...

BARBIE FoRTEzA DAVID LICAuCo

Metrobank Foundation names 2023 ten outstanding Filipinos

Rex Education offers free books, discounts, exciting deals at Manila Int'l Book Fair 2023

ARE you looking for budget-friendly quality books and educational materials? Rex Education has got you covered! As part of its continued participation in the renowned Manila International Book Fair (MIBF), this year, REX treats book lovers, young and adult learners, parents, educators, and other professionals with free tickets, exclusive discounts, promotions, and fun and exciting activities.

The 44th MIBF will be held from September 14 to 17, 10 am to 8 pm, at the SMX Convention Center Manila, which has become the fair’s home for many years. More than an event, MIBF is a platform for beneficial partnerships highlighting more than 200 local and international exhibitors, showcasing the largest and most comprehensive selection of books, educational resources, and engaging activities for everyone. It has been attended by more than 160,000 visitors consistently in the last three years—all gathered for one purpose—to celebrate books!

learning. Lastly, what a great opportunity to capture memories through a roving photographer! So, celebrate books, visit the Rex Education booth, and satisfy your book cravings.

THE Metrobank Foundation bestowed its career service award to 10 Filipinos who went beyond the call of duty to be of service to others under its flagship program, the Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos. As part of Metrobank’s 61st anniversary celebration, the much-awaited Conferment Ceremony was held on August 29, 2023 at the Grand Hyatt Manila.

Each recipient of the career service award received P1 million cash prize (net of tax), a golden medallion, and “The Flame” trophy.

Metrobank chairman Arthur V. Ty, Federal Land chairman Alfred V. Ty, Metrobank president Fabian S. Dee and Metrobank Foundation president Aniceto M. Sobrepeña, together with First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos and Sen. Francis Joseph G. Escudero, turned over the prizes to this year’s awardees in the conferment ceremony.

In his welcome remarks, Dee said he hopes that more people will trust themselves that they too can also do more to serve the community and the country.

“I hope you get a glimpse of each unique story that our awardees possess –how they embrace their profession, and what it means to serve people,” Dee said.

“I congratulate all of our awardees as they become role models of service, trust, and excellence. Their accomplishments highlight the importance of making meaningful contributions, in their own communities no matter the scale and scope.”

Escudero, who chaired this year’s Final Board of Judges, also delivered his remarks. Outstanding Filipinos embody the true meaning of “Beyond Excellence” as they go the extra mile in their chosen profession and selflessly extend a helping hand to those in need through their various service and community involvements while overcoming adversities and challenges.

The 2023 Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipino Award for Teachers were bagged by Rex M. Sario, MAT, Master Teacher I/Teacher-in-Charge of Balogo Elementary School (Pangantucan, Bukidnon); June Elias V. Patalinghug, Ed.D, Master Teacher II, Catalunan Grande Elementary School (Davao City); Edgar R. Durana, MAEd, Master Teacher I / SPED Coordinator, Don Jose Ynares Sr. Memorial National High School (Binangonan, Rizal); and Jovelyn G. Delosa, Ph.D., Associate Professor/Vice President for Academic

Affairs, Northern Bukidnon State College (Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon).

Winning the 2023 Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipino Award for Soldiers were Staff Sgt. Danilo S. Banquiao PA, Civil-Military Officer – NonCommissioned Officer, 103rd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Philippine Army (Marawi City, Lanao Del Sur); Lt. Col. Joseph J. Bitancur PAF, Executive Officer, Office of the Assistant Chief of Command Staff for Operations, C-3 Air Education, Training, and Doctrine Command, Philippine Air Force (Lipa City, Batangas); and Col. Joseph Jeremias Cirilo C. Dator PA, Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations (G3), Presidential Security Group (City of Manila) (formerly Commanding Officer, 10th Military Intelligence Battalion, 10th Infantry Division in Mawab, Davao de Oro).

Meanwhile, recipients of the 2023 Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipino Award for Police Officers were Police Chief MSgt. Dennis D. Bendo, Section Team Leader, District Mobile Force Battalion, Manila Police District (City of Manila); (9) Police Maj. Mae Ann R. Cunanan, Chief, Police Community Relations, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, Camp Crame (Quezon City) (formerly Chief, Case Monitoring Section, Regional Investigation and Detection Management Division, PRO 9 in Zamboanga City); and Police Col. Renell R. Sabaldica, Chief, Morale and Welfare Division, Directorate for Personnel and Records Management, Camp Crame (Quezon City) (formerly Provincial Director of Cagayan Police Provincial Office in Police Regional Office 2).

Speaking on behalf of this year’s teacher awardees, Dr. Delosa thanked the Metrobank Foundation for the recognition as she vowed to further deepen their commitment to the teaching profession moving forward.

“What brought us all here is our deep and sincere love of the teaching profession, love and compassion for our learners whom we treat as our own, and love for our children whom we share with our time and commitment. It is this great love that inspires us to innovate, to do things beyond excellence, to always do more and be more for us to help our students reach their dreams and pursue greater things,” said Dr. Delosa, known as “Bukidnon’s Assessment Strategist for Modern Educators.”

Col. Dator, called “Philippine Army’s

Innovator of Military Intelligence,” also delivered a response for the part of soldier awardees.

“This celebration is not just about recognizing our individual accomplishments, but a testament to the power of collaboration, dedication, and collective effort. I stand here, not only as a proud awardee but as a witness as well to the incredible potential within each one of us to effect positive change,” he said.

Lastly, responding on behalf of police officer awardees, Police Colonel Sabaldica said the award “celebrates the accomplishments of police officers who advocate for genuine and lasting transformation in the organization and who have worked tirelessly and incessantly to achieve this common goal.”

Sabaldica, “PNP’s Transformational Leader for Innovative Law Enforcement and Community Development,” added: “Our vision of “highly capable, effective, and credible police organization” is finally taking shape, thanks to the men and women of the PNP (Philippine National Police) who embody the true meaning of “Beyond Excellence.” The awardees underwent a guided selection process and were selected from hundreds of nominations. A multisectoral Board of Assessors, composed of members from the government, academe, military, and non-government sectors, shortlisted the semi-finalists through a review of documents. The semi-finalists for the three sectors were then interviewed, including requiring live teaching demonstrations for the semi-finalist teachers, at GT Tower International in Makati City to determine the finalists.

Eighteen finalists emerged from this round and were interviewed by an esteemed Final Board of Judges chaired by Escudero and co-chaired by the Supreme Court of the Philippines associate justice Henri Jean Paul B. Inting. Members of this year’s judges include Marikina 2nd District representative Stella Luz A. Quimbo; Department of Science and Technology secretary Renato P. Solidum, Jr.; Baguio City mayor Benjamin B. Magalong; Ateneo de Manila University president Rev. Fr. Roberto C. Yap,

Opening Soon: BOTEJYU‘s® Newest and Biggest Branch

CRAVING for Japanese cuisine?

While there’s a myriad of specialty restaurants that serve favorites like sushi, ramen, takoyaki, and more, not all have food offerings as diverse as BOTEJYU® and not to mention, all are under one roof.

Born in 1946, this brand from Osaka, Japan’s food capital, has since then been dishing up authentic fare and continues to serve innovative dishes as well. In fact, it was the one that introduced okosoba, which is also known as “modern-yaki,” a fusion of two popular Japanese favorites, yakisoba, and okonomiyaki. Its extensive menu has something for all discerning foodies out there. Take your pick from

its noodle dishes like udon and ramen or be adventurous with their modern-yaki selections.

Now a global chain, BOTEJYU® continues to expand in the Philippines, with the upcoming opening of its 70th store in Robinsons Antipolo. This will be the restaurant’s newest and largest branch to date, boasting a seating capacity of 188. Step into an ambiance reminiscent of The Land of the Rising Sun, featuring warm wooden interiors that blend classic Japanese minimalism with modern elements. The atmosphere is simple yet sophisticated, offering a perfect setting for gatherings with family, friends, or even business meetings over lunch. Additionally,

this location will feature its own VIP dining room, available for reservations for private events or special occasions. This is especially appealing as we approach the holiday season, encouraging everyone to come together, perfectly aligned with their new tagline: ‘Sama-sama. Salo-salo.’”

Treat yourself and your fellow foodies to 77 years of traditional Japanese food culture, and make sure to visit the newest dining destination in Antipolo, as BOTEJYU® is on the road to opening 100 stores in the Philippines. For more information and other updates, visit Facebook.com/boteyjuph, Instagram. com/boteyjuphilippines and tiktok.com/@ botejyuphilippines.

Whether you are a first-time visitor or a long-time fan, getting entrance tickets is now a breeze. All you need to do is register with Rex Education through this link: http://bookfair. winposunlimited.com and save the e-ticket to enter the venue. Also, make sure to put Rex Education as the invitation source when you register. Registration is open until September 8, so sign up early and claim limited freebies, including free college books.

Along with freebies, REX will also provide exclusive discounts on storybooks, activity books, and educational materials, including bestsellers in Basic Education, Higher Education, and Law. Prepare your shopping list now and visit the REX booth as early as possible to get your much-needed books.

Moreover, you can seal great deals with REX’s Bookay-Bookay, where you can avail of K–12 books for as low as P50 and college books for P100 or less. Take advantage of up to 50 percent discount on selected titles, and join the raffle to win additional prizes.

Yes, there’s more from REX! For extra fun and creative experiences, REX will also host a face painting activity to nurture the artistic expressions of your little explorers. A storytelling activity will also be featured to keep them entertained and engaged while

MIBF is essential to Rex Education’s advocacy of championing education. It offers an excellent opportunity for REX to spread its mission of nurturing every child for lifelong learning, inspiring every individual to advance oneself, uplifting others, and sustaining the environment for a better world. It has been a cherished tradition for REX to participate in the fair to provide access to more affordable, high-quality books and educational resources.

With the theme “Masterpieces of Human Civilization with UNESCO Highlights,” this year’s booth will be greatly inspired by and will feature 12 countries and their most significant contributions to human civilization, including artifacts and UNESCO tidbits. These countries are Iraq, India, Egypt, China, Mexico, Greece, Iran, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, the USA, and the Philippines.

The MIBF, the Philippines’ largest and longest-running book fair, brings together local and international exhibitors, authors, and book lovers, celebrating books and collaborating and converging for the love of reading and learning.

For more updates on Rex Education’s MIBF offers and promos, follow REX’s Facebook page and Instagram page, or visit the MIBF official website at www.manilabookfair.com. Stay tuned, and see you at the fair!

Admiral Hotel Stages The Great Appreciation Night

ADMIRAL Hotel Manila – MGallery celebrated its 1st anniversary with The Great Gatsby-inspired event called The Great Appreciation Night held last August 24, 2023. The night kicked off with a sunset cocktail at the hotel’s al fresco rooftop bar, Coconut Grove, with stilt walkers and Pilipinas Got Talent Season 5 first runner-up close-up magician, Ody Sto. Domingo, who entertained the guests before heading to Admiral Club.

The journey continued with Admiral Hotel’s Food and Beverage team’s parade before serving a sumptuous four-course menu, including Duo of Duck paired with Le Fou Pinot Noir, Saffron Risotto with Roasted Scallops paired with Tavel Rosé Prieuré de Montézargues, and Aged Mandarin Skin Infused Panna Cotta. All guests were serenaded by live musical entertainment, taking everyone on a trip down the 1920s era.

Admiral Hotel’s General Manager Matthieu Busschaërt said: “Tonight is a testament to our team’s hard work and commitment to deliver the best possible Filipino hospitality.

I am proud of my team as we just marked our first year and that would not have been possible without the support of our guests, clients, media, and partners.” Busschaërt added, “Admiral Hotel’s commitment as an MGallery and Accor property is to be an architect of memorable moments and master of unforgettable experiences that will stay with you wherever you go across the world.”

The hotel’s director of sales also gave a short message to the VIP clients who have supported the property since it opened in

2022. Fatima Nottingham said, “Your trust is our most valuable asset. You have chosen us for your accommodations, dining experiences, and special occasions, and for that, we are truly grateful. It’s not just about providing a comfortable room or a delicious meal; it’s about creating lasting memories and ensuring that your stay with us is nothing but short of extraordinary.”

Exciting prizes were raffled off including a group gift certificate to experience the hotel’s speakeasy, Ruby Wong’s Godown, and an overnight stay in the hotel’s soon-tounveil Doña Presidential Suite with a wellness escapade in the hotel’s chic Parisian spa. Ferns Bernales, the hotel’s talented senior sales manager, together with influencer, Treisha Vanns, were the masters of ceremonies and invaded Admiral Club’s catwalk table. Admiral Hotel also presented one of its initiatives to help street children within the community. Eli Bondoc, the hotel’s Special Projects Manager said: “I wanted to highlight Accor and Anchor Land’s key objective to share positive impact not only to our environment, but most especially to the local community. We strongly believe in doing business with a heart.”

Child Hope is an organization that strives to promote the rights and welfare of street children in the Philippines, particularly in Manila. Their initiatives include programs like Kalyskwela, Kalyenderia, Klinikalye, and Igivehope, giving access to basic health and literacy education, medicine, and vocational courses. For donations, please reach out to Eli Bondoc (h9338-GM1@accor.com).

SJ; Globe Fintech Innovations, Inc. (GCash) president and chief executive officer (CEO) Martha M. Sazon; and The Manila Times Publishing Corporation chairman and CEO Dante Francis M. Ang II.

THE 2023 Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos receive their prizes during the conferment ceremony at Grand Hyatt Manila on August 29. (From L-R): Metrobank president Fabian S. Dee; Federal Land chairman Alfred V. Ty; Staff Sergeant Danilo S. Banquiao; Lieutenant Colonel Joseph J. Bitancur; Colonel Joseph Jeremias Cirilo C. Dator PA; Rex M. Sario MAT; Jovelyn G. Delosa Ph.D; Sen. Francis Joseph G. Escudero; First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos; Metrobank chairman Arthur V. Ty; Edgar R. Durana; June Elias V. Patalinghug MAEd; Police Colonel Renell R. Sabaldica; Police Major Mae Ann R. Cunanan; Police Chief Master Sergeant Dennis D. Bendo; and Metrobank Foundation president Aniceto M. Sobrepeña.

ADMIRAL Hotel Manila – MGallery’s Executive Committee - From Left to Right_ Director of Finance Edwin Espiritu, General Manager Matthieu Busschaërt, Director of Talent & Culture Lei Echipare, Director of Sales & M

Xi Jinping’s G-20 snub marks shift from statesman to China ‘emperor’

By Bloomberg News

and France, along with four senior Biden administration lieutenants, have all visited Beijing since China lifted Covid controls.

“Xi enjoys a very high status when he receives foreign guests at home,” Wu added. “He also received special treatment at the BRICS summit. But he’s unlikely to get that at G-20.”

It could be due to diplomatic sparring with India that Xi is snubbing the Group of 20 meeting in India. Or he wants to bolster the newly expanded BRICS forum. Maybe he wants to stay home to handle China’s economic troubles, with one of the nation’s largest property developers on the brink of default.

Whatever the reason, his absence would mark a major shift in how Xi operates. The Chinese leader has attended every G-20 leaders’ summit since taking power in 2012, and he’s also sought to burnish his image as a peacemaker since emerging from three years of Covid isolation at last year’s meeting in Bali, Indonesia. Back then, Xi stressed the importance of dialogue, telling US President Joe Biden it was a statesman’s responsibility to “get along with other countries.”

Now Xi seems to be taking a different approach, dodging an event where he’d likely face thorny questions over China’s economic trajectory, Beijing’s military aggression toward Taiwan and his support for Russia after its invasion of Ukraine.

That move also reinforces investor concerns that China is becoming increasingly unpredictable, with US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo last week saying businesses in China told her the abrupt policy swings had made the nation nearly “uninvestible.”

The Chinese leader’s no-show at the G-20 would be made more flagrant by his recent trip to South Africa for a BRICS summit that also included India. Undercutting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s big moment so soon afterward would lay bare the limits of that bloc’s ability to speak with a unified voice, or serve as a credible alternative to US-led groupings.

His next major event on the world stage would be the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing this October.

Russian President Vladimir Putin— who is also skipping the G-20—has confirmed his attendance.

Xi is now in an “emperor mindset” and expects dignitaries to come to him, according to Alfred Wu, associate professor at the National University of Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. Leaders from Germany

Last November, after becoming China’s most-powerful leader since Mao Zedong at a once-infive-year leadership congress, Xi embarked on a whirlwind campaign to reinvigorate Beijing’s influence on the world stage. That was highlighted by his first inperson summit with Biden, helping temporarily reduce tensions over Taiwan, export controls on advanced technology and a range of human-rights issues.

Then in March, Xi brokered a landmark deal between Saudi Arabia and Iran, and traveled to Moscow shoring up his position as Putin’s most-powerful backer. Shortly after, the Chinese leader held his first talks with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy since Russia’s invasion, bolstering his status as one of only a handful of people on the planet speaking to leaders on both sides of the war.

But after that initial flurry of diplomacy, Xi significantly scaled back his international travel: the Chinese leader has left his nation twice this year—compared to an average of 14 overseas trips per year prior to the pandemic.

One diplomat in Beijing who was previously based in New Delhi suspected Xi had little interest in participating in an event aimed at bolstering the global profile

of a rival with whom China has territorial disputes. That reluctance to embrace India’s moment will deny Xi the chance for in-person dialogue with leaders of friendly G-20 members, such as Argentina and Saudi Arabia. The summit would also have put him in the orbit of Japanese P rime Minister Fumio Kishida, as the Asian powerhouses clash over Tokyo’s release of treated nuclear wastewater.

Xi is focused on bolstering China’s growing power in dependable groupings, said Drew Thompson, a former Pentagon official and a senior fellow at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy in Singapore. “China seeks to dominate a group of smaller, less-developed states like BRICS or the Shanghai

Cooperation Organization where China can dictate the agenda,” he added.

Unpredictable behavior

XI’S decision to pass on the G-20 would also highlight the lack of transparency in Asia’s second-biggest economy. In July, he abruptly ousted his handpicked foreign minister, Qin Gang, without explanation after only seven months in the job.

Last month, Xi abruptly skipped delivering a scheduled speech at the BRICS Business Forum, even though other leaders from the bloc addressed the event. Instead, delegates were greeted on stage by Commerce Minister Wang Wentao, who read the text. Chinese-language state media reported that

Xi delivered the speech.

Xi’s comfort in delegating at major events suggests his leadership is becoming more like that of Mao, as he prefers to focus on grand visions rather than daily politics, said Neil Thomas, a fellow for Chinese politics at the Asia Society Policy Institute’s Center for China Analysis. But that approach also carries risks.

“The further Xi moves down this path, the more policymaking will be disconnected from mounting challenges,” Thomas added.

The Chinese president’s next major appearance outside China is supposed to be at the AsiaPacific Economic Cooperation leaders’ summit in San Francisco in November. The White House’s reported decision to ban Hong Kong’s leader from that event because he’s subject to US sanctions, however, has cast doubt over Xi’s attendance.

“Certainly the momentum for dialogue is not ripe,” said Karin Vazquez, a Shanghai-based associate professor of diplomatic practice at India’s O.P. Jindal Global University, noting that joint declarations at G-20 summits have been thwarted by warring ideologies in recent years.

Member nations grandstanding at such events have become routine, added Josef Gregory Mahoney, a politics and international relations professor at Shanghai’s East China Normal University.

“China-India bilateral ties are more consequential here than China-US ties,” he said. “It raises the question of whether the G-20 is reaching the end of its effective lifespan.” With assistance from Jing Li/ Bloomberg

Waves of murders sweep Arab towns in Israel targeting prominent figures

By Galit Altstein

GUNSHOTS felled Abdel Rahman Kashua last month right in front of a police station, escalating a wave of violence in Arab Israeli cities that’s stoking broader tensions in the country.

The brazen killing of the senior town official in Tira added to more than a dozen attacks this year that have targeted prominent Arab figures ahead of October local elections. The slaying is part of a wave of murders sweeping predominantly Arab cities inside Israel and perpetrated by members of their own community.

The death toll stands at 166 for this year, more than doubling from the same period in 2022. The attacks are compounding what’s also on course to be one of the deadliest years in the occupied West Bank, with a sharp rise in violence between Palestinians and Israeli defense forces.

The latest bloodshed has led to more domestic tumult amid a government overhaul of the judiciary that’s triggered mass protests and a sell off of Israeli assets.

When Tira’s mayor, Maamun Abd Elhay, spoke after the killing at an anti-government protest in Tel Aviv, he ripped into Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Netanyahu has abandoned Israeli Arabs and left them “drowning in their own blood,” the mayor said. The negligence, he told a crowd of thousands, echoes the government’s divisive judicial plans.

“If public officials are murdered and threatened, we are in complete chaos,” said Ofir Paz Pines, a former government minister now at Tel Aviv University. “This has become a national disaster.”

The crisis comes as Netanyahu faces off against the largest protest movement in Israeli history following his cabinet’s push to weaken the power of judges. The prime minister, who led a multi-billion development drive for Arab communities during an earlier stint in power, has been slow to implement programs inherited from his predecessors that aimed to reduce poverty and crime in the areas.

Chronic hardship and the spread of organized crime are feeding the strife, according to analysts. Still, the violence is exploding at a time when a farright nationalist coalition is calling the shots in Israel after taking over late last year. The previous government presided over a decrease in killings.

The national security minister now in charge of the police is Itamar Ben Gvir, who was convicted of supporting a Jewish

terror organization and inciting racism.

Different priorities

CRIME in Arab society isn’t currently what the minister and the ministry prioritize,” said Yoni Arie, director of the safe communities program at Abraham Initiatives, an organization that promotes Israeli-Arab coexistence. “But, for many years, Arab society doesn’t trust the police, and the police see Arabs as a security threat.”

The plight of Arab communities stands out even in a society riven by disparities between the rich and the poor. Israel is one of the world’s most unequal highincome countries, with poverty widespread and youth unemployment among Arabs reaching

40 percent.

More than four-fifths of Israeli Arabs live in separate cities and communities, nearly all of which occupy the four lowest rungs of the socio-economic ladder, as measured by Israel’s assessment of wellbeing.

Although many murders go unsolved by the police, the Institute for Security Studies at Tel Aviv University concluded that more than half over the past six years were carried out by criminal organizations or resulted from clashes between clans and gangs. Another 9 percent was attributed to domestic violence and personal conflicts.

Lack of finance

A SCANT police presence and easy access to illegal firearms—

with an estimated 400,000 weapons circulating in Arab towns in 2021—have made for a lethal combination. Arab citizens, who make up a fifth of the population, accounted for 76 percent of murder victims in 2023, up slightly from last year.

Many are largely cut off from the Israeli financial system, worsening their economic prospects. In 2020, banks extended only 1.5 percent of all mortgages to Israeli Arabs.

“When this is the situation, organized crime turns into an alternative banking system,” said Amal Oraby, a lawyer and communications coordinator for the New Israeli Fund. “They give instant loans at very high interest rates. When borrowers struggle to pay back, their entire family becomes a target.”

The proliferation of criminal groups has turned the looming ballot into a battlefield for influence. While many Israeli Arabs choose to sit out national votes, competition and turnout is higher in local elections. Candidates see those polls as a better way to ensure access to resources like land and funds.

Nowhere to hide

THIS year, the attacks have affected officials and election hopefuls, along with their families.

A mayoral candidate in Abu-

Snan was recently shot dead in an olive grove and another contender was targeted twice in Nazareth, where two of the mayor’s sons and a nephew were killed in separate incidents. A prominent physician running for the post of council head in Kfar Yasif withdrew after shooters hit his house.

Mayors and council leaders in several towns have been placed under high security after their homes were attacked, in some cases with grenades.

In Tira, Kashua became a target for a crime family after a failed blackmail attempt, according to the town’s mayor. His killing has turned into a reckoning for the government, with Netanyahu saying it crossed a “red line” and vowing to use “all means”—including Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security service— to fight crime in Arab areas.

An added fear is of a broad spillover of violence into other societies. Neighboring Druze communities are already experiencing an increase in criminality, though it has yet to spread across the country at large, according to Meir Elran, a senior researcher at Tel Aviv’s Institute for National Securities Studies.

“Criminal organizations are constantly testing the boundaries and will continue to do that if they aren’t stopped,” he said.

PRESIDENT Xi Jinping began his third term with a diplomatic blitz that bolstered his image as a global statesman. Now, he’s set to skip the world’s premier international forum of world leaders—and it’s not exactly clear why.

Now Xi seems to be taking a different approach, dodging an event where he’d likely face thorny questions over China’s economic trajectory, Beijing’s military aggression toward Taiwan and his support for Russia after its invasion of Ukraine. That move also reinforces investor concerns that China is becoming increasingly unpredictable, with US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo last week saying businesses in China told her the abrupt policy swings had made the nation nearly “uninvestible.”

ITAMAR BEN GVIR BLOOMBERG

Sports

B8 Tuesday, sepTemBer 5, 2023

mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph

Editor: Jun Lomibao

EJ BACK IN HARNESS WINS GOLD IN BERLIN

By Josef Ramos

ERNEST JOHN “EJ”

OBIENA returned to work in Germany with a flourish and, just four days after going dud in Zurich, soared to his eighth gold medal of the season at the ISTAF Berlin pole vault competition Monday at the Olympiastadon in Berlin.

W ith German girlfriend Caroline Joyeux watching from the stands, Obiena was an athlete inspired in leaping to 5.92 meters to win gold and rebound from the 5.60m which saw him finish 10th and last at the Wanda Diamond Zurich leg last Friday.

The Zurich competition, which Armand Duplantis topped, came under a week from the Budapest world championships where the 27-year-old Obiena claimed silver behind the Swede wonder.

“Budapest cost a lot of energy, it was expected that Zurich wouldn’t go well

[for Obiena],” Obiena’s physiotherapist Antonio Guglietta said. “All the jumpers who have spent a lot in the world championship are not jumping high now, tiredness makes itself felt.”

“

EJ is the only one who is keeping up with all the competitions and continues to jump on respectable measures,” he added.

Norway’s Sondre Guttormsen cleared 5.82, the Olympic qualifying standard, to clinch the silver medal and a ticket to Paris 2024.

KC Lightfoot also passed 5.82m but with more attempts than Guttormsen to settle for the bronze medal, while his fellow American Chris Nilsen—who Obiena shoved to No. 3 with his silver in the worlds— was fourth at 5.72 in the eight-athlete event. Duplantis didn’t compete.

EJ is a human being like the rest of us.  He’s allowed to have a bad day like the rest of us,” Obiena’s personal adviser Jim Lafferty told BusinessMirror on Monday. “He

had an off day in Zurich, and like the champion he is, he got over it and moved on.”

The podium finish was Obiena’s 18th in 20 competitions since he opened the season outside the podium at the Hauts-de-France tournament last February 16.

He also improved on the 5.81m he cleared in finishing with the silver medal behind The Netherlands’ Menno Vloon in the Berlin competition staged on the same day last year.

H is other golds this year were at the 5-6 National Indoor Meeting and First Perche En Or in France in January, Orlen Cup Lodz and Orlen Cup in Poland last February, Cambodia Southeast Asian Games in May, Bergen Jump Challenge in Norway in June and the Asian championships in Bangkok in July.

Therapist Francesco Viscusi subbed for Guglietta in Berlin and will keep watch on Obiena in another

v ery, very happy.’”

THE Philippines has momentum on its side—and more especially rekindled trust and confidence—in men’s basketball action at the Hangzhou 19th Asian Games that start in 19 days (as of Monday, September 4).

“ That was one big victory over China,” said Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino Monday, two days after Gilas Pilipinas closed out its FIBA World Cup campaign with a convincing 9675 rout of China Sunday night.

The win was confidence-building and that brought back the belief that yes, Filipino athletes can,” added Tolentino, who also expressed the same trust on the Filipinas, the women’s national football team, who made history by qualifying for the Women’s World Cup and nailed a victory, 1-0, over tournament co-host New Zealand last July.

Those are two momentum going for us in the Asian Games,” Tolentino said.

Men’s basketball in the Asian Games is set three days after the opening ceremony on September 26 in three venues with the Philippines taking on Bahrain as its first opponent in Group C where Thailand and Jordan— which went 0-5 won-lost to finish seven rungs below No. 24 Philippines in the World Cup—are also bracketed.

Gilas Pilipinas plays Thailand on September 28 and Jordan on September 29.

Gilas, Filipinas have momentum on their side in Hangzhou–Tolentino ‘A’ FOR PHL HOSTING OF WORLD CUP

ATOP official of FIBA gave high marks for the country’s hosting of the World Cup which resumes Tuesday with the Final Phase of quarterfinals that will all be played at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. The LOC [Local Organizing Committee] has delivered on every front. The experience of the players and the fans, which are the top priorities of the World Cup, have received only high praise,” Crocker said in a Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas press release on Monday.

Marquee matchups highlight 1st round in Bukidnon golfest

“So now, we enter the quarterfinals and the pressure is greater on the teams so we need to keep delivering everything in a manner that allows them to perform at their best,”

Crocker said. “And for the fans, the games have been fantastic and we have some exciting matches ahead of us.”

Among those cited with impressive marks were the excellent handling of the FIBA Congress ahead of the games, first class hotel accommodations and transport (efficient bus service),

WHILE the homegrown talents enjoy some kind of an edge on local knowledge, majority will rely more on quality of shots than innate skill as the International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) Del Monte Championship unwraps Tuesday at the Del Monte Golf Club in Bukidnon.

A nd there could be no other way to mark the resumption of the Philippine Golf Tour (PGT) following a 10-week break than pitting the five winners of the first seven legs in a couple of threesomes that could set the tone for the battle for top honors in the P2.5 million championship.

I ra Alido, who won the kickoff leg in Bacolod, and Clyde Mondilla, winner of the last Tour stop at Forest Hills, slug it out with young Sean Ramos in the 7:20 a.m. flight on No. 1 of Del Monte that puts premium on accuracy and consistency rather than power given its narrow setup with terrors lurking on every corner of the wooded course.

I can’t tell if my chances are good but the sure thing is I’ll give my best to play good,” said Mondilla.

A h ighly-spirited duel also looms in the 7:40 a.m. clash

round-the-clock security, comfortable VIP lounges and colorful and vibrant entertainment numbers.

The record-breaking live attendance of 38,115 in the Philippines-Dominican Republic game at the Philippine Arena also heaped praises, as well as the average attendance of 6,207 through 18 games at the Smart Araneta Coliseum and the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

SBP president Al Panlilio and vice president Ricky Vargas, however, deferred to other federation heads for their assessment of the Philippine hosting but agreed that “90 percent” of the success of the World Cup could be attributed to a well-organized hosting.

From what I’ve been told, it’s all

featuring Valley leg champion Reymon Jaraula, Caliraya Springs titlist Tony Lascuña and Villamor Philippine Masters ruler Jhonnel Ababa even as Iloilo leg runaway winner Rupert Zaragosa mixes it up with Justin Quiban and Guido van der Valk in the 7:30 a.m. group.

A baba said he is upbeat but wary of his chances to duplicate his two-stroke victory over Jaraula when Del Monte hosted a PGT leg in 2019 before the pandemic, stressing a lot has changed with regard to their respective games although he’s still bringing in the same winning mindset to the 72-hole championship.

Sunrise Sprint adds spice in 5150 Dapitan

SEASONED campaigners seeking a new challenge and beginners wanting to immerse in endurance racing brace for spirited action in the Go for Gold Sunrise Sprint which unwraps Sunday in Zamboanga del Norte.

D ubbed as S2, the short-distance triathlon series—750meter swim in open water, 20-km bike and 5-km run race— serves as the sub-category to the centerpiece 5150 Dapitan, which will also mark its inaugural run in the country’s Shrine City featuring an international cast.

Former winner Raven Alcoseba, Nicole del Rosario, Karen Manayon, Sophia Belican, Julie Mae Jaylo and Sherr Elbreth Daniot are tipped to crowd for top honors in the women’s side while Enrico Burgos, Renz Corbin, Kian Manabat, Matthew Hermosa, Fidel Redillas and Mohammad Sumagayan will lead the chase for the overall championship in the men’s side of the event also held to provide quality triathlon experience on an Olympic-style course setup.

A lso to be disputed are titles in various age-group categories.

Se Acabo Luis

“TONIGHT, I received the UEFA Women’s Coach of the Year award and I feel very honored. But I would not have achieved this without the incredible group of players and

“It’s not Di namin problema ’yan [that’s not part of our task].’”

In every event, they [delegates] approach us and say, ‘Congratulations, it was well done,” Panlilio said. “Everybody happy, food is good, program is good, whole staging, everything,

Vargas said it would be selfserving if he commented on the hosting, but admitted that “my own experience in the FIBA Congress has been excellent.”

The World Cup ends with the final on Sunday at the MOA Arena.

The FIBA Congress, held August 23 and 24 and attended by International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach and 157 national federation delegates, unanimously voted on a new president in Sheikh Saud Ali Al Thani, treasurer in Ingo Weiss, and Central Board members while naming Hamane Niang as FIBA Honorary President.

A s pecial ceremony was also held to honor SBP Chairman Emeritus Manuel V. Pangilinan, who was awarded with a FIBA Order of Merit.

Uy eyes 2nd title in ICTSI Del Monte

STAYING motivated during the long break, Daniella Uy beams with confidence as she launches her drive for a second straight Ladies Philippine Golf Tour (LPGT) victory in the International Container Terminal Services Inc.

(ICTSI) Del Monte Championship starting Tuesday at Del Monte Golf Club in Bukidnon. The former Junior World champion hardly strayed off the course after topping the Forest Hills leg last June, working diligently the last 10 weeks to sharpen her skills and prepare for the resumption of the country’s premier circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc.

S he also competed in the Japan Ladies Professional Golf Association Q-School where she tied for 18th and advanced to the next phase, making  her A-ready for another shot at LPGT glory.

I practiced almost every day and I made sure that I do it productively. Then I focused on getting stronger in the gym,” said Uy, adding she would even make a wager with friends “to keep my competitive mode on.”

S he tees off with top amateur Mafy Singson, who reigned at Valley Golf, and local talent Pamela Mariano at 7 am on the first hole of the challenging course, seeking to gain momentum with a strong start.

But she underscored the need for her all-around game to click in the next three days to stay in the conversation and, hopefully, match Harmie Constantino’s back-to-back title romps at Luisita and Villamor.

I’m confident and very excited to play and compete again,” added Uy.

So do Constantino, Singson, Chihiro Ikeda, Florence Bisera, Martina Miñoza, Sarah Ababa, Korean Seoyun Kim and the rest of the 25-player cast, who are all raring to get going given the long respite in the circuit backed by PGTI’s official apparel Kampfortis Golf.

Like Uy, Constantino trained and worked on her physical strength during the break and said she’s excited for the Tour’s return and ready to get another shot at a third championship in the season about to end.

staff of the Lionesses. And the FA for the support we get to be able to perform at our highest level.

“ To receive this award also feels different. We all know there have been major issues around the Spanish national team. These issues hurt me as a coach, a mother of two daughters, a wife and as a human being.

It indicates that we still have a long way to go, in the world of football but also in society! That’s why I dedicated this award to the Spanish team!

“ The team which became world champions with fantastic football, a team that deserves to be celebrated and listened to.”

England’s three lionesses coach and Manager Sarina Weigman posted this on her Instagram five days ago.

Se Acabo Luis in English means “It’s over Luis.” Luis is Luis Rubiales, Spain’s suspended Royal Spanish Football Federation president and UEFA‘s vice president.

A lot has been said about Rubiales’s misogynistic act. As a father of a 3-year-old girl who loves football, if Rubiales has any delicadeza left in him, he has to go, he needs to

Japan, the bestfinishing Asian at 3-2 in the World Cup for an automatic Paris Olympics berth, is in Group D with Indonesia, Qatar and medal contender but a non-World Cup team South Korea. Iran, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are in Group A while China, Lebanon, Chinese Taipei and Mongolia make up Group B. But of course, we should be expecting a big fightback from the Asian teams which were in the World Cup and didn’t fare well, much more nail a victory,” Tolentino said.

C hina (1-4) which finished No. 29, No. 31 Iran (0-5) and No. 32Jordan (0-5). Lebanon (2-3) was the secondbest Asian finisher at No. 23. Athletes, coaches and officials bound for Hangzhou are scheduled to secure their Asian Games and accreditation cards starting today (Monday) at the POC offices at the PhilSports Complex in Pasig City. Team Philippines is composed of 395 athletes who will compete in 37 of the 40 sports on the Hangzhou program. The national associations for basketball and football have yet to announce their final Asian Games rosters.

C hina is the reigning Asian Games champion, beating Iran to the gold medal, 84-72, in Jakarta 2018. The Yeng Guiao-coached and Jordan Clarkson-led Philippine team finished

resign and step down to give the Spanish FA and UEFA a free hand in finding his successor.

M aybe a woman should lead the Spanish FA and initiate reforms and changes in the organization when it comes to their treatment of Spanish female football players.

Rubiales was selfish, taking away a moment deservedly for his countrymen, or should I say countrywomen’s victory in the recent Women’s World Cup.

I s what transpired just a microcosm of how Spanish society treats its women? I certainly hope not. I’d like to think that Spanish society has progressed by leaps and bounds in its treatment of women, especially female athletes and women professional athletes.

B efore Rubiales’s despicable deed, he held his crotch in victory with Spanish Queen Letizia and her underaged daughter, 16-year-old Princess Infanta Sofia nearby.

The guy is incorrigible.

Jenni Hermoso, the young lady footballer nonconsensually kissed by Rubiales has received praises and support from football communities all over the world.

ERNEST JOHN “EJ” OBIENA goes airborne again.

ABABA JARAULA LASCUÑA