BusinessMirror September 13, 2023

PHL looks to ME for RE investments

THE Philippines is turning to the Middle East to seek billions of dollars worth of renewable energy (RE) investments that could sustain the country’s socioeconomic transformation until 2040, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda).

In the Philippine Economic Briefing in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan said the country needs $103.6 billion in RE investments until 2040. This will allow the economy to attain its target mix for renewable energy over a 20-year period beginning 2020.

A broader look at today’s business

Balisacan said that by 2030, the Philippines will require a 35-percent RE share in its power generation mix and 50 percent by 2040 under the Clean Energy Scenario of the Philippine Energy Plan 2020-2040.

“The Marcos Administration has aggressively pursued reforms to open up the energy sector.

The Amendment to the country’s Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Renewable Energy Act of 2008 opened up our renewable resources to foreign capital, while the proposed amendments to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act will ensure greater market competition, resulting in

higher-quality energy servicing for consumers and producers,” Balisacan said.

“Renewable energy is also a priority under the Strategic Investment Priority Plan, which contains investment areas that may receive fiscal incentives,” he added.

Apart from RE, Balisacan said the Philippines also encouraged investment in infrastructure projects in the Philippines, especially in Mindanao. He said the government will prioritize projects that will significantly reduce the cost of connectivity and power in Mindanao.

See “ME,” A2

MONETARY POLICY STAYS TILL INFLATION AT 2-4%

AMRO: PHL growth will be slower, 5.9% in ’23

THE Philippine economy is now expected to post slower growth on the back of weaker external demand and high base effects, according to the Asean+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO).

AMRO said in a statement on Tuesday that it now projects the country’s GDP growth to average 5.9 percent in 2023 before recovering to a growth of 6.5 percent in 2024. Growth in 2024 is expected to be driven by stronger external demand.

In July, AMRO said the Philippines is still expected to post a growth of 6.2 percent this year and 6.5 percent next year while inflation is seen averaging 5.9 percent in 2023 and 3.8 percent in 2024.

“Domestic demand is expected to remain robust supported by continued improvement in labor market conditions, lower inflation, robust overseas remittances, and higher government infrastructure spending,” AMRO Group Head and

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

In the Philippine Economic Briefing in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, BSP Deputy Governor Francisco G. Dakila Jr. said, however, that inflation is expected to continue its downtrend despite the higher-than-expected inflation print in August at 5.3 percent.

Dakila said inflation will be

below the midpoint of the BSP’s target range in the first quarter of next year. It is expected to average 3.3 percent in 2024 and 3.4 percent in 2025.

“So the Monetary Board has kept the policy interest rate unchanged

See “Monetary policy,” A2

By Andrea E. San Juan @andreasanjuan

PHILIPPINE trade groups are pushing for the revival of plans to establish the Roll-on, Roll-off (RO-RO) shipping network in the Association of Southeast Asian Nation (Asean) region, saying such could reduce logistics costs among countries in the region.

At the 21st International CEO Conference organized by the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) on Tuesday, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry

(PCCI) President George T. Barcelon, along with heads of business chambers of Asean member-countries particularly from Thailand and Singapore, discussed major initiatives of Asean member nations in enhancing the business climate in the region.

Through the Philippine trade’s lens, Barcelon said “one area that should be looked into moving forward is the rollon, roll-off logistics.” He said this logistics program would reduce logistics costs among countries in Asean.

See “Ro-Ro,” A2

THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has no plans to make any change in its monetary policy stance until the country’s inflation rate reaches the 2 to 4 percent target range which is expected next year.

NATURE’S REDEMPTION Life flourishes in once-painful waters— in the bustling Binangonan fish port, a dedicated team of fishpen workers, locally known as batilyo, diligently unloads a boatload of bangus to meet the surging demand from Navotas and other fish traders. This vibrant scene stands in stark contrast to the somber events of July 27th when 27 lives were tragically lost in a devastating boat incident. BERNARD TESTA

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday (September 12, 2023) attends the ceremony for the presentation of the implementing rules and regulations of RA 11953 and for the signing of an EO extending the moratorium on payments of amortizations on agrarian debt at the Department of Agrarian Reform office in Quezon City. Story in A13, News REY BANIQUET/NIB-PNA

After initial supply crunch, rice price cap EO ‘going well’–PBBM

By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

ALTHOUGH it caused a brief disruption in the availabil -

ity of rice in the market, the implementation of his Executive Order (EO) No. 39, which imposed a price ceiling for rice, is “going well,” President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said Tuesday.

In an interview with reporters at the Department of Agrarian Reform in Quezon City, the chief executive admitted his new issuance prompted some rice retailers to defer selling their rice stocks.

Under EO 39, a price cap of P41 per kilogram (kg) was imposed for regular milled rice (RMR) and P45 per kg for well-milled rice (WMR) nationwide.

The issuance will remain in effect until lifted by the President.

“Some of the retailers hesitated [to continue selling their rice stocks] since they were unsure of the assistance the government will provide them,” Marcos said in Filipino.

However, he noted that since the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) started distributing its P15,000 livelihood aid for the affected retailers last Saturday, many of them decided to resume selling their stocks.

“Those who deferred selling their rice started to resume their operation since they were assured they will get something [from the government] for selling at a loss under the price cap, which we implemented,” Marcos explained.

Self-imposed deadline

AS of Tuesday afternoon, DSWD

Secretary Rexlon “Rex” T. Gatchalian reported they were able to give P7.5-million livelihood aid to 474 rice retailers.

He said they are targeting to complete the distribution of the government aid to qualified retailers by September 14, 2023.

“The President instructed us to finish this at the soonest possible time. He likes the idea of finishing it by the 14th [of September], but we told him we would really want…we have applied for an exemption in the eventuality there are unforeseen circumstances that will cause some delay [in the distribution],” Gatchalian said.

In case they would have to go beyond their initial deadline for the dis -

Monetary policy

Continued from A1

tribution, he said they already sought the necessary permission from the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

The election ban for the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) will take effect on October, 20, 2023, which will last until October 30, 2023, the election day.

During that period, the distribution of aid to individuals in crisis situations will be prohibited unless granted exemption by Comelec.

Citing data from the Department of Trade and Industry and the Securities and Exchange Commission, Gatchalian said around 5,900 rice retailers may qualify for the livelihood aid.

He said DSWD currently has over P5.3 billion in available budget for the said initiative.

for several meetings now and the Governor [BSP Governor Eli M. Remolona Jr.] has given forward guidance that we would like to see inflation go back at least to within target before any change in the monetary policy stance is contemplated,” Dakila said in the briefing.

Dakila said the results of the BSP’s Survey of External Forecasters showed that the mean inflation forecast for 2023 is at 5.5 percent while the 2024 expectation is pegged at 3.5 percent and 2025, 3.4 percent.

Meanwhile, Dakila said the Monetary Board will take into consideration the decisions of the Federal Reserve, but to a lesser degree compared to domestic inflation.

Dakila said the Monetary Board has “front loaded” its response to the tight monetary policy of the US Federal Reserve by raising its policy rates by 425 basis points to 6.25 percent since May 2022.

board will be primarily on domestic considerations,” Dakila said.

“External factors will of course need to be taken into account but the impact of those factors will be less compared to how we were last year,” he added.

Earlier, the BSP decided to pause its aggressive monetary policy tightening campaign as it believes that inflation is now “firmly on track” to hit the government’s target.

This meant that the Monetary Board kept the prevailing interest rates on BSP’s overnight reverse repurchase facility at 6.25 percent.

The interest rates on the overnight deposit and lending facilities were also maintained at 5.75 percent and 6.75 percent, respectively.

The BSP also said maintaining interest rates is expected in the near-term and that monetary authorities are “unlikely to raise [and will also be] reluctant to cut” interest rates—at least in the next 2 to 3 policy rate settings.

Principal Economist Runchana Pongsaparn, however, said.

Headline CPI inflation, meanwhile, is projected to moderate to 5.5 percent in 2023 from 5.8 percent in 2022, and slow further to 3.8 percent in 2024.

“Despite some moderation, inflationary pressure will likely remain elevated as reflected in the high level of core inflation, due to a positive

output gap and the second-round effects induced by increases in the minimum wages and expectations of persistently high inflation,” AMRO added. On the external front, AMRO said the widening current account deficit was partly offset by net capital inflows while external debt remained low and the international reserve buffer was adequate.

AMRO also said the banking sector has improved profitability, had ample liquidity, and sufficient capital buffers.

Meanwhile, the country’s economic outlook is clouded by various risk factors and challenges. In the short term, this challenge is high inflation, especially due to local supply shocks in the food sector.

There is also a risk of adverse effects due to an economic slowdown in major trading partners and volatility in the global financial market, along with tighter financial conditions, also pose risks.

“The long-term growth potential is largely affected by the scarring effects of the pandemic, the pace of

infrastructure development, geopolitical risks, and the economic losses from natural disasters, which are being exacerbated by climate change,” AMRO said.

AMRO also said the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) decision to tighten monetary policy has led to a 425 basis point increase in key policy rates since May 2022.

This along with the contraction in the government’s fiscal stance was “an appropriate policy mix amid a positive output gap and persistent inflationary pressure.”

“The ‘all-of-government approach’ against inflation is welcomed as it addresses the supply side problems. Macroprudential tools can be used actively to address potential financial stability issues,” AMRO said.

In the medium to long term, AMRO said the country’s fiscal policy should balance the need to restore fiscal buffers and support sustainable growth and development.

On the financial system, AMRO said there is a need for close coordination between regulators in identifying, monitoring and mitigating financial stability risks that might arise from non-financial corporates.

Meanwhile, the authorities should continue to improve the liquidity management framework, develop the bond and repo markets, and continue to expand financial inclusion, to enhance the system’s resilience to shocks and promote market activities.

“A comprehensive strategy is warranted to bolster the Philippines’ medium- to long-term economic growth potential. Overcoming the scarring effects of the pandemic mandates a sustained focus on upgrading and upskilling the work force to embrace a more technology-driven economy,” AMRO said.  Cai U. Ordinario

For the Philippines, he said, Mindanao— the food basket of the country—will benefit from this logistics program as the southern region can export some of its agricultural produce to Asean neighbors.

Barcelon underscored the importance of this logistics system for Philippine trade, explaining that “anything that is transported by sea is much cheaper.”

The 2013 Asean master plan and feasibility study on the establishment of an Asean RO-RO Shipping Network and Short Sea Shipping defined a “roll on-roll off ship” as “a passenger ship with ro-ro cargo spaces or special category spaces.”

It defined ro-ro cargo spaces as “a space

He added that the situation today is very different compared to the second half of 2022 when the BSP was aggressively raising rates and was in lock step with the US Federal Reserve’s decisions to raise its rates.

“Right now even though the August outturn showed the type of weather disturbances, we continue to see inflation being on a target consistent path. So the focus now of the

Given this, the BSP expressed its willingness to cut the reserve requirement (RR) ratio by 200 basis points next month. The “ideal time” to do this, Medalla said, is on June 30 when BSP’s pandemic policies are set to expire.

During the pandemic, the BSP allowed banks to use loans to MSMEs not affiliated with conglomerates as alternative compliance with the reserve requirements against deposit liabilities and deposit substitutes. This arrangement expires next month.

Balisacan said.

This, the Neda chief said, will improve the region’s resilience to shocks caused by climate change, and raise Mindanao’s productivity as a growing agricultural and industrial hub.

“The Marcos Administration is committed to prioritizing infrastructure development in the Mindanao region—one of the country’s most promising regions because of its significantly untapped potential for various growth drivers, particularly in agriculture and agro-processing,” Balisacan said.

These investments could find its way to the 79 Infrastructure Flagship Projects (IFPs) worth $45.9 billion in Mindanao, with nine projects being implemented through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs).

The 79 IFPs for Mindanao are part of the 197 IFPs under the Marcos administration’s Build Better More program which amounts to P8.71 trillion or $155.5 billion.

Thus, Balisacan emphasized the crucial role of investors in helping the Philippine government realize the region’s potential, as well as the implementation of IFPs through PPPs.

“We will harness PPPs to finance these IFPs and other high-impact projects and leverage on the private sector’s ability to use innovative processes, efficiently mobilize its resources, and deliver high-quality services,” the

in which goods, in or on rail or road cars, vehicles, trailers, containers, etc. are loaded and unloaded.”

Barcelon said the “uniqueness” of this logistics system in the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines-East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-Eaga) is growing.

The PCCI chief said if the agriculture sector in Mindanao is “properly developed,” then “We will have enough produce to export. And exporting to neighbors Malaysia and Thailand, all of this will be cost-effective on the roll on, roll off.”

“It’s something that was started but was not given focus. I hope that when we talk about the centrality of Asean na dapat yung mga complementary because we are actually competing. We’re competing [in] manufacturing,” Barcelon told reporters on the sidelines of the 21st International CEO Conference held on Tuesday in Taguig City.

The PCCI head recalled that in 2017, then President Rodrigo R. Duterte and Indonesian President Joko Widodo launched the Davao-GenSan-Bitung shipping route but it was not given much “focus” that time.

With this, Barcelon said, “Now that we’re opening up and having this Asean meeting, I’m really just going back from where we left off [and I hope] we can push

The Philippine dialogue in Doha, Qatar, held on September 10, 2023, and the Philippine Economic Briefing on September 12, 2023, in Dubai, UAE and several other investor meetings are part of the Economic Team’s first non-deal roadshow and briefings in the Middle East.

“There has never been a better time to invest in the Philippines. Opportunities await not only in infrastructure, as mentioned, but also in our promising growth drivers such as agribusiness, mining, tourism, manufacturing, education, creative industries, healthcare, and the information technology and business process management sectors,” said Balisacan to investors in Doha and Dubai.

In Dubai, the Economic Team also met, through separate meetings, the CEO of Nasdaq Dubai, Hamed Ahmed Ali, Minister of State H.E. Thani Ahmed Al Zeyoudi of the Ministry of Economy, Arqaam Capital, Maybank Islamic Berhad Dubai, Investment Corporation of Dubai, among others.

In Doha, Qatar, 51 guests attended the dialogue, which includes officials of the Qatar government, senior executives of Qatar-based funds and corporates, as well as representatives of business groups, industry associations, financial community, and the media.

The Economic Team also met with Qatar’s Ministry of Finance, Qatar Investment Authority, Qatar Cool, Qatar Insurance, and Qatar National Bank, among others. Cai U. Ordinario

it forward.”

For his part, Sergio R. Ortiz-Luis Jr., president of the Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (Philexport), told reporters they have been pushing for the RO-RO logistics system because the Philippines is an archipelago.

“We need to revive it because we cannot build bridges everywhere. RO-RO is the most practical way for us... ,” the Philexport chief said.

This logistics initiative will “definitely” boost the country’s exports, he added. “Well, definitely, because it’s the supply chain. Delivery especially in Mindanao and the Visayas [is hard], especially for agriculture products so RO-RO is the cheapest way for them to do it.”

Meanwhile, in the same event, MAP inked a Memorandum of Partnership and Cooperation (MPC) with Singapore International Chamber of Commerce and Thailand Management Association (TMA) to share “best management practices to promote management excellence,” among others.

The partnership is also meant to come up with Education, Information and Communication activities that enhance the knowledge and skills of management practitioners and educators.

The three business groups in Asean also aim to advocate for reforms to help improve the ease of doing business in the region.

• Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

Senators vow budget support for AFP, civilian units in WPS

By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

THE Senate leadership vowed on Tuesday to provide substantial budget augmentation to both military and civilian outposts and communities in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri gave the assurance near the end of a hearing called by the defense committee seeking inputs from a wide range of stakeholders on the raging issues surrounding the country’s defense of its rights in the WPS days after a dozen Chinese boats almost marred a resupply mission in the WPS.

Deploring the acts of harassment by Chinese forces on Philippine Coast Guard and civilian boats and fishermen was happening “for too long and far too frequently,” panel chairman Senator Jinggoy Estrada said his committee held its seventh hearing to draw from “the expertise and collective wisdom of our guests in determining proper courses of action, urgent and longterm legislative interventions, and strategies to put an end to the foreign intimidation and harassment, defend our sovereign rights within our exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, and maintain peace and stability in the region.”

Included in the panel’s agenda were six privilege speeches by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, defense panel vice chairpersons Sen. Francis Tolentino and Sen. Robinhood Padilla, Deputy Minority Leader Sen. Risa Hontiveros, and Estrada himself, strongly condemning the aggression and incursions of our “neighbor from the north”

in the WPS.

Estrada noted that a total of 451 diplomatic protests have already been filed by the Department of Foreign Affairs since 2020, of which 41 were filed this year alone.

“The speeches were triggered by the August 5 water cannon incident of the Chinese Coast Guard to the Philippine Coast Guard and the blockade of the resupply mission to BRP Sierra Madre,” he recalled.

Just last Friday, Estrada recalled, Chinese elements harassed the resupply mission for the military contingent at the BRP Sierra Madre, involving Chinese Coast Guard vessels and four Chinese maritime militia watercraft.

“Let us bear in mind that the hostile encounters between the Philippine and Chinese vessels are not new nor recent developments,” Hontiveros, recalled in her privilege speech, citing at least three incidents going back as far as 2021.

“This Committee notes that the Philippines, in its submission to the Arbitral Tribunal, already presented numerous incidents of harassment, illegal occupation and harvesting of endangered species in the West Philippine Sea,” Estrada said.

The defense panel earlier cited the use of water cannons and sound blare against Filipino fishermen who approached Scarborough Shoal in May to June 2014, China’s harassment of M/V Veritas Voyager conducting seismic survey in Reed Bank in 2011, and countless other illegal activities since 1995.

“The bullying has been happening for far too long and quite frequently,” Estrada stressed, as he asked the government officials present to update it

on the steps that have been taken by the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Executive branch following the passage of a Senate resolution, adopted August 1, 2023, strongly condemning the continued harassment of Filipino fishermen and the persistent incursions in the WPS by the Chinese Coast Guard and militia vessels. The resolution urged the Philippine government to take appropriate action in asserting and securing the Philippines’ sovereign rights.

Hontiveros’ take

IN her opening remarks at the hearing, Hontiveros underscored the pitifully low intelligence funds of the Philippine Coast Guard. From 2009, only P10 million annually has been given to the Coast Guard. “It’s unjust that the ones defending us against a giant neighbor is receiving such meager intel funds,” said Hontiveros, speaking partly in Filipino.

She wondered aloud why, if civilian agencies “that don’t have the mandate in national security issues are getting confidential and intel funds, why not the Coast Guard? Shouldn’t they be given the bigger confidential and intel funds? Isn’t that common sense?”

A huge part of the Coast Guard’s intelligence work now relies heavily on “humint or human intelligence,” Hontiveros said. But with the huge responsibility of the Coast Guard in maritime governance, they should be augmented with “sigint or signals intelligence,” she added.

Lives of Coast Guard personnel are at stake with every patrol in the WPS the deputy minority leader pointed out. She expressed hope that “we can all agree on taking tangible steps to fortify the BRP Sierra Madre, to safeguard Ayungin Shoal, to protect the rights and dignity of our country” regardless of each one’s politics, or ideology or conviction.

PBBM offers assistance to quake-hit Morocco

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday assured that the Philippine government is ready to help Morocco as it recovers from the deadly 6.8-magnitude quake, which struck the North African state last week.  “The Philippines is ready to offer assistance and any support that may be needed for the swift recovery of your nation,” the Chief Executive said in a brief post in his X account, formerly Twitter.

Morocco’s interior ministry reported the earthquake, which struck southwest of Marrakech in Morocco, killed 2,862 people and injured 2,562 others.

The President condoled with the victims of the quake.

“The Filipino people are deeply saddened to learn of the devastating 6.8-magnitude earthquake that has tragically claimed over 2,000 lives in Morocco. We stand in grief and

solidarity with you, and our prayers go to the families affected by this tragedy,” Marcos said.

Marcos added he is confident the Moroccan people will be able to “unite and rebuild in the face of such adversity.”

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) earlier reported there were no reported Filipino casualties from the earthquake.

It noted there are currently around 4,600 Filipinos in Morocco.

Samuel P. Medenilla

Valenzuela probes road rage, gun-toting incident

THE road rage incident involving a taxi driver and an SUV driver that happened in Faustino St., Barangay Punturin, Valenzuela City on August 19, at 1:00 in the morning is being investigated by the Valenzuela Police Station.

The SUV driver, who allegedly pointed a gun during the altercation, is being sought after by the authorities. He was eventually identified as Marlon Malabute.

In a video posted by lawyer Raymond Fortun on social media, an advocate for cyclists, Malabute can be seen stepping out of his SUV, running towards the taxi driver, pulling a gun, and threatening to shoot him.

The SUV driver, who then stumbled, then shoved the taxi driver. Malabute then rushed to his car and left the scene. The taxi driver was identified as Henry Ong

Jr. who resides in Brgy. Bignay, Valenzuela City.

In another closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage acquired by the police, it can be seen that the SUV was speeding and attempted to overtake the taxicab. This is where he hit the said taxicab and the commotion started when he pulled out a gun after running into the taxi driver.

The license plate number (NBB3135) of the SUV Malabute driving was clearly captured on the video, allowing the authorities to have a lead in the identification of the suspect’s whereabouts.

Based from the Land Transportation Office (LTO) records, Malabute was the third owner of the vehicle, which the investigators checked with. Junelyn Butler, who had previously owned it, sold it to Ryan Cruz. Malabute later purchased it from Cruz. The authorities immediately

headed to Malabute’s residence as Cruz’s live-in partner confirmed that he is indeed the man in the viral video driving the SUV. However, when the investigators searched the Caloocan and Tondo, Manila addresses they had obtained, Malabute was nowhere to be found. The Firearms and Explosives Office (FEO) also verified that Malabute is a licensed gun owner and the registered owner of a caliber 9mm pistol Girsan.

In response, the Valenzuela City Police organized four tracker teams to pursue and locate the offender as soon as possible. The authorities also urged the public to report any information they may have that can speed up the investigation.

In an interview, Mayor Wes Gatchalian reminded everyone of the privilege and responsibility that comes with having a license to own a firearm.

Wednesday, September 13, 2023

₧20Bin Malampaya govt royalties seen this year

THE national treasury expects to rake in P20.2 billion in royalties from the Malampaya natural gas field this year, Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel said on Tuesday.

“The amount is P5.7 billion, or 22 percent, less than the P25.9 billion in gas royalties that the government earned from Malampaya in 2022,” the lawmaker said.

“The government anticipates receiving lower royalties from Malampaya between now and 2026 on account of shrinking gas output from five existing production wells,” Pimentel added.

The estimated future royalties from Malampaya have been tapered to P13.5 billion in 2024, P8.5 billion

in 2025, and another P8.5 billion in 2026, Pimentel said, citing figures from the government’s Budget of Expenditures and Sources of Financing for 2024.

“These are all approximate calculations. The actual royalties could still end up higher. In fact, the government was expecting only P24.3 billion in royalties in 2022, but the actual money that came in was P25.9 billion, or higher by P1.6 billion,” Pimentel pointed out.

Even with the predicted drop in royalties due to falling output from existing wells, Pimentel expressed confidence that the Malampaya consortium “will eventually be able to find and extract additional gas supplies from upcoming new wells.”

Pimentel previously served as chairperson of the House committee on strategic intelligence. He is also author of House Bill No. 1782, which seeks to appropriate an initial P5 billion for the installation of new naval forward operating bases to secure the West Philippine Sea’s vast oil and gas deposits for the enjoyment of future generations of Filipinos.

Additional gas output by 2026

LOCATED offshore, 65 kilometers northwest of Palawan, Malampaya’s existing production wells have been yielding gas for the last 21 years and might be depleted by 2027, based on previous projections.

Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla had earlier said that the Malampaya

DENR urged to rehabilitate 1K hectares of AUU fishponds turned over by BFAR

consortium is on track to start drilling new wells by the end of 2024, with additional gas production seen by 2026.

The consortium is led by businessman Enrique Razon Jr.’s Prime Energy Resources Development B.V., which has a 45 percent operating interest in the service contract.

Businessman Dennis Uy’s UC38 LLC holds the other 45 percent, while the state-owned PNOC Exploration Corp. owns the residual 10 percent. Malampaya currently supplies gas to power plants Batangas that generate up to 20 percent of the country’s energy requirement.

The gas is delivered onshore via a 504-kilometer-long undersea pipeline.

PCSO confirms ₧100-million confi fund vs illegal gambling

THE Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) on Tuesday confirmed that it has a P100 million confidential fund to run after illegal gaming activities.

During a briefing with lawmakers on PCSO plans, programs, and strategies for 2024, PCSO Assistant General Manager Lauro Patiag made the admission after Surigao del Norte Rep. Ace Barbers’ inquiry on PCSO’s thrust to stop illegal gambling.

Patiag said the confidential fund is under the jurisdiction of the Office of the General Manager of the PCSO. “The Office of the Chairman manages the confidential fund,” he said.

According to Patiag, the use of confidential funds is in compliance with a joint circular.

The joint circular was issued on January 8, 2015, by the Commission on Audit, Department of Budget and Management, Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Governance Commission for Government-Owned and

Controlled Corporations, and the Department of National Defense.

The circular refers to confidential expenses as those expenses pertaining to or related to surveillance activities in civilian government agencies that are intended to support the mandate or operations of the agency.

For his part, PCSO General Manager’s Office Executive Assistant Reymar Santiago said the fund is spent on agency’s information gathering.

“If we talk about policy decisions, we have a budget for this from the confidential fund from which we gather information regarding illegal gambling activities in the provinces,” he added.

“With regards to policy regarding illegal numbers, there is no particular policy for that, but we do coordinate the information we receive with the law enforcement agencies because PCSO does not have law

enforcement power,” Santiago explained.

Moreover, Barbers said the Small Town Lottery (STL) is really a cover for the illegal game known as “swertres” in Mindanao and the Visayas.

“If they have a confidential fund for the purpose of assisting the government in eradicating illegal gambling, they are not performing well because there is still illegal gambling. It is logical to say that the proliferation of illegal gambling in the country is because of lax policy on this,” Barbers pointed out.

Due to the confidential fund’s poor utilization, Barbers instructed the PCSO to submit a report on how the agency is spending its fund to combat illegal gaming activities.

Earlier, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) assured that the allocation for confidential and intelligence funds in the 2024 proposed budget will be covered by circulars and will be properly

accounted for.

Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman has said the joint circular identifies the projects and programs that can be funded using CIF, pointing out a section of the joint circular detailing the disbursement procedures for the funds.

According to the budget chief, there is a P120 million increase in the confidential and intelligence funds, with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Anti-Money Laundering Council, and Presidential Security Group (PSG) receiving additional allocations.

Meanwhile, the PCSO has expressed confidence that it will surpass its revenue target for 2024 and raise more funds for various charity programs.

The PCSO estimated that its sales for 2024 could reach P60.1 billion. The agency has pegged its target for 2023 at P53.23 billion.

Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

INTERNATIONAL nongovernment organization (NGO) Oceana has called on the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to immediately rehabilitate abandoned, underdeveloped, and underutilized (AUU) fishponds as part of its effort to rehabilitate degraded coastal and marine environment.

Atty. Rose Liza Eisma-Osorio, Oceana Philippines’ legal and policy head, said fishponds whether covered by fishpond lease agreements (FLAs) or not, are supposed to be reverted back as mangrove forests at the end of their lease agreements or in case of failure of the fishpond owners to make them productive.

An environmental lawyer, Eisma-Osorio said there are cases wherein former mangrove forests that were used as fishponds are somehow reclassified and declared as alienable and disposable land, hence, making the acquisition of these properties by private individuals legal.

“Somehow, fishponds that are covered by FLAs or not are reclassified and declared as alienable and disposable when in fact these are public lands and are not supposed to be subjected to land reclamation,” Osorio said.

She said fishponds that are abandoned, undeveloped, or underutilized (AUU) should be rehabilitated by restoring or replanting indigenous mangrove species that naturally occur in the area.

As of January 2023, there are over 1,000 hectares of AUU fishponds in various parts of the country that need immediate rehabilitation.

“The DENR should revert these fishponds back to their original classification as mangrove forest,” Osorio stressed, as she cautioned the DENR and concerned local government units (LGUs) in pushing for their reclassification as alienable and disposable land.

Responding to an inquiry made by Oceana on the status of AUU fishponds, Atty. Demosthenes R. Escoto, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) National Director said a total of 994 hectares of fishponds with or without FLAs have been reverted back to the administrative jurisdiction of the DENR as of January 2023.

The list of 54 fishponds that were reverted back to the administrative jurisdiction of the DENR could be leased back again to the same individuals or other interested individuals who may wish to venture in aquaculture.

Oceana, however, said instead of leasing these areas for continued use as fishponds, the DENR should allocate funds and implement mangrove reforestation activities in these areas.

Among those reverted to the DENR’s jurisdiction, the biggest AUU fishponds include a 210-hectare fishpond in Subnipa, Ulutanga, Zamboanga Sibugay; and a 254-hectare fishpond in Hinactacan, Jaro, Iloilo. Other big AUU on the list are the 48-hectare fishpond in Cawayan, in Real, Quezon Province, the 45-hectare fishpond in Dapdap and Villahermosa in Tarangnan, Samar, and a 40-hectare fishpond Panas, Canijay, in Bohol.

Aside from those already reverted back to the DENR, BFAR has also identified a total of 8 fishponds with no FLA, the biggest of which is a 41-hectare fishpond in Pedada, Ajuy, Iloilo.

Oceana has been calling for the massive restoration of degraded coastal and marine environments, particularly beach and mangrove forests to strengthen the country’s natural defense against tsunamis and storm surges and boost capture fishery production by allowing the juvenile fish to grow and reproduce, and eventually replenish the country’s fish stock in time for the recommended fishing season.

Jonathan L. Mayuga

PBBM tasks IPOPHL to work with WIPO to strengthen PHL’s IP regime

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is now eyeing government partnerships with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to usher in the country’s innovation renaissance or “Filipinnovation” by boosting the competitiveness of local research and development initiatives.

In his remarks delivered by Trade Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual for the WIPO Asian Regional Conference in Support of Accelerated Life Sciences Innovation-Skills Development and Capacity Building, the Chief Executive ordered the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) to enter in the said partnership to “strengthen the country’s IP regime.”

The initiative is expected to help improve the country’s Global Innovation Index (GII) rankings.

“We believe that by addressing gaps and challenges in innovation inputs and outputs indices as well as in making continued

investments in our educational and research institutions, we will reach this dream in no time,” Marcos said.

The GII was established by the WIPO to measure the innovation strengths and weaknesses of several countries.

Currently, the Philippines ranks 59th in the GII, which include 132 countries worldwide. The Marcos administration wants to elevate the country to the top one-third of the list by 2028.

Last July, the President approved the National Innovation Agenda and Strategy Document (NIASD) 2023-2032 to help improve the country’s GII rankings.

Among provisions, NIASD is encouraging Filipino scientists abroad to return home and contribute to nation building through the Balik Scientist Program, promoting the utilization and commercialization of technologies through various programs such as the IP Rights Assistance Program. Samuel P. Medenilla

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

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

and write Chinese language

Range: Php30,000 - Php59,999

4 CUTECH PROCESS SERVICES PHILIPPINES, INC.

Unit 4C, 4th Floor, Maptan Building, Pallocan Kanluran, Batangas City (Capital), Batangas

5 JPN, INC. (JAPAN PHILIPPINES NAMEPLATES)

Lot 9, Block 13, Phase 1, Cavite Export Processing Zone, Tejeros Convention, Rosario, Cavite

LIU, ZHENGUO Chinese Sales Engineer

Job

RAGAVAN, SHANKAR NDT Inspector

Brief Job Description: Assist the company with manpower selection, work allocation, work execution, reporting and maintaining safety issues at work schedule

HIRASAKA, SHINJI President and Chairman of the Board of Directors

Brief

Salary Range: Php60,000 - Php89,999

Basic Qualification: Must have PCN ISO 9712/ CSWIP 9712 level 2 certificate.

Salary Range: Php30,000 - Php59,999

Basic

Salary

MOBILE TECH INC. Unit-lower Basement, Andenson Building 3, National Road, Parian, City of Calamba, Laguna ZHANG, ZHAOKUN Sales And Marketing Supervisor Brief Job Description: Responsible for creating sales plans Basic Qualification: Can speak English and Chinese language and with excellent decisionmaking skills Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999

7

Fuel subsidy distribution for 1.36-M PUV operators starts today–LTFRB

By Lorenz S. Marasigan  @lorenzmarasigan

THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said on Tuesday it will start the distribution of the fuel subsidy to operators of Public Utility Vehicles (PUVs) today, Wednesday.

LTFRB chairperson Atty. Teofilo Guadiz III said the fuel subsidy, which ranges between P1,000 and P10,000, would help drivers and operators recoup from the “continuing price hikes of petroleum products.”

Under Memorandum Circular No. 2023038, target beneficiaries of the subsidy are Public Utility Jeepneys (PUJs), Filcabs, UV Express (UVE), Minibuses, Public Utility Buses (PUBs), Shuttle Services, Taxis, Tourist Transport Services, School Transport Services, Transportation Network Vehicle Services, Delivery Services, and Tricycles.

Operators of modern PUJs and UVEs who are qualified under the program will receive P10,000 as subsidy, while operators of other PUVs, whether modern or not, will each receive a P6,500 subsidy.

Meanwhile, qualified delivery service riders will receive P1,200 in subsidy, while tricycle drivers will get P1,000 in subsidy, whose distribution will be under the supervision of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and supported by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

Guadiz said no PUV denomination will be “favored in terms of subsidy allocation

PBBM inks IRR of Agrarian Reform Act, 600K ARBs to benefit from condonation

because all operators of PUVs, whether modern or not, will receive the subsidy although amounts will vary.”

“The amount of subsidy for each beneficiary is dependent on how much petroleum product they consume for their vehicles. would like to make it clear that everyone will benefit from this exercise—modern or not; consolidated or not,” Guadiz said.

Guadiz estimates around 1.36 million operators will receive the subsidy. Of this number, 280,000 PUV units will benefit from the program, 930,000 for tricycles, and 150,000 for delivery service.

“This subsidy is for all the operators that are struggling because of the continued increase of fuel prices,” he said.

According to the Department of Energy (DOE), oil companies implemented an increase of P0.20/liter for gasoline, P0.40/ liter for diesel, and P0.20/liter for kerosene on Tuesday.

These price adjustments resulted in a year-to-date net increase of P15.50/liter for gasoline, P11.10/liter diesel, and P7.94/liter for kerosene.

Guadiz explained that the fuel subsidy would be distributed through digital banking via e-wallet accounts, bank accounts, and fuel subsidy cards that were already registered as beneficiaries under the Fuel Subsidy Program.

To become qualified beneficiaries under the program, the PUV must have a valid franchise and must be currently registered with the LTFRB.

By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

STARTING today, Wednesday, over 600,000 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARB) may finally be able to avail of the benefits of a debt condonation program under Republic Act (RA) No. 11953 or the New Agrarian Emancipation Act (NAEA).

Another 129,000 other ARBs are expected to benefit from Executive Order (EO) No. 40, which was signed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., extending the moratorium on payments of amortization on agrarian debt by two years.

Initial target

THE Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) finally completed the implementing rules and regulation (IRR) of the NAEA, which they presented to the President on Tuesday

in Quezon City.

“Tomorrow, our job [in processing the applications] will start. And we extend that out of the 600,000 beneficiaries, Mr. President, we will try to accomplish the procedure in the condonation of about 200,000 agrarian reform beneficiaries,” DAR Secretary Conrado M. Estrella III said.

The IRR provides for procedures for processing of condonation of the agrarian and the payment by government of “unpaid unjust compensation” to landowners for lands acquired under the Voluntary Land Transfer or the Direct Payment Scheme (VLT/DPS).

The President signed RA 11953 last July 7, which will eliminate P57.55 billion unpaid amortizations of ARBs.

Other benefits for the ARBs include the exemption from payment of estate tax and mandatory inclusion in the Registry System

of Basic Sectors in Agriculture to enable ARBs easy access to support service of the Department of Agriculture.

It also terminated the payment of P206.247 million in unpaid just compensation to landowners.

Moratorium extension

IN a related development, Marcos also signed EO 40, which will benefit 129,059 ARBs, who were not covered by RA 11953.

“This provides for the moratorium on the payment of the principal obligation and interest on amortization payable by the agrarian reform beneficiary, to include even those who were not covered by the New Emancipation Law,” Marcos said.

Under the new issuance, the duration of EO 4, series of 2022, will be extended until September 13, 2025.

DAR and the Land Bank of the Philippines

were tasked to come out with the IRR for EO 40, within 15 days after the effectivity of the new issuance.

Birthday gift

MARCOS said the RA 11953 and EO 40 would help make the country’s agriculture sector to become more competitive.

“This will enable us and the agrarian reform beneficiaries and the rest of our farmers to realize the utmost potential and reach for our aspirations for our families, for our communities, and for our country,” the Chief Executive said.

He thanked DAR for its timely completion of the IRR of RA 11953, which he considers as a “perfect birthday gift” since it realized one of his the priorities of his administration, which is to empower farmers.

Marcos will be celebrating his 66th birthday today, Wednesday.

Navy FOIC: Newly-commissioned patrol ships to deter encroachment in maritime zones

THE speed and reliability of the newly commissioned Alvarez-class patrol vessels (formerly the US Navy’s Cycloneclass patrol vessels) can help deter hostile forces from encroaching into Philippine maritime zones.

This was emphasized by Philippine Navy

(PN) Flag-Officer-in-Command (FOIC) Vice Admiral Toribio Adaci Jr. during the christening and commissioning ceremonies of the BRP Valentin Diaz (PS-177) and BRP Ladislao Diwa (PS-178) Monday.

“The key features of these Alvarezclass patrol vessels make them formidable assets in our maritime arsenal. Their speed and reliability (will) allow us to respond to emergencies in littoral battle spaces, particularly within low-intensity conflict systems. Equipped with remote-controlled weapon systems, they can deter hostile forces from encroaching in our maritime zones,” he explained.

The Alvarez-class patrol vessels were named after Philippine Revolutionary heroes. Adaci said these ships are also ideal in countering piracy and other illicit activities

aside from helping in disaster response and maritime law enforcement.

“These patrol vessels are essential in maintaining a safe and secure maritime environment,” he added.

The first ship of the class, the BRP General Mariano Alvarez (PS-38), was the former USS Cyclone (PC-1), acquired and activated by the PN in 2004.

The US Navy transferred these two Cycloneclass patrol vessels upon decommissioning in Bahrain this March 28 through its Excess Defense Article (EDA) program.

These two former US patrol vessels were stationed at Manama, Bahrain at the time of their decommissioning.

The two ex-Cyclone class patrol vessels were delivered to the country last May.

These Cyclone-class patrol vessels are

PHL, US officials visit three EDCA sites in Luzon today

RANKING Philippines and US officials will visit three Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites in Luzon today, Wednesday, as a prelude to the Mutual Defense Board-Security Engagement Board (MDB-SEB) meeting this coming Thursday.

The MDB-SEB meeting will be held at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.

These ranking officials consist of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., US Ambassador to the Philippines Marykay Carlson, and Indo-Pacific Command head Admiral John C. Aquilino.

An AFP statement issued Tuesday said these officials will visit the EDCA sites in Lal-lo Airport, Naval Base Camilo Osias in Sta. Ana, Cagayan; and Basa Air Base, Pampanga, today September 13.

The leaders, accompanied by high-ranking AFP and US Armed Forces officers, will conduct an extensive tour of the completed EDCA projects at Basa Air Base.

The tour will also provide an opportunity for these senior military officials to gain first hand knowledge of the bases’ potential for the development of key facilities to support humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations and modernization priorities of the AFP.

These activities underscore the continued partnership and collaboration between the Philippines and United States militaries in enhancing national defense capabilities, as well as the shared commitment to regional security and disaster response efforts.

Brawner and Aquilino’s visit signifies the commitment of both AFP and US Armed Forces to further strengthen cooperation, ensuring that both militaries are prepared and well-equipped to respond to evolving security challenges and humanitarian crises. Rex Anthony Naval

Groups launch alliance to halt, reverse mangrove forest loss

MORE than half of the country’s beach and mangrove forests have been lost to deforestation due to harvesting for wood and charcoal production, conversion to fishpond for aquaculture use, and the unbridled development in coastal areas that include dump-and-fill activities.

To halt and reverse this rapid rate of mangrove loss, Philippine-based environmental groups launched on Tuesday the Philippines Chapter of the Global Mangrove Alliance (GMA), a global alliance dedicated to the restoration of mangroves.

Often referred to as “fish factories” for their ability to facilitate the reproduction of fish and other seafood, mangroves are also considered lifesaving ecosystems because of the natural defense system they provide to communities against storm surges and tsunamis.

The latest forestry statistics—the 2021 Forestry Statistics of the Philippines prepared by the Forest Management Bureau (FMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)—reported that only around 301,400 are left of the country’s mangrove forests, a decline of slightly over 2,000 hectares compared to the 2015 mangrove forest cover estimated at 303,373 hectares.

Launched in 2018 during the World Ocean Summit by Conservation International (CI), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Nature Conservancy (TNC), Wetlands International, and World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the Global Mangrove Alliance (GMA) now includes over 30 member organizations that share the aim of scaling up the recovery of mangroves through equitable and effective expansion of both mangrove protection and the restoration of former mangrove areas. Jonathan L. Mayuga

projected to undertake coastal patrols along the country’s littoral waters and sealanes of communications, maritime interdiction, escort, surveillance and special operations, as well as humanitarian assistance and disaster response missions.

The Cyclones are a class of US Navy coastal patrol vessels consisting of some 14 ships and were constructed from 1992 to 1994.

These vessels weigh around 328.5 long tons and have a length of 179 feet, a beam of 25 feet, and a draft of 7.5 feet.

Their maximum speed is placed at 32 to 35 knots and they have a range of between 2,000 to 2,500 nautical miles.

Cyclone-class patrol vessels are armed with 25mm auto-cannons and several highpowered machine guns. Rex Anthony Naval

HOUSE EYEING OIL LAW TWEAKS TO EASE PRICES

Continued from A18

Moreover, Romualdez noted that the fuel being sold in the market at present is old stock or has stayed for months in the inventories or depots of oil companies.

“We want to hear from them what they can do to help in this kind of situation and if indeed they are willing to help at all because these oil price hikes have been a burden to our kababayans,” Romualdez said.

In times of economic hardship, the speaker said all stakeholders must find solutions to alleviate the plight of the people, including oil companies.

“I think it would be better if we helped each other soften the impact of these oil price increases because we want these products to be affordable. People have been bearing the brunt of this situation for a long time now,” Romualdez said.

“The government is not insensitive to the sentiments of our people, especially since this carries a domino effect on all products in the market. We all know that once the prices of oil rise, everything else shoots up, except the wages and salaries of our workers,” he said.

For her part, Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro welcomed the initiative of the House leadership to call oil companies into a dialogue on how to lower oil prices.

But more than the dialogue, it is imperative that Congress act now and expedite the approval of measures that would lower oil prices and again regulate the oil industry, she said.

Castro said Malacañang and the House leadership should certify these measures as urgent: House Bill 400 or the Lower Oil Price Bill; House Bill 3003 or the Renationalize Petron Bill; House Bill 3004 or the unbundling oil prices bill; House Bill 3005 or the centralized procurement of petroleum bill; and House Bill 3006 to regulate the downstream oil industry.

“These bills were first filed by Bayan Muna in the previous Congresses, and we hope that now they will finally be enacted to stop runaway oil prices,” said Castro.

“As can be seen, there are numerous House measures just waiting to be prioritized by Malacanang and the House leadership. This bill package, when made into law, can lower oil prices, cause a domino effect in lowering basic products and services, and at least alleviate the suffering of consumers,” said Castro.

In separate advisories last Monday, oil firms increased gasoline prices by P0.20 per liter and diesel prices by P0.40 per liter.

The price hikes announcement by Petron, Shell, Caltex, Total, Unioil, Phoenix, PTT, Seaoil, and Cleanfuel marked the 10th consecutive week of increases for diesel and kerosene and the ninth for gasoline.

These price adjustments resulted in a year-to-date net increase of P15.30 per liter for gasoline, P10.70 per liter for diesel, and P7.74 per liter for kerosene.

Movements in the world oil market affect local pump prices. Saudi Arabia and Russia have extended their oil export cuts by one million daily and 300,000 barrels per day, respectively.

Flooding in Libya after storm leaves 2,000 dead and thousands missing

By Samy Magdy The Associated

Coal plant costs Indonesia $1 billion in health loss every year, study says

By Norman Harsono

CLEANING up one coal power plant near Jakarta could save Indonesia nearly $1 billion each year caused by preventable deaths, medical bills and work absences, according to a study.

Using the best available technology to control the emissions from the Suralaya complex would net the country as much as 14.7 trillion rupiah ($960 million) in savings annually, while just enforcing national emission limits would save up to 2.6 trillion rupiah, according to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, or CREA.

Jakarta has been suffering the world’s worst air pollution in recent weeks. Officials are at odds over whether to point the blame on motor vehicles or coal plants, especially Suralaya due to its size and proximity to the city. That disagreement has led to a jumbled policy response that ranges from

work-from-home requirements, spraying water on the streets, giving out seedlings and weighing a pollution tax.

Suralaya, owned by state electricity firm

Perusahaan Listrik Negara, is one of the biggest coal power complexes in the country with 6,000 megawatts of capacity once it’s fully completed. Its emissions spread some 100 kilometers eastward to Jakarta, home to over 10 million people, contributing to “one of the most serious air pollution crises on the planet,” said CREA. A representative for PLN didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.

“The government of Indonesia should take more serious measures to tackle emissions from coal plants,” said Jamie Kelly, air quality analyst at CREA, in a statement.

“It is very important to enforce compliance with standards, implement best available technology, and ultimately replace them with renewable sources of energy as soon as possible.” Bloomberg News

The destruction appeared greatest in Derna, a city formerly held by Islamic extremists in the chaos that has gripped Libya for more than a decade and left it with crumbling and inadequate infrastructure. Libya remains divided between two rival administrations, one in the east and one in the west, each backed by militias and foreign governments.

The confirmed death toll from the weekend flooding stood at 61 as of late Monday, according to health authorities. But the tally did not include Derna, which had become inaccessible, and many of the thousands missing there were believed carried away by waters after two upstream dams burst.

Video by residents of the city posted online showed major devastation. Entire residential areas were erased along a river that runs down from the mountains through the city center. Multistory apartment buildings that once stood well back from the river were partially collapsed into the mud.

In a phone interview with station Monday, Prime Minister Ossama Hamad of the east Libyan government said 2,000 were feared dead in Derna and thousands were believed

missing. He said Derna has been declared a disaster zone.

Ahmed al-Mosmari, a spokesman for the country’s armed forces based in the east, told a news conference that the death toll in Derna had surpassed 2,000. He said there were between 5,000 and 6,000 reported missing. AlMosmari attributed the catastrophe to the collapse of two nearby dams, causing a lethal flash flood.

Since a 2011 uprising that toppled and later killed long-time ruler Moammar Gadhafi, Libya has lacked a central government and the resulting lawlessness has meant dwindling investment in the country’s roads and public services and also minimal regulation of private building. The country is now split between rival governments in the east and west, each backed by an array of militias.

Derna itself, along with the city of Sirte, was controlled by extremist groups for years, at one point by those who pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group, until forces loyal to the east-based government expelled them in 2018.

At least 46 people were reported dead in the eastern town of Bayda,

Abdel-Rahim Mazek, head of the town’s main medical center said. Another seven people were reported dead in the coastal town of Susa in northeastern Libya, according to the Ambulance and Emergency Authority. Seven others were reported dead in the towns of Shahatt and Omar al-Mokhtar, said Ossama Abduljaleel, health minister. One person was reported dead Sunday in the town of Marj.

The Libyan Red Crescent said three of its workers had died while helping families in Derna. Earlier, the group said it lost contact with one of its workers as he attempted to help a stuck family in Bayda. Dozens of others were reported missing, and authorities fear they could have died in the floods that destroyed homes and other properties in several towns in eastern Libya, according to local media.

In Derna, local media said the situation was catastrophic with no electricity or communications.

Essam Abu Zeriba, the interior minister of the east Libya government, said more than 5,000 people were expected to be missing in Derna. He said many of the victims were swept away towards the Mediterranean.

“The situation is tragic,” he declared in a telephone interview on the Saudi-owned satellite news channel Al-Arabiya. He urged urged local and international agencies to rush to help the city.

Georgette Gagnon, the UN humanitarian coordinator for Libya, said early reports showed that dozens of villages and towns were “severely affected... with widespread flooding, damage to infrastructure, and loss of life.”

“I am deeply saddened by the severe impact of (storm) Daniel on the country...I call on all local, national, and international partners to join hands to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to the people in eastern Libya,” she

wrote on X platform, formerly known as Twitter.

In a post on X, the US Embassy in Libya said it was in contact with both the UN and Libyan authorities and was determining how to deliver aid to the most affected areas.

Over the weekend, Libyans shared footage on social media showing flooded houses and roads in many areas across eastern Libya. They pleaded for help as floods besieged people inside their homes and in their vehicles.

Ossama Hamad, the prime minister of the east Libya government, declared Derna a disaster zone after heavy rainfall and floods destroyed much of the city, which is located in the delta of the small Wadi Derna on Libya’s east coast. The prime minister also announced three days of mourning and ordered flags across the country to be lowered to half-staff.

Controlling eastern and western Libya, Cmdr. Khalifa Hifter deployed troops to help residents in Benghazi and other eastern towns. Ahmed alMosmari, a spokesperson for Hifter’s forces, said they lost contact with five troops who were helping besieged families in Bayda.

Foreign governments sent messages of support on Monday evening. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the president of the United Arab Emirates, said his country would send humanitarian assistance and search-and-rescue teams to eastern Libya, according to the UAE’s state-run WAM news agency.

Turkey, which supports the country’s Tripoli-based government in the west, also expressed condolences, along with neighboring Algeria and Egypt, and also Iraq.

Storm Daniel is expected to arrive in parts of west Egypt on Monday, and the country’s meteorological authorities warned about possible rain and bad weather.

N. Korean leader Kim arrives in Russia before an expected meeting with Putin

By Kim Tong-Hyung The Associated Press

SEOUL, South Korea—North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arrived in Russia on Tuesday for an expected meeting with President Vladimir Putin that has sparked concerns about a potential arms deal for Moscow’s war in Ukraine, joined by top military officials in charge of nuclear-capable

weapons and munitions factories.

North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency said Kim boarded his personal train Sunday afternoon, accompanied by unspecified members of the country’s ruling party, government and military.

South Korea’s military assessed the train crossed into Russia sometime early Tuesday, Jeon Ha Gyu, spokesperson of South Korea’s Defense Ministry, said in a briefing without

elaborating on how the military obtained the information.

Officials identified in North Korean state media photos may hint at what Kim might seek from Putin and what he would be willing to give.

Kim Jong Un is apparently bringing Jo Chun Ryong, a ruling party official in charge of munitions policies who accompanied the leader on recent tours of factories producing artillery shells and missiles, said South Korea’s Unification Ministry.

North Korea may have tens of millions of artillery shells and rockets based on Soviet designs that could give a huge boost to the Russian army in Ukraine, analysts say.

Also identified in photos were Pak Thae Song, chairman of North Korea’s space science and technology committee, and Navy Adm.

Kim Myong Sik, who are linked with North Korean efforts to acquire spy satellites and nuclear-capable ballistic missile submarines. Experts say North Korea would struggle to acquire such capabilities without external help, although it’s not clear if Russia would share such sensitive technologies.

Kim may also seek badly needed energy and food aid, analysts say.

Kim’s delegation likely includes his foreign minister, Choe Sun Hui, and his top two military officials, Korean People’s Army Marshals Ri Pyong Chol and Pak Jong Chon.

Kim and Putin may meet in the eastern Russian city of Vladivostok, where Putin arrived Monday to attend an international forum that runs through Wednesday, according to Russia’s TASS news agency.

Putin’s first meeting with Kim was held in 2019 in the city, which is about 425 miles (680 kilometers) north of Pyongyang.

Russian news agencies quoted Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov as saying Putin and Kim will meet after the Vladivostok forum, but the reports didn’t specify when or where.

Peskov said the meeting would include a lunch in Kim’s honor.

Deputy foreign minister Andrei Rudenko said that Russia will inform South Korea about the meeting’s outcome upon request: “The South Koreans have an embassy in Moscow. If they want, we can provide them with the information we have.”

Kim Jong Un is making his first foreign trip since the Covid-19 pandemic, during which North Korea imposed tight border controls for more than three years.

Associated Press journalists near the North Korea-Russia frontier saw a green train with yellow trim similar to one Kim used during previous foreign trips at a station on the North Korean side of a border river on Monday.

US officials released intelligence last week that North Korea and Russia were arranging a meeting between their leaders.

According to US officials, Putin could focus on securing more supplies of North Korean artillery and other ammunition to refill declining reserves as he seeks to rebuff a Ukrainian counteroffensive and show that he’s capable of grinding out a long war of attrition. That could potentially put more pressure on the US and its partners to pursue negotiations as concerns over a protracted conflict grow despite their huge shipments of advanced weaponry to Ukraine in the past 17 months.

“Arms discussions between Russia and the DPRK are expected to continue during Kim Jong Un’s trip to Russia,” said White House National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson, using the abbreviation for North Korea’s official name of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. “We urge the DPRK to abide by the public commitments that Pyongyang has made to not provide or sell arms to Russia.”

State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Washington will monitor the meeting closely, reminding both countries that “any transfer of arms from North Korea to Russia would be a violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions,” and that the US “will not hesitate to impose new sanctions.”

Press

CAIRO—Mediterranean storm Daniel caused devastating floods in Libya that broke dams and swept away entire neighborhoods in multiple coastal towns in the east of the North African nation. As many as 2,000 people were feared dead, one of the country’s leaders said Monday.

The World Israeli Supreme Court hears first challenge to Netanyahu’s contentious judicial overhaul

By Isabel Debre

The Associated Press

JERUSALEM—Israel’s Supreme Court on Tuesday opened the first case to look at the legality of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s contentious judicial overhaul— deepening a showdown with the far-right government that has bitterly divided the nation and put the country on the brink of a constitutional crisis.

In a sign of the case’s significance, all

15 of Israel’s Supreme Court justices are hearing appeals to the law together for the first time in Israel’s history. A regular panel is made up of three justices, though they sometimes sit on expanded panels. The proceedings were also being livestreamed.

“It’s a historic day,” said Susie Navot, vice president of the Israel Democracy Institute, a Jerusalem think tank that has been critical of the overhaul. “This is the first time we’ve had this kind of hearing.”

Netanyahu’s coalition, a collection of

ultranationalist and ultrareligious lawmakers, launched the overhaul early this year after taking office. Proponents of the plan say the country’s unelected judiciary, led by the Supreme Court, wields too much power.

Critics say the plan to weaken the Supreme Court removes a key safeguard and will concentrate power in the hands of Netanyahu and his allies.

“We stand here today with millions of citizens to stop the government coup,” said Eliad Shraga, chairman of the Movement for

Quality Government in Israel, which filed the petition along with a handful of other civil society groups. “Together we will preserve Israeli democracy.”

Tuesday’s hearing puts senior justices in the unprecedented position of deciding whether to accept limits on their own powers. It focuses on the first law passed by parliament in July—a measure that cancels the court’s ability to strike down government moves it deems to be “unreasonable.”

Judges have used the legal standard in the

past to prevent government decisions or appointments viewed as unsound or corrupt.

The judicial overhaul—which opponents characterize as a profound threat to Israeli democracy—has infuriated Israelis across many segments of society, bringing hundreds of thousands into the streets to march at one protest after another for the past 36 weeks.

The protesters have come largely from the country’s secular middle class. Leading high-tech business figures have threatened to

relocate. Perhaps most dramatic, thousands of military reservists have broken with the government and declared their refusal to report for duty over the plan.

Netanyahu’s supporters tend to be poorer, more religious and live in West Bank settlements or outlying rural areas. Many of his supporters are working-class Mizrahi Jews, with roots in Middle Eastern countries, and have expressed hostility toward what they say is an elitist, secular class of Ashkenazi, or European, Jews.

Surge in August rice prices alarms PHL

THe latest data on food prices published by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) may have allowed a number of import-dependent nations to heave a sigh of relief. This is because FAO’s Food Price Index indicated that it averaged 121.4 points in August, down 2.1 percent from July and as much as 24 percent below its March 2022 peak (See “Global rice, sugar prices higher in August—FAO,” in the BusinessMirror, September 11, 2023). The Philippines and other rice-consuming nations, however, have reason to worry about the August figures, as rice and sugar prices were higher last month.

FAO’s Sugar Price Index went up by 1.3 percent from July, averaging in August as much as 34.1 percent higher than its value a year ago. The UN agency said the increase was mainly triggered by heightened concerns over the impact of the El Niño phenomenon on sugarcane crops, along with below-average rains in August and persistent dry weather conditions in Thailand.

More worrisome, however, is the rice price index in August, which recorded an increase of nearly 10 percent. The index reached 142.4 points, 31.2 percent above its year-earlier value and at 15-year nominal high. FAO noted in a separate report the price increases seen in August mostly concerned Vietnamese quotations, which rose due to a strong pace of exports and low stocks.

FAO said the most pronounced increase was registered in Vietnam – the country’s top source of rice imports—where quotations of 5 percent brokens overshot their July levels by $110 per ton to reach their highest level since July 2008. The average quotation for the 5 percent brokens in August nearly doubled to $614.30 per metric ton from $384.75 per MT a year ago. Year-to-date average of Vietnam 5 percent brokens reached $485.68 per MT, 21 percent higher than the 2022 average of $398.98 per MT.

Apart from concerns over El Niño, which could parch farmlands and cut rice output, FAO said the trade restrictions imposed by exporters, such as India weighed heavily on international quotations for the staple last month. Until these restrictions are lifted and output in rice-producing nations show significant improvements despite the spike in the cost of inputs, the price of imports would remain elevated. It did not help that India announced its trade restrictions at the start of the lean season for rice in the Philippines last July.

The chief of the World Trade Organization recently chastised western governments for embracing protectionist policies and shifting toward a power-based global trading system, according to a Bloomberg report on September 4. We urge the WTO to also train the spotlight on recent trade restrictions imposed by food exporters as these could imperil efforts to keep inflation in check and achieve the Sustainable Development Goal of eliminating hunger. The free flow of goods is crucial for importdependent nations that have relied on trade for many years to beef up their domestic food supply and improve their citizens’ access to affordable food.

Radiation contamination–the modern norm?

LITO GAGNI

ReceNTLy, the world has been abuzz with controversy over the August 24th discharge of treated radioactive water from Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, where a massive earthquake in March 2011 caused an accident that disrupted the operation of nuclear reactors. That discharge has elicited an alarming letter from a reader and we are paraphrasing here his take on the matter.

At first glance, the emptying of the contaminated water seemed completely cleaned from all harmful elements with the exception of tritium. And Japanese authorities assured everybody that the concentration of tritium will not exceed the permissible level for drinking water and this was backed by the IAEA. So there is no reason to worry?

So what then is the real purpose of London’s supply of controversial weapons? An opportunity to take advantage of free (or even beneficially for themselves) disposal of weapons that are not needed in their homeland? To cause maximum damage to the Slavic peoples? Or is it a desire to gradually accustom us to the idea that radiation contamination is the modern norm?

the water directly at the site,” so it is not yet possible to make an objective assessment of the concentration of radioactive elements and the real consequences of the discharge.

a strike by Russian precision-guided missiles on warehouses with British munitions in Khmelnitsky region of Ukraine, an increase in radiation levels was recorded.

quences and shifted it to Kyiv. For her part, Serbian Health Minister Danica Grujicic accused Britain and the Nato bloc of hypocrisy for their intention to use depleted uranium munitions in Ukraine.

Ambassador Antonio L. Cabangon Chua Founder

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But Japan’s neighboring countries have voiced their misgivings. Philip Sapozhnikov, a researcher at the Petr Shirshov Institute of Oceanology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, PhD in Biology, confirmed that tritium molecules are heavier than water molecules and therefore are unlikely to spread far, but rather will settle to the bottom of the ocean.

He also emphasized that “neither Russian nor Chinese experts have had the opportunity to analyze the content of radioactive elements in

In turn, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin responded to Japan’s statement about the suitability of water from the nuclear power plant for drinking and bathing by suggesting that they themselves use it for these purposes instead of pouring it into the ocean, causing concern among the world community. But apparently the Japanese do not want to take advantage of this opportunity.

London probably takes a similar position on the admissibility of partial radiation contamination of territories in cases when it is in the national interest. This can be confirmed by the UK’s supply of depleted uranium ammunition to Ukraine where in mid-May 2023, presumably after

By Courtney McBride

THe US cleared the way for $6 billion in oil proceeds to be returned to Iran and agreed to release five Iranians as part of a secretly negotiated deal that will clear the way for five American citizens detained in Iran to return home.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken notified Congress on Monday of a waiver that will let German, Irish, Qatari, South Korean and Swiss banks transfer the $6 billion from South Korea without fear of running afoul of US sanctions. He said the $6 billion would be held in restricted accounts in Qatar, where it will be “available only for humanitarian trade,” according to a copy of the notification. An Iranian government spokesman said earlier Monday that he expected the transfer of frozen funds to be completed in the “next few days.” The letter to Congress didn’t say when the prisoner exchange would take place.

Adrienne Watson, a spokeswoman for the White House National Security Council, said in a statement

that “what is being pursued here is an arrangement wherein we secure the release of five wrongfully held Americans. This remains a sensitive and ongoing process. While this is a step in the process, no individuals have been or will be released into US custody this week.”

American officials had announced the broad outlines of the deal in early August after Iran moved four US citizens from prison to house arrest. The American prisoners include Siamak Namazi, who has been held in Tehran’s Evin prison since October 2015.

At the time, US officials declined to describe details of the deal, saying that revealing more risked upsetting a delicate process that could still fall apart. They were also wary of acknowledging talks with a regime that

With that bombing the deterioration of the radiation situation was also recorded in the city of Lublin in eastern Poland near the Ukrainian border, where the normal concentration of bismuth exceeded 6-7 times. Bismuth is an isotope that is one of the decay products of depleted uranium. The next day, Polish authorities confirmed the jump in the concentration of bismuth in the air, but said that the situation had normalized, and the increase in the level of bismuth itself has nothing to do with the possible destruction of ammunition.

London, in turn, despite its statements that the transfer of depleted uranium shells was not contrary to international law, did not miss the opportunity to absolve itself of responsibility for the possible conse -

Adrienne Watson, a spokeswoman for the White House National Security Council, said in a statement that “what is being pursued here is an arrangement wherein we secure the release of five wrongfully held Americans. This remains a sensitive and ongoing process. While this is a step in the process, no individuals have been or will be released into US custody this week.”

has escalated human rights abuses and continues to supply weapons and other materiel to Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.

Blinken signed the waiver on Friday. A State Department spokesperson, who asked not to be identified, said the Biden administration isn’t lifting any sanctions on Iran or providing any sanctions relief as part of the deal.

Yet people familiar with the matter have said that the US and Iran

She recalled that this type of weapon was actively used during the bombing of Yugoslavia by the North Atlantic alliance countries. As a result, several generations of Serbs suffered from an increased incidence of leukemia and cancer, including among children. It has become clear that the UK’s supply of depleted uranium ammunition to Ukraine not only failed to change the situation on the battlefield in the confrontation with Russia, but also failed to significantly improve the combat capabilities of Ukraine’s armed forces. And looking at the reaction of the Western countries supporting Kyiv, no one expected to achieve such a result.

So what then is the real purpose of London’s supply of controversial weapons? An opportunity to take advantage of free (or even beneficially for themselves) disposal of weapons that are not needed in their homeland? To cause maximum damage to the Slavic peoples? Or is it a desire to gradually accustom us to the idea that radiation contamination is the modern norm?

It seems that no one will give us an answer to these questions. It is obvious that silence on this problem can lead to much more harmful consequences for all mankind in the future, perhaps even irreversible.

have been engaged for months in tentative and secretive diplomacy that’s seen the two sides inch toward an informal understanding under which Tehran would free the Americans and potentially impose limits on its nuclear program.

It’s all part of a broader effort by the Biden administration to restore at least some of the restrictions Iran agreed to under the terms of a 2015 nuclear deal, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. President Donald Trump quit that agreement in 2018. Republicans and some Democrats in Congress have been critical of the Biden administration’s bid for new diplomacy with Iran, saying it will only encourage the regime to jail more Americans and press ahead with its nuclear development. Iran denies that it has any plan to acquire a nuclear weapon.

Watson of the National Security Council said “we have kept Congress extensively informed,” including with additional briefings already scheduled for this week. with assistance from Jordan Fabian / bloomberg

By Sam Metz & Mosa’ab Elshamy | The Associated Press

tAFEGHAGHtE, Morocco—His dead relatives have been dug out and buried, but the remnants of Musa Bouissirfane’s former life are still trapped under rubble and dust in the ruins of the mud-brick Moroccan village of tafeghaghte.

“It’s incredibly challenging to lose your entire family and all your possessions,” Bouissirfane said as tears welled in his eyes in the community less than a two-hour drive from Marrakech. “We have lost everything— our homes, our livestock and all our possessions.”

Less than a week ago, he was excited about his daughter starting second grade. Now he’s mourning her death. Far from ambulances and authorities, villagers could not retrieve her body for more than 14 hours, until Saturday afternoon. The earthquake also killed Bouissirfane’s mother and father and a niece. His wife is hospitalized in an intensive care unit.

The toll of the massive earthquake that killed more than 2,800 people was on stark display Monday in remote villages such as Tafeghaghte, where more than half of the 160 inhabitants are thought to have died, including the four in Bouissirfane’s family.

Bouissirfane joined with other survivors as they worked to clear debris and recover the dead. They toiled in a scene of horror: Bulldozers dug through dust and rubble hoping to find a body. The air in parts of the village was filled with the stench of dead cattle. People warned each other not to walk near the few buildings that remained standing because they looked like they could topple at any moment.

“God save us,” said Khadija Babamou, a resident of nearby Amizmiz who came to Tafeghaghte to check on relatives. As her eyes panned around the remnants of the village, she covered her mouth and began to cry while gripping her sister.

Also Monday, Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch met with King Mohammed VI and gave his first public remarks since the earthquake. The prime minister said the North African country was committed to funding rebuilding.

Although Tafeghaghte has received food and water, it needs much more.

“Residents lack the means to purchase even a single brick,” said Bouissirfane, who is living in a tent and has only the change in his pocket.

The efforts in Tafeghaghte mirrored those happening across the disaster zone as Moroccan soldiers, non-governmental organizations and teams sent by Spain, Qatar, Britain and the United Arab Emirates arrived to assist with rescue efforts and immediate needs.

So far, Moroccan officials have accepted government aid from approved non-governmental organizations and just four countries —Spain, Qatar, Britain and the United Arab Emirates. Officials say they want to avoid a lack of coordination that “would be counterproductive.”

That approach differs from the one taken by the government in Turkey, which made an international appeal for help in the hours following a massive quake earlier this year.

The leader of one of several rescue teams waiting across Europe said Moroccan authorities may remember the chaos that unfolded after a smaller quake in 2004, when international teams overwhelmed the airport and the damaged roads into the hardest hit areas.

Rescuers Without Borders’ founder Arnaud Fraisse told The Associated Press he is withdrawing the organization’s offer to send nine people to Morocco because “our role is not to find bodies.”

Homes crumbled into dust and debris, choking out the air pockets

that might allow some people to survive for days under rubble.

“People are generally suffocated by the dust,” Fraisse said. The United Nations estimates that 300,000 people were affected by the magnitude 6.8 quake, which was made more dangerous by its relatively shallow depth.

Most of the destruction and deaths were in Al Haouz province in the High Atlas Mountains, where steep and winding roads became clogged with rubble leaving villagers to fend for themselves.

Ibrahim Wahdouch lost two young daughters and two other family members. He said Tafeghaghte resembled a war zone.

“There’s not shooting but look around,” he said.

Those left homeless—or fearing more aftershocks—have slept outside in the streets of the ancient city of Marrakech or under makeshift canopies in devastated towns like Moulay Brahim.

State news agency MAP reported that bulldozers and other equipment are being used to clear routes. Tourists and residents lined up to give blood. In some villages, people wept as boys and helmet-clad police carried the dead through streets.

More help could have quickly poured into Morocco with the government’s permission. Fraisse said about 100 rescue teams—with roughly 3,000 rescuers in total— are registered with the UN to help.

“It’s their responsibility. They can do what they want,” Fraisse said, referring to Moroccan authorities. “They didn’t call. So today we think it’s no longer necessary for us to go there, because we won’t do effective work.”

A Spanish search-and-rescue team arrived in Marrakech and headed to the rural town of Talat N’Yaaqoub, according to Spain’s emergency military unit. Britain sent a 60-person search team with four dogs, medical staff, listening devices and concrete-cutting gear.

France, which has many ties to Morocco and at least four of its citizens among the dead, said Moroccan authorities are evaluating proposals on a case-by-case basis.

French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna said Morocco is “the master of its choices, which must be respected.” She announced 5 million euros ($5.4 million) in emergency funds for Moroccan and international non-governmental groups rushing to help survivors.

French towns and cities have offered more than 2 million euros ($2.1 million) in aid, and popular performers are collecting donations.

The quake had a preliminary magnitude of 6.8, according to the US Geological Survey. A total of 2,681 people were confirmed dead, with nearly 1,600 of them from the hardest-hit Al Haouz province, the Moroccan Interior Ministry reported.

Nearly all the dead have already been buried, the government reported. More than 2,500 people were injured.

Morocco’s deadliest quake was a magnitude 5.8 temblor in 1960 that struck near the city of Agadir, killing at least 12,000. It prompted Morocco to change construction rules, but many buildings, especially rural homes, are not built to withstand such shaking. Associated Press journalists Mark

Carlson

Tafeghaghte,

My two cents on rice: All importations should be published

Dr. Jesus Lim Arranza

MAKE SENSE

First of all, let me say that PBBM made the right decision in putting a price ceiling on rice just when prices are starting to skyrocket. When you have an emergency problem, you need an emergency solution that is, of course, only temporary.

Our people should be in a better position to purchase rice at a lower price. For the retailers that may incur losses, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has a subsidy plan for them.

Now let me bring forward my suggestion that I believe will greatly help the government in preventing unscrupulous importers and traders from manipulating the rice market.

Henceforth, all rice importation should be published, including information on who the importer is, the consignee, date of importation and arrival, the designated warehouses, and volume. The importers, meanwhile, should be required to submit records of their sales, dealers, and market.

These pieces of information

should be made public and the importers should not be allowed to invoke privacy or trade secrets. The government gave them the privilege to import rice, so there should be no impediment to publishing these pieces of information as a matter of public interest, especially in times of emergency and crisis.

Do we need an enabling law for this? I don’t think so. The President and even the agencies concerned like the Bureau of Customs, Department of Agriculture (DA) and DTI can readily issue orders to implement this using the Price Act and Consumer Act as mandates to stop illicit trade practices, particularly profiteering and hoarding.

The problem right now is, raids have been made in warehouses con-

taining rice that have been stored for months already, but there was no report yet on who are the traders behind these apparent hoarding schemes.

All importations pass through the Bureau of Customs. So if there is no record at the BOC, then that shipment is automatically illegal and therefore can be confiscated by the government. However, if the customs has records on a particular rice shipment, then the BOC should be able to get hold of the import documents in a day’s time and there’s already a reckoning as to how long the rice stocks have been staying in the warehouses. In both instances, records or lack thereof can be ascertained in one week, maximum.

I have also seen videos and photos of the presence of empty sacks of locally branded rice in warehouses. What do they intend to do with these empty bags? Do they plan to transfer the much-cheaper imported rice to these sacks and sell them as locally grown so they can yield more profit?

Right now, rice stocks that would be found in warehouses beyond one month should be deemed suspicious already. The people are suffering and yet you’re still taking your sweet time storing your rice supply? In times of crisis, if you don’t let go of your rice inventory in one month, that could

be a case of hoarding and speculation. The government should look at the option of confiscating these rice stocks, especially those that have no clear records as to the owners, and distribute them to Kadiwa centers or retailers as a form of subsidy.

Of course, we want traders to profit also; but not at the expense of the people in emergency situations. Besides, having a big inventory is not good for business because it means money is not flowing. Normally, businesses would want faster turnover of inventory, unless, of course, they are preparing for something that will bring in bigger margins than the usual cycle.

I am appealing to importers and traders, let us help the administration and our people weather this rice crisis.

We are lucky to have a government that reacts immediately to problems and comes up with firm decisions that show political will.

Of course, these actions will only be effective if supported by the public and other stakeholders.

Dr. Jesus Lim Arranza is the chairman of the Federation of Philippine Industries and Fight Illicit Trade; a broad-based, multisectoral movement intended to protect consumers, safeguard government revenues and shield legitimate industries from the ill effects of smuggling.

Over 100 VIPs attend UN screening of documentary on Russia’s siege of Ukrainian city of Mariupol

By Edith M. Lederer | The Associated Press

UNitED

NAtiONs—More

than a hundred ambassadors, journalists and representatives of a broad spectrum of society watched a UN screening Monday evening of the awardwinning documentary “20 Days in Mariupol,” which follows a trio of Associated Press journalists during russia’s relentless siege of the Ukrainian port city in the early days of the war.

UK Ambassador Barbara Woodward, who co-hosted the screening, said the film is important because “Russia’s invasion of Ukraine threatens what the UN stands for: an international order where the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries is fundamental.”

“We want to reaffirm our commitment to UN values, and that’s why we’ve chosen to show this very important documentary,” she said in welcoming the audience at UN headquarters in New York.

The screening comes at the start of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly and a week before world leaders arrive for their annual meeting, where the more than 18-month war in Ukraine is expected to be in the spotlight—especially with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy scheduled to speak in person for the first time.

The harrowing documentary, which was produced by the AP and the PBS series “Frontline,” is culled

from 30 hours of footage AP journalist Mstyslav Chernov and his colleagues shot in Mariupol following Russia’s February 24, 2022, invasion of Ukraine and its siege of the city. It documents fighting in the streets, the crushing strain on Mariupol’s residents and medical teams, and attacks that killed pregnant women, children and others.

The siege, which ended on May 20, 2022, with the surrender of a small group of outgunned and outmanned Ukrainian fighters at the Azovstal steel plant, left the city in ruins and an estimated 25,000 people dead, though the toll is likely higher.

The US ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the other co-host, said “20 Days in Mariupol” documents “the horrors of [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s war of aggression.”

“We’re here tonight to bear witness, to bear witness to these horrors and to reaffirm our commitment to justice and peace,” she said. “We must

continue to hold Russia to account for its atrocities. We must continue to support the Ukrainian people in their time of need.”

The AP’s reporting from Mariupol drew the Kremlin’s ire, with its UN ambassador, Vasily Nebenzia, falsely claiming during a Security Council meeting in the siege’s early days that photos showing the aftermath of a missile strike on a maternity hospital were staged.

“I wish the entire Russian mission were here to watch this film,” said Ukraine’s UN Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya, who attended Monday’s screening. Kyslytsya said he believes the documentary is so powerful and important that it will still be shown 50 years from now.

AP Senior Vice President and Executive Editor Julie Pace called the documentary “a testament to the power and impact of eyewitness journalism,” stressing that without it, “the world would not have known the atrocities that took place.”

“To have the film screened at the United Nations as the UN General Assembly gets underway underscores the importance of fact-based journalism on a global scale,” she said. “It’s crucial that we safeguard both the ability of a free press to cover the world’s most important stories and the public’s ability to view this type of fact-based reporting.”

“20 Days in Mariupol” won the Sundance Global Audience Award for Best Documentary and several other prizes. Chernov was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service along with photographer Evgeniy Maloletka, producer Vasilisa Stepanenko and Paris-based correspondent Lori Hinnant for their “courageous reporting” on Mariupol.

Chernov delivered a video welcome from the field in Ukraine, wearing a helmet and telling the audience that he sometimes feels powerless as a journalist because he can’t change things.

“I can only make sure that as many people as possible will see what I saw… know about what happened in Mariupol and will never forget about it,” he said. “What was happening in Mariupol is happening right now to other Ukrainian cities, in this moment, and it unfortunately will be happening tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow, until the war is stopped.”

Raney Aronson-Rath, editorin-chief and executive producer of “Frontline,” called it “deeply meaningful” to have the opportunity to screen the documentary at the United Nations. She said the producers continue to share the film around the world to give audiences the opportunity to “bear witness to the atrocities that Ukrainians have endured.”

FDA approves updated Covid vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna

By Madison Muller

US regulators approved updated versions of the Covid-19 vaccines made by Pfizer Inc. and Moderna Inc. on Monday as hospitalizations tick up in a late-summer surge of the virus.

“The public can be assured that these updated vaccines have met the agency’s rigorous scientific standards for safety, effectiveness and manufacturing quality,” said Peter Marks, director of the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research.

The vaccines are approved for those 12 and older, and are authorized under emergency use for those 6 months and up. A different vaccine made by Novavax Inc. is currently under review with the FDA for use in ages 12 and up, according to a statement from the company.

On Tuesday, health experts will meet to discuss recommendations for using the new vaccines. The Biden

administration has said it intends to make the new vaccines available by mid-September. Pfizer expects its shot to be available in coming days, CEO Albert Bourla said in a statement.

“This decision comes at a time when Covid-19 cases are once again climbing,” Bourla said.

For these shots to reach the public, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has to make an official recommendation, which could come as soon as Tuesday.

In June, US health officials told drugmakers to reformulate shots in time for fall that would protect against the XBB.1.5 subvariant that accounted for about 40 percent of Covid infections at the time.

Pfizer and Moderna have both said their updated shots protected against EG.5, currently the most widely circulating variant, in early studies. However, a newer variant, called BA.2.86, has more than 30 mutations on its spike protein, rais-

ing some initial concerns that the new vaccines would be less effective. Both companies have said their vaccines also increased antibodies to the BA.2.86 strain in studies.

Those early findings—and others showing that antibodies from prior infection and vaccination still offer protection against BA.2.86—are reassuring, the CDC said on September 8.

“Preliminary data from laboratory studies from multiple investigators suggest similar antibody activity against BA.2.86 as compared to other currently circulating viruses,” the CDC said on its website, adding that additional studies are ongoing.

Hospitalizations rising

COVID hospitalizations were up 16 percent from the week prior, according to data for the week ending August 26. Deaths were up by 11 percent.

It is too soon to say whether the new variants are causing the up -

tick in severe cases, experts said. But it’s unlikely that BA.2.86 is to blame. Hospitalizations haven’t increased significantly in regions of the country where the new variant is being detected, said Abraar Karan, an infectious disease expert at Stanford University. The current Covid wave could peak by November, or even earlier, according to research from analysts at Jefferies. That’s because early evidence suggests the BA.2.86 variant isn’t highly transmissible like the original Omicron strain.

Still, more people are susceptible to Covid right now because of fading immunity from vaccines and infections, as well as the emergence of new variants with more mutations, said Andy Pekosz, an immunologist at Johns Hopkins University. Deaths and hospitalizations are primarily still concentrated in high-risk populations, such as the elderly and immune-compromised, he said. Bloomberg

Earthquake robbed Moroccan villagers of almost everything–loved ones, homes and possessions

in

Morocco; Houda Benalla in Rabat, Morocco; John Leicester, Angela Charlton, Elaine Ganley in Paris; Jill Lawless in London; Karel Janicek in Prague; and Jeffrey Collins in Columbia, South Carolina, contributed

September 13, 2023

High inflation won’t derail bid for investments–Neda

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

In a press briefing in Dubai, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan said the country’s 6 to 7 percent growth target remains intact despite the 5.3-percent inflation posted in August. He said the low end of the growth target remains attainable.

In terms of investment, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Deputy Governor Francisco G. Dakila Jr. said while Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) are expected to slow to $9 billion this year, their prepandemic level of $11 billion next year can be recovered.

“FDIs are usually long-term commitments of  investors. So they look at not only the short-term considerations, but the long term,” Bali -

sacan said.

“Inflation is a short-term thing. And if you look at the last 12 years, what we had was quite a stable price regime, policy, financial regime and monetary regime,” the Neda chief added.

Balisacan said the past 12 years have also seen the country battle high inflation, citing 2014 when the El Niño phenomenon caused prices to average 3.6 percent, using the 2018 based Consumer Price Index (CPI).

However, based on Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data, using the 2006-based CPI, the average inflation rate in 2014 was at 4.1 percent and peaked at 4.9 percent in June and July 2014.

“Those were triggered by shocks (which) are usually supply shocks, typhoons, droughts, and this will settle down pretty soon, so investors normally don’t take a look at those short-term things for FDIs. They look at the long-term potential of the country,” Balisacan said. Sustaining the country’s economic performance, however, would require “pushing backlogs” particularly in infrastructure and government’s efforts to implement its programs and projects.

The Government Final Consumption Expenditure (GFCE) in the second quarter contracted 7.1 percent, the lowest since the first quarter of 2011 when it contracted 15 percent.

Part of reversing this trend is the P8.71-trillion Build Better More program, of which a number of projects are expected to see faster implementation in the second half of the year.

The government said this will allow the country to play catchup with its neighbors in achieving faster economic growth and higher incomes for all Filipinos.

Part of this infrastructure push is “a massive investment in ag -

HOUSE EYEING OIL LAW TWEAKS TO EASE PRICES

riculture” which, Balisacan said, includes building irrigation facilities and farm-to-market roads to facilitate logistics and extension services. This will also help ease the country’s inflation woes.

“The whole game is to raise productivity because by raising productivity, you can reduce your dependence on imports and you can get your food cheaper than would otherwise be the case if productivity is low,” Balisacan said.

Earlier, successive typhoons caused commodity prices to surge in August, with vegetables like tomatoes and the country’s staple, rice, leading the charge to increase inflation to 5.3 percent, according to the PSA.

The poorest Filipinos experienced an even higher rate of inflation at 5.6 percent as food inflation for the bottom 30-percent income households at the national level moved at a faster pace of 7.7 percent in August 2023 from 6.1 percent in July 2023 and 7.1 percent in August 2022.

THE House of Representatives will invite officials of the country’s oil companies to address the impact of these recent oil price increases, including possible amendments to Republic Act 8479, or the Downstream Oil Industry Deregulation Act of 1998, which “tied” the government’s hands in bringing down the prices of oil.

Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez made a statement following the continuous increase in the price of oil for several straight weeks.

Romualdez said they will invite officials of the country’s oil companies—big and small—to find a solution or compromise by giving motorists a respite.

According to the Office of the Speaker, a meeting between the House of Representatives and oil companies is planned for next week.

The House leader hinted at a review of pending bills amending the oil deregulation law as a necessary step towards bringing down the prices of oil.

“It is common knowledge that oil companies still sell supplies bought at lower prices before the costs of crude oil in the world market increased. Maybe

we can ask them not to raise the price,” the Speaker said.

“This is one of our problems, the Oil Deregulation Law that contributed to the high prices of petroleum. It ties our hands. We don’t want to impose on them (oil firms), but we also want to know if they can help alleviate our suffering,” he said.   Romualdez noted the high prices of oil per barrel in the world market, which have been dictating rates in the domestic supply, aside from the Oil Deregulation Law that tied the government’s hands.

There are several bills pending in Congress calling for amendments to RA 8479.

In response to the changing times, Marikina Rep. Stella Luz Quimbo said the government needs to update its policies so that it is sufficiently capacitated to prevent and prosecute criminal practices that hamper competition and promote unfair trade in the oil industry.

In her House Bill 494, Quimbo said RA 8479 should be amended to ensure transparent pricing of oil products as well as a means for the government to step in when the price of oil becomes too high.

However, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and Neda remain confident that the country’s inflation rate will slow to 2 to 4 percent by the last quarter of 2023. Continued on A13

HIGH inflation will not dampen the country’s growth prospects and efforts to become a major investment destination in the region, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda).

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

Wednesday, September 13, 2023

SEC directs Holcim parent firm to conduct tender offer

By VG Cabuag @villygc

holderfin, which is taking holcim private, has been directed by the SeC to conduct the second round of its tender offer in 20 calendar days from the receipt of such order, or by September 28.

“The company was informed that

holderfin intends to conduct the second tranche on the same terms and conditions as the tender offer which opened on 10 July 2023 and ended on 30 August 2023,” holcim’s disclosure read.

holderfin made a tender offer be -

tween July 10 and August 30. It offered to buy holcim shares at P5.33 each, a 38-percent premium over the closing price of P3.87 on June 29.

The SeC wants holderfin to offer the same terms to holcim minority shareholders who failed to participate in the initial tender offer. Around 5 percent of holcim shares are still held by minority stakeholders.

“holderfin has sought clarification on whether the conduct of the second tranche is without prejudice to the consummation and payment for the shares tendered in the first tranche and the conduct of the shareholders’ meeting scheduled on 22 September 2023,” the disclosure read.

After the first tender offer, the public float of holcim dropped to 5.05 percent, below the 20-percent

minimum requirement of the Philippine Stock exchange (PSe). Unless the public float requirement is met within a certain period, a company is forced to delist from the PSe

In June, holderfin decided to purchase from Sumitomo Osaka Cement Co. Ltd. of 594.95 million common shares and representing 9.22 percent of holcim’s issued and outstanding capital stock.

The Sumitomo transaction was done through a block sale within the facilities of the PSe on June 29. After completion, the minimum public float of holcim Philippines fell to just 5.05 percent.

Post-acquisition, holderfin’s total shareholdings in holcim rose to 27.33 percent from 18.11 percent. Based on its public ownership report as of March 31, holcim’s public float was at 14.27 percent.

ERC revisits revised draft CSP

By Lenie Lectura @llectura

The energy Regulatory Commission (eRC) is fleshing out the details of the revised draft competitive selection process (CSP) guidelines after industry stakeholders raised concerns over the proposed rules during a recent public consultation.

“We have a commission meeting today. We will tackle that during our meeting because we are targeting to release the new draft within the week. After which, we will have another public consultation next week so that by the end of September we can finalize the guidelines,” eRC Chairperson Monalisa Dimalanta said Tuesday on the sidelines of the Giga Summit organized by the Meralco Power Academy.

She said the agency is currently reviewing 3 “contentious issues” raised during the public hearing-the proposed imposition of fixed energy price, a longer power supply contract term than the proposed 10 years, and the consistency of the proposed guidelines with that of the Department of energy’s (DOe) circular on CSP.

The Manila electric Co. (Meralco), for instance, argued that mandating a fixed energy price will result in higher electricity cost since it will drive power suppliers to include in their offered rates the risk of nonrecovery costs, or to avoid tenders because of such risk.

“Thus, said proposal is not aligned with the policy objectives of ensuring the least pricing of generation rate charged to the captive market; promoting fair competition by providing equal opportunity to all eligible and qualified suppliers to participate in the power supply procurement process; and encouraging the development of greenfield power projects to provide additional power generation capacity,” said Meralco First Vice President and h ead Regulatory Management Jose Ronald Valles.

Dimalanta said Meralco raised a “very valid” point, saying the agency is “open to revising that.”

“That one I think we can really offer a solution that will be helpful to everyone.”

She also said her office is not deviating from the DOe ’s CSP policy and that the eRC is not proposing guidelines that are not covered by the existing policy on competitive auction.

“The stakeholders raised the con-

sistency with the DOe department circular because, as they correctly pointed out and we are mindful of that, when its policy, it should be DOe that should establish the policy then eRC will enforce. So we’re going through the draft again on the points that they have mentioned,” said Dimalanta.

The third debatable issue is the maximum contract term of 10 years. Meralco said the ideal power supply agreement (PSA) should be valid for a maximum of 20 years.

Valles said regulations involving PSAs should primarily be in keeping with the policies to ensure the lowest possible cost and additional supply in the grid for the long term. he said long-term PSAs should be allowed given the moratorium on power plants fueled by coal and the DOe ’s recognition that natural gas will be developed as transition fuel.

“In fact, Meralco has received offers to extend its existing PSAs with brownfield plants, but still with contract term of at least about 15 years to allow competitive rates. Based on experience, no greenfield project has a contract term of only 10 years, unless the developer and lender can arrange for recovery over such period only, with shorter recovery period translates to increase in electricity prices,” Valles said.

however, Dimalanta said she does not believe that prices will increase if the contract term is limited to 10 years.

“Not necessarily. The DOe policy, as you know, has already adopted an auction system for R e [renewable energy] so for long term R e, it’s the DOe auction—the Green energy Auction Program [Ge AP]—that addresses that, 20 years,” said Dimalanta.

“Since there’s a coal moratorium, there are no more new coal power plants that will come in. What’s left would be the existing plans, the existing coal that will contract and the R e [projects] that are not part of the Ge AP or not FIT [Feed-in-Tariff]. So, we said, if that’s the remainder of the suppliers that we are looking at, maybe we don’t need the CSP as the mechanism for long-term contracting because it’s the DOe program that will address the long-term contracting for that.”

The CSP is the process wherein a power supplier is chosen to supply the electric power requirements of a distribution utility through transparent and competitive bidding. This method of procuring power supply contracts is considered a level playing field.

B1

Ayala unit keen on developing more RE projects in Indonesia

ACeN Corp., the listed energy platform of the Ayala Group, is exploring a partnership with another Indonesian renewable energy (R e) developer.

ACeN’s subsidiary, ACeN Indonesia Investment holdings Pte. Ltd, and PT Dewata Megaenergi signed last September 8 a shareholders’ deed to develop R e projects in Indonesia by establishing a joint venture platform, PT Dewata ACeN Renewables Indonesia.

“The platform will explore potential renewable energy projects within Indonesia,” ACeN said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Tuesday.

When sought for more details, ACeN said the partnership is still in the exploratory stage and that the planned power generating capacity for the R e projects—wind, solar, and battery system—has yet to be determined with the new partner.

Last month, ACeN signed a joint venture deal with the Puri Usaha Group to also develop R e projects in Indonesia.

PT Trisuya Mitra Bersama, a member of the Puri Usaha Group, and AC eN Indonesia Investment holdings Pte. Ltd., a subsidiary of ACeN, entered into an investment agreement and shareholders’ agree -

ment for their joint venture company, PT Puri Prakarsa Batam. They will focus on large-scale solar power plants, battery energy storage system and green hydrogen projects.

ACeN made its first regional expansion in Indonesia in 2017 through a deal with UPC Renewables Indonesia Ltd. to develop the $150-million, 75-megawatt (MW) wind power project in Sulawesi.

The South Sulawesi wind project, which started operating in March 2018, is ACeN’s first greenfield offshore investment through its affiliate AC energy International holdings Pte Ltd., a Singapore private limited company.

ACeN has about 4,400 MW of attributable capacity from owned facilities in the Philippines, Australia, Vietnam, Indonesia and India, with a renewable share of 98 percent, which is among the highest in the region.

The company intends to be the largest listed renewables platform in Southeast Asia, with a goal of reaching 20 GW of renewables capacity by 2030. It is also committed to transition the company’s generation portfolio to 100 percent R e by 2025 and to become a net zero greenhouse gas emissions company by 2050. Lenie Lectura

The South Sulawesi wind project in Indonesia. Photo from www.acenrenewables.com

The Securities and exchange Commission (SeC) has asked holderfin B.V., the parent company of cement maker holcim Philippines Inc., to hold another tender offer for the minority shareholders of the listed firm.

PHL to showcase exports, investment opportunities in China-Asean expo

THE Philippines continues to strengthen foreign export and trade relations as it brings local micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) front and center at the China-Asean Expo (CAEXPO) 2023 to be held in Nanning, China from September 16 to 19, 2023.

The Philippine delegation is led by the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), the export promotions arm of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). A mix of exhibitors, including food and beverage manufacturers, home and lifestyle enterprises, and banking and travel companies, will be carrying the country’s banner at the Chinabased expo.

A welcome highlight to this year’s Philippine participation in CAEXPO is the introduction of Tuguegarao City as the country’s esteemed “City of Charm.” The city will open its doors to various investment ventures and potential partnerships with national government agencies and direct foreign investment. The city is focused on generating growth in its priority sectors, such as agriculture and agribusiness, tourism and hospitality, healthcare and medical services, education and research, and manufacturing and logistics.

The CAEXPO 2023 Philippine participants can readily capitalize on the unique identity and quality of their product offerings. Eng

Cosmetics entrepreneur reaps success amid Covid challenges

Seng Food Products prides itself as the first exporter of durian, which is now gaining popularity in China and other products such as fresh young coconut, and fresh frozen coconut meat and water.

With the ever-growing demand for healthy natural ingredients in many of today’s consumer digests, local exhibitors Brics Ventures brings to the table a wide range of turmeric-based drinks; while a visit to Soyuz Foods International Inc. offers calamansi concoctions.

Meanwhile, visitors can find OneAsia Trader and Raspina Tropical Fruits Inc. with their crop and fruit-based buffet of condiments, ingredients, and snacks consisting of (dried/frozen) banana, coconut, durian, and pineapple among others. Seafood is also available courtesy of Dataj Aquafarm Inc.’s fresh and frozen shrimp packs.

CITEM Executive Director Amb. Edward L. Fereira, PhD underscored the long-term benefits to local companies as a result of this international exposure to export and investment opportunities. He is confident that the Philippines stands to further fortify its remarkable history and trade relations with China by promoting itself as a reliable sourcing destination of quality commodities through the marketing efforts of local exhibitors at the event.

A total of 15 exhibitors are on hand for the four-day event.

By Roderick L. Abad @rodrik_28

MQ Cosmetics is one of them, with its inspiring tenacity and success to withstand this global health malady—thanks to its founder’s determination and innovative marketing strategies.

Rising from pandemic

THIS start-up business was established by Maria Joycenyl E. Reyes, also known as MQ, during the difficult times of this global health emergency.

A former employee of a franchise company, she became jobless at the onset of the pandemic and struggled to provide for her family.

This, however, did not deter her strong desire to make a difference and support her loved ones. So she decided to change her fate on her own.

Do you need to reinvent yourself?

Her passion for what she does shines through in every aspect of MQ Cosmetics. The journey she took that brought her business to where it is at the moment is a proof of the power of resilience and determination.

From being a struggling employee to becoming a successful entrepreneur and influencer, she has proven that with hard work and perseverance, dreams do come true.

Combining her penchant for makeup with her entrepreneurial spirit, MQ ventured to create her own brand.

As a headstart, she looked for manufacturers and rebranded existing products to make them her own.

Like any business newbie, MQ Cosmetics also has a fair share of various challenges along the way, including product leakage and low sales.

Nevertheless, she remained determined and kept on pushing forward. Her turning point was when she discovered the power of social media, particularly TikTok.

MQ begun creating videos showcasing her products. To her surprise, they quickly gained traction as the videos went viral and people started queuing up to buy her products

Moving forward

online. This overwhelming turn of events had MQ Cosmetics experienced pent up demand, with sales reaching six digits in just a short period of time.

Growth drivers

THE beauty industry is a tough one. What sets MQ Cosmetics apart is not just the quality of its products but also the personal touch and dedication that Reyes puts into her business.

Amid the challenges confronting her enterprise, she consistently promotes her brand and maintains the trust of her customers.

NOT merely a beauty brand, MQ Cosmetics is a symbol of hope and inspiration for those who aspire to make a difference in their own lives.

As the company continues to progress, Reyes remains committed to providing high-quality products that empower individuals to express their unique beauty.

She envisions MQ Cosmetics as a brand that not only beautifies and enhances physical appearance, but also boosts confidence and self-esteem of every Filipina.

To learn more about MQ Cosmetics and its range of products, visit www.mqcosmetics.com or follow it on social media @mqcosmetics

Coach Lex

LATELy I hear a lot of veteran sales professionals commenting that “selling is no longer the same as before,” claiming that it’s now more challenging to compete in today’s marketplace. And they bounced off various reasons for saying so—increased competition, fastpaced technological advances, changing lifestyles and shifting customer preferences, to name a few.

Almost always, the question that follows these discussions is this: “Do I need to reinvent myself?” But this is a question that is not answerable by a simple yes or no. you need to weigh your options as you recognize key market change currents.

Here’s a quick guide for you.

Four key market change

Cu RRENTS Increased competition. There seems to be a rise in the number of people venturing into the business of selling immediately following the pandemic. This increase may be attributed three things—people encouraged to sell online during the lockdowns, those who saw that selling can be a good way to augment income, and those who got used to the workfrom-home setup and opted not to go back to the office.

Hence resulted to more people competing in the marketplace, whether as full time entrepreneurs or as part-time sellers.

Technological advances. Technology has never been more expeditiously promoted than today. Almost every transaction now is done online or through an app on our phones. And these things are updated very quickly. A decade ago, a simple website will help promote your business.

But nowadays, you also need to be active in other social media platforms in order to put your products, services and advocacy out there. And the new generation of sellers, who were born and raised with technology, are the ones who are currently making waves in today’s marketplace.

But remember, participating in these platforms is one thing, getting noticed is another.

Changing lifestyles. The pandemic also ushered a different kind of lifestyle, or at the very least helped pushed it. People became more conscious about their well-being, and convenience and fear are taking center stage in people’s buying motivations.

As such, our society embraced technology to a point where devices, apps and automated online systems are now woven into the very fabric of our daily lives.

Look around—most meetings are now done

online and people became more acquainted with online transactions. And currently, working beyond agreed hours, and on weekends and holidays is now an even more delicate issue.

Welcome to the new normal!

Shifting customer preferences . Increased choices, technological advances and changing lifestyles may result to shifting customer preferences. However, the shift is more likely a result of the compounding impacts of these factors, which led to shorter attention span. We tend to get distracted easily as we get hooked with our various devices. yes, we are now experiencing technological addiction. And that makes selling even more challenging. How do you get the attention of someone who’s attention is short-lived in a fast-paced marketplace where everyone gets distracted easily?

So given this backdrop, do you need to reinvent yourself? Not necessarily. If your only concern is on keeping up with the market, then perhaps you can amplify your sales and marketing strategy by expanding your reach and adjusting your pitch. Expanding your reach involves marketing to more people, extending into other markets, and adapting to new sales platforms. While adjusting your pitch refers primarily to enhancing your message including product features and messages, taking into account the present-day lifestyle and the continuously shifting customer preferences along with their primary buying motivations. However, if your concern is about market relevance, then perhaps this is indeed the time to evolve and reinvent yourself.

Create the appropriate brand for you and your company (and products) that your desired market will find relevance with. Relevance is key to getting noticed amidst a potpourri of various others that compete for time and attention. Consider the following questions as you proceed with reinvention.

Are you marketing to the right people at the right time? Are you actually marketing it the right way and at the right time? Are your products and services addressing the right needs, concerns and problems of your desired market? And since we already know that people are easily distracted, strategize on how you can become a “positive distraction” to help them stop for a while and think positively about your proposition.

RISING from the pandemic, more Filipinos are searching for alternative means to make both ends meet for their families. Putting up a business through a loan with adjustable settlement options and lower repayment fees is the best option to do so.

“At Tala, we make earning opportunities more accessible to underestimated people, especially those who are microentrepreneurs, by providing flexible repayment terms that best meet their income cycles and help them fulfill their financial goals,” said Tala Senior Director and Global Customer Experience Operations Iona Iñigo-Mayo.

“We want to give confidence to our customers to manage their finances by fostering a more inclusive environment through our fair, quick, and reliable products and services,” she added. English as a second language teacher Eds Esguerra could attest to the online lender’s initiative to level the economic playing field in the country by giving the underestimated with secure and affordable access to credit.

To augment her family’s income, she is running her kojic soap business and starting her online kimchi shop at the same time. Always wanting to continue her online soap trade, however, she had no capital to start.  Good thing there’s Tala that she was immediately allocated P1,000 with which she paid the tuition fee of one of her three children. With its flexible credit repayment options, borrowers like her can achieve their ambitions of putting up their own businesses and budgeting their household finances.   The same holds true for Jean Villar. A former grocery store cashier who had to quit her job following an accident that injured her husband, she managed to set up her own junk shop and grow her ice candy and ukay-ukay side businesses to finance their family’s expenditures. Again, with the help of Tala, Villar was able to expand their entities while helping them settle their monthly bills and food expenses.  May Mondejar has turned her passion for cooking to open a thriving small food business. Tala’s efficient approval process, not to mention its dependable and easy-to-use app, al -

repayment fees

lowed her to grow her credit line. It lowers repayment fees for those who settle their credit earlier than their actual repayment date allow consumers like her to not only source basic ingredients for her food entity in the wet market but also to finance her business’ outsourcing delivery services.

The lender is committed to uplift the lives of ordinary people, such as Esguerra, Villar and Mondejar. IñigoMayo shared that the company will continue to maintain its integrity by constantly complying with govern -

ment and industry regulations and by upholding fair and transparent practices that put customers’ well-being at the top of its priority.

“Tala’s trusted collections standards and transparent pricing ensure our customers of the security of their transactions and their repayment amount with no hidden fees,” she said.

To date, the online loan provider has given more than 40 million in credit totaling more than $4 billion to over 8 million people across three different continents, including the Philippines.

Contributor

THE Covid-19 pandemic may have caused a lot of pains, especially to those who got ill or lost their loved ones from this dreaded disease, but there are also beautiful stories that came out of this most challenging crisis of the 21st century.

Tala allays microentreps’ fears of indebtedness with flexible terms and lower

JOBLESS-TURNED-BUSINESSWOMAN Maria Joycenyl E. Reyes is all smiles showing beauty stacks ordered from her pandemic-resilient enterprise MQ Cosmetics.

TALA’S lower repayment fees have helped teacher Eds Esguerra to scale up her aloe vera soap business and establish her online kimchi shop.

FORMER grocery store cashier turned microentrepreneur Jean Villar partners with Tala that allows her to have more financial independence and manage her own junk shop.

Solon calls out cash-flushed DOF for stinginess in social protection

By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie

High T-bonds’ yields push back BTr from raising ₧30B

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

Treasury was unable to raise the full programmed amount from its T-bonds auction.

Camarines Sur Rep. LRay F. Villafuerte said on Tuesday he is perturbed that Finance Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno “appears to be working in cross-purpose with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in wanting to scrimp on social protection programs.”

In a statement, Villafuerte cited DOF’s move to cut funding for cash transfers and free college education, which are actually designed to help vulnerable sectors escape poverty amid the sticky elevated inflation and the economic scarring caused by the pandemic.

“I am perplexed by Diokno’s seeming predilection of late for underspending on social protection programs, as this is anathema to

President Marcos’s avowed commitment to accelerate poverty reduction and leave no Filipino behind in his government’s agenda for post-pandemic high and inclusive growth,” the lawmaker said.

“The last thing we would have expected this budget season from Malacañang is for the head of no less than the President’s economic team to bat for anti-poor measures like spending cutbacks in cash transfers like the 4Ps and in the free college tuition program,” he said.

In fact, Villafuerte said, Diokno’s views flout Budget Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman’s explanation about the proposed 2024 General Appropriations Act (GAA) of P5.768 trillion. Pangandaman has said that

the Marcos administration is actually “increasing social protection measures to ensure that no one is left behind.”

The budget secretary cited, for example, that under the proposed 2024 budget plan, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is getting a higher budget of P112.84 billion for education and health grants and rice subsidies for 4.4 million households; P49.81 billion to double the monthly allowance of over four million indigent senior citizens; P19.97 billion for protective services for individuals and families in difficult circumstances; and, P5.62 billion for its Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP).

Meanwhile, Villafuerte cited the eight tax proposals would reap revenues. These proposals include an excise tax on sweetened beverages and junk food, which is expected to raise P272.39 billion over the 2024–2026 period and the value-added tax (VAT) on digital service providers with an expected P90 billion in revenues.

Other proposals are: an excise tax on single-use plastics, which is expected to raise P20.9 billion; a tax on pre-mixed alcoholic beverages, P1.23 billion; the removal of the excise tax exemption on pickup trucks, P19.26 billion; the Motor Vehicle Road User’s Tax bill, P46.8 billion; a new fiscal regime for the mining sector, P38.63 billion; and, the Passive Income and Financial Intermediary Taxation Act (Pifita) bill, P3.53 billion.

According to Villafuerte, lawmakers expect Malacañang’s push for hefty increases in social protection programs in next year’s 2024 national budget plan.

Diokno had proposed a review of Republic Act (RA) 10931 (Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act) because this law on free college education was unsustainable and a waste of public funds in light of the high college dropout rate.

Diokno was also quoted in reports last month that the DOF sees a “gradual and progressive decline” in the state budget for the 4Ps and other social protection measures, as the poverty rate is supposedly on the decline and that the Philippines is on track to soon achieve upper middleincome status with an average annual income of about P252,000.

Diokno has also announced that the Marcos administration is reviewing the various social protection programs of agencies like the DSWD, the Departments of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Transportation (DOTr), Agriculture (DA) and Education (DepEd), with the goal of making these programs “more targeted, effective, adaptable and costeffective” for the government.

Villafuerte said that more social protection programs are needed amid the ever-spiraling cost of goods, as the Philippines has emerged as the most vulnerable to rising food and energy prices among Asia’s emerging markets.

Asset manager sees BSP starting rate cuts mid-2024

THE Philippine central bank may start slashing its policy interest rates by mid-year of next year in line with the movements of the US Federal Reserves (Fed), an official of Sun Life Asset Management Co. Inc. (Slamci) said.

Slamci Head of Equities and Global Market Funds Michael Adrian Vergara said the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) would continue to track the actions of the Fed when it comes to cutting the country’s policy interest rates.

“It is really a matter of managing the peso... of managing liquidity within our market. So, if we think that the Fed would potentially cut—I think consensus is looking at maybe next year—I would expect the BSP to

move around that fulcrum,” Vergara said in a news briefing on Tuesday during SLAMCI’s latest investment portfolio launch.

“They tend to move together. So, I would look at the middle of next year as the starting point or at least the basis for that,” he added.

Last month, the Monetary Board decided to again maintain its key policy rates, the third pause since May 2023, in the hopes that the third time could work as a charm for the economy and the inflation print.

The Monetary Board decided to keep the interest rate on the BSP’s overnight reverse repurchase facility at 6.25 percent. The interest rates on the overnight deposit and lending facilities were also retained

Pagcor warns vs fake online gaming sites

THE Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) warned the public from accessing fake online gaming sites that try to “mislead” them that they are connected with legitimate licensed offshore gaming in the country. Pagcor Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco said on Tuesday that the fake online gaming sites pose risks to the public’s personal and financial information.

Tengco added that Pagcor has already endorsed the results of investigation and monitoring of dubious websites to pertinent agencies such as the Philippine National Police, Department of Information and Communications Technology and the National Bureau of Investigation.

“So far, we have been able to shut down most of these illicit websites; but some of them are able to immediately create new ones so we really need the public’s cooperation and vigilance to help us weed out these scammers,” he said in a statement on Tuesday.

Tengco said Pagcor is also sustaining its efforts and engagements with law enforcement agencies and electronic payment service providers in exploring the possibility of blocking payments made to and from illegal gambling websites.

“In coordination with the NTC (National Telecommunications Commission), we will also continue to follow up on illegal sites that have not been blocked or taken down,” he said.

“Another option is to create a landing site to redirect bettors to a website that will warn them about illegal sites that they are accessing,” he added.

To combat the proliferation of illegal gambling in the country, Pagcor continuously coordinates with various law enforcement agencies, Tengco has said last July. It has instituted reforms to address Philippine offshore gaming operators that have been recently associated with crime, money laundering and corruption, he added.

Tengco said Pagcor has canceled the contract entered by the previous Board with a third-party auditor for offshore gaming operations and has introduced new fees and imposed heavy fines and penalties to Licensees and Service Providers found to be engaged in criminal activities. Furthermore, accreditations were suspended and canceled and Licensees were held responsible for the conduct of their Service Providers.

Despite these, gross gaming revenue of online gaming operations is projected to reach P24 billion by the end of this year, more than double last year’s P11 billion.

“We shall undertake this painstaking process to weed out the unscrupulous companies and individuals using the Pagcor license for illegal activities, tainting the name of the whole industry and most especially the Philippines,” Tengco said. Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

at 5.75 percent and 6.75 percent, respectively.

In a related development, Slamci launched last Tuesday its “Prosperity World Income Fund” (WIF) that seeks to attract Filipinos in investing in a fund that it said has both income and growth potential.

Slamci Head of Strategic Development and Training Dino S. Macasaet said the WIF, a feeder fund, provides investors with a monthly cash income payouts in the short term while having a capital growth in the long term.

Macasaet noted that the WIF could have an annual dividend yield of 4.5 percent to 5.5 percent per annum.

Macasaet explained that 90 per-

cent of the WIF would be invested in the BlackRock Dynamic HighIncome Fund, which in turn would invest the money in cash and derivatives, equities, dividend-paying stocks, and high-yield bonds, among others.

Filipinos can invest in the WIF for as low as P10,000 with additional investments in the increment of P1,000.

“When markets are tough, regular payouts can help you get by while waiting for your principal [investment] to grow. Investing in incomepaying funds allows you to receive dividends and at the same time there is a potential growth of your investment,” Macasaet said.

Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

Crowdfunding portals given SEC recognition

By VG Cabuag @villygc

THE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has empowered crowdfunding portals to act as registrars of qualified institutional and individual buyers, as it ramps up efforts to boost the capital market.

Previously, only the traditional financial intermediaries have been authorized to act as registrars under the implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act (RA) 8799 (Securities Regulation Code).

The agency has issued SEC Memorandum Circular 12 (series of 2023) providing amendments to Section 39.1.4.1 of the implanting rules and regulations.

The amendment appends funding portals registered under SEC MC 14 (series of 2019), or the Rules and Regulations Governing Crowdfunding, to the list of authorized registrars, provided they have applied and complied with the registration requirements of the SRC IRR.

A funding portal is an intermediary which facilitates transactions involving the offer and sale of crowdfunding securities through an online electronic platform.

The primary purpose of a registrar is to evaluate the qualifications of a natural or juridical person in their application as qualified buyer. It also maintains and makes available for inspection by the agency’s representatives a registry book of qualified buyers, which is a similar

HIGHER relative yields hindered the national government from borrowing a whole P30 billion from the domestic market through its tender of Treasury bonds (T-bonds) despite improving market conditions.

The Bureau of Treasury (BTr) only awarded P9.9 billion or about 33 percent of the P30 billion programmed amount for the auction on Tuesday.

Rizal Commercial Banking Corp.

Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said the average yield for the tender was slightly higher than the previous auction held by the Treasury for the government security with the same tenor. Ricafort said this was most likely the cause behind the partial awarding by the Treasury.

The reissued T-bonds, which had a remaining life of six years and 10 months, fetched an average yield of 6.37 percent versus the 6.328 percent rate recorded in the previous tender of government security with the same maturity last July.

The partial award marks the second consecutive week and the second time this month that the

And it happened despite the average yield of 6.37 percent, was lower than the comparable secondary market benchmark level of 6.42 percent. Investors sought yields from 6.365 percent to 6.373 percent during Tuesday’s tender.

Ricafort said T-bonds’ yields eased as a result of the temporary price ceiling on rice and the proposed reduction on rice import tariffs as part of the government’s efforts in curbing inflationary measures.

“Also amid recent signals that the BSP’s inflation target of 2 percent to 4 percent could still be achieved in the first quarter of 2024 (from as early as November-December 2023) despite higher rice and oil/petroleum prices recently,” he said.

“The 7-year T-bond auction yield was also relatively lower after the peso exchange rate was still relatively stronger recently at 56.70; among the strongest in a week and better versus the P56.99 posted on September 7,” he added.

Nonetheless, Tuesday’s auction was oversubscribed with demand reaching P57.8 billion, nearly two times the programmed amount.

Self care for business care

WE work so hard for our businesses and profession that oftentimes we neglect the most important asset of the business: Us.

Business executives and owners are oftentimes so thinly spread that they forget to take care of themselves. They neglect to include in their everyday list a time to exercise, to have quiet times and pray and meditate and even just a few minutes of “me-time.” When they get sick, they realize they had completely neglected their health because they were so focused on their businesses. They care more for their business or work than caring for themselves.

A good reminder is that when business owners and executives are taking care of themselves, they are taking care of their business. It is not just a once-a-year long vacation but an everyday habit incorporated in one’s schedule. If we take good care of our offices and our other assets— including our cars and homes—we should have the same maintenance not only for our body but also for our mind and soul.

These acts of self-care do not only benefit oneself but the business as well. It helps us be more productive, have a more cheerful disposition and aid us in making the right decisions. A healthy mind, body and soul are good assets to the company or any businesses.

diseases and diabetes.

To combat such unhealthy lifestyle, business executives should be intentional in carving out time for exercise and planning a more nutritious meal. If it is really difficult to have time for the gym, a 20-minute walk outside the office every day is better than nothing.

I am trying to go back to the gym nowadays. For the past 20 years or more, gym has been a part of my routine. But I stopped for two years during the pandemic. I got a personal coach to help me back on the proper exercises not just to reduce weight but more on strengthening my muscles. It will be such a waste if all those years of strengthening and toning my muscles had gone for naught.

function already exercised by crowdfunding intermediaries that registered to act as registrar of qualified buyers.

As such, the registrar’s functions will complement the current functions of a crowdfunding intermediary. By being listed as an authorized registrar, crowdfunding intermediaries and funding portals will no longer be reliant on third party institutions to assist potential investors with their application as qualified buyers.

“Recognizing crowdfunding portals as eligible to act as registrar of qualified buyers will facilitate the process for qualified investors in accessing alternative investment opportunities, without the need to reach out to several different institutions,” SEC Chairman Emilio B. Aquino said.

“This is in line with our efforts to encourage more people to tap alternative sources of funding and investment, as we seek to unlock the full potential of the Philippine capital market,” Aquino said. Micro-sized, small-scale and medium-sized enterprises could raise up to P50 million capital within a 12-month period from the investments from qualified buyers.

The SEC has been pitching crowdfunding as a source of capital for MSMEs and start-ups through nationwide roadshows. It has already completed stops in Davao, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Zamboanga, Iloilo, Manila, and Tarlac-Clark, with more to be conducted in Baguio, Legaspi and Tacloban for the rest of the year.

I saw videos about these people living up to a hundred and some even working in their 90’s. They are not affected by dementia. They can still walk. And their teeth and bodies are still as strong as ever.

I may not live up to that age but certainly many of us, if not all, would want to have a good quality life when we reach old age and continue to work on something we love to do. An example is Barbara Taylor Bradford who continue to author books at her 90’s!

We want to look forward for longer years and not confined in a wheelchair or be bed-ridden and helpless.

But we cannot have that kind of quality of life if we do not prepare just as we prepared our businesses. While we are still alive, we must be good stewards of our body, mind and soul. Taking time for our personal relationships like having fun times with the family, loved ones and friends are not only good for the body but for the mind, body and soul as well.

Company executives are at risk of heart diseases. According to data from the Mayo Clinic, 73 percent of chief executive officers (CEOs) live a sedentary lifestyle. They sit in their offices the whole day and eat in a hurry without proper nutritional choices because of long hours and sporadic schedules of work. Likewise, 40 percent of CEOs are obese, which is a major risk factor for heart

As one grows older through the years muscle mass and strength are also reduced and worse, is the onset of muscle atrophy primarily caused by the natural aging process. Scientists believe though, that being physically active and eating a healthy diet can significantly reduce the chances of having such occurrences. People are more prone to osteoporosis and arthritis as they grow older and even younger people who are not in their 50’s can experience these diseases. These disabilities are usually caused because one’s muscles deteriorate and lead to death because of the inability to walk and move around.

A quiet time to pray or meditate and a quiet mind plus a good sleep will mean a more productive executive, too. This will not only result to a happy executive but an executive full of creative juices to make the right decisions.

Annual physical examinations are not just an optional thing to do but a must for executives. These examinations will enable one to have an insight on their over-all health conditions and take steps to reduce health risks.

It is an important thing too to have a good team support which you can delegate your work.

Remember caring for yourself is caring for your business.

A

senior lawmaker said there is no reason for government to be stingy on social protection programs because the Department of Finance (DoF) itself expects a revenue windfall in raising P455.9 billion between 2024 and 2026 from the list of revenue measures the agency endorsed for congressional approval.

Resolving conflict in your team

World no. 1 eye care brand now available in PHL

tAkinG care of your eyes in the modern world isn’t easy: screens everywhere, eye-straining activities at work and at home, outdoor elements and more present difficult challenges. How is anyone supposed to get relief from minor eye discomforts? Rohto (www.rohtoeyedrops.com. ph), the no. 1 eye care brand in the world, is now available in the Philippines. As a Japanese brand that’s known for its innovative products with signature cooling sensation, Rohto is bringing in the first-ever cooling eye drops in the country with Rohto Cool eye Drops to deliver instant and effective relief from dry, irritated, or itchy eyes. it comes with Cooling Level 5 to introduce a fun and refreshing way to rejuvenate your eyes and provide them a soothing cool boost of comfort with each drop.

Use it whenever you experience eye-strain symptoms after long exposure to digital screens, or after you’re exposed to irritants like smog, dust, wind, sun glare, and chlorinated water. it’s also good to have it handy to keep you awake if you’re embarking on a long drive, or to prevent dry eyes whenever you’re staying in air-conditioned places like your office. if you’re looking for something with a gentle moisturizing formula, try out Rohto Aqua eye Drops that also provide instant and effective relief from the same minor eye discomforts. Both Rohto variants effectively retain natural tears and moisture in the eyes to prevent eye surface dryness, deliver oxygen and nutrients to the cornea, wash out dust and debris from the eyes, and prevent bacteria and other germs from entering to give you all-day comfort. they can also be used even if you’re wearing contact lenses. in fact, the eye drops offer a moisturizing protective veil that makes removing the lenses easier even after a long day.

the benefits of the eye drops are not limited to their instant and effective cooling and moisturizing relief—they are also extremely safe to use. With over 100 years of experience producing and marketing eye drops and the no. 1 eye care brand in the world, Rohto is committed to maintaining superior formulation and high safety standards, backed by the credibility and expertise of Rohto Pharmaceutical Japan. the brand has developed a patented nozzle that allows you to effortlessly apply the eye drops from any angle—a stark contrast to typical containers that require tilting at a 90-degree angle for the droplets to fall.

it’s recommended to use Rohto Cool and Aqua eye Drops five to six times per day. Apply 1 to 2 drops per eye each time you use it to get instant and effective relief.

experience the cool difference and make eye care a part of your daily habit with Rohto, now available at Watsons Online shop and at a Watsons store near you for P175 each.

AS with any other office, conflict is inevitable because people have different personalities and ways of working. Naturally, people gravitate to people who are similar to them and shun those who are different. In the workplace, people are also driven by different motivations and those who get in their way can trigger them to react negatively. These are growing pains and expected especially when the team is new, or in the process of adapting to changes in the organization. Conflicts are indicators of where you can help to ensure the team works smoothly together. There are ways you can reduce conflict so it does not become a full-blown altercation. You can do this by being sensitive to disagreements within your team and keeping your ear to the ground for any possible trouble. An effective way of doing this is getting to know your team well by setting regular coaching sessions with them and understanding their motivations. As soon as you think that a conflict might happen between two parties, step in and take steps so it does not escalate into something more serious. But if it does, the following tips can help you manage it to a full resolution.

Talk with both parties involved in the conflict. Your role is to identify what caused the conflict and not who caused it. Talk to them separately so you can learn as much as you can about the incident. Make sure you talk to them privately where they feel safe, and they can express themselves in confidence. This will make them become more candid about what happened, and they will have the space to regulate their emotions. Talking to them in private will also keep them away from the rest of the team who might be curious as to what happened. Make sure you get both sides to the incident and ask as many details as needed to identify the root cause of the conflict.

Actively listen and try to identify why they are reacting the way they do. Sometimes, the source of the conflict is not work-related but a clash of personalities. Try looking at the situation from different perspectives so you can have a better understanding of what caused the conflict. When listening, you need to carefully observe their choice of words, reactions, and how they perceive the person they are in conflict with because what they think about a person shows in their words and actions. You also need to learn the art of listening between the lines and understand what is not being said. It takes good questioning skills and knowing how to read people to discover what people are actually saying. Similarly, be careful with your own choice of words because you might not be aware that you are imputing blame on someone through your words. You need to be as impartial as you can so that you will

continue to be respected, and both parties will listen to you on how to resolve their conflict. Both parties need to know and feel that you have their best interest at heart. If they do not trust you to be impartial, they will withhold information which could be useful in resolving the conflict.

One of the ways you can become impartial is to focus on what both parties did, how they behaved, and the resulting effect on the team. As much as possible, ask questions to understand as much as you can about the incident. From the details, you can work on a set of information common to both parties. Use the common fact base as a springboard for discussing what happened and come to an agreement on how to avoid the conflict in the future. When both parties agree on what happened, it is easier for them to work on a solution both of them can also agree on. Do not bring up unrelated past actions and failures into the discussion. If the behavioral issue is recurring and continues to be the source of conflict, you need to talk separately to the person to coach them and have concrete action plans. But if the conflict is unrelated to past actions, do not bring them up. Treat the conflict as a separate event and work on how to avoid it. Whether you like it or not, you will have biases against your team members. You need to be aware of these biases so you can take deliberate steps that will not cloud your judgment.

After understanding where each party is coming

Community pantry-inspired exhibit recognized in Prague festival

THE 2023 Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design and Space (PQ), one of the leading international theater and stage design festivals in the world, recognized the community pantry-inspired installation of the Philippines with the Intercultural Exchange in Student Exhibition Award.

Themed RARE, this year’s PQ explored the ideas, approaches and materials that connected the human with the environment. It studied the unique raw realities which artists build. Amid the uncertainties and changes, it challenged hundreds of creators from across the globe to harness their imagination and envision a post-pandemic theater and world.

Guided by this, the students, faculty and administrators from the School of Arts, Culture and Performance (SACP) of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB), as lone representatives from the Philippines, brought the Filipino culture of kapwa and bayanihan to the streets of Prague.

Titled Magbigay ayon sa kakayahan, kumuha batay sa pangangailangan (Give what you can, take what you need), their winning entry was a makeshift community pantry borrowed from the viral movement initiated by Ana Patricia Non in 2021.

It is a direct nod to the original Maginhawa bamboo food cart which served as a receptacle of mutual aid in response to the struggles brought about by the lockdowns. The installation featured fruit baskets, canned goods, sachets of powdered milk and coffee, as well as some familiar Filipino snacks.

It likewise included Pinoy household staples as well as huge multi-colored umbrellas often seen on food stalls.

In the citation by PQ, they said that “this exhibition skillfully brought people together in a joyful intercultural exchange of ‘knowledge’ and ‘gestures

of care’ and reminded us of the importance of holding space for one another in a world that’s in desperate need of compassion.”

The exhibit was curated by production design chairman Ellawyn Cruz and arts management chairman Alain Zedrick Camiling. Design collaborations included Theater Arts educator Joaquin Aranda, Design Foundation chairman Hershey Malinis, Theater Arts chairman Tuxqs Rutaquio, and SACP Dean Magdalena de Leon.

The project was made possible with the support from the Philippine Embassy in Prague, Czech

Republic; National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA); and Metrobank Foundation together with several individual sponsors.

PQ 2023 was conducted at the Holešovice Market, the National Gallery and The Academy of Performing Arts in the capital city of the Czech Republic.

In 2019, DLS-CSB’s interactive installation Passing Through: Lines and Borders, which spoke of the politics of migration and mobility, took home the Award for Imagination under the Student’s Exhibition Category. They were the sole Philippine representative during the 2019 PQ.

from and the root cause of the conflict, work on a resolution and how to avoid it from happening again. This can include setting a scope and limitation to one another’s work, agreeing on the rules of engagement when both parties have to work together, and to identify which behaviors are considered acceptable or inappropriate. This can help both parties on how to move forward and establish protocols when working together. You can also provide a mechanism when both parties disagree. This way, they can professionally work together with less friction.

As the people manager, consistently follow through on what has been agreed on and enforce the agreements especially when one or both parties veer away from the agreed protocols. Remind them of the agreements and if new issues arise, help them adopt a solutions-based approach to the conflict. If they manage to avoid conflict without your intervention, this indicates they have managed to find a way to work together effectively, which is the ultimate goal of working as a team.

Even if conflicts are normal, this does not mean there should always be conflict in your team. Just as much as you help them resolve their conflict, your team needs to develop their own way of resolving conflict by themselves. As your team collaborates, they will eventually find ways of working together with less friction. As a leader, you facilitate the change, but they have to want it for themselves. n

MALACAñAnG BACks

WitH Malacañang’s determined push, government agencies intensify their efforts to complete the Clark Multi-specialty Medical Center (CMsMC) during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s term.

in a meeting in Manila last september 5, top officials of the Clark Development Corp. (CDC), Bloomberry Resorts and Hotels inc., Bloomberry Cultural Foundation inc., Provincial Government of Pampanga, Department of Health, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor), and Archion Architects convened to advance the completion of the CMsMC.

Health secretary teodoro Herbosa chaired the meeting and discussed key aspects like space requirements, architect Dan Lichauco’s plans from Archion Architects, and the streamlined funding documentation. executive secretary Lucas P. Bersamin mandated regular progress reports from these agencies, due every thirty days.

the Provincial Government of Pampanga, under the leadership of Governor Dennis Pineda and vice governor Lilia Pineda, in collaboration with Pagcor, headed by chairman Alejandro tengco, and CDC, led by president and CeO Atty. Agnes Vst Devanadera, are among the prime movers in facilitating the completion of the CMsMC.

A presidential directive dated July 17, 2023, was issued to ensure the timely completion of the CMsMC.

it can be recalled that President Marcos personally led a briefing and site inspection of the project on July 17, 2023. He underscored the importance of bringing quality healthcare services closer to the Filipino people through the establishment of additional primary, tertiary, and specialty health facilities. in a Malacañang press briefing on July 4, 2023, Herbosa announced that CMsMC will align with executive Order no. 19 by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. However, this order is undergoing revision to expand the medical center’s scope, including specialized centers for heart, kidney, pediatric, cancer, and trauma care. CMsMC’s completion will bring comprehensive medical services, reducing the necessity for Central and northern Luzon patients to seek specialized healthcare in Metro Manila, according to Herbosa.

On-site exhibition team with the Philippine embassy in Prague officials (from left) co-curator Alain Zedrick Camiling, H.e. Philippine ambassador eduardo Martin R. Meñez, design collaborator Hershey Malinis, co-curator ellawyn Cruz, design collaborator Jose Joaquin Aranda, and honorable Philippine minister and consul general indhira C. Bañares. PHOTO BY GLEA SAUNAR

Café Rizal at Rizal Park Hotel Unveils Irresistible P999 Sunday Buffet Deal

CAFE Rizal, the buffet restaurant of Rizal Park Hotel, is thrilled to announce an exciting promotion for the month of September. Every Sunday, families are invited to savor a sumptuous lunch buffet from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm for an incredible price of just P999.

This extraordinary Sunday Savings offer is the perfect opportunity for friends and families to gather and create cherished memories while relishing an array of delectable dishes expertly prepared by the restaurant’s culinary team. Delight in a diverse selection of mouthwatering dishes that cater to every palate. The buffet spread includes an assortment of appetizers, salads, entrees, and desserts. From succulent roast meats to fresh seafood, vibrant salads, and decadent desserts, there’s something to please every discerning taste bud.

And for the young guests, Cafe Rizal presents a delightful DIY Cupcake Station. Let your kids unleash their creativity as they decorate their own cupcakes with a variety of toppings, creating sweet treats that are as fun to make as they are to eat.

“We wanted to offer our guests an exceptional dining experience at an unbeatable value,” said Samantha Paz, Managing Director, Rizal Park Hotel. “Our Sunday Savings Buffet is the perfect way for families and friends to

come together and enjoy a memorable meal in a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere.”

Cafe Rizal is renowned not only for its culinary excellence but also for its commitment to creating an inviting and comfortable environment for its patrons.

The Sunday Savings Buffet is yet another example of Cafe Rizal’s dedication to

Hiroshi Wellness Healthcare Solutions: Pioneering Health, Happiness in the PHL

providing outstanding hospitality.

This Sunday promo is available only on September 3, 10, 17, and 24 so don’t miss this opportunity. Reservations are highly recommended to secure your table for this fantastic family dining experience. To make a reservation or for more information, please call 09177113926.

IN a world where health and well-being are becoming increasingly paramount, one company stands at the forefront of innovation and customer-centricity in the Philippines and that is Hiroshi Wellness Healthcare Solutions. Under the visionary leadership of CEO Elpidio Ortiz-Capito Jr., Hiroshi Wellness envisions a future where all individuals can lead happy, satisfied, fit, and healthy lives through their health and wellness gadgets.

Founded in August 2018, Hiroshi Wellness has rapidly gained prominence in the country as a leading provider of massage gadgets and alkaline water purifiers. With seven strategically located branches across Metro Manila and nearby provinces, the company has made its mark in delivering quality, affordable, and health-friendly gadgets that cater to the diverse needs of its ever-growing customer base.

Hiroshi Wellness’ unwavering mission is to propagate health and wellness awareness through their health and wellness gadgets, emphasizing the importance of a healthy mind and body as the foundation of a fulfilling life. Guided by strong corporate objectives, including honoring God in all their endeavors, pursuing excellence in every aspect of their business, and ensuring effective and sustainable growth, the company has earned the trust and loyalty of countless customers.

At the core of Hiroshi Wellness’ product lineup lies its focus on massagers and therapy equipment. With a firm belief in the power of therapeutic massage, the company has provided an array of cutting-edge gadgets designed to cater to various health concerns. From muscle relaxation and pain relief to stress reduction and improved blood circulation, Hiroshi Wellness’ massagers have become go-to solutions for those seeking comfort and relief in their daily lives.

Caravan Food Group is named the 30th Apolinario Mabini Employer of the Year for the Small Company Category

AT the 30th Apolinario Mabini Awards, Caravan Food Group Inc., (CFGI) was recognized with a Manuel V. Agcaoili Award or Employer of the Year Award for the Small Company Category at the Heroes Hall, Malacanang Palace, last July 18, 2023. This ceremony was organized by The Philippine Foundation for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled with its Audrey Tan-Zubiri as its Awards Committee Chairperson. This prestigious award giving body was named after the country’s renowned hero, Apolinario Mabini or the Sublime Paralytic who gave inspiration during the Philippine revolution despite being diagnosed with polio. It aims to recognize individuals, groups, and agencies that

create outstanding contributions for persons with disabilities and to further acknowledge the disabled community as productive members of the society.

Caravan Food Group Inc. (CFGI) bagged the award for continuing to provide opportunities to persons with disabilities, particularly from the Filipino Deaf Community. CFGI’s persons with disabilities employees currently make up 57.38 percent of the company’s workforce, which they proudly call Friendly and Capable Deaf Partners. They are assigned to operate the chain of pastry and dessert shops with 10 branches across Metro Manila, Overdoughs and Elait - respectively, while others are assigned at

their commissary to prepare orders for its online store which are RAW Juice Bar, and Mary & Martha. CFGI’s CEO Francis Reyes aims to showcase the epitome of genuine service through their Deaf Partners; hence, putting them at the forefront of their branches.

Moreso, CFGI further builds opportunities and career advancement for its Deaf Partners through a series of training programs that will equip them to be competent and efficient employees. Two of which were promoted as area supervisors and a total of five branch team leaders who continue to excel in their assigned tasks while serving as an inspiration to their fellow deaf and to persons with disabilities.

Alongside CFGI are Accenture Inc. (Phils.) and Tahanan Walang Hagdanan, Inc., who also received the Manuel V. Agcaoili Award or Employer of the Year for the Large and Medium Company Categories, respectively. Other awardees include Jose Go Ranola for the Filipino with Disability Award, and Antonio D. Llanes Jr. for the Apolinario Mabini Life Achievement Award.

The awarding ceremony was attended by personalities from private and public companies and institutions who share a common goal of creating a more inclusive community to persons with disabilities.

DoubleDragon is first Pinoy hotel chain to groundbreak

1.17-hectare property of Hotel101 in Hokkaido, Japan

SATURDAY, August 26, 2023, was a Filipino moment in Hokkaido Japan as the Mang Inasal Founder and DoubleDragon Corporation

Chairman Edgar Injap Sia II and Jollibee

Founder and DoubleDragon Corporation

Co-Chairman Tony Tan Caktiong with Niseko Mayor Kenya Katayama and Kutchan Hokkaido Mayor Kazushi Monji broke ground for the 1.17-hectare property of Hotel101 and start construction of the 482-room Hotel101Niseko project in Hokkaido Japan.

Hotel101 is the first ever Filipino homegrown hotel chain to expand in other countries outside the Philippines.

The contractor of Hotel101-Niseko is Iwata Chizaki Inc, one of the largest contractors in Japan, and the same

contractor who built the Chitose International Airport in Saporro, Hokkaido Japan.

Niseko Hokkaido Japan is a world]class premier ski destination which remains popular year-round thanks to its picturesque landscapes to its natural hot springs. Hotel101–Niseko will be one of the largest value hotels in Niseko encompassing 482 signature HappyRooms offering comfort, convenience, and accessibility to all types of travelers.

The upcoming Hotel101-Niseko sits on a sprawling 1.17-hectare property in Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan and is expected to be patronized by local domestic travelers in Japan, and foreign tourists from other countries. The extension of the Shinkansen bullet train to Niseko and Sapporo will

further improve access to the region which is also reported to be in the running to host the 2030 Winter Olympics.

Niseko is famous worldwide for its powder snow and Kutchan Town where the property is located is one of the foremost areas of heavy snowfall reaching 13 meters on average with some of the best quality snow in the world. Because of its northern location, Niseko is internationally renowned for consistently delivering good falls of light powder snow and a long ski season that stretches from November until May. Hokkaido is the northmost island of Japan. During the summer Hokkaido stays cool with average temperatures of about 20 degrees Celsius and is also famous for its stunning nature scenes, hot springs, and panoramic flower fields during summer

Furthermore, Hiroshi Wellness has embraced the significance of alkaline water purification in promoting overall health. Offering a range of products, including the renowned seven Stages Machine, Pitchers, and Hydrogen Water purifiers, the company ensures that its customers receive safe and authentic products. Committed to quality, Hiroshi Wellness stands by each item it offers, providing customers with peace of mind.

While focusing on its mission and providing top-notch products, Hiroshi Wellness has garnered numerous accolades for its outstanding contributions to the health and wellness industry. Among its distinguished honors, the company was named the “Most Trusted Wellness Healthcare Provider 2022” by Asia’s Pinnacle Awards, recognized as a “Top Emerging Brand 2022-2023” by Brand

Asia Awards, awarded “#1 Trusted Health and Wellness Appliance Provider 2022-2023” by Philippines Buyers Choice Awards, honored as the “Most Advanced Wellness Machine Provider 2022-2023” by the Q Asia Seal of Excellence Award and recognized as the Best Wellness & Healthcare Appliances Provider by the Philippines Finest Business Awards and Outstanding Achievers 2023.

From its headquarters located at 13 Carreon Drive, Tandang Sora Ave., Quezon City, to its branches and bazaars in key locations such as Southwoods Mall Binan, Vistamall Tanza Cavite, Puregold Tayuman Manila, Cash ‘N Carry Mall Makati City, Farmers Plaza Cubao Quezon City, Robinsons Townmall Malabon, and SM Hypermarket Novaliches, Hiroshi Wellness remains dedicated to making health and wellness accessible to all.

The company’s commitment to providing accessible wellness solutions extends to even more locations, including Alimall Cubao, Showroom Farmers, Lucky Gold Plaza Pasig, Green Hills Mall San Juan, PureGold Sucat, PureGold Las Piñas, SM Hypermarkert Las Piñas, PureGold QI, UN Times Plaza, SM Hypermarket Fairview, and Robinsons Ortigas.

In the bustling world we live in, where self-care and well-being are critical for a balanced lifestyle, Hiroshi Wellness Healthcare Solutions, Philippines, shines as a beacon of hope. The company’s commitment to excellence, customer satisfaction, and continuous growth serves as an inspiration, reminding us all that happiness and health are within our grasp.

As Hiroshi Wellness Healthcare Solutions continues to pave the way for a healthier nation, it invites us all to embark on this transformative journey towards a brighter, more fulfilling future. Let us join hands and experience the unparalleled offerings of Hiroshi Wellness as it leads the charge in revolutionizing health and happiness in the Philippines.

For more information about Hiroshi Wellness Healthcare Solutions, Philippines, and their revolutionary products, visit their website at hiroshiwellnessph.com or visit one of their conveniently located branches.

Sun Life Grepa partners with WIZ.AI to offer smarter solutions to financial institutions

SUN Life Grepa Financial, Inc. (Sun Life Grepa), a major life insurer in the country, hosted a FinTech Biz Forum in cooperation with WIZ.AI, a leading Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) innovator in Southeast Asia, which was attended by guests from various respected financial institutions.

The Forum focused on exploring insurance protection application in credit partnerships while using AI solutions to provide more personalized consumer communication and customer service experience.

In today’s ever-evolving digital landscape, Sun Life Grepa recognizes the importance of adopting FinTech solutions to remain competitive in the industry. During the Forum, Sun Life Grepa presented its Employee Benefit and Credit Life Insurance programs that allow employers and credit institutions to secure the lives of their workforce and their debtors, respectively, thereby protecting the loved ones of these covered individuals from the financial impact of an untimely death. WIZ.AI, on the other hand, presented how it is helping financial institutions to harness the power of AI in driving increased productivity, profitability, and customer satisfaction. WIZ.

AI showcases prominent use cases such as lead conversion, debt collection, customer service

and support in the financial services sector to improve operational efficiency and unlock better business outcomes.

“We are committed to bridging the gaps of accessibility to needed life protection,” said Justine Daguman, Sun Life Grepa Head of Group Sales and Strategies. “Through this collaboration, not only did we highlight the value of useful insurance benefit for their employees, but we also shone a light on ensuring their debtors’ peace of mind by ensuring their loved ones’ lives will not be disrupted by any debt.”

“We’re grateful to work with Sun Life Grepa in making value-driven business solutions accessible across various industry sectors,” said KC Leung, WIZ.AI Country Manager for Philippines. “Together, we look forward to empowering leading and emerging enterprises with the transformative capabilities of AI, ensuring unparalleled business efficiency and smarter future.”

Sun Life Grepa, through its Healthcare division, also offers MSMEs other insurance coverage products that include Accident ProSafe, Smart Care Plus, and HIPSTER. To learn more visit www.sunlifegrepa.com, send an email to groupsales@sunlifegrepa.com or visit Sun Life Grepa Healthcare’s Facebook page (@ SunLifeGrepaHealthcare).

THEO Cacayan (far right), Business Development and Operations Manager of Caravan Food Group receives the plaque of recognition for Manual V. Agcaoili Award or Employer of the Year Award - Small Company Category.

JUSTINE Daguman, Sun Life Grepa’s Head of Group Sales and Strategies, speaks to attendees of the FinTech Biz Forum conducted by Sun Life Grepa and partner WIZ.AI.

PHILGBC forms dev’t Body for Green BuILdInG PraCtItIoners

By Rizal Raoul S. Reyes

Supported by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and the Philippine Business for Education (PBEd), the GBSSC also seeks to further broaden the number of Green Building advocates in the country. PHILGBC CEO and WorldGBC

APN Vice Chairman Christopher C. de la Cruz, said the milestone is part of the celebration of the Philippines’ Green Building Month, a month-long celebration that will feature a series of activities aimed at raising public awareness about the numerous benefits and opportunities of green building. Under the theme of “Pursuing Public-Private Cooperation in Net Zero through Green Building,” this year’s Building Green Conference will provide a platform for insightful discussions and knowledge-sharing.

During the conference, DFAT Counsellor for Development Mr.

Thanh Le and PBEd Executive Director Ms. Justine Raagas will share their valuable insights and discuss their work in “A Future at Works” (AFW). Together, they contribute to the promotion of sustainable practices and the development of a skilled workforce in the green building sector.

The announcement of Green Building Month coincides with the celebration of Philippine Green Building Day on September 8, 2023, in line with Presidential Proclamation No. 1030 S. 2020. is special occasion emphasizes the collective commitment to promoting sustainable building practices and advocating for government green building policies.

De la Cruz said the conference will also emphasize the importance of public-private collabora -

tion, knowledge sharing, and the exploration of innovative strategies to achieve net-zero building goals. “We firmly believe that through partnerships and collective efforts, we can usher in a more sustainable built environment for generations to come,” he said in a

RLC breaks ground for premium development Le Pont Residences

MANILA , Philippines—

Real estate developer

RLC Residences officially made a new construction milestone in a groundbreaking ceremony for its premium project Le Pont Residences located in Bridgetowne Destination Estate in Pasig City.

Attended by key executives from the residential division of Robinsons Land, construction partner Advanced Foundation Construction Systems Corporation, and architectural expert W.V. Coscolluela and Associates, the event marks Le Pont Residences Tower 1’s start of construction. Coming from a French phrase that translates to “The Bridge,” the property was officially introduced to the public last January following RLC Residences’ Raise, Live, Connect manifesto.

“We are excited to start constructing Le Pont Residences and see how this development will unfold. This is RLC Residences’ very own development in the premium category that we designed and thought of from the ground up. So, we are thankful to our clients who have chosen Le Pont Residences as their future home investment and we can’t wait to welcome them home here,” shares Chad Sotelo, Senior Vice President and Business Unit General Manager of RLC Residences.

During the groundbreaking ceremony, Advanced Foundation Construction Systems Corporation Managing Director Mario Rossi shared the technology they will be using in building Le Pont Residences.

“For Le Pont Residences, we will be installing a diaphragm

wall which we brought here in the country in 2012 and is present to different premium developments. This specific technology creates a barrier that provides strong soil and hydraulic support to control and protect the surrounding environment against settlement and water drawdown. It provides more protection against earthquakes and other outside forces because it is between 800 mm to 1200 mm thick,” shares Rossi.

Aside from safety, Rossi also pointed out that the technology is also a hallmark construction feature of premier projects—including Le Pont Residences. “Diaphragm walls allow for deeper basements, which means more parking for tenants. More parking is a modernday need for premium tenants.”

Designed to bridge future homeowners to their best life, Le Pont Residences offers generouslyspaced units ranging from 46 to 380 sqm. This includes bi-level topfloor units with an iconic curved staircase, providing a beautiful

centerpiece that elegantly connects both floors. It also has a selection of one-, two-, and three-bedroom units that are carefully crafted and equipped with smart home features to ensure comfort and convenience.

Additionally, the development boasts multi-level, hyper-sized indoor and outdoor amenities spread throughout the podium, mid-level, and uppermost deck floors. Among these are gyms, indoor and outdoor activity areas, swimming pools, private function rooms, a game room, and a work lounge, to name a few.

“In designing Le Pont Residences, we took inspiration from the needs and lifestyle of our market. Because for us to provide a place where they can be their best every day, it’s all about incorporating these things in their future home and be made accessible to them whenever they need it,” says Sotelo.

To learn more about this development, visit rlcresidences.com or follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

press statement. Further, the Green Building 2023 Conference will have a multitude of activities aimed at promoting green building practices, fostering collaboration, and empowering stakeholders to make a difference.

He said it is important to align PHILGBC mandate to develop green building standards, promote and educate green building stakeholders, and advocate for government green building policies. “By joining forces with policymakers, industry professionals, and sustainability advocates, PHILGBC aims to drive collaboration, innovation, and advocacy toward a greener and more sustainable built environment,” he said.

“As we kick-off the Green Building Month, we are excited to engage with our partners and stakeholders to promote the importance of sustainable building practices,” he said.

“By encouraging collaboration, we aim to create a collective impact on the built environment and pave the way for a greener and more sustainable future,”dela Cruz added.

Another key event is the WorldGBC Asia-Pacific Network Meeting, which will take place from September 25-27, is the meeting that will bring together influential regional partners and leaders from National Green Building Councils across the region to discuss and share best practices in advancing net zero in buildings, pushing forward with resource and circularity, and promoting health and well-being in buildings.

De la Cruz said government agencies, as well as green building stakeholders, are invited to actively participate in the Green Building Month activities. By engaging with industry professionals, policymakers, and sustainability enthusiasts, he said PHILGBC aims to foster collaboration and innovation in achieving a greener and more sustainable built environment.

Damosa Land, IWG launch flexible office workspace in Northern Mindanao

By Roderick L. Abad

PREMIER real estate and agro-industrial developer in Davao, Damosa Land, Inc. (DLI), strengthens economic growth and productivity in Northern Mindanao with the launch the new Regus CDO Downtown Tower, its first flexible office workspace in the region.

Located at the heart of Cagayan De Oro (CDO) City, this project is in collaboration with workspace solutions provider International Workspace Group (IWG). This forms part of their franchise partnership agreement that grants exclusivity for the property development arm of the ANFLOCOR Group to develop and operate IWG centers across Mindanao.

Regus, an IWG brand and an expert at providing customizable professional workspaces, has helped design this 1,136-squaremeter office space, with co-working areas, meeting rooms, and business lounges. It has a 249-work seating capacity.

Equipped with mindful workspaces, this latest development seated on the top floor of SM CDO Downtown Tower allows future tenants to make their overall workflow efficient and enhance their productivity.

“Our partnership with IWG enables business owners to maximize efficiencies using the hybrid work model. We hope to encourage more businesses to follow suit in the city of Cagayan De Oro as we invite more potential investors to focus on the region,” Damosa Land President Ricardo “Cary” Lagdameo said during the recent ribbon-cutting

ceremony and site blessing of the new Regus CDO Downtown Tower.

“While we continue to push for more developments in Mindanao, it’s important for us to remain socially conscious on how we can further aid the needs of our local communities. We believe that, through this launch, we can welcome more job opportunities for the locals while embracing the new normal working conditions,” he added.

Economic driver, productivity hub

DUE to limited mobility and strict health protocols implemented at the height of the Covid-19 crisis, companies here and abroad have turned to alternative work arrangements, including hybrid or flexible work setups.

To meet these global demands, businesses in the Philippines also pushed for more dynamic work setups that allow employees to work flexibly in their own comfortable spaces.

The Regus CDO Downtown Tower will provide locals and visitors access to versatile spaces that

can open growth opportunities for new businesses and can boost employee productivity for established entities.

IWG, supported by DLI’s commitment to Mindanao’s economic growth, will redefine the workplace industry by giving potential clients the ease of doing business through ready workspaces, and equip more Filipinos with flexible options and tools to optimize their efficiency.

Both partners look forward to expanding to more areas nationwide as the country adapts to more flexible work arrangements.

“Through the launch of this project with Damosa Land, we get to stay abreast of the evolving nature of work and enable the region to attract more investors in the long run. We look forward to equipping more Filipinos with all-inclusive, digitally-ready, and comfortable working spaces as we showcase Mindanao, its people, and its potential, both on a local

scale,” said

President

The Philippine Green Building Council (PhILGBC) announced on September 8 the establishment of the Green Building Sector Skills Council (GBSSC) to enhance the knowledge and skills of professionals in the green building sector, and fostering a workforce well-equipped with sustainable building expertise.

Birdie-spree gives Bisera first-round lead

YVON BISERA bounced back from a wobbly backside with four consecutive birdies from No. 1 on her way home for a 71 and a one-shot lead over Mikha Fortuna in the first round Tuesday of the International Container Terminal Services Inc. South Pacific Classic in Davao City.

Bisera banked on her power and steady putting to make a big turnaround then endured a bogey on the sixth to gain the head-start in the 54-hole championship on her home turf at the South Pacific Golf & Leisure Estates.

“My driving was quite steady and strong and my putting clicked,” said Bisera after coming out on top while bucking the heat in a punishing start to the P1 million championship serving as the ninth leg of this year’s Ladies Philippine Golf Tour (LPGT).

“I’m used to this kind of weather since this is my home course,” added Bisera, whose six-foot birdie putt on No. 1 sparked a run that included a tap-in birdie on the par 5 second hole which she reached in two and a clutch pitch-in feat on the par 3 No. 3.

She capped her blitz with a long putt on the fourth but missed posting a two-shot cushion with a missed-green

Salahog cards 67 in 1st round, leads

Quiban by 1 shot

NILO SALAHOG waxed hot when then big guns groped in sweltering conditions and with a five-under 67 wrested a one-stroke lead over Justin Quiban in a crowded start to the International Container Terminal Services Inc. South Pacific Classic on Tuesday.

Among the early starters in a steamy day, Salahog anchored his bid on a solid backside start of 32 highlighted by a pitch-in birdie on the par four 17th of the South Pacific Golf & Leisure Estates in Davao City then holed out with a birdie on the ninth to find himself the befuddled leader in a power-packed field in the P2 million championship.

“I actually missed at least four birdie chances from pinlength high,” said Salahog, who tied for 17th on a tight course in last week’s Del Monte Championship but flourished on a long but open layout here.

“The fairways here are fairly wide so the big hitters have the edge. And even if you missed your drives, they don’t pose big problems,” added Salahog in Filipino. “But the greens are really tough and it’s too hot.”

But he still stood out when majority struggled on the undulating greens that vary in character and speed, leading to missed birdie opportunities—and three-putt miscues to some.

Two aces out to make up for their shaky final round stints at Del Monte, however, posted low rounds to get into the mix as Quiban shot a 68 for solo second and Jhonnel Ababa carded a 69 for joint third with three others.

Quiban, who tied for the lead in the Del Monte stretch but slipped with a bogey on the 17th, three-putted the par-5 closing hole and ended up third, mounted his charge with a frontside 33 and birdied Nos. 11 and 13 to gain a shared view of the top.

But the Asian Tour campaigner, who also vied in a Professional Golfers Association Tour event in 2021, yielded a shot on No. 14 and ran out with four pars for a 33-35.

“This course is kind of wide but driving isn’t that important but hitting more greens. It’s hard to read putts but luckily I was in better spots for me to sink a lot of them (putts),” said Quiiban, who birdied Nos. 2, 7, 8, 11 and 13 to tie Salahog in the lead in the early going of the 72-hole championship backed by Kampfortis Golf, the official apparel of the organizing Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc.

Like the rest, Quiban shared the heat slowed down his charge in the closing holes, saying: “Towards the last few holes, I was getting tired and I just couldn’t press the gas and I can’t make any birdies anymore.”

Ababa trailed Salahog with a backside 35 in the first flight that included Enrico Gallardo and Elmer Saban but birdied Nos. 2 and 6 to put himself on track for redemption after likewise fading in the last 18 holes and winding up fifth at Del Monte where he reigned in 2019.

Dino Villanueva, meanwhile, birdied three of the last six holes at the back, Marvin Dumandan gunned down three birdies in an eight-hole stretch from No. 7, and Keanu Jahns holed out with back-to-back birdies from No. 17 for their versions of three-under cards that tied them with Ababa.

mishap on No. 6.

“I just need to stay focused and try to keep my drives on the fairways,” said Bisera, whose bid coming off a fifth-place finish at Del Monte took a wobbly start after a three-putt miscue on No. 11 and a missed green bogey on the next.

Fortuna, back in the hunt after missing the Del Monte stop following a fourth place finish at Forest Hills, actually took command with a two-under card after 16 holes on a six-birdie, four-bogey card. But she wavered at the finish, dropping strokes in the last two to end up with a 72 and slip to second.

“I had two chip-ins and the rest were like five-footers which were good,” Fortuna said.

“But my bogeys were careless mistakes, like I had three missed shots that went past the greens and it was tough to get up-and-down from there.”

She added that playing under scorching conditions took its toll on her, saying: “It [heat] was a huge factor, It was really hot here so I had to stay hydrated and tried to focus on my routine because wanted to play faster. Yes, it was kind of harder to focus because of the heat.”

‘ONE TOWN, ONE SPORTS’

SENATOR Francis Tolentino called for the integration of local government units’ sports academies in the Philippines for the promotion and development of various sports at the grassroots level.

At Tuesday’s budget hearing of the Senate Finance Subcommittee-F on the proposed 2024 budgets of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Games and Amusement Board (GAB), Tolentino expressed his full support for the PSC and GAB proposed outlays for the advancement of sports in the country.

Moreover, Tolentino  also proposed passage of a bill for the creation of One Town, One Sports bill that will underscore the sports specialization of each town, such as boxing for General Santos City, baseball for Anilao, Iloilo and Tagaytay’s combat sports, among others.

“One Town, One Sports law will highlight the specialization of each town to help the Philippine Sports Commission and the Games and Amusement Board and the entire sports sector in the Philippines,” Tolentino said.

For his part, Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go

aims to prioritize the welfare and training of the Philippine national athletes and promote and develop sports at the grassroots level.

Go presided over the hearing of the Finance Subcommittee-F on the PSC and GAB budgets.

Go encouraged the youth to engage themselves in sports.

“As the chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports, I firmly believe that sports will help us in keeping our youth away from illegal drugs and other harmful vices,” said Go, as he  reminded: “Get into sports, stay away from drugs to keep us healthy and fit.”

Go added: “We also aim to make our mark in the world of sports and develop more world class athletes who can bring pride, honor, and medals to our country,” he added.

During the hearing, Go asked for an update on the development of professional and e-sports.

Based on the government’s 2024 National Expenditure Program (NEP), the PSC was allocated a P210.4 million budget while GAB has P147.2 million budget for next year.

Go congratulates WC winners, praises PHL’s success as host

SENATOR Christopher Lawrence “Bong”

Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Sports, congratulated Germany for clinching its first-ever FIBA World Cup title.

The German team defeated Serbia, 83-77, in a thrilling final at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Sunday.

“The match is a testament to the high level of competition that the FIBA World Cup brings,” Go said. “We are honored to have hosted such a monumental event.”

Canada, meanwhile, made history by winning its first-ever World Cup medal, a bronze, after defeating the United States, 127-118, in overtime also on Sunday.

NILO SALAHOG stands out when the majority struggled on the undulating greens that vary in character and speed.

More importantly, the senator commended the Philippines for the successful hosting of the World Cup, which was co-hosted by Japan and Indonesia.

“This event is a milestone for Philippine basketball and a testament to our country’s enduring love for the sport,” he said.

Go also lauded the men’s national team Gilas Pilipinas for securing a spot in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament. The team ranked 24th, a feat made possible by the victory over China, in the World Cup. “Our team has shown resilience and the true spirit of Filipino athletes,” Go said. “I am confident that they will continue to make us proud in the upcoming Asian Games and Olympic qualifying tournaments.”

Go expressed his full support for Gilas Pilipinas as the team prepares for the Asian Games that start September 23 and appealed to Filipinos to do the same.

“Congratulations to Gilas Pilipinas! My salute to the players, coaches and even the fans because of their ‘never say die’ attitude,” he said. “Gilas didn’t let the fans down, they showed their potentials for future competitions.”

“As a sports advocate and basketball fan, I am looking forward to a good performance in the Asian Games,” he added.

Bernaldez wields broom in Tagum City juniors tennis tilt

SECOND-RANKED Chelsea Bernaldez got the better of No. 1 Sanschena Francisco for the second straight time via a 6-3, 6-4 decision in the girls’ 18-and-under finals as young Gil Niere grabbed the spotlight in the boys’ side of the Governor Edwin Jubahib national juniors tennis championships in Tagum City, Davao del Norte, over the weekend.

Bernaldez’s victory came after the rising local star subdued the Isulan, Sultan Kudarat ace, 2-6, 6-2, 10-7, for the Mati City (Davao Oriental) leg crown in the premier age-group category of the Group 2 series, thus completing a sweep of the three-leg swing in the Davao Region of the country’s longest-talent search presented by Dunlop.

Bernaldez also walked the tightrope before

FIBA World Cup hoops’

Everest

foiling AJ Acabo, 5-7, 6-1, 10-8, in the championship of the Maragusan, Davao de Oro leg of the series held under the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala program put up by Palawan Pawnshop president and CEO Bobby Castro.

She, however, failed to duplicate her two-title feat in Mati as third ranked Dhea Cua edged her in the semifinals of 16-and-under play, 6-4, 2-6, 10-7, then the Kidapawan City find trounced Faith Lazaro, 6-3, 6-1, to snare the crown.

Niere, from Bogo City, Cebu, took the boys’ 12-and-under trophy with a 7-6(1), 6-1 victory over Matt Docena then settled for a runner-up finish in the 14-and-under division ruled by Vanzidrick Rosalinda from Maragusan, also for the third straight time, 6-1, 6-2.

WHO said the FIBA (International Basketball Federation) World Cup is a party right down our alley?  Never will it be considered your inter-barangay league, my golly.

So difficult to crash the bash that in the last 45 years, we could only join the fray four times. Two of those we made it because, as host in 1978 and 2023, we received the incentive of being outright participants.

We got aboard in the 2014 FIBA World Cup, but not after going through a wringer of beating South Korea in the FIBA Asia Cup prior to the Worlds in Seville, Spain. That snapped the Philippines’s eight-events losing streak in the FIBA World Cup proper.

Oh, wait, Gilas Pilipinas, under coach Yeng Guiao, likewise made it to the 2019 FIBA World Cup but, alas, we finished winless in six games to end up dead last.

At least, in fairness, we did better this year, ending up 24th in the 32-nation contest. That was the result of Gilas’s blazing 97-76 rout of China for the Philippines’s 1-4, win-loss windup.

The big bonus to that win was we got a ticket to the Olympic Qualifying Tournament for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The finish also replicated Gilas’s one-win result in FIBA 2014, when we beat Senegal in a dramatic 81-79 overtime victory. If it’s any consolation, Chot Reyes takes the credit of winning one game each in coaching stints in the Worlds of 2014 and 2023.

Truth to tell but the FIBA World Cup is the world’s toughest basketball tournament. Even tougher, in fact, than Olympic basketball.

It is basketball’s Mt. Everest, I can tell you that.

Do you know that the United States (US), almost a perennial Olympic champion, could only place seventh in the 2019 FIBA World Cup in China won by Spain at the expense of Argentina?  This year, it got ousted in a harrowing 113-111 semifinal loss to Germany at the MOA Arena.

For the record, the Philippines won twice in the 1974 edition in Puerto Rico for its loftiest finish in the FIBA worlds.  Powered by the likes of Bogs Adornado, Robert Jaworski,

Meanwhile,  Sen. Robin Padilla congratulated the sports officials at the budget hearing for the successful hosting of the FIBA World Cup.

“I wish to congratulate our guests [sports officials] for the successful hosting of the FIBA World Cup,” Padilla said. “The World Cup gave our country a beautiful and positive image. Let’s support our athletes for their success that give honor to our country.”

Padilla added: “Let’s encourage the youth to get involve in sports, and not spend so much time with Tiktok.”

CHOT REYES says he’s finally getting long hours of sleeps and has found his peace of mind.

COACH CHOT, WIFE OFF TO LONDON FOR SABBATICAL FROM BASKETBALL

CHOT REYES is flying with his wife to London for work and a sabbatical from it all.

“No basketball for the meantime,” Reyes told BUSINESSMIRROR on Tuesday. “We will be taking a combined work and vacation in London.”

Reyes is going away from basketball for a while following his announcement during the FIBA World Cup that he has stepped aside as coach of the men’s national team.

He was listed as Gilas Pilipinas’s head coach for the Hangzhou 19th Asian Games but was replaced by Tim Cone, one of his deputies during the World Cup.

“My wife will be working while I’m playing golf there,” the 59-year-old Reyes said. “I have to get out of basketball first, no more basketball for now.”

The couple’s trip is scheduled at the end of the month yet with Reyes saying that his wife Cherry would be attending the annual functions of the UK-based international hairdressing brand Toni&Guy.

“We are the master franchise holders of Toni&Guy which is based in London,” Reyes said.

“So my wife attends annual franchisees’ meetings and trainings there. I accompany her whenever I can to relax and play some golf.”

Reyes was bashed and booed when Gilas Pilipinas couldn’t get that first win after four consecutive losses to the Dominican Republic, Angola and Italy in the group stage and to South Sudan in the team’s first game in the classification phase.

Ramon Fernandez, Manny Paner and Jaime Mariano, we beat Australia, 101-100, and Central African Republic, 87-86, with Soviet Union emerging champion.

We finished 13th overall in 1974—still a far cry from our third-place finish in the 1954 FIBA worlds behind the legendary Carlos Loyzaga, who was inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame hours before the 2023 FIBA World Cup unfurled at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan on August 25.

But that’s another story.

THAT’S IT There’s no better choice than Tim Cone, the multi-titled coach with his all-time best of 25 crowns won in the Philippine Basketball Association, to replace Chot Reyes for the Asian Games campaign starting September 26.  Basketball chief Al S. Panlilio can’t get any happier than this, aware of the fact that Cone was Reyes’s chief deputy in the just-ended FIBA Worlds...Happy birthday to Bacolod’s Ramon Uy, the country’s fabled inventor of the award-winning and best-selling RU Shredder. Cheers!

CHELSEA BERNALDEZ (right) with fellow MVP Gil Niere (left) and Giovanni Gulanes, Provincial Sports and Youth Development Office head of Davao del Norte.

TOLENTINO