BusinessMirror September 23, 2022

‘Self-sufficiency in marine products key to security’

A s the concurrent agriculture chief,  the President, the Depart ment of Agriculture (DA) and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) should focus on restoring the country’s rich ma rine resources through the strict implementation of the Fisheries Code as amended, or RA 10654, Ramos said.

T he law mandates protection of the 15-kilometer municipal waters from commercial fishing operations.

R amos also cited the anemic implementation of the DA-BFAR Fisheries Administrative Order (FAO) No. 263 that delineates the country’s surrounding oceans into 12 Fisheries Management Areas (FMAs). While there are initial success es in Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula and Davao regions, and the 12 FMAs have their respective management boards and scientific advisory groups, much is still to be desired in the implementation of their FMA management plans to effectively restore our fishing grounds and ensure that small fisherfolk are provided ample as

sistance for their livelihood, postharvest facilities and perhaps fuel and food subsidies to improve their income and their families’ wellbeing,” Ramos said.

The DA-BFAR, now led by offi cer-in-charge Atty. Demosthenes Escoto, should continuously work hand in hand with fishing industry stakeholders and local government unit [LGU] officials to ensure that our marginalized fisherfolk and coastal communities are taken care of,” she added.

For its part, she said Oceana has been closely working with the DABFAR, LGUs and fishers’ groups in the sustained implementation of the National Sardine Management Plan in all FMAs, as previously directed by former DA Secretary William Dar, to arrest the declining catch of pelagic fish species, particularly the fimbriated sardines (tunsoy).

A ccording to the Philippine Sta tistics Authority (PSA), tunsoy has decreased by 13.5 percent as of first quarter (Q1) of 2022.

T he PSA also reported a decline —due to rising fuel costs—in all captured fisheries for Q1 2022, from 973,622 metric tons (MT) a year ago, in both commercial and

House budget...

Also, the plenary has terminated discussions on the budget of the Ju diciary, which includes the Supreme Court of the Philippines and the Lower Courts (SCLC), Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), the San diganbayan, Court of Appeals (CA) and the Court of Tax Appeals (CTA).

The plenary also terminated the bud get discussions on the Office of the Vice President.

Question

MEANWHILE , Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman on Thursday questioned

municipal fisheries, to 971,501 MT.

A fishery expert, Dr. Wilfredo Campos of the University of the Philippines Visayas, said the fish ing sector has been hounded by compounding challenges for de cades, including overfishing, made worse by persistent illegal commer cial fishing in municipal waters.    “ We commend the FMA 7 man agement board as it was the first among the 12 FMAs to approve the reference points and harvest control rules for integration into the National Sardine Management Plan,” said Ramos.

S he added that several munici pal mayors are establishing and strengthening their alliances to protect their municipal waters from intrusion by commercial fishing operators, and other threats to the source of livelihood and incomes of their fisherfolk and constituents.

O ceana is also calling for full compliance of the law through the installation of vessel monitoring devices in all registered and quali fied commercial fishing vessels to augment monitoring, control and surveillance efforts of LGUs and enforcement agencies t asked to protect the preferential rights of

the inequitable infrastructure bud get for 2023 in Mindanao as 4 of 5 poorest regions are in the Southern Philippines.Hataman made this assertion as he continued to push for more in frastructure funds for Mindanao in the proposed 2023 national budget in the ongoing plenary discussion on the budget measure, citing the regional poverty incidences in the war-ravaged island.

artisanal fisherfolk over the use of municipal waters.

Compounding challenges have been hounding the country’s fish eries sector for years, including overfishing, made worse by per sistent illegal commercial fishing in municipal waters, Campos said.

P SA data also showed that fish catch from 2010 to 2021 has con tinuously declined, at 49,449 MT yearly, or more than 494,490 MT over the 10-year period, manifest ing that stocks have breached their productive capacity due to overfish ing, Campos said.

Instead of importing fish, Ramos said the government should protect the country’s municipal waters— home to coral reefs, seagrass and mangroves that serve as fish shelter and spawning ground—and thus must be preserved as mandated by the existing fisheries and environ mental laws.

“ In particular, they should be protected from illegal entry of com mercial fishing vessels, and the gov ernment should fully implement the vessel monitoring rules to track and identify the owner and location of commercial fishing vessels,” he

H ataman then called on his col leagues in the House of Representa tives, especially those from Mind anao, to unite and work for the res toration of the infrastructure budget of Mindanao back to its 2022 levels.

M indanao suffered a huge slash in infrastructure outlay, from P84.69 billion in 2022 to only P30.49 billion in 2023, or a whopping reduction of P54.2 billion—almost a 64-percent decrease from last year. The lawmaker is asking if the Development Budget Coordinating Committee (DBCC) con sidered poverty incidence in formu lating the proposed national budget.

A ccording to Hataman, four out of the Top 5 poorest regions in the country as indicated by their pov erty incidence come from Mindanao: BARMM, 45.8 percent; Caraga, 38.3 percent; Region 9, 37.4; Region 8, 36 percent; and Region 12, 34.1 percent.

“ The question here is, how did the DBCC use these dat to craft the National Expenditure Program for 2023? Because I don’t know how we can help the mentioned regions,” Hataman told Marikina Rep. Stella Quimbo, a sponsor of a part of the proposed national budget.

Q uimbo responded by saying that agencies have regional offices that send feedback on regional needs, such as data on the 4Ps program and other social welfare programs.

Hataman agreed that the 4Ps pro gram helps address poverty incidence, but infrastructure projects provide jobs and income, especially in impoverished areas in many parts of Mindanao.

“All regions contribute to GDP. But the GDP contribution also depends on which ones have allocations [for infra], so those regions can draw private investments. For example, if your region is a mess or infrastruc ture is weak, definitely that has a relation to the private investments,” the Basilan legislator said.

BSP...Continued

I n particular, BSP’s average in flation forecast is now closer to 6 percent for this year. Dakila said they have revised their expectation from last month’s 5.4-percent aver age inflation now to 5.6 percent.

For next year, the BSP has also raised their inflation average fore cast to 4.1 percent. Meanwhile, the forecast for 2024 eases to 3 percent from 3.2

Givenpercent. elevated uncertainty and the predominance of upside risks to the inflation environment, the Monetary Board recognized the need for follow-through action to anchor inflation expectations and prevent price pressures from be coming further entrenched,” Dakila said. The domestic economy can ac commodate a reasonable tighten ing of the monetary policy stance, as demand has generally held firm, owing to improved employment outturns and ample liquidity and credit,” he added.

D espite the recent BSP actions, the deputy governor said the risks to the inflation outlook remain tilted toward the upside until 2023 and broadly balanced in 2024.

P rice pressures may continue to emanate from the potential im pact of higher global non-oil pric es, pending petitions for further transport fare hikes, the impact of weather disturbances on prices of food items, as well as the sharp increase in the price of sugar.

M eanwhile, the impact of a weaker-than-expected global eco nomic recovery continues to be the main downside risk to the outlook.

BSP not alarmed by peso’s movement

ASKED why the BSP did not match the more aggressive rate hike of the US Federal Reserve to influence some strengthening on the local currency against the greenback, Dakila said the BSP’s intention is not to “target” a particular level of foreign exchange.

The priority is to bring infla tion back to within the target band over the medium term. We believe today’s rate hike will help us achieve our price stability objective,” Dakila said. “This adjustment shall help al leviate some pressures of the peso which could in turn temper infla tionary impulses stemming from elevated global commodity prices,” he added. Todrive again the message, the BSP stands ready to participate in the foreign exchange market only to ensure orderly market conditions and to reduce excessive short-term volatility in exchange rate,” the deputy governor further said.

T he local currency has hit its “record high” level against the US dollar nine times this month alone: on September 2 at P56.77 to a dol lar; on September 5 at P56.99 to a dollar; on September 6 at P57 to a dollar; on September 8 at P57.18 to a dollar; on September 16 at P57.43 to a dollar, on September 20 at P57.48

that substation and that resulted in the delay of our project,” he said.

to a dollar; on September 21 at P58 to a dollar; and on September 22 at P58.49 to a dollar.

Dakila, however, said the move ment of the local currency—which has lost almost P2 pesos in value against the US dollar in September alone—is “expected” and a “natu ral consequence” of a recovering economy. “Thecurrent movement of the peso is expected as it largely reflects the strengthening of the US dollar, given the monetary policy tighten ing cycle of the US Fed. Concerns over the Russia-Ukraine conflict and its protracted impact on glob al supply chains. Global growth uncertainty and elevated global inflation also continue to drive in vestors towards the US Dollar as a safe haven asset,” Dakila said.

“Other currencies actually in the region are also seeing a pronounced weakening and risk volatility. Our view is that the recent foreign ex change pressures are not unique to the peso. The peso’s movements are a natural consequence of the pre vailing current account dynamics of a growing economy, reflecting the increase in the country’s imports and with the ongoing economic recovery again,” he added.

Further rate hikes still possible DESPITE the triple hike from the BSP in the last three months, econo mists believe that the Central Bank could still raise interest rates in its coming monetary policy meetings before the year ends.

R izal Commercial Banking Cor poration (RCBC) chief economist Michael Ricafort said further lo cal policy rate hikes “could still be possible” in the coming months, as supported by generally strong economic data; also as a function of future Fed rate hikes and the behavior of the peso exchange rate, going forward.

“ Higher local policy rates would lead to some increase in borrowing/ financing costs that could lead to lower earnings and valuations, as well as slow down the economy as an unintended consequence in the quest to fight off inflationary pres sures,” Ricafort said.

A nalysts at Oxford Economics also expect the BSP to raise interest rates by a further 25 basis points in November.“Againstabackdrop of ongoing elevated inflation and at least fur ther 75 basis point US rate hikes this year, we expect the BSP to raise rates by another 25 basis points at its November meeting, bringing the policy rate to 4.5 percent at yearend,” Oxford Economics assistant economist Makoto Tsuchiya said.

“ Thereafter, with signs that in flation has peaked early next year, we expect an extended pause over 2023 as priorities shift back to wards supporting growth amid a weak external environment,” the economist added.

T he BSP Monetary Board is sched uled to meet again for its next mon etary policy setting early November.

he NGCP Pagbilao substation will serve as the switchyard to which the power station of the EWC and those of three others would intercon nect.  Elliott clarified that power sta tions like the EWC needed to intercon nect to the supply power to the grid.  The NGCP identified two of the three other facilities waiting to interconnect with its delayed substation project:  420-megawatt (MW) Pagbilao CoalFired Power Plant Expansion, 500MW San Buenaventura Power Coal-Fired Power Plant and the 600MW Energy World Corporation Combined-Cycle Power Plant.

The Energy Regulatory Commission identified the third one as the 1,200MW Atimonan Coal-Fired Power Plant.

Unfortunately, for reasons be yond the control of Energy World Corp., NGCP was somewhat delayed in the construction and operation of

However, I am excited and glad to say that the NGCP station is now almost complete and we understand that they will be energizing the sta tion to receive power in October or November this year. And that has giv en us the confidence to restart work to complete the transmission line and to move forward with complet ing the power station and LNG hub terminal,” he added.

“At the moment, I don’t see any road blocks or hurdles placed on our way and... under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., in his first State of the Nation Address, talked about the use of LNG for the Philippines. We are excited to be part of this move to bring new clean fuel to the Philip pines which we believe will help lower the cost of electricity by providing stable, reliable, clean and efficient power generation,” he said.

Currently, the EWC LNG power station and its LNG hub terminal “is approximately 80-85 percent com

plete in the LNG hub terminal and we are about 80 percent complete on the first 200-megawatt gas turbine unit. We are 70 percent complete on the second 200-MW gas turbine unit and then the steam turbine steam recovery generator would come on line 12 months after the first com missioning of the gas turbine.”

He said the project was designed to import LNG which could be acquired anywhere in the world market. The EWC hub terminal nearby has jetties “designed to take any size of ships on the world market trade of the LNG.” The LNG is cryogenic, frozen at negative 163 degrees Centigrade, and it will be sent to a heat changer regassification unit to change the LNG state to normal gas for use in the power station or export to thirdparty clients in the future, Elliot said.

T he NGCP said that the new power sources awaiting interconnection with its Pagbilao substation would add a to tal of 1500 MW of power, and would ease the congestion in its nearby sub stations like the Tayabas substation.

The Nation

Manila judge junks DOJ’s bid to declare CPP-NPA as terrorist groups

By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

THE Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Manila City has junked the petition for proscription filed by the Department of Justice in 2018 seeking to declare the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA) or the Bagong Hukbong Bayan as terrorist groups.

I n a 135-page decision issued by Manila RTC Branch 19 Presid ing Judge Marlo Magdoza-Mal agar on Wednesday, September 21, 2022 which coincided with the 50th anniversary of the declara tion of martial law in the coun try by the late strongman former President Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr., the trial court held that the alleged atrocities committed by the groups that were offered, as evidence of DOJ cannot be con sidered as terrorist acts as defined under Sections 3 and 17 of Repub lic Act 9372 or the or the Human Security Act (HSA) of 2007.

Furthermore, the trial court held that the CPP-NPA based on its “The Program for People’s Democratic Revolution” would show that it was organized not for the purpose of en gaging in terrorism.

“ It is not difficult to see how the CPP-NPA’s resort to ‘armed struggle’ and the violence that necessarily accompanies the same, as the sanctioned means to achieve its purpose[s] may have earned the CPP-NPA the terror ist label. Indeed, witness accounts of former members and official documents point to the fact that ‘armed struggle’ is essentially built into the structure of the CPP itself as the recognized and prescribed means to achieve its ends,” the trial court explained.

Be that as it may, while ‘armed struggle’ with the ‘violence’ that nec essarily accompanies it, is indubita bly the approved ‘means’ to achieve the CPP-NPA’s purpose, ‘means,’ is not synonymous with ‘purpose.’ Stated otherwise, ‘armed struggle’ is only a ‘means’ to achieve the CPP’s purpose; it is not the ‘purpose’ of the creation of the CPP,” it added.

Section 3 of HSA 2007 defines “terrorism” as the commission of acts such as piracy and mutiny in the high seas, rebellion or insurrec tion, coup d’ etat, murder, kidnap

ping and serious illegal detention, crimes involving destruction of property such as arson, use of toxic substances and hazardous nuclear wastes, hijacking, piracy and high way robbery and the illegal manu facture, acquisition, disposition and possession of firearms, “thereby sowing and creating a condition of widespread and extraordinary fear and panic among the popular, in order to coerce the government to give in to an unlawful demand.”

O n the other hand, Section 17 defines a terrorist organization, association or group of persons as that which is organized for the purpose of engaging in terrorism, or which, although not organized for that purpose, actually uses acts mentioned in this Act, or commits acts to sow and create a condition of widespread and extraordinary fear and panic among the populace in order to coerce the government to give in to an unlawful demand.

T he proscription case was filed by the DOJ in February 2018 but the HSA has since been replaced by the controversial Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) of 2020 whose constitutional ity was upheld by the Supreme Court despite fears of many sectors that its provision is prone to violation of the people’s basic rights.

T he CPP-NPA and several individ uals affiliated to the group have been labeled as terrorists under the ATA.   I n determining whether or not the CPP-NPA organizations have committed acts that will qualify as terrorist acts, the trial court took into consideration that nine incidents of atrocities allegedly committed by CPP-NPA against civilians.These incidents include the December 31, 2019 killing of Bontola Mansinugdan in Agusan del Sur; the March 19, 2020 kill ing of Datu Astudillo and Zaldy Ibañez in Sitio Inadan, Barangay Magroyong, San Miguel, Surigao del Sur; the October 4, 2020 am bush of Datu Jumar Bucales and company at Sitio Mamprasanon, Barangay Banahao, Lianga, Su rigao del Sur; the July 6, 2020 killing of Datu Jomar Engayas in Sitio Sangay, Barangay Libas-sud, San Miguel, Surigao del Sur; the October 16, 2020 failed attempt to kill Department of Education Teacher Eli Apacible at Purok Hi taon, Barangay Awasian, Tandag

City, Surigao del Sur; the August 13,  2020 killing of 70-year-old Datu Benedicto Dinoy, in Dum alaguing Village, Impasugong, Bukidnon; the May 28, 2020 burning of chapel and residen tial houses, in Barangay Limun da, Opol, Misamis Oriental; the May 30,  2019 abduction of seven civilians, including Ryard Badi ang who was later beheaded, in Barangay Maitum, Tandag City, Surigao del Sur; and the July 21, 2020 killing of Datu Saidor Ba lansi, at Sitio KM 18, Barangay Besigan, Cagayan de Oro City.

W hile the nine acts or inci dents that the DOJ claimed were carried out by NPA members and can be considered terrorism un der the 2007 HSA, the trial court pointed out that their authorship could not be traced with certainty to the communist movement as the prosecution witnesses have only identified the manner of clothing of the attackers and the fact that they were carrying high-powered firearms.

This identification leaves much to be desired. Certainly, it takes more than a certain manner or mode of dressing to establish that one is a member of the CPP-NPA,” the court said.

“In the absence of any evidence that the official uniform of the members of the CPP-NPA consist of an all-black outfit, this court can not give credence to the witnesses’ identification,” it added.

Furthermore, the court stressed identification is not exclusive, par ticularly in Mindanao where the nine incidents occurred due to the presence of other armed groups such as the Moro National Lib eration Front, Moro Islamic Lib eration Front, Abu Sayyaf Group, Maute Group and a host of private armed groups.

It also noted that none of the nine incidents can be said as having caused “widespread and extraor dinary fear and panic” among the general

“Whilepublic. theCourt does not dis miss or minimize the loss of lives and property, these incidents can only be characterized as ‘pocket and sporadic occurrences’ in limited and scattered areas of the country, par ticularly in specific areas in Mind anao, i.e., Surigao del Sur, Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental,

Bukidnon, and Agusan del Sur,” the trial court said.

“Any fear and panic these in cidents may have caused are con fined to the communities where they have occurred. In other words, these incidents have not reached ‘widespread’ or ‘extraor dinary’ proportions contemplated under Section 3 and 17 of HSA 2007,” it added.

T he DOJ, the court said, also failed to present evidence showing that the nine incidents were meant to coerce the government to agree to their demands, much less an unlaw ful demand.   Noevidence has been submit ted establishing that any of the nine incidents of atrocities com mitted by the CPP-NPA against civilians has been preceded or fol lowed by any demand for peace negotiation with the government,” the trial court said.

A s to the “purging” incidents or the liquidation of its members that have turned their back to the movement, the court said it does not constitute acts of terrorism, especially since these were carried out in secrecy, thereby precluding the likelihood of “widespread and extraordinary fear and panic among the populace” for them to be consid ered terroristic acts.

W ith regard to the collection of revolutionary taxes, the 1971 Plaza Miranda bombing and other incidents being attributed to the CPP-NPA, the court said these couldn’t be used against the groups as these took place before the passage of the HSA.

“ These incidents transpired be fore the enactment either of HSA 20O7 or ATA 2020, which defined and penalized terrorism. They can not now be utilized to prove the ‘terrorist character’ of respondent organizations,” the court said.

T he court stressed the acts at tributed to the CPP-NPA should be considered “political crimes” treated with leniency.

T he said acts were also targeted against primarily at State agents, not on civilians, adding that it could only qualify as rebellion but notTterrorism.hecourtalso warned of the dan ger of red tagging as it poses a risk to the safety and security of activists.

I t pointed out that the peti tion initially named approxi mately 600 personalities, mostly known activities and members of various non-government or ganizations as being members of the CPP-NPA.

“Activism is what activists do; that is, it encompasses the meth ods they use in order to bring about the desired change. Activ ism is a political act, by which an informed and active citizenry ex presses and works for change in an array of political issues that affect them. In essence, activism there fore is an important part of the democratic process—where indi viduals and communities exercise their right to shape government policy and ultimately, society,” the court Effortsexplained.  onthepart of the pres ent government to counter insur gency should include respect for

the right to dissent, to due pro cess and to the rule of law. Just as the respondent organizations are uncompromising in their ide als, so must the government be uncompromising in safeguarding the Constitution it is sworn to up hold,” it added.   I n its petition, the DOJ insisted that the groups were organized for the purpose of engaging in terror ism and in fact, have been com mitting acts that fall under the RA 9372.

I t also cited in the petition the purging activities of the CPP dubbed as “Kadena de Amor, Takip Silim, Kampanyang Ahos, Opera tion Missing Link, Zombie, Olym pia” aimed at cleansing its ranks of government infiltrators.

It also accused the groups of being insincere in finding peaceful solu tions to the decades-long insurgency problem in the country.

It would be recalled that for mer President Rodrigo R. Duterte signed an order declaring the CPPNPA as a terrorist organization and ordered the DOJ to immediately file a petition before the Manila RTC to classify the communist movement as a terrorist group un der the HAS of 2007.

Under the said law, a person found guilty of terrorism shall be meted a jail term of up to 40 years without parole.

T he crime is given heavier penalty compared to rebellion, which is punishable by reclusion perpetua or also up to 40 years imprisonment, but eligible for pardon or parole.

By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

SEN.

Raffy Tulfo raised the alarm over the clear and present danger on Philippine national security due to the country’s lack of cyber-security infrastructure and technology to counter present and future cyberthreats.

D uring the Senate Finance Subcommittee Hearing on the proposed 2023 budget of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and its attached agen cies on Tuesday, September 20, 2022, Tulfo stressed that the Philippines is vulnerable to cyber attacks from foreign countries perceiving it as enemies.

I fear for my country, I fear for our people, I fear for my family, na baka isang umaga ay magigising tayo na iba na ang takbo ng Pilipinas,” the senator said, warning,“It is possi ble for foreign hackers to launch widespread cyber attacks to coun tries they perceived as enemies to create chaos.”

T he senator issued the state ment after representatives from the DICT and Cybercrime Inves tigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) confirmed that the Philip pines has weak defenses against cyberthreats and attacks.

First off, Tulfo cautioned DICT and CICC against the so-called wa tering hole technique, which is used by hackers to infect virus to com

puters that suppliers distribute to an intended target. Hackers would normally wait for the infected com puters to be installed and call home before launching attacks.

He also warned them against a virus called “zombies,” which previ ously infested more than 730,000 American computers and turned them into “slave computers” that were used in cyber attacks.

Another cause of cyber-security concern, Tulfo noted, is the group of hackers called Hidden Lynx, which has been linked to high-profile cyber attacks around the world. It has attacked tech companies such as Google, financial service pro viders, defense contractors, and government agencies.

C onsidering all these, Tulfo stressed the need for the gov ernment to be extra cautious in procuring computers and other technological needs from foreign countries, saying it must not pur chase from countries perceiving Philippines as an enemy.

“Marami po ang maaapektuhan kapag nag -launch ang ibang bansa ng cyber attack against us,” the senator warned. “Kaya ng hackers sirain ang operations ng ating power grid, public utilities, government offices, and even military installa tions. Kaya dapat magiingat po tayo when it comes to procurement of computer systems,” he warned.

Tulfo added that cyber attacks could affect railway trains, com

munications, and banking and fi nancial institutions.

T he lawmaker likewise raised the possibility that foreign hack ers can also interfere in election process, just like what happened in the 2016 election where there was widespread false and malicious in formation dissemination.

Tulfo further expressed alarm on the installation of cell towers partially owned by a foreign en tity within the country’s military camps, as it poses serious national security threats.

A lthough DICT agreed that it might be a national security issue, they said that they were excluded on the committee that approved the installation of said cell towers.

Tulfo then sounded the alarm, considering that cyberattacks al ready happened in other more technologically advanced countries, citing the attack against Ukraine's electric grid in 2015 and the cyberat tack against British national health centers in 2017.

T he lawmaker likewise pointed out that foreign hackers launched cyberattacks on Aramco, a giant oil company in Saudi Arabia, in 2021. If it happened in these countries, the senator warned it could also easily happen in the Philippines.

A mid the country’s weak de fenses, Tulfo hopes that Congress would consider increasing the 2023 budget of the DICT and its attached agencies.

DOJ chief unleashes NBI to go after illegal POGO workers

By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573 & Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

said teams in the NBI have been re activated to join other law enforce ment agencies in addressing illegal activities in the POGO industry.

JUSTICE

Secretary Jesus Crisp in Remulla said he has lifted his order preventing the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) from conducting operations involving Philippine Offshore Gaming Opera tors

In(POGOs).anambush interview following his meeting with Chinese embassy officials led by its Charge D’affaires Ad Interim Zhou Zhyong, Remulla

We’re already moving now. We stopped the NBI’s operation then because nobody was filing cases.

Before they would conduct rescue operations but we found out there were no reports, no cases filed when we arrived here,” Remulla said.

“So we had to stop it. Now that this has come to light, the NBI is there already. We already have mobilized teams from the NBI to start moving on this one,” he added.

‘Human dignity’ THE coalition of the country’s big gest labor groups are calling for the fair treatment of hundreds of “irregular” foreign nationals (FN), who were employed by POGO and facing deportation.

T he Nagkaisa labor coalition ex pressed concern over the said govern ment plan, which it noted may end up as a “humanitarian crisis” if not properly managed.

Nagkaisa Chairman Sonny Mat ula reminded authorities to ensure that the rights of the affected FNs are still respected in line with Mi

gration for Employment Convention (ILC 49), which was ratified by the country in 2009.

T he Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) also issued the same appeal, saying that some of the affected FNs could even be victims of human trafficking.   “ We have seen the horrific treat ment of illegal and undocumented OFWs, and how extremely vulner able our Filipino workers were, and are, in distant countries to abuse and draconian treatment from govern ments that regarded our OFWs as mere commodities,” TUCP President

Raymond C. Mendoza said.

“Let Filipinos now show the way on how foreign workers who may have themselves been victimized, or misled, and perhaps exploited, should be treated here: with respect for their human and labor rights,” he stressed.

In July 2022, Remulla ordered the NBI to take its hands off POGOs fol lowing reports that some of its agents have been using their operations to illegally obtain money.

He said the alleged illegal NBI op erations had reached “alarming” levels.

M eanwhile, Remulla said he is hoping to facilitate the start of

the deportation of at least 300 il legally staying POGO employees who are now in the custody of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) before the end of the month or first week of October. TheDOJ chief said the number is expected to increase once authorities have validated the identities of Chi nese nationals working in POGOs who should be deported.

Remulla earlier said an estimated 40,000 Chinese nationals are expect ed to be deported back to China due to the cancellation of the licenses of around 175 POGO firms.

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Brief Job Description: The mandarin deputy-managing director will be a strategist and a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long term goals.

Basic PhpSalarystrategicexperiencecompany.equipmentmachineryandfamiliarity,mandarinProvenQualification:experienceassiteofficer,knowledgeawarenessonandheavyusebyDemonstrableindevelopingbusinessplan.Range:30,000-Php59,999

Basic PhpSalarystrategicexperiencecompany.equipmentmachineryandfamiliarity,mandarinProvenQualification:experienceassiteofficer,knowledgeawarenessonandheavyusebyDemonstrableindevelopingbusinessplan.Range:30,000-Php59,999

Basic PhpSalarystrategicexperiencecompany.equipmentmachineryandfamiliarity,mandarinProvenQualification:experienceassiteofficer,knowledgeawarenessonandheavyusebyDemonstrableindevelopingbusinessplan.Range:30,000-Php59,999

22. WU, MandarinQUANJUNElectrical Commissioning Analyst

Brief

Basic PhpSalarybusinessinDemonstrableusedandawarenessknowledgeManager,MandarinProvenQualification:experienceasBusinessfamiliarity,andonmachineryheavyequipmentbycompany.experiencedevelopingstrategicplan.Range:30,000-Php59,999 MandarinXIAOBINBusiness Manager

Brief Job Description:

Basic PhpSalarybusinessinDemonstrableuseandawarenessknowledgemanager,mandarinProvenQualification:experienceasbusinessfamiliarity,andonmachineryheavyequipmentbycompany.experiencedevelopingstrategicplan.Range:30,000-Php59,999

Basic PhpSalarybusinessinDemonstrableuseandawarenessknowledgecoordinator,mandarinProvenQualification:experienceasfieldservicefamiliarity,andonmachineryheavyequipmentbycompany.experiencedevelopingstrategicplan.Range:30,000-Php59,999

Basic PhpSalarystrategicexperiencecompany.equipmentmachineryandfamiliarity,ManagementMandarinProvenQualification:experienceasConstructionSpecialist,knowledgeawarenessonandheavyusedbyDemonstrableindevelopingbusinessplan.Range:30,000-Php59,999

Basic PhpSalarystrategicexperiencecompany.equipmentmachineryandfamiliarity,managementmandarinProvenQualification:experienceasconstructionspecialist,knowledgeawarenessonandheavyusebyDemonstrableindevelopingbusinessplan.Range:30,000-Php59,999

Brief Job Description: The mandarin electrical commissioning analyst will be a strategist and a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long term goals.

Basic PhpSalarybusinessinDemonstrableuseandawarenessknowledgecoordinator,mandarinProvenQualification:experienceasfieldservicefamiliarity,andonmachineryheavyequipmentbycompany.experiencedevelopingstrategicplan.Range:30,000-Php59,999

23. ZHAO, MandarinXINZHANElectrical Commissioning Analyst

Brief Job Description: The mandarin electrical commissioning analyst will be a strategist and a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission, and longterm goals.

Basic PhpSalarystrategicexperiencecompany.equipmentmachineryandfamiliarity,commissioningmandarinProvenQualification:experienceaselectricalanalyst,knowledgeawarenessonandheavyusebyDemonstrableindevelopingbusinessplan.Range:30,000-Php59,999

24. MA, MandarinJIE Electrical Commissioning Supervisor

Brief Job Description: The mandarin electrical commissioning supervisor will be a strategist

Basic PhpSalarystrategicexperiencecompany.equipmentmachineryandfamiliarity,mandarinProvenQualification:experienceassiteofficer,knowledgeawarenessonandheavyusebyDemonstrableindevelopingbusinessplan.Range:30,000-Php59,999 MandarinXIAOQUANElectrical Supervisor

Brief Job Description:

Basic PhpSalarybusinessinDemonstrableusedandawarenessknowledgeSupervisor,CommissioningMandarinProvenQualification:experienceasElectricalfamiliarity,andonmachineryheavyequipmentbycompany.experiencedevelopingstrategicplan.Range:30,000-Php59,999

Basic PhpSalarybusinessinDemonstrableuseandawarenessknowledgecoordinator,mandarinProvenQualification:experienceasfieldservicefamiliarity,andonmachineryheavyequipmentbycompany.experiencedevelopingstrategicplan.Range:30,000-Php59,999

Basic PhpSalarybusinessinDemonstrableuseandawarenessknowledgeanalyst,equipmentasProvenQualification:experiencemandarinheavymaintenancefamiliarity,andonmachineryheavyequipmentbycompany.experiencedevelopingstrategicplan.Range:30,000-Php59,999 PANG, MandarinXUEDONGHeavy

Brief Job Description: The mandarin be a strategist and a able to to the profitable also implementing

Basic PhpSalarystrategicexperiencecompany.equipmentmachineryandfamiliarity,mandarinProvenQualification:experienceassiteofficer,knowledgeawarenessonandheavyusebyDemonstrableindevelopingbusinessplan.Range:30,000-Php59,999

Basic PhpSalarybusinessinDemonstrableuseandawarenessknowledgecoordinator,mandarinProvenQualification:experienceasfieldservicefamiliarity,andonmachineryheavyequipmentbycompany.experiencedevelopingstrategicplan.Range:30,000-Php59,999

Basic PhpSalarybusinessinDemonstrableusedandawarenessknowledgeManager,asProvenQualification:experienceMandarinFinancefamiliarity,andonmachineryheavyequipmentbycompany.experiencedevelopingstrategicplan.Range:30,000-Php59,999

39. MandarinHELINHeavy

Brief Job Description:

Basic PhpSalarybusinessinDemonstrableuseandawarenessknowledgeanalyst,equipmentasProvenQualification:experiencemandarinheavymaintenancefamiliarity,andonmachineryheavyequipmentbycompany.experiencedevelopingstrategicplan.Range:30,000-Php59,999

Basic PhpSalarybusinessinDemonstrableuseandawarenessknowledgeanalyst,equipmentasProvenQualification:experiencemandarinheavymaintenancefamiliarity,andonmachineryheavyequipmentbycompany.experiencedevelopingstrategicplan.Range:30,000-Php59,999

40. ZHANG, MandarinHUIQUNHeavy

Brief Job Description: The to the profitable also implementing

41. MandarinJUN

Brief Job Description:

Basic PhpSalarybusinessinDemonstrableuseandawarenessknowledgeanalyst,equipmentasProvenQualification:experiencemandarinheavymaintenancefamiliarity,andonmachineryheavyequipmentbycompany.experiencedevelopingstrategicplan.Range:30,000-Php59,999

Basic PhpSalarystrategicexperiencecompany.equipmentmachineryandfamiliarity,mandarinProvenQualification:experienceassiteofficer,knowledgeawarenessonandheavyusebyDemonstrableindevelopingbusinessplan.Range:30,000-Php59,999

47. YANG, MandarinAIYIMechanical

Brief Job Description: The

Basic PhpSalarystrategicexperiencecompany.equipmentmachineryandfamiliarity,projectmandarinProvenQualification:experienceasmechanicaladministrator,knowledgeawarenessonandheavyusebyDemonstrableindevelopingbusinessplan.Range:30,000-Php59,999

48. ZHANG, MandarinSONGFEIProject Controls Analyst

Brief Job Description: The mandarin project controls analyst will be a strategist and a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long term goals.

49. CHEN, TheBriefMandarinSHUANGSiteOfficerJobDescription:mandarinsiteofficer

will be a strategist and a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long term goals.

Basic PhpSalarybusinessinDemonstrableuseandawarenessknowledgecoordinator,mandarinProvenQualification:experienceasfieldservicefamiliarity,andonmachineryheavyequipmentbycompany.experiencedevelopingstrategicplan.Range:30,000-Php59,999

Basic PhpSalarystrategicexperiencecompany.equipmentmachineryandfamiliarity,mandarinProvenQualification:experienceassiteofficer,knowledgeawarenessonandheavyusebyDemonstrableindevelopingbusinessplan.Range:30,000-Php59,999

50. CHENG, MandarinBINSite Officer

Brief Job Description: The mandarin site officer will be a strategist and a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long term goals.

51. GONG, TheBriefMandarinCHENGLINSiteOfficerJobDescription:MandarinSiteOfficer

will be a strategist and a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long term goals.

Basic PhpSalarystrategicexperiencecompany.equipmentmachineryandfamiliarity,mandarinProvenQualification:experienceassiteofficer,knowledgeawarenessonandheavyusebyDemonstrableindevelopingbusinessplan.Range:30,000-Php59,999

Basic PhpSalarystrategicexperiencecompany.equipmentmachineryandfamiliarity,MandarinProvenQualification:experienceasSiteOfficer,knowledgeawarenessonandheavyusedbyDemonstrableindevelopingbusinessplan.Range:30,000-Php59,999

Brief Job Description:

Basic PhpSalarybusinessinDemonstrableuseandawarenessknowledgeseniorasProvenQualification:experiencemandarinfinancestaff,familiarity,andonmachineryheavyequipmentbycompany.experiencedevelopingstrategicplan.Range:30,000-Php59,999 to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long term goals

Basic PhpSalarystrategicexperiencecompany.equipmentmachineryandfamiliarity,ResourcesasProvenQualification:experienceMandarinHumanManager,knowledgeawarenessonandheavyusedbyDemonstrableindevelopingbusinessplan.Range:30,000-Php59,999

Basic PhpSalarystrategicexperiencecompany.equipmentmachineryandfamiliarity,resourcesasProvenQualification:experiencemandarinhumansupervisor,knowledgeawarenessonandheavyusebyDemonstrableindevelopingbusinessplan.Range:30,000-Php59,999

Basic PhpSalarystrategicexperiencecompany.equipmentmachineryandfamiliarity,ResourcesasProvenQualification:experienceMandarinHumanSupervisor,knowledgeawarenessonandheavyusedbyDemonstrableindevelopingbusinessplan.Range:30,000-Php59,999

Basic PhpSalarystrategicexperiencecompany.equipmentmachineryandfamiliarity,projectmandarinProvenQualification:experienceasmechanicaladministrator,knowledgeawarenessonandheavyusebyDemonstrableindevelopingbusinessplan.Range:30,000-Php59,999

Basic PhpSalarystrategicexperiencecompany.equipmentmachineryandfamiliarity,projectmandarinProvenQualification:experienceasmechanicaladministrator,knowledgeawarenessonandheavyusebyDemonstrableindevelopingbusinessplan.Range:30,000-Php59,999

52. JIANG, TheBriefMandarinHAIGANGSiteOfficerJobDescription:mandarinsiteofficer

will be a strategist and a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long term goals.

LI, MandarinCHENGPUSite Officer

Basic PhpSalarybusinessinDemonstrableuseandawarenessknowledgecoordinator,mandarinProvenQualification:experienceasfieldservicefamiliarity,andonmachineryheavyequipmentbycompany.experiencedevelopingstrategicplan.Range:30,000-Php59,999

53.

Brief Job Description: The mandarin site officer will be a strategist and a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long term goals.

Basic PhpSalarystrategicexperiencecompany.equipmentmachineryandfamiliarity,mandarinProvenQualification:experienceassiteofficer,knowledgeawarenessonandheavyusebyDemonstrableindevelopingbusinessplan.Range:30,000-Php59,999

54. LI, MandarinJIANGTAOSite Officer

Brief Job Description: The mandarin site officer will be a strategist and a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission

Basic PhpSalarystrategicexperiencecompany.equipmentmachineryandfamiliarity,mandarinProvenQualification:experienceassiteofficer,knowledgeawarenessonandheavyusebyDemonstrableindevelopingbusinessplan.Range:30,000-Php59,999 MandarinYUEPINGSite Officer

Basic PhpSalarystrategicexperiencecompany.equipmentmachineryandfamiliarity,mandarinProvenQualification:experienceassiteofficer,knowledgeawarenessonandheavyusebyDemonstrableindevelopingbusinessplan.Range:30,000-Php59,999

Basic PhpSalarystrategicexperiencecompany.equipmentmachineryandfamiliarity,mandarinProvenQualification:experienceassiteofficer,knowledgeawarenessonandheavyusebyDemonstrableindevelopingbusinessplan.Range:30,000-Php59,999

69. NGOC

Brief Job Description:

70. NGUYEN BA THACH

Brief Job Description: the of faststay on track with the game updates, implementing procedures to support players, work creatively across multiple projects and platforms at the same time.

71. NGUYEN MANH TRUONG Customer Support Specialist

Brief Job Description: “Being the voice of our players within our fastgrowing online/offshore gaming platform, stay on track with the game updates, implementing procedures to support players, work creatively across multiple projects and platforms at the same time.”

NGUYEN THI HA NGAN Customer Support Specialist

Basic PhpSalaryspokenskillsExcellentQualification:communicationinChinese,bothandwrittenRange:30,000-Php59,999

Basic PhpSalaryspokenskillsExcellentQualification:communicationinChinese,bothandwrittenRange:30,000-Php59,999

72.

73.

Brief Job Description: “Being the voice of our players within our fastgrowing online/offshore gaming platform, stay on track with the game updates, implementing procedures to support players, work creatively across multiple projects and platforms at the same time.”

NGUYEN THI MAI Customer Support Specialist

Brief Job Description: “Being the voice of our players within our fastgrowing online/offshore gaming platform, stay on track with the game updates, implementing procedures to support players, work creatively across multiple projects and platforms at the same time.”

NGUYEN THI THU UYEN Customer Support Specialist

74.

Brief Job Description: “Being the voice of our players within our fastgrowing online/offshore gaming platform, stay on track with the game updates, implementing procedures to support players, work creatively across multiple projects and platforms at the same time.”

75. PHAM XUAN HOA Customer Support Specialist

Brief Job Description: “Being the voice of our players within our fastgrowing online/offshore gaming platform, stay on track with the game updates, implementing procedures to support players, work creatively across multiple projects and platforms at the same time.”

VO THI CustomerTHUYSupport Specialist

76.

77.

Brief Job Description: “Being the voice of our players within our fastgrowing online/offshore gaming platform, stay on track with the game updates, implementing procedures to support players, work creatively across multiple projects and platforms at the same time.”

VONG CHIENG KHOAN Customer Support Specialist

Brief Job Description: Being the voice of our players within our fastgrowing online/offshore gaming platform, stay on track with the game updates, implementing procedures to support players, work creatively across multiple projects and platforms at the same time.

VOONG TRAN LONG Customer Support Specialist

Brief Job Description: Being the voice of our players within our

78.

Basic PhpSalaryspokenskillsExcellentQualification:communicationinChinese,bothandwrittenRange:30,000-Php59,999

Basic PhpSalaryspokenskillsExcellentQualification:communicationinChinese,bothandwrittenRange:30,000-Php59,999

Basic PhpSalaryspokenskillsExcellentQualification:communicationinChinese,bothandwrittenRange:30,000-Php59,999

Basic PhpSalaryspokenskillsExcellentQualification:communicationinChinese,bothandwrittenRange:30,000-Php59,999

Basic PhpSalaryspokenskillsExcellentQualification:communicationinChinese,bothandwrittenRange:30,000-Php59,999

Basic PhpSalaryspokenskillsExcellentQualification:communicationinChinese,bothandwrittenRange:30,000-Php59,999

Basic PhpSalaryspokenskillsExcellentQualification:communicationinChinese,bothandwrittenRange:30,000-Php59,999

Basic Qualification: PhpSalarywritten.Range:30,000-Php ChineseMEI

Basic Qualification: at least 6 experience/goodservice PhpSalarywrittenRange:30,000-Php 59,999

87. TIN XIU MY Chinese Speaking Business Development Associate

Brief Job Assist/helpDescription:customers, give customers information about product and services

88. YANG, ChineseFENGRONGSpeakingBusiness Development Associate

Brief Job Assist/helpDescription:customers, give customers information about product and services

89. YANG, ChineseYIPENGSpeaking

Brief Job Assist/helpDescription:customers,

90. ZHANG, JINWEI

Brief Job Assist/helpDescription:customers, customers

Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months customer experience/goodservice in oral communication and PhpSalarywrittenRange:30,000-Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months customer experience/goodservice in oral communication and PhpSalarywrittenRange:30,000-Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months customer experience/goodservice in oral communication and PhpSalarywrittenRange:30,000-Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months customer experience/goodservice communication and PhpSalarywritten.Range:30,000-Php 59,999

Basic PhpSalaryspokenskillsExcellentQualification:communicationinChinese,bothandwrittenRange:30,000-Php59,999 59,999 ChineseJIE

Basic PhpSalarysolutionsandnetworkhascustomertechnicaltechnicalFluentQualification:inFrench,strongskillspreferablysupportorservicerole,basicknowledgeintroubleshooting,knowledgeinhosted(SAAS)Range:90,000-Php149,999

Basic Qualification: least

Salary

107. MultilingualYUELINBusiness

Basic Qualification: 18-55 y/o, at least 6

Salary Range: 30,000

Basic

109. CustomerTRIADIService Representative (Indonesian)

Brief Job Description:

110. WIECITRA Customer Representative (Indonesian)

Brief Job Description:

111. IRVAN CustomerPRASETIAJIService Representative (Indonesian)

Brief Job Description: Provides timely solutions to customer queries, prepares and deliver promotional presentations, communicates directly with clients and encourages trusting relationships

112. MARIHOT ADI

Brief

Basic PhpSalaryBusinessandandFluentQualification:inBothWrittenSpokenEnglishBahasaIndonesianLanguagesRange:30,000-Php59,999

Basic PhpSalaryBusinessandandFluentQualification:inBothWrittenSpokenEnglishBahasaIndonesianLanguagesRange:30,000-Php59,999

Basic PhpSalaryBusinessandandFluentQualification:inBothWrittenSpokenEnglishBahasaIndonesianLanguagesRange:30,000-Php59,999

Basic PhpSalaryBusinessandandFluentQualification:inBothWrittenSpokenEnglishBahasaIndonesianLanguagesRange:30,000-Php59,999

Brief Job

Basic PhpSalaryBusinessandandFluentQualification:inBothWrittenSpokenEnglishBahasaIndonesianLanguagesRange:30,000-Php59,999

Basic PhpSalaryBusinessandandFluentQualification:inBothWrittenSpokenEnglishBahasaIndonesianLanguagesRange:30,000-Php59,999

123. TUN BurmeseLIN Customer Service Representative

Brief Job ManagingDescription:incomingcalls service

124. HUANG, GAN Chinese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job ManagingDescription:incomingcalls and customer service inquiries

125. LI, ChineseMENGLUCustomer Service Representative

Brief Job ManagingDescription:incomingcalls and customer service inquiries

126. LIU, ChineseSHUANGSHUANGCustomerService Representative

Brief Job ManagingDescription:incomingcalls and customer service inquiries

127. MENG, ChineseFAXINCustomer Service Representative

Brief Job ManagingDescription:incomingcalls and customer service inquiries.

128. NIE, ChineseYUXINCustomer Service Representative

Brief Job ManagingDescription:incomingcalls and customer service inquiries

PAN, ChineseANDECustomer Service Representative

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, and Chinese language.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

129.

Brief Job ManagingDescription:incomingcalls and customer service inquiries

RAN, ChineseKEZHOUCustomer Service Representative

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

130.

131.

Brief Job ManagingDescription:incomingcalls and customer service inquiries

RAN, ChineseXUECustomer Service Representative

Brief Job ManagingDescription:incomingcalls and customer service inquiries

132. SUSANTO IndonesianTENGCustomer Service Representative

Brief Job ManagingDescription:incomingcalls and customer service inquiries

133. MOSES WONG UNG KING Malaysian Customer Service Representative

Brief Job ManagingDescription:incomingcalls and customer service inquiries

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic PhpSalarylanguageskillswrittenExcellentQualification:inverbalandcommunicationespeciallyinKoreanRange:90,000-Php149,999

Basic PhpSalarylanguageskillswrittenExcellentQualification:inverbalandcommunicationespeciallyinKoreanRange:60,000-Php89,999

Basic PhpSalarylanguageskillswrittenExcellentQualification:inverbalandcommunicationespeciallyinKoreanRange:90,000-Php149,999

134.

135.

STEPHEN LEE SIAU CHUNG Malaysian Customer Service Representative

Brief Job ManagingDescription:incomingcalls and customer service inquiries

NGUYEN DINH TU Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job ManagingDescription:incomingcalls and customer service inquiries

NGUYEN QUOC TOAN Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

136.

137.

Brief Job ManagingDescription:incomingcalls and customer service inquires

NGUYEN THANH HUYEN Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job ManagingDescription:incomingcalls and customer service inquires

Basic Qualification: Able to Speak, Read, and Write Chinese Language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Able to Speak, Read, 30,000 59,999

Basic Qualification:

Basic Qualification:

Basic PhpSalarymandarinreadingProficientQualification:inspeaking,andwritinginRange:30,000-Php59,999

Basic PhpSalarymandarinreadingProficientQualification:inspeaking,andwritinginRange:30,000-Php59,999 PhpSalarypreferredindependently,AbilityQualification:toworkcollegeRange:30,000-Php59,999 PhpSalaryIndustryBackgroundandFluentQualification:inEnglish,Chinese,andHasintheRange:60,000-Php89,999 PhpSalarybilingualreadingExcellentQualification:inspeaking,andwritinginlanguagesRange:30,000-Php59,999 PhpSalaryspeaking.ForeignQualification:languageRange:30,000-Php59,999 PhpSalaryspeaking.ForeignQualification:languageRange:30,000-Php59,999 PhpSalarymanagement.experienceFinance/Accounting,Bachelor’sQualification:degreeininbusinessRange:30,000-Php59,999

Biden says Russia’s Ukraine abuses ‘should make your blood run cold’

By Aamer Madhani & Zeke Miller The Associated Press

UNITED NATIONS—President Joe Biden declared at the United Nations on Wednesday that Russia has “shamelessly violated the core tenets” of the international body with its war in Ukraine as he summoned nations around the globe to stand firm in backing the Ukrainian resistance.

Delivering a forceful condemna tion of Russia’s seven-month inva sion, Biden said reports of Russian abuses against civilians and its ef forts to erase Ukraine and its culture “should make your blood run cold.” He referenced President Vladimir Putin’s announcement Wednesday that he had ordered a partial mobilization of reservists, a deeply unpopular step that sparked protests in Russia. And Putin’s new nuclear threats against Europe showed “reckless dis regard” for Russia’s responsibilities as a signer of the Treaty on the NonProliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Biden said.

He also criticized Russia for sched uling “sham referenda” this week in territory it has forcibly seized in Ukraine.“Apermanent member of the UN Security Council invaded its neighbor, attempted to erase a sov ereign state from the map. Russia has shamelessly violated the core tenets of the UN charter,” he told his UN Biden’saudience.speech was part of an ef fort to maintain Russia’s isolation on the global stage as the costs of war mount, worries about energy this winter loom and Congress is likely to look more skeptically on spending more on military defense. The presi dent called on all nations, whether democracies or autocracies, to speak out against Russia’s “brutal, needless war” and to bolster Ukraine’s effort to defend itself.

“We will stand in solidarity against Russia’s aggression, period,” Biden said.Biden also highlighted conse quences of the invasion for the world’s food supply, pledging $2.9 billion in global food security aid to address shortages caused by the war and the

effects of climate change. He praised a UN-brokered effort to create a corri dor for Ukrainian grain to be exported by sea, and called on the agreement to be continued despite the ongoing conflict.Biden, during his time at the UN General Assembly, met with Secre tary General António Guterres and held his first meeting with new Brit ish Prime Minister Liz Truss, during which they discussed Russia’s war, energy security and China. He also met with French President Emmanuel Macron, Japanese Prime Minister Fu mio Kishida and South Korean Presi dent Yoon Suk Yeol.

Biden also pressed nations to meet an $18 billion target to replenish the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, tubercu losis and malaria, reiterating the US commitment of $6 billion to that goal.

“Now is the moment to accelerate our efforts to reduce health inequi ties, and to address barriers to access including gender and human rights barriers to build a more inclusive healthcare systems, to leave no one behind, to end AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria for good,” Biden said, as he was joined by leaders from Japan, Germany, France, Canada and the EU for the announcement.

But the heart of the president’s visit to the UN this year was his fullthroated censure of Russia as its war nears the seven-month mark. One of Russia’s deputy UN ambassadors, Gennady Kuzmin, was sitting in Rus sia’s seat during Biden’s speech.

The address came as Russiancontrolled regions of eastern and southern Ukraine have announced plans to hold Kremlin-backed refer endums on becoming part of Russia and as Moscow was losing ground in thePutin’sinvasion.decision to “wave around

the nuclear card” in televised remarks falls in line with previous menacing rhetoric he’s used during the war, ac cording to a senior Biden administra tion official who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity. The official added that the administration has gleaned “no specific information, sig nals or moods” from Putin that sug gest he’s taking action to prepare for utilizing Russia’s nuclear weaponry.

The White House said the global food security funding includes $2 bil lion in direct humanitarian assistance through the United States Agency for International Development. The bal ance of the money will go to global development projects meant to boost the efficiency and resilience of the global food supply.

“This new announcement of $2.9 billion will save lives through emer gency interventions and invest in medium- to long-term food security assistance in order to protect the world’s most vulnerable populations from the escalating global food se curity crisis,” the White House said.

Biden was confronting no shortage of difficult issues as leaders gathered thisInyear.addition to the Russian war in Ukraine, European fears that a re cession could be just around the cor ner are heightened. Administration concerns grow by the day that time is running short to revive the Iran nuclear deal and over China’s saberrattling on Taiwan.

His Wednesday address comes on the heels of Ukrainian forces retaking control of large stretches of territory near Kharkiv. But even as Ukrainian forces have racked up battlefield wins, much of Europe is feeling painful blowback from economic sanctions levied against Russia. A vast reduction in Russian oil and gas has led to a sharp jump in energy prices, skyrocketing in flation and growing risk of Europe slipping into a recession.

Biden’s visit to the UN also comes as his administration’s efforts to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal appear stalled.

The deal brokered by the Obama administration—and scrapped by Trump in 2018—provided billions of dollars in sanctions relief in ex change for Iran’s agreement to dis mantle much of its nuclear program and open its facilities to extensive international inspection.

“While the United States is pre pared for a mutual return to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, if Iran steps up to its obligations, the

United States is clear: We will not al low Iran to acquire nuclear weapons,” Biden said.

US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said administration officials would be consulting with fellow sign ers of the 2015 agreement on the side lines of this week’s meetings.

This year’s UN gathering is back to being a full-scale, in-person event after two years of curtailed activity due to the pandemic.

China’s President Xi Jinping opted not to attend this year’s UN gather ing, but his country’s conduct and intentions loomed large.

Weeks after tensions flared across the Taiwan Strait as China objected to the visit to Taiwan of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Biden called for “peace and stability” and said the US would “oppose unilateral changes in the status quo by either side.” That came days after Biden repeated that the US would militarily assist Taiwan if China sought to invade.

China’s government on Monday said Biden’s statement in a CBS “60 Minutes” interview that American forces would defend the self-ruled island was a violation of US commit ments on the matter, but it gave no indication of possible retaliation.

Biden on Wednesday also declared that “fundamental freedoms are at risk in every part of our world,” citing last month’s UN human rights office report raising concerns about possible “crimes against humanity” in China’s western region against Uyghurs and other largely Muslim ethnic groups.

He also singled out for criticism the military junta in Myanmar, the Taliban controlling Afghanistan, and Iran, where he said the US supports protests in Iran that sprang up in re cent days after a 22-year-old woman died while being held by the moral ity police for violating the country’s Islamic dress code.

“Today we stand with the brave citizens and the brave women of Iran, who right now are demonstrating to secure their basic rights,” Biden said.

Biden also highlighted his ad ministration’s new investments in addressing climate change, primar ily through last month’s passage of Democrats’ massive “Inflation Re duction Act” which marks the largest single US investment in addressing climate change.

He encouraged other nations to meet their own environmental com mitments. “And none too soon—we don’t have much time.”

AP writer Zeke Miller reported from Washington.

Jerome Powell’s stark message: Inflation fight may cause recession

By Christopher Rugaber AP Economics Writer

WASHINGTON—The Fed eral Reserve delivered its bluntest reckoning Wednesday of what it will take to fi nally tame painfully high inflation: Slower growth, higher unemployment and potentially a recession.

Speaking at a news conference, Chair Jerome Powell acknowledged what many economists have been say ing for months: That the Fed’s goal of engineering a “soft landing”—in which it would manage to slow growth enough to curb inflation but not so much as to cause a recession—looks increasingly unlikely.

“The chances of a soft landing,” Powell said, “are likely to diminish” as the Fed steadily raises borrowing costs to slow the worst streak of infla tion in four decades. “No one knows whether this process will lead to a re cession or, if so, how significant that recession would be.”

Before the Fed’s policymakers would consider halting their rate hikes, he said, they would have to see continued slow growth, a “modest”

increase in unemployment and “clear evidence” that inflation is moving back down to their 2 percent target.

“We have got to get inflation be hind us,” Powell said. “I wish there were a painless way to do that. There isn’t.”Powell’s remarks followed an other substantial three-quarters of a point rate hike—its third straight—by the Fed’s policymak ing committee. Its latest action brought the Fed’s key short-term rate, which affects many consumer and business loans, to 3 percent to 3.25 percent. That’s its highest level since early 2008.

Falling gas prices have slightly lowered headline inflation, which was a still-painful 8.3 percent in August compared with a year earlier. Those declining prices at the gas pump might have contributed to a recent rise in President Joe Biden’s public approval ratings, which Democrats hope will boost their prospects in the Novem ber midterm elections.

On Wednesday, the Fed officials also forecast more jumbo-size hikes to come, raising their benchmark rate to roughly 4.4 percent by year’s end—a

full point higher than they had envi sioned as recently as June. And they expect to raise the rate again next year, to about 4.6 percent. That would be the highest level since 2007.

By raising borrowing rates, the Fed makes it costlier to take out a mortgage or an auto or business loan. Consumers and business es then presumably borrow and spend less, cooling the economy and slowing inflation.

In their quarterly economic fore casts, the Fed’s policymakers also projected that economic growth will stay weak for the next few years, with unemployment rising to 4.4 percent by the end of 2023, up from its cur rent level of 3.7 percent. Historically, economists say, any time unemploy ment has risen by a half-point over several months, a recession has al ways“Sofollowed.the(Fed’s) forecast is an im plicit admission that a recession is likely, unless something extraordi nary happens,” said Roberto Perli, an economist at Piper Sandler, an invest mentFedbank.officials now foresee the econ omy expanding just 0.2 percent this

year, sharply lower than their fore cast of 1.7 percent growth just three months ago. And they envision slug gish growth below 2 percent from 2023 through 2025. Even with the steep rate hikes the Fed foresees, it still ex pects core inflation—which excludes volatile food and gas costs—to be 3.1 percent at the end of 2023, well above its 2 percent target.

Powell warned in a speech last month that the Fed’s moves will “bring some pain” to households and busi nesses. And he added that the central bank’s commitment to bringing infla tion back down to its 2 percent target wasShort-term“unconditional.”ratesat a level the Fed is now envisioning will force many Americans to pay much higher inter est payments on a variety of loans than in the recent past. Last week, the average fixed mortgage rate topped 6 percent, its highest point in 14 years, which helps explain why home sales have tumbled. Credit card rates have reached their highest level since 1996, according to Bankrate.com.

AP Economics Writer Paul Wiseman contributed to this report.

‘PHL can enrich the work of the UN Security Council’

FIFTY

nations gathered in San Francisco, California in April 1945 and created the United Nations. The Philippines is one of the UN’s original members. A wise man said the signing of the UN Charter in 1945 was an unprecedented development in the history of humankind. For the first time, the world’s most powerful sovereign nation states came together to create an autonomous organization designed to, in the Charter’s words, “save succeeding generations from the scourge of war [and] reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights.”

On January 1, 2004, the Philippines assumed one of the elected seats in the United Nations Security Council for the term 2004-2005. The Council consists of 15 member-states, and each member has one vote. The Council’s five permanent members are China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Under the UN Charter, all member-states are obligated to comply with the decisions of the UN Security Council.

The Council is primarily responsible for maintaining international peace and security. It also calls upon the parties to a dispute to settle differences through peaceful means and recommends methods of adjustment or terms of settlement. In some cases, the Security Council may impose sanctions or even authorize the use of force to maintain or restore international peace and security.

US President Dwight Eisenhower said in 1961: “With all its defects, with all the failures that we can check up against it, the UN still represents man’s best organized hope to substitute the conference table for the battlefield.”

After almost two decades, the Philippines is again seeking a seat at the powerful UN body. President Marcos on Wednesday asked the UN memberstates to support the Philippines’s candidature to the UN Security Council for the term 2027-2028. He made the call in a speech at the 77th session of the UN General Assembly, saying the Philippines’s peace-building efforts make it qualified to be part of the Security Council.

“My country’s experience in building peace and forging new paths of cooperation can enrich the work of the Security Council. And to this end I appeal for the valuable support of all UN member-states for the Philippines’s candidature to the Security Council for the term of 2027-2028,” he said.

The President cited the country’s success in achieving “lasting peace and sustainable development” in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao by pushing for inclusive dialogue. “The peace that we have forged after many decades of conflict among warring factions and clansmen demonstrates that unity is possible even in the most trying circumstances,” he said.

The Philippines, Marcos added, also takes the same approach in Asia, where it builds partnerships for peace and development through inter-faith and interreligious dialogue, especially in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

“In the face of great diversity, we believe that partnerships form the bridge to unite all of us in promoting peace and stability in the Asia Pacific region.”

Highlighting the need to reaffirm the UN’s commitment to end war, uphold justice, respect human rights, and maintain international peace and security, Marcos urged the UN members to address the scourge of the proliferation of all weapons, including small arms, light weapons, or improvised explosive devices. He lamented that nuclear weapon continues to be an “existential threat” despite efforts to prohibit its use.

The Philippines has shown to the world its capacity in dealing with terrorists trying to gain a foothold in the country. As the President has said, the Philippines succeeded in achieving lasting peace and sustainable development in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. If elected as one of the members of the UN Security Council, the Philippines can truly enrich the work of the UN body by sharing to the world its successful peacebuilding toolkit.

Preparedness for protection

EAGLE RogerWATCHCabiles

THIS September, leaders from the Asia Pacific region will gather for the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Brisbane, Australia. With the theme “From Crisis to Resilience: Transforming the Asia-Pacific Region’s Future Through Disaster Risk Reduction,” this platform aims to promote coordination and cooperation and accelerate progress on disaster risk reduction (DRR).

Indeed, a lot has to be done on DRR, especially for countries in Asia Pacific. From 2000-2017, just under half of all disasters happened in the region. The region would also account for more than half of global disaster mortality and 85 percent of the global disaster-affected people. In the Philippines alone, an average of 20 typhoons pass by every year, and about five of which are destructive. In December 2021, Typhoon Odette (Rai) struck central Philippines, wreaking havoc on tourist centers Siargao, Cebu, Bohol, and Northern Palawan. No one will forget November 2013, when we experienced the most destructive disaster in recorded history when Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) struck with more than 14 million people affected and more than 6,000 people dead. Aside from these, we have the world’s longest ongoing communist insurgency and armed separatist movements in Mindanao, which increase the vulnerability of our people. Add-

ing up corruption, bad governance, and inefficiency, the sad state of our country requires a great deal of effort to prepare, respond, and manageThedisasters.efforts of the Office of Civil Defense, together with agencies such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development, have provided much needed aid to affected communities during disasters. There are also Local Government Unit champions such as the province of Albay, which has instituted clear mechanisms in responding to disasters to minimize casualties and impact on communities. Currently, there is also a bill in Congress establishing the Department of Disaster Resilience, to ensure more effective coordination among national agencies, local government units, and civil society. Humanitarian organizations, with funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the European Union, and other foreign governments,

complement these efforts and try to address gaps in disaster response and management. What more can we do to ensure that our efforts are translated to greater impact and better Inoutcomes?its2021 report, the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UN DRR) highlighted that for every $100 disaster-related Overseas Development Assistance (ODA), only 50 cents are used in protection, even if it has been proven that there are benefits in investing in prevention and resilience. Of the $133 billion disaster-related ODA, $5.5 billion was aimed at risk reduction measures before disasters struck, compared to $119.8 billion spent on emergency/ disaster response and $7.7 billion for reconstruction, relief, and rehabilitation. While it is important to provide funding to emergency response and reconstruction, as it ensures survival and long-term rehabilitation, investing in preparedness and resilience mitigates and reduces risk, which could minimize casualties and the negative impact of disasters on the livelihoods of the people and the largerOneeconomy.ofthe initiatives focused on resilience-building is the EUfunded Preparedness for Protection in Southeast Asia (PPSEA) project in Mindanao and Thailand’s Deep South. As a response due to increased risk because of natural disasters and localized conflict, PPSEA builds the capacities of institutions, such as local government agencies, community groups, and civil society organizations, in disaster response by providing support and assistance in the creation and enhancement of

contingency plans, capacity building plans, and business continuity plans. Through these activities, LGUs and the communities are better prepared in anticipation of disasters and calamities. Awareness-building activities and advocacy on international humanitarian law are also conducted to ensure increased appreciation of the rights of people during conflict and disasters. Meanwhile, projects such as the Moving Urban Poor Communities Towards Resilience (MOVEUP) focus on the promotion of various social protection mechanisms, as well as anticipatory action activities that will serve as cushion to the negative impact of disasters and calamities.

As leaders meet and discuss how we can turn crisis into resilience, they should be reminded that casualties can be avoided, and the negative economic impact can be minimized if we mitigate risk through disaster preparedness and anticipatory action activities. The reality is that there is a lack of funding in preventing future disasters, through either the national budget or ODA, which is unfortunate, as strategies for disaster risk reduction need funding to reduce mortality and the number of people affected by disaster. Our funds and efforts should be better targeted to address the vulnerability of our people that make disasters more likely. Same as the adage in health, preparedness and prevention are better than cure in the context of disasters.

Mr. Roger Cabiles teaches economics at the Ateneo de Manila University. He is the Project Director of Preparedness for Protection Southeast Asia.

Iranians see widespread Internet blackout amid mass protests

By The Associated Press

could no longer access the Internet using mobile devices.

DUBAI,

United Arab Emirates—Iranians experienced a neartotal Internet blackout on Wednesday amid days of mass protests against the government over the death of a woman held by the country’s morality police for allegedly violating its strictly-enforced dress code.

An Iranian official had earlier hinted that such measures might be taken out of security concerns. The loss of connectivity will make it more difficult for people to organize protests and share information about the government’s rolling crackdown on Irandissent.has seen nationwide protests over the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was detained for allegedly wearing the mandatory Islamic headscarf too loosely. Demonstrators have clashed with police and called for the downfall of the Islamic Republic itself, even as Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi addressed the UN General Assembly on Wednesday.

The protests continued for a fifth day on Wednesday, including in the

capital, Tehran. Police there fired tear gas at protesters who chanted “death to the dictator,” and “I will kill the one who killed my sister,” according to the semiofficial Fars newsLondon-basedagency. rights group Amnesty International said security forces have used batons, birdshot, tear gas, and water cannons to disperse protesters. It reported eight deaths linked to the unrest, including four people killed by security forces. It said hundreds more have been wounded. Iranian officials have reported three deaths, blaming them on unnamed armed groups.

Witnesses in Iran, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal, said late Wednesday they

“We’re seeing Internet service, including mobile data, being blocked in Iran in the past couple of hours,”

Doug Madory, director of internet analysis at Kentik, Inc., a network intelligence company, said late Wednesday.“Thisislikely an action by the government given the current situation in the country,” he said. “I can confirm a near total collapse of Internet connectivity for mobile providers in NetBlocks,Iran.” a London-based group that monitors Internet access, had earlier reported widespread disruptions to both Instagram and WhatsApp.Facebook parent company Meta, which owns both platforms, said it was aware that Iranians were being denied access to Internet services.

“We hope their right to be online will be reinstated quickly,” it said in a statement.Earlieron Wednesday, Iran’s Telecommunications Minister Isa

Zarepour was quoted by state media as saying that certain restrictions might be imposed “due to security issues,” without elaborating.

Iran already blocks Facebook, Telegram, Twitter and YouTube, even though top Iranian officials use public accounts on such platforms. Many Iranians get around the bans using virtual private networks, known as VPNs, and proxies.

In a separate development, several official websites, including those for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the presidency and the Central Bank, were taken down at least briefly as hackers claimed to have launched a cyberattack on state agencies.Hackers linked to the shadowy Anonymous movement said they targeted other Iranian state agencies, including state TV.

Central Bank spokesman Mostafa Qamarivafa denied that the bank itself was hacked, saying only that the website was “inaccessible” because of an attack on a server that hosts

See “Iranian,”

Japan leader affirms vow to help PHL attain middle-income status

By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

THE country is now expect ed to get more economic assistance from Japan to help reach its goal of attaining upper middle-income status be fore the end of the administra

tion of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.   J apanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio made the commit ment to President Marcos during their meeting on the sidelines of the 77th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York last Wednesday.

PM Kishida reiterated Japan’s commitment to supporting the Philippines’s economic develop ment to become an upper middleincome country,” Press Secretary Beatrix “Trixie” Cruz-Angeles said in a news statement.

D uring the meeting, she said the President talked about the

priority sectors of his adminis tration, namely, agriculture and food security, energy security, infrastructure development, and cyber security.

A side from economic coop eration, she said both leaders also discussed regional secu rity, particularly “in maritime

Twin bills mandate govt to buy local farm produce, install drying facilities

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz  @joveemarie

TWIN

bills mandate govt to buy local farm produce, install drying facilities.

Two lawmakers are pushing for the pas sage of two separate bills that will mandate the government to purchase farm produce from local growers and establish palay drying facili ties nationwide to boost farmers’ income and help attain the country’s long-standing goal of achieving food security.

D avao City First District Rep. Paolo Duterte and Benguet Rep. Eric Yap filed House Bill 3382, which aims to ensure that the national and local governments will source food for their relief and school feeding programs from local farmers.

C omplementing this measure is HB 3383, which seeks to appropriate funds for the establishment nationwide of modern rice drying facilities that will be accessible to farmers for free.

D uterte and Yap said these twin measures support the government’s priority goals of revitalizing the country’s agriculture sector and fighting hunger, especially among schoolage children.

It is only fitting to put our farmers first when attending to our countrymen’s urgent need for subsistence as our farmers are con sidered as the nation’s first responders in ful filling our food requirements. This bill does not aim to derail fair competition in terms of foreign trade and importation, but to support the produce of our own,” Duterte and Yap said in filing HB 3382.

D uterte and Yap recalled that at the height of the pandemic, farmers came to the rescue of poor Filipino families by dropping their prices and at times, even distributing their produce for free to those affected by the Co vid-19-induced lockdowns.

“ The Covid-19 pandemic has altered every country’s priority. Aside from the reinforcement to health-care institutions, what was also given the most important consideration is the provision and distri bution of relief to the affected communi ties,” they said.

U nder HB 3382, national government agencies and the local government units (LGUs) are mandated to prioritize the pur chase of produce from farmers in imple menting their respective relief and school feeding programs.

“ Prioritizing the purchase of local produce shall mean the exhaustion of all available and appli cable local produce at the most reason able and practicable cost before resorting to imported or for eign produce,” the bill added.

To lower transpor tation and hauling costs, the bill states that for LGUs, lo cal farmers’ produce within their cedencedictions takesjurispreoverother

produce outside their respective territo rial jurisdictions.

T he bill, however, makes it clear that the national government and LGUs should not buy produce that are no longer fit for human consumption, are insufficient and inferior in quality, and are more costly and imprac ticable compared to imported or foreign sources of produce.

To ensure that the government, particu larly the National Food Authority (NFA), buys farm produce at competitive prices, the two lawmakers have also made the es tablishment of rice drying systems manda tory under HB 3383.

T he NFA buys clean and dry palay with 14 percent moisture content at P19 per kilo, which small farmers can only offer if they have ac cess to dryers.

B ecause they lack these facilities, Duterte and Yap noted that many farmers are left with no choice but to sell their palay at bargain basement prices to local traders for only P12 per kilo. The cheap price makes it difficult for farmers to recover their expenses, the two lawmakers said.

U nder their proposal, the NFA shall “pro cure, build, install, operate, manage, and/ or maintain rice drying facilities sufficient in quantity and geographically accessible to local farmers to enable it to buy rice directly from local farmers.”

T hese drying facilities are free for farmers to use if their produce will be sold directly to theUNFA.nder the bill, the initial amount need ed to procure the drying facilities shall be charged against the appropriations of the Department of Agriculture (DA), and/or sourced from Pagcor (Philippine Amuse ment and Gaming Corp.), PCSO (Philip pine Charity Sweepstakes Office), and the Malampaya Funds.

F unds for the continued implementa tion of the rice-drying program shall be sourced from the DA’s annual appropria tions under the national budget, HB 3383, likewise, states.

security, maritime domain awareness, maritime law en forcement capacities and peace in Mindanao.”Bothsidesexchanged views on bilateral, regional, and international concerns,” Angeles said.

The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to reinforce ties and strengthen cooperation in response to the challenges and opportunities in the regional se curity and economic landscape,” sheFadded. umiowas among the state lead ers, who called and congratulated Marcos after he won in the presiden tial elections.

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

THE national government (NG) is allocating P669.3 million to finance the establishment of the Virology and Vaccine Institute of the Philippines (VIP), the Depart ment of Budget and Management (DBM) said.

DBM Secretary Amenah F. Pangan daman said the fiscal year (FY) 2023 National Expenditure Program (NEP) earmarked P250 million for the con struction of the VIP building in Capas, Tarlac, and P419.3 million for several research and development projects of theTinstitute.hefunds for the VIP building con struction is provided under the Depart ment of Public Works and Highways budget in FY 2023, while the researches of VIP are under the Department of Sci ence and Technology’s (DOST) Indus trial Technology Development Institute (ITDI) and the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM).

We need to be proactive and fund for a Virology Institute composed of highly-trained experts who would conduct studies on emerging virus strains as quickly as possible and pre pare us in case of health emergencies,” Pangandaman said.

T he ongoing projects of the VIP include the isolation and purification of Philippine Common Viruses with Medical Importance and Pandemic Po tential for Antigen-Antibody Studies as well as Combination Therapy: Lytic Bacteriophages and Plant Extracts against Multidrug-resistant Bacteria, Detection of Food and Water-borne Bacterial Pathogens Using Phagebased Diagnostics.

T he VIP is also undertaking a De Novo Synthesis of Non-infective Zika Pseudovirus as Reference for Diag nostics and Vaccines Development, Development of a Real Time Poly merase Chain Reaction for Point of Need Detection of African Swine Fe ver Virus; Development of PCR-based Detection Kit for Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus (TYLCV)—Philippine Strains; and Antigenic Peptide VLPs as Potential Candidates for Covid-19 Vaccine Development.

T he President earlier recognized the crucial role of the VIP in society. In his budgetary message on the 2023 NEP, the Chief Executive expressed

that the P419.3 million allocation for the VIP mirrored the country’s need for faster identification of, and response to, outbreaks.

PHL investment showcase MEANWHILE , the DBM expects to showcase various investment oppor tunities in the Philippines at the in vestors briefing of the economic team in New York.

T he Philippine Economic Briefing (PEB) will allow the country’s economic managers to engage with business lead ers, bankers, and investors in New York.

T he PEB New York will focus mainly on economic and industry updates, to be led by Secretary Ben jamin Diokno of the Department of Finance (DOF) and Secretary Alfredo Pascual of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

T he President will deliver the key note message at PEB New York in the hopes that he would be able to encour age investors to take part in the Philip pines’s economic resurgence.

“Despite the challenges of the pan demic and the global economic upheav als, we remain on track to reach upper middle-income status by next year. With steady investment in food [security], public health, education, and other social services, we expect to become a mod erately prosperous country by 2040. I am confident that we will achieve this vision,” the President said at the UN General Assembly (UNGA).

T he Chief Executive’s pronounce ment will be further tackled by the first panel of the PEB, composed of the Finance Chief, Budget Secretary Pan gandaman, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, Bangko Sentral Governor Felipe Medalla, and Ayala Corporation Chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala.

T he discussion will focus on eco nomic development and outlook, fiscal management, budget priorities, and the business climate in the country.

Meanwhile, the second panel will showcase Philippine trade and indus try, tourism, transport, energy, and information and communications technology. President and CEO Sabin Aboitiz of Aboitiz Equity Ventures, who is also the head of the Private Sector Advisory Council, will also join the panel to share his insights on invest ment opportunities.

P rior to the pandemic, in 2019, there were 682,788 tourists from Japan, with the country ranking a consistent fourth overall, after South Korea, China, and the United States. From February 10, when the Philippines reopened its bor ders to vaccinated foreign tourists, to August 31, arrivals from Japan reached 46,406, making the market sixth on the overall list, after the US, South Ko rea, Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Total arrivals for said period reached 1.37 million.

L ast April, Japanese officials attend ing the World Travel and Tourism Coun cil Global Summit in Manila said their country’s low booster vaccination rate has prevented most of their citizens from traveling abroad. Only travelers who are boostered can return to Japan without being quarantined. (See, “Low booster vax rate in Japan discourages holidays in PHL,” in the BusinessMirror ,” April 23, 2022.)

Restarting travel THIS year’s expo is themed, “Taking on

the New Era: Restart” for trade, and “Hel lo New Journey” for the general public. With this, visitors of the Philippines booth will be treated with culture, ad venture and gastronomic offerings ca tering to the new and diverse trends of tourism and traveling. The Philippines will be highlighting its top tourism des tinations such as Manila, Boracay, Cebu and Bohol among others.

T he Philippines’s private sector del egation at the TEJ include representa tives from Attic Tours Phils. Inc., Bai Hotel Cebu, Bohol Beach Club, Cebu Air Inc., Gladex Travel Services, Her ald Suites Hotels, Hotel 101 Manila, Philippine Airlines, Shangri-La Bora cay Resort and Spa, the Subic Bay Met ropolitan Authority, and Waterfront Hotels & Casinos.

T EJ has projected 150,000 visitors to the trade fair, with 1,800 exhibitors  present from 154 countries and 47 pre fectures. The event has become an impor tant brand exercise for national tourism offices in Asia, showcasing destination attractions and product offerings.

TPB: Higher Japan booster rate bodes well for PHL tourism

DBM allots P669.3 million for first virology, vaccine institute in 2023 NEP

Ceboom and the bridges of Cebu country

TELLTaLEsMannyF.Dooc

IWas in Cebu City last week to inaugurate a new extension office of stronghold Insurance where I sit as its Chairman. It’s located in the bustling Cebu Business Park, now acknowledged as the heart of the city. It’s our 4th sales office in Cebu City and attests to the rapid business growth and booming economy of the place. The term “Ceboom” came about during the closing decade of the 20th Century when Cebu rose from economic stupor following a series of destructive typhoons, which ravaged the entire islands. Unable to get much needed relief from the national government, which was also reeling from the massive devastation brought by the calamities across the archipelago, the Cebuano political and business leaders joined hands to revive and develop the economy.

investors came in to rebuild and modernize the infrastructure; construction projects mushroomed around the city, roads were widened, bridges were repaired and commercial areas were developed. The Cebu Business pa rk was set up in 1994, bringing in more business establishments and outlets to the city. Led by the giants in the retail industry, sM and ayala Malls made Cebu City a shopping paradise for the people in the region and a magnet for business offices.   now Cebu Business pa rk, a sprawling 50-hectare mixed used development, is a crowded business district that boasts of first class establishments such as banks, hotels, shopping malls, restaurants and bars, business offices, residential and office condominiums and all kinds of amenities of modern living. it houses several companies, both local and foreign, which employ tens of thousands of workers. it is the home to thousands of condo dwellers that treasure a lifestyle of urban living near work and recreation. simple and affordable dwelling accommodations are available, together with premium and luxurious flats where only the wealthy and the mighty can stay.   it ’s safe to observe that the level of infrastructure defines the progress of a place. infrastructure is critical to its economic development. Without good roads, transportation and communications systems, hospitals and ports, schools, among others, the economy will not move and the place will remain stagnant. in the case of Cebu, the bridge systems spanning across the Mactan Channel is a valid barometer. There are three bridges that connect the islands of Cebu and Mactan. The first is the Mactan-Mandaue Bridge, which is officially renamed  serging Veloso- osmeña Jr. Bridge. it was named after the son of the Grand old Man of Cebu, president sergio osmeña sr., and the father of former senator serge osmeña iii he served as mayor of Cebu City for several terms and governor of the Cebu province. he fought president Ferdinand E. Marcos in the 1969 presidential election but lost. The bridge was only officially renamed after serging osmeña on June 2, 2022 when it lapsed into law after president Rodrigo Duterte failed to sign the bill renaming the MactanMandaue Bridge. The bill, h B no 05997, was authored by Rep. Raul del Mar of Cebu City. Curiously enough, the construction of the bridge was initiated by Cebu Governor Rene Espina, then serving as the secretary of public Works, Transportation and Communications under president Ferdinand E. Marcos. Construction of the bridge started in 1970 before the Martial Law and was inaugurated on July 4, 1973 after Martial Law was declared in 1972. however, as early as april 2013, the local Mactan- Cebu Bridge Management Board had renamed the bridge to sergio osmeña, Jr. Bridge to honor its favorite son, but it took years to enact legislation to formalize it.

The second bridge spanning the channel is called the Marcelo Fernan Bridge, named after another famous son of Cebu City. This bridge connects Mandaue City to Lapulapu City and was built to decongest the traffic from the serging Veloso- osmeña, Jr. Bridge. Marcelo Fernan is the only Filipino to serve as the Chief Justice of the supreme Court and as senate president of the philippines. he was the running mate of speaker Ramon V. Mitra when

the latter ran for president in the 1991 presidential elections, but both of them lost to Fidel V. Ramos and Joseph Estrada for president and vice president, respectively.  it was formerly called Consolacion Bridge after the name of the town where one end of the bridge is located. its construction started in 1996 and opened to traffic on august 3, 1999 during the administration of president Ramos. its construction was funded with the help of the Japanese government.  Thethirdbridge connecting Cebu and Mactan islands is the recently completed Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway or more commonly known as the Cebu-Cordova Bridge.  it is 8.9-kilometer sea-crossing toll bridge expressway, which surpasses the length of the famous 2-kilometer san Juanico Bridge between samar and Leyte. The CCLEX links Cebu City and the municipality of Cordova in Mactan. The construction of this bridge was first proposed by Mayor adelino sitoy of Cordova and strongly supported by the LGUs of Cebu City and Cordova. The Regional Development Council of Region V ii led by its Chairman Mike Rama, now city mayor of Cebu, supported the proposal. Metro pacific Tollways Corporation headed by Manny pa ngilinan adopted the project and proposed it to the aquino administration, which approved and initiated it during his term. Cebu City and Cordova awarded the projects to Metro pacific. Construction of the bridge began on March 2, 2022 and was inaugurated by president Rodrigo Duterte on april 27, 2022, a historic date commemorating the 501st a nniversary of the Battle of Mactan. i met the president and general manager of the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway Corporation, a subsidiary of Mp TC that manages the toll bridge, a l lan a lfon. he said that the toll bridge generates a healthy revenue for the company. it serves not less than 50,000 vehicles daily. he proudly claimed that the bridge provides safe and convenient travel to its users and is fast becoming a main tourist attraction in the region. More importantly, it will spur economic growth and invite more investments in Cebu. The project’s total cost was p33 billion, more or less.

Just like the two older bridges crossing the Mactan Channel, the opening to traffic of the Cebu-Cordova Bridge, if i may borrow the words of Mp TC Chairman Manny pa ngilinan, “will bring in more investments, stimulate trade and commerce, revitalize tourism, and give a collective sense of pride among its people.” Well said, MV p  The Cebu-Cordova Bridge is truly the Gilas pi lipinas.  i hope you will do more similar projects in other parts of our country. andthe physical infrastructure is not the only healthy sign of a resurging Cebu. Recent announcement by hizzoner, Mayor Mike Rama, to tap the services of and/or consult with tried and tested public servants like former senator Frank Drilon, former public Works and highways secretary Rogelio singson, former DEnR secretary Roy Cimatu and others to sit in the premier city’s advisory council is very encouraging. This is in line with Mayor Rama’s vision to transform Cebu City into another singapore.  in m aking the appointments, Mayor Rama has disregarded political color and built bridges across various political camps in pursuing his great vision for his beloved city.

Days of forgetting, days of remembering

Tito Genova Valiente annoTaTions

Who could forget the long, tortuous funeral procession that occupied TV screens and online exposures? The strong typhoon that was about to batter Japan was lost in the pomp and pageantry. The earthquake was no match to the assumption that it was not only the entire Britain that was watching but also the world. That is a thought only the confidently potent could summon.

it is difficult to die as a royalty. There are rigorous procedures, last wills to follow. What pearls to wear? What crowns must be raised? There is majesty to uphold even as they claim everything to dust returns. power, we would learn, is not about might although palaces and ramparts do exhibit brute force. power is about spaces—geographical, political, social spaces. a n empire can stretch across seas, crossing cultures and civilizations and erasing both in the process. Colonization is that political evil will to lord it over territories larger than those of the colonizer’s, with traditions and arts as complex and articulated, perhaps even more, than those whose default lens about unknown domains is to perceive them as savages.

When the hearse entered the old palace, what capital would fund a ground covered with bouquets of flowers? That, in old hollywood, is production design; in this castle, it is an unbridled display of grief and grandeur.hundreds of years from now, this month will be about the death of a monarch.Whatshall it be for us? it shall be a death of memory.

By the calendrical gem-color of remembrances, this year, this month, and a particular day, is Golden. The 50th anniversary of the declaration of martial law. is this a commemoration? is this a memorialization?somedaysaremeant for remembering, and some days are meant for forgetting.Mygeneration is one of the rightful bearers of the memories of martial law. Most of us were stepping out of high school into college or university when martial rule was declared. h o wever, our parents and our kin would have different recollections of those days. s ome families recall the turbulence of activism and how they lost their daughters, once obedient and gracious, and how they tried to win back their sons, braver and ready to take on the government. There are even more horrifying memories: mothers and fathers would move from military camp to military camp in search of their children. They would see their faces behind doors kept ajar by guards, always in the dark, quiet, unable to even call their names. Then, they would disappear. Vanished.

a new word is learned by my generation: the disappeared ones. Clumsy words. not elegant at all. Terror is clumsy, not elegant. it is rash,Theviolent.grandparents of my generation were old men and women who were cautious for us. They recalled another era, when their own neighbors spied on them and gave their names to the Japanese. You could not trust anyone, not another kin who lived nearby, not the kindly man passing by your window. The same anxiety was felt when martial rule was in effect—we whispered when we talked about soldiers dying in Mindanao and about the rice shortage. newspapers were scared. They either talked good about the government or they shut up.

in a twist of historical fate, the name of the conquering race in the last world war, “ hapon,” became the label for the individuals who observed universities and marked teachers and students as dissidents.

Double-agents they were. These people lived on. They are still around, organic and eternal.

The lockdown that happened during the pandemic had its political parallel in the martial law years. Like the isolation created by the pandemic, being cooped up could result in a mind conditioned to accept the goodness of control. That being kept away was to maintain peace and order.

it was because of this that we, my generation, appreciated the return of the so-called democratic space. This was the time when people could speak again, when newspapers were brought back and could say anything, both truths and lies. That democratic space, a legacy of one particular president, is all but gone now. no one celebrates that. There is no day or month in which we can situate the return of that day

when we could once more express our opinions without the military inviting us to their offices for an interrogation.Doweeverask when the newspapers made their comebacks again? or when producers ceased inserting into films warnings “not to follow the examples of the characters on screen?” a s if the actors and the films are not dumb enough not to be emulated?

Who remembers when movie posters were censored, when guns held by actors were painted with white, leaving the character with his hand stretched, a gooey blob at the end? or when long-haired characters on movie posters were tampered in such a way that where the curls or overgrown sideburns were, newly created pinkish ears appeared. Remember, short hair meant decent boys and men.

Thus, we recoil at the news that the haircut rule is now being enforced in some schools. This brings memories of a past, not in a romantic manner but in the way that tells us how imposition of sumptuary laws began in the era of kings and queens, when the rulers imposed limitations on the consumption and behavior of people to maintain structured inequality.andthis is where the spaces of the royalties are similar to the spaces of the political and corrupt. spaces could be occupied, colonized and filled by a different version of the past, erasing those that would not conform with what the dominant group wishes to declare. spaces could be owned, bought. spaces could be recovered, too. a nd days. There are things to recover in september. one of these was that day when, by a proclamation, freedom was breached. What day was that again, the 21st or the 23rd?

E-mail: titovaliente@yahoo.com

China loses allure as European firms rethink investments

China’s

focus of political goals like Covid Zero over economic objectives is making the country less appealing to European companies as a place to invest, a business group said, calling on Beijing to refocus on reform.

Recent Chinese policy decisions mean the country is now seen as “less predictable, less reliable and less efficient” according to the report published Wednesday by the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China. This has led to a loss of confidence in China and firms are increasingly looking to shift planned or future investments to other markets that are seen as providing “greater reliability and predictability,” the paper said.

“Business people are here for the market and we can see that because of ideology the market is shrinking,” said Joerg Wuttke, president of the chamber. “ideology trumps the economy,” he said, referring to examples such as the dogged pursuit of controlling all Covid infections despite the rising cost, the crackdown on the tech sector, or power shortages last year driven by prioritizing emissions control over economic activity.

China’s application of Covid Zero is acting as a deterrent to European firms because of its inflexible and inconsistent implementation, the chamber said. it ’s already having a “crippling effect” on attracting and retaining foreign and Chinese talent, and the Chinese operations of European companies are becom-

ing increasingly isolated because staff can’t travel freely to headquarters, the report

Theresaid. isno sign of when the country might start to get rid of domestic virus controls and also start to reopen international borders. a scenario where that starts to happen in the second half of next year is “optimistic,” according to Wuttke, who cited the country’s lack of herd immunity and relatively low vaccination rates among the elderly as factors which will likely delay a quick reopening. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin defended his country’s track record on pandemic prevention in comments about the report following its publication.

if all things are considered, China’s epidemic protocols are the most efficient and cost effective,” he told reporters during a regular press briefing in Beijing on Wednesday. in addition “in the first eight months of this year, European countries rank among economic groupings that have had the fastest growth in direct investment into China,” he said.

The brief from the European firms is another sign of how the image of China as a good place to do business has declined, with the Us China Business Council saying last month that a merican firms’ optimism had fallen to a record low.

“The trend of declining FDi is unlikely to reverse while European executives

are heavily restricted from traveling to and from China to develop potential greenfield projects,” the EU Chamber’s report said.

Some new money

DE spi T E the increasing difficulty, a few European companies are still adding to their investments in the country. investment from the European Union into China was up 15% in the first half of 2022 compared to a year ago, according to data from Rhodium Group, helped by BMW aG ’s purchase of a controlling stake in its car-making joint-venture in the first quarter.

a nd just this month German chemical maker Ba sF sE opened the first stage of its new plant in the country. The plant is planned to be one of the largest single foreign investments ever in China and the largest investment by Ba sF, which is planning to spend up to 10 billion euros ($10 billion) by 2030, according to a company statement.

Those are indicative of the trend in investment from Europe, which is becoming concentrated around a handful of large, mostly German firms, according to a separate study by Rhodium Group.

Changing attitudes

CoM pani E s are also reconsidering where and how to make their goods.

“With China staying largely closed, European companies see the need to

make their global supply chains more resilient,” the report said. “This presents opportunities to other emerging markets that are ready to welcome new investment and jobs.”

There has also been changes in how the public and government in Europe view China, with tensions over Taiwan, sanctions related to Xinjiang, and Chinese economic policies all contributing to the recent decline in relations. “The change in European public sentiment towards China, and the increasing need to ensure fairness in its single Market, has resulted in the European Union re-evaluating and updating its China policy,” the report said.  new laws in the Us or Europe around eliminating forced labor and ensuring free and fair market access also increase the regulatory burden on European firms in China, the report said. “To justify their investments, European companies therefore need China to demonstrate more transparency and predictability, as the challenge of aligning China operations with both global corporate pledges and legislation increases,” the report said.

in his response to the report, the Ministry of Foreign a f fairs’ Wang said that he hoped that “the European side can provide an open, transparent and nondiscriminatory business environment for Chinese enterprises making investment in their countries.” Bloomberg Opinion

it, in remarks carried by the official iR na news agency. The website was later restored. iran has been the target of several cyberattacks in recent years, many by hackers expressing criticism of its theocracy. Last year, a cyberattack crippled gas stations across the country, creating long lines of angry motorists unable to get subsidized fuel for days. Messages accompanying the attack appeared to refer to the supreme leader. a mini’s death has sparked protests across the country. The police say she died of a heart attack and

was not mistreated, but her family has cast doubt on that account, saying she had no previous heart issues and that they were prevented from seeing her body.

in a phone interview with BBC persian on Wednesday her father, a mjad a mini, accused authorities of lying about her death. Each time he was asked how he thinks she died, the line was mysteriously cut.

The Un human rights office says the morality police have stepped up operations in recent months and resorted to more violent methods, including slapping women, beating them with batons and shoving them into police vehicles.

p resident Joe Biden, who also spoke at the U n General a ssembly

on Wednesday, voiced support for the protesters, saying “we stand with the brave citizens and the brave women of iran, who right now are demonstrating to secure their basic rights.”

The UK also released a statement Wednesday calling for an investigation into a mini’s death and for iran to “respect the right to peaceful assembly.” Raisi has called for an investigation into a mini’s death. iranian officials have blamed the protests on unnamed foreign countries that they say are trying to foment unrest.

iran has grappled with waves of protests in recent years, mainly over a long-running economic crisis exacerbated by Western sanctions linked to its nuclear program.

The Biden administration and

European allies have been working to revive the 2015 iran nuclear accord, in which iran curbed its nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief, but the talks have been deadlocked for months.

in his speech at the U.n , Raisi said iran is committed to reviving the nuclear agreement but questioned whether it could trust a merica’s commitment to any accord.

iran insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. it began ramping up its nuclear activities after then-president Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the 2015 agreement, and experts say it now likely has enough highly-enriched uranium to make a bomb if it chooses to do so.

ARTA REPORT CARD POLL NOTES EODB COMPLIANCE

THE Anti-Red Tape Author ity (ARTA) has launched the Report Card Survey (RCS) 2.0,  a tool to obtain feedback on how provisions of the Republic Act 11032 or the Ease of Doing Busi ness (EODB) law are being followed.

“All offices and agencies provid ing government services shall be sub jected to a Report Card Survey, which shall be used to obtain feedback on how provisions of RA 11032 are be ing followed and how the agency is performing,” according to Under secretary Ernesto V. Perez, Deputy Director General for Operations of ARTA, citing Section 20 of the Ease of Doing Business Law.

T he RCS 2.0 was launched by ARTA on Thursday. However, Perez said the pilot implementation will occur on September 23, to include data gathering and evaluation until November this year.

“ Hopefully, the result will be out by November so that by De cember we can have a recognition and awarding of those agencies that arecompliant with the require ments of the ease of doing busi ness,” the ARTA official added.

T he anti-red tape watchdog also noted that beyond keeping tabs on government agencies, the survey shall center on mitigating regu latory roadblocks in terms of the delivery of government services.

C iting Section 2, Rule 12 of the Implementing Rules and Regula tions (IRR) of RA 11032, ARTA said the report card survey will serve as a “holistic tool that will measure ef fectiveness of the Citizen’s Charter in reducing regulatory burdens and

the impact of the human resource systems and programs in deliver ing efficient government service.”

A RTA will implement the survey in coordination with the Civil Ser vice Commission (CSC) and the Phil ippine Statistics Authority (PSA).  Deputy Director General for Ad ministration and Finance of ARTA Undersecretary Carlos F. Quita said RCS 1.0 was previously implement ed in 2010 “and after 10 years it was evaluated and there were more or less around 6,000 agencies who were actually evaluated using the RCS of the Civil Service.”

O f this number, Quita added, more than 1,000 were rated excel lent relative to performance as indi cated in the RCS.  The survey covers all government agencies covered in Section 3 of the EODB Law.

S ection 3 of RA 11032 states: “This Act shall apply to all gov ernment offices and agencies in cluding local government units (LGUs), government-owned or -controlled corporations and oth er government instrumentalities, whether located in the Philippines or abroad, that provide services covering business and nonbusiness related transactions.”

For her part, ARTA’s Director of the Compliance, Monitoring, and Evaluation Office Grace L. Fernandez noted that “for this pilot run, we are covering 50 agencies and then next year we’ll start covering the agencies … actually we’re covering a total of 10,173 agencies so we’ve divided this number into 3 groups so that each group will have more or less 3,000 agencies.” Andrea E. San Juan

House budget sked still on track after 2 urgent bills’ OK

By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie

THE leadership of the House of Representatives on Thursday said it will give its full and undivided attention to the final approval of the P5.268-trillion General Appropriations Bill for 2023.

House Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe made a statement fol lowing the passage of two nonbudget measures deemed urgent by the House leadership and the Marcos administration.

L ast Tuesday, the lower chamber approved on third reading House Bill 4673 which seeks to defer the Barangay and Sangguniang Ka bataan Elections for one year.

L ast Monday, the House also passed House Bill 14 mandating the registration of all postpaid and prepaid mobile phone subscriber identity module (SIM) cards to less en mobile phone-enabled criminal activities.TheHouse also passed on sec

ond reading House Bill 4125 or the proposed Ease of Paying Taxes Act, which seeks to simplify the process of taxFrompayments.nowuntil next week, we can put our full and undivided at tention to the approval of the NEP so that we can quickly move on to other equally urgent legislations. It is good that we have already passed the SIM card registration bill and the postponement of the barangay and SK elections,” Dalipe said.

Dalipe said the House is com mitted to finish the sponsorship and floor debates by Wednesday next week (September 28) and ap prove the budget on September 30.

Dalipe said the rate of progress

in the approval of the budget pro posals of each government depart ment has been very satisfactory and is within the timeline set by the House Committee on Rules.

W ithout any hitches, Dalipe said the House is expected to terminate the floor debates and make way for the period of amendments on Wednesday, September 28.

“ We can work until the wee hours if needed. We want to expedite the approval of the NEP so that we can also attend to the other equally im portant measures. We have other priority bills which we intend to pass during the 19th Congress,” Dalipe said.

A lready terminated for plenary debates  are the budget proposals for the following government agen cies: Office of the Ombudsman; Mindanao Development Authority; Anti-Red Tape Authority; Commis sion on Elections; Commission on Human Rights, including Human Rights Violation Victims’ Memo rial Commission; Department of Science and Technology, including Attached Agencies; Department of Justice, including Attached Agen cies; Philippine Space Agency; Film Development Council of the

Philippines; Optical Media Board; Philippine Racing Commission; Civil Service Commission, includ ing Career Service Executive Board; Southern Philippines Development Authority; Development Academy of the Philippines; Cultural Center of the Philippines; Zamboanga City Special Economic Zone Authority ; Cagayan Economic Zone Authority; Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority; Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan; Climate Change Commis sion; Philippine Center for Eco nomic Development; Games and Amusements Board; Philippine Sports Commission; Bases Conver sion and Development Authority; Commission on Filipinos Overseas; National Commission for Culture and the Arts; National Historical Commission of the Philippines; National Library of the Philippines; National Archives of the Philip pines; Commission on the Filipino Language; Philippine Competi tion Commission; Commission on Higher Education; State Universi ties and Colleges (NCR, Regions I to CARAGA Region, CAR, BARMM) and the Movie and Television Re view and Classification Board.

TPB: Higher Japan booster rate  bodes well for PHL tourism

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

THE Philippines should expect more tourists from Japan to arrive in the next few months with the latter’s booster vaccine rate no longer hampering their outbound travel.

In a Viber message from Japan, where he is attending the ongoing Tourism Expo Japan (TEJ), Tourism Promotions Board Officer-In-Charge Charles Aames M. Bautista told the BusinessMirror, “As per latest data from Prime Minister Office of Ja pan, September 22, the vaccine rate for two doses is 80.4 percent, and for three doses (i.e., two main doses and one booster) is 65.2 percent of

the total Japan population.”

He added, “There is a lot of in terest from international and local B2B (business-to-business) buyers to visit the Philippines. Anecdotal information from buyers show that Japanese travelers have higher travel confidence now than in the previous months. The Japanese government also will be increasing the inbound tourist cap by next month.”

T he TPB is the marketing arm of the Department of Tourism, and through the TEJ, the government firm is reintroducing the Philip pines to Japanese travelers and tourism agencies. TPB also aims to also sustain the Philippines’ pres ence, and develop and renew busi ness partnerships, not only with the Japanese market, but also with

tourism stakeholders worldwide.

T EJ, which opened on Septem ber 22, will last until September 25. It is the biggest travel trade fair in Japan.

4th largest market

IN a separate news statement, Bau tista said, “Tourism Expo Japan  opens an avenue for every national tourism organization to stimulate demand for overseas and domestic travel. The Philippines has so much to offer with our 7,641 islands. This is an opportunity to showcase that beyond our amazing beaches, we get to highlight our adventure, cu linary, wellness, and MICE (Meet ings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions) offerings.”

IFEX BACK ONSITE

The Philippines’s International Food Exhibition 2022 (IFEX) reeled off at the World Trade Center in Pasay City on Thursday, drawing thousands of buyers and visitors from around the world eager to sample Filipino flavors. In photo is the booth of COOK magazine, one of the media sponsors for the event, billed as the country’s biggest international trade exhibition on Philippine and Asian ethnic and specialty food, tropical fruits, vegetables, seafood, beverages, bakery and confectionery products, meat and poultry, Halal-certified products, as well as natural, organic, and healthy food products. The IFEX Philippines 2022 runs until Saturday, September 24. BERNARD TESTA

San Miguel board gives nod to sale of fixed-rate bonds

By VG Cabuag @villygc

Lucio Co gains ₧1.5B from sale of stake in Alfonso brandy maker

losses and the Corporate recovery and Tax Incentives for enterprises (Cr e AT e) law.

recurring income, which excludes foreign exchange loss and the Cr e AT e law rose 24 percent to P32.48 billion from last year's P26.09 billion.

In its disclosure, the company said its offer consists of P60 billion with an oversubscription option of P20

Inbillion.March, the conglomerate listed on the Philippine Dealing and exc hange Corp. a total of P30 billion in 5-year Series J bonds due 2027 and 7-year Series K bonds due 2029.

Proceeds were used for the refinancing of short-term loan facilities of the company and for other general corporate purposes.

San Miguel Corp. earlier said its income for the first half slid 33 percent to P19.8 billion from last year's P29.57 billion, partly as a result of the effects of foreign exchange

Consolidated sales revenue rose 73 percent to P711.4 billion from the previous P410.12 billion on sustained volume growth and better selling prices.

The company's operating income grew 41 percent to P85.85 billion from last year's P61.01 billion mainly due to the improved performance of its fuel and oil subsidiary Petron Corp. and sustained recoveries of its food, beverage, packaging and infra-

structure businesses. “Overall, it’s been a very challenging period, with geopolitical conflict resulting in uncertainties and serious supply and costs issues that are affecting industries all over the world. Despite this, and even with the lingering effects of the pandemic, we’re encouraged by the strong and increasing demand for our products and services, as evidenced by our higher volumes and revenues in the first half,” San Miguel President and C e O r a mon S. Ang said.

“This shows that our country’s economic recovery and growth are gaining pace. We will maximize every opportunity to further strengthen our performance in the second half.”

SGP declares quarterly dividend

cash dividends will be payable on October 19 to stockholders of record as of October 5.

Synergy gr id and Development Philippines Inc. (S gP) has declared a cash dividend of P0.26 per share for the third quarter.Thecash dividend amounting to P1,369,125,160 for the third quarter is the same amount declared in the previous quarter that was distributed and paid out last July 26.

The Board of Directors of SgP approved this last September 21. The

“SgP maintained the same level of dividends for this quarter. This follows the high dividend yield last quarter from the issuance of the preferred shares of the national gr id Corporation of the Philippines [ngCP] in June, to which SgP subscribed to using the proceeds from its follow-on offering [FOO],” said SgP Chairman Henry T. Sy Jr. ngCP holds the sole and exclusive concession and franchise for the operation of the Philippines’s trans-

mission network, linking power generators and distribution utilities to deliver electricity to power distributors and cooperatives nationwide.

In the next 13 years, ngCP is committed to invest approximately P440 billion across 211 projects which are aimed to support the growing electricity demand in the country and to make the country’s power backbone continuously reliable.

“We thank the investing public for its continued trust and partnership with SgP, which, in return, supports the ongoing transmission projects for the development of the coun-

try’s power grid being undertaken by ngCP. Several critical projects for the grid’s improvement are underway and will come into fruition in the coming months,” said robert g Coyiuto Jr., vice chairman of SgP SgP conducted its FOO in november 2021 in compliance with ngCP’s franchise undertakings.

SgP indirectly controls 60 percent of the outstanding common shares of ngCP, SgP ’s sole operating asset, with an effective common share interest of 40.2 percent. SgP likewise owns 203,200,000 non-voting preferred shares of ngCP.

ACEN lists green bonds on PDEx

ACen Corp. has successfully listed its maiden peso-denominated Asean green bonds on the Philippine Dealing and e xchange Corp. (PDe x) platform. It said Thursday that the P10-billion green bonds, with a fixed interest rate of 6.0526 percent per annum for a five-year tenor, were 8.6 times oversubscribed.

“We are grateful for the strong support of Philippine institutional and retail investors for the company’s maiden peso green bond issuance. The successful offering will help AC en realize its vision of reaching 20 gW ( gigawatts) of renewables capacity by 2030,” said ACen President and CeO er ic Francia.

The proceeds from the bond issuance will be used to finance AC e n s renewable energy ( r e) projects in the Philippines, particularly the 283-MW San Marcelino Solar I farm in Zambales, the 42-MW expansion of the 72-MW Arayat-Mexico Solar farm in Pampanga, as well as the construction of the 133-MW Cagayan

Solar farm in Lal-lo, Cagayan.

BDO Capital & Investment Corp. and BPI Capital Corp. are the joint issue managers for the green bonds, while BDO Capital, BPI Capital, rC BC Capital Corp., and SB Capital & Investment Corp. are the joint lead underwriters and Bookrunners for the transaction. Lenie Lectura

Co, known for his popular grocery chain Puregold, has sold his stake in the Spanish brandy maker to his publicly-listed liquor distribution company, The Keepers Holdings Inc.

According to Abacus Securities Corp.’s research note "Short Takes," the amount of the transaction is more than double the 25 million euros that Co paid when he bought the 30 percent stake from the original owners of the Spanish firm in 2018.

“We had expected a lower price for the 50 percent stake. First, it exceeds the net proceeds from the secondary offering last year but, more importantly, it implies a much higher valuation for W&H ( eur 177.5 million on a 100 percent basis) compared to when Mr. Co himself took a 30 percent stake in 2018 for only eur 25 million,” the broker said.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock exchange last week, The Keepers said it has executed share purchase agreements covering the acquisition of 50 percent of Bodegas Williams and Humbert for P5 billion.

The 30 percent were sold by Co and his family’s real estate firm VFC Land resources Inc. while the 20 percent were sold by the Medina family which is the original shareholder of the company.

The 88.75 million euro acquisition is based on the independent valuation undertaken by PricewaterhouseCoopers.Thebrokersaid the brandy maker’s earnings last year is not much different from the level in 2018 so the higher price could be due to the premium for a larger stake or better prospects for next year.

Abacus said The Keepers’ bottom line could get a boost of about P400 million per year, about 20 percent of its 2022 earnings, because of the acquisition. It gave a “buy” rating on its Theshares.Keepers, the largest imported liquor distribution in the Philippines, said the acquisition will enhance the competitive position of the group and strengthen its hold and secure the company’s supply line of its flagship brand and category, Alfonso brandy, which corners a huge chunk of its Thesales.investment will also transform the company’s business model from a pure trading to a manufacturing and distribution firm and provide an opening into markets outside the Philippines.Theequity investment will also be bottom line accretive from its share in the future net income of Bodegas Williams and Humbert.

Bodegas Williams and Humbert is a respected family-owned winery in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain, founded 140 years ago. VG Cabuag

KIA BATANGAS CITY BREAKS GROUND Kia Batangas City celebrated the groundbreaking of its future site at the Batangas City Grand Terminal, Diversion Road, Barangay Alangilan, Batangas City in simple ceremonies held on September 22, 2022. Present during the event were (from left) Marvin C. Timbol, Vice President, Prime Legacy Motors, Inc.; Manny Aligada, President, KIA Motor Philippines; Batangas City Representative Marvey A. Mariño; D. Edward A. Cabangon, Chairman, Prime Legacy Motors Inc.; Jose Antonio V. Rivera, President, Prime Legacy Motors Inc; Architect Rafael Tecson, Director, Prime Legacy Motors Inc; former Batangas City Mayor Dondon Dimacuha; and Benjamin V. Ramos, Director, Prime Legacy Motors, Inc. Photo by Roy Domingo

By Lenie Lectura @llectura

BuSIneSSMA n Lucio Co made a P1.5-billion windfall from the sale of his own stake in Alfonso brandy maker, Williams and Humbert SA.

The board of conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC) has approved the company’s offering of up to P80 billion in fixed-rate bonds.

Photo fRom www.thekeePeRs.com.Ph

Probe soughtrip-offse-walleton

ALAWMA k e R has filed a resolution paving the way for an investigation into the reported cases of “loan and sale of mobile wallet accounts.”

Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian noted that “the use of mobile or ewallets provided tremendous benefits to many people such as ease of doing online transactions especially during the pandemic.” However, the Senator said, there’s a “need to make sure that consumers are amply protected from harmful elements seeking dishonest gains through thisGatchalian,channel.” in a statement, asserted that relevant government agencies should “come up with an effective intervention to stop the practice of lending or selling SIM cards with verified mobile or e-wallet accounts.”Thesenator noted that users of mobile wallets or e-wallets in the country have increased through the years, recalling that in 2017, there were approximately nine million registered e-wallet accounts, adding that “in 2020, the usage of e-wallet in the country was three times higher than that in Gatchalian2017.”added that by 2025, the number of e-wallet users will rise to 7.7 million.

The Senator observed that online scammers usually use e-wallet accounts that are not registered under their“Theynames.+areable to do this by using or buying SIM cards in the black market that are registered with e-wallets under people who sell or lend their identities.”Herecalls the Anti-Cybercrime Group of the Philippine National Police warned that fraudsters use such accounts in criminal activities such as money laundering and identityAccordingtheft.to Gatchalian, fraudulently acquired mobile wallets may also serve as channels for money mules, or those who transfer or move illegally acquired money on someone else’s behalf, “including those who are unaware of larger criminal schemes.”Moreover, he recalled reports that criminals often target students, the unemployed and those on dating websites by lending or selling their mobileGatchalianaccounts.added that in a recent hearing conducted by the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, it was revealed that digital wallets were used to execute bets relating to online or e-sabong, raising concerns that online payment platforms including mobile wallets facilitate gambling activities.

Butch Fernandez

Banking&Finance

BIR rule, tax law out of sync–solon

By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

THESenate was asked to frontload passage of a remedial legislation to “promptly” fix an “apparent inconsistency” in the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 11534 and a ruling issued by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) last year.

Oversight Committee on the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program to review Section 5 of the IRR and Revenue Regulations 21-2021, warning it “poses a threat to many domestic enterprises.”SR219cited “deviations” that Hontiveros warns would “directly and adversely affect the cost of doing business for 212 domestic industries, while potentially discouraging other domestic firms from registering with investment promotion agenciesThe(IPAs).”opposition lawmaker laments it would be “ the height of irony that while the President and other officials are trying to woo foreign investors, our tax laws are being interpreted in a way that will surely drive

away investors in local businesses.”

“We cannot claim to be foreigninvestor friendly while at the same disincentivizing foreign investments,” Hontiveros said.

The lawmaker said that the interpretation contained in the aforementioned IRR as well as Revenue Regulations 21-2021 appears to be inconsistent with the language and spirit of NIRC Section 295 (D), as amended, which is to make VAT exemption on importation and zero-rating on domestic purchases available to both export and domestic enterprises,” the resolution pointedMoreover,out. it notes the said IRR limits the scope and coverage of VAT exemption and zero-rating of

purchases, contrary to the goal of the Create law (RA 11534) of granting VAT exemptions on importations and zero-rating on domestic purchases.Atthe same time, the senator stressed that “this interpretation of the Create Law has, in effect, cancelled the eligibility of all domestic enterprises registered with the country’s IPAs to avail of the VAT exemption on importation, as well as VAT zero-rating on local purchases.”Shesuggests that “this disparity has to be examined promptly, so that the intended effects of the law may be fulfilled and our already overwhelmed local economy can be prevented from collapsing.”

BONDtraders are girding for the risk that Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell is ready, willing and able to plunge the US into recession to get the inflation bogey underYieldscontrol.onlong-dated Treasuries dove in the wake of the Fed’s decision to push through a third straight 75 basis point interest-rate hike. The move was accompanied by projections showing rates will need to keep rising, and an admission from the central bank boss that this inflation fight will involve some pain.

Short-end rates for the first half of 2023 have already leaped higher, bringing market policy-rate expectations in line with those of officials near 4.6 percent, and indicating traders believe in the Fed’s determination to act aggressively until inflation is firmly trending lower. While the initial reaction was perhaps a bit too hawkish, the shakeout from bond and stock markets was that growth

will ultimately suffer.

“If they are going meaningfully above 4 percent there is a strong chance of a recession,” said Andrzej Skiba, head of the BlueBay US fixedincome team at RBC Global Asset Management. “The front-end selling is telling you the dot plot was more hawkish, while the back end rally says recession is inevitable.”

Higher probability

TWO-year Treasuries declined further Thursday, sending the yield 4 basis points higher to 4.09 percent. The curve between two and 10-years slumped to minus 58 basis points, virtually in line with an August low which was the deepest inversion since 1982. The 30-year yield was 2 basis points lower at 3.48 percent.

Recession expectations are clear based on swaps pricing out through the end of next year. Derivative contracts for the second half of 2023 imply a half-point cut before the

year is out, challenging the Fed’s current outlook that the policy rate will end 2023 above 4.5 percent before easing to 3.9 percent by the end of “Most2024.of the market seems to think the Fed will over-play their hand,” said Chris Ahrens, a strategist at Stifel Nicolaus & Co. “I think there is a higher probability that the Fed has to move rates to levels above what they are currently projecting.”Akeyconsideration is how sticky inflation proves to be now that monetary policy is shifting into what policy makers consider restrictive territory. While some expect inflation will moderate from here on out thanks in part to rising mortgage rates and the impact on the housing sector, the worry is that buoyant wages and a tight labor market will continue to push consumer prices“Anotherhigher.sticky inflation report is

Associations and basketball

TO say the Philippines is a basketball-crazy nation is an understatement.

In terms of scale, it is safe to assume there is at least one basketball court (playing area) in each of the over 42,000 barangays (villages) in the country, not including those in every nook and corner of not-so-busy streets and alleys, as well as those in privately owned gyms and residences. Basketball players see the sport as a path to fame (to becoming movie stars, politicians, local heroes) and riches (for signing lucrative, multiyear contracts in the pro league and product endorsements).

But basketball is also a science in itself. I found out there are nearly 300 terminologies on strategies, tactics, skills, and rules in the sport since Dr. James Naismith, a Canadian-American gym teacher, invented the game in 1891. Here are five terms that could resonate with associations:

1. Court Vision. This refers to

the ability of a basketball player to read the play on both ends of the playing court. This enables the player to execute a strategy for a teammate to score a basket which is the objective of the game. In the context of an association, having court vision connotes a leadership skill that allows the association executive to determine what’s on play within the organization’s sphere of influence then plan and take the necessary steps to deal with the situation.

2. Eye on the Ball. This implies players need to watch where the basketball is at all times, both on the offense and defense sides, to determine the appropriate course of action. In

an association, keeping an eye on the ball means paying attention and staying focused on the matter at hand and being able to make use of all resources needed for a particular activity to be a success.

3. Deep Bench. This relates to having many skilled players in a basketball team of 12 who are able to play well at any juncture of the game. This allows the coach to rotate the players and keep the performance at peak level. For an association, having a deep bench means maintaining a diverse and talented staff to accomplish the many organizational tasks needed to be done on a day-today basis.

4. Fast Break. This refers to a play that starts with a defensive rebound where the ball is quickly passed towards midcourt to an awaiting teammate who oftentimes score with an easy basket. In an association, executing a fast break may mean speeding up an activity or a process

going to put a spanner in the works and the market will project a 5 percent peak in rates,” said BlueBay’s Skiba.

Price of campaign

Bond market pushes recession trades on Fed hike SSS membersforsubsidiesurgeshard-up

DURING his news conference, Powell said “slower growth and a softening labor market” would be the price of the central bank’s campaign to restore price stability. In its latest summary of economic projections, Fed officials forecast the unemployment rate to rise to 4.4 percent next year.

Treasury traders took Powell’s message to heart. Another key portion of the curve reinverted after the Fed meeting, with the 10-year yield now exceeding that of 30-year bonds for the first time since June.

There’s no escaping the fact that bond-market positioning is warning of a growing likelihood of a hard landing, said Ben emons, global macro strategist with Medley Global Advisors. Bloomberg News

T He Social Security System (SSS) aims to transform social security coverage in the country through a new program that encourages individuals and groups to subsidize the monthly contributions of SSS members.

SSS President and Chief executive Officer Michael G. Regino said that the contribution subsidy provider program (CSPP) is an out-of-thebox approach in helping members who are having a hard time paying their social security contributions.

Under this program, a contribution subsidy provider would cover the contributions of self-employed, land-based Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), or voluntary members.

that has already been decided as essential for the organization.

5. Slam Dunk. This is a shot that is scored when a basketball player jumps high and slams the ball directly onto the hoop. The term has since evolved as a general vernacular to mean “something that is sure to happen or thought to be easy.” To aim for a slam dunk in an association context suggests undertaking activities and programs that are appealing and relevant to members.

Final thought: Basketball is a team sport where each player has a specific role to play to win games. Similarly, an association is a team at work and is organized, as such, to ensure success.

Octavio Peralta is currently the executive director of the Global Compact Network Philippines and founder and volunteer CEO of the Philippine Council of Associations and Association Executives, the “association of associations.” PCAAE is holding its Associations Summit 10 (AS10) on December 1 and 2, 2022. E-mail: bobby@pcaae.org.

LandBank backs Cebu LGU’s livelihood program for farmers, fishers

“A contribution subsidy provider could be a private or government individual or group willing to subsidize the SSS contributions of identified members,” Regino explained.

The SSS chief said that the pension fund would partner with potential contribution subsidy providers who are generous enough to shoulder the contribution payments of chosen SSS members for at least six months. They could become a coverage and collection partner of the SSS through an online Certification with “Undertaking or a Memorandum of Agreement.” For convenience, contribution subsidy providers can pay the SSS contribution subsidies in any SSS branch with tellering facilities or through an SSSaccredited collection partner.

“We want to provide SSS coverage to workers in the informal sector and land-based OFWs. These workers have the lowest social security coverage in our workforce, and they are among the most vulnerable sector in times of contingencies,” said Regino.

CAPITOL

SIT e Cebu—The Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank) announced its executives met with officials of the Provincial Government of Cebu last September 15 to express the lender’s continued support for the Province’s enhanced Countryside Development (eCD) program for farmers andLandBankfishermen.

President and C e O Cecilia C. Borromeo met with Cebu Governor Gwendolyn F. Garcia, together with Landbank e x ecutive Vice President Liduvino S. Geron, Corporate Banking Group Head, Senior Vice President Celeste Burgos, e a st Visayas Branches Group Head, Senior Vice President k hurshid k a labud, and Visayas Lending Group OIC, Vice Presi-

dent Allan Bisnar, among other LandBank officials.

The bank said in a statement it has an ongoing partnership with the Provincial Government under the eC D Program to finance the production of local farmers and fishermen, especially those who are residing in underdeveloped areas in Cebu. The lender said the program also offers capital to expand or restart existing businesses affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, among others.

LandBank said that since the initial roll-out of the eCD Program in March 2021, it has approved loans for 767 farmers and fisherfolk engaged in the production of swine, high-value crops and fisheries in the whole Province of Cebu.

The SSS has been reaching out and encouraging them to continue paying their monthly contributions. However, the pension fund fully understands that it is challenging to pay their SSS contributions regularly because of intermittent income and varied work arrangements.

As an example, government agencies can subsidize the contributions of their job order workers since they are not covered by the Government Service Insurance System. Regino added that private institutions or multinational companies, as part of their corporate social responsibility, can shoulder the SSS contributions of self-employed informal sector workers or land-based OFWs who lost their jobs due to the

“Subsidizingpandemic.their SSS contributions is the greatest gift that we can give to a fellow Filipino. It will allow him to gain access to social security benefits which will serve as a cushion that they can rely on in times of emergencies and various contingencies,” Regino was quoted in the statement as saying.

In filing Senate Resolution (SR) 219, Sen. Ana Theresia “Risa” Hon-

tiveros-Baraquel stressed the need to promptly convene the Congressional

Octavio

Land Bank of the Philippines President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo (fifth from left)

paid a courtesy visit to Cebu

Governor Gwendolyn F. Garcia (fourth from left) on September 15, 2022. Joining them are LandBank Executive Vice President Liduvino S. Geron (third from left), Corporate Banking Group Head and Senior Vice President Ma. Celeste Burgos (sixth from left) and LandBank senior officials.

It’s still out there

SOfor the past two and a half years, I’ve been safely cocooning at home, like most people, to ensure I wouldn’t catch Covid-19. Even when the community quarantines eased up and I started having lunches or dinners with select friends, we would meet up either outdoors, or still practiced social distancing.

I only started going out of town beginning late October 2021, and usually to Boracay Island with family. The island has always been our favorite place for vacations and family bonding activities (read: shoveling seafood into our mouths and imbibing our favorite alcoholic beverages).

Last May, I was also in Clark, Pampanga for a press coverage, then again last month for another family vacation to celebrate the “triumphant” return of my niece after four years of being away from the country.

I guess these easing of restrictions and constant moving around—I started attending news conferences and some public shows/events in person—made me let down my guard. I relaxed too much, started having meals in air-conditioned restaurants, and enjoyed gabbing with friends I had not seen during the lockdown. I even attended a big food expo, then watched Jo Koy with thousands of other people. (We kept our masks on, though.)

But after a recent trip to Cebu, Covid finally bit my ass. A few days after our media group returned to Manila, my throat became scratchy. Like there were tiny ant feet, moving around, dancing a jig and using my throat as a dance floor. And I felt fluish one night. But I checked my temperature and the thermometer read 36.4˚C. Very normal. I didn’t even feel tired; in fact, I even laundered the clothes I had worn during theButtrip.it just felt out of the ordinary that I immediately informed my friends and our handlers about my symptoms, “which could be something or nothing at all.” I told them to take care and be aware of their contacts, just in case they caught something too. They assured me they were feeling well.

While I never got feverish, more symptoms manifested: I started sneezing in succession a few times in the day, and started coughing, nay, barking. I thought it was just a bad asthma attack and allergic rhinitis, which I usually get at certain times of the year. After all, I had been so careful during this last trip (or so I thought) and didn’t even remove my face mask on the plane rides to and from Cebu. Whenever we were indoors, I automatically put on my mask.

Except when we were eating. And I was beside our new Cebuano friends. Miggy, who was also on the trip, pointed out that she and her husband had been seated near our new friends too, the only difference being that they both kept their masks on even while eating. How they managed this feat? Put the food in your spoon, lift the mask with your left hand, shove the food into your mouth with your right, then lay the mask again over your face. Chew. (Try it. It may save you from Covid.)

I suppose it also had to do with how we were seated for our meals in those air-conditioned restaurants. Social distancing is no longer practiced there, unlike here in Manila. While dining, we were seated close to each other, took food from the same serving plate using the same service utensils. And I laughed a lot. Yikes.Seriously, I could have caught the virus many

different ways. At the tourist transport, if it wasn’t cleaned well, and I touched the chair and uwittingly brought my hand to my face. Or from the person who stocked the container with red candles I had lit up at the shrine of the Venerable Archbishop Camomot. (Why he didn’t take the virus with him while bilocating elsewhere, I do not know.) Or from the freshly cooked chicharon I bought from that city; the cook could have been asymptomatic.

I don’t mean to sound silly, as falling prey to Covid is certainly no laughing matter. But I just wanted to point out that, yes, the virus is still out there. It is not letting up, even as we let our guards down, trying to return to our pre-pandemic lifestyle. As per the Department of Health bulletin dated September 11, there were 15,379 new Covid cases, but mildly boasting that the ICU and non-ICU hospital bed utilization rates remain below 30 percent. Don’t worry, kids—it’s all under control! (It is worth noting that none of the people in my Cebu tour group got sick.)

My pulmonologist (who insisted I take an antigen test which, yes, yielded a positive result) shared that there were indeed more people getting sick from Covid. Most cases have gone unreported, he said, because the afflicted stay home after getting a positive antigen test result. Like his other patients, he too advised me to just continue my home quarantine; I had to keep taking my anti-asthma medication,

a cough suppressant, an antihistamine, and more vitamins. My wallet screamed in agony. Ugh.

But I am lucky I have received two booster shots from the super powerful Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, so except for my asthma attack and allergic rhinitis, I was getting better. My oximeter readings were in fact, a constant 97. So the doctor said he would no longer prescribe me the molnupiravir Covidtreatment drug. Phew!

Besides, he stressed that this drug was still experimental, “So we still don’t know if it has any long-term effects.” (But I am lucky to have a friend who was even willing to donate her extra molnupiravir if I needed it, God bless her.)

And even as I am down with Covid, I have a coterie of lovely friends who have sent me ayuda in the form of food. Oh, they know me so well! Mmmwah...thank you! You know who you are. All these yummy treats will help get me back on my feet quicker, although public social interactions will have to remain in the backseat for a while. Doctor’s orders.

So the moral of the story is: continue to mask even outdoors, notwithstanding what our government says. Continue to practice social distancing when we can, or just totally avoid crowds. And, lastly, don’t laugh too hard. The virus might just make a swan dive into your nose and mouth. n

HoroscopeToday’s

By Eugenia Last

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Shannon ChanKent, 34; Anthony Mackie, 44; Jason Alexander, 63; Bruce Springsteen, 73.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Take the path that makes you happy. Use your imagination, and you’ll find a way to improve your surroundings. Setting up a designated space to work on something that interests you is encouraged. Always doing for others but never for yourself will cause frustration and dissatisfaction. Make changes that allow you the freedom to follow your heart. Romance is on the rise. Your numbers are 2, 15, 24, 26, 34, 41, 43.

a

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Gauge your every move. You will fall behind if you miscalculate what you can handle mentally, physically or financially. Don’t ignore how much preparation is necessary to reach your destination. HHH

b TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Make plans with someone who puts a smile on your face and offers mental stimulation. Your discussions will open a window of opportunity to help you discover what you want to do next. HHHHH

c

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Refuse to get into an emotional situation with someone who tends to embellish or overreact. Stick to the truth and pay attention to detail, and you will ward off an argument that will stand between you and what you want to pursue. HH

dCANCER (June 21-July 22): Go above and beyond, and give whatever you do a twist that makes you stand out. Getting others to notice what you offer will lead to opportunities to branch out in areas of interest. HHH

eLEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Know your audience and gear the topic of conversation toward what interests the masses. Preparation will ensure you address concerns that make a difference to you and those you are trying to encourage to pitch in and help. Mix business with pleasure. HHH

fVIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): It’s up to you to change. Don’t wait for someone to do the work for you. Change begins with you; the motion to dig in and make a difference will pay off if you follow through by acting out your thoughts. HHH

gLIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Stick close to home. Don’t feel the need to share your thoughts and feelings. Arguing will not help you solve issues. Focus on making your space functional, and you’ll find it easier to be productive. HHH

h SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Put your heart and soul into getting things done to your specifications. Share information with people with similar plans, and you’ll save time and money when putting your ideas to the test. Compromise will lead to positive change in a meaningful relationship. HHHH

iSAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Be careful what you wish for and who you discuss private matters with, and you’ll avoid confusion. Don’t trust anyone to do things your way or to pass along valid information. Double-check everything that matters to you before proceeding. HH

jCAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Participate in activities you enjoy, and spend time with loved ones. How you conduct business and pleasure will make a difference in how others view you. Friendly banter and a generous spirit will lead to better relationships, trust and favorable outcomes. HHHHH

kAQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Put your energy where it will warrant a positive outcome, and don’t stop until you are satisfied with the results. An opportunity due to your hard work and dedication will help you make a name for yourself among your peers. HHH

lPISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Look for foreseeable problems before you commit. Monitor what others do and how they feel before you share your beliefs. Having an idea of what you want and what will work for you will help eliminate anyone trying to confuse or sway you. HHH

BIRTHDAY BABY: You are demonstrative, resourceful and curious. You are receptive and friendly.

H: Avoid conflicts; work behind the scenes. HH: You can accomplish, but don’t rely on others. HHH: Focus and you’ll reach your goals. HHHH: Aim high; start new projects. HHHHH: Nothing can stop you; go for gold. for it’ BY DESIREE PENNER AND JEFF SINNOCK

PHOTO BY HAKAN

Lovely, tender heartbreaks in ‘Little Big Women’

‘Start-Up PH’ all set to inspire dreamers on September 26

MEDIA giant GMA Network continues to be an entertainment powerhouse for viewers worldwide as it presents an inspirational story on pursuing dreams and believing in oneself with the groundbreaking prime-time series Start-Up PH.

Set to premiere this September 26, the program is the first-ever TV adaptation of the breakthrough 2020 South Korean series which is based on the original format Start-Up created by Hyer-yeon Park and produced by Studio Dragon Corp., co-produced by Studio Dragon and CJ ENM.

Start-Up PH is topbilled by Alden Richards as Tristan and Bea Alonzo as Dani. All set to spice up the lives of Tristan and Dani are the equally important characters of Ina (Yasmien Kurdi) and Dave (Jeric Gonzales).Aldentakes pride in bannering the much-awaited Pinoy remake, “We have a show we can be very proud of. ’Yung fans ng Korean version, gusto nilang makita na itong Filipino adaptation is something worth their while and based sa trailer, may laban po kami. Aside from that, I’m sure the whole cast is very proud to have Bea in this show. She puts good pressure on us, especially with the way she handles her character.”

As she stars in her very first GMA series, Bea enjoys the challenge of working with the entire cast: “Of course, may adjusting period kasi first time ko silang makasama lahat. But I’m always on my toes trying to let them feel na okay akong katrabaho and I try to be the best version of myself in front of them. Now that I’m restarting, mas ini-enjoy ko every moment. Hindi ako fearful to try new things.”

A certified K-drama fan, Yasmien shares how she landed her dream role in this local adaptation: “Nung in-offer sa akin itong project, talagang tinanggap ko agad At first nakaka-pressure siya, so pinanood ko ulit at saka ko na-realize na kaya naman pala. Happy din ako kasi nakatrabaho ko silang lahat at ito na rin ’yung time na hinihingi ng fans na sana maging magkapatid kami sa isang show ni

Meanwhile,Bea.”

Jeric, who was in fact Alden’s personal choice to be his costar in the program, feels overwhelmed to be part of this huge project: “It’s my first time na maka-work sina Alden at Bea and it’s definitely a dream come true. At first, nahihiya at na-starstruck ako sa kanila pero naging magaan ang pakiramdam sa set. Nagtutulungan talaga lahat para mapaganda ang mga eksena. I’m very grateful kasi hindi ko in-expect na ako ang magpu-portray ng role na ito.”

Start-Up PH tackles the different journeys to success and self-discovery. It highlights the importance of being surrounded by supportive and loving people, and proves that through sheer will and determination, every dream is worth pursuing no matter how hard it can get.

It tells the story of Tristan, who comes from humble beginning before turning into a coveted investor for start-up companies. One day, he crosses paths with Dani whom he used to know as a child. Dani grew up to be a strong and ambitious woman who dreams of becoming the CEO of her own company.

Joining the headliners is an all-star cast: Gabby Eigenmann, Kim Domingo, Jackie Lou Blanco, Ayen Munji Laurel, Boy2 Quizon, Royce Cabrera, Niño Muhlach, Lovely Rivero, Kevin Santos, Tim Yap, Jay Arcilla, Kaloy Tingcungco, Brianna, and Gina Alajar. Completing the cast is the special participation of Neil Ryan Sese.

Start-Up PH is made possible under the supervision of GMA SVP for entertainment group Lilybeth G. Rasonable. The creative team behind this motivational drama is Ricky Lee, with Jerry Sineneng and Dominic Zapata as directors. It premieres on September 26, airing weeknights at 8:50 pm on GMA, and at 11:30 pm from Monday to Thursday and at 11 pm every Friday on GTV. Viewers abroad can also catch the program via GMA Pinoy TV. More information can be found at www.gmanetwork.com.

WHEN a film, after a few minutes or so, opens with a karaoke, and then, minutes more, another song, it usually spells annoying disaster. But that is not the case with this film from Taiwan, called Little Big Women.

The singer is Lin Xiu Ying (Sho Ying in the subtitle), a woman now in her 70s, who begins as a roadside vendor of shrimp rolls and goes on to become a famous owner of a restaurant in Tainan. She gives birth to three daughters (although...no spoiler here) and takes care of them long after her husband abandons her.

The film begins with Sho Ying at the wet market, handling fish with her bare hands, greeting vendors as friends she has known for years. That day, she is turning over the management of the famed restaurant to her youngest daughter, but it seems she is not yet ready to relegate her duties. There are two other daughters, traditionally more successful in that one has become a world-renowned dancer and the other a plastic surgeon in Taipei.

That day, Sho Ying is going to fetch her granddaughter at the train terminal. Scenes after, we will all be meeting the daughters and this granddaughter in a sudden reunion. On the day of their mother’s birthday, their father, who has not been seen in decades by Sho Ying, dies.

Little Big Women marches almost with such haste until the death of the father, remiss with his obligations, as if the filmmakers want to settle down immediately to the business of remembrances, guilt and recriminations. We are not complaining of course—the narrative of this Taiwanese family reminds us greatly how the Chinese notion of filial duty is remarkably familiar to us, Filipinos, as well. There is the fact of the family name—tarnish it and you volunteer to sink into oblivion if only to assuage your ancestors of the shame you have inflicted on the clan and its reputation.

As the wake begins, the film slows down, but we are only willing eavesdroppers as we savor the nuances of apologies and the elusive, cryptic signs of forgiveness that are just too difficult to discern, if they manifest at all. What we get are other tales: the loves of Aching, the loyalties of Ayu, and the quiet rebellion of Jiajia.Allbeautiful and elegant, all elegant and vulnerable. These are the daughters who contend with the plots weaving their mother into her past and the present, disentangling, troubling and threatening, always half-told, always in the shadows. Gradually, and silently, like the days of the wake, we learn about how their father had shamed the Lin family, Sho Ying’s own. We begin to understand how some uncles from the mother’s side do not come to the birthday party nor to the wake. We grudgingly look at the uncle

who brags how he has forgotten (sometimes) the past but points to the empty chairs for the uncles who have become grumpier as they grow older.

Sins against the clan never age, really; they just turn sour and more terrible each season.

What saves the family of this grand woman from crumbling is her own steadfastness, and the daughters all too willing to stay by their mother’s side. And their mother does not always have sweet words for them. At one of their quiet confrontations (no screaming matches here, a lesson for our local filmmakers and scriptwriters), the mother blurts out how it has been useless for her to have ever given birth to them.Now, what is a death of a husband long gone from the family, whose last wish is to return to the city of her beloved family, and the wake that follows it, without secrets and disclosures?

Joseph Hsu indeed reengineers melodrama in Little Big Women by creating out of what could have been dark froths a sublime fusion of tragedy, redemption, bittersweetness, imperfect humanity and comedy.

It is the technique of the filmmakers to use the granddaughter as a foil for the set behaviors of the daughters. For the young girl, she is the person with a bright and curious mind accompanying her grandmother as they venture into the district of nightclubs and assignations. There, her grandfather is a gallant customer, a Mr. Chen. Ellipses after ellipses, the past of the family is a procession that now intrudes into their lives: a blue coat left at the hospital, right beside the corpse; a young, smart woman from Singapore who visits Sho Ying and brings tears to her

eyes where the death of her husband does not; and, finally, the encounter with Ms. Tsai, the woman who took care of Sho Ying’s husband in his old age.

“Will you confront her [Ms. Tsai]?,” the granddaughter asks her grandmother. Sho Ying does “confront” the other woman as they move from one god to another, in a far-off temple, until they reach the God of Love.

No hugs are necessary between Miss Tsai and Sho Ying. And no slapping either. The embraces between mother and daughters are sparse but when they come, they do not release the characters from the past; instead they assure everyone of the power of fate.

There is a social conflict that happens in the film that we all can relate to, and this is the decency of having a birthday party when a wake is going on. The film resolves that with the song at the birthday party that speaks of a love that is not meant for us, and at the end, when, like in the opening, Madam Sho Ying grabs the karaoke mic from the back of the taxi chair and sings once more the song “Taste of Loneliness.”JongKeng’s cinematography is sheer nostalgia as it captures a city in Taiwan, wearing proudly its ruins and heart for all to sense and weep with.

It is a joy to discover Hsieh Ying-xuan, as the eldest daughter, and Vivian Hsu, the second daughter, and Ding Ning as Ms. Tsai.

As Sho-Ying, Chen Shu-fang is magisterial, a dowager commanding an empire of bittersweet memories. With a voice that hides a rasp, she is love incarnate, a mother whose life makes sense only because she always comes to terms with the past.

Little Big Women is currently streaming on Netflix. ■

ABS-CBN continues its successful pivot to digital as its entertainment group marks another digital milestone: its TikTok account has earned over one million followers and more than 18 million likes.

In August alone, its TikTok account quickly gained over 488,900 new followers and 8.8 million likes, according to the analytics firm Social Blade.

ABS-CBN Entertainment’s videos reach up to millions of views, where followers are treated to content all day such as trending highlights and teasers from the teleseryes Mars Ravelo’s Darna, 2 Good 2 Be True, A Family Affair and Love in 40 Days.

Followers can also watch a compilation of viral scenes and some of the most iconic lines from currently-airing shows, updates from the hottest showbiz news, and find out what’s new and hot on the video sharing platform with “Kapamilya TikTok of the Week.”This latest milestone strengthens ABS-CBN’s digital presence where its ABS-CBN Entertainment’s Facebook page in the Philippines is the most followed with over 34 million followers. Meanwhile, its YouTube channel is still the most subscribed in all of Southeast Asia with over 41 million subscribers and 53.5 billion lifetime views.

Speaking of ABS-CBN Entertainment YouTube’s page, it will now offer eight different kinds of love stories, titled Love Bites, featuring Dimples Romana, Miko Raval, Karina Bautista, Vivoree Esclito, Kobie

Brown, Andi Abaya and many more as exclusive content for AccordingYouTube.toDimples, who will appear in “Letters for Leah” with Miko, Lance Carr, and Angelica Lao, these kinds of short stories inspire viewers by leaving a mark on them. “Naiisip ko na meron kinds of love gaya nitong mga short stories na ito na it gets stuck on you and they just grow on you. Meron mga kilig at pagmamahal na ang bilis-bilis lang dumaan sa iyo pero it may have lasting effect,” she said about the concept of theSkyseries.Quizon, Nico Antonio, Genesis Redido, Angela Trajano, Kristof Garcia, Khyza Villalino and Concon Felix expressed their gratitude for being included in the boys love and girls love episodes of the anthology. Kami nina Kuya Nico at Genesis, we are trying to normalize it. Yes, BL is a genre but we try to normalize

it na it’s just love. It’s not based on gender. Kung ano ang nai-experience ng straight people, nai-experience ng lahat,” said Genesis,Sky.onthe other hand, accepted the role in the episode as he is a proud brother to his transgender sister, Angela.

Sobrang proud ako na gumaganap ako ng boys love dahil natutulungan ’yung kapatid ko na si Angela [Trajano]. Siya talaga ’yung rason kung bakit ko tinatanggap ito. Ito ’yung bagay na nairi-regalo ko sa kanya para ma-normalize ito o mawala ’yung diskriminasyon,” he added.

Apart from Sky, Nico and Genesis’s “He Must Choose,” Angela and Kristoff Garcia’s “Hearts of Pride,” and Khyza Villalino and Concon Felix’s “First Love, Last Love,” viewers should watch out for the first episode of Love Bites, starring Vivoree Esclito and Anthony Jennings, titled “Lost And Found.” The story revolves around Aina (Vivoree) who finds her memory box filled with items that reminds her of her pastAlso,relationships.don’tmiss the episodes topbilled by Karina Bautista and Gello Marquez (“One Post Away”), Andi Abaya and Kobie Brown (Miss Astrologer”), and JC Alcantara and Shanaia Gomez (“TOTGA”).

Love Bites is directed by Kevin Alambra and Dado C. Lumibao, and is part of the Made for YouTube offerings and also produced by RCD Narratives, every Friday at 8PM on ABS-CBN Entertainment’s YouTube channel.

A SCENE from the sublime film from Taiwan, Little Big Women.

‘Love Bites’ announced as ABS-CBN exclusive for YouTube

FROM left: Yasmien Kurdi, Alden Richards and Bea Alonzo

AboitizPower to create a better world with holistic energy transformation

IN pursuit of accelerating the Aboitiz Group’s transformation into the Philippines’ first Techglomerate, AboitizPower (AP) is moving towards the future armed with a Massive Transformative Purpose (MTP) of “Transforming Energy for a Better World.”

According to AboitizPower Chief Corporate Services Officer Carlos Aboitiz during the recently held launch of AP's MTP, the company envisions a future where energy is abundant, poverty is nonexistent, and environmental sustainability is given utmost priority.

In the Philippines today, while environmental sustainability remains a challenge, energy is scarce, expensive, and adversely impacting the environment. Also, two out of 10 of its countrymen live below the national poverty line, with many living with limited economic opportunity.

“We are working towards uplifting the lives of Filipinos and creating a better world by providing a more stable power system and further pursuing renewable energy. We currently have 1000 MW disclosed RE (renewable energy) projects,” Aboitiz said.

He added that everything AP is aiming to achieve is aligned with the Aboitiz Group's Great Transformation 2025.

During the September 1 event, AboitizPower President and CEO Manny Rubio said the MTP recognizes that humanity requires “a just energy transition” that also contributes to socioeconomic development, especially with huge changes in areas like climate action, global connectivity and population growth over the past two decades.

It also recognizes that AP, given that one in every five megawatts of installed capacity in the Philippines flows from

them, has the size, scale, and influence to transform the country's power industry significantly.“AboitizPower will take an active role in innovating the country’s energy system to be the change the world needs,” Rubio pointed out. “We have the opportunity of contributing to policies, pioneering generation technologies, and modernizing power distribution. And we do not take this lightly. As they say, with great power comes greatHeresponsibility.”addedthatthe MTP not only focuses on the company's “why” but also, more importantly, on its “who” as all of AP’s efforts boil down to its desire to help create a better world for communities, customers, the country, and, essentially, families.

“All of this is for them. A testament to our 100-year-old Aboitiz pledge of ‘Advancing Business and Communities’ to help uplift and empower every Filipino, and in the long run, create a better world,” Rubio said.

Driven by its MTP, AP will use its generation capabilities, distribution

utilities, and other diverse fleet of assets, both in renewable and thermal capacities to help power the nation as it transitions towards a cleaner energy system. During this great change, AP is poised to triple its renewable energy portfolio, shift its baseload power from coal to gas, and develop new complementary solutions by exploring carbon capture technologies to help the country decarbonize more efficiently.

AP is looking to build at least 3,700 MW of RE under its name as part of its 50:50 balanced energy portfolio of RE and thermal power by 2030, allowing the company to address concerns on energy security and sustainability.“Onthispath, Filipinos can have reliable electricity 24 hours a day, allowing children to study undisturbed in the evening. Young entrepreneurs can open small businesses like sari-sari stores, and fisherfolk can have ice to keep their fish fresh for the trip to the market,” Rubio said.

“These are just some real-life milestones that many can attain with our help,” he added.

Security Bank Foundation supports DepEd’s Brigada Eskwela, donates learning resources in Davao Region

SECURITY Bank Foundation, Inc. (SBFI), the corporate social responsibility (CSR) arm of Security Bank Corporation, responded to the call of the Department of Education (DepEd) to provide multi-sectoral support for the opening of classes through the agency’s Brigada Eskwela initiative.

SBFI supported the DepEd Brigada Eskwela regional kick-off week by turning over Knowledge Channel Portable Media Libraries (PMLs) and 306 Makeroscopes (keychain microscope sets) to 11 SBFI Classrooms Project beneficiary schools in the Davao Region.

“True partners are those who come and immediately heed the call. We thank Security Bank Foundation for being a true partner of the region as it provided innovative and digital learning resources for our students,” says DepEd Region XI Director Dr. Allan G. Farnazo.

SBFI’s initiative to donate learning resources in Davao Region complements its flagship program, “Build A School, Build the Nation: The Classrooms Project.” The 11 beneficiary schools were recipients

of SBFI’s classroom donation since the program’s inception in 2011. Aside from new classrooms, SBFI provides major repair support, regular training for teachers and principals, and other learner support interventions.

“We focused our advocacy on education because we believe that education is the greatest equalizer in life. It will give every person the opportunity to succeed, no matter what his or her social and economic background may be,” says Rafael F. Simpao, Jr., SBFI Chairman.

The Knowledge Channel PMLs are external hard drives containing over 1,500 Knowledge Channel developed video lessons, e-games, and e-session guides aligned with the Department of Education K-12

Thecurriculum.schools that received portable media libraries were: Catalunan Pequeño Elementary School (Davao City), Crossing Bayabas National High School (Davao City), Davao City National High School (Davao City), Digos City National High School (Digos City, Davao Del Sur), JV Ferriols Elementary School (Davao City),

Matina Central Elementary School (Davao City), Panabo Central Elementary SchoolSPED Center (Panabo City, Davao Del Norte), Panabo National High School (Panabo City, Davao Del Norte), Ramon Magsaysay Central Elementary School (Digos City, Davao Del Sur), Tagum National Trade School (Tagum City, Davao Del Norte), and Visayan Village Central Elementary School (Tagum City, Davao Del TheNorte).Makeroscopes, invented by Filipino engineer Jeremy De Leon, are keychain microscopes attached to the front cameras of mobile phones to enable the viewing of microscopic samples up to x265 zoom. Each Makeroscope set comes with sample slides of animal and plant cells. The schools that received the keychain microscopes were Davao City National High School, Digos City National High School, and Panabo National High School. To learn more about SBFI’s initiatives and how you can help a scholar, visit www. securitybank.com/sustainability or Security Bank’s Facebook page at www.facebook. com/SecurityBank.

Leo Burnett, McDonald’s winning streak continues with Gold and Silvers in the 2022 APAC EFFIES

PUBLICIS Groupe Philippines’ Leo Burnett Manila won a gold and two silvers in the Asia-Pacific EFFIES Awards 2022 for its innovative campaign for McDonald’s Philippines.Thecampaign, dubbed “McDonald’s Classroom,” transformed its unused party rooms into lively classrooms to help teachers and students struggling with distance learning all over the Philippines at the height of the COVIDPilotedpandemic.in2020, the McDonald’s Classroom project expanded into 249 locations all over the country in 2021. The McDonald’s Classroom helped redefine the brand experience in the new normal, and significantly enhanced brand reputation as well as uplifted the Filipinos’ trust in the company.

The Asia Pacific Effie Awards honors the region’s most outstanding marketing communication works that lead, inspire, and champion practices of marketing effectiveness excellence in the Asia Pacific region.

Capture your baby‘s first true smile and get a chance to win diapers in Makuku‘s promo activity

IF you've experienced your baby's first true smile which is usually around six to eight weeks, then you know it's a major turning point for the both of you. All the sleepless nights and erratic days of the first weeks suddenly seem worthwhile, and you'll do everything in your power to keep those smiles coming. These smiles will be a way to start communicating with your baby and connecting with people around. But how to encourage your baby to smile? Some ways to help your baby along to practice their social smiling is through cuddling, playing, smiling back and talking more often while doing your diaper changing routine or giving a soft bath. Numerous studies have shown that babies who receive early parental care and affection are most likely to develop self-esteem faster and become more sociable.

That’s why, MAKUKU Philippines makers of Slim and Comfort series diapers, started the Share a Smile Challenge to seize this special milestone with your baby or toddler! Make it more meaningful by posting your baby’s cutest smile, random giggles or spontaneous laughs in your personal Tiktok account and tag us @makuku.ph with the official hashtag #itsmoreFUNwithMAKUKU.Don’tforgettoencodeyour entry in this link https://bit.ly/3xiG3Lv and tag your friends! Winners will be randomly drawn weekly for a chance to win a one-month supply of MAKUKU Slim diapers! Isn’t it great? And there’s more –the top 500 participants with the most LIKES will get a chance to win up to two-months supply of MAKUKU Slim diapers! What a great way to capture those winning smiles of your babies. To learn more about why smiles are important for kids and complete challenge details, save the date on October 7 and watch our Lazlive (makukuph) with guest host MJ Marfori and influencer/vlogger, Rita “Badjao Girl” Gaviola, first-time mom, as they talk about “Baby’s First Year Milestones.” MAKUKU diapers are available in leading supermarkets nationwide or can be purchased via online in Lazada, Shopee, Edamama and Zalora or visit their official website https://www. makuku.ph/ for more updates and promos!

Bamboo Construction Expert Jörg Stamm speaks at Base Bahay Architecture and Design Forum

BASE Bahay Foundation (Base), the global leader in bamboo-based research and technology, kicked off Bamboo Month with the first session in an Architecture and Design Forum series titled “Bamboost” that shines the spotlight on green technology and the use of bamboo in construction.

Professional builders and bamboo enthusiasts converged at the Green Sun in Makati City for the rare occasion to hear experts in the field speak on local and international bamboo architecture and design.

Leading the line-up of local and international experts speaking on bamboo architecture and design is the highly anticipated Jörg Stamm, Colombia-based bamboo construction specialist and trainer, widely known for his design and construction of engineered bamboo structures in differentStamm,countries.together with speakers Munir Vahanvati, Ray Villanueva, Christian Salandanan, and Base Head of Technology Luis Felipe Lopez, continue to work to optimize and advocate the use of bamboo as mainstream construction material.

Munir Vahanvati is an architect and urban designer who has worked with bamboo for over 15 years on a wide range of projects in product and building design, large-scale infrastructure, and urban regeneration projects. Today, as co-founder of Green Grass, he is focused on

community development using bamboo.

Filipino-American architect Ray Villanueva co-founded the Kawayan Collective, a facility that supplies, treats, and sells constructiongrade bamboo with the objective of elevating the Philippine bamboo as modern building material to provide better homes for Filipinos.

Multi-awarded Filipino architect Christian Salandanan is widely known for his work with bamboo which he continues to advocate in his stories in local and international architecture and design publications.

“Over 1,200 species of bamboo are abundant across the Philippines and technology and engineering continue to optimize its use as a reliable and durable construction material,” explained Lopez. “Through intensive research and innovations with our network of partners in the Base Innovation Center (BIC), we continue to elevate the use of bamboo and build durable houses for the community using our Cement-Bamboo Frame Technology (CBFT).”

“As more of our professional builders opt to use bamboo in construction, we are helping to build a circular economy – from the farmers who harvest and individuals who process bamboo to builders engaged in construction. With our initiatives, we are committed to bringing a positive impact on the lives of every family and supporting the community sustainably,” said Base’s President Maricen Jalandoni.

KABRIGADA’T KABARKADA: Security Bank Foundation donates 11 Portable Media Libraries and 306 Makeroscope sets to public schools in the Davao Region. Present during the turnover were (from left to right): Security Bank Foundation Infrastructure Project Officer Engr. Jamiel Galimba, Department of Education Region XI Director, Dr. Allan Farnazo, Security Bank Branch Banking Group Area 26 Head, Decy Narne Sarmiento and Makeroscope Inventor, Jeremy De Leon.

ABOITIZPOWER’S purpose of Transforming Energy for a Better World is a testament to the company’s ambition to continue innovating and transforming, given its role of providing reliable energy today and cleaner energy for the future.

WITH THE APAC EFFIES TROPHIES ARE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Judy Medina, Leo Burnet Manila Head of Account Management; Margot Torres, McDonald’s Philippines Managing Director; Eugene Lee, McDonald’s Regional Chief Marketing Officer for Asia; and Raoul Panes, Publicis Groupe Philippines and Leo Burnett Manila Chief Creative Officer.

”YOU are the next generation of architects, you have to take this learning on a new and higher level,” said renowned Bamboo Construction expert Jorg Stamm, addressing professional builders at the first Base Bahay Bamboost Bamboo Architecture and Design Forum shown here on a tour of the Base Innovation Center.

FEDERER: I AM MY OWN CAREER

LeBron James

“Who is the greatest? Probably MJ. But is it LeBron? Some stats say he is. I think it’s a phenomenon of (social) media. Everybody calling each other ‘GOAT.’ ‘GOAT.’ ‘GOAT.’ ‘GOAT.’ ‘GOAT.’ ‘GOAT.’ I’m like, Come on, OK? There cannot be possibly that many ‘GOATs,’” Federer said, then cracked himself up with a Dad joke: “In Switzerland, we have a lot of them, but they’re in the fields.”

connected to tennis. That will include showing up at certain tournaments, he said, “to say farewell or goodbye, because I’ve been a part of those tournaments for 20 years.”

It will include watching on TV, some of the time, and keeping an eye on results, all of the time.

He plans to keep tabs on Nadal, who won the Australian Open and French Open this season, and Djokovic, who won Wimbledon but couldn’t enter the Australian Open or US Open because he isn’t vaccinated against COVID-19 (“It’s been quite strange not seeing Novak in a lot of the draws,” Federer observed).

LONDON—Roger

Federer is a father of four—two girls who are 13, two boys who are 8—and so perhaps that is why, as he wraps up his playing career, he thinks about the “GOAT” debate that has engulfed the tennis world the way parents might look at theirFolkschildren.love to ask: Who’s the “Greatest of All-Time” in men’s tennis, Federer, Rafael Nadal or Novak

“PeopleDjokovic?always like to compare. I see it every day with my twins. Without wanting, you compare them. You shouldn’t— ever,” Federer said during an interview with The Associated Press on Wednesday, hours after his farewell news conference at the arena that will host the 20-time Grand Slam champion’s final competition, the Laver

“Naturally,Cup. we do the same in tennis. ... I am my own career, my own player, that needed those challenges. They needed a challenger like myself,” he said, leaning back on a couch, having traded in the blue blazer and polo shirt he wore earlier for a post-practice navy pullover, white T-shirt and black jogger pants. “We made each other better. So at the end of the day, we’ll all shake

hands and be like, ‘That was awesome.’ Now is somebody going to be happier than the other? I mean, in moments, maybe.”

He called the topic“a good conversation, let’s be honest”and“definitely a fun debate”that“you can endlessly talk about.”

But he also used the word “silly,” given all that he, 22-time major champ Nadal and 21time major champ Djokovic have accomplished.

“I always say it’s wonderful to be part of that selective group,” he began, talking about the so-called Big Three rivals, then paused to sigh.

“How can you compare? What’s better? To win when you’re old or when you’re young? have no idea, you know. Is it better to win on clay or grass? Don’t know. Is it better to have super dominant years or come back from injury? I don’t know,” he said. “It really is impossible to grasp.”

Referring to Nadal, who is 36 and is expected to be Federer’s doubles partner for his final match Friday, and Djokovic, who is 35, Federer said: “What I know is they are truly amazing and greats of the game and forever and will go down as one of the—maybe THE—greatest.”

Federer, who is Swiss, grew up a basketball fan, and brought up the Michael Jordan vs.

Spotlight on Guiao, Ayo as NLEX squares off with Rain or Shine

THE spotlight will be on coaches, not entirely on the players, when Rain or Shine, NLEX and Converge take the floor at the resumption on Friday of the Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Yeng Guiao is back on the Rain or Shine bench as he takes on his previous squad NLEX, now coached by Frankie Lim, in the 5:45 p.m. game.

In the first game at 3 p.m., Aldin Ayo’s smarts gets tested for the first time in the pros when Converge squares off with Terrafirma.

“I still have mixed feelings about this because I still have a strong bond with my former team’s players, coaches, utility and management,” Guiao told B usiness M irror on Thursday. “But my loyalty now is with Rain or Shine.”

Guiao said that he replaced their original choice for import, 6-foot-10 Nigerian Daniel Ochefu, with a more mobile and versatile 6-foot-9 Steve Taylor.“Daniel is not suited to our style.

I’m not saying he’s a bad import, but I believe that he can be effective with another team,” Guiao said. “Taylor is good for us with proper handles, he

Ancajas on course to getting title back from Argentinian

can shoot and drive in fast paced plays.”

Lim’s appointment at NLEX a few days after Guiao left the team. He will rely on 6-foot-9 Earl Clark, a former National Basketball Association, and recent acquisition, top overall pick Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser.

But Lim, a former San Beda Red Lions coach, said he won’t be calling the shots just yet, but interim coach Adonis Tierra.

“I just have to wait for the go-signal of the management, maybe after a few games,” Lim said. “But I already attended my first day of practice. I just have to wait first.”

Ayo’s success in the collegiate ranks will be on the “Terrafirmatable.isnot an easy opponent, no easy team here,” said Ayo, who’s parading NBA veteran Quincy Miller as their import. “They have the experience and the materials, they have a good import and Alex Cabagnot will be returning.” Josef Ramos

via unanimous decision last February in Las Vegas.“Hisweight is in check, and he has never been on a real diet for a long time so I think everything will be in position that is supposed to be in place,” said Gibbons, who thanked experts at the Philippine Sports Commission who helped tune Ancajas back to fighting condition.

“There will be no excuse if we lose, but it ain’t going to happen,” Gibbons said.

Federer promises he won’t make a comeback—his surgically repaired right knee won’t allow it. His age, 41, doesn’t help.

He is adamant, though, that he will remain

“At this point, once either they surpassed you, or you’re not playing anymore, it doesn’t matter how far up they go,” Federer said. “For me, as long as I could be a part of it and control some of it, I cared more.” AP

SealionS gore griffinS in SemiS opener

injury scare to Ron Rosales and a peskyVNS-One Alicia side that just wouldn’t give up before pounding out the straight-set victory to fan their drive in the round-robin Final Four.

Skipper Greg Dolor blasted in kills from all angles to lead the Sealions’ assault in the first two frames on his way to a 20-point output. Jao Umandal shook off a slight neck sprain then took over to fire 12 kills, the last finishing off the hard-luck Griffins in one-hour and 24 minutes.

The Griffins grabbed a 16-12 lead in the third to spark hopes for a big comeback but the Sealions came out of a huddle an organized lot, taking five of the next six points to force a tie then outscoring their rivals, 5-1 to build a four-point cushion.

It was Navy’s fifth straight victory, counting the four that anchored its elims campaign, including a four-set win over VNS last Saturday, as the Sealions nipped the Cignal HD Spikers and the Sta. Elena Nationals for the No. 1 spot in the elims. “It’s the semis, so the training and all the sacrifices must come into fore,” said Dolor, who added two kill blocks to earn another player of the game honor. With Rosales sidelined by an ankle sprain late in the first set, Jemmy Entig and Joeven dela Vega stepped up and poured in nine and seven points, respectively, while Peter Quiel added six points for coach Cecil Cruzad. Nobody from the fourth-ranked VNS-One Alicia hit double-digit marks with Kevin Montemayor finishing with nine points and Ben San Andres and Yoyong Mendoza scoring eight points apiece.

arrived last Saturday for the final push of his preparation to regain his world title,” International matchmaker Sean Gibbons said. “He has been in great condition since his last fight.”

Ancajas, 30, had to shed two pounds just two days before his title defense against the 31-year-old Rio 2016 Olympian Martinez, who eventually snatched the Filipino’s belt

Ancajas’s trainer and manager Joven Jimenez said his ward has been sparring with compatriot Jonas Sultan and Daniel Lim at training camp.

“There’s no need for a foreign guy for sparring. All Jerwin needs is to make the weight comfortably,” Gibbons said. “And we already fixed that [weight] 100 percent.”

Ancajas has a 33-2-2 win-loss-draw record with 22 knockouts while Martinez is undefeated in 14 fights with eight knockouts. Josef Ramos

sustained its blistering eliminations windup with a 25-23, 25-22, 25-22 victory overVNS-One Alicia to wrest the early lead in the semifinal round of the Spikers’Turf Open Conference at the Paco Arena in Manila on Thursday.

PGJC-NAVY

But the Sealions needed to overcome the odds, including an early

The Sealions, meanwhile, brace for a tough task against the Nationals tomorrow, seeking not only to move closer to a dream finals stint but also a payback against the only team that dealt their lone loss in the elims in five sets (18-16) last Sept. 6.

“We’ll train, prepare hard and study their weak points to get back at them,” Dolor said.

Arcilla targets rebound in Puerto Princesa Open

DAVIS

Cup veteran Johnny Arcilla hopes to recall his fierce form as he tries to recover from a stinging setback two weeks ago by headlining a mix of aces and rising stars chasing top honors in the Puerto Princesa City National Tennis Championships beginning Friday at the Karawatan PPS courts in Palawan.

The multi-titled Arcilla rammed into a solid Joshua Kinaadman in the semifinals of the recent Governor Edwin Jubahib Cup in Davao del Norte and dropped a 4-6, 4-6 result, making the nine-time Philippine Columbian Association Open champion eager to get back into the winning track in this week’s championship presented by Dunlop.

Spicing up the eight-day tournament, put up by Palawan Pawnshop president and CEO Bobby Castro, is the age-group championships with eight titles up for grabs, including the 16- and 18-under crowns in both the boys’ and girls’ sides. For details, contact Bobby Mangunay at 0915-4046464.

Eight matches kick off hostilities in the 32-player Open draw with second seed Jarell Edangga clashing with Francisco Santos, Geoffrey Bautista tangling with Marco Palanca, Christian Lopez facing off Khalil Cahayag, junior champion Mcleen Gomera colliding

with Mark Asia, No. 8 Randy Delavin trading shots with Henry Tana, third ranked Jose Maria Pague mixing it up with Brian Banac, Kendrick Bona battling Lexious Cruz, and Vince Serna squaring off with Evan Bacalso.

The top seeded Arcilla, a former champion here, launches his bid against John Ed Melegrito, along with seven other duels expected to provide thrill and surprise, including the Ronard JovenAndre Santos, No. 4 Elvin Geluz-Kent Concepcion, and the No. 7 Loucas Fernandez-Abdul-Wahid Mama-o matches.

Also on tap in the Open, offering a top prize of P30,000, is the men’s doubles with Arcilla teaming up with Joven, Edangga linking up with Loucas Fernandez, Pague partnering with Lopez, and Stephen Guia joining Lance Fernandez in the hunt for the top P20,000 purse.

Leading the juniors cast in the event backed by ProtekTODO, PalawanPay, Unified Tennis Philippines and Universal Tennis Rating are John David Velez, Kale Villamar, Gomera, Serna, Reign Maravilla and Josh Lim (boys), and Christine Gulagula, AJ Acabo, Francine Dizon, Angel Vosotros, Therese Gauran and Sandra Bautista (girls).

JOSE“JOE”ANTONIO,

By Josef Ramos

ERNEST

JOHN “EJ” OBIENA has something bright in mind— showcase not only his pole vaulting skills but also that of his fellow world-class athletes.That something would come in the form of an invitational competition that would feature the world’s best, to name a few, world No. 2 Chris Nilsen, Rio 2016 Olympics gold medalist Thiago Braz and, yes, world and Olympic champion and world record holder Armand Duplantis.

All three of them—and several others—in the flesh showcasing their high-flying acts Filipino fans will be witnessing live for the first time.

“The objective is to bring them here after the outdoor season’s over,” the world No. 3 pole vaulter Obiena told Philippine Olympic Committee President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino in one of their conversations since the world championships bronze medalist came back home for a vacation with girlfriend, German long jumper Caroline Joyeaux, a week ago.

Tolentino readily agreed and the first order of battle was to choose a venue.

“The Picnic Grove here could be an ideal venue,” said Tolentino, referring to the favorite destination of local and foreign tourists in Tagaytay City, where he’s now back as its mayor.

The setup, according to Obiena, will be similar to those in Europe—a street venue where the runway, the box, crossbars and landing area are all portable or collapsible.

“With the Taal Volcano as backdrop, what more could you ask for—a worldclass pole vault action in one of the most picturesque tourist attractions in the country,” Tolentino said. “Every jump will be postcard-perfect.”

Obiena, Tolentino bringing Duplantis and co. to PHL soil editor Joe Antonio, 69

“The event will be a spectatorfriendly event, and it’s planned that it be sanctioned [by World Athletics],” ObienaTourism,said. Tolentino said, will be a victor in the“It’sevent.great for tourism and the Philippines will be in the international pole vaulting map,” Tolentino said. “It’s very doable despite next year’s busy schedule. It’s going to be a big event so we have to plan this carefully.”

The Philippine Sports Commission, now chaired by Noli Eala, would play a crucial role in the event, according to Tolentino, who also agreed with Obiena to bring in some three-dozen world class pole vaulters, both men and women.

“We are hoping to work with of POC and PSC, it’s a mix collaboration,” said the 26-year-old Obiena, the 2019 and 2022 Southeast Asian Games gold medalist.

“I also love to see Hackett de los Santos to experience and compete with the best athletes,” added Obiena, referring to the silver medalist at the Vietnam SEA Games last ObienaMay. said the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association under its new president Terry Capistrano would also play a major“Thisrole.isgoing to be historic that’s why I am pushing for it,” said Obiena, who also intends to encourage the PSC, local government units and big business to put up more pole vaulting venues around the country. “Pole vault is a standard competition so it’s doable.”

the long-standing sports editor of People’s Journal, passed away Wednesday night. He was 69.

His remains lie at Loyola Commonwealth’s Diligence Room.Aproud

son of Cabiao, Nueva Ecija, Antonio was passionate with sports growing up most especially with baseball and cycling, specifically the Tour of Luzon.

He took up Marketing at the University of the East while juggling his time as a working student at Puyat Undergarments.

But Antonio would be lured to sportswriting later on when he chanced upon an announcement inviting students to join UE’s weekly student newspaper, The Dawn. He honed his craft with the student publication and rose to become its sports editor and managing editor.

A vacancy at the Times Journal launched Antonio’s sportswriting career in 1976 under the late sports editor Gus Villanueva. He spent the next 10 years with the broadsheet

covering various sports from basketball, baseball, cycling, marathon, boxing to athletics, among others.

Antonio briefly worked at Tempo and the Manila Times early in the post-Edsa Revolution era, before coming back home to the Journal family after being invited to serve initially as assistant sports editor of the widely-read People’s Journal.

In 1987, he officially became People’s Journal sports editor, turning the section into a “can’t-miss reading” habit behind its catchy headlines, superb layout and easy-to-read stories.

Simple, down-to-earth and a friend to everyone, Antonio loved horseracing and was an avid fan of the late action king Fernando Poe Jr. He uses the pseudonym Daniel Barrion.

Antonio was the paper’s sports editor for 35 years. He is survived by wife Lita Antonio, son Steve Ovett, daughter in-law Princess Anne, and grandchildren Anthony James and Andre Stephen.Interment will be on Sunday at the Forest Park Memorial.

The European outdoor season ends in early September and with the Asian Games in Huangzhou set on the same month next year, Obiena and Tolentino are looking at late September or early or mid-October as a potential date.

JERWIN “PRETTY BOY” ANCAJAS is on the final swing of his training as he engages Fernando Daniel Martinez of Argentina in a rematch for the International Boxing Federation (IBF) super flyweight crown on October 8 at the Dignity Sports Park in Carson City,“JerwinCalifornia.[Ancajas]

PHILIPPINE Olympic Committee President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino and Ernest John “EJ” Obiena are in a serious discussion.

SKIPPER Greg Dolor blasts in kills from all angles to lead the Sealions’ assault.

GuIAOAYO

ROGER FEDERER

Motoring

PIMSStageScoMebackShowcaSIng

MobIlIty InnovatIonS

inch LCD instrument cluster meter, frameless rearview mirror, Sen Wood interior trim, electronic glass sunroof, hands-free power tailgate, wireless Apple CarPlay, and wireless device charging. The new Mazda CX-8 FWD Signature seven-seater retails at P2.330 million, while the CX-8 AWD Exclusive six-seater is at P2.490 million.

Nissan's new MPV

However, this year's 8th edition themed “Mobility + Humanity: Innovating for the Common Good” made a comeback worthwhile. Participating members of the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines ensured the event was a blast by showcasing innovations in their respective car brands.

All-New BR-V coming soon, hello HR-V RS HONDA Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI) did not only highlight its brand’s safety and advanced technology but also presented the theme “Joyful, Safer World,” featuring All-New HR-V RS grade and highly anticipated All-New BR-V debuting very soon. A country's first, HCPI previewed Honda CONNECT utilizing smart telematics technology. It will allow users to connect with their cars via a smartphone application. It aims to provide safety, security, and convenience through various features such as vehicle diagnostics, remote applications, security applications, vehicle tracking, and support services.

Then, of course, the introduction of the All-New HR-V RS variant. Fresh from its introduction last summer, the All-New HR-V will carry the brand's known sporty DNA. From the Sporty Chrome Front Grille, RS Emblem, and Smoke LED Light Bar to the Glossy Black with Chrome Bumper. Moreover, a Side Sill Garnish with Chrome is paired up with Side Sill Garnish Glossy Black and a set of bigger 18-inch RS Design Gray alloy wheels. As a first-time feature, there is also the LED se-

quential turn signal.

Inside are signature sporty design pedals, shift knobs, and a leather interior with red stitching. Dynamic performance is redefined with a Variable Gear Ratio for smoother steering and agile handling to improve responsiveness and vehicle stability. The All-New Honda HR-V RS variant retails at P1.739 million. It is available in Ignite Red Metallic (RS variant image color), Crystal Black Pearl (exclusive for RS variant only), and Premium Opal White Silver Pearl (additional P20,000).

Last is the official Preview of the All-New BR-V. Since its introduction, the BR-V has become one of HCPI's best-selling models. Now donning a more commanding look, the frame's overall dimensions look more prominent and higher. According to HCPI, the latest generation will have enhanced safety and new technology features that remain faithful to the high value for money it is already known for.

RALLIART is back!

FOR Mitsubishi Philippines, it was all about celebrating the return of the legendary RALLIART brand in the country. Showcased were the New Strada GLS and Montero Sport Black Series RALLIART editions. Mitsubishi's iconic motorsports earned an excellent reputation through the years, particularly in the various known rally races

Theworldwide.newStrada GLS RALLIART (2WD AT) sports exclusive RALLIART components as

a tribute to Mitsubishi's rich rally heritage. These are RALLIART Front Under Garnish, Mud Flaps, Side Decals, Bed Liner, and Floor Mats. The price is set at P1.429 million.

Meanwhile, the new Montero Sport Black Series RALLIART (2WD AT) bears a sportier and imposing presence. This model comes with RALLIART Front Under Garnish, Rear Under Garnish, Mud Flaps, Side Decals, Fender Arch Molding, and Floor Mats. The New Montero Sport, Black Series RALLIART, is priced at P2, 122,000. Both models are available in Jet Black Mica and White Diamond (an additional P15,000).

Mazda's Human-Centered design

CELEBRATING Mazda's special relationship with the Miata Club of the Philippines, a limited-run Mazda MX-5 MCP 25th Anniversary Edition, exclusive to the Philippine market, debuted during the show. The particular edition variant is exclusively in Platinum Quartz

Metallic with a Navy Blue soft top. Navy Blue accents are also found on the side mirrors and roll hoops. Satin Silver 17-inch alloy wheels complete the exterior transformation.

Inside is a unique Mazda Connect Commander knob finished in Sterling Silver. It also comes with the same finish Serial Number Plate. Additional features are black leather seats, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and a nine-speaker Bose sound system. Each unit will also include a commemorative car cover and the MCP 25th Anniversary Photobook. The MX-5 MCP 25th Anniversary Edition is available in manual and automatic variants retailing at P2.250 and P2.300 million, respectively.Meanwhile, Mazda also showcased the new Mazda CX-8 donning a new gun-metallic front grille, a front bumper chrome garnish, redesigned 19-inch alloy wheels, and dual tailpipes with larger openings. Inside, it has the Deep Red Nappa leather seats, a seven-

NISSAN Philippines' All-New Livina was one of the main focal points in this year's PIMS. Nissan's latest offering and their entry into the MPV segment, the Livina, was featured at the motor show. Being one of the soughtafter segments in the country, Nissan sought to provide an MPV option that put together their signature innovation with the vehicle needs of young and modern families who seek a practical and comfortable ride.

The All-New Nissan Livina is available in Royal Ruby Red, Moonstone Grey, Diamond Pearl White, Onyx Black, and Platinum Silver body colors. The top-spec VL (A/T) retails at P1.209 million, while the VE (A/T) variant is at P1.149 million. Meanwhile, the EL (A/T) variant retails at P1.109 million, while the base variant E (M/T) is at P1.029 million.

Isuzu “RoadPhilippines’toProgress” vision

THE leading truck maker in the country presented an extension of its recently announced Road to Progress vision during the company's 25th Inaugural Anniversary last July. With sustainability and responsible partnership as the core concept, Isuzu's presentation encompassed the benefits of its products and services to society. Beyond the durable and reliable vehicles, providing mobility and transport solutions has been the manufacturer's vital role in every Filipino's life.

To ease customers' rising concern about increasing fuel prices, Isuzu Philippines recently conducted a One Full Tank Challenge for the D-MAX and mu-X, verified by the Automobile Association Philippines (AAP). Embarking on a five-day road trip from Subic up to Ilocos and then down to Bicol, the DMAX impressively achieved 20.58 km/l fuel consumption traveling a 1,564-kilometer total distance. At the same time, the mu-X ran 1,675 kilometers and achieved 20.94km/l. Isuzu proved that the D-MAX and the mu-X are comfortable, safe, economical, and environment-friendly.

WHAT caught my attention in the just-ended 8th Philippine International Motor Show (PIMS) was Spencer Yu’s pre-event statement. As quoted by Inquirer’s Tessa R. Salazar, Stephen, my good friend cum president of SMC Car Asia, said: “The BMW iX is the first battery electric vehicle (BEV) that BMW introduced here in the Philippines last April and the reception has been overwhelming for BEVs.”

I didn’t even know about its having arrived. Was I still in isolation mode because of theContinuedpandemic?Yu: “We want to be able to promote sustainability, and electrification is one of the answers for these…We can expect more BEVs from BMW, and the iX is just the first…But we also need to take a look at the proper infrastructure to be able to operate theseWhileEVs.”at it, I cite Danny “Sir John” Isla’s stinging observation of Toyota’s reported not all-out thrust to go into car electrification, using a CNBC report as his source.

Wrote CNBC’s Michael Wayland recently: “Toyota, the king of hybrid vehicles, has come under scrutiny by some environmental groups for its cautiousness on investing in

fully electric vehicles. The company doesn’t believe battery-electric vehicles are the only solution to producing more sustainable vehicles and achieving carbon neutrality.”

Isla, the Lexus Manila founding president in 2009 now based in New Zealand, called Vince Socco’s attention to this. Socco, an almost indispensable top gun at Toyota Motor Philippines, had but a terse reply: “We need multiple pathways! Never was wise to put all eggs in one basket, then and now.”

Vintage Vince.

PEE STOP My dear family and dearest relatives had a grand chillax time at a hidden resort in Brgy. Bulaon, San Fernando, Pampanga, last weekend. The two-day bonding was not only fun-filled, what with endless laps of swimming at the chlorine-free pool, but a sumptuous food fiesta as well, not to mention everyone having to survive a keen singing competition via the ubiquitous karaoke, with Dada & Odette both easily emerging as standouts. The games that followed, like the snuff-the-candle-challenge and the “Trip to Jerusalem,” saw Emman and the rest of the kids enjoying them to the max.

Mama Ching had generously shelled out crispy cash for the game winners. Special mention goes to Denise A. Fernandez and Malaya M. Sadiwa for their splendid emceeing chores. The combined barbecuing brilliance of cousins Tristan, Mayo, Migel, Niko, Joshua, Luigi, Jojo, Christian, Ricky and Ikap earned warm applause like the tireless kitchen chores courtesy of Maricelle, Odette, Shang and director/orchestrator Sol J. Coach Dayong’s lavish homedelivered local delicacies like sisig, kalderetang itik and fried catfish with buro and mustasa were big hits. Of course, not to be outdone was MayaSoh, who had pitched in her forte: dishwashing in tandem with Anapat (vacationing from Doha, Qatar). Much thanks to Doctors Eugene and Donna Fernandez, the proud parents of swimming standouts Pio & Paco. Eugene & Donna’s gargantuan efforts made the special occasion a reality for the 29-strong mix of young and old— with stupendous assistance from Rene Reyes, Donna’s super-humble cousin, who co-owns the spic-and-span two-storey, glass-panelled, three-bedroom house— a perfect hideaway that sits princely on a 650-sqm prime lot on a two-hectare, tree-lined enclave, where you can commune with nature in abject peace. And what did Dante, Speaker Frediboy and I do to make the escape to the boondocks worth our while? Double-black kept us glued happily together—the prodigal poison shared heartily with Tristan, Eugene and, of course, Rene Reyes, whose grilled squid and dinuguan itik made the gathering all the more deliciously memorable. Cheers!

Story & photos by Randy S. Peregrino