thE WOrlD | a7 hezbollah leader killed in Israeli airstrike, sending shockwaves through lebanon and the Middle East
PBy Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario
URCHASING big-ticket items and setting aside savings by consumers decreased in the third quarter, according to the latest data released by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).
The results of the Consumer Expectations Survey (CES) showed that when it comes to buying bigticket items, consumers have become even more pessimistic as the Confidence Index (CI) contracted further.
The data showed the CI for buy -
ing big ticket items—consumer durables, motor vehicle, and housing—posted a contraction of 68.9 percent in the third quarter from a decline of 64.5 percent in the second quarter 2024.
“Consumers are more hesitant about buying big-ticket items in Q3 (third quarter) 2024,"”BSP said. “For the next 12 months, buying intentions for big-ticket items remain pessimistic.”
BSP data also showed the percentage of households that plan to buy/acquire real property within the next 12 months slightly decreased to 4.2 percent from 4.7 percent in the second quarter 2024
survey results. When asked about the price range of real properties they intend to purchase in the next 12 months, more than half or 53.8 percent of the households indicated a range of P450,000 and below.
The data also showed 31.7 percent and 14.5 percent of households plan to buy a house and/or lot worth P450,001 to P1.7 million and P1,700,001 and above, respectively.
“In particular, fewer households plan to acquire single-detached houses, apartments, and condominium units,” BSP said.
“By area, buying intentions
for the next 12 months were less downbeat in the NCR (National Capital Region), but little changed in AONCR (Areas Outside the National Capital Region),” it added. Meanwhile, in terms of savings, BSP data showed the percentage of households with savings decreased to 29 percent in the third quarter from 31.4 percent in the second quarter. BSP said the decline in the percentage of savers was mainly due to the lower percentage of households with savings in the highincome group. This outweighed
END-AUG BORROWINGS
UP 17% ON BUDGET GAP
By Reine Juvierre Alberto @reine_alberto
THE national government borrowed P1.933 trillion as of the end of August 2024 to finance its budget
Data from the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) showed gross borrowings from January to August 2024 represent a 17.36-per
cent increase from the P1.647 trillion raised during the same period in 2023. Debt incurred from domestic sources accounted for 85.91 percent of the total gross borrowings amounting to P1.661 trillion, which increased by 32.58 percent year-on-year from P1.253 trillion. Gross domestic borrowings included P161.703 billion from net Treasury bills (T-bills), P584.861 billion from Retail Treasury bonds (RTBs) last February 2024, and P904.207 in fixed-rate Treasury bonds (T-bonds).
The government has yet to secure retail onshore T-bonds and tokenized bonds as part of its domestic borrowing plan this year.
DFa chIEF at thE U n Foreign
By Andrea E. San Juan @andreasanjuan
HE Luzon Economic Corri -
Tdor which is seen to house the Clark National Food Hub, bodes well for logistics firm FedEx Philippines, as this will boost the freight business and enable the firm to help small players in the agribusiness sector within the country.
“We are hoping that would be happening very soon because that will be a boost for us because we’re dealing with cargo. The ones that they’re doing mainly from Manila
to Clark is mainly passenger,” Maribeth Espinosa , FedEx Philippines Managing Director told reporters at a briefing on Friday in Clark, Pampanga.
“But I’m also very optimistic about the food hub that they’re doing right here and the agro-industrial that they’re doing for Luzon,” added Espinosa.
The FedEx Philippines official said the firm sees the food hub as an opportunity to extend assistance to small enterprises under the Agribusiness sector in the country.
between January and August 2024, making up 14.61 percent of the total gross borrowings during the period. External borrowings dropped by 28.41 percent year-on-year, decreasing to P282.464 billion from P394.562 billion.
The state scouted for funds through project loans amounting to P66.719 billion and program loans worth P100.498 billion.
Additionally, it issued global bonds, amassing P115.247 billion from US dollar bonds in May 2024.
August 2024 borrowings
I N A ugust 2024, gross borrowings rose by 40.29 percent to P174.034 billion from P124.056 billion during the same month a year ago.
Broken down, domestic and external borrowings amounted to P167.045 billion and P6.989 billion, respectively.
About P6.989 billion was sourced through project loans from external sources, while P27.045 billion and P140 billion were raised from domestic sources through T-bills and T-bonds issuances, respectively.
The government borrows to cover the gap when its expenses exceed the revenues it collected through taxes.
This allows the state to fund services, such as healthcare, education, infrastructure and other social programs.
For the year, a total of P2.570 trillion is set to be borrowed, following a mix of 75:25, of which P1.923 trillion will be raised domestically while P646.084 billion will come from foreign sources.
Philexport: Let’s be ready despite mild EUDR impact
By Andrea E. San Juan @andreasanjuan
LOCAL exporters should not let their guard down even though they may not be “drastically” affected by the European Union’s move to ban imported agricultural goods linked to forest degradation, according to the Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (Philexport).
“While the country’s products may not be too drastically affected by the [EU Deforestation Regulation] EUDR, the Philippines should not be complacent and must still make the necessary p reparations to soften the impact this sustainability-oriented regulation is expected to bring upon business operations and supply chains globally,”
P hilexport Vice President Flordeliza C. Leong said in a statement over the weekend.
“I am interested in the food logistic hub,” e sp inosa said, adding, “It’s an opportunity for
The EUDR is a measure that requires entities to demonstrate that their products are not linked to forest degradation t hat covers coffee, cocoa, soy, palm oil, wood, rubber and cattle.
As these are “fortunately” not among the top Philippine exports to the 27-member bloc European Union, Leong said, “We are helping these affected sectors to develop and grow.”
Part of these preparations should also consider the EU policy,” she also
us to help SM e s an d even those in the agribusiness for us. I’ve shown you our storage facility so I think that there is room for more perishables to be in there.”
The National Food Hub is expected to rise inside the Clark Civil Aviation Complex (CCAC) by 2028. It is one of Clark International Airport Cor-
noted.
Director Bianca Pearl R. Sykimte of the Department of Trade a nd Industry-Export Marketing Bureau (DTI-EMB) told the B usinessMirror two weeks ago that the EUDR’s sector coverage—coffee, cocoa, soy, palm oil, w ood, rubber, and cattle were not included in the top Philippine export products to the bloc.
S he told this paper, “We are also seeing an opportunity for our coconut oil exports to get a larger share of the EU market since our palm oil competitors will be affected by the EUDR regulation.”
Based on the data processed by DTI-EMB and obtained by this paper, coconut oil ranked third among the Philippines’s export products to the EU, amounting
poration’s (CIAC) seven flagship projects.
The mega food hub is expected to be a “game-changer” for the Philippines’s overall agricultural productivity and revitalization of exports sector, CIAC said early this year.
Meanwhile, the Fed e x C lark Gateway launched in September 2021, and located inside the Clark International Airport in Pampanga, houses 11 facilities including cold chain storage, warehousing area, sorting systems, customs inspection area and customs offices, among others.
According to Fed e x Philippines, this gateway facility can currently sort 9,000 packages per hour. However, the logistics firm said it may “more than” double this capacity as it is set to expand and upgrade the existing gateway.
In July 2024, Fed e x nked an agreement with Luzon International Premiere Airport Development (LIPAD), the operator and manager of CIAC, to expand the Fed e x g ateway in Clark.
“The new facility is set to offer enhanced capabilities that will benefit local businesses looking to amplify their presence in international markets and support the growing demand for e-commerce, freight, and cold-chain shipments across the Asia Pacific region,” said the logistics firm in a statement in July.
Upon completion, the new facility
to $547.17 million in 2023. In 2023, EU emerged as the fifth largest export market of the Philippines, said Sykimte.
The top Philippine exports to the EU were: electronics, semiconductors, coconut oil and tuna.
D TI’s export marketing arm, Sykimte said, has been “closely following developments on this so we can prepare our exporters.”
According to an earlier Philexport statement, companies have u ntil December 30 this year to be compliant, except for micro and small undertakings, for which the regulation will apply from June 30,2025.
“Businesses should now consider the impact of the EUDR on t heir supply chain due diligence to prepare for the new obligations that apply from December 2024,” said the umbrella organization of Philippine exporters.
will be more than double the size of its current facility.
“The gateway will further boost support for both importers and exporters, including small-and-medium enterprises and heavy-weight freight shippers with great and more reliable access to and from international markets,” Fed e x P hilippines also noted.
In terms of the key trading partners of the Philippines based on the shipments being sorted by Fed e x , e sp inosa said, “It would still be US, Japan, China, Singapore and Malaysia … but we’re present in more than 220 countries so we actually receive different destinations in and out of the Philippines but those are the major trading partners of the Philippines.”
While the firm is seeing a potential for the agribusiness to grow as the Luzon e c onomic Corridor will come to fruition in the next few years, e sp inosa noted that e-commerce has been “rapidly changing” the environment, based on the shipments that Fed e x i s sorting.
“Most people are into the internet, right? So we see that e-commerce is one that’s rapidly changing the environment and so we are adapting to the needs of the e-commerce. Semiconductor still plays a role because before you get into the internet, you would need a computer set and laptops,” added e sp inosa.
percent a quarter ago.
the increase in the percentage of savers in the low- and middle-income groups.
By geographical area, BSP said the percentage of savers in both in Metro Manila and AONCR declined.
Among the savers, they set aside money for emergencies, health and medical expenses, education, retirement, house purchase, and investment and business capital.
Respondents with savings kept their money, wholly or partially, in various institutions. Among savers, majority or 75.8 percent kept their savings in a bank, a decline from the 79.4 percent in the second quarter 2024.
The data also showed more than half or 57.3 percent kept their savings at home while a third or 36.7 percent keep them in other institutions.
The percentage of respondents who could set aside money for savings for the third quarter 2024 slightly decreased to 28.7 percent from 29.3 percent in the second quarter 2024.
Among households that could save, some 29.2 percent said that they would save at least 10 percent of their monthly gross family income for savings, down from 32
Continued from A1
While mainland Chinese travel for various purposes, they showed a “high interest in events and cultural activities…. Notably, 70 percent of outbound travelers had previously attended an arts or sports event or participated in a cultural activity on an overseas trip.” In a graphic of the respondents’ word cloud of cultural activities, attending concerts topped their list, specifically that of Taylor Swift’s, but they also traveled to watch the Paris Olympics, and went to the Louvre Museum, to name a few. Asia remains the most favored region, with 80 percent of survey respondents choosing destinations therein on their most recent outbound trip in 2024, and some 66 percent of those planning trips for the rest of the year. The Philippines is on their list, coming after Maldives, Vietnam, Taiwan, and Laos. Macau and Hong Kong continued to be their favored destinations in Asia, followed by South Korea, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore. Xiaohongshu is the key T H e Department of Tourism (DOT), recognizing the diplomatic issues between Manila and Beijing as a major reason for the sluggish arrivals from mainland China, has belatedly “recalibrated” its marketing moves to attract more tourists from other key markets. (See, “DOT tweaks promotions tack to fill Chinese arrivals gap,” in the BusinessMirror, June 24, 2024.)
If the DOT and private tourism stakeholders still want to continue selling the Philippines to mainland Chinese, they ought to consider using Xiaohongshu (R e D note) to post photos and videos about the country. “Xiaohongshu tops the list of information channels for overseas travel destinations, with 57 percent of consumers choosing it, up from 52 percent in the spring. Chinese travelers show strong interest in practical content and UGC [user-generated content] tips, in addition to promotions, favorable travel policies, and itinerary recommendations.” Xianghongshu is often referred to as China’s Instagram. Chinese travelers also look at favorable policies and promotional offers, such as visafree policies and travel coupons for hotels, as the most attractive types of content (60 percent).
As of September 10, 2024, there were 245,762 arrivals from mainland China, accounting for 5.93 percent of the 4.14 million total arrivals for the period. Prepandemic, Chinese travelers in the Philippines reached 1.8 million, making it the second top market source for foreign tourists which reached 8.3 million in 2019.
Splurging on food and drink
A NOTH e R key takeaway from the Dragon Trail survey is that, around half of the respondents are allocating a budget of between RMB10,000 and RMB30,000 (US$1,426 and $4,300) for their next outbound trip, and will tap, for instance, hotel loyalty programs. They are willing to splurge though on food and drink (76 percent of respondents), and on fun and activities (66 percent).
The BSP data also showed 70.8 percent saying they would set aside less than 10 percent for their savings, up from 68 percent in the second quarter 2024.
In contrast, BSP said about 25.5 percent of the households availed of a loan in the last 12 months, slightly higher than the 24.6 percent recorded in the second quarter 2024.
Meanwhile, the data also showed consumers expect higher interest rates, a weaker peso, and a higher unemployment rate for all reference periods.
Filipino households anticipate that interest rates may increase and the peso may depreciate against the US dollar for the third and fourth quarter of 2024 as well as in the next 12 months.
The BSP also said households expect the unemployment rate during these periods.
The data also showed households expect inflation to increase at a faster rate for the rest of 2024 as the number of respondents who expected higher inflation increased compared with the Q2 2024 survey results.
Consumers expect the inflation rate to average at 5.9 percent for the next 12 months, which is above the National Government's inflation target range of 2 to 4 percent for 2024-2025.
Mainland Chinese travelers continue to book their trips and services online via Ctrip and Qunar (72 percent), followed by social media-platforms such as Xiaohongshu and WeChat (36 percent), and official channels of travel brands such as airlines and hotels (30 percent).
While they usually pay in cash (57 percent), Chinese travelers also use card payment services like Union Pay (55 percent) and Visa (41 percent), while mobile payments services such as Alipay (54 percent) is also popular choice. “Adopting Chinese mobile payment systems remains highly advisable for overseas destinations and businesses hoping to woo Chinese tourists,” said Dragon Trail.
“Any application filed where the applicant's biometrics data has not been captured as provided herein, shall be considered deemed
RP calls UN attention to situation at WPS
By Malou Talosig-Bartolome
THE Philippines has brought once again before the United Nations General Assembly the continuing harassment by China on Filipino fishermen and maritime forces at the West Philippine Sea.
“Despite irresponsible and dangerous actions against our legitimate activities within our own waters and Exclusive Economic Zone, the Philippines remains committed to diplomacy and other peaceful means to settle disputes,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said during the UNGA session in New York City. Manalo represented President
AFP: 4th MMCA with first timer New Zealand ends successfully
By Rex Anthony Naval
HE Armed Forces on Sat -
Turday night announced that the fourth multilateral maritime cooperative activity (MMCA) conducted with the air and naval units of Australian, Japan, first time participant New Zealand, and the United States have been successfully concluded at the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
“This latest iteration conducted within the vicinity of the WPS under the area of operations of the Northern Luzon Command, introduced enhanced exercises designed to improve interoperability among participating forces. Notably, New Zealand joined the activity for the first time, adding a new dimension to the collaborative efforts,” the Armed Forces public affairs office director, Col. Xerxes Trinidad, said.
MMCA activities included pre-sail briefings, communication exercises (Commex), crossdeck exercises, division tactics/ officer of the watch (Divtacs/ OOW) drills, photographic exercises (Photoex), replenishment at sea (RAS) approaches, maritime domain awareness (MDA) exercises, and contact reporting.
Trinidad said all these exercises are designed to “refine operational readiness and collaborative capabilities” of the participating units.
Participating naval and air assets for the fourth MMCA include the Philippine Navy’s
guided missile frigate BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151), patrol ship BRP Emilio Jacinto (PS35), a naval AW-109 helicopter along with Philippine Air Force search-and-rescue units.
The US Navy deployed the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Howard (DD-G83) and two helicopters; Australia sent the air warfare destroyer HMAS Sydney (DDG-48), a P-8 “Poseidon” reconnaisance aircraft, and one helicopter; Japan deployed the destroyer JS Sazanami (DD113); and New Zealand sent the auxiliary ship that serves as a replenishment vessel and oiler HMNZS Aotearoa (A-11).
Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr.m Armed Forces chief of staff, said the fourth MMCA highlights the commitment of the participating nations to freedom of navigation and overflight.
“This underscores our shared commitments to upholding the right to freedom of navigation and overflight, other lawful uses of the sea and international airspace, as well as respect for maritime rights under international law, as reflected in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos),” he added.
Also, the conduct of the MMCA shows the AFP’s dedication to strengthening partnerships and enhancing collective capabilities with like-minded nations to address emerging maritime security challenges, Brawner said.
Pols urged to cut
By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga
AWASTE and pollution watchdog renewed its call for environmental stewardship and sustainability in the electoral campaign as more than 500,000 aspirants are expected to file their certificates of candidacy for the 2025 midterm elections from October 1 to 8.
Ecowaste Coalition issued the call as it urged aspiring individuals and party-list groups to keep public health and the environment at the center of their campaign to win and to serve the people.
More than 18,000 national and local elective posts are up for grabs in the May 2025 elections, including party-list positions
Up for grabs in 2025 polls are 12 Senate seats, 254 district seats
Marcos during the 79th UNGA General Debate Saturday (Sunday Manila time).
Manalo did not mention China in his speech about the West Philippine Sea, but made reference to the 2016 Arbitral Award which invalidated the legality of China’s historic claims over the islands and waters.
“The 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the binding 2016 Arbitral Award on the South China Sea constitute the foundation of our policy on the South China Sea. The Award declares that claims exceeding entitlements beyond the limits of Unclos have no legal basis,” he said in his 15-minute speech.
Manalo’s speech fell short though of proposals by legislators for the DFA to file a resolution.
Last year, the Senate passed a resolution condemning China’s harassment of Filipino fishermen and incursion into Philippine exclusive economic zone and called for the DFA to initiate diplomatic negotiations and if appropriate, file a UN resolution calling out China’s aggression.
During the House deliberations last week, Nueva Ecija Rep. Joseph Gilbert Violago said the DFA is “studying the possibility” of filing a UN resolution before the UNGA.
SCS not a proxy China-US war
MANALO reiterated his earlier
PMA class lauds House
denial that the South China Sea dispute is a proxy war of superpower rivals—the United States and China.
“We do not accept narratives depicting the South China Sea as a theater of major power rivalry because they all ignore what is an essential truth: All states in this region have a right to determine their own destiny and secure their own future,” he said.
The Philippines and the US are defense treaty allies. The US and its other allies—Australia, Canada, Japan and South Korea—have been supporting the Philippines’ assertion over its maritime rights in the West Philippine Sea.
QuadCom for
‘solving’
MEMBERS of the Philippine Military Academy’s (PMA) “Matikas” Class of 1983 lauded the House of Representatives’s Quad Committee (QuadCom) for its legislative inquiry, which led to the identification of the alleged masterminds and perpetrators behind the killing of their “Mistah” or classmate, Wesley Barayuga, on July 30, 2020, in Mandaluyong City.
Retired Air Force Col. Enrique J. dela Cruz, PMA Class 1983 president, said QuadCom’s “persistent efforts and incisive line of questioning have given light and hope for the successful resolution of Barayuga’s tragic assassination four years ago.”
In a statement, the PMA class said: “Such service and commitment to deliver justice and righteous acts as you do today give us confidence that our nation is indeed represented by wise, courageous, and honorable men. It may not bring our dear Wesley back, but it is reassuring that there are people in [the] government who are doing their best to bring the perpetrators to justice,” dela Cruz said.
“[And] in behalf of the family of our dear Mistah, we also convey our profound gratitude for the identification of the assailants,” he added.
Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, overall head of the QuadCom and chairman of the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs, thanked members of PMA Class of 1983 for placing their trust in the committee.
back
in the House of Representatives, 63 party-list House seats, 82 governorships, 82 vice governorships, 800 provincial council positions, 149 city mayorships, 149 city vice mayorships, 1,682 seats in city councils, 1,493 municipal mayorships, 1,493 municipal vice mayorships, 11,948 seats in municipal councils, and 25 seats in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliament members and 40 seats for BARMM partylist groups.
The Commission on Elections announced on September 26 that senatorial and party-list candidates should file their certificates of candidacy at the Law Department Offsite Office at the Tent City of Manila Hotel. Members of the House of Representatives for legislative districts in the National Capital Region (NCR)
should file their COCs at the Office of the Regional Election Director (ORED)-NCR Office.
COCs of candidates in legislative districts in the provinces should be filed at the Office of the Provincial Election Supervisor (Opes) or the Office of the Election Officer (OEO) designated by the Regional Election Director.
After the polls on May 12, 2025, candidates should lead the ecological clean-up of the campaign mess without being told, the group emphasized. “Win or lose, please take down all campaign materials for safe recycling or disposal.”
“We appeal to all participating individuals, political parties and party-list groups and their supporters to show they truly care for Mother Earth and her people by giving environmental protection due importance in thoughts,
classmate’s killing
“First of all, I thank the PMA Class 1983 members for their trust and confidence in the QuadCom leaders and members. On behalf of Quadcom, I would like to assure you that we would dig to the bottom of Wesley’s case and ensure that all the people who conspired in his murder are punished under all our applicable laws,” the lawmaker from Mindanao said.
During the Seventh QuadCom hearing held last Friday, Police Lt. Col Santie Fuentes Mendoza of the National Police’s Drug Enforcement Group Special Operations Unit, and his civilian informant, Nelson Mariano, testified that former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office General Manager Royina Garma and Commissioner Edilberto Leonardo of the National Police Commission planned and financed Barayuga’s assassination.
Barayuga, a retired police general and lawyer, was serving as the PCSO Board Secretary at the time of his killing. He was shot four times by one of two gunmen on motorcycles while in traffic at the corner of Calbayog and Malinaw Streets, barangay Highway Hills, Mandaluyong City, at around 4:00 p.m. on July 30, 2020. His driver, who sustained a gunshot wound in the stomach, survived the attack.
Under rigorous questioning, Mendoza revealed how the assassination was organized, with promises of reward money and career advancement. Mariano corroborated Mendoza’s testimony, stating that a reward of P300,000,
words, and deeds,” said Aileen Lucero, national coordinator, EcoWaste Coalition.
“We ask them to incorporate pressing environmental issues and concerns into their platforms and plans, conserve resources, and avoid wastage as they reach out and woo the electorate,” she added. “Please green your campaign.”
The group, an advocate for a zero waste and toxics-free society, dared candidates not to be a “garpol,” a blended word for “garbage” and “politician,” and to be true servant leaders for the people and Mother Earth.
EcoWaste Coalition said a “garpol is a politician who pays lip service to environmental protection, squanders resources, and does not mind if he or she generates trash and pollution as long as he or she wins and wields power.”
supposedly from the PCSO, was offered for the hit. The amount was divided as follows: P40,000 for Mendoza, P60,000 for Mariano, and P200,000 for the two gunmen, one of whom was identified only as “Loloy.”
Barayuga had been appointed PCSO Board Secretary on January 24, 2018, serving alongside fellow PMA Class of 1983 member, Retired Police General Anselmo Pinili, who was then the PCSO Chairman of the Board. Both served under Major General Alexander Balutan, their PMA classmate, who was PCSO General Manager at the time.
Balutan was removed from his position by President Rodrigo Duterte on March 8, 2019, and was replaced by Garma on July 15, 2019. At the time of Barayuga’s murder, retired Armed Forces Gen. Eduardo Año, another PMA Class of 1983 member, was the Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, adding pressure on him to resolve his classmate’s death.
On October 7, 2020, PMA “Matikas” Class of 1983 members placed a P1 million bounty for information leading to the arrest of those involved in Barayuga’s murder.
The Quad Committee was created to unify the efforts of four House panels—Dangerous Drugs, Human Rights, Public Order and Safety, and Public Accounts—as they investigate overlapping issues related to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), extrajudicial killings (EJKs), and illegal drugs. Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz
on waste during campaign
During the filing of COCs, the group urged candidates to file their certificates without fanfare and with no pollution and traffic-causing motorcades and parades.
“Observe the rules set by the Commission on Elections, and please keep the COC filing simple and all filing venues litter-free.”
During the designated campaign period, candidates should use resources judiciously, reduce plastic use, avoid materials with hazardous chemicals, and shun environmentally harmful practices such as nailing posters on trees, and leaving meeting sites dirty for government personnel to clean up, the group said.
“Amid the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, waste, and pollution, please say no to dirty and wasteful campaigning.”
“We are firmly against the meddling of countries outside the region and will firmly resist attempts by any force to stoke trouble and confrontation in the region,” said Wang, who is also Special Representative of President Xi Jinping and Member of the Political Bureau of the CCP Central Committee Wang said countries in Asia “have the wisdom and the capacity” to stabilize the situations through regional cooperation and handle disputes through dialogue.
To which Manalo also agreed.
Without directly mentioning the US and the South China Sea issue, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi also reiterated their position against US interference in the region.
Go joins 75th Founding Anniversary of Isabela town
SEN. Christopher Go joined the vibrant celebration of Luna, Isabela’s 75th Founding Anniversary and the Bato Art Festival on Saturday, September 28, at the Luna Municipal Colisuem.
Addressing the crowd at the Street Dance Parade, Go expressed deep gratitude to the people of Isabela for their continued trust and support, while reaffirming his commitment to serve them to the best of his ability.
In his speech, Go acknowledged the support of local officials, including Congressman Faustino Michael Dy, Governor Rodito Albano, Vice Governor Bojie Dy, Luna Mayor Adrian Leandro Tio, and Vice Mayor Lelamen Soingco, as well as Mallig Mayor JP Calderon, and Echaugue Mayor Kiko Dy and Board Member Jessica Dy. He expressed his admiration for their hard work and leadership, highlighting the success of the festivities in the municipality. Go also underscored the importance of prioritizing youth development, given his role as chairman of the Senate Committee on Youth. He encouraged the younger generation to pursue education and strive for excellence, reminding them of their vital role in shaping the nation’s future. The senator, together with his Malasakit Team, then distributed shirts, basketballs, and volleyballs to residents present. To help boost economic recovery and improve public service delivery in the province, Go, who is also the vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, has supported various projects and initiatives in the area. These include the construction of new barracks at Camp Melchor F. dela Cruz in Echague; concreting of the local roads in barangays Dangan and Santor and a bridge in Reina Mercedes; and concreting of the Gud-Villaflor portion of the access road in San Isidro. The senator also helped advocate for the funding for concreting, upgrading, and rehabilitation of various roads throughout the province; construction of multipurpose buildings in Cauayan, Naguilian, Quezon, San Pablo and Ilagan City; construction of bridges in Benito Soliven, Jones, Mallig, Ramon, San Guillermo, San Mariano and Ilagan City; construction of a river wall and street lights in Aurora; and installation of solar street lights in San Manuel.
Tesda to expand enterprise-based training
TBy Andrea San Juan @andreasanjuan
HE Technological Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) said it aims to expand enterprise-based training (EBT) to around 20 percent to 40 percent in the next two to three years to address the issue on job-skill mismatches.
At the Advanced Manufacturing Workforce Development’s (AMDev) Second Annual Stakeholder Forum last week, Tesda Di -
rector General Francisco Benitez said the National Training and Technical Education Skills Development Plan intended to expand
enterprise-based training from 4 percent to 20 percent this year.
“Because we are at 8.7 percent... so uulitin po namin ulit... that we would like to expand enterprisebased training to become eventually at least 20 percent if not up to 40 percent in the next two to three years,” Benitez said.
The Policy Brief of the Senate Economic Planning Office (Sepo) published in August 2024 said that despite the emphasis on EBT, it only accounted for 8.7 percent or 110,237 of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) enrollees as EBTs “did not entice enough industry players to participate.”
With this, Benitez said, “We hope to see more businesses offer
EBT as we anticipate the signing of the new EBT Law as it has just been ratified by both houses of Congress.”
The Sepo policy brief cited reasons behind the lack of participation among industry players in enterprise-based training. These include: issues on the provisions of the law such as the difficulty in availing of tax exemptions and duration of training.
Another challenge cited is the “economic decline,” which it noted is affecting numerous industries, including those participating in the program.
As to the lack of attractive incentives, the Senate policy brief said existing incentive programs
Congressman calls on Senate to pass House-OKed bill on seniors’ pension
IBy Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie
N observance of Elderly Filipino Week, the senior congressmen from Camarines Sur on Sunday called on the Senate to pass the House-approved measure that provides a universal monthly pension for all Filipino seniors aged 60 and above.
Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte in a statement stressed the importance of the bill in offering financial support to over 12 million elderly Filipinos, not just the indigent, under a new social safety net program.
In the measure—House Bill 10423—already approved by the House of Representatives, a universal social pension program shall be established to grant an allowance
of P500 each every month to all elderly Filipinos, and that will be increased to at least P1,000 monthly within five years after this project’s full implementation.
Elderly Filipino Week is celebrated annually during the first week of October, as mandated by Proclamation 470 issued by then-President Fidel V. Ramos in September 1994, in recognition of the contributions of Filipino seniors to national development.
“I am appealing to our senators to pass this proposed universal monthly pension, equivalent to an initial P500 and then bumped up to at least P1,000 per beneficiary within five years after this program’s full implementation, as such financial aid will help all elderly Filipinos, and not just
our indigent senior citizens, cope with the ever-rising cost of essential food items, utilities, and medicines,” said Villafuerte, a co-author of HB 10423.
Approved on third and final reading by a 232-0 vote, HB 10423 was one of the measures passed by the House of Representatives during the second regular session of the 19th Congress.
The House-approved bill provides that the monthly allowance for all senior citizens shall be on top of any other pension benefits that the elderly have been getting or about to receive from other pension providers, such as the Social Security System (SSS), Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), and Pension and Gratuity Management Center (PGMC).
Under this proposal, Villafuerte said the management of the universal pension program shall be transferred from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) within three years. It mandates the DSWD, he said, to consult the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and other stakeholders in reviewing and, if so needed, adjusting the pension amount every two years, taking into consideration the diverse needs of the elderly and pertinent economic indicators, as tracked and published by the appropriate government agencies.
There are over 12 million senior citizens, a third or four million of whom are indigents, according to the DSWD.
DOJ: PWDs have express lane priority for all transactions
Tmight not be “sufficiently attractive or well-structured” to motivate companies to invest in EBT.
“EBT encompasses various programs, with Learnership programs, Dual Training System, and Apprenticeships being the main modalities,” the Senate policy brief explained.
With this, Benitez underscored the need for the private sector to forge “strong” partnerships to expand enterprise-based training to align trainee programs with market and industry needs.
According to a statement issued by the Makati Business Club (MBC), the Tesda chief also made a call to translate industry requirements to more competency
standards to make Tesda develop “demand-driven” TVET and most importantly, “industry-driven” TVET. “We do need to make sure that we maximize our workforce’s fourth industrial revolution transition to higher skills and higher value work in target growth sectors. For all of these actions, Tesda cannot do it alone,” said Benitez.
“We are thankful to USAid [US Agency for International Development] for supporting policies and programs like AMDev that aim to recalibrate and strengthen our TVET ecosystem to produce graduates who are competitive and agile, ready to take on new jobs in our changing economy,” he added.
Escudero confident of Senate’s budget timeline
By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM
SENATE President Francis Escudero is confident that the Senate can stick to its timeline on the approval of the General Appropriations bill that will be sponsored in the chamber’s plenary within the first week of the resumption of session on November 4, or at the start of the second week of November “at the latest.”
In an interview with dWIZ’s “Usapang Senado” host Cely Ortega Bueno, Escudero said at the weekend senators “usually devote two weeks to discuss the budget bill.”
on account of what lawmakers deemed redundant and overlapping programs, prompting them to move to move the cut funds to the agencies that have primary mandates for these, like the Department of Social Welfare and Developmenbt (DSWD).
Vice President Sara Duterte had earlier refused to defend the OVP budget, leaving its fate in the hands of the lower chamber, as she crossed swords with congressmen who want to investigate her handling of previous budgets.
By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573
HE Department of Justice
(DOJ) has ruled that the provision of express lanes for persons with disabilities under the Republic Act 10754 or An Act Expanding the Benefits and Privileges of PWDs covers all establishments and all kinds of transactions.
In a seven-page legal opinion signed by Undersecretary Raul Vasquez, the department pointed out that Section 10 of the implementing rules RA 10754 clearly mandates that the express lanes or priority shall be provided in all commercial and government establishments.
The DOJ further said that in the absence of express lanes, priority shall be given to PWDs in all the transactions of the establishments.
“It likewise bears stressing that the legislature used the word ‘all’ without any exception or qualification. The word ‘all’ connotes ‘comprehensiveness’ and means ‘the whole collectively considered the complete totality’. The use of the word ‘all’ implies that the law does not intend to distinguish between the establishments or trans -
actions involving items that are accessible to everyone and items which are of limited quantity,” the DOJ pointed out.
The justice department issued the legal opinion in response to the letter-query of National Council of Disability Affairs (NCDA) Executive Director Glenda Relova in connection with the implementation of express lanes or priority for PWDs pursuant to Section 10 of RA 10754, amending Section 32 of RA 7277 or the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons.
Section 32 of RA 7277 mandates the “provision of express lanes for PWDs in all commercial and government establishments, in the absence thereof, priority shall be given to them.”
On the other hand, Section 10 of RA 10754 states: “Express lanes for persons with disability shall be provided in all commercial and government establishments. In the absence thereof, priority shall be given to them in all the transactions of the establishments.”
The NCDA’s request for DOJ’s legal opinion on the implementation of express lanes for PWDs stemmed from the letter of a certain Jan Danica Modequillo to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) which
was then endorsed by the latter to the NCDA.
In her letter Modequillo complained about the alleged nonimplementation of express lanes during the tickets selling for a K-Pop concert by Servicion, SM’s Business Service Center in SM San Lazaro, Manila.
Relova said the NCDA raised the concern of Modequillo with SM Supermalls on March 12, 2024.
On March 18, 2024, SM Supermalls through their counsel responded to the NCDA noting that Modequillo’s concern pertains to the general ticket selling being conducted nationwide for a K-Pop concert.
Despite the option to buy a ticket through online platforms or different authorized outlets of Ticketnet, the establishment said Modequillo opted to purchase the ticket at the physical Ticketnet outlet to be able to avail of the express lane for PWDs for a better chance of securing the limited tickets.
However, the SM Supermalls implemented the “first come, first served policy” for all ticket buyers, including PWDs.
It argued that the express lanepriority lane is granted as a privilege and not as a right and may not
be exercised at the expense of the rights of other individuals in line with the equal protection clause under the Constitution.
This prompted the NCDA to elevate the matter before the DOJ for guidance.
In particular, the NCDA sought the DOJ’s legal position on whether an express lane or priority applies only for necessities and not for leisure; and whether commercial establishments may opt not to implement the express lane or priority for PWDs and adopt the “first come, first served” policy for transactions involving items of limited quantity.
In response, the DOJ pointed out that the Secretary of Justice renders opinion and gives legal advice only for and upon request of national government functionaries, such as heads of departments and chiefs of bureaus and offices.
It added that the DOJ has consistently declined to issue an opinion or give legal advice to other government officials and to private individuals or entities.
However, the DOJ pointed to Section 10 of the IRR of RA 10754 to guide the NCDA on the issues it raised.
Study: Smoke-free alternatives better options than cigarettes
SBy Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga
WITCHING from traditional cigarettes to smoke-free alternatives like heated tobacco products (HTPs) and electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) could be better alternatives to smoking, a scientific study suggests. A Philippine-based nongovernment organization supports the findings which were presented at the Seventh Summit on Tobacco Harm Reduction: Novel Products, Research & Policy. Smoking is banned in public places in the Philippines, as secondhand smoke pollutes
the air and is more harmful to non-smokers than smokers themselves but law enforcement against smoking in public remains a challenge.
The study was conducted by a team led by Dr. Kallirrhoe Kourea, a cardiologist at Atikon Hospital in Greece, who found out that switching to HTPs or e-cigarettes may help prevent plaque buildup in the arteries. Kourea explained that the study focused on the impact of both traditional cigarettes and alternative smoking products on the endothelial glycocalyx, a protective layer of cells lining the blood vessels. This layer plays a crucial role in maintaining cardiovascular health.
In a statement, Dr. Lorenzo Mata Jr., president of Quit For Good, a nonprofit organization in the Philippines that promotes harm reduction, discussed the broader implications of the study’s findings.
He said the primary health risks linked to smoking come from the harmful substances created when tobacco is burned, not from nicotine itself.
“Smoke-free products like HTPs provide a less harmful option for those who cannot quit tobacco entirely,” said Mata. He suggested that individuals looking to reduce the negative health effects of smoking might benefit from switching to these alternatives.
Heated tobacco products (HTPs), unlike
traditional cigarettes, heat tobacco rather than burn it. This heating process prevents the production of smoke and ash, which contain thousands of harmful chemicals released during combustion. A well-known HTP brand in the Philippines is IQOS, which has been available since 2020.
The study conducted in Greece involved 150 participants, including 50 current smokers who were randomized to use either HTPs or e-cigarettes, along with a control group of 50 traditional smokers.
Researchers monitored the condition of the endothelial glycocalyx, using a device that measured capillary diameters and blood vessel function.
Senators have been discussing individual agency budgets in the Committee on Finance subcommittees in order to thresh out any crucial questions they have about how these agencies have been using their budget in the past and how well the budgets have aligned with their supposed mandates.
Sen. Grace Poe, who chairs the Committee on Finance had indicated that budget hearings for the agencies will be done by October 18, paving the way for the money measure’s sponsorship in plenary when sessions resume.
Asked if he had key amendments he sought to introduce in the budget, Escudero said he had a few, but had already submitted these to the subcommittees concerned.
Escudero declined to say if he thought the budget of the Office of the Vice President would become a point of disagreement between the Senate and House panels once the 2025 budget bill reaches the bicameral conference committee.
Before adjourning last week, the House of Representatives had approved the 2025 budget of P6.35 trillion, but slashed by more than half the OVP budget to some P700 million, mainly
The results revealed that continued smoking of traditional cigarettes led to further damage to the endothelial glycocalyx, but those who switched to e-cigarettes showed no significant change in the glycocalyx.
Individuals who switched to heated tobacco products experienced modest improvements in their blood vessel health.
“Although previous research has shown that HTPs and e-cigarettes contain fewer harmful chemicals than traditional cigarettes, the long-term effects on blood vessel health are still uncertain,” said Kourea. She highlighted the need for further studies to fully understand the benefits of these alternatives.
Escudero said that as of now, he cannot say if the OVP budget will be a point of contention between House and Senate, amid reports some senators are inclined to restore a portion of the huge funds slashed from the OVP.
“I still do not know what version the committee of Senator Grace [Poe] will release, and I don’t know the version that will be approved in plenary at the Senate. In truth, the OVP budget is so small vis-à-vis those of other agencies or the entire national budget, as to be the focus of so much time for debates, discussions, like now.”
He does not think the OVP budget will occupy as much attention or special attention in the Senate process.
“Whatever the committee recommends, whatever the plenary debates on, whatever proposed amendment will not be accepted by the sponsor, all of that will be voted on in plenary. Any gossip or scuttlebutt in the corridor will have no effect on the final version of the budget—whether it’s the OVP’s or another agency,” the Senate chief said, speaking mostly in Filipino.
Sentiments alone, or “gossip” alone, will have no impact on any budget, as all proposals must be endorsed so that the sponsoring chairman can decide to accept or reject it, he added.
“These findings suggest that alternative smoking products like HTPs and e-cigarettes could offer cardiovascular benefits for smokers,” said Ikonomidis, a cardiology professor. He said that while more research is necessary, the results so far are encouraging for smokers who want to quit but struggle with nicotine addiction.
Ikonomidis also pointed to early findings from a larger multicenter study across 37 European countries, which showed positive effects on lung function and arterial elasticity among users of HTPs and e-cigarettes. These results align with data from the Cochrane database, which found no negative cardiac events among HTP users over two years.
The findings were discussed during a session titled “The Case of Nicotine Use in Greece – Behavioral and Clinical Data,” chaired by Dr. Angelos Hatzakis and Dr. Ignatios Ikonomidis at the summit organized by SCOHRE, a group that supports harm reduction as a way to improve public health.
DMW’s tough mission: Get OFWs to leave Lebanon
AMID the escalating tensions in Lebanon, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is coordinating with employers for the repatriation of the over 11,000 remaining overseas Filipino workers (OFW), mostly domestic workers, in the Middle East country.
In a recent interview with reporters, DMW Secretary Hans J. Cacdac said many OFWs are choosing to stay after being persuaded by their employers, as they fear losing their livelihood.
He said they deployed their labor attaché to lead a team in the Lebanese capital of Beirut to help encourage more OFWs to come home.
“The teams are working with the employers to convince them to allow our workers to come home,” the DMW chief said.
“We have about 11,000 OFWs in Lebanon. Most of them live in Beirut,” he added.
Since Israel started attacking Hezbollah forces in Lebanon last month, DMW said the government was able to repatriate 230 OFWs.
Last Friday, Cacdac said they expect 50 more OFWs from Lebanon to be repatriated in
the coming days.
The ongoing conflict in Lebanon has prompted the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to hoist an Alert Level 3 or the Voluntary Repatriation phase in the country. DFA is considering raising the alert level to 4 or the Mandatory Repatriation phase.
DMW urged the remaining OFWs in Lebanon to come home, while flights in Beirut remain available.
Cacdac assured the returnees of aid, including a P150,000 financial assistance.
DMW said those interested to avail themselves of the repatriation may do so through its help desk in Lebanon at the following contact details: Phone number: (02) 8522-3663; (02) 8293-9155 / (02) 8722-1144; (02) 8722-1155; Mobile Number: +63 919-067-3975; Whatsapp/Viber/Phone: +63 920517-1059; +63 927-147-8186; +63 908-326-8344; Email address: orcc@dmw.gov.ph.
They may also contact the Migrant Workers Office-Lebanon at +961 79110729 and the Philippine Embassy in Beirut at +961 70858086. Samuel P. Medenilla
Peza clears ₧115.9-B investments in Jan-Sept, up 4.21% from 2023
By Andrea E. San Juan @andreasanjuan
THE Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza) has approved 179 new and expansion projects worth P115.89 billion in investments from January to September 2024, up 4.21-percent compared to the pledges recorded in the 9-month period last year.
In a statement on Sunday, the investment promotion agency said these projects are projected to generate $2.513 billion in exports and create 35,871 direct jobs.
The P115.89 billion in investments spells a 4.21-percent increase over the P111.21-billion investment pledges in January-September 2023 period.
Such investments are “strengthening” the outlook for hitting a P200-billion investment target for the year, Peza said.
In September 2024 alone, Peza approved 16 new and expansion projects expected to bring in approximately P54.19 billion in investments, seen to generate $541.04 million in exports and provide 4,044 new jobs for Filipinos.
PEZA noted that the investment projects approved in the past month alone “stand out” as the set of largest investment approvals this year.
“From the 16 approved new and expansion projects, there is a staggering 285 percent increase in investments amounting to P54.19 billion compared to P14.04 billion last September 2023,” said Peza.
The 16 newly approved and expansion projects for September 2024 consist of 8 export manufacturing, five under IT and Business Process Management (IT-BPM) sector, one in facilities development, one dedicated to ecozone
PHL calls for UNSC reforms, seeks nonpermanent seat
By Malou Talosig-Bartolome & Troi Santos in New York
THE Philippines has called for reforms in the United Nations as it openly campaigned for a nonpermanent seat of the powerful UN Security Council for 2027-2028.
In his speech before the UN General Assembly in New York, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said the UN “must rise to the occasion” as the world is now changing “more rapidly than ever before.”
One way, he suggested, is to reform the UNSC and the UNGA.
“Security Council reform should be a package consisting of the enlargement of its membership and improvement of its working methods, in order to create greater transparency and accountability of the Council to the general membership of the UN,” Manalo said Saturday (Sunday Philippine time).
Before ending his speech, Manalo pitched for the UN mem -
logistics services and one in ecozone development.
Calabarzon remains the “leading” region for these initiatives, hosting 11 projects across Laguna and Batangas. Region VII followed Calabarzon, with two projects in Cebu, while NCR added two more in Makati and Taguig, and Central Luzon with one project in Pampanga, PEZA noted.
In the January to September 2024 period, Peza unveiled the list of 179 new and expansion projects. Manufacturing led the number of projects in the 9-month period this year with 88 investment projects, followed by IT-BPM, with 45; Ecozone Development, 21 projects; Facilities, 11 projects; Logistics, 8 projects and Domestic, 5 projects. Peza’s September board meeting also saw the approval of a P50-billion project, Peza’s first big-ticket investment under the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., which may be eligible for an incentive package for “highly desirable projects” under the CREATE Law.
On top of this, the investment promotion agency said “a significant new ecozone development project was approved, led by a fully Filipino-owned developer with a total investment of P988.29 million.”
PEZA said this project is “strategically designed” to enhance the operations and growth of locator companies in Lima, Batangas. For his part, PEZA Director General Tereso O. Panga said given the “stable” outlook for the remaining months of the year, he said, “As such, and with the country being touted as the next tiger economy in the region—we in Peza remain positive that our target forecast will be achieved for 2024.”
bers to vote for the Philippines to become a non-permanent member for the term 2027-28.
The Philippines was elected non-permanent member of UNSC in 2004-05.
PHL proposal for UNSC reforms SINCE it was formed, the UNSC has been composed of 15 members. Five of the UNSC member-states are called permanent members (P5)—the United States, France, United Kingdom, China and Russia. Each P5 member can veto any resolution or decision of the UN.
The Philippine Mission in New York has been calling for the “expanded and more representation” in the UNSC.
Philippine Representative to
the UN Ambassador Antonio Lagdameo supported calls to increase in non-permanent members that would include underrepresented regions.
He also noted that P5’s veto powers “hinders the Council’s ability to act swiftly on critical issues.”
Among the most recent uses of a veto were exercised by Russia on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and US’ veto of the UNSC resolution against Israel’s occupation of Gaza Strip.
Lagdameo then proposed for “curtailing” the right of UNSC P5 members, as removing the veto privilege may be a “challenge.”
“The veto should not paralyze the Security Council in dealing with issues concerning peace and war,” Lagdameo said last year during the UNGA debate.
In 2022, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. also batted for an “empowered General Assembly that can hold the Council to account.”
The pitch AT the sidelines of the UNGA, Manalo had a chance to meet 35 foreign ministers from different countries where he campaigned for the Philippines to sit in the UNSC again.
The UNSC elections will be held during the 81st United Nations General Assembly in 2026. The Philippines will vie against Kyrgyzstan in the Asia-Pacific grouping.
“I think it was a fairly successful trip because nandito mga counterparts ko [my counterparts were here] and I was able to deliver in clearer terms the position of the Philippines in key issues such as climate change, development, South China Sea, and also the need for more cooperation to achieve sustainable development goals,” Manalo said in an interview with BusinessMirror’s New York correspondent Troi Santos.
In his speech, Manalo reminded the UNGA members that the Philippines is the first Asian Republic and founding member of the UN.
“The Philippines is a trusted partner, innovative pathfinder and committed peacemaker. We bring experience, depth and steadfastness in working with the international community to address common global challenges.
“We thus count on your support for our bid for a non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council for the term 2027 to 2028,” he said.
Bond may spur suit vs seafarers’ Magna Carta
By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla
THE newly signed Republic Act (RA) No. 12021 or the Magna Carta for Seafarers, which is expected to boost demand for Filipino seafarers abroad, is now facing possible legal challenge from a labor group.
In a statement on Sunday, Federation of Free Workers (FFW) President Sonny Matula said they are studying the filing of a petition before the Supreme Court to question the constitutionality of Section 59 of the said legislation.
Section 59 requires seafarers to post a bond for their claims which are still pending for judicial review before the Court of Appeals or Supreme Court.
The bond will only be reimbursed by the losing party if the seafarer wins in the case, and will be forfeited if the seafarer loses.
“This provision is social justice in reverse. The requirement of posting a bond shifts the burden to the shoulders of a seafarer or his family even after winning his case instead of the employers posting the bond since they are the ones who appeal or petition before the CA or SC,” Matula said.
“We humbly hold that Article 59 is a problematic provision due to its discriminatory framework, as evident in both its letters and spirit. It violates the equal protection clause of the 1987 Constitution,” he added.
He said such a bond requirement does not apply to non-seafarers and also contradicts immediate executory nature of voluntary arbitration decisions and the National Labor Relations Commission.
Necessary remedy
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed into law RA 12021 last week to boost the protection as well as enhance the skills and competency of Filipino seafarers.
Philippine-Japan Manning Consultative Council Inc. President Emmanuel L. Regio lauded its passage, saying it finally addressed the concerns raised by foreign shipowners on “excessive” claims, which they attributed to the prevalence of “ambulance chasing” in the country.
RA No. 10706 or the Seafarers Protection Act defines ambulance chasing as the act of soliciting, personally or through an agent from seafarers, or their heirs, the pursuit of any claim against their employers for the purpose of recovery of monetary claim.
Prior to RA 12021, Regio noted many shipowners balked at the “excessive” awards by local courts to seafarers with claims, since they are unable to recover it even if they win their appeals against it.
This has led shipowners, mostly from Europe, to reconsider hiring Filipino sailors due to risks related to excessive claims.
“The problem is the rewards are
immediately executory. So even if the Supreme Court reversed the award, they can no longer recover it,» Regio explained to BusinessMirror in an interview on the sidelines of the National Maritime Week celebration held by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) in Pasay City Friday.
On the labor groups’ concern over the delayed release of claims, Regio explained the bond for seafarers with pending claims will only cover “contested amounts.”
“The regular amount that is due for the recipient will be paid immediately. It’s only the contested amount, which is very high,” he said.
IRR clarification
THIS was echoed by DMW Secretary Hans J. Cacdac, who noted the said concern on the delayed release of the claims was raised during the bicameral session conference for RA 12021.
“If the amount is not disputed, the seafarer can claim it regardless. But of course, we also have to consider the side which has not been restituted over the years, the shipowner’s side. So, we need to ensure that the shipowner will get restitution if they win,” he said.
“The final and perhaps the most important safeguard is it will be at no cost to the seafarer. He can claim the full amount of what he is asking for even pending the appeal,” he added.
Japan’s SBI invests in Aboitiz fintech unit UBX
TOKYO-BASED conglomerate SBI Holdings Inc. has made a strategic investment in UBX, the fintech and digital transformation arm of the Aboitiz Group.
In a statement, UBX said the Japanese conglomerate took in a “minority stake” in the Filipino fintech, “allowing both parties to collaborate in developing more impactful digital transformation solutions tailored for the needs of
enterprises.”
According to UBX President and CEO John Januszczak, the Aboitiz-led digital company plans to use this investment to further expand its reach and develop advanced financial solutions serving the evolving needs of local businesses and consumers.
“The investment of SBI Holdings in UBX will allow us to combine our local expertise and digital transformation capabilities with
SBI’s vast experience in digital finance to develop more impactful and scalable solutions for the Philippine market,” he said.
SBI Holdings President Yoshitaka Kitao said the Japanese company invested in UBX, as it sees “immense potential” in the Philippines.
“We see immense potential in the Philippine market, one of the fastest-growing economies in the region. Our investment in
The DMW chief said they will clarify the matter in the Implementing Rules and Regulation (IRR) of RA 12021, which they will release by December and present to the President and members of Congress.
Increased demand WITH the passage of RA 12021, Regio said foreign shipowners are now expected to increase their hiring of Filipino seafarers.
“I think one of the reasons why they are happy is because they feel that this industry is not being overlooked by the government,” Regio said.
“I think this will lead to the growth of the industry,” he added. Cacdac gave a similar projection since the RA 12021 will further improve the quality of Filipino seafarers.
“And with the Magna Carta, with better protection, with stronger synergy between the social partners who crafted or helped craft or develop the piece of legislation signed by the President, approved by Congress, then the outlook is even a lot more positive,” the DMW chief said in an interview.
Data from DMW showed the number of Filipino seafarers deployed in 2023 reached 578.626, exceeding the prepandemic level of over 500,000. Preliminary DMW data showed over 429,000 were deployed during the first quarter of this year.
UBX reflects our belief and confidence in UnionBank’s innovative approach to digital transformation,” he said.
UBX Global Chief Technology Officer Mario Domingo said the investment opens the door for both companies to leverage their combined expertise to drive innovation and the country’s broader goal of driving financial inclusion.
“The SBI partnership will drive new and exciting financial technology innovation for inclusivity and nation building,” Domingo said. Lorenz S. Marasigan
Editor: Angel R. Calso
Hezbollah leader killed in Israeli airstrike, sending shockwaves through Lebanon and the Middle East
By Bassem Mroue & Melanie Lidman | The Associated Press
BEIRUT—Lebanon’s Hezbollah group confirmed on Saturday that its leader and one of its founding members, Hassan Nasrallah, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in a southern suburb of Beirut.
The killing of the powerful militant group’s longtime leader sent s hockwaves throughout Lebanon and the Middle East, where he has been a dominant political and military figure for more than three decades.
Nasrallah, linked by Israel to numerous deadly attacks on Israeli and J ewish targets, has been on Israel’s kill list for decades. His assassination is by far the biggest and most consequential of Israel’s targeted killings i n years, and significantly escalates the war in the Middle East. Hezbollah is backed by Iran, Israel’s chief re gional rival.
The Israeli military said it carried out a precise airstrike on Friday while Hezbollah leaders were meeting at their headquarters in Dahiyeh, south of Beirut.
Immediately after the confirmation from Hezbollah, people started f iring in the air in Beirut and across Lebanon to mourn Nasrallah’s death.
“Wish it was our kids, not you, Sayyid!” said one woman, using an honorific title for Nasrallah, as she clutched her baby in the western city of Baabda.
“We don’t believe he is killed,” a woman draped in black tearfully told al-Manar TV in Bekaa, western Lebanon. “We don’t. We left our homes a nd came here for him and for the resistance.”
In his first public remarks since the killing, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel’s targeting of Nasrallah was “an essential condition to achieving the goals we set.”
“He wasn’t another terrorist. He was the terrorist,” Netanyahu said.
Netanyahu said Nasrallah’s killing
would help bring displaced Israelis back to their homes in the north and would pressure Hamas to free Israeli hostages held in Gaza. But with the threat of retaliation high, he warned the coming days would bring “significant challenges” and warned Iran a gainst trying to strike.
“There is no place in Iran or in the Middle East that Israel’s long arm cannot reach. And today you know how much that is true,” he said.
The Lebanese Health Ministry said six people were killed and 91 injured in the strikes Friday that leveled six apartment buildings. Ali Karki, the commander of Hezbollah’s Southern Front, and other commanders were also killed, the Israeli military said.
A statement from Hezbollah said Nasrallah—who led the group for more than three decades—“has joined his fellow martyrs.” The group vowed to “continue the holy war against the enemy and in support of Palestine.”
Cross-border aggression
H E z B oL LAH started firing rockets on Israel in support of Gaza on o c t. 8, a day after Hamas militants launched an unprecedented attack on Israel, killing some 1,200 people and abducting another 250. Since then, the two s ides have been engaged in escalating cross-border strikes.
Israel has vowed to step up pressure on Hezbollah until it halts its attacks that have displaced tens of thousands of Israelis from communities near the Lebanese border. The recent fighting has also displaced more than 200,000 Lebanese in the past week, according to the United Nations.
Earlier this month, thousands
of explosives hidden in pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah detonated, killing dozens of people and maiming thousands, including many civilians. Israel is widely believed to be behind the attack. Israel h as killed several other top Hezbollah commanders in Beirut, especially in the past two weeks, in addition to the attack that killed Nasrallah.
In Beirut’s southern suburbs, smoke rose and the streets were empty Saturday after the area was pummeled overnight by heavy Israeli airstrikes. Shelters were overflowing with displaced people. Many families slept in public squares, on beaches or in their cars. o n t he roads leading to the mountains above the capital, hundreds of people could be seen fleeing o n foot, holding infants and whatever belongings they could carry.
Hezbollah’s allies mourn T HE P alestinian militant group Hamas sent condolences to its ally, Hezbollah, and said “assassinations will only increase the resistance in Lebanon and Palestine in determination and resolve.”
I ran’s supreme leader announced five days of public mourning and Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called Nasrallah “the flag-bearer of resistance” i n the region.
Hundreds of protesters took to the streets of Tehran, waving Hezbollah flags and chanting “Death to I srael” and “Death to Netanyahu the murderer.”
Iran’s U.N. Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani wrote a letter to the heads of the United Nations and the Security Council on Saturday calling for an emergency council meeting over the attack that killed Nasrallah.
“Using US-supplied thousandpound bunker busters,” he wrote, Israel killed Nasrallah and Iranian Gen, A bbas Nilforushan, among others.
He warned Israel not to attack any of its diplomatic or consular premises, or its representatives. “Iran will n ot hesitate to exercise its inherent rights under international law to take every measure in defense of its vital national and security interests,” Iravani wrote.
Thomas Juneau, a professor at the University of o t tawa’s Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, said Iran will be under significant pressure to respond to Nasrallah’s killing without escalating v iolence in the region.
“Iran understands that its mili -
tary options are limited, given the c onventional military superiority of Israel and the US,” Juneau told The Associated Press.
Israel vows to keep up attacks on Hezbollah
I S RAEL’ S C hief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, said Saturday that the killing of Nasrallah was “not the end of our toolbox,” indicating that more strikes were planned. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant called it “the most important targeted strike since the founding of the State of Israel.” Late Saturday, Gallant’s office said he was meeting with t op army commanders to discuss the expansion of military activities along Israel’s northern front.
The military said Saturday it was mobilizing three more battalions of reserve soldiers to serve across the country. It already sent two brigades to northern Israel to prepare for a possible ground invasion.
Israeli military spokesman Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani said Israel has inflicted heavy damage on Hezbollah’s capabilities over the past week b y targeting immediate threats and strategic weapons, such as larger, guided missiles. But he said much of Hezbollah’s arsenal remains intact and that Israel would continue to target the group.
A ir raid sirens sounded across central Israel on Saturday afternoon, including at the Tel Aviv international a irport, shortly after Netanyahu returned from a trip to the US. T he Israeli military said it intercepted a missile launched from Yemen. Houthi rebels based in Yemen l ater said they were behind the attack targeting Ben Gurion Airport. The Israeli military updated guidelines for Israeli citizens, canceling g atherings of more than 1,000 people due to the threat.
Approximately 60,000 Israelis have been evacuated from their homes along the Lebanese border for almost a year. This month, Israel’s government said halting Hezbollah’s attacks i n the country’s north to allow residents to return to their homes is an o fficial goal. Lidman reported from Tel Aviv. Associated Press writers Abby Sewell, Kareem Chehayeb and Ahmad Mousa in Beirut; Lujain Jo in Baabda, Lebanon; Tia Goldenberg in
to this report.
biden and Harris call Israeli strike killing Hezbollah’s leader a ‘measure of justice’
By Aamer Madhani & Matthew Lee
The Associated Press
reho B oth B e ACh, d e l.—t h e isr aeli strike that killed h e zbollah’s h a ssan Nasrallah was a “measure of justice” for victims of a four-decade “reign of terror,” President Joe Biden said Saturday.
t h e comments came after Lebanon’s h e zbollah group confirmed earlier Saturday that Nasrallah, one of the group’s founders, was killed in an i sr aeli airstrike in Beirut the previous day.
Biden noted that the operation to take out Nasrallah took place in the broader context of the conflict that began with h am as’ massacre of i sr aelis on o c tober 7, 2023.
“Nasrallah, the next day, made the fateful decision to join hands with h am as and open what he called a ‘northern front’ against srael,” Biden said in a statement.
h e a lso noted that h e zbollah under Nasrallah’s watch has been responsible for the deaths of thousands of Americans, i sr aelis and Lebanese.
h ezbollah attacks against US interests include the truck bombing of the US e mb assy and multinational force barracks in Beirut in 1983 and the kidnapping of the Central ntelligence Agency chief of station in Beirut, who
died while held captive.
t h e US said h e zbollah leaders armed and trained militias that carried out attacks on American forces during the war in i raq.
t h e White h o use sees the death of Nasrallah as a huge blow to the group. At the same time, the administration has sought to tread carefully as it has tried to contain i sr ael ‘s war with h am as, which, like h e zbollah, is backed by i ran, from exploding into an all-out regional conflict.
t h e White h o use and Pentagon were quick on Friday, shortly after the strike, to say publicly that i sr ael offered it no forewarning of the operation.
“President Biden and i do not want to see conflict in the Middle e a st escalate into a broader regional war,” Vice President Kamala h a rris said in a statement Saturday that echoed Biden’s description of a “measure of justice.” She added, “ d i plomacy remains the best path forward to protect civilians and achieve lasting stability in the region.”
t h e confirmation of Nasrallah’s death comes during a week that began with Biden’s top national security aides working on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly to build support for a 21-day isr ael- h e zbollah cease-fire that they hoped might also breathe new life into stalled efforts to secure a truce in Gaza.
i sr aeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a defiant speech Friday to the United Nations, vowing to keep up operations against h e zbollah until tens of thousands of i sr aeli citizens displaced by rocket attacks can return home. Shortly after, i sr ael carried out the strike killing Nasrallah.
Biden reiterated on Saturday that he wants to see cease-fires both in Gaza and between i sr ael and h e zbollah.
i t is time for these deals to close, for the threats to i sr ael to be removed, and for the broader Middle e a st region to gain greater stability,” Biden said.
iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian accused the United States of supporting the killing that took out Nasrallah and dozens of others.
t h e world community will not forget that the order of the terrorist strike was issued from New York and the Americans cannot absolve themselves from complicity with the Zionists,” Pezeshkian was quoted as saying in a statement read on i ranian state television.
t h e State d e partment on Saturday ordered the departure of the families of US diplomats who are not employed by the embassy in Beirut and authorized the departure of those who are, as well as nonessential employees because of “the volatile and unpredictable security situation” in Lebanon’s capital.
t h e US embassy in Beirut also posted a link to an online form that Americans in Lebanon can complete if they are interested in possible assistance leaving the country.
t h e embassy stressed that it was not organizing evacuations and that there are still commercial means to leave, but the request for information appeared to suggest that such plans may be in the works.
t h e State d e partment has previously advised American citizens to consider leaving Lebanon and reiterated its warning against all travel to the country.
d u e to the increased volatility following airstrikes within Beirut and the volatile and unpredictable security situation throughout Lebanon, the US e mbassy urges US citizens to depart Lebanon while commercial options still remain available,” the department said in a statement Saturday.
t he State d ep artment routinely orders or authorizes the departure of nonessential embassy staffers and the families of diplomats when security conditions deteriorate in the country where they are posted. An ordered departure is not technically an evacuation but does require those affected to leave. An authorized departure allows those affected to leave the country voluntarily at government expense.
Lebanese and Palestinian men hold portraits of Hezbollah
Tel Aviv; Nasser Karimi and Mehdi Fattahi in Tehran, Iran; Eleanor H. Reich in Washington; Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Michael Weissenstein in New York contributed
Global alliance launches initiative to bolster Palestinian statehood amid Mideast conflict
By Edith M. Lederer The Associated Press
UNITED NATIONS—European, Arab and Islamic nations have launched an initiative to strengthen support for a Palestinian state and its institutions, and prepare for a future after the war in Gaza and escalating conflict in Lebanon, Norway’s foreign minister said Friday.
Espen Barth Eide told The Associated Press that “there is a growing consensus in the international community from Western countries, from Arab countries, from the Global South, that we need to establish a Palestinian Authority, a Palestinian government, a Palestinian state—and the Palestinian state has to be recognized.”
Eide said many issues need to be addressed, including the security interests of Israel and the Palestinians, recognition and normalization of relations after decades of conflict and the demobilization of Hamas as a military group.
“These are pieces of a bigger puzzle,” Norway’s chief diplomat said. “And you can’t just come in there with one of these pieces, because it only works if all the pieces are laid in place.”
tr action with Netanyahu is unlikely B UT e ven if the puzzle is completed, it’s unlikely to gain traction with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Still, Eide believes that after decades of failed or stalled negotiations, “we need to take a new approach” to achieving an independent Palestinian state.
To accelerate work on these issues, Eide said almost 90 countries attended
a meeting Thursday on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly’s current gathering of world leaders. He and Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister co-chaired the session to launch “The Global Alliance for the Implementation of a Palestinian State and a Two-State Solution.”
“We have to see how we can come out of this deadlock and try to use this deep crisis also as an opportunity to move forward,” Eide told a U.N. Security Council meeting on Gaza later Friday.
Norway is the guarantor of the 1993 Oslo Accords, hailed as a breakthrough in the decades-long conflict between
Arabs and Jews, which created the Palestinian Authority and set up self-rule areas in the Palestinian Authority. Eide said more than 30 years later, Israel’s “occupation” is continuing, and there are no negotiations leading to a final settlement and an independent Palestinian state—which led to Norway’s decision in May to recognize a Palestinian state. Now, 149 of the UN’s 193 member nations have recognized a Palestinian state. Eide urged all countries “to contribute to universal recognition” and strengthen Palestinian institutions so they live up to the expectations of people in the West Bank and are prepared to return to Gaza: “We want one Palestine, not different Palestines,” he said. Eide brought up the alliance again Saturday during his address
to the annual meeting of world leaders at the UN General Assembly, stressing that “while cease-fires in Gaza and Lebanon are most urgently needed, ending hostilities must not be confused with lasting solutions.”
He again called on the 44 UN member nations that haven’t done so to recognize the state of Palestine and allow it to become a full member of the United Nations.
And he called on “everyone who can, to help to build Palestine’s institutions, and on regional actors to help embed a political settlement in a broader regional framework.”
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud told the UN Security Council on Friday that his country, the joint Islamic-Arab ministerial committee, Norway and the European Union launched the alliance “because we feel responsible to act to change the reality of the conflict without delay.”
He told the assembly Saturday that the coalition aimed “to promote the two-state solution,” calling on all countries to join the group and to recognize the Palestinians as an independent state.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell urged all countries to take practical measures “to bring about the free Palestine next to a secure Israel.”
First meetings will be in Saudi a ra bia and Belgium
B O rr E LL s aid on X that the first meetings of the alliance would be
in r i yadh, Saudi Arabia, and Brussels. Borrell asked rhetorically of anyone who opposes a two-state solution: What is the solution, and can it be implemented? He stressed that work on this initiative will move ahead quickly.
Eide said this new effort is built on the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative, “but updated to today’s reality.” The 2002 initiative, endorsed by the Arab League and the 57-member Organization of Islamic Cooperation, offered Israel normalized relations in exchange for a full withdrawal from territories captured in 1967.
He said efforts started long ago to build the institutions of a Palestinian state.
“It’s difficult,” Eide said. “Their hands are tied in many ways. We’re seeing an increasing amount of illegal settlements and settle violence.”
“But still, there is an embryonic institution there that we have to strengthen,” he said.
Eide said he chaired a meeting Thursday of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee for the Building of Palestinian Institutions, with the United States, Canada, the EU and many Mideast and European countries contributing.
“None of these tools will solve the problem on their own, and we never pretended that, but we’re trying to build a body of instruments that will take us forward to a peaceful settlement,” Eide said. “And I am convinced it will happen here.”
In global game of influence, China turns to a cheap and effective tool: fake news
By Didi Tang & David Klepper
The Associated Press
ASHINGTON—When
Wveteran US diplomat Kurt Campbell traveled to the Solomon Islands to counter Beijing’s influence in the South Pacific country, he quickly saw just how far China would go to spread its message.
The Biden administration’s Asia czar woke up one morning in 2022 to a long article in the local press about the US running chemical and biological labs in Ukraine, a claim that Washington calls an outright lie. Started by r u ssia, the false and incendiary claim was vigorously amplified by China’s vast overseas propaganda apparatus.
It was another example of “clearly effective r u ssian and Chinese disinformation,” Campbell told the Senate Foreign r e lations Committee in July.
Two years later, the claim still reverberates online, demonstrating China’s sprawling effort to reshape global perceptions. The campaign, costing many billions per year, is becoming ever more sophisticated thanks to artificial intelligence. China’s operations have caught the attention of intelligence analysts and policymakers in Washington, who vow to combat any actions that could influence the November election or undermine American interests.
The key tactic: networks of websites purporting to be legitimate news outlets, delivering pro-China coverage that often parallels official statements and positions from Beijing.
Shannon Van Sant, an adviser to the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation, tracked a network of dozens of sites that posed as news
organizations.
One site mimicked The New York Times, using a similar font and design in what she called an attempt at legitimacy. The site carried strongly pro-Chinese messages.
When Van Sant researched the site’s reporters she found no information. Their names didn’t belong to any known journalists working in China, and their photos bore telltale signs of being created with AI.
“Manipulation of the media is ultimately a manipulation of readers and the audience, and this is damaging to democracy and society,” Van Sant said.
Liu Pengyu, spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in the US, said allegations that China uses news websites and social media to spread proBeijing information and influence public opinion in the US “are full of malicious speculations against China, which China firmly opposes.”
In addition to its state media, Beijing has turned to foreign players—real or not—to relay messages and lend credibility to narratives favoring the Communist Party, said Xiao Qiang, a research scientist at the School of Information at the University of California, Berkeley. Xiao also is editor-in-chief of China Digital Times, a bilingual news website that aggregates information from and about China.
Beijing’s methods are wide-ranging and links to the government are often difficult to prove, Xiao said. But whether it’s journalists with American-sounding names or an Indian influencer, the consistently pro-Beijing messages give them away.
“The implicit message is the same — that the Chinese Communist Party works for its people,” Xiao said. Analysts at the cybersecurity
firm Logically identified 1,200 websites that had carried r u ssian or Chinese state media stories. The sites often target specific audiences and have names that sound like traditional news organizations or defunct newspapers.
Unlike r u ssia or Iran, which have displayed clear preferences in the US presidential campaign, Beijing is more cautious and focused on spreading positive content about China.
While the sites aren’t owned by China, they run Chinese content. When Logically looked at content specifically about the US election, 20% could be traced back to Chinese or r u ssian state media.
“There’s a decent likelihood that these articles could influence US audiences without them even knowing where it comes from,” said Alex Nelson, Logically’s senior manager for strategy and analysis. According to the Gallup World Poll, more countries surveyed view the US positively, but the share of countries where views of both the US and China are negative overall is higher than 15 years ago, signaling the US doesn’t appear to be making gains over China.
Some US officials want to increase spending to even the playing field. The House of r e presentatives this month approved a bill that would authorize $325 million annually through 2027 to counter China’s global influence, including its disinformation campaigns. The measure still needs Senate approval.
“We are in a global competition for influence with China, and if you want to win it, then you cannot do it on a middle-power budget,” said r e p. Gregory Meeks, a Democrat from New York. AP writer Amelia Thomson-DeVeaux contributed from Washington.
Norwegia
Security Council meeting at United Nations headquarters, January
Russian strikes on medical center kill 9 people in the Ukrainian city of Sumy
KYIV, Ukraine—Two consecutive Russian attacks on a medical center in the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy on Saturday killed at least nine people, officials said.
Pope Francis demands justice for sexual abuse, condemns cover-ups in troubled Belgium visit
By Nicole Winfield & Raf Casert
The Associated Press
BRUSSELS—Pope Francis demanded Sunday that priestly sexual abusers be judged and their bishops stop covering up their crimes as he ended a troubled visit to Belgium by praising the courage of survivors of a scandal that has devastated the church’s credibility.
“Evil must be brought out into the open,” Francis told some 30,000 people at Belgium’s main sports stadium, d rawing applause repeatedly as the crowd took in what he was saying.
“There is no place for abuse. There is no place for covering up abuse.”
Francis deviated from his prepared homily to respond to the meeting he held with 17 abuse survivors on Friday night, where he heard firsthand of the trauma they endured and the tone-deaf response of the church when they reported the crimes.
Pope Francis wrapped up a troubled visit to Belgium on Sunday with a M ass to beatify a 17th-century mystic, after dashing the hopes of one of Europe’s most storied Catholic universities by doubling down o n his traditional views on women and abortion.
Francis was celebrating a Mass under a spectacular sun in Brussels’ sports stadium before heading back to Rome. The stadium is named for King Baudouin, whom Francis had
praised for having abdicated for a day in 1990 rather than give his assent to a parliament-approved bill l egalizing abortion.
Francis’ unscheduled visit to pray at the king’s tomb and declaration that the legislation was “homicidal” were among several gestures in this once staunchly Catholic country that unnerved its secularized young people, many of whom have turned away from the faith.
Nevertheless, the stadium— which had a capacity of 37,000 for the Mass—was nearly full for Francis’ Mass. The crowd roared when F rancis arrived in his popemobile and stopped to kiss babies passed up to him.
Sunday’s Mass was to beatify Spanish nun Ana de Jesus, who made a vow of chastity at 10, entered religious life the following year and he lped St. Teresa of Avila reform the Carmelite religious order. The Vatican is holding her up as a model of s omeone who lived through a time
of scandal and brought people back to the faith.
Francis’ visit to Belgium was always going to be difficult, given the c ountry’s wretched legacy of clerical sexual abuse and overall secularizing trends, which have emptied its m ajestic cathedrals and churches.
But it’s unclear if he or his entourage expected such sharp public e xpressions of outrage from the king on down about the abuse scandal or the pointed calls for reform from Belgium’s intellectual elite.
The main reason for the trip was to celebrate the 600th anniversary of the Leuven/Louvain Catholic University, the oldest Catholic university i n the world and long the Vatican’s academic fiefdom in Belgium.
But the rector of the Dutch campus told Francis that the abuse s candal had so harmed the church’s moral authority that it would best reform if it wants to regain credibility a nd relevance. Rector Luc Sels suggested that opening up greater roles f or women—including the priesthood—and being more welcoming to L GBTQ+ Catholics would be a good place to start.Francis heard a similar call from the Francophone campus, where students staged a reading of an articulated critique of Francis’ landmark environmental encyclical “Praised Be” in which they called for a “paradigm shift” in the way the church views women.
They noted that the encyclical virtually ignores women, cites no female theologians and contributes to their “invisibility” in the church and society. Women have long complained they have a second-class status in the church, barred from the p riesthood and positions of power
despite doing the lion’s share of the work educating the young, caring for the sick and passing on the faith. Francis, an 87-year-old Argentine Jesuit, said he liked what they said. But he repeated his frequent refrain about women being the “fertile” nurturers who complement men, and that re gardless “the church is woman.”
His words drew a remarkable rebuke from the Catholic university that invited him. As soon as he f inished speaking, Louvain issued a statement expressing its “incomprehension and disapproval” of his v iews on women, which it said were “deterministic and reductive.”
“We cannot agree on his position for sure,” said rector Francoise Smets. “We are fighting against discrimination for women, and we would like w omen to have another role in the society and in the church also.”
Valentine Hendrix, a 22-year-old international relations masters student at Louvain, told reporters that s tudents had hoped that Francis might respond positively to their appeal. While others applauded at the e nd of Francis’ remarks, she refused and said his comments on abortion and women’s role meant that he had “given up on a committed dialogue.”
“We had expectations, even if we saw that he disappointed us in just a few hours,” she said.
Francis has made several reforms during his 11-year pontificate, allowing women to serve as acolytes, giving t hem the vote in his periodic synods, or meetings, appointing several w omen to high-ranking positions in the Vatican. He has said women must have greater decision-making roles in the church.
But he has ruled out ordaining women as priests and has refused so far to budge on demands to allow women to serve as deacons, who p erform many of the same tasks as priests. He has taken the women’s issue off the table for debate at the Vatican’s upcoming three-week synod because it’s too thorny to be dealt with in such a short time. He has punted it to theologians and canonists to chew over into next year.
F rancis addressed the issue during his meeting with Belgian clergy a nd nuns in which he acknowledged so many Belgians had fallen away from the church. The reform process, he said, must involve returning to the Gospel.
“It is not about prioritizing ‘fashionable’ reforms, but asking: ‘How c an we bring the Gospel to a society that is no longer listening or has distanced itself from the faith?’ Let us all ask ourselves this question,” he said.
Death toll in Nepal flooding and landslides reaches at least 100, dozens still missing
KATHMANDU, Nepal—The death toll from flooding and landslides in Nepal has reached at least 100, with dozens of people still missing.
Police on Sunday morning warned the death toll was expected to rise further as reports come in from villages across the mountainous country.
The weather in Nepal was improved on Sunday and rescue, recovery and clean-up efforts were underway.
Rescuer workers recovered 14 bodies overnight from two buses headed to Kathmandu that were buried in a landslide on a highway near the capital city. At least one other bus and other vehicles were
Children learn to cooperate early; world leaders at UN struggle to get that done
By ted anthony AP National Writer
EW YORK—Our
Nchildren are told when they’re little: Play nicely. Work together. Don’t hit. Use your words. Multiply that by nearly 200 countries, leaders of varied backgrounds and a preposterously complex set of 21st-century priorities and goals, and you come up with what exists in the world today: the United Nations.
There, the word for “play nicely” and “work together” is a complex one—“multilateralism”—and its goals often get lost in its syllables.
But the principle remains the same: Unite to get more done, unite to offset bullies, unite to find outcomes that all can endorse and that benefit as many of the planet’s human beings as possible — and can be the foundation for eventual lasting world peace.
At the UN General Assembly this week, it’s a principle that leaders— and, not surprisingly, leaders of smaller nations most of all—mention constantly. That’s not just because the UN has stood for multilateralism since it rose from the dictatorinflicted rubble of World War II. It is because today, in an interconnected era where human fates lie more than ever in what other humans do in other places, cooperation isn’t just an ideal but a necessary reality, whether anyone wants it or not.
But the problem, many leaders say, is that despite the hope that the UN still offers, the aging model of multilateralism—“a mirror that obstinately reflects the values of 1945,” according to Mexican Foreign Minister Alicia Bárcena—hasn’t been retooled to be effective in an era it quite possibly never envisioned.
“We cannot ignore that our common multilateral progress is failing us in the hour of greatest need,” said Hilda Heine, president of the Marshall Islands.
“This old political shell of the post-1945 political order can barely contain the contradictions,” said Ralph Gonsalves, the prime minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. “We cannot continue to rule in the old way, but the new is yet to be born.”
The old model isn’t working anymore
B OTH o f those nations are small ones, and that’s no coincidence. Though many larger nations embraced multilateralism and still do—to a point, depending on their own strategic priorities—it is smaller states that embrace it most fervently. After all, they stand to benefit most from a united front in everything from military operations to development.
“For small states, multilateralism in international law is not an option. It is in fact an existential necessity,” Singapore’s foreign minister, Vivian Balakrishnan, said Saturday.
to change. But the status quo is already draining their power. Without reform, fragmentation is inevitable, and global institutions will become less legitimate, less credible and less effective.” Fragmentation. That’s a key word here. The rise of the Internet and the global economy and the subsequent repercussions stitched things together in some ways but tore them into a million pieces in others. Long-prevailing narratives are crumbling—for good and for ill. Putting the pieces back into a recognizable and productive mosaic—the core job of the United Nations—is a Sisyphean task. This is where most conversations about multilateralism tend to end up. The very things that make it strong—many voices, many backgrounds, diverse priorities—also make it, and the United Nations itself, almost impossible to wrangle. That has a particularly strong impact on those smaller states, which need that collaboration desperately in the face of larger, more muscular ones. Increasingly beleaguered Tuvalu can’t solve the encroaching waters of climate change on its own. Saint Kitts and Nevis isn’t going to figure out all the impact of AI alone. Without a thriving international economy, there are a lot more problems that descend upon everywhere from Kazakhstan to Suriname to Eswatini. African nations in particular have been seeking a permanent seat on the powerful UN Security Council so they can have a strong bloc of cooperation—and power—within the larger one. “Multilateral institutions, including the Security Council, do not represent African needs and aspirations,” said Nangolo Mbumba, Namibia’s president.
New approaches—and fast—are seen as pivotal B E CAUSE of the wide perception that multilateralism is at a breaking point, Guterres this year convened a summit that produced a “Pact for the Future,” a wide-ranging plan that the secretarygeneral said was “designed to bring multilateralism back from the brink.” He insisted that, unlike many other UN initiatives, this one must be more than talk and documents but must produce tangible, collaborative results in coming years. Essentially, it resembles a soft reboot of the United Nations itself to make it more relevant in an age of globalization, interconnectivity, fragmentation and artificial intelligence.
Many speakers this week have seized upon precisely that kind of modernization across the board— what Mohamed Irfaan Ali, the president of Guyana, called “enlightened multilateralism.” To nations like his, that notion would represent a more substantive inclusion, a world in which they are not simply partners but equal partners—not just being a member of the club of nations, but also helping to run the clubhouse.
to recede.
At least 34 people were killed in Kathmandu, which was the hardest hit by Saturday’s flooding.
Police officers and soldiers were assisting with rescue efforts, while heavy equipment was used to clear the landslides from the roads.
The government announced it was closing schools and colleges across Nepal for the next three days.
The heavy rains, which started on Friday, slowed on Saturday night, but were expected to continue through the weekend.
Last week, the government issued flood warnings across the
Four generations after World War II ended, the challenges of the 21st century and—of late—the rising tide of populism have led many to conclude that old models of multilateralism aren’t working. But even leaders who still believe that working together and equally is ultimately the most effective and most secure way to do things lamented, one after another, that they are still waiting for the emergence of a fresh approach.
António Guterres, head of the United Nations for the past seven years, has spent most of that time preaching passionately about the virtues of multilateralism—first patiently, then less so, then more urgently, now increasingly desperately. He knows things aren’t working. He believes they still can—not in spite of an increasingly complex world but precisely because of its realities.
“I have no illusions about the obstacles to reform of the multilateral system,” Guterres told leaders this week. “Those with political and economic power—and those who believe they have power—are always reluctant
Could the “great powers” ever accept this? Could a reset, even a limited one, of the only truly global body of nations push the UN back on the path it has long envisioned? Everyone, including Guterres, insists that it’s possible—but that time for a new and reinvigorated multilateralism is running out.
“The world stands fractious, polarized and frustrated. Conversations have become difficult; agreements even more so,” said Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.
“This is surely not what the founders of the U.N. would have wanted of us.” The founders recognized that humans wouldn’t always play nicely — but that they had to work together. And, ideally, not hit each other. And using their words? Even in a forum committed to dialogue and understanding (not to mention long equipped with realtime translation), that is becoming a taller order with each passing year.
“If we carry on like this,” Jaishankar said Saturday, “the state of the world is only going to get worse.”
Editor: Jennifer A. Ng
PHL imposes ban on French poultry products
TBy Ada Pelonia @adapelonia
HE Department of Agriculture (DA) has slapped a temporary ban on poultry products from France due to a bird flu outbreak detected in one of its cities.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco
Tiu Laurel Jr. issued Memorandum Order (MO) 40, which authorized the imposition of the ban. Laurel said the ban was put in place to prevent the entry of High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (HPAI) virus in the country.
The DA banned domestic and wild birds from France after it reported to the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) an
outbreak of H5 (N untyped) HPAI in Saint-Malo, Ille-et-Vilaine, Bretagne, France last August 7.
The ban also included the products of domestic and wild birds, such as poultry meat, day-old chicks, and eggs and semen.
Laurel also ordered the immediate suspension of the processing, evaluation of the application and issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances (SPSICs)
to the said commodity.
“All shipments coming from France that are in transit/ loaded/ accepted unto port before the official communication of this Order to the French authorities shall be allowed provided that the prod -
ucts were slaughtered/ produced on or before 25 July 2024,” the order read.
Manila lifted the ban on French poultry products last April following the declaration of Paris that there were no additional bird flu
ET technology seen improving local goat production
THE country’s goat-raising industry will benefit from the embryo transfer (ET) technology which boosts the reproductive efficiency of goat farming, according to the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
According to the DOST, the process involves superovulation to maximize the oocyte reserves of a female goat, followed by the transfer of fertilized embryos to recipient females.
“The method increases both the number of offspring and the speed of genetic exchange between herds, thus accelerating the improvement of goat breeds,” it said in a statement.
The DOST Region 2, in collaboration with the Isabela State University (ISU) and DOST’s Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD), reported the successful implementation of its technological innovation.
According to DOST-PCAARRD Executive Director Reynaldo V. Ebora, five kids were successfully produced using the ET technology, which is part of the Innovative Systems in Advancing Technology-Based Goat Production project funded by the agency.
ISU President Ricmar P. Aquino said technological innovations are essential to goat production. She said key technologies such as semen collection, semen processing, and artificial insemination for small ruminants would modernize goat production and enhance the efficiency and profitability of goat farming.
For his part, DOST Secretary Dr. Renato U. Solidum Jr. said the ET technology enables the production of multiple offspring from a single female goat, significantly enhancing reproductive efficiency.
According to the department,
the country’s total goat inventory has declined recently. It noted that the current inventory is estimated at 3.86 million heads, a decrease from previous counts, with over 99 percent of the country’s goat population sourced from smallholder farms.
“The situation highlights the pressing need for improved goat meat production to meet rising demand. Goat meat, or chevon, has been gaining popularity due to its lower calorie, cholesterol, and saturated fat content compared to other meats such as beef, pork, and chicken,” it said.
“Additionally, the goat industry provides not only nutritious meat and milk but also supports agricultural diversification and offers a vital source of income for small-scale farmers.”
The department said Dr. Cristino Nayga delivered the first ET kid in June 2023, with four additional kids produced from three other
More investments needed to cut food waste–FAO I
REDUCING food loss and waste is crucial for improving food security and nutrition, promoting the efficient use of resources, protecting the environment, and fostering a more equitable distribution of food resources globally.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Director-General Qu Dongyu made the remarks in a video message to a global virtual event to mark the fifth International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste which falls on Sunday.
The event, which also included a message from Inger Andersen, the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and was organized by FAO and UNEP, highlighted the critical need for financing to help reduce food loss and waste and thus contribute to achieving climate and Sustainable Development goals (SDGs).
Currently, over 13 percent of food is lost globally in the supply chain after harvest on farms and before the retail stages. Furthermore, food waste, occurring at retail, food service and household levels stands at 19 percent, according to UNEP statistics. Additionally, food loss and waste account for an estimated 8 to 10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. The methane gas produced by food loss also has far greater potential to trap heat than carbon dioxide, impacting the environment.
However, “by reducing food loss and waste, countries and communities can benefit from improved food security, access to healthy diets and reduced malnutrition while decreasing their greenhouse gas footprints,” Qu noted.
The OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook Report for the period 2024-2033 projects that by halving food loss and waste global agricultural greenhouse gas emissions could decline by 4 percent, and the number of undernourished people by 153 million by the year 2030.
The world is not however, on track to achieve SDG 12 (including the target of halving food waste) – nor any of the other SDGs by 2030.
“To achieve this, an increase in climate investments, and the re-design and upscale of storage systems to reduce food losses upstream in the supply chain, particularly in low-income economies, is much needed. Raising public awareness and consumer education is also critical at the household level, with the implementation at the global level.”
FAO said it is addressing the issue of food loss and waste from the ground level and up. Innovations such as the FAO Food Loss App (FLAPP) is designed to quantify food loss in crops at the micro level and facilitate efforts to achieve net zero. This technology is already helping rice producers in the Dominican Republic to access information in real-time and identify solutions to areas of food loss.
In other countries, FAO’s technical expertise is helping farmers to reduce food losses incurred during the harvesting and before retail stages. Training initiatives on better handling, sorting and packaging practices have already resulted in a 38 percent reduction in losses for tomato farmers in the Philippines, and less than 5 percent post-harvest loss for dasheen farmers in Trinidad.
dams in the following months. It added that the kids were derived from dams with a 75 percent Boer bloodline mated with purebred Boer bucks.
According to DOST, the experiment marked a significant milestone in ISU’s breeding program, which has been looking at enhancing the population of high-quality, true-to-type goats in Region 2, now branded as the “Cagayan Valley Signature Goat.”
“DOST has acknowledged the potential of the ET technology to address the challenges faced by the goat industry and enhance productivity for small-hold farmers and has committed to provide essential solutions to strengthen the industry in the Philippines.”
It said the innovative approach would enhance livestock management and productivity while positioning the goat industry for a more competitive and sustainable future. Ada Pelonia
outbreaks after February 29. The DA issued MO 16 in April which authorized the easing of the restrictions that the government imposed in January.
Meanwhile, data from the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) showed that the country’s meat imports grew by nearly 10 percent in the first semester, driven by higher chicken and pork purchases abroad.
Meat imports increased by 9.64 percent to 647,745 metric tons (MT) from January to June this year, compared to the 590,766 MT recorded in the same period in 2023, based on BAI data.
Brazil was the top supplier of beef and chicken imports at 30,519 MT and 121,135 MT, respectively. France delivered 19 MT of chicken to the Philippines.
In terms of pork imports, BAI data showed that Spain was the
country’s biggest supplier, accounting for 80,737 MT.
The United States Department of Agriculture-Foreign Agricultural Service in Manila (USDAFAS Manila) recently said in its latest report that the country’s meat imports are expected to rise next year due to population growth and “a positive economic outlook.”
“FAS Manila forecasts 2025 beef imports to increase to 226,000 metric tons [MT] carcass weight equivalent [CWE],” the report read. (See: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2024/08/22/phlmeat-imports-seen-to-growin-2025/)
“Continued greater-than-sixpercent economic growth and forecasted population increases support strong consumer purchasing power which will push beef imports higher in 2025.”
Tarlac planters to receive condonation certificates
By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga
PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will lead the distribution of 4,663 certificates of condonation with the release of mortgage (COCROM) on Monday at the Eduardo Cojuangco Gymnasium in Paniqui, Tarlac, according to the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).
The distribution of the COCROM is mandated by Republic Act (RA) 11953 or the New Agrarian Emancipation Act.
A total of 3,500 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) of the Province of Tarlac are set to receive their COCROM.
DAR Secretary Conrado M. Estrella III said total debt amounting to P124 million
would be condoned for the 3,500 ARBs receiving the 4,663 COCROMs which cover 4,132.1256 hectares of agricultural land, following the provisions of RA 11953.
“The distribution of these certificates is not just about relieving debt that they have carried for years, but also empowering farmers to fully maximize their land’s productivity and improving their lives as Filipino farmers,” Estrella said.
DAR Central Luzon Regional Director James Arsenio Ponce said this scheduled distribution of COCROMs in Tarlac marks the third time such an initiative has been undertaken in the Central Luzon region, with previous distributions in the provinces of Nueva Ecija and Bulacan.
India eases restrictions on exports of key rice varieties
NDIA loosened restrictions on some rice exports, a move that may ease global prices and signal a shift in domestic agricultural policies following recent national elections.
The government lifted a ban on non-basmati white rice shipments, and set a minimum export price of $490 per ton, according to a notification from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade. On Friday, authorities cut a tax on overseas sales of parboiled rice to 10 percent from 20 percent.
The world’s top exporter started curbs in 2022 in an effort to ensure domestic food security and tame inflation. That caused the Asian benchmark price to climb to the highest since 2008 and forced major consumers to seek supplies from other countries. The staple is vital to diets of billions of people across the planet.
While the move was largely successful in stabilizing local prices, United States Department of Agriculture data showed India is now saddled with record stockpiles. The latest policy moves could help ease that glut and cut import costs for countries such as Indonesia and Senegal.
Rice exports fell almost 25 percent from a year earlier to 5.26 million tons in the first four months of the fiscal year that started on April 1, according to government data.
Bloomberg News reported in July that India was planning to relax curbs on some varieties to avoid a glut in the country before the new crop arrives in October.
A WORKER seals sacks of paddy rice at a wholesale market in Narvana, Haryana, India, on Monday, October 16, 2023. ANINDITO MUKHERJEE/BLOOMBERG
Indian farmers have started harvesting monsoon-sown rice crops following good rainfall. Plantings have been higher than a year earlier.
The government also set an export duty of 10 percent on the unmilled variety, according to the notification published on Friday. Overseas shipments of white rice will not attract any levy, it said.
Crop futures
SOYBEAN futures headed for the biggest weekly gain in more than a year amid a broader grains rally driven by economic stimulus in top importer China and adverse weather in major growing regions.
The rally comes as China, the world’s biggest buyer of soy, unveiled a broad package of monetary
stimulus measures. Meanwhile, tropical storm Helene, which slammed into Florida as a hurricane, will bring strong winds to parts of the Corn Belt, potentially delaying fieldwork.
“Helene’s high winds continue to be a problem as well, with highwind warnings out for much of the eastern Midwest into tonight, where we could see 70 mph gusts into central Indiana,” StoneX chief commodities economist Arlan Suderman said in a note. Soymeal futures soared as much as 5.8 percent on Friday, the most since June last year. Short covering and concerns over infrastructure damage for Gulf and other seaboard facilities “created a speculator frenzy” in soymeal trading on Friday, said Terry Reilly, senior
agricultural strategist at Marex Group Plc.
Row crop futures are rebounding after slow demand from China and the prospect of bumper harvests in the US sent prices to four-year lows in August. Now, with China’s economy receiving stimulus and the US harvest potentially disrupted, cheap commodities are seeing more purchasing interest, said Evan Basse, grains analyst for Nesvick Trading Group in Nashville.
“Commodities are viewed as cheap relative to equities, which has spurred renewed interest in the commodity markets,” said Basse. “We’ve also seen the dollar decline in recent weeks, which could support demand.”
Soybean futures for November delivery gained as much as 2.7 percent on Friday, sending prices toward a weekly gain of more than 5 percent for the week—the most since June 2023. Corn futures for December delivery rose as much as 1.6 percent, bringing the week’s rally to almost 4 percent.
Traders are keeping an eye on weather problems throughout the world. Arid conditions are set to persist in northern and central Brazil, lifting corn futures. Wheat is up about 2 percent this week, with winter grains planting in Russia at an 11-year low due to bad weather, according to consultant SovEcon. In Australia, wheat production is being threatened by dry conditions in the country’s west and severe frosts in the southern regions. Bloomberg News
Addressing PHL’s water crisis through legislative action
President Marcos’s urgent call for Congress to swiftly pass the department of Water resources (dW r) bill underscores a critical need: the Philippines is facing a growing water crisis exacerbated by climate change. While the upcoming recess presents a temporary hurdle, the urgency of the situation demands immediate attention upon resumption of sessions in november. (Read the BusinessMirror story: “PBBM to solons: Pass bills on Dept of Water, WTE, other priorities,” September 26, 2024).
The President’s coupling of this bill with waste-to-energy legislation highlights a holistic approach to environmental management, recognizing the interconnectedness of water scarcity and poor waste disposal.
The proposed DWR is not merely a bureaucratic reorganization; it represents a strategic shift towards proactive and integrated water resource management. The current system, fragmented and lacking centralized authority, is ill equipped to handle the complexities of water scarcity, flood control, and pollution. A dedicated department offers several crucial advantages:
Centralized expertise: The DWR would consolidate expertise and resources, allowing for more efficient planning, implementation, and monitoring of water-related projects. This centralized approach is vital for coordinating efforts across various sectors and geographical areas.
Proactive flood mitigation: The President rightly links poor waste disposal to worsening flood control problems. The DWR, in conjunction with the waste-to-energy initiative, could significantly reduce flooding by improving drainage systems and mitigating the impact of overflowing garbage. The ambitious 40 percent reduction target, while bold, underscores the potential impact of a unified approach.
Climate change adaptation: The Philippines’ vulnerability to climate change necessitates a robust adaptation strategy. The DWR can play a pivotal role in developing and implementing measures to ensure water security in the face of changing rainfall patterns and more frequent extreme weather events. This includes investing in resilient infrastructure and promoting water conservation practices.
Improved water quality: The department can effectively address water pollution from various sources, protecting public health and the environment. This requires stringent monitoring, enforcement of regulations, and collaboration with industries and communities.
The passage of the DWR bill is not merely a legislative priority; it is a critical step towards ensuring the country’s water security and resilience in the face of climate change. The potential benefits—from improved water supply and flood control to enhanced environmental protection —are too significant to ignore.
The establishment of a Department of Water Management can help ensure sustainable water resources for present and future generations while addressing the complex challenges related to water supply, quality, and resilience. Congress must prioritize this legislation and work swiftly to ensure its timely enactment. The time to act is now, and the passage of this law can become a defining moment in the country’s journey towards a greener, more water-secure, and more resilient tomorrow. The future well-being of the nation depends on it.
BusinessMirror
Is PHL ready for the Intelligent Age?
JustRISING SUN
a few days ago, Klaus schwab, Founder and executive Chairman of the World economic Forum, published a brief write-up on the W eF platform titled “the intelligent Age: A time for Cooperation.” in it, he stated that the world is entering the intelligent Age, a societal revolution that could either elevate humanity or “fracture” it if not properly managed.
The Intelligent Age is not solely about technological or industrial shifts. It is characterized by rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, and blockchain—concepts that are just beginning to be understood by less developed nations. In the Philippines, for instance, many people are unsure whether to embrace or fear AI.
However, Schwab emphasizes that we must all adapt quickly. More-
Economic
over, global cooperation is essential to harness the power of these technologies for societal progress, rather than division. He wrote, “It is imperative that we develop environmental, social, and geopolitical intelligence alongside technological intelligence.”
As new technologies could potentially displace millions of workers, the world must be prepared with policies, social safety nets, and education systems to help people transition.
Inclusivity is crucial, he stressed. The benefits of these technological shifts must be equitably distributed among nations to prevent inequalities that could lead to societal disruptions. Environmental sustainability is another critical aspect of emerging technologies. We are well aware that innovations like AI computing and cryptocurrency mining have vast energy demands. Therefore, we must balance energy consumption with the development of renewable energy solutions, especially as humanity grapples with the climate crisis. How we achieve this remains a challenge, particularly for a country like ours, which is just beginning to implement environmental policies aimed at mitigating the effects of climate change. Schwab also highlighted the need for careful management of social interactions. The world must design systems that are fair, inclusive, and intelligent enough to grasp “what it means to be human.” To prevent polarization and deepening social divides—or the creation of new
ones—global cooperation is necessary to understand the social impacts of these changes and ensure that the Intelligent Age fosters equality and inclusion.
Policymakers need to act swiftly and efficiently to implement regulations and create legislations that promote the ethical use of AI, quantum computing, and blockchain. Education systems must evolve to equip future generations for a labor environment where many traditional jobs have disappeared, and new roles demand entirely different skill sets. Businesses must rethink their models to adapt to the rapidly changing landscape of the Intelligent Age while ensuring that workers and entire segments of society are not left behind. It is clear that cooperation is the overarching theme of the Intelligent Age, with inclusion, equality, and collaboration as key sub-themes. The world faces significant challenges ahead, and emerging economies like ours will need to make considerable strides to keep pace.
realities and regulatory oversight: ERC’s stance on NGCP’s expenditures
iLITO GAGNI
t is heartening to know that the energy regulatory Commission (erC) occasionally incorporates economic lessons when making decisions on the various issues it oversees in its regulatory capacity over the national Grid Corporation of the Philippines (nGCP), formerly known as the national transmission Corporation.
A case in point is its disallowance for the expenditures that NGCP listed as part of its Operations and Maintenance that amounted to P3.751 billion for the years 2016 to 2020, an amount that could have been included in the transmission costs that would have been passed on to electricity consumers.
One item that NGCP listed as part of its expenditures attributed to its operations and which ERC thumbed down involved advertising and PR expenses. In disallowing the expense items, it is very noticeable that a truism in economics is at play.
“Because NGCP is a monopoly, why do you need to promote it? Why do you need to advertise your services if you are a monopoly?” the ERC said.
It is an economic reality that was
perhaps lost in the transmission towers of NGCP that as ERC said in the exchange of “pleasantries” between the officials of the transmission monopoly and the regulatory agency, “consumers have no choice but to avail themselves of (NGCP) services and pay” for them. After all, the NGCP has no competition to begin with.
There is something noticeable in the way ERC worded its opposition in disallowing the said expenditures on operations and maintenance that NGCP wanted to be included in the computation of its transmission wheeling rates. What ERC does is to check for costs that NGCP lumps in its capital expenditures so that what is allowed are those that are “prudent, reasonable and economically efficient.” It is for this reason that ERC
There is something noticeable in the way ERC worded its opposition in disallowing the said expenditures on operations and maintenance that NGCP wanted to be included in the computation of its transmission wheeling rates. What ERC does is to check for costs that NGCP lumps in its capital expenditures so that what is allowed are those that are “prudent, reasonable and economically efficient.”
sought to strike out a total of P3.751 billion in expenditures as these claims were not supported by documentation including non-mandatory benefits, representation and entertainment expenses, advertising and donations. What it allowed were the payroll costs, network operating and maintenance costs and non-network related O&M costs.
A review of the disallowances, for instance, showed that certain employees’ benefits sought to be recovered by NGCP were thumbed down as they were not appropriately itemized and supported in its annual financial statement. This included non-mandatory employee benefits that ERC said should have been sourced from the company’s savings or profits instead of recovered from rates charged to consumers. Network and non-network related O&M costs (such as advertising expenses or Covid-19 donations) that were not proven to redound to the benefit of consumers were likewise disallowed. Thus, there were downward adjustments that ERC made on the OPEX and Capex of NGCP for being improperly documented or not recoverable from consumers. ERC has a big role to play in ensuring that the electricity consumers are not unduly charged for expenses that were beyond the scope of the NGCP’s allowable expenses. Where the charges did not lead to the benefit of the consumers, the regulatory agency disapproved of the expenditure items. And this is as it should be. After all, NGCP’s mandate is to improve on the operations of what the government privatized. This means it should be more efficient and cost-effective and pass on to consumers the benefits of privatization. Hopefully, ERC mandates a lower pass-on costs by allowing for a live streaming of NGCP rate reset applications that are very much present in other countries. By being transparent, ERC will be able to defend why NGCP’s return should be
Atty. Jose Ferdinand M. Rojas II
These photos capture the devastating impact of Typhoon enteng in Manila and nearby areas. Image credIts: NoNIe reyes & roy dom Ngo
Forthcoming evolution of the CPA licensure examination
TJoel L. Tan-Torres
DEBIT CREDIT
Part four
he Professional regulatory Board of Accountancy (BOA) is assessing the recommendations for the revisions to enhance the Certified Public Accountant licensure examination (CPALe) syllabi submitted by the six Technical Working Groups (TWG) in December 2023. At the same time, the Commission on higher education (CheD) Committee for Accountancy continues its years-long review of the Policies, Guidelines, and Standards (PGS) for the Graduate and undergraduate accountancy programs as prescribed in CheD Memorandum Order 27 Series of 2017.
The efforts of the two bodies to update the particular “charters” are extremely important and urgent.
The Accountancy syllabi, PGS, and curriculum have been in place for several years already and need to be revised to address the emerging requirements of the profession and the business community.
The BOA has tentatively set October 2028 as the date for the CPALE under the enhanced syllabi.
The subjects in the proposed CPALE syllabi are Financial accounting and reporting, Business analysis and reporting (BAR), Auditing, Taxation, Regulatory framework for business transactions, and Information system and control (ISC). The subjects in the enhanced syllabi proposed by the TWGs were patterned after the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) Evolution Examination of the United States of America, which took effect only in 2024.
For the next four years before the targetted year of 2028 for implementation of the Philippine-version of the Evolution examination, the BOA, academe, and other stakeholders should closely monitor the developments of the AICPA examination and put into place the appropriate measures culled from its US counterpart. These should include the best practices for restructuring the examination to better assess skills such as data analysis and critical thinking, and the development of core and discipline modules.
Should the adoption and implementation of the enhanced CPALE syllabi await the approval of the PGS and curriculum from the CHED? Some say that due to the proposed inclusion of new topics in the BAR and the insertion of the ISC as a new subject in the syllabi, the CHEDmandated PGS and curriculum should be finalized first.
I don’t believe that this sequence of events should be the one option. The BOA has the authority to prescribe changes in the CPA licensure examination coverage and structure.
Anger zone
WSiegfred Bueno Mison, Esq.
THE PATRIOT
henever we get angry, our heart rate and blood pressure generally go up as well as the levels of energy hormones, adrenaline included. In other words, we get hyped up, pumped up, and ready to vent that energy build up, usually against another. Take the case of basketball player John Amores.
Anger happens as a regular occurrence. When anger is channeled into reckless behaviors, people get hurt, physically for the most part. When anger is swept under the rug and ignored, people get hurt, mentally on the part of the angry person.
In fact, even CMO 27 recognizes that the PSG and accounting curriculum should be “learing competency and outcome-based.” Article I Section I of CMO 27 provides that “in recognition of the spirit of outcomesbased education and...of the typology of HEIs, this PGS also provides ample space for HEIs to innovate in the curriculum in line with the assessment of how best to achieve learning outcomes in their particular contexts and their respective mission.”
However, the BOA and the accounting academe leaders should ensure that the accounting schools are ready to provide the new learnings required by BAR and ICS within the four years allotted before the start of the enhanced CPALE.
The TWG also emphasized that “Entry level” should be the knowledge set for CPALE candidates preparing for the examinations. This is further defined as the skills and learning of an accountant entering for the first time the accounting and business sector. This implies that CPALE candidates only need fundamental knowledge and requirements to be able to address the various needs of stakeholders that the candidate will be interacting with professionally in the future. I say that the various stakeholders should further discuss this very important issue and consideration.
Admittedly, there are many challenges in this journey of the accountancy profession. But the show must go on. Onwards Philippine CPA.
To be continued
Joel L. Tan-Torres was a former Commissioner of the Bureau of Internal Revenue. He has also held the various positions of Dean of the University of the Philippines Virata School of Business, Chairman of the Professional Regulatory Board of Accountancy, Tax partner of Reyes Tacandong & Co. and the SyCip Gorres and Velayo & Co., and director of various corporate boards. He is a Certified Public Accountant who garnered No. 1 in the CPA Board Examination of May 1979. He is now back to his tax and consultancy practice and can be contacted at joeltantorress@yahoo.com and his firm JL2T Consulting.
The BOA, under Republic Act 9298 or the Accountancy Act of 2004, can effect such changes even without the updated CHED CMO on the PGS.
Initial reports show that Amores had a heated argument with another player in Lumban, Laguna, which led to a shooting incident in a basketball game. This was not the first time Amores expressed anger thru aggression. Two years ago, Amores, while still playing college basketball in Jose Rizal University, got notoriously popular on social media for his belligerent actions against players in the opposing team. If physical contact in any activity like basketball can lead to anger, so can a verbal tussle as depicted in separate anger incidents in both houses in Congress. Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Miguel Zubiri were about to manhandle each other (I am not sure who would win in a slugfest) about a certain vote/ support for a bill. Fortunately, Senate Sergeant-at-Arms, retired Army General Roberto Ancan (PMA 1987) and Senator Pia Cayetano intervened and diffused the heightened tensions of the two angry legislators. More than 10 years ago, VP Sara Duterte, the Davao City mayor back then, punched a sheriff twice in the face. When the sheriff who was supposed to implement a writ of demolition tried to get away, VP Sara, visibly irked by the stubbornness of the sheriff and likely consumed by passion and obfuscation, held him by the nape and continued punching him. Anger happens as a regular occurrence. When anger is channeled into reckless behaviors, people get hurt,
physically for the most part. When anger is swept under the rug and ignored, people get hurt, mentally on the part of the angry person. In a radio interview, life coach Nathaniel Chua said that the best remedy to control anger is to avoid situations that cause stress that can trigger anger hormones. If the situation cannot be avoided, then people apply three different approaches to manage the anger – expressing, suppressing, and calming, according to most psychologists. Expressing angry feelings in an assertive and not in an aggressive manner is the best anger management tool, according to American psychologist Charles Spielberger, who specializes in the study of anger. Without being confrontational and argumentative, a person can express anger in a very toned-down manner. I witnessed one business owner repeatedly expressed anger, if not disappointment, towards his erring employees by uttering words of frustration and infuriation but in a gentle and fatherly voice. I wish I could express my own anger just like ASB, who consistently does so, naturally and consistently.
Spielberger said that anger is accompanied by physiological and biological changes just like any other emotion. He said that while anger can be suppressed and redirected, this response can potentially turn the anger emotion inward, which may cause serious medical problems to the per-
son himself, depression included. On the other hand, unexpressed anger can lead to pathological expressions of anger, such as passive-aggressive behavior. Controlling outward behavior is just as crucial as controlling internal responses. Some say try counting silently; others like my pastor friend suggest drinking a glass of water as anger management actions to lower heart rate and let intense feelings subside.
But in case none of these approaches seems to work, believers, whenever they are in the danger zone, need to resort to a strategy of calm and direction towards God. Some say anger is a passionate response to a real or perceived wrong. Others say anger is a God-given emotion of displeasure. After all, God Himself and Jesus Christ experienced anger. The Bible gives examples where response to anger can either be constructive or destructive. For us mortals, self–control is required to channel anger in a God–honoring way. Anger by itself is not a sin, but the response to such emotion can lead to sin as the apostle Paul said in Ephesians 4:26, “Be angry and do not sin.” King David addressed anger issues several times in the book of Psalms—“Stop being angry! Turn from your rage! Do not lose your temper—it only leads to harm.” (Psalm 37:8) To control our responses to anger, we should pray for the Holy Spirit in us to help us in our weakness and ask for grace from God. “In my distress I prayed to the Lord, and the Lord answered me and set me free.” (Psalm 118:5 )
Feeding the anger zone with destructive responses will almost
always cloud our mind and lead to harm, either for ourselves or for other people. The Dalai Lama coined the term Emotional Hygiene (distinct from Physical Hygiene) to encourage us to get anger, frustration and anxiety under control by cultivating constructive emotions such as compassion, love and patience. I’d say we also teach and learn Spiritual Hygiene —or “the wholeness of resources, motive, purpose, and character typical of someone who fits snugly into God’s broad design for shalom,” as defined by an American theologian. A genuine connection or a longing for Christ is the best antidote to anger danger. My pastor friend Gary always puts such personal relationship with Christ at the forefront in all anger situations. A spiritually sound person longs for Christ and Christlikeness, the epitome of all things calm, peaceful, grateful, patient, kind, prudent, righteous, among others. Psalm 103:8 describes God as “merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.” This is reiterated in Psalm 145:8, thus: “The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.” When we transform our hearts and minds into Christlikeness and its manifestations of spiritual hygiene, there should be less or no inclination to destructive behavior. The likes of Amores, Senators Cayetano and Zubiri, VP Sara, and all of us for that matter ought to take heaps of this heavenly cure when in the danger zone. There is no risk of overdosing on it.
A former infantry and intelligence officer in the Army, Siegfred Mison showcased his servant leadership philosophy in organizations such as the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Malcolm Law Offices, Infogix Inc., University of the East, Bureau of Immigration, and Philippine Airlines. He is a graduate of West Point in New York, Ateneo Law School, and University of Southern California. A corporate lawyer by profession, he is an inspirational teacher and a Spirit-filled writer with a mission. For questions and comments, please e-mail me at sbmison@gmail.com.
A stable regulatory environment is essential for attracting investments
THE stakeholders in the power sector are thankful that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has appointed former Justice Undersecretary Jesse Hermogenes Andres as Officer-in-Charge of the Energy Regulatory Commission. Mr. Andres formally assumed office last Wednesday as the chairman, OIC, and chief executive officer of the ERC.
The energy sector is critical for the country’s economy, and having a stable regulatory environment
is essential for attracting investments and ensuring the smooth functioning of the energy market. As chairman, OIC and CEO of the ERC, Mr. Andres can help provide stability by helping maintain the agency’s operations and decisionmaking processes following the Ombudsman’s suspension of former ERC chairperson Monalisa Dimalanta.
Incidentlly, Dimalanta discussed her case in a public forum on September 19, telling media representatives in the forum that in her motion for reconsideration of her preventive suspension, she argued that the Ombudsman has committed an error and abused its discretion by suspending her, adding that the grounds for preventive suspension were not present.
The suspended former ERC chairperson in my view committed grave misconduct and disregarded the sub judice rule by discussing
her case in said public forum, where she expounded on the merits of her motion for reconsideration of her suspension order by the Ombudsman. Dimalanta was meted a sixmonth preventive suspension by the Ombudsman due to complaints of grave misconduct, abuse of authority, and conduct prejudicial to public service. This is unacceptable. As a lawyer, Dimalanta should be well aware of the sub judice rule, which explicitly restricts comments and disclosures about pending judicial proceedings. The Supreme Court said the sub judice rule restricts comments and disclosures pertaining to the judicial proceedings in order to avoid prejudging the issue, influencing the court, or obstructing the administration of justice.
In fact, Dimalanta blatantly disregarded Section 19 of Canon II of the Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability by dis-
Two powerhouse industries are leaving the rest of Britain behind
By Tom Rees
ALMOST all of Britain’s growth in the past five years has been driven by just two superstar sectors, laying bare the task facing Prime Minister Keir Starmer to revive swathes of the economy.
Bloomberg analysis of official data shows an outsized contribution from technology and science-based industries is concealing a two-speed recovery, where sectors from hospitality to manufacturing are struggling to expand. A third of sectors accounting for almost 20 percent of gross value added are still below their 2019 levels of output almost five years after Covid struck, with others including real estate and construction barely higher. Instead, Britain has relied
on two—information & communication and professional, scientific & technical activities—to power its patchy performance on the back of a wave of innovation. The figures illustrate the mountain Starmer has to climb to deliver on his pledge to make Britain the fastest-growing economy in the Group of Seven. That hinges on the strongest performers continuing to boom, and the many misfiring sectors picking up steam. Potentially at stake is Labour’s grip on power. Its landslide election victory in July—and the rise of the far-right Reform UK party—was partly the result of the Conservatives’ failure to make good on its pledge to “level up” poorer regions of the country that are more reliant on traditional industries. Chancellor of the Exchequer Ra-
chel Reeves promised at the Labour Party conference this week to deliver a “budget for economic growth” on October 30. Since the end of 2019, the UK economy has been outpaced by every other G-7 nation except Germany. However, she is up against a recovery that is running out of steam, in part due to Labour’s dire warnings about the public finances and the prospect of tax hikes.
While figures due out on Monday are expected to confirm the economy grew a healthy 0.6 percent in the second quarter, more recent indicators suggest the pace has slowed to around 0.3 percent a quarter, as forecast by the Bank of England. GDP stagnated in July for the third month in four, while a key purchasing management survey showed activity cooling in September.
The sectoral analysis covers a tumultuous period for Britain when Brexit, Covid, worker shortages and the worst bout of inflation in decades damaged some firms but technological advances lifted others.
Information & communication and professional, scientific & technical activities contributed almost 90 percent of the 2.8 percent overall expansion in GVA since the end of 2019, with the former sector growing over 20 percent. There has been particular strength in telecommunications, computer programming, science research and development, and certain professional services, such as law and accounting.
“The tech sector has seen strong demand for services such as AI, automation, data analytics, cloud computing, and cybersecurity,” said Mar-
tin Sartorius, principal economist at the Confederation of British Industry. “Firms across various industries have been investing in these technologies to enhance efficiency, security, and decision-making capabilities.”
The UK has been highlighted as likely to be one of the biggest growth winners from AI taking off given its dependence on professional services.
Agriculture, a sector heavily affected by Brexit, is one that has struggled, suffering a sharp plunge in output from fishing in particular. Manufacturing, mining and quarrying, and hospitality were among the other sectors to shrink since 2019.
“We are seeing an uneven recovery, with an overreliance on services to drive overall economic activity, while other sectors struggle,” said Suren Thiru, economics director at
cussing her case in a public forum. It is my view that Dimalanta should be held liable for indirect contempt under Section 3(d), Rule 71 of the Revised Rules of Court. The former ERC chief, in appearing in the forum, clearly intended to interfere with the proper administration of justice and to influence the Ombudsman’s ability to impartially and independently rule on her motion for reconsideration of her suspension. By her action, she intentionally wanted to create a widespread public perception of innocence before a final decision is rendered. Her action is unacceptable. We hope that BusinessMirror will publish this letter to reveal our position that everyone must respect the rule of law at all times.
Jorge Bandola
Convenor Laban Konsyumer Inc.
the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.
“Global factors have also played a part with strong international demand for professional services, while firms exporting goods to the EU continue to struggle with postBrexit trade frictions,” he said.
The prospects of firms in these struggling industries are being shaped by the new Labour government. While hospitality firms have been hamstrung by worker shortages in recent years, Labour’s promise to clamp down on migration may keep the labor market tight. Manufacturers will also be watching government policy closely, as ministers draw up plans for a new industrial strategy that may be more interventionist. With assistance from Andrew Atkinson and Irina Anghel / Bloomberg
Farms, fisheries bear ₧3.77B in damage from ‘Enteng’–DA
TBy Justine Xyrah Garcia
dahil may [Election Registration Board (ERB)] hearing tayo
By Ada Pelonia @adapelonia
HE country’s agriculture and fisheries sector sustained P3.77 billion in damage from the onslaught brought by severe tropical storm “Enteng,” according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).
In its final bulletin, the DA said the volume of production losses in Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol Region, Western and Eastern Visayas reached 111,838 metric tons (MT).
Rice suffered the brunt of the storm’s impact at 86,544 MT. This was followed by corn at 8,641 MT, highvalue crops at 2,785 MT, cassava at 136 MT, and aquaculture at 13,732 MT.
The livestock sector also lost 2,429 heads, which include chicken, swine, cattle, carabao, goat, sheep, duck, horse, turkey, and guinea fowl.
The report also indicated that the production losses were equivalent to P1.93 billion for rice, P136.79 million for corn, P93.64 million for highvalue crops (HVC), and P2.17 million for cassava.
For the livestock and fisheries sector, the DA said the value reached P14.59 million and P78.16 million, respectively. The agricultural infrastructure also sustained damage valued at P1.52 billion.
According to the department, tropical cyclone “Enteng” affected 88,963 farmers and fishers with 72,680 hect -
ares of agricultural areas. Of this, the DA said 60,920 hectares had a chance of recovery.
“Best possible efforts are being undertaken to carry out assistance and appropriate interventions to the affected farmers,” it said.
The DA said it has allocated interventions such as P277.54 million worth of assistance (seeds, bio-control measures, and farm tools) from DA Regional Field Offices and fingerlings (tilapia, carp, and catfish) from the Bureau of
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR.
The Survival and Recovery (SURE) Loan Program from the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC), with a loanable amount of up to P25,000 payable in three years at zero interest, was also included.
According to DA, the available funds from the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) will be disbursed to indemnify affected farmers.
THE Commission on Elections reminded prospective voters that registration and reactivation for the May 2025 polls, both in the Philippines and abroad, will end today, September 30.
This is the final chance for eligible citizens to ensure their participation in the upcoming elections as the poll body will not be extending the deadline.
“ Wala pong intention ang Comelec na mag extend ng registration period.
Sa mga kababayan natin na hindi pa nagpaparehistro, magpapa transfer ng registration, reactivate, or may babaguhin, hanggang September 30 na lang po yan,” Comelec Chairman George Garcia said in an interview on Sunday.
(Comelec has no intention of extending the registration period. For our countrymen who have not yet registered, wish to transfer their registration, reactivate, or make changes, the deadline is only until September 30.)
According to the poll chief, the twoyear registration period should have provided ample time for Filipinos to complete their voter registration. Garcia also reiterated the importance of adhering to the deadline as this ensures a smooth transition into the next phase of election preparations.
Kailangan matapos namin agad
photo shows the strong current from Las Piñas River during typhoon Enteng, the typhoon damage part of Las Piñas River drive and flooded some houses behind it.
Telcos seek tieup with govt to reach more remote areas
@lorenzmarasigan
THEcountry’s telecommunications giants have joined forces to propose a blueprint aimed at expanding connectivity to Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (Gidas), presenting their plan to Malacañang in a bid to bridge the digital divide.
Connectivity Plan Task Force (CPTF) Head Ernest Cu said the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) has outlined a plan to build new telecom towers in remote parts of the country through public-private collaboration.
cludes providing SIM cards with data plans to unconnected Filipino households through government subsidies between 2024 and 2028.
Each SIM will offer an automatic monthly load of 50GB for a year, capable of serving the average usage of a five-member household. is initiative will facilitate better access to education, healthcare, government services, and economic opportunities for those in remote communities.
least one provider, avoiding unnecessary competition and duplication of efforts in a single area.
To ensure the project’s success, the CPTF is advocating for legislative support to streamline the permitting process for new cell sites, guarantee consistent energization for telco towers, and rationalize spectrum user fees.
‘Natural
gas crucial to PHL energy transition’
OPEZ-LED First Gen Corp. said its natural gas facilities are integral in building up renewable energy (RE) capacity as part of the Marcos administration’s thrust to pursue a sustainable and climate-resilient economy. During the recent forum hosted by the Net Zero Carbon Alliance (NZCA), First Gen Chairman and CEO Federico
cally” and cites “a need to ensure grid stability and reliability.”
While First Gen aims to grow its low-carbon energy portfolio to 13,000 MW by 2030, of which 9,000 MW will be from RE, Lopez said it is also important to “keep the lights on during the energy transition.”
First Gen started operating its lique ed natural gas (LNG) terminal and ushered its oating storage and regasi cation vessel, the BW Batangas, to support its eet of gas plants with 2,017 MW of capacity located inside the First Gen Clean Energy Complex (FGCEC) in Batangas. Plans are also underway to build the 1,200-MW natural gas- red Santa Maria power plant also in Batangas.
e telco industry’s proposal aims to change this by providing critical infrastructure and digital services to the country’s most underserved communities.
Industry players proposed to “maximize utilization of existing towers and build new infrastructure in Gidas.”
A key part of the proposal in-
Currently, over 7,000 barangays, home to nearly 25 million residents, fall under the Gida classification. ese areas often face significant challenges in accessing essential services due to limited connectivity.
“ e telco industry is fully dedicated to leveraging our partnership within the industry and with the government to reach underserved areas where the private sector has been unable to build because of the negative cost to business,” said Cu. By maximizing the use of existing sites while strategically building new ones in underserved areas, Cu said the project will minimize overlaps among providers and optimize coverage across the country. is allows each barangay in Gidas to receive telco support from at
Consunji Group to sell stake in Cemex
THE Consunji Group said it will sell a small stake in Cemex Holdings Philippines Inc. (CHP) to ensure that its shareholdings would comply with the required minimum public float of 10 percent.
DMCI’s CFO and incoming Cemex President Herbert Consunji said the Consunjis’ private holding fi rm Dacon Corp. is committed to buy all the minority shares tendered.
“Dacon will sell a small stake in CHP so that it will remain compliant with the minimum public ownership requirement of the PSE [Philippine Stock Exchange]. We will fi nd a buyer.”
He said the planned sale will ensure that the trading of its shares is not suspended and the stock will not be delisted if its public float falls below the minimum 10 percent after its tender offer.
e Consunji Group will have to undertake a mandatory tender offer for the remaining CHP shares held by minority stockholders, after which the CHP’s public float might fall below the 10 percent required by the PSE.
DMCI Holdings Inc., the publicly-listed holding fi rm of the Consunji Group, said it expects to close the $305.6-million deal for the acquisition of cement fi rm Cemex by end-November.
Consunji said the group is still waiting for the fairness opinion that will anchor the acquisition. PWC Philippines (Isla Lipana and Co.) was tapped for the task.
“At least we now have the PCC [Philippine Competition Commission] approval.”
He said DMCI intends to keep Cemex listed even after the acquisition.
“We want them to stay [listed]. Its better that they are listed,” he said.
Consunji also said the group will keep most of the employees as “we believe in local talent.”
DMCI in April offered to acquire the Philippines’s fourth-largest cement manufacturer in the Philippines from its Mexico-based mother fi rm Cemex SAB de CV.
e acquisition will require DMCI to issue a tender offer to the remaining 10.14 percent publicly-
owned shares of Cemex. Last month, DMCI said it is looking at issuing P10 billion
worth of preferred shares to its parent fi rm, Dacon, to raise funds for the Cemex acquisition.
ese policy reforms are expected to reduce regulatory hurdles, accelerating the deployment of new infrastructure to reach Gidas more efficiently.
According to the Digital 2024 report released earlier this year by Data Reportal, 26.4 percent of Filipinos—over a quarter of the population—remained offl ine as of January 2024. President Marcos Jr. earlier vowed to improve the country’s connectivity infrastructure, pledging to implement policy reforms and enforce streamlined processes to eliminate barriers to network expansion.
peak power demand will rise to 68,483 MW by 2050 from 16,596 MW in 2022, or by an annual average growth rate of 5.2 percent.
RE power plants, such as those running on geothermal, hydro, wind and solar energy, do not emit carbon dioxide, one of the greenhouse gases behind adverse climate change.
The PEP also acknowledges that solar and wind power are “prone to ramp down drasti-
“This is very important in the [energy] transition because natural gas has the ability to do two things: it can generate a kilowatt-hour with half the emissions of a coal plant. Secondly, as more and more [REs] come into the grid, [which are] intermittent, you will need to have power plants that can ‘load follow,’ that can ramp up and down very quickly. Natural gas can do that; coal cannot,” Lopez said.
The First Gen RE plant portfolio includes geothermal, hydro, wind and solar facilities with 1,651 MW in capacity. Under development are over 80 MW of additional geothermal capacity and battery energy storage systems under subsidiary Energy Development Corp., as well as expansion projects in hydro, solar, and wind.
Banking&Finance
Digital transactions VAT may raise ₧80B for govt
By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM
THE bill imposing a 12-percent value-added tax (VAT) on digital transactions expected enacted this week will level the playing field for local and foreign digital service providers (DSPs), streamline tax administration and shore up government coffers by at least P80 billion in revenue, Senate President Francis Joseph G. Escudero said over the weekend.
The VAT on Digital Transactions, a priority measure of the administration, is set to be signed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on October 2. The measure is envisioned to capture revenues lost due to the vagueness of existing laws pertaining to taxation of e-commerce transactions, particularly foreign companies that are not based in the Philippines but provide services to local consumers.
Lahat ng negosyo, malaki man o maliit, ay nagbabayad ng buwis. Hindi naman yata makatarungan na ang mga higanteng negosyante na hindi naka-base sa Pilipinas pero kumikita ng malaki sa pagbenta ng kanilang mga serbisyo sa mga Pilipino ay hindi sakop ng parehas na buwis. Pinapantay lang nitong bagong batas ang obligasyon sa pagbayad ng buwis sa lahat ng kumikita dito sa bansa,” Escudero said.
The Senate President noted that other nations, including the neighboring countries of the Philippines, have been imposing the same tax on digital services and transactions now that consumption of the same has become almost universal.
Citing projections by the Department of Finance, Escudero said the imposition of VAT on these digital transactions could generate anywhere between P80 billion and P145 billion for the period of 2025 to 2028, depending on the compliance of the subject taxpayers.
The new measure amends certain provisions of the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC) of 1997 to make the collection of taxes more equitable and attuned to the changes in the economic landscape brought about by rap-
id advances in the use of technology.
Under the enrolled bill—a consolidated version of House Bill (HB) 4122 and Senate Bill (SB) 2528—that was transmitted to the President for review and signature late last August, digital services are now explicitly part of the coverage of Philippine tax law and even non-resident DSPs who have no physical presence in the country but render services within the Philippines and whose services are consumed domestically will be covered by the law.
“It cannot be denied that the use and consumption of digital products and services within the Philippines has grown exponentially over the past decade and such economic activity from the use of new technology has become more prevalent. The amendments to the NIRC are merely an updating of the law to make it more attuned to present times,” Escudero said.
Section 108-A of the NIRC now mandates the imposition of the VAT on digital services consumed in the Philippines, whether these are provided by a resident or non-resident DSP.
Digital service is defined as any service supplied over the internet or other electronic network with the use of information technology and where the supply of the service is essentially automated.
These include online search engines, online marketplace or e-marketplace, cloud service, online media and advertising, online platform, or digital goods.
This means popular streaming services such as Netflix and Disney+, and online shopping sites such as Shein, Temu and Amazon will now have to pay the VAT for their digital services that are consumed in the Philippines.
“The challenge now is on the law’s implementation. BIR must see to it that the process will be easy and that there is no confusion on the part of the affected taxpayers in order to ensure full compliance,” Escudero said. Authored and sponsored by Committee on Ways and Means Chairman Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, SBN 2528 is a consolidation of SB 250 filed by Sen. Pia Cayetano and HB 4122 or the House version of the measure.
Perspectives
BTr aims to borrow ₧145B in Oct to meet obligations
By Reine Juvierre Alberto @reine_alberto
THE Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) aims to raise P145 billion from the domestic debt market in October 2024 to meet the country’s fiscal obligations and fund various government programs and projects.
The programmed borrowing is slightly lower by P5 billion or 3.33 percent than the P150 billion planned borrowing in the same month a year ago.
According to the memorandum issued by the Treasury on the schedule of government securities offering, the government is set to borrow P100 billion through Treasury bills (T-bills) and another P45 billion via Treasury bonds (T-bonds).
By Justine Xyrah Garcia
THE impending transmission of P89 billion in reserve funds of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) to the national treasury is unconstitutional, labor groups allege.
Led by the Nagkaisa Labor Coalition, various labor leaders and trade unions filed a motion to intervene before the Supreme Court (SC) seeking to stop the fund transfer, which they described as an act of “negative social justice.”
The groups argued that the move would severely weaken the country’s healthcare system, as these reserve
Advancing AI Across Insurance
THE evolution of artificial intelligence (AI), including the new wave of generative AI (Gen AI), is transforming industries. Many insurance organizations are already using AI to provide new services for customers and enhance back-office processes, however, the pace of implementation is hindering progress and there are growing concerns around trust, accuracy, and security. So, how can insurance firms adopt AI effectively and unlock its full potential?
The current landscape
MANY insurance firms have already implemented machine learning or other AI solutions at an operational level to improve business processes. With enough training data, these algorithms can better analyze risk and predict outcomes, adding accuracy to risk models and pricing structures. These solutions are often developed to solve a specific problem, but there is an opportunity to quickly adjust for wider use across the value chain. Both Traditional and Gen AI could empower organizations to enhance actuarial models, deliver personalized insurance cover, or even increase the pace of insurance claims. But the process of doing so appears to be slow, with testing and implementation processes often taking several months to complete. How are insurers approaching AI transformation?
Yields
Tuesday. The Treasury will offer P15 billion in T-bonds with a 5-year tenor on October 1, while 7-year government securities will be sold on October 15.
Further, 10-year T-bonds are scheduled to be auctioned off on October 29.
Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said the narrower budget deficit amounting to P697 billion as of end-August would fundamentally reduce the government’s borrowing requirements.
For short-term tenors, P20 billion worth of T-bills will be offered by the Treasury for each of the five Mondays of October.
The Treasury will auction P6.5 billion in 91- and 182-day tenors, respectively, and P7 billion worth of 364-day tenor T-bills, which will be issued on October 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30.
Meanwhile, the government targets to borrow P45 billion through T-bonds, raising P15 billion each
funds are crucial for providing health benefits and services for PhilHealth members.
According to Nagkaisa Chairman and Federation of Free Workers President Jose G. Matula, the groups were forced to pursue a legal action as their requests for dialogue were unheard.
“We have exhausted administrative remedies but to no avail. Our letters to the President [Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.], [Finance] Secretary Ralph G. Recto and Philhealth remain unacted,” Matula said. “They remain unmovable in their course of action, and resorting to the [SC] is now our legal imperative.”
By Rizal Raoul S. Reyes @brownindio
chart that records each Fed official’s projection for the central bank’s key short-term interest rate”—estimated an additional 0.50 basis points (bps) rate cut for 2024 and 1.00 bps for 2025 and 0.50
A budget shortfall occurs when government spending outpaces revenue collection. Borrowing will fill this gap and enable the government to continue its operations.
“Even borrowing requirements of the national government are seasonally lower in [the fourth quarter], with less maturities of government securities during the holiday-shortened month and quarter,” Ricafort said.
Citing the ruling of the High Tribunal in the Ople v. Torres case, Nagkaisa said that it is the Supreme Court’s duty to prioritize public interest—especially in issues where technicalities could undermine the welfare of the public.
It can be recalled that the Department of Finance initially released Circular 003-204 that directs the transfer of unused subsidies from government-owned and -controlled corporations, specifically PhilHealth.
This circular was issued to bolster the government’s unprogrammed appropriations, in accordance with Section 1(d) of XLIII of the 2024
in these countries are at earlier stages of development.
General Appropriations Act. Aside from the “questionable” provisions, Matula also criticized PhilHealth for continuously borrowing funds when it has reserve funds available.
“We cannot understand this. Why give back funds to the National Treasury, then secure a loan to help achieve the universal health care mandate? It’s like wasting our resources for health twice over to fund unprogrammed projects,” he said.
As of this writing, PhilHealth has already transferred P30 billion out of its nearly P90 billion reserve funds to the national treasury.
“AI is not just a tool for efficiency; it is a catalyst for innovation in the insurance industry. In the Philippines, we see a growing interest in leveraging AI to enhance customer experiences and streamline operations. However, it is crucial to address the challenges related to data quality and regulatory compliance to fully realize AI’s potential. By adopting a strategic approach and collaborating with trusted partners, insurance firms can navigate these challenges and unlock significant value,” KPMG R.G. Manabat & Co. Vice Chairman, COO and Head of Advisory Emmanuel P. Bonoan said.
While businesses understand the potential advantages of scaling initiatives, there is a hesitation to introduce AI more widely across the workforce, partly due to the speed of evolution and associated risks. There are also growing concerns around data quality along with ethics and biases (particularly when using legacy datasets), in addition to regulatory compliance across jurisdictions. The inability to respond to these
INSURANCE organizations are approaching AI transformation strategically and with cautious optimism. Many have seen early success with a handful of integrated AI solutions, where use of the technology has typically been developed to tackle a specific problem, such as quality assurance. Others are developing an understanding of the wider capabilities through integrated platforms, such as Microsoft Copilot, learning to quickly create human-like text, images, audio, and videos.
could result in significant risk to reputation and rising pressure from shareholders.
Navigating the associated risks of AI
WHILE the opportunities aligned with AI are significant, the associated risks are also increasing. Eighty-five percent of insurance CEOs believe that generative AI is a double-edge sword, in that it may not only aid in the detection of cyber-attacks but also provide new attack strategies for adversaries. However, avoiding AI altogether will also expose insurers to the risk of missing out on potential opportunities and benefits and losing competitive advantage.
How KPMG professionals can help
BY combining deep industry and functional knowledge with the right technologies, KPMG firms can help you to unlock business value and harness the full power and potential of AI with speed, agility, and confidence.
THE operator of the Unacash app claims that the Philippines is in “a lofty position” in the digital payment solutions sector within Southeast Asia.
Digido Finance Corp. based this on a July data that showed the country boasts a 33.1 percent point-of-sale (POS) share of users among adults aged 15 years old and above. The UnaCash app operator said this data reflects a major increase from the 3.2 percent POS share recorded in 2018, reflecting a tenfold increase attributed to the surge in mobile commerce and the rise of POS kiosks.
Indonesia, the largest country in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), showed the highest share of POS usage of 67.5 percent, mainly due to the widespread use of cloud technology adoption, thriving e-commerce, and successful integration of digital payments. With the share of POS users of 4.5 percent in Vietnam, 2.8 percent in Malaysia, and 1.6 percent in Singapore, POS markets
FBy Bless Aubrey Ogerio
ILIPINOS are at the forefront of mobile app adoption, particularly for eWallets and payment applications, as a survey reported that 61.6 percent ranked these apps among their top three most frequently used, nearly double the global average.
Based on the 2024 consumer survey by Appdome Inc., this surge in adoption (94.3 percent higher than the global benchmark) marks the highest recorded dominance of eWallets in the Philippines since the study’s inception four years ago.
According to Digido, the latter data also “indicates a potential for growth.”
“POS adoption reflects the country’s increasing digitalization and the widespread use of mobile payment solutions,”
Digido Head of Product Erwin G. Ocampo was quoted in a statement as saying. “The development of self-service kiosks and enhanced e-commerce platforms have further contributed to this significant rise.”
Emerging opportunities
Meanwhile, the company said the buy now, pay later (BNPL) adoption in the Philippines has expanded 9.6-times since 2018, “reflecting a strong consumer shift towards flexible payment solutions.”
There is a stable share of BNPL users at 24.7 percent, placing it among the top three countries in Southeast Asia. For users aged fifteen and above, 3.3 percent increase was reflected monthly from September 2018 until July 2024. The country’s solid performance in BNPL adoption reflects a growing trend towards financial solutions such as
But even if mobile payment platforms are transforming how consumers do their financial transactions, from paying bills to transferring funds and making purchases, users are also becoming more discerning. With heightened concerns about social engineering scams, such as smishing (79.5 percent) and phishing (78.9 percent), developers are expected to prioritize fraud prevention and data privacy. Of those surveyed, almost 77.5 percent said they have deleted mobile apps because of security issues and possible hazards related to digital financial instruments. Further, 47.3 percent of respondents think that mobile app developers should have the primary responsibility for guaranteeing security. This raised the demand
this, primarily driven by increasing digital financial services and consumer demand for flexible payment options. Singapore led the region in share of BNPL users at 75.4 percent, with its user base having increased 7.1 times with a modest average monthly growth rate of 2.8 percent over the same period. Vietnam, displayed a penetration rate of 24.9 percent—a comparable growth rate of 7.1 times—with a 2.8 percent monthly increase. Meanwhile, other Southeast Asian markets such as Malaysia (10.2 percent), Thailand (6.0 percent), Brunei (4.2 percent), and Cambodia (3.6 percent) had lower share of BNPL users.
“It’s quite evident that in the local market, there is a growing appetite for BNPL services, driven by increased e-commerce and a rising preference for convenient financial options,” Ocampo added. “Be it through the online space, or through instore channels, its developments present significant opportunities for businesses and investors looking to potentially engage with the expansion of the digital economy in the country.”
NASRALLAH’S ASSASSINATION
The ripple effect across the Arab world
By Kareem Chehayeb & Zeina Karam | The Associated Press
BEIRUT—Israel’s assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah is a monumental and hugely demoralizing blow to the group he led for 32 years, marking a significant inflection point for Lebanon and the region.
Hezbollah’s announcement of his death Friday triggered tears and celebrations across the Arab world, pointing to the widespread reach and influence of a divisive man who has been at the forefront of Middle Eastern politics for decades.
The 64-year-old Nasrallah headed arguably the most powerful paramilitary force in the world — also a US-designated terror organization — that is now left without a clear successor at a critical juncture. It remains to be seen whether his death will be a trigger for an allout war between the two sides that could potentially drag in Iran and the United States.
Here are some things to know about the situation:
Is it a decapitating blow?
NASRALLAH’S assassination is a severe blow to the group, not a decapitating one. But analysts say Hezbollah will need some time to absorb the shock and recover.
Nasrallah’s killing is a significant setback for Hezbollah, not only because of the pivotal role he played in Hezbollah’s strategy but also because his elimination reveals the extent of the group’s vulnerability vis-à-vis Israel,” said Lina Khatib, an associate fellow at Chatham House, an international affairs think tank.
This will shake the confidence of Hezbollah’s Iran-backed allies across the Arab world, from the Houthis in Yemen to the Popular Mobilization Forces in Iraq, as well as Iran itself, sparking a tectonic shift in Iran’s network of influence in the Middle East,” she added.
It is not the first time Israel has killed a Hezbollah leader. Nasrallah took over from Abbas Mousawi, who was killed by an Israeli helicopter attack in 1992.
But Hezbollah today is very different from the ragtag organization it was in the ’90s. In recent years, he has presided over an army-like group estimated to have tens of thousands of fighters and a sophisticated arsenal capable of reaching anywhere inside Israel. It has become the chief part of a cluster of Iranian-backed factions and governments of the self-named “Axis of Resistance.”
“Hezbollah will not back down following the killing of its leader, as it will need to convey steadfastness in the face of Israel if it’s going to retain its credibility as the strongest ‘resistance’ actor in the region,” said Maha Yahya, director of the Beirut-based Carnegie Middle East Center.
Iran’s dilemma IN his first remarks Saturday following Nasrallah’s death, Iran’s supreme leader gave no indication of how Tehran will respond.
In a vague statement, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said, “all regional resistance forces” support and stand beside Hezbollah, but he did not elaborate.
Iran is the main backer of Hezbollah and other anti-Israeli militant groups in the region, but it has largely avoided clashing directly with Israel due to domestic considerations.
Hezbollah, however, is Iran’s chief ally and proxy group, and Tehran may have to respond to retain its credibility with its partners in the axis.
“Iran is very much in a policy dilemma right now,” said Firas Maksad, of the Middle East Institute. On one hand, clearly it very much has wanted to avoid an all-out and direct confrontation, given its long-standing preference for asymmetric warfare and using proxies.
But on the other hand, a lack of a worthy response given the magnitude of the event will only encourage Israel to push deeper past Iran’s red lines,” he said. Not responding also sends a signal of weakness to its regional proxies.
Any direct Iranian involvement risks dragging Israel’s chief ally, the US, into the war, just over a month before the US elections and at a time Iran has signaled its interest in renewing negotiations with the US over its nuclear program.
Maksad said one possible scenario is a coordinated response from the entire axis. Whether that will be coupled with a direct response from Iran itself is an open question.
Who will succeed Nasrallah?
THERE is no one nearly as influential and respected among the group’s remaining leadership as Nasrallah.
The man widely regarded as his heir is Hashem Safieddine, a cousin of Nasrallah who oversees the group’s political affairs. It is not known if he survived Friday’s attack, and the Hezbollah statement announcing Nasrallah’s death Friday made no mention of a successor.
The group’s Shura Council will have to meet in the coming days or weeks to choose its new leadership.
Lebanese journalist and writer Maher Abi Nader said Safieddine or Nabil Kaouk, a member of the group’s executive council, were the likely successors.
Who was longtime Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah?
HEZBOLLAH leader Hassan Nasrallah led the Lebanese militant group for the past three decades, transforming it into one of the most powerful paramilitary groups in the Middle East.
Hezbollah confirmed Saturday that he was killed in an Israeli air raid that levelled six apartment buildings in Beirut the previous day.
An astute strategist, the 64-year-old Nasrallah reshaped Hezbollah into an archenemy of Israel, cementing alliances with Shiite religious leaders in Iran and Palestinian militant groups such as Hamas. Under his leadership, Hezbollah fought wars against Israel and took part in the conflict in neighboring Syria, helping tip the balance of power in favor of President Bashar Assad. Idolized by his Lebanese Shiite followers and respected by millions of others across the Arab and Islamic world, Nasrallah held the title of sayyid, an honorific meant to signify the Shiite cleric’s lineage dating back to the Prophet Muhammad, the founder of Islam.
A fiery orator viewed as an extremist in the United States and much of the West, he was also considered a pragmatist compared to the militants who dominated Hezbollah after its founding in 1982, during Lebanon’s civil war.
Despite the power he wielded, Nasrallah lived largely in hiding for fear of an Israeli assassination.
How he rose to power
Born in 1960 into a poor Shiite family in Beirut’s impoverished northern suburb of Sharshabouk, Nasrallah was later displaced to south Lebanon. He studied theology and joined the Amal movement, a Shiite political and paramilitary organization, before becoming one of Hezbollah’s founders.
Hezbollah was formed by Iranian Revolutionary Guard members who came to Lebanon in the summer of 1982 to fight invading Israeli forces. It was the first group that Iran backed and used as a way to export its brand of political Islam.
Nasrallah built a power base as Hezbollah became part of a cluster of Iranian-backed factions and governments known as the Axis of Resistance.
Two days after its leader, 39-year-old Sayyed Abbas Musawi, was killed in an Israeli helicopter gunship raid in south Lebanon, Hezbollah chose Nasrallah as its secretary-general in February 1992.
Five years later, the United States designated Hezbollah a terrorist organization.
Under Nasrallah, Hezbollah was credited with leading the war of attrition that led to the withdrawal of Israeli troops from south Lebanon in 2000, after an 18-year occupation. Nasrallah’s eldest son, Hadi, was killed in 1997, fighting against Israeli forces.
After Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000, Nasrallah rose to iconic status both within Lebanon and throughout the Arab world. His messages were beamed on Hezbollah’s own radio and satellite TV station.
T hat status was further cemented when, in 2006, Hezbollah fought Israel to a stalemate during the 34-day war.
When Syria’s civil war erupted in 2011, Hezbollah fighters rushed in, siding with Assad’s forces — even though Hezbollah’s popularity took a dive as the Arab world ostracized Assad.
Nasrallah’s role in the current conflict
A day after the Israel-Hamas war started on Oct. 7, Hezbollah began attacking Israeli military posts along the border calling it a “backup front” for Gaza.
In speeches throughout the conflict, Nasrallah argued that Hezbollah’s cross-border strikes had pulled away Israeli forces that would otherwise be focused on Hamas in Gaza and insisted that
W hoever ends up replacing Nasrallah in the current atmosphere will have to contend with a deeply weakened force facing growing anger and frustration on the home front.
In just over 10 days, the Iranbacked group has been hit by a series of devastating attacks that dealt a severe blow to its military structure and exposed deep intelligence failures.
Explosives hidden in the group’s pagers and walkie-talkies killed dozens of people and wounded thousands — many of them Hezbollah members. Israel has also rained down missiles on residential areas where the group has a strong presence, killing hundreds and displacing tens of thousands of people.
Nasrallah was regarded by supporters as a charismatic and shrewd leader. Despite being a divisive figure, he is credited with pushing Israeli forces from south Lebanon in 2000 following an 18year occupation, as well as transforming the organization from a local militia to a major political player in Lebanon and a top armed force in the region.
He held tremendous sway over the group and the country’s Shiite community. Orna Mizrahi, a senior researcher at the Tel Aviv-based think tank Institute for National Security Studies, noted that Nasrallah was sometimes a “voice of reason” who was interested in engaging Israel in a war of attrition, holding the militant group back from using the full force of their formidable arsenal against Israel. Filling those shoes will be a
tough act, analysts say.
Growing tensions in Lebanon ANY new Hezbollah leader will also have to contend with rising resentment and frustration among a significant section of the Lebanese population. For years, critics say, Hezbollah deprived Lebanon of its sovereignty by behaving as a state within a state and making unilateral decisions involving war and peace.
Many Christians and Sunnis, as well as a portion of the Shiite community, are opposed to the war and what they regard as Nasrallah’s unilateral decision to attack Israel in support of the Gaza front on October 8, a day after the Hamas attack on Israel that ignited the war in the Palestinian territory.
Tensions are extremely high in tiny Lebanon, which is already drowning under the force of an economic meltdown and multiple other crises. A humanitarian crisis has rapidly unfolded with tens of thousands of people displaced, many of them sleeping in parks and makeshift shelters. Dozens of schools designated as sheltered became full within days.
The country is bankrupt and has been without a president and functioning government for two years. In the void, sectarian tensions and frustrations within the country could spiral into armed violence.
Yahya, the analyst, said Hezbollah now has to contend with all of that as it struggles to regroup.
“And it will have to be more accommodating to Lebanon’s other political parties and communities,” she said.
FAMILIES fleeing Israeli airstrikes react to the news of the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut, Saturday, September 28, 2024. AP/BILAL HUSSEIN
SUPPORTERS of a Pakistani Shiite Muslim group “Imamia Student Organization” shout slogans during a protest against the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, in Lahore, Pakistan, Saturday, September 28, 2024. AP/K.M. CHAUDARY
SUPPORTERS of a Pakistani Shiite Muslim group “Imamia Student Organization” hold a portrait of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Lahore, Pakistan, Saturday, September 28, 2024. AP/K.M. CHAUDARY
COS UNVEILS AUTUMN WINTER COLLECTIONS
GLOBAL fashion brand COS has returned to September’s New York Fashion Week, unveiling its Autumn Winter 2024 mainline and Atelier collections. Renowned for its commitment to precise craftsmanship and innovative design, COS draws inspiration from contemporary culture and the arts, seamlessly blending elegance with modernity. The event took place in a cavernous warehouse at the historic Brooklyn Navy Yard, where several guests arrived by boat, setting the stage for the unique experience. Inside, a striking maze transformed the industrial space, guiding models through sculptural walls as they showcased 43 distinctive looks, capturing the essence of COS’ design philosophy.
This season, nature’s influence is evident in the collection’s tactile surfaces, construction and color palette. Earthy hues dominate, enhanced by rich textures and fabrications, with vibrant green accents adding a fresh contrast. Heritage fabrics and traditional designs are reimagined through modernist cuts, hardware embellishments and innovative layering techniques. The womenswear mainline collection embodies contemporary femininity, brought to life through modern tailoring. Trouser suits with softened structures and oversized, fluid silhouettes define the look. Elegantly refined, sheer separates and floor-length dresses featured alongside relaxed wool coordinates, duffle coats, smooth leather jackets and shearling.
Menswear focuses on reinventing classic wardrobe staples. Formal tailoring is relaxed for day-to-evening dressing with barrel-leg trousers that are cut to fit loosely on the body, worn with draped silk shirts for a softer aesthetic. Fluid trousers are paired with oversized jackets featuring leather detailing, while tonal looks combine suiting with tactile cashmere layers. The show also marked the debut of the Autumn Winter 2024 COS Atelier collection which draws inspiration from the elegance of ballet and the fluidity of movement, exploring sculptural elements in each silhouette. Rooted in tailoring, the collection features softened shapes, layering and draping that allow the clothing to take on a life of its own and create unique shapes.
A selection of items from the show collection are available immediately at COS stores and cos.com and limited numbers will continue to drop throughout the season. COS Atelier will be available from October.
Corso Como 88 brings Tuscan style to Manila
EVEN with products from Europe deeply desired by Filipino fashion enthusiasts already in its stores, Corso Como 88 still wants to elevate its goal of offering high quality by introducing two alluring Italian names: Acqua dell’Elba perfumes and Buti Pelletterie bags.
“These brands perfectly complement our existing offerings, showcasing the best of Italian luxury and craftsmanship,” said Imelda Menguito-Sciandra, president and CEO of Corso Como 88, the local purveyor of Italian and European luxury labels, and is the official and exclusive distributor for several coveted bag and shoe brands and fragrance lines from Europe.
“I normally supply to people who sell. But since I went back to Manila, my dream was to have a store offering a lot of things made in Italy. Acqua dell’Elba and Buti Pelletterie are brands which I know by heart,” shared Menguito-Sciandra, a longtime resident in Italy.
“I don’t really just want to offer brands which are easily done, without history, without tradition, without passion. These two brands, they’re made with tradition,” she added.
“The families who do them have tradition. They are old families of Florence, they know what they do.”
ACQUA DELL’ELBA: THE ESSENCE OF THE SEA IN A FRAGRANCE
ACQUA dell’Elba is a perfume line inspired by the island Elba, off the west coast of Italy, in the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is the largest island of the Tuscan Archipelago and is famous as Napoleon’s place of exile in 1814–1815.
The scent is best known for incorporating aquatic scenes not only in its perfumes but also in its bath products.
“Acqua dell’Elba, the plants which are put in the scents, are from the island of Elba. So it’s very hard to replicate elsewhere,” said Menguito-Sciandra. “It’s very unique. They don’t have a lot of lines of perfumes because they specialize in what they have. It’s very fresh and very long-lasting. And the founders give back to society.”
When you buy a perfume, a certain percentage of the profit of the company goes to cleaning the environment, the sea and the beaches in Elba.
“It’s not just a perfume. It’s not just something that you buy off the rack. There is a story and tradition behind the scents and behind the products,” assured MenguitoSciandra. “They are exclusive to us, because I will only bring scents which would be exclusive to Corso Como.”
ABOUT BUTI PELLETTERIE:
‘LE BELLE ITALIANE NEL MONDO”
A TUSCAN leathergoods company, Buti Pelletterie was founded in the 1950s by Pilade Buti in the countryside between Firenze, Pisa and Lucca. His artisan career started with the creation of chestnut baskets trimmed with leather and woven leather objects.
“Buti is a very old family who has a big [property which we might call an hacienda here]. Actually, when you Google Buti’s name in Tuscany, it’s not just a last name. It’s a whole neighborhood,” explained Menguito-Sciandra. “Because they do a lot of things which are made in Italy. One of them is the bags. They have a passion for the bags. The designer is Amerigo Buti. He is very passionate about the bags they have.”
Today, the third generation of the Buti family has also joined the company, with Linda Buti, granddaughter of the founder and daughter of Amerigo, learning the trade.
Menguito-Sciandra continued:
“From the leather they use for the bags, they’re all Italian—meaning the cow is Italian. So, it’s from Tuscany. So, the cow, the leather, it’s all from that area. So, the whole family, the company of Buti, they do the tanning, the curing, the shaping of the leather. So, from the provenienza, the origin of the leather, they know already the animal.
“And then, they also have, besides the calfskin, the lambskin, they also have exotic leather, the crocodile, which are also from Italy. These are sustainable. Farmed. I brought Buti because I know the passion behind that. There’s love in how these bags are made.”
THE ITALIAN CONNECTION
MENGUITO-SCIANDRA has been living in Italy for 22 years:
“I studied culinary there. Culinary is also an art. I stayed in Florence, which is the capital of the Renaissance. In Florence, that’s where I saw the bags.
“That’s where I saw the shoes. That’s where I saw the belts. From that, the love for the craftsmanship. Italians are very reklamador. They complain a lot. They get to you because they complain. After 20 years of living there, I got to understand that they keep on complaining because they are very hard to please.
Sunnies World brings together 4 beauty and lifestyle brands
I HAVE always had the impression that Sunnies Studios is the top optical brand in the Philippines largely because it was reasonably priced. But a person in her 20s pointed out to me that her generation liked Sunnies Studios mainly because of the styles are chic and appeal to the
and not just in the Philippines. The brand’s beauty launches are much awaited by its millennial and Gen Z fans. I remember being at the Sunnies Face launch with their first product being the Fluffmatte lipsticks. Since then, the brand has expanded its offerings to include multi-sticks, eyeshadow sticks, mascaras, blushes, and more lip products. Sunnies Flask was launched earlier this year. There is also now a brand called Sunnies Coffee, which is sort of expected since one of the co-owners is also in the food business. Sunnies World was first built in SM Megamall in 2019 for shoppers looking for a one-stop destination of all things Sunnies. It brings together Sunnies Studios, Sunnies Face, Sunnies Flask, and Sunnies Coffee for a retail concept that is very young but not intimidating, and is stylish and fashionable but still fun.
Sunnies World opened its third store at SM Mall of Asia’s third level, which, not surprisingly, was the site of the first Sunnies Studios kiosk in 2013. It comes after the successful opening of the second Sunnies World location in SM Cebu earlier this year. The space is massive at over 500 sqm and the interiors are beautiful. The design was inspired by
libraries and reading rooms. Sunnies Studios’ stores are known for being spacious with lots of places to sit and relax, but the MOA space is really huge by retail standards. There is a lounge, a reading room, a listening booth, a chess area, a hidden photo booth, and a personalization area for engraving and embroidering Sunnies merch. Then, there is the Sunnies Coffee booth. By the way, Sunnies World MOA has partnered with MovEd, a non-profit organization that aims to bring early childhood care and development programs to children in underserved communities in the Philippines.
Sunnies has pledged that 100 percent of sales from their MOA exclusive merch will benefit MovEd’s Move-A-Child sponsorship program, an initiative that helps children in need get access to quality education, healthcare, and nutrition. Visitors are also encouraged to donate education and children’s books to support the program.
“They are never contented. Thus, when they do a design, they want perfection. They want to improve and improve. Thus, the ‘Made in Italy’ quality is very much...how do you call that? There’s really a quality behind things that are made in Italy. So, they are just not something that was manufactured commercially. In volume, quantity. These are small quantities but made very well.”
THE FILIPINO RECEPTION
MENGUITO-SCIANDRA mused about the market response to her highly curated and covetable items:
“I always thought that when you see Filipino fashion enthusiasts, they are into brands. Brand-conscious. I always thought that. They are so different from the Italians. They just buy one top brand, but it will last them for a whole year. They will buy the brands which are of good quality and design.
“So, my opening of the two stores—at One Ayala and Ayala the 30th, I have a third store opening in Ayala Vertis North – the reception is very well. Filipinos like everything made in Italy, especially when you tell them about the passion behind it and the quality behind it.”
n Corso Como 88 is located at Level 3 of One Ayala Mall in Makati City and the Ground Floor of Ayala 30th in Pasig City.
newest fragrance from the brand’s very popular Good Girl line. Good Girl Blush is a chypre floral created by Quentin Bisch, Shyamala Maisondieu, and Christophe Raynaud with top notes of Bergamot and Bitter Almond; middle notes of Peony and YlangYlang; and base notes of Vanilla and Coumarin. Good Girl Blush’s bottle is the iconic stiletto, a symbol of female empowerment. The bottle has a beautiful finish in soft powder pink.
What I like about Good Girl Blush is that it’s sweet with a marshmallow note but I also love its citrus and soapy notes.
ITALIAN ALLURE Imelda MenguitoSciandra (clockwise), president and CEO of Corso Como 88; GMA actress Ashley Ortega
BDO reinforces commitment to a green economy with sustainable finance initiatives
AT the Climate Convergence Forum, Nestor V. Tan, President and CEO of BDO Unibank, underscored the bank’s crucial role in effectively connecting the increasing supply of capital from the sustainable investment community to meet the rising demand for sustainable financing.
“We remain committed to our sustainability philosophy as we continue to ingrain sustainability in all aspects of the business while transitioning to a low carbon economy,” said Tan.
As a pioneer in sustainable financing, BDO aims to lead by example in promoting sustainability in the financial sector and among its clients.
BDO’s Green Bond and Blue Bond issuances were the first among financial institutions and have set benchmarks in corporate sustainable financing within the country and the broader Southeast Asian region. The Bank’s ASEAN Sustainability Bond issuances have both set records as the largest issuance for any Philippine financial institution or company at P52.7 billion in 2022, and at P63.3 billion in 2024.
BDO concluded its third ASEAN Sustainable Bond issuance last July 16,
2024 at P55.7 billion.
Proceeds from BDO’s sustainable financing instruments funded projects spanning renewable energy, green infrastructure, clean transportation, resource efficiency and pollution control, sustainable management of natural resources, sustainable water and waste water management, employment generation, women entrepreneurship, and food security, among other critical areas. These are all projects eligible under the BDO Sustainable Finance Framework for Green, Blue, Sustainable, Social, and Gender financing.
The Climate Convergence: Actions toward a Resilient Future event, organized by SGV & Co.’s Knowledge Institute, sought to deepen understanding of climate risks and their implications to business operations while fostering knowledge
Actions toward a Resilient Future.”
exchange to address the challenges posed by the climate crisis. The event also aimed to acknowledge innovative business practices driving resilience and sustainability across industries.
SM Mall of Asia welcomes the Philippines’ first Disney Store
Tand products that fans have come to associate with Disney Stores around the world. The only Disney Store in Southeast Asia at present, Disney Store by SM is located at SM Mall of Asia, Level 1 North Main Mall. The SM Mall of Asia flagship location will offer an enchanting retail journey for guests of all ages. As Disney Store is the official home to shop the stories you love from Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars, shoppers can look forward to authentic and high-quality toys and plush, stylish apparel, costumes, homeware, and more collectibles – including select products from Disney Parks. Inspired by
unforgettable Disney story moments, guests can also discover charming photo spots and sculptures of fan-favorite characters in the store, including Disney Princess heroines, Queen Elsa, Winnie the Pooh, Spider-Man, Darth Vader, and of course, Mickey Mouse & Friends. There’s something for everyone!
Rose Marie Dylim, President of International Toy World Inc. (ITWI) said, “Disney Store by SM is more than just a place to shop. In bringing Disney Store to one of the largest shopping malls in the Philippines, we aspire for it to become a welcoming retail destination where guests look forward to creating memories with their loved ones.”
“We are thrilled that Disney fans in the Philippines can connect with their
Franchise Negosyo Para sa Negros Expo Set for October 2024 at SM City Bacolod
THE highly anticipated Franchise Negosyo Para sa Negros Expo 2024 is set to take place on October 4 to 5, 2024, at the North Wing Atrium of SM City Bacolod, promising two days of exciting opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs, business owners, and franchise enthusiasts.
Expo Highlights: With over 30 exhibitors representing over 200 local and international brands, the Franchise Negosyo Expo is the best venue for those looking to explore franchising options. Attendees will have the unique opportunity to meet representatives from a variety of industries, including food, retail, service, and more, offering insight into franchising as a practical and profitable business model.
Seminar Lineup: The event will feature a series of educational seminars designed to guide entrepreneurs at different stages of their business journey. Attendees can gain practical knowledge from industry experts on topics such as:
How to Invest in the Right Franchise (Free Seminar) –Meant to educate the public on wise franchise investment for would be franchisees who want to start a business or diversity their investment via franchising such as OFW’s, existing and aspiring entrepreneurs, business owners, etc. How
Franchise
favorite characters in exciting new ways at Disney Store by SM, with thoughtful collections and retail elements. We look forward to bringing the magic of Disney closer to home for guests of all ages, and creating happiness for them every day,” said Sara Grewal, Vice President, Retail, Disney Consumer Products Asia-Pacific.
Shoppers can look forward to a wide range of original merchandise, including:
Big Feet Plush Discover an adorable alternate design of fan-favorite characters! Let soft plush toys capture your heart with their big, overstuffed feet. Visit Disney Store by SM to discover huggable new friends in all shapes and sizes that will warm your heart!
Disney Animators’ Dolls Celebrating the heritage of classic Disney animation, Disney Store’s series of young heroine dolls created under the guidance of the Walt Disney Animation Studio’s most renowned talents, brings each character to life in creative and authentic ways.
Costumes. Get the official look of a Disney Princess, hero, villain or more for Halloween or everyday dress-up.
Drinkware and Figural Mugs. Sip in style at all hours of the day. These eyecatching 3D sculpted designs will have you loving our collection…a latte.
Follow @DisneyStorebySM on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube for updates. Join in the excitement with #DisneyStorePH and #DisneyStorebySM.
RRDIC-X convenes for 3Q 2024 initiatives
THE Regional Research, Development, and Innovation – X (RRDIC – X), a special committee of the Regional Development Council – X (RDC – X) with 52 members, conducted their 3rd Quarter Executive Committee Meeting last September 02, 2024, at N Hotel in Cagayan De Oro City.
During the meeting, RRDIC-X endorsed the bill to modernize the National Measurement Infrastructure System (NMIS) of the Philippines for legislative support in the 19th Congress and Philippine Senate. The bill aims to modernize and institutionalize the existing NMIS, delivering more accurate and precise calibration services in the country.
The committee also endorsed the 7th Regional Health Research Conference, which will be held on October 22 to 24, 2024, at Xavier University—Ateneo de Cagayan. The conference’s objective is to provide an avenue for health researchers to discuss findings and encourage collaboration, networking, and open discussions on policymaking and practices in the health research sector.
Christopher Lenorad T. Casinillo, Senior Trade Industry Development Specialist from the Department of Trade and Industry—X (DTI—X), provided a directory of R&D products and mature technologies in Northern Mindanao ready for industry adoption. There are 110 locally developed technologies in the region, of which 53 are ready for adoption. These technologies came from researchers in state universities in Northern Mindanao, such as Bukidnon State University (BukSU), Central Mindanao University (CMU), Mindanao State University—Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT), and University of Science and Technology (USTP).
The committee also discussed the Philippine Creative Industries Development Act (PCIDA), or RA 11904.
Jill E. Maestre, Senior Trade Industry Development Specialist of DTI—X, emphasized that the national government has already recognized the potential and opportunities of the Philippine creative industries through the strategies and
priorities outlined in PCIDA.
RRDIC-X also expressed its support for the OROBEST Expo 2024: OROBEST Goes Halal. In addition to promoting and showcasing Halal products and providing a platform for partnerships and collaborations in the Halal Industry, the activity supports the Mindanao Halal Corridor’s development of a comprehensive Halal value chain.
Dr. Franch Maverick A. Lorilla, Director of USTP’s Innovation Centers, presented the conduct of the 2024 International Conference on Research Innovation and Investment (ICRII 2024), which the committee also decided to support. The conference was held last September 16 to 17, 2024, at Limketkai Luxe Hotel, Cagayan de Oro City.
RRDIC – X also on boarded the Cagayan de Oro Water District Interim General Manager, Fermin Villaroya Jarales, in the proposed research of Dr. Orlando F. Balderama, Vice President for Research and Development, Extension and Training of Isabela State University. The study aims to assess the impacts of climate change and land use changes on water resources, agriculture, domestic, and industry using the Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP) Model in the Cagayan de Oro River Basin.
“The COWD Team, headed by AGM Edna Najeal of the Technical Services, will be joining us in making sure that the research conducted by the committee, especially those that concern the water district, will be supported, and we will seek from the research conducted what are the things that we can incorporate in our plan. That is our commitment,” said IGM Jarales in response to Dr. Balderama’s proposal.
The RRDIC—X, with its 51 members from the academe, government agencies, local government units, and industry sector, continuously ensures that research, innovations, and other S&T-based projects are responsive and aligned to the Philippine Development Plans, Regional Development Plans, and the National Innovation Agenda and Strategic Document (NIASD). Joshua Robin/DOST 10)
NESTOR V. Tan, President and CEO of BDO Unibank, shares how BDO’s sustainable finance initiatives help drive the country’s transition to a sustainable economy at SGV Knowledge Institute event, “Climate Convergence:
LIGHTS, CAMERA, PR:
10 movie and TV titles that show what PR people do
BLOCKBUSTER movies, high-rating TV shows, and most streamed content online are big hits because they captivate audiences through stories that resonate with their emotions and experiences. In many ways, public relations follows the same principle: it is about good storytelling that builds connections, moves people to actions, and wins the hearts of people. At a recent symposium organized by IPRA Philippines and FEU on career options in public relations for communication students, I took the opportunity to dive into the world of corporate PR and made it more relatable using popular movie and TV titles to explore and explain the different roles PR professionals play. Here are 10 titles that perfectly capture the essence of what we do:
1. Inception: Crafting strategic and creative campaigns Like the intricate layers of dreams in the movie “Inception,” PR campaigns are carefully crafted to introduce and seed ideas that grow and inspire
action among stakeholders. Whether it is an internal campaign to instill corporate values or activations to generate brand awareness, PR professionals design and execute strategies that make an impact.
2. The Social Network: Mastering employee engagement Like the story of Facebook as depicted in “The Social Network,” PR is about building and nurturing strong interconnected communities within and outside the company. Employees are a company’s best brand ambassadors—or its worst critics. Informing and engaging employees through internal platforms that create a virtual community that keeps everyone informed, connected, and inspired.
3. The Greatest Showman: Staging events that wow In PR, every event is an opportunity to create meaningful connections and experiences that people will talk about in their circles and through their platforms. We bring our creative ideas to life when we stage memorable events, much like
the amazing shows in “The Greatest Showman.” It’s a blend of strategic and creative thinking to deliver experiences that carry our key messages while bringing “wow at saya” to our stakeholders.
4. The Sixth Sense: Spotting PR opportunities and issues
While “The Sixth Sense” is about seeing ghosts, PR professionals develop their own “sixth sense”—an ability to spot news opportunities and potential issues. Understanding how media work, what makes news, and how to hook your audiences with your stories are important skills in PR. Whether it is finding the right moment and crafting the right message to newsjack or staying ahead of or steering away from potential crises, it is this “sixth sense” that helps PR professionals guide their organizations in navigating the fastevolving media landscape.
5. MMK: Love for writing and storytelling
Much like the heartfelt stories that people shared on MMK (Maalala Mo Kaya), storytelling is at the core of PR. In today’s digital world, PR people must be adept at telling stories in words, visuals, and videos. PR professionals must know their audiences, understand how they consume media, and tailor stories to speak their language.
6. It’s Showtime: Creating social media that stands out Standing out in the sea of messages posted on social media is crucial. “It’s Showtime” is
one program that spawns a lot of memes and viral moments because its content is relatable and entertaining. PR practitioners should strive to produce content that captures audiences, whether it is a meme, video, or a long post. Creativity and wit are essential, but so is communicating your messages effectively.
7. Starting Over Again: Managing issues and crises with calm and strategy
Like Ginny in “Starting Over Again,” PR pros go through emotional and stressful situations when managing issues or crises.
In today’s 24/7 news cycle, it is important to remain calm, have a solid strategy, and face problems head-on. Spotting opportunities during a crisis and leading our organization through tough times help us start over again.
8. Stand By Me: Building and nurturing relationships with stakeholders
The characters in the film “Stand By Me” faced numerous challenges and built formidable bonds after overcoming and surviving many challenges. Similarly, PR people build, grow, and nurture our relationships with stakeholders over time. We build these relationships on trust and respect.
9. Hidden Figures: Uncovering data to measure success
In “Hidden Figures,” the lead characters analyzed data and cracked formulas to achieve success. In PR, it is equally important to make sense of data to
determine the effectiveness of campaigns. Understanding how to measure outputs and outcomes is essential in determining if the campaign fulfilled its goals and created the desired impact.
10. Avengers and Justice League: Always ready for the next challenge
Whether you are a fan of Marvel or DC, superheroes are always ready to respond to new challenges. In PR, we must be on our toes and be ready to tackle the next big challenge. Collaboration and cooperation within an organization are vital in navigating the dynamic landscape of communication today.
PR Matters is a roundtable column by members of the local chapter of the United Kingdom-based International Public Relations Association (IPRA), the world’s premier association for senior professionals around the world. Kane Errol Choa, APR is the VP/Head of Corporate Communications at ABSCBN Corporation. He serves on the International Executive Board of the International Association of Business Communicators or IABC, the Immediate Past Chair of IABC Asia Pacific, an adviser of IABC Philippines, vice president of Anak TV, and a member of the Standards Authority of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas.
We are devoting a special column each month to answer the reader’s questions about public relations. Please send your comments and questions to askipraphil@gmail.com.
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SepteMBer 30, 2024 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph
Editor: Jun Lomibao
Tolentino pushes for PHL track cycling in UCI congress in Zurich
PHILIPPINE Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino laid the ground work for the country’s active return to track cycling during the International Cycling Union (UCI) 193rd Congress during the weekend in Zurich.
A brand-new UCI-standard indoor 250-meter velodrome is on the rise in Tagaytay City and is expected to be operational early in the second quarter of 2025 and negotiations with the UCI, including with the international federation’s president, David Lappartient, has started in earnest.
The UCI provides support to all its member nations and I’m glad that with the velodrome in Tagaytay City, the Philippines could kickstart its return to active track cycling,” said Tolentino, who is also the president of the national sports association for cycling, PhilCycling.
T he support, Tolentino said, would come through the UCI’s Solidarity and Emerging Countries Commission and Program.
Tolentino also established deeper links between the UCI and Southeast Asia, particularly with his Indonesian counterpart, Raja Sapta Oktohari.
Tolentino, Oktohari and Lappartient are presidents of their respective national Olympic committees and cycling federations, with Lappartient announcing his candidacy to become the next
president of the International Olympic Committee to replace Thomas Bach, who’s bound to retire.
“The opportunities to continuously link PhilCycling not only with the UCI but with the rest of the world were present on the congress floor,” said Tolentino, who told an interview with TV2 Euro that the POC is fully behind Lappartient’s candidacy in the IOC.
T he Philippines has a special part in the career of Lappartient, who as a young international commissaire for road and track, was part of the panel that supervised the 1995 Asian cycling championships at the Amoranto Velodrome and Subic. Tolentino also told the UCI that the Philippines has escalated its international campaign in road that started with a full-complement (men and women) team to the Asian championships in Kazakhstan last June and a six-rider team to the Le Tour de Langkawi which flagged off Sunday in Malaysia.
Ardina in strong position for breakthrough victory
Big field seeing action in Ladies Cup
THE 16th edition of the Highlands Ladies Cup this Saturday has attracted a full roster of participants for another thrilling blend of competition and camaraderie at the Midlands and Lucky 9 courses of Tagaytay Midlands Golf Club. More than 200 players have signed up well in advance, leaving latecomers on the waiting list in the one of the most highly anticipated golf events of the year.
O rganized as the signature event of the Tagaytay Highlands, this year’s tournament will feature male and female players from various sectors and golf clubs nationwide.
DOTTIE ARDINA a holed out from 110 yards for eagle on the par-4 fifth for a 67 Saturday to stand a stroke off leader Ashleigh Buhai entering the final round of Walmart NW Arkansas Championship in Rogers, Arkansas. “ Never been in this position,” Ardina said. “I’m looking forward for a strong finish tomorrow.”
The Filipina Paris Olympian, who had an opening 65, was five under in the front nine before suffering back-toback bogeys from No. 11.
The 30-year-old Ardina, still without a win in the Ladies Professional Golfers Association Tour, birdied No. 14 on the way to 10-under 132.
Buhai birdied four of the final five holes for a four-under 67 and a onestroke lead.
Bianca Pagdanganan, the other player in the field seeing action under the Philippine flag, missed the cut after rounds of 69-72, as well as Yuka Saso, who now plays for Japan, with her 75 and 72.
Playing in tricky afternoon wind conditions, Buhai rebounded from a double bogey on the par-4 eighth with birdies on the par-4 ninth and par-3 11th. The 35-year-old South African player bogeyed the par four 13th, then closed with birdies on the par five 14th, par
three 15th and 17th and par five 18th. I did start to get a little frustrated, but I was hitting a lot of good shots,” Buhai said. “Made a silly double bogey, but at least I kept calm and just reminded myself to keep doing what I was doing, and finally got rewarded down the last few holes.”
Buhai had an 11-under 131 total at Pinnacle Country Club after opening with a 64. She won the 2022 Women’s British Open for her first LPGA Tour title and took the ShopRite LPGA Classic last year. Tonight, just don’t think about it basically,” Buhai said. “Obviously, easier said than done.”
Former University of Arkansas player Gaby Lopez (67) was two strokes back at 9 under with Japan’s Nasa Hataoka (66) and Thai players Arpichaya Yubol (65) and Pajaree Anannarukarn (67).
L opez, a three-time LPGA Tour winner from Mexico, had a triple bogey on the 14th hole on her first nine, then finished the round with a bogey on No. 9. She also had eight birdies.
It’s probably the best mental round that I’ve had,” Lopez said. “You know, after having a triple bogey, it’s so easy to kind of just lose yourself and lose patience.”
First-round leader Jasmine Suwannapura followed her opening 63
By Josef Ramos
Regional players seeking top finish in jr golfest finals
Hole-in-one backers are J-Ten Sports Inc., K&G Golf Apparel and Accessories, Baron Travel Corp., 3 Strokes, EVFMX and Regent Travel Corp. while RCW Construction Development Corp., Jasper Jean Services Inc., Manila Banker’s Life, Ayala Land Premier, Green Tee Inc. (Nike), Hapee Toothpaste, Concrete Masters, Inc., Maxicare Life Insurance Corp., Dunkin’ Donuts, Magilas Construction Corp. and Lara Santico Vicente, Real Estate Broker are the Bronze sponsors.
Tournament chair Malen Balina and co-chair Karen Cabalquinto expressed their excitement over the full-packed field. The event is supported by top-tier sponsors Diamond backers W Group Inc., Willy Ocier/Jim Weaver, with Platinum partners Powerball Gaming and Entertainment Corp., Parola Maritime Agency Corp., East West Bank and Security Bank. The Silver sponsors are Asia Cargo Container Lines Inc., Kaiser International Health Group, SLLI Global Marketing Inc., Wilcon Depot Inc., SM Prime Holdings Inc. and New Golden City Builders. The 18-hole competition will kick off at 8 a.m. with a shotgun start under the System 36 scoring format
PROMISING golfers from Visayas and Mindanao are focused on the International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) Junior Philippine Golf Tour National Match Play Finals at The Country Club in Laguna that gets going on Wednesday.
W hile Luzon finalists in the 13-15 age category may have a slight advantage because of their familiarity with the course, their counterparts from Visayas and Mindanao are equally determined to prove their mettle.
Luzon bets Precious Zaragosa, Levonne Talion and twins Mona and Lisa Sarines have honed their skills at TCC’s challenging layout during previous tournaments.
H owever, formidable contenders like Cebu’s Rane Chiu, Davao’s Johanna Uyking, Cagayan de Oro’s Zero Plete and General Santos native
The Lady Eagles got their act together to steal the last three sets after getting outplayed in the first two for a hardearned debut victory in the tournament.
Veteran winger Lyann De Guzman led the Ateneo with 17 points off 14 kills, two aces and a kill block.
De Guzman powered the Lady Eagles’ uprising in the third and fourth frames but it was the duo of Jennifer Santos and Geezel Tsunashima that finished the job in the deciding frame.
Santos scored three of her 12 points in the fifth set while Tsunashima delivered four of her 11 points in the final frame for Ateneo, which will face defending champion National University when action resumes on Friday.
Alexie Gabi are expected to put up stiff competition, armed with solid performances throughout the season.
Ti ffany Bernardino, representing Makati, also enters the girls’ division with strong momentum after securing her finals spot through the Visayas series. Her drive and determination will make her one to watch as she aims to leave her mark in the Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc.organized event.
T he boys’ 13-15 division is also expected to offer an unpredictable and fierce contest. Visayas qualifiers Nyito Tiongko and Inno Flores, and Mindanao finalists Clement Ordeneza and AJ Wacan will go head-to-head with top Luzon players John Paul Agustin Jr., Jose Carlos Taruc, John Majgen Gomez, Matthias Espina and multi-series finalist Luciano Copok.
NATIONAL Olympic committee and cycling federation presidents (from left) Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, David Lappartient of France and Raja Sapta Oktohari of Indonesia exchange notes during the UCI Congress in Zurich.
DOTTIE ARDINA is one shot behind front-running South African entering the final round. AP
DAVAO’S Johanna Uyking wants to make a statement at The Country Club.
