By Maricel Cruz
Suspected Chinese sub drone found in Masbate
Experts warn of Beijing's interest in PH internal waters
By Rio N. Araja
THE Philippine
its investigation into the 2020 murder of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) board secretary Wesley Barayuga.
General Rommel Francisco Mar bil said he ordered the reopening of the cold case after whistleblower Police Lt. Col. Santie Mendoza told the House Quad Committee that he helped carry out the killing at the behest of ex-PCSO general manager Royina Garma.
gressmen how Garma allegedly fa cilitated the PCSO official’s roadside assassination on July 30, 2020 by providing the necessary information about his schedule, details about his vehicle and the funding necessary to carry it out.
incumbent National Police Com missioner Edilberto Leonardo in the planning of the murder.
general and lawyer who supposedly threatened to expose corruption with in the PCSO shortly before he was shot dead in Mandaluyong City.
Colonel, allegedly gained the top spot at the PCSO because of her in
Marcos’ legacy projects on Cabinet meeting agenda
By Charles Dantes
PRESIDENT Marcos is scheduled to meet with his official family on January 7 to discuss the administration’s legacy projects as his term approaches the halfway marker, the
PHILIPPINE Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel “Babe” Romualdez said the Trump administration will prioritize the deportation of illegal immigrants linked to criminal or terrorist activities when it as-
By Darwin Amojelar
Bautista denied an online news report claiming that Malacañang was angry with the increase in airport fees without the approval of the Cabinet members. cious and unfounded,” Bautista said in a Viber message, referring to the website that published the said story.
“Bilyonaryo is inconsistent,” he added.
By Rex Espiritu, Maricel Cruz and Rosas Olarte
ASUBMARINE drone suspected to be from China was recovered in internal waters off Masbate, police said on Thursday, warning of "potential national security implications."
Some P171 million in standby fund is also available for utilization by the DSWD, including P123 million which can be allotted as Quick Response Fund (QRF) in the central office of the DSWD. In Batanes, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) advised residents to secure their roofs and install window shutters as Typhoon Julian is expected to make landfall
Three fishermen found the torpedo-shaped drone, marked "HY-119" and measuring two meters long with fins, around nine kilometers off the coast of San Pascual in Masbate on Region 5 police director Brig. Gen. Andre Dizon said: "Based on our open-source research on the internet... HY-119 refers to a Chinese underwater navigation and communication system.”
"It has an antenna and an eye that can be used for viewing. Based on our research, this can be used for monitoring and reconnaissance,” Dizon Sealight director and retired US Air Force officer Ray Powell said the drone might have been conducting seabed mapping for future submarine deployments.
“If this is a Chinese drone, as seems likely, it indicates a troubling
Presidential Communications Office (PCO) announced yesterday. Acting PCO Secretary Cesar Chavez told reporters in a Viber message that the chief executive met with Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on Thursday to “compare notes”
down for ay wrongdoing in a real criminal court.
ahead of the first Cabinet meeting of 2025. Chavez added that big-ticket programs and Official Development Assistance (ODA)-funded projects are also on the agenda of next week’s
kidnapping.
and Deputy Speaker David Suarez of Quezon presented a matrix showing Yang’s first appearance and his subsequent activities at the Quad Comm hearing.
sumes office on January 20.
“I am very interested in how they [Quad Comm members] can prove this criminal network in court. In Congress, lawmakers act as both prosecutor and judge,” he said. Yang, who already admitted having a fake Philippine birth certificate, is the brother of Michael Yang, a presidential economic
Citing information obtained from US law enforcement agencies, the Philippine envoy said Thursday that the incoming administration is poised to expel undocumented aliens who are most
“Bautista and his long-time protege in Philippine Airlines, Undersecretary for Aviation and Airports Bobby Lim, are at the center of the storm after it was
The two firms supposedly have connections with the Baofu Compound in Bamban, Tarlac, which, in turn, can be directly traced to disgraced ex-mayor Alice Guo.
During Friday’s Quad Comm hearing, lawmakers cited Tony Yang in contempt for “lying” to about his businesses and business partners.
likely to pose national security risks.
“We saw a pattern, and we tracked it to the top of these corporations... we stripped it of its layers , to get to the top and through it all, we have discovered and identified at least two main actors or players in the issue
“They [Trump administration] will begin with those with criminal records and those involved in terrorist activities,” he told Super Radyo dzBB in Filipino.
Navy spokes debunks China claim of military exercises in Scarborough shoal
cent Trinidad told reporters that Manila troops did not monitor any such activity, adding that Beijing’s statement was meant only for its internal audience.
“Our troops did not observe any exercise, we have to understand that sometimes, China is doing this for their internal audience, right? For them not to look weak and embarrassed,” Trinidad said. Two Chinese
THE National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) will mobilize more than 14,000 cops to secure the upcoming Feast of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo, Manila on January 9. In a statement, NCRPO acting director, Police Brigadier General Anthony Aberin said the mobilization includes 12,168 officers for area and route security and 2,306 personnel who would serve as an augmentation force.
The NCRPO previously de-
ployed 10,984 officers to maintain peace and order in the region from December 16, 2024 to January 1, 2025 wherein they reported that no major incidents, except for some firecracker-related injuries, were recorded during the New Year revelry.
“Our intensified police visibility in key areas, the conduct of aggressive and relentless anti-crime operations, and the active participation of community members in
PAGASA
Manila
Replica and Estandarte blessing. Norman
SPY SUB DRONE. Soldiers gather around the Chinese-made submersible drone recovered near San Pascual, Masbate on December 30, 2024. PNP-Bicol
PLAYTIME IN BORACAY.
Foreign and local tourists enjoy a warm, sunny day on the white sand beach of worldfamous Boracay island. Joven Cagande
Suspected...
From A1 level of Chinese interest in the Philippines' internal archipelagic waters,” Powell said.
"[It] could mean that China intends to deploy submarines into Philippine waters, or perhaps wants to have that option, if conflict breaks out. Regardless, this incident highlights the importance for a maritime nation to develop a high level of undersea domain awareness," he added.
National security expert Dr. Chester Cabalza underscored the strategic importance of Masbate, which lies between Luzon and Visayas, and is near key areas like the West Philip-
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“If they file it (fourth impeachment complaint) on Monday, I will have to make a decision whether I will then refer it to the Speaker or delay it further," he said.
For her part, ACT Teachers partylist Rep. France Castro said the Makabayan bloc will call a meeting of all complainants and endorsers by the second or third week of January.
“There are already three impeachment complaints. It will be difficult if we delay these any further. We have seen what Sara Duterte has done with public funds. And she is also not fit to be Vice President because of what has done,” Castro said.
“We need a unified effort to push the Marcos administration and the House leadership to allow the impeachment cases to push through,” she added.
The Makabayan bloc, which endorsed the second impeachment
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Romualdez also said that he recently had an informal meeting with the President-elect at a golf club, in which he made a positive pitch for Filipinos in the US.
“I congratulated him and told him that many Filipinos voted for him,” he said.
The Filipino diplomat said that Trump responded by saying, “'Ah yeah, we love Filipinos, we love Filipinos.”
It can be recalled that immediately
Marcos’...
pine Sea (WPS) and Benham Rise.
"The artifacts of drones in the underwater shores of Masbate signal that the Chinese can enter our internal waters compromising our sovereignty and territorial integrity in the midsection of the archipelagic Philippines,” Cabalza told the Manila Standard.
Dizon said the drone was not armed, but the police report listed "potential national security implications" as one significance of its recovery.
"The system's advanced capabilities suggest applications in submarine communication, underwater surveillance, oceanographic research, and naval operations. It likely utilizes secure encryption methods, frequency hopping, and low probability of inter-
case against Duterte on the grounds of alleged betrayal of public trust, has been doing a signature campaign among House members to hasten the process.
"The Vice President's brazen misuse of more than half a billion pesos in confidential funds, particularly the suspicious liquidation of P125 million in just 11 days at the end of 2022, represents a grave betrayal of public trust," Bayan chairperson Teddy Casino said in an earlier statement.
If the complainants are able to gather 106 signatures, the impeachment complaint can be immediately endorsed to the Senate.
Duterte, for her part, said she is ready to face the impeachment complaints against her, with her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, serving as one of her lawyers.
“I am confident that I did not break any law. I did not do anything illegal. Once the cases are there, then we will face it,” the Vice President said in a previous interview.
following Trump’s victory, Romualdez advised Filipinos illegally staying in the US to go home to the Philippines or legitimize their stay in the US, and not wait until they are caught and deported.
The President-elect earlier said he aims to deport all illegal immigrants over his four-year term but wants a deal to protect so-called "Dreamer" immigrants.
Romualdez also advised Filipinos illegally staying in the US to secure the services of sympathetic immigration lawyers to find out if they can legitimize their stay there or in case they find themselves subjected to de-
cept technology to avoid detection," Dizon said.
It was turned over by police to the Philippine Navy on Tuesday, Dizon said.
Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson Col. Xerxes Trinidad said the Philippine Navy is now investigating the drone recovery “to determine its origin and purpose.”
“The AFP is fully committed to ensuring the safety and security of our maritime domain, with all necessary resources mobilized to address similar and other situations with the utmost diligence,” he said.
For his part, Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said with the recovery of the underwater drone, it is not far-fetched that China has
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"This is a serious risk for them, as they could lose their property if we file a criminal forfeiture case against them for allowing their property or resort to be used for such activities," Cruz emphasized in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.
Furthermore, Cruz said that PAOCC could recommend the filing of charges against these owners with the appropriate authorities.
Cruz outlined several indicators that may suggest an establishment is involved in illegal POGO activities including the presence of foreigners, delivery-based lifestyle, increased Internet usage, and high vehicle traffic.
Cruz also encouraged concerned citizens to report suspected POGO operations to authorities. While anonymity is an option, he advised individuals to consider disclosing their identity for their own protection.
Senator Joel Villanueva mean-
portation proceedings.
He added that there are FilipinoAmerican lawyers who are willing to help illegal immigrants with their cases.
“So they can find out if they can remain here in America,” he explained.
According to Romualdez, about 300,000 to 350,000 Filipinos are illegally staying in the US.
The Philippine ambassador also expressed concern that illegal immigrants could end up as slave employees in order to stay in the US.
“Some of them [illegal aliens] are hired [by businesses] but are not paid the proper wages,” Romualdez point-
long been conducting in-depth intel gathering inside Philippine waters, possibly including data about deuterium.
Deuterium is widely used in prototype fusion reactors and has their application in military, industrial and scientific fields. In nuclear fusion reactors, it is used as a tracer and it is responsible for slowing down neutrons in heavy water moderated fission reactors.
“With the growing global race to find renewal sources of fuel or energy like deuterium, which reportedly is found abundant in the deep seas in the country’s eastern seaboard, it is not far-fetched that China also wanted to get a hand on it,” Barbers said. He likewise renewed his call for
while is calling for stronger measures to combat fraudulent birth certificates.
In a statement, Villanueva lauded the government's efforts to close down POGO operations but urged relevant agencies to take more proactive steps to combat the systemic problems that have been uncovered, especially those concerning foreign nationals who illegally obtain Philippine citizenship and governmentissued identification documents.
Villanueva called the attention of the Bureau of Immigration, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the Philippine Statistics Authority, (PSA) to expand its effort to cancel fraudulent birth certificates which were used by POGO personalities such as Alice Guo or Guo Hua Ping. In November 2024, citing risks posed by POGOs, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. issued Executive Order No. 74 imposing an immediate ban on offshore and internet gaming in the country.
Ralph Harvey Rirao
ed out.
Meanwhile, Romualdez said Trump informally invited Chinese President Xi Jinping and other leaders to his inauguration.
“President Trump's invitation to President Xi was very informal... he [also] called the Hungarian President so it's very informal... if they wanted to attend then they should,” the envoy said.
However, Romualdez stressed that there has been no formal invitation for heads of states to attend the inauguration, saying only ambassadors represented in Washington are invited to the event as a matter of policy.
the establishment of a naval facility in Surigao del Norte to protect the country’s eastern seaboard from smugglers and foreign intruders under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) between the Philippines and the United States. Barbers made the appeal before Defense Department officials following reports that the latter is considering setting up a naval facility inside the Phividec Industrial Authority business complex in Misamis Oriental.
“While I do not question the logic and wisdom behind the plan to put up an EDCA naval site inside the Phividec facility, I think it would be prudent for us not to inter-mix the business complex with a military complex,” Barbers said.
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the security coverage significantly removed the opportunity of lawless elements to commit their criminal acts,” Aberin said.
The route of the annual Black Nazarene procession or Traslacion on January 9 will remain the same.
The procession will begin at the Quirino Grandstand, turn right to Katigbak Drive (left side), right to Padre Burgos Street through Finance Road, go straight to Ayala Bridge, left to Palanca Street, right to Quezon Boulevard, right to Arlegui Street, right to Fraternal Street, right to Vergara Street, left to Duque de Alba Street, left to Castillejos Street, left to Farnecio Street, right to Arlegui Street, left to Nepomuceno Street, left to Concepcion Aguila Street, right to Carcer Street, right to Hidalgo through Plaza del Carmen, left to Bilibid Viejo through Gonzalo Puyat, left to JP De Guzman Street, right to Hidalgo Street, left to Quezon Boulevard, right to Palanca Street through under Quezon Bridge, right to Villalobos through Plaza Miranda, and finally to Quiapo Church.
Devotees from different places in the country meanwhile brought the image of the Black Nazarene to Quiapo Church for the annual blessing of the Nazareno replicas and estandartes.
It can be recalled that Mr. Marcos held two full Cabinet meetings, two special Cabinet meetings, and 49 sectoral Cabinet meetings in 2024.
From A1 meeting, which will be a “full Cabinet” meeting. While the PCO chief did not enumerate the legacy projects up for discussion, Administration lawmakers previously stated that the President targets to build more specialized hospitals, six million affordable housing units, as well as to end hunger nationwide.
He added that the annual Vin D’ Honneur in Malacañang will take place on January 11.
Mr. Marcos and the first family stayed at the Bahay Pangulo, his official residence on the Malacañan Palace grounds during the New Year
"The President will be comparing some notes with the Executive Secretary today. This includes the agenda in the first Cabinet meeting," said in his message before the President’s one-on-one meeting with his top secretary. Chavez noted that the chief executive also scheduled private meetings on Thursday, noting the President's busy agenda as the New Year begins.
celebration. In his New Year’s message, the President expressed optimism about the year ahead, highlighting lessons from the past year as a foundation for building a future “filled with promise and purpose.”
He has emphasized continuity and progress since taking office in 2022, and is expected to outline key priorities for his administration in the upcoming Cabinet meeting.
The Minor Basilica and National Shrine of the Black Nazarene officials said nearly 500 replicas of the Black Nazarene or the Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno were blessed on January 2, 2025. After the blessing, a mass was officiated by Papal Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Charles Brown. The blessing of the replicas and estandarte is part of the celebration of the Black Nazarene’s feast on Jan. 9. The Traslacion or the procession of the image from the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta to the Quiapo Church is the highlight of the annual religious event.
The Manila City announced that there will be a ban on liquor, firecrackers, and guns in Manila on Jan. 9. Vito Barcelo and Vince Lopez
DA launches budget-friendly rice options
By Charles Dantes
THE Department of Agriculture (DA) has announced the launch of affordable rice options under its “Rice for All” program, aiming to provide high-quality but budgetfriendly rice to Filipino consumers.
DA Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa revealed on Thursday that the initiative will include Sulit Rice and Nutri Rice, which will be available in Kadiwa ng Pangulo centers, select markets, and train stations.
Sulit Rice, priced at P35 to P36 per kilo, consists of 100% broken rice grains but maintains good quality.
“We tried cooking it in the office, and the quality is satisfactory,” de Mesa said.
Meanwhile, Nutri Rice, priced at P37 to P38 per kilo, offers a healthier alternative. Produced through a single-pass milling process, it retains more fiber, vitamins, and minerals, making it a middle ground between well-milled and brown rice.
Sales of both rice varieties are expected to begin this January, with distribution expanding from Metro Manila to other regions nationwide.
The Food Terminal Incorporated (FTI) will manage the supply, which de Mesa assured is sufficient to meet public demand. He also highlighted that the department is sourcing rice from both local producers and imports to ensure long-term availability.
The program builds on previous efforts to lower rice prices. By late 2024, prices of “Rice for All” products had already dropped to P40 per kilo. This year, the DA plans to offer even lower prices, between P38 and P39 per kilo, as part of its ongoing initiative to make rice more affordable.
JUBILEE 2025. The historic church of Our Lady of Assumption in Barangay Poblacion, Maragondon, Cavite is one of the 20 Catholic churches in the province included in the Jubilee 2025 celebration this year.
Dennis Abrina
Solons back bill on 99-year lease
By Maricel V. Cruz
LAWMAKERS at the House of Representatives pushed for the enactment of a bill which offers foreign investors a lease on private lands for 99 years, almost doubling the present term of 50 years.
Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, principal author of HB 10755, part of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC), said the proposed 99-year lease addresses the concern of foreign capitalists regarding the shorter
rental period under the present law, which is 50 years renewal for an additional 25 years.
The House approved the bill on third and final reading by a 175--2 vote.
Romualdez’s co-authors of the bill include Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio
Gonzales Jr., Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe, Senior Deputy Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand Alexander A. Marcos, Reps. Yedda K. Romualdez and Jude Acidre of Tingog Party-list, and scores of other House members.
“We hope they would be satisfied with the proposal. We hope it would attract new foreign investments and encourage existing investors to expand their businesses, thereby creating more job and income opportunities for our people and sustaining our economic growth,” Romualdez said.
A DEVOTEE’S PRAYER. Catholic devotees light candles and solemnly pray as they welcome the new year on the first Wednesday of the month at the National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help (Redemptorist Church) in Baclaran, Parañaque City. Jann Conrad Bonifacio
PNP mulls promotion of brave soldier in deadly shootout
THE Philippine National Police (PNP) is studying the possibility of promoting SMSgt. Ryan Mariano.
Mariano was earlier cited for his bravery and dedication to duty following a New Year’s Eve shootout in Zamboanga City, ABS-CBN News reported.
Mariano, an intelligence operative assigned at the Police Regional Office 9 (PRO-9), engaged in a shootout with two men tagged as “most wanted persons” while on covert duty at the Mount Carmel Parish Church in Baran-
gay Ayala on the evening of December 31, the report said. According to Zamboanga City Police Director Col. Kimberly Molitas, the two suspects were identified as Haber Tating and “Cashmere,” who both have standing arrest warrants for murder.
The two suspects were allegedly involved in illegal drugs and were implicated in several shooting incidents in Zamboanga City.
Prior to the encounter, Tating and Cashmere were on board a motorcycle and opened fire after finding out they were being tracked, Molitas
Anti-terror agency: Reds no longer threat
AN OFFICIAL of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) expressed confidence that the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA), will soon cease to be a significant threat.
“Despite the CPP’s denials, the NTF-ELCAC’s achievements speak volumes. Through our concerted efforts, we have dismantled 88 out of 89 guerrilla fronts and benefitted 4,830 geographically isolated and disadvantaged barangays through the Barangay Development Program, effectively eradicating the CTGs (communist terrorist groups) in their traditional strongholds,” NTF-ELCAC executive director Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr. said in a statement Wednesday. Torres said the task force has successfully reconciled thousands of surrenderers with their families, facilitating their reintegration into their communities. Rex Espiritu
said. This allegedly forced Mariano to retaliate.
After an exchange of gunfire, Cashmere was killed on the spot while Tating sustained fatal gunshot wounds and was rushed to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.
Mariano, on the other hand, sustained a gunshot wound to the stomach. He was immediately rushed to the hospital for treatment and is now in stable condition.
“We’re happy that yesterday, after six hours of surgery ni Sgt. Mariano, he was declared out of danger ng doctor,” Molitas shared.
He said the proposal also aligns with the open-door policy of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for legitimate foreign capital and with existing practices in many countries in the region.
“We want to be competitive regionally and globally in terms of enticing foreign investments,” added the leader of the 307-strong House.
HB 10755 provides that it is state policy to encourage foreign investments consistent with the constitutional mandate to conserve and develop the nation’s patrimony.
IN BRIEF
Nearly 10 million family food packs delivered: DSWD
A TOTAL of 9,856,984 boxes of family food packs (FFPs) were produced by the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) two major hubs in Metro Manila and Cebu from January to December 2024, with the agency posting the historically biggest number of FFPs ever produced in 12 months.
Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao, who is also the DSWD spokesperson, said the agency’s intensified stockpiling and prepositioning of FFPs nationwide propelled this remarkable achievement.
“For the DSWD, this is more than just a number but a culmination of our year-round commitment to ensuring that we are well-equipped and capacitated to respond accordingly to the needs of our kababayans in times of disasters and emergencies,” Dumlao said in a statement Thursday. Maricel V. Cruz
DOH report: 188 more cases of fireworks injury
THE Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday reported 188 cases of firecracker-related injuries on January 1, 2025.
The firecracker injuries recorded by DOH from December 22 to January 2 is now at 534 which is still 9.8 percent lower in comparison to 592 cases recorded in 2024.
The DOH said 356 of the victims suffered skin burns while 28 went under amputation.
DOH data further said 322 out of 534 victims are at the age of 19 years old and below while 212 are 20 years old and below. The DOH said males were involved in 433 cases while 91 cases involved females.
The DOH noted that the firecracker called kwitis was the leading cause of firecracker-related injuries, followed by Boga, five star, and whistle bomb. “Whether legal (kwitis) or illegal (boga), fireworks are dangerous,” the DOH said. Ralph Harvey Rirao
Diocese of Imus bares 20 Jubilee churches in 2025
IMUS CITY, CAVITE—The Diocese of Imus presented the 20 Catholic churches in the province that are part of the 2025 Jubilee Celebration.
Bishop Reynaldo G. Evangelista together with the priests of the Diocese of Imus presented the 20 Catholic churches. The Year 2025 is the Catholic Holy Year, also known as a Jubilee, which is considered a time of peace, forgiveness, and pardon.
The list of the Jubilee Churches in Cavite declared by the Jubilee 2025 - Diocese of Imus for the Ordinary Jubilee Year 2025 are: Our Lady of Pillar Cathedral in Imus; Our Lady of La Salette i n Silang; St. Gregory, the Great in Indang; Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Immaculate Conception in Naic; Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Binakayan, Kawit; Our Lady of Immaculate Conception in Dasmariñas City; Our Lady of Lourdes in Maharlika Highway, Tagaytay City, Our Lady of Assumption in Maragondon town; St. Michael, the Archangel and Sto. Nino de Molino in Bacoor. Dennis Abrina
RARE SIGHT TO BEHOLD. Commonwealth Ave. in Quezon City, one of the perennial headaches of motorists and commuters alike the whole year through, was incredibly almost clear of vehicles on Thursday (Jan. 2) in both directions. This welcome sight however, is naturally expected to be short-lived. Manny Palmero
COA flags P1-b PhilHealth debt
THE Commission on Audit (COA) has directed the Department of Health (DOH) to hasten the collection of denied reimbursement claims of state-run hospitals amounting to over P1 billion from the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).
COA’s 2023 annual audit report showed government hospitals had claims worth P595,563,644 which were rejected by PhilHealth.
Another P733,460,070 classified as RTH (returned to hospital) due to noncompliance with provisions of the PhilHealth Law (Republic Act No. 7875).
Solon says AKAP exemplifies wise use of gov’t funds
By Maricel V. Cruz
THE Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) has emerged as a powerful example of transparent and efficient use of public funds, according to House Committee on Appropriations chairman Elizaldy Co.
“AKAP is a clear example of how government funds should be used—efficiently and without corruption,” said Co of the Ako-Bicol party-list group.
“Do we want confidential funds like those in Davao City, DepEd or Office of the Vice President under VP Sara Duterte which were riddled with 100 percent corruption, or programs like AKAP with zero corruption? Those most vocal critics are who do nothing to help the needy). AKAP directly addresses inflation and uplifts the lives of our countrymen, especially the near-poor.”
According to an official statement of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), AKAP provided P5,000 in cash assistance to nearly five million near-poor Filipinos in 2024, achieving a 99.31 percent utilization rate of its P26.7 billion budget. It has been widely praised for its transparency and impact, helping families cope with the challenges of inflation and economic hardship.
COA also cited non-compliance with other related PhilHealth issuances.
State auditors cited however, Section 38, Article VIII of RA 7875 stipulating that PhilHealth may deny or reduce payment of claims that have false or incorrect information, or if the claimant failed to comply with pertinent guidelines.
It also pointed out Section 47 of the revised implementing rules and regulations (RIRR) and the law, which stated that denied claims should not be recovered from the concerned member.
COA pointed out that the denied and returned claims resulted in the hospitals’ loss of income.
“The amount of P595,563,644 is a significant loss of income as it could have been used to augment its fund requirements for operation and improving the existing hospital facilities,” COA said.
“The returned claims amounting to P733,460,070.67, which are recognized as receivables by the concerned operat-
ing units, exposed them as vulnerable to possible loss of income,” it added.
“The lapses relative to the preparation and filing of the hospital’s claims from PhilHealth would make an impression that certain policies and procedures were not duly observed, particularly in ensuring that claims are completely supported with required documents appropriately filled up, resulting in the return of filed claims,” COA noted.
Regions with denied and returned claims to hospitals included the National Capital Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region and SOCCSKSARGEN.
BACK TO BASICS. With the holidays over and done, market vendors at the Mega Qmart in Quezon City man their respective stalls to start 2025 with their daily routine. Manny Palmero
IN BRIEF
One PDL dead, 2 hurt in NBP stabbing case
THE Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) has ordered the superintendents of all operating prison and penal farms in the country to take precautionary measures and ensure that no retaliation will transpire at their respective jurisdictions following a stabbing incident at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) that left an inmate, also called person deprived of liberty (PDL) dead and two others injured.
The Bucor withheld the names of the prisoners involved in the case until their families have been duly notified.
Based on a report submitted by NBP acting superintendent Roger Boncales, the stabbing incident happened 7:15 am on Jan. 2 at the Maximum Security Camp of the NBP.
To prevent further untoward incident, the BuCor administration directed all superintendents of operating and prison farms to take precautionary measure at their respective facilitiesto ensure the safety of both persons prisoners and staff.
OPAPRU vows to push peace agenda in 2025
SECRETARY Carlito Galvez Jr. of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU) pledged on Wednesday to continue pushing the government’s peace agenda in pursuit of a “just and lasting peace” for all Filipinos.
In a statement, Galvez noted that 2024 was another milestone-filled year for the peace body and the Comprehensive Philippine Peace Process.
“From pushing forward the nation's Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda, to uplifting the lives of former rebels and combatants, and showcasing the gains of the nation's peace processes to the international community, these achievements stand as a testament to our collective commitment to bring a just and lasting peace to all Filipinos,” he said. Rex Espiritu
Firecrackers hurt 40 in Cavite province
TRECE MARTIRES CITY—Forty people were reported injured by firecrackers amid the New Year revelries across Cavite province, according to the Cavite Provincial Health Office at General Emilio Aguinaldo Memorial Medical Hospital in Barangay Luciano here. Provincial health officer Dr. Nelson Soriano noted that most of the fireworks-related injuries occurred at home.
Majority of the victims were sent home after treatment.
The firecrackers used by the victims included Boga 7 individuals, Kwitis 7, Fountain 6, Whistle Bomb 6, Luces 4, Five Star 3, Piccolo/Sky Rocket 2, Roman Candle/ Pill Box 7. Dennis Abrina
Kanlaon eruptions inflict P33-m agri damage, NDRRMC says
By Rex Espiritu
MT. KANLAON’S volcanic eruptions have inflicted agricultural damage amounting to P33 million, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). In its latest report, the NDRRMC
said some 830 farmers and fishermen in Region 6 were affected by the volcano’s restlessness.
The agency also said the eruptions also damaged a total of 298.05 hectares of land in the region. The amount of assistance provided by the government and its local coun-
PH faces shortage of nurses, solon warns
THE Philippines produced a total of 37,098 new registered nurses in 2024.
However, there is no assurance that all of them will practice their profession, or that they will do so within the country.
The country is currently facing a growing shortage of nurses, partly due to slower production and partly due to nonstop overseas migration, Quezon City Rep. Marvin Rillo, vice chairman of the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education, said in a statement on Thursday.
“Largely due to the pressure to survive, some of them will likely try to seek immediate employment, even if it means taking on other jobs and not practicing nursing,” he said.
Rillo noted that in the past, many nurses ended up working as real estate agents, insurance agents,
or car sales agents, while others pursued careers in business process outsourcing.
“We are not paying our new nurses enough to encourage them to practice their profession,” Rillo lamented.
The Philippines currently has a shortage of 127,000 nurses – a number expected to increase to 250,000 by 2030, according to the World Health Organization.
Data from the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) showed that the 37,098 new nurses produced in 2024 was roughly the same as the 36,525 produced in 2023.
However, Rillo pointed out that these numbers are still low compared to the average of 63,800 new nurses the country annually produced more than a decade ago.
terparts to families affected by the ongoing restiveness of Mt. Kanlaon has reached P149.9 million.
The amount included P45.724 million for Western Visayas and P104.26 million for Central Visayas. This assistance consisted of family food packs, hygiene and sleeping kits, and financial help. A total of 9,761 families have benefitted from the assistance, 7,309 of them in Western Visayas and 2,452 in Central Visayas. Affected families in the two regions totalled 12,043 or 46,259 persons in 26 barangays, the NDRRMC said.
OPINION
AKAP: Upholding social justice amidst criticism
THE Church teaches us about the preferential option for the poor, and our Constitution emphasizes the importance of social justice and the State’s responsibility to care for and improve the conditions of poor and marginalized Filipinos.
Critics of the Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) seem to have forgotten these basic Christian and social principles.
Blinded by partisanship, they ignore the facts and insist on promoting disinformation about a program that serves as a social and economic equalizer.
Let’s look beyond the generalizations, ad hominem statements, and memes, and study the program closely.
What is AKAP? It is a financial assistance program for minimum wage workers and low-income earners who have been hit hardest by increases in the prices of basic goods.
“The original intention of the AKAP program is to protect the minimum wage earners and near-poor Filipinos from the effects of inflation that erode their buying power,” according to Secretary Rex Gatchalian of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
The program has been in existence for a year now. A total of P26.7 billion was allocated for AKAP in the 2024 national budget, specifically the budget of the DSWD, the program’s implementing agency.
From January to December 2024, the program has benefited almost five million Filipinos. That’s five million Filipinos whose lives have been transformed and their economic conditions alleviated by this pro-poor program.
Luckily, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. saw the beauty and importance of this social amelioration program.
Recognizing AKAP’s legitimacy, the President kept it in the 2025 budget he signed Monday. Ignoring calls to veto the program, President Marcos instead called for more stringent rules and guidelines and more coordination between DSWD, DOLE, and NEDA in its implementation.
However, critics of the program and the Marcos administration seem to disregard the impact on these five million lives when their goal is to sow disinformation and create distrust.
One example is the claim made by former Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio that barangay officials exercise discretion, if not the prerogative, in identifying the beneficiaries of the AKAP program. This implies the program is a selective political tool. Carpio also likened it to “pork barrel,” congressional funding prerogatives which have been declared unconstitutional and ordered abolished by the Supreme Court.
Carpio’s allegations prompted Secretary Gatchalian to immediately issue a statement debunking the claims.
Gatchalian emphasized that as the agency in charge of the program, the processing of applications for AKAP, as well as determining how much the applicant will receive as financial aid, is the sole responsibility of DSWD social workers.
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The administration and the DSWD in particular should just ignore the critics and continue the program
The program is not selective, as Carpio had claimed. It is open to all qualified beneficiaries, and field offices of the DSWD accept all applicants “whether they are walk-in clients or were referred to by local government unit officials.”
The same condition applies to applicants referred by legislators. They can refer, but the final decision is made by DSWD social workers based on strict eligibility rules stated in the program guidelines.
The Secretary was emphatic in saying “nowhere in the AKAP guidelines are barangay officials empowered to make the list of beneficiaries who will receive the cash assistance from the agency.”
It is also incorrect to label the program as “resembling pork barrel,” as Carpio has done.
Again, we quote Secretary Gatchalian: “With due respect to the former Supreme Court Justice, AKAP is not pork barrel since any good Samaritan can refer potential beneficiaries and the barangay has nothing to do with AKAP based on our existing guidelines.”
Administration critics are fond of saying the Marcos administration is not doing enough to help the poor.
But when the administration implements an alleviation program like AKAP, the same critics will either say the program is not enough or will only foster dependency. Damned if you do, damned if you don’t.
The administration and the DSWD in particular should just ignore the critics and continue the program.
It is good that disinformation is confronted head-on, but the mandate of the DSWD is to help the poor and the disenfranchised, not the critics who are economically well-off.
In this, the agency is living up to its mandate.
(Email: ernhil@yahoo.com)
Fragile optimism
THE headline screams hope: 90 percent of Filipinos are stepping into 2025 with optimism.
But dig a little deeper, and a stark reality emerges—a nation teetering on the edge, grappling with challenges that could fracture its resilience and test its unity.
As Social Weather Stations noted, this figure represents a six-point decline from 2023 and the lowest level in 15 years, marking a sobering moment for a country renowned for its cultural vitality and enduring spirit.
The numbers tell a dual story: one of enduring hope amidst adversity but also of creeping uncertainty that demands attention.
What drives Filipino optimism?
Filipino optimism is legendary, often rooted in a deep-seated belief in better tomorrows. However, what fuels this hope? It may stem from aspirations tied to an economic rebound post-pandemic, visible infrastructure projects under “Build, Better, More,” and the enduring strength of overseas remittances that bolster millions of households.
Yet, the cracks are evident.
A closer look at the survey reveals regional disparities: hope is highest among college graduates at 96 percent but dips
significantly to 83 percent among nonelementary graduates.
Hope is not just a sentiment but a demand: for accountability, equity, and leadership that transforms aspirations into action
This gap underscores a persistent inequality that belies the optimism, suggesting that hope is not evenly distributed but stratified by access to education and opportunity.
Optimism can galvanize a nation, spurring collective action and civic engagement.
But in the Philippine context, it might also serve as a coping mechanism, masking anxieties about systemic issues: rising
EDITORIAL
If the gov’t offers rebels amnesty, will they come?
THE national government has again reiterated its call for active and former communist rebels to take advantage of its amnesty offer so they can restart life anew as peaceful and productive citizens.
But the question is: Will they bite the government offer?
Maybe the former rebels who are now in jail or have voluntarily left the underground movement for one reason or another would take advantage of the amnesty offer.
For the armed rebels still in the hills and continuing to engage the military in so-called ‘tactical offensives’ as part of the larger ‘protracted people’s war’ that began in Dece. 1968 with the establishment of the Communist Party of the Philippines and later its armed component, the New People’s Army, surrendering to the AFP and applying for amnesty could be the least of their concerns, at least for now.
On the part of the former members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front which has forged a peace pact with the government and now expects to take a leadership
inflation, stagnating wages, and the widening chasm between rich and poor.
Hope, while powerful, can be fragile, especially if unfulfilled promises from political leaders erode trust in institutions.
Recent history offers a cautionary tale. In 2020, even amid the devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic, 91 percent of Filipinos expressed hope. Yet, subsequent mismanagement and inequalities in vaccine distribution sparked disillusionment. Could today’s optimism likewise mask latent vulnerabilities?
Politics of hope in 2025
This optimism—or its decline—could profoundly shape the political landscape.
With midterm elections on the horizon, the ruling administration faces a delicate balancing act. While the enduring hope may suggest resilience, the six-point drop signals growing dissatisfaction that the opposition could exploit.
Political parties will likely use the survey to frame their narratives.
For the administration, it’s a rallying
role in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao or BARMM, the amnesty offer is a welcome one, since they get a financial windfall to restart life anew. As of December last year, a total 1,665 former rebels have so far applied for the amnesty program offered by the government.
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Amnesty can restore all suspended or lost civil and political rights resulting from criminal conviction and eliminate all criminal liability for acts covered
At least 1,260 of the applicants are under verification, with another 331 up for conference, 33 for resolution, while 41 others have been resolved by the Local Amnesty Boards and are up for review by the National Amnesty Commission. Of these applications, 1,061 were former members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s ArmyNational Democratic Front and their front
cry to highlight progress.
For the opposition, it’s an indictment of unmet promises, an invitation to galvanize discontent.
With 10 percent of respondents admitting fear—a threefold rise from the previous year—the stakes are higher than ever.
Danger of disillusionment
The government’s ability to address bread-and-butter issues—employment, education, healthcare—will determine whether hope persists or wanes.
Rising costs of living, natural disasters amplified by climate change, and political corruption are just a few of the pressures that could erode optimism.
Moreover, historical patterns suggest a cyclical nature to Filipino sentiment. From the post-1986 “People Power” euphoria to subsequent disillusionments, the Philippines has repeatedly oscillated between hope and frustration. Will 2025 mark another turning point?
Beyond the immediate elections, the 2028 presidential race looms on the hori-
organizations; 344 were from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front; while 241 were from the Moro National Liberation Front. What are the benefits of amnesty? If granted, amnesty can restore all suspended or lost civil and political rights resulting from criminal conviction and eliminate all criminal liability for acts covered, such as rebellion or insurrection, conspiracy to commit rebellion, sedition, illegal possession of firearms, ammunition or explosives, and relative crimes of rebellion, among others. Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., head of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity said the government’s amnesty program is its “best policy” for dealing with enemies of the state. Based on the amnesty proclamations, the period for filing applications will close in the first quarter of 2026. Buoyed by what it described as its “banner achievements” last year, the OPAPRU has lined up more initiatives this year aimed at transforming the lives and communities of former rebels to further advance the comprehensive peace process. OPAPRU’s total budget for 2025 is P7billion, of which amount P5.3-billion will cover the implementation and sustain the momentum of OPAPRU’s high-impact projects under its PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn (PAMANA) Program. But 74 percent of this would be used for transformation programs and projects for former Moro and communist rebels.
zon. Public sentiment in 2025 could plant the seeds for a long-term realignment of political power. Will a new generation of leaders emerge to channel this optimism into tangible progress, or will entrenched power structures continue to dominate? The challenge ahead
The SWS survey offers more than a snapshot of national mood—it’s a barometer of public expectations and a roadmap for what lies ahead.
For Filipinos, hope is not just a sentiment but a demand: for accountability, equity, and leadership that transforms aspirations into action.
As the country stands at the crossroads, the challenge for its leaders is clear. Hope is the nation’s brightest torch, but it cannot burn alone. To lead with vision and courage is to confront the fears beneath the surface, turning fleeting optimism into lasting progress.
The question for the Philippines is not just what 2025 will bring, but what kind of future its people will shape beyond it.
This is an AI-generated cartoon with the prompt: generate a cartoon of a person in a suit standing behind a podium. The person is wearing a mask that looks pleasant. Behind the mask is a sneering demon. Behind the standing figure is a heap of tentacles that are labeled “allegations of dastardly acts”
3. SPI is the Administrator1 of the IPP – Administration Agreement (the “IPPAA”) executed between SPI and Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (“PSALM”) with the conformity of the National Power Corporation (“NPC”) for the management and control of the 1000 MW Net Contracted Capacity of the Sual Coal-Fired Thermal Power Plant (the “Plant”);
4. The Joint Applicants may be served with the orders, notices and other processes of the Honorable Commission through their respective undersigned counsels at the addresses indicated herein; NATURE OF THE APPLICATION
5. The Joint Application for approval of the Power Supply Agreement (“PSA”) entered into by and between BILECO and SPI, is being submitted to the Honorable Commission for its review and approval pursuant to Sections 252 and 45(b)3 of Republic Act No. 9136, otherwise known as the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (the “EPIRA”), Rules 5, Section4(e)4 and 11, Section 55 of its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR), Rule 20(B) of its Rules of Practice and Procedure, and other pertinent rules and regulations and ; STATEMENT OF FACTS
This Agreement shall take effect immediately from Effective Date, and from such date, shall remain in force and effect until December 25, 2033, unless sooner terminated in accordance with this Agreement and upon approval by the ERC. Effectivity Date
The Parties’ rights and obligations under this Agreement shall commence on Effective Date, which shall be the date upon which all of the following conditions are satisfied: a.) Corporate Approvals. The receipt of the Seller of a certificate executed by the corporate or partnership, as applicable, or a resolution duly and validly issued by the board of directors of Buyer, attesting to the fact that the board of directors of Buyer has adopted resolutions (i) authorizing Buyer to execute and to enter into and deliver this Agreement and perform all its obligation hereunder, and (ii) designating the person authorized to execute this Agreement on behalf of the Buyer; and b.) Government Authorizations. All governmental authorizations (except ERC which are required to have been obtained in connection with the execution, delivery, and commencement of performance of this Agreement, shall have been obtained and be in full force and effect.
Within five (5) Days after the satisfaction of the conditions referred to in this
Section, each Party shall send a written notice to the other Party confirming satisfaction of such conditions. Within five (5) Days from receipt of written notice from the Seller, the Buyer shall then inform the Seller of the Effective Date, which date shall be confirmed by the Seller.
ERC Approval
4.1 The Parties shall jointly file the application for the approval of the Agreement (“ERC Application”) with the ERC. Parties shall exert its best efforts to secure the ERC approval of the Agreement within a reasonable time.
4.2 In the event that ERC issues any decision on the ERC Application which effectively modifies or amends any of the terms of the Agreement including provisions on amounts payable under the Agreement, and which requires an amendment thereof, the Seller may file a motion for reconsideration of such decision within fifteen (15) Days from receipt thereof, and before the decision attains finality.
4.3 In the meantime, upon receipt of the ERC decision requiring amendments to the Agreement, the Parties shall cooperate in good faith to address the ERC modification of the Agreement and/or to negotiate amendments to the Agreement. In the event that the Parties agree to an amended Agreement, the Parties shall file the amended Agreement for approval by the ERC within thirty (30) Days from the execution of such amended Agreement.
Reduction of Contract Capacity
From time to time upon and after the implementation of Retail Competition and Open Access (RCOA), Green Energy Option Program (GEOP), Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS), Metering programs, and other similar government programs, Buyer shall deliver to Seller written notice within thirty (30) Days prior to the target effectivity specifying the name of the affected customer, capacity and when such reductions shall take place, provided that actual reduction of Contract Capacity shall take place upon the receipt of ERC approval. Any such reduction shall be implemented pursuant to Schedule 6 of this Agreement. All other terms and conditions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. Outages
ERC CASE NO. 2024-165 RC
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6. BILECO has been sourcing its electricity requirements from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) since August 26, 2024, following the expiration of its Emergency Power Supply Agreement with FDCUI which had a capacity of 8MW.
THE CONDUCT OF COMPETITIVE SELECTION PROCESS
7. Through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), ten (10) Electric Cooperatives (EC) of Region 8, including BILECO, agreed to conduct a joint procurement for their baseload requirement for the period of 2024 to 2033. The joint procurement was referred to as the Region 8 Joint Competitive Power Supply Procurement (R8 JCPSP).
8. Under the MOA, the Federation of Rural Electric Cooperatives in Region 8 Association, Inc. (FRECOR 8) was tasked to supervise and facilitate the transaction process, documentary requirements, and operational coordination among the member ECs of the R8 JCPSP.
9. A Joint Board of Directors (JBOD) was also created composed of General Managers and Board Presidents of the member ECs, which acts as the governing and policy-making body of the R8 JCPSP.
10. The JBOD passed Board Resolution No. 2023-11-002, Series of 2023 constituting the R8 Joint Bids and Awards Committee (JBAC) for the R8 JCPSP. A Joint Technical Working Group (JTWG) and a Joint Secretariat was also created.
11. The R8 JCPSP was for the procurement of an aggregate power supply of 190 MW, divided into two (2) lots: Lot 1 for 162 MW, which commences in 2024, and Lot 2 for 28 MW, which commences in 2027. The R8 JCPSP followed the policy and rules prescribed under Department of Energy (DOE) Department Circular No. DC2023-06-0021, and Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) Resolution No. 16, Series of 2023.7
12. On 15 December 2023, R8 JCPSP Bidding Documents, including Invitation to Bid, Terms of Reference, and Instructions to Bidders, were submitted to NEA. NEA then issued a Certificate of Conformity No. NEARAO-COC-2024-02 dated 22 March 2024 when it found the R8 JCPSP’s Bidding Documents to be consistent with the latest posted 2023-2032 Power Supply Procurement Plan of the member ECs of the R8 JCPSP. NEA likewise allowed the member ECs of the R8 JCPSP to proceed with the CSP.
13. Thereafter on 6 and 13 April 2024, the Invitation to Bid and Terms of Reference were published in the Manila Bulletin newspaper.
14. There was likewise a local publication under the Leyte Samar Daily Express and the EV Mail.
15. Invitations to power suppliers were also sent through electronic mail and postings were made in the DOE CSP Portal and respective EC websites. 16. On 12 April 2024, Invitations to CSP Observers were sent to attend the Pre-Bid Conference, including NEA, DOE, ERC, consumer representatives, community representatives, interested civil society organizations and consumers, and regional development council for Eastern Visayas.
17. On 23 April 2024, the JBAC conducted its Pre-bid Conference 1. During the Pre-bid Conference 1, the comments and questions submitted by the bidders were reviewed and discussed.
18. On 18 May 2024, Supplemental Bid Bulletin Nos. 03 to 05 were issued and were posted on the DOE CSP Portal. They referred to amendments to the Terms of Reference, amendments to instruction to bidders, and amendments to the draft power supply agreement based on the comments and clarifications from the bidders of Pre-Bid Conference 1.
19. On 22 May 2024, the JBAC conducted the Pre-Bid Conference 2 to provide another opportunity for the bidders to seek clarification on the Bidding Documents and revisions made therein. CSP Observers were invited again.
20. On 08 June 2024, the JBAC issued the Final Instructions to Bidders, Final Terms of Reference, Supplemental Bid Bulletin Nos. 06 and 07 and other documents as requested by bidders in preparation for the submission and opening of bids. Invitations to CSP Observers were sent to attend the submission and opening of bids on 25 to 26 June 2024.
21. On 25 June 2024, bidders submitted their respective bids for Lot 1 and Lot 2. The bids were opened on 25 June 2024 for Lot 1, and on 26 June 2024 for Lot 2 in the presence of JBAC, participating bidders, CSP Observers and an Independent Auditor.
22. On 1 to 3 July 2024, the JBAC conducted a postqualification evaluation of the lowest calculated bids for Lot 1 and Lot 2.
23. On 3 July 2024, the JBAC issued Resolution No. 02, Series of 2024, recommending to the JBOD to award the power supply agreements to the following bidders for Lot 1 for the period of supply of 2024-2033: Bidder Capacity (Lot 1) Therma Luzon Inc. 81 MW Sual Power, Inc. 50 MW KEPCO SPC Power Corp 31 MW
24. Further, the JBAC issued Resolution No. 03, Series of 2024, recommending to the JBOD to award the capacity of 50 MW for the period of supply of 2024-2033 to SPI as the bidder having the lowest calculated responsive bid.
25. Consequently, on 3 July 2024, JBOD approved JBAC’s Recommendation to award the Power Supply Agreements to the bidders with the lowest calculated responsive bids.
26. After its receipt of NEA’s Notice to Issue Award dated 13 August
timely submitted to NEA the finalized draft PSA together with the Board Resolution and the justifications to the changes made in the PSA, for the issuance of the Notice to Execute Agreement. However, it was only on 13 September 2024 when FRECOR 8 received NEA’s Notice to Execute Agreement dated 12 September 2024.
28. Thus, on 13 September 2024, BILECO and SPI executed the Power Supply Agreement (PSA), commencing on the Effectivity Date and from such date, shall remain in force and effect until 25 December 2033 with a contract capacity of 2 MW, unless sooner terminated in accordance with the PSA and upon approval by the ERC.
Except in cases of Force Majeure events, the Seller shall guarantee continuous supply even during Scheduled and Unscheduled
The Seller shall extend PPD equivalent to PhP0.9000/kWh of Associated Energy to the Buyer if full payment of the power bill invoice is made within ten (10) Days from receipt thereof. Provided further, that the Buyer has no outstanding payables to the Seller including any required posting/replenishment of Security Deposit under this Agreement.
The Buyer shall not automatically deduct the PPD from the payment of its current power bill invoice and any unilateral deduction shall be considered a breach of its obligations under this Agreement. The PPD for the current power bill invoice will be made available to the Buyer in the succeeding power bill invoice. The Buyer with an expiring Agreement who is qualified to avail the PPD under its power bill invoice, shall receive its discount upon final settlement and clearance of its Agreement with the Seller
of Associated Energy to the Buyer if full payment of the power bill invoice is made within ten (10) Days from receipt thereof. Provided further, that the Buyer has no outstanding payables to the Seller including any required posting/replenishment of Security Deposit under this Agreement.
The Buyer
Schedule 2 of the PSA Contract Capacity and Contract Energy
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Schedule 3 of the PSA Electricity Fees
The Buyer shall be allowed to nominate at least 50% of the Contract Capacity per interval divided by twelve (12) on all 5minute Trading Intervals, but at the end of the relevant billing period, the Buyer shall be obligated to pay for the Product at 65% monthly minimum CUF or actual energy purchased, whichever is higher. The Buyer will be billed based on Monthly CUF if, at the end of the billing period and after reconciliation, the nomination falls below the Monthly CUF for reasons other than FM.
Compliance with the Pre-filing Requirements
31. Copies of the foregoing documents and/or information are attached to the Joint Application as annexes and made integral parts hereof:
Annex Documents/Information
"A" Certified True Copy of the (a) Certificate of Registration (b) Certificate of Franchise (c) Articles of Incorporation (d) Constitution and By-laws (e) Company Profile "B" Verified Certification of the EC showing list of Board of Directors of BILECO "C" (a)Power Supply Agreement (PSA) between SPI (b) SPI Sec Amended By-Laws (c) SPI Sec AOI (d) SPI SEC GIS "D"
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ERC CASE NO. 2024-165 RC NOTICE
48.
of these sought to be declared confidential annexes after its utilization as evidence in this case and/or at the close of the proceedings hereof, so as to relieve the Honorable Commission of the burden of safekeeping the trade secrets of SPI enclosed in the subject annexes.
PRAYER
WHEREFORE, premises considered, Joint Applicants BILECO and SPI most respectfully pray that the Honorable Commission:
i. a Provisional Authority of Interim Relief confirm the authority of the Joint Applicants to immediately implement the PSA subject of this case in entirety;
ii. ISSUE an Order treating Annexes “E” and “Q” as confidential in perpetuity, directing its non-disclosure to persons other than the officers and staff of the Honorable Commission, perpetually protecting the said information from public disclosure by maintaining the same separate and apart from the records of the case, ensuring that these are not divulged to unauthorized persons, and that these confidential documents are returned to SPI after the termination of this case pursuant to Rule 4 of its Rules of Practice and Procedure;
iii. After due notice and hearing, ISSUE a Decision approving the instant Joint Application in toto which will thereby allow/authorize BILECO to
FBI probes ‘terrorist’ links
IN BRIEF
Is New Orleans attack linked to Vegas blast?
CAMP DAVID – US President Joe Biden
said Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) authorities were probing “any possible connection” between a deadly truck-ramming attack in New Orleans and the explosion of a Cybertruck outside a Trump hotel in Las Vegas.
Law enforcement are investigating the explosion of the Tesla vehicle “including whether there’s any possible connection with the attack in New Orleans,” Biden told reporters, adding: “Thus far, there’s nothing to report on that score.”
However, Biden cautioned that no such links had yet been found. The FBI and local law enforcement said they believed the Tesla blast was an isolated incident, but they were investigating whether it was an “act of terrorism.”
The electric vehicle -- made by the company owned by Trump backer Elon Musk -- pulled up to the Trump International Hotel’s glass entrance before a “large explosion,” Las Vegas Sheriff Kevin McMahill told reporters. AFP
Palestinian Authority suspends Al Jazeera
RAMALLAH, Palestinian Territories –
The Palestinian Authority on Wednesday ordered the suspension of broadcasts by Qatar-based Al Jazeera across the Palestinian territories, accusing the network of airing “inciting content,” official media reported.
“The specialised ministerial committee, comprising the ministries of culture, interior and communications, has decided to suspend broadcasts and freeze all activities of Al Jazeera satellite channel and its office in Palestine,” the official Wafa news agency said.
“The decision also includes temporarily freezing the work of all journalists, employees, crews and affiliated channels until their legal status is rectified due to Al Jazeera’s violations of the laws and regulations in force in Palestine,” the report said. AFP
Israel’s sacked defense chief quits parliament
JERUSALEM – Israel’s former defense minister Yoav Gallant, who was dismissed in November after spearheading the military campaign in Gaza for more than a year, announced Wednesday that he would resign from parliament.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had sacked Gallant, saying there was a “breakdown in trust” amid disagreements between the two on several issues.
“I will submit my resignation to the speaker of the Knesset,” Gallant said in a televised statement on Wednesday.
Minutes later his office released a photograph showing him submitting his resignation to the speaker of parliament.
“I have served the state for 35 years in the IDF (military) and a decade in the government and the Knesset.... There are moments when one must pause and reassess the direction,” Gallant said.
But he vowed to “continue working with all my strength to bring our kidnapped sons and daughters back home”.
Netanyahu and Gallant disagreed on several issues, notably the exemption of ultra-Orthodox Jewish men from military service. AFP
NEW ORLEANS – A US Army veteran with an Islamic State flag and “hellbent” on carnage steered a pickup truck into a crowd of New Year revelers in New Orleans on Wednesday, killing at least 15 people and wounding dozens, officials said.
The FBI identified the attacker as ShamsudDin Jabbar, a 42-year-old US citizen from Texas. He appeared to have been a real estate agent working in Houston and had served as an IT specialist in the military.
Officials said they were searching for accomplices but gave few details.
Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick described Jabbar as a “terrorist,” and the FBI said “an ISIS flag was located in the vehicle,” using another name for the Islamic State jihadist group.
US President Joe Biden, describing the attack as “despicable,” said Jabbar had posted videos online hours before “indicating that he was inspired by ISIS.” Biden also said that law enforcement agencies were probing any possible links between the at-
tack and the explosion later on Wednesday of a Tesla Cybertruck outside a hotel owned by US President-elect Donald Trump in Las Vegas that killed one person, though he cautioned that none had been found so far.
Officials said a manhunt was underway, with FBI agent Alethea Duncan warning that authorities “do not believe that Jabbar was solely responsible.”
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry said: “We’re hunting some bad people down.”
The FBI said it was conducting search warrants in New Orleans “and other states.” Earlier, the bureau’s field office in Houston said it was conducting activity “related” to the New Orleans attack.
An FBI spokesman told AFP that 15 people had been killed in the attack, citing the New Orleans coroner’s office.
Police said the incident began around 3:15 am (0915 GMT) near Bourbon Street in the heart of the French Quarter, packed with people celebrating the start of 2025.
The suspect drove a white Ford F-150 electric pickup into a group of pedestrians, then exited and was killed in a shootout with police -- two of whom were wounded. Two homemade bombs were found and neutralized, the FBI said.
“This man was trying to run over as many people as he possibly could,” Kirkpatrick told reporters. AFP
South Korea police raid Jeju Air, airport over fatal crash in nation’s worst disaster
MUAN, South Korea – South Korean police on Thursday raided the offices of Jeju Air and the operator of Muan International Airport as part of the probe into the fatal crash of a Boeing 737-800 plane that killed 179 people. The flight was carrying 181 people from Thailand to South Korea on Sunday when it issued a mayday call and belly-landed before slamming into a barrier, killing everyone aboard except two flight attendants pulled from the burning wreckage. Authorities carried out search and seizure operations at the Muan airport where flight 2216 crashed, a regional aviation office in the southwestern city, and Jeju Air’s office in the capital Seoul. South Korean and US investigators, including from Boeing, have been combing the crash site since the disaster to establish a cause, with both black boxes found and decoding work ongoing.
the search warrant was issued, and Yonhap reported it was approved on charges of professional negligence resulting in death, citing officials.
South Korea has also announced it will inspect all Boeing 737-800 aircraft operated by its carriers, focusing on the landing gear, which appears to have malfunctioned during the
relation to the plane accident... a search and seizure operation is being conducted from 9 am
FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, 2025
RIERA U. MALLARI, Editor
RANDY M. CALUAG, Asst. Editor
EDGARD HILARIO, Asst. Editor
Eala climbs to personal best no. 38 in WTA ranking
By Peter Atencio
FILIPINA tennis sensation
Alex
Eala is about to reach a new career high in her world rankings this week.
From a World Tennis Association rank of no. 147 last week, Eala is set for another milestone in her ongoing campaign in the Workday Canberra International Tournament in Australia.
Now reaching her highest at 138 in the live rankings, Eala outplayed Taylah Preston in the third set for a 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 triumph on Thursday.
Eala, who picked up $4,473 when she reached the the semis of the ITF W100 event in Dubai last month, bounced back from a first-set loss to turn back the world no. 170thranked Preston inside an hour and 52 minutes.
The 19-year old Eala, who finished the year 2024 with a total earnings of $297,054, fell behind after after conceding the first two games. But Eala fought back after Preston took a commanding 5-3 lead in the first set.
The Filipina asserted herself and took the momentum after taking a 2-1 edge in the second set. She is now in the semis for the second time since December.
The winner between world No. 134 Sijia Wei of China and world No. 176 Simona Waltert of Switzerland will be Eala’s next opponent on Saturday.
On New Year’s Day, Eala repulsed Arianne Hartono of the Netherlands, 6-3, 6-3, to reach the quarterfinals.
Yulo is hands-down choice for PSA Athlete of the Year
CARLOS Yulo made history in the Paris Olympic Games, becoming the first Filipino athlete to win two gold medals at the summer games—a fitting triumph marking the country’s century of participation in the quadrennial meet.
The 24-year-old Yulo achieved this remarkable double gold by winning both the men’s floor exercise and vault, propelling the Philippines to an unprecedented achievement in the history of the quadrennial competition.
Given this groundbreaking accomplishment, Yulo was the obvious choice for the 2024 Athlete of the Year by the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA), to be handed at their Awards Night on January 27 at the Manila Hotel’s grand ballroom.
Yulo became the first gymnast since young Pia Adelle Reyes in 1997 to be recognized as Athlete of the Year by the
country’s oldest media organization in its traditional gala night backed by San Miguel Corporation and co-presented by ArenaPlus, Cignal, and MediaQuest.
Aside from the Athlete of the Year, several awards are also lined up during the formal presentation where the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, MILO, PLDT/Smart, Senator Bong Go, and Januarius Holdings serve as major sponsors and with support from the PBA, PVL, 1-Pacman Party List, AcroCity, Rain or Shine, and Akari.
The NSA of the Year, Major Awardees in other sports, President’s Award, Execu-
tive of the Year, Citations, Tony Siddayao Awards, as well as the Hall of Fame and Special Recognition to Filipino Olympians – the Paris Olympics and Paralympics included – will be handed out in the event recognizing the best in Philippines sports for the year 2024.
“From a great Olympic performance to an even greater Olympic show, and from one big breakthrough to an even bigger breakthrough – thanks to Carlos Yulo whose giant feat we
Manila had his first taste of Olympic competitions, eventually only qualifying in the men’s vault final and falling short of a podium finish.
Four years later, Yulo was back with vengeance in his eyes.
After a disappointing finish in the floor exercise in the Tokyo Games, Yulo emerged on top
win an Olympic gold has yet to die down when Yulo added another mint to his collection by ruling the men’s vault final with a 15.116 total over Arthur Davtyan of Armenia (14.966). By rewriting history, Yulo lined himself up as one of the greatest,
P6-m The Country Club Invitational to kick off new PGT season
SO we got beaten in the second leg of the semifinals of the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup (AMEC) 2024 at the cavernous Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok. As expected the hosts practically threw everything at us. Everytime time we build on the offense they always commit a foul to frustrate us. And the Japanese referee also played a key role in that questionable win. That initial goal was out but why didn’t he verify it and declare it as a goal right away? It could have changed the outcome of the game if that goal was not counted. Imagine the embarrassment if the “lowly” Philippine side eliminated the two-time defending champion Thailand right in front of thousands of screaming fans at home? A Thai player guaranteed before the match that they will make the Philippines cry after getting embarrassed in Manila. But how they did it was beyond imagination and self-respect. It took them 120 minutes plus to brush aside a pesky Pinoy side. And we almost came up with the win if Jarvey Gayoso had converted in the dying minutes of extra time. If Amani Aguinaldo had converted on the rebound then we could have
THE ICTSI The Country Club Invitational marks its 20th staging on Jan. 28–31, bringing together the Philippines’ top golfing talents in a highstakes battle at the challenging TCC course in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.
The P6-million championship promises intense rivalries, dramatic moments and surprises on every hole, setting the tone for a thrilling new season of the Philippine Golf Tour.
As one of the most prestigious events in local golf, the TCC Invitational gathers an elite field of competitors, including the Top 30 players from last year’s PGT Order of Merit (OOM) and past champions, including international campaigners like Miguel Tabuena. The event offers not just substantial prizes but also immense prestige, with the TCC course standing as the ultimate test of skill and resilience.
Tony Lascuña, who edged out Tabuena to claim victory in last year’s edition,
probably won the game.
enters the tournament as the favorite.
His dominance in the 2024 season, which saw him claim his fifth OOM title – a record feat – demonstrates his remarkable consistency and ability to thrive against younger challengers.
With a career spanning decades, the Davaoeño ace continues to inspire as he seeks another milestone victory.
Tabuena, one of the Philippines’ top international players, is expected to return for another shot at glory. A previous TCC Invitational champion (2017), he aims to redeem narrow losses to Micah Shin in 2018 and Lascuña.
However, a potential scheduling conflict with the International Series India could sideline Tabuena, adding an intriguing twist to the competition.
Even in Tabuena’s absence, the tournament remains fiercely competitive. Guido van der Valk, winner in 2020 and 2023, leads a formidable group of challengers.
Disrespectful,
The Thais had the Japanese referee to thank for. The coup de grace was giving them just a “yellow” for entering the field while the game is still on. It was rare to see that those who won the game, behaved much worse than the poorest losers I have seen in the past. Thailand took it to another low. Congratulations, War Elephants!
But what made me even more disappointed, mad even, was how some members of the Thailand coaching staff behaved after the game. The amount of disrespect and abrasive behavior they showed to the Philippines is beyond crass and not befitting the supposed best team in the region. Again, the War Elephants played a good game, but they don’t deserve to win. On and off the pitch. If there was a miracle in Manila, there was a robbery in Bangkok!
But we don’t need to go to Bangkok to see a disrespectful, crass and abrasive example of a behavior.
Not totally lost during the spectacular run of the Men’s team in the AMEC is the controversy surrounding the Philippine Women’s National Futsal Team or popularly called the Pinay5. The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) made a questionable move when it reportedly asked players to attend an ID camp right after Christmas when a camp was already scheduled by the coaching staff in the first week of January or a week before the 2025 AFC Women’s Futsal Asian
Cup Qualifiers set in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. What gives? It was the holiday season when most of us are going home to their families and loved ones to enjoy the break, the Pinay5 is not an exception. It was either lack of common sense or empathy, but whatever it was they could have done much better.
The words used in the letter, a copy of which was sent to The Designated Kitman, were so strong that at first glance, they came off as threats. Like attendance is mandatory and it was implied that players who will not show up will be dismissed from the team. Coach Vic Hermans, who practically built the team from scratch, was dismissed from Pinay5 and reassigned to the men’s team without any explanation and was fired, while he was out of the country. The fate of Danny Moran, who like Hermans is also responsible for assembling the team when practically no one gave a care about them, remains unknown although there are rumors that he too will suffer Hermans’ fate. One thing is for sure, the team is in shambles with four veteran players, including the captain, resigning from the team due to “lack of planning, unfair demands, and sudden leadership changes.” This also happened just months before the FIFA Women’s Futsal World Cup 2025 which the Philippines is set to host.
I get it that Pinay5 failed miserably in the last ASEAN Women’s Futsal Championship, which we hosted. Losing, 7-0, against
Angelo Que, a three-time TCC champion, is also a strong favorite after finishing second to Lascuña in the 2024 OOM race, while rising stars and seasoned players alike, including Reymon Jaraula, Keanu Jahns, Rupert Zaragosa, Clyde Mondilla, Jhonnel Ababa and new Asian Tour card holder Sean Ramos, are also in the fold, ensuring a thrilling competition and a showcase of skill and determination from the cream of the country’s pro crop.
Launched in 2003 by ICTSI chairman Ricky Razon to honor his father and ICTSI founder Don Pocholo, the TCC Invitational has grown into an annual showcase of the country’s finest golfing talents. After a hiatus in 2015-16 and 2021-22, the tournament returns stronger than ever, offering a top prize of P2 million and promising unforgettable moments on the country’s toughest course.
Thailand, 6-1 vs Vietnam and 2-1 against Indonesia. If the PFF was not happy with the result, they could have just axed Hermans right after the tournament, why wait until the Christmas season?
The next logical question is ano ba talaga plano, ha, PFF?
This development is nothing new considering what the PFF leadership has done in the past. They parted ways with former Azkals’ team manager Dan Palami. The Filipinas’ team manager Jeff Cheng was also unceremoniously booted out from the Women’s National Football Team. Except for the Men’s side, which is due to coach Albert Capellas and Freddy Gonzalez’s hard work on and off the pitch, nothing has been heard of the Filipinas as of late. From being invited to a friendly against South Korea, which has been a testament of the stature of our women’s team, nothing is being done to sustain the momentum we have generated since qualifying for the FIFA Women’s Cup last year. Heck, they are also the defending champion in the region. Again, ano ba talaga plano PFF?
On a personal note, kumusta naman ang bagong day care sa Rizal? Stay safe. Stay happy and Happy New Year, peeps!
For comments or questions, you can reach The Designated Kit Man at erel_cabatbat@yahoo.com or follow his account at Twitter: @erelcabatbat
Zverev injured as Germany crashes at United Cup
PERTH — Elena Rybakina’s Kazakhstan dumped defending champions Germany out of the United Cup on Wednesday with Alexander Zverev sidelined by an arm injury barely a week away from the Australian Open, while top seeds USA beat China to reach the semi-finals. In Sydney, women’s world number two Iga Swiatek led Poland into the last eight by winning a rematch of her 2023 French Open final against the Czech Republic’s Karolina Muchova. Britain also progressed to the quarterfinals with Katie Boulter’s dominant 6-2, 6-1 victory over Australia’s Olivia Gadecki enough to guarantee they won their group.
The upset in Perth sent the Kazakhs into the semi-finals of the 18-nation tournament.
Sixth-ranked Rybakina earned the first point for Kazakhstan, with the 2022 Wimbledon champion hammering Laura Siegemund 6-3, 6-1. Zverev then withdrew from his clash against Alexander Shevchenko at the last minute with a bicep strain, leaving the 254th-ranked Daniel Masur to face him.
He put up a brave fight but Shevchenko was too strong, powering home 6-7 (5/7), 6-2, 6-2 despite a medical timeout in the second set, complaining about difficulty breathing.
“I was struggling in this heat, it was so rough,” said the world number 78, who upset Stefanos Tsitsipas in group play on Monday.
“I had a headache and my head was spinning. But I wanted to win this one.
“After (losing) the first set I knew I had to shorten the rallies and play aggressively,” added Shevchenko.
In Wednesday’s other quarter-final, 2023 winners United States beat China thanks to singles rubber wins by Coco Gauff and Taylor Fritz. World number three Gauff beat Zhang Shuai 7-6 (7/4), 6-2, and Fritz then put the tie beyond the Chinese with a 6-4, 6-4 defeat of Zhang Zhizhen.
“Coco
The Philippines’ Carlos Edriel Yulo (gold) sings the Philippine national anthem after winning the artistic gymnastics men’s vault event of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Bercy Arena in Paris. AFP
Tony Lascuña
December manufacturing gauge highest in 32 months
By Othel V. Campos
AKEY measure of manufacturing activities surged to its highest level since April 2022 and matched the pre-pandemic peak, S&P Global said Thursday. An index above 50.0 indicates expansion.
The Philippine S&P Global Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) hit 54.3 in December, its 16th consecutive month of growth, reflecting stronger manufacturing momentum during the holiday season.
Both output and new orders rose sharply and at broadly similar rates, marking the strongest growth in each since April 2022. Purchasing activity also increased as firms responded to higher demand and greater production requirements, the report said.
It said, however, December marked a marginal drop in employment numbers, as production efficiency allowed some firms to trim their
staffing levels.
“The Filipino manufacturing sector ended 2024 on a positive note, with further improvements in demand resulting in sharp and significant increases in new orders and output.
Firms also expanded their purchasing activity to meet production requirements. December highlighted a moderation in inflationary pressures, marking a shift from the spike observed in November. In fact, cost burdens and output charges rose at historically muted rates,” said Maryam Baluch, economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence.
“While production efficiency
allowed manufacturers to stay on top of tasks at hand, it also led to a slight drop in employment, thereby ending a three-month streak of job creation.
However, this could be a temporary blip, especially if demand remains resilient as anticipated throughout 2025,” said Baluch.
The December PMI rose from 53.8 in November, signaling a strong improvement in the health of the Filipino manufacturing sector, and was the joint-strongest since November 2017, alongside that seen in April 2022.
The two largest components of the PMI calculation (the output index and new orders index) positively influenced the headline figure in December, S&P Global said.
Sharp expansions in both new orders and output were reported, supported by anecdotal evidence of robust underlying demand trends, product diversification and new client acquisitions.
Philippines PMI in December 2024
Philippines PMI in November 2024
DOT welcomes Japan’s easing of Mindanao travel advisory
THE Department of Tourism (DOT) on Thursday welcomed Japan’s recent decision to ease travel advisories for parts of Mindanao as a positive development for the Philippines’ tourism industry.
DOT Secretary Christina Frasco said the advisory is expected to enhance tourism revenue and generate livelihood opportunities in related sectors.
“Welcoming more international visitors to Mindanao reflects the administration’s commitment to fostering inclusive growth across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. We hope other nations follow Japan’s lead as the Philippines offers diverse experiences beyond its iconic beaches,” Frasco said.
Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently downgraded its travel advisory levels for several areas in Mindanao. It lowered its advisory for the Davao region, including Davao Oriental, Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur and Davao Occidental from level 2 to level 1.
This also includes the cities of Mati, Tagum, Samal, Davao, and Digos, which remain at Level 1. In Northern Mindanao, Misamis Oriental transitioned from level 2 to level 1, joining Cagayan de Oro City, Jasaan, Villanueva, and Tagoloan, with maintained level 1 status.
Surigao City in the Caraga Region transitioned to level 1, aligning with the Siargao Islands. In Soccsksargen, parts of Sarangani province, including Malungon, Alabel, Malapatan and Glan, improved from level 3 to level 2.
Othel V. Campos
Philippines PMI in October 2024
operator registered record passenger volume, flights in 2024
By Darwin G. Amojelar
THE New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC) said Thursday the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) recorded its highest-ever passenger and flight volumes in 2024, signaling the robust growth of air travel within the Philippines. NAIA handled 50.1 million passengers last year, up 5.08 percent from a previous high in 2019 before the pandemic, 10.43 percent from
2023, NNIC said. The airport also recorded 293,488 flights, an 8.08-percent increase compared to 2019 and a 4.83-percent rise from the year before. These figures excluded general aviation but showed the steady growth in demand for travel.
“More Filipinos are flying, and more visitors are coming to the Philippines,” said NNIC president Ramon Ang. NNIC assumed management of the airport in September 2024.
“This growth is a clear sign that confidence in air travel has returned, and it motivates us to work even harder. Our goal is to ensure that NAIA provides a better experience for everyone—passengers, airlines, and partners alike,” said Ang.
The numbers highlight the country’s recovery as a travel destination and its growing role in tourism and trade in the region. Since NNIC assumed operations in September, NAIA has steadily managed increasing
Over 600,000 passengers expected at ports as revelers return home
PHILIPPINE ports are bracing for a surge in passengers as the holiday season comes to a close.
The state-run Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) said it expects around 674,000 travelers to use ferry services from Jan. 3 to 5, 2025, based on passenger forecasts and previous year’s data. It reported that from Dec. 15, 2024, to Jan. 2, 2025, more than 3.6 million passengers passed through the ports, with the number expected to further increase as more people return home after the holiday break.
passenger volumes while introducing operational improvements. It said during the peak holiday travel period from Dec. 30 to Jan. 1, the airport recorded an average on-time performance (OTP) of 83.36 percent, with a high of 88.35 percent recorded on Dec. 31, the highest OTP at NAIA since NNIC began managing the airport. NNIC said its focus for 2025 would be on further improving infrastructure and streamlining operations to keep up with rising passenger demand.
Group pushes budget oversight mechanisms
THE Philippine Business for Education (PBed), an advocacy group led by the country’s top business leaders, asked the government to establish robust monitoring and oversight mechanisms to ensure taxpayers’ money is used efficiently and effectively.
“While mending the budget is vital, it must be accompanied by clear, long-term strategies that prioritize the needs of our people and benefit the entire nation,” the group said in a statement Thursday.
It said the allocation of the most significant portion of the 2025 national budget to the education sector is a critical step forward.
and Bicol recorded the highest number of passengers among all their ports.
PPA general manager Jay Santiago said the ports are well-prepared for the influx of travelers and implemented strict security measures. He urged passengers to book their trips in advance to avoid long queues at ticketing booths. “Perhaps, many people were unable to travel during Undas, so we’re expecting a larger crowd now,” Santiago said. “We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, but we are doing our best to accommodate everyone by increasing the number of ferry trips.” COMMUNITY TOURISM. The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines, the marketing and promotions arm of the Department of Tourism (DOT), concludes the Albay leg of its Community-Based
The Port Management Offices (PMOs) of Batangas, Bohol, Davao, Negros Oriental/Siquijor
“We commend President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr.’s decision to further scrutinize the bicameralapproved budget before its final passage, and accord protection to our learners who continue to grapple with the impact of the learning crisis,” it said.
“However, this commitment must focus clearly on the sector’s priorities and address inefficiencies that continue to plague our education and human capital development systems,” it said. PBed expressed concern about the growing discretionary funds with its inherent nature—being less transparent, accountable and prone to inefficiencies, duplication and patronage—”diverting vital resources from priority sectors such as education and health, which are central to inclusive growth and long-term resilience.”
been granted an exclusive franchise by the National Electrification Administration (NEA) to operate electric light and power services to one (1) City and Five (5) municipalities of Leyte, namely: Baybay City, Inopacan, Hindang, Hilongos, Bato, and Matalom. A copy of applicant LEYECO IV’s Articles of Incorporation, By-Laws and Certificate of Franchise is hereto attached as Annex “A”.
1. Applicant SPI is a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the Republic of the Philippines, represented in this instance by its General Manager, Elenita D. Go, of legal age with office address at 5th Floor C5 Office Building Complex, No. 100 E. Rodriguez Jr. Avenue, C5 Road, Bo. Ugong, Pasig City, Philippines, where Applicant SPI may be served with notices and other processes of this Honorable Commission through its Counsel at the address indicated herein.; 2. SPI is the Administrator1 of the IPP – Administration Agreement (the “IPP-AA”) executed between SPI and Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (“PSALM”) with the conformity of the National Power Corporation (“NPC”) for the management and control of the 1000 MW Net Contracted Capacity of the Sual Coal-Fired Thermal Power Plant ( the “Plant”);
3. The Joint Applicants may be served with the orders,
4. The
Application for
of
(“PSA”)
is being submitted to the Honorable Commission for its review and approval pursuant to Sections 252 and 45(b)3 of Republic Act No. 9136, otherwise known as the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (the “EPIRA”), Rules 5, Section 4(e)4 and 11, Section 55 of its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR), Rule 20(B) of its Rules of Practice and Procedure, and other pertinent rules and regulations and ; STATEMENT OF FACTS
5. Section 23 of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (EPIRA) mandates that a distribution utility has the obligation to supply electricity in the least cost manner to its captive market, subject to collection of retail rate duly approved by this Honorable Commission. In relation to this, Section 45 (b) of the EPIRA expressly allows distribution utilities to enter into bilateral power supply contracts subject to the review of this Honorable Commission. The same are consistent with the State’s policy to ensure the quality, reliability, security, and affordability of the supply of electric power.
BRIEF DISCUSSION OF THE COMPETITIVE SELECTION PROCESS
6. Through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), ten (10) Electric Cooperatives (EC) of Region 8 agreed to conduct a joint procurement for their baseload requirement for the period of 2024 to 2033. The joint procurement was referred to as the Region 8 Joint Competitive Power Supply Procurement (R8 JCPSP). LEYECO IV is a member EC under R8 JCPSP.
7. Under the MOA, the Federation of Rural Electric Cooperatives in Region 8 Association, Inc. (FRECOR 8) was tasked to supervise and facilitate the transaction process, documentary requirements, and operational coordination among the member ECs of the R8 JCPSP.
8. A Joint Board of Directors (JBOD) was also created composed of General Managers and Board Presidents of the member ECs, which acts as the governing and policy-making body of the R8 JCPSP.
9. The JBOD passed Board Resolution No. 2023-11-002, Series of 2023 constituting the R8 Joint Bids and Awards Committee (JBAC) for the R8 JCPSP. A Joint Technical Working Group (JTWG) and a Joint Secretariat were also created.
10. The R8 JCPSP was for the procurement of an aggregate power supply of 190 MW, divided into two (2) lots: Lot 1 for 162 MW, which commences in 2024, and Lot 2 for 28 MW, which commences in 2027. The R8 JCPSP followed the policy and rules prescribed under the Department of Energy (DOE) Department Circular No. DC2023-06-0021, and Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) Resolution No. 16, Series of 2023.
11. On 15 December 2023, R8 JCPSP Bidding Documents were submitted to NEA. NEA then issued a Certificate of Conformity No. NEA-RAOCOC-2024-02 dated 22 March 2024 when found the R8 JCPSP’s Bidding Documents to be consistent with the latest posted 2023-2032 Power Supply Procurement Plan of the member ECs of the R8 JCPSP. NEA likewise allowed the member ECs of the R8 JCPSP to proceed with the CSP.
12. Thereafter on 6 and 13 April 2024, the Invitation to Bid and Terms of Reference were published in the Manila Bulletin newspaper.
13. There was likewise a local publication under the Leyte Samar Daily Express and the EV Mail. Invitations to power suppliers were also sent through electronic mail and postings were made in the DOE CSP Portal and respective EC websites.
14. On 12 April 2024, Invitations to CSP Observers were sent to attend the PreBid Conference, including NEA, DOE, ERC, consumer representatives, community representatives, interested civil society organizations and consumers, and the Regional Development Council for Eastern Visayas.
15. On 23 April 2024, the JBAC conducted its Pre-bid Conference 1. During the Pre-bid Conference 1, the comments and questions submitted by the bidders were reviewed and discussed.
16. On 18 May 2024, Supplemental Bid Bulletin Nos. 03 to 05 were issued and were posted on the DOE CSP Portal. They referred to amendments to the Terms of Reference, amendments to instruction to bidders, and amendments to the draft power supply agreement based on the comments and clarifications from the bidders of Pre-Bid Conference 1.
17. On 22 May 2024, the JBAC conducted the Pre-Bid Conference 2 to provide another opportunity for the bidders to seek clarification on the Bidding Documents and revisions made therein. CSP Observers were invited again.
18. On 08 June 2024, the JBAC issued the Final Instructions to Bidders, Final Terms of Reference, Supplemental Bid Bulletin Nos. 06 and 07 and other documents as requested by bidders in preparation for the submission and opening of bids. Invitations to CSP Observers were sent to attend the submission and opening of bids on 25 to 26 June 2024.
19. On 25 June 2024, bidders submitted their respective bids for Lot 1 and Lot 2. The bids were opened on June 25, 2024 for Lot 1 and on June 26, 2024 for Lot 2 in the presence of JBAC, participating bidders, CSP Observers and an Independent Auditor.
20. On 1 to 3 July 2024, the JBAC conducted a post-qualification evaluation of the lowest calculated bids for Lot 1 and Lot 2.
21. On 3 July 2024, the JBAC issued Resolution No. 02, Series of 2024, recommending to the JBOD to award the power supply agreements to the following bidders for Lot 1 for the period of supply of 2024-2033: Bidder Capacity (Lot 1) Therma Luzon Inc. 81 MW Sual Power, Inc. 50 MW KEPCO SPC Power Corp 31 MW
22. Further, the JBAC issued Resolution No. 03, Series of 2024, recommending to the JBOD to award the capacity of 28 MW for Lot 2 for the period of supply of 2027-2033 to SPI as the bidder having the lowest calculated responsive bid.
23. Consequently, on 3 July 2024, JBOD approved JBAC’s Recommendation to award the Power Supply Agreements to the bidders with the lowest calculated responsive bids for Lot 1 and Lot 2 through JBOD Resolution No. 2024-07-001 and 2024-007-002, respectively.
24. After its receipt of NEA’s Notice to Issue Award dated 13 August 2024 last 14 August 2024, on 19 August 2024, the JBAC
governmental authorizations (except ERC) which are required to have been obtained in connection with the execution, delivery, and commencement of performance of this Agreement, shall have been obtained and be in full force and effect. Within five (5) Days after the satisfaction of the conditions referred to in this Section, each Party shall send a written notice to the other Party confirming satisfaction of such conditions. Within five (5) Days from receipt of written notice from the Seller, the Buyer shall then inform the Seller of the Effective Date, which date shall be confirmed by the Seller. (d) Contract Capacity. The capacity,
43.
for the handling or returning the confidential information, as appropriate, upon the close of the proceedings or at the end of the period for which the information is to be treated as confidential7
44. This is guided by the fact that SPI will seek for the return of these sought to be declared confidential annexes after its utilization as evidence in this case and/or at the close of the proceedings hereof, so as to relieve the Honorable Commission of the burden of safekeeping the trade secrets of SPI enclosed in the subject annexes.
PRAYER WHEREFORE, premises considered, Joint Applicants LEYECO IV and
SPI most respectfully pray that the Honorable Commission:
i. Pending trial on the merits, GRANT Provisional Authority or Interim Relief allowing the implementation of the PSA between LEYECO IV and SPI in entirety, reckoned from the start of the supply by SPI to LEYECO IV under the PSA subject of this Joint Application;
ii. ISSUE an Order treating Annexes “E” and “Q” as confidential in perpetuity, directing its non-disclosure to persons other than the officers and staff of the Honorable Commission, perpetually protecting the said information from public disclosure by maintaining the same separate and apart from the records of the case, ensuring that these are not divulged to unauthorized persons, and that these confidential documents are returned to SPI after the termination of this case pursuant to Rule 4 of its Rules of Practice and Procedure;
iii. After due notice and hearing,
PH stocks rose, peso fell on first trading day of 2025
By Jenniffer B. Austria
PHILIPPINE stocks rose, while the peso fell on the first trading day of 2025 amid thin trading as most investors were still on holiday mode.
The peso closed at 57.91 against the US dollar on Thursday, after a long holiday break, down from 57.84 on Dec. 27, 2024.
The Philippine Stock Exchange index climbed 21.60 points, or 0.33 percent, to close at 6,550.39, while the broader allshares index gained 6.59 points, or 0.18 percent, to reach 3,755.61.
Four of the six indices ended in the red. Mining and oil went down by 1.74 percent, holding firms by 0.33 percent, industrial by 0.18 percent and property by 0.03 percent. Financials rose by 1.69 percent and services by 0.84 percent.
Value turnover stood at P3.24 billion. There were 94 gainers versus 97 decliners, while 47 names were unchanged.
International Container Terminal Services Inc. advanced 3.37 percent to P399, while SM Prime Holdings Inc. declined 0.60 percent to P25.
Philippine Stock Exchange president and chief executive Ramon Monzon expressed optimism about the stock market’s performance for 2025.
“At the PSE, we are always optimistic and hopeful and this year is no exception.
We look forward to a more robust trading year and better capital raising performance,” said Monzon.
“Our team will continue to work towards ticking off more items in our threeyear strategic plan, which are initiatives that will contribute to the development of the local capital market and help us catch up with our peers in the region,” he said.
Meanwhile, Asian stocks began 2025 mostly in the red on Thursday after worries about US interest rates, tariffs, and China’s economy gave Wall Street the holiday blues for a fourth straight session.
Equities mostly had a bumper 2024 on the back of enthusiasm about artificial intelligence (AI), cuts in borrowing costs by central banks, and Donald Trump’s presidential election win. With AFP
Petron opens 60th, largest car care center in Urdaneta
By Alena Mae S. Flores
OIL refiner Petron Corp. said Thursday it opened its 60th Car Care Center (CCC), its biggest one to date, in Urdaneta, Pangasinan, representing a milestone in its commitment to meet the diverse needs of motorists across the country.
Vehicle owners in Pangasinan now have access to the full range of automotive repair and maintenance services from nine available service bays offered by Petron CCC, including change oil, automatic transmission fluid (ATF) dialysis, wheel alignment, tire services, brake services, under chassis/suspension repair and preventive maintenance services (PMS) at reasonable prices.
The new CCC located along Anonas, Bypass Urdaneta features a new modern design, adding to Petron’s growing list of new CCCs with this fresh design concept.
It also features a premium lounge where customers can relax while waiting.
The Urdaneta CCC officially opened to the public on Dec. 13, 2024, led by Petron national sales manager for lubes and greases Leojun Gonzales and Petron lube center manager Isabel Amanda Aguila, Urdaneta Petron CCC partners Alexander Gacutan, Fernando Choa and Erwin Sy and other
DigiPlus wins license to operate Brazil sports betting, online games
GAMING firm DigiPlus Interactive Corp. will soon start operating sports betting and online games in Brazil.
The company said its wholly-owned DigiPlus Brazil Interactive Ltda. was granted definitive authority to operate sports betting and other online games in the largest country in South America.
“Brazil’s dynamic gaming landscape presents a pivotal milestone in DigiPlus’ global journey. We are bringing not just our innovative platforms and diverse gaming portfolio but also our unwavering commitment to responsible gaming. By combining our proven platforms with localized insights, we are confident in our ability to resonate with Brazilian players and contribute to the country’s thriving iGaming sector,” said DigiPlus chairman Eusebio Tanco.
According to DigiPlus, only 10 percent of the total applicants received definitive authority from the Secretariat of Awards and Bets.
DigiPlus said it would offer online sports betting and other iGaming services in Brazil, a country with more than 200 million people and a strong interest in sports betting. This is seen as a major growth opportunity for
DigiPlus.
It said Brazil has a strong potential as one of the fastest-growing gaming markets in Latin America, given its high population rate and internet penetration of 87 percent.
DigiPlus said its Brazilian unit filed an application for Licença Para Loterias De Apostas De Quota Fixa in August last year, which is a federal license that allows the operations of land-based and online sports betting, electronic games, live game studios, and other fixed-odds betting activities in Brazil.
DigiPlus Brazil passed the qualification stage for a federal license with Brazil’s Ministry of Finance’s Secretariat of Awards and Bets (SPA) in November.
DigiPlus earlier reported that it would spend P660 million to pay for the license fees, minimum capitalization, financial reserves and other operational expenses as part of the post-qualification process of the SPA.
Aside from Brazil, DigiPlus is also looking to expand in other international markets with strong regulatory frameworks.
Jenniffer B. Austria
By Othel V. Campos
By Darwin G. Amojelar
THE Department of Finance (DOF) said Land Bank of the Philippines and the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) have robust financial performance, making them more well-equipped to provide more services to Filipinos.
Both state-owned banks have consistently met and exceeded the minimum requirements of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) for capital adequacy ratio (CAR), which is a critical benchmark of financial health, the DOF said.
It said that as of end-November 2024, LandBank’s CAR remains at a healthy level of 16.42 percent, while DBP’s level is at 14.78 percent. These are both well above the 10 percent regulatory threshold, demonstrating the state banks’ resilience against financial and
operational risks, the DOF said.
“The solid financial footing of LandBank and DBP reaffirms their indispensable role in advancing the nation’s progress. This allows them to continuously adhere to prudent financial management practices and effectively utilize their resources to deliver more support to Filipinos, especially in key sectors like infrastructure; agriculture; fisheries; micro, small, and medium enterprises, and many more,” Finance Secretary Ralph Recto said. Recto issued the statement after the International Monetary Fund said in a report that “implementing capital restoration plans for the two state-owned
banks following their contribution to the Maharlika Investment Corp.’s startup capital and exiting regulatory relief as soon as possible is important.”
Maharlika Investment Corp. (MIC), which manages the newly-formed sovereign wealth fund, said it would not return the P75-billion capital infused by LandBank and DBP despite the IMF report.
“Our robust financial health and consistent revenue growth empower us to fulfill our mandate, serving as a dependable partner in the national government’s inclusive development agenda,” said LandBank president and chief executive Lynette Ortiz.
IN BRIEF
THE Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) said it budgeted nearly P8.6 billion in emergency loans for 363,547 active members and old-age and disability pensioners affected by various typhoons in Luzon.
It said that on the province of Isabela, the deadline for application is Jan. 4. Deadline for application in the provinces of Ifugao and Nueva Vizcaya, and the towns of Burgos and Bautista in Pangasinan province is on Jan. 5. The emergency loan window is also open in the provinces of Cagayan until Jan. 16; Albay until Jan. 23; Batangas, Camarines Norte and Catanduanes until Jan. 28.
Qualified borrowers in the provinces of Quezon (excluding Lucena City), Camarines Sur and Laguna; city of Naga; municipalities of Juban, Bulan, Irosin, Barcelona, Donsol, Matnog and Castilla in Sorsogon; and municipality of San Fernando in Masbate have until Jan. 30 to file their application. Application for the following areas in Sorsogon was extended until Feb. 5: Sorsogon City, Bacon, Casiguran, Bulusan, Magallanes, Santa Magdalena, Gubat, Prieto Diaz, and Pilar.
GSIS said that in the municipalities of Pio V. Corpuz and Uson in Masbate province, deadline for application is Feb. 12 and Feb. 21, respectively.
Eligible to apply are active members who are working or residing in the calamity declared areas, have no due and demandable loan, not on unpaid leave, have paid premiums in the last six months prior to application, have no pending administrative or criminal case, and with a net monthly take-home pay of at least P5,000 after deductions.
By Alena Mae S. Flores
THE Philippine Solar and Storage Energy Alliance (PSSEA) expressed hope for the timely holding of the fourth round of the Department of Energy’s Green Energy Auction Program this year.
“We are hopeful that the Green Energy Auction that will put solar into the grid and help decongest the transmission lines, will no longer be delayed. In fact, we trust that under the leadership of [Energy] Secretary [Raphael] Lotilla, no further delay will occur as investors are nervous about government commitment to achieve
its set target by 2030,” PSSEA chairperson Tetchi Capellan said.
She said the DOE pledged to hold the 4th GEA contracting round this year, where “11-gigawatt target will be auctioned with floating solar occupying significant volume and solar plus storage addressing the grid issue.”
Capellan said she is optimistic of the continuing growth of the solar industry in the global renewable energy sector in 2025.
“Given the continuing production and innovation in the photovoltaic space, solar is poised to triple its growth in 2025 to 2030 from a global
installation of terawatt level to date, with solar as the most affordable electricity, the most environmentally benign of all technologies, fastest to install as well,” she said.
The DOE announced last year plans to include other technologies such as floating solar and liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the GEA-4 supposedly to be held in the fourth quarter of 2024.
It said the auction is designed to cover renewable energy and energy storage system (IRESS), a comprehensive energy solution that combines renewable energy technology with energy storage systems (ESS).
PLDT, Smart protect telecom infrastructure PLDT Inc. and its wireless arm Smart Communications Inc. are leading nationwide efforts to protect the country’s critical telecommunications infrastructure, ensuring reliable connectivity and continuous customer service nationwide. The collaborative endeavor involves close partnerships with public
THE 4th World Marketing Forum and the 53rd National Marketing Conference, hosted by the Philippine Marketing Association (PMA) in collaboration with the Asia Marketing Federation (AMF), put the spotlight on Manila as a regional thought hub.
The four-day summit, held from Nov. 5 to 8, addressed critical topics shaping the future of marketing, including artificial intelligence, sustainability and next-generation consumer engagement strategies.
Drawing around 2,000 participants, the event brought together delegates from 19 countries, including Japan, Thailand, Indonesia and Bangladesh.
It showcased Manila’s role as a hub for regional thought leadership in marketing and emphasized collaboration to address global and regional challenges.
The summit began with an exclusive Ambassador’s Night at Casa Buenas, Newport World Resorts, where PMA president Kathy Mercado welcomed international delegates and set the stage for discussions on marketing’s evolving role in driving economic growth and innovation across Asia.
The evening laid the groundwork for the insights and connections that would unfold over the next three days.
LANDBANK’S AWARDS. Land Bank of the Philippines is named the top government-owned and controlled corporation (GOCC) for the second consecutive year, earning the highest rating for corporate governance in 2023 from the Governance Commission of GOCCs (GCG). Director Virginia Orogo (fifth from right) accepts the award on behalf of the bank from Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin (sixth from right), GCG chairperson Marius Corpus (seventh from right) and other GCG Commissioners.
TRANSPORT
AAsia-Pacific airline industry poised for growth in 2025
IRLINE companies in Asia Pacific, including those in the Philippines, are set to maintain their international capacity growth trajectory in 2025, according to the Centre for Asia-Pacific Aviation (CAPA).
While surpassing pre-pandemic levels is anticipated, CAPA said this growth would be tempered by ongoing aircraft availability issues.
“Airlines in this region are collectively already close to 2019 capacity levels in the international market; so it is likely that they will exceed that mark early in the new year,” it said.
Aside from a few key international markets, CAPA said the factors inhibiting capacity growth are no longer demand-related. “Airlines want to grow faster, but are frustrated by engine issues, delivery delays and supply chain bottlenecks,” it said.
“Aircraft orders by Asia Pacific airlines have soared over the past few years as airlines look to rebuild their fleets,” CAPA said, adding this trend would continue in 2025, with some key deals looming, although possibly to a lesser extent than in 2023 and 2024.
Cebu Pacific earlier announced that it signed a landmark purchase agreement with Airbus and Pratt & Whitney, an RTX business, for up to 152 A321neo aircraft, equipped with Pratt &
Transportation Secretary Jaime J. Bautista
DOTr, PRI team up to train world-class railway personnel
THE Philippine Railway Institute (PRI) will be able to maximize its potential of producing world-class and competent railway personnel by collaborating with other government agencies and other railway stakeholders, Transportation Secretary Jaime J. Bautista said. Bautista emphasized the need of working with stakeholders with the same interest of reviving the country’s railway sector.
“The PRI will be unable to achieve its goals alone. You need loyal supporters and supportive allies. They will be your inertia towards the future,”. Bautista said.
The transport chief assured the railway training institution of the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) support in fulfilling its mandate.
“[The DOTr] will provide the anchor when you need a boost. You can always rely on your mother department,” he said.
Established in 2019, the PRI is the country’s pioneering railway training institution, which trains railway operators, and other key personnel to ensure that they have the required skills and qualifications.
Whitney GT engines.
The acquisition is the largest in Philippine aviation history, valued at about $24 billion (P1.4 trillion) based on list prices.
Last week, the Philippine budget airline took delivery of its 17th aircraft this year, a stateof-the-art A321neo, boosting its operational capacity and expanding its network
The 236-seater aircraft touched down in Manila on December 24, 2024, bringing Cebu Pacific’s commercial fleet to 91.
“The arrival of this new aircraft reinforces our readiness to meet the rising travel demand and our commitment to enhancing connectivity for our passengers in 2025 and beyond,”
Xander Lao, Cebu Pacific president and chief commercial officer said.
Philippine Airlines also firmed up the purchase of nine brand-new Airbus A350-1000 long haul aircraft for its signature routes to North America and potentially to Europe.
These 380-seater new-generation jets, to be delivered starting 2025, will be the most advanced to fly the Philippine skies. The A3501000 acquisition will put PAL firmly on the road towards operating one of the youngest and most modern widebody fleets in Asia.
Meanwhile, CAPA said the constrained capacity would help keep yields and revenue relatively high, although they may moderate somewhat in 2025.
“Collective profits in the region are expected to rise slightly, although financial fortunes will be mixed,” CAPA said.
“Factors such as elevated costs and geopolitical tensions will continue to put financial pressure on Asia Pacific airlines,” it said. Darwin G. Amojelar
LTFRB consolidated 85% of public utility vehicles in 2024
THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) achieved a significant milestone in 2024 with the successful consolidation of over 85 pecent of Public Utility Vehicles (PUVs) under the Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP).
This long-awaited achievement, seven years in the making, marks a crucial step towards a safer, more efficient, and eco-friendly public transportation system in the Philippines.
Franchise consolidation emerged as one of the LTFRB’s most impactful initiatives.
By transitioning operators to consolidated franchise models, the agency facilitated smoother operations and better integration of modernized fleets into the transport system.
This effort was complemented by targeted route rationalization programs in Metro Manila and other urban centers, which optimized public transport availability and reduced inefficiencies.
As the consolidation reached over
80 percent, the LTFRB, backed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s pronouncement, the processing of applications of PUVs have been closed.
The agency reported that at least 85.6 percent of PUV units had been consolidated under the new system by the end of 2024.
This milestone, representing over 164,137 units, was a result of aggressive campaigns and deadline extensions, aimed at ensuring that operators complied with modernization requirements.
As of 29 November 2024, out of the 191,730 units, 164,137 units were
consolidated which resulted to 85.6 percent.
This success was attributed to its robust outreach initiatives, relaxed policies, and collaborative efforts with stakeholders.
Provisional authority was later given to jeepneys that were not able to make it to the consolidation application, allowing them to still ply their route during the extension of consolidation as ordered by President Marcos Jr.
Amid calls for suspension, LTFRB Chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III repeatedly gave an assurance to all drivers and operators, who have undergone consolidation, that the modernization program will push through.
“This is considered a milestone, not just for the LTFRB, but for the entire government. It took seven years to finally reach this far in terms of the aspiration to modernize the country’s public transport. Despite several objections, strikes, and moves to suspend the program, we remain committed to accomplish
DPWH completes Baguio City bypass road project
THE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has completed a crucial segment of the Baguio City Bypass Road Project, a vital initiative aimed at alleviating traffic congestion along Major Mane and Kennon Road.
Newly completed segment covers 0.44-kilometer of the 4.374-kilometer bypass road.
This section features widened curves, concrete retaining walls, open canal for water drainage, sidewalks, curb, and gutter, which collectively improve road safety and prevent soil erosion in the steep, mountainous terrain.
In a report to DPWH Secretary
Manuel M. Bonoan, the DPWH Baguio City District Engineering Office (DEO), highlighted that the project will greatly enhance transportation, alleviate traffic congestion, and shorten travel time by 50-60 percent compared to current routes passing through crowded city streets.
“The completion of this project will provide commuters and travelers easier access to more convenient transportation routes to and from the area,” said District Engineer Rene F. Zarate. The newly-constructed portion received funding of P92.6 million under the 2024 General Appropriations Act (GAA),
bringing the total project allocation of P593.7 million since 2017. Remaining segments of the project will require an amount of P118.5 million to complete.
the modernization program,” Chairperson Guadiz said.
The LTFRB also made significant headway in expanding the ridehailing market. With the accreditation of new transport network companies (TNCs) and the renewal of existing ones, bringing the accredited TNCs to 20 as of December 2024, commuters were provided with more options for reliable and innovative transportation services.
Platforms like Angkas were among those accredited, underscoring the agency’s dedication to fostering competition and innovation in the transport sector.
Equally crucial development in the transport sector was the granting of an increase in flag-down rate in taxis.
The LTFRB granted a P10.00increase, making the flag-down rate at P50.
However, taxi operators are asking for another P10 increase to make the flag-down rate to P60, but the matter is being reviewed by the agency given its possible impact on inflation.
NLEX Road Warriors launch first-ever coaches camp
THE NLEX Road Warriors recently kicked off its inaugural Coaches Camp in Bulacan, attracting over 35 barangay and school coaches. This initiative underscores NLEX Corporation’s commitment to empowering communities through sports.
“Through this activity, NLEX hopes to make a positive impact in the communities we serve. We want to inspire participants to become
and grow as better leaders.
extends far beyond the court—it’s about fostering discipline, teamwork, and perseverance,” said NLEX Vice President for Communication and Stakeholder Management, Donna Faylona-Marcelo.
LTFRB Chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III
DPWH Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan
FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, 2025 lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com
NICKIE WANG, Editor ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer
GMA Network, the country’s leading broadcast company, unveils a stellar program lineup as it celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2025.
For its diamond year, audiences can expect a diverse range of entertainment that inspires, endures, and showcases world-class Filipino talent.
Kicking off with GMA Prime, Kapuso fans will enjoy an allnew prime experience featuring compelling storytelling and the brightest Kapuso stars.
Thrilling viewers beginning in January 2025 is the action-drama series Mga Batang Riles, starring Miguel Tanfelix as Kidlat, Kokoy de Santos as Kulot, Bruce Roeland as Matos, Raheel Bhyria as Sig, and Antonio Vinzon as Dagul. Joining GMA’s homegrown talents are esteemed actors Roderick Paulate, Jeric Raval, Jay Manalo, Diana Zubiri, Desiree del Valle, and Ronnie Ricketts Dennis Trillo and Jennylyn Mercado star in Sanggang Dikit a buddy-cop series set against the backdrop of political intrigue and personal rivalries. The high-octane action series channels the style of 80s action films, complete with explosive stunts, gunfights, and thrilling storylines.
Encantadia Chronicles: Sang’gre delves deeper into the magical world of Encantadia , starring Faith da Silva, Angel Guardian, Kelvin Miranda, and Bianca Umali. The series follows Terra, a young woman who discovers her magical powers and her true identity as a Sang’gre, destined to defend her people and the mystical world of Encantadia New seasons from GMA Public Affairs also make their way to GMA Prime. Ruru Madrid returns as the titular character in Lolong: Bayani ng Bayan, where Lolong embarks on a perilous journey to recover the legendary Ubtao to save his beloved Elsie and his people.
SHOWBIZ
GMA Network unveils
stellar lineup for diamond year
Bringing light-hearted romance to primetime, My Ilongga Girl stars Jillian Ward as a doppelgänger of a missing celebrity, while Beauty Empire explores the skin and beauty industry through powerful female moguls. The Afternoon Prime block offers heartfelt dramas, including Prinsesa ng City Jail, starring Sofia Pablo and Allen Ansay, and Binibining Marikit, starring Herlene Budol and Pokwang GMA’s Tatak World-Class initiative continues with a diverse range of Asian romance and love
stories, as well as blockbuster Pinoy movies spanning various genres, including Five Breakups and a Romance , Video City , Mahal Kita, Beksman , and more.
Additionally, the network brings the return of Fernando Poe Jr.’s iconic films in FPJ sa GMA, providing fans with a nostalgic experience. World-class blockbusters await with films like The King’s Man, War for the Planet of the Apes, The Batman, Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, and more.
GMA also strengthens its commitment to providing trusted and
News’ digital platforms. Adrian Ayalin named new co-anchor of ‘TV Patrol Weekend’
up-to-date information, including comprehensive multi-platform election coverage for Eleksyon 2025, through GMA Integrated News and its advocacy campaign Dapat Totoo The Tanong ng Bayan: The Senatorial Face Off special will inform the voting public with insights into the candidates’ positions.
Sports fans can enjoy live broadcasts of NCAA Season 100 volleyball and Season 101 basketball. The network also brings new seasons of The Voice Kids Tanghalan ng Kampeon , and the
return of MAKA in 2025.
Also coming in 2025 are new programs like Stars on the Dance Floor , original films from GMA Pictures, and a special online archive celebrating Jessica Soho’s iconic stories in her 40th year of journalism.
With its unwavering commitment to entertaining and informing Filipino audiences, GMA Network continues to shine on its 75th anniversary, showcasing the best in Philippine culture and world-class productions that unite the Filipino people
Three New Crowns at Noble Queen of the Universe 2024
A FORMER Miss Earth, a self-made artist, and a veteran actress were among the new batch of queens crowned during the coronation of Respect: Noble Queen of the Universe 2024, held recently at Cities & Events Place in Quezon City.
Brazilian model Priscilla Meirelles, who won Miss Earth in 2004, was named Noble Queen Nations 2024, while veteran actress Teresa Loyzaga was named Noble Queen Worldwide 2024—two new titles introduced at the 6th edition of the pageant for married women.
Pageant newcomer Mylene Myse Salonga was also crowned the first Noble Queen of Culture and Arts 2024. A wife and businesswoman, Salonga has made a name for herself as an artist. She started painting in 2010 and has since sold over 200 paintings locally and internationally. Known for her unwavering support for the youth, Salonga hosted her first art exhibit at The Manor Camp John Hay in Baguio City to raise funds for Autism Awareness. She also donated a painting
titled Marriane to the Philippine Embassy in France during the 21st “Rendezvous aux Jardins” international art exhibit, in Describing her title, the 59-year-old Loyzaga, Carlos Loyzaga , said, “As little girls, many of us dream of becoming princesses, queens, or wearing a crown at least once in our lives. For me, that dream came true at the age of 59. I had the privilege of wearing a crown that symbolizes something far greater than just beauty—it represents kindness, purpose, and service.”
After two decades since
Primetime action hero Ruru Madrid returns as Lolong in the show’s much-awaited new season ‘Lolon: Bayani ng Bayan’
Young actress Jillian Ward stars in her rst primetime rom-com ‘My Ilonggo Girl’
The ‘Encantadia Chronicles’ continues with the much-anticipated sequel, ‘Sang’re’
Upcoming lm ‘P77,’ starring Barbie Forteza and Euwenn Mikaell, arrives in theatres this summer
Broadcast journalist Adrian Ayalin
SHOWBIZ
Hollywood’s biggest night live on Lionsgate Play
THE 82nd Golden Globe Awards, Hollywood’s annual celebration of excellence in film and television, will be streamed live on Lionsgate Play in the Philippines on Jan. 6 at 9 a.m.
The awards, dubbed “Hollywood’s Party of the Year,” will honor outstanding achievements in the entertainment industry. This year’s event introduces two new categories: Best Performance in Stand-Up Comedy on Television and Cinematic Box Office Achievement. In the film category, The Substance The Brutalist and Dune: Part Two lead the nominations for Best Picture. Directors Jacques Audiard ( Emilia Perez ), Brady Corbet ( The Brutalist ), and Coralie Fargeat ( The Substance ) are contenders for Best Director. Nominees for Best Actor and Actress in a Motion Picture include Cynthia Erivo ( Wicked ), Demi Moore ( The Substance ), Zendaya ( Challengers ), Timothée Chalamet ( A Complete Unknown ), Sebastian Stan ( A Different Man ), and Jesse Eisenberg ( A Real Pain ). For television, shows such as The Bear, Abbott Elementary, Squid Game, Shōgun, and Netflix’s Nobody Wants This are in the running for Best Series. Performance nods include Anna Sawai (Shōgun), Kristen Bell (Nobody Wants This), Ayo Edebiri (The Bear), and Jeremy Allen White (The Bear). The new Best Performance in Stand-Up Comedy on Television category features nominees like Ali Wong (Ali Wong: Single Lady), Seth Meyers (Seth Meyers: Dad Man Walking), and Adam Sandler (Adam Sandler: Love You). Cinematic Box Office Achievement nominees include major blockbusters such as Wicked, Deadpool & Wolverine, Inside Out 2, and Gladiator II Lionsgate Play, a premium streaming service available in the Philippines, will stream the awards live via PLDT Home and Smart. Subscriptions are available for P79 per month via the Lionsgate Play app.
Is it already goodbye for PriManda?
By Nickie Wang
TLito Lapid and Tolentino , will temporarily step away from ABS-CBN’s primetime drama FPJ’s Batang Quiapo headlined and directed by Coco Martin
“Just like in Probinsiyano before the campaign period began, I had to step back because it’s prohibited to appear on television or in films,” Lapid explained during his annual Christmas luncheon with the entertainment press.
Lapid cited Commission on Elections (Comelec) regulations barring candidates from appearing in commercials or publicizing their image on TV and billboards.
“Even for someone like Coco with numerous billboards, if he decides to run, they all have to come down,”
Lapid added.
“It’s unfortunate, but this is how politics works.”
When asked if PriManda would return after the elections next year, Lapid expressed hope but shared initial doubts about the tandem’s reception.
“When Coco paired me with Lorna, I was hesitant. We’re both senior citizens. But Coco insisted, saying it would inspire older audiences, showing that even senior citizens can have a love team,” he said.
Lapid likened PriManda’s success to his pairing with Angel Aquino in FPJ’s Ang Probinsiyano , which Coco used as an example of audience acceptance.
“Who would have thought that people would like the tandem? Just like my previous pairing with Angel, I’m very thankful to the public for giving Lorna and me this chance,” he said.
The senator also appreciated the support for PriManda despite occasional gossip about their onscreen chemistry.
“Back in the day, love teams often led to rumors of real-life relationships. But that was then, this is just work,” he
clarified, noting that their partnership in purely professional.
Lito’s son, Mark Lapid, COO of TIEZA, echoed this sentiment. He noted that the PriManda tandem was carefully considered by the creative team to bring something new to audiences.
“It worked as an inspiration for everyone,” Mark said, explaining that the pairing is purely professional. “We laugh about it because it’s part of the job.”
Swiss socialite Jocelyn Wildenstein dies at 84
HIGH society fixture Jocelyn Wildenstein has died at the age of 84.
The Swiss socialite, nicknamed Catwoman because she reportedly had many facial cosmetic procedures in the hopes of resembling a cat, passed away on Tuesday in Paris from a pulmonary embolism.
The star, born Jocelyne Périsset, was taking a nap in a Parisian palace at the time of her death, it was reported by Paris Match
“Her partner Lloyd Klein is saddened to announce the death of Jocelyn Wildenstein in Paris,” it was shared by AFP
She was last seen looking healthy on Dec. 18 in Paris when with Klein. The star smiled at onlookers while in a fur jacket, leggings and boots as she wore black sunglasses and her blonde hair in soft waves over her shoulders.
She was nicknamed Catwoman due to her pronounced cat eyes and leonine features. She had over 1 million Instagram followers and described herself as an ‘art dealer.’
the French art dealer and horse breeder Daniel Wildenstein . Their family presided over Wildenstein & Co., an influential Parisbased art dealership.
This Swiss-born socialite came from humble origins, only to tie the knot in the 1970s with a French-born American billionaire. But the two courted headlines just over two decades later with their messy divorce. She became one of the wealthiest people on the planet after her divorce settlement, which left her with more than $2 billion, plus millions more annually. But she somehow managed to lose it all after years of tinkering with her face and spending on countless luxuries.
The high society fixture was married to the late art dealer and billionaire Alec N. Wildenstein , who was the son of
While speaking to The Times of London
Jocelyn described how she became fascinated by Africa and its fauna after finding a box of picture books about the continent when she was a child.
Later, she developed an interest in hunting and wildlife, which led her to the Wildenstein family ranch Ol Jogi, located in Kenya.
There, she was introduced on a safari to Alec by Adnan Khashoggi , a Saudi arms dealer. Jocelyn recalled how Alec decided to kill a lion that had been killing nearby antelope, so she accompanied him on a pre-dawn mission. She recounted how, after her future husband took down the lion with one shot— plus a second for good measure—they ate part of the animal as a kind of trophy and rubbed its blood on their necks.
“You must eat a part of the heart of your game,” she said. “It’s legend. Maybe to take the power of the lion.”
She recently shared a flashback photo.
“My early years at Ol Jogi building this beautiful ranch from scratch before having my children, This was my first love story with Africa and it started here at #oljogi,’ she captioned the stunning photo.
Although she didn’t date the photo, it appeared to have been taken in the late ‘70s or early ‘80s, early in her relationship with Wildenstein. AFP
‘Batang Quiapo’ stars Lorna Tolentino (left) and Lito Lapid
Socialite Jocelyn Wildenstein dies due to pulmonary embolism
Jocelyn was nicknamed Catwoman due to her pronounced cat eyes and leonine feature
American comedian and actress Nikki Glaser will be hosting this year’s Golden Globe Awards
FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, 2025 lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com
NICKIE WANG, Editor
ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer
ALBERT Einstein famously said, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”
I try to remind myself of this quote’s relevance as I stand on the verge of my 40th birthday in a few days. It reminds me that growth and change require awareness, conscious effort, intentionality, and action.
While I believe in making improvements year-round, the New Year has set a personal tradition for me. It’s all about flipping that new calendar, the ceremonial moment for transformation, and an opportunity to reflect and reset.
For 2025, my focus is clear: prioritize physical health and balance inner and outer wellness. “You’re not getting any younger,” I constantly tell myself.
Turning 40 is a milestone that brings both gratitude and responsibility. There is that gratitude for the lessons I learned along the way and the responsibility to take care for the vessel that carries me through life—my body.
Over the years, I’ve realized that long lists of resolutions rarely work for me. They often feel overwhelming, and enthusiasm fades as life takes over. I must also remind myself how many times I’ve wallowed in guilt and regret whenever I go offtrack. What I’ve learned instead is the importance of incorporating joy into my habits. When I enjoy something, it is easier for me to stick to it.
This revelation aligns perfectly with my recent experience with Clara Day Herrera CEO of CDH Wellness Corporation. Clara is like a fairy godmother, combining expertise and compassion to guide others toward a healthier lifestyle. An international yoga and meditation instructor and a UK-certified vegan and vegetarian nutrition specialist, Clara reintroduced me to her two-day reset cleanse featuring fresh juices and soups before the year ended. This cleanse, which I’ve tried several times since the pandemic, is actually a reset— both physical and emotional.
Clara’s newest minimalist skincare set complemented this journey. Her Pillow Skin Super Duo, featuring a Super Serum and a Super Spray Lotion, is now part of my daily routine since I received her cute kit two weeks ago. It’s paraben-free, non-comedogenic, and gentle for all skin types, making it ideal for a busy Tita like me who wants to take skincare more seriously. The serum promises to address
Food
IN observance of World Food Day 2024, Globe reinforced its commitment to addressing food insecurity in the Philippines, aligning with the global call for “Right to Foods for a Better Life and a Better Future—Leave No One Behind.” Through its Hapag Movement and Employee Volunteering Engagement Program, Globe has provided crucial food support to individuals and families, including Indigenous Peoples (IP) groups, suffering from hunger. The latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey shows that 16.8 percent of Filipinos experience moderate hunger, while 6.1 percent endure severe hunger. The situation
Glow with Joy
The art of inner and outer cleansing
that baby step of self-care).
Combining the reset with Clara’s Pillow Skin Super Duo felt like addressing wellness from the inside out. The bundle seamlessly marries two essential aspects of self-care: nourishing the body and nurturing the skin. Finding joy in the process
One of the most significant lessons I’ve learned recently is the power of joy. Whether it’s a digestive reset or a skincare routine, incorporating happiness into my actions makes it easier to stay consistent. I no longer see these practices as obligations but as small acts of self-love. They’re reminders that I deserve to feel good, inside and out. This mindset shift has been transformative.
For example, I didn’t complain about going through Clara’s two-day cleanse because it wasn’t just about drinking juices and soups. I made it more about savoring flavors, appreciating the nutrients, and feeling the difference in my body. Similarly, my new skincare routine offered moments of mindfulness where I connect with myself and my goals.
Self-care made easy
dark spots and uneven skin tone, while the spray lotion hydrates and smoothens, combating dryness and fine lines. This combination of inner and outer cleansing—through nutrition and skincare—has simplified my first step to 2025 self-care.
Why inner cleansing matters
Our bodies are exposed to toxins daily— through food, pollution, and even stress. These toxins can affect our energy levels, digestion, and skin health. Supporting gut health is essential for overall wellness, and Clara’s twoday cleanse offers a simple yet effective way to reset. The Ayurveda-based program targets bloating and irritation, enhances gut health, and, as a bonus, improves skin appearance.
While I won’t claim looking like a Victoria’s Secret model in just two days, I am sure that I felt lighter, more energized, and even noticed a natural glow on my face after completing the cleanse (could also be out of the joy of making
For those looking to kickstart their journey, Clara’s exclusive collaboration bundle offers an excellent starting point. The Pillow Skin Super Duo and the Pillow Bread PH 2-Day Fat Burn and Digestive Reset Cleanse provide a comprehensive solution for tackling wellness from both sides. Here’s what makes this bundle so special: Super Serum
· Fights dark spots and melasma, revealing a radiant, youthful complexion.
Super Spray Lotion
· Hydrates and smoothens while protecting against dryness and fine lines.
· Digestive Reset Cleanse: Improves gut health, reduces bloating, and enhances overall skin health.
Embracing change
As I approach my 40s, I’m more determined than ever to focus on what truly matters— my health, happiness, and well-being. By simplifying my goals and infusing them with joy, I know I’m setting myself up for success. Inner and outer work must go hand in hand, and I now have the tools to make things happen—whether that means resetting for a tinier waist or getting glowing skin.
is particularly dire in Mindanao and the Visayas, where hunger rates have nearly doubled, impacting lowincome communities the most.
In response, Globe mobilized its employees and partners to provide aid to those in need. A food repacking marathon at The Globe Tower, in collaboration with Rise Against Hunger PH, saw 480 employees packing 3,060 food packs, which benefitted 18,360 individuals in disaster-affected areas.
Globe volunteers in Cebu City distributed food supplies to 220 families at the Cebu City Operation Second Chance Center (CCOSCC) and Balay Samaritano, in partnership with the Ayala Foundation.
“Globe’s commitment to nation-building is truly inspiring. Their employees’ dedication to volunteering to help our communities is commendable,” said Marlito Cabigas, senior associate for VisMin, Corporate Citizenship &
Volunteerism, Ayala Foundation. Additionally, Globe employees partnered with Tzu Chi Foundation Davao to support the Sto. Niño Central Elementary School in Talaingod, Davao del Norte, where they provided food packs and cybersecurity education to 150 parents, including IP members, and facilitated SIM distribution to promote digital inclusion.
“Tzu Chi Foundation Philippines is truly grateful for this partnership. This initiative fosters inclusivity, particularly as we focus on our Indigenous Peoples here in Davao,” said Mine Heart B. Tantoy , social welfare officer of Tzu Chi Davao.
“Our World Food Day initiatives reflect Hapag Movement’s mission to alleviate hunger, especially in disaster-stricken and impoverished communities,” said Yoly Crisanto, Globe’s chief sustainability and corporate communications officer. “By mobilizing our employees and collaborating with trusted partners, we provide immediate relief while promoting sustainable development.” Globe recently launched its #GlobeofGood Volunteering platform, making it easier for employees to engage in community activities.
As a socially responsible company, Globe continues to empower communities through sustainable initiatives, inviting all to join the Hapag Movement in making a meaningful impact.
The Pillow Skin Super Duo set is paraben-free, non-comedogenic, and gentle for all skin types
The two-day cleanse sets featuring fresh juices and soups o er a simple yet e ective way to reset
Inner cleansing is essential for overall wellness