Former president Rodrigo Duterte said on Tuesday evening that criminally inclined individuals have corrupted the current police force in the Philippine National Police (PNP).
“There seems to be a massive corruption going on. Hindi lang yan droga, and even this small like sugal sugal na sinabi ko na noon, pardon me, just before I took may oath of office as president somebody asked me about the PNP. Ang sagot ko
alam ko hindi nagustuhan ng pulis lalo na ng mga opisyal and just to be frank with everybody, to be candid and to tell the truth about everything I have to open my mouth. Ayaw ko kasi kaibigan ko kayong lahat from the patrolman down to the presi-
dent, ang problema tinatanong ako hindi naman ako puwedeng ayaw ko I might offend the police, its not that, we are friends but when it comes to national interest, sorry na lang,” he said during the Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa program over SMNI and hosted by Pastor Apollo Quiboloy on Tuesday.
The former president demonstrated how difficult it is
The Department of Health has recorded 2,079 new HIV cases in March, up 35 percent from the same period last year.
Based on the HIV/AIDS & Registry of the Philippines, the daily average number of people diagnosed with HIV in March is 54.
The DOH however noted that some 770 cases reported this
month were supposed to be confirmed from the previous months.
Of the newly diagnosed HIV cases, majority or 95 percent (1,981) were male while 5 percent (97) were female.
Among age groups, the 25-34 years old recorded the most number of HIV infections with 1,006, followed by the youth aged 15-24 with 635, 35-49 years old with 383 and 50 years and older with
46.
The report also showed that 8 children acquired HIV through mother-to-child transmission and 10 HIV-positive women were pregnant at the time of diagnosis.
In March, sexual contact is still the leading mode of transmission of HIV, representing 2,025 cases or 97 percent.
Some 19 cases were due to
Tribal leaders vowed to protect their sacred ground from rampant selling of ancestral lands in Barangay Kapatagan here allegedly involving the village chief and other non-tribal members who are now facing criminal charges with the Regional Trial Court Branch 19.
In an interview on Tuesday, Rogelio Manapol Jr., tribal chieftain of the Unified Bagobo Tagabawa, told MindaNews that tribal chieftains expressed concern over the selling of ancestral lands, which Republic Act 8371 or “The Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act of 1997” prohibits.
Saying that ancestral domain means the life for the indigenous communities and the next generation of Lumad, Manapol told the public that they should not consider buying ancestral lands as “one of your investments.”
He said the scope of the ancestral lands belonging to Unified Bagobo-Tagabawa includes those within Digos City, Bansalan, Santa Cruz, portions of Sibulan, and Old Balutakan in North Cotabato.
A criminal case for violation of Sections 5, 10, and 72 of R.A. 8371 was filed last February 3 against Barangay chairman Juanito Morales, Rolando I. Parami, Gaudencio Brobo Sr., Ramon B. Brobo, Milagros B. Ocumen, Gaudencio B. Brobo, Allen Dale
Griffin, and Lorize Quindao Lomocso, who were accused of being the persons behind the sale of ancestral lands.
The law prohibits, among others, the “unauthorized and unlawful intrusion” into the ancestral domain and imposes a corresponding penalty of imprisonment of not less than nine months but not more than 12 years or a fine of not less than P100,000 but not more than P500,000 or both.
Manapol said it was his late father, Rogelio Manapol, a former tribal chieftain, who reported the alleged illegal selling of ancestral lands to the National Bureau of Investigation-Davao on September 23, 2022, resulting in an entrapment operation on October 13, 2022 at the Barangay Hall in Kapatagan.
He alleged that Morales facilitated the selling of ancestral lands and even used the facilities of the barangay hall for these transactions in the guise of “Transfer of Rights and Improvements.”
He said the accused are not even members of the Bagobo Tagabawa, an indigenous cultural community in the province of Davao del Sur.
Shortly after the almost hourlong hearing at the Almendras Hall of Justice, MindaNews asked
The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) has already allotted emergency loans fund for active members and old-age and disability pensioners in the provinces of Davao del Norte and Davao de Oro, as well as in the municipalities of Caraga and Governor Generoso in Davao Oriental, that were affected by various calamities.
In order to qualify for the emergency loan, active members must be residing or working in the mentioned areas; not on leave of absence without pay; have no pending administrative or criminal case; have at least three monthly premium payments within the last six months prior to application; have no due and demandable loan; and have a net take-home pay not lower than the amount required under the General Appropriations Act after all monthly obligations have been deducted, according to an announcement Tuesday.
“Naglaan kami ng halos PHP814 million para sa 36,155 active members and 4,539 pensioners sa mga nasabing lugar na naapektuhan ng mga kalamidad tulad ng pagbaha at lindol. Bukas ang loan application hanggang (We have
alloted around PHP814 million for 36,155 active members and 4,539 pensioners in the said areas who were affected by flooding and earthquake. The loan application is open until) May 27,” GSIS president and general manager Wick Veloso said in a news release.
Magnitude 6.0 and 5.9 earthquakes jolted Davao de Oro in February and March, respectively.
From January to March, widespread flooding and landslides occurred in the region due to a low-pressure area (LPA). Thousands were displaced and two fatalities aged 5 and 57 were reported in Davao del Norte in January.
In March, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said 4,632 people were affected; 915 were displaced; and bridges, roads and houses were damaged or destroyed due to the LPA.
Veloso said old-age and disability pensioners residing in the calamity areas may also avail of the loan as long as their resulting net monthly pension after loan availment is at least 25 percent of their basic monthly pension.
FGSIS, P6
Davao City First District Representative Paolo “Pulong” Duterte is pushing for House Bill 7867 that seeks to give tax breaks to pro bono lawyers standing for underprivileged, particularly indigent Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPs).
The proposed law also aims to institutionalize the provision of free legal services to needy ICCs/ IPs by amending Republic Act 8371, commonly known as “The Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act of 1997”.
Rep. Pulong, who is pushing for the bill along with along with Benguet Rep. Eric Yap, explained that the Bill of Rights guarantees the right to an independent and competent legal counsel of any person undergoing an investi-
gation for a commission of an offense. The same provision also enunciates the mandate of the state to provide legal counsel for the said person if he/she cannot afford one.
He also mentioned in his explanatory note that a significant number of the country’s ICCs/IPs are Filipinos living below the poverty line.
“Thus, once investigated or held as accused, these ICC’s/IP’s rights to counsel become preju-
dicial, given that no legal counsel is immediately available on their behalf,” it said.
Under the proposed legislation the National Commission for Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) would have the authority to appoint counsel de oficio for impoverished ICCs/IPs.
The pro bono attorney hired is entitled to tax-free honoraria or daily travel expenses as specified by NCIP guidelines.
The bill also emphasized that any member of the Philippine Bar, who has rendered free legal services to the indigent ICCs of at least 100 hours within one year shall be entitled to a direct deduction from his income tax due in the amount of P100,000.
More than 450 companies are participating in this year’s 7th PHILBEX Davao 2023 Philippine Building and Construction Exposition and 4th Travel and Leisure Expo (TLEX) slated May 11 to 14, 2023 at SM Lanang Premier’s SMX Convention Center.
PHILBEX Davao is the largest and the most comprehensive building and construction trade show organized in Mindanao.
The event has also set the standards through which local exhibitors count for knowledge and exposure.
The event will gather leading players in the industry, including construction companies.
“This year mas pinalaki siya compared to 2019 wherein there were only 300 exhibitors but this year we have more than 400 companies for PHILBEX and over 50 for TLEX that will be display-
ing and showcasing their newest products and trends materials in the building and design industry and travel industry,” said Leo Z. Salonga, marketing communications manager of Worldbex Services International during P.E.P Talks media forum at SM Lanang Premier on Tuesday.
Salonga said this year they are bringing the inspiration of building and design for Philbex 2023
FMORE, P6
“Pag corrupt sa taas, corrupt lahat diyan. Pag tumanggap ang gagong ito, tanggap lahat yan, down the line. Ngayon kung takot ka diyan sa human rights, nakatali ang kamay mo diyan, you are afraid of being criticized for being too strict or a dictator-type of running the show of governance, pag pakinggan mo lahat yan, you cannot please everybody, you cannot please the media, you cannot please the civic organization, civil society, you have to choose but you must use your head.”
Former President RODRIGO DUTERTE
On allegations of corruption in the Philippine National Police ranks:
All of us are born into this world – thanks to our mother. There were only two people in the world who didn’t have a mother: Adam and Eve. They were created by God and they were the first father and mother on earth.
If there’s a courageous mother I know, it’s none other than my mother. Saturnina dela Rita was able to raise her children – nine of us! – without any knowledge. She did it all by herself. After all, she didn’t have a mother to ask for some advice. She was “given” by her biological mother when she was only five years old.
All she remembered was she had three sisters and her mother was sick when she was adopted by Rosario Gloria. Her father died, she recalled, he was poisoned. After that, her mother became sick and so she decided to give her children away.
Tina, as she is fondly called, was barely in her teens when they left Zamboanga. Her adoptive mother brought her to Bansalan, Davao del Sur. She helped her in her business, including the restaurant.
During her off days from school, Tina helped the restaurant in serving the customers. It
was one of those moments that she met Generoso “Gener” Tacio, a driver. I was not sure if it was love at first sight but Gener pursued her relentlessly. There were several others who courted Tina. In order for Gener to stop bothering her, she told him that if he really loved her, he could bring his parents and ask for marriage.
She was so surprised that two nights later, Gener came together with his parents. And so, at the age of 18, Tina was married to Gener.
The following year, I came into this world. Then, my eight other siblings were also born: Evangeline, Gerry, Elena, Generoso, Jr., Avednigo, Jeannyline, Marilou, and Arman. All of them are now married, except me. Two sisters now live in the United States. Both my father and his namesake have joined their Creator.
Why am I writing this? It’s because this coming May 14, the world will again celebrate Mother’s Day. This special day was first celebrated in the United States in 1908. Anna Jarvis, originator of the occasion, wanted to commemorate a day to honor her mother.
Behind all the successes of a
man is the mother. At least three famous American presidents owed their success to their mothers. George Washington, the first president, said: “My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my mother. I attribute success in life to the moral, intellectual and physical education I received from her.”
Abraham Lincoln, who was assassinated while he was still the president, recalled: “I remember my mother’s prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life.”
“There never was a woman like her,” said Andrew Jackson of his mother. “She was gentle as a dove and brave as a lioness... The memory of my mother and her teachings were, after all, the only capital I had to start life with, and in that capital I have made my way.”
How right were the words of W. R. Wallace: “The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world.”
There’s this story about Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo and his mother, Maria Dolores, that is circulating in social media. He was asked by a journalist why his mother still lives with him.
“How can you thank a man for giving you what’s already yours? How then can you thank him for giving you only part of what is yours?” - MARCUS AURELIUS.
*******
Sadly not all Pinoys, it appears, believe in the Kadiwa concept, an idea explored and begun during the first Marcos government in the seventies.
An official of the Monetary Board was reported in the media to have voiced his concern over its viability, noting the unsustainability, it being a politically motivated initiative.
Bruce Tolentino said so during a business journalism seminar organized by the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines and San Miguel Corporation.
A former DA undersecretary, Tolentino pointed out that putting up Kadiwa stores nationwide will cost money since the “DA buys
food products (and other agricultural produce) at high prices but sells them at discounted prices.”
He is correct. The government loses money but the end goal is met and that is affording the millions who are poor, unemployed and marginalized to put food on the table.
Tolentino somewhat attached the Kadiwa to a political action in that it was “easier to curry favor with voters by giving away “ayuda” or cash assistance. Financing such an initiative, Tolentino averred, is “unenviable in the long term.”
(By the way, the Monetary Board is the policy- making body of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.)
The MB official added that if Kadiwa were to be viewed as a targeted, short-term assistance, it will be useful.
“If you view it as a long-term (intervention), it is wasteful,” he stated.
I have some disagreement with Tolentino’s position on two
“Why don’t you build her a house?”
Ronaldo replied, “My mother raised me and she dedicated her life for me. She would go to sleep hungry, just to let me eat. We had no money at all. She worked 7 days a week and nights as a maid to buy my first shoes so I could be a player.”
Today, he is regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. He credits his mother for his success. As he admitted, “All my success is dedicated to her and because of her and as long as she has a life, she will always be by my side, she has everything I can give. She is my refuge and my greatest gift.”
No wonder, mothers are given prominence in history and literature. In the Bible, Eve is credited with being the “Mother of All the Living.” Hindu scripture credits the Great Mother, Kali Ma, with the invention of writing through alphabets, pictographs and beautiful sacred images.
Chinese family names often start with a sign that means “mother.” It’s a nice way of honoring their moms long past. In Japan, the imperial family traces their descent from Omikami Amaterasu, the Mother of the World.
In the United States, native American Indian women have long been honored with the name, “Life of the Nation” for their gift of motherhood to the tribes.
Buddha honored mothers when he said, “As a mother, even at the risk of her own life, loves and protects her child, so let a man cultivate love without measure toward the whole world.” The Greek word “meter” and Sanskrit word “mantra” mean both mother and measurement.
So many poems have been written for mothers. Here’s one from Sharon Doubiago: “My mother is a poem / I’ll never be able to write, /though everything I write / is a poem to my mother.”
Rudyard Kipling penned: “If I was damned of body and soul, / I know whose prayers would make me whole, / Mother o’ mine, O mother o’ mine.”
Kate Douglas Wiggin paid a tribute to all mothers when she wrote: “Most of all the other beautiful things in life come by twos and threes, by dozens and hundreds. Plenty of roses, stars, sunsets, rainbows, brothers and sisters, aunts and cousins, comrades and friends - but only one mother in the whole world.”
aspects.
First, he might have forgotten the fact that the country unquantifiably suffered so much during the two-year Covid 19 pandemic and consequent repressive lockdowns.
(The world was rendered in shambles and legions moaned as the ugly face of recession and economic collapse stared at them.)
The government, that is, PBBM, hopes to recoup the huge economic losses and assist the Pinoys to recover as soon as possible.
PBBM can only achieve this with a positive mindset ànd a forward-looking development agenda.
Second, Tolentino is concerned about government losses but he entirely overlooked that the Filipino nation has already been suffering because of unmitigated corruption where taxpayers’ money is diverted to the bank accounts of greedy, shrewd and insatiably corrupt government officials.
Pinoys don’t have any choice.
Even great and big Western economies grant huge subsidies and bailouts when their respective economies get in deep trouble.
So, since the government for decades has not been able to curb the culture of corruption, why should the millions who are poor and indigent be denied of assistance (like the Kadiwa and other ayuda) which they, I boldly say, richly deserve?
As far as I am concerned, the Kadiwa should stay for good because it serves a very noble purpose.
After all, the government is not expected to earn profits nor to break even from this endeavor.
Make no mistake about it folks but the Kadiwa is totally pro poor.
The Kadiwa protects the farmers and producers from being duped by sweet talking middlemen who form themselves into a scheming cartel to hostage the public and even the government.
The Kadiwa encourages the farmers to plant and produce more because they get the correct unadulterated price for their. Products instead cof getting shortchanged by unscruspulous traders.
Remember that it is the primordial responsibility of the government to ensure that no one goes hungry.
Surveys show that 51% of Pinoys think themselves of as poor .
This is not a very kind evaluation of ourselves as a nation and as a people.
We pride ourselves of the great patrimony and huge natural, marine and mineral resources which many countries do not have.
Inflation is hitting us from all sides and I tell you it will never wane and disappear.
Filipinos need permanent solutions - not remedies. ( Email feedback to fredlumba@yahoo. com). GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!
Mobilewallet GCash must explain the details of the alleged unauthorized fund transfers involving millions of pesos to regain public trust, Laban TNVS President Jun De Leon said on Wednesday.
De Leon was among the 300 members of a group chat of GCash users whose funds were allegedly lost on Tuesday.
GCash returned the “deducted” money the same day, insisting that no funds were lost. The mobile wallet said no hacking occurred. It also apologized for the inconvenience.
However, De Leon pointed out that returning the funds was not enough. GCash did not offer any
explanation as to why and how this happened.
“Dapat ang GCash ipaliwanag punto per punto anong nangyari sa system,” De Leon said.
(GCash must explain point by point what happened to their system)
“Kung ipapaliwanag po nila sa atin punto per punto kung talagang anong nangyari, kung nawala o meron lang konting problema, sa tingin ko po maibabalik nila
ang tiwala ng tao sa kanila,” he said.
(If they will explain point by point what really happened, was the money lost or it’s just a minor glitch, I think they will gain the people’s trust back)
GCash Public Affairs and Communication Head Gilda Maquila said the affected customers “unknowingly accessed a phishing link.”
“May deluge of texts. Even the fraudster took advantage of sim registration. Not only that, may merchant site posting they are a certain bank. When you do your transaction there hindi mo alam na meron na palang phishing na
While artificial intelligence (AIs) in he workplace is on the rise, an association for the information technology and business process management industry said Filipinos will still be needed for jobs in the sector because of their skills.
The Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) said
that business process outsourcing companies continue to hire workers for their operations.
“The Philippine IBPM industry was founded on the bedrock of the Filipino agent’s communication skills, fluency in English, and above all else, our listening and empathy,” IBPAP president and CEO Jack Madrid said.
He added that a number of
The Philippines should not rely solely on revenge spending to drive the economy this year amid high inflation and interest rates, according to economists of credit rating agency S&P Global.
At an online media briefing, S&P Senior Economist Vincent Conti said the upside of the current Philippine situation is the high pent-up demand which is good for many businesses.
But Conti is also seeing the flipside as revenge spending is
seen slow this year.
“Pent-up demand could very well be on its last leg already. And the household savings that were driving consumption recovery could have been eaten into (due to) the very high inflation we’ve seen,” said Conti.
Philippine economic managers have said recently that they expect the country to grow as consumer spending remains very high and as more sectors reopen following the pandemic.
BPO firms have been using AI but only for simple and common client questions.
“Rather than have a human answer the same question over and over, they have chatbots to do that. That employee will be available to work on more interesting value-added work,” he said.
Earlier, Senator Imee Marcos
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Tuesday said it is collaborating with the World Customs Organization (WCO) on trade facilitation as it aims to make the country’s customs administration at par with global standards.
In a statement, the BOC said representatives of WCO paid a courtesy call with Customs Com-
missioner Bienvenido Rubio, during which various programs and trade facilitation measures under the Mercator Programme were discussed.
The Customs said that the Mercator Programme embodies the global customs community’s commitment to trade facilitation, in particular the implementation
Several agricultural stakeholders and farmers on Tuesday launched the ‘Bantay RCEP,’ an initiative that aims to guard against what they say are the excesses of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership free trade deal.
The RCEP is a free trade agreement between Australia, New Zealand, and several Indo-Pacific countries that will supposedly facilitate easier exchange of commodities among member countries. It was ratified by the Philippine Senate earlier this year.
But agricultural stakeholders have long opposed RCEP, saying it will flood the country with cheap imports and hurt local food producers.
Danny Fausto, chair of the Philippine Chamber for Agriculture and Food Inc. (PCAFI), also noted that non-tariff barriers are being imposed by other countries on Filipino exporters.
Fausto said other countries require Filipino exporters to put local language translations in the packaging of products.
He said one way to check
Foreigndirect investments (FDI) into the Philippines yielded higher net inflows in February on the back of increased fund infusions in debt instruments during the month, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported Wednesday.
RCEP is to also require other countries to put Filipino translations in the packaging of products being exported to the Philippines.
“Hindi naman sa dini-discourage sila. Mahirap din sabihin na pinapahirapan sila. Pero let’s just level the playing field,” Fausto said.
(It is not that they are being discouraged. It is not right to say that we are making it difficult for them. But let’s just level the playing field.)
Fausto also said Filipino-owned MSMEs will be disadvantaged by the easier entry of imported products into the market.
“Para sa consumer, dadami ang imported na mapapagpilian, pero paano naman sa farmer?” he said.
(For the consumer, there will be more imported products to choose from, but what about the farmer?)
Josua Mata of SENTRO, a labor organization, also said that based on several studies, jobs in several industries including agri-
FSEVERAL, A3
Data released by the BSP showed that FDI net inflows amounted to $1.047 billion in the second month of the year, up 13% from $926 million in February 2022. This is also higher than the $448 million net inflows recorded in January.
The latest figure is the highest in 15 months since the country saw $1.263 billion FDI net inflows in November 2022.
FDI can be in the form of equity capital, reinvestment of earnings, and borrowings.
“The increase in FDI was due to higher non-residents’
net investments in debt instruments, notwithstanding lower net equity capital placements and reinvestment of earnings,” the central bank said.
In an emailed commentary, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. chief economist Michael Ricafort said that FDI net inflows in February is among highest since the pandemic started “as the economy further reopened towards greater normalcy with no more COVID restrictions compared to most
At least three-fourths of the Development Bank of the Philippines’ (DBP) more than 4,000-strong workforce are in danger of losing their jobs should the proposed merger with the Land Bank of the Philippines materialize, the stateowned lender’s chairman said Tuesday.
At a press conference in Makati City, DBP chairman Dante Tiñga said that the proposed
merger is strongly opposed by officials and employees of the DBP as most of them “would lose their jobs if the merger pushes through with Landbank as the surviving bank.”
Tiñga said that three-fourths or about 75% of the bank’s workforce “would become unemployed.”
“That’s roughly 3,000 [employees],” he said.
On Friday, Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno defended the proposed merger of the two state banks,saying that it will eliminate the redundancy and inefficiency in operations.
Diokno also said that “on the retrenchments resulting from the merger, we are determined to work closely with the two banks to ensure that personnel decisions are consistent with
Philippine Airlines (PAL) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Airbus for the purchase of nine A3501000s. Under the Philippine flag carrier’s Ultra Long Haul Fleet project, the A350-1000 will be operated on non-stop services from Manila to North America, including to the East Coast of the US and Canada.
The A350-1000 is the latest and largest version of the A350 Family of long-range jetliners. The new aircraft will join two A350900s already in service with PAL and currently flying to destinations in North America, Asia and Australia.
As with the A350-900, the PAL A350-1000s will be configured in a premium layout with separate
Business Class, Premium Economy and Economy Class cabins. PAL has likewise secured purchase rights on three additional A350-1000s to allow future expansion to new long haul destinations.
Captain Stanley K. Ng, President and Chief Operating Officer of Philippine Airlines, said that the range of the A350-1000 would enable the airline to fly non-stop transpacific and transpolar routes in both directions all year. These will include some of the longest commercial flights in the world, such as those linking the Philippines with New York and Toronto. With an expanded A350 fleet, PAL will have the ability to once again provide a direct link from the Philippines to Europe.
“The A350-1000 combines greater range capability with the higher capacity we need to serve future demand. It’s the perfect aircraft to enable PAL to meet its expansion plans in a sustainable way, while offering passengers the highest levels of onboard comfort. We are committed to offering our passengers the best possible travel experience, and these stateof-the-art aircraft will enable us to do just that as we carry out our mission to connect the world, and grow trade and tourism.”
Christian Scherer, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer, said: “Flying passengers farther and in greater comfort, the A350 brings a stepchange in fuel efficiency and an immediate significant contribution to reduced emissions. These
are the attributes that have made the A350 the choice of leading airlines worldwide. We look forward to working closely with our long-standing customer Philippine Airlines as it moves forward with its long haul fleet modernization programme.”
The first of the nine A3501000s is slated to be delivered to PAL by the fourth quarter of 2025, with deliveries continuing until 2027.
The A350 is the world’s most modern and efficient widebody aircraft and has set new standards for intercontinental travel. It offers the longest range capability of any commercial airliner in production today and is capable of flying 8,700 nautical miles or 16,100 kilometres non-stop.
At the end of March 2023, the A350 Family had won 928 firm orders from 54 customers worldwide, making it one of the most successful wide-body aircraft ever. Over 520 aircraft are currently in the fleets of 39 airlines, flying primarily on long haul routes.
Philippine Airlines operates various Airbus types on its full service network. In addition to the A350 on long-haul intercontinental routes, PAL flies A330300s on services to the Middle East, Australia and various points in Asia. The Philippine flag carrier also operates a fleet of A320 and A321 single aisle aircraft on its extensive domestic and regional network out of hubs in Manila and Cebu.
Basketball enthusiasts and fans around the world especially in the Philippines rejoiced as Molten, FIBA’s trusted partner for over 40 years, unveiled the official game ball for the highly prestigious FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023. The event was successfully held last April 29, graced by the presence of FIBA
Basketball World Cup 2023 Global Ambassador and Argentine legend Luis Scola, as well as FIBA Ball Reveal Ambassador, LA Tenorio.
“Aside from being one of the Philippine Ambassadors for Molten, what’s more exciting is that the Philippines will be one of the hosts in this year’s
event,” said Philippines Ambassador and basketball legend LA Tenorio. “And I am proud to be its ambassador because Molten has been the official partner of FIBA ever since I played and they were always there to support FIBA and the players”, he added.
And once again, Molten has
raised the bar with its latest innovation in basketball technology by using the brand’s top-of-the-line model, BG5000, which has been the trusted game ball for FIBA international games since 2019. With an emphasis on enhancing ball control and performance, the new game ball promises to deliver an unparalleled basketball experience with its innovative design, embodying the passion and energy that the game brings.
The exclusive and unique design concept integrated ‘The Passion Wave’ that forms into a heartbeat which represents passion for basketball and how its passion spreads and cascades throughout the world. The meticulously crafted heart and wave elements embody the sport’s dynamic energy and the excitement felt by both players and fans alike. Molten not only created a game ball that is functional but also a work of art.
“The design of the new
FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 game ball is based on FIBA’s conviction that everyone’s passion for sports can translate into basketball. It encapsulates the energy and emotion that the sport brings to both players and fans,” said Noa Hasegawa, Head of Brand Marketing. “However, beyond the design, our top priority is to maintain the superior grip and performance quality that has made Molten basketballs so popular worldwide,’’ he added.
Starting from the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Draw, official game balls and replica models will be available on Molten Philippine website. Basketball enthusiasts can eagerly wait for their chance to get their hands on one because this will be available until the end of the FIBA Basketball World Cup. Stay tuned for updates on how you can secure your own game ball or replica model, and don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity!
Jeannyline Arriaga, a mother of two children, has two choices: sleep late at night or wake up early in the morning. That is, if she wants to have water that she could use for the necessities of her family.
She lives in Bansalan, Davao del Sur. Water comes out from her faucet only from 10 in the evening until 3 in the morning. “We have had this water problem since my children were born,” she said. “Now, they’re high school students and the problem is still with us.”
There seems to be no solution on the horizon. “It really pains to see how a basic need that is so abundant is being deprived to Bansaleños not by choice but due to circumstances,” observed Allan Ampoloquio, a former municipal councilor. “Honestly, I don’t have any information and ideas about the current plans and programs of the Bansalan Water District management.
“I am sure they have a good grasp of the situation but the tasks of battling the problem are enormous: supply and demand, water source and generation, distribution using old systems, supply loss, leak monitoring and prevention, funding constraints, service coverage and others,” he went on. “These are factors or combinations of these are preventing current management from achieving results.”
The water problem of the Philippines is always timely and timeless. With the coming of the El Niño phenomenon, the dilemma is even more pronounced and prevalent. El Niño is a climate pattern which reflects the unusual warming of surface waters in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean.
The country’s weather bureau, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), has already issued a bulletin stating that there is a 70% that El Niño “could happen in a few months.”
By July, August, and September, the chances of developing El Niño may reach 80%, said Marcelino Villafuerte, head of the state weather bureau’s impact assessment in its climatology and agrometeorology division.
Although we still have to enter the first phase of the erratic weather, we are already experiencing its initial melee. That is in the case of water shortage. People are posting their rants on social media. They complain of the lack of water for their daily needs.
Drought and dry spells are synonymous with El Niño. Most of those affected by the disastrous weather condition are the farmers and fishers, the main producers of food for all Filipinos.
“Water is crucial in crop production,” says Jethro Adang, the director of Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center in Kinuskusan, Bansalan, Davao del Sur. “Without water, the crops will be dehydrated which results in wilting. In time, they will die.”
Agriculture is by far the biggest consumer of water. Rice, the staple food of Filipinos, is a case in point. “Rice growing is a heavy consumer of water,” states the report, “Water: A Looming Crisis,” published by Laguna-based Interna-
tional Rice Research Institute (IRRI).
In his book, The International Crisis, author Robin Clark reports that an average farmer needs 5,000 liters of water to produce one kilogram of rice.
Some regions are expected to experience power shortages due to the hydroelectric dams’ inability to function. Without electricity, farmers could not pump water from underground.
As a result, crop production will greatly suffer. This could mean less food for the public and higher prices. Hunger – “periods when populations are experiencing severe food insecurity,” to quote the words of United Nations’ Hunger report – becomes the norm.
Now, water shortage is again an issue. An Inquirer editorial, “Act on water crisis now,” said it aptly: “Like clockwork, Filipinos are once more talking about a water shortage, prompted by predictable service interruptions of water utilities that occur almost annually whenever the dry season comes around.
“And like clockwork,” the editorial further stated, “our government leaders are once more making all the right noises in calling for a coordinated response to this challenge, proffering master plans and new agencies as the solution to a problem that has seemed to defy solution year in and year out.”
Short-term solutions are good but long-term solutions are the best. Let’s take a closer look at some of these:
Rainfall
Most of the freshwater Filipinos use comes from underground aquifers or ground water. Worldwide, 97% of the planet’s liquid freshwater is stored in aquifers. Pundits say the water taken from aquifers are replenished by rainfall.
The Philippines is blessed with an average annual rainfall of 2.5 meters.
“The distribution of rain varies throughout the regions,” said Dr. Rafael Guerrero III, an academician with the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST).
“The estimated storage volume of our groundwater is 251,158 million cubic meters with Central Luzon and Northern Mindanao regions having the most water available per day, and the Central Visayas, Southwestern Mindanao and Ilocos regions having the least,” the NAST member said.
With less rainfall during the El Niño phenomenon, these aquifers will not be replenished on time. This is where the importance of typhoons come into picture. Without typhoons, there is less rainfall.
“Tropical cyclones (another term for typhoons) have larger rain shields, which can lead to higher rainfall amounts farther from the cyclone’s center,” Wikipedia explains. “This is generally due to the longer time frame rainfall falls at any spot in a larger system, when compared to a smaller system.”
The aquifers, however, should not
be pumped heavily or else a saline problem would happen. Over-extraction is said to be the reason behind Cebu’s problem of salinity. Cebu reportedly pumps 275,000 cubic meters daily, scribe Juan Mercado reported. Its coastal aquifer can recharge less than half.
The “over-mining” permits salt water to seep in. So much so Mercado surmised Cebu “can always become the country’s salt capital.” The damage is irreversible. It takes 500 years or so to flush tainted underground reservoirs.
The Davao City Water District (DCWD), which taps freshwater from aquifers, can learn from that experience.
“DCWD cannot over-extract water from these aquifers otherwise you run the risk of intrusion of saline water,” explained veteran journalist Serafin Ledesma, Jr. “Remember those aquifers are adjacent to the coastline. Once seawater intrudes to the aquifers that occurrence becomes irreversible.”
Watersheds
At one time, Ledesma, Jr. asked a government official what measures his office is taking to protect the watersheds of the various dams in Luzon that feed water to the National Capital Region. “He shot back and asked me what the watersheds?” said the Davao-based scribe.
Watersheds are areas where rain water can drain; they are also called catchment areas or drainage basins. Many of the country’s largest cities are located in watersheds where all available water is being used.
“Land use and vegetative cover in the watershed are very important because they affect water flow and water quality,” explained Dr. Patrick Durst, now retired, but was then the senior forestry officer of the regional office of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization when interviewed by this author.
Deforestation
The Philippines has a land area of 30 million hectares. “About 70% of these are considered to be watersheds, with 419 river basins,” Dr. Guerrero said. “The forested cover of such watersheds is vital for holding rain water that supplies springs, rivers, lakes and reservoirs.”
Unfortunately, the country is fast losing its forest resources. “More than 60% of the country’s virgin forests have been lost due to overlogging and ‘slash-
and-burn’ agriculture that have contributed to massive soil erosion and siltation of water bodies,” Dr. Guerrero said.
“Only 10% of the rainfall infiltrates into the ground,” he pointed out. “With the low water absorption of denuded areas, there is an increase in the runoff in the uplands that causes flooding in the lowlands during heavy rains.”
Pollution
River pollution also contributes to the country’s current water woes. A report from the Manila-based Asian Development Bank said that 16 rivers are now considered “biologically dead” during dry months. Some 48% of water pollution comes from domestic waste, 37% from agricultural waste, and the remaining 15% from industrial waste.
In rural areas, the major source of water pollution is agricultural farms. These are in the forms of organic wastes (such as decayed plants, livestock manure, and dead animals), soil loss (suspended soils and erosion), and pesticides and fertilizer residues.
Population
The biggest culprit of the water crisis is still the surging population. “Water resources and population are closely connected,” argued Don Hinrichsen, an environmental journalist who had done studies on the water crisis for Johns Hopkins University and Woodrow Wilson Institute Center for Scholars.
“The rapid urbanization of the Philippines, with more than 2 million being added to the urban population annually, is having a major impact on water resources,” said the ADB report, Asian Water Development Outlook.
Solutions
In a study, Global Water Shortages: A Philippine case study (2020), it was reported that the country’s water shortage “is the result of rapid population growth and poor governance that led to failure to put up the necessary water supply infrastructure and systems to meet the growing demand for water of a rapidly increasing population.”
The National Water Resources Board reported that around 11 million Filipinos are lacking access to clean water. Between 2010 and 2019, some 53,066 Filipinos died due to water-borne diseases, such as typhoid fever, diarrhea, and cholera, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.
Rosalina Palanca-Tan of the Ateneo de Manila University, author of the study, observed: “Inadequate and intermittent water supply afflicts not only rural areas and low-income urban cities but also even the foremost urban center.”
Roger Berthelot, former consultant of the United Nations Development Program, said it well: “There will be no peace in the world unless we are prepared to insure it now by tackling the problems of water, which in some areas are catastrophic.”
The water problem is nothing new. “I was very surprised in the past years, even as senator, even as governor, that no one was speaking about water problems,” said President Bongbong Marcos during the opening of the sixth edition of the Water Philippines Conference and Exposition. “Whereas every single urban community and even some rural communities in the Philippines have a water crisis.”
Today, “we are facing some serious challenges and we really need to work very hard together,” Marcos said. “When they say water is life, it’s not just a cliché, it’s a truism. And it is something we must always keep in mind especially now.”
So much so that Marcos created a Water Resource Management Office under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
“There are many agencies that are involved in water supply and water management and it has just evolved that way,” he explained in his speech. “But what we are going to try to do is to make it a more cohesive policy so that there is planning at the national level and in that way we can maximize the management of what water we have.”
Dr. Guerrero also offered some possible solutions. “We can conserve our water resources by protecting our watersheds with forest cover,” he said. “The strict enforcement of our environmental laws against water pollution is imperative.
“The application of clean water technologies by industries and the recycling of ‘grey water’ from commercial establishments are highly recommended. Improving the efficiency of our irrigation systems and the planting of less water-consuming crops in agriculture should be considered.”
to suppress the problem facing the PNP today by combining rice and mongo beans (representing the good and bad cops) in a glass.
“Ito mga pulis, kasi maraming tribu Ilokano, Bisaya, Muslims, Igorot, Waray, ihalo ko yan, that is the police organization. Yan ang PNP natin. karamihan dito mahusay, honest, hardowrking, ang problema ito, ito yung gago at walanghiya na pulis kasali na ang general down to the patrolman. Yan sila andiyan haluin mo. Now tell me, paano ma-solve ang problema?
Paano mo mapadali. Meron diyan bad eggs, mga kriminal, or criminally inclined na nakapasok sa PNP,” he said.
He said what the issues around the police organization in the country questions the kind of leadership the PNP has.
“Pag corrupt sa taas, corrupt lahat diyan. Pag tumanggap ang gagong ito, tanggap lahat yan, down the line. Ngayon kung takot ka diyan sa human rights, nakatali ang kamay mo diyan, you are afraid of being criticized for being too strict or a dictator-type of running the show of governance, pag pakinggan mo lahat yan, you cannot please everybody, you cannot please the media, you cannot please the civic organization, civil society, you have to choose but you must use your head,” he said.
Members with existing emergency loan balance may borrow up to PHP40,000 to pay off their previous emergency loan balance and receive a maximum net amount of PHP20,000.
Meanwhile, pensioners and those without existing emergency loan may apply for a loan amounting to PHP20,000.
The emergency loan, which is payable in 36 equal monthly installments with a 6 percent interest, has a loan redemption insurance which deems the loan fully paid in case of the borrower’s demise provided the loan payment is up to date.
“Maliit lang ang buwanang hulog para rito, PHP655.56 para sa PHP20,000 loan at P1,173.20 para sa PHP40,000 loan (The monthly amortization is small, just PHP655.56 for
He said some personnel in the PNP allowed politicians to use them.
“May maraming pulitiko diyan sabungero, kasali sa jueteng. You are compromised. Sometimes if you have to go further, it’s the fault of Filipino voters for electing idiots to serve in government,” he said.
Duterte asked Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, chair of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, to look into the problem besetting the PNP.
“I told him about the problem and sinabi ko na silipin mo ito since you are the one investigating the whole problem,” he said.
He also said that he will meet Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to discuss it.
“I would like to congratulate Abalos for his serious efforts for the performance of the PNP,” he said.
Before he started discussing the issue, the former president clarified that it is not his intention to criticize but he was talking as a plain Rodrigo Duterte, a citizen of the Republic of the Philippines.
“My only interest here with the pastor (Quiboloy) tonight is to discuss matters that would affect our country maybe in the coming days and years ahead,” he said.
Morales for comment but declined.
“Ayaw ko interbyuha kay akong kaso naa na sa korte (Don’t interview me because my case is already in court),” he said.
The arraignment, which was tentatively set for May 9, has been set for May 23 to allow the trial court to evaluate if the case should be heard before the environmental court.
“We will defend our ancestral domain. We are here to pursue justice, and we will neither stop nor compromise in seeking remedy under the existing law. We will defend and seek justice for our rights and to protect the ancestral domain as well as our
culture not just for the Unified Bagobo Tagabawa, but also for other tribes as well,” he said.
Matanam Adlrin Adang, a tribal chieftain of Santa Cruz town, said the tribal leaders hope to put a stop on the selling of ancestral lands.
He said tribal leaders hope the court would uphold the position of the tribal leaders on the illegal sale of ancestral lands, which is now a major problem confronting the tribal council.
He said tribal leaders have yet to plan their next move to address the existing structures constructed within the ancestral domain by non-members without the free prior and in-
sharing of infected needles while others had no data on the mode of transmission for this reporting period.
The HARP data also revealed that more than half or 1,195 of the newly reported cases were from Metro Manila, Calabarzon and Central Visayas.
In March, there were 57 reported deaths due to any cause among people with HIV.
Since the first reported HIV case in the Philippines in 1984, there have been 114,008 confirmed HIV cases reported to HARP.
loan amounting to PHP20,000 and PHP1,173.20 for loans amounting to PHP40,000),” Veloso said.
He also urged members to use the GSIS Touch mobile application in processing loans, noting that it is faster, safer, and more convenient.
The official GSIS app eliminates visits to the branches and allows members to access records, do loans tentative computation, apply for a loan and monitor its status, get claims tentative computation, apply for life and retirement claims by uploading required documents, receive premium and loan payments posting notifications, and schedule Annual Pensioners’ Information Revalidation. (PNA)
with highlights of the shows including the Philippine Interior Designers Gallery dubbed the “World of Interior Design,” “City of Tomorrow,” which features scale models of the architectural firms; featuring the 12 local and national architectural firms; and a mini-convention and talks from the sponsors, Department of Tourism (DOT) and association partners.
The “Fiesta Night” on the 11th will gather all the exhibitors for a B2B (business matching) opportunity and talk to the leaders of the industry.
Salonga said the event is expected to attract 19,000 visitors, not just in the professional fields but also in the education sector or the students through a competition.
“Nakakatuwa na people are coming back again during this season. Kasi yung last events natin medyo takot pa ang audience but this time everyone is excited to do a face-to-face event,” he said.
NEW YORK — LeBron James, Anthony Davis and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Miami Heat three years ago in the most unusual NBA Finals ever, played neither during the normal season nor in their home arenas.
Those teams might be moving toward something else the league has never seen.
Both have 3-1 leads and can advance to their conference finals on Wednesday night (Thursday, Manila time), which would leave them one round away from a potential unprecedented championship matchup pitting a No. 7 vs. a No. 8 seed.
The Lakers can get to the Western Conference finals by ending the championship reign of the Golden State Warriors in Game Five in San Francisco, where they were routed in Game Two before clamping down the last two games.
“I think we’ll be ready,” James said. “One thing about when you play Golden State, you don’t have an opportunity to relax. You just don’t. So I’m not worried about us going in there comfortable. You just can’t do it versus Golden State, it’s not even — it’s not possible.”
Not that Stephen Curry and the Warriors ever consider them-
selves out after all the successes and experience to lean on from the past decade. He and Draymond Green have shared with teammates the challenges of being down 3-1 as Golden State held a film session Tuesday and some players like struggling guard Jordan Poole worked on the court.
“The main thing is to focus on the process and just fill up the cup today, recharge, get ready to go tomorrow,” coach Steve Kerr said. “Because we’ve been in these series for a long time, for a decade now, we understand the swings, the back and forth, so we’ve just got to get ready for tomorrow.”
The Heat can finish off the Knicks in New York and get to the conference finals for the third time in four years, this time as the lowest-seeded team in the field.
Defend like these teams do, and it doesn’t matter the number in front of your name.
The Lakers and Heat both seized control of their series by winning two straight at home. After uneven regular seasons that
forced them to come through the play-in round, they have emerged as the dominant teams in the postseason, just as they were in the late summer and fall of 2020 at the NBA’s restart at Walt Disney World amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Now they need one more strong effort in what’s often considered the toughest game of the series to win.
“Your competitive nature heightens in those closeout games,” Heat veteran Kyle Lowry said. “I’ve been in a lot, and I’ve been on both ends, so I’ve been in these situations before and I know how hard they are. But it’s all about focusing on the game plan and what you have to do, right? It’s going to be so crazy, ups and downs, but if you just focus on the game plan and what you know to do and bank on your principles and have your teammates’ backs, anything can happen.”
Los Angeles limited Golden State to 17 points in the fourth quarter to pull out a 104-101 victory on Monday. The Lakers are 17-5 since March 19 and now need only to avoid their first three-game losing streak in three months to book their spot opposite Denver or Phoenix in the West finals.
Do so and they would match the 1987 Seattle SuperSonics for the lowest-seeded team to reach the West finals. A No. 7 seed never has played in the NBA Finals in the current postseason format that began in 1984.
There has been one No. 8, when the Knicks got there in 1999. These Heat continue to show how much they want to be the second, chasing down seven offensive rebounds in the fourth quarter to outwork New York and hold on for a 109-101 victory Monday.
“I guess maybe they want it more, I don’t know,” Knicks forward Julius Randle said. “That’s been who we are all year and we’ve got to find a way to step up and make those plays if we want to keep this season alive.”
HEAT AT KNICKS
Miami leads 3-1.
— NEED TO KNOW: After averaging 124 points in their upset of top-seeded Milwaukee, tops in the first round, the Heat have won the other way in this series. They have limited the Knicks to 99.8 points per game and will try to improve to 15-0 in series in which they held a 3-1 lead. New York never has come back from a 3-1 deficit.
— KEEP AN EYE ON: Jimmy
Butler. He scored 42 points in Game 5 of the last round to end a series on the road and it wouldn’t be any surprise if he did something similar to finish this one. He had 27 points and 10 assists Monday and has scored at least 25 in 10 straight postseason games dating to last season.
— INJURY WATCH: Knicks backup guard Immanuel Quickley watched Game 4 from the bench in a walking boot because of a sprained ankle, forcing Jalen Brunson — battling his own ankle soreness — to play 44 minutes.
— PRESSURE IS ON: Brunson, Randle and RJ Barrett. Miami’s Bam Adebayo has thoroughly outplayed New York’s centers, and the Heat are winning the battle of the benches. So it’s hard to see any way the series gets back to Miami unless the Knicks’ top three players all have big games.
LAKERS AT WARRIORS
Los Angeles leads 3-1.
— NEED TO KNOW: The Warriors have won 19 straight playoff series against Western Conference teams and overcame a 3-1 deficit once to do it, when they knocked off Oklahoma City in the 2016 Western Conference finals. James’ teams have never lost a 3-1 lead.
PHNOM PENH—Experience will only make the Philippine national women’s football team stronger.
Coach Allen Stajcic said this after the team pulled off a 2-1 upset of defending champion Vietnam, but still failed to advance to the semifinal round of the 32nd Southeast Asian Games’ women’s football tournament on Tuesday evening at the Smart-RSN Stadium, Toul Kourk
District here.
The Australian mentor of the team, collectively known as the Filipinas, however, said the squad’s inability to the advance to the semifinals, where they could have matched their bronze-medal finish or surpass it with either a first-ever gold or silver, hardly put a dent in their preparations for the FIFA Women’s World Cup this July.
“This has no effect in our
preparations. It’s just another group of matches in an experienced group,” said Stajcic.
The heroics of the team’s top-scorer in Sarina Bolden and Halli Long went for naught after Myanmar repulsed Malaysia with a massive 5-1 rout at the Old Stadium in the other side of the city.
Both the Philippines and Myanmar finished with a 2-0-1 win-draw-loss record, but it was
the latter, which joined Vietnam in the semis on a better goal difference
The champs took the top berth with their 2-0-1 slate.
The other two semifinalists are Cambodia and Thailand.
On hindsight, Stajcic said the team should have been more aggressive at the start of the game to ramp up the possibility of securing more goals.
“We tried to waste the clock
in the first minutes of the game to show that we have a positive attitude,” said Stajcic, who, however still praised his team for the win.
“Yes, we had our best performance in the tournament. And we saved it for our toughest opponent,” added Stajcic as the Philippines handed Vietnam a second straight defeat following the Filipinas’ 4-0 rout in the AFF Women’s Championships.
PHNOM PENH – Gilas Pilipinas’ bid for redemption will be put to a severe test when it battles Cambodia on Thursday in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games men’s basketball tilt at the Morodok Techo Elephant Hall 2 here.
Both teams will go into the match set at 5 p.m. (local time) on a high, having started their campaigns on a high.
Gilas smothered Malaysia last Tuesday 94-49 while Cambodia, coming off a golden win in the 3x3 event last Sunday, trounced Singapore 85-60 Wednesday.
Cambodia has strengthened its team with naturalized players Sayeed Pridgett, Brandon Peterson, and Darrin Dorsey, members of the 3x3 squad that beat the Philippines in the men’s finals.
Three more naturalized players are also in the Cambodian team, according to Gilas coach Chot Reyes.
“They are a tough team. You saw the three guys in the 3x3. They have another three. They have like six naturalized players. They are going to be a handful,” Reyes said in a news release.
“We have to be able to adjust and pivot during the game. We
have very little knowledge about their games as a team. We have some information as individuals, but as a team, very little. It’s really a matter of how we can adapt. Our adaptability is going to be tested,” he added.
On Wednesday, Gilas was forced to look for another venue for practice after organizers set a morning practice at an outdoor court.
Reyes has also expressed concern over the basketball playing surface, which is usually used in volleyball and badminton games.
“We shouldn’t be playing on a surface like this. This is the situation that we are dealt with. We just have to embrace and accept it,” Reyes.
Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser topscored against Malaysia with 15 points and Justin Brownlee added 11 points. Michael Phillips was also impressive with nine points and 15 rebounds. (PNA)