Manila Standard - 2024 March 25 - Monday

Teves’ lawyers planning to bring case to UN body

As NBI team comes home from Timor Leste sans ex-solon

By Rey E. Requejo

THE team of lawyers representing former Negros

Oriental third district congressman Arnolfo Teves Jr. vowed to exhaust all legal options to stop his return or deportation to the Philippines, including bringing his case before the United Nations Commission on Human Rights.

This developed as the team from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) that went to Timor-Leste following the arrest of the expelled lawmaker returned to the Philippines yesterday without Teves.

NBI Director Medardo de Lemos said a court in Timor-Leste is stillverifying the request of the Philippines and the International Criminal Police Organization or Interpol for the custody of the fugitive ex-solon.

Teves’ lawyer Ferdinand Topacio said their team met on Sunday to discuss other options, including bringing the alleged persecution of Teves before the UNCHR.

By Rey E. Requejo and

Vince Lopez

THREE Filipino soldiers were reported injured in the latest China Coast Guard water cannon attack on a Philippine supply vessel near a South China Sea reef, National Security Adviser Eduardo Año said on Sunday.

The United States and multiple other countries denounced China for its "dangerous actions" that could destabilize the region and disregard international law after Chinese Coast Guard’s (CCG) water cannon attack that severely damaged a Philippine vessel and injured its crew members during a routine resupply (RORE) mission to the country’s outpost in Ayungin Shoal.

Speaker welcomes majority public support for economic Cha-cha

By Rio N. Araja

SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on Sunday welcomed the majority support of the people for economic constitu-

tional reforms. Other leaders of the House of Representatives also welcomed the latest survey results indicating widespread support for Charter change, describing

it as a significant endorsement of the need for constitutional reforms.

Meanwhile, Pampanga Rep. Aurelio Gonzales said the support of most Filipinos for proposed amendments to

By Rio N. Araja

Angeles to reward P100k to couple who found 'Ally'

UK’s Catherine 'touched' by world’s support

the Constitution’s restrictive economic provisions should prompt the Senate to pass Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 6.

Barbers wants probe into PCG’s new ‘Makapili’

By Rio N. Araja

SURIGAO del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers on Sunday called for an investigation to identify and hold accountable the so-called "Makabagong Makapili" officials responsible for recruiting andfacilitating the entry of at least 36 Chinese nationals as members of the Philippine Coast Guard's Auxiliary Corps.

"During the Japanese era in the Philippines, we had ‘Makapili.’ Now,we also have ‘Modern Makapili’ who serve the interests of China in our country. It is time to investigate and identify these alleged unlicensed and traitors to the people," he said.

The Makabayang Katipunan ng mga Pilipino (Patriotic Association of Filipinos), better known as the Makapili, was a group of Filipino traitors formed during World War II to collaborate and provide aid to the invading Imperial Japanese Army forces in the Philippines.

PRESIDENT Marcos on Sunday urged Filipino Catholics to reflect during the Holy Week, and “not to forget the essence of the occasion by “spreading kindness and selflessness, especially to the less fortunate.”

“In this solemn occasion, let us not only seek to unravel themysteries of our faith, but also to illuminate the path for others through acts of kindness and selflessness,” the President said in his Lenten message.

McDonald's stores shut in Sri Lanka over hygiene case

CROSS OF WASTE. Members of the Ecowaste Coalition carry a cross to show the ‘suffering’ brought about by single-use plastics as they march along Intramuros in Manila on Palm Sunday. The group urges the public to practice a zero-waste lifestyle during the Holy Week. Danny Pata

Brace for hot Holy Week—PAGASA

By Rio N. Araja

THE public must brace for hot weather during the Holy Week, with rain showers in most parts of the country due to easterlies coming from the Pacific Ocean accompanied by the impact of the El Niño episode, the state weather bureau said Sunday.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) forecast a heat index of 42 degrees Celsius in Puerto

Teves‘...

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"One of the lawyers in Timor-Leste is a recognized expert on international human rights," Topacio said, without identifying the lawyer who will handle Teves’ case before the UN body.

Topacio also revealed that Teves cannot be immediately deported, as his detention was extended by a Timor-Leste court "for another 15 days maximum, or the possible duration of the trial."

According to Topacio, the Philippine delegation led by NBI Director de Lemos left Timor-Leste "after realizing that they would not be able to bring Mr. Teves home with them until after the trial."

"Thus, contrary to the claim of (Department of Justice spokesman Assistant Secretary Jose Dominic) Clavano, neither deportation norextradition is on the table at this point in the proceedings,"

Princesa City and Aborlan, both in Palawan, by Tuesday, after it reached a high of 46 C in Bacnotan, La Union on Sunday.

The heat index, also known as the ap-

the lawyer stressed.

Topacio also alleged that efforts by the Philippine delegation to "harass and humiliate" Teves by having his picture taken while in detention "were thwarted" when the former lawmaker allowed two members of the Philippine delegation to talk to him.

But the lawyer said it was later discovered that the Philippinedelegation tried to smuggle a phone with a camera inside the detention center.

"They were thus disallowed to visit," Topacio said.

De Lemos refuted this claim later, which Teves' lawyers said was an alleged effort to harass their client.

The case involving Teves' request for political asylum was heard onSaturday and the only visitors allowed were the lawyers of the formercongressman, a "close Filipino friend" pre-screened by the Timor-Leste authorities, and others upon the consent of the detainee.

Topacio said the trial will resume today, March 25.

UK’s Catherine 'touched' by world’s support #ANONGBALITA?

LONDON—Catherine, Princess of Wales, has said she is "enormously touched" by the support she has received from around the world following her shock announcement on Friday that she is being treated for cancer.

Catherine, 42, revealed she was undergoing preventative chemotherapy in a video message to the UK, triggering a wave of support from global leaders, family members, media, and the public.

"The prince and princess are both enormously touched by the kind messages from people here in the UK, across the Commonwealth and around the world in response to Her Royal Highness' message," Catherine and her husband Prince William, the heir to the throne, said in a statement released late on Saturday (Sunday in Manila).

"They are extremely moved by the public's warmth and support and are grateful for the understanding of their request for privacy at this time."

The announcement ended weeks of wild speculation about Catherine'shealth, with many praising her courage and others criticizing the conspiracies that spread over her absence.

The candid disclosure leaves the British monarchy in crisis with King Charles III just weeks ago revealing he was also battling cancer.

Charles—17 months into his reign when Buckingham Palace announced in February he would be cancelling all public engagements—led tributes to his "beloved daughter-in-law."

The ailing 75-year-old monarch spoke of his pride in "her courage in speaking as she did." Following other warm words from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and the White House, British newspapers hailed her courage.

“Kate, you are not alone" read the front page of The Sun. The tabloidsaid it was "hugely comforting" to hear Kate say she was getting stronger.

"Perhaps the world will now appreciate why so much secrecy surrounded her surgery in January," it added.

The Daily Mail tabloid denounced the "social media trolls who havebeen peddling disgusting conspiracy theories to explain her absence from public life."

Outside Kensington Palace in London, Nathaniel Taylor, a 24-year-old government worker, said: "I think it's really damning what happened tothem, what the media has done, how they've reacted over these past couple of months.

“I think some speculation is inevitable, but the lengths people weregoing to try and make things up it's just (too much). Hopefully, people take a look in the mirror." AFP

McDonald's stores shut in Sri Lanka over hygiene case

COLOMBO—McDonald's stores across Sri Lanka shut Sunday after the US fast-food giant launched a legal battle with its local franchise holder over allegations of poor hygiene, court officials said.

The Commercial High Court of Colombo ordered the closures until April4, after the parent company accused the local franchise holder of failing to meet international hygiene standards.

parent temperature, is what the temperature feels like to the human body when relative humidity is combined with the air temperature. This has important considerations for the human body's comfort.

PAGASA also reported the 10 highest temperatures as of March 23 at 8 p.m., with San Jose, Occidental Mindoro sizzling at 36.5 degrees Celsius. Metro Manila was at 33.7 degrees Celsius.

According to the weather bureau, there will be an average eight hours of sunshine per day in the Philippines for the rest of March. On March 22, PAGASA declared

On Thursday, the Department of Justice confirmed the arrest of Teves at a golf range in Dili on the same day.

Teves, who was also designated a terrorist by the government, is implicated, along with nine others, in the murder of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo.

Before his arrest, Teves, whose asylum request from the government ofTimor-Leste was rejected, had been in hiding for about a year.

Teves’ apprehension “is a testament to the power of internationalcooperation,” Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said in a statement.

“It sends a clear message that no terrorist can evade justice and thatnations stand united in safeguarding the safety and security of their citizens,” he added.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has also already cancelled thepassport of the ousted lawmaker before his arrest in Timor-Leste for murder charges.

Citing information from the Office of the Consular Affairs, Teves’passport cancellation would be a “red flag” in all

3 Pinoys...

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Other countries that expressed solidarity with the Philippines throughtheir ambassadors include Japan, France, Great Britain, Netherlands, Germany, Australia, among others. They all opposed China’s aggressive and irresponsible actions that jeopardize freedom of navigation.

The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) slams the Chinese over its latest dangerous acts off Ayungin Shoal, whichdamaged a resupply boat enroute to resupply Philippine Marines personnel stationed at BRP Sierra Madre on Saturday morning.

The Japanese Embassy in Manila has also expressed grave concern over what it described as China’s “repeated dangerous actions” in the South China Sea.

Barbers...

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Barbers reacted to the admission of Philippine Coast Guard CommandantAdmiral Ronnie Gil Gavan during a House hearing held Wednesday thatprevious PCG officers recruited and admitted over 36 Chinese nationals into the PCG auxiliary corps.

“The Chinese nationals are with the PCGA for more or less three years.

the onset of the warm and dry season or the so-called summer.

The strengthening of the North Pacific High led to a gradual shift in the wind pattern from northeasterly to easterly, and an increase in the air temperature over most parts of the country, the weather bureau said.

By Good Friday, Metro Manila and the rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms, mostly in the afternoon or evening due to the easterlies, PAGASA said in its weekly forecast. With AFP

DFA consular offices within and outside the country.

The DFA said passport cancellations would be reported to both the Bureau of Immigration and to the Interpol office in the Philippines.

The Interpol office in the Philippines would then report thiscancellation to Interpol headquarter which put the passport in its alert system in all international border controls, the DFA said.

"They have a process in Timor Leste, They are evaluating a request byInterpol and the Philippines," De Lemos said in a report on 24 Oras Weekend.

"Timor Leste has its own process. What we are saying is we respect allthe processes of all countries where the Philippines is a requestingparty," the NBI head added.

Led by de Lemos, a six-man NBI team earlier arrived in Timor-Leste to extradite Teves. The Timorese police initially refused, but laterprovided a photo of the legislator while in detention as a “proof of life.”

Manila said Saturday's confrontation caused severe damage to the Unaizah May 4 vessel while it was on its way to deliver troops and provisions to a Philippine Navy ship grounded atop the Second Thomas Shoal.

Año said three Navy personnel aboard the vessel were injured in Saturday's incident. The extent and nature of their injuries were not disclosed, though themilitary said the personnel were treated aboard a coast guard escortship.

Four crew members were injured by broken glass in an earlier China Coast Guard water cannon attack on the same vessel on March 5.

"This is just an ordinary rotation and resupply or provision operation, but look at how the Chinese are reacting," Año told reporters, according to an interview transcript shared with Agence France Presse (AFP). With AFP

China People's Liberation Army, businessmen, or tourists out to justify their longer stay here in our country," he said.

The matter must be thoroughly investigated since such recruitmentcould have adversely affected the country's national security, Barbers said. He claimed of receiving reports that the Chinese PCG auxiliary members were tagging along with some senior PCG officials whenever they conducted routine and official patrol missions in the West Philippine Sea.

Marcia KOs Thai, focuses sights on Paris Games

EUMIR Felix Marcial is shifting his focus to the Paris Olympics after knocking out Thailand’s Thoedsak Sinam during his homecoming fight as a professional boxer at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Saturday night.

Marcial finished off the Thai at the 1:33 mark of the fourth roundwith a vicious left uppercut that knocked Sinam out even before he hit the canvas.

The 28-year-old Tokyo Games bronze medalist raised both his arms in triumph as the referee counted out the Thai (23-14, 19 KOs).

Marcial, who fights under MP Promotions, improved his record to 5-0with three knockouts in his final professional fight before focusing all of his energies on the Olympics in Paris this August.

Marcial will be joining the national team camp at the US Olympic Training Center in Denver, Colorado in early April and travel with them to Thailand for a similar camp, where the final Olympic qualifying tournament will also be held in Bangkok.

Marcial won an Olympic bronze medal in Tokyo two years ago as a middleweight but will now campaign as a light-heavyweight(super-middle weight) in Paris.

This Holy...

From A1

“I pray that we may humbly accept our authentic selves as imperfect beings, for it is by becoming truly human that we can experience the divine. Let us always remember to seek the Lord in our desires and to desire Him in our seeking,” the Chief Executive said.

Mr. Marcos said Holy Week is a “commemoration of the passion, death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, and a day to reflect on the many transcendent encounters of the Catholic faithful.”

“This hallowed time of contemplative silence behooves us to ponder onthe mysteries that elude our grasp, seek revelation in the face of theinexplicable, and acknowledge the interplay of joy and sorrow in life, so that we may understand the path laid before us by Almighty God,” he said.

“May our inward reflections manifest in our outward actions as westrive to give hope in a world that is threatened by darkness. Let us be the light that shines through the shadows, the love that triumphs over despair, and the hope that radiates upon all humankind,” he added. Vince Lopez

‘You...

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He said the Philippines will be able to reduce carbon footprint and create a sustainable future by embracing energy efficiency practices.

“In the Philippines, our commitment to promoting energy efficiencypaves the way for a cleaner, more climateresilient nation,” President Marcos said.

“Amid challenges like El Niño, efficient resource management becomes absolutely important,” he added.

There was no immediate comment either from McDonald's or Abans, who has held the franchise with 12 outlets since the US firm's entry into Sri Lanka in 1998. Notices were seen outside McDonald's outlets on Sunday saying theywere "closed" and there was no indication if or when they may reopen.

When a technology hitch disrupted ordering at stores across much of east Asia last week, Sri Lanka's McDonald's stores were unaffected. AFP

"The closure was ordered pending an investigation," a court official said. He said lawyers for McDonald's told the court that they had terminateda franchise agreement with local company Abans last week. The hearing is to resume in early April.

Angeles to reward P100k to couple who found 'Ally'

ANGELES CITY—Mayor Carmelo

Lazatin, Jr. will turn over a P100,000 reward today to the couple who ensured the safe return of Margaux Alliyah “Ally” Dela Cruz, the five-yearold girl who was reported missing last Sunday, March 17.

Allan and Janette Escalona were the ones who located the whereabouts of Ally after she was reportedly taken by an unidentified man.

Lazatin said the cash will serve as a token of gratitude for the invaluable assistance of the couple to the Angeles City government.

“We are immensely grateful for the couple in aiding us in resolvingthis incident,” the mayor said, underscoring the importance ofcommunity involve-

ment in protecting the welfare of children.

Lazatin mobilized the Angeles City Police Office (ACPO) to find andrescue Ally after she disappeared while staying at her grandmother’shouse in Barangay Balibago. According to Ally’s cousin, Jessica Audrey Campos, the young girl was abducted and brought to Novaliches to “beg for money and food.”

Online news reports, quoting Ally’s aunt Herminia, described the five-yearold as unlike any other child. She is reportedly delayed in her personality and has a broken leg.

The family is grateful that the Escalona couple found Ally. Butch Gunio

Did the PCG conduct due diligence on these nationals? Obviously, there's none. As Admiral Gavan has admitted, some 36 were axed because they failed to secure national security clearance,” the lawmaker said.

“We also do not know if those Chinese nationals are officials from the

Speaker...

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“I am encouraged by the recent Tangere survey results showing that a majority, specifically 52 percent, of our fellow Filipinos now support amending the 1987 Constitution. This indicates a pivotal shift in public sentiment, revealing a growing acceptance and willingness amongour citizens to consider the merits of constitutional reform,” Romualdez said. Approval for amending the Constitution, while slight, is nonethelesssignificant, the Speaker said.

“It represents an evolving perspective

Suarez...

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“We cannot stomach to just allow that four million (poor) Filipinoswould not be able to receive from the 4Ps mandated under the law. Their level of poverty must not get that serious,” added the House Deputy Speaker.

In last week’s hearing of the House committees on public accounts and social services on the privilege speech delivered by 4Ps party-list Rep. JC Abalos, the De-

"In more than three years that they have been part of the PCG, they probably have Chinese military spies with them, and they have allknown the strategies, missions and objectives, communications gadgets, and duties and functions of all the officers of the PCG and others,”Barbers said.

among Filipinos, recognizing the potential benefits and the necessity of updating our nation’s charter to meet current and future challenges,” he added.

“In the House of Representatives, particularly through the Committee of the Whole, we have engaged in thorough discussions where expertsand resource persons have presented compelling arguments in favor of these amendments. These efforts affirm that our legislative process is aligned with the people's evolving views and needs,” he said. According to him, the issue has not only deepened parliamentarydebates, but also ensured that the push for constitutional reform is rooted in well-informed

partment of Social Welfare and Development confirmed the existence of the P9billion deficit, Suarez said.

DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian confirmed Marcos’ realignment of P13billion in 2023 that was supposed to be for the 4Ps but was given to other programs. Suarez said when the 2023 national budget was approved in the House of Representatives, the 4Ps funding was complete and intact.

“Now I don't know what happened in the Senate, why all of a sudden P13 billion was slashed. That’s sad,” he said.

The President also enjoined the people to adhere to energy efficiency directives as it will not only preserve the environment, but also foster a robust and adaptive “New Philippines.”

He encouraged the public to “make this Earth Hour count towards a greener future.”

Vince Lopez

and comprehensive public discourse.

“As Speaker, the positive feedback and growing support from our constituents fortify my conviction in the vital mission to refine and enhance our constitutional framework. It propels us to advance our legislative responsibilities with increased dedication and resolve,” Romualdez said.

“However, we acknowledge the concerns and reservations expressed bysome, sectors regarding the amendment process. It is imperative that we address these concerns through transparent, inclusive, andresponsible deliberations, ensuring that every voice is heard and considered in shaping the future of our nation's Charter,” he emphasized.

Suarez previously said the decision of Senator Marcos to realign P13 billion in the 2023 national budget intended for the 4Ps was like “stealing from 4 million poor Filipinos.”

During a briefing of the House committees on public accounts and social services, Suarez said he confirmed from Social Welfare Secretary Gatchalian the funds were allocated to other social amelioration programs.

Gatchalian said the 4Ps program is not just an amelioration program of the DSWD as it is based on a law.

P21-b drug haul, 95,750 suspects in gov’t campaign

LAW enforcers arrested 95,790 drug suspects and seized P21 billion worth of illegal drugs in the first year of the government’s centerpiece anti-illegal drugs program “Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan (BIDA).”

The numbers were the result of 75,831 drug operations nationwide, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos said during the firstanniversary celebration of BIDA at the Mall of Asia grounds in Pasay City on Saturday.

Abalos added that 177 police officers were slapped with drug-related charges while 28,000 villages are now drug-free.

“Hindi ibig sabihin na drug-free ang barangay nyo ay titigilan na namin (Just because your barangay is drug-free doesn’t mean we’ll stop). We will continue to monitor because there is a risk na baka bumalik (that illegal drugs may return),” Abalos said.

Abalos also highlighted the rehabilitation and reintegration aspects of BIDA as 1,534 local government units now have a community-based drug rehabilitation (CBDR) program.

The CBDR program serves 31,426 persons who use drugs (PWUD).

To further address the stigma confronting former PWUD, Abalos said the DILG is working with the Department of Labor and Employment to provide jobs for individuals who successfully finish their rehabilitation program.“Dapat mawala ang branding na kapag gumamit ka, hindi ka na mapagkakatiwalaan. Ang importante ay kung paano ka tumayo sa pagkakadapa at paano ka tanggapin ng komunidad (The branding that once you use drugs, you can no longer be trusted, must be eliminated. What is important is how you recover and how the community accepts you),” Abalos said. Vince Lopez

SC magistrate: Lawyers adhere to accountability

By Rey E. Requejo

A SUPREME Court (SC) magistrate has exhorted lawyers to strictly adhere to the Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability, saying: “The true mark of an exceptional lawyer is not only a brilliant mind but likewise a strong ethical core.”

SC Associate Justice Samuel Gaerlan, in a speech before the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Central Luzon Regional Convention at Grand Palazzo Royale in Angeles City, Pampanga on March 21, said: “Divorced from ethics, legal excellence is worthless. Lawyers who gain mastery of the laws, only to use them as subterfuge to perpetrate further injustice are nothing but oppressors. Lawyers who display eloquence in writing arguments, only to suppress the truth and manufacture falsehood are nothing but manipulators. Lawyers who seem to demonstrate expertise in litigation through the utilization of harassing tactics against their opponents are nothing but bullies.”

According to Gaerlan, this year’s convention theme, Justice Aligned: Elevating Ethics in the Pursuit of Legal Excellence, “underscores the critical importance of alignment between a lawyer’s pursuit of legal excellence and the ethical standards to which he or she must hold himself or herself to.”

PBBM signs new laws on roads in the regions, new barangay

Group calls for building code revisions for digital economy

A CITIZEN advocacy group is supporting pending legislation at the House of Representatives that would amend the 47-year-old National Building Code of the Philippines so that it would become more responsive to the broadband connectivity demands of a digital economy.

Lawyer Tim Abejo, co-convenor of CitizenWatch Philippines, said that broadband connectivity is now an essential productivity and communications tool that should be accessible to all citizens and should therefore have adequate space allocation in all public and private property developments.

Lawmaker urges probe on resorts in Masungi area

By Rio N. Araja

ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro on Sunday urged the House leadership to call for hearings to investigate the encroachment of different resorts and other activities in the Masungi Georeserve.

“While it is good that a hearing on the issue of the Captain’s Peak Resort was constructed in the area of Chocolate Hills, we are asking the House leadership to also call for a hearing on House Resolutions 867 and 1598 even during the break to look into the growing encroachment at the Masungi Reserve,” she said.

On March 19, the Masungi Georeserve Foundation Inc. called the attention of Erin’s Place and Lihim na Batis, a resort located in the portion covered by the Upper Marikina River Basin (UMRB) and under the municipality of Baras, Rizal.

It cited seven more resorts and private developments within the 26,000-hectare UMRB overlapping with the Masungi reforestation area managed by the foundation and is a protected area in itself since 2011.

“Having broadband connection in every workplace, commercial and residential areas should now be a standard amenity the same way that adequate utility easements are provided for electricity and water,” he said.

“We call on legislators to prioritize the amendment of the Building Code to include telecommunications and broadband network connections to be installed with the same stature as water and electricity facilities which are already integrated early in the design stage and free of lease payments,” Abejo said.

House Bill 8534 authored by Rep.

Joey Salceda adds the provision that communications and digital connectivity are considered a basic human right and plays a critical role in our nation’s transformation to a digitally enabled and competitive country in the digital global economy.

The bill also seeks to “provide for all buildings and structure and property developments, a framework of minimum standards and requirements to regulate and control their location, site, design, quality of materials, construction, use, occupancy, maintenance, and ensure connectivity prior to occupancy.”

PRESIDENT

Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has signed five new laws renaming circumferential and bypass roads, a bridge, and a national highway in Central Visayas, Ilocos Region, Northern Mindanao, and in the Bicol Region; and creating a new barangay in Surigao del Sur.

Under Republic Act No. 11987, Mr. Marcos renamed Bohol Island Circumferential Road as President Carlos P. Garcia Circumferential Road, which traverses through Barangay Poblacion III, toward the north of Tagbilaran City, and returns to the same barangay from the eastern side of the city.

The President also signed Republic Act No. 11988 which renames the Urdaneta City Bypass Road in Pangasinan to Ambassador Eduardo “Danding” M. Cojuangco Jr. Avenue. The avenue traverses Barangays Nancayasan, Santo Domingo, Santa Lucia, Camantiles, and Anonas.

The Tambacan Bridge that traverses the Iligan River in Barangay Tambacan, Iligan City in the Northern Mindanao Region was renamed Mariano Lluch Badelles Sr. Bridge under Republic Act 11989.

The Chief Executive also signed into law Republic Act 11990, naming a Camarines Sur national road as Speaker Arnulfo “Noli” Fuentebella Highway, stretching from Barangay San Juan Bautista, traversing through Barangays Tagongtong, Abucayan, Hiwacloy, Digidigon, Balaynan and Payatan in the municipality of Goa. Included in the national highway are Barangays Lupi, Tierra Nevada, Binalay, Camagong, Salvacion, San Roque, San Ramon, Sagrada, La Medella, Magsaysay and San Vicente in the municipality of Tinambac up to Barangay Nalayahan in the municipality of Siruma.

Pilgrims, tourists still not allowed on Mt. Maculot trails amid rehab

By Miguel Gil

PILGRIMS and tourists will have to wait a little longer before they can walk the trails of a rejuvenated Mt. Maculot in Cuenca, Batangas which has been off-limits to the public since 2020.

In an interview on Saturday, Cuenca Mayor Alex Magpantay said that his town’s top tourist destination will not be open in time for Holy Week this year as municipal environmental authorities have yet to wrap up rehabilitation efforts.

Mt. Maculot, whose summit towers 957 meters above sea level (MASL), has been a popular destination for hikers and mountain climbers for decades.

A grotto located midway (510 MASL) up its steep slope attracts scores of religious pilgrims during the Lenten season.

“The mountain is still very dense and there are wild monkeys, but we are already coordinating with certain individuals to make it accessible to the

public in due time. (Construction of) our tourism office has already started, and we are targeting to inaugurate it in June,” Magpantay said in Filipino. He added that the municipal government is establishing a tourism office in the mountain’s slopes to monitor and regulate the activities of tourists. In 2020, a local executive order was issued prohibiting leisure activities in the mountain in keeping with a Department of Health directive against group activities during the pandemic.

Magpantay said the municipal government took advantage of the break from tourists and other visitors to allow Mount Maculot’s already compromised ecological balance to recover on its own.

Apart from allowing natural rehabilitation, the town has partnered with the provincial government, national government agencies, and the private sector in conducting a series of treeplanting activities, he added.

PCG raises alert level for a safer Lenten season

By Vince Lopez

THE Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Southern Tagalog raised its heightened alert level from March 24 to 31 to ensure the safety of sea travelers and coastal communities during Holy Week.

The Lenten season, which traditionally sees an increase in maritime activities as people travel to various destinations for religious pilgrimages and family gatherings, calls for heightened vigilance and precautionary measures.

In line with the directive of Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jaime Bautista, the PCG, Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), and Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) are collaborating to manage the operations of sea transport facilities to ensure safe and secure voyages during the lenten season and summer vacation.

NEW LAS PIÑAS BUILDING. Las Piñas City Mayor Imelda T. Aguilar ((center) and Vice Mayor April Aguilar (2nd from left) led the inauguration of the Las Piñas City Diagnostic Center-2 (inset) in Barangay Daniel Fajardo this March 14, in addition to the comprehensive health program of the local government for free services of Las Piñero. With them are Councilor Peewee Aguilar and City Health Office OIC Dr. Juliana Gonzales. Joseph Muego

Customs seizes P7.3-b smuggled fake items

BOC

By Joel E. Zurbano

IN AN intensified crackdown against counterfeit imported goods, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) seized more than P7.3 billion worth of smuggled fake products bearing signature brands during a series of raids conducted in Caloocan City and Bocaue, Bulacan.

Agents from the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service-Manila International Container Port (CIIS-MICP) on Wednesday swooped down on warehouses in the two areas and confiscated huge volumes of imitation items.

Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio hailed the operation as a major blow against smuggling.

“At the core of our mission is the protection of Filipinos and ensuring the safety of imported goods, so it is necessary for our agency to stop these items from hitting the shelves and victimizing people,” Rubio said in a news release.

Customs Intelligence and Investigation director Verne Enciso took stock of the seizures, citing the discovery of 3,500 bales of counterfeit underwear and socks bearing

popular brands and valued at P4.3 billion in Caloocan.

Another seizure of bogus products worth P70 million was made from other warehouses in the compound, consisting of women’s sandals, speakers, foodstuff, industrial pipe fittings, sanitary goods, and kitchen items.

The raiding teams also discovered some P3 billion worth of smuggled goods such as kitchenware, appliances, clothes, toys, computer accessories, and cosmetics in various warehouses in Bocaue.

Deputy Commissioner Juvymax Uy underscored the agency’s determination to combat smuggling, emphasizing the importance of stringent enforcement measures. The owners of the seized goods will be required to present importation documents and proof of tax payments by Cus -

technol-

TAKING advantage of the expected lighter traffic in the metropolis during the Holy Week, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has scheduled 18 roads in the National Capital Region for major repairs.

Nonetheless, the MMDA advised motorists to take alternative routes to avoid inconvenience and discomfort in the areas affected by the repair works.

In a traffic advisory emailed to reporters on Sunday, the MMDA said the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and a telecommunications firm would undertake the road enhancement operations. MMDA acting chairman Romando Artes said the Lenten break would be the best time for contractors to do their road works and reblocking activities.

“The clearance for the 24-hour road works aims to strike a balance between maintaining infrastructure and minimizing disruptions and inconvenience to motorists after the significantly religious holidays,” said Artes.

T he round-the-clock road works will be done on Wednesday until Monday (Apr. 1). The MMDA listed the thoroughfares

DOE urges oil firms to assist Lent travelers

By Alena Mae S. Flores

THE Department of Energy (DOE) on Sunday asked oil companies to mobilize assistance along national highways, major roads, tollways and areas leading to pilgrimage sites as motorists embark on Holy Week retreats and summer vacations.

At the same time, the DOE said it recognizes the overall impact of oil prices in the international market on the motoring public.

Motorists traditionally travel for religious purposes or to spend time with their families in the provinces during the Lenten break.

“Let us assist them in safely navigating their way during these busy travel periods by implementing initiatives that will enhance their overall travel experience and promote road safety campaigns,” Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla said.

By Rosas

Olarte

A COMBINED team of Philippine National Police and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency operatives have arrested over the weekend two “high value” targets in Matnog, Sorsogon and seized some P14.28 million worth of shabu.

Police tentatively identified the suspects only by their aliases as “Pan” and “Ham,” both from Lanao del Sur. Police Region 5 spokesperson Malu Calubaquib said

the agents confiscated two Chinese team bags containing 2,000 grams of suspected shabu valued at P13.6 million, and one plastic sachet containing 100 grams of suspected shabu estimated at P680,000.

The operation was conducted at Purok 1, in Barangay Hidhid, Matnog, Sorsogon.

Calubaquib said the investigators are looking into possible source of the illegal drugs considering that suspects were not natives of the Bicol region.

Feudal

I See

A GROUP of lawyers led by Rico Domingo petitioned the Supreme Court to compel Congress to perform its duty under Article II, Section 26 of the 1987 Constitution which provides “the State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service, and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law.”

Interesting.

After 37 years since its ratification by the people, our elected legislators have not only failed to comply with the Constitutional mandate, but feathered their nests till kingdom come through entrenched political dynasties.

After Semana Santa, we will in this space identify most of these dynasties that rule not only in the countryside, but even our urban warrens.

Politics has remained feudal under the façade of electoral democracy.

The ilustrados took over the Katipunan and prevailed, whether in Malolos or Kawit, and when the Americans hijacked the Revolution and made our islands its imperial colony, the Commonwealth government that it grudgingly allowed was a composite of the landed elite, the mestizoisie and the wealthy.

—“—

Politics has remained feudal under the façade of electoral democracy

Yet it allowed brilliant “famulos” like a Manuel Luis Quezon of the remote northern Tayabas now named after him, and specifically Aurora named after his First Lady, Aurora Aragon, to be its president.

What we had then was a dominant Nacionalista Party led by Quezon, with a minimized opposition of Federalistas under Juan Sumulong, the maternal grandfather of Cory Aquino of the landed Cojuangcos of Tarlac.

The Pacific War ushered in a “puppet” government, the Second Republic led by Quezon’s surrogates to whom he entrusted the reins of leadership and minimize civilian casualties in the AmericanJapanese war: Laurel, Vargas, Recto and Aquino, among others.

After the wartime interlude, the Third Republic was born, after a rib of the Grand Old Party of Quezon and Cebu’s Osmena was taken by Roxas, Quirino and Avelino triumvirate into what became the Liberal Party.

Philippine politics from 1946 till 1972 was basically a continuing battle between

the Nacionalistas and the Liberals, who, despite similitude in platforms and lack of defining ideology, managed nonetheless, through party conventions local and national, to winnow chaff from grain in the choice of candidates for public office.

And although the landed elite still prevailed, whether the tobacco monopolists in the far North, or the hacienderos in the rest of Luzon, the sugar barons of the Visayas and the logging concessionaires in Mindanao along with Moro royalty, we had functioning governments under a semi-feudal set-up of “educados,” the entitled political elite who were mostly “abogados.”

Sure, political control were like baronies: Marcos, Crisologo, Singson, Osias, Paredes, Primicias, Perez in the North.

The Montanosa, now CAR, was a single province (since enlarged by Marcos I) called the Mountain Province, with Ramon Mitra Sr. its princeling.

In the rest of Luzon, with rice and sugar its main crops as distinguished from tobacco in the North, we had the ilustrados of revolutionary heredity: Cojuangco, Aquino, Tinio and Joson of revolutionary heredity: Buencamino, De Leon, Bautista, Yulo, de Gala, Almeda-Fule, Laurel, Recto, Apacible and Leviste.

In Bicolandia, the Imperial, Alsua, Nuyda, Duran and Espinosa clans dominated, while the undivided Samar was ruled by the Senate President, Jose Avelino of Bulakeno origins. Neighboring Waray Leyte was a Romualdez fiefdom, with the Cebuanospeaking larger part the domain of the Velosos, Larrazabals and Yniguezes. Cebu was divided into several fiefdoms, ruled by the Noel, Briones, Durano, Zosa clans allied with either Nacionalista Pres. Osmena or Liberal Senate Pres. Manuel Cuenco, while in Bohol, which considered itself a “republic,” the descendants of Dagohoy and the Chinoy negociantes chose a dark-skinned schoolteacher, Carlos P. Garcia, later president, as their leader. The Ilonggo-speaking had the Aldeguers and Zuluetas, and of course the wealthy Lopezes, with the Lacsons, Locsins, Hilados under the tutelage of the landed Aranetas.

In Mindanao, with its undivided provinces, we had the mestizo Pelaez in Misamis, Sanchez and Calo in Agusan, Verano in Surigao, Veloso in Davao, the Pendatuns and Sinsuats in Cotabato, the Lucmans and Alontos in Lanao, the Rasuls and Amilbangsas in Sulu.

Only in what is now Metro-Manila, its undisputed center being Manila with the rest being Rizal province were descendants of the middle-class elected: Arsenio Lacson, Atienza, Tolentino and the Manila Times’ Roces; zacatero Rodriguez who rose to the Senate presidency under Magsaysay and Garcia, and the Liberals Salonga of Pasig, Cuneta of Pasay.

Justice for Killua, justice for all

IN THE heart of a nation already plagued by corruption and neglect, a despicable act of cruelty has shattered any remaining illusion of decency.

The killing of Killua, a gentle Golden Retriever, has ignited a firestorm of rage and disgust, and rightfully so. In the annals of depravity, the actions of Anthony Solares stand as a grotesque testament to the depths of human depravity.

In a viral video that has since haunted the collective conscience of the Filipino people, Solares is seen callously chasing down Killua, a dog who posed no threat to anyone. His actions, captured on CCTV, reveal a disturbing lack of empathy and an alarming propensity for violence.

Despite his feeble attempt to justify his heinous deed by claiming the dog threatened his child, the evidence speaks for itself: it was Killua who was pursued, not the other way around.

But let us not be fooled by Solares’ feeble attempts at justification. His actions are not those of a concerned parent protecting their child; they are the actions of a sadistic coward, reveling in the suffering of an innocent creature.

ALL bark, no bite.

This doggone cliché may well apply to certain state regulators with a fondness for dishing out press releases but short on action in the discharge of their mandated tasks, and therefore get away with murder, so to speak.

Let’s talk about the Securities and Exchange Commission, with particular focus on the cryptocurrency giant Binance, that has been encountering near-fatal debacles on many fronts.

Offhand, let’s give credit where credit is due.

It is admirable that in November last year, the SEC boldly announced its intent to ban Binance as it is not a duly registered corporation with permits to do business in the Philippines as a cryptocurrency exchange.

Here’s a direct quotation from the SEC’s advisory: “This is to inform the public that the online cryptocurrency exchange BINANCE is NOT

AUTHORIZED TO SELL or OFFER SECURITIES to the public in the Philippines.”

If that is not crystal-clear enough, we don’t know what is.

The SEC advisory holds criminally liable and imposes stiff penalties (up to P5 million and/or imprisonment of 21 years) on those who act as “salesmen, brokers, dealers or agents, representatives, promoters, recruiters, influencers, endorsers, and enablers of the

The main impetus to shift to LNG is to harness it as a cleaner alternative to coal as fuel for baseload power plants of the country So

—“—

Let us pledge to build a world where animals and humans can coexist in harmony, free from fear and suffering

EDITORIAL

A toothless regulator

Binance platform in selling or convincing people to invest in this platform within the Philippines.”

As of writing, however, Binance continues to offer securities and is still available to be downloaded from app stores. Last we checked, this is a clear violation of our laws.

—“—

It’s been four almost four months now since the SEC flagged Binance’s illegal operations in the country, and nothing definitive has been done about it

According to SEC Chairman Emilio Aquino, it really meant to ban Binance but had to put it off on account of changes in its ranks.

With all due respect, that’s as flimsy as an excuse could get. The SEC also says it is delaying the ban to allow local investors to withdraw their exposures.

But how long does it actually take for an investor to withdraw his money? For tech-savvy crypto investors—

Open Thoughts

The LNG Power Team

RECENT news on three of the country’s biggest power supply companies Aboitiz Power Corp., Meralco PowerGen Corp. (MGen), and San Miguel Global Power Holdings Corp. (SMGP) uniting to respond to the government’s call to invest in cleaner energy to supply the surging demand of our recovering economy is a very encouraging development never before seen in such a scale and strategic significance, and between the largest competing players of the power and energy industry.

The three giant power companies are venturing into a $3.3 billion Liquefied Natural Gas facility, now under construction and will start operations by end of this year, which will be the country’s first and biggest envisioned to produce 2,500 megawatts generation capacity of baseload power.

Manuel Pangilinan, the Chairman and CEO of Manila Electric Company, in a published statement, said, “Apart from transforming the energy landscape of the Philippines, this symbolizes a milestone alliance among major players in the energy industry towards a more sustainable future.

“We are thrilled to have such reliable partners as we lay the foundation for a brighter, greener future.”

Sabin Aboitiz, the chairman of AboitizPower, quoted in a public statement, said, “Both LNG and renewables are needed to achieve a balanced energy mix and well-planned energy transition.

“Above all, this is a big win for the Philippines and the people. Economic development is impossible without energy security, and this investment is a definitive step forward in that direction.”

Ramon S. Ang, Chairman and Presi-

Let us strive to create a society where animals are treated with the kindness and compassion they deserve.

Let us heed the words of Senator Grace Poe, who has championed the cause of animal welfare with unwavering determination. Her proposed bill, the Revised Animal Welfare Act, offers a glimmer of hope in an otherwise bleak landscape.

But legislation alone is not enough.

dent of San Miguel Global Power Holdings Corp. likewise said, “For the first time, three leading power companies are working together to secure our country’s energy needs while transitioning towards cleaner power sources. “This represents a major leap forward for our energy future, ensuring not just reliability but also cost-efficient power for many Filipinos.”

—“—

This is indeed an unprecedented and a most positive development that has significant dimensions beyond augmenting the country’s energy security with 2,500 megawatts when this project is fully operational.

The team-up of three giant conglomerates, all competitors in other industries, sends a strong signal to other potential investors, both local and foreign, of the confidence the leadership of these high performing companies have in the long

We, the people, must do our part to ensure that animals are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve. We must educate ourselves and our children about the proper, responsible, and humane treatment of animals. We must speak out against cruelty and injustice wherever we encounter it, and we must hold those who perpetrate such acts accountable for their actions.

this takes anywhere from a few seconds to a couple of days.

It’s been four almost four months now since the SEC flagged Binance’s illegal operations in the country, and nothing definitive has been done about it.

Without doubt, the SEC has certain police powers to maintain the integrity of our capital markets and credibility of our securities laws.

Ergo, it can initiate legal proceedings motu proprio against Binance or request the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to block its website.

Regrettably, this is where the bite is lacking.

What is baffling is the SEC has implemented bans on similar unregulated cryptocurrency exchanges like MiTrade and OctaFx, with way fewer Filipino users. Is there favoritism towards the world’s biggest exchange?

No less than the United States has set the precedent on how to apply the law against Binance.

Are we too compassionate to a fault?

We hope not.

However, running after Binance is not the task of the SEC alone.

This should be a collaboration with other agencies such as the NTC, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the AntiMoney Laundering Commission, and the Department of Trade and Industry at the very least.

We need to see some action here, definitely.

term economic potential of the Philippines.

This may well be a new investment model that will inspire more local and foreign investments specially in the critical infrastructure where there must be long term predictability and stability despite the six year political cycles of government administrations.

Secretary Arsenio Balisacan of the National Economic and Development Authority said earlier that to meet the target power generation mix by 2040, the Philippines will need $103.6-billion which at the current exchange rate translates to P5.8-trillion investments in renewable energy projects.

The main impetus to shift to LNG is to harness it as a cleaner alternative to coal as fuel for baseload power plants.

It is considered as a transition or bridge fuel as we wait for renewable energy generation becomes cheaper and power storage technologies mature to solve the unstable nature of RE technologies such as solar and wind.

Several studies attest that LNG as fuel has about half the carbon emissions compared to coal burned in power plants.

The DOE’s Power Demand and Supply Outlook, 2020-2040 says, “The country’s peak demand is expected to increase by almost four folds from 2020 to 2040 which is equivalent to about 7% growth annually.”

This outlook clearly shows the urgency of accelerating baseload capacity builds to stay ahead of the rising demand for power, which is actually a good challenge as more economic growth obviously creates more demand for electricity.

As expected in the free democratic space of our society, there are those that allege that this cooperation of the Aboitiz, Meralco, and San Miguel power companies as a sort of monopolizing move.

On the contrary, it sets a new standard where more energy players are most welcome to step up with their own initiatives that will offer the best clean technologies and at the most competitive rates for consumers.

Let us pledge to be kinder, more compassionate, and more humane.

Let us pledge to build a world where animals and humans can coexist in harmony, free from fear and suffering.

Anything less would be a betrayal of our shared humanity, a betrayal of everything that makes us human.

In the memory of Killua, and in the name of all the animals who have suffered and died at the hands of human cruelty, let us pledge to do better.

The

Championship 2024 held at PhilSports Arena in Pasig City. Dennis Abrina

Sainz wins Australian GP, Verstappen fails to finish

MELBOURNE—Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz surged to victory at the Australian Grand Prix Sunday to snap Red Bull’s winning start to the season after three-time world champion Max Verstappen sensationally failed to finish.

The Spaniard, who had appendicitis surgery two weeks ago, took the chequered flag 2.3 seconds ahead of teammate Charles Leclerc, with McLaren’s Lando Norris a bold third.

It was his third grand prix win and first since Singapore last year.

“I’m happy to be in a one-two with Charles here. It shows that hard work pays off,” said Sainz, who missed the last race in Saudi Arabia and was bed-ridden for a week afterwards.

“Life sometimes is crazy ... the podium in Bahrain, then the appendix, the comeback, the win. It’s a rollercoaster but I loved it and I’m extremely happy.”

While he celebrated, it was a disastrous day for pole-sitter Verstappen, who limped out with smoke billowing from his car after being passed by front-row

partner Sainz on lap two.

The Dutchman blamed a brake issue for his first retirement in two years.

“What we can see so far from the data is that as soon as the lights went off the right-rear brake just stuck on,” he said.

“It just caused the damage and it kept on increasing so it was also basically driving with the handbrake on.”

It was also a horror race for Lewis Hamilton in his inconsistent Mercedes, with the British seven-time world champion suffering engine failure on lap 17.

To add to Mercedes’ woes, teammate George Russell crashed heavily on the last lap with the car ending on its side. Russell climbed out unscathed.

record set last year of 10 consecutive wins—one more than Sebastian Vettel in 2013—and was unbeaten in his last 18 starts from pole position.

But while Verstappen was favoured to win, the Ferraris had proved highly competitive in practice and qualifying on the fast and flowing Albert Park track. Despite not being fully fit, Sainz, whose seat at Ferrari is to be taken by Hamilton next year, topped Q1 and Q2 to fire a warning shot. ‘Incredible weekend’ Oscar Piastri in the other McLaren was fourth ahead of Red Bull’s Sergio Perez. Fernando Alonso was sixth ahead of Aston Martin teammate Lance Stroll. RB’s Yuki Tsunoda was eighth, with Haas pair Nico Hulkenburg and Kevin Magnussen rounding out the top 10.

Davao Occ., Nueva Ecija in KO game, SJ in semis

SAN Juan formally secured the first semifinals berth in the PSL President’s Cup after surviving a late rally posted by SGA-St. Benilde, 85-77, but will have to wait for its next opponent after Davao Occidental stalled Nueva Ecija’s entry to the Final Four following a gripping 90-86 victory Saturday night at the Filoil-EcoOil Centre late Saturday night. The Kings dominated the Blazers for the most part of the match as they displayed aggressiveness on attacking the interior.

San Juan produced 52 points inside the shaded lane, 20 points more than its counterpart.

Leading the Kings’ charge was Orlan Wamar, who knocked in 16 points and dished out five assists.

Wamar was also the catalyst of San Juan’s defense in the backcourt that mostly forced St. Benilde to commit its total 17 turnovers.

Those 17 miscues were translated by San Juan to 20 points.

Davao Occidental, meanwhile, banked on its solid defensive effort in the second half to turn back Nueva Ecija.

A relentless defensive effort by Davao Occidental bridging the third and fourth periods held Nueva Ecija without a field goal in a fiveminute stretch.

That was more than enough for the Tigers to buck the ejection of ace player Justine Sanchez as they scrambled to eke out a much deserved 90-86 squeaker of the Capitals and set up a winnertake-all showdown for a semifinals berth in the PSL President’s Cup.

Now the Tigers and the Capitals, whose key members are no strangers to one another, clash in a no tomorrow encounter on Tuesday.

Sanchez, Davao Occidental’s most consistent player, was ejected in the game after a technical foul was upgraded to an unsportsmanlike foul for hitting fouling Byron Villarias above the shoulders with still 6:02 left.

Prior to that, Sanchez was already called for a technical foul after he vehemently protested a non-call at the other end while he was attempting for a lay up.

But like wounded Tigers, Davao Occidental fought back and came out more ferocious from there.

Verstappen emphatically won the opening two grands prix of the season in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, with both a Red Bull 1-2, and was hot favourite to make it three from three.

He had been aiming to match his own

“It feels good mostly for the team of course, first and second didn’t happen since Bahrain 2022,” said Leclerc. “Carlos has had an incredible weekend to come back from his surgery, he’s done an amazing race.” AFP

Race is on to make Paris Olympics mosquito-free

PARIS—France is scrambling to make sure that that virus-carrying tiger mosquitos, a growing menace in Europe, don’t spoil the Paris Olympics for athletes and fans, with millions of visitors due in the French capital for the summer Games.

The Asian tiger mosquito has made its home in much of northern Europe, including France, over the past two decades, spreading diseases such as dengue, chikungunya and zika.

Climate change is said to be behind its easy adaptation to colder climes, with authorities recently declaring Normandy in the northwest, the last remaining mosquito-free region in all of France, infested just like the rest of the country.

Authorities have tried in vain to get rid of the insects, including by fumigating parts of Paris, a technique regularly used in tropical cities.

But with the start of the Paris Games only four months

away, they are on the clock, with experts warning that a tiger mosquito bite could destroy an athlete’s chance of making it to the starting line.

“When you are sick with dengue, you won’t be jumping over any hurdles,” said Didier Fontenille, an entomologist and expert on vector-borne diseases.

“The host cities and especially the Olympic Village must be kept mosquito-free,” he said. ‘Citizens’ mobilisation’

Health authorities have promised “increased surveillance” of the mosquito threat, which has been notoriously difficult to eliminate.

France reported 45 dengue cases last year, attributed to local virus transmission.

Tiger mosquitoes are happiest in cities, where an abundant presence of stagnant water creates ideal conditions for laying their eggs.

Fontenille said dealing with stagnant water would “take care of 80 percent of the problem” if there was a “citizens’ mobilisation” to clean up even smallest amounts of water left in flower bowls or saucers.

For the rest, he said, repellents, mosquito nets and organic insecticides used on mosquito larvae could be effective.

Mosquito traps also show promise, using simulated human body odours to attract, and then kill, the mosquitoes. A variation consists of fooling the insects into laying their eggs in the trap, where they are destroyed.

Biogents, a specialist firm, said it won a public bid to protect the Marseille Marina, site of sailing competitions, with its plan to install 15 traps.

Co-manager Hugo Plan said they would be set up next month, spread over one hectare “in greenery and in shaded, humid areas”. AFP

Catantan 11th for Penn State in US NCAA fencing tourney

By Peter Atencio

THE country’s top fencer Samantha Catantan placed 11th out of 24 for Penn State University in the women’s foil event of the 2024 US NCAA Fencing Championship on Friday (Saturday in Manila) at the French Field House in Columbus, Ohio.

Catantan, who just recovered from a knee injury, won eight of 16 matches during the final pool stage. In all, Catantan, considered as the first and so far only ‘homegrown’ Filipino fencer to be given full scholarship by a Division 1 school, tallied a win-loss record of 12-11 in the grueling 5-round action for women’s foil.

Catantan came up with her best round in the third pool stage when she posted a 3-1 card.

“We’ve worked really hard to get here. Although this game had its ups and downs, we pushed through and that’s the most important (thing). I’m very happy about that,” said Davison after delivering 18 kills and three blocks.

“I think we just have to concentrate on them as a whole. Everyone on that team is a hard worker. They’re very talented. think we were blessed with the 10 days to really prepare for this much and I think it really paid off — studying this team.”

Davison, a consistent Player of the Week candidate, bested her teammate Fajardo, Rondina, Chery Tiggo’s Eya Laure, Graze Bombita of Galeries Tow-

SAVI Davison’s dominating presence has fueled the surge of the PLDT High Speed Hitters to the top of the 2024 Premier Volleyball League AllFilipino Conference. Davison continued to showcase her scoring prowess to lead PLDT’s perfect week with an average of 21.0 points in two games to force a threeway share of the lead with a 5-1 winloss record tied with last year’s finalists defending champion Creamline and Choco Mucho. With her consistent display of dominance and versatility, Davison earned her first PVL Press Corps Player of the Week accolade for the period of March 19 to 23 in the flourishing professional league organized by Sports Vision. The Filipino-Canadian spiker came out firing with 21 points and providing a steady floor defense of 16 excellent receptions to blemish the erstwhile-unbeaten Choco Mucho in five sets, 25-20, 25-15, 23-25, 11-25, 15-13, on Tuesday at FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City. In her showdown against reigning MVP Sisi Rondina, Davison made sure not to waste their 10-day preparation to lead the collective effort of the High Speed Hitters, who also drew stellar playmaking from Kim Fajardo to end the Flying Titans’ fivegame winning streak.

er, Creamline star Tots Carlos, and Cignal setter Gel Cayuna for the weekly citation given by print and online scribes covering the league, which is also being aired live at www.pvl.ph.

The former US NCAA Division 1 player, who played for the University of Oklahoma and New Mexico State University, sustained her fine form with another 21-point performance to sweep Farm Fresh, 25-9, 25-13, 25-21, for their third straight victory on Saturday at Ynares Center in Antipolo.

“I think I’ve been preaching it all conference long, I just want to be the go-to. I just want to be the person that people can rely on so I’m happy that I’m becoming more confident in that role,” said Davison after dropping 17 kills, three blocks, and an ace on top of seven excellent receptions.

“I think we just need to show up and just not be complacent like coach said. We’re just doing our jobs, making it simple, and just controlling our side of the court.”

Savi Davison

Catantan, an accounting student-athlete at PSU, still has a year of eligibility playing in the NCAA in 2025.

“It is a privilege and honor to once again represent Penn State at NCAA for the fourth time,” said Catantan, who started fencing for the school as a rookie in 2021 where she made history by winning all her bouts in the pool round for a 20-0 record and finished with a bronze trophy, in a Facebook post.

That bronze trophy, which also led to her inclusion to the All-America selection, remains the best performance for the 22-year-old Catantan as she missed again on making it to the podium.

Catantan plans to take a master’s degree as she is expected to graduate this May. In the all-Harvard finals, Jessica Guo defeated Lauren Scruggs, 15-7, to win the gold while the latter got the silver. Ohio State’s Dariia Myroniuk and Rebeca Candescu of Notre Dame settled for the bronze medal.

Ferrari’s Spanish driver Carlos Sainz Jr. celebrates with the trophy on the podium after the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne. AFP

MONDAY, MARCH 25, 2024

RIERA U. MALLARI, Editor

RANDY M. CALUAG, Asst. Editor

EDGARD HILARIO, Asst. Editor

Fronda, Canino nail berths in world meet

WOMAN International Master Jan Jodilyn Fronda and teen wonder Ruelle Canino came through with the needed results in the 10th and penultimate round of the Battle of Women Masters in Malolos, Bulacan to claim two of the three spots to the FIDE World Chess Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary this September.

Fronda, the 2019 national champion, downed Mhage Sebastian while Canino, a 15-year-old

SPORTS

Sabalenka exits Miami, Alcaraz starts event in style

By Peter Atencio

AWEEK before her 25th birthday, FilipinoAmerican standout Lauren Hoffman gave herself a big birthday present.

The 5’6” Hoffman took the gold medal in record-breaking fashion in the women’s 400-meter hurdles of the annual Hurricane Collegiate Invitational at Cobb Stadium on Saturday morning (Sunday in Manila).

Hoffman, who became eligible to represent the Philippines in October last year, ran in 56.39 seconds.

The world no. 47 Hoffman surpassed the 33-year-old national mark held by Philippine track legend Elma Muros-Posadas and an unnofficallyrecognized record of Robyn Brown in the 2022 Southeast Asian Games.

Muros-Posadas, a two-time Philippine Sportswriters Association Athlete of the Year, held the national record in since 1991 after winning the gold medal in the Singapore Open with a time of 57.57 seconds. Brown also took down Muros-Posadas’ mark in 56.44 seconds during the 2022 Hanoi SEA Games, but was not verified and ratified in the records of the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association. This will be the second Philippine national record that Hoffman seeks to claim. Last Feb. 11, and for the second time,

Hoffman, a Paris Olympics hopeful, obliterated the Philippine national record in the women’s indoor 400-meter run.

The 24-year-old Hoffman finished second in the heats at 53.71 seconds at the Clemson Paw Invitationals at the Clemson Indoor Track & Field Complex in South Carolina.

Last January, Hoffman smashed it for the first time in the 2024 Clemson Bob Pollock Invitational indoor athletics meet also in Clemson, South Carolina. At that time, the Virginia-based Hoffman grabbed the bronze medal with a record-breaking time of 53.91 seconds in the women’s 400-meters.

The 5’6”Hoffman, a recent graduate of Duke University who saw action last year in the 2023 Philippine National Championships in the City of Ilagan, took a break from competition in the first weekend of February so she will be able to make things happen.

Rock Stadium, to smash her racket violently into the court.

On Monday, Belarusian Sabalenka’s former boyfriend, ex-NHL player Konstantin Koltsov, died in Miami after what police called an “apparent suicide”.

The pair had been in a relationship until recently and Sabalenka only announced they were no longer together following the death.

On Friday, she looked in control as she defeated her close friend Paula Badosa of Spain in straight sets. But given the late slot on the main stadium court, Sabalenka looked to be feeling the strain more as she struggled for any kind of consistency.

After losing the opening set, she utterly dominated Kalinina in the second, with her serve and powerful backhand too much for the Ukrainian.

But once Kalinina broke in the third, Sabalenka’s focus and composure deserted her and her opponent took full advantage.

“It’s really tough with nerves. But I managed in the tough moments to deal with it,” said Kalinina. “So I’m a little bit proud of myself today.”

World number one Iga Swiatek had no trouble in beating Italy’s Camila Giorgi 6-2, 6-1 as the rain impacted tournament packed in the big names including postponed matches from Friday.

“I was feeling really pretty confident and I just wanted to see how I’m going to feel the surface. It was all really comfortable, so I’m happy,” said Swiatek. AFP

NATIONAL UNIVERSITY and De La Salle-Lipa zoomed to a joint lead after overpowering their respective foes to cap the opening weekend of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) Under-18 Championship women’s division on Sunday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

The Lady Bullpups proved too much to handle for Parañaque City, 25-4, 25-16 while La Salle-Lipa bested its neighbor San Juan Institute of Technology-Batangas, 25-17, 25-19, to set the pace in the 12-team women’s division.

NU’s 21-point win in the first set was the biggest gap in the tournament yet as the Lady Bullpups needed only 37 minutes of play to dispatch Parañaque. La Salle-Lipa, for its part, bagged the win in 48 minutes.

Both squads climbed to similar 2-0 slates for a share of Pool B leadership with two games to go in the single-round elims.

NU first took care of business against

Colegio de Los Baños, 25-10, 25-12, while La Salle-Lipa got the number of another Batangas bet in Canossa Academy-Lipa via reverse sweep, 22-25, 25-19, 25-17.

In Pool A, Maryhill College-Lucena (1-0) debuted with a bang after drubbing winless Limitless Sports Center (0-2), 2518, 25-19 while Gracel Christian College stunned UAAP squad La Salle-Zobel, 2522, 25-21.

Maryhille College-Lucena and Gracel Christian College thus tied Santo Tomas atop Pool A so far with identical 1-0 slates.

Kings’ Montessori School followed suit at 1-1 after avenged its opening-day defeat to UST with an easy 25-10, 25-9 win over Limitless Sports Center late Saturday night.

The first youth tournament of the PNVF headed by President Ramon “Tats” Suzara will not return to action until April 5 in observance of the Holy Week.

Blue Eagles rip Maroons to climb above .500 in men’s volley

ATENEO de Manila University mustered all its strength in the fifth set to escape upsetseeking University of the Philippines, 25-15, 18-25, 25-15, 20-25, 15-10, in the UAAP Season 86 Men’s Volleyball Tournament at the SMART Araneta Coliseum on Sunday. With their second consecutive win, the Blue Eagles moved up above .500 at 5-4 for solo fourth, half a game ahead of University of Santo Tomas Golden Spikers and Adamson University Soaring Falcons at 4-4, and half a game behind De La Salle University Green Spikers at 5-3. Ateneo also avoided a deja vu of last year as UP won its lone game of Season 85 against the former in the second round of action, 13-25, 22-25, 26-24, 39-37, 15-12 on April 12, 2023. That win by the Fighting Maroons was their last, extending their skid to 13 games as they fell to 0-9 this season.

“Ang reminder lang namin sa kanila ay ano ba ang goal namin this year kasi I always remind them kung ano yung nangyari last season against UP so sabi ko sa kanila, we have to acknowledge that it could happen but

are we going to allow it?,” said Blue Eagles head coach Timmy Sto. Tomas.

Ken Batas, Amil Pacinio, and Jian Salarzon went to work in the fifth with Ryan Daculan also chipping in to tire out the Fighting Maroons and finish the game in two hours and five minutes.

Batas erupted for 30 points on 27 attacks, two blocks, and an ace along with nine digs, while Salarzon followed with 20 points including four blocks.

Pacinio also displayed his versatility with 16 points and 27-of-35 receptions.

Leinuel Crisostomo stepped up with 19 receptions and 11 digs as main libero Lance De Castro, who leads the league in digging and receiving, left the match during the first set after sitting on his own leg while attempting to receive a ball from UP.

“‘Yung team naman handa lagi magfulfill sa kakulangan namin. Naniniwala ako sa kanila (teammates on the bench) kasi every day nagtitraining kami, every day pare-pareho yung ginagawa namin,” said Batas.

GREAT WIN. Team Greats defeated the young Team Stalwarts, 142-133, during the PBA All-Stars in Bacolod on Saturday. Justin Arana led the Greats with 36 points and eight rebounds in the Rookies-Sophomores-Juniors affair.

La Salle Lipa celebrates after a score

FILIPINA ENTREPRENEURS.

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)

Secretary Alfredo Pascual recognizes Filipina entrepreneurs for their significant role in fostering economic growth through utilizing free trade agreements (FTAs) during the Women’s Business Council Philippines’ (WomenBizPH) general membership meeting and induction ceremony on March 21, 2024.

DOF prefers improving collection efficiency over imposing new taxes

By Darwin G. Amojelar

THE Department of Finance (DOF) is prioritizing improving tax collection efficiency to avoid the need for new taxes, Finance Secretary Ralph Recto said.

“Hopefully, there would be no trigger. We should try to collect what’s there. There are still leakages in the system, so collection efficiency is key. It may take time, but it’s a wiser approach than raising taxes right away,” Finance Secretary Ralph Recto said.

Recto said the best strategy is to grow the economy which naturally leads to higher tax collections. The government set a gross domestic product growth of 6.5 percent to 7.5 percent this year.

The Finance chief earlier said the DOF has no new tax proposals, but is recalibrating its existing priority tax measures to guarantee that these are fairer, easier to collect, and more practical while ensuring that these reforms will not translate to unnecessary burden to Filipino consumers and taxpayers.

The department focuses on pushing Package 4 of the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program (CTRP), which seeks to encourage growth in key financial markets by simplifying the tax structure on passive income

Treasury says gov’t borrowings dropped 68% to P118.5b in January

THE Bureau of the Treasury said over the weekend government’s gross borrowings dropped 67.6 percent in January this year from a year ago.

The Treasury’s latest cash operations report showed that gross borrowings in the first month of the year reached P118.47 billion, down from P366 billion in the same month last year.

Gross domestic debt fell 21.12 percent in January to P141.50 billion from P179.30 billion a year earlier. Broken down, the BTr raised P130 billion from fixed-rate Treasury bonds and P11.501 billion from Treasury bills.

Meanwhile, the gross external debt went down by 67.13 percent to P61.65 billion in January from P187.56 billion a year earlier. Of the total, project loans amounted to P5.34 billion and program loans, P56.29 billion.

Finance Secretary Ralph Recto earlier said the country’s total financing requirement for the year would amount to P2.46 trillion, and the government would continue to adopt a 75:25 borrowing mix in favor of domestic sources.

This prudent debt management strategy will allow the country to effectively mitigate foreign exchange risks, take advantage of the abundant liquidity in the country’s financial system and support the development of the local debt and capital markets, he said. The BTr is looking at various global bond markets, consistent with its objective of diversifying funding sources to fulfill its 2024 external financing program. It is also exploring a potential curtain-raiser offering in the first semester of the year.

The BTr earlier raised a total of P584.86 billion from the issuance of the 30th tranche of retail treasury bonds (RTBs).

It raised P870 billion in 2023 despite the challenging market environment, including P1.65 trillion sourced from the issuance of domestic treasury bills and government securities and P220 billion from external commercial sources.

The funds raised by the BTr represented 85 percent of the gross financing requirement of the national government.

Darwin G. Amojelar

and on certain instruments and other financial products.

Under Package 4, the interest income tax will be harmonized at 20 percent, while royalties will be maintained according to the existing tax code until 2027, subsequently harmonized and decreased to 15 percent in 2028.

The dividend income tax will remain unchanged until 2027, with a proposed harmonization of 10 percent in 2028.

The stock transaction tax will gradually be reduced annually by 0.1 percent, from 0.6 percent to 0.1 percent by 2028. The rates on policies of insurance upon property, fidelity bonds and other insurance policies will gradually be decreased annually by 1 percent, from 12.5 percent to 7.5 percent in 2028. Meanwhile, taxes on Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) tickets prizes, and other winnings will have no changes. Taxes on mortgages, pledges and deeds of trust would stay at current rates until 2027, after which they would be lowered to a 0.3 percent rate by 2028. The proposed changes to taxes on passive income, financial intermediaries, financial transactions and excise tax on pick-up trucks are expected to yield P12.2 billion in revenues from the third quarter of 2024 to 2028, versus the P83 billion foregone revenue from the original version of the bill and the P19.3 billion revenue loss from the House version.

By Alena Mae S. Flores

STATE-RUN Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. is looking at P50 billion to P100 billion in proceeds from the privatization of the Caliraya-Botocan-Kalayaan (CBK) hydro power plants in Lumban, Majayjay and Kalayaan, Laguna.

PSALM chairman and Finance

Secretary Ralph Recto said they were planning to conduct the privatization for the CBK hydro plants in the “next few months” and awarding by next year.

“We had a meeting earlier on that on the Caliraya, that’s CBK. It’s up for bidding. We could probably generate anywhere from P50 billion to P100 billion. That will help plug our deficit for next year,” Recto said at the sidelines of the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines board induction on Friday.

About 28 companies composed of local and international firms earlier expressed interest to participate in the CBK sale during the Feb. 1, 2024 deadline.

PSALM issued the invitation for interested parties to participate in the selection and appointment of the independent power producer administrator (IPPA) for the contracted capacity and the CBK privatization in December last year.

The CBK power plant consists of three separate facilities with a contracted capacity of 796.64 megawatts and plays a central role in the Luzon power system. It is one of the few remaining big ticket power assets that are up for privatization.

PSALM tapped the Asian Development Bank as the transaction advisor contract to monetize the CBK hydro power plants.

SSS BENEFITS. Social Security System (SSS) president and chief executive Rolando Ledesma Macasaet (fifth from left) expresses his sympathy to the wife and daughter of Manila Standard business reporter Julito Rada who passed away on Dec. 16, 2023. Macasaet handed symbolic checks of the SSS death, funeral benefits and financial assistance from SSS executives amounting to more than P100,000 to Rada’s widow Jelina (fourth from left) during a simple ceremony at the SSS main office in Quezon City. With Macasaet are (from left) SSS Rosario member services section acting head Rowena Didal, SSS Rosario branch head Monica Dino, SSS executive vice president for branch operations sector Voltaire Agas and SSS vice president for public affairs and special events division Samuel Santos.

Go

By Othel V. Campos

SPECIAL Assistant to the President for

ultimately promoting a more businessfriendly environment.

Go announced collaboration between his office, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) on a digital national ID platform.

The collaboration aims to develop concrete use cases for the digital ID by the end of the year, he said.

Go also spearheads other programs focused on improving the business environment.

(CREBA) offi-

A key initiative is the CREATE MORE Act, which addresses concerns raised by foreign investors, particularly exporters, regarding the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law and the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) Law.

GT Capital spending P32.4b in 2024

By Jenniffer B. Austria

GT CAPITAL Holdings Inc., the listed holding company of the Ty family, earmarked P32.4 billion in 2024 capital expenditures primarily to bankroll the expansion plans of its property, automotive and banking units.

GT Capital said in a regulatory filing the capital spending at the parent level would total P14.5 billion this year, mainly for investments/ acquisitions and debt repayment. It also budgeted P5.9 billion for estate development and leasing projects of its property unit Fed-

Transmission charges push up MORE rates

By Alena Mae S. Flores

March rate increase to the P0.18per-kWh adjustment in transmission charges due to ancillary services cost charged by the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP).

It said the ancillary service (AS) rates increased from the previous month following the full commercial operations of the Reserve Market on Jan. 26, 2024.

The Reserve Market is where all power generation companies with generating capacity/units capable of providing AS can offer and sell even without an ancillary service procurement agreement (ASPA) with NGCP.

The government asked NGCP to procure firm AS contracts to ensure security of supply.

“A large increase in the AS cost was due to the contingency reserve, with an increase almost 4 times that of the previous month. Contingency reserve are those power plants that is intended to take care of the loss of the largest synchronized generating unit in the grid,” MORE Power said.

eral Land Inc. and P5.8 billion for introduction of new models, specs upgrade and special projects of automotive subsidiary Toyota Motor Philippines Inc.

Meanwhile, banking unit Metropolitan Bank and Trust Co. will spend between P3 billion and P5 billion in capital expenditure mainly for IT investments.

The remaining amount will go to other subsidiaries including automotive financing and dealership, insurance, infrastructure and utilities.

“The group remains committed to its strategic objectives of synergy, expanding our value chain in existing sectors and exploring opportunities in new sectors,” the conglomerate said.

The company said this year’s capital expenditure would primarily be funded by internally-generated funds and debts.

GT Capital booked a 57-percent increase in net income in 2023 to P28.7 billion from the previous year’s P18.4 billion, while core net income, which

Transmission line completion to ease tight Panay supply

THE Department of Energy (DOE) said over the weekend the completion of the Cebu-Negros-Panay 3 transmission project on March 31 will pave the way for the transfer of replacement power amid the prolonged shutdown of the Palm Concepcion Power Corp.’s (PCPC)’s coal plant in Panay.

PCPC said its 135-megawatt circulating fluidized bed coal (CFBC) plant would not be able to return online on March 30, but assured it would make available replacement power at no additional cost to customers.

excludes one-off items, rose at a faster rate of 82 percent to P28.8 billion from P15.9 billion. Consolidated revenues grew 25 percent to P306.7 billion from P245.3 billion a year ago.

It said of the eight operating companies under GT Capital, six posted growth in net income, while Federal Land and Sumisho Motor Finance Corp. reported decline in their respective net income. GT Capital’s share price closed at P670 last week.

Stocks to trade sideways amid holiday break

PHILIPPINE stocks are expected to trade sideways on thin trading during this shortened trading week. Financial markets will be closed Thursday and Friday in observance of the Holy Week. Online brokerage firm 2TradeAsia.com said the market should brace for quarter-end window-dressing activities and potential lower trading volume ahead of the Lenten season.

“Until March 30, it will be status quo since that is the scheduled maintenance of PCPC. On March 31, CNP3 will be completed, so replacement power for PCPC can be sourced outside of Panay island,” DOE Undersecretary Rowena Guevara said.

PCPC said it is conducting its annual preventive maintenance service (PMS) schedule for its coal plant from February 18 to March 30, 2024.

The company said it would need to source new parts outside of the Philippines to address the damage to the generator.

“Nevertheless, PCPC will remain committed to our existing power supply agreements to ensure that our consumers will not be affected by the extended outage, and will continue to supply replacement power at no additional cost,” the company said. Alena Mae S. Flores

It was discovered that the generator sustained stator insulation damage, and the damaged parts needed to be replaced to ensure the power plant’s long-term viability.

Business advisory group welcomes approval of 3 priority economic bills

THE Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) welcomed the approval of several measures that aim to address the country’s socioeconomic development.

The group said it particularly supports three priority bills which were approved on the third and final reading by the House of Representatives as of March 19, as reported by House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

It said these include a bill imposing value-added tax on digital services, the E-Governance bill and a bill creating the Department of Water Resources and Services.

The PSAC Infrastructure Sector led by PSAC lead convenor and Aboitiz Group president and chief executive Sabin Aboitiz underscored the need for a national governing body for water resources since March of last year.

PSAC recommended that it be certified as urgent, while additionally suggesting the adoption of an Integrated Water Resources Management Program.

“As a member of the Private Sector Advisory Council, we help to urge swift action by recommending to the President the passing of key bills like digital service tax, E-Governance, and the Department of Water Resources. Establishing a national governing body for water resources is crucial for sustainable management,” said Aboitiz.

The bills will be taken up by the Senate for its approval.

Romualdez said the House has already taken up all but three of the 59 priority bills discussed in the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC).

“As markets officially bids adieu to Q1, take stock lessons learned in early 2024 to guide decisions for mid-year: more data have titled markets towards more positive outlook in both marco and corporate earnings, but is it also crucial to group expectations and limit exposure to quality,” said 2TradeAsia.com.

The bellwether Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) is seen trading between 6,800 and 7,000 points this week.

Michael Ricafort, chief economist from Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. said the latest mixed signals on local authorities on the possibility of reduced local policy rate hikes for 2024 at around two, instead of four, that could indicate higher-for-longer interest rate stance, also affected investor sentiment.

The PSEi climbed 59 points, or 0.87 percent, to close at 6,881 last week, even as the US Federal Reserve kept key rates unchanged at 5.25 percent to 5.50 percent.

US stocks reached new record highs on renewed optimism towards rate cut by the second half of the year.

Average turnover declined by 38 percent to P5.44 billion, while foreign investors turned net buyers with net buying reaching an average of P95 million. Jenniffer B. Austria

By Alena Mae S. Flores

THE Department of Energy (DOE) said over the weekend it signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the University of the Philippines Statistical Center Research Foundation Inc. (UPSCRFI) for the third phase of the Gas Policy Development Project (GPDP3) in pursuit of developing the Philippine downstream natural gas industry.

The GPDP aims to provide technical assistance to the DOE in implementing Department Circular No. 2024-01-0007 which sets the codes of standard, rules and regulations governing the country’s downstream natural gas industry.

“As we enter the third phase, I am optimistic that we will achieve more sustained programs. The DOE stands ready to provide all necessary support to ensure its successful implementation. No efforts laid in previous phases will go to waste,” said Secretary Raphael Lotilla.

The MOA focuses on the development of codes of standard practice for liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities specific to the design, construction, operation and maintenance of facilities for LNG storage and regasification terminal, transmission and distribution system and third-party access.

It also involves the conduct of research to facilitate LNG market development and technology and strengthening the capacity of agency regulators.

Lotilla and UPSCRFI executive director Joseph Ryan Lansangan signed the agreement which underscores the government’s thrust of establishing a regulatory framework, building the capacity of regulators and providing evidence-based data and technical inputs for policy-making and sectoral planning related to downstream natural gas industry.

UNACASH, an in-app and in-store financial solutions provider, announced a strategic partnership with MemoXpress, a leading authorized retailer in the telecommunications industry in the Philippines. Under the agreement, customers can now avail flexible payment options from UnaCash through point-of-sale loans across 200 MemoXpress outlets.

“We are dedicated to ensuring that lifestyle upgrades are easily accessible nationwide through UnaCash’s pointof-sale loans. UnaCash aims to meet the growing demand for ‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ products in the local market, and establish it as a widely recognized pay -

By Othel V. Campos

STATE-RUN Clark Development Corp. (CDC) said it expects more cargo movement inside Clark International Airport with the planned expansion of United Parcel Service Inc. (UPS), unlocking significant benefits for businesses operating within the Clark Freeport Zone.

The expansion aims to streamline operations within Clark. UPS said that by enhancing efficiency and logistics capabilities, businesses would experience faster delivery times and greater flexibility in their supply chains.

“Asia Pacific continues to be one of UPS’ fastest-growing regions. UPS has continued to invest in our network to maximize speed and flexibility, build solutions addressing the shift of global trade lanes, and offer resilience for our

PH, UK jointly launch design standards for transport facilities

By Darwin G. Amojelar

THE Philippines and the United Kingdom (UK) strengthened their collaboration on improving the country’s transport system though the launch of the Transit Facility Design Standards (TFDS).

“It is really important in all of this that the government of the Philippines and government of UK share a vision—a vision for high-quality, passenger-focused, inclusive public transportation,” UK Ambassador to the Philippines Laure Beaufils said.

“We all know this will deliver so many returns,” she said. Under the TFDS, DOTr will establish guidelines and crite-

ria to govern the planning, construction and maintenance of the country’s transit facilities. The DOTr-TFDS committee will oversee its implementation.

Department of Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista described the TFDS as a “pivotal achievement” that would shape the Philippines’ transport infrastructure.

“The completion of TFDS stands as a testament to the success of our joint endeavors outlines in the UK-PH Joint Work Plan 2023-2024,” Bautista said.

“We share this commitment to elevate service standards, enhance accessibility, promote inclusivity, and foster sustainability in our transport networks,” he said.

customers,” said UPS Asia Pacific president Wilfredo Ramos.

The expansion is expected to improve the flow of goods across various points of origin and consumption. This would translate into optimized supply chains for businesses engaged in imports, exports and trans-shipments.

Luzon International Premiere Airport Development Corp. (LIPAD), which operates Clark International Airport, sees the UPS partnership as a crucial step to solidify Clark’s position as a top logistics hub for global brands.

The new UPS hub and network enhancements will significantly

reduce transit times for imported, exported and transshipped goods, the logistics company said.

It said this aligns with UPS’ broader strategy of investing in its Asia Pacific network to accommodate the ongoing shifts in global trade routes.

UPS has committed an investment of over $250 million in project since 2023 that underscored their confidence in the potential of CIA.

The new hub is expected to start full operation by 2026. Many businesses and stakeholders within Clark anticipate this development, according to CDC.

ment option amongst Filipinos,” said Erwin Ocampo, the head of product of UnaCash,” said company product head Erwin Ocampo. UnaCash allows customers to shop now and pay later for purchases amounting up to P50,000, with easy installment terms extending up to 12 months. This requires only one valid ID and a downpayment ranging from 5 percent to 15 percent — all through the platform. The rollout of the national partnership will start in Metro Manila and progressively extend in all MemoXpress outlets across various regions. UnaCash said it is now even more accessible in various areas in the Philippines, in-

cluding Cebu, Iloilo, Pampanga, Palawan, Bicol and other areas. The partnership offers an alternative to streamline the transaction process, said MemoExpress vice president for operations Edward Tan. MemoXpress serves a diverse customer base, focused on providing them convenience through flexible payment options. With over two decades of operating in the Philippines, it offers value-added products like its gadget protection plan MXure — available across its multiple branches and for more than ten international partner brands to ensure high-quality service to meet the evolving needs of customers.

Othel V. Campos

PH startups continue to mature, outperform other SEA countries

FOXMONT Capital Partners and Boston Consulting Group released the Philippine Venture Capital Report 2024 showing that despite global headwinds in 2023, the Philippines’ startup ecosystem showcased resilience, outperforming its regional neighbors.

It said Philippine startups raised $956 million in 2023, down 14 percent from 2022, but better than the 62-percent yearon-year decline observed by the Global Private Capital Association across Southeast Asia. The decline was mitigated by the country seeing an impressive 96 deals in 2023, a record in terms of deal volume, marking a 16 percent year-on-year growth from the 83 deals tracked in 2022.

The Philippine share of total funds raised in Southeast Asia also continued to climb to 13 percent from 7 percent in 2022 and 5 percent in 2021. Coupled with an increasing number of regional funds investing into the country, the Philippines is showing growing confidence for regional and global investors.

“The sustained momentum we see in Philippine startup investments is encouraging, particularly with early-stage deals. We attribute this performance to a deepening pool of strong founders, attractive Philippine macro fundamentals, modest entry valuations and a reallocation of regional private capital,” said Foxmont Capital Partners general partner Jelmer Ikink.

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ, Editor ALENA MAE S. FLORES, Asst. Editor

UNO Digital Bank and Singlife Philippines, the country’s first purely digital insurer, teamed up to expand insurance access for Filipinos, ensuring their well-being as the Philippines progresses to an uppermiddle-income economy.

The two companies said they are leveraging the country’s rise to upper-middle-income status and the anticipated surge in health insurance demand to expand access to affordable and accessible insurance in the country. “Uno inspires to be at the leading edge of financial innovation and bring best in class products and services to the tens of millions of ordinary Filipinos who are served by the traditional banks. The access to products and services is expected to help them improve their life by offering them flexibility,

FINANCE Secretary Ralph Recto said over the weekend the signing of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Code implementing rules and regulations (IRR) will open the floodgates for a non-stop influx of strategic and high-quality investments that will benefit all Filipinos.

“The signing came at a very opportune time when the Philippine economy is in robust shape to welcome investors. We are leaving no oppor-

Sunlife keeps status as largest PH life insurer

SUN Life of Canada (Philippines) Inc. said it remains the top life insurance company for 13 consecutive years after garnering P55.79 billion in total premium income in 2023.

It said this was based on the 2023 report by the Insurance Commission which compiled the unaudited quarterly report of life insurance companies in the country. Sun Life said it also ranked no. 1 in total assets with P306.33 billion and net income with P8.79 billion.

“Being consistently no. 1 means that our clients continue to trust us to help them secure a brighter future for themselves and their loved ones,” Sun Life Philippines chief executive and country head Benedict Sison said.

“It is a privilege to be their chosen partner in their financial journey, and we will continue to honor their confidence by serving them with excellence,” he said.

The milestone comes on the heels of Sun Life’s 129th anniversary, making it the first and longest-standing life insurance company in the Philippines.

The company said it also received accolades from regional award-giving bodies including as one of the Industry Champions of the Year at the Asia Corporate Excellence and Sustainability (ACES) Awards.

tunity untapped to entice investors to come to the Philippines. With the PPP Code IRR in place, we have unlocked the floodgates for a sustained flow of

strategic investments that will deliver top-tier infrastructure and public services to the Filipino people,” Recto said.

Signed into law on Dec. 5, 2023, the PPP Code offers a stable, predictable and competitive environment where high-quality PPP investments can thrive. It consolidates all legal frameworks and creates a unified system for investors to refer to when engaging in PPP projects.

UNO Digital Bank, Singlife team up to offer insurance

convenience, personalization, and control. Our partnership with Singlife will serve a significant step towards achieving our mission” said Uno Digital Bank chairman Kalidas Ghose.

“Uno is on a mission to provide one trusted platform to meet your entire life’s financial needs. This means one place that allows you to save, borrow, transact, protect and invest. We have already started our journey in offering multiple options to our customers to save, borrow, and transact in the past years and we are very excited to introduce the phase of protect and to take the first step with Singlife Philippines. With this partnership we are one step closer to making a holistic experience for our customers,” said Uno Digital Bank president and chief executive Manish Bhai.

PPP Code to trigger influx of investors

The law leverages the experience and clarifies the ambiguities in the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) Law, which was amended in 1994, to integrate best practices in streamlining processes, reducing transaction costs and enhancing the ease of doing business for PPPs.

The PPP Code will directly support the Marcos administration’s objective of closing the infrastructure funding gap to bolster economic development, according to Recto.

22, 2024.

TikTok launches program to help PH entrepreneurs

TIKTOK said over the weekend it launched TikTok Shop Business School, a comprehensive one-day program for Filipino entrepreneurs to equip them with the skills to grow their businesses in the digital sphere.

“Small and medium enterprises [SMEs] are the backbone of the Philippine economy. TikTok Shop enables these SMEs to create a holistic and seamless e-commerce experience where buyers are entertained, educated and engaged all at once. Through TikTok Shop Business School, we aim to open

new doors for Filipino entrepreneurs to grow and scale their business,” said Toff Rada, public policy head of TikTok Philippines. The full-day program, attended by 50 TikTok Shop entrepreneurs, was comprised of master classes on corporate strategy and business model with Kim Lato, founder and CEO of Kim’s Store; financial management with Mico Panis, head of marketplace deliveries at Grab; talent and human resources with Rase Eustaquio, head of People at 917 Ventures; brand identity and marketing

with Jay Bernardo, president of Bayan Family Foundations; and supply chain oversight with Edison Villeno, marketing manager for J&T.

“I am thrilled to collaborate with TikTok Shop to accelerate the growth of our local entrepreneurs in the digital sphere. By providing training from industry experts as well as enabling a community of learning, we aim to elevate the growth of Filipino entrepreneurs in the rapidly evolving digital economy,” said Jay Bernardo, president of Bayan Family of Foundations.

SM Group promotes diversity, equity as women comprise 62% of employees

THE SM group, with its presence across multiple industries and millions of customers served, said it promotes the value of inclusion and underscores the role of diversity toward shaping a sustainable future for the company.

“We ensure a thriving workplace culture across the group guided by our principles of diversity, equity and inclusion [DEI],” said SM Group diversity officer Elizabeth Anne Uychaco said the group joins this year’s celebration of Women’s Month.

“In doing so, we provide inclusive safe spaces where we can help develop the full potential of our colleagues by celebrating their individuality and diverse backgrounds,” she said.

About 62 percent of SM’s employees are women and about the same percentage of varying managerial roles are held by women. Among these leaders is WalterMart president

Jennilyn Uy, who started her journey in the organization by working behind the register in one of WalterMart’s stores when she was in her first year of college.

“I remember working in the store as a cashier on weekends and during school breaks in the summer and the holiday season,” said Uy. I rotated across different roles, whether it’s bagging groceries, visual merchandising, or stocking inventory you name it—I was able to do them.”

The 30-year veteran in the food retail industry also recalled her time packing holiday baskets for the Christmas festivities. Entering WalterMart’s management trainee program, she also learned the ropes working in different departments, from accounting to marketing and store set-up. When asked whether she saw herself leading the organization one day, she said it was always a dream job. MONDAY,

PhilSys opens registration for young children

THE Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) opened the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) registration to Filipino children one to four years old.

The PSA said the rollout of the service is part of its continued efforts to register more Filipinos to PhilSys, including minors.

“We encourage parents and guardians to join us in taking the step towards a makabagong Pilipinas for the next generation by registering their children ages 1 to 4 to PhilSys,” said PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis Mapa, national statistician and civil registrar general.

“The PSA is continually making efforts to make the registration process child-friendly; our registration personnel are ready to assist our young registrants and their parents in the process,” Mapa said.

It said that to register a child one to four years old, a parent or guardian who is already PhilSys-registered should be present. The PhilSys Number (PSN) or permanent identification number of the child that will be generated will be linked to the accompanying parent or guardian.

Guardians should present supporting documents to validate demographic information of the child. These include certificate of live birth issued by the PSA or the local Civil registry office, report of birth issued by the PSA or Philippine Foreign Service Post (PFSP), certificate of foundling issued by the PSA, certificate of foundling or certificate of live birth or persons with no known parent/s issued by the PSA, municipal form no. 102 Philippine passport or ePassport issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs or any document showing the full name of the child, date and place of birth, the full name of the mother and the full name of the father, if acknowledged.

Executives of UNO Digital Bank and SingLife Philippines sign an agreement to expand insurance access for Filipinos, ensuring their well-being as the Philippines progresses to an upper-middle-income economy. Signing the partnership agreement are (from left) UNO digital customer franchise director Lester Cruz, UNO president and chief executive Manish Bhai, UNO chairman Kalidas Ghose, Singlife Philippines co-founder and executive director Sherie Ng and and Singlife Philippines deputy chief commercial officer Kame Amado-Gomez.

PAMPANGA MEDIA GROUP. Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) spokesman and vice president for corporate communications

Joe Zaldarriaga takes his oath of membership in the Capampangan in Media Inc. (CAMI) before the group’s chairman Nonnie Pelayo in the presence of trustee Willie Capulong, treasurer Abel Cruz, former Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) president and current Meralco SVP and chief government affairs and external relations officer Arnel Casanova and other CAMI members on March

Zaldarriaga traces his roots on his maternal side to the del Rosario and Abad Santos clans of Angeles City, Pampanga.

TIKTOK SHOP. Participants in the TikTok Shop Business School display their certificates after undertaking the one-day program for Filipino entrepreneurs to gain skills on growing their businesses in the digital sphere.

WalterMart president Jennilyn Uy

By Darwin G. Amojelar

THE Philippine transport sector is ramping up preparations to ensure the safe and efficient movement of millions of Filipinos traveling back to their hometowns for the Lenten season.

The Transportation department has directed its attached agencies to be on full alert and deployed additional personnel to manage the crowds, facilitate ticketing and baggage check-in, and address any issues that may arise.

For one, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, along with the Land Transportation Office (LTO), will conduct an inspection of public utility vehicles (PUVs) at the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) on March 25, ahead of the Holy Week break, under the Oplan Bantay-Biyahe Semana Santa 2024.

The inspection aims to check if there are help desks set up in the terminals and do random checks on PUVs.

The agency also approved special permits to 1,021 public utility vehicles (PUVs) to ensure smooth travel for Filipinos during the observance of Holy Week.

The Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan also ordered all Regional and District Engineering Offices nationwide to conduct highway routine maintenance activities to ensure untinterrupted traffic flow along major roads this coming Holy Week.

“In anticipation of the heavy flow of traffic this long weekend, implementing offices were instructed to ensure the provision of informative/regulatory warning signs or traffic advisory along ongoing road projects,” Bonoan said.

“They shall likewise make sure that appropriate warning, directional, and information signages are legibly and visibly installed especially along critical sections leading to churches, for the safety of those who will go for Visita Iglesia,” he added. Vehicle traffic surge Expressway operators are also bracing for the surge of vehicle traffic during the Holy Week as they expect

Transport sector braces for Holy Week exodus

an 8 percent to 10 percent increase in traffic volume.

In response, the group of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. reactivated its “Safe Trip Mo, Sagot Ko” program, which provides additional manpower for traffic management, towing services, and emergency response teams to address any potential incidents.

“We are encouraging our motorists to plan their trips well and travel during non-peak times to avoid possible delays caused by the influx of travelers,” J. Luigi L. Bautista, NLEX Corporation president and general Manager said.

MPTC is also encouraging motorists to utilize RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) to expedite toll transactions and minimize congestion.

Raul L. Ignacio, president and general manager of MPT South, emphasized the importance of RFID for toll transactions to streamline motorists’ journeys.

“Utilizing Easytrip RFID at MPTC Toll Plazas significantly reduces travel time compared to waiting in long cash lanes,” he added.

Ignacio added that poor vehicle maintenance remains a leading cause of breakdowns on expressways, causing inconvenience to motorists.

The MPTC Group operates the Cavite Laguna Expressway (CALAX), CAVITEX, North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), NLEX Connector Road, Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), and CebuCordova Link Expressway (CCLEX) in Cebu. Airports on high Alert

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), overseeing 44 airports nationwide, is prepared to implement “Oplan Biyaheng Ayos: Holy Week 2024 to ensure a smooth and safe travel experience for the anticipated increase in air passengers.

The agency is expecting a 7 to 10 percent increase in the number of air travelers during the Lenten season due to the revenge travel following the pandemic.

Based on data from CAAP’s Aerodrome Development and Management Service, passenger movement from March to April 2023 reached 4.4 million, which is 1.2

million higher compared to the 3.1 million recorded during the same period in 2022. Recently, several airports conducted bomb simulations in preparation for the influx of travelers amidst the emergence of bomb jokes in airports. The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), meanwhile, reminded airlines to plan for contingencies, including allocating standby or spare aircraft for unforeseen problems and adhere to the Air Passenger Bill of Rights in taking care of their passengers. The airlines also ordered to deploy enough sweepers to locate passengers requiring prioritization in immigration queues and open checkin counters earlier, if possible, close them on time, and ensure full staffing of these counters at all times. In addition, MIAA advised airlines, particularly local carriers, to establish help desks within their respective areas. The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) and other pertinent government agencies will also be ready to provide passenger assistance

Accident spike prompts call to halt motorcycle taxi expansion

A LAWMAKER is calling for a temporary halt on the expansion of the government’s motorcycle taxi pilot program, citing a rise in accidents and concerns about rider training.

Representative Joel Chua of Manila’s 3rd district emphasized safety as the top priority in any pilot study concerning motorcycle taxis.

“The most important and relevant parameters in any pilot study on motorcycle taxis feasibility study is the safety of motorcycle riders, their passengers, and everyone else on the roads. This is very important considering lately, I’ve been noticing on social media--maraming nagvi-viral na accident sa motorcycle,” he added.

According to a recent study by the Statista Research Department published last March 14, 2024, an average of 49 individuals were involved

in motorcycle-related road crashes daily in Metro Manila, a significant increase compared to previous years.

At present, Angkas, Move It and Joyride are allowed to operate as motorcycle taxis under the government’s pilot study.

The pilot study is currently confined to Metro Manila, Cebu and Cagayan de Oro.

The Land Transportation Office had said that the allotment of 45,000 motorcycle taxis in Manila already reached its limit.

Of the total allocation of 63,000 motorcycle taxis nationwide, 54,000 are currently enrolled.

Cloud Panda Philippines Inc., Taxi Philippines Inc., E Pick Me Up Inc., Easy

Way Transport Service and Multipurpose Cooperative, Para Express Technology Services Inc., Grab Philippines and Market Innovators Inc. have expressed intent to join the MC pilot study House transportation committee chair and Antipolo 2nd District Rep. Romeo Acop earlier said that Congress is finalizing the long-awaited motorcycle-for-hire law. Acop said the measure is “a legislative priority of the House.”

“This is in response to the pronouncement of our president, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., which was echoed by our speaker––Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez––to legalize and expand the operations of motorcycle taxis,” he added. Darwin G. Amojelar

network coverage in the Philippines.

at their respective help desks in the terminals.

“We are prepared for this influx at our terminals, especially as Holy Week coincides with summer, historically a peak season for air travel,” MIAA General Manager Eric Ines said.

He anticipates a 15 percent increase in passenger volume during this year’s Semana Santa compared to the 926,755 passengers that passed through NAIA from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday last year.

Ines ensures adequate manpower, equipment, and optimal working conditions for amenities and key facilities, including critical airport utilities and backup systems.

He added that standby generator sets supplying electrical power to MIAA’s vital facilities in cases of Meralco power failure and replaces fan coils in terminal air conditioning units to address El Niño’s impact and rising temperatures.

Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific and Air Asia Philippines have beefed up their manpower to ensure a smooth operation during the Holy Week and the upcoming summer holiday.

fleet mix of eight Airbus 330s, 36 Airbus 320s, 20 Airbus 321, and 14 ATR turboprop aircraft enabling the widest

The airline aims to transition to an all-NEO fleet by 2028. Airbus NEOs are the latest-generation aircraft that burn 15 percent less fuel per flight compared to the previous generation. The reduction in fuel consumption leads to a corresponding reduction in aircraft carbon emissions. Cebu Pacific currently flies to 35 domestic and 24 international destinations spread across Asia, Australia, and the Middle East.

SAN Miguel Corp. (SMC) says it expects to finalize the proposed merger for its expressway business with Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) “very soon.”

“We will finalize it very soon. Maybe in the next few months,” Ramon S. Ang, president and chief executive of San Miguel said. Ang said he has not yet agreed to include MPTC’s Indonesian toll operations in the deal.

“I don’t know the details so I can’t agree. But Indonesia is a promising economy, $1.7 trillion GDP [gross domestic product]. They are 3 or 4 times bigger than us. I think it should be good [the Indonesian tollway],” he added. MPTC earlier said the planned IPO in the third quarter would be delayed until 2025 because of the possible merger with San Miguel’s toll road business.

The toll unit of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. and San Miguel signed in August a P72-billion deal to construct two expressways south of Metro Manila. Under the memorandum of agreement, MPTC and SMC will jointly undertake the construction, operation and maintenance of the 87.96-kilometer Cavite-Batangas Expressway and Nasugbu-Bauan Expressway.

The MPTC Group has 240.6 kilometers of existing expressways and 43.1 kilometers under construction, with a total investment of $3.06 billion. It operates 105 kilometers of North Luzon Expressway, 94 km. of Subic Clark-Tarlac Expressway and 14 km. of Manila-Cavite Expressway. It also operates the 8.5-km. Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway in Cebu. SMC’s expressways includes the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX), the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR), South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), the Skyway System and the NAIA Expressway (NAIAX). Ang, in his personal capacity, also invested in MPIC after it was delisted from the Philippine Stock Exchange. Darwin G. Amojelar

Claudine Barretto sees John Lloyd Cruz in showbiz newcomer Beaver Magtalas

ACTRESS Claudine Barretto had nothing but good words for her co-star, rising actor and Star Magic talent Beaver Magtalas , who leads the upcoming movie When Magic Hurts

At an intimate media gathering held in Quezon City on March 20, the 44-year-old actress spoke about Beaver’s potential and how she sees a resemblance to John Lloyd Cruz in the 18-year-old actor. Claudine and John Lloyd previously co-starred in the 2005 box office hit, Dubai

“He has lots of potential,” noted Claudine. “Beaver is very talented and very nice especially when I saw him bond with my children on set.” Beaver, Claudine, and her 7-year-old daughter Aryanna are together in When Magic Hurts, a summer love story directed by Gabby Ramos and set to be shown in May.

Set against the breathtaking backdrop of Atok, Benguet, When Magic Hurts follows the story of young love and the power of believing. Beaver plays Ernesto Buenaventura, a kind and dependable young man whose life takes an unexpected turn when he meets Olivia (Mutya Orquia ).

Olivia, an orphan who once cherished magic, now grapples with disillusionment. Their paths intertwine, but can their blossoming connection withstand the shadows of past hurts?

Enter Trixie Callejo (Maxine Trinidad), a strong-willed and adventurous newcomer determined to achieve her goals at all costs.

As Ernesto and Olivia navigate their budding romance, Trixie’s arrival throws a captivating twist into the mix, leaving audiences to wonder: can the magic of young love truly mend a broken heart?

“We wanted to shoot abroad, but then we found this very beautiful location in Benguet, we realized that we didn’t have to go far to shoot a moving story set against an amazing

The first is Howie Severino’s story, “Boat to School,” which is the Philippines’ entry in the Documentary: Heroes category. The episode showed the plight of the students in Liaonan Siargao, who had to traverse the sea using a boat just to go to school, and how one resident took it upon herself to gather children in her small home to teach them what she could with the little knowledge she had.

“Sisid sa Putik (Rise from the Mud),” on the other hand, is competing in the Documentary: Community Portraits category. The story by Mav Gonzales featured

Capping off the list of I-Witness entries is “Bawat

Barya (The Price of Dreams),” which is short-listed in the Documentary: Social Issues category. This documentary by Atom Araullo told the story of two young boys who search for coins in a dirty water channel for a living.

The bi-monthly public affairs program The Atom

Araullo Specials earns back-to-back shortlisted entries.

The episodes “Child’s Game (Batas Bata)” and “One Deep Breath (Hingang Malalim)” are competing in the Documentary: Social Justice and Documentary: Human Concerns categories, respectively.

Held annually, the New York Festivals TV & Film Awards recognizes content in all lengths and forms from over 50 countries.

At the 2023 New York Festivals TV & Film Awards, GMA Network brought home two Gold and two Bronze medals, as well as five Finalist Certificates.

Very Wang Nickie Wang

backdrop,” said Ramos.

“With the young stars, I see a lot of potential in them, especially Beaver, who showcased his talent. He was able to deliver the emotional requirement of his character,” added the director.

When Magic Hurts also stars Dennis Padilla, Angelica Jones, Archie Adamos, Solimon Cruz, Aileen Papin, Jullian Roxas, and Mohaira Sanama

* * *

Claudine denies hand in Jodi Sta. Maria’s absence at Mr. M’s birthday bash

Claudine responded to rumors surrounding Jodi Sta. Maria’s absence at Johnny Manahan’s surprise birthday party.

“No! I don’t know about that,” Claudine exclaimed when pressed for comment during the When Magic Hurts press junket.

Reports had suggested that Jodi was allegedly removed from the guest list after Claudine confirmed her attendance. But Claudine refuted these claims, emphasizing that she lacks the authority to dictate the guest list.

“There are so many issues coming out like that. I just want to clarify that I don’t know anything about it,” Claudine said.

Claudine and Jodi both hail from Star Magic, the talent management arm of ABS-CBN, where Mr. M served as a co-founder.

When asked about the possibility of facing Jodi if she were to attend, Claudine expressed uncertainty, suggesting that Jodi might be the one to avoid confrontation.

“As for me, I’m straightforward, totoong tao ako. I don’t create any drama. That’s not me,” Claudine asserted.

Despite the swirling rumors, Claudine emphasized her focus on enjoying the occasion and her encounter with her niece, Julia Barretto, as the highlight of the evening.

ACTRESS Andrea Brillantes and love team KDLex (KD Estrada and Alexa Ilacad) were among the top winners at the virtual awarding ceremony for the 9th PUSH Awards held on Friday, March 22 Andrea bagged two awards, Trending TikToker of 2023 and Social Media Personality of 2023, while KDLex repeated their win as the Popular Love Team of 2023. P-Pop boy group SB19 had a big night, securing back-to-back wins as Music Artist of 2023 and Fandom of 2023 for their loyal supporters, A’Tin. Additionally, they were awarded the PUSH Inspiration of 2023, a special non-voting category, for their achievements and influence in the P-Pop scene. SB19 member also won an individual award as Breakthrough Music Artist of 2023. Trending actress emerged victorious for Favorite Onscreen Performance of 2023 for Television for her wellloved role as Irene in Buy Me Love popular young actor Elijah Canlas won the Favorite Onscreen Performance of 2023 for Film for his exceptional portrayal in About Us But Not About Us Real-life partners were recognized. Vice Ganda Perez were hailed as Power Couple of 2023, while McCoy de Leon the Celebrity Parents of 2023. BINI, the first Filipino female pop group with the biggest audience on Spotify, continued their strong momentum by being crowned as the P-Pop Group of 2023. Melason

(Melai Cantiveros and Jason Francisco) were recognized as the Content Creator of 2023 for their feel-good and inspiring family videos.

All winners received NFTs (non-fungible tokens) as digital trophies.

Now in its ninth year, the fan-voted PUSH Awards continues to recognize the biggest stars and remarkable individuals who make waves and leave a positive impact in the entertainment, music, and social media industry.

Claudine Barretto (right) praises Beaver Magtalas for his acting prowess

‘When Magic Hurts’ stars Beaver (left) alongside Mutya Orquia

Caption: Director Gabby Ramos (leftmost) with Claudine (second from left), Aryanna (second from right), and Beaver (rightmost) during the media conference

By Abigail Adriatico

THE airline industry has traditionally been a maledominated sector, with women’s opportunities largely confined to flight attendant roles. However, in recent decades, positive developments have opened doors for women to enter what was once an exclusively male field.

In celebration of International Women’s Month, Philippine Airlines (PAL) recently operated nine flights on local and international routes with crews consisting primarily of women.

The nine flights, crewed primarily by women, were bound for San Francisco, Los Angeles, Sydney, Hanoi, Jakarta, Cebu, Tagbilaran, Davao, and Iloilo.

Prior to departure, Philippine Airlines (PAL) celebrated this significant milestone for women’s empowerment in aviation with the “We Fly With Her” send-off event

held at PAL Express Gate 2 in Pasay City on March 4.

The event also featured a panel discussion, co-hosted by Adobo Magazine , with prominent women from PAL, including Captains Lilybeth Ng and Amorelle Martinez, Jo-Ann Maluenda, Michelle Mariano , and Maria Dolores Castillo , moderated by host Bea Fabregas-Ramos

The women discussed their experiences and struggles within the industry, with Castillo ending the discussion through a simple yet powerful anecdote that women have their own stories to be told and that they deserve to be heard and acknowledged by the community as empowered women.

Gracing the event was Captain Aimee Carandang Gloria , who was the first female commercial pilot in the Philippines and the first female airline captain in the country as well as Southeast

Asia. For her contributions that have paved the way for more women to enter the maledominated aviation industry, PAL has given her an award of recognition.

Before the event concluded, the female pilots leading the allfemale crews on international and domestic flights were also recognized on stage. They, along with all the women on the flight crews, received special edition Barbie dolls in partnership with Richprime Global Inc., the Philippines’ official distributor of the toy brand. The all-female flight crew departed for their destinations between March 4 and 9.

Shakira returns after 7 years with empowering album

COLOMBIAN superstar Shakira makes a comeback after a seven-year hiatus with the release of her highly-anticipated album, Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran (Women No Longer Cry).

The album’s arrival was celebrated with a star-studded launch party co-hosted by the 47-year-old singer and Sony Music at the Hard Rock Cafe Hollywood. The event witnessed fans, celebrities, and friends gather to support the singer. Among the attendees were Puerto Rican rapper Anuel, actor and musician Carlos Ponce, and YouTuber/actress Lele Pons

The new album, which went 7x platinum on release day (March 22), kicks off with a sultry pop collaboration with “WAP” rapper, Cardi B, in “Puntería.”

Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran marks Shakira’s twelfth studio album and follows the success of her 2017 release, El Dorado. The new project is described as a deeply personal exploration of the singer’s journey and a celebration of female empowerment.

this dream, and now it’s come true. Thank you to Puregold for this opportunity, and I want to thank our director, Direk Kurt, and my coactors for sharing their talents with me.”

Jeff also took to his Instagram to express his gratitude for getting his first award in his first film.

“First and foremost, I want to thank God for all the blessings and [for] making this dream become a reality, I also want to express my deepest gratitude to everyone who has made this film a success,” wrote Moses.

“This film has been a labor of love for all of us, and we are thrilled to share it with the world(hopefully). Thank you all once again for your support, and here’s to many more successful projects in the future! Thank you,” he added.

The Abot Kamay Na Pangarap star shared his victory with veteran actor and director Carlitos Siguion-Reyna, who starred in the film entry Pushcart Tales

On the other hand, Under the Piaya Moon emerged as the grand winner for bagging other seven awards, including the Best Picture award at the film festival.

“This wasn’t an easy journey. Half midway, I was about to quit. This was so challenging–never shoot food again,” said Soberano. “Thank you so much to all the 500 people who are part of the production. mom and dad, I love you. Thank you so much Puregold, I’m really happy that I got to make my first full-length film and I never expected it to be with CinePanalo,” he added.

Under a Piaya Moon also received awards for Best Supporting Actor for Joel Torre, Best Cinematography for Nathan Bringuer, Best Production Design for Jed Sicangco and Soberano, and Best Editing for Rodney Jarder Jr. and Soberano. Additionally, the film was honored with the Responsableng Paglikha Award from the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) and a Special Citation award.

From left: Captain Anjel Regalado-Pading, Captain Rona Catunao-Guevarra, Captain Yvonne Sunga, Captain Lavina Ramnani, Captain Emmie Inciong, Captain Aimee Carandang Gloria, Captain Dyan Santos, Captain Keiko Coronel, Captain Michaella Brion, and Captain Sam Bachini From

Global Corporation’s Managing Director

Yao, Host Bea Fabregas-Ramos, Captain Lilybeth T. Ng,

Affairs, Flight Operations; Captain Amorelle Martinez

Equipment Chief Pilot, Airbus Division, PAL Express; Jo-Ann

VP Human Capital; Michelle Mariano, AVP, Cabin Crew Operations Department, PAL Express; and Cabin Services Manager Maria Dolores Castillo

Shakira’s 12th studio album features a collaboration with Cardi B for the track ‘Puntería’

MONDAY, MARCH 25, 2024

lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com

NICKIE WANG, Editor

ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer

Roam like a local in South

GLOBE Telecom expands its popular GoRoam service, adding South Korea as the ninth destination in its country-specific roaming package.

This move caters to the growing number of Filipinos traveling to the East Asian nation, fueled by the immense popularity of K-pop and K-dramas, alongside South Korea’s natural beauty, vibrant cities, and rich cultural heritage.

To make Filipino travelers’ experiences even more enriching, Globe introduces the GoRoam Korea package. It offers a generous 30GB of data valid for 10 days at an affordable price of only P1,600. This allows Globe subscribers to stay connected and enjoy their favorite K-pop tunes, stream K-dramas on the go, and effortlessly

Korea

share their Korean adventures with loved ones back home – all at rates never seen before in roaming packages.

“Launching GoRoam South Korea is another milestone in our quest to redefine connectivity for Filipino travelers. As more and more customers see the convenience and value roaming brings, we’ll continue to expand GoRoam to more of their favorite destinations and give them the worry-free experience they truly deserve,” said Paula RiveraCastillo, Head of Globe International Business. Aside from South Korea, GoRoam is also available in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, UAE, Singapore, and the USA.

GoRoam offers competitive rates, eliminating the hassles of buying and switching to local SIMs

C4 LIFE

Telco adds South Korea to list of country-specific roaming package

AS EASTER approaches, Conrad Manila is gearing up to offer its patrons an unforgettable holiday experience filled with delectable culinary offerings and delightful activities for families.

“We are delighted to invite guests to a funfilled Easter weekend on March 28 to 31 as we celebrate the season and the immense joy that the period brings,” shares Fabio Berto, general manager of Conrad Manila.

“Our dedicated team has put together a series of festive dining experiences and inspiring stays to create unforgettable moments filled with joy, warmth, and the spirit of togetherness for families and friends alike,” Berto adds.

At the heart of the Easter celebration is Brasserie on 3’s “Easter Feast and Fun”, curated by Executive Chef Warren Brown and his team. Families can enjoy a culinary journey on March 30 and 31, indulging in a lavish themed lunch or dinner buffet featuring delectable dishes such as Omaha beef leg, deep-fried emperor fish with homemade sweet chili sauce, baked oysters, and an array of mouthwatering desserts.

The lunch service runs from 12:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., while dinner is from 6:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Guests can enjoy this exquisite offer for P3,888 nett per person and take advantage of a special ticket rate of P800 nett per person for exclusive access to Conrad Manila’s “Under The Sea” Easter Sunday event at the Forbes Ballroom on March 31, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

With its underwater theme and décor setup, guests can dive into an ocean of funfilled activities that include face painting, egg hunting, kiddie games, magician show, cute performances like bubble show, and a delightful dessert buffet. Tickets for this event are priced at P2,000 nett per person and available for in-house guests and Brasserie on 3 diners only.

Additionally, guests can experience an “Enchanting Easter” at C Lounge from March 30 to 31, indulging in savory Easter-inspired sips and bites from an afternoon tea buffet priced at P2,588++ per person. Paired with free-flow coffee, tea, or hot chocolate, guests can celebrate this special occasion while enjoying stunning views of Manila Bay.

For those looking to take home some Easterthemed treats, Bru Coffee Bar, located at the Welcome Lobby, offers a selection of “Easter Delights” from March 18 to 31. Guests can choose from a variety of grab-and-go treats, including pistachio mango cake, chocolate rocky road cake, strawberry red velvet cake, Easter egg baskets, candy-filled Easter eggs, coconut cross buns, and more.

For those seeking a relaxing retreat this Lent season, Conrad Manila offers an Easter Stay package available until March 31. The package includes overnight accommodation with expansive bay or city views, buffet breakfast, lunch or dinner buffet at Brasserie on 3, and tickets to the hotel’s Easter Sunday event. Room rates and further details are available on the Conrad Manila website.

Check out room rates and more details at Rooms & Suites | Conrad Manila ( hilton.com )

To learn more about our promotions, please contact Conrad Manila at +632 8833 9999 or email conradmanila@conradhotels.com

IREMEMBER when I was still in grade school, we were taught the song that goes, “Don’t you go, don’t you go to far Zamboanga…where you may forget your darling far away…”. I was intrigued by this as I tried to imagine what could be in that city that would make one forget his loved one.

Through the years, when I married into a prominent family from that city, I discovered the many reasons that attract people to La Bella Ciudad de Zamboanga. When I joined the campaign of my mother-in-law, that time she ran for and won as Mayor and, later, won a Congress seat, I had the chance to see all the barangays of the city while interacting with the friendly and charming residents.

It has been decades since I last visited the city, so when the Department of Tourism invited me to join the Philippine Experience Program featuring the Zamboanga Peninsula, I made sure I’d go, so that I could, once again, embrace the beauty of the city that once was a very important part of my life.

Our tour started with a visit to the city’s most popular tourist destination, the Fort Pilar Shrine, where I had the opportunity to pray and light candles in the image of La Virgen del Pilar. We then proceeded to the famous Sta. Cruz island, well known for its pink coralline sand, and declared one of the best beaches in the world by giant CNN

In the afternoon of that day, after freshening up and resting at our hotel, we were brought to the city’s Waterfront Walkway for a sample of the WOW Sardinas Festival. I just learned that Zamboanga is the Sardines Capital of the Philippines, producing 80 percent of the total canned sardines output of our country.

The entire stretch of the waterfront RT Lim Boulevard was covered with stalls showing the many ways of using sardines in culinary specialties – for Lumpia, a sandwich, and other forms of pasta, for canapes, for salads, and many others. It was a very interesting learning session for me. Now, I value sardines much more than I used to.

After feasting on what seemed like tons of sardine-infused culinary delights, we were treated to the iconic Regatta de Zamboanga, where 30 colorful vintas paraded on the bay in front of us. that the colorful sails on the of the different tribes representing Mindanao’s culture and its past.

That same evening, we were treated to an extravaganza, La Celebracion de Colores, a visual feast that bannered the costumes of the Tausug, Yakan, Sama and Subanen tribes. was even more colorful — a parade of

Zamboangueñas. A Mascota is made up of 6 elements – corpiño (silk or cotton slip), candongga (panuelo), renggue (upper garment), sobre falda (tapis), cola (skirt), and enaguas (inner lining of the skirt).

The following morning brought us to the Yakan Weaving Village where we saw a sample of the Tanyak-Tanyak Facial Art and a wide display of handwoven Yakan materials using traditional weaving techniques. I couldn’t stop myself from buying a very nice polo shirt with a colorful woven design in front. After our “shopping spree,” we had lunch at a restaurant known for its specialty, the Tiula Itum. This is a Tausug delicacy made of braised beef characteristically black due to the unique use of charred coconut meat.

We made a short stop at the famous Vista del Mar Resort, Tree House accommodations. It has three fully equipped Tree Houses and nine casitas. This beautiful beach property facing Grande Sta. Cruz Island prides itself on purely organic food and amenities and has areas ideal for teambuilding sessions and other corporate activities. It also has a large picnic area for families to avail of any day of the week.

Of course, a much-awaited part of our itinerary came after lunch – the Canelar Barter Trade which is known to have low-cost items imported from Indonesia and Malaysia. Naturally, the calories we had for lunch gave us all the energy we needed for our shopping spree. Good thing this was our last activity before dinner as our vehicle could hardly accommodate all the giant shopping Dinner that evening was at the Palacio del Sur, a recent awardee in the ASEAN Awards for MICE Category and the only Halal-certified kitchen in Zamboanga Peninsula. I’m glad I revisited Zamboanga. This short visit made me discover so many interesting qualities of the city and its people. More than ever, in my book it will always be La Bella Ciudad!

For feedback, I’m at bobzozobrado@ gmail.com

DOT Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco (center) tries the

infused with sardines at the WOW Sardines Festival