BusinessMirror April 03, 2023

By Malou Talosig-Bartolome

THE European Commission’s continued recognition of the Philippine certification for Filipino seafarers is a political decision and the Philippine government should not be complacent in enforcing international standards in training and educating mariners, a manning industry leader said at the weekend.

D epartment of Migrant Workers

Secretary Susan “Toots” Ople said the Philippine government is aware of the hard task ahead to sustain efforts to correct deficiencies unearthed in an EC body’s audit, and continues to address them.

O n Friday, the EC DirectorateGeneral for Mobility and Trans -

port said the regional bloc has extended its recognition of the Philippine-issued certificates for seafarers called International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW).  Related story on A10, Second Front Page.

T he decision practically averted a “crisis of monumental proportions,” Migrant Workers Secretary Ople said, as this would allow the 50,000 Filipino masters, officers and crew to continue working in Norwegian, Greek, Maltese and German-flagged ships.

E dgar Flores, general manager and ship owner representative of Eastern Mediterranean Manning Agency, said European shipowners cannot afford at this time to lose

50,000 Filipino seafarers whom they believe are very competent in seafaring.

Shipowners said they will either go to the European Parliament to lobby against the ban or they will change the flag of convenience just so they would not lose the Filipino seafarers,” manning industry leader Flores told BusinessMirror

H e said that since the war in Ukraine, European ship owners have also lost Ukrainian seafarers.

T here are around 76,442 seafarers from Ukraine, accounting for 4 percent of the global workforce.

“ European shipowners have already lost Ukrainian seafarers because all men are required to join the Army to fight the war. They could not afford to lose their Filipino sea -

farers,” he added.

T he International Chamber for Shipping (ICS) and the European Community Shipowners Association (ECSA) issued a statement “warmly welcoming” the EC decision.

As a major seafaring nation, Filipino seafarers are a vital and valued part of the seafarer workforce. This decision made by the European Commission is a testament to the Philippines’s hard work to make sure seafarer training complies with regulations,” Guy Platten, ICS Secretary General, said.

This is a positive development as Filipino seafarers play a central role in European shipping and in keeping European trade moving,” noted ECSA Secretary General Sotiris Raptis.

P25.00 nationwide | 2 sections 18 pages |

ASSET QUALITY, CREDIT RISKS TO BANKS FLAGGED

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

B ased on the results of the Banking Sector Outlook Survey (BSOS), other identified risks were macroeconomic, operational, and cybersecurity risks.

A sset risk and credit risks were the top operation risks for thrift banks (TBs) and rural and cooperative banks (RCBs). For universal and commercial banks (UKBs), macroeconomic risks posed the most serious threat; and for digital banks (DBs), global risks and cybersecurity threats. Cognizant of these risks, banks

BSP: PHL’s net liability position hits $40B as of Dec

have continuously strengthened various aspects of their risk governance to protect depositors, investors, and institutions,” the BSP report stated.

Respondent banks disclosed the top three strengths of their banks’ risk governance framework, with board of directors and senior management oversight topping the list, followed by comprehensive risk management policies, and appropriate risk appetite for the bank’s business, resources, and capital,” it explained.

LIQUIDITY GROWS 6% TO P16.1T IN FEB

DOMESTIC liquidity or M3 grew 6 percent in February 2023, according to the latest data released by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

T he data showed M3 reached P16.1 trillion in February 2023, higher than the P15.17 trillion in February 2022.

T he BSP said this was also 0.6 percent higher than the P15.99 trillion recorded in January 2023.

M3 may also be derived as Net Foreign Assets (plus) Domestic Claims, net of Liabilities excluded from broad money and transfer -

able and other deposits in foreign currency (FCDs-Residents),” BSP explained.

H owever, Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) Chief Economist Michael Ricafort said the M3 growth was among the slowest pace in nearly two years or since July 2021, and among the slowest in a decade since August 2012.

(This was) amid moves by monetary authorities in recent months to siphon off some of the excess pesos/ liquidity from the financial system to help stabilize the peso exchange rate, import prices/costs, and overall

inflation as well as inflation expectations,” Ricafort said.

R icafort noted as well the reduction in pandemic-era “liquidity infusion measures” and higher inflation particularly in recent months.

H e said that in the coming months, M3 growth could remain at mid single-digit levels as seen in recent months. However, this could be offset by increased weekly siphoning of excess liquidity through the BSP Term Deposit Facility (TDF) auctions.

See “Liquidity,” A2

THE net international investment position (IIP) of the Philippines indicated a net liability position of $40.1 billion as of December 2022, based on preliminary data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

T he data showed that this was 30.3 percent higher than the $30.8 billion in the end-September period in 2022.

“ This development was primarily driven by a 7-percent increase in the country’s total external financial liabilities, offsetting the 3.8 percent growth in its total external financial assets,” the BSP said.

A s of end-December 2022, total outstanding external financial assets recorded $229.1 billion, while total outstanding external financial liabilities amounted to $269.3 billion.

T he BSP also said the expansion in the country’s external financial liabilities quarter-onquarter came amid an 8-percent growth in foreign direct investments (FDI) to $113.0 billion from $104.6 billion and 10.8 percent growth in foreign portfolio investments (FPI) to $82 billion from US$74.1 billion.

T he data showed non-residents’ placements of equity capital (FDI) and their holdings of equity securities (FPI) grew by 13.4 percent and 18 percent, respectively.

This was due mainly to the positive price revaluations, which reflected the rise in the Philippine Stock Exchange Index (PSEi) in end-December 2022,” the BSP said.

ASSET quality and credit risk were considered as top risks to bank operations in the next two years, according to the results of a Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) survey.

TRUMP’S INDICTMENT: HERE’S WHAT TO KNOW

HOLY WEEK The faithful wave palaspas (ornately woven palm fronds) during Palm Sunday Mass at San Felipe Neri Church in Mandaluyong City on Sunday, April 2, 2023. Also called Passion Sunday in the Catholic tradition, the first day of Holy Week and the Sunday before Easter, the event commemorates the story of Jesus's triumphal entry into Jerusalem for the Jewish feast of Passover. According to the Gospels, people lined the streets to greet him, waving palm branches and shouting words of praise. ROY DOMINGO

Salary, credit card loans soar amid rate hikes–BSP

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

S alary loans surged 69.3 percent in February while credit card loan growth was in double-digit at 29.4 percent.

T he growth in salary loans was higher than the 67 percent posted in January, while credit card loans slowed from the 30.7-percent growth it posted at the start of the year.

Consumer loans to residents rose by 21.2 percent in February

from 20.3 percent in the previous month, with the sustained growth in credit card and salary-based general purpose consumption loans,” the BSP said.

T he data showed Salary-Based General Purpose Consumption Loans reached P121.86 billion while credit card loans reached P567.12 billion in February 2023.

“ Sustained credit and ample li -

quidity will continue to support robust domestic demand. Even as the Philippine banking system remains sound, the BSP will keep a watchful eye over evolving market conditions to ensure that credit and liquidity dynamics continue to be in line with its price and financial stability mandates,” BSP stated.

M eanwhile, the preliminary data also showed that outstanding loans of universal and commercial banks (U/KBs), net of reverse repurchase (RRP) placements with the BSP, grew by 10 percent year-on-year in February 2023 from 10.4 percent in the previous month.

O n a month-on-month seasonally-adjusted basis, outstanding universal and commercial bank loans, net of RRPs, eased slightly by 0.2 percent.

T he data showed outstanding loans to non-residents rose by 14.8 percent in February following a

16.8-percent growth rate in the previous month.

B SP said outstanding loans to non-residents include loans by UKB’s foreign currency deposit units (FCDUs) to non-residents.

T he outstanding loans to residents, net of RRPs, increased by 9.9 percent in February, slower than the 10.2-percent rise in January.

O utstanding loans for production activities expanded by 8.7 percent in February from 9.2 percent in January, driven by the growth in credit to key sectors, particularly financial and insurance activities at 12.5 percent.

T his was followed by wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (9.2 percent); electricity, gas, steam, and airconditioning supply (9.3 percent); information and communication (18.6 percent); manufacturing (8.3 percent); and real estate activities (3.8 percent).

T he BSP noted that the Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) rose to 6,566.39 in the fourth quarter of 2022 from 5,741.07 in the third quarter of 2022.

Assets

MEANWHILE , BSP said the country’s stock of external financial assets expanded during the quarter, driven mainly by the increase in reserve assets. In particular, reserve assets rose to $96.1 billion from $93 billion.

T his was due to the National Government’s (NG) net foreign currency deposits with the BSP, which included proceeds from its issuance of ROP Global Bonds, and upward adjustments in the BSP’s foreign currency-denominated reserves and gold holdings.

I ncreases in direct investments and other investments, particularly residents’ placements in debt instruments to $40 billion from $38.3 billion, and deposits abroad to $15.9 billion from $14.5 billion, also contributed to the rise in total external financial assets.

O n a year-on-year basis, the country’s net external liability position grew by 42.3 percent from $28.2 billion in end-December 2021.

adjustments in its foreign currencydenominated reserves or non-gold reserves, and the NG’s payments of its foreign currency debt obligations,” BSP said.

Meanwhile, total external financial liabilities declined by 0.4 percent due to the decrease in FPI by 10.5 percent, notwithstanding the rise in other investments by 10.5 percent and direct investments by 1.3 percent.

T he data also showed the BSP held the highest share of residents’ total external financial claims at 43.9 percent, valued at $100.6 billion as of end-December 2022.

B SP said this was 3.8 percent higher than the $96.9-billion asset holdings registered in the previous quarter.

T he Other Sectors accounted for 40.4 percent of the country’s total stock of financial assets, equivalent to $92.6 billion as of end-December 2022. The remaining 15.7 percent were held by the Banks, amounting to $36 billion.

Meanwhile, the Other Sectors accounted for the largest share of the country’s total external liabilities at 62.4 percent or equivalent to $168 billion as of end-December 2022.

Ople, who is in Geneva for a United Nations conference for migrant workers, profusely thanked the regional bloc for recognizing the efforts of the Philippine government to correct deficiencies in maritime training and education

for seafarers. W hen asked if the EU decision was political, she replied, “It’s not for us to say. I guess it’s just a matter for us to accept, be grateful to EC and members of EC and maintain the same track.”

Extension bears ‘conditions’

THE Department of Foreign Affairs also reminded that the ex-

tension “comes with conditions” for the Philippines to meet and comply with its international commitments.

A ccording to Flores, the audit report of the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) has found many deficiencies in the implementation of the ITCW Convention. These deficiencies are still there, he said.

A letter by the EC Directorate for Mobility and Transport to the MARINA Administrator, a copy of which was obtained by BusinessMirror , listed the areas that the Philippines still need to improve on:

■ Monitoring, supervision and evaluation of training and assessment;

■ Examination and assessment of competence;

■ Programme and course design and approval;

■ Availability and use of training facilities and simulators;

■ On-board training; and Issue, revalidation and registration of certificates and endorsements.

O f these six areas of deficiencies, the EC said monitoring, supervision and evaluation of training and assessment is the “most critical.

This ensures compliance of the other activities conducted with the requirements of the STCW Convention and Code,” it added.

O ple said they are aware of the six deficiencies that the Philippines need to address.

T he Philippine government has committed to correct these problems and the EU has also committed to provide technical competence to help the Philippine government implement the industry standards in maritime training and education.

In January 2023 a new advisory committee was launched to give expert advice on major maritime issues affecting Filipino seafarers—the International Advisory Committee for Global Maritime Standards, which is supported by the Philippines government and in collaboration with ECSA and industry partners. By all of us working together on these issues, we can tackle the challenges ahead for our workforce.

Maintaining seafarer training standards globally ensures a brighter future for our seafarers,” ICS’s Platten added.

Liquidity...

Last week, the BSP lowered the volume offering for the TDF auction to P240 billion from P280 billion. Based on actual bids received last week, the total offer volume was reallocated between the 7-day and 14day tenors at P140 billion from P180 billion and P100 billion, respectively. O f the total bids received, the BSP accepted P240 billion. The BSP awarded P140 billion from P173.232 billion in bids in the 7-day tenor and accepted P100 billion from P126.306 billion in bids in the 14-day tenor. “ The results of the TDF auction

T his was on account of the 5.3percent decrease in total external financial assets to $229.1 billion from $242.1 billion, which more than offset the 0.4-percent decline in total external financial liabilities to $269.3 billion from $270.3 billion.

T he contraction in the country’s external financial assets reflected the reduction in the outstanding level of reserve assets by 11.6 percent from $108.8 billion.

This is due to BSP’s net foreign exchange operations, downward

D espite the threats, BSP said banking industry leaders maintained their growth outlook on the banking system in the next two years.

T he BSP said the level of optimism was supported by expectations of double-digit growth in assets, loans, deposits, and net income, as well as general improvement in the banks’ asset and loan quality indicators. “

Philippine banks likewise plan to maintain risk-based capital, leverage, and liquidity ratios at levels higher than domestic and global standards to support expansion in their operations and promote institutional stability,” BSP said.

In terms of loan quality, a lower number of respondents (around 52.4 percent from 58.9 percent in the previous BSOS) estimated a nonperforming loan (NPL) ratio of above 5 percent in the next two years.

By banking group, the NPL ratio projection of universal and commercial banks (UKBs) shifted to within the range of greater than 2 to 3 percent from the greater than 3 percent in the comparative year.

Most UKBs, the BSP said, also estimate their NPL coverage ratio to be at least 75 percent to even more than 100 percent.

I n terms of banking strategy, digitalization and sustainable finance were considered highly important in banking operations in the next two years.

reflected market participants’ high demand for both tenors following the BSP’s monetary policy meeting on 23 March and liquidity preferences in anticipation of the Holy Week holidays. Moving forward, the BSP’s monetary operations will remain guided by its assessment of the latest liquidity conditions and market developments,” BSP Deputy Governor Francisco Dakila Jr. said.

Meanwhile, BSP data showed domestic claims rose by 11.6 percent year-on-year in February from 11.4 percent (revised) in the previous

T he data showed this was 8.4 percent higher than the outstanding liabilities recorded in the previous quarter at $154.9 billion.

T he national government’s total external financial liabilities stood at $64.1 billion, representing 23.8 percent of the Philippines’s total external financial liabilities.

Ph ilippine banks accounted for 12.4 percent of the country’s total external financial liabilities at $33.4 billion, while the BSP held a marginal share of 1.4 percent at $3.8 billion. Cai U. Ordinario

Digitalization

THE BSP noted that digitalization of products and services was identified as a top strategic priority of banks in the next two years. Related to this, BSP said the majority of banks have already embarked on improving their digital capabilities to better serve their clientele.

I n terms of area of focus, the data also showed banks identified deposit operations as the most important area of technology application, followed by payment systems.

BSP also said most of the respondent banks underscored the importance of continuous monitoring and surveillance, and a reliable information technology (IT) department to ensure a quick and appropriate response to IT and/or security incidents.

B anks have also invested in updated security tools, performed periodic vulnerability assessments, and enhanced their security framework, among others.

T he survey results revealed a remarkable increase in organizational awareness towards sustainable financing, with 70 percent of respondent banks deeming such mode of financing as highly important, up from 61.7 percent. Among those banks with plans of being involved in sustainable finance, most expressed willingness to finance projects in support of agriculture, solar power, transportation and water supply management and treatment.

month. Claims on the private sector grew by 9.9 percent in February from 10.7 percent (revised) in January due to the sustained expansion in bank lending to non-financial private corporations and households.

Net claims on the central government likewise increased by 17.4 percent in February from 16.5 percent in January owing to the borrowings by the National Government. Meanwhile, net foreign assets (NFA) in peso terms decreased by 3.1 percent year-on-year in February, following the 1-percent contraction in January.

The NFA of banks declined mainly on account of higher bills payable. Similarly, the BSP’s NFA position fell by 2.3 percent in February. Cai U. Ordinario

FILIPINOS continued obtaining salary and credit card loans in February, amid the increases in key policy rates, according to data released by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

CA: Search warrants vs Kapa execs valid

By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

THE Court of Appeals (CA) has affirmed the validity of the 20 search warrants issued by the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Manila City against the officers and agents of Kapa-Community Ministry International Inc. (Kapa) that allowed the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to collect evidence in connection with the group’s alleged involvement in a P50-billion Ponzi investment scheme.

In a 14-page decision penned by Associate Justice Mary Charlene Hernandez-Azura, the CA’s Thirteenth Division junked the petition filed by Kapa through its representative Pastor Joel Apolinario seeking to quash the search warrants.

Kapa elevated the issue before the CA after the trial court denied its petition and motion for reconsideration in 2019 seeking the quashal and the recall of the search warrants and to suppress the evidence seized through the said warrants.

The search warrants issued by the Manila RTC Branch 20 covers KAPA’s offices in Quezon City, Sarangani Province, General Santos City, Taytay, Rizal, Compostela, among others, where the alleged illegal investment scheme was being conducted.

The NBI sought the issuance of the search warrants in connection with the complaint filed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in 2019 against Kapa for violation of Sections 8 and 26, in relation to Section 73, of the Securities Regulation Code (SRC) and eight counts of syndicated estafa as defined and penalized in Presidential Decree 1689.

Returns guaranteed

SECTION 8 of the SRC states that “no person shall engaged in the business of buying or selling securities in the Philippines as a broker or dealer, or act as a salesman, or an associated person of any broker or dealer unless registered with the SEC.”

On the other hand, Section 26 of the SRC prohibits Ponzi-type investment scheme and considers such as

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie

ASENIOR lawmaker has called on President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to issue an executive order directing specific government agencies to initiate measures to mitigate the impacts of the ongoing El Niño weather phenomenon, which

a fraudulent transaction.

The complaint was filed on behalf of three investors of Kapa who claimed that they were duped by its officers into investing their hard-earned money with guaranteed high returns.

Petitioner’s illegal activities revolve around the scheme of soliciting money, in the guise of investment, from the public with a promise of a 30-percent return or interest per month.

Kapa argued before the CA that the Manila RTC committed grave abuse of discretion in denying its petition for the quashal of the search warrants despite its lack of jurisdiction to issue the search warrants.

Likewise, the petitioner said the Manila RTC issued the search warrants despite the lack of probable cause and that the evidence presented to support the issuance of warrants are considered “hearsay.”’

Furthermore, Kapa said the search warrants should be nullified for failure to particularly describe the place to be searched and the things to be seized.

could stretch up to 2024 and cause a national water crisis.

Pending this EO, House Committee on Ways and Means Chairman Joey Sarte Salceda said the House of Representatives will likely pass the Department of Water Resources bill right in time for Marcos’s State of the Nation Address. Salceda, who also chairs the House

Personal knowledge

HOWEVER, the CA ruled that in special criminal cases, a trial court is authorized to issue search warrants that cover places outside its territorial jurisdiction pursuant to administrative guidelines issued by the Supreme Court (SC).

T he CA also agreed with the NBI that the issuance of the search warrants in the place outside the jurisdiction of the issuing court was necessary to prevent failure of operation due leakage of information considering that some of petitioners’ agents and investors include staff from the courts and prosecutors’ officer, police personnel, teachers and employees of the local governments in General Santos City and Saranggani province.

The trial court made a careful examination of all the documents submitted before it and propounded probing questions to the witnesses from respondent NBI and SEC investigating teams, who then testified based on their personal knowledge obtained during their investigation and surveil-

technical working group on measures creating a Department of Water Resources, recommended several measures for adaptation.

T he lawmaker said he commends the President “for the EO creating the apex body on water security.”

“ The first step is to acknowledge the problem, which he has by being clear about the existence of a water

lance operations,” the CA noted.

“ Their personal knowledge is more than enough to sustain a finding of probable cause for the issuance of the subject search warrants,” it added. On the places to be searched and things to be seized, the CA pointed out that Section 4 of Rule 126 requires that they must be described with particularity to ensure that law enforcement officers have no discretion as to where they search and what they seize.

Sufficient description

IN the case of Kapa, the CA ruled that the NBI was able to sufficiently describe the places and things that it intended to search and seize, respectively.

“The machines, computer sets, laptops, cellular phones, electronic gadgets, equipment and paraphernalia, as well as the vehicles, motorcycles and other means of transportation, are means or tools used in ensuring the commission of the offenses under Sections 8 and 26 of the SRC,” the CA said.

crisis. Now it is time to issue a related directive to mitigate the impacts of El Nino,” Salceda said.

“One, develop small scale short gestation period irrigation system— National Irrigation Administration, provincial engineering office and the Department of Agriculture. Accelerate shallow tube-well irrigation development in selected areas; par-

“Without these, petitioner’s fraudulent activities of enticing the public to invest, encoding such transactions and collecting money could not be coordinated and promptly delivered within and among the offices of petitioner,” it added. Based on the records of the SEC, Kapa has no license or permit to sell or offer for sale, or distribution of securities within the Philippines as certified to by the SEC’s Markets and Securities Regulation Department, the Corporate Governance and Finance Department and the Company Registration and Monitoring Department. With regard to the crime of syndicated estafa, the NBI said this was proven when an NBI team went to Kapa offices to investigate and conduct case build-up and personally witnessed the pyramiding activities of Kapa. It recounted that the team composed of NBI agents even invested money to Kapa offices as poseur-investors just to verify its illegal activities.

ticipatory, accelerated and focused low-lift pump (LLP) irrigation development,” he said.

Salceda also recommends to fasttrack the construction of small water impounding projects.

Remind barangays that they have an obligation to set up rainwater catchment facilities through the DILG,” the lawmaker added.

Marcos asked to address El Niño’s adverse impact

The Nation

• Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

Travelers need to register online as BI to stop paper-based cards

By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) has advised arriving and departing passengers that the use of paper-based departure cards will be discontinued starting May 1 to pave the way for the full-implementation of the “eTravel System.”

In light of this, the BI said crewmembers and passengers of all aircrafts and sea vessels will be required to register through the agency’s online portal or via a QR code prior to their departure or arrival starting

April 15, 2023.

T he online portal will replace the paper-based departure card, which passengers are required to fill out prior to departure.

B I Commissioner Norman G. Tansingco said arriving passengers are required to register not earlier than 72 hours from the scheduled time of arrival up to actual arrival into the country.

For departing passengers, the BI said travelers should register not earlier than 72 hours up to not later than three hours from the scheduled time of departure from the country.

T he e-Travel System, which was initially launched in December, aims to harmonize and consolidate data collection processes at ports of arrival.

“ The eTravel platform will soon be used for both arriving and departing passengers. Travelers no longer have to fill out departure cards, and instead may log in the online portal prior to their flight,” Tansingco reiterated.

The system is an initiative of a sub-technical working group of an inter-agency task force chaired by the BI.

It is a joint project of the agency

Passengers to peak at 140,000 per day this Holy Week–MIAA

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

THE Ninoy Aquino

with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), the Department of Tourism (DOT), the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ), the Bureau of Customs (BOC), the Department of Health (DOH), the Department of Transportation (DOTr), the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the National Privacy Commission (NPC).

“This is a major step in streamlining documents presented by departing travelers, allowing for faster and more efficient immigration processing,” said Tansingco.

The e-Travel web site may be accessed at https://etravel.gov.ph

Cavite churches prep for influx of pilgrims

By Dennis Abrina Contributor

GENERAL TRIAS CITY, Cavite—The Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office (PTCAO) of Cavite expressed readiness to an expected influx of tourists and pilgrims to the local churches in seven cities and 16 towns in the province.

According to Elinia Imelda Rozelle S. Sangalang, head of the PTCAO Department, local government units under the province started preparing in the first week of March for the observance of the Holy Week.

In the Christian faith, Holy Week, or the week leading to Easter Sunday, is commemorated with notable importance, honoring the acts of Jesus Christ in the days before His crucifixion and resurrection, the website Christianity.com said.

Sangalang said several meetings between tourism enterprises, LGU officials, local police and tourism councils were held for the Holy Week observance.

“Tents and stations are installed especially in churches frequented by devotees. Safety trainings were also conducted by our local tourism offices of 23 localities.” Sangalang told the BusinessMirror in an interview.

“We are closely monitoring not just the arrivals but all tourism activities with the help of our local tourism offices,” she said adding that

the provincial government of Cavite through the provincial health office has issued a “Code White Alert” for the entire province effective April 4 until April 10.

The latter, Sangalang explained, is “in anticipation of any eventuality that may occur during Holy Week.”

According to data provided by the PTCAO, the most visited Catholic churches in Cavite for pilgrimage during Holy Week are: the Diocesan

Shrine of Saint Augustine in Tanza; Saint Mary Magdalene in Kawit town; the Our Lady of the Pillar cathedral in Imus City; the Saint Michael the Archangel Parish in Poblacion, Bacoor City; the Nuestra Senora de Candelaria in Silang town; the Our Lady of the Assumption Parish Church in Maragondon; and, the Our Lady of Lourdes in Tagaytay City.

Most of the churches in Cavite are Baroque style and were built during

Govt gives P0.7M to victims of Basilan-ferry fire

By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

OVER P700,000 worth of aid was extended by the government to passengers who were affected by the Basilan ferry fire last week, according to the Department of National Defense (DND).

T he Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said through a statement that DND Senior Undersecretary Carlito G. Galvez Jr. made the disclosure in his report, which he submitted to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. last Saturday.

According to Galvez, the bulk

(or P640,000) of the assistance provided by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the provincial government were financial aid. The remaining P71,000 were food and non-food items.

Meanwhile, the local and provincial authorities in Basilan and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) provided the victims hygiene kits and clothing, according to Galvez.

Tthe Philippine Red Cross provided first-aid treatment to the survivors and provided cadaver bags, The fire, which engulfed the M/V

the Spanish colonization period. Cavite residents are also expected to return home either to visit their loved ones or participate in the traditional activities, like the “Pabasa” and processions, during this week.

Sangalang added that members of the respective Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office of localities, police and other volunteers would be deployed in strategic areas to respond to any emergency.

International Airport (Naia) is preparing for the grand exodus of Metro Manila residents this Holy Week, so passengers are advised to be at their assigned terminals earlier than usual.

In a Viber exchange, Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) General Manager Cesar M. Chiong told the BusinessMirror “We are averaging between 118,000 to 120,000 passengers a day. For Holy Week, we expect on average, about 130,000 to 140,000 passengers a day, or about 10-percent to 17-percent higher than our average over the last three months.”

So he advised departing passengers to check-in online for their flight, before going to the airport. Also, “be at the airport 3 hours to 3.5 hours before departure for international flights and 2 hours to 2.5 hours for domestic flights,” he added. Lastly, Chiong encouraged departing passengers to immediately proceed to the pre-departure area after completing check-in formalities.

For arriving passengers, the MIAA official said everyone must “complete the e-travel registration online.” Philippine passport holders are to use the e-gates upon their arrival at Naia.

Japan, HK are most popular destinations

ACCORDING to Ritchie B. Tuaño, chairman and general manager at Asiareps Travel Services Inc. outbound travel is expected at its peak this Holy Week, which started on Palm Sunday, April 2.

“Japan and Hong Kong are probably on top of the list for short breaks, followed by Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam,” he said. Having adopted the “holiday economics” scheme, Malacañang has declared April 6 (Maundy Thursday), April 7 (Good Friday) and Monday, April 10 (Day of Valor) as regular holidays, giving Filipinos a break of five days, meant to commemorate the passion and death of Jesus Christ.

A former president of the Philippine Travel Agencies Association, Tuaño also said

South Korea continues to be a popular destination for Holy Week, “although its numbers could have possibly dropped or are less than the actual demand due to the continuing difficulty in getting a visa.” For those going on a longer Holy Week break, they are going to Europe, the Holy Land and Turkey, he added.

It’s mostly families who are going on vacations out of the country this Holy Week, he said, although “there are a few groups of friends,” said Tuaño, adding that the price of tour packages abroad, “are relatively higher primarily because of demand,” and not because of the peso’s weaker value against the greenback.

CEB ramps up flights from Mactan IF not abroad, Metro Manila residents are also traveling to their usual favorite domestic destinations this Holy Week such as Baguio, Clark, Tagaytay, Boracay Island, Siargao, as well as El Nido and Coron in Palawan.

(See, “PHILTOA: Most Holy Week destinations now fully booked,” in the BusinessMirror , March 31, 2023.)

For its part, Cebu Pacific Airways (CEB), the country’s largest domestic carrier, said it has ramped up its number of flights from its Cebu hub for this Holy Week. Carmina R. Romero, director for Corporate Communications for the airline, said in a Viber message, “For international routes, Cebu Pacific resumed its daily Cebu-Hong Kong flights on March 26, in time for those who wanted to take their Easter break in Hong Kong.”

Other flight frequencies that have been increased in time for the Holy Week break, she said, are flights from Cebu to Bacolod, from 15 times to 21 times weekly; Butuan, 21x to 28x; Dumaguete, 11x to 14x; Legazpi, 9x to 14x; General Santos, 7x to 11x; Siargao, 14x to 21x; Boracay, 14x to 25x; and Surigao City, 7x to 10x weekly. The Mactan Cebu International Airport is the second busiest international gateway in the country, with an estimated 12.6-million passenger traffic in 2019, prior to the pandemic.

Integrated permits setup in energy projects rushed

continued from a10

Lady Mary Joy 3, happened during the evening of March 29, while the ferry was traversing its way to Baluk-Baluk island, in the province of Basilan.

Citing reports on the ground, Galvez said there were 28 dead, 32 missing and 227 survivors were recorded from the fire as of April 1.

“During the retrieval operations, it came out that out of the 18 bodies visually identified, only 17 actual cadavers were recovered from the scene. Subsequently, the said bodies were brought to Villa Arcega Funeral Homes in Zamboanga City for proper identification and disposition,” Galvez was quoted in the statement as saying.

He noted the Philippine Navy is still conducting search, rescue and retrieval operations in the area where the incident happened.

“The OCD [Office of Civil Defense], in collaboration with the local agencies, continues the accounting of the victims (casualties and survivors) in order to process the necessary assistance and insurance claims. Our AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines] and PCG troops are also still in the area providing all the needed support and assistance to the victims’ families and the community,” Galvez said.

Based on initial investigations, the fire started from the accommodation area of the ferry before spreading to the kitchen.

B ersamin earlier convened the EVOSS Steering Committee, headed by the Office of the President, with the Secretary of Energy as Vice Chairperson.  I ts member agencies include the Departments of Agriculture, Agrarian Reform, Environment and Natural Resources, Interior and Local Government, and Information and Communications Technology; Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), National Commission on Indigenous

Peoples  (NCIP), National Water Resources Board (NWRB), Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines (IEMOP), National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) and ARTA.

A dditional members are representatives from the power generation, transmission, and distribution sectors.

T he EVOSS mandate was also expanded to cover the permitting requirements prescribed under RA 11592 or the LPG

continued from a10

Regulation Industry Act, RA 11646 or the Microgrid Systems Act, RA 11697 or the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act (EVIDA), and the upstream energy development projects.

T he permitting processes under these laws are now being integrated into the system by the DOE-IPO.

T he DOE said the permitting process for energy projects is multilayered and the array of permits, consultations, and assessments for any type of energy technology project can be a challenge.

So dalawa po iyan, hindi lang dapat po sila makipagusap, mag -prepare kung ano yung gagawin. So, dapat po lahat ito kargo nila ‘yung pag protekta sa ating  [On those two points, they should prepare before the talks. In all these, it’s their burden to protect our] exclusive economic zone, 200 nautical miles from the baseline, [and the SC decision]  Korte Suprema,” he added.

The senator admitted that he is quite hesitant over plans of

having new rounds of talks with China, considering the series of bullying incidents in the past months in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), involving the China Coast Guard and the Chinese Maritime Militia against the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

“We may see more Chinese boatrs in the WPS, because now they’ll say we have the right to drill, to conduct scientific marine research— they just might do that,

so perhaps it’s best that our Department of Foreign Affairs proceed with caution. Because they might expand their presence, there may be more incidentns of abuse,” said the senator, speaking mostly in Filipino.

“ Since the matter involves foreign policy and national security, it’s only proper that the Senate must be involved in any future exploratory talks with China,” Tolentino stressed.  Butch Fernandez

THIS photo shows the Our Lady of the Assumption Parish Church in Maragondon town, Cavite. The Cavite Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office announced readiness to the expected influx of pilgrims and tourists to churches.

PHOTO BY DENNIS ABRINA

‘Arbitral, SC rulings must figure in new China talks’

Agriculture/Commodities

Survey: MIF earnings must boost agri output

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie

FILIPINOS want the government to use its earnings from the proposed Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) Act for the improvement of agricultural production and supply chains and funding universal healthcare, according to the results of a survey.

T he Pahayag First Quarter survey found that improving agricultural production and supply chains (32 percent) was regarded as the highest priority project that should be funded by MIF while funding universal healthcare for all Filipinos came in second at 23 percent and investment in lifelong learning for all registered third at 11 percent.

T he survey said the least regarded project is the establishment of a logistics hubs across the country at 1 percent, establishing internet connectivity from Luzon to Mindanao at 3 percent, and National Railway

System expansion outside of Metro Manila at 3 percent.

Meanwhile, the survey said more than a majority, or 62 percent, are aware of the MIF.

T he National Capital Region (NCR) had the highest level of awareness at 72 percent and is popular among ages 50 to 59 years (69 percent), with 60+ years old at 72 percent.

T he survey said 28 percent approve the MIF, with North Central at 32 percent and Visayas at 30 percent strongly supporting it. Whereas 25 percent disapprove of it, with respondents from NCR at 31 percent and South Luzon at 31 percent disagreeing the most.

Meanwhile, the governor of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas is favored to lead the Maharlika Investment Corp. (MIC) at 26 percent, followed by the President at 24 percent.

T he PAHAYAG 2023 First Quarter poll was conducted by Publicus Asia Inc. from March 2 to 6. It is an independent and non-commissioned national survey of 1,500 registered Filipino voters randomly sampled by PureSpectrum, a United Statesbased panel marketplace with mul-

CamSur farmers turn dried taro leaves into bottled laing

By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

FARMERS from Camarines Sur are spicing things up by turning their dried taro leaves into a hot commodity—bottled laing.

T he move aims to increase the value of their harvest from taro, locally called gabi, and bring the beloved Bicol dish to more tables across the region, according to the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).

L aing is a traditional Bicol dish prepared using taro leaves, coconut milk, and chili peppers.

DAR through its Linking Smallholder Farmers to Market with Microfinance (LinkSFARMM) project has provided on-site training on laing production to help farmers develop the native dish into an appetizing bottled food product.

T he gabi farmers from Tinangis Upland Farmers Association (TUFA), Imperial Velasco Estate Irrigators Association (IVEIA) Inc. Bagong Sirang Farmers’ Cooperative (BSFC), and

Del Rosario Multi-Purpose Cooperative (DRMPC) attended the said training, which was held recently, at the DRMPC processing facility.

Paula Lorenz Rodriguez, DAR’s agro-enterprise facilitator, said farmers are hoping to fetch a better price for the dried gabi leaves, particularly those that did not meet the required quality and size criteria. Rather than selling them at a lower price, which is normally P80 per kilogram, they decided to bottle them, she said.

Rodriguez said, in addition to marketing the collected gabi leaves of the LinkSFARMM clusters in Pili to various buyers, their team opted to engage in bottled laing production utilizing gabi leaves that were rejected by buyers due to their size, which did not match the requirements.

“Farmers can earn a bigger profit and have an additional source of income as a result of this up-valuing procedure. Above all, they will now be equipped with food processing skills to turn their fresh farm pro -

duce into processed food items.”

According to Julie Casaul, an associate professor at Central Bicol State University of Agriculture (CBSUA), bottled laing is a convenient way to enjoy the delectable cuisine without the trouble of preparing it from scratch every time. She said bottled food products that have been thermally processed have a longer shelf life because the target microorganisms in the food perish during the process.

T hese products can be stored for up to two years without spoiling, she said.

Casaul stressed the importance of maintaining cleanliness and good hygiene throughout food preparation, as well as adhering to established procedures and key stages to achieve consistent tasty results.

Edna Vergado, one of the participants, said the training was simple to grasp. She learned in the training that, unlike preparing laing for personal consumption, bottling laing required precise science.

tinational presence, from its national panel of more than 200,000

Filipinos. The sample-wide margin of error is +/- 3%.

P resident Marcos has certified the MIF bill as urgent. The House of Representatives approved it on third and final reading last December 15, 2022, and was transmitted to the Senate on December 19, 2022.

Earlier, Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez assured businessmen and the public in general that the proposed MIF or sovereign wealth fund “would not be abused.”

H e said the MIF’s proactive safety checks, including transparency provisions and the requirement to subject the books of accounts of the Maharlika Investment Corp. (MIC), which will manage the fund, to three layers of audit by an internal auditor, an external auditor and the Commission on Audit (COA).

T he MIC’s operations will also be monitored by the Maharlika Investment Fund Joint Congressional Oversight Committee.

DA delivers fresh produce from Nueva Ecija to QC parish

By Raadee S. Sausa @raadeeboy

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said it delivered rice and vegetables to a parish in Novaliches, Quezon City as part of a market-linkage program it is undertaking with the Philippine Army.

T he agency said it transported a total of 590 sacks of rice [packed into 25 kilos per sack], 800 kilos of tomatoes, 50 kilos of red onions and 25 kilos of white onions to the Jesus Lord of Divine Mercy Parish in Novaliches, Quezon City.

F ive Army trucks and one DA-Kadiwa truck delivered the fresh produce to Novaliches all the way from Nueva Ecija, a province known for agricultural crops such as rice, onion, garlic and tomatoes.

In March, a total of 3,845 kilos of red onions, were traded for P346,050, or P90 per kilo farmgate price and was sold to local QC

Parishes at P100 to P110 per kilo, the DA said.

M eanwhile, the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) announced that it will sell confiscated smuggled sugar in Kadiwa stalls starting this month.

“ We already have the approval for the donation of the sugar that we seized for the Kadiwa for sale. Last week, we were just discussing the documentation and the legalities so we can sell it right away,” Pablo Luis Azcona, SRA board member said.

“ I think just as long as we finish, there are certain details we are fixing up, where the funds will go, small details, something like that. And then after that, hopefully by April, it’s a go.”

A n initial 4,000 metric tons (MT) of sugar will be sold next month, he said. They were saying the retailers have stock of the sugar so we

slowly see the P85 per kilo target from the DA,” Azcona said.

“Phytosanitary permits are not a problem, as all sugar products, seized or legal, undergo a check for quality assurance.”

R ecently, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has approved the sale of seized smuggled sugar, which could be given to government agencies as “donation.”

A farmers’ group said selling seized smuggled sugar at Kadiwa centers is akin to “promoting illegally imported goods.”

“If you promote smuggled goods, this will not help the farmers,” Rosendo So, the president of Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (Sinag) said.

T he essence of Kadiwa, he said, is to help sell farmers’ products directly to consumers.

T he government has decided to sell at least 12,000 MT of seized smuggled sugar at Kadiwa stores.

T he DA runs the Kadiwa stores, which sells produce at lower prices.

THE Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has distributed electronic land titles or e-titles to 1,730 farmer-beneficiaries in the Bicol Region via the Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling (SPLIT) project.

T his was announced by DAR Bicol Regional Director Reuben Theodore C. Sindac during the Region-Focused Implementation Review held on March 30 and 31 at the Villa Caceres Hotel in Naga City.

A total of 2,858 hectares of land with collective certificates of landownership award (CCLOAs) were subdivided by the DAR in the process.

Sindac also reported that from March 2021 to December 2022, the region validated 34,657 hectares of land with CCLOAs, of which 25,960 hectares have been issued with Approved Survey Plans in preparation for individual titling in the upcoming months.

Masbate has achieved the highest accomplishment with 985.33 hectares. With Masbate leading the way, DAR said the province has the potential to become a major player in the SPLIT implementation in the Bicol region.

C amarines Norte finished second with 473.14 hectares, while Camarines Sur I closely followed with 455.32 hectares. Camarines Sur II accomplished 368.59 hectares, Sorsogon achieved 336.11

hectares, and Albay and Catanduanes ended with 197.87 hectares and 41.84 hectares, respectively.

These numbers indicate a brighter direction of Project SPLIT in the region, as evidenced by the recent accomplishments of the different provinces,” Sindac said.

“However, there is still a long way to go, and we must continue to work closely to achieve more in the coming years. In addition to reviewing the accomplishments of the past two years, we must also examine the required budget for this year and beyond, which will have a major impact in attaining our future goals.”

T he two-day implementation review headed by Engr. Reynaldo C. Anfone, deputy director of project SPLIT operations, and Engr. Cristina C. Dagdag, head of the SPLIT monitoring and evaluation section at the DAR central office, was a detailed discussion aimed at understanding and resolving the bottlenecks impacting the project’s continuous implementation in the regional and provincial levels.

T he region’s work and financial plans through 2023 were also tackled during the event.

P roject SPLIT aims to provide individual land titles to farmers, allowing them to have secure ownership and control over their lands. Jonathan L. Mayuga

MINES in the biggest copper-producing nation are struggling just as demand for the wiring metal is expected to accelerate in the shift away from fossil fuels.

Chile, which accounts for a quarter of the world’s mined copper, posted its lowest monthly production in six years on Friday. Hours later, state-owned behemoth Codelco said its output woes of 2022 will only get worse this year as it strives to tap new areas of its aging deposits after decades of underinvestment.

M ines are being hampered by water restrictions in a prolonged drought as well as a string of operational setbacks and project delays as they battle deteriorating ore quality. That’s good news for copper bulls but it’s intensifying fears of a looming shortage given copper is a key material in the energy transition, used in everything from electric vehicles to wind turbines.

It has been a complex year in terms of production, costs and surplus generation, which has challenged us to find ways to improve our future performance,” Chief Executive Officer Andre Sougarret told reporters in Santiago Friday.

C opper futures reversed early declines Friday after the Chilean production release and were trading little changed at 12:30 p.m. in New York.

Heading lower

THERE’S no easy fix to the problem, with Codelco expecting production to fall as much as 7 percent this year after tumbling in 2022. The world’s biggest copper company sees output of between 1.35 million and 1.42 million metric tons at its wholly owned mines in 2023.

Sougarret spoke after the country’s statistics institute delivered data showing nation-wide production fell 12 percent in February from January, the weakest monthly result since early 2017.

F or the global copper market, declining Chilean production signals further tightening of supplies at a time when Chinese demand has picked up after the easing of pandemic restrictions. Stockpiles on the London Metal Exchange are near the lowest levels in 18 years.

Still, Sougarret sees the market fairly balanced for now, predicting prices of between $3.50 and $4.40 per pound, compared with just above $4 at present.

T he Chilean state-owned producer endured mishaps including a rockfall, equipment malfunctions and a dam freeze last year, pushing production down 11 percent to 1.45 million metric tons.

C odelco is developing several large-scale projects simultaneously in a bid to restore output by the end of the decade, Sougarret said. That’s a

difficult task as the industry grapples with logistical challenges exposed by the pandemic and exacerbated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Illegal Amazon miners

AUTHORITIES in Brazil are cracking down on illegal copper mining in the Amazon as high prices of the wiring metal attract blackmarket operators who normally focus on gold.

E arlier this month, 50 agents dismantled illicit mines in Canaa dos Carajas—near Vale SA’s biggest copper mine, Sossego—after two similar actions last year. There are signs the metal has been shipped to China, task-force leader Ezequias Martins said via his press office. The case may lead to convictions for environmental crimes and criminal association, he said.

Unlicensed miners, known in Brazil as garimpeiros, have diversified into copper in recent years as techniques improve and prices surge on growing battery-metal demand in the shift away from fossil fuels. At the same time, major mining companies are looking to add copper assets. Vale wants to raise money to grow its base metals business.

W hile illegal production accounts for a tiny portion of total copper supply, it can have an outsized impact on the environment and indigenous communities. President Luiz Inacio

Lula da Silva’s government has vowed to crack down on Brazil’s illegal gold rush, with non-government organization MapBiomas estimating that irregular operations now occupy a larger area than industrial mines in the country.

T he clandestine copper mines demobilized this month are the so-called gallery type, in which explosives are used to blast out ore containing copper and gold. Some galleries can extract 30 tons a day. Copper trades at about $9,000 a ton in London versus less than $5,000 three years ago.

T he environmental and community damage caused by such practices are a threat to the formal industry by tarnishing the reputation of mining in general.

T he illegal mining push has started to encroach into land held by Vale, the world’s No. 2 iron ore producer and a major supplier of nickel and copper. With illicit miners now hunting for copper, Vale has reinforced monitoring and provides intelligence to regulator ANM on clandestine operations on its land, the company said in response to Bloomberg questions.

“ In addition to constituting a crime, the practice imposes drastic impacts on the environment, public coffers, security and the attraction of investments and the implementation of new enterprises,” Vale said. Bloomberg

The World

Li: China ready to speed up talks with Asean over South China Sea

By Anuradha Raghu

Beijing is prepared to collaborate to jointly maintain peace and stability of the area, Li was cited as saying during a meeting with visiting Malaysian p r ime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on s a turday.

“Asia is our common home and win-win cooperation is the only right choice,” Li was quoted as saying by Xinhua.  China and the Association of s o uth

east Asian Nations, known as Asean,

have been working for nearly 20 years to establish a code of conduct covering the disputed body of water.

China asserts rights to more than 80% of the s o uth China s e a based on a 1947 map showing vague markings that have since become known as the “nine-dash line.” Tensions have been rising between the Asian giant and other claimants to the area—the p h il -

ippines, Malaysia, Taiwan, Indonesia, Vietnam and Brunei—as Beijing builds out disputed reefs, islands and

Russia-Ukraine war: Will there be a spring counteroffensive?

land formations and militarizes them with ports, runways and other infrastructure.

Last month, China hit back at the u s for expanding military access in the p h ilippines, saying Washington was trying to “encircle and contain” it.

Li also said, according to Xinhua, that China is ready to work with Malaysia and other s o utheast Asian countries to actively advance negotiations on the Asean-China Free Trade Area, as well as to jointly implement the r eg ional Comprehensive Economic p a rtnership and promote building the East Asia economic community.

Meanwhile, Anwar said both Li and p r esident Xi Jinping have agreed to boost trade relations with Malaysia under the Belt and r o ad Initiative, including expediting the East Coast r a il Link project, Bernama reported. Bl oomberg News

21 dead after tornadoes rake US Midwest, South

By Adrian Sainz & Andrew Demillo

The Associated Press

WYNNE, Ark.— s t orms that dropped possibly dozens of tornadoes killed at least 21 people in small towns and big cities across the s o uth and Midwest, tearing a path through the Arkansas capital, collapsing the roof of a packed concert venue in Illinois, and stunning people throughout the region s a turday with the damage’s scope.

Confirmed or suspected tornadoes in at least eight states destroyed homes and businesses, splintered trees and laid waste to neighborhoods across a broad swath of the country. The dead included at least seven in one Tennessee county, four in the small town of Wynne, Arkansas, three in s u llivan, Indiana, and four in Illinois.

o t her deaths from the storms that hit Friday night into s a turday were reported in Alabama and Mississippi, along with one near Little r o ck, Arkansas, where city officials said more than 2,600 buildings were in a tornado’s path.

r e sidents of Wynne, Tennessee, a community of about 8,000 people 50 miles (80 kilometers) west of Memphis, woke s a turday to find the high school’s roof shredded and its windows blown out. Huge trees lay on the ground, their stumps reduced to nubs. Broken walls, windows and roofs pocked homes and businesses.

Debris lay scattered inside the shells of homes and on lawns: clothing, insulation, toys, splintered furniture, a pickup truck with its windows shattered.

Ashley Macmillan said she, her husband and their children huddled with their dogs in a small bathroom as a tornado passed, “praying and saying goodbye to each other, because we thought we were dead.” A falling tree seriously damaged their home, but they were unhurt.

“We could feel the house shaking, we could hear loud noises, dishes rattling.

And then it just got calm,” she said.

r e covery was already underway, with workers using chainsaws and bulldozers to clear the area and utility crews restoring power.

At least seven people died in Tennessee’s McNairy County, east of Memphis, said David Leckner, the mayor of Adamsville. The number could still climb as crews continued to search through the wreckage.

“The majority of the damage has been done to homes and residential areas,” Leckner said.

Gov. Bill Lee drove to the county s a turday to tour the destruction and comfort residents. He said the storm capped the “worst” week of his time as governor, coming days after a school shooting in Nashville that killed six people including a family friend whose funeral he and his wife, Maria, attended earlier in the day.

“It’s terrible what has happened in this community, this county, this state,” Lee said. “But it looks like your community has done what Tennessean communities do, and that is rally and respond.”

Jeffrey Day said he called his daughter after seeing on the news that their community of Adamsville was being hit.

Huddled in a closet with her two-yearold son as the storm passed over, she answered the phone screaming.

“ s h e kept asking me, ‘What do I do, daddy?’” Day said, tearing up. “I didn’t know what to say.”

After the storm passed, his daughter crawled out of her destroyed home and over barbed wire and drove to nearby family. o n s a turday evening, baby clothes were still strewn about the site.

Tennessee officials warned that the same weather conditions from Friday night are expected to return Tuesday.

In Belvidere, Illinois, part of the roof of the Apollo Theatre collapsed as about 260 people were attending a heavy metal concert. A 50-year-old man was pulled from the rubble.

“I sat with him and I held his hand

and I was [telling him], ‘It’s going to be oK .’ I didn’t really know much else what to do,” concertgoer Gabrielle Lewellyn told WTVo -TV.

The man was dead by the time emergency workers arrived. o f ficials said 40 others were hurt, including two with life-threatening injuries.

o n s aturday, crews were cleaning up around the Apollo, with forklifts pulling away loose bricks. Business owners picked up glass shards and covered shattered windows.

In Crawford County, Illinois, three people were killed and eight injured when a tornado hit around New Hebron, Bill Burke, the county board chair, said.

s h eriff Bill r u tan said 60 to 100 families were displaced.

“We’ve had emergency crews digging people out of their basements because the house is collapsed on top of them, but luckily they had that safe space to go to,” r u tan said at a news conference.

That tornado was not far from where three people died in Indiana’s s u llivan County, about 95 miles (150 kilometers) southwest of Indianapolis.

s u llivan Mayor Clint Lamb said at a news conference that an area south of the county seat of about 4,000 “is essentially unrecognizable right now” and that several people were rescued overnight. There were reports of as many as 12 people injured, he said.

“I’m really, really shocked there isn’t more as far as human issues,” he said, adding that recovery “is going to be a very long process.”

In the Little r o ck area, at least one person was killed and more than 50 were hurt, some critically.

The National Weather s e rvice said that tornado was a high-end EF3 twister with wind speeds up to 165 mph (265 kph) and a path as long as 25 miles (40 kilometers).

Masoud s ha hed-Ghaznavi was lunching at home when it roared through his neighborhood, causing him to hide in the laundry room as sheetrock

fell and windows shattered. When he emerged, the house was mostly rubble.

“Everything around me is sky,” s h ahed-Ghaznavi recalled s a turday. He barely slept Friday night.

“When I closed my eyes, I couldn’t sleep, imagined I was here,” he said s a turday outside his home.

Gov. s a rah Huckabee s a nders declared a state of emergency and activated the National Guard.

A nother suspected tornado killed a woman in northern Alabama’s Madison County, officials said, and in northern Mississippi’s p o ntotoc County, one death and four injuries were confirmed.

Tornadoes also caused damage in eastern Iowa and broke windows northeast of pe oria, Illinois.

The storms struck just hours after p r esident Joe Biden visited r o lling Fork, Mississippi, where tornadoes last week destroyed parts of town.

It could take days to determine the exact number of tornadoes from the latest event, said Bill Bunting, chief of forecast operations at the st orm p rediction Center. There were also hundreds of reports of large hail and damaging winds, he said.

“That’s a quite active day,” he said.

“But that’s not unprecedented.”

More than 530,000 homes and businesses were without power as of midday s aturday, over 200,000 of them in o h io, according to po wer o u tage.us.

The sprawling storm system also brought wildfires to the southern p l ains, with authorities in o k lahoma reporting nearly 100 of them Friday. At least 32 people were said to be injured, and more than 40 homes destroyed.

The storms also caused blizzard conditions in the u p per Midwest.

A threat of tornadoes and hail remained for the Northeast including in parts of pe

DeMillo

Rebounding Pope Francis begins Palm Sunday Mass at Vatican

was taken to r o me’s Gemelli po liclinic that same day after feeling ill.

pa lm su nday opens a heavy schedule of Holy Week appointments for him.

At the start of the Mass, Francis took his place in a chair before the towering obelisk as a procession of cardinals in bright-red vestments and other faithful moved through the square.

By Barry Hatton The Associated Press

EuropE s biggest armed conflict since World War II is poised to enter a new phase in the coming weeks.

With no suggestion of a negotiated end to the 13 months of fighting between r u ssia and u k raine, the u k rainian defense minister said last week that a spring counteroffensive could begin as soon as April.

Kyiv faces a key tactical question: How can the u k rainian military dislodge Kremlin forces from land they are occupying? u k rainian p resident Volodymyr Zelenskyy is working hard to keep his troops, and the general public, motivated for a long fight.

Here’s a look at how the fighting has evolved and how the spring campaign might unfold: How did the war get here?

r u ssia launched its full-scale invasion of u k raine on Feb. 24 2022, but its attacks fell short of some main targets and lost momentum by July. u k rainian counteroffensives took back large areas from August through November. Then the fighting got bogged down in attritional warfare during the bitter winter and into the muddy, early spring thaw.

Now, Kyiv can take advantage of improved weather to seize the battlefield initiative with new batches of Western weapons, including scores of tanks, and fresh troops trained in the West. But r u ssian forces are dug in deep, lying in wait behind minefields and along kilometers (miles) of trenches.

How has Russia fared so far?

The war has exposed embarrassing shortcomings in the Kremlin’s military prowess. The battlefield setbacks include r u ssia’s failure to reach Kyiv in the early days of the invasion, its inability to hold some areas and its failure to take the devastated eastern city of Bakhmut despite seven months of fighting. Attempts to break the u k rainian will to fight, such as relentlessly striking the country’s power grid, have failed too.

Moscow’s intelligence services badly misjudged u k raine’s resolve and the West’s response. The invasion also depleted r u ssian military resources, triggering difficulties with ammunition supplies, morale and troop numbers.

r us sian p r esident Vladimir p u tin, apparently concerned that the war could erode public support for his government, has avoided an all-out push for victory through a mandatory mass mobilization.

“The r u ssians have no end of problems,” said James Nixey, director of the r u ssia and Eurasia program at Chatham House, a think tank in London.

What’s next for the Ukrainians?

The u k rainian military starts the season with an influx of powerful weapons.

Germany said this week that it had delivered the 18 Leopard 2 tanks it promised to u k raine. pol and, Canada and Norway have also handed over their pledged Leopard tanks. British Challenger tanks have arrived too.

u k raine’s defense minister, o l eksii r e znikov, has said he’s hopeful Western partners will supply at least two battalions of the German-made Leopard 2s by April. He also expects six or seven battalions of Leopard 1 tanks, with ammunition, from a coalition of countries.

Also pledged are u s Abrams tanks and French light tanks, along with u k raine soldiers recently trained in their use.

The Western help has been vital in strengthening u k raine’s dogged resistance and shaping the course of the war. Zelenskyy recognizes that without us help, his country has no chance to prevail.

The new supplies, including howitzers, anti-tank weapons and 1 million rounds of artillery ammunition, will add more muscle to the u k raine military and give it a bigger punch. s h eer numbers of tanks can drive a deeper wedge into r u ssian holding positions,” Nixey said.

In their counteroffensive, u k rainian forces will look to break through the land corridor between r u ssia and the annexed Crimean peninsula, moving from Zaporizhzhia toward Melitopol and the Azov s e a, according to u k rainian military analyst o l eh Zhdanov.

If successful, the u k rainians “will split the r u ssian troops into two halves and cut off supply lines to the units that are located further to the west, in the direction of Crimea,” Zhdanov said.

What might the end game be?

The Institute for the st udy of War, a Washington-based think tank, reckons that u k raine will need to launch a series of counteroffensives, not just one, to get the upper hand.

The operations would have “the twin aims of persuading p utin to accept a negotiated compromise or of creating military realities sufficiently favorable to u k raine that Kyiv and its Western allies can then effectively freeze the conflict on their own regardless of p utin’s decisions,” the institute said in an assessment published this week.

Nixey has no doubt that each side will keep “tearing chunks out of each other” over the coming months in the hope of gaining an advantage at the negotiating table.

and priests and tens of thousands of rank-and-file faithful clutching palm fronds or olive branches filled the square.

Francis, 86, received antibiotics administered intravenously during his three-day stay. He

His voice sounded strong as he opened the ceremony, which observed Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem in the time leading up to his crucifixion, which Christians mark on Good Friday.

The Vatican on s a turday said Francis would preside at the Holy Week ceremonies, which culminate with Easter s u nday Mass in the

on

r e alizing he cannot win the war any time soon, p u tin aims to hunker down and drag out the fighting in the hope that Western support for Kyiv eventually frays, Nixey said.

r u ssia’s strategy is designed around “getting the West to crumble,” he said.

A make-or-break period may lie ahead: If Kyiv fails to make progress on the battlefield with its Westernsupplied weapons, allies may become reluctant to send it more of the expensive hardware.

The stakes are high: Defeat for u k raine would “have global ramifications, and there will be no such thing as European security as we [currently] understand it,” Nixey said. Associated Press Writer Yuras Karmanau in Tallinn, Estonia, contributed to this report.

China is ready to work with Malaysia and other Southeast asian nations to speed up consultation for a South China Sea code of conduct, Xinhua reported, citing Premier Li Qiang.

nnsylvania and New York.

reported from Little Rock. Associated Press writers around the country contributed to this report, including Kimberlee Kruesi in Adamsville, Tennessee; Harm Venhuizen in Belvidere, Illinois, and Corey Williams in Detroit

In this image taken from video, Chinese Premier Li Qiang speaks at the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia in Boao in southern China’s Hainan Province on March 30, 2023. AP Photo/DA k e kA n g

The World

Israeli police fatally shoot man at Jerusalem’s most sacred site

By Isabel Debre The Associated Press

JERUSALEM—Israeli police shot and killed a man who they alleged tried to snatch an officer’s gun at an entrance to a Jerusalem holy site early Saturday, raising fears of further violence during a time of heightened tensions at the flashpoint compound.

Later Saturday, the Israeli military said a Palestinian driver rammed his vehicle

into a group of Israelis in the occupied West Bank. Israeli medics said three people were wounded, two seriously, and the alleged attacker was shot dead.

In Jerusalem’s police shooting, Palestinian worshippers at the entrance to the site on Saturday morning had a different account, saying that police shot the man at least 10 times after he tried to prevent them from harassing a woman who was on her way to the holy compound, home to Al-Aqsa Mosque in the heart of Jerusalem’s Old City—the

third holiest shrine in Islam. The compound, revered by Jews as the Temple Mount, is also the most sacred site in Judaism.

The police said the slain man was 26-year-old Mohammed Alasibi from Hura, a Bedouin Arab village in southern Israel. The village council called for a thorough investigation of his killing and a general strike Saturday in protest.

Hours after the incident, the muddy stone alleyway leading to Al-Aqsa Mosque was still stained with blood. Alasibi’s fam -

ily said he was a physician who had recently passed his exams and earned his M.D. in Romania. He returned to his hometown a month ago, his cousin said, and was caring for his sick father as he worked to get certified in Israel.

“He is a polite, kind man from a family of doctors who was going to Al-Aqsa for spiritual reasons,” his cousin Fahad Alasibi said. “If you want us to believe that he tried to attack police, then show us the security footage.”

A police spokesperson pushed back on Palestinian accounts, insisting there was no woman walking to the compound at midnight because the complex was closed to visitors under an agreement with an Islamic trust called the Waqf controlled by Jordan.

Nonetheless, a few dozen people have been trying to sleep at the mosque overnight during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, prompting Israeli police to intervene and try to evict the worshippers.

The police spokesperson said Alasibi first

aroused suspicion walking toward the shuttered compound. After being stopped for questioning, the spokesperson said Alasibi jumped on one of the officers and grabbed his gun, managing to fire two bullets toward policemen as the officer struggled to restrain him. Police described the incident as an attempted terrorist attack and said they shot and killed him in self-defense. No officers were injured. The spokesperson said there was no camera on the inner wall of the compound that could have captured the incident.

USA: A wounded lion?

editorial I

T may not be “politically correct” to say it, but capitalism is one the most cooperative of human endeavors. Competition is an essential part of a capitalist economy.

There is good reason to believe that capitalism is, or at least can be, an evil social and economic force. Since the 1980s in the US, the share of American wealth owned (19 percent) by the top 0.1 percent is now greater than the share of wealth (13 percent) owned by the bottom 80 percent. The top 1 percent owns nearly 40 percent of all wealth.

Feudalism was killed, and capitalism was created in the aftermath of the bubonic plague from 1346 to 1353. With perhaps 30 percent of Europe’s population dead, employers had to compete with higher wages to attract workers. Competition is a fundamental part of a capitalist economy. It forces businesses to transform, compete, and ultimately provides consumers with less expensive and higher quality products. When a business does not effectively compete, it dies.

In 1588, the British Navy defeated the Spanish Armada and created a colonialization monopoly. Britain’s colony “competitors” were confined mostly to Africa. While just a silly intellectual exercise, what would the world look like today if the 65 countries that were part of this empire had been able to “free market” choose which country to be a colony of, if at all?

Governments facilitated colonization. Likewise, national and global wealth inequality is not the result of free-market capitalism and competition but by governments expediting and promoting the dominance of finance (hyper-financialization) and corporate self-interest (hyperglobalization).

All this has implications on modern geopolitics.

We think of the Cold War as this monumental battle between the US and the USSR. The USSR never stood a chance. The US held a monopoly on food and technology. Two years of poor harvest in 1971-1972 put that nation on the brink of famine, forcing them to buy 10 million short tons of grain from the US.

Soviet technology was geared to advances for its military while the US was developing consumer products. By 1986, roughly 25 percent of US households owned a microwave oven, from only about 1 percent in 1971. Three personal computers, the Apple II, PET 2001 and TRS-80 were all released in 1977, leading to an explosion of low-cost “home computers” that sold millions of units in the early 1980s. Only one-third of Soviet plants with over 500 workers had access to a mainframe computer in 1984, compared to nearly 100 percent in the US.

Fast-forward to the 21st century and we find that the US no longer has a monopoly on almost anything. For example, domestic television manufacturers employed 130,000 in 1966 and today less than 20,000 are making televisions.

The US was not willing to compete with the world in the free market and did not innovate particularly in its manufacturing techniques, which made off-shore products both of higher quality and less expensive. No more economic monopoly.

“White House says sanctions against Uganda possible over antigay law.” “Israel responded defiantly to criticism from President Biden over its government’s judicial overhaul plan, declaring that Israel was a sovereign country that would make its own decisions.” A bill has been filed in the US “To suspend the provision of security assistance to the Philippines until the Government of the Philippines has made certain reforms to the military and police forces.”

“A wounded lion is more dangerous than a hungry one. He runs after his prey not to satisfy his hunger but to gratify his anger.”

The depth of our water problems

RISING SUN

LAST week, Maynilad announced that starting this April, there will be longer daily service interruptions to save water in the Angat-Ipo system. It’s summer and they say El Niño is to blame. Everyone else is wondering why, when summer and even El Niño should be expected annually, the water service company is not able to prepare adequately for the inevitable. Aside from that, even during rainy days, there have been daily service interruptions in many of the areas they serve. It would be best to find a longer-term solution to this problem.

On the global front, the first UN Water Conference after 46 years took place in New York on March 22 to 24. Titled the “The United Nations Conference on the Midterm Comprehensive Review of the Implementation of the Objectives of the International Decade for Action ‘Water for Sustainable Development,’ (2018-2028),” the conference aimed to raise awareness about the global water crisis. The goal

was for the participants to be able to decide on ways to achieve the internationally agreed objectives and come up with solutions for the crises of “too much water,” such as storms and floods; “too little water,” such as droughts and water scarcity; and “too dirty water,” such as polluted water. Our global water system is in crisis. Billions of people lack access to safe and clean water; we know that

Our global water system is in crisis. Billions of people lack access to safe and clean water; we know that so well even here in the Philippines. Since the first UN Water Conference in 1977, the world population has doubled. Demand for water rose alongside the increase in population. According to the UN, the UN 2023 Water Conference is “the most important water event” in a generation.

so well even here in the Philippines. Since the first UN Water Conference in 1977, the world population has doubled. Demand for water rose alongside the increase in population. According to the UN, the UN 2023 Water Conference is “the most important water event” in a generation.

More than 10,000 people took part virtually or in person. There were 713 voluntary commitments filed by non-goverment organizations, governments, businesses, universities, and organizations like

Unicef. These were collected into what is now being called the Water Action Agenda. There were many small pledges and few huge plans. Some of the themes that came up were the push for “nature-based solutions,” the need for inclusive management, and finance or how to fund the cause. The latter is linked to good governance and the effective use of funding.

Realistically, the world’s problems related to water will take much more than three days of speeches and presentations to solve. Everybody knows that, and so the conference participants left the meeting with hope and enthusiasm. They voted to create the position of UN Special Envoy for Water, to facilitate the conversation within the UN system, and to call regular high-level meetings to talk about water.

How might we translate the learnings from this conference to fuel our own local water projects? How can we emphasize the sense of urgency and inspire everyone—from the public to private sector, communities down to individuals—to take steps now, before it’s too late?

Biden and his 2024 campaign: Waiting for some big decisions

By Zeke Miller & Will Weissert The Associated Press

WASHINGTON—President Joe Biden has all but announced he’s running for reelection, but key questions about the 2024 campaign are unresolved: Who will manage it? Where will it be based? When will he finally make it official?

Advisers have long said he planned to wait until after March, when the year’s first fundraising period wraps up. That was an effort to help manage expectations because many donors who gave generously to Democratic causes during last fall’s elections were looking for a break.

But an announcement isn’t imminent even now, aides insist, and probably won’t come until at least after Biden returns from an expected trip to Ireland in mid-April.

Working on his own timeline could counter Biden’s low approval ratings and questions about his age—the 80-year-old would turn 86 before the end of a second term. It also means Biden won’t be hurried by pressure from former President Donald Trump, who’s already announced his 2024 campaign, or other top Republicans who may enter the race, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis or former Vice President Mike Pence.

“He’s earned the luxury of making the timetable,” said Brad Ban-

non, a Democratic strategist in Washington. “The longer he can keep this thing focused on his duties in the White House, and less about the campaign backand-forth, the better off he’s going to be.”

That said, Biden aides are mindful that Trump has been indicted for his role in the payment of hush money to a porn actor, and they say Biden will look to time his announcement to a point when he won’t share the political spotlight with the man he beat in the 2020 election.

Biden’s inner political circle is ready to begin executing on the campaign’s strategy from Day One and sees no drawbacks to the president taking his time. Biden faces no significant Democratic challenger for the nomination. The self-help guru Marianne Williamson is the sole contender at this point in the primary race.

It will also be up to Biden to decide where next year’s Democratic National Convention is held

Biden’s inner political circle is ready to begin executing on the campaign’s strategy from Day One and sees no drawbacks to the president taking his time. Biden faces no significant Democratic challenger for the nomination. The self-help guru Marianne Williamson is the sole contender at this point in the primary race.

among the three finalist cities of Atlanta, Chicago and New York. But with the logistical groundwork mostly laid, there is little pressure for that decision until the president is ready to make it, organizers say.

Much of the reelection effort will be run from the White House, where Biden’s most senior advisers are expected to remain. Still, the campaign manager and top staff will be responsible for raising vast sums of money, reaching millions of voters and making the case for Biden at Americans’ doors and online while he is still occupied with governing.

One top Biden adviser, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a reelection campaign that hasn’t yet been announced, noted that Biden’s 2020 bid was a $1.7 billion operation and that the effort this time would be

larger. The adviser said a key will be finding “validators,” or nonWashington voices who can spread the campaign’s message at a time when many people have lost faith in everything political.

Aides and allies are discussing how to build the appropriate 2024 race infrastructure. The circumstances are different from 2020 for Biden, whose race then was conducted while the country was largely shut down by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The political environment is different, too, as technological and cultural shifts have continued to change how people communicate.

Biden’s advisers are preparing a new model of campaigning fit for the moment to activate his base and identify and woo the persuadable center—essentially a customized communication strategy for each target voter.

Aba Blankson, chief marketing and communications officer for the NAACP, said her organization is nonpartisan but found success mobilizing Black voters—an important part of Biden’s base— before last November’s elections using similarly targeted political messaging. That included text messages, radio ads and knocking on doors to promote “peer-topeer” organizing in areas capable

Atty. Jose Ferdinand M. Rojas II

Pagcor eyes ₧80 billion from sale of its casinos

LITO GAGNI

PhiliPPine Amusement and gaming Corp. (Pagcor) Chairman and CeO Alejandro h Tengco hit the ground running, so to speak, with the way he revisited the gaming agency’s policies with a view to improving governance and transparency issues while seeing to it that it continues to level up its income stream that helps in the government’s need for revenues.

Currently the third revenueearner for the country after the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Bureau of Customs, Pagcor under Tengco has focused on the need for the gaming agency to get its hands off the operation of its own casinos since there is a transparency and governance issue between that of Pagcor as the regulator and Pagcor as the operator of the casinos.

This just goes to show that Tengco is intent on resolving the issue as it can be likened to having a so-called China wall in the finance world, a term that clearly addresses issues on conflict of interest. By resolving to preside over Pagcor with such transparency and governance issues in mind, Tengco will be able to attract the kind of investments that the country needs and thereby allow the government to weather the kind of financial turbulence that has rocked the West’s banking world.

The evolving stories from the collapse of Credit Suisse, a venerable Swiss banking institution, where hedge fund losses and its banking deals with a cocaine ring were exposed by US senators, no similar thing will happen during Tengco’s watch for being a stickler for transparency. This is why the Philippine gaming agency has seen a huge increase in its bottom line, from just P203 million in end-2021 to P4.5 billion in end-2022.

For this year, there is much optimism that Pagcor will be able to hit its revenue targets with the reopening of the economy that saw foot traffic restored to pre-pandemic levels in restaurants, which even saw the successful holding of concerts with full-packed capacity in the Philippine Arena.

In fact, Pagcor seeks to attain P244.84 billion in gross gaming revenues for this year. This is what the gaming agency submitted as its target to the Governance Commission for GOCCs or government-owned or -controlled corporations.

The said amount, which it submitted to the Governance Commission as its Performance Scorecard for 2023, is 33.13 percent higher than its gross gaming revenue target of P183.9 billion last year, up by P60.9 billion. Tengco is optimistic on attaining this target given the opening of the Philippine borders to local and foreign tourists.

“Since the lockdowns were eased

Biden

continued from A8

of swinging pivotal races.

“I think his timing is what his timing is,” Bankson said. “But, for us, it is an every-year reality.”

The choice of Biden’s campaign headquarters has been narrowed to Philadelphia, the 2020 location, and Wilmington, Delaware, where his home is and where the president spends many weekends away from the White House. While Biden tends to prefer Delaware on all matters, some top Democrats worry that recruiting top campaign talent to Wilmington will be difficult.

The Biden adviser downplayed

The Pace of Grace

Siegfred Bueno Mison, Esq.

THE PATRIOT

Running a marathon is a test of both physical and mental stamina. Compared to engaging in a sprint, participating in a marathon entails endurance and a concerted effort for that lengthy footrace run. it involves both patience and pace. The same can be said about one’s quest for justice.

as Immigration Commissioner, and conceivably, he resumed his usual pace of work—not only fast and furious but also firm and serious. After all, at the stage of his career, public service for Tan5 is no longer about personal glory but for country and legacy. The “in and out” episodes of Tan5 in the Bureau of Immigration made him appreciate the value of a good pace.

in the country late last year and gaming venues reopened, customer confidence slowly returned and the attendance in our owned casinos slowly improved,” Tengco said, adding that its own casinos recorded a major revenue growth.

For context on the extent of the upswing in the casinos due to the easing in the lockdown rules, Solaire, owned by listed company Bloomberry Resorts, posted net earnings of P5 billion last year, a reversal from its net loss of P4.2 billion the year before. That came from gross gaming revenues of P50.1 billion, 81 percent higher than its P27.6 billion revenues in 2021. Bloomberry said that total GGR has recovered to 84 percent of the 2019 level, propelled mainly by the largely domestic mass tables and Electronic Gaming Machines segments.

This just goes to show that the target of Pagcor of raising P80 billion from the sale of its own casinos is within the ballpark estimates given the kind of revenues that came about following the opening of the economy. This P80 billion price tag for the Pagcor casinos will mean more help that the gaming agency can do for the government’s assistance to the distressed sectors such as the fishermen affected by the massive oil spill in Mindoro.

It is heartwarming to know the way Tengco wants to be graded based on the scorecard of his commitment to the Governance Commission. As cited in its 2023 Performance Scorecard: “100 percent payment of mandatory contributions to recipient agencies; attainment of P1.022 billion net income [less income tax]; and 98 percent collection efficiency of license and regulatory fees from Pagcor’s regulated gaming entities.”

Also, Pagcor seeks to “retain its ISO:9001:2015 certification; 100 percent attainment of 2023 deliverables; 100 percent completion of transactions within the prescribed period; revision of the agency’s Board-approved Competency Framework; and establishment of competency baseline for employees.”

the importance of choosing between the two immediately. And Biden waited until weeks after the start of his 2020 campaign to announce that he had settled on Philadelphia, making a commitment to an important battleground state.

More challenging has been filling the job of campaign manager. Some potential candidates view it as a thankless task, with so much of the decision-making confined to the White House, though the adviser said whomever is ultimately chosen will be empowered with wide latitude to run 2024.

Jen O’Malley Dillon, Biden’s 2020 campaign manager, is now a deputy White House chief of staff and plans to remain in her job.

For those who were victims of Martial Law for instance, waiting and working for that moment of rectitude and recompense is like running a long-distance race. Especially since it took a long time for the Philippine government to pass a law to allow for reparations for the wrong done against them. I can say the same thing for those left behind seeking justice against extrajudicial killings, supposedly committed under the Duterte administration. Whether justice can be attained, not only by way of an ICC investigation, the wrongdoers will have their judgment day yet possibly only after lengthy delays.

W hether the crime occurs with the complicity of policemen (Delfin Britanico in Iloilo, 2020) or as gruesome as in politically motivated killings (Roel Degamo in Negros, 2023, supposedly 99 percent solved), the families seeking justice should arm themselves with a marathon-like pacing and endurance. Soon after the commission of these crimes, the justice seekers are expectedly impatient, owing to the typical turtle pace of the wheels of justice in this country. Over time, they either become patiently strategic or run out

of resources realizing that our overburdened justice system cannot just keep up with the pace of the complainants. Not even the creation of new courts by Congress or judicial reforms from the Supreme Court can change the slow pace of the resolution of these crimes. Meaningful changes take time, similar to runners who change their regimen to prepare for a marathon. It takes a good pace.

In all aspects in our lives, we need to embrace a good pace. When it comes to pacing, Immigration

Commissioner Norman Tansingco is no stranger to this at all. Soon after he joined the Bureau under the leadership of then Commissioner Marcelino Libanan, Atty. Tansingco, fondly known as Tan5, ran a sprint in terms of instituting reforms in a graft-ridden agency. His pace, however, slowed down when Commissioner Libanan left the Bureau to join Congress in 2010. In 2014, Tan5 picked up the pace again as he and I decided to be part of the game-changing team. When I left in 2016, Tan5 eventually “rested” and resumed his private law practice, as part of his pacing. In 2022, his “rest” was disrupted as he was appointed

Tele-tax-novela

T hrough it all, a marathon and a sprint mirror for us this certainty that all people, myself included, are wired to control the pace in our lives—which pace is influenced by society. The element of control persists given that we were accorded the gift of free will. And most often, we struggle to reach that particular finish line and get burned out in the process. The lesson that can be learned from this is that for every mission in life, we are not always given a time stamp. And our skills or capacities alone will never get us hit the target. The point is, our mental orientation should be following God’s timing and methods. As one writer succinctly puts it, “If we don’t keep in step with His [God’s] purposes on a daily basis, we can get ahead of Him and quicken our pace according to our own understanding and desire. If we assume our level of expertise or spiritual gifts will be enough, we will quickly burn out if we are not following His grace.”

L ooking back, I knew that my professional pace wasn’t aligned with His plan since I was not at peace. I achieved much yet the peace I needed seem unattainable. These days, the best pace is to follow Jesus’ cadence—“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” ( Matthew 11:29). Taking on Jesus’ yoke

Joel L. Tan-Torres

DEBIT CREDIT

Part three

The “Official Receipts for Sale” tele-tax-novela continues. i continue the chronicle of the other characters, starting with the masterminds. They are the brains of this syndicate involved in the intricate process of fabricating ORs and other business documents that are to be sold to buyers and businesses for tax evasion purposes. These masterminds derive millions of pesos from selling these fake ORs, which, from my sources, fetch a price of around 2 percent of the face value of the amount indicated in the ORs.

From these sources, coming from both “Marites” friends and retired and active BIR officials, these ORs for sale syndicates have been going on for some years already in various parts of the country. My research of tax court records shows that there have been cases previously filed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) against taxpayers who were investigated to have used fake ORs bearing the names of fictitious suppliers in claiming business deductions from their income. One such case involves Tyco

Many potential candidates have expressed interest in the campaign manager position, but among those on the short list are Julie Chavez Rodriguez, director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs and a deputy campaign manager of Biden’s 2020 campaign, and Sam Cornale, executive director of the Democratic National Committee.

Quentin Fulks, campaign manager for Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock’s reelection victory last fall, has been mentioned.

Biden led Democrats to a stronger than expected midterm performance in 2022 by urging voters to reject “extreme” adherents to Trump’s “Make America Great Again” movement.

Information Solutions Inc. This company was convicted by both the Supreme Court (G.R. Nos. 24142223) and the Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) Case No. 8592) in using these bogus ORs as tax deductions and credits in their tax returns as early as 2006. With the passage of time since these masterminds had been operating, apparently undeterred, the government has lost billions of pesos of tax revenues from these nefarious practices. According to the estimate of BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui, the government

So bringing in an outsider who ran successful Democratic campaigns last fall is a possibility. But party leaders acknowledge that breaking into Biden’s famously tight inner circle has at times been challenging.

An exception is O’Malley Dillon, who was a late 2020 entrant to Biden’s orbit after leading former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke’s failed presidential bid. Trump hasn’t named a campaign manager despite announcing his candidacy months ago. But others aren’t waiting to staff up.

Republican Nikki Haley, Trump’s UN ambassador and a former South Carolina governor, picked Betsy Ankney, executive

means we recognize that He is the master of our lives—equipping us towards the direction He tells us to go. As to whether I know I am following Jesus, I struggle physically but I feel comfort spiritually for the reward is far greater than the suffering. When we take on the yoke of Jesus, every part of our lives, the pace is centered on Him. The Pace of Grace encourages us to enjoy every step along the route, “stopping long enough to see where the Holy Spirit is leading us next.” The Pace of Grace is allowing our minds and hearts to be at rest, giving ourselves time to listen to God’s instructions instead of being in haste. Not that being in a hurry is a bad thing, but for as long as this hasty pace deters us from submitting to His grace, then we will never accomplish the purpose for which we have been created.

We are at His pace and His grace is within us when we receive His peace in everything we do. His pace is a tempo that all believers can use in every aspect of their lives, literally, as in the case of justice seekers and, professionally, as in the case of Commissioner Tan5. So let’s start pacing ourselves, trusting in God’s perfect timing and methods, and consider our assignment here on earth as a marathon and not a sprint.

A former infantry and intelligence officer in the Army, Siegfred Mison showcased his servant leadership philosophy in organizations such as the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Malcolm Law Offices, Infogix Inc., University of the East, Bureau of Immigration, and Philippine Airlines. He is a graduate of West Point in New York, Ateneo Law School, and University of Southern California. A corporate lawyer by profession, he is an inspirational teacher and a Spirit-filled writer with a mission. For questions and comments, please e-mail me at sbmison@gmail.com.

has been losing taxes amounting to around P25 billion for taxable years 2019 to 2021 from the fraudulent transactions from the four companies named as respondents in the criminal cases filed by the BIR in March 2023. This indeed is tax evasion and malpractice at its very worst.

Now comes the “Master” of the masterminds. Beginning with the raid conducted by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation(NBI) at the office of this “Master” mastermind in November 2022, the government enforcement offices are now vigorously pursuing the investigation and eventual prosecution of this individual. Said “Master” mastermind is also the subject of a manhunt by the NBI for his arrest on charges of drug smuggling, and an investigation by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and the Securities and Exchange Commission for allegations of irregular financial transactions of one of his companies.

This “Master” mastermind is the alleged owner of several businesses, including a major esports organization engaged in electronic gaming in the Asian region, a cargo shipping company, an online company catering to people playing to earn digital gems that they can

director of Haley’s Stand for America political action committee, to manager her presidential campaign. The super PAC linked to DeSantis brought on former Trump aide Matt Wolking and strategist Jeff Roe, the architect of Texas Sen. Ted Cruz’s 2016 presidential campaign and Republican Glenn Youngkin winning campaign for Virginia governor in 2021.

Even with the unanswered questions about his campaign structure, the outlines of Biden’s pitch to voters are forming.

From the State of the Union address in February to speeches to donors, the president has begun making the case that Americans should let him “finish the job” he started. He’s also tried framing the

use to pay for goods or services at participating stores, and the company whose office was raided by the NBI for printing and selling the fake ORs. I am wondering whether this “Master” mastermind is paying dutifully his tax obligations for his legitimate and illegitimate businesses.

I am also keenly awaiting the outcome of the BIR’s and other enforcement agencies’ investigation and prosecution of these “Master” masterminds and other masterminds who may be proliferating out there. How long will this teletax-novela tickle our interest and attention? Will this tax novela be a long-playing series or will this end abruptly (and surprisingly)?

Let us await the twists and turns of this enthralling story.

To be continued.

Joel L. Tan-Torres was the former Dean of the University of the Philippines Virata School of Business. Previously, he was the Commissioner of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, the chairman of the Professional Regulatory Board of Accountancy, and partner of Reyes Tacandong & Co. and the SyCip Gorres and Velayo & Co. He is a Certified Public Accountant who garnered No. 1 in the CPA Board Examination of May 1979. He is now back to his tax practice with his firm JL2T Consulting. He can be contacted at joeltantorress@yahoo.com

race as a choice between himself and “MAGA Republicans” who, he argues, will undermine the nation’s core values.

Biden has spent recent months traveling to promote what he sees as his administration’s key policy accomplishments, including a bipartisan public works package, and plans more of the same going forward. That would let him use this year to test political messaging that can best resonate in 2024, aides said.

This

P80 billion

price tag for the Pagcor casinos will mean more help that the gaming agency can do for the government’s assistance to the distressed sectors such as the fishermen affected by the massive oil spill in Mindoro.

A10 Monday, April 3, 2023

DTI: PHL weighing impact of joining CPTPP accord

By Andrea E. San Juan

gain at $11 billion.

A ccording to ADB, joining the CPTPP will improve the Philippines’s global reach, with exports seen growing by $27 million whlie the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which the country recently ratified, could bring in an addition of $12 billion.

C PTPP is a free trade agreement (FTA) among Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, New Zealand, Singapore and Vietnam. It was signed on March 8, 2018 in Santiago, Chile.

INTEGRATED PERMITS SETUP IN ENERGY PROJECTS RUSHED

By Lenie Lectura @llectura

We are now in the process of evaluating the impact of joining the Agreement,” Pascual told the BusinessMirror in a Viber message on Friday, noting that the Philippines remains interested in joining the regional trade bloc.

T he Trade chief said the process includes evaluation of the country’s existing “legal regime” with regard to commitments or obligations of CPTPP parties.

But in the meantime, Pascual said, “we already made an initial inquiry on the process of accession.”

C iting estimates by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), a BusinessMirror report last Thursday noted that if the Philippines joins the CPTPP, the country’s gains could reach $15 billion by 2027.

T he Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand have already indicated their interest to join the regional trade bloc but are not yet members to date. Of the three Asean economies, Thailand is expected to see the biggest gain—$20 billion—while Indonesia, the least

I n 2021, Trade Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo confirmed that the Philippines signified interest to join the CPTPP and wrote to New Zealand, the depository country of the FTA.

R odolfo then identified five target export products that the DTI would like to secure in the deal: automotive parts, garments, agricultural commodities, processed agricultural products and plant-based meat alternatives, and electronics.

M eanwhile, Bloomberg reported last Friday that the United

Kingdom will join the 11-nation free-trade bloc, making them “the first new member since its creation, in a bid to strengthen economic ties with new partners following divorce from the European Union.”

A ccording to the Bloomberg report, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said in a statement, “Joining the CPTPP trade bloc puts the UK at the center of a dynamic and growing group of Pacific economies, as the first new nation and first European country to join.”

He added that it represented “real economic benefits of our postBrexit freedoms.”

Membership will eventually ensure zero-tariff trade across a range of import and export sectors, with greater UK access to Mexico, Canada and Japan for dairy exports, and a boost to Britain’s automotive and alcohol industries, particularly through the export of spirits to Malaysia,” the Bloomberg report stated.

“ Tariffs will also be reduced on imports of bananas from Peru, rice from Vietnam, crab sticks from Singapore and palm oil from Malaysia,” the report also noted.

ENERGY Secretary Raphael P.M. Lotilla reiterated over the weekend the importance of an integrated permitting process involving energy-related projects.

With heightened investor interest in energy projects, it is crucial to speed up the  contactless processes and approvals for the benefit of the people and the host  communities,” Lotilla said.

H is statement comes after Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin directed national government agencies (NGAs) and local government units (LGUs) to closely coordinate with the Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), and AntiRed Tape Authority (ARTA) to streamline their permitting processes and requirements for energy projects and integrate the same into the Energy Virtual One Stop Shop (EVOSS) System.

B ersamin directed ARTA to develop a model or an ordinance for adoption by LGUs, including the integration of the national

Time to ‘seriously heed’ issues raised in EC audit

OFFICIALS from the Executive branch and Congress hailed at the weekend the European Commission’s decision to extend EU recognition of certificates issued by the Philippines to seafarers, allowing some 50,000 of the latter to keep boarding EUflagged ships. However, they conceded the need to “seriously heed” the reminder in the notice, to keep addressing six deficiencies earlier flagged in an EC audit.

T he Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) noted in a statement that “the extension comes with conditions for the PH to meet and comply with its commitments to improve the process and implementation of the  Philippine maritime education, training and certification [METC] system.”

DFA added: “The Philippines has viewed the inspections, verifications and evaluations conducted by the European Commission, through the European Maritime Safety Agency [EMSA], constructively, and is firm in its commitment to meet the same, mindful that these are in the interest of ensuring the best possible conditions for Philippine seafarers looking to serve on EU flag vessels.”

T he Philippines, said DFA, “appreciates the continued engagement and the offer of technical assistance from the European Commission in helping ensure that the challenges in the implementation of the STCW Convention 1978, as amended, can be overcome.”

For her part, Sen. Grace Poe said EU’s recognition of certificates for Filipino seafarers “is a crucial decision that will keep them onboard ships” at a “turbulent period of the global economy.”

However, she stressed that since “Filipino seafarers remain the preferred choice in the EU region, we should embark on continuous skills training to increase the viability of our workers.”

T he government and private sector should step up efforts to use the period allowed by the EU to boost training and seriously heed the issues raised by the European Maritime Safety Agency, Poe added.

energy plans into the local development plans, and establish a unified and streamlined permitting process to enable LGUs to maximize the benefits from hosting energy projects.

T he Executive Secretary also directed member agencies to designate a point  person to lead in instituting compliance with the EVOSS System, including the monitoring and timely submission of electronic documents.

L otilla said the DOE-Investment Promotions Office (DOEIPO), acting as the EVOSS Secretariat, has been working with member agencies to identify roadblocks and changes in permitting processes, including setting and tracking timeline goals and encouraging online payment system.

T he DOE-IPO has also been facilitating investor concerns for the energy sector.

T he DOE and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) issued Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2020-01, which directs LGUs to implement unified, streamlined, and transparent permitting processes and corresponding fees and incorporate the same into the EVOSS system.

Continued on A4

S ome 50,000 Filipino seafarers employed by European-flagged vessels got a reprieve after the EC decided to continue recognizing their safety certifications issued by Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), which was notified of the decision late Friday.

T he EC Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport said the Philippine government showed “serious efforts to comply with the requirements” of the international standards on basic safety training courses.

T he Philippines is the largest maritime labor supplier in the world, with 345,000 deployed in 2022. They remitted around US$6.7 billion or around P341 billion in 2022.

O f these seafarers, around 50,000 are masters, officers and crew on board cargo ships, cruise ships, yachts and other vessels of Greece, Norway, Germany and Malta. Industry estimates that one in every five foreign seafarers on EU-flagged vessels is a Filipino.

T he European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) carried out an inspection of the maritime education, training and certification system of the Philippines for its seafarers between February 24 to March 12, 2020.

According to its December 20, 2021 audit report, EMSA found “deficiencies” in the compliance of the Philippines with the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping(STCW) Convention.

T he chairman of the House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs said the European Commission’s decision to continue recognizing the certificates for Filipino seafarers “also reflects the efforts of the Philippine government in ensuring compliance of the country’s maritime education and training with the standards set by the International Maritime Organization [IMO].”

K abayan Rep. Ron Salo, in a statement said the decision of the European Commission is a testament to the competence and efficiency of our seafarers and the quality of training and education they have received.  Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz, Butch Fernandez

SC rulings must figure in new China talks’

SEN. Francis N. Tolentino prodded the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to carefully study the government’s plan to have another round of exploratory talks with the People’s Republic of China.    Before entering into another partnership with the Asian superpower, Tolentino said the DFA should consider the 2016 Hague Arbitral ruling as well as the recent Supreme Court decision which invalidated and declared unconstitutional the 2005 Tripartite Agreement for Joint Marine Seismic Undertaking (JMSU).

“Dapat po siguro yung pakikipagusap o gagawing pakikipag-usap sa People’s Republic of China ng DFA, eh isaalang-alang itong desisyon ng Supreme Court... at isaalang-alang din yung nilalaman ng ating Saligang Batas base po sa ating karapatan sa ating exclusive economic zone [Perhaps the planned engagement with China by DFA should consider this SC decision...and consider as well what our Constitution says based on our experience with our exclusive economic zone],” Tolentino, vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, said in a radio interview over the weekend.

He recalled that the 2016 Arbitral Ruling basically invalidated China’s “nine-dash line” claim—the basis of their supposed militaristic expansion in the entire South China Sea region, including the zone along the West Philippine Sea—as well as the SC decision of the Supreme Court in January voiding the JMSU between the governments of the Philippines, China and Vietnam.

The lawmaker likewise  stressed that any new agreement between the Philippines and China should comply with the provisions enshrined under the 1987 Constitution before planning to undertake any joint exploration of mineral seabed resources within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ)—which was also mentioned in the 2016 Arbitral Ruling.

THE Philippines is now in the process of evaluating the impact of joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), according to Trade Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual.

‘Arbitral,

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

Companies

B1

Monday, April 3, 2023

PHL median mobile speed dips slightly in Feb–Ookla

By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

According to Ookla’s latest report on the Philippines, the country’s median broadband speed increased to 90.03Mbps in February from 88.13Mbps the month before. Average fixed broadband speed settled at 142.57Mbps.

Mobile median speed slightly dipped as the country yielded a

download speed of 24.58Mbps from 24.59Mbps in January. Average mobile speed registered at 58.66Mbps. National te lecommunications Commission (N tC) Commissioner Ella Blanca B. Lopez said the agency is focused on “ensuring improvement of internet speed… as the country fasttracks its digitization.”

“We are also happy that Elon Musk’s Starlink is also now available in the country to give Filipinos in underserved and unserved areas fast and reliable internet,” she said.

Starlink officially launched its commercial services last month. Starlink—the satellite network developed and operated by SpaceX that is owned by multibillionaire Elon Musk—is also now being used in the Philippines to address the connectivity gap in isolated areas, especially for education and local governance.

t h e Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) announced over the weekend that Starlink is part of the agency’s Introducing Non-Geostationary Satellite Constellations test Deployment to Improve Internet Services

Commercial operations of Linseed LNG terminal could start in May–Ang

LNG trading.

By Lenie Lectura @llectura

(Incentivise) Project, the agency said in a news release.

PhilSA launched the Incentivise open call in October 2021 with the aim of focusing on the space segment and emerging space technologies in order to address the digital divide in the country.

t he agency is implementing the project with the Department of Science and technology’s Advanced Science and technology Institute, and in collaboration with the USAID-Better Access and Connectivity.

So far, Starlink kits have been installed by PhilSA in Barangay Apad, Jomalig, Quezon province, and in Barangay Dikapanikian, Dingalan, Aurora, which are among the geographically-isolated and disadvantaged areas in the Philippines.

‘Mabilo mine permits only for MLEDC’

Mt. Labo Exploration and Development Corp.

(MLEDC) said it is the sole permittee of the Mabilo Gold Project in Camarines Norte Province.

t he company said that based on Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Mines and Geosciences Bureau (DENR-MGB) records, Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA) MLC MRDV-459, which refers to the Mabilo Gold Project, only pertains to the company.

t he Mabilo Gold Project is one of the major traditional gold mining centers in the Philippines. t he area is easily accessed from the nearby town of Labo, using a 15-kilometer all-weather road.

MLEDC said the DENR further certified that the MPSA was “issued by the DENR solely under the name of Mt. Labo Exploration and Development Corporation.”

STOCK-MARKET OUTLOOK

Last week

Share prices fell last week, with the main index returning to the 6,400-point level, as investors decided to do their quarterend profit-taking amid uncertainties in the global markets.

The benchmark Philippine Stock exchange index fell 102.49 points to close the first quarter at 6,499.68 points. at the start of the week, it looked liked the main index could sustain its upward momentum. however, it lost steam on Friday when it fell by 1.5 percent or 145.07 points.

Year-to-date, the main index is down 66.71 points from its high of 7,094.66 points. average daily volume was thin, only reaching a value of P4.34 billion. Foreign investors, which only accounted for 36 percent of the trades, were net buyers at P2.3 billion. all other sub-indices ended mixed. The broader all Shares index fell 23.35 points to 3,493.37 points, the Financials index rose 15.51 to 1,810.59, the Industrial index declined 110.49 to 9,401.23, the holding Firms index retreated 163.81 to 6,257.77, the Property index plunged 103.66 to 2,678.36, the Services index gained 25.10 to 1,663.55 and the Mining and Oil index surged 348.66 to 11,023.03. For the week, losers edged gainers 126 to 90 while 32 shares were unchanged.

Top gainers were Keppel Philippines Properties Inc., Keppel Philippines holdings Inc. B shares, Manila Broadcasting Co., Medco holdings Inc., Central azucarera de Tarlac Inc., Wilcon Depot Inc. and LFM Properties Corp.

t he company issued the statement in light of recent news announcing Galeo Equipment Corp. as a “co-permittee” of the Mabilo Gold Project. Provincial officials of Camarines Norte had hailed the decision of the DENR and MGB Region 5 granting co-permittee status to the Mabilo Project joint venture (JV) partners.

t he Provincial Board of Camarines Norte recently passed a resolution “expressing thanks and appreciation” to the DENR, particularly the MGB Panel of Arbitrators (POA), after resolving to declare Galeo Equipment Corp. as co-permittee and co-contractor to MLEDC under MPSA No. MLC-MRD-459.

t he decision recognized and gave importance to Provincial Ordinance No. 52-2017 enacted by the Provincial Board which states that in case there are JV partners in the mining projects within the province of Ca-

marines Norte, the said JV partners should be deemed as co-permittees to ensure accountability in the implementation of mining laws and ensure responsible mining within the province. However, MLEDC maintained its position as the sole permittee on the basis of an August 2020 arbitration ruling of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC).

SIAC ruled against Galeo and rejected its position to be recognized as a co-permittee in the project.

Galeo elevated the SIAC decision before the Singapore Commercial Court (SCC), but its appeal was denied.

MLEDC then filed for a Petition for Recognition of the SIAC ruling before the Regional tr ial Court in Makati City.

According to MLEDC, the basis of the proclamation that Galeo is a “co-permittee” in the Mabilo Gold Project is “unfounded” and “outright

Top losers, meanwhile, were Concrete aggregates Corp. B, Pacifica holdings Inc., Grand Plaza hotel Corp., Now Corp., Monde Nissin Corp., Centro escolar University and easycall Communications Philippines Inc.

this week

Share prices are expected to go sideways this week as investors will watch for clues for certain economic data, such as the employment and factory data in the United States and the March inflation data for the Philippines.

It will be a three-day trading week as it is a public holiday on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.

2Tradeasia said the March inflation figures, to be released this week, would be the most watched figure before trading ends as this would dictate the tone for monetary policy for the second quarter.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas is expecting inflation to slow down and fall within 8.2 percent and 7.4 percent.

“With local trading capped for three sessions due to the Lenten break, brace for thin volumes as lack of stronger catalysts encourage wait-and-see mode until after easter,” the broker said.

“Third liners and speculative are set to get the most out of generally fragile sentiments with possible windows for bargain hunting amid market’s state of flux.”

Shares of Upson International Corp., retailer of personal computers and information technology products, will be listed on the main board of the Philippine Stock exchange on Monday. This is expected to give a volume boost to the market.

Immediate support for the main index is seen at 6,400 points and resistance between 6,750 to 6,900 points.

stock picks

MaYBaNK Investment Banking Group has picked robinsons retail holdings Inc. (rrhI) as proxy for the retail market in the country as online buying declines.

In its research note hootsuite and Bain and Co. estimates that the Philippines had 69 million digital consumers, or those who have purchased from an online platform at least once. In 2022, Filipinos spent an average of P913 per month online for a combined P75.6 billion, down 5 percent from the previous year.

“The e-commerce industry in the Philippines is still in its nascent stages. Our top pick to play this theme is rrhI given exposure to both brick and mortar and e-commerce platforms,” the bank said.

“We are confident rrhI’s earnings growth trajectory will be stable, supported by its ability to deliver its store expansion target, strong brand equity and quality balance sheet.”

Shares of robinsons retail’s shares closed at P53.90 apiece.

Meanwhile, the bank advised clients to buy shares of GT Capital holdings Inc. as it expects contribution from commercial vehicles to further increase in 2023.

“We raise our 2023/2024 earnings forecasts by 3 percent and 10 percent to reflect our higher net income forecast for MBT [Metrobank], This raises our net asset value-based target price by 3 percent to P930.”

runs contrary to the aforementioned SIAC legal proceedings and certification of the DENR.” Jonathan L. Mayuga

LINSEED Field Power Corp.’s

liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in Batangas City is targeted for commissioning this week while its commercial operations may start next month.

t h e LNG import terminal project, estimated to cost some P14.6 billion, would utilize onshore regasification and storage utility supplemented with a floating storage unit.

It will have a capacity of 3 million tons per annum that will supply the requirements of the 1,200-megawatt (MW) Ilijan combined cycle power plant and the future projects of San Miguel Global Power Holdings Corp.

“Dumating na ang barko na may kargang LNG. Commissioning na starting next week. So, in a month tatakbo na,” said San Miguel Global Power President Ramon S. Ang last Friday.

Linseed will operate the LNG terminal. South Premier Power Corp. (SPPC), a unit of San Miguel Global Power, took over the Ilijan plant and will be in charge of the

“Umpisa na ng commissioning ng natural gas terminal next week. Siguro it will take a month. t h at can already fuel the 1,200 MW and the 1,300MW na dagdag na power plant capacity will be online next year. So, in total 2,500 MW iyan,” added Ang.

Sources said the country will receive its first LNG cargo in midApril this year. t h is will be used to commission the Batangas LNG te rminal in Batangas Bay, near Manila, which will be the country’s first operational LNG import terminal. In turn, the LNG power generation from the Ilijan plant is expected to significantly augment the net dependable capacity of the country in the face of a rapidly increasing demand.

Ang said he expects that Ilijan will be able to operate at full capacity in time for the hot dry season months.

Ilijan ceased operation in June last year after its gas supply and purchase agreement expired. With the operation of the Linseed’s LNG terminal, Ilijan can resume its operation to help provide the needed supply to powerhungry Luzon.

While the Philippines saw an increase in median broadband speed, its median mobile speed was flattish in February, data from Ookla showed.

No need for Congress OK for LBP-DBP merger, but...

By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

THE government plan to merge state banks Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) and the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) is entirely left by law to the President’s discretion; but nothing stops Congress from conducting hearings to thresh out issues that it deems relevant to the policy decision, according to current and former lawmakers.

Responding to a question by the BusinessMirror on the need for the Senate Committee on Banks to review the proposed merger, Minority Leader Martin “Koko” dL. Pimentel replied in the negative.

Pimentel said there’s “no need for review by the Senate Committee as a prior requirement for validity” but, “upon filing of a resolution, the planned merger of DBP and LBP can be heard by the Senate.”

For his part, former Senate President Franklin M. Drilon pointed out that the law rationalizing state corporations and financial institutions, enacted in the last Congress when he was still a sitting senator, changed the locus of authority.

“Ordinarily, the merger of GOCCs [government-owned and controlled corporations] created by law, such as LBP and DBP, requires the enactment of a law,” said Drilon. He explained that under the GOCC Governance law (Republic Act 10149), which he wrote and sponsored, the legislature delegated to the President the power to merge GOCCs created by law, such as the LBP and DBP.

“The power is with the President; no longer with Congress,” Drilon added.

Caution urged

MEANWHILE, Sen. Imee R. Marcos, who chairs the Committee on Economic Affairs, replied a simple “yes” to BusinessMirror’s query. She did not elaborate. However, in an earlier text message to BusinessMirror, Senator Marcos preached caution in proceeding with the planned merger, which her brother had opposed when he was senator, but now advocates as President.

Senator Marcos, in turn, reminded that the procedures pre-merger should be well thought out given the

disparate mandates of the two state banks, as dictated by their charters.

The merger of the two state banks, which had been floated in past years and recently raised anew by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., has drawn much attention owing to the fact that LBP and DBP are being eyed to be the main sources of seed funding for the planned Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF).

Citing the “long history” of merger attempts between state banks, Senator Marcos last week cited the need to “first clarify the procedure to be undertaken” in the merger.

The result of the merger should see the surviving entity adequately serving the functions of both LBP and the DBP, according to Marcos, replying to a query sent via SMS from the BusinessMirror.

Clarify procedure

SENATOR Marcos recalled that “talks of mergers of government banks have always been going, with UCPB [United Coconut Planters Bank] and LBP being the latest of these government mergers. LBP and DBP have a long history of merger attempts, with the latest in 2014 under EO 198.”

However, she added, “the Duterte administration halted the process, with then Secretary of Finance ‘Sonny’ [Carlos G.] Dominguez citing the need for any intended merger to pass thru Congress, given the distinct nature and purpose of each of these two banks.”

Senator Marcos stressed there is a need to “first clarify the procedure to be undertaken for the merger of the two state banks and be guaranteed that the surviving entity will adequately serve the functions of both LBP and DBP.”

The LBP was formed under RA 3844 in 1963, while the DBP, originally called the Rehabilitation Finance Corp., was created under RA 85. These, she noted, mean “two different laws with differing powers and functions.”

A similar word of caution was aired earlier by both Pimenntel and Deputy Minority Leader Ana Theresia “Risa” N. Hontiveros, who preached against rushing the merger given the disparate mandates of the two banks and their intended constituencies.

G-Xchange sees GCash dominance in fintech space

By VG Cabuag @villygc

EXECUTIVES of G-Xchange Inc.

remain optimistic that the firm’s digital financial transactions system “GCash” can continue on a growth trajectory over the year as the company further expands the application’s utility, such as the ability to buy stocks and to manage remittances of overseas Filipino workers.

G-Xchange CEO Martha Sazon said the company, a unit of Globe Telecom Inc., said they are determined to expand GCash, which had a core function of a digital payment system.

“With 10 innovations, we are confident in maintaining our leadership in digital fintech [financial technology] space. This enables us to grow together with Filipinos as they utilize our services to build a brighter future. GCash is positioned to reach more Filipinos as it is backed by the largest digital ecosystem,” Sazon said during the company’s launch last week.

The company introduced new wealth management products to allow its users to invest in the local stock market and buy cryptocurrencies and insurance while they shop online.

G-Xchange Chief Customer Officer Winsley Royce F. Bangit said the company’s “GStocks Ph” is nearing its first 1,000 customers, and will review with regulators before it can be rolled out to other customers.

GStocks is the online retail securities trading services of AB Capital Securities Inc. that will be made available on the GCash app. It is designed through collaboration with the Philip-

Global headwinds, volatile FX weigh down FCDU loans

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

[foreign exchange] volatility,” the BSP said.

Nonetheless, data from the country’s central bank showed outstanding FCDU loans inched up by $69 million or 0.4 percent in December 2022 from the end-December 2021 level of $15.7 billion.

As of end-December 2022, the maturity profile of the FCDU loan portfolio remained predominantly medium-term to long-term debt or those payable over a term of more than one year.

BSP said this comprised 78.3 percent of total, slightly lower than 78.5 percent from the previous quarter.

percent of all the loans.

Meanwhile, gross disbursements in the fourth quarter of 2022 reached $14.2 billion and were 3.3 percent lower than the previous quarter’s figure mainly due to decrease in funding requirements of a foreign bank branch affiliate.

Similarly, loan repayments in the same quarter totaled $14.1 billion, a 3.9 percent decrease from the previous quarter’s figure. These resulted in overall net disbursement.

BSP data showed there was a 5.39-percent decline in FCDU transactions to $9.8 billion as of December 2022 from $10.365 billion in December 2021. There was also a contraction of 1.7 percent from the $9.976 billion posted in September 2022.

However, outstanding FCDU loans granted by banks stood at $15.8 billion as of end-December 2022, an increase of $117 million or by 0.7 percent from the end-September 2022

level of $15.7 billion, BSP data shows.

“Despite the net tightening of overall credit standards of lender banks as a result of uncertainty in the economic outlook, outstanding FCDU loans slightly increased due to higher net transactions of nonresidents,” the central bank said in a statement.

“Residents’ transactions dropped amid an uncertain global environment, rising borrowing cost and FX

Perspectives

FCDU loans granted to residents comprised 62.1 percent or US$9.8 billion of total outstanding FCDU loans, of which majority went to sectors such as power generation companies at $2.7 billion or 27 percent of the total.

Other loans were extended to merchandise and service exporters at $2.5 billion or 25.5 percent of the total and management/holding and stock brokerage at $1.2 billion or 12.3

Securing value in slowdown

EVEN before the current economic volatility, business leaders were grappling with a range of disruptive trends that were reshaping entire industries and sectors. The economic situation has only raised the stakes. Now, decisions become more critical as investment risks increase; and strategies need to account for more and more unforeseen implications.

With the rapidly evolving economic landscape, business leaders in the Philippines have always put premium on understanding the current and forecasted environment they operate in, changing needs and preferences of their customers, and operational and employee concerns affecting their business. This involves investing in research and data and analytics and mapping out a responsive and agile strategy for their organization.

KPMG in the Philippines Management Consulting Partner Imelda

increase prices to manage increasing supply chain costs.

Or perhaps the recession turns out to be mild and short, rewarding those companies that invest in growth strategies, capabilities, or innovation. Some CEOs are thinking more strategically about their technology and transformation investments and objectives in the face of economic uncertainty. But how can they be confident these investments will pay off?

M&A in times of a slowdown

DEALMAKING was once almost exclusively about generating growth: quickly and inorganically. More recently, CEOs are shifting the reasons why they make deals.

n Operational changes to counter the challenges of today

n Seek opportunities and prepare for what may lie ahead

n Digitally transformation by acquiring critical capabilities

this opportunity to transform? And if so, towards what? Is the transformation triggered by the need to unlock additional value or is it an existential threat? That can help you understand what trends matter and what weight they should be given.

Quantify the opportunities and map the scenarios

FCDU deposit liabilities reached an all-time high of $47.8 billion as of end- December 2022, higher by $2.1 billion or by 4.5 percent from the end-September 2022 level of $45.8 billion.

The bulk of these deposits at $46.5 billion or 97.2 percent of the total continued to be owned by residents, essentially constituting an additional buffer to the country’s gross international reserves.

Year-on-year, FCDU deposit liabilities increased by $1.8 billion or by 3.8 percent from the end-December 2021 level of $46.1 billion.

pine Stock Exchange. Meanwhile, through its new crypto service, the company now allows users to gain access to non-fungible tokens (NFTs) such as those of the works of Reed Barrera on the app’s “NFT Hub.”

NFTs are like physical collector’s items, only digital, the company explained in a document. Instead of purchasing an actual oil painting, the buyer gets a digital file. They also get exclusive ownership rights, the firm added. The new system also allow crypto trading through the system of the Philippine Digital Asset Exchange (PDAX) platform.

The “GCash for overseas Filipinos,” meanwhile, allows Filipinos in certain countries to download the app using their international SIM cards and use the service as they use it back home, such as sending money sans a fee for GCash-to-GCash transactions.

The said service, which is still in beta version and limited to a number of users, can be accessed in countries like Japan, Australia, Italy, the US, the UK and Canada.

Other services that the company launched included a buy-now-pay-later scheme, a system to borrow load for mobile phones and a real-time foreign exchange service. The app now also allows Filipino travelers to perform cross-border payments in Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, and in a number of European nations, among others.

First launched in 2005, the GCash app now currently has 79 million registered users and 5.8 million merchant and social media sellers.

H. Corros further explained that “in the face of economic uncertainty, organizations may need to pivot their business model to remain competitive. To meet emerging trends and opportunities in their respective industries, organizations can take the following approaches—explore new revenue streams, redefine their target market, or plan a strategic shift on their business processes.”

Navigating the downturn BUSINESS leaders are asking their advisors to predict what type of downturn they might be facing.

Will it be a:

n V-shaped recovery—like the “Covid recession” that lasted for just a few months in early 2020?

n U-shaped recovery—a deep and prolonged downturn, like the one that began with the financial crisis of 2008?

n W-shaped recovery—a recovery followed by another contraction?

n Or should business leaders anticipate a recession that doesn’t conform to established patterns?

The shape matters COMPANIES planning for a severe or U-shaped recession would slash costs, horde cash, and hunker down.

KPMG International’s “Global CEO Outlook Survey” indicates that the majority of CEOs are planning to do just that: many say they plan to freeze hiring and reduce their workforce; more suggest they will

While there has been a general cooling in deal markets in 2022, there is good reason for optimism: annual deal volume in 2022 exceeded every year prior to 2021. With much deal activity focused on digitizing and transforming organizations, we expect to see this strong activity continue into the year. However, given the correlation between earnings expectations and dealmaking appetite, we have reason to be cautious as well.

CEOs expecting high earnings growth over the next three years were more likely to report a high appetite for dealmaking; those with low growth expectations reported a low appetite for dealmaking.

Five key steps to confident decision-making

Triangulate the trends

Start by assessing the externalities that might influence your decision-making. But go deeper— explore each trend and consider how they might evolve to find the opportunities and the risks, identify the interdependencies between them, and understand the degree of influence they have on different parts of your business and strategy. You may want to consider broadening your perspective to help identify and explore any blind spots. Then consider what is driving your business strategy—Is your organization purpose-driven? Are shareholder returns paramount? Are you using

Now that you have a strong understanding of the future opportunities, risks, and trends that influence your organization, you can start to properly quantify their value within various scenarios. You need to know what to measure and what metrics actually matter. You need to quickly get down into your transactional-level data to understand where you are today. And then you need to combine that data with rich sources of market data and sector/functional insights to assess the potential value they could deliver across a range of scenarios. The goal is to attach a reliable and practical dollar amount to each opportunity, providing decision-makers with a real baseline against which to assess their options.

Prioritize the list and recognize the triggers

You know your stakeholder expectations. You have a robust list of value-creation ideas or turn-around opportunities. And you know exactly what each will cost and what they will deliver. Now is the time to prioritize your list. Lean on functional implementation experience to realistically assess your organization’s capacity, capability and timeline for change. Recognize the interdependencies between trends and objectives. Know which levers to pull to achieve the impact you measured. Try to find a good balance between short and long-term activities in order to unlock in-year savings that can fund out-of-year objectives. The outcome of this step should be a practical and achievable list of specific actions you can take and the value that should be generated.

Accelerate the execution

At this point, you need to execute the plan cleanly and confidently. Make sure you have the right skills, capabilities and talent to not only deliver your objectives but also to sustain them. You need to know which capabilities you are going to need. Then you need to be able to identify the gaps. That can give you the level of detail you need to engage

a top-notch team of execution professionals with the experience and sector insight to deliver your plan within the context of your specific organization. Look for opportunities to put your people in control through knowledge transfer and upskilling. And leverage opportunities to speed up the pace of execution in order to help minimize the potential impact of future disruptions. And don’t wait for a “perfect plan” or delay until you have mitigated every risk—strive to ensure your governance model allows you to learn as you execute in an agile fashion to keep the pace going and to continue delivering value.

Continuously measure the value and course-correct Don’t just set goals and then ignore them. Your quantification process gave you clear metrics and outcomes to measure. This is not just about reporting back to stakeholders and approvers about whether goals were achieved, and the ROI delivered. It’s about being able to rapidly course-correct when new trends or disruptions emerge—based on reliable data and a clear understanding of the business objectives. Develop the capability to continuously evolve how your decision-makers view your baseline organizational data to unlock a perpetual cycle of value measurement and management. Lessons can be learned and shared across the enterprise. With a granularity of data, new opportunities to create incremental value can be uncovered. Measurement is a key to value creation and should never be left as an afterthought.

The excerpt was taken from the KPMG Thought Leadership publication: https://kpmg.com/xx/en/ home/insights/2023/02/securing-value-in-slowdown.html.

© 2023 R.G. Manabat & Co., a Philippine partnership and a member-firm of the KPMG global organization of independent member-firms affiliated with KPMG Intl. Ltd., a private English company limited by guarantee. All rights reserved.

For more information, you may reach out to KPMG in the Philippines Advisory (Management Consulting) Partner Imelda H. Corros through phkpmgmla@kpmg.com, social media or visit www. home.kpmg/ph.

This article is for general information purposes only and should not be considered professional advice to a specific issue or entity. The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the BusinessMirror, KPMG International or KPMG in the Philippines.

THE uncertain global environment and rising borrowing costs caused the decline in foreign currency deposit units (FCDU) that banks granted to residents, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

By Michelle L. Price & Jonathan J. Cooper

The Associated Press

Trump’s indicTmenT:

The vote of a Manhattan grand jury to indict the Republican former president on charges related to hush money payments made on his behalf during his 2016 presidential campaign catapults the now-candidate Trump into a new era of legal risk and complicates his attempts to return to the White House.

Here's what to know about the indictment and the case:

The former president could have a criminal record

T R u M p n ow faces threats to his freedom after decades of legal investigations that have never resulted in serious consequences.

The Manhattan district attorney's office said Thursday that prosecutors had reached out to Trump's lawyers to arrange for him to surrender, which could happen early next week. Trump is expected to appear at the prosecutor's office to be processed and fingerprinted and have a mug shot taken. He is also expected to appear in court, when a judge would list the charges and Trump would enter a plea.

He will have to contend with a criminal case while running again for the White House, taking time and attention away from the campaign trail — though neither the case nor a conviction would preclude him from seeking or winning the presidency in 2024.

The indictment comes as he is facing several other investigations that could lead to legal problems for the former president. Those pending cases, along with a civil trial that's scheduled to start in New York next month over a columnist’s claims that Trump raped her in the 1990s, add to an ever-growing cloud of scandals surrounding him.

Case stems from hush money paid to women

T H e grand jury in Manhattan had

been probing hush money payments at the height of the 2016 presidential campaign to two women who alleged sexual encounters with the former president. Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen, one of the witnesses who testified, says he orchestrated payments totaling $280,000 to porn actor Stormy Daniels and former p l ayboy model Karen McDougal. Cohen pleaded guilty in 2018 to violating federal campaign finance law in connection with the payments. Federal prosecutors said the payments amounted to illegal, unreported assistance to Trump’s campaign. But they declined to file charges against Trump himself.

The Manhattan district attorney’s office appeared to be investigating whether anyone committed crimes in arranging the payments, or in the way they accounted for them internally at the Trump Organization. But the specific charges remained under seal late Thursday.

Trump maintains his innocence T R u M p, w ho denies the sexual encounters, called the indictment “political persecution” and an attempt to interfere in his presidential campaign.

Calling himself “a completely innocent person,” he cast the indictment as the latest in a line of actions that he says are designed to “destroy” his Make America Great Again movement, including his two presidential impeachments and the FBI search of his home that turned up classified documents.

“The Democrats have lied, cheated and stolen in their obsession with trying to ‘Get Trump,’” he said in a statement.

e a rlier this month, Trump said his arrest was imminent and called on his supporters to protest. Last week, he warned about “potential death and destruction” if he were charged. His

words evoked his comments ahead of the violent January 6, 2021, insurrection at the u S C apitol.

Trump did not repeat his call to protest Thursday, but police forces around the country are on guard for potential unrest.

o ther investigations continue Be YO ND t he Manhattan case, Trump is facing an array of other investigations.

On the federal level, the Justice Department is investigating the retention of top-secret government documents at his Florida estate, Mara-Lago, and efforts by Trump and his allies to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

The efforts by many of the same players in the latter case were also the subject of a special grand jury investigation in Georgia. The panel's foreperson said the special grand jury recommended multiple criminal indictments, leaving it up to Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, a Democrat, to decide whether to convene a regular grand jury and pursue criminal charges.

With many serious cases looming around the other investigations, some legal experts have questioned the wisdom of the Manhattan case becoming the first to result in charges.

Trump’s rivals condemn indictment

T Ru M p h as said the charges would actually help him in the 2024 presidential race and has tried to use the case to galvanize support. Last weekend, at the first rally of the campaign, he cast the Manhattan investigation and the other probes as the latest in a long

line of political attacks against him. His campaign handed out signs that said “Witch Hunt” as Trump told his supporters that the legal challenges were also an attack on his followers and his political movement.

Some Republican and independent voters could see the case, at the very least, as another example of problematic baggage that has followed Trump for years and has been a distraction. The news was expected to only fortify existing Democratic opposition to Trump.

Republicans who are running against Trump or who are considering their own campaigns were quick to rally to criticize the case and attack Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, even if they didn't address the underlying allegations against Trump.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is expected to announce a campaign and is seen as Trump’s top rival for the GO p nomination, called the in -

dictment “un-American.” Former Vice p r esident Mike pe nce, also considering a challenge to Trump in 2024, called the indictment “an outrage."

Go P lawmakers target prosecutor Repu B LICANS f ramed the arrest as a political prosecution by a rogue Democratic district attorney who they said was weaponizing the criminal justice system.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said the House “will hold Alvin Bragg and his unprecedented abuse of power to account.”

Some of Trump's fiercest supporters came to his defense. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and former Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake, two names floated as potential Trump running mates, said he’s innocent.

Biden, democrats have little to say De M OCRATS w ere less vocal in the

hours after the indictment became known, but some of the former president's critics have framed the case as a long-overdue dose of accountability. p r esident Joe Biden, who is expected to announce he’s running for reelection next year, has not commented on the indictment.

The Democratic National Committee did not comment on the specifics of the case but sought to yoke the entire GO p to Trump.

“No matter what happens in Trump’s upcoming legal proceedings, it’s obvious the Republican p a rty remains firmly in the hold of Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans,” DNC National p ress Secretary Ammar Moussa said in a statement.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said: “Mr. Trump is subject to the same laws as every American. He will be able to avail himself of the legal system and a jury, not politics, to determine his fate according to the facts and the law.”

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., did not immediately comment, though some lesserknown House members welcomed the news.

“I continue to believe that every American elected official and leader should be held fully accountable for their actions and crimes,” said Rep. Harley Rouda of California.

“Finally, today, Donald Trump’s chickens have come home to roost,” said Rep. Raul Grijalva, who represents a safe district in Arizona. But his fellow Arizonan, Rep. Ruben Gallego, who is running for the Senate, was more measured: “We should wait to hear from the grand jury before jumping to conclusions.”

DonalD Trump has become the first former uS president to be charged with a crime, the culmination of a political rise defined by unprecedented scandal.

Former President Donald Trump waves before boarding his plane after speaking at a campaign rally at Waco regional Airport, Saturday, march 25, 2023, in Waco, Texas.

An aerial view of former President Donald Trump’s mar-a-Lago estate is seen, on August 10, 2022, in Palm Beach, Florida. AP/St E v E H E lb E r

ADuLT film actress Stormy Daniels attends a book signing for her memoir “Full Disclosure” at the museum of Sex on oc tober 8, 2018, in new York. cHArlE S S yk E S/inviSion/AP

JoYC e SPi T z er of Bolton, Texas, waits before former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally at Waco regional Airport Saturday, march 25, 2023, in Waco, Texas. AP/ nAt H A n HowA r d

Binibining Pilipinas 2023: The beauty of sustainability

LOST franchises be damned, the Binibining Pilipinas pageant still generates the most excitement. On March 24, this year’s bevy of beauties participated in Araneta City’s “Women Reinvent: A Sustainable Fashion Show” at Farmers Plaza.

The eco-friendly affair is the opening salvo of Binibining Pilipinas 2023 at the City of Firsts leading to the coronation night sometime in late May.

Besides the upcycled and sustainable creations by select fashion designers, the delegates wore accessories by Tina Campos Jewelry and Christopher Munar, bags by Ma. Delza’s Native Product, and shoes by Aishe Fashion. Designer Justine Aliman dressed Binibining Pilipinas International 2021 Hannah Arnold.

PNay, a brand of hand-woven indigenous fabrics made into everyday contemporary wear (www. everydaypnay.com), provided dresses for Binibini 1 Juvel Cyrene Bea (Quezon City), Binibini 2 Elaiza Dee Alzona (Zambales), Binibini 3 Lyra Punsalan (Pampanga), Binibini 4 Paulina Labayo (Naga), Binibini 6 Angelica Lopez (Palawan), Binibini 7 Allhia Estores (Parañaque), Binibini 8 Mirjan Hipolito (Angeles City), Binibini 9 Babyerna Liong (Tacloban City) and Binibini 10 Rasha Cortez Al Enzi (Urdaneta, Pangasinan).

“Everybody who has followed my pageant journey knows that I’ve long championed sustainability, so being able to highlight environmental awareness while shedding light on local Filipino designers during today’s @bbpilipinasofficial event was incredible. Today was one for the books,” said Binibini 5 Gianna Llanes (Palayan City, Nueva Ecija) on her Instagram.

Designer Russ Cuevas presented elegant ensembles depicting the Visayan “patadyong.” His lineup included Binibini 12 Xena Ramos (Santolan, Pasig), Binibini 13 Samantha Dana Bug-os (Oriental Mindoro), Binibini 14 Jeanne Isabelle Bilasano (Albay), and Maja Salvador’s lovely sister, Binibini 15 Jessilen Salvador (Aklan) and Binibini 11 Kiaragiel Gregorio (Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija).

Gregorio, who also wore Cuevas, shared: “This year, @bbpilipinasofficial partnered with Aishe Fashion, a sustainable footwear brand that is fully Filipino. Made in Liliw Laguna, a province famous for its shoemaking industry, Aishe uses local products such as abaca and yakan with each pair of their masterpieces.

“Now more than ever, it is crucial to nurture the Philippine textile and weaving tradition because it is still in decline. Every step with Aishe is a step toward honoring the tenacity, diligence and skill of our local artisans. It is a step to support their livelihoods and preserve our heritage in centuries to come.”

Designer Adam Balasa offered his “Isdaan,” a five-piece collection that “replicates the life of a sailor that harvest lots of fishes in the ocean.” His Binibinis

Designer-to-watch James O’Briant revealed: “I have always wanted to design for Bb. Pilipinas. In the past years, I already did for [the] OOTD of some of the candidates. But this year, it is a dream come true that I was included in the designers list for the fashion show. I am grateful to the people behind it. Thank you designer @russcuevas for the opportunity and to Patrick Henry. Thank you to my lovely muses Binibini 21 Paola Allison Araño [Batangas], Binibini 22 Anje Mae Manipol [Quezon Province], Binibini 23 Zoe Bernardo Santiago [Manila], Binibini 24 Anna Valencia Lakrini [Bataan], and Binibini 25 Yesley Cabanos [Caloocan].”

Of their observance of Earth Hour, Binibini 26 Rheema Adakkoden (Camarines Sur), who is also Miss Kaogma 2018 and Miss Bicolandia 2022, shared: “Earth Hour’s global switch off is going to happen in a while [March 25]. Why is it important? By switching off our lights, we emphasize how we care for our world. This movement also raises awareness about the adverse effects of climate change that we are suffering from, and how we can mitigate its impact before everything becomes irreversible. Climate change couldn’t be solved through individual practices, but our small acts altogether could go a long way.”

Adakkoden, who is also Miss Kaogma 2018 and Miss Bicolandia 2022, wore outfits by the Peñaflorida

Women-led beauty brands step up

FILIPINO beauty brands have really been stepping, not just with product releases but also with how they encourage the communities they are in to get involved with worthy advocacies.

Beautéderm is one of my favorite local brands not only because I like many of their products but also because I admire the company’s commitment to helping others. They provide livelihood for many Filipinos, including their dealers, and help send many deserving students through school.

Beautéderm has partnered with local endorsers from La Union to push president and CEO Rhea Anicoche-Tan’s mission to help others.

“Beautéderm is dedicated to serving people—through giving programs for strong and inspiring women, single mothers, scholarships for underprivileged children, and providing quality assistance to the elderly,” said AnicocheTan.

Beautederm’s new partners in helping others and making the brand even more popular include La Union Gov. Raphaelle Veronica “Rafy” Ortega-David, Rep. Francisco Paolo Ortega V, Councilor Lucia Esperanza Valero, Dr. Angelica Maranan-Maglanoc, lawyer Myra-Diwata Rivera-Caroy, Althea Mavis Salazar, John Kirby Savellano, Tom Tuason, Erven Jay Silverie, Lovelia Ollero, Ozzy Gallardo, Divina Marie Villanueva, Nick Ordinario, Benito Nerida, and Anjali Camacho Pradeep Kumar.

“These trailblazers have established their names in

their community and have already gained the trust of their kababayans. This will enable them to capture the hearts of more local consumers and let them know about Beautéderm and its advocacies,” said Anicoche-Tan.

The local endorsers in La Union are open about their admiration for Beautederm’s growth and what the brand stands for.

With a solid business group and a star-studded roster of ambassadors, Beautéderm is considered a market leader.

Its latest signature skin-care set, Blanc Set, has been getting positive reviews from consumers.

“We take pride in producing high-quality, FDA-approved products that really deliver results,” said Anicoche-Tan.

Speaking of Filipino brands, one of the events I missed last month because I was sick was the opening of the Pili Ani

Binibini 31 April Angelu Barro (Cagayan de Oro), who wore a high-fashion frock by designer: Christine Lam, stated: “Thrilled to be a part of ‘Women Reinvent,’ a sustainable fashion show honoring Filipino artists. As a Binibining Pilipinas candidate, I champion eco-friendly practices for a greener future. Let’s celebrate Women’s Month and Earth Hour with mindful choices for sustainability.”

Lam’s clothes were also strutted by Binibini 32 Sharmaine Magdasoc (Ortigas, Pasig), Binibini 33 Katrina Anne Johnson (Davao del Sur), Binibini 34 Joy Dacoron (Cebu Province), and Binibini 35 Sofia Lopez Galve (Rizal Province).

Binibini 36 Mary Chiles Balana (Hermosa, Bataan), Binibini 37 Pia Isabel Duloguin (Jimenez, Misamis Occidental), Binibini 38 Lea Macapagal (Dinalupihan, Bataan), Binibini 39 Loraine Jara (Bulacan), and Binibini 40 Candy Marilyn Vollinger (Catanduanes) were all clad in Kutur ni Jean.

“Sustainable clothing is very very important for our planet, for us and for the next generation. It is important to conserve, stop pollution, and to stop unethical practices. Textiles are the second largest polluting industry. There are practices in the clothing industry that have a severe impact on the environment. It requires a large amount of water and other resources to make a dress,” implored the “Binibini to Beat” Anna Valencia Lakrini. n

flagship store in Mitsukoshi Department Store with Bretman Rock as guest of honor. If you don’t know yet, Pili Ani is a Filipino brand of skin care, wellness, and beauty products that highlight local, sustainably sourced ingredients like pili and elemi oils.

Bretman, who was in the Philippines recently for his book tour, is actually a Pili Ani fan and his favorite product from the brand is Deep Detox Volcanic Exfoliating Mask.

“When I first saw this about two years ago, I seriously thought Pili Ani was a Hawaiian brand. I guess that’s because of the packaging which is shaped like a volcano. We have a lot of volcanoes in Hawaii,” said Bretman.

“I was so pleased to find out that Pili Ani is a global Filipino beauty brand. Finally, we have something in the global beauty space that represents us. Oftentimes we hear about Japanese and Korean beauty trends and products. It’s about time that we celebrate Filipino beauty,” said the online superstar, who is known for his unfiltered approach to content creation.

Pili Ani was founded by Rosalina Tan and Mary Jane Tan-Ong, who strongly believe that “Made in the Philippines” beauty products can go global. During the Pili Ani opening at Mitsukoshi, Bretman shared an important beauty travel tip. He applies the Pili Ani Deep Detox Volcanic Exfoliating Mask two days before his trip instead of on the day itself. He also brings Pili Ani’s Essential Oils in his pocket or purse to ease his anxiety when he’s traveling.

SHEER PERFECTION

AT a time when Filipinas embrace and appreciate multitasking, The Body Shop’s Lip and Cheek Stain has become a customer favorite.

Just as women balance career and family, work and school, or simply juggling the many different assignments in the office, this hardworking beauty product highlights both lips and cheeks.

The good news is that the Lip and Cheek stain is now even better: welcome The Body Shop’s Sheer Touch. Swipe on that natural-looking flushed color with this makeup multitasker for eyes, lips and cheeks. Glow with its lightweight and long-lasting 12-hour moisturization. Better still, especially for the eco-conscious, it comes in a recycled glass bottle.

Marvelously multitasking, The Body Shop’s Sheer Touch is available at The Body Shop stores and on www. thebodyshop.com.ph.

Nonstop travel to different time zones takes a toll on your skin. According to Bretman, sleep is the ultimate cure—to keep skin glowing and fight off jet lag. He revealed that a beauty pillow (which is found on Amazon) has made all the difference for his skin.

“I’m a pillow sleeper!” he said. “So my face is always flat on the pillow case which is really bad for your skin.”

Shop Pili Ani online at www.piliani.com.ph, or via Lazada, and Shopee. Pili Ani is also available in R3 Power Plant Mall, Level 4 SM Megamall, and select Beauty Bar, Kultura, All Green, and Watsons stores.

And from content creator Mae Layug’s GRWM Cosmetics comes a massive 25-piece summer makeup collection that includes brow gels, contour and bronzer sticks, liquid highlighter, and sheer lip balms.

There have been mixed reviews about the products and I think that’s quite normal. The thing is that I really admire Layug for having a brand that puts out products that are inclusive.

As a morena, I have had many traumatic experiences with local beauty brands where the darkest shade is about six times lighter than my skin tone. When I asked, I would always be told, “Oh, that’s okay for morenas!”

But GRWM and other Filipino brands like Issy & Co. and Detail Cosmetics have changed that and as a consumer, I am very grateful in behalf of the younger me who only had P500 or less to spend on a face powder or foundation.

Sarisuki wants to build 500K entrepreneurs, help 1M farmers

ASTARTUP is a company that's in the initial stages of business which means the risks are still very much high. Yes, you’ve heard us right. The risks involved in a startup are there, but with the right person to lead it, a startup brings great benefits, innovative solutions and great opportunities to learn.

Say Hello to Brian Cu. He spearheaded successful startups such as Zalora, Grab and Gojek which focus mainly on bridging the gap between the market and the consumers in a personal and effective way. Brian Cu is your Mr. Startup. And he is now channeling all his energy into his new Startup venture—Sarisuki.

Sarisuki is an online shopping platform that encourages a new generation of Filipino Diskar-trepreneurs or Community Leaders to explore the potential of selling affordable farm fresh goods and other essential items that the company has efficiently sourced.

Opening your own virtual store with Sarisuki is as simple as downloading the app either from Google Play or the Apple App Store! With this, Sarisuki becomes a platform where small entrepreneurs are welcomed, guided, and supported.

“It is our belief that Sarisuki will open up opportunities to a new generation of Ka-Sari Community Leader entrepreneurs. We commit to help our CLs in every step of their journey” says Bam Mejia, Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer.

Additionally, Sarisuki is transforming the agriculture industry in the Philippines by empowering farmers and connecting them to new markets, creating a sustainable and equitable food system.

“There is infinite opportunity to

add value to the agricultural scene in the Philippines. We would like to use information and technology to positively impact this high potential sector” says Cu, Founder and CEO.

Lastly, customers or Ka-Sukis can look forward to better quality and affordable goods, adding to it the convenience of ordering online.

The business started with humble beginnings, operating amidst the pandemic to cater to small communities who had difficulty accessing food supply of good quality. With the help of various venture capitalists, both foreign and local, Sarisuki is operating on a bigger scale, carrying thousands of products, growing network of community leaders, and delivering to areas like Bulacan, whole of Metro Manila, Rizal,

SMHCC, RHG strengthen partnership, celebrate milestone as Park Inn by Radisson Davao turns 10

Cavite, parts of Batangas and Quezon.

But Sarisuki is not just another startup, it is a game-changer in the industry as it aims to help one million farmers consistently provide food supply that is priced correctly, and to build a network of 500,000 new entrepreneurs over a period of five years.

“By creating a platform that connects farmers, consumers, and Community Leaders, Sarisuki ensures that prices of produce remain reasonable and supply is consistent, avoiding the exorbitant price hikes the one experienced with ones last December.

Sarisuki's innovative approach to the E-Commerce and Agriculture industry is poised to revolutionize the way we buy and sell fresh produce,” Cu said.

Buildrite Construction Chemicals raises the bar higher, launches 8 innovative products at WorldBex 2023

BUILDRITE Construction Chemicals, one of the leading construction chemical innovators in the Philippines, launched new products during the opening day of The Philippine World Building and Construction Exposition (WorldBEX) last March 16 to 19, 2023, at SMX Convention Center, Pasay City.

Buildrite founder and CEO Derrick

A. Tan, expressed his excitement as he introduced their new products to the people. He also thanked their customers for giving valuable insights that allowed them to create such products.

“Your feedback is liquid gold to us, which is why Buildrite always listens to its customers. These products are the culmination of the insights – your experiences, concerns, and requirements –we have gotten from you through the years,” he explained.

The main highlight of Buildrite’s Booth was their Innovation Hub, which features the company’s new innovative products, including:

Level Up 410 – a self-leveling compound for deep pours (4,000 psi at 10-25mm thickness) and quickly smoothing and leveling large areas of concrete.

Cure Sil EB and WB – an all-weather

curing compound and concrete strength optimizer, which ensures that the concrete achieves a proper curing process and its designed strength.

StopGap NW and AF – a paintable, non-woven flashing tape and an aluminum flashing tape that are both using a butylbased adhesive for an easy, convenient, and long-lasting seal.

StopGap CJ – a self-leveling construction joint sealant that possesses enough hardness to protect the edges of joints from loads while having the right flexibility to prevent cracks.

Sapal RTU and 2in1 – a weatherresistant exterior wall waterproofer and a sealant/waterproofer, which are now enhanced with polyurethane for longerlasting performance.

Tofil 807 and 808 – a drywall finishing system with anti-crack technology recommended for fiber cement boards and gypsum boards to eliminate the problem in cracking joints.

Readyrete – the first and only readymix concrete in a bag, which can be used for projects requiring 4000 to 6,000 psi of compressive strength.

SmartBond Flex – the first flexible tile adhesive that functions as a shear stress

dampener to absorb and withstand the movements of tiles and substrate, which prevents tile debonding despite structural movements and thermal expansion/contraction.

Present at the launching ceremony were Inventor Ronald P. Pagsanghan, National President of the Filipino Inventors Society, and William Chua, Vice President of Operations.

In a brief speech, the Filipino Inventors Society President said there’s a high demand for innovative construction materials, particularly among young inventors. He explained that most inventors are shifting to the construction industry because of its continuous technological advancements.

“Kitang kita natin na napakalaki ng puwang ng mga produktong ito sa construction industry. At ang mga ito ay gawang Pilipino, inobasyong Pilipino,” he said.

Pagsanghan also expressed his admiration to his fellow inventor Derrick Tan and his team’s dedication to driving innovation in the Philippine construction industry. He then invited Buildrite’s CEO to give a talk at one of their events to inspire young inventors, especially students, to create more innovations for the betterment of the country.

“Congratulations, Buildrite! Please continue to innovate… Keep up the good work, Mr. Derrick Tan, and may you continue being an inspiration to our youths,” he concluded. This is Buildrite’s first time to join WorldBEX, but the company has been an active exhibitor in various construction events over the years. Last year, Buildrite and Sinclair Paints joined the PhilConstruct Expo and launched SmartBond Flex and Readycrete while simultaneously re-launching Sinclair: The New Generation Paint. Buildrite and Sinclair Paints were also active participants in international training, seminars, and expos, which allowed them to gain insights into advanced technologies in construction chemicals.

SM Hotels & Convention Corp. (SMHCC) reaches an important milestone as it commemorates the 10th anniversary of Park Inn by Radisson Davao, the very first Park Inn by Radisson hotel property to open in the Asia Pacific region.

The partnership between SMHCC and RHG began in 2010 with the launch of Radisson Blu Cebu in 2010. Soon after, Park Inn by Radisson Davao opened in March 2013 followed by four more Park Inn hotels in Clark, Iloilo, North Edsa and Bacolod.

“SMHCC is one with Park Inn by Radisson Davao in commemorating the remarkable occasion of its 10th anniversary. Indeed, the hotel has weathered through the tough times and has emerged victorious. As it marks a decade of uncompromising standards in service and hospitality, Park Inn by Radisson Davao stands proud in this bustling city, ready to showcase many more years of ingenuity and resiliency,” says SMHCC Executive Vice President Peggy E. Angeles.

Since its inception in 2013, Park Inn by Radisson Davao has made a name to both Dabawenyos and foreigners alike with its vivid and warm character, #FeelGood Hospitality

complemented by Radisson Hotel Group’s service philosophy of Yes! I Can to deliver memorable moments to guests. Through the years, Park Inn by Radisson Davao has reaped various awards as a testament to its commitment towards making a mark in the hospitality industry in the vibrant City of Davao and beyond.

Radisson Hotel Group Area Senior Vice President for South East Asia & Pacific Mr. Andre de Jong adds, “Since its opening in 2013, the Park Inn by Radisson Davao has been consistently recognized as a leading hotel in the city receiving multiple awards and accolades. This is a true testament to the hard work and dedication of the entire team who welcome our guests each day with warm hospitality and exceptional service. Congratulations on this milestone and we look forward to the continued long-term success of our hotels in the Philippines in partnership with SMHCC.”

Recently, Park Inn by Radisson Davao was recognized by CNBC.com as one of the best hotels for business travelers for 2022. In addition, the hotel played host to the much-awaited MICECon 2023 held last March 1 to 3, 2023.

DOST, other govt execs lead groundbreaking rites for construction of KIST Park in Cauayan City

THE head of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and other government officials led the groundbreaking ceremony for the Knowledge, Innovation, and Science and Technology (KIST) Park in San Pablo, Cauayan City in Isabela last March 24, 2023.

DOST Secretary Dr. Renato U. Solidum Jr. along with Isabela State University (ISU) president Ricmar P. Aquino, Cauayan City Mayor Caesar Dy Jr., DOST Undersecretary for Regional Operations, Engr. Sancho A. Mabborang and DOST Region 2 Regional Director Virginia G. Bilgera were all present for the ceremony.

The KIST Park is a pioneering initiative of the City of Cauayan that aims to establish a center of excellence for research, innovation, and entrepreneurship in the field of science and technology.

With cutting-edge facilities and a thriving ecosystem of academic and business partners, the KIST will serve as a regional hub for research, technology transfer, and enterprise growth.

KIST will not only revolutionize the field of science and technology in the region but also create new opportunities for research, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

“Throughout the years, you have seen how you progress through science, technology and innovation. It has grown into a very strong relationship and what a solid testament that the embrace is now sealed with a kiss. See what partnership can do for economic

development?” Solidum said.

The groundbreaking ceremony will be part of DOST’s platform for technology transfer and commercialization of technologies in Cagayan Valley.

This will also nurture and spur the Cagayan Valley’s growth of new high-tech firms, facilitate the transfer of university know-how to locator-companies, encourage the development of faculty or student-based spin-offs and stimulate the development of innovative products and processes.

KIST Park is a project of the university in partnership with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA).

PEZA said that the innovation park is one of its premier initiatives and aims to create sustainable economic zones for the growth of the corporate and retail sectors based on the idea of rural community development.

In a previous meeting, ISU and PEZA discussed the long-term masterplan that will establish an innovation site at ISU Echague Main Campus, ISU Roxas Campus, ISU Ilagan Campus and ISU Cabagan Campus.

“It has been the dream of Isabela State University to establish this KIST Special Economic Zone. ISU is an ideal place for the establishment of the KIST Park because we have a lot of experts who are innovators and technology generators. There will be a merging of academe and industry that will help the entire province of Isabela, the entire region as well, develop their economies,” Aquino had then said.

THE PR and Marketing Team of Sarsuki

Wanderlust for the communicator’s soul

Author’s note: Sharing some photos I took in recent travels.

WRITING can be a world of wonder inspired by life, or maybe anxiety when hit by the writer’s block. It could be a means for a catharsis to heal, a eureka to do a masterpiece, a wonder to see new places and meet new people, a communication platform to express, or a means to conduct daily correspondence.

For me, when the heat of summer strikes, wanderlust is triggered. And what results can be more inspired writing. Defined by Oxford Languages as “a strong desire to travel,” wanderlust can be a motivating factor in seeing the world in person, and especially today, appreciating, understanding, and immersing in culture and nature.

After the lockdowns of the pandemic, and with the five-day long weekend, millions of travelers converged again in different airports, seaports, expressways, restaurants, resorts and places off the beaten path. It’s revenge travel, so it’s said.

The wonders that travel offers us is a treasure trove of learning, insights and realizations that are key to one’s broad understanding. It leaves us with memories that we share, like and view at will in social media posts of video, selfies, groufies, food, landscapes, tweets, vlogs, adventures and discoveries. It also widens our arsenal of expression and realizations as we encounter new words, taste new dishes, meet new people, see iconic sights, and learn another language.

Experiential is key, it matters today, and communication is very much alive and kicking.

How can one maximize this wanderlust as communicators and tap into the experience? I’m sure you all will have more to say than the list below:

1. Strategize: plan ahead and have expectations in place. Some like the spontaneity of the unknown and the unplanned. But if

one is traveling with family or in my case, if I travel alone for conferences and business trips, I like to plan everything. The latter I guess is a habit I picked up from my military officer Dad. It also frees my mind from details that have been taken care of, to take in more of where I am and where I am going.

2. Adapt: Respect cross-cultural acknowledgment of the local culture and mores. Our University of the Philippines late conductor and mentor, Dean Rey T. Paguio, would always remind us to adjust, be respectful and considerate when on our concert tours. When we would stay with host families, he always reminded us not to impose our ways on them and to always write them bread-and-butter notes expressing thanks and appreciation for their hospitality and kindness.

3. Prevent: Safety and presence of mind. As in crisis communication management, part of the preparation is reading up on conditions and do’s and don’ts wherever one is going. It also means knowing one’s limits and capabilities. Awareness and presence of mind are needed to keep safe.

4. Read the signs: Follow instructions. Disembarking from one’s plane ride, a beeline naturally forms as passenger groups begin walking to immigration for international travelers, and then to luggage retrieval. But what happens when one has to do a side trip to the rest rooms and upon emerging from the restroom, realize that the queue that led to the next area for arrivals had disappeared? I turn to the signs, eye-catching, clear directions on where to go next in the maze of turns in the airport. It gets me thinking about the effort and much thought that went into making standard international communication tools: the choice and color of font, font size, translations, sign size and placement, and the ever-updating flight updates on the boards, especially in humongous airports.

5. Sustain: Protect the environment. From bringing an eco-bag to complying with anti-littering rules, and throwing trash in the right bin, it bodes well today for us travelers to all do our share in helping Mother Earth as we enjoy her treats for us.

6. Cover: take lots of photos (and videos). My late uncle who used to take photos for travel magazines once advised me not to scrimp on taking photos because he said that moment is unique. Even if one reconstructs the moment, he said, it will not be exactly the same. Perhaps the mood would have changed, the circumstances different.

7. Document: Collate your travel moments. let visual communication flow. Writing about unfor -

gettable experiences somehow makes the words flow better. And when accompanied by photos or videos, less words may be needed as visuals, and even better, the multisensory audio and visual post carries the day.

8. live in the moment: For those of us caught up in seemingly endless deadlines, matrices of plans and programs, incessant issues and crises management, on-call days and nights, travel can be the unwinding and refresh we so need. It could just be a few precious hours or it could be longer, it could be nearby or to a distant location, but the benefits will remain. It could be by land, air or sea. Or it could be a vicarious trip. For some it means an unhurried, undisturbed burying in a book or even just curling into

a seat while sipping coffee in a different spot of the house. It can be a simple “getting away” to unwind, a physical travel or even just a mental travel moment to free up one’s mind and reboot.

So let the wanderlust take us to places we’ve never been, places with which we’d like to reconnect or activities we’d like to try.

And as we do so, let’s let the experience sink in as we exercise our full use of communication skills: observing, listening, asking questions, planning, adapting, documenting, speaking, expressing, writing, reflecting, and living in the moment.

The mindfulness we will experience in our wanderlust, and the memories we will make will be good for our communicator’s depth and soul. And for all these,

we are grateful.

PR Matters is a roundtable column by members of ipra Philippines, the local chapter of the United Kingdom-based International Public Relations Association, the world’s premier association for senior communications professionals around the world. Ritzi VillaricoRonquillo, APR, IABC Fellow is a Consultant, Coach and Speaker on Business Communication and Strategic Public Relations with 43 years of experience in leading internal and external communication and PR in corporate, communities, academe and associations.

We are devoting a special column each month to answer the reader’s questions about public relations. Please send your comments and questions to askipraphil@gmail.com.

ALYSSA VALDEZ and Vince Raphael Mangulabnan captain the national women’s and men’s teams to the Cambodia 32nd Southeast Asian Games whose compositions were officially announced by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) on Sunday.

Sisi Rondina and Jovelyn Gonzaga, gold medalists in the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour

Futures in Subic last December, lead the women’s beach volleyball squad also composed of Bernadeth Pons and Floremel Rodriguez.

These teams are composed of perhaps the most formidable rosters to date with each and everyone of these athletes dedicated and determined to rise to the challenge in Cambodia,” PNVF president Ramon “Tats” Suzara said. “ With the skills given and dedication to flag and country considered, our coaches put premium on chemistry, on how these players would blend based on the competitions and challenges of the SEA Games,” Suzara added.

Joining Valdez on the women’s team are her Creamline teammates Julia Melissa Morado-De Guzman, Kyla Llana Atienza, Celine Elaiza Domingo, Jessica Margarett Galanza,

Editor: Jun Lomibao

SPIKERS TURF CHAMPS The Cignal HD Spikers go unbeaten on their way to clinching the Spikers’ Turf Open Conference crown they capped with a 25-21, 22-25, 25-17, 28-30, 15-7 victory over the Cotabato Spikers on Friday night before a big crowd at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

VALDEZ CAPTAINS TEAM TO CAMBODIA

Diana Mae Carlos and Michele Theresa Gumabao.

A lso on the team coached by Brazilian Jorge Edson Souza De Brito are Cignal’s Maria Angelica Cayuna and Glaudine Troncoso, PLDT’s Kathleen Faith Arado and Dell Palomata (PLDT), Choco Mucho’s Cherry Rose Nunag and Katrina Mae Tolentino and Chery Tiggo’s Mylene Paat.

W ith Mangulabnan are his AMC-Cotabato teammates Joshua Umandal, Lloyd Josafat, Kim Harold Dayandante, Vince Patrick Lorenzo and Jayvee Sumagaysay.

A lso in the squad are National University-Archipelago Builders’s Rwenzmel Taguibolos and Leo Ordiales, Cignal’s Manuel Sumanguid III, Iloilo’s Jade Alex Disquitado and University of Santo Tomas’s Jay Rack Dela Noche.

Filipino-Americans Steven Charles

Rotter, Cyrus Justin De Guzman and Michael Raymund Vicente complete the team coached by another Brazilian, Sergio Valadares Veloso.

A lnakran Abdilla, Jaron Requinton, Jude Garcia and James Buytrago make up the men’s team of the beach volleyball squads coached by Joao Luciano Simao Barbosa.

The men’s volleyball coaching staff includes Arthur Odjie Mamon (assistant coach), Rommel Abella (assistant coach), Mark Gil Alfafara (trainer), Melchizedek Samonte (strength and conditioning coach) and Jerome Guhit (team manager).

Sherwin Meneses (assistant coach), Cherry Rose Macatangay (assistant coach) Raffy Mosuela

and conditioning coach) and Ma. Fe Moran (team manager) complete the women’s team coaching staff.

B arbosa’s coaching staff are Romnick Rico (assistant coach) and Rosemarie Prochina (team manager) in the women’s team and Rhovyl Verayo (assistant coach) in the men’s squad with John Paulo Agir as strength and conditioning coach.

Volleyball competitions in Cambodia begin two days ahead of the opening ceremony on May 3 at the Morodok Techo Elephant Hall while beach volleyball starts on May 11 at Otres Beach in Preah Sihanouk (Sihanoukville) Province with the finals of both on May 16.

ALYSSA VALDEZ leads the national women’s volleyball team to the Cambodia 32nd Southeast Asian Games in May.

ABLEND of fun, food and everything nice awaits a mix of players of all genders and skill levels in the 15th Highlands Ladies Cup, which unwraps on April 29 at the Midlands and Lucky 9 courses in Tagaytay City. e organizing Tagaytay Highlands Ladies, in its continuing effort to contribute to a positive environmental impact, will give away plants to help the participants connect with nature.

Each player is guaranteed to bring home a plant to warm the soul,” said Gie Bote, chairperson of Lipa City-based Agrikultura, a multihectare greenhouse, which annually produces more than a million pots of tissue-cultured, well-rooted plants with European and Asian

Gozum, Blazers aim to be better, stronger in

‘NC’ Season 99 hoops

By Josef Ramos

EXPECT the College of Saint Benilde Blazers to spew more fire come Season 99 of the National Collegiate Athletic Association seniors basketball tournament that opens shop in September.

A nd expect Will Gozum to pull off another Most Valuable Player performance for the Blazers, who almost won the crown in Season 98.

“ I found out what my weaknesses are and those things that I need to improve on,” the 6-foot-6 Gozum told BusinessMirror Sunday. “I believe we will get there soon.”

The Blazers lost to the Letran Knights in the Season 98 Finals that went the full distance of three games.

Gozum said that he and his teammates have matured from that setback.

“ The experience that we gained is one of a kind and for sure we learned a lot from it,” he said.

The Blazers turned from cellar-dweller to title contender under head coach Charles Tiu, “ We’re very happy little by little our school is now being recognized and we are starting to build a winning culture,” he said.

“The sacrifices are all worth it. We just have to stick to our roles and not be selfish.”

We know we have each other’s back,” said Gozum, whose sharpening even more in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League with the Quezon Huskers through a special guest license from the Games and Amusements Board.

Despite missing the crown, Gozum, 23, emerged as the season MVP with his averages of 16.8 points and 9.7 rebounds.

I’m happy.… who would have thought that I could get it [MVP]? All of my hard work during the pandemic and off season paid off,” he said. “The trust of my teammates was also there, I would not have gotten that without them.”

Suzuki, Taguchi top Southwoods Invitational golf

SHINICHI SUZUKI  and Teruhisa Taguchi came away with 72 aggregate points at Legends to edge Justin Tambunting and Eric Escalona by one for the overall gross championship in the Southwoods Invitational in Carmona, Cavite, over the weekend.

The Suzuki-Taguchi and Tambunting-Escalona tandems slugged it out scorching conditions for two rounds, matching 82s in Best Ball at the Masters but the former’s combined closing 72-point output for a 154 netted them the crown in Manila Southwoods’ premier member-guest tournament.

and 78 (Masters).

The battle for the overall net trophy likewise went down-tothe-wire with Melchor Bacsa and Alexander Festejo thwarting the Willy Tee Ten-Fritz Jerrold Lacap in the tiebreak after both teams finished with 180s from identical 84s and 96s at Legends and Masters, respectively.

R ichard Chua and Fernando Lim scored a 178 after 84 and 94 and finished third in the event supported by year-round sponsor Royal Caribbean/Baron Travel, hole-in-one sponsors Ogawa, Alpine Motors Philippines, Toyota Silang, Pagcor Casino Filipino and Klio International.

While in the fairways, we will nourish the players with the best hydration—fresh coconut drink,” he event—backed by Diamond sponsors W Group Inc., Willie Ocier, CWC Int’l. Corp. and Agrikultura and supported by Platinum backers CLC Marketing Ventures Corp., Parola Maritime Corp., Powerball Gaming, Miniso PH and SM Department Store— has drawn a maximum field of 200 as early as last month, all thrilled for the club’s flagship tournament’s return after the pandemic. Multi-preneur Faye Celones, who designs and builds industrial kitchens, among others, will provide the highlight in the fiesta-themed tournament—grilled pork barbecues whose aroma is expected to flood the three nines of Midlands.

“

It’s only the Tagaytay Highlands Ladies which offers players fun and food above and beyond the standard level,” Celones said.

WILL GOZUM will be the Blazers’ main man anew.

Tambunting and Escalona settled for a 71 for second at 153 while Allan Yap and Zachary Villaroman placed third with a 144 after a 66 (Legends)

Bacsa and Festejo completed a twin kill as they ruled the Sponsors/Guests category, beating the Eimie HedeagerSarah Cruz (80-96-176) by four.

Cebu Gentle Giants grab PFL lead Masters ‘23: Return of Tiger, hope for Rory and a lot of LIV

DYNAMIC Herb Cebu Football Club (FC) bucked the absence of in-form midfielder Daniel Gadia to subdue Mendiola FC 1991, 3-1, Saturday and grab top spot in the Philippines Football League brought to you by Qatar Airways at the Philippine Football Federation National Training Centre in Carmona, Cavite.

T he Gentle Giants scored all of their goals in the second half as they continued their unbeaten run to 17 matches and hiked their tally to 43 points this season, two ahead

of Kaya FC Iloilo. Ivan Ouano, Marius Kore and Kintaro Miyagi all found the back of the net for the Gentle Giants who needed to keep their poise as tempers flared in the last 10 minutes.

“

We only focused on what impact we can do in the match,” said Ouano who came in at halftime and scored 10 minutes later.

Jeremiah Borlongan set up Ouano on the left, before the Cebu striker slotted the ball past Mendiola keeper Joseh Ceniza.

Sabalenka, Indonesia and some more politics

T

WOODS

sional Golfers Association (PGA) Tour.

TIGER WOODS returns to the Masters, no longer a surprise as it was a year ago but no less a rare appearance. Th is will be only his third tournament against elite competition since he remarkably hobbled his way through 72 holes at Augusta National. For Rory McIlroy, this might be his best chance to finally get that green jacket and complete the career Grand Slam. He is playing some of his best golf. His popularity is higher than ever as he has become a powerful voice in reshaping the Profes-

I ndonesia, on the other hand, was also stripped of its hosting right for FIFA Under-20 after a government official called for the banning of Israel from the tournament.

Th is populous country in Southeast Asia supports the plight of Palestinians as they continue to endure the illegal occupation of Israel of their land.

Do not link sports issues with political affairs,” pleaded Indonesian president Joko Widodo after he accepted the ban from FIFA.

It is so easy to say that and yet for as long as organized and modern sports have been played, politics plays a huge part in it.

W hen former president Corazon Aquino passed away, there was a call to wear yellow during the immediate University Athletic Association of the Philippines basketball game. As much as I supported Mrs. Aquino (I heavily campaigned for her), I opted not to wear yellow.

A nd there was one recently where it was suggested by some schools to wear black to protest a government policy. While I too was against that policy, I, once more, chose not to wear the suggested color.

I u sed to be vociferously against political statements in sports as I believe that it should stick to what it is—an athletic competition. Because if people are going to make use of an event to push their agenda, then it will be done all

Th at alone should be enough to raise the anticipation for the Masters, not that it ever needs much help. But so much has changed since Scottie Scheffler capped his amazing run with a green jacket—on the course and in the courtroom.

Woods, McIlroy and Scheffler are headliners who now share the stage with a story that has consumed and divided an otherwise genteel game. They will face 18 players no longer welcome on the PGA Tour because they defected to Saudi-funded LIV Golf. AP

the time, and not just in sports, but everywhere else.

Yet, as a colleague of mine says, you cannot not like or get into politics because it shapes and affects our lives.

A nd I am going to call out FIFA for this.

You suspend Russia from international football, but not Israel for their illegal occupation of Palestine. While I do support Israel’s right to exist and am strongly against anti-Semitism, I vehemently disapprove of their brutal occupation and suppression of Palestinian rights.

It’s funny how the United States led a boycott of the 1980 Moscow Olympics stemming from Russia’s invasion of Afghanistan. That led to the Eastern bloc boycotting the following 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.

I f people are serious about not allowing political statements in sports, then they should prohibit governments from pushing their agendas as well.

A ll you have to do is to look at the local leadership of various Philippine sports federations or even governing bodies and there are a bunch of politicians. You have to wonder whose money they put into their sponsorship of sporting events. It is sickening to be honest.

You see some of them become team managers or obvious boosters and while they are probably fans themselves, I cannot help but wonder if they also understand the need to be on camera or television.

H ighlands Ladies president Rosalind Wee tapped Asia Brewery’s Summit water to provide liquids while Food Committee co-chair and Highlands Women’s Golf Association of the Philippines captain Anne Granada mapped the Tagaytay Midlands Front 9, Back 9, and Lucky 9 for organized food setting.

It’s so heartwarming to receive such support from our sponsors and to see the team working intensely to produce the best tournament in the same way they practice purposely to win competitions,” said team captain Sandy Romualdez.

Top prizes are up for grabs in various divisions of the 18-hole tournament to be played under the System 36 format, including a Club Car, Cobra LTDx golf iron set, and a vacation package for 4 at the Blue Ternate Drive and Wellness Resort in Dumaguete for hole-in-one feats.

I f no one scores an ace on designated par-3 holes of Midlands and Lucky 9, the allexpense paid trip “barkadahan” package via Philippine Airlines will be raffled off.

The line has been crossed a multitude of times that there is so much gray area now with a lot of hypocrisy.

I do have to say that because of politics, we have seen some really charges matches and rivalries—the US and the old USSR and now Russia, Iran and Iraq, England and Argentina, England versus Scotland, Iran versus Saudi Arabia, Argentina versus Brazil, Germany versus the Netherlands, Algeria versus Egypt, El Salvador versus Honduras, and Croatia versus Serbia. That’s just some of it.

O n a club level, there’s Real Madrid representing nationalist Spain and Barcelona representing the Catalan region that hopes to breakaway as a separate country.

A nd there’s the Old Firm Rivalry between two Glaswegian clubs—Celtic and Rangers that cuts across political, social, and religious lines that has contributed to sectarianism in Scotland.

So on one hand, politics in sports is both annoying, disrupting and even hurtful, but at the same time, it makes the competition more charged, interesting and well, riveting.

I ’d love for the International Olympic Committee to hammer out with all its members a concrete rule about politics in sports. Yet, somehow, I find that impossible as they are given sponsorship to run their affairs. Sad isn’t it?

H ey, it does make for great discussion and social media banter right?

TENNIS player Aryna Sabalenka said that she had to endure hate from her co-players inside the locker room during tennis events.

his stems from Belarus’s support of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine that has brought worldwide indignation and criticism.

Highlands Ladies set up fiesta-like event in Tagaytay