DESPITE the lower tariff rates slapped by Washington on goods being shipped from the Philippines, the Philippines’s umbrella organization of exporters said the country may not be spared from supply chain disruptions which could lead to higher prices of imported raw materials.
In a statement at the weekend, the Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. (Philexport) expressed relief that the additional tariffs imposed by the administration of US President Donald Trump on the Philippines are “much smaller” than
those slapped on other countries.
In a recent radio interview, Philexport President Sergio R. OrtizLuis Jr. said, “When it came out that we are the lowest compared to our competitors, there was a sigh of relief, meaning our competitiveness will not be eroded.”
In fact, Ortiz-Luis noted that “to a certain degree, it might even turn into an advantage because even if we increase our prices, our competitors can’t match ours as they have to adjust their prices against much higher tariffs on their products.”
Trump imposed a 17-percent tariff on Philippine exports, higher than the 10-percent baseline tariffs slapped on the major-
ity of over 180 of America’s trading partners as the US aims to revive its manufacturing capacity and reduce its trade imbalances with its partner economies.
Trump revealed the charts of reciprocal tariffs on April 2, 2025.
Looking ahead, Ortiz-Luis explained that all exporters to the US are seen to raise the prices of their products, but noted that “it won’t be so bad for the Philippines” considering the lower tariffs imposed.
Risks are real
HOWEVER, the country’s umbrella organization of Philippine exporters did not dismiss the possibility of risks arising from other
countries’ retaliatory moves due to being slapped with higher tariffs.
“The new tariff rates might exert a significant impact on the global supply chain as other countries could retaliate with higher charges of their own, which could lead to disruption in the supply chain,” said Philexport.
Zooming in on the Philippines, Ortiz-Luis said: “The supply chain could be disrupted as our competitors might raise their prices for the raw materials or products that the Philippines imports from them.” Philexport still highlighted that the lower tariffs would give the Philippines “some room for
BOOSTING RATE-CUT
By Reine Juvierre Alberto @reine_alberto
Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) will deliver a 25-basispoint rate cut at its policy meeting on April 10 amid the uncertainties brought by the United States’ imposition of tariffs.
Inflation eased to 1.8 percent in March, the lowest since the height of Covid-19 pandemic in May 2020, from 2.1 percent in February. (See: https:// businessmirror.com.ph/2025/04/04/ inflation-eases-to-1-8-in-march/).
This development, along with the stronger peso in recent weeks, “paves the way for a potential rate cut” by the BSP in its April 10 meeting, according to Bank of the Philippine Islands Lead Economist Emilio S. Neri Jr.
“The BSP might also consider a cut to support the economy in response to external developments, particularly the potential impact of President Trump’s
By Ada Pelonia @adapelonia
particularly the central bank and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), in its renewed effort to revitalize the abaca industry.
“We will request that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas reconsider its decision to remove abaca fiber from Philippine banknotes, given the impact this decision has on the livelihoods of millions who rely on the abaca industry,” Laurel said in a statement.
“We will also urge the Department of Foreign Affairs to incorporate abaca fiber into Philippine passports and ask other government agencies to consider its use in official documents.”
Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA) Executive Director Arnold Atienza stressed that the government should spearhead the support for the sector that generates national pride and produces products
tariffs,” Neri said in a statement.
The BSP said on Friday it will consider the latest inflation outturn, along with the latest domestic and global developments, in its monetary policy meeting.
BSP Governor and Chairman of the Monetary Board Eli M. Remolona Jr. has signaled that there is a “good chance” of a 25-basis-point cut in its next rate-setting meeting.
The slowdown in inflation could equip the Philippines in managing external headwinds, such as the impact of Donald Trump’s tariffs on global trade, Neri said. See “Lower,” A2
highly valued overseas. He also highlighted that promoting the abaca industry aligns with the global shift toward sustainable industries.
“Abaca is biodegradable and can be recycled into compost, benefiting the farming community. As the world’s largest supplier of abaca, we have a responsibility to ensure that more of this valuable resource is available to support both the environment and local farmers,” Atienza said.
The PhilFIDA chief pointed out that the 120,145 farmers engaged in abaca cultivation are among the poorest in the country, earning an estimated annual gross income of less than P40,000.
Abaca, internationally known as Manila hemp, is indigenous to the Philippines, accounting for 86 percent of the global supply in 2023. From 2014 to 2023, the DA said the abaca industry generated an average annual export revenue of $139.2 million, with 18 percent derived from raw fiber and 82 percent from manufactured products, primarily pulp. Nearly all abaca pulp produced in the Philippines is exported.
‘Curb imports’ EARLIER, Atienza said the agency is keen on
TBy Lenie Lectura
HE Department of Energy (DOE) issued over the weekend the guidelines governing the natural gas industry in a bid to hasten the exploration and development of indigenous natural gas to help attain greater energy security.
Department Circular 2025-45 or the Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 12120 or the Philippine Natural Gas Industry Development Act (PDNGI) states that the DOE shall have overall responsibility for supervising and monitoring the PDNGI, and de-
veloping the strategies to implement the policies, including a gas aggregation setup combining the gas needs of multiple consumers to form a single purchasing entity.
“The DOE shall be the lead agency to determine the need for and regulate the development of aggregation in the country. The DOE shall determine the requirements to be an aggregator and designate the aggregator/s and issue the applicable policies to implement aggregation, including the minimum percentage of indigenous natural gas for aggregation and pricing mechanisms
maneuvering” as it enjoys minimal impact from these additional trade duties, compared to the tariffs slapped on its competitors.
Data from the Office of United States Trade Representative (USTR) showed that US-Philippine goods trade amounted to US$23.5 billion in 2024.
Philippine goods exports to the US amounted to $14.2 billion in 2024, up 6.9 percent or by $912 million from 2023.
Sister of Pinoy arrested in China denies sibling is a spy
THEUnder Comelec Resolution No. 11064, released last year, the poll body banned three types of visual disinformation: deep fakes, cheap fakes—authentic media that has been misleadingly recontextualized—and soft fakes—subtle, nearly undetectable manipulations.
The resolution mandates the immediate removal of flagged content, and individuals found to have maliciously created or spread disinformation may face election-related charges.
In October, the poll body also forged a partnership with tech giants Meta, Google, and Tiktok to curb electionrelated mis- and disinformation.
As of press time, Comelec said it has not received any formal complaints related to deep fake content.
By Malou Talosig-Bartolome
sister of one of three arrested Filipinos for espionage in China is worried that her brother has been framed up in China.
“Nagulat kami na pinangalanan na sila. Natakot din kami at the same time na may maaaring mangyari sa kanya. Malungkot din po. [We were surprised that their names were already publicized. At the same time we worried over their safety. This is saddening],” she told the BusinessMirror
The sister spoke on condition of anonymity. She will be referred to as “Shiela” in this article.
Shiela also requested that the name of her brother not be mentioned, so as not to further subject their family to stigma.
PHL exports…
“Sa totoo lang, hindi kami naniniwala sa allegation sa kanya. Wala sa karakter na gumawa nang ganun. [Truth be told, we don’t believe the allegations. It’s so out of character].
“Law-abiding citizen. He is also knowledgeable of China’s laws. Every time he comes home, there are so many things he tells us are banned in China. That’s why we cannot fathom how he can be a spy,” Shiela said.
China announced last week the arrest of three Filipinos who are scholars of Hainan province under the Palawan-Hainan sisterhood agreement.
Shiela admitted her family is wor-
ing a critical phase—threatening growth, investment, and development progress, particularly for the most vulnerable economies” as major economies are set to impose sweeping new tariffs.
“This hurts the vulnerable and the poor,” said Unctad
ried that her brother was “framed up” by Chinese authorities.
The Philippine Consulate in Guangzhou is communicating with her family about his case.
The Consulate was able to visit her brother in his detention cell of the National Security Agency and every time the family requests to check on their brother, the Consulate makes a phone call to speak to him.
“Nung personal visit sa kanya, maayos naman daw ang kalagayan nya. Maayos naman ang itsura.Walanamangbakasng torture kasi yung inaalala namin. Hindi namin sya nakikita kahit na sabihin nyang ok, hindi naman namin sya nakita nang personal,” Shiela recalled.
The Consulate also assured their family that he is being treated well.
Her brother was a scholar of a Chinese university in Hainan. He spent six years to finish his course
in B.S. Pharmaceutical Engineering. He returned to China only last September 2024 as he had only two more subjects left to finish.
While studying, he is tutoring Chinese students the English language on the side. He is also helping a cafe owned by a Filipino in Hainan.
That is why she denies reports in Chinese media that her brother has been receiving regular money from the Philippines in exchange for sending photos about the Chinese military. She said she was the one who wired a small amount of money to her brother to help him get by.
Asked what would be her message to her brother, she replied in Filipino, “I hope he remains steadfast. And not to forget to pray each day. The government is doing everything to bring him home. Many people love him. We love him so much.”
for aggregated gas,” the circular stated.
The DOE defines aggregation as the procurement of indigenous natural gas, combining it with imported LNG (liquefied natural gas), and selling the aggregated gas to gas buyers in the Philippines or abroad, by participants known as aggregator. The DOE will issue separate guidelines on aggregation but would still form part of the gas policy.
Meanwhile, goods shipped by the US to the Philippines in 2024 amounted to $9.3 billion, higher by 0.4 percent or $38.8 million from 2023. regulating
Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan. “Trade must not become another source of instability. It should serve development and global growth.” Unctad underscored that while the need for trade reform is clear, the solution must come through dialogue and negotiation. It also noted that “Trade imbalances, concentrated gains, and outdated rules must be addressed—without sacrificing those least responsible.”
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Continued from A1
Consumers will also likely continue to benefit from slower inflation, as it frees up funds for essential and discretionary spending, he added.
‘Ample room to cut’
THE March inflation print also suggests “ample room” for the BSP to resume its rate-cutting cycle, according to Citi Economist Nalin Chutchotitham.
While the BSP could possibly downgrade its February assessment of a neutral output gap and limited demand pull inflation pressures, Chutchotitham said Citi maintains its base case for a quarter-point cut in April.
“We expect BSP to resume its ratecutting cycle on April 10th, August and December,” Chutchotitham said in a report.
External headwinds, even if considered minimal, prompted Citi to move forward—to June and October—its expectations of a further rate cut in August and December.
The central bank’s concerns of rising costs in electricity, transportation, taxes on alcohol and tobacco, wages and currency depreciation, “likely have been allayed by the last two months of inflation at or below the floor of the target range,” Chutchotitham added.
In 2026, the key policy rate is seen to settle at 4.50 percent should inflation remain stable as Citi expects, Chutchotitham said.
‘Monitor peso volatility’ WITH risks to inflation tilted to the downside, HSBC Asean Economist Aris Dacanay said this gives way for the BSP to resume its easing cycle.
“Inflation stayed within a range that keeps the BSP’s door wide open to continue its easing cycle and, perhaps, locks in a policy rate cut next week,” Dacanay said in a report.
However, Dacanay said concerns over reciprocal tariffs might prompt the US Federal Reserve to cut rates less, allowing the BSP to reduce rates more due to inflation in the Philippines remaining low.
He added that the real policy rate differential between the BSP and the Fed will widen, giving the BSP room to cut policy rates even if the Fed
“This is a time for cooperation - not escalation,” Grynspan said. “Global trade rules must evolve to reflect today’s challenges, but they must do so with predictability and development at their core, protecting the most vulnerable,” she added.
Unctad called on decision makers to “urgently reconsider” the tariffs imposed on the vulnerable countries, as these measures “could inflict great pain on millions of people.”
doesn’t.
“Can the BSP cut more than the Fed? Monitoring Peso volatility will be key, but there should be some support from a real rates perspective,” Dacanay said.
Although there is some downward pressure on inflation due to lower demand, Dacanay said it is “nothing too worrying.” While the rise in commodity prices slowed across the board, it is not the case for water utilities, information and communication and some food items.
Still, Dacanay said risks are tilted to the downside despite the hike in LRT-1 fares offset by declining rice prices.
’Not too fast, soon’ THE peso strengthening against the US dollar and an all-time-high real policy rate “presents an opportune moment to cut rates to support growth,” according to ING AsiaPacific Regional Head of Research Deeply Bhargava.
However, Bhargava said the tariffs imposed by Trump will exert downward pressure on the US economic growth and the Fed to cut rates.
“Although the Philippines is relatively well-positioned with a lower tariff rate and reduced exposure to US exports, it is unlikely to remain completely unaffected,” Bhargava said.
As such, the “gloomier” near-term outlook for the Philippines entails risks skewed to the BSP “having to do more this year,” Bhargava added.
“This should take away concerns around the Philippines cutting rates too fast, too soon, and staying largely aligned with US rate actions,” Bhargava said. The BSP could also be restricted in cutting rates further as the Fed responding to higher inflation could lead to global monetary tightening, Neri said.
“The space for rate cuts this year remains limited. While a rate cut may be appropriate in the near term, a shift in Federal Reserve policy is still possible,” Neri added. The Philippines’s “substantial” current account deficit also leaves the peso vulnerable to external shocks.
“Maintaining interest rates at appropriate levels might be needed to mitigate the potential impact of these uncertainties,” Neri said.
The IRR was signed by DOE Secretary Raphael Lotilla on March 26, 2025 and uploaded on the DOE website over the weekend.
While the implementing rules and regulations of RA12120 mandates the priority dispatch and utilization of indigenous gas over imported gas, it does not prohibit the importation of LNG or use of aggregated natural gas.
“Power produced from indigenous natural gas shall have priority over other conventional energy sources. Such prioritization shall cover indigenous natural gas power supply contracting, including mechanisms for minimum supply requirements,” the DOE said.
There will be a minimum percentage of electricity demand of generation companies and or distribution utilities to be sourced from indigenous natural gas, according to the circular.
The DOE is also contemplating the construction or designation of the PDNGI facilities to ensure accommodation of both indigenous natural gas and imported gas. A permit to construct, operate and maintain the facility must be secured from the agency.
A permit to operate and maintain is valid for a maximum of 25 years from the day after the expiration of the permit to construct.
The necessary measures to support and supply use of indigenous gas in the domestic downstream natural gas sector will also be established.
The DOE is also looking at incentives to recognize the capital-intensive investments for the development, construction, lease, operation and maintenance, and construction of natural gas facilities.
“The purchase and sale of indigenous natural gas, aggregated gas, and power generated by generation facilities using indigenous natural gas and aggregated gas shall be exempt from value added tax,” the circular said.
The DOE has long been promoting natural gas as an additional energy source and a transition fuel to variable renewable energy by creating a legal and regulatory framework that will govern the promotion and development of the PDNGI.
He said they are
ties] don’t know where to source their materials,” he said.
Atienza noted that the agency also wants to forge partnerships that would link farmers with the private sector involved in value-added products of fiber textiles.
This will be part of its “Adopt-a-Farm” program, which will help bridge that gap by providing the private sector direct access to raw materials, he added.
Atienza said the “Adopt-a-Farm” initiative would also fast-track the agency’s goal to arrest the decline in abaca output this year.
“So, we get to produce not just raw material but we get to produce value-added products,” he said.
Data from PhilFida showed that the country’s abaca production in
Western Mindanao forces on high alert
POLICE maneuver forces in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region were alerted for possible deployment for election duties in the townof Datu Odin Sinsuat in Maguindanao del Norte that was placed under Commission on Election control over the weekend.
Police Lt. Gen. Bernard M. Banac, commander of Area Police Command-Western Mindanao and concurrent commander of the inter-agency Special Task Force BARMM, assured the
operational readiness of National Police (PNP) regional, provincial and city mobile forces for law enforcement and public safety operations in Datu Odin Sinsuat in support of Comelec de facto take over of local government functions in the town.
Banac reported to the PNP Chief, Police Gen. Rommel Francisco D. Marbil, that all resources and personnel of STF BARMM are under the highest state of readiness to perform election security duties as required by the Comelec while the town of Datu Odin Sinsuat remains under the control of
the poll body.
STF BARMM maintains close operational coordination with PNP, Armed Forces (AFP), and Coast Guard (PCG) units stationed in the autonomous region.
The Comelec en banc passed a resolution placing Datu Odin Sinsuat under the poll body’s control in the aftermath of the ambush-killing of provincial election supervisor Bai Maceda Lidasan-Abo and her husband on March 26 in barangay Makir.
“The PNP is now in the thick of investigation to identify and arrest those behind the killing,” Banac said. Roy Navales
Comelec: Remove Starlink devices from private home
By Justine Xyrah Garcia
TVoters want Marcos to address corruption,
By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM
ORRUPTION, the econ -
Comy and inflation top the list of people’s most serious concerns that they want President Marcos to address, the latest Pahayag survey by private think tank Publicus reveal.
Per the Pahayag 2025 First Quarter Survey (PQ1-2025, the key issues that Filipinos believe the President should prioritize are: corruption (20 percent), the nation’s economy (11 percent), and inflation (11 percnt), even as it noted that concerns over illegal drugs (13 percent) have surged, particularly in Mindanao (26 percent).
Macro-micro issues
AT the household level, Filipinos remain anxious about their ability to afford necessities (14 percent), access healthcare when needed (10 percent), and secure sustainable livelihoods (9 percent).
Additionally, a rising concern that could be linked to illegal drug issues is the fear of becoming a victim of a crime (13 percent), which has notably increased in Mindanao. These
economy, inflation
findings reflect a pressing need for the government to address national and community-level concerns to improve public confidence and security.
The survey also examined public approval of various national policies and legislative actions.
The approval of a P200 acrossthe-board daily minimum wage increase is among the most supported measures is the House of Representatives. This received backing from eight out of 10 Filipinos—an indication, Publicus said, of strong public demand for long-term economic relief for the working class.
Seven out of 10 Filipinos also support key legislative measures, including the ban on distributing financial aid, also known as “ayuda” 10 days before election day, the House’s inquiry into fake news and disinformation against government officials, and the banning of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogos) in favor of Philippine Inland Gaming Operators (Pigos).
Policies receiving support from six in 10 respondents include election-related measures such as the Commission on Elections’ approval of online campaign plat -
forms and the decision to keep Automated Counting Machines (ACMs) offline during voting and counting.
The Supreme Court’s scheduled deliberations on the constitutionality of the Maharlika Investment Fund Act and the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA) in April also garnered significant public interest. Additionally, there is strong approval for the passage of bills on Anti-Teenage Pregnancy and the re-imposition of the death penalty by firing squad for public officials convicted of corruption, malversation, and plunder.
Meanwhile, half of the electorate, or five in 10 Filipino voters expressed support for the Supreme Court’s handling of major legal issues, including arguments on the transfer of Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) funds to the National Treasury, the issuance of a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) against Comelec’s candidate disqualifications, and petitions to nullify the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte. Similarly, half of the respondents approve of the impeachment trial’s planned start in the 20th
House probe on fake news resumes
VLOGGERS and social media influencers, including three individuals who earlier apologized for disseminating false information, are expected to return to the House of Representatives on Tuesday as the joint House panel, or Tri-Committee (Tri-Comm), resumes its investigation into the spread of online disinformation.
The Tri-Comm, chaired by Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez of the House Committee on Public Order and Safety, confirmed on Sunday that Krizette Laureta Chu, Mark Lopez, Mary Jane Quiambao Reyes, and former press secretary and vlogger Rose Beatrix “Trixie” Cruz-Angeles are among those invited to appear before the joint hearing.
Chu, who introduced herself as a Manila Bulletin editor, Reyes, and Lopez apologized to lawmakers during the March 21, 2025, Tri-Comm hearing for their alleged misleading and unverified claims.
The list of invited resource persons also includes Jay Sonza, Elizabeth Joie Cruz (Joie De Vivre), Ethel Pineda Garcia, Alvin Curay, Ma. Khristine Claud Curay, Epifanio Labrador, Manuel Mata Jr. (Kokolokoy), Richard Tesoro Mata (Dr. Richard and Erika Mata), George Ahmed Paglinawan (Luminous by Trixie & Ahmed), Aeron Peña (Old School Pinoy), Ramon Gerardo B. San Luis, and Elijah San Fernando (Eli).
In addition, 24 vloggers and influencers have been subpoenaed to testify at the April 8 hearing. These individuals face possible contempt charges and detention should they fail to appear, warned Committee on Public Accounts chairman and Abang Lingkod Partylist Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano.
The 24 subpoenaed individuals are Ernesto S. Abines Jr., Lorraine Marie Tablang Badoy-Partosa, Suzanne Batalla, Mary Catherine Binag, Jeffrey
Almendras Celiz, Atty. Glenn Chong, Claire Eden Contreras, Lord Byron Cristobal, Jeffrey G. Cruz, Alex Destor, Ma. Florinda Espenilla-Duque, Claro Ganac, Edwin Jamora, Elmer Jugalbot, Julius Melanosi Maui, Joe Smith Medina, Alven L. Montero, Jonathan Morales, Cyrus Preglo, Vivian Zapata Rodriguez, Darwin Salceda, Allan Troy “Sass” Rogando Sasot, Maricar Serrano, and Kester Ramon John Balibalos Tan.
Lawmakers have voiced concern over reports that some vloggers use their content, allegedly designed to mislead the public and attack political critics. The hearings aim to uncover whether these acts are part of an organized campaign and how they are being financed.
Representatives from social media platforms such as Meta (Facebook), TikTok, and Google are also expected to appear before the committee to answer questions about their content moderation
Congress after the State of the Nation Address (Sona).
Additionally, 50 percent of respondents support the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) decision to impose a maximum Suggested Retail Price (SRP) of P58.00 per kilo on imported rice.
Less popular policies include those that directly impact the public financially, such as toll rate hikes for the North Luzon Expressway (Nlex), fare increases for the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) and traditional jeepneys, and higher contributions for Social Security System (SSS) members.
Other issues that received less approval include the removal of the Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (Edsa) Bus Carousel, concerns over the growing national debt, the Maharlika Investment Corporation’s US$76.4 million loan to Makilala Mining Company, the Bangko Sentral’s (BSP) goldselling activities, and the P194 billion worth of projects vetoed by Marcos.
Pahayag 2025 First Quarter is an independent and non-commissioned survey conducted from1520 March 2025 by Publicus Asia Inc., using a purposive sampling composed of 1,500 respondents randomly selected from the research panel of over 200,000 registered Filipino voters maintained by the Singapore office of PureSpectrum, a US-based panel marketplace with a multinational presence.
systems and cooperation with government efforts against fake news.
Officials from the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Department of Justice ( DOJ ), Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), National Police (PNP), Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), and Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) were invited to attend the investigation.
The inquiry explores legal and legislative remedies to address disinformation without curbing constitutionally protected freedom of speech.
Lawmakers have signaled that they are working toward a balance between public accountability and digital rights.
The House is working on stronger regulatory frameworks and possibly even criminal penalties for those who knowingly and repeatedly spread false information that endangers public safety and democratic institutions.
Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz
HE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has ordered the immediate removal of Starlink satellite transmission devices and solar panels from a private residence in Barangay Buhangin, Davao City after online posts raised concerns about the storage of election-related equipment in a non-government facility.
In a statement released on Saturday, Comelec said the equipment—delivered by its transmission provider iOne Resources Joint Venture with Ardent Networks Inc. (iOne JV)—will be transferred directly to Offices of the Election Officer (OEOs) under the supervision of Comelec personnel and National Police (PNP) personnel.
Upon delivery, the equipment will be inventoried and documented.
“For additional security and transparency, we have directed iOne JV to remove the Starlink devices and solar panels from their current location in Davao City and to bring them directly to the OEOs,” Comelec said in Filipino The poll body clarified that the site was listed as a temporary staging hub, part of the “forward deployment” strategy for the midterm polls.
Installation of the equipment is scheduled to begin on April 15.
The poll body said the list of staging hubs was submitted by iOne JV and reviewed by its Field Operations and Transmission Groups. The Davao City Police Office also confirmed that the devices came from the Comelec warehouse and are part of official deployment logistics.
According to the commission, ten sets of Starlink units, solar panels, and batteries were temporarily stored in the area.
The devices will be used to transmit election returns and certificates of canvass and are not connected to vote-counting machines or canvassing software.
“They have nothing to do with machines and programs used for reading ballots and counting votes, and they contain no election program or software,” Comelec emphasized. Under their contract, the poll body emphasized that iOne JV is responsible for the deployment and installation of the devices— including decisions on temporary storage locations.
“We don’t see any irregularity about this incident,” Comelec said. The commission also reminded the public that election logistics and deployment plans are subject to “transparency policies” and can be verified with its offices to “avoid confusion or misinformation.”
Congressmen, COA find more suspicious names on Sara’s confi funds beneficiaries
million confidential funds.
ABy Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie
LENGTHENING list of suspicious and seemingly fabricated names tied to
Vice President Sara Duterte’s P612.5 million in combined confidential funds has raised more red flags in Congress, with a House leader revealing that some entries now resemble celebrities and well-known public figures.
House Deputy Majority Leader Paolo Ortega V said the new names Honeylet Camille Sy, Feonna Biong, Feonna Villegas, Fiona Ranitez, Ellen Magellan, Erwin Q. Ewan, Gary Tanada, and Joel Linangan, which closely resemble or echo the names of known public figures.
He noted that the recurrence of such stylized or playful names contributes to growing public suspicion that aliases were intentionally inserted in liquidation reports.
Ortega, who represents La Union, said, “It’s not funny to keep using fake names that sound like they were pulled straight out of the movies and showbiz.”
Ortega said the repetition and creativity of the names “no longer seem coincidental and may point to a supposed systemic attempt to hide transactions involving confidential funds.”
“We’re talking about public funds here. If they can’t present evidence proving these people are real, that in itself will become strong evidence against him in the impeachment trial,” he added.
Like previously flagged entries, Ortega said the new batch of names did not appear in any official birth, marriage, and death records from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
Honeylet Camille Sy, Feonna Biong, Feonna Villegas, and Joel Linangan were listed as alleged beneficiaries of the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) P500 million confidential funds, while Fiona Ranitez, Erwin Q. Ewan, Ellen Magellan, and Gary Tanada purportedly received portions of the Department of Education’s (DepEd) P112.5
Ortega said the latest names were submitted by the OVP and DepEd to the Commission on Audit (COA).
With the Senate impeachment trial against Duterte scheduled to begin in June, Ortega said these questionable aliases could serve as direct evidence of alleged wrongdoing—unless clear, verifiable documentation is produced by the OVP to account for each name listed.
Ortega said, “VP Sara can no longer just stay silent on this.”
Earlier, Ortega disclosed the controversies involving bogus-sounding names for Chichirya, cellphones, fruit, the Dodong Gang, Team Amoy Asim, and Team Grocery—purportedly part of the so-called “Budol Gang.”
This absence of documentation raises questions about whether the individuals listed ever existed or were simply used to facilitate questionable disbursements.
“If the OVP and DepEd repeatedly used fictitious names, it is a strict requirement that they must have a journal documenting the real identities behind them,” he said.
“According to the COA joint circular, records like these must be sealed and kept in a vault. So, with all these aliases used, the burden of proof on whether these people are real or not lies with the head of the agency — in this case, the Vice President,” Ortega added. The use of aliases in government transactions is not new, especially in operations involving sensitive intelligence work, said the lawmaker.
However, Ortega warned that any use of fictitious names must comply with the documentation requirements outlined in Joint Circular 2015-01, which governs the handling of confidential and intelligence funds.
Under the circular, agencies must maintain sealed logs linking aliases to real, verifiable identities to prevent fraudulent use of public funds. Failing to do so could
A4
Monday, April 7, 2025
Trump’s tariffs give PHL chance to be manufacturing hub, congressman says
By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @sam_medenilla
WHILE acknowledging initial concerns over the tariff rates imposed on the Philippines by the United States, a lawmaker views the situation as a significant opportunity for the Philippines to become a manufacturing hub.
to previous rates,” said Valeriano.
“The tariff rate on our country can actually be considered very low, especially since those countries with even lower rates are not our direct trade competitors,” Valeriano, the 2023 Outstanding Customs Broker of the Year awardee by the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC), explained.
Valeriano highlighted the crucial role of tariff rates for multinational exporter companies, particularly US-based firms with manufacturing plants located outside the United States.
China, India, Bangladesh, and others,” he said.
“Now that tariffs on goods entering America from these countries will be significantly higher, this presents a distinct advantage for our nation. A problem has turned into an opportunity,” Valeriano asserted. “This is a massive opportunity for our country.”
He urged the Philippines to capitalize on this advantage by making its investment atmosphere more attractive.
www.businessmirror.com.ph
Help for entrepreneurs coming
THE leader of the House of Representatives has vowed to drive forward reforms fostering an environment where entrepreneurs, both large and small, can thrive.
Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, addressing the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) at its recent 34th biennial convention, emphasized the House’s dedication to collaborating with the private sector to ensure sustainable and inclusive economic growth.
commitment to entrepreneurship and civic engagement.
He specifically pointed to the House’s ongoing efforts to empower entrepreneurs through legislative reforms.
“We have passed laws to cut red tape and digitalize public services. We are modernizing our tax system to make it fairer and more business-friendly. We continue to support legislation that boosts the MSME sector, protects our local manufacturers, and promotes foreign direct investments,” he said.
The chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Metro Manila Development, Manila Rep. Rolando Valeriano, emphasized the “relatively low” 17 percent tariff imposed on the Philippines compared to significantly higher rates on competitors such as Cambodia (49 percent), Vietnam (46 percent), Sri Lanka and Myanmar (44 percent), Bangladesh (37 percent), Thailand (36 percent), China (34 percent), Taiwan and Indonesia (32 percent), India (27 percent), and Malaysia (24 percent).
Sara. . .
Continued from A3
constitute misuse of state resources.
Former COA Commissioner Heidi Mendoza had previously explained in media interviews that aliases alone are insufficient to justify fund disbursements.
She clarified that clear and traceable documentation must exist linking these names to actual beneficiaries.
Earlier batches of flagged or bogus names from PSA featured fictitious entries resembling snack brands, with some even appearing to form pun-laced groupings.
These include “Mary Grace Piattos,” “Pia Piatos-Lim,” and “Renan Piatos,” who were among those earlier exposed in congressional inquiries.
Another controversial name was “Xiaome Ocho,” appearing to mimic the tech brand Xiaomi, raising suspicions that several of the aliases were not just accidental or erroneous entries but possibly fabricated identities.
Even more peculiar was the emergence of aliases such as “Jay Kamote,” “Miggy Mango,” and multiple individuals simply named “Dodong.” The list has since ballooned to include themed groups, such as the trio dubbed “Team Amoy” Asim”—composed of “Amoy Liu,” “Fernan Amuy,” and “Joug De Asim.”
Another group was nicknamed “Team Grocery,” consisting of names like “Beverly Claire Pampano,”“Mico Harina,”“Patty Ting,” “Ralph Josh Bacon,” and “Sala Casim.” Ortega emphasized that the unusual nature and volume of these names suggest more than administrative error.
Out of 1,992 supposed recipients of confidential funds at OVP, Ortega said 1,322 had no birth records, 1,456 had no marriage records, and 1,593 had no death records.
Manila Rep. Joel Chua, chairman of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability (blue-ribbon), also revealed earlier that 405 out of the 677 names listed as beneficiaries of DepEd’s confidential funds under Duterte have no birth records, a clear indication that the names were allegedly fabricated.
“At first glance, US President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff impositions are indeed worrying, as they raise tariffs on products we export to America compared
“Large companies producing consumer goods like computers, cell phones, garments, and food products for the US market typically locate their manufacturing facilities in countries with lower labor and cost of doing business compared to America. These are the companies the Philippines is vying for as investors, competing with Southeast Asian nations,
“Let’s lower the cost and ease of doing business. Let’s establish more Economic Processing Zones [Epzas] in provinces and cities. Let’s review tax rates, exploring further reductions, especially for companies that will generate numerous jobs. We must reduce red tape, opportunities for corruption, and other issues that deter investors. Let’s strive to become a full-fledged manufacturing hub,” said Valeriano.
Hopes for ‘Bicol Express’ revival rosy with Japan help–legislator
JAPAN has expressed strong interest in conducting a feasibility study for a highspeed rail project connecting Metro Manila to the Bicol region, a senior lawmaker said.
Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte made the statement in the wake of Japan’s formal commitment to finance five major infrastructure projects under President Marcos’ “Build Better More” program.
Villafuerte, a long-time advocate for the revival of the “Bicol Express” railway line, revealed that during a recent meeting with Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Endo Kazuya and the then-chief representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica), Sakamoto Takema, Japanese officials indicated Tokyo was “very interested” in exploring the high-speed rail link.
Villafuerte, former governor of Camarines Sur, noted that
the Japanese officials stated their interest in undertaking a feasibility study for a highspeed rail system from Metro Manila to Bicol should the Philippine government desire it.
He emphasized that a new feasibility study is warranted, as the previous plan for the “Bicol Express,” that was intended to be financed and built by China but did not materialize, was not a high-speed rail system.
“Very interested ang Japanese Government to conduct the feasibility study of a modern high-speed rail [system] papunta sa Bicol. Don’t believe those who say a highspeed rail line is impossible. When united and helping each other, everything is possible,” he said.
This interest from Japan is considered “very timely” by Villafuerte, especially after Japan recently finalized loan packages totaling JP¥ 171.58
billion (approximately P65.43 billion) for five other Philippine infrastructure projects, demonstrating their strong support for President Marcos’ Build Better More program.
Marcos recently directed the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to explore ways to expedite both the “Bicol Express” project and the modernization of the Naga Airport during a Regional Development Council (RDC) Region V meeting in Camarines Sur last March.
Villafuerte also mentioned that he and Camarines Sur Gov. Vincenzo Renato Luigi Villafuerte have personally appealed to Transportation Secretary Vivencio Dizon for the DOTr’s support in fast-tracking both the “Bicol Express” and the long-stalled modernization of the Naga Airport, projects crucial for boosting tourism and the local economy of the Bicol region.
‘Sultanate of Sulu not allowed to appoint BARMM officials’
THE Department of Justice (DOJ) has declared that the United Tausug Citizens (UTC) of the Sultanate of Sulu is barred from appointing representatives to various positions in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
In a three-page legal opinion issued by Undersecretary Raul Vasquez, the justice department pointed out that the request of UTC to the Department of the Interior
and Local Government (DILG) to consider the appointment of Sharif Jubar B. Muhammad as the BARMM Chief Minister and its 50 members to ministerial parliament positions has been rendered moot and academic in view of the recent ruling of the Supreme Court (SC).
The DOJ was referring to the case of Province of Sulu v Executive Secretary et al, Philconsa v Senate et al and Dimaporo v Comelec, wherein the Court upheld the constitutionality of Republic Act 11054 or the Organic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
The Organic Law created the Office of the Chief Minister and the Bangsamoro Parliament and provided for their qualification and manner of election.
The DOJ noted that there is nothing in the said law that prohibits anyone, including the UTC members, from being elected to the Bangsamoro Parliament as long as they possess the qualifications provided therein.
While the Court upheld the constitutionality of the organic law, it ruled that the Province of Sulu is not part of the BARMM after the province rejected the law’s ratification.
The BOL that was enacted on July 27, 2018, provided for the establishment of BARMM as a political entity and its corresponding basic governmental structure.
Under the BOL, BARMM’s creation and determination of its territorial jurisdiction would take effect upon the law’s ratification by majority of the votes cast in a plebiscite.
A plebiscite was conducted on January 21, 2019, covering areas of then Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and Isabela City in Basilan and Cotabato City.
Another plebiscite was held on February 6, 2019, in Lanao del Norte, municipalities in North Cotabato, and other areas that petitioned for voluntary inclusion.
The majority of the ARMM ratified the law, except Sulu.
“Consequently, the UTC members being Tausug [people/native of Sulu] themselves, cannot be elected as members of the Parliament given the clear mandate of the organic law’s Section 12, Article VII which provides that: ‘[N]o person shall be a member of the Parliament unless the person is a registered voter in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Regio,’” the DOJ declared.
The UTC has claimed to be the “rightful custodians of the Sultanate of Sulu Territory” over Sabah and asked the Malaysian government to immediately pay US$15 billion as “cession money.”
It also sought recognition of UTC as “a sovereign and independent state kingdom.”
“As Speaker of the House, I assure you of our continued support. Together with President Marcos, we will continue to work handin-hand with the private sector to create the conditions for inclusive, sustainable, and innovation-led growth,” he told FFCCCII members.
He highlighted the country’s solid economic gains under the current administration, citing robust gross domestic product (GDP) growth, improved credit ratings, and increased investor confidence.
“These gains are not abstract figures. They translate into more jobs, better wages, expanded MSMEs, improved infrastructure, and more opportunities for Filipino families to rise from poverty,” he said.
Recognizing the FFCCCII’s significant contributions to national development, he praised their
Romualdez outlined the House’s strategic initiatives, including investments in digital infrastructure, alternative energy, and the revitalization of key sectors like tourism, agriculture, and logistics.
“We are investing heavily in digital infrastructure and alternative energy to reduce power costs and ensure connectivity in every corner of the country. And we are reviving key sectors like tourism, agriculture, and logistics—making sure no region is left behind,” he said.
He underscored that these measures are driven by a belief in shared prosperity and the crucial role of entrepreneurs in national progress.
“Congress is taking all these measures because we believe that prosperity must be shared and that our progress as a nation depends on the success of our entrepreneurs,” he added.
Marie N. dela Cruz
Jovee
Congress leader reaffirms backing for transport modernization program
THE leadership of the House of Representatives has reaffirmed his unwavering support for the government’s public transportation modernization program through bigger budget allocation, emphasizing the chamber’s commitment to local manufacturers and Filipino-made traditional and electric modern jeepneys.
Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez made this statement during a modern jeepney exhibit held at the Main Wing of the Batasang Pambansa Complex in Quezon City on Saturday. The event brought together officials from Francisco Motors—Chairman Elmer Francisco and President and Chief Executive Officer Dominic Francisco—as well as leaders of transport groups.
“We’ll rally our fellow lawmakers to support locally made modern jeepneys and electric-powered utility vehicles,” said Romualdez. The exhibit highlighted the revival of the iconic Filipino jeepney, reengineered to meet the standards of an efficient, eco-friendly, and future-ready public transport system.
During the event, Romualdez tested both diesel and electric variants of the modernized jeepney, inspecting their features and expressing his commitment to policies that drive progress without sidelining Filipino workers or local industries.
“Modernization isn’t just about new vehicles—it’s about improving the daily lives of drivers and passengers. These jeepneys are safer, more efficient, and better for the environment,” Romualdez said after inspecting and test-driving one of the modernized units.
“The jeepney has long been a symbol of Filipino ingenuity. As we modernize, we must preserve its cultural value while making it more responsive to today’s needs,” he said
The featured units included the traditional Francisco Passenger Jeepney (FPJ), which runs on a EURO4-compliant diesel engine, and the fully electric Pinoy Transporter. Both are equipped with airconditioning, CCTV, side entry, and emergency exits accessible for persons with disabilities.
Critical role
ROMUALDEZ underscored the pivotal role of local vehicle manufacturers in pushing forward transportation reforms while fostering inclusive economic development.
He emphasized that backing companies like Francisco Motors helps generate jobs, support communities, and reduce dependence on imported vehicles, which many transport cooperatives purchased to comply with modernization regulations.
“Supporting local businesses is key to building a strong economy. When we invest in Filipino-made products, we invest in our people,” Romualdez said.
According to Elmer Francisco, around 250,000 new public utility vehicles will be required under the Jeepney Modernization Program initiated by the previous administration.
Francisco also noted that government support for local vehicle manufacturers would spur the growth of related local industries such as spare parts manufacturing, creating thousands of jobs.
He said locally made modern jeeps can also be sold much cheaper than imported units with proper support from the government, like duty-free importation of raw materials and capital equipment and zero-rated VAT for locally purchased and imported raw materials, among others.
Ely Villena, president of Piston-NCR, said, “Jeepneys made here are durable. My own unit has been running smoothly for over 30 years. We’ve heard that some imported units encounter problems within just three years.”
The Speaker, meanwhile, pledged to collaborate with Congress to ensure bigger budget allocations for the transport modernization program, including financial and technical support for drivers and operators affected by the shift.
“As Speaker, I am committed to secure more funding to help modernize our transport system while protecting livelihoods and the environment,” he said.
Josee Marie N. dela Cruz
Editor: Angel R. Calso | Monday, April 7, 2025
Angry protesters flood streets in 50 states; assail Trump, Musk in
‘Hands Off!’ rallies
By Dave Collins | The Associated Press
CROWDS of people angry about the way President Donald Trump is running the country marched and rallied in scores of American cities Saturday in the biggest day of demonstrations yet by an opposition movement trying to regain its momentum after the shock of the Republican’s first weeks in office.
So-called “Hands Off!” demonstrations were organized for more than 1,200 locations in all 50 states by more than 150 groups, including civil rights organizations, labor unions, LBGTQ+ advocates, veterans and elections activists. The rallies appeared peaceful, with no immediate reports of arrests.
Thousands of protesters in cities dotting the nation from Midtown Manhattan to Anchorage, Alaska, including at multiple state capitols, assailed Trump and billionaire Elon Musk’s actions on government downsizing, the economy, immigration and human rights. On the West Coast, in the shadow of Seattle’s iconic Space Needle, protesters held signs with slogans like “Fight the oligarchy.” Protesters chanted as they took to the streets in Portland, Oregon, and Los Angeles, where they marched from Pershing Square to City Hall. Demonstrators voiced anger over the administration’s moves to fire thousands of federal workers, close Social Security Administration field offices, effectively shutter entire agencies, deport immigrants, scale back protections for transgender people and cut funding for health programs.
Musk, a Trump adviser who runs Tesla, SpaceX and the social media platform X, has played a key role in the downsizing as the head of the newly created Department of Government Efficiency. He says he is saving taxpayers billions of dollars.
Asked about the protests, the White House said in a statement that “President Trump’s position is clear: he will always protect Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid for eligible beneficiaries. Meanwhile, the Democrats’ stance is giving Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare benefits to illegal aliens, which will bankrupt these programs and crush American seniors.”
Kelley Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign advocacy group, criticized the administration’s treatment of the LBGTQ+ community at the rally at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., where Democratic members of Congress also took the stage.
“The attacks that we’re seeing, they’re not just political. They are personal, y’all,” Robinson said. “They’re trying to ban our books, they’re slashing HIV prevention funding, they’re criminalizing our doctors, our teachers, our families and our lives.”
“We don’t want this America, y’all,” Robinson added. “We want the America we deserve, where dignity, safety and freedom belong not to some of us, but to all of us.”
In Boston, demonstrators brandished signs such as “Hands off our democracy” and “Hands off our Social Security.”
Mayor Michelle Wu said she does not want her children and others’ to live in a world in which threats and intimidation are government tactics and values like diversity and equality are under attack.
“I refuse to accept that they could grow up in a world where immigrants like their grandma and grandpa are automatically presumed to be criminals,” Wu said.
Roger Broom, 66, a retiree from Delaware County, Ohio, was one of hundreds who rallied at the Statehouse in Columbus. He said he used to be a Reagan Republican but has been turned off by Trump.
“He’s tearing this country apart,” Broom said. “It’s just an administration of grievances.”
Hundreds of people also demonstrated in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, a few miles from Trump’s golf course in Jupiter, where he spent the morning at the club’s Senior Club Championship. People lined both sides of PGA Drive, encouraging cars to honk and chanting slogans against Trump.
See “Angry,” A8
By Wes Cabangon
US inflation set to give hints of Trump tariff pain to come
By Vince Golle & Craig Stirling
US households probably experienced slightly less overall inflation last month, a reprieve that economists view as temporary in the wake of President Donald Trump’s tariff tsunami.
Bureau of Labor Statistics figures on Thursday are projected to show that the consumer price index edged up 0.1 percent, which would be the smallest rise since July, based on the median estimate of economists surveyed by Bloomberg.
The core CPI, a better measure of underlying inflation because it excludes often-volatile food and energy costs, is seen climbing 0.3 percent from February and 3 percent from a year ago. The annual pace would be the slowest since 2021.
Economists will likely pay close attention to goods inflation in March, as it will help show how quickly higher US tariffs on Chinese merchandise fed through to American consumers.
Trump imposed 10 percent tariffs on China in February and again last month, as well as higher duties on global steel and aluminum imports that went into effect March 12. Canada and Mexico also have higher US tariffs in place for goods not covered by a free trade agreement.
There’s also a risk that goods inflation began percolating ahead of Trump’s April 2 announcement of sweeping tariffs if merchants began boosting prices preemptively. Over the first two months of the year, the CPI for commodities excluding food and energy has shown signs that the yearslong trend of disinflation is stalling.
In the aftermath of Trump’s Rose Garden rollout of tariffs on almost all countries, economists ratcheted up provisional estimates for inflation this year and slashed growth forecasts as well. The outlook puts Federal Reserve policymakers in a tough spot as they seek to quell price pressures while guarding against a potential deterio -
ration in the labor market.
The aim of the president’s policy is to pursue fairness in international commerce, encourage investment in the US, and stoke employment. However, American consumers have grown increasingly anxious that inflation will accelerate.
Investors will look to a preliminary April consumer sentiment survey from the University of Michigan for signs that inflation expectations continued to climb. The March report showed price expectations for the next five to 10 years at the highest since 1993.
Friday’s report on producer prices may also provide early clues on the impact of US tariffs, before the more sweeping measures take effect this month. The producer price index excluding food and energy is projected to show a 0.3 percent increase in March.
“March CPI and PPI data will offer a first look at pass-through from Trump’s February and March tariffs on Chinese goods, steel, and aluminum. We don’t expect consumer prices to reflect the increases just yet, but we do anticipate a rise in PPI, especially in commodity-linked producer prices,” said Bloomberg economists Anna Wong, Stuart Paul, Eliza Winger, Estelle Ou and Chris G. Collins.
Elsewhere, China’s inflation data, UK gross domestic product and rate decisions from New Zealand to India to Peru will be in focus.
Below is Bloomberg’s wrap of what’s coming up in the global economy.
Asia
ASIA may see as many as three rate cuts this week as central bankers keep their focus on sustaining growth after
the Trump tariff broadside, now that inflation has moderated.
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand, under acting Governor Christian Hawkesby following Adrian Orr’s unexpected departure, is seen slowing the pace of its easing cycle on Wednesday by lowering its official cash rate by 25 basis points, to 3.5 percent.
On the same day, the Reserve Bank of India, in a move telegraphed by larger-than-expected debt purchases, is forecast to cut its repurchase rate by a quarterpoint to 6 percent, while holding the cash reserve ratio steady.
On Thursday, authorities in the Philippines may seize on February’s softer inflation data to resume easing with a 25 basispoint reduction of the overnight borrowing rate to 5.5 percent.
By contrast, on Friday, Kazakhstan officials will decide whether to hike the benchmark rate for a second meeting.
Key pricing updates are due from China, where consumer inflation is seen edging into positive territory, while the disinflationary slide by factory-gate prices exceeds 2 percent for a seventh straight month.
Indonesia and Taiwan also report on price growth. Japan publishes wage data on Monday that will probably keep the Bank of Japan on track for a rate hike
in the summer, and Australia gets gauges of consumer and business sentiment.
Trade reports are due from Vietnam and Taiwan, while Singapore may report first-quarter GDP statistics late in the week.
Europe, Middle East, Africa REVERBERATIONS from Trump’s global tariff war will continue across the region, with European Union trade ministers set to meet on Monday. Finance ministers will gather on Friday.
Data in the euro region will focus on the manufacturing backdrop before the White House unleashed its onslaught. German industrial production and trade numbers for February will be released on Monday, followed by Italian factory output on Thursday.
The European Central Bank will enter a blackout period on Thursday in advance of its April 17 decision, whose outcome—despite market bets—still hangs in the balance.
Before then, policymakers scheduled to speak include the normally hawkish governors from Austria and the Netherlands, and Executive Board member Piero Cipollone, who recently stood out for his dovish remarks.
The data highlight in the UK will be GDP numbers for Febru -
ary, revealing the health of the economy before tariffs hit. It’s expected to show a small increase after January’s decline.
Bank of England Deputy Governors Clare Lombardelli and Sarah Breeden are both on the calendar to make remarks, while on Wednesday, the central bank will release the record of its Financial Policy Committee meeting in March.
Turning to the Nordics, Riksbank Governor Erik Thedeen is scheduled to speak on Tuesday, and a couple of deputy governors will also deliver comments during the week.
Sweden’s GDP indicator will be published on Thursday, as will inflation numbers in Norway and Denmark.
Further afield, consumer price data will also draw attention. In Egypt on Thursday, inflation probably steadied in March following a big drop in February to 12.8 percent, as the effects faded of a foreigncurrency crunch from a year earlier. That left the country with one of the world’s highest real interest rates—about 15 percent—which may prompt easing by the central bank on April 17.
On Friday, the Bank of Russia will watch for evidence that inflationary pressures are easing when March data are published, after it held its key rate at a record high 21 percent for the third straight meeting last month. Consumer prices hovered around 10 percent in February.
Other monetary decisions on the calendar:
ISRAEL’S central bank will probably keep its rate on hold at 4.5 percent for a 10th straight meeting on Monday. The warstrained economy, which now faces US tariffs of 17 percent on Israeli goods, would benefit from lower rates. But inflation is at 3.4 percent, above the target of 1 percent-3 percent. Moreover, the shekel and other assets are under pressure amid the resumption of conflict in Gaza and growing tensions between the government and key civil servants.
Also on Monday, Romania’s central bank is expected to keep borrowing costs unchanged as the country heads into a presidential election campaign that will likely extend a political crisis and uncertainties.
Kenyan policymakers on Tuesday may cut borrowing costs for a fifth straight
Zelenskyy meets European military leaders to plan for multinational peacekeeping force
KYIV, Ukraine—Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met the leaders of the British and French armed forces in Kyiv Saturday to discuss the potential deployment of a multinational peacekeeping force to Ukraine, despite the reluctance of US President Donald Trump to provide security guarantees.
meeting, viewing inflation rate as likely to remain below the 5 percent midpoint of the their target range in the near term. And on Thursday, the National Bank of Serbia could extend its pause for a seventh month. While the trajectory of inflation has been uneven, the economy slowed in the first quarter amid political tensions, possibly tempting officials to lower borrowing costs.
Latin
America
INFLATION and the minutes of Banxico’s March meeting are on tap in Mexico, but all eyes will be on President Claudia Sheinbaum’s efforts to address US tariffs on autos, steel and aluminum.
Inflation data for March are expected to show a rise past 4 percent, more than 100 basis points above Banxico’s target of 3 percent, plus or minus 1 percentage point.
The minutes of the March 27 meeting should underscore that Banxico is less concerned about inflation now that tariffs and trade uncertainty are threatening to tip Latin America’s second-largest economy into recession.
Peru’s central bank is nearing the end of its easing cycle with the key rate now at 4.75 percent. Inflation slowed to 1.28% in March, but expect Governor Julio Velarde to keep his options open.
Chile’s central bank posts the minutes of its March 21 gathering, where it held at 5 percent for a second meeting. March inflation data may see a rise to 4.9 percent from 4.7 percent. In Colombia, analysts expect only mild moves lower in the March headline and core inflation readings, from February’s 5.28 percent and 5.44 percent respectively. Friday features Brazil’s March inflation report, with the early consensus for a rise to about 5.5 percent from 5.06 percent, while Argentina’s year-on-year print slows for an 11th month to about 55 percent from 66.9 percent in February.
Uruguay’s central bank isn’t expected to hike its key rate—currently 9 percent—at this month’s meeting although inflation has been above 5 percent since June.
With assistance from Brian
Laura Dhillon Kane, Mark Evans, Paul Wallace and Tony Halpin / Bloomberg
The U.K. Ministry of Defense said that officials addressed the structure, size and composition of any future “reassurance force,” while the chief of the defense staff, Adm. Antony Radakin, emphasized that the U.K. would look to “build on the formidable capabilities of the Ukrainian army and put them in the strongest possible position to deter Russian aggression.” The weekend discussions are planned to set the ground for a further meeting between defense ministers in Brussels and the Ukraine Defense Contact Group on Friday.
Trump, who has been pushing for a ceasefire in the war in Ukraine, temporarily paused military aid to Kyiv and has repeatedly said that the country will never join the NATO military alliance.
Britain has been promoting the idea of a European-led peacekeeping force for Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire but it has said such a force needed a US “backstop” to make it credible in the face of possible Russian reprisals. Building a force big enough to act as a credible deterrent—UK officials have talked about possibly 10,000 to 30,000 troops— would be a considerable effort for nations that shrank their militaries after the Cold War but are now rearming.
Death toll from Friday’s strike rises to 18 THE death toll from a Russian missile strike in the central Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih has risen to 18, including nine children, regional Governor Serhii Lysak said Saturday.
A further 72 people were injured in Friday’s attack, the youngest a 3-month-old. About half of them remained in the hospital, with 17 in serious condition.
“There can never be forgiveness for this,” said Oleksandr Vilkul, head of the city’s defense council. “Eternal memory
to the victims.” Kryvyi Rih is Zelenskyy’s hometown.
“The missile struck an area right next to residential buildings — hitting a playground and ordinary streets,” Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram.
Local authorities said the strike damaged about 20 apartment buildings, more than 30 vehicles, an educational building and a restaurant.
The Russian Defense Ministry claimed Friday that it had carried out a high-precision missile strike with a high explosive warhead on a restaurant where a meeting with unit commanders and Western instructors was taking place.
Russian military claimed that the strike killed 85 military personnel and foreign officers and destroyed 20
vehicles. The military’s claims could not be independently verified. The Ukrainian General Staff rejected the claims.
A later drone strike on Kryvyi Rih killed one woman and wounded seven other people.
Russian forces launched 92 drones into Ukraine overnight, with 51 shot down by air defenses, the Ukrainian air force wrote on social media Saturday. A further 31 decoy drones also failed to reach their targets, it said.
Elsewhere, one person died Saturday in the Russian-occupied town of Horlivka in Ukraine’s Donetsk region due to shelling, Moscow-installed Gov. Denis Pushilin said. Security officials told Russian state news channels that they had destroyed 28 Ukrainian drones over the Donetsk region overnight, marking the first time that the occupied territory had been targeted by such long-range strikes.
Zelenskyy criticizes US ambassador’s response
ZELENSKYY blamed the daily strikes on Russia’s unwillingness to end the war: “Every missile, every drone strike proves Russia wants only war,” he said, urging Ukraine’s allies to increase pressure on Moscow and bolster Ukraine’s air defenses. He also criticized the response of the US Embassy in Kyiv to the strike. Ambassador Bridget A. Brink posted on social media Friday that she was “horrified” by the strike in Kryvyi Rih. “More than 50 people injured and 16 killed, including 6 child ren. This is why the war must end,” the post said.
Zelenskyy, who has so far had a strained relationship with US President Donald Trump, described the post as “unpleasantly surprising” for not directly naming Russia as the perpetrator of the attack.
“Such a strong country, such a strong people—and such a weak reaction. They are even afraid to say the word ‘Russian’ when talking about the missile that killed children,” he said in a post that also praised countries including Japan, Britain, Switzerland and Germany for their “principled statements.”
“Yes, the war must end. But in order to end it, we must not be afraid to call a spade a spade,” he said.
“They need to keep their hands off of our Social Security,” said Archer Moran of Port St. Lucie, Florida.
“The list of what they need to keep their hands off of is too long,” Moran said. “And it’s amazing how soon these protests are happening since he’s taken office.”
The president golfed in Florida Saturday and planned to do so again Sunday, the White House said.
Activists have staged nationwide demonstrations against Trump and Musk multiple times since Trump returned to office. But before Saturday the opposition movement had yet to produce a mass mobilization like the Women’s March in 2017, which brought thousands of women to Washington after Trump’s first inauguration, or the Black Lives Matter demonstrations that erupted in multiple cities after George Floyd’s killing by police in Minneapolis in 2020.
In Charlotte, North Carolina, protesters said they were supporting a variety of causes, from Social Security and education to immigration and women’s reproductive rights.
“Regardless of your party, regardless of who you voted for, what’s going on today, what’s happening today is abhorrent,” said Britt Castillo, 35, of Charlotte. “It’s disgusting, and as broken as our current system might be, the way that the current administration is going about trying to fix things—it is not the way to do it. They’re not listening to the people.”
Among thousands marching through downtown San Jose, California, were Deborah and Douglas Doherty.
Deborah, a graphic designer, is a veteran of the 2017 Women’s March and was nervous that fewer people have turned out against Trump this time. “All the cities need to show up,” she said. “Now people are kind of numb to it, which is itself frightening.”
Fowler, Robert Jameson, Vince Golle, Monique Vanek,
THE core consumer price index is seen climbing 0.3 percent from February and 3 percent from a year ago. PHOTOGRAPHER: YUKI IWAMURA/BLOOMBERG
Footage
contradicts Israeli claims about medics killed in Gaza attack
By Edith M. Lederer, Wafaa Shurafa & Lee Keath The Associated Press
UNITED NATIONS—Phone video from one of 15 Palestinian medics killed by Israeli forces last month appears to contradict Israeli claims that the medics’ vehicles did not have emergency signals on when troops opened fire on them in southern Gaza.
The footage shows the Red Crescent and Civil Defense teams driving slowly with their emergency vehicles’ lights flashing, logos visible, as they pulled up to help an ambulance that had come under fire earlier. The teams do not appear to be acting unusually or in a threatening manner as three medics emerge and head toward the stricken ambulance.
Their vehicles immediately come under a barrage of gunfire, which goes on for more than five minutes with brief pauses. The owner of the phone can be heard praying.
“Forgive me, mother. This is the path I chose, mother, to help people,” he cries, his voice weak.
Eight Red Crescent personnel, six Civil Defense workers and a UN staffer were killed in the shooting before dawn on March 23 by Israeli troops conducting operations in Tel al-Sultan, a district of the southern Gaza city of Rafah. Troops then bulldozed over the bodies along with their mangled vehicles, burying them in a mass grave. UN and rescue workers were only able to reach the site a week later to dig out the bodies.
The Palestinian Red Crescent Society’s vice president, Marwan Jilani, said the phone with the footage was found in the pocket of one of its slain staffers. The Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations distributed the video to the UN Security Council. The Associated Press obtained the video from a UN diplomat on condition of anonymity because it has not been made public.
One paramedic who survived, Munzer Abed, confirmed the veracity of the video to the AP. Two block-shaped concrete structures visible in the video are also seen in a UN video released Sunday showing the recovery of the bodies from the site—a sign they are in the same location.
Asked about the video, the Israeli military said Saturday that the incident was “under thorough examination.”
One medic remains missing
THE Israeli military earlier said it opened fire on the vehicles because they were “advancing suspiciously” on nearby troops without headlights or emergency signals.
The initial account of the vehicles not having emergency lights on was mistaken, an Israeli military official told journalists Saturday evening. The official spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.
The head of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, Younes Al-Khatib, called for an independent investigation. “We don’t trust any of the army investigations,” he told a briefing at the UN on Friday.
One medic, Assaad al-Nassasra, is still missing, the Red Crescent says. Abed said he saw al-Nassasra being led away blindfolded by Israeli troops. Al-Khatib said the organization has asked the military where it is holding the staffer.
Al-Khatib said the slain men had been “targeted at close range” and that a forensic autopsy report would be released soon.
Israel has accused Hamas of moving and hiding its fighters inside ambulances and emergency vehicles, as well as in hospitals and other civilian infrastructure, arguing that justifies strikes on them. Medical personnel largely deny the accusations.
Israeli strikes have killed more than 150 emergency responders from the Red Crescent and Civil Defense, most of them while on duty, as well as over 1,000 health workers, according to the U.N. The Israeli military rarely investigates such incidents.
Ambulances under a barrage of Israeli fire
AMBULANCES started heading to Tel al-Sultan at around 3:50 a.m. on March 23, responding to reports of wounded, Jilani said. The first ambulance returned safely with at least one casualty, he said. But, he said, subsequent ambulances came under fire.
His hands trembling, Abed told the AP on Saturday that as his ambulance entered the area, its siren lights were on. “All of a sudden, I am telling you, there was direct shooting at us,” so intense that the vehicle ground to a stop, he said. A 10-year veteran of the Red Crescent, Abed said he was sitting in the back seat and ducked to the floor. He said he could hear nothing from his two colleagues in the front seat—the only others in the vehicle. They appear to have been killed instantly.
Israeli troops, some with night goggles, dragged Abed out of the ambulance and onto the ground, he said. They made him strip to his underwear, beat him all over his body with their rifle butts, then tied his hands behind his back, he said. They interrogated him, asking him about his paramedic training and how many people were in the ambulance with him, he said. One soldier pressed the muzzle of his automatic rifle into his neck. Another pressed his knife blade into Abed’s palm, almost cutting it, until a third soldier pulled them away and warned Abed, “They’re crazy.”
Abed said he witnessed them opening fire on the next vehicles to arrive. Soldiers forced him onto his stomach and pressed a gun into his back, he said, and amid the shooting in the darkness, so he could only see two Civil Defense vehicles. Video shows medic’s terror THE phone video shows a rescue convoy of Red Crescent and Civil Defense vehicles that was sent out after contact was lost with the stricken ambulance. Taken from the dashboard of one vehicle, it shows several ambulances and a fire truck moving down a road through a barren area in the darkness. The emergency lights on their roofs are flashing the entire way.
They arrive at an ambulance on the side of the road and stop next to it, their lights still flashing. No Israeli troops are visible.
“Lord, let them be OK,” a man in the car says. Then he cries out, “They’re tossed around on the ground!”—apparently referring to bodies. Three men in orange Civil Defense clothing can be seen getting out of the vehicles and walking toward the stopped ambulance.
A shot rings out and one of the men appears to fall. Gunfire erupts.
The man holding the phone appears to scramble out of the car and onto the ground, but the screen goes black, though the audio continues. The gunfire goes on for nearly five and a half minutes, with long, heavy barrages followed by silences punctuated by individual shots and shouts and screams.
Throughout, the man with the phone says over and over, “There is no God but God and Muhammad is God’s prophet”—the profession of faith that Muslims say when they fear they are about to die. Near the end of the six-minute, 40-second video, voices can be heard shouting in Hebrew. “The Jews are coming,” the man said, referring to Israeli soldiers, before the video cuts off.
Shurafa reported from Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip; Keath from Cairo. Associated Press writers Farnoush Amiri at the United Nations, Sarah El Deeb in Cairo, Natalie Melzer in Tel Aviv, Israel, and Areej Hazboun contributed to this report.
Relentless flooding drenches South and Midwest, forcing evacuations and leaving at least 16 dead
By Bruce Schreiner And Obed Lamy The Associated Press
DYERSBURG, Tennessee.—Another round of torrential rain and flash flooding came Saturday for parts of the South and Midwest already heavily waterlogged by days of severe storms that also spawned deadly tornadoes. Forecasters warned that rivers in some places would continue to rise for days.
Day after day of heavy rains have pounded the central US, rapidly swelling waterways and prompting a series of flash flood emergencies in from Texas to Ohio. The National Weather Service said dozens of locations in multiple states were expected to reach what the agency calls “ major flood stage,” with extensive flooding of structures, roads, bridges and other critical infrastructure possible.
At least 16 weather-related deaths have been reported since the start of the storms, including 10 in Tennessee.
A 57-year-old man died Friday evening after getting out of a car that washed off a road in West Plains, Missouri. Flooding killed two people in Kentucky—a 9-year-old boy swept away that same day on his way to school, and a 74-year-old whose body was found Saturday inside a fully submerged vehicle in Nelson County, authorities said.
Also Saturday a 5-year-old died at a home in Little Rock, Arkansas, in a weather-related incident, according to police. No details were immediately provided.
Tornadoes earlier in the week destroyed entire neighborhoods and were responsible for at
least seven of the deaths. And interstate commerce is affected — the extreme flooding across a corridor that includes the major cargo hubs in Louisville, Kentucky, and Memphis could lead to shipping and supply chain delays, said Jonathan Porter, chief meteorologist at AccuWeather.
The outburst comes at a time when nearly half of NWS forecast offices have 20 percent vacancy rates after Trump administration job cuts—twice that of just a decade ago.
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said Saturday that the Ohio River rose 5 feet (about 1.5 meters) in 24 hours and would continue to swell for days.
“We expect this to be one of the top 10 flooding events in Louisville history,” he said.
Flash flood threat looms over many states
FLASH flood emergency and tornado warnings continued to be issued Saturday across Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee and Kentucky, with more heavy rains and damaging winds in the mix. All of eastern Kentucky was under a flood watch through Sunday morning. A FLOODED
Hundreds of Kentucky roads across the state were impassable because of floodwaters, downed trees or mud and rock slides.
Downtown Hopkinsville, Kentucky, reopened in the morning after floodwaters from the Little River receded, giving a muchneeded reprieve, but still more rainfall was on its way, Mayor James R. Knight Jr. said.
“We got a little rain, but most of it went north of us,” Knight said. “Thank goodness on that. Gave us a little break.”
In north-central Kentucky, emergency officials ordered a mandatory evacuation for Falmouth, a town of 2,000 people in a bend of the rising Licking River. The warnings were similar to catastrophic flooding nearly 30 years ago when the river reached a record
50 feet (15 meters), resulting in five deaths and 1,000 homes destroyed.
In Arkansas, weather officials pleaded with people to avoid travel unless absolutely necessary due to widespread flooding.
BNSF Railway confirmed that a railroad bridge in Mammoth Spring was washed out by floodwaters, causing the derailment of several cars. No injuries were reported, but there was no immediate estimate for when the bridge would reopen.
Why so much nasty weather?
SINCE Wednesday, more than a foot of rain (30.5 centimeters) has fallen in parts of Kentucky, and more than 8 inches (20 centimeters) in parts of Arkansas and Missouri, forecasters
UN urges relief efforts in Myanmar as quake death toll exceeds 3,455
BBy Grant Peck | The Associated Press
ANGKOK—The death toll from last week’s massive earthquake in Myanmar rose to 3,455, state media said Saturday, as UN agencies and foreign aid donors ramped up their emergency relief efforts.
The 7.7 magnitude quake hit a wide swath of the country, causing significant damage to six regions and states including the capital Naypyitaw. The earthquake left many areas without power, telephone or cell connections and damaged roads and bridges, making the full extent of the devastation hard to assess.
It also worsened an already dire humanitarian crisis
triggered by the country’s civil war that has internally displaced more than 3 million people and left nearly 20 million in need, according to the United Nations.
Myanmar’s second most powerful quake in history
THE military government’s leader, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, has said the earthquake was the second most powerful in the country’s recorded history after a magnitude 8 quake east of Mandalay in May 1912.
Min Aung Hlaing told Cabinet members Saturday that the quake’s death toll has reached 3,455, with 4,840 injured and 214 missing, according to a report on state television MRTV.
He said 5,223 buildings, 1,824 schools, 2,752 Buddhist monasterial living quarters, 4,817 pagodas and temples, 167 hospitals and clinics, 169 bridges, 198 dams and 184 sections of the country’s main highway were damaged by the earthquake.
A country torn by war
MYANMAR’S military seized power in 2021 from the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, sparking armed resistance that is now believed by analysts to control more territory than the army.
Members of the UN Security Council “recognized the need to strengthen rescue, relief and recovery efforts and to scale up immediate and rapid humanitarian assistance in response to the requests to help the people of Myanmar, supported by the international community,” its president, Jérôme Bonnafont of France, said in a press statement Friday.
In an apparent reference to the fighting in Myanmar and concerns its military government would block or delay aid to areas under the control of resistance forces, the statement said the council’s members “affirmed the importance of a safe and conducive environment to ensure the timely and effective delivery of life-saving humanitarian assistance to all those in need, without disruption or discrimination.”
According to state media, Vice Senior Gen. Soe Win, the vice chairman of the ruling military council, said that any international organizations coming to Myanmar to provide assistance are required to seek prior permission from Myanmar’s authorities, and their efforts will be permitted only when they cooperate with relevant officials.
Aid sparks an unusual diplomatic flurry
MAJ. Gen. Zaw Min Tun, spokesperson for the military government, told media on Saturday, as he arrived back from a regional summit held in Bangkok, that prime ministers and officials from attending countries, including India and Thailand, pledged to provide necessary assistance for relief efforts and
rehabilitation in quake-hit areas.
“Everyone helped Myanmar that suffered from the earthquake. Everyone sympathized. Everyone understood. Everyone was willing to help. It can be seen everyone working together practically,” Zaw Min Tun said.
He said that 18 countries were providing assistance to affected areas, and more than 60 aircraft had flown in to transport rescuers and relief supplies.
The UK allocated a further 10 million pounds (about $12.8 million) to the ongoing humanitarian response, its embassy in Yangon said in a statement Saturday, bringing its total to up to 25 million pounds (about $32 million) in aid.
There has been an unusual flurry of diplomatic activity in the past few days around Myanmar, usually reluctant to engage with much of the world community.
Min Aung Hlaing and senior members of his government are shunned and sanctioned by many Western countries for their 2021 takeover and human rights abuses. His visit to the meeting in the Thai capital Bangkok was his first to a country other than his government’s main backers—China, Russia and Russian ally Belarus—since he attended another regional meeting in Indonesia in 2021.
Back in Myanmar on Saturday, Min Aung Hlaing received Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan, and Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa for discussions about relief assistance from fellow members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and cooperation in health care in quake-affected areas.
Although reports of diplomatic activity focus on earthquake relief, there is awareness that the crisis in Myanmar cannot end until the war there stops, and the country’s neighbors have been leading efforts to find a path for peace, even though neither the military nor its foes have shown any serious effort to negotiate.
A fragile temporary ceasefire HOWEVER, the military and several key armed resistance groups have all declared temporary ceasefires on Wednesday in the wake of the earthquake to facilitate the flow of humanitarian aid.
The UN Human Rights Office on Friday accused the military of continuing attacks, claiming there were more than 60 attacks after the earthquake, including 16 since the ceasefire.
The opposition’s shadow National Unity Government, which leads resistance to army rule, accused the military Saturday of carrying out 63 airstrikes and artillery attacks since the earthquake, resulting in the deaths of 68 civilians, including one child and 15 women.
said Saturday. Forecasters attributed the violent weather to warm temperatures, an unstable atmosphere, strong wind shear and abundant moisture streaming from the Gulf. At least two reports of observed tornadoes were noted Friday evening in Missouri and Arkansas, according to the National Weather Service. One, near Blytheville, Arkansas, lofted debris at least 25,000 feet (7.6 kilometers) high, according to NWS meteorologist Chelly Amin. The state’s emergency management office reported damage in 22 counties from tornadoes, wind, hail and flash flooding. In Dyersburg, Tennessee, dozens of people arrived Saturday at a storm shelter near a public school in the rain, clutching blankets, pillows and other necessities. Among them was George Manns, 77, who said he was in his apartment when he heard a tornado warning and decided to head to the shelter. Just days earlier the city was hit by a tornado that caused millions of dollars in damage. “I grabbed all my stuff and came here,” said Mann, who brought a folding chair, two bags of toiletries, laptops, iPads and medications: “I don’t leave them in my apartment in case my apartment is destroyed. I have to make sure I have them with me.”
Schreiner reported from Shelbyville, Kentucky. Associated Press writers Andrew DeMillo in Little Rock, Arkansas; Jonathan Mattise and Kimberlee Kruesi in Nashville, Tennessee; Adrian Sainz in Memphis, Tennessee; Jeff Martin in Marietta, Georgia; John Raby in Charleston, West Virginia; Hallie Golden in Seattle; and Rio Yamat in Las Vegas contributed.
China...
In its statement, China’s Ministry of Commerce emphasized that the US actions undermine the multilateral trading system and contravene WTO regulations.
Global and Philippine market impacts THESE retaliatory measures could have far-reaching consequences on global supply chains, inflationary pressures and the pricing of high-tech goods. For the Philippines, the situation presents both risks and potential openings: Export and supply chain exposure: The country’s electronics and manufacturing sectors, which are heavily intertwined with regional and global supply chains, may feel pressure from rising costs and demand shifts.
Potential investment diversion: If companies seek to relocate production away from China, the Philippines could position itself as an alternative base—though this will depend on the country’s readiness and competitiveness.
Financial analysts are calling for close attention to commodity markets, especially those linked to high-tech production, as well as potential foreign exchange volatility.
Renewable energy systems, electric vehicles and military equipment.
As the geopolitical and economic rivalry between the US and China intensifies, the Philippines and other Southeast Asian nations may increasingly find themselves navigating a more complex and uncertain trade environment.
On Friday, the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) proposed the setting up of an economic security council to deal with the complexities of the trade tensions.
Earlier, Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto said Thursday that President Trump’s decision to impose a 17-percent reciprocal tariff on Philippine exports could cause supply chain disruptions, accelerate inflation and raise interest rates.
Despite this, Recto said the consumption-driven Philippine economy can withstand the economic shocks caused by Washington’s tariff policy. Philippine exporters still see a silver lining to Washington’s new policy, saying it could even bring in additional investors who want to avoid the steep tariff rates in other Asian countries. (Read also: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2025/04/04/ dof-us-tariffs-raise-risks-to-phl-growth/)
WB report: Coco oil, cocoa prices soar in Q1
IBy Ada Pelonia @adapelonia
NTERNATIONAL prices of commodities being traded by the Philippines jumped in the first quarter, according to the latest report from the World Bank (WB).
Figures from the World Bank showed that the average price of cocoa surged by 68.31 percent to $9.56 per kilo in the first three months of 2025 from $5.68 per kilo in the previous year. This was even higher than last year’s average quotation of $7.33 per kilo.
by 88.38 percent to $8.59 per kilo in the first quarter from $4.56 per kilo recorded in the same period of the previous year, while the average quotation of robusta variety jumped by 64.43 percent to $5.64 per kilo from $3.43 per kilo.
These figures were higher than the average prices of arabica and robusta varieties last year at $5.62 per kilo and $4.41 per kilo, respectively.
three months of the year.
International quotations of coffee varieties like arabica and robusta also leaped as the market wrestled with tight supply and strained global stockpile due to adverse climatic conditions that hit key-producing countries like Brazil and Vietnam.
Average arabica prices soared
The price of the main ingredient used in making chocolates has remained elevated due to poor output in West Africa, where the majority of the crop is grown.
Data from the World Bank indicated that fertilizers like urea were more expensive in the first quarter. The price of urea climbed to $403.8 per metric ton (MT), from $338.9 per MT last year.
As for the country’s top farm export, World Bank figures showed that the average quotation of coconut oil swelled by 73.93 percent to $2,082 per MT in the first quarter from $1,197 per MT recorded in the previous year. This was higher than the average price of $1,519 per MT recorded last year.
‘Trump tariff policy makes PHL farm goods attractive’
THE country’s agricultural products could still benefit from the new tariff policy of Washington, according to the chief of the University of Asia and the Pacific’s (UA&P) Center for Food and Agribusiness (CFA).
Executive Director
UA&P-CFA
Marie Annette Galvez-Dacul said Manila could leverage the tariffs announced by United States President Donald Trump last week to increase exports as the 17 percent slapped on the Philippines is lower compared to those imposed on other Southeast Asian countries.
Metal prices
, World Bank data
“Based on the tariff rate, we’re one of the lowest among our neighbors. So, it just means that we should push for more sales to the US of our products.”
showed that global prices of metals registered increased in the first
The average aluminum quotation grew by 19.60 percent to $2,630 per MT from $2,199 per MT in the previous year. This was higher than its average price of $2,419 per MT in 2024. World Bank figures also indicated that average copper price rose by 10.78 percent to $9,354 per MT from $8,444 per MT in the previous year, while tin quotations jumped by 21.41 percent to $31,831 per MT in the reference period from $26,218 per MT in 2024.
International copper and tin quotations last month were lower than the average prices in 2024 at $9,142 per MT and $30,066 per MT, respectively.
For zinc, World Bank data showed that the average price of the metal in the first quarter went up by 15.94 percent to $2,836 per MT from $2,446 per MT.
‘Food prices higher in cities due to supply chain gaps’
The tariff rate imposed on the Philippines is the second lowest in Southeast Asia, next to the 10 percent handed out to Singapore.
“A 17-percent reciprocal tariff could increase the cost of Philippine agricultural exports to the US, affecting their competitiveness,” Dacul told the BusinessMirror
“However, if Philippine goods face lower tariffs compared to those from other exporters, this could still provide a market advantage.”
For American consumers, however, the reciprocal tariffs could mean more expensive goods from the Philippines.
The Philippines was levied a reciprocal tariff rate of 17 percent; Vietnam, 46 percent; Thailand, 36 percent; and Indonesia, 32 percent.
“It’s important to assess the impact on commodities imported by the US, as higher tariffs typically lead to higher prices, with the added costs often passed on to consumers.”
The Department of Agriculture (DA) recently said the Philippines should consider selling more agricultural products to the US as it will be relatively cheaper.
“If you look at it from a general perspective, it’s positive for us because we’re lower than others in terms of tariff. But we need to look at it per commodity,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. told reporters in a previous interview.
However, the DA chief noted the 10-percent reciprocal tariff slapped on Ecuador, a banana exporter, “might be a concern.”
“But in the whole scheme of things, I believe…we can be competitive versus Ecuador,” he added.
Roehlano Briones, a senior research fellow at the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (Pids), said certain Philippine farm goods will take a hit from Washington’s new policy.
“The effect is quite bad, but (it will be) limited to about 17 percent of agricultural exports,” Briones told the BusinessMirror . “(The farm goods that will be affected are) coconut products, banana, canned tuna, and seaweed.”
Ada Pelonia
Agritech firm sets sights on more programs for local rice planters
AGRITECH firm Agrilever
said it is set to launch more programs for farmers this year after it rolled out an app that gives insights about crop management protocols and advanced weather intelligence. The company said this app can assist rice farmers in mitigating the effects of sudden and extreme weather changes. Planters can also get notified on tasks regarding their farm fields with the app’s
seasonal growing protocols, tailored by agronomists.
“By integrating advanced weather forecasting, digital credit scoring, and real-time loan monitoring, we ensure that farmers have the resources to make informed decisions,” Agrilever CEO Ruel Amparo said in a statement.
“This not only helps them increase their harvest but also enables them to repay their loans on time—creating a win-win situa -
tion for farmers, financial institutions, and the entire agricultural value chain.”
The company claimed that it closed the gap between Filipino farmers and financial institutions by serving as “a key intermediary” in securing financing. It vowed to “help the country’s agricultural sector boost productivity and improve resiliency by empowering small Filipino rice farmers.”
With the belief that farmers should have access to technological resources and farming essentials, the firm provided means to countryside rice farmers to get and manage their loans and credit from banks.
“By bridging the gap between farmers and financial institutions, we are not only empowering them with better resources but also ensuring a more resilient and productive agricultural sector.”
Patrick Villanueva
ADDRESSING supply chain gaps together with the full implementation of the Sagip Saka Act, a law that former senator and senatorial candidate Kiko Pangilinan authored, can halve the prices of food in urban centers. The former food security czar said this during the launch of volunteer-driven community kitchen Kawa Pilipinas on Sunday, April 6.
By securing the supply chain—buying directly from local farmers and fisherfolk communities at fair prices—he said food prices can be reduced up to 70 percent.
“If that is the supply chain and it’s done right, we can actually reduce food prices by as much as 70 percent, 60 percent of prevailing prices. Secure our farmers, secure the supply chain, bring them to Manila at deflated cost.”
Pangilinan shared with members of Kawa Pilipinas his “Oplan Sagip Kamatis,” an initiative he implemented in Rizal, Nueva Ecija to save about 12 tons of surplus tomatoes.
Of the 12 tons, five tons have already been saved by the Muntinlupa City government under the Sagip Saka Act. The cities of Valenzuela and Parañaque plan to follow suit with their own direct purchases.
“All of us will benefit from 60 percent less cost of food.”
The former senator lamented that “it’s a really difficult time for our people” as he noted the highest rating of self-rated poverty in the country since 2003.
“The highest level of hopelessness since 2009 and a lot has to do with food prices being very expensive. Gutom ang kapalit.”
Pangilinan also bemoaned the welfare of farmers and fishers. “They remain invisible. They remain forgotten. They remain voiceless. And what kind of society will say this is okay?”
And while it is critical to achieve food justice for consumers, the former senator also underscored the need to take care of farmers and fishers.
“Unless we secure them, we cannot secure our food and prices will remain high and food will remain inaccessible.”
Farmers fear tariffs could cost them one of their biggest markets
in China
OMAHA, NEBRASKA —
Heading into this year, most US farmers were hoping to break even or maybe record a small profit if they could find a way to limit their sky-high costs. But now they are faced with losing the biggest export market for many of their crops after China retaliated against President Donald Trump’s tariffs.
“There’s just not any margin for error in the current farm economy,” said Kentucky farmer Caleb Ragland, who serves as president of the American Soybean Association.
Soybean and sorghum farmers have particular reason to worry because at least half of those crops are exported and China has long been the biggest buyer. China has also bought a lot of American corn, beef, chicken and other crops as
part of spending $24.65 billion on US agricultural products last year. Now with China slapping 34 percent tariffs on all American products Friday—on top of other tariffs it imposed earlier this year—all of those products will be significantly more expensive in China. Crop prices, much like the stock market, dropped after Trump announced his tariffs earlier this week.
Tim Dufault, whose farm is in northwest Minnesota only about 80 miles south of Canada, said in a good year soybean farmers might make $50 to $75 an acre. But this isn’t a good year because crop prices aren’t high enough to cover soaring costs, and the price drop in the past two days cost them about $25 an acre, he said.
Dufault said he is worried that these new tariffs might put many farmers out of business, including
the young farmers he rented his land to heading into this year as he retired because they likely won’t make anything in 2025.
“I just I hope to God they can stay in business,” said Dufault, who is active with the Farmers for Free Trade group that pushes for open markets.
One of the biggest long-term concerns is that American farmers and ranchers will lose market share as China turns to Brazil and other countries to buy the soybeans, beef, chicken and other crops it consumes. China will buy lots of sorghum because it is distilled into the drink baijiu that is as popular there as whiskey is in the United States, but they will get it from other countries.
Farmers endured Trump’s previous trade war with China during his first term. But this time,
Trump’s tariffs extend around the globe, so China likely won’t be the last country to retaliate with tariffs of its own.
Could farmers get government aid?
THE only way most farmers survived Trump’s last trade war was with tens of billions of government aid payments, but it’s not clear if he will do that this time. He gave them more than $22 billion in aid payments in 2019 and nearly $46 billion in 2020, though that year also included aid related to the Covid pandemic.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins told Fox News this week that right now she doesn’t believe massive aid payments will be necessary, although she won’t know that for several months. “But if it is, then this president has al -
ways said and he is resolute in his commitment to our farmers and our ranchers and our great rural communities in America, so we will we’ll make sure we’re ready if in fact that is necessary,” she said.
“But none of us like that,” said farmer Andy Hineman, who is vice president of the Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association. “We don’t want to live on government handouts. We’d rather sell the crops we grow.”
But farmer Bryant Kagay, part owner of Kagay farms in Amity, Missouri, said he doesn’t “have a lot of faith that these tariffs—the way they are laid out today—will stick around long term.”
He also doesn’t like the idea of getting aid from the government.
The hope for farmers is that Trump’s tariffs will lead to negotiations with other countries that will lower tariffs and other trade barriers.
“That’s the type of positive development that we can do that’s good for everybody involved, and that’s what we need to look for,” Ragland said. “Instead of beating each other up with higher and higher tariffs—it’s just like punching each other in the face. We’re not going to gain anything from it. It’s just going to cause us to hurt. That would be my encouragement to the administration, is to look for opportunities and get some great deals done proactively.” AP
“I really hate that seems to be the solution that, well, we’ll just pay farmers some just off-the-cuff payment to help offset this,” Kagay said. “I think a federal government that’s vastly overspending today, like this is not the way to solve that problem.”
MEANWHILE
A FARMER harvests cocoa pods at a farm in Ivory Coast. BLOOMBERG
Strong tax collection paves the way for PHL economic stability
AS the April 15 deadline for income tax returns approaches, recent reports from the Bureau of the Treasury reveal a promising fiscal landscape for the Philippines. The government appears poised to meet its fiscal targets, buoyed by impressive double-digit growth in both revenue collections and expenditures. This uptick, largely attributed to the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s (BIR) ongoing enhancements in tax payment systems, signals a pivotal moment for our economic stability.
Under the leadership of Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr., the BIR has made commendable strides, collecting nearly P3 trillion in taxes in 2024—the highest in two decades. This achievement not only surpasses last year’s figures but also highlights a robust 13 percent increase over the previous record. Such growth is encouraging, especially as the BIR implements initiatives like the Friendly Tax Compliance Verification Drive (TCVD), which aims to ensure that businesses are adhering to tax laws.
However, while these figures are encouraging, they should not lead to complacency. The BIR’s initiatives to bolster compliance are critical. The TCVD’s expansive outreach, which engaged over 24,000 business establishments on its first day, emphasizes the need for rigorous enforcement of tax laws. Ensuring that businesses are properly registered and issuing receipts is fundamental not just for compliance but for fostering a fair economic environment.
Moreover, the BIR’s commitment to enhancing digital infrastructure —such as e-invoicing and online tax filing—demonstrates a forwardthinking approach that aligns with global trends. By facilitating electronic filing, the BIR is not only streamlining processes but also making compliance more accessible. The introduction of eLounge facilities for taxpayers without Internet access is a commendable effort to bridge the digital divide, ensuring that all citizens can fulfill their tax obligations.
Yet, these advancements occur against a backdrop of escalating fiscal pressures. Finance Secretary Ralph Recto’s stark reminder of the government’s daily expenditures—P15.8 billion, with P11.71 billion covered by revenue and the remaining amount financed through loans—underscores the urgent need for consistent and effective tax collection. Tax compliance transcends civic duty; it is a fiscal necessity that directly impacts governance and public welfare.
The challenge now lies in building upon the BIR’s recent successes. Continued investment in technology, simplification of tax procedures, and enhanced enforcement efforts are essential to close collection gaps and ensure that the government has the resources it needs to fund essential public services such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure.
The “daily math of governance,” as Secretary Recto aptly described, requires nothing less than our full commitment. An efficient revenue system that minimizes friction for taxpayers and fully leverages technology is not merely desirable—it is imperative if we are to balance the national budget and secure a sustainable future for our country.
As the tax deadline approaches, it’s a good time to reflect on our shared responsibility to support national development through tax compliance. By paying taxes, we are fulfilling our civic duty and playing a vital role in creating a more equitable and prosperous economy.
Empowering SMEs with Generative AI
LRISING
SUN
ATELY, the Internet has been buzzing about OpenAI’s new GPT-4o image generator, a tool that turns ordinary photos into Studio Ghibli-inspired masterpieces. These dreamy, animestyle visuals have taken social media by storm, with countless users sharing their creations online. While many are taken by the technology, not everyone is happy. Beyond the excitement, this development sparks more questions about how generative AI is reshaping businesses—especially for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
For Filipino SMEs, this technology opens up a world of possibilities but also comes with its share of challenges. On the bright side, it makes high-quality visuals more accessible, giving businesses the tools to create stunning marketing campaigns and build stronger brand identities. But on the flip side, it raises tough questions about originality, costeffectiveness, and how well these tools can adapt to a rapidly changing digital landscape. The debates are heating up, and both sides have raised valid arguments.
Artificial Intelligence, particularly generative AI, is already transforming how businesses operate. It’s helping companies work smarter—boosting efficiency, improving customer engagement, and streamlining day-to-day tasks. Tools like GPT-4o and others can create content at scale, from product descriptions to marketing materials, social media posts, and even videos. A 2023 report by Access Partnership highlights just how big this potential is: Generative AI could unlock $79.3 billion
in productive capacity in the Philippines—about 20 percent of the country’s 2022 GDP.
For SMEs, these tools bring exciting opportunities. Imagine being able to produce personalized ads quickly and affordably. Generative AI can analyze customer behavior with pinpoint accuracy, helping businesses craft messages that resonate with the market. Beyond marketing, AI can also take over repetitive tasks like lead generation or data analysis, freeing up time for business owners to focus on strategy and growth. And let’s not forget the cost savings—AI can generate business plans or promotional materials that previously required expensive consultants or staff.
But it all comes with challenges. One of the biggest hurdles for SMEs is the upfront investment needed to adopt AI. Specialized software, hardware, and training don’t come cheap, and for businesses with tight budgets, these costs can feel overwhelming.
Then, there’s the issue of creativity. While generative AI excels at producing content based on existing data, it often struggles to capture the unique personality of a brand. For SMEs that put a premium on
authenticity and uniqueness, this lack of originality can result in bland or generic materials that may fail to connect with customers. And let’s not forget reliability. Generative AI isn’t perfect — it sometimes produces inaccuracies or “hallucinations,” where the content or output includes information that is not based on real data. This means businesses still need human oversight to ensure quality and accuracy, which adds another layer of complexity (and cost) to be able to use these tools effectively. There’s also a broader issue at play: regulation. Right now, there aren’t any specific rules governing how businesses in the Philippines can use AI. This regulatory gap is both an opportunity and a risk. As more companies adopt generative AI, policymakers will need to step in with guidelines that encourage progress while protecting against potential downsides.
For Filipino SMEs willing to embrace this technology, generative AI offers immense promise. But success rests on finding the right balance— leveraging automation for efficiency while preserving the creativity and authenticity that make a business truly stand out.
Integrity of justice system upheld: DOJ transfers case involving Taiwanese investor
IRolando M. Manangan
LITO GAGNI
T is heartening to see Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla promptly address concerns raised about DOJ officials, particularly those involving potential conflicts of interest or compromised impartiality, especially when dealing with foreign investors in the country. Remulla’s swift action in these matters demonstrates a commitment to upholding the integrity and fairness of the justice system, which is essential for fostering a favorable investment climate and maintaining public trust. After all, investors here should be protected by the ample mantle of justice, so as not to deter the entry of more foreign investors that we sorely need for our economic growth.
Thus, we commend Secretary Remulla and Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon for the approval of a change of venue that a Taiwanese investor requested. The investor’s lawyer had cited alleged procedural issues in the handling of the investigation into a purported rape case brought against the investor in Subic Bay.
The Taiwanese investor operating in the Subic Freeport Zone has welcomed the DOJ’s decision to transfer the investigation of a rape
case filed against him from the Office of the City Prosecutor (OCP) of Olongapo City to the DOJ’s main office in Manila. Speaking through his legal counsel, Atty. Lloyd Allain Cudal of the Fernandez Law Office, the businessman—who is involved in both local and international construction and real estate ventures—filed a motion on March 31 requesting the venue transfer. The motion was addressed to Remulla and Fadullon, citing concerns over
Where there are procedural lapses in cases brought before the courts, the government has an obligation to correct any misimpressions. Such cases, characterized by glaring disparities in the conduct of investigations, can impair the image of Lady Justice, with her scale, blindfold, and sword.
the “compromised impartiality” of the OCP in Olongapo.
Prosecutor General Fadullon confirmed on April 2 that he supports the request, a stance shared by Olongapo City Chief Prosecutor Charlie Yap. Yap had also directed Prosecutor Ria Niña Sususco to recuse herself from handling the case.
The 54-year-old businessman is facing charges filed on February 13, 2025 by a teenage girl from Bataan. She accused him of three counts of rape, serious illegal detention, and corruption of a minor —alleging that the incidents occurred in July 2022, when she was only 15 years old.
However, the businessman’s camp believes the accusations are part of an extortion attempt orchestrated by certain individuals within the Subic Freeport com -
munity. They noted that he never received an official summons and that the notice had been sent to the wrong address.
It wasn’t until March 17 that the said Taiwanese businessman obtained a copy of the complaint— unofficially—from a member of the Law Enforcement Department of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (LED-SBMA). However, the said businessman was greeted with a barrage of news reports pointing to the supposed rape allegation. And as the reports of the supposed rape case began appearing in local media, Atty. Cudal raised concerns that the complaint may have been leaked by someone inside the Office of the City Prosecutor in Olongapo City, violating both due process and the confidentiality of the case. On March 19, representatives from the Fernandez Law Office, along with the mother of the complainant, visited the OCP to clarify the matter. They claim they were met with evasive behavior from the OCP staff. We understand that the complainant’s mother has since issued a sworn statement denying her involvement in the case. She stated that her signature was forged and
Atty. Jose Ferdinand M. Rojas II
The habit of valor Government learning academies
WJoel L. Tan-Torres
DEBIT CREDIT
Part nine
HEN the Philippine Tax Academy (PTA) was formally launched in February 2018 by then Secretary of Finance Carlos Dominguez, he stated the vision statement of the PTA as “an institution that is fully functioning and self-sustaining and a dynamic and innovative center of excellence capacitating tax and customs administrators, taxpayers and other stakeholders.”
This ambitious aspiration of PTA is consistent with Republic Act 10143, the law creating the Academy. But is this realizable within the near future?
In 2013, the Senate Tax Study and Research Office, in its article “Philippine Tax Academy in Limbo” in its 20th issue of STSR Tax Bits, questioned the long delay in the implementation of the PTA Law three years after the passage of the law. The PTA was launched by the Department of Finance (DOF) only eight years after the enactment of its law in 2020. The implementing rules and regulations were only issued in October 2018.
The key officers of the PTA, including the Chancellors and ViceChancellors of the three training institutes, were appointed just recently.
The PTA is continuing to hire its administrative staff. There has not been any recruitment of instructors for the Corps of Professional Professors. It is good that the President of the PTA has been appointed several years back. Former DOF Undersecretary Gil Beltran was appointed in May 2022 to spearhead the rollout of the programs of the PTA.
It is apparent that the PTA is gearing up only now to organize itself and proceed with vigor its learning and training mandate.
The organizational structuring and staffing of the PTA should now be re-assessed, strategized and the resulting enhancements be operationalized.
Presently the organizational structure of the PTA has the President with three Chancellors and Vice-Chancellors for each of the training institutes of Internal Revenue, Customs and Local Government Finance. Three divisions on Legal Service, Planning, Communications and Quality Assurance, and Information Technology, report to the President. There is a Resource Management Group, consisting of the finance, human resource, and general services divisions to handle its administrative requirements. There are also Learning and Development Division and Research Education and innovation Division in this Resource Management Group.
To fully pursue its mandate, the PTA should re-structure its various
Gagni.
. .
Continued from A14
that she has not seen her daughter since she ran away from home in December 2024. Despite these developments that were presented by the accused’s law office, Prosecutor Sususco reportedly refused to dismiss the charges and declined to produce Prosecutor Lilia Elizabeth Hinanay-Escusa— the official who administered the complainant’s affidavit—for questioning. The defense claims there are “glaring and material defects” in the affidavit that should have been addressed.
On March 31, Atty. Merito Lovensky Fernandez also filed a formal complaint with the DOJ, accusing Prosecutor Sususco and her staff of “serious procedural lapses, irregularities, and highly unprofessional conduct.”
FTo fully pursue its mandate, the PTA should re-structure its various offices. Two new groups should be created to handle the academic and external linkage aspects of the PTA. For the Academic Group, this can consist of three divisions of Student Affairs, Corps of Professional Lecturers/ Professors, Curriculum and Course Development, and Research and Innovation. For the External Linkage Group, three divisions should be created for External Communications, External Stakeholders and International Matters.
offices. Two new groups should be created to handle the academic and external linkage aspects of the PTA. For the Academic Group, this can consist of three divisions of Student Affairs, Corps of Professional Lecturers/Professors, Curriculum and Course Development, and Research and Innovation. For the External Linkage Group, three divisions should be created for External Communications, External Stakeholders and International Matters. These groups should be headed by a Vice-President. President Beltran has submitted recommendations for plantilla positions to the Governance Commission for Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations. These should be updated to include the mediumterm requirements of the PTA as mentioned in the earlier paragraphs. It is necessary that the PTA be restructured to effectively pursue its mandate of educating the tax collectors, taxpayers and other stakeholders of the land.
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 Tax 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 has his own tax and consultancy practice and can be contacted at joeltantorress@yahoo.com and his firm JL2T Consultancy.
Fernandez added that they intend to meet with SBMA Chairman and Administrator Engr. Eduardo Jose Aliño, as the alleged misconduct may implicate not only the LED but also other SBMA officials.
He warned that incidents like these damage the reputation of Subic as a secure and trustworthy investment hub for foreign investors. Hence, Remulla’s immediate move on the venue transfer sought by the foreign investor is commendable.
Where there are procedural lapses in cases brought before the courts, the government has an obligation to correct any misimpressions. Such cases, characterized by glaring disparities in the conduct of investigations, can impair the image of Lady Justice, with her scale, blindfold, and sword.
For it is a truism that when justice is compromised, who among us is truly safe?
Siegfred Bueno Mison, Esq.
THE PATRIOT
LOREN HERRERA (USMA Class 2013) is the first ever international graduate recipient of the 2024 Nininger Award for Valor in Arms. The Award, given to West Point graduates, is named after Second Lieutenant Alexander R. Nininger, USMA Class of 1941 who served and died in the Philippines. Incidentally, Herrera also served with the Scout Rangers as 2nd Lt. Alexander R. Nininger. In receiving this award, Floren has given various speeches in the US, one of which was during a Founders’ Day Dinner at the prestigious Union League Club in New York. He also spoke before some West Point cadets as Floren was recognized for his “remarkable bravery and leadership during the Battle of Marawi.”
The award citation said that Floren “displayed exceptional bravery and tactical expertise by maneuvering his platoon through unexpected avenues of approach and catching the enemy by surprise, neutralizing two key terrorist leaders when he spearheaded the assault in the buildings adjacent to their occupied structure.” He somehow has developed the habit of valor as Floren is also a recipient of the Distinguished Conduct Star, the Philippines’ second highest award for heroism. He was given three Gold Cross Medals—for his heroism displayed on December 30, 2015 against the Abu Sayyaf, for his boldness and courage from April 22-24, 2017 in Lanao del Sur against foreign and local terrorists, and for his courageous leadership in leading a team to rescue hostages on October 19, 2017. Floren simply has the habit of valor. In his speech, Floren said: “The values instilled at West Point guide our generation as we live by them, lead through them, and pass them forward.” Some soldiers have done the first two, the challenge is more on the last part – passing them forward. Floren admits that he has a lifelong pursuit of service excellence to uplift the next generation of graduates.
Valor is not a one-time thing; it can be a habit so that others after Floren
can “continue to make a sustainable difference.” With all humility, Floren understood that many before him have upheld the Academy’s highest ideals of Duty, Honor, Country. But among the many values passed down from generation to generation, Floren emphasized the principle of leading from the front. He said leading the charge not only builds trust and respect, but it also inspires battlefield courage. Yet, Floren concluded, to which I fully agree, that leadership extends beyond battlefields.
Valor can be displayed, and leadership can be equally tested in noncombat situations. In government, “leadership demands moral courage against mediocrity, complacency, and corruption. Authority may have limits, but West Point taught us our values do not.” The values we learn and absorb during our academy days, whether PMA or USMA or any other school, give us the necessary anchors for us to do what is right.
For those who firmly practice the values they acquired from the purest institutions such as schools get to purse a dedication to uphold them wherever they may be and regardless of who they report to. One other USMA alumnus, Mario Feliciano (Class of 2008) shared simple but courageous acts not only in the
battlefield when he was with the Philippine Army but also as an entrepreneur in the alpine mountains of Switzerland. During the 2009 elections, 2Lt. Mario was ordered by his company commander and by the town mayor somewhere in Maguindanao to allow certain lawless elements into the polling station. Mario refused. As he ordered his soldiers to stop election goons in rigging the votes, his commander reprimanded him profusely. Mario was subsequently ostracized by some of the officers in his unit and his Army career was jeopardized in the process.
Fast forward a few years, Mario has audaciously launched a Swiss-based but Filipino-powered business that provides IT consulting services and business process outsourcing. It has about 25 team members now and, most importantly, it continuously promotes the Filipino value of hard work in four client countries. And, as I watch from the sidelines how the Nininger Award process was done to allow Floren to be nominated and selected, I know that Mario’s extraordinary efforts, in presenting a good business case before the Award Committee for an international graduate to be at least considered, bordered on daring persistence and stubborn vigilance.
My pastor friend taught me that valor is not merely physical bravery but also moral courage to stand for righteousness. In biblical history, I think the apostle Paul was the most valorous of them all. Of course, the disciples left behind to preach the gospel, individually and collectively, led a life of preaching without fear even under the pain of death. There is Gideon, David, and Joshua, who were gifted with courageous leadership as they faced many situations in battle. But, Paul, on several occasions, displayed the quality of mind or spirit that enables him to conquer danger or adversity with a firm resolve, not in any battlefield setting. In passing the baton of leadership, just like how Floren focused on inspiring others after him, the apostle Paul kept thanking others and praying for them.
In Ephesians 1:17, Paul said—“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.” Paul prayed for his followers to live a life of hope, unity, righteousness, and love—“that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.” (Philippians 1:9-11) Just like most uniformed servicemen and women, Floren and I believe that valor is the willingness to offer one’s life for the country. In Floren’s words, “In the face of death, some survive. Others pay the ultimate sacrifice—the highest and most sacred form of honor. For those who live, life becomes a gift—a moral obligation—to carry the aspirations of their fallen comrades.” For those soldiers no longer in combat or those retired from the service, let us be reminded that valor is not limited within the confines of the battlefield. Service to our country continues in offices wherein decisions by a stroke of a pen or the weight of a word can bring either progress or stagnation for the people we serve. For ordinary Filipinos who have not and will likely not experience combat action, the fight is against the moral degradation of the Filipino values of loving family and country first but also of our spiritual value of love, the way Jesus Christ taught us how to love, unconditionally and valorously.
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.
Wall Street gets rude shock as Bessent plays second fiddle on tariffs
By Saleha Mohsin, Dawn Lim & Katherine Burton
FROM the moment President Donald Trump unveiled his sweeping tariffs Wednesday through the ensuing market mayhem the following day, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s phone lit up with text messages from executives tied to his former industry.
Multiple hedge fund managers and finance executives reached out, seeking his help in swaying Trump on the levies, according to people familiar with the matter. After all, as the former chief investment officer of Soros Fund Management, Bessent was a potential ally. He was seen as someone who could explain to the president that extreme new levies would damage the economy and continue to wreak havoc on markets.
But, in fact, Bessent wasn’t the primary driver of the tariff announcement, according to a person familiar with the matter. He used his role in Oval Office meetings to lay out potential scenarios for markets and the economy based on different tariff levels, the person said.
The tariffs were largely shaped by a small group within Trump’s inner circle, with critical decisions about the duties’ structure going down to the wire before the president’s announcement. A Treasury spokesperson declined to comment.
Now, Trump’s bid to remake the US economy and boost made-inAmerica products is at odds with a Wall Street establishment that has profited for decades from the idea that international trade drives the world order. And even some Republican lawmakers are sounding the alarm.
For the past two days at least, the market carnage that Wall Street feared has come to pass, wiping out $5.4 trillion in value and dragging down the S&P 500 to the lowest level in 11 months. Recession fears are growing around the globe. And ex-
ecutives who had rallied behind the Trump administration’s promises to cut taxes and ease regulation are now contending with an economic agenda that stands to roil their businesses.
Private equity firms are calling off initial public offerings and tempering expectations of a deal comeback that they hoped would help juice fundraising. Hedge funds are weighing whether Trump’s next move is too unpredictable to even wager on. Bank leaders who had forecast a more progrowth agenda are having to peel back expectations, with JPMorgan Chase & Co. economists predicting a US recession this year.
The market plunge has even caused some of Trump’s most ardent backers in the political world to predict broader fallout: Texas Senator Ted Cruz said tariffs everywhere “would destroy jobs here at home and do real damage to the US economy.”
On his podcast, he warned the levies make Republicans vulnerable to a “bloodbath” in 2026 midterms elections.
Trump—who in his first administration paid close attention to the stock market’s performance—has shown that he won’t be easily persuaded to change course by the tariffinduced plunge. He said Friday that the policy will remain and that large corporations are unconcerned by the tariff plan. As markets slid the most in five years, the president was at his West Palm Beach golf club.
Within the administration, the market fallout has caused nervousness, and officials will be eyeing whether the market fallout extends
into a third session on Monday. Yet there’s a sense that any shift in policy would have to come from the president alone. And Trump is focused on the long term with tariffs, a person familiar with the matter said. He has stressed the need to revive the US manufacturing base, secure supply chains and reduce reliance on rivals.
“The only special interest guiding President Trump’s decisions is the interest of the American people,” White House spokesman Kush Desai said. “The entire administration is aligned on addressing the national emergency that President Trump has rightfully identified is posed by our country running regular trade deficits.”
Tariff roll out
A TRUMP adviser who isn’t part of the administration criticized how the levies were rolled out and the White House’s communication strategy as markets were crashing. It should have had teams of economists, business leaders and union workers explaining the plan on TV, this person said.
In the weeks leading up to the tariff announcement, some Wall Street executives had already started to appeal to the Treasury secretary for help. Others went public with their warnings. Citadel founder Ken Griffin repeatedly criticized planned tariffs, saying they would dull the US’s competitive edge, while Warren Buffett called tariffs “an act of war, to some degree.”
Bessent remains a key member of Trump’s economic team, according to an administration official. But senior counselor Peter Navarro and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick dominated the president’s attention on tariffs, said a person close to the matter. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer was also an integral part of the team.
Bessent, in an interview with Bloomberg Television after the tariffs were announced Wednesday, said he wasn’t a part of negotiations with other countries and has been focused on the administration’s tax agenda. Private equity firms had seen Trump’s arrival heralding the return of IPOs that had been largely dormant the past three years and looser strictures on attracting wealthy individuals as clients. Instead, this week left them scrambling to determine how portfolio companies would be affected by the tariffs and are nursing painful stock slides. Shares of Apollo and KKR & Co. notched the biggest two-day slumps in their history. Dealmakers note that some sectors—like domestic manufacturing—could still be poised for big boosts under the Trump administration. But they have expressed concerns to acquaintances that prolonged uncertainty and a slumping market will make it harder to exit bets at the prices they hoped. Already, companies including Klarna Group Plc and StubHub Holdings Inc. have paused their IPOs. They’ve avoided airing their views publicly for fear of drawing the president’s wrath, and instead are trying to backchannel their concerns through proxies and lobbyists instead. There are signs of some pushback among Trump loyalists on Capitol Hill as well. Senator Chuck Grassley and three other Republicans co-sponsored a bipartisan bill that intends to bring back tariff power to Congress, requiring approval of most new tariffs within 60 days. Majority Leader John Thune, who ultimately has the power to decide whether to bring the bill up for a floor vote, said he plans to look at the legislation. With
Pover the weekend: “Note that the White House estimation is the trade balance divided by the imports of the US, which is not based on actual tariffs of the PH. This means that the figure of the White House is an overestimation.”
Citing calculations of the World Trade Organization, Manzano said the trade-weighted tariff that the Philippines imposed on the US is only 5.4 percent, which he said is “very different from the White House calculation of 34 percent.”
Based on the list of reciprocal tariffs presented by US President Donald Trump on April 2,2025, the Philippines charges 34 percent tariffs on goods being sourced from the US. This rate takes into account “currency manipulation and trade barriers.”
In return, the US slapped imported goods from the Philippines with additional 17 percent tariffs— a rate framed as relatively tamer than the ones slapped on its Asean neighbors.
Meanwhile, Canlas told this paper: “It's doubtful if the computed USTR tariffs are consistent with the [World Trade Organization] WTO.” “I go by the WTO’s trade-weighted average
tariff, which has gone down significantly since 1995. Another point worth noting is under WTO, the most-favored nation principle [MFN] applies.
Under MFN, any commercial privilege granted by a WTO member country to another must be granted to all member countries,” added the former Socioeconomic Planning chief of the country. Canlas also underscored that if the US thinks it is being “looted” by its big trading partners, “The WTO has a dispute-resolution mechanism if one country thinks it is being disadvantaged by unfair trade practices, whether through tariff or nontariff barriers.”
“The USTR says the US is being “looted” by its big trading partners. But it has no evidence to back its accusation. The formula it uses is deemed wrong by many economists, whether liberal or conservative,” added Canlas. Through the lens of the Philippine government, Kenneth T. Yap, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Philippine Trade and Investment Center’s (PTIC) Commercial Counselor for Washington, DC told the BusinessMirror in a Viber message: “The structure of the reciprocal tariff is notably untethered to expected standard tariff estimates, with rates varying dramatically by country.”
Yap explained how the new tariffs imposed by the US were calculated.
“As noted already, the imposed tariff system consists of two main components: [i] A baseline 10-percent tariff applied to nearly all US trading partners; [ii] Additional country-specific rates calculated using a trade deficit formula,” DTI said. The calculation method for country-specific tar-
iffs, however, follows a “relatively straightforward mathematical formula,” according to Yap, as he cited Reuters’ calculation.
The DTI official explained: “Take the US goods trade deficit with a country [full year 2024 figure used]. Divide it by that country’s exports to the USfor the same year. Convert this ratio into a percentage and divide by 2.”
For instance, he said: “If Country A has a $10billion trade surplus with the US; Country A exports $20 billion to the US, the calculation would be: ($10 billion ÷ $20 billion) ÷ 2 = 25% tariff rate.”
WTO: Global merchandise trade to shrink 1% this year
IN a statement on April 3, the WTO said the recent announcements “will have substantial implications for global trade and economic growth prospects.”
“While the situation is rapidly evolving, our initial estimates suggest that these measures, coupled with those introduced since the beginning of the year, could lead to an overall contraction of around 1 percent in global merchandise trade volumes this year, representing a downward revision of nearly four percentage points from previous projections. I'm deeply concerned about this decline and the potential for escalation into a tariff war with a cycle of retaliatory measures that lead to further declines in trade,” WTO Director General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said in a statement.
Okonjo-Iweala reminded the 166 member-economies of WTO that despite these new measures, the “vast majority” of global trade still flows under the WTO’s Most-Favored-Nation (MFN) terms.
“Our estimates now indicate that this share currently stands at 74 percent, down from around 80 percent at the beginning of the year. WTO members must stand together to safeguard these gains,” the WTO chief said.
Okonjo-Iweala pointed out that “Trade measures of this magnitude have the potential to create significant trade diversion effects.”
The head of the only international body that deals with rules of trade between nations caledl on Members “to manage the resulting pressures responsibly to prevent trade tensions from proliferating.”
Okonjo-Iweala said the WTO Secretariat is “closely monitoring” and analyzing the measures announced by the US on April 2. In fact, the WTO chief said, “Many members have reached out to us and we are actively engaging with them in response to their questions about the potential impact on their economies and the global trading system.”
“The WTO was established to serve precisely in moments like this—as a platform for dialogue, to prevent trade conflicts from escalating, and to support an open and predictable trading environment. I encourage Members to utilize this forum to engage constructively and seek cooperative solutions,” the head of the 166-member international trade organization also noted.
Unctad statement
THE United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (Unctad), for its part, warned on April 4 that the global trade system is “enterSee “PHL,” A2
digital agents, and prove their identity online. Currently, more than 23 million people have joined the World Network, with over 11.8 million verified as unique individuals through Orb scans. The company believes the technology can play a vital role in mitigating digital threats, especially in the Philippines—a country with a large social media user base and one of the fastest rates of AI adoption in the region.
In fact, between between 2022 and 2023, deepfake-related identity fraud cases surged 4,500 percent in the Philippines, hence Keiran said World is stepping in with its partners—National Association of Data Protection Officers of the Philippines (NADPOP), the Philippine Computer Emergency Response Team (PH-CERT), and the Secure Digital Life Center (SDLC)—to help combat cyber threats in the country.
“Protecting people’s online presence is becoming increasingly important,” Kieran said. “Through this collaboration, we are committed to bringing cutting-edge digital security solutions that will not only protect Filipinos but also enhance trust in online transactions and services.”
Sam Jacoba, founding president of NADPOP and SDLC, welcomed the partnership, saying the campaign is a crucial step toward a cyber-resilient Philippines.
“We cannot afford to take digital security lightly. Every Filipino deserves to be protected online, and this initiative is a major step toward building a cyber-resilient nation and society. By working together, we can empower individuals, businesses, and government agencies to stay ahead of cyber threats,” he said.
Lito Averia, founding president of PHCERT and chairman of SDLC, stressed that cybersecurity should be viewed as a national priority.
“This collaboration is about securing the entire digital ecosystem of the Philippines, ensuring that businesses, communities, and individuals can thrive without fear of cyber threats,” he added.
By Justine Xyrah Garcia
WITH the midterm elections fast approaching, candidates are getting more creative in reaching voters— some even going as far as mimicking emergency alerts to push campaign messages.
Scam Watch Pilipinas Co-founder Jocel de Guzman said on Saturday that it’s technically possible for individuals to use surveillance tools such as the international mobile subscriber identity-catcher (IMSI catcher) to intercept mobile traffic and send mass text messages.
Originally intended for use by law enforcement in surveillance operations, IMSI catchers are now being misused by private individuals and criminal groups for illicit activities.
“The good thing about the IMSI catcher is that just in January, they [police personnel] caught the biggest Malaysian seller. And because of that, as you can see, others are catching up. Hopefully, our investigation about it is not over yet,” de Guzman said in a sideline interview after his presentation at the annual business journalism seminar of the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines and San Miguel
Corporation.
De Guzman clarified that these devices do not compromise government data, as IMSI catchers operate as third-party machines that hijack nearby cell towers.
“The IMSI catcher, when it goes through the road—one kilometer, two kilometer radius—all the cellphones there use the 2G to get in [mobile phones]. It’s not necessarily from the government then it was distributed to everyone,” he explained.
He added that the device sends messages randomly, and those controlling it can even select which network carriers to target.
De Guzman’s remarks follow several social media posts from users claiming they received campaignrelated messages disguised as emergency alerts.
These messages include phrases such as “vote for” alongside lists of candidates running in specific cities or provinces.
Commission on Elections Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia confirmed to BusinessMirror that the poll body is investigating the claims.
Garcia also noted that the messages could be part of smear tactics against certain candidates whose
names appeared in the alerts.
Deep fakes in campaigning BEYOND suspicious text alerts, Scam Watch Pilipinas also raised concerns about deep fakes—digitally altered videos created using artificial intelligence—being used to mislead voters during the campaign season.
De Guzman acknowledged that while Comelec has introduced rules to address the use of AI-generated disinformation, enforcement remains difficult, especially since social media platforms in the Philippines are not regulated. He said the lack of local legislation makes it harder and slower to take down deep fake content, increasing the chances of it being believed and shared.
“Even if Comelec has guidelines to prohibit the use of deep fake or the [Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center] and the [Philippine National Police] detect deep fake…when you request for a
down, it takes a while,” he said. He added that enforcement is further complicated by the
Lorenz S. Marasigan
Editor: Jennifer A. Ng
Govt told to tweak GEA policy
By Lenie Lectura @llectura
ACEN Corp. wants the Department of Energy (DOE) to craft a revenue model for “standalone” battery energy storage system (BESS) projects in the country.
The government will bid out 1,100 megawatts (MW) of solar capacity with energy storage in the upcoming Green Energy Auction (GEA-4).
Called the Integrate Renewable Energy and Energy Storage Systems (IRESS), solar power plant projects paired with Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) will be included in the auction.
“Right now, the IRESS is a very technical format, which requires an integrated solar and battery storage.
But what do you do if there’s already solar being built or operating on a standalone basis?
If you already have the solar
Meralco energizes Sta. Rosa substation
there, it should be a different framework, you want to be able to encourage the investment in standalone battery storage. When I say standalone, it’s not literally standalone in the middle of nowhere. Standalone means you can add on to your existing solar plant for as long as it’s not in the GEA program,” ACEN President Eric Francia said.
GEA-4 also includes 9,378 MW of new capacity projects from groundmounted solar, roof-mounted solar, floating solar, and onshore wind projects. With a large capacity of solar pow-
THE Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) energized a new substation in Sta. Rosa, Laguna to serve the increasing requirements of the fast-growing commercial, industrial, and residential hubs
er projects up for auction, Francia expressed concern over its impact on an already challenged grid. To avoid this, he said mitigation mechanisms should be put in place to prevent transmission grid constraints and imbalances.
“That’s really my concern on high-capacity targets for pure solar. If players really respond to a lot of additional capacity for pure solar then I’m hoping that the DOE could preempt that by crafting a policy on standalone battery storage.
That could really be the mitigation for the production imbalances, right? Because we will end up overproducing during the day and still come short at night. I won’t be surprised if a good number of them will be curtailed. That’s why I think IRESS will be the solution, but in IRESS you need to build solar and battery storage together.
But we, for example, have some solar plants that are just selling to retail or selling to the spot market. The most ideal is to put the battery storage to an existing solar plant. We
in the province. The new Mesaland 115 kilovolt (kV) substation, located in Hacienda Sta. Elena, will improve the power quality and system reliability in Sta. Rosa and Cabuyao in Laguna, as well
can put it beside a substation that is already encountering a lot of grid constraint because of excess solar generation. You can absorb it during the day and then release it at night. This addresses the pertinent issues of the solar plants around that substation,” Francia said.
ACEN now has an attributable renewables capacity of 7 gigawatts (GW), consisting of 3.3 GW in operation, 2.3 GW under construction, and 1.4 GW of projects that are expected to begin construction within the next 12-18 months.
The company continues to expand its presence in the Philippines, with the completion of RE plants, such as Cagayan North Solar, SanMar Solar Phases 1 & 2, Arayat-Mexico 2 Solar, and Capa Wind contributing to a 60 percent increase in output to 1,826 GW hours.
In the last quarter of 2024, construction commenced on the turbines for the Quezon North Wind project, which will become the largest wind farm in the Philippines upon completion in 2026.
as Silang and Tagaytay City in Cavite.
The project entailed the installation of a new 83-megavolt-ampere (MVA) power transformer, capable of supporting 4 new 34.5 kV distribution feeders.
STOCK-MARKET OUTLOOK
“With
Empowering workplaces to be part of the plastic pollution solution
By Francine Medina
AS the world honors Earth Day on April 22 and with the impact posed by climate change now closer to home, more people are realizing that celebrating the planet—and saving it—isn’t only for a day but an ongoing collective initiative.
Business establishments are among the biggest contributors to single-plastic use despite measures such as the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Law of 2022, which mandates companies to be responsible for the plastic packaging they use throughout its life cycle. This includes post-consumer waste management, which actually encourages manufacturers to produce more sustainable or environmentallyfriendly packaging.
A 2021 World Bank Report stated that the Philippines has an estimated 2.7 million tons of plastic waste, with 20 percent of it ending up in the ocean. Among the reasons caused by the staggering volume is the sachet economy that refers to the amount of plastic packaging Filipinos throw away.
In this edition of BusinessMirror’s “Freshly Brewed” digital talk show, Mike Policarpio, editor of both the Envoys and Expats page and the Education section, recently talked to PCX Markets Commercial Director Rudi Ramin on how companies can fully actualize their plastic responsibility journey.
“Most companies we work with have plastic in their products or
packaging because of its durability and protective properties. But we know that plastic, if it’s not managed well, goes to our environment. It breaks down into microplastics that could damage our health, our environment, and impact many sectors, like our fishing industry, among others,” said Ramin. “We believe that being responsible for the plastic they use is a mission that businesses should really support.”
PCX Markets is a global company founded in 2019 as a non-profit organization but today, it is now a for-profit enterprise. According to its website, it aims to act as a platform for businesses to meet their sustainability goals and contribute to the circular economy where plastic waste recovery and responsible processing are achieved. it supports the collection, transportation, and responsible processing of plastic waste. As a way of incentivizing companies, it has its Plastic Cleanup Partner program where companies can buy plastic credits, based on the amount of plastic that has been recovered, recycled, or diverted from landfills, which are issued by projects tackling plastic pollution,
including collectors, upcyclers, and recyclers. This helps fund plastic waste cleanups—and helps channel badly-needed funding into the waste management sector. The impact is verified by third-party auditors, and all transactions are recorded in PCX Market’s public registry, bringing transparency to the process.
“So, there’s that part of the ecosystem that profits from the sale of plastic, which if not managed well, is not good,” explained Ramin. “On the other side of the ecosystem are the collectors and recyclers. And if they work hand in hand, then plastic wouldn’t be ending up in nature.”
Real problem
THE plastic problem is real and Filipinos see it, for instance, when they travel across the islands and see local beaches polluted with plastic scattered on the shores and waters, observed Ramin. But, sadly, many Filipinos can’t fathom the future with the plastic problem being solved.
“If you think about it, we are one of the biggest sachet markets in the world and we understand that sachets play an important part especially if you have lower-wage workers where cash outlay is really critical. People know there is a problem but for many years, there wasn’t much public discussion on how to solve it.”
The Philippines, however, has moved quickly in recent years to tackle the problem. The EPR Act requires corporations with assets over US$1.7 million to recover and divert at least 20 percent of their plastic packaging footprint by the end of 2023 and 40 percent in 2024. These numbers are set to increase by 10 percent every year until at least 80 percent is recovered or diverted annually by 2028. Ramin said he is proud that the Philippines is among the countries that has such a law and that many corporations have been implementing their own recycling and upcycling even before it had been passed.
“What I am quite inspired about is that when I joined PCX in August 2023, which was Year One of the law, there were already a lot of big
companies taking action that wanted to do even more. They intended to comply and wanted to know what else they can do,” he said.
“A lot of the companies have already done their EPR programs on their own or through a Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) like PCX.”
Under RA 11898, or the EPR Act, companies are asked to register their EPR programs to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources or DENR-led National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWC).
Meanwhile, DENR reports that there are 2,130 businesses that fall under the scope of the EPR Act. As of this month, there are more than 1,000 that have registered their EPR programs to the government. PCX Watch works with 120 businesses, which have all registered their EPR programs as well.
“It’s almost half but at least, what’s exciting to note is that the majority of the largest plastic packaging producers have complied, and many went beyond the minimum 20 percent recovery target for 2023, indicating strong support among the country’s largest obliged enterprises,” noted Ramin.
“The other good thing about the law is that penalties are high. For
the first violation, for instance, the penalty is from Php5 to 10 million.
It’s something that companies would think twice about.
“I’m proud that our government has taken a stance against plastic pollution by ratifying a law that has penalties. And the government is working on giving incentives as well.” in addition, Ramin explained, businesses don’t necessarily have to recycle their plastic products but they can collect the equivalent of the volume they consumed for recycling and reuse.
Beyond compliance
ON the other hand, there are many businesses that have stepped up beyond merely complying, he said,
“Some companies have taken a leadership stance and have said, ‘We want to contribute to the solution.’ And PCX, as one of the companies who want to encourage this, has released the Plastic Cleanup Partner Program.”
The Plastic Cleanup Partner is a certification awarded to companies and brands that have delivered “significant, measurable impact in cleaning up plastic waste.” In turn, customers are assured that the companies they are buying from are working hard to tackle the plastic pollution.
“This seal or badge signifies that the company has done 100% and delivered beyond the required compliance for at least three years. So, it’s not just a one-time effort,” Ramin explained. Besides their EPR compliance, these businesses have made other initiatives such as educating and teaching communities to learn how to collect, recycle, and reuse plastic. One of these companies that PCX Markets works with is Mondelēz International in the Philippines, which is a bearer of the Plastic Cleanup Partner badge.
Hope for a solution to the pollution IN the long-run, Ramin says, the mission of PCX Markets really goes beyond supporting companies achieve their EPR compliance.
“It’s really a call to action. The (plastic) problem is huge, the situation is dire. The problem doesn’t just affect the environment but also our health,” he explained.
“But with coordination and everyone doing their part, we can really be the generation that can solve the plastic pollution crisis.”
• Catch fresh episodes of “Freshly
Lenie Lectura
RUDI Ramin MIKE Policarpio
REAL TALK ON PLASTIC. Mike Policarpio (right), "Freshly Brewed" host, and Rudi Ramin (left), PCX Markets Commercial Director, engage in a deep discussion on the EPR Act and how it can help solve the plastic pollution crisis. Screenshot from "Freshly Brewed" on YT.
Banking&Finance
Gross govt borrowings drop by 48.81% in Feb
THE Marcos administration’s gross borrowings dropped by nearly half in February, due to the high base effect from the recordhigh retail Treasury bonds (RTBs) issued last year.
Latest data from the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) showed the government took out P339.551 billion in February 2025. This is lower by 48.81 percent from the P663.422 billion it raised in the same month a year ago.
Last year, the government raised P584.86 billion from its offering of five-year RTBs, higher than the P400-billion target.
As a result, domestic borrowings plunged by 78.62 percent year-onyear to P140.8 billion in February 2025 from P658.681 billion. External borrowings, meanwhile, soared by 4,092 percent year-on-year to P198.751 billion from P4.741 billion. Compared to January 2025, the government’s gross borrowings climbed by more than half, driven by a 200 percent spike in external debt following the government’s issuance of global bonds.
Treasury data showed gross borrowings rose by 59.30 percent from the P213.141 billion the government obtained in January 2025.
The increase was due to the uptick in borrowings from external sources, which soared by 226.13 percent to P198.751 billion from P60.941 billion in the previous month.
In February, the Republic of the Philippines raised a total $3.3 billion from its issuance of multi-tranche US dollar bonds and euro bonds to lock in funds amid favorable market conditions.
As such, the government generated $2.25 billion from the 10-year tenor dollar bonds and 25-year sustainability bonds, as well as €1 billion from the 7-year euro-denominated sustainable bonds. The government also contributed P185 billion to a sinking fund bond.
About P6.786 billion in project loans were acquired while the government did not take out any program loans in February.
On the other hand, borrowings from domestic sources dropped by 7.49 percent to P140.8 billion in February 2025 from P152.2 billion in January 2025.
Domestic borrowings for the month were mostly composed of the P130 billion raised from the auction
of fixed-rate Treasury bonds. Funds generated were 7.14 percent lower than the P140 billion accumulated last month.
The sale of Treasury bills also raised P10.8 billion for the government, down by 11.47 percent from P12.2 billion in January 2024.
Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said more local borrowings will help mitigate and better manage foreign exchange risks in foreign currency borrowings.
“Lower US and local interest rates would give the national government better leeway to hedge its borrowing to finance the budget deficit and in refinancing maturing debt,” Ricafort said.
However, the RCBC executive said there must be tax and fiscal reform measures to narrow the budget deficit and manage the country’s debt and fiscal management.
Jan-Feb period
FOR the January-February period, gross borrowings totaled P552.692 billion, one-fifth of the government’s P2.545 trillion full-year borrowing program.
Treasury data showed the twomonth worth of borrowings is lower by 36.22 percent than the P866.573 billion raised in the same period in 2024.
External borrowings soared by nearly threefold year-on-year to P259.692 billion from P66.387 billion.
This consisted of P11.483 billion in project loans, P56.289 billion in program loans and P191.965 billion in global bonds.
Domestic borrowings, meanwhile, plunged by 63.38 percent to P293 billion as of end-February 2025 from P800.186 billion in the same period a year ago.
The auction of Treasury bills and fixed-rate Treasury bonds has yielded P23 billion and P270 billion, respectively, for the government.
This year, the government will follow an 80:20 borrowing mix to lessen its exposure to foreign exchange risks.
About P2.037 trillion will be raised domestically while P507.408 billion will come from external sources.
The national government’s outstanding debt reached a new high of P16.632 trillion as of the end of February. Reine Juvierre S. Alberto
HK Financial Chief says tariffs a threat to trade
US tariffs undermine international trade and will ultimately hurt Americans, Hong Kong Financial Secretary Paul Chan said in a blog post Sunday.
There are no winners in trade wars, Chan wrote, adding that the levies imposed by President Donald Trump last week had dragged down the US stock market.
The financial secretary said at a seminar on Saturday that the city would not impose countermeasures on the US, Radio Television Hong Kong reported.
The territory’s government “of course, strongly opposes the actions by the US, and we also need to be defensive,” Chan said, according to RTHK. Still, Hong Kong should remain “free and open,” and has a mechanism to identify risks that could threaten the financial system, the report cited him as saying.
Trump announced global tariffs, including a 34 percent charge on imports from China, prompting Beijing to retaliate with commensurate levies on all US goods and to place export controls on rare earths.
The 34 percent tariffs also apply to Hong Kong, whose special trading privileges were removed
Ex-BSP exec: PHL to collect lower revenues due to tariffs
By Reine Juvierre Alberto @reine_alberto
THE Philippines could see its revenue collections decline this year as the tariffs imposed by the United States could slow global trade, a former central bank official told the BusinessMirror.
Diwa C. Guinigundo, now country analyst for New York-based think tank GlobalSource Partners Inc., told the BusinessMirror that the government’s revenue collections could be lower after getting a direct hit by the 17-percent reciprocal tariffs on Philippine exports.
According to Guinigundo, importations of the US from the Philippines will be more expensive relative to domestically-produced products’ tag price.
“Over time, all other things being equal, the demand for Philippine exports will likely decline for price reasons,” said the former Deputy Governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.
The reciprocal tariffs would also affect the government’s revenue collections by slowing down global trade, according to Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort.
“[This] would slow down [revenues], which actually slowed down already since last year,” Ricafort said. “Philippine export prices in the US will increase by 17 percent, so demand and exporter earnings will go down.”
The government aims to collect P4.332 trillion in revenues this year, which is 13.40-percent higher than the P3.820 trillion programmed in 2024. About a quarter of this target will come from the Bureau of Cus-
toms (BOC), mandated to collect import duties and taxes.
Ricafort said the reciprocal tariffs could impact the BOC’s revenue collections, more so that the reduced tariffs on imported rice and electric vehicles hindered the agency from reaching its goal last year.
The BOC collected P916.7 billion in 2024, recording a 2.44 percent shortfall in meeting its P939.7 billion target. This year, the BOC is expected to raise P1.064 trillion, higher by 13.22 percent than its goal in 2024. Of this, P111.147 billion will come from import duties and taxes.
Data from the BOC obtained by the BusinessMirror showed collection from importations from the United States amounted to P31.043 billion in 2024. This is lower by 4.9 percent from P32.665 billion in the previous year. Of the amount, P10.521 billion came from duties, P17.827 billion from value-added tax and P293.067 million from other fees and charges.
Meanwhile, the volume of imports reached 7.3 million kilograms, higher by 13.21 percent year-on-year from 6.448 million kilograms.
Customs Assistant Commissioner
Vincent Philip C. Maronilla has told the BusinessMirror that the BOC has a “good fighting chance” to meet its target as the US tariffs roiled markets worldwide.
“It’s a challenge, but I don’t think it’s such a great challenge that it’s going to pose any big risk in terms of the performance of the bureau,” Maronilla added.
To mitigate the effects, other nontraditional revenue sources would also be tapped, such as collections from post-key loans audits and auction activities, to help in the collection target, the lawyer said.
“Any reduction in revenue in any of the fields that we’re collecting against, there will be ways on how the Bureau can find ways to mitigate that,” Maronilla added. Still, Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto believes the Philippine economy, primarily driven by domestic demand, is relatively resilient against trade wars.
“However, as with all countries, we are not spared from the impact of the expected decline in international trade and possible slowdown of global growth due to supply chain disruptions, higher interest rates, and higher inflation,” Recto said.
Anti-scam group flags banks’ use of third-party firms
By Bless Aubrey Ogerio
TAGAYTAY City—The head of an anti-scam organization is linking the rise in scammers’ calls and messages to banks’ increasing use of third-party agencies for telemarketing and collections.
Jocel De Guzman, co-convenor of Scam Watch Philippines (SWP), explained that many scammers use unregistered prepaid SIM cards, making it difficult for customers to tell if the call or message is from their bank or a scammer impersonating one.
“From 200,000 to 350,000 scam calls, karamihan doon nagpapanggap na mga banko, nagpapanggap na mga collection agencies,” De Guzman said on the sidelines of the annual business journalism seminar by the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines and San
By VG Cabuag @villygc
by a Trump executive order in 2020. Washington said at the time that it could no longer certify the city’s political autonomy from China.
Last year the US accounted for 6.5 percent of Hong Kong’s overall merchandise exports, down from 8.6 percent in 2018, Chan wrote. Meanwhile, the city’s shipments to Southeast Asia and the Middle East have been growing. Southeast Asia in 2019 surpassed the US to become its second-largest merchandise export market, the financial secretary said.
Other Asian countries have also held back on retaliating to the US measures. Vietnam, Cambodia and Indonesia have said they’re open to negotiations over the “reciprocal tariffs,” while Singapore, a finance and trade hub, said it didn’t plan to strike back.
The offers come as nations worldwide weigh how to respond to Trump’s decision to slap tariffs from 10 percent to as high as 50 percent on every country. Since his announcement, trillions of dollars in market value have been wiped out globally and triggered widespread recession alarms. The European Union is preparing its own countermeasures if talks fail. Bloomberg News
EXECUTIVES of the East West Banking Corp. expressed willingness to educate the millions of members of grocery chain operator Puregold Price Club Inc. on how to use a credit card.
Mia P. Tamayo, the bank’s vice president for auto credit policy, said the offer comes after the lender and the listed retailer recently launched their “Always Panalo Visa Credit Card.” According to Tamayo, they believe the new product will help the lender increase its market share in the credit card sector.
AFORMER official of the Department of Finance (DOF) slammed members of Congress’s bicameral committee for bloating the national budget for pork-ridden projects that, she said, led to the transfer of the reserve funds of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) to the National Treasury.
In a statement, petitioners of GR 274778 (Pimentel et al. v. House of Representatives) condemned Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto’s arguments in the recent hearing on the transfer of PhilHealth’s reserve funds.
“The bicam created the problem
Miguel Corp.
“These third parties, they always use prepaid numbers. They cannot use an official hotline para ma-identify; that’s what the scammers take advantage of,” he said last Saturday. De Guzman cited recent data from an anti-scam app that showed that in the first quarter of this year, there were 351,699 scam calls, a 74-percent increase from the previous quarter. While scam messages dropped, the number of scam calls continues to rise, putting consumers at greater risk.
The data also revealed that scam messages in the country saw a significant decline of 68.83 percent from the fourth quarter of 2024 to the first quarter of 2025, dropping from 2,079,968 messages to 648,239.
The scam calls, however, surged by 74.32 percent, jumping from
“The bank is very young at 30 years old, right? So, in partnering with Puregold, we get the best of both worlds,” the EastWest executive said. “We help them through the use of the credit card and they will be educated on how to use and handle credit.”
Tamayo added that the lender also provides Puregold customers “a loyalty venue wherein you get rewarded for the thing that you’re already doing, which is grocery shopping.”
Meanwhile, she said the bank doesn’t see the new credit card increasing the lender’s bad loan as 80 percent of their customers are paying their debts.
by allocating a considerable portion of funds to pork-ridden projects, bloating the budget with such projects, thus having to transfer important programs to unprogrammed appropriations,” former Finance Undersecretary Dr. Cielo D. Magno was quoted in the statement as saying.
“And now, the government wants to take money intended for the health of Filipino citizens to cover the deficit that they themselves created? And then they try to intimidate us?” added Magno, currently Associate Professor at the University of the Philippines’s School of Economics. Recto’s arguments were heard at
201,760 in Q4 2024 to 351,699 in Q1 2025. These calls are largely impersonating banks and collection agencies, according to De Guzman.
Moreover, the Department of Information and Communications Technology’s Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center reported that scam complaints spiked in early 2025, with 3,251 complaints reported between January and March, following 10,004 complaints in 2024.
Regarding the rising use of prepaid SIM cards in scams, De Guzman stressed the need for a regulation requiring SIM cards to be registered before use.
“By law, you can’t use your SIM card if it’s not registered,” he said adding that some SIM cards being sold are called “pre-registered.”
De Guzman said those caught by members of the Philippine National
“But the vision is what if we have with them, with an instrument, with a card, to stretch their budget. If you know how to use it, you can better manage your budget or your business, So, we’re really happy that we partnered with the right company,” Tamayo said.
EastWest CEO Jerry Ngo said he believes the branded credit card “delivers practical, real-world benefits.”
Police-Anti-Cybercrime Group registered using their faces and people and numbers.
Under Section 8 of the Republic Act 11934 (SIM Card Registration law), unregistered SIM cards will be automatically deactivated after 120 days and can only be reactivated once registered with the respective telecom provider.
De Guzman called on banks to take stronger measures to protect customers, urging them to ensure that any communication, particularly calls, come from official, verified numbers.
“The banks will never text you that your account is compromised, they will never do that,” he said. “However, because they don’t have manpower and they need telemarketing and collection, they send it to third-party agencies; so that should be reviewed.”
“It turns regular grocery runs into opportunities to earn cash rebates, which can be converted into ‘Puregold P-Wallet’ credits, helping cardholders stretch their budgets while enjoying the ease of cashless payments. This partnership is rooted in the shared goal of serving real Filipino households. Something Puregold has done for years by being a dependable part of their everyday routines,” Ngo said. The card converts every P30 spend into 1 rewards point conversion for purchases at Puregold and P100 spend to 1 rewards point for all other transactions, grocery shopping and everyday spending. Cardholders can also accumulate up to P3,000 in their Puregold PWallet monthly when they convert their rewards points at a 1 rewards point to P1 conversion rate.
the Supreme Court hearing on the DOF Memorandum Circular 0032024 the agency issued in July last year. Through MC 003-2024, the DOF ordered the PhilHealth and the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. (PDIC) to remit P89.9 billion and P110 billion, respectively, to the National Treasury. PhilHealth has remitted P60 billion but was ordered by the SC to stop further remittances. According to Magno, the government should not have inserted pork barrel projects into the budget if it wanted to demonstrate fiscal responsibility and was concerned about the Philippines’s credit rating not improving. Meanwhile, Recto’s “common sense approach” of using idle, excess and sleeping public funds to help the economy is “nonsensical” as it is not “common sense” to violate the law, according to the petitioners. Congress and the Executive have violated the Universal Health Care Act, which prohibits the transfer of any PhilHealth funds to the national government, they argued. The petitioners added that the Sin
has also been violated, as revenues from taxes on tobacco and
beverages
WAR OF THE WARES:
A timeline of US-China tit-for-tat tariffs since Trump’s first term
By Simina Mistreanu The Associated Press
TAIPEI, Taiwan—China is retaliating in a determined and at times highly detailed manner to US President Donald Trump’s new tariffs, led by a retaliatory 34% tax on all US imports next week.
The strong response shows a degree of preparation that leaves Chinese exports in a tough spot but exacts pain from US exporters that could be used as leverage in any future negotiations.
The Chinese tariffs, announced Friday and taking effect Thursday, match the rate of the ones Trump imposed this week on Chinese products flowing into the United States, coming on top of two rounds of 10% tariffs already declared in February and March, citing allegations of Beijing’s role in the fentanyl crisis. China’s latest retaliatory moves include more export controls on rare earth minerals, critical for various technologies, and a lawsuit at the World Trade Organization.
Beijing also suspended imports of sorghum, poultry and bonemeal from a number of US companies, and added over two dozen others to a list of trade-restricted companies while launching an anti-monopoly investigation into DuPont China Group Co., a subsidiary of the multinational chemical giant.
The rapid-fire shots of tariffs and import curbs hearken back to Trump’s first term in office when the US and China engaged in a trade war that spanned most of his first four years in office that continued to a certain extent under his successor, Joe Biden. China responded at the time with 15 percent duties on coal and liquefied natural gas products, and a 10 percent tariff on crude oil, agricultural machinery and large-engine cars imported from the US.
Beijing also launched last month an anti-monopoly investigation into Google and added PVH, the owner of US fashion brands Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein, to its “unreliable entity” list. China also restricted the exports of five rare metals used as key components in the defense and clean energy industries among others.
As the new frictions threaten to esca -
late into a trade war, here are some key moments in the countries’ years-long trade spat:
March 2017
SHORTLY after becoming US president for the first time, Trump, determined to reduce trade deficits with other countries, signs an executive order calling for tighter tariff enforcement in anti-dumping cases.
April 2017
DURING a visit to Beijing, Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping agree to a 100-day plan for trade talks meant to reduce the US trade deficit with China. The trade talks fail by July.
August 2017
TRUMP launches an investigation into alleged Chinese theft of US intellectual property, which the US estimated was costing it up to $600 billion a year.
January 2018
THE US announces 30 percent tariffs on imported solar panels, which come mostly from China.
April 2018
BEIJING hits back with tariffs on US im -
ports worth about $3 billion, including 15 percent duties on products including fruits, nuts, wine and steel pipes, and a 25 percent tax on pork, recycled aluminum and six other types of goods.
A day later, the US ups the ante by slapping a 25 percent tax on Chinese goods from the aerospace, machinery and medical industries worth about $50 billion. China retaliates with 25 percent duties on aircraft, automobiles, soybeans and chemicals among other imports, worth about another $50 billion.
June-August 2018
THE two countries impose at least three
more rounds of tit-for-tat tariffs affecting more than $250 billion worth of Chinese goods and more than $110 billion worth of US imports to China. These include 10 percent tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese goods that take effect in September 2018 and are supposed to increase to 25 percent on January 1, 2019.
December 2018-May 2019
WASHINGTON and Beijing fail to iron out a trade deal after agreeing to halt new tariffs in December 2018. After the talks collapse, Trump goes ahead and raises tariffs from 10 percent to 25 percent on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods.
May 2019
WASHINGTON bans Chinese technology company Huawei from buying parts and components from US companies.
June 2019
TRUMP and Xi agree in a phone call to restart trade talks, but these hit numerous snags in the next five months.
January 2020
THE US and China sign a Phase One trade deal through which China commits to
buying an additional $200 billion of US goods and services over the next two years. However, a research group later found China had bought essentially none of the goods promised.
October 2022
BIDEN, who had retained most of the tariffs enacted under Trump, issues sweeping new restrictions on selling semiconductors and chipmaking equipment to China. These curbs will be expanded in October 2023 and December 2024.
February 2024
ON his campaign trail, Trump says that he plans to impose tariffs of at least 60% on all Chinese imports if he wins a second term in office.
May 2024
BIDEN raises tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, solar cells, steel, aluminum and medical equipment.
February 4, 2025
NEW 10 percent tariffs on all Chinese imports to the US come into effect. China retaliates the same day by announcing a flurry of countermeasures, including duties on American coal, liquefied natural
gas and agricultural machinery.
March 4, 2025
ADDITIONAL 10 percent tariffs on all Chinese goods will go into effect. China responds with additional tariffs of up to 15 percent on imports of key US farm products, including chicken, pork, soy and beef, and expanded controls on doing business with key US companies. The tariffs went into effect on March 10.
April 3, 2025
ON Trump’s so-called tariff “Liberation Day,” he announces additional 34 percent duties on all Chinese imports, alongside tariffs on goods from countries around the world. The sweeping tariffs are to come into effect April 9.
April 4, 2025
CHINA announces other retaliatory moves including more export controls on rare earth minerals, and files a lawsuit at the World Trade Organization. China also suspends imports of sorghum, poultry and bonemeal from several US companies, adds 27 firms to lists of companies facing trade restrictions, and starts an anti-monopoly probe into DuPont China Group Co.
AERIAL view of a ro-ro terminal for vehicle shipment in Yantai in eastern China’s Shandong province, Thursday, April 3, 2025. CHINATOPIX VIA AP
COS PRESENTS ITS SS 2025 COLLECTION
ON April 2, COS returned to the runway for its first-ever show in Athens, presenting the brand’s Spring Summer 2025 collection. The runway was brought to life within the cavernous Dionyssomarble Quarry, which upholds a rich legacy in marble, the same variety once used by the ancient Greeks to sculpt the Parthenon and the Erechtheion on the Acropolis. The enveloping marble walls created a striking contrast to the collection’s clean minimalism and sculptural lines. Models elegantly descended a steel staircase, looping in and out of the cave, showcasing 35 looks. The experience presented a powerful dialogue between structure and fluidity, strength and softness. Defined by craftsmanship, the latest collection explores precision in cut and signature detailing. In womenswear, creative expressions emerge through softly sculptured silhouettes and draped elements, while tailoring is reimagined with a deconstructed sensibility.
A pared-back utility style in menswear takes centerstage, emphasized through functional details. Classic styles are revisited with sleeveless tailoring, bringing a fresh perspective to traditional designs. Silk sets introduce an effortless elegance, while Bermuda shorts are presented as a refined yet relaxed summer staple.
Quality and longevity remain at the collection’s core; adjustable elements ensure the perfect fit, while considered material innovation is seen through the presentation of a classic shirt style, crafted from Materra Hydroponic Cotton— cotton grown in an indoor environment with controlled application of water and nutrients without the need for arable land or conventional irrigation.
A selection of the show items are available immediately at the COS store in SM Aura Premier and on www.cos.com.
Alo Yoga brings studio-to-street style to PHL
THE premium fashion and lifestyle brand renowned for luxury activewear rooted in mind-body wellness, Alo is set to open its first store in the Philippines in partnership with specialty retailer SSI Group Inc. Located at Level 1, Greenbelt 5, the new flagship store is slated to open in Q2 2025, marking the brand’s
Avel Bacudio champions Pinoy sports luxe
AFTER advocating for the visually impaired children in Baguio City, fashion designer Avel Bacudio’s latest crusade is supporting underfunded Filipino athletes.
In “Gintong Sinag,” his sportswear collection presented at the dazzling esplanade at Plaza Mexico in Intramuros, Bacudio shone the spotlight on accomplished athletes as well as future champions. Emerging gymnast Karl Yulo served as the opening salvo as the torchbearer, while his brother Carlos Yulo, the double Paris Olympics gold medalist, closed the show.
Two-time Olympic boxing medalist Nesthy Petecio, Paris 2024 boxing bronze medalist Aira Villegas and basketballer Ricci Rivero strutted proudly on the runway with Paralympians such as swimmer Angel Otom, taekwondo jin Allain Ganapin, and wheelchair racer Jerrold Mangliwan.
WHY SPORTSWEAR?
“EVERY time nagkakaroon tayo ng ginto, dun lang natin sila binibigyan ng parangal. Kasi pag bibigyan natin sila ng pagkakataon at susuportahan natin sila, hindi lang dalawang ginto [mula sa Olympics] ang maiuuwi natin sa Pilipinas,” explained the avant-garde-turned-innovative designer from Buhi, Camarines Sur.
“So, awakening ’yan sa akin na bakit hindi ko ito gawin? Every time may fashion show ako, I have an advocacy, a cause, so that my being a designer has a purpose. So, I went to the National Academy of Sports [NAS] in Pampanga, and they really need more funds. So sabi ko, ito ang advocacy ko ngayon,” added Bacudio.
NAS was created through Republic Act 11470, and “was institutionalized to recognize and develop exceptionally talented students from all sectors, including indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, and other marginalized groups. Pursuant to the law, the NAS System is an attached institution of the DepEd, in close coordination with the Philippine Sports Commission.”
Students from NAS walked with professional models during the show, which was produced by Mr. and Mrs. Jose Antonio Goitia, directed by the Dubai-based Lotho, with Larry Asistin as creative production head, styling by Sir George Salon and creative styling by Robi Lolin.
INDIGENOUS INGENUITY
BACUDIO bared his painstaking creative process:
“We need to study the fabric that we have. We need to talk to the DOST [Department of Science and Technology] and PTRI [Philippine Textile Research Institute]. We have 7,000 islands plus in the Philippines, so every island has their own fabric. So, I really wanted to get a thread from the islands but the fabric that they use is not from the Philippines. It’s from China,”
“So, I talked to DOST about what I can do. You
Alo
and
ACTRESS Maja Salvador became a Beautéderm ambassador four years ago and recently, she renewed her contract with the Angeles City-based company with ceremonies held at Solaire Resort North, Quezon City. Beautéderm founder and CEO Rhea Tan considers Maja a good friend and a little sister. The actress, in fact, calls her Manang (Ilocano for ate). They are so close that when Maja married Rambo Nunez, Tan was one of the principal sponsors.
Si Manang kasi, alam mong totoo, sa simula pa lang
She’s more than my boss, she’s my manang talaga, ate na ate,” said the actress.
The contract signing was held on Women’s Month, which is apt because Beautéderm is a company that celebrates women and beauty in all its forms.
don’t I do our raw materials like the piña, the pineapple, the water lily, but the problem is we don’t have the machinery. Then I researched—they have machinery in Japan. So, I get a Cavendish banana, and because it’s really better if it’s really from Davao, because the trees, when the fruits are removed, they throw away the tree trunk.
“So, when it’s thrown away, it takes a long time for it to decompose, I think five years. So, when it rains, it can cause flooding. So, I really brought one to Japan and I was able to create my own fabric out of the Cavendish banana. It’s the same process with the discarded leaves of the pineapple plant.
“But also, the problem is, we need to study the fabric, how to cut it. So, they did a lot of mechanical things, but not me. I’m just technical. But now I realize, as a designer, we also need to study the fabric well.”
NATIVE CHARM, WESTERN SILHOUETTES
THERE were 80 looks from the Gintong Sinag
“I founded Beautederm 15 years ago and we’re still going strong. All of these things have shaped me into the woman I am today. Thanks to the support of other women, such as my mother, my sister, my daughter, my female employees, and my female endorsers, we have accomplished a lot in recent years,” AnicocheTan said.
Maja is the face of Beautéderm’s Blanc Set, the company’s best-selling skincare product line. The set includes Acne Banishing Toner, Acne Banishing Cream, Acne Banishing Cream, and Skin Nourishing Cream. The products contain includes tretinoin (to address acne) and hydroquinone (for hyperpigmentation).
“Blanc Set helps prevent acne, brightens the skin, reduces inflammation, and addresses hyperpigmentation,” said Tan, who also recommends Beautéderm’s Cristaux Vitamin C serum for hydration and brightening.
Games, we’re always wearing barongs. So, you know, internationally, we can’t sell the barong because di pwedeng labhan sa washing machine. People want comfort. That’s not comfortable.
“[My pieces are] very comfortable because if you look at the insides, the lining itself is cotton from Mindanao. It keeps its shape even after laundering. It can be handwashed. My next goal is for the clothes to be able to be machine-washed.
“But for now, the pieces are not for sale. Because it’s hard to weave, and I need people to weave. So, the goal of this collection really is to elevate Filipino sportswear. That’s why it’s called Sports Luxe, like Gucci and Adidas.”
LOVE LETTER TO PINOY ATHLETES
LATER this year, the hardworking designer will mount a monumental show that will showcase the best of Philippine fabrics and Filipino artistry. For now, though, his focus is on the exceptional skills of our athletes. n
Maja, a new mom to her daughter Maria, feels blessed by motherhood. She said her life has been changed for good after giving birth.
Aside from Blanc Set, Maja takes care of herself with daily walks and a protein diet.
“Everyday, dapat may exercise. Malaking tulong din ang pagsasayaw [Everyday, there should be some kind of exercise. Dancing is a big help].”
Editor: Gerard S. Ramos
PINOY POWER ATHLETES Jerrold Mangliwan, Angel Mae Otom, Ricci Rivero; designer Avel Bacudio with First Lady Liza Marcos, Carlos Yulo, Avjah Bacudio and Jeyjette Bacudio; models in sports luxe ensembles
MAJA SALVADOR with Beautéderm founder and CEO Rhea Tan, endorses the brand’s Blanc Set. PHOTO FROM BEAUTÉDERM
Dusit International expands in PHL with signing of Dusit Greenhills Manila
DUSIT’S latest signing in the Philippines will bring Thai-inspired gracious hospitality to the tallest skyscraper in San Juan City—further strengthening Dusit’s presence in its second-largest destination outside Thailand: Pictured, from left, are Edgard O. Ang, Treasurer, Primex Realty Corporation; Karlvin Ernest L. Ang, Executive Vice President, Primex Realty Corporation; Ernesto O. Ang, Chairman and President, Primex Realty Corporation; Gilles Cretallaz, Chief Operating Officer, Dusit International; Siradej Donavanik, Vice President – Development (Global), Dusit International; Evelyn R. Singson, Vice Chairman and President, Dusit Thani Philippines Inc.
DUSIT International, one of Thailand’s leading hotel and property development companies, has signed a hotel management agreement with Primex Realty Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of publicly listed property developer Primex Corporation, to manage Dusit Greenhills Manila in San Juan City, Metro Manila, Philippines.
Set to open at the end of 2026, this sophisticated upper-upscale urban retreat will feature 200 guest rooms and worldclass facilities across the top 10 floors of Primex Tower, a landmark 50-storey mixeduse development in an affluent residential district, just 45 minutes by car from Manila International Airport. The tallest skyscraper in the area, the tower will also house premium retail and office spaces, further enhancing its appeal as a premier destination for business and leisure travelers.
Alongside Dusit’s signature Thai-inspired gracious hospitality, guests will have the opportunity to savor award-winning Thai cuisine at Benjarong, enjoy international favorites at the all-day dining restaurant, take in breathtaking skyline views from the rooftop bar, unwind by the rooftop swimming pool, and stay active at the gym.
The hotel will also feature a ballroom with spectacular city views and fully equipped meeting rooms, providing an ideal setting
for business and social events. For added convenience, guests will enjoy easy access to Greenhills Mall, San Juan’s premier shopping and dining destination.
“We are delighted to partner with Primex Realty Corporation to bring our unique brand of Thai-inspired gracious hospitality to the heart of San Juan City,” said Gilles Cretallaz, Chief Operating Officer, Dusit International. “With its prime location and seamless access to shopping, dining, and business hubs, Dusit Greenhills Manila will be ideally positioned to serve discerning travellers and local residents alike. With nine more properties in the pipeline set to open in the Philippines over the next five years, this signing reinforces the country’s status as Dusit’s second-largest destination outside of Thailand. We remain committed to expanding our presence and delivering exceptional guest experiences across the nation while setting new benchmarks in hospitality.”
Karlvin Ernest L Ang, Executive Vice President and Director of Primex Realty Corporation, said, “We are pleased to collaborate with Dusit International to bring a world-class hotel experience to Primex Tower. Dusit’s reputation for luxury hospitality, combined with our vision for this landmark development, will create an outstanding destination in San Juan. We are confident that this partnership will add significant value to our flagship project, and we look forward to its success.”
Dusit International currently operates 296 properties across 18 countries, including 57 operating under Dusit Hotels and Resorts and 239 luxury villas under Elite Havens. In the Philippines, Dusit’s existing portfolio includes Dusit Thani Manila, Dusit Thani Mactan Cebu Resort, Dusit Thani Residence Davao, dusitD2 Davao, and Dusit Thani Lubi Plantation Resort. With more than 60 new Dusit-branded properties in the pipeline globally, including several key developments in the Philippines, Dusit continues to strengthen its footprint in both established and emerging destinations.
JuanHand Emerges as Top Trusted, Hassle-Free Choice for Filipino Borrowers
more accessible and convenient for Filipinos.
The study also found a shift in consumer borrowing habits: Filipinos now primarily use online loans for daily expenses and bill payments rather than debt consolidation. This evolution signals the growing role of lending apps in supporting financial flexibility and shortterm cash flow management. Six years ago, over 85 percent of JuanHand users borrowed for financial assistance, commonly known as “Pantawid hanggang sweldo.” Now, over 30 percent of borrowers use loans for business-related purposes, such as e-commerce and online selling. This trend
New App to Connect, Support, Promote Filipino Inventors
THE Filipino Inventors Society Multi-Purpose Cooperative (FISMPC), supported by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), continues to spotlight Filipino innovation through its program “INVENTREPINOY.” In a recent episode, the program welcomed Engr. Jimson Uranza, CEO of Lead Core Technology Systems Incorporated, and Raymond Mark Bimbo Doran, President of Carlita R. Duran Herbal Corporation, as featured guests.
During the segment, the guests discussed various opportunities and local inventions that aim to contribute to community development and national progress. A major highlight of the episode was the recent signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between FISMPC and RBS Software Solutions for the development of a mobile application specifically designed for members of the cooperative.
The app will serve as a platform to streamline communication within the cooperative and to showcase member programs, technologies, and products to a broader audience. Key features of the app include a business matching system and an iPOPHL assistant to support intellectual property concerns, especially for grassroots innovators. The digital platform is seen as a critical step in scaling up the commercialization potential of local inventions.
The MOA signing, held a day prior to the airing of the program, marked the formal collaboration between FISMPC and RBS Software, with the participation of Uranza as the new Vice Chair of FISMPC, FISMPC President Raymond Mark Bimbo Doran, and RBS Managing Director Lemuel Aceron. The ceremony was witnessed by Outsource Solution (DOS 1) President and CEO Gary Cayton, along with members of the Board of Directors and Officers of the cooperative.
Several notable officials expressed their support for the program’s aim. DOST Secretary Dr. Renato U. Solidum
Jr. commended INVENTREPINOY for amplifying Filipino innovations and reaffirmed the DOST’s commitment to advancing science and technology. DOST Undersecretary Engr. Sancho A. Maborrang and Atty. Marion Ivy Decena, Director of DOST-TAPI, both extended their full support to the program.
Nelson Santos, President of the Publishers Association of the Philippines, expressed confidence in the collaboration’s power to promote Filipino inventions globally. Popoy Pagayon, Chairman of FISMPC, reinforced the cooperative’s dedication to providing resources and visibility for inventors.
During the program, Uranza also shared information about promising renewable energy technologies he encountered in Malaysia. These technologies are currently being explored for potential partnership with the DOST, with the goal of launching localized applications in the Philippines by June of this year—aiming
Through
Planning an Unforgettable Summer? SM Store Has You Covered
illustrates how Filipinos are leveraging lending as a tool for financial growth— using borrowed funds to generate income rather than merely covering immediate expenses. JuanHand continues to adapt to these evolving needs by offering tailored solutions that empower Filipinos to take control of their finances.
Social media continues to be a powerful driver in financial education and consumer engagement. Facebook remains the most widely used platform among OLP users, while TikTok has emerged as a crucial tool in increasing app downloads and strengthening brand trust. By leveraging these digital platforms strategically, JuanHand enhances financial literacy and raises customer awareness, helping Filipinos make smarter financial choices.
“At JuanHand, we believe that responsible lending goes hand in hand with financial education. By engaging with Filipinos on platforms they trust and use daily, we empower them to make smarter financial choices and build a more secure future,” said Francisco “Coco” Mauricio, CEO and President of JuanHand.
As the demand for reliable and consumer-friendly lending solutions continues to grow, JuanHand remains committed to offering Filipinos a credible and safe borrowing experience. With loans of up to P50,000, affordable rates, and minimal requirements, JuanHand makes borrowing easy— users can apply with just one valid ID and receive approval in as fast as five minutes.
With digital engagement, financial literacy, and competitive loan offerings at the core of its services, JuanHand is set to remain a leading player in the evolving online lending landscape.
Visit www.juanhand.com or follow JuanHand on Facebook and TikTok to stay informed and financially empowered.
Ice cream makers can cut start-up waste by 67% with new Tetra Pak® ingredient
TETRA Pak is helping manufacturers stay ahead of consumer appetite for new premium ice cream flavors with the Tetra Pak® Ingredient Doser 4000 A3. This next-generation solution offers more precise dosing of ice cream inclusions, reducing start-up waste by 67 percent as well as optimising production efficiency. The gourmet ice cream market is projected to grow by $13.96 billion at a 18.32 percent CAGR or compound annual growth rate from 2023 to 2028, indicating that consumers are craving for more than just classic flavours. With the rise of premiumisation and co-branded collaborations, ice cream manufacturers are developing innovative products using adventurous inclusions to stand out in this creative and competitive market. Whether it’s oversized cookie pieces, sticky cherries or powdered spices, the Tetra Pak® Ingredient Doser 4000 A3 is designed to deliver even distribution, so that every scoop delivers the intended flavor experience. This precise ingredient control from hopper to product makes it easier to control costs, and can handle both small, dry ingredients and large, sticky inclusions, up to 32mm in diameter. It also reaches the dosing set point three times faster than previous models – down from 45 to just 15 seconds – eliminating 30 seconds of waste.
The new doser is 3-A certified, meeting the gold standard of hygienic food equipment design. The motor offers 11 percent lower energy consumption than IE3 regulatory standard, and the direct drive of auger and agitator allows manufacturers to alter the capacity of the doser without changeovers, maximizing uptime and cutting costs further. It is also versatile enough for other foods like peanut butter, cream cheese and mayonnaise, giving manufacturers the freedom to explore new possibilities beyond ice cream with this doser. With the Tetra Pak® Ingredient Doser 4000 A3, indulgence has gone digital. A series of sensors and automated algorithmic responses keeps it running at peak performance, which reduces downtime, waste
Tetra Pak® Ingredient Doser 4000 A3 Features and wear while maintaining product quality and an even distribution of inclusions. This digitalisation also provides manufacturers with real-time production insights from day one, enabling them to optimise production lines for a more efficient use of resources. These digital solutions are combined with new and improved operator interfaces and user-friendly design choices, aiming to provide an intuitive human-machine interface and an easy to clean and maintain doser for all operators.
Hemang Dholakia, Processing Director for Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines and Indonesia, Tetra Pak added: “At Tetra Pak, we are committed to providing solutions that help our customers innovate, keeping efficiency and sustainability at the core. The Tetra Pak® Ingredient Doser 4000 A3 is one such new innovation. It facilitates our customers to ride on the wave for premium icecream in an efficient manner. It offers more precise dosing, which helps reduce start-up waste significantly, supporting manufacturers in improving production efficiency. This solution allows brands to experiment with bold ingredients while maintaining consistency, all while being energy-efficient and designed for easy integration into existing production lines.”
Beyond accolades: The benefits of winning an international PR award
IN today’s highly competitive business environment and fickle social media landscape, public relations (PR) play a crucial role in creating an unshakeable reputation, a positive brand image and market positioning for many companies.
While there are numerous stakeholder intelligence platforms that can provide a reliable gauge for one company’s standing, PR-wise, there’s nothing like peer recognition to affirm a company’s enviable reputation. Locally, there is no shortage of PR-award giving bodies but, judging from our past experience, it takes a bit of time and effort in attracting companies to shell out precious marketing money to pay for an entry. Which prods us to ask this question—Is joining an international PR award worth the
CITEM TAKES PHL FOOD TO GLOBAL FRONTIER, LANDS
US$135.59M IN TOTAL SALES AT GULFOOD 2025
MANILA, PHILIPPINES—The FOODPhilippines participation organized by the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) was able to pull in a collective
US$135.587M in total sales for its 20th engagement at Gulfood 2025. Nineteen FOODPhilippines exhibitors brought an impressive showcase of the country’s premium F&B offerings in tune with today’s global call for
healthy, inclusive, and sustainable fare, helping exceed last year’s US$133M income.
Held from February 17 to 21, 2025 at the Dubai World Trade Center in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), the group brought together selections mirroring the strong demand for food that prioritizes healthy nutrition, natural ingredients, and long term viability. These are key factors for meeting the UAE and neighboring regions’ concentrated halal market consumption and regulations.
Considered the world’s largest network for the F&B industry, Gulfood 2025 proved to be a lucrative market for fresh and processed Philippine seafood, fruits, vegetables, grains, and cereal products. These segments made up a large portion of the participation’s revenues from
investment?
For Philippine businesses, gaining recognition on the global stage can offer numerous advantages. These benefits go beyond mere accolades—they have the potential to translate into tangible business growth, enhanced credibility, and most of all, international opportunities.
Global PR recognition can open doors to new business partnerships and international markets. It’s a reliable signal to foreign investors and clients that a Philippine company is capable of executing high-impact campaigns that align with global standards.
One of the most prestigious global PR awards is the IPRA Golden World Awards (GWA) presented annually by the International Public Relations Association (IPRA), the world’s
the event. Garnering the most sales were products offered by PIXCEL Transglobal Food, Inc., SL Agritech Corporation, and Lionheart Farms (Philippines) Corporation.
PIXCEL played well into its knowledge and experience as a seasoned consolidator of trusted Filipino brands to cater to the large OFW community, as well as international consumers in the UAE, Middle East, and Africa who have become quite familiar with Philippine food through the years. The company’s product offerings included a variety of seafood, fruits, and vegetable items.
SL Agritech’s premium rice varieties and cavendish bananas also fit well into the healthy, halal-friendly regular diet across Muslim communities. Adding to the company’s solid
leading organization of senior PR professionals. It recognizes excellence in PR campaigns worldwide, covering various industries, including corporate communications, crisis management, digital and social media, and sustainability initiatives. PR agencies that have managed to bring home an IPRA GWA trophy for their agency or on behalf of their clients will find that the entry fee is definitely worth the investment. In our case at FuentesManila, it’s one of several reasons we have managed to establish partnerships with companies in Singapore, Thailand Vietnam and recently, in Spain. I used to wonder how these companies from all over the world managed to find us, entrust us with projects with only a few questions—until I realized the engagement would almost always come after a publicized IPRA win. Wow, imagine that, top companies and agencies from across the
export market reputation is its sustainable practices aligned with global green initiatives.
As for Lionheart Farms, it continues to strengthen its niche market specialization in premium coconut products as it takes advantage of the expanding market trend for coconutbased, healthy, and natural ingredients. In addition, Lionheart’s innovative and traceable farming solutions have made it a trusted export brand.
Housed at the Philippine Pavilion, they were joined by fellow FOODPhilippines exhibitors, namely: BV&R Commodities Corporation; Global Food Solutions, Inc; Golden Saba (SAGREX Foods Inc); Kim’s; Mama Sita’s; Marikina Food Corporation; Market Reach International Resources; Mega Prime Foods Inc.; Miguelitos
world reaching out to work with a small PR agency from a third world country!
Many global PR players do not have the luxury of time to do a thorough background check when implementing regional or global campaigns. But they know they couldn’t go wrong in partnering with a company that boasts of several citations from a global PR award, under its belt.
On the local front, clients, investors, and other stakeholders would understandably prefer to work with businesses that have a proven track record of success that’s on a par with the world’s best. An international PR award reassures them that the company is not only competent in its industry, but also excels in effective communication and reputation management, according to international communication standards. This increased trust can lead to stronger client relationships
International Corp.; Pacific Synergy Food and Beverage Corp. Philippines; Philippine Cinmic Industrial Corporation; Philippine Grocers Food Exports, Inc.; Q-Phil International Trading; See’s International Food Mfg. Corp.; The Cabalen Group; and YanYan International Phils. Inc.
Exhibitor efforts were complemented by the international and business networking support provided by the Philippine Consulate in Dubai, the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Dubai (PTIC-Dubai), and Department of Agriculture.
Aside from connecting exhibitors and trade buyers and immersing participants in firsthand knowledge and experience at overseas trade fairs, CITEM continues to engage more key industry players to enhance its
and long-term business sustainability.
Aside from enhanced brand credibility and reputation, a global PR recognition gives the winning company an edge over its competitors. It demonstrates that a company’s PR efforts are world-class, making it more attractive to potential clients. It also sets a benchmark for industry peers, positioning the company as a thought leader in effective public relations. But beyond the accolades, a prestigious international PR award is an achievement not only for the company but also for its employees. It validates their hard work and creativity, boosting morale and motivation. Moreover, it helps attract talents who want to work for an organization recognized globally for excellence.
Winning an international public relations award, such as the IPRA Golden World Awards, is more than just a trophy—it is a powerful validation of a Philippine business’s PR excellence. From strengthening brand credibility and market competitiveness to opening doors to global opportunities, the benefits are substantial and truly worth the investment.
The IPRA Golden World Awards for Excellence in PR is now accepting entries for 2025 competition. For more information, please visit https://www. ipra.org
PR Matters is a roundtable column by members of the local chapter of the United Kingdom-based International Public Relations Association (Ipra), the world’s premiere association for senior communications professionals around the world. Edd Fuentes is the founder and CEO of FuentesManila, a Manila-based PR agency founded in 1990. Edd is a Board Member of IPRA Global representing South Asia for the last 7 years.
PR Matters is devoting a special column each month to answer our readers’ questions about public relations. Please send your questions or comments to askipraphil@gmail.com
programs and initiatives for the Philippine food export industry and to elevate Filipino products and talent on the world stage. With the upcoming IFEX Philippines 2025 this May 22 to 24, 2025 at the World Trade Center Metro Manila in Pasay City, CITEM is excited to bring more opportunities for Philippine food manufacturers and distributors to showcase hundreds of their products and services that reflect creativity and innovation using country’s authentic flavors and diverse range to fit global cuisine. Visit ifexconnect.com to join IFEX Philippines or learn more about the country’s food sourcing community, or go to CITEM’s official website at citem.gov. ph for news and updates about export promotion across Philippine industries.
THE author (rightmost) during the IPRA GWA Awards Night in Barcelona
LAST year’s winners: The Golden World Awards 2024 recognized groundbreaking PR campaigns from around the world.
‘Nuvali locals’ Fejes, Fleming feel at home
By Aldrin Quinto
CA disadvantage for the visiting teams?
N ot so much for “Nuvali locals”
Stefanie Fejes and Jasmine Fleming as they completed an unbeaten run to the title in the Rebisco Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Beach Tour 2nd Nuvali Open in the City of Santa Rosa, Laguna. Fejes bagged back-to-back gold medals and Fleming got an upgrade from the silver she bagged last year as they held off New Zealand’s Shaunna Polley and Olivia MacDonald, 21-13, 13-21, 17-15, in the women’s title match on Saturday at the world-class Nuvali Sand Courts.
And while other teams couldn’t hit peak performance as the heat reached mid- to high-30s, the champions said it was no problem at all.
“N o! We’ve been surviving! It was beautiful! It was perfect out there,” Fejes said with a wide smile.
“It’s the best!”
Fleming, a quarterfinalist in the 2024 Asian Senior Beach Volleyball Championships also in Nuvali, noted they’ve adjusted well to the playing conditions.
“I m ean, we’re locals in Nuvali, we’ve been here four, five times now,” Fleming said.
We love it,” the Aussie duo said in unison.
“It is a bit hot but the crowd and the energy, that makes up for it,” Fejes said.
Polley and MacDonald sustained the solid form they showed in preventing an all-Aussie final—they eliminated Lizzie Alchin and Georgia Johnson in straight sets—but Fleming and Fejes wound up on top after the 49-minute tug of war.
The Kiwis raced to a 15-5 lead in the second, leaving the Aussies stunned. Fleming and Fejes, who scored none from attacks in the second after getting five in the opener, took an 11-6 lead in the third and survived another mini run by the MacDonald and Polley to secure the gold.
“It’s always tough in the first set when you do win so many defensive points and switching that into a sideout,” Fleming said of Polley and Macdonald.
“These girls are amazing at serving and defense as well so you know, they have the pressure and we need to move a little bit because we didn’t do a lot of siding out in the first, and credit to
Happy together! The University of Santo
sends
them they played amazing.” Alchin and Johnson defeated Japan’s Asami Shiba and Reika Murakami, 21-17, 17-21, 11-15, in the battle for bronze.
Burnett-Ryan leads Aussie podium sweep AUSTRALIA gained a big boost well ahead of its hosting of the 2025 World Beach Volleyball Championships, sweeping the men’s podium.
Paul Burnett and Luke Ryan defeated Ben Hood and Oliver Merritt for the gold medal, 21-13, 21-18, on Saturday.
Australia’s D’artagnan Potts and Jack Pearse, ther reigning Asian Seniors champions, claimed the bronze with a 20-22, 21-19, 20-18 victory over Iran’s Amerali Ghalehnovi and Bahman Salemiinjehboroun in the tournament organized by Philippine National Volleyball Federation president Ramon “Tats” Suzara, who is also the AVC chief.
We’re really proud of this and really happy because it’s very important for us for the World Championships at the end of the year to do well in these Asian Tour events,” Burnett said.
Adelaide is hosting the 2025 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships from November 14 to 23, following the Philippines’ hosting of the 2025 FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship from September 12 to 28. “ We couldn’t be more proud for everyone to go one, two and three on the podium,” Burnett added. The champions bagged $2500, the runners-up $2000 and the third placers $1500.
There’s more to it obviously than the winner’s cheque.
We have a really competitive environment in training back home and so we always want to beat each other, really wanting to win. I think most teams went into that really wanting to come out on top.”
The 26-year-old Burnett, a Commonwealth Games gold medalist, and 20-year-old Ryan, a grant recipient from the Sport Australia Hall of Fame Scholarship and Mentoring program, looked in danger of dropping the second set after a dominating opener.
From 0-5 down, Burnett and Ryan fought to tie it at 12, took the lead for the first time at 15-14, and held on for a straight-sets win, the only two-setter in the medal round on a scorching afternoon.
We were down quite a bit in the second so I thought it might be getting close but we managed to bring it back and get it done in two, which I’m very happy about.”
(UST)
Angels eager to clinch first All-Filipino title
TWO years after squandering a 1-0 series lead and falling short in the Finals, the Petro Gazz Angels are back on the Premier Volleyball League’s grandest stage—the All-Filipino Conference Finals—this time, better, bolder and more determined to finish what they’ve started.
No longer just a dark horse, Petro Gazz has emerged as a battle-hardened contender with a mission: to capture its first-ever All-Filipino crown and seal a dream that has eluded them for years, despite two championships in the Reinforced Conference.
said veteran setter Chie Saet, a key figure in the Angels’ resurgence. “We really worked hard for this. We sacrificed a lot. That’s why now, we’ll find a way—we’re going to finish what we started.”
Few players are more fired up than Myla Pablo, who has weathered challenges to return to peak form—her clutch performance helped Petro Gazz overcome powerhouse squads Creamline and Choco Mucho, punching a golden ticket back to the Finals.
But Pablo is quick to share the spotlight, crediting Brooke Van Sickle for her tireless effort as well as the team’s deep bench and consistent setters.
“This Finals is for Brooke,” Pablo said. “Her contribution has been incredible. Even during team-building, we already said—this is for her. All of us stepped up, even the substitutes.” Van Sickle, who has become a cornerstone of the squad, likens their Finals run to a dream realized.
We’re extremely happy because every team dreams of becoming a champion,”
coach, such was the former’s answer.
A few years later, with Scott now playing for Larry Brown’s Indiana Pacers’ he was asked on more than one occasion what he thought of certain match-ups or even offensive and defensive schemes.
“I just thought that it was a veteran coach asking a veteran player what his ideas were,” recalled Scott. “But Larry said that he would observe me dissecting the game from the bench and telling teammates to do this and do that.”
“Both Pat and Larry said that if I ever want to lead a team to a championship, we must play great defense. So I learned a lot from them and also playing with [Lakers teammate] Michael Cooper who taught me a lot of things in terms of positioning, denial, and anticipating things.”
Scott believes that he also soaked in a lot of inspiration from Johnson and his other vocal teammates.
“I guess, it shows I care for the game, giving my all, and of course, winning. But there was, is, so much to learn.”
Even his one year playing in Greece was an eye opener.
“I was seeing for myself the European style of play that
“It’s really different when it’s the AllFilipino,” Pablo said. “In the Reinforced Conference, the focus is on the import, but here, everyone contributes and works together as a team.”
S“It feels very surreal,” said the Fiipino-American standout. “It’s been a long, grueling conference, and to be here now is amazing. I wouldn’t want to do this with any other team.”
TREAKING Nueva Ecija subdued Davao Occidental, 74-60, on Saturday to grab the solo lead in the Manny Pacquiao presents 1xBetMaharlika Pilipinas Basketball League 2025 Season at the Pola Gymnasium in Oriental Mindoro. Jaycee Marcelino, Christian Manaytay and John Bryon Villarias provided the sustaining firepower as the Rice Vanguards posted their sixth straight win and moved ahead of the Rizal Xentromall Golden Coolers (5-0) in the round-robin elimination phase of the 30-team tournament. The Basilan Viva Portmasters, meanwhile, trounced the Bulacan Kuyas, 102-80, in the opener and the Mindoro Tamaraws shutout Parañaque in the last four minutes to squeeze out a 68-58 victory in the nightcap. Flashing the form that made him the 2022 MVP, Marcelino pumped in eight points in the last quarter, Manaytay contributed five and Villarias added four for Nueva Ecija, which kept its poise when
is now prevalent everywhere,” Byron recalled. “In the 1990s, you already had European players in the NBA such as [his Lakers teammate] Vlade Divac and Toni Kukoc, but they were made to play a NBA style. Now it’s just different. You can say the NBA adopted a more Euro-style of game.”
“In G reece, we were running that style every day; every practice.”
“I wanted to stay in the game after I retired, and the only way I could do that at a high level was to coach. I was receiving an education from another point of view. I finally understood what my coaches were doing, why they made these calls and decisions.”
The transition from player to coach wasn’t easy because he was playing with peers who were still in the game. Fortunately, he got his feet wet as an assistant to then Sacramento Kings head coach Rick Adelman.
and the
and Penelope
In the boys’ side, standouts
Jesus Yambao, Zoji Edoc, Asher Abad, Blake Sy, Halo Pangilinan, Harvey Hernandez and Kingston Ching.
is now an official counting event for the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR).
JASMINE FLEMING and Stefanie Fejes complete an unbeaten run to the Second Nuvali Open title. ROY DOMINGO
JUNIOR World qualifier Shinichi Suzuki is among the players to watch in the JPGT.
PETRO GAZZ begins the title showdown with 10-time PVL champion Creamline on Tuesday.
