by the slowdown of global trade to GDP, according to ANZ Research.
In its latest economic brief, ANZ Research said the collective net FDI into India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam dropped to -0.1 percent of GDP in 2024, the weakest since 2012.
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) recently reported that investments made by foreign investors amounted to $731 million in January 2025, lower by 20 percent from the $914 million recorded in January 2024. (See: https://businessmirror. com.ph/2025/04/12/investorjitters-push-down-fdi-net-inflows-in-january/).
“This decline is due to a broader downtrend in the region’s inward FDI cycle, which has been brewing for a while and is not due to geopolitical factors alone,” ANZ Research said. “We believe the stagnation in global trade-to-GDP is at the heart of the FDI slowdown.” ANZ Research said for the “net contributor” economies such as Thailand, South Korea and Taiwan, net FDI was -1.6 percent of GDP in 2024, 30 basis points below the long-term average.
The “net recipient” economies—
THE weaker impact of United States tariffs on the Philippines is keeping the peso strong, according to Singapore-based Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC). In its latest brief, SMBC said the performance of Asian currencies have been mixed but there are currencies such as the Philippine peso and the Malaysian Ringgit that have appreciated. “MYR and PHP were up. Foreign inflow to stock markets supported MYR. PHP remained strong as the impact of tariffs
By Reine Juvierre S. Alberto
WHILE the issuance of government-guaranteed Retail Treasury Bonds (RTBs) and “defense bonds” will gain support, careful timing must be considered so as not to choke the debt market, according to an investment banker.
Following the Bureau of the Treasury’s (BTr) recent Fixed-Rate Treasury Note (FXTN) offering, BDO Capital and Investment Corp. President Eduardo Francisco told reporters that
the government could still float both RTBs and defense bonds this year to fulfill its financing needs.
Francisco said the bonds could be both benchmark-sized, with each issuance absorbing at least P300 billion from the debt market.
However, the investment banker cautioned that the debt papers must not be issued simultaneously, which would choke the market.
“Let’s not do it at the same time with the RTBs, because we’ll run out of money. There should be timing. Those
are the things we’re coordinating,” Francisco said. BDO Capital is usually tapped by the Treasury to serve as the Joint Issue Manager for the government’s bond issuances.
As such, the bonds’ issuance could be timed during the seasonal flow of remittances into the country.
The RTBs could be issued in the next four months, or in August, when remittances flow into the country at the start of the school year to pay for students’ tuition fees, Francisco said. RTBs allow ordinary Filipinos to invest
India, Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia—saw total net FDI drop to 0.7 percent of GDP in 2024 versus the longterm average of 1.5 percent.
In order to prevent further FDI decline, ANZ Research said Asian economies must create ecosystems that help attract FDI. Policies that support research, intellectual property, labor upskilling, and export infrastructure are needed.
It also said that while the production of “new age” goods is expected to continue, traditional low- and medium-tech goods are not expected to see a production surge.
“According to our model, the variables that influence net FDI flows significantly included product specialization, global export share and the share of services exports in GDP,” the think tank said.
Earlier, state-owned think tank, Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), said the country must improve its logistics and customs efficiency, strengthen its export base, and upskill its workforce if it wants to
on the Philippines’ economy and markets is expected to be smaller than its Asian peers,” SMBC said.
On Monday, data from the Bankers Association of the Philippines (BAP) showed the peso closed at P56.42 to the US dollar, slightly weaker than Friday. Monday’s close was the weakest since last Thursday when the peso closed at P56.555 to the US dollar. Last Friday, the Philippine peso closed at P56.265 to the US dollar, the strongest level of the peso since October 2024 when
THE national government’s infrastructure spending accelerated to P182.9 billion as of the end of February, driven by project completions, faster payments and direct funding for transport and flood control projects.
Latest data from the DBM showed infrastructure disbursements amounted to P182.9 billion from January to February 2025. This is higher by 19.3 percent from the P153.4 billion spent during the same period in 2024. Infrastructure disbursements include infrastructure components of subsidy and equity to staterun corporations and transfers to local government units. Infrastructure and capital outlays also expanded by 23.1 percent year-on-year to P148.3 billion from P120.5 billion.
The strong spending was due to the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) completion of carryover projects, payments for emergency and disaster-related civil works, settlement of Right-of-Way issues, increased contractor billings and expedited processing of accounts.
Additionally, direct payments by development partners for processing billings of ongoing foreign-assisted projects, such as the North-South Commuter Extension Project, South Commuter Railway Project, Davao Public Transport Modernization Project and Pasig-Marikina River Channel Improvement Project, helped sustain the robust infrastructure and capital expenditure performance.
Overall govt spending
SPENDING of the national government grew by 13.8 percent to P822 billion as of the end of February 2025 from P722.5 billion a year ago. The DBM said higher infrastructure and other capital outlays, allotment to LGUs, maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) and interest payments fueled government spending during the two-month period.
Interest payments jumped by 25.3 percent year-on-year to P152.9 billion from P122 billion
the peso closed at P56.178 to the greenback.
Despite the relative weakness in the peso, it can be noted that it has been eight days that the peso stayed in the P56 to the dollar level.
“This week, Asian currencies are likely to remain mixed while being affected by external factors. Regarding the tariff negotiations, more progress is expected as long as the US Treasury Secretary, who is considered less hawkish, continues to lead the discussions and manage the policy, giving more room for Asian currencies to appreciate gradually against USD,” SMBC said.
Earlier, a top official of the Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (Philexport) said the Philippines should channel its efforts to solving red tape, corruption and market access issues rather than worrying over the concessions it can offer to the United States amid the recent implementation of additional tariffs by Washington.
Philexport President Sergio R. Ortiz-Luis Jr. said local exporters should work on improving market access to “the market that we are losing…China.”
Preliminary data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that Philippine merchandise exports to the People’s Republic of China amounted to $9.44 billion while the country’s exports to Hong Kong reached $9.6 billion in 2024.
DA launching ₧20 rice plan in Kadiwa centers on May 2
By Ada Pelonia @adapelonia
THEDepartment of Agriculture (DA) will launch the P20 per kilo rice program in Kadiwa centers on May 2.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu
Laurel Jr. announced on Monday that the rice sold in Kadiwa centers would only be available to vulnerable sectors, particularly indigents, senior citizens, solo parents, and persons with disabilities (PWDs) who can purchase up to 30 kilos per month.
For the pilot run, however, participating local government units (LGUs) that share in the subsidy for the project could sell the P20 per kilo rice option to their respective constituents regardless of vulnerability status.
Some of these LGUs include San Juan City in Metro Manila, San Jose del Monte in Bulacan, Camarines Sur, and Mati City in Davao Oriental.
“The new rice option aligns with the ‘Bente Bigas Mo’ pilot program in the Visayas and in the 10 LGUs that have joined the initiative, where NFA rice is sold at P33 per kilo due to the na-
tional food security emergency,” Laurel said in a statement.
The DA has already secured clearance from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to push through with the sale of the P20-per-kilo subsidized rice.
Meanwhile, all of the rice sold under this program would be procured by Food Terminal Inc. (FTI) from the National Food Authority (NFA).
The initiative is expected to free up NFA warehouse space, thus allowing the grains agency to procure more rice from local farmers during the summer harvest.
As of April 24, NFA Administrator Larry Lacson noted that out of the 10.1 million sacks of palay in storage, roughly 2.9 million were acquired this year.
This brings the total buffer stock to the equivalent of 7.56 million 50-kilo
bags of rice, which is enough to feed Filipinos for 10 days.
“My directive to our teams on the ground is to purchase as much palay as possible, at P18 to P24 per kilo, to help boost farmers’ incomes,” Lacson said. According to the DA chief, the P20 rice initiative had been under consideration since June last year. However, its implementation was initially deemed “impractical” due to elevated global rice prices and low stock levels of the grains agency.
“With world market prices now averaging just $300 per metric ton—down from a high of over $700—and with NFA buffer stocks at their strongest in years, we felt the conditions were finally
right to launch,” he said. Laurel stressed that the “Bente Bigas Mo” initiative would not only help ease the financial burden on Filipino families but also ensure that rice farmers receive fair compensation for their harvests. He also noted the agency’s commitment to refining the program over time, aiming to reduce government subsidy requirements and redirect savings toward other agricultural and economic development projects. Initially intended to run until December, the DA will expand the program nationwide and ensure its sustainability through the end of the administration in 2028.
Ramming suspect in…
Carney said. “And to them and to the many others who were injured, to the Filipino Canadian community, and to everyone in Vancouver, I would like to offer my deepest condolences.”
Carney joined British Columbia Premier David Eby and community leaders Sunday evening in Vancouver.
“In this incredibly difficult moment, we will comfort the grieving, care for one another, and united in common purpose,” Carney posted in French and English on X along with a photo of him lighting a candle at a makeshift memorial near the scene of the attack.
The tragedy was reminiscent of an attack in 2018, when a man used a van to kill 10 pedestrians in Toronto.
Witnesses leaped out of the way CARAYN NULADA said that she pulled her granddaughter and grandson off the street and used her body to shield them from the SUV. She said that her daughter suffered a narrow escape.
“The car hit her arm and she fell down, but she got up, looking for us, because she is scared,” said Nulada, who described children screaming, and pale-faced victims lying on the ground or wedged under vehicles.
“I saw people running and my daughter was shaking,” Nulada said.
Nulada was in Vancouver General Hospital’s emergency room Sunday morning, trying to find news about her brother, who was run down in the attack and suffered multiple broken bones.
Doctors identified him by presenting the family with his wedding ring in a pill bottle and said that he was stable, but would be facing surgery.
James Cruzat, a Vancouver business owner, was at the celebration and heard a car rev its engine and then “a loud noise, like a loud bang” that he initially thought might be a gunshot.
“We saw people on the road crying, others were like running, shouting, or even screaming, asking for help. So we tried to go there just to check what was really actually happening until we found some bodies on the ground. Others were lifeless, others like, you know, injured,” Cruzat said.
Vincent Reynon, 17, was leaving the festival when he saw police rushing in. People were crying and he saw scattered bodies.
“It was like something straight out of a horror movie or a nightmare,” he said.
Adonis Quita said when he saw the SUV ramming through the crowd, his first reaction was
“since we’re financially and fiscally challenged, as long as possible, so that we can monetize.”
To avoid investors cannibalizing each other, the government should offer a mix of three- and five-year tenors, he added.
However, the timing still depends on the DND, as there are issues that need to be resolved first, such as budget allocation for debt servicing.
“If they’re going to guarantee that, there should be a budget allocation. If there’s no budget allocation, they can’t go out,” Francisco said.
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro has expressed interest in tapping the capital markets by issuing bonds as an alternative fundraising source, as the national budget remains limited to finance the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) Modernization Program. The AFP Modernization Program was allotted a budget of P35 billion in 2025, while P40 billion remains in the unprogrammed appropriations as these do not have funding sources yet, based on the 2025 General Appropriations Act. Under the DND’s acquisition plan “Re-Horizon 3,” the government aims to procure new weapons and equipment amounting to P2 trillion over the next 10 years to shore up the country’s defenses.
to drag his 9-year-old son out of the area. The boy kept saying
“I’m scared, I’m scared,” Quita recalled. Later they prayed together.
His son had just relocated to Vancouver from the Philippines with his mother to reunite with Quita, who has lived here since 2024. Quita said he worries the child will struggle to adjust to life in Canada after witnessing the horrific event.
Vancouver Mayor Kenneth Sim said the city had “suffered its darkest day.”
“I know many of us are fearful and feel uneasy,” said the mayor. “I know it’s hard to feel this way right now, but Vancouver is still a safe city.”
Honoring a national hero
VANCOUVER had more than 38,600 residents of Filipino heritage in 2021, representing 5.9 percent of the city’s total population, according to Statistics Canada, the agency that conducts the national census.
Lapu Lapu Day celebrates Datu Lapu-Lapu, an Indigenous chieftain who stood up to Spanish explorers who came to the Philippines in the 16th century. The organizers of the Vancouver event, which was in its second year, said he “represents the soul of native resistance, a powerful force that helped shape the Filipino identity in the face of colonization.”
Eby said the province won’t let the tragedy define the celebration. He urged people to channel their rage into helping those affected.
“I don’t think there is a British Columbian that hasn’t been touched in some way by the Filipino community,” he said. “You can’t go to a place that delivers and not meet a member of that community in the long-term care home or hospitals, childcare or schools. This is a community that gives and gives and yesterday was a celebration of their culture.”
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. issued a statement expressing sympathy with the victims and their families.
“The Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver is working with Canadian authorities to ensure that the incident will be thoroughly investigated, and that the victims and their families are supported and consoled,” he said.
The Philippine government is coordinating with local police to gather more details about victims and the investigation, while the Vancouver consulate has established a hotline for families, presidential palace press officer Claire Castro told reporters in Manila on Monday.
Proceeds from the defense bonds are eyed to acquire new equipment and weapons, such as missile systems, fighter jets, submarines and warships.
Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto, for his part, said his approval to issue the defense bonds will depend on how much is needed by the Department of National Defense (DND). (See: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2025/04/24/dofdnd-to-tackle-defense-bonds/).
The ball is now in the court of the Treasury and the Department of Finance (DOF), depending on their priorities, Francisco said.
“The market, I think, is deep and we can do it. And I really think it will be well-received if and when we launch,” Francisco added.
The Marcos administration’s gross borrowings amounted to P552.692 billion as of the end of February 2025, about one-fifth of the government’s P2.545 trillion full-year borrowing program. The government’s outstanding debt, meanwhile, reached a new high of P16.632 trillion. of its 1,022 respondents considered Safety in planning outbound trips. This was followed by Cuisine (23 percent), Accommodation (21 percent), Attractions (14 percent), and Transport (11 percent). Those who have already booked or plan to travel outside China for the rest of 2025 (68 percent=764), their top choices are: Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Australia, Thailand, France, Maldives, with Iceland and Malaysia tied at 10th place. Social media drives travel CHINESE tourists are inspired to travel by Chinese social media platforms (50 percent, mainly Xiaohongshu, Douyin, WeChat, Weibo); friends/family/acquaintances (39 percent); Chinese online travel agencies (30 percent-CTrip, Qunar, Meituan, Fliggy, Tongcheng); TV shows/movies/documentaries (23 percent); interest clubs (20 percent); etc. Dragon Trail International is a marketing solutions company specializing in Chinese travel data. Of its survey respondents, 39 percent were aged 25-34 years old, 24 percent were 35-44, 22 percent were 18-24, and 14 percent were 45-65. In the first quarter of the year, tourists from China plunged by some 34 percent to 72,665 from the same period in 2024, according to data from the Department of Tourism (DOT). From being a consistent placer among the Philippines’s top five market sources, the first quarter saw Chinese tourists falling to sixth place. In contrast, Filipinos traveling to China reached 41,309 in January to March this year, 16-percent more than the same period last year, as per DOT data. (See, “Vietnam, Thailand grow in popularity among Pinoy travelers in Q1,” in the BusinessMirror, April 20, 2025.).
Legislator hits VP’s silence on use of confidential funds
By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie
ALEADER of the House of Representatives on Monday warned Vice President Sara Duterte that her continued silence on how she spent her confidential funds will worsen her situation as the impeachment trial approaches.
Vice President Sara Duterte’s continued silence regarding the confidential funds controversy drew criticism from House Assistant Majority Leader Jefferson Khonghun, as another lawmaker also slammed her for negative campaigning in Manila.
“From the very beginning, we have seen that when VP Duterte is asked about her use of confidential funds, she evades, changes the topic, or remains silent. And until now, that’s still what she’s doing,” said Khonghun, who also chairs the House Special Committee on Bases Conversion.
“It seems she has chosen to stay silent because she knows it will be difficult for her to explain. The problem is, the more she stays silent, the deeper she gets buried in the issue,” Khonghun, who represents Zambales, added.
He pointed out that Duterte’s refusal to provide a clear accounting of the funds would not help her once the impeachment proceedings reach the Senate.
He emphasized that the public deserves straightforward answers—not scripted narratives or emotional appeals.
Vice President Duterte has faced intense scrutiny after it was revealed that she spent P125 million out of P612.5 million in confidential funds in just 11 days in December 2022, as detailed in the Articles of Impeachment filed against her.
Despite repeated calls from lawmakers and the public for an explanation, Khonghun noted that Duterte has either dismissed the issue or avoided directly addressing the allegations, further fueling suspicion of wrongdoing.
He added that Duterte’s silence is not a sign of strength but rather a failure to uphold her accountability to the people.
No amount
A LAWMAKER publicly condemned Duterte’s negative campaigning activities in Manila.
Amid a barrage of political attacks from Duterte, House
Committee on Metro Manila Development Chairman Rolando Valeriano said no amount of personal insult can erase the real, tangible service he has delivered to the people of Tondo and Manila.
“Even if Sara and Isko [Manila Mayoral candidate Francisco Domagoso] insult me daily—about my neck, my stomach—it cannot erase the sincere and genuine service I have delivered to the Second District of Manila,” Valeriano said. Valeriano asserted that he would not engage in the personal attacks leveled against him. “We, people of Tondo, are good and wellmannered. We do not engage in rudeness with the rude,” he stated.
As a lifelong Tondo resident, Valeriano emphasized that loyalty in Tondo is rooted in principle, not expediency. “We, people of Tondo, are also brave. We do not side with or bow down to any evil force for ambition. Instead, we fight for what is right and true,” he said.
The Manila lawmaker, who also chairs the House Committee on Metro Manila Development, stressed that he would not stoop to the level of those who resort to personal attacks.
Instead of engaging in political mudslinging, Valeriano highlighted the achievements of Asenso Manileño, the local party he chairs, which directly benefit Manileños. “There are many positive aspects that we, in Asenso Manileño, choose to focus on, which matter in Manileños’ daily lives,” he said.
He stressed that residents prioritize results that reflect responsible use of taxpayer funds. “The voters want to see results from the taxes they pay. So, we delivered health facilities, police precincts, financial aid, and scholarships,” he said.
“Tangible results are what voters here look for.”
Meanwhile, Manila’s Third District Rep. Joel Chua, chairman of the House Committee on Good Government, has chosen to focus on his re-election campaign rather than address Duterte’s derogatory remark, in which she threatened to shove an apple down his throat until he dies.
Valeriano and Chua, running for re-election in Manila’s Second and Third Districts under Mayor Honey Lacuna’s party, face opposition from former mayor Domagoso, who was endorsed by Vice President Duterte for his slate and her “DUTER10” senatorial lineup.
DOTr to airlines: Take good care of passengers’ passports always
THE Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Monday directed all airlines to ensure that their personnel do not deliberately tamper with passengers’ passports.
According to Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon, the agency is currently investigating the “punit passport” incident where a senior citizen was denied boarding due to a minor tear in his passport. Apparently replying to speculations that the damage to the passport was caused deliberately, Dizon said if this were so, “Kung may makita man tayong ganung insidente, kung may gumagawa ng ganitong kalokohan, sorry na lang [If we see such a case, if someone is perpetrating this misdeed, you’ll be sorry]. Sanctions will be imposed on both the airlines and their personnel,” he said.
The controversy began when a certain Diana Natividad
Patrols assert RP claim on Pag-asa Island cays
By Rex Anthony Naval
THE National Task Force West Philippine Sea (NTF WPS) on Sunday announced that it has deployed an inter-agency patrol to assert the country’s sovereignty over Pag-asa Island, its three cays and its adjacent waters.
“An inter-agency maritime operation [Iamo] at Pag-asa Cay 1, Cay 2, and Cay 3 and its surrounding waters was completed this morning, April 27. This coordinated ef -
fort involved the Navy [PN], Coast Guard [PCG], and National PoliceMaritime Group [PNP-Margroup],” it added. This was done after Chinese
media reports claimed that China has taken possession of one of the cays over the weekend.
See related story in A12, “DFA weighs move after Sandy Cay ‘takeover’”
This action, NTF WPS said, reinforced Philippine authorities’ routine and lawful exercise of maritime domain awareness and jurisdiction over the WPS.
The Iamo consisted of four composite teams aboard rubber boats which were deployed to the cays.
“Teams One and Two reached Cay-1, Team Three arrived at Cay2, and Team Four landed at Cay-3. During the operation, the teams observed the illegal presence of
Local absentee voting starts
By Justine Xyrah Garcia
MORE than 57,000 local absentee voters are set to cast their ballots automatically for the first time during the Local Absentee Voting (LAV) period from April 28 to 30, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said.
Absentee voters include members of the Armed Forces (AFP), the National Police (PNP), and media practitioners assigned to work on election day.
In a press briefing on Monday morning, Comelec Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia said this year’s LAV process eliminates the need for voters to manually write the names of 12 senators and one party-list group on their respective ballot.
“We pushed for this so the process moves faster. When voting takes too long, suspicions arise... It’s always better when it’s fast— no terrorism, no violence, no snatching of ballots,” Garcia said
Enough onions ’til November–BPI
Tshared on social media that her 71-year-old father was prevented from boarding a Cebu Pacific flight to Bali, Indonesia, on April 15.
Airline staff cited a small tear on his passport as the reason for denial, claiming that Indonesian immigration would reject the document. Natividad contested this, alleging that the damage occurred while the passport was in the airline’s custody.
According to the DOTr, Indonesian immigration authorities in Denpasar, Bali “confirmed they deemed the passport submitted by Cebu Pacific last week as damaged and would not have accepted it upon the passenger’s arrival.”
After conducting its internal investigation, Cebu Pacific noted that “Bali is really a strict station” and is inclined to bar travelers with even minor problems in
See “DOTr,” A4
in Filipino.
Unlike regular voters, local absentee voters will not personally cast their ballots through the automated counting machines in their assigned areas. Their accomplished ballots will instead be placed in sealed envelopes, which will be secured until May 12.
That evening, the ballots will be simultaneously opened and fed into machines at the Comelec main office.
Based on Comelec data, a total of 57,689 applications for local absentee voting were approved.
Of this number, 1,005 are media practitioners, 29,030 are AFP members, and 23,448 are policemen.
Garcia said the poll body expects an 80 percent voter turnout for LAV this year, consistent with the turnout recorded during the 2022 elections.
He also stressed the significance of LAV votes in tight races.
“There was a time—around 2007 or 2010—when the gap between the 12th and 13th Senate candidates was only about 10,000 votes. That’s how critical these 57,000 votes are. They can determine the 12th Senate seat... It’s even more crucial for the party-list race, where every single vote counts toward reaching the threshold,” Garcia explained.
Marbil leads LAV for PNP members
T HE National Police chief, Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil, on Monday cast his ballot at the local absentee voting (LAV) for police officers for the 2025 National and Local Elections.
This took place at the PNP Multi-Purpose Center in Camp Rafael T. Crame, Quezon City.
“We are not just enforcers of democracy—we are part of it.Voting is not only our right; it is our duty, and one way we show our love for our country,” Marbil said in a statement.
China Coast Guard 5102, approximately 1,000 yards east of Cay-2 as well as seven Chinese Maritime Militia vessels near Cay-2 and Cay3,” NTF WPS said. It added that this operation underscores the unwavering dedication and commitment of the Philippine Government to uphold the country’s sovereignty, sovereign rights and jur isdiction in the WPS.
“Moreover, this routine interagency operation reinforces the Philippines’ commitment to safeguard its maritime domain, adhering to international law, and ensuring peace and stability in the region,” the body concluded.
Out of the some 33,000 PNP personnel nationwide who signified their intent to avail of the LAV, 1,471 Crame-based police officers and personnel registered to exercise their right to vote, even as they prepare for deployment to election duties around the country. Marbil also assured the public of the PNP’s full readiness to secure the coming polls, stressing that personnel, mobility assets, and logistical resources are already in place. However, he reminded everyone to remain vigilant and professional amid potential threats that could undermine the credibility and safety of the elections.
LAV, which will continue until April 30, allows police officers, soldiers, media workers, and other frontline government workers who are assigned on election day to vote ahead of time, ensuring their participation in the democratic process. The PNP reaffirms its commitment to safeguarding the people’s will and upholding democracy as the nation moves closer to election day. With Rex Anthony Naval
Killing, burning of dog in Bulacan riles Poe; animal welfare bill pushed
Butch Fernandez @butchfBM
By Ada Pelonia @adapelonia
HE country’s onion stocks reached over 100,000 metric tons (MT), which could last until November, data from the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) show.
Figures from the BPI indicate that the nationwide red onion inventory as of April 18 stood at 100,908 MT, with 100,329 MT coming from local production following peak harvest. These stocks would be replenished by early October, based on the BPI estimates.
The BPI, an agency attached to the Department of Agriculture (DA), expects that around 27,285 MT of red onions will be harvested this month, which would bring the total stocks to 128,279 MT.
The total expected red onion supplies are expected to last for 219 days, based on the assumed per capita consumption of 1.872 kilo per year, or until November 23.
Meanwhile, the country’s yellow onion inventory was estimated at 20,811 MT. Of which, 20,805 MT were locally produced while 5.61 MT came from imported stocks.
The Philippines is expected to produce 6,000 MT of yellow onions by end-April, with the additional supply lasting for 183 days or until October 18.
Earlier, the DA authorized the importation of 4,000 MT of red and yellow onions as stocks thinned out, raising a caveat that these would only plug the projected shortfall in domestic supply in February.
See “Onion,” A4
SEN . Grace Poe has prodded higher authorities to go after the culprits seen “beating and burning” a dog in Bulacan, in the latest case of animal cruelty that she has been exposing in her push for her bill amending the Animal Welfare Act.
In a statement, Poe deplored the “horrific cruelty suffered by a dog beaten to death and then burned in Bulacan” and stressed that the culprit “must not go unpunished.”
“We laud the quick action of the neighbor who reported the incident and the barangay officials and the
TBy Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla
HE government expects to generate more revenue with the implementation of the Digital Nomad Visas (DNV), Malacañan said.
However, Palace Press Office Claire Castro said they are wary of the potential impact of the DNV on the country’s security from the expected influx of foreign tourists in the country.
In a press briefing last Monday, she said government planners are now determining how much the new policy will contribute to the country’s economy from the spending of DNV holders.
police who pursued the case,” she noted, adding, “We hope more and more of our kababayans will exercise the same vigilance in acting promptly on neglect and abuses against animals.”
The senator vowed to “continue to push for our bill to strengthen the existing Animal Welfare Act, so that pet owners will act responsibly.”
A “fortified law,” she said, “will not make abusers even think of lifting a finger on animals because they know the consequences.
“It is our enduring hope that people will treat compassionately not just their fellow human beings, but animals as well.
we will definitely have more income and it will definitely also benefit the country and also the Filipino people,” Castro said in Filipino. The Department of Tourism (DOT) reported some 1.53 million foreign tourists entered the country from January to March. Most of the said tourists came from South Korea, United States, Japan, Australia, and Canada. She said the government will also improve ports and airports in anticipation of the surge of arriving foreign tourists.
Earlier, Poe expressed hope that when the 19th Senate resumes session in June, it can include her bill updating the Animal Welfare Act in its agenda of measures to be rushed before the 19th Congress bows out. The proposed amendatory measure provides for stronger sanctions against those who treat animals with cruelty, as well as irresponsible pet owners. At the same time, it provides for measures to stem the rising number of strays in the country—last estimated at over 10 million dogs and cats—as part of efforts to curb the alarming incidence of rabies. Poe’s grandfather, the late actor Fernando Poe Sr., had died of rabies.
Last week, President Marcos signed Executive Order 86 series of 2025 authorizing the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) issue DNVs to help bring in more tourists. To qualify for a DNV, an applicant must Govt expects more revenue from DNVs be a non-immigrant foreigner who would temporarily stay in the country and work remotely using digital technologies and have an employer abroad. Castro said the government will impose stringent measures to prevent the DNVs from being abused similar to the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (Pogo).
“Definitely, if we will have more tourists,
“We will have monitoring activities. Unlike with the Pogos before, we will secure, definitely, the processes regarding this. There will always be security features in order to protect our country from any scammers or any violations of the law,” she said. President Marcos issued Executive Order 74 last November, which banned Pogo and other internet gaming in
A4
Tuesday, April 29, 2025
₧20/kilo rice for everyone–Malacañan
By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla
LOCAL governments can sell the P20 per kilo rice of the Department of Agriculture (DA) even to non-marginalized members of society.
DA issued the clarification after the agency earlier announced it will only sell rice under its P20 Rice Project to the vulnerable sectors.
Kita (Kadiwa) centers of DA; and partner local governments.
In case it will be sold by local governments, they will be required to shoulder half of the P13, which is needed to bring down the price of P33 NFA rice to P20. The other half will be defrayed by DA.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the participating local governments will come out with their guidelines to implement the selling of the cheaper NFA rice.
to the marginalized.
“Basically, the P29 will become P20 in the Kadiwa stores selling this...and only for vulnerable sector for now,” Laurel said. Castro reiterated that the implementation of the program took some time since it underwent a comprehensive study and is not related to the May elections.
DepDev eyes ‘dynamic, decisive’ push for economic resilience
By Bless Aubrey Ogerio
TUnder the new DA program, the National Food Authority (NFA) will sell its rice at a lower cost through two modes: through the Katuwang sa Diwa at Gawa para sa Masaganang Ani at Mataas na
“For the pilot run, participating local governments who share in the subsidy for the project may make the new rice option available to all households in their community regardless of vulnerability status,” the agency said in a statement.
“Maybe it would be better for us to ask which local governments are involved so we can know what their guidelines are,” Castro said in Filipino in a press briefing in Malacañan on Monday.
As for the cheaper rice to be sold in Kadiwa centers of DA, Agriculture Secretary Francisco TiuLaurel Jr. said it will be sold only
“The timing [of the program implementation] should not be questioned here. As soon as the government is able to provide the aid, it will be provided. There is no politics involved here,” she said.
Based on the current budget of the P20 Rice Project, Castro said the program is expected to last until December. Laurel earlier said the P4.5 billion for the project will come from the contingency fund of the Office of the President.
Oil companies to hike pump prices Tuesday
OIL companies are raising pump prices for the second consecutive week.
In separate announcements on Monday, oil companies said they will raise gasoline prices by P1.35 per liter, diesel by P0.80 per liter, and kerosene by P0.70 per liter.
The price adjustment this week will take effect at 6 a.m. of April 29. This was announced by Petron, Shell, Caltex, PTT, Phoenix, Unioil, Total.
Cleanfuel will implement the new pump prices at 4:01 p.m.
Oil companies adjust their prices every week to reflect
movements in the world oil market. For this round of oil price hike, the reasons cited by the Department of Energy (DOE) are the fresh US sanctions on Iran’s oil shipping network and the sharper-than-expected decline in US crude inventories.
On April 22, gasoline prices
went up by P1.35 per liter, diesel by P1.30 per liter, and kerosene by P1.10 per liter.
Since the start of the year, gasoline prices recorded a net increase of P3.65 per liter and P3.45 per liter for diesel. Kerosene, on the other hand, went down by P.90 per liter. Lenie Lectura
The creation of start-ups and possible consequences
By Henry J. Schumacher
WE are living in an exciting start-up world in which young people create great business ideas and lead those start-ups to successes, attract investors and get rich fast. But that is only part of the story: unfortunately, we see that some of these successful young business creators get tempted to leave the clean way of doing business.
One of those examples highlighted by the press the other day:
A mobile shopping application called “nate” claims that its platform is powered by artificial intelligence technology that can intelligently and autonomously complete orders across websites. Since 2019, it’s founder / CEO was able to solicit more than US$ 42 million from investors.
On April 10 this year, the United States Attorney’s Office in Southern New York and the Federal Bureau of Investigation charged nate’s founder and former CEO, Albert Saniger, a 35-year-old Spaniard and resident of Manhattan in New York, of making false claims about his company’s AI technology. He faces one count of securities fraud and one count of wire fraud. Each count carries a maximum of 20 years in prison terms.
Saniger used hundreds of
contractors, or ‘purchasing assistants,’ in a call center located in the Philippines, and instructed his employees to keep ‘nate’s’ reliance on overseas contractors a secret.
This bad story, which appeared in the press on April 17, reminds me of a book my 26-years-old granddaughter Nathalie Plume just finished writing. It’s called ‘Consequences.’ Allow me to show highlights of her detailed and long story: “ Foreword - It seems as if life, with all its twists and turns, dead ends and detours, is predictable. As if you knew what would happen before it did. One must not assume that steering toward an abyss won’t eventually lead to slipping over the edge and into the black hole one has dug for oneself. You can’t pretend that actions don’t have consequences, as if the two were strangers passing on the street without looking
at each other, without saying hello, and even after their coats brush, leaving no memory of one another.
Actions have consequences— consequences follow actions. It’s an unwritten law of nature, one that no human, no animal, no particle can dislodge from its tightly screwed-in framework. Maybe you can separate actions and consequences far enough to obscure their connection, to forget that they are inseparably linked—but what you cannot do, not even if you gave your life for it, is prevent the consequences of your actions.
Summary - The Mattlers are one of the most economically influential families in Frankfurt. Their corporation is one of the most successful players in the global market—but does all this success stem from legal business practices? Or do the four siblings harbor another secret, one that explains their ever-growing power in the world of business? Everything seems to go exactly as they plan. Their business, built on constantly selling new start-ups, is booming, and it appears nothing and no one can stand in their way.
Until one of the siblings is suddenly found with a crushed skull in their office—and a secret is revealed. This secret not only draws the attention of
their passport.
The Cebu Pacific team took a screenshot of the passport tearing and showed this to Bali immigration, but since Immigration of Bali took a bit of time to answer (via WhatsApp), the passenger [complainants’] group asked if they can just eat while waiting. The CEB agent agreed.
Instead of just waiting, however, passengers went to a PWD/ Senior Citizen counter to get the father a boarding pass.
Bali Immigration eventually replied to Ceu Pacific in Manila
Marleen Keller, a determined tax investigator, but also sets the authorities on the trail of this enigmatic family and their operations. Where do all the bodies come from that keep appearing along the way? And what is Telion Mattler, the CEO, hiding behind his designer suits and frozen expression? One thing is certain: their actions will have consequences—and those consequences are far from foreseeable.
In conclusion: Unfortunately, the sad real story about Albert Saniger and Nathalie’s imaginary story about the Mattlers, are sadly not exceptions. As the founder of the Integrity Initiative many years ago, I can only hope that the excitement about creating start-ups is supported by integrity and sustainability. I see sustainability as a combination of making reasonable profits and at the same time supporting the environment, the education of children, and living a life that others want to copy.
I would love to receive comments; contact me at hjschumachere59@ gmail.com.
(Let me add that my granddaughter has already written 3 books at her young age. I am amazed. If you are interested in getting closer to her books, let me know.)
and advised that they are declining passenger’s passport because of the damage.
This is why the airline staff searched for the passenger and asked him to not board, to avoid putting him in further trouble when he flies all the way to Bali, only to be barred entry.
The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) has also received formal complaints regarding the incident and is collaborating with the DOTr in the ongoing investigation.
Dizon reminded passengers “to always check their passport’s validity and condition before travelling, and to consult with passport centers or airport authorities when in doubt.” Lorenz Marasigan
HE Department of Economy, Planning and Development (Depdev) is banking on “dynamic and decisive’ actions”including green transitions and innovation, to strengthen the country’s economic resilience.
Speaking at the High-Level Conference of Middle-Income Countries, Depdev Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said these efforts are crucial to address risks and keep the Philippines firmly on the path toward sustainable development.
“In the Philippines, we aim to realize these goals through targeted investments, strengthened national institutions, workforce upskilling and reskilling, climate and biodiversity resilience integration, and the revitalization of partnerships, particularly through South-South and technical cooperation,” Balisacan said in his welcoming remarks.
On Thursday, Balisacan said the government remains optimistic of hitting this year’s growth target of 6 to 8 percent despite external threats, including the possible impact of the United States’ tariff plans on global trade.
However, he admitted that the country is still behind its Sustainable Development Goal of ending poverty in all forms, largely owing to the lingering effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In terms of reaching the upper-middle-income status, the socio-economic planning chief noted that the milestone may slip to 2026 instead of 2025,
depending on external conditions, citing “major external shocks” and “assuming a favorable global trade environment.”
“Our transition to upper-middle-income status is set against a backdrop of a rapidly evolving global economy. To achieve this, we must harness green transitions and innovation to ensure sustainable development,” Balisacan added.
Data from the World Bank show that to qualify as an upper-middle-income economy, a country’s gross national income (GNI) per capita must range from $4,516 (around P257,000) to $14,005 (around P800,000). Meanwhile, the Philippines’ GNI in 2024 stood at P75,849.
Still, the country’s economic performance grew by an average of 6.3 percent annually in the decade before the 2020 pandemic year, and by 6 percent in the post-pandemic period.
Even so, Balisacan said the government remains “acutely aware” of the risks facing the global economy, from systemic shocks in financial institutions to rapid technological and environmental changes.
“While the government approach the future with optimism, we do so with realism and resolve,” he said.
“Unlocking greater investments and opportunities will require building on our strengths, learning from each other’s experiences, and ensuring that development benefits reach all segments of our societies,” he added.
Lacson eyes ways to protect small fishermen from commercial vessels
By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM
SHOULD he win a seat in the Senate this May, former senator Panfilo M. Lacson will find ways to protect the welfare of small fishermen in the wake of a Supreme Court ruling allowing commercial vessels to operate in municipal waters.
Lacson, a champion of the rights of farmers and fisherfolk as well as local governments, said Thursday that at least one locality has joined calls asking the Supreme Court to reconsider its ruling.
“Legislation may be needed, including possible amendments to existing laws, to firm up the protection of our municipal waters,” Lacson said.
Earlier reports indicated that the provincial government of Iloilo has filed with the High Court a motion for leave of court to intervene in relation to the Supreme Court ruling allowing commercial fishing vessels to operate in municipal waters.
The Iloilo provincial government formally requested the Court’s permission to intervene and support the motion for reconsideration filed by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.
Provincial administrator Raul Banias, a former mayor of the coastal town of
Concepcion, was quoted saying the ruling threatens the livelihoods of small-scale fishermen and may damage marine biodiversity—and may undermine the local government’s efforts for sustainable fisheries management.
Lacson said that while the local government may issue ordinances to protect the fishermen, it may not be enough as an ordinance is not permanent.
“It may not be enough. It may offer a reprieve, but it is not permanent,” he said. Moreover, Lacson reiterated his call for a bigger role for local governments in the management of natural resources, including Laguna de Bay. He called for a bigger role for local governments around the lake to have a bigger say in its maintenance and development.
He proposed that the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) allow more participation for localities in managing the lake through board- or council-type setup.
“We have a Local Government Code that gives localities authority, yet the LLDA’s current setup gives them virtually no say even if their constituents are affected,” Lacson said, adding: “There are issues in Laguna Lake including flooding and silting that affect the fishermen there.”
China downplays trade war impact, outlines plans to counter US tariffs
By Elaine Kurtenbach Ap Business Writer
CHINA’S leaders are downplaying the potential impact from US President Donald Trump’s trade war, saying they have the capacity to protect jobs and limit damage from higher tariffs on Chinese exports.
The briefing Monday by several senior officials of different government ministries appeared aimed at shoring up confidence with promises of support for companies and the unemployed, easier lending conditions and other policies to counter the impact of combined tariffs of up to 145% on US imports from China.
It followed a meeting of China’s powerful Politburo last week that analysts said had focused on ways to counter keep growth on track despite slowing exports.
“Chinese policymakers are on heightened standby mode,” Louise Loo, lead economist at Oxford Economics said in a report. She noted that the policies were similar to earlier pronouncements.
Uncertainty persists over the status of exchanges, if any, between the White House and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
Trump said last week that he’s actively negotiating with the Chinese government on tariffs—while US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said talks have yet to start. Beijing denied that any such talks were underway, and China has retaliated against Trump’s tariffs by putting 125% import duties on products from the US, among other measures.
The officials who spoke Monday reiterated China’s rejection of what leaders there call bullying.
“They make up bargaining chips out of thin air, bully and go back on their words, which makes everyone see one thing more and more clearly, that is the so-called ‘reciprocal tariffs’ severely go against historical trends and economic laws, impact international trade rules and order and seriously impair the legitimate rights and interests of countries,” said Zhao Chenxin, deputy director of the National Development and Reform Commission, the country’s main economic planning agency.
The trade war between the world’s two largest economies has the potential to bring on a recession in the US, with repercussions across the globe. China has been struggling
to recharge its own growth after the job losses and other shocks of the pandemic.
Still, Chinese officials say they believe the economy has the momentum to expand at the target rate of about 5% this year, in line with growth in 2024.
Yu Jiadong, a vice minister of Human Resources and Social Security, told reporters in Beijing that a full and objective analysis shows China’s “employment policy toolbox is sufficient.”
The government will step up support for companies to help them keep workers and also encourage entrepreneurship among the unemployed, Yu said.
China also can manage without energy imports from the United States, said Zhao, the NDRC deputy director.
“Enterprises reducing or even stopping energy imports from the United States will have no impact on our country’s energy supply,” he said.
China has been gradually cutting its imports of US grains and other farm products, and Zhao said that stopping such purchases would not compromise the food supply. Most grain purchases were for livestock feed and the international market has adequate stocks to make up for any reduction in imports of corn, sorghum, soy and oil from American suppliers, he said.
A deputy governor of the central bank, Zou Lan, said the People’s Bank of China will cut interest rates and relax reserve requirements as needed to encourage lending.
“Incremental policies will be introduced in a timely manner to help stabilize employment, enterprises, markets, and expectations,” Zou said.
China can expand domestic demand through various policies including rebates for swapping old vehicles, appliances and factory equipment for new ones, Zhao said, forecasting that demand for equipment upgrades will exceed 5 trillion yuan ($34.8 billion) a year.
In the longer term, China also is promoting the shift of more people to cities from the countryside, Zhao said.
“Every 1 percentage point increase in the urbanization rate can stimulate trillions of investment demand,” he said. “Our country has very real potential and space to expand domestic demand.”
AP video producer Borg Wong contributed.
Trump’s trade war sparks global realignment: Allies turn to China
By Didi Tang & Zeke Miller The Associated Press
WASHINGTON—One went to the United States. The other went to China. It was a sign of the times. While the Swiss president was in Washington last week to lobby US officials over President Donald Trump’s threatened 31% tariff on Swiss goods, the Swiss foreign minister was in Beijing, expressing his nation’s willingness to strengthen cooperation with China and upgrade a free trade agreement.
As Trump’s trade war locks the world’s two largest economies on a collision course, America’s unnerved allies and partners are cozying up with China to hedge their bets. It comes as Trump’s trade push upends a decade of American foreign policy—including his own from his first term—toward rallying the rest of the world to join the United States against China. And it threatens to hand Beijing more leverage in any eventual dialogue with the US administration.
With Trump saying that countries are “kissing my ass” to negotiate trade deals on his terms or risk stiff import taxes, Beijing is reaching out to countries far and near. It portrays itself as a stabilizing force and a predictable trading partner, both to cushion the impact from Trump’s tariffs and to forge stronger trade ties outside of the US market.
“America and China are now locked in a fierce contest for global supremacy,” Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said in an April 16 speech. “Both powers claim they do not wish to force countries to choose sides. But in reality, each seeks to draw others closer into their respective orbits.”
The tariffs on Chinese goods are off the charts
Trump has paused some of his steepest tariffs on most American partners for 90 days after global financial markets melted down. But he has raised tariffs on Chinese goods to 145%, drawing rebukes from Beijing, which has vowed to “fight to the end.” US companies are warning of higher prices, meaning Trump could face both higher inflation and empty store shelves.
The magnitude of the taxes are already dramatically affecting American imports, with the shipping containers set to arrive at the Port of Los Angeles down nearly 36% over the past two weeks, according to Port Optimizer, which tracks vessels. It’s lending urgency for both the US and China to bolster support from alternate partners.
While Trump administration officials suggest the president could ease the duty rates on Chinese goods at his discretion, there has been no indication he’s yet looking for a reduction. That, after all, could suggest his protectionist policies were hurting the American economy.
“They want to make a deal obviously,” Trump told reporters Sunday, saying the US had gone “cold turkey” on trade from China. “Right now, they’re not doing business with us.”
The White House has framed any negotiations as being between the US president and Chinese President Xi Jinping, but neither leader seems willing to make the initial outreach without some kind of concession. The two countries can’t even agree publicly whether they are holding talks.
Earlier this month, Xi—on his first foreign trip this year—visited Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia, resulting in mutual pledges for closer economic and trade ties. In Vietnam, which faces the 46% tar -
iff from the US, Beijing and Hanoi agreed to strengthen industrial and supply chain cooperation. In Malaysia and Cambodia, Xi secured similar agreements. Cambodia is faced with a 49% tariff from the US, and Malaysia 24%.
Then there’s Japan: Despite its long-standing enmity towards the nation that once colonized parts of it, the Chinese government has reached out to Tokyo and urged a coordinated response, according to Kyodo News.
China is digging in CHINA is ready to use the stick, too. A South Korean newspaper has reported that China is demanding South Korean businesses not to ship goods containing China’s rare earth minerals to US defense companies or face likely sanctions.
Earlier this month, Beijing warned that no country should reach a deal with the US at China’s expense and vowed to take countermeasures in a “resolute and reciprocal manner” should such a situation arise.
Hal Brands, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, said China will “try to exploit Trump’s abrasive behavior to make inroads with US allies and countries in the Global South.”
Some scholars say Beijing is already gaining. “People lost the confidence, or even trust, for the United States, particularly for Donald Trump in the US. Not for China,” said Li Cheng, professor of political science at the University of Hong Kong. “So in that regard, China gains in the geopolitical landscape.”
In the latest Ipsos poll, for the first time, more people globally now say China has a positive impact on the world than the United States. The pollster cited the broad backlash to Trump’s tariffs.
Countries have to choose, but it’s difficult CHINA is the world’s largest exporter and the US the largest importer. Total trade for China reached a record 43.85 trillion yuan (US$6 trillion) in 2024, and the country is the biggest trading partner for most of the world, including the European Union, Japan, South Korea and the grouping of the 10 Southeast Asian countries known as Asean.
The US is the biggest destination for China’s exports, though China is only the third-largest trading partner with the US, behind Mexico and Canada. Total trade for the US last year was US$5.4 billion, with a record deficit of $1.2 trillion. For Asean members, trade with the US totaled $477 billion in 2024, including $352 billion worth of goods sold
to the US. But China does more business with Asean.
Countries caught between the US and China are in “an impossible situation” because they need to stay economically connected both to China, “a source of a lot of their input and imports” and to the powerhouse US market, said Matthew Goodman, director of the Greenberg Center for Geoeconomic Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations. “They cannot choose one or the other, because they need both,” Goodman said.
In Europe, China is preparing to lift sanctions to revive a trade deal, according to the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post. Chinese state media have been calling on European leaders to join China in safeguarding the multilateralism.
Back in Beijing, Xi has been receiving foreign leaders. On Thursday, he told Kenya’s president that China’s market has always kept its door open to high-quality products from Kenya and that China encourages more capable Chinese enterprises to invest and start businesses in Kenya, according to the official Xinhua News Agency. On Wednesday, Xi met Azerbaijan’s president. Xi criticized the trade war as undermining the rights and interests of all countries.
Beijing sounds resolute ON Friday, when Xi presided over a key economic meeting, Beijing’s leadership struck a positive tone but acknowledged “increasing impact from external shocks” and “urged preparing for worst-case scenarios with sufficient planning,” according to Xinhua. Wang Yiwei, a senior fellow at Beijing’s Center for China and Globalization, said China, after dealing with Trump’s first term, is prepared for his latest tariff approach. “China is prepared for the worst,” Wang said, “and it is no longer living in the fantasy of globalization.”
Victor Gao, vice president of the Center for China and Globalization, said Beijing is prepared for decoupling. “What will be the end? It’s a complete halt, meaning no more US exports to China, no more China exports to the United States,” he said.
And, despite high costs to China’s economy, China will survive, Gao said. “For a country especially like China with a history of 5,000 years, what kind of people have we not seen? Whatever invaders, robbers, and barbarians,” Gao said. “But at the end, they all leave. They all disappear, all get defeated.”
AP writer Josh Boak contributed.
Iran’s
president visits injured in the port explosion that killed at least 40 people
By Jon Gambrell Associated Press
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates—Iran’s president on Sunday visited those injured in a huge explosion that rocked one of the Islamic Republic’s main ports, a facility purportedly linked to an earlier delivery of a chemical ingredient used to make missile propellant.
The visit by President Masoud Pezeshkian came as the toll from Saturday’s blast at the Shahid Rajaei port outside of Bandar Abbas in southern Iran’s Hormozgan province rose to 40 dead with about 1,000 others injured.
While Iran’s military sought to deny the delivery of ammonium perchlorate from China, new videos emerged showing an apocalyptic scene at the still-smoldering port. A crater that appeared meters (yards) deep was surrounded by burning smoke so dangerous that authorities closed schools and businesses in the area.
Containers appeared smashed or thrown as if discarded toys, while the burned carcasses of trucks and cars sat around the site.
“We have to find out why it happened,” Pezeshkian said during a meeting with officials aired by Iranian state television.
Iran’s Supreme Leader, the 86-year-old Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, separately offered his condolences over the blast—and left open the possibility that sabotage caused the explosion.
“It is the duty of security officials and judicial authorities to conduct a thorough investigation to detect if there’s been any negligence or deliberate acts that have caused this and to follow this up according to regulations,” a statement in his name said. “All officials must know it’s their duty to prevent bitter, damaging events.”
Fire at Shahid Rajaei port burns through the day
AUTHORITIES described the fire as being under control, saying emergency workers hoped that it would be fully extinguished later Sunday. Overnight, helicopters and heavy cargo aircraft flew repeated sorties over the burning port, dumping seawater on the site. Satellite pictures taken Sunday by Planet Labs PBC and analyzed by The Associated Press showed a huge plume of black smoke still over the site.
Provincial Gov. Mohammad Ashouri gave the latest death toll, Iranian state TV reported. Pir Hossein Kolivand, head of Iran’s Red Crescent society, said that only 190 of about 1,000 injured remained hospitalized on Sunday, according to a statement carried by an Iranian government website. The governor declared three days of mourning.
Private security firm Ambrey says the port received missile fuel chemical in March. It was part of a shipment of ammonium perchlorate from China by two vessels to Iran, first reported in January by the Financial Times. The chemical used to make solid propellant for rockets was going to be used to replenish Iran’s missile stocks, which had been depleted by its direct attacks on Israel during the war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Ship-tracking data analyzed by the AP put one of the vessels believed to be carrying the chemical in the vicinity in March, as Ambrey said.
“The fire was reportedly the result of improper handling of a shipment of solid fuel intended for use in Iranian ballistic missiles,” Ambrey said. Military denies blast involved missile fuel, but offers no explanation for explosion
In a first reaction on Sunday, Iranian Defense Ministry spokesman Gen. Reza Talaeinik denied that missile fuel had been imported through the port.
“No sort of imported and exporting consignment for fuel or military application was (or) is in the site of the port,” he told state television by telephone. He called foreign reports on the missile fuel baseless—but offered no explanation for what material detonated with such incredible force at the site. Talaeinik promised authorities would offer more information later.
It’s unclear why Iran wouldn’t have moved the chemicals from the port, particularly after the Beirut port blast in 2020. That explosion, caused by the ignition of hundreds of tons of highly explosive ammonium nitrate, killed more than 200 people and injured more than 6,000 others. However, Israel did target Iranian missile sites where Tehran uses industrial mixers to create solid fuel— meaning potentially that it had no place to process the chemical.
Cardinals take over: Sistine Chapel closes to public as papal election process begins
By Vanessa Gera
The Associated Press
VATICAN CITY—Exit tour -
ists. Enter cardinals.
The Vatican has closed the Sistine Chapel, where cardinals will gather for the conclave to elect the next pope after the death of Pope Francis on April 21 at age 88.
Francis was buried Saturday after a funeral in St. Peter’s Square that gathered world leaders and hundreds of thousands of others, and a nine-day period of mourning is continuing before the conclave can start.
But the church is at the same time turning its attention to the next steps.
Key is preparing the Sistine Chapel for the red-robed cardinals who will gather at the Vatican in the heart of Rome to choose the next pope in an ancient process fictionalized in the 2024 film “Conclave.”
One key task: installing the chimney where ballots will be burned after votes.
Those visitors who managed to enter on Sunday considered themselves lucky, since there is no telling how long the conclave will last, and how long the gem of the Vatican Museums will remain off-limits.
“I think we felt very lucky to be able to be the last group of visitors to come in today,” said Sumon Khan, a tourist from the United States. “You know, our trip would not have been complete without seeing this beautiful place.”
According to a schedule determined by church law, the conclave can only begin after the nine-day mourning period. It is expected to start between May 5 and May 10.
When it does, the cardinals will enter solemnly to participate in a secretive process said to be guided by the Holy Spirit that will result in the selection of the next leader of the 1.4 billion-strong Catholic Church. The choice will determine whether the next pontiff will continue Francis’ reforms, with his focus on the poor and marginalized and the environment, or whether they will choose a pontiff closer in style to conservative predecessors like Benedict XVI focused on doctrine.
For inspiration, the cardinals will also have the great beauty of the frescoes painted by Michelangelo and other renowned Renaissance artists. The most recognizable is Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam, showing God’s outstretched hand imparting the divine spark of life to the first man.
The chapel is named after Pope
Putin thanks North Korea for sending troops to
fight Ukraine in Kursk
By Hyung-Jin Kim The Associated Press
SEOUL, South Korea—Russian President Vladimir Putin thanked North Korean troops for fighting Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Kursk region, after North Korea on Monday confirmed the deployment for the first time.
In a statement Monday from the Kremlin, Putin hailed the heroism and dedication of the North Korean fighters, who he said “shoulder to shoulder with Russian fighters, defended our Motherland as their own.”
Russia on Saturday said its troops have fully reclaimed the Kursk region that Ukrainian forces seized in a surprise incursion last year. Ukrainian officials denied the claim.
US, South Korean and Ukraine intelligence officials have said North Korea dispatched 10,000-12,000 troops to Russia last fall in its first participation in a major armed conflict since the end of the 1950-1953 Korean War. But North Korea hadn’t confirmed or denied its reported troop deployments to Russia until Monday.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un decided to send the combat troops to Russia under a mutual defense treaty he and Putin signed in June 2024, the North’s Central Military Commission said in a statement carried by state media. The treaty—considered the two countries’ biggest defense agreement since the end of the Cold War—requires both nations to use all available means to provide immediate military assistance if either is attacked.
The statement cited Kim as saying the deployment was meant to “annihilate and wipe out the Ukrainian neo-Nazi occupiers and liberate the Kursk area in cooperation with the Russian armed forces.”
“They who fought for justice are all heroes and representatives of the honor of the motherland,” Kim said. Kim said that a monument will soon be erected in Pyongyang to mark North Korea’s battle feats and that flowers will be laid before the tombstones of the fallen soldiers. Kim said the government must take steps to preferentially treat and take care of the families of the soldiers who took
Sixtus IV, an art patron who oversaw the construction of the main papal chapel in the 15th century. But it was a later pontiff, Pope Julius II, who commissioned the works by Michelangelo, who painted the ceiling depicting scenes from Genesis from 1508 and 1512 and later returned to paint the Last Judgement on one of the walls.
When the conclave opens, cardinals will chant the Litany of Saints, the solemn, mystical Gregorian chant imploring the intercession of the saints, as they file into the chapel and take an oath of secrecy. The chapel’s thick double doors will close and the master of liturgy will utter the Latin words “Extra omnes,” meaning “everyone out.”
The secretive process is part of a tradition aimed at preserving the vote from external interference.
The world will then wait for a sign that a successor to Francis has been chosen. Black smoke coming from the chimney in the Sistine Chapel will indicate that they haven’t achieved the two-thirds majority for a new pope.
But when a pope is finally chosen, white smoke will rise and bells will toll.
The Associated Press video reporter Pietro De Cristofaro contributed from Rome.
region
part in the war.
The North Korean statement didn’t say how many troops North Korea eventually sent and how many of them had died. But in March, South Korea’s military said that around 4,000 North Korean soldiers had been killed or wounded in the RussiaUkraine war fronts. The South Korean military also assessed at the time that North Korea sent about 3,000 additional troops to Russia earlier this year.
North Korean soldiers are highly disciplined and well trained, but observers say they’ve become easy targets for drone and artillery attacks on Russian-Ukraine battlefields due to their lack of combat experience and unfamiliarity with the terrain. Still, Ukrainian military and intelligence officials have assessed that the North Koreans gained crucial battlefield experience and have been key to Russia’s strategy of overwhelming Ukraine by throwing large numbers of soldiers into the battle for Kursk.
South Korea’s Unification Ministry on Monday urged North Korea to withdraw its
troops from Russia immediately, saying the North’s support of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine poses a grave provocation to international security. Spokesperson Koo Byoungsam also called the North’s troops’ deployment “an act against humanity” that has sacrificed young North Korean soldiers for their government.
In a Kremlin meeting Saturday, Valery Gerasimov, chief of the general staff for Russia’s armed forces, informed Putin of Russia’s regaining of the Kursk region. Gerasimov also confirmed that North Korean soldiers fought alongside Russia to repel Ukrainian troops from the Kursk region and “demonstrated high professionalism, showed fortitude, courage and heroism in battle.”
Ukraine’s General Staff countered that its defensive operation in certain areas in Kursk was continuing.
If confirmed, Russia’s victory in Kursk would deprive Ukraine of key leverage in US-brokered efforts to negotiate an end to the more than 3-year-old war by exchanging its gains for some of Russia-occupied land in Ukraine.
The Associated Press writer Dasha Litvinova in Tallinn, Estonia contributed to this report.
Overnight Israeli strikes on Gaza kill 27, bring total Palestinian deaths to 52,000
By Wafaa Shurafa & Samy Magdy The Associated Press
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip—
Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip overnight into Monday killed at least 27 Palestinians, according to local health officials.
Israel has carried out daily strikes on Gaza since ending its ceasefire with Hamas last month. It has cut off the territory’s 2 million Palestinians from all imports, including food and medicine, since the beginning of March in what it says is an attempt to pressure the militant group to release hostages.
The daily bombardment and widespread hunger is taking a heavy toll on Gaza’s most vulnerable residents, including pregnant women and children.
An airstrike hit a home in Beit Lahiya, killing 10 people, including a Palestinian prisoner, AbdelFattah Abu Mahadi, who had been released as part of the ceasefire. His wife, two of their children and a grandchild were also killed, according to the Indonesian Hospital, which received the bodies.
Another strike hit a home in Gaza City, killing seven people, including two women, according to
the Gaza Health Ministry’s emergency service. Two other people were wounded.
Late Sunday, a strike hit a home in the southern city of Khan Younis, killing at least 10 people, including five siblings as young as 4 years old, according to the Health Ministry. Two other children were killed along with their parents, according to Nasser Hospital, which received the bodies.
There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military. Israel says it makes every effort to avoid harming civilians and blames Hamas for their deaths because the militants operate in densely populated areas.
The war began when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251. Hamas is still holding 59 hostages, 24 of whom are believed to be alive, after most of
the rest were released in ceasefire agreements or other deals.
Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed over 52,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to the Health Ministry, which does not say how many of the dead were fighters or civilians. Israel’s bombardment and ground operations have destroyed vast areas of Gaza and left most of its population homeless.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue the offensive until all the hostages are returned and Hamas is either destroyed or agrees to disarm and leave the territory. He says Israel will then implement US President Donald Trump’s proposal to resettle
much of Gaza’s population in other countries through what the Israeli leader refers to as “voluntary emigration.”
Palestinians say the plan would amount to forcible expulsion from their homeland after Israel’s of
fensive left much of Gaza uninhabitable. Human rights experts say it would likely violate international law.
Hamas has said it will only release the remaining hostages in return for more Palestinian prisoners, a lasting ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, as called for in the ceasefire that Israel ended.
Magdy reported from Cairo.
Palestinian envoy tells UN court Israel is killing Gaza civilians; Israel says it’s being persecuted
By Molly Quell & Mike Corder
The Associated Press
HE HAGUE, Netherlands—
TA Palestinian diplomat told the United Nations’ top court on Monday that Israel is killing and displacing civilians and targeting aid workers in Gaza, in a case that Israel criticized as part of its “systematic persecution and delegitimization.”
Israel denies deliberately targeting civilians and aid staff as part of its war with Hamas and did not attend the hearing at the International Court of Justice.
In The Hague, Palestinian Ambassador to the Netherlands Ammar Hijazi accused Israel of breaching international law in the occupied territories.
“Israel is starving, killing and displacing Palestinians while also targeting and blocking humanitarian organizations trying to save their lives,” he told the court. The hearings are focused on a request last year from the UN General Assembly, which asked the court to weigh in on Israel’s legal responsibilities after the country blocked the UN agency for Palestinian refugees from operating on its territory.
In a resolution sponsored by Norway, the General Assembly requested an advisory opinion, a non-binding but legally important decision from the court, on Israel’s obligations in the occupied territories to “ensure and facilitate the unhindered provision of urgently needed supplies essential to the survival of the Palestinian civilian population?”
Hearings opened as the humanitarian aid system in Gaza is nearing collapse. Israel has blocked
the entry of food, fuel, medicine and other humanitarian supplies since March 2. It renewed its bombardment on March 18, breaking a ceasefire, and seized large parts of the territory, saying it aims to push Hamas to release more hostages. Despite the stepped-up Israeli pressure, ceasefire efforts remain deadlocked.
The World Food Program said last week its food stocks in the Gaza Strip have run out, ending a main source of sustenance for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians as many families are struggling to feed their children.
What will happen in the court?
The United Nations was the first to address the court on Monday, followed by Palestinian representatives. In total, 40 states and four international organizations are scheduled to participate.
The United States, which voted against the UN resolution, is scheduled to speak on Wednesday.
The court will likely take months to rule. But experts say the decision, though not legally binding, could profoundly impact international jurisprudence, international aid to Israel and public opinion.
“Advisory opinions provide clarity,” Juliette McIntyre, an expert on international law at the University of South Australia, told The Associated Press. Governments rely on them in international negotiations and the outcome could be used to pressure Israel into easing restrictions on aid.
Whether any ruling will have an effect on Israel, however, is unclear. Israel has long accused the United Nations of being unfairly biased against it and has ignored a 2004 advisory ruling by the ICJ that found its West
Bank separation barrier illegal.
While Israel was not in court, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar hit back at the case.
“I accuse UNRWA, I accuse the UN, I accuse the secretary-general and I accuse all those that weaponized international law and its institutions in order to deprive the most attacked country in the world, Israel, of its most basic right to defend itself,” he told a news conference in Jerusalem.
On Tuesday, South Africa, a staunch critic of Israel, will present its arguments. In hearings last year in a separate case at the court, the country accused Israel of committing genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza—a charge Israel denies. Those proceedings are still underway.
Israel’s troubled relations with UNRWA ISRAEL’S ban on the agency, known as UNRWA, which provides aid to Gaza, came into effect in January. The organization has faced increased criticism from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his far-right allies, who claim the group is deeply infiltrated by Hamas. UNRWA rejects that claim.
On Monday, Amir Weissbrod, a Foreign Ministry official, presented Israel’s case against UNRWA. He accused it of failing to act before the war against evidence that Hamas had used its facilities, including by digging tunnels underneath them. The official said UNRWA employed 1,400 Palestinians with militant ties. Israel says some of those employees also took part in Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attacks and Weissbrod said at least three of those employees still worked for the UN The presentation included
videos, documents and pictures of the alleged employees.
The October 7, 2023, attack in southern Israel killed about 1,200 people and set off the war in Gaza. UNRWA said it fired nine staffers after an internal UN investigation concluded that they could have been involved, although the evidence was not authenticated and corroborated.
The Israeli ban doesn’t apply directly to Gaza. But it controls all entry to the territory, and its ban on UNRWA from operating inside Israel greatly limits the agency’s ability to function. Israeli officials say they are looking for alternative ways to deliver aid to Gaza that would cut out the United Nations.
UNRWA was established by the UN General Assembly in 1949 to provide relief for Palestinians who fled or were expelled from their homes in what is now Israel during the war surrounding Israel’s creation the previous year until there is a political solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The agency has been providing aid and services—including health and education—to some 2.5 million Palestinians in Gaza, the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem, as well as 3 million more in Syria, Jordan and Lebanon.
Israel’s air and ground war has killed over 51,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not say how many of the dead were civilians or combatants. Israel says it has killed around 20,000 militants, without providing evidence.
The Associated Press writer Tia Goldenberg in Jerusalem contributed to this report.
Houthi rebels say alleged US airstrike that hit Yemen prison holding African migrants kills 68
By Jon Gambrell The Associated Press
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates—Yemen’s Houthi rebels on Monday alleged a US airstrike hit a prison holding African migrants, killing at least 68 people and wounding 47 others. The US military had no immediate comment.
The strike in Yemen’s Saada governorate, a stronghold for the Houthis, is the latest incident in the country’s decadelong war to kill African migrants from Ethiopia and other nations who risk crossing the nation for a chance to work in neighboring Saudi Arabia.
It also likely will renew questions from activists about the American campaign, known as “Operation Rough Rider,” which has been targeting the rebels as the Trump administration negotiates with their main benefactor, Iran, over Tehran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program.
The US military’s Central Command, in a statement early Monday before news of the alleged strike broke, sought to defend its policy of offering no specific details of its extensive airstrike campaign. The strikes have drawn controversy in America over Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s use of the unclassified Signal messaging app to post sensitive details about the attacks.
“To preserve operational security, we have intentionally limited disclosing details of our ongoing or future operations,” Central Command said. “We are very deliberate in our operational approach, but will not reveal specifics about what we’ve done or what we will do.”
It did not immediately respond to questions from The Associated Press about the alleged strike in Saada.
Graphic footage shows aftermath of explosion GRAPHIC footage aired by the Houthis’ al-Masirah satellite news channel showed what appeared to be dead bodies and others wounded at the site. The Houthi-run Interior Ministry said some 115 migrants had been detained at the site.
The rebels’ Civil Defense organization said at least 68 people had been killed and 47 others wounded in the attack.
Footage from the site analyzed by the AP suggested some kind of explosion took place there, with its cement walls seemingly peppered by debris fragments and the wounds suffered by those there.
A woman’s voice, soft in the footage, can be heard repeating the start of a prayer in Arabic: “In the name of God.” An occasional gunshot rang out as medics sought to help those wounded.
African migrants caught in middle of Yemen’s war ETHIOPIANS and other African migrants for years have landed in Yemen, braving the wartorn nation to try and reach Saudi Arabia for work. The Houthi rebels allegedly make tens of thousands of dollars a week smuggling migrants over the border.
Migrants from Ethiopia have found themselves detained, abused and even killed in Saudi Arabia and Yemen during the war. An October 3, 2022, letter to the kingdom from the UN said its investigators “received concerning allegations of cross-border artillery shelling and small arms fire allegedly by Saudi security forces, causing the deaths of up to 430 and injuring 650 migrants.”
Saudi Arabia has denied killing migrants.
MONDAY’S alleged strike recalled a similar strike by a Saudi-led coalition battling the Houthis back in 2022 on the same compound, which caused a collapse killing 66 detainees and wounding 113 others, a United Nations report later said. The Houthis shot dead 16 detainees who fled after the strike and wounded another 50, the UN said. The Saudi-led coalition sought to justify the strike by saying the Houthis built and launched drones there, but the UN said it was known to be a detention facility.
“The coalition should have avoided any attack on that facility,” the UN report added. That 2022 attack was one of the deadliest single attacks in the yearslong war between the coalition and the Houthi rebels and came after the Houthis struck inside the UAE twice with missiles and drones, killing three in a strike near Abu Dhabi’s international airport.
US military says over 800 strikes conducted in campaign so far MEANWHILE , US airstrikes overnight targeting Yemen’s capital killed at least eight people, the Houthis said. The American military acknowledged carrying out over 800 individual strikes in their monthlong campaign.
The overnight statement from Central Command also said “Operation Rough Rider” had “killed hundreds of Houthi fighters and numerous Houthi leaders,” including those associated with its missile and drone program. It did not identify any of those officials.
“Iran undoubtedly continues to provide support to the Houthis,” the statement said.
“The Houthis can only continue to attack our forces with the backing of the Iranian regime.”
“We will continue to ratchet up the pressure until the objective is met, which remains the restoration of freedom of navigation and American deterrence in the region,” it added.
The US is targeting the Houthis because of the group’s attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, a crucial global trade route, and on Israel. The Houthis are also the last militant group in Iran’s self-described “Axis of Resistance” that is capable of regularly attacking Israel. US discusses deadly port strike THE US is conducting strikes on Yemen from its two aircraft carriers in the region—the USS Harry S. Truman in the Red Sea and the USS Carl Vinson in the Arabian Sea.
On April 18, an American strike on the Ras Isa fuel port killed at least 74 people and wounded 171 others in the deadliest-known attack of the American campaign. Central Command on Monday offered an explanation for why it hit the port.
“US strikes destroyed the ability of Ras Isa Port to accept fuel, which will begin to impact Houthi ability to not only conduct operations, but also to generate millions of dollars in revenue for their terror activities,” it said.
Meanwhile, the Houthis have increasingly sought to control the flow of information from the territory they hold to the outside world. It issued a notice Sunday that all those holding Starlink satellite Internet receivers should “quickly hand over” the devices to authorities.
“A field campaign will be implemented in coordination with the security authorities to arrest anyone who sells, trades, uses, operates, installs or possesses these prohibited terminals,” the Houthis warned.
Starlink terminals have been crucial for Ukraine in fighting Russia’s full-scale invasion and receivers also have been smuggled into Iran amid unrest there.
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MOHAMMAD ABU ZEID, 12, samples the meal prepared in his family’s tent in Muwasi, on the outskirts of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, Thursday, April 24, 2025. AP/ABDEL KAREEM HANA
DOLE issues revised guidelines to improve working conditions for construction workers
By Justine Xyrah Garcia
THE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Monday issued the revised implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 11058, or the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Standards Law, introducing new guidelines for the temporary accommodation and welfare facilities of construction workers.
Signed during a ceremony at the Occupational Safety and Health Center in Quezon City, DOLE Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma said the revised rules aim to plug longstanding gaps in the living and working conditions of construction workers -- one of the most at-risk sectors in the country.
The updated IRR mandates standard designs and specifications for temporary housing facilities, which must now be equipped with water stations, sanitary toilets, bathing areas, laundry spaces, kitchen
NFA
Tand dining facilities, healthcare stations, communication hubs, recreational spaces, and designated smoking areas.
Laguesma said these facilities are necessary to ensure that workers are provided with safe, healthy, and humane conditions while on-site.
“Health and safety are non-negotiable. Hindi ‘yan pinagpapalit sa kahit anong klaseng konsiderasyon; bagkus dapat nating inuuna,” he added, partly in Filipino.
Laguesma said the revision forms part of the department’s push to improve employer compliance and reduce work-related accidents, especially in high-risk industries. DOLE data showed that 216 work-related accidents were recorded in 2024 alone, prompting the agency to pursue a “zero accident” goal across all workplaces.
Beyond upgrading accommodation standards, the revised IRR also outlines
the department’s Zero Accident Program, which seeks to strengthen DOLE’s capacity to monitor and enforce compliance.
This will be supported by the use of realtime analytics, digital reporting tools, and enhanced occupational safety programs.
The department is also set to ramp up the training and upskilling of OSH personnel, labor inspectors, and workers, while widening access to technical assistance for enterprises implementing OSH standards.
Laguesma added that the new framework builds on “lessons learned from good practices” and ground experience, making OSH requirements more responsive to the specific needs of various industries and enterprise sizes.
These include sectors like agriculture, construction, healthcare, business process outsourcing, and mining, among others.
The labor secretary also said that the department’s approach is now more geared
towards compliance rather than penalty.
Penalties have been recalibrated to be proportional to the severity of violations, while incentives and recognition systems are being rolled out for compliant establishments.
“We now have a range of regulated penalties based on proportionality which is hoped to serve as a more effective deterrent to non-compliance. Instead of excessive and prohibitive impositions that can result in business cessation, incentives and recognitions are also in place for compliant entities,” Laguesma explained.
Under RA 11058, failure to comply with the OSH law can result in administrative fines of up to P100,000 per day until the violation is corrected, particularly if it exposes workers to life-threatening conditions.
Employers found deliberately evading safety regulations may also face additional administrative penalties of up to the same amount.
The labor department has yet to made public the updated guidelines for the OSH Law.
puts auction of aging rice stocks on hold amid ₧20 rice program launch
SC fines school for failure to act on bullying incident
TBy Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573
HE Supreme Court has imposed a fine of P650,000 against a school for its failure to address a bullying incident that led to the assault of a student during class eight years ago.
In a decision penned by Associate Justice Mario V. Lopez, the SC’s Second Division affirmed the rulings issued by the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of San Carlos City, Pangasinan and the Court of Appeals which found Mother Goose Special School System, Inc. (Mother Goose School) civilly liable for its negligence in handling the punching incident involving three grade school students inside one of its classrooms.
The SC, likewise, affirmed the award of P650,000 as moral, exemplary and attorneys’ fees to the parents of the victim who filed the complaint for damages against the school, the teachers, and the fathers of the other students involved in the punching incident.
The said amounts, according to the Court, shall earn legal interest at the rate of six percent per year from the finality of the decision until full payment.
and address the bullying incident as shown by the apparent intent of its personnel to downplay the incident as a simple case of play fighting between the children.
“The Court finds no reason to overturn the courts a quo’s unanimous factual findings,” the SC declared.
However, the Court said the word “bullying” as used by the CA should be construed in its generic sense, that is, the “abuse and mistreatment of someone vulnerable by someone stronger “and not the definition under the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013 which was not yet in force at the time of the punching incident took place.
By Ada Pelonia @adapelonia
HE National Food Authority (NFA)
will put the plan to auction off aging rice stocks on the backburner amid the launch of the P20 per kilo rice program.
The government’s P20 rice initiative, which will be introduced this week, is expected to free up the grains agency’s warehouse, thus allowing the NFA to procure more rice from local farmers during the summer harvest.
“For now, hindi na auction ang priority paramasmakinabangangmaramingPilipino,” NFA Administrator Larry Lacson told the BusinessMirror on Monday.
Despite this, the NFA chief assured that the trade of rice stocks would eventually push through.
Itutuloy pa rin [yung auction] but not now,” he added.
Lacson earlier floated the bid to auction off aging rice stocks amid the low distribution rate to local governments despite the declaration of a food security emergency.
This, as the latest data on rice released under the food emergency stood at 20,000 bags despite the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) recent move to expand the allocation that could be availed of by LGUs to 1.35 million bags from the initial 625,600. Magpapa-auction ako under the law.
[Ang floor price] sa ngayon, wala pa. Pagaaralan pa natin,” Lacson told reporters in a previous interview assuring that the floor price will not settle below P30 per kilo.
“We will be targeting the auction for the regions napunoangbodegaso that we can free up [warehouses] na then we can buy [palay].”
However, Lacson has yet to disclose the initial volume of aging rice that will be auctioned off.
Currently, the NFA chief said its budget stands at P14.6 billion. Of which P5.6 billion came from carryover funding last year, together with its P9-billion allocation.
Lacson said the grains agency could exhaust this fund to purchase palay, provided
PCO to revise accreditation guidelines after Malacañang Press Corps raises concerns
By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla
HE Presidential Communications Of -
Tfice (PCO) will revise its more stringent accreditation guidelines, which can diminish the autonomy of media entities covering the Malacañang.
PCO Secretary Jay Ruiz made the decision after the Malacañang Press Corps Inc. (MPC) expressed its opposition against some of the provisions of the new guidelines
awareness and jurisdiction” in the sandy reef, according to the National Task Force West Philippine Sea.
The four composite teams in the operations, observed the illegal presence of a CCG ship and Chinese Maritime Militia vessels near the four Cays. Castro said the Marcos administration will continue to safeguard the country’s territory in line with international law.
“And we will continue to protect all the rights of the country in accordance with international law, but with the assurance that this is for peace and stability,” she said. What artificial islands?
RELATEDLY, China’s Ministry of Natural Resources released a survey report on Sandy Cay (China name: Tiexian Jiao) and Whitsun Reef (Niu’e Jiao), debunking the Philippine government’s claim that China is slowly building artificial islands out of the two rock formations.
According to the report, satellite remote sensing and on-site survey data showed that the three cays on Tiexian Jiao reef flat and the one cay on Niu’e Jiao reef flat are all above water at high tide, with apparent natural
as part of its preparations for the 2026 Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) Summit, which will be hosted by the Philippines.
MPC is the official organization of media entities, which deploy journalists to cover Malacañang.
“Pending the revision of its guidelines, the PCO agreed to defer the submission period of the accreditation requirements, which was supposed to take place from April 29 to May 2,” MPC said.
characteristics, regular changes of position and form, and sufficient materials fostering their growth and formation.
“Therefore, the formation of the four cays is a normal physical geographic phenomenon. The false remarks by the Philippines that China dumped coral debris at Tiexian Jiao, and rumors spread by relevant countries that the formation of the cays is due to China’s ‘sea reclamation’ are without any scientific or factual basis,” China state wire agency Xinhua reported, quoting the report.
The South China Sea Development Research Institute’s report entitled, “A Survey Report on the Coral Reef Ecosystems of Tiexian Jiao and Niu’e Jiao,” said there was an outbreak of crown-of-thorn starfishes in Sandy Cay, degrading severely the ecosystem in the sandbar.
From 2016 to 2024, the reef-building coral coverage area at the atoll reef platform where Tiexian Jiao is located decreased by about 68.9 percent, it added.
Tropical cyclone strikes and frequent human activities, “especially the Philippines’ persistent and illegal construction” in Pagasa Island also “caused of the deterioration of the coral reef ecosystem” of Sandy Cay. Whitsun Reef, on one hand, is “in a healthy state, although seasonal, sporadic heat-induced coral bleaching and human
MPC voiced its concern on the fiveyear minimum requirement of existence for media entities and government coverage for reporters to receive accreditation from PCO.
MPC said the requirement “will affect the status of fledgling news organizations and the deployment of those employing mostly young staffers.”
It also wants PCO to clarify the vague terms it used as grounds for the revocation of accreditation such as “false reporting.”
activities still create some stressful influence.”
Senators slam ‘takeover’
SENATE leaders on Monday slammed China’s reported “takeover” of Sandy Cay, warning it poses a threat to Pagasa island, and urged the Executive and security cluster to act decisively to blunt China’s latest show of muscle in the West Philippine Sea.
“I trust that the Department of Foreign Affairs will file a diplomatic protest and that the Philippine Coast Guard will conduct more joint patrols in the area. China’s unacceptable behavior not only violates international law, it also further keeps Filipino fisherfolk away from waters they should have access to,” Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros said in a statement.
Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada stressed the need to “firmly establish the truth behind China’s claims to Sandy Cay, as this situation” poses a significant threat to our national sovereignty, “land security and sea security.”
According to Estrada, also the chairman of the Senate Defense Committee, “if these claims are proven to be unfounded, it is yet another attempt to distort the reality of the situation and spread fake news. Our InterAgency Maritime Operation conducted a patrol in the area to affirm our maritime rights over Sandy Cay.”
there was space in warehouses. Under the amended Rice Tariffication Law (RTL), the NFA should dispose of its aging rice buffer stock through public auction. Aging stocks are rice that has been stored for over two months and one day.
As of April 24, Lacson noted that out of the 10.1 million sacks of palay in storage, roughly 2.9 million were acquired this year. This brings the total buffer stock to the equivalent of 7.56 million 50-kilo bags of rice, which is enough to feed Filipinos for ten days.
This year, the NFA is targeting to procure as much as 880,000 MT of palay to meet its new buffer stock requirement of 15 days as stipulated under the amended RTL.
To address the said issues, PCO agreed to wait for the position paper of MPC on its accreditation rules before it finalized its new guidelines.
“The two sides agreed to work together to achieve a middle ground that will ensure the efficiency and integrity of the accreditation process while preserving the autonomy of the Palace reporters,” MPC said.
PCO said it decided to impose more stringent accreditations rules for MPC members since they will be given automatic accreditation for
Photoshoot drama?
HONTIVEROS , meanwhile, said “it is time for China to “stop creating drama.” “The photoshoot gimmick and supposed planting of the Chinese flag on Sandy Cay is just another spectacle orchestrated by Beijing. No self-respecting State would take it to mean that China now has sovereign rights over it.”
International law affirms that Sandy Cay is part of the West Philippine Sea, she added.
“It is only about 2 nautical miles away from the inhabited Pag-asa Island. But since 2017, during the Duterte administration, no Filipino has been able to come close to Sandy Cay because of Chinese presence.”
If Manila fails to “take appropriate action to safeguard our claim...this might even undermine our presence on Pag-asa Island.” said Hontiveros.
“I trust that the DFA will file a diplomatic protest and that the Philippine Coast Guard will conduct more joint patrols in the area. China’s unacceptable behavior not only violates international law, it also further keeps Filipino fisherfolk away from waters they should have access to,” the senator continued.
“Sandy Cay belongs to the Philippines and no amount of island hopping of the Chinese Coast Guard will muddle the truth,” said Hontiveros. With reports by Butch Fernandez, Samuel P. Medenilla
“Notably, every parent who entrusts their child to a learning institution does so with the assurance that the school, owing to its obligation not only to provide but also to maintain a safe learning environment, will protect the child from harm or will promptly address similar incidents after its occurrence.”
The RTC initially ruled that the school and the teacher-in-charge were both liable for the incident, noting their duty to protect students during school hours.
While the CA upheld the decision, it cleared the teacher, who was not present when the incident occurred.
The SC held that the RTC and the appellate court did not err in holding that Mother Goose had total lack of capacity to detect, prevent,
The SC noted that the negligence of Mother Goose was established by the fact that their teachers were ill-equipped in addressing a student’s complaints of physical harm; lack of protocol in addressing any harm committed by one student against another; failure to inform the victim’s parents about the incident; the investigation was conducted only upon the prodding of the victim’s parents; failure to update the victim’s parents on the result of its investigation; and that the investigation was replete with inaccurate information. The Court noted that Mother Goose failed to impose disciplinary action against the offenders despite their admission that they punched the victim multiple times.
The SC noted that the school merely concluded the incident as “teasing” or “rough play.”
“Clearly, there is preponderant evidence to support a finding of gross negligence on the part of Mother Goose School,” the SC said.
“By failing to address the harm committed by one student against another and by negligently handling the punching incident after it had already happened, Mother Goose School failed to exercise the diligence of a good father of the family in providing a safe learning environment to its students,” the SC added.
DOJ indicts Roque, Ong and several others for qualified human trafficking
THE Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday confirmed the filing of qualified human trafficking charges against former presidential spokesman and human rights lawyer Herminio “Harry” Roque Jr. and several others in connection with their alleged involvement in to illegal activities of Lucky South 99, a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) firm in Porac, Pampanga.
Justice Undersecretary Nicolas Ty said aside from Roque, also charged with qualified human trafficking were Cassandra Li Ong, the official representative of POGO hub Lucky South 99, Whirlwind Corporation Executive Duanren Wu, and other representatives and incorporators of the two POGO firms including Dennis Cunanan, former head of the now defunct Technology Resource Center (TRC).
Ty said a total of 40 individuals were named as respondents in the qualified human trafficking while many others were charged with regular counts of human trafficking. Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon said the charges were filed before the Regional Trial Court of Angeles City in Pampanga.
Statement of Roque
“WHEN it rains, it pours. The Marcos Jr. Administration is hell-bent on manufacturing cases against me and latest filing of a qualified human trafficking case filed today, April 28, at the Angeles City Regional Trial Court is no exception.
As an outspoken Duterte ally, I have been subject to political persecution from the Kangaroo Court called Quad Committee investigation to the Bureau of Internal Revenue hounding me, to incitement to sedition charge because of the release of the polvoron video and now qualified human trafficking.
I have been raised from childhood by a Department of Justice prosecutor [DOJ]. It therefore pains me that the independence of the National Prosecution Service has been tarnished by an administration highly addicted to power.
I consider the latest action an unjust prosection and a travesty of justice.
My inclusion in the charges, let me underscore, is just an afterthought. I was not initially included in the human trafficking charges filed against Ms. Cassandra Li Ong and others. “ Roque was accused of benefitting from the fruits of the trafficking in persons operations and other illegal activities of Lucky South 99 and Whirlwind the based on the complaint filed by Philippine National Police—Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), Roque was accused of actively participating in the illegal activities of POGO operator Lucky South 99.
In particular, the complaint cited the claim of lawyer Jessa Mariz Fernandez, assistant president of Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor), that Roque and Ong went to their office to have a meeting with Pagcor chairman Alejandro Tengco regarding the arrears of Lucky South 99. Fernandez further claimed that Roque made several follow-ups with her on the status of the application for the renewal of the online gambling permit of Lucky South 99. The complaint also noted that Roque admitted during one of the hearings in the Senate and House of Representatives that he was hired as counsel for Whirlwind Corporation, the sub-lessor Lucky South 99. However, the complaint noted that based on Lucky South 99’s application for renewal of its permit with Pagcor, respondent Roque was listed as the legal officer of Lucky South 99. Ty said the DOJ is now leaving it up to the court to evaluate the complaint and determine whether there is basis to issue an arrest warrant against the respondents.
“Let’s just wait what will be the action of the court. There are many next steps that we can take once an arrest warrant is issued against the respondents,” Ty added. Roque has left the country and is currently in the Netherlands seeking asylum as he claimed to be a victim of political persecution launched by the administration of President Marcos Jr. against former President Rodrigo Duterte, his family and allies. In his counter-affidavit, Roque said his inclusion as respondent in the supplemental complaint affidavit filed by the Philippine National Police—Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) was “mere afterthought.” Roque stressed that the complainants filed to present evidence to prove the existence of the elements of human trafficking against him such as the act of recruiting, transporting, transferring, harboring, obtaining, offering, hiring, providing or receiving a person purportedly trafficked. The evidence also failed to show that there was conspiracy to commit the alleged acts. The only evidence presented by the PNP and the PAOCC, according to Roque, was his accompanying Cassandra Ong to a meeting with the executives of the Pagcor. Roque maintained there was nothing illegal in that meeting as POGOs at that time were validly conducting business under PAGCOR-issued licenses.
Ong’s lawyer Ferdinand Topacio said he has yet to get a copy of the DOJ resolution indicting his client but assured that her client is still in the country.
“Yes, she never left,” Topacio said.
The battle against reckless driving and drug use on Metro Manila’s roads
INCIDENTS of reckless driving, road crashes, and drug use significantly impact the safety and well-being of Metro Manila’s roads. Heavy traffic and a mix of vehicles create a challenging environment, but the rising prevalence of aggressive driving behaviors is becoming increasingly alarming. Moreover, drug use among drivers exacerbates the situation, impairing judgment and reaction times, leading to more frequent and serious collisions. These incidents not only strain the healthcare system with increased emergency responses but also cause traffic congestion, economic losses, and heightened anxiety among commuters. The cumulative effects call for urgent measures to enhance road safety and promote responsible driving behaviors.
In a decisive move, President Marcos has mandated the Department of Transportation to intensify efforts against abusive public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers. This directive underscores a critical commitment to commuter safety—a priority that resonates deeply with the public in light of increasing road incidents. (Read the BusinessMirror story, “Marcos: Sustain crackdown on abusive PUV drivers,” April 24, 2025).
The alarming statistics released by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) reveal a troubling trend: 574 drivers have had their licenses suspended due to involvement in serious road crashes, while another 97 were found to be using illegal drugs. These figures are not mere numbers; they represent lives at risk and the urgent need for stringent measures to ensure accountability on our roads. The establishment of a special task force by the DOTr to review road safety policies is a welcome initiative, demonstrating a proactive approach to tackling reckless driving and enhancing the security of commuters.
Safety on the road should never be compromised. The President’s directive sends a clear message: drivers must respect the privilege of operating a vehicle and prioritize the safety of their passengers and fellow road users. Commuters deserve the assurance that they can travel without fear of recklessness or abuse from those entrusted with their transport. This crackdown is not just about discipline; it is about fostering a culture of responsibility among drivers. Furthermore, the support for the Anti-Kamote Bill, aimed at protecting innocent motorists from unjust detention during accidents, adds another layer to this discourse. While it is crucial to protect the rights of individuals involved in road incidents, we must also ensure that due process is upheld. The call for balanced oversight—allowing authorities to detain drivers when fault is not immediately clear—reflects a nuanced understanding of both legal rights and public safety.
Critics, including the Automobile Association of the Philippines, suggest that the bill may be redundant, given existing police discretion in accident investigations. However, the need for legislative clarity cannot be overstated. A well-defined framework will not only safeguard innocent parties but also enhance the accountability of those who operate vehicles irresponsibly. To build trust and ensure understanding, the government must prioritize open and honest communication with the public as it addresses these complex challenges. Engaging with citizens, understanding their concerns, and incorporating their feedback into policy decisions will be key to fostering trust and ensuring that the measures implemented truly reflect the needs of the community.
Opinion
Global trade’s crooked game
YJohn Mangun
OUTSIDE THE BOX
OU are probably as bored listening to me babble about Trump, Trade, and Tariffs as I am equally weary of writing about it. However, my obsessive quest to slay Nonsense drives my “Pursuit of Truth.” That is my inner grouchy old man. But the information and analysis that people are exposed to comes from “useful idiots” and “useless idiots” to serve the interests of the rich and powerful.
By the way, I never in my wildest imagination thought I would eventually go full-circle back to the ’60s and ’70s fighting against The Establishment but here we are. The 21st century Establishment loves the global trade’s status quo, and tariffs upend their golden chessboard.
One set of conversations about “Trade, and Tariffs” fall into a category that goes something like this. “Orange Man Bad. Tariffs are Orange Man policy. Orange Tariffs are bad.”
These are the ‘useful idiots’ because they help support a political agenda completely unrelated to the economic policies.
Another group think, these of the “useless idiots,” can be summarized: “Tariffs hurt ALL economies and are bad.” A corollary to that is “The country that imposes high tariffs will kill its own economy. Look at the USA in the 1930s.” These folks also assist the economic agenda of the elite but are less helpful as their “facts” do not
address reality.
Both types are noise masquerading as insight, recycled drivel dressed as wisdom.
Understand that the Trump Tariffs are being used to try to address the trade imbalance between the US and the world. Higher US tariffs reducing buying of foreign products, may compel other nations to allow more US imports. This whole ‘Bring back US manufacturing’ is honeyglazed propaganda.
Trump using onerous tariffs in his agenda is the most efficient and rapid way to help accomplish his goals. All the other nations on planet earth use other sneakier means to avoid problems with the World Trade Organization (WTO). For example.
Japan imposes the following tariffs: Wheat: 252 percent, Butter: 35 percent, Cheese/Ice Cream: 30 percent, and Cookies/Crackers: 26 percent. These also have quota amounts, strict safety/labeling stan-
dards, and need Japanese Agricultural Standards certification. “It’s for the children.” Protecting kids with a 252 percent wheat tax? Noble, if you believe the bureaucratic elite’s fairy tales.
Thailand has a 20 to 30 percent duty on ‘Automotive parts’ which does not seem too burdensome. But, as one foreign automotive parts company put it, “Don’t even think about importing into Thailand. You will be crushed by ‘Local Content Requirements,’ complex certification, and non-transparent regulations.”
For the Philippines if you want to sell your foreign sourced steel, cement, or agricultural products, foreigners report “Be ready for unrealistic stringent sanitary standards, requirements for local sourcing, and non-transparent approvals.”
A Manila trader tried importing Australian steel in 2018. He spent months navigating “standards” so vague they seemed written in riddles. By the time approvals came, his working capital was depleted. He learned tariffs are just the high wall —bureaucracy is the moat around the castle. Who needs Tariffs? Some countries just totally ban certain imports and get away with it because it is only “temporary” to Protect, Shield, Support, Promote, Encourage (take your pick) local industry. Egypt’s import bans in 2023: Sugar (refined/raw), certain fruits/vegetables (citrus, potatoes) and Used Vehicles. Nigerian import bans in 2023; Rice (milled/ paddy), Poultry/poultry products, Paracetamol, Cement, Fish, Maize, Palm Oil, and Used Vehicles. All nations play the same game,
Trump’s tariffs are blunt, but do not fool yourself: the world’s trade war never stops. Tariffs, bans, or bureaucratic mazes—every nation rigs the trade game just with different masks. Trump’s blunt tariffs merely expose the farce.
Did I read this in the bible? “Woe to nations craving foreign wares; when trade fails, bare shelves will mock their reckless reliance. I tell you; lands chasing export gold will perish; when markets fade, their hands will hold only air.” Last week a business owner tested if consumers would pay more for “Made in USA” products. Through Afina.com, he sold two identical showerheads: one Chinese-made for $129 and a US-made version for $239, reflecting higher production costs. Posted on X, the results showed zero sales for the US showerhead, while over 3,500 bought the Chinese one. On the other side of the world, in Guangzhou’s Panyu district— “Shein Village”—scores of clothing workshops producing for the Chinese fast-fashion leader have ceased operations due to tariffs and the elimination of the “de minimis” loophole, disrupting China’s retail export “miracle.” Trade is always a crooked game, from showerheads to Shein. Trade’s promises can vanish like smoke. You can trust that the elite’s trade policies will always make them money. But We the People pay the check.
E-mail me at mangun@gmail.com. Follow me on Twitter @mangunonmarkets. PSE stock-market information and technical analysis provided by AAA Southeast Equities Inc.
Global race to lure US researchers intensifies after Trump cuts
By Jason Gale
AGLOBAL race to recruit US researchers and doctors is heating up as President Donald Trump’s sweeping cuts to science funding and federal agencies disrupt the country’s research landscape.
Canada, France, Germany, Denmark, Norway, and Australia are among nations offering incentives— including funding, streamlined immigration pathways and competitive relocation packages—to entice scientists facing mounting uncertainty at home.
The changes brought about by the Trump administration have left many American researchers rethinking their careers. In a Nature poll conducted in March, more than 1,200 scientists—75 percent of respondents—said they were considering leaving the US. Europe and Canada were among the top relocation choices.
“Academic freedom is under pressure in the United States, and it is an unpredictable situation for many researchers in what has been
the world’s leading research nation for many decades,” Sigrun Aasland, Norway’s Minister of Research and Higher Education, said in a statement Friday.
The Trump administration has halted large swaths of federally funded research and embarked on mass layoffs under a governmentwide cost-cutting initiative led by billionaire Elon Musk.
Tens of thousands of federal employees, including scientists, have been fired and rehired following a court order, with more mass layoffs expected. Immigration crackdowns and political battles over academic freedom have further shaken the research community.
In response, Norway last week launched a 100 million kroner ($9.6 million) fund aimed at making it
easier to recruit top international researchers. The program was expanded and accelerated after the Trump administration’s latest wave of cuts.
“It is important for Norway to be proactive in a demanding situation for academic freedom,” Aasland said.
“We can make a difference for outstanding researchers and important knowledge, and we want to do that as quickly as possible.”
Australia’s Academy of Science has likewise established a Global Talent Attraction Program to rapidly recruit displaced US researchers and Australians returning home. “These are the scientists we’ll be looking to attract to Australia under this new program,” said Chennupati Jagadish, the academy’s president.
In Canada, the University Health Network in Toronto has launched the “Canada Leads 100 Challenge” to recruit 100 early-career scientists.
“The time is now. The opportunity is now,” Kevin Smith, UHN’s president and chief executive officer, said in a statement.
Canadian academics say they are already seeing a surge in job inqui-
ries from across the border. Madhukar Pai, chair in epidemiology and global health at McGill University in Montreal, said he expects a record number of applicants for a new tenure-track position opening soon in his department.
‘New door’ EUROPE , too, is mobilizing. Germany’s BioMed X, an independent biomedical research institute based in Heidelberg, has begun a program to match US National Institutes of Health grant holders who have lost funding with pharmaceutical industry backers.
“The purpose of our new XBridge Program is to open a new door for researchers facing the abrupt loss of NIH support,” said Christian Tidona, BioMed X’s founder and managing director. Meanwhile, the Netherlands and Belgium have established new funds and postdoctoral positions specifically targeting American researchers. Twelve European countries—in-
Income tax incentives under CREATE MORE
TAtty. Mabel L. Buted
TAX LAW FOR BUSINESS
HE income tax incentives of Registered Business Enterprises (RBEs) under CREATE MORE Act—Income Tax Holiday or ITH, Special Corporate Income Tax or SCIT, and Enhanced Deductions or ED, were already being enjoyed under CREATE prior to its amendment. The CREATE MORE Act slightly modified the manner of availment of the tax incentives and expanded the coverage of these incentives.
In the new law, the RBEs can opt to (a) avail of ITH first, and after the expiration of the period of entitlement of ITH, avail of either SCIT or ED; or (b) avail outright SCIT or ED, immediately upon the start of their commercial operations, without enjoying ITH. Previously, the second option was not allowed in CREATE, in that the entity would undergo ITH period first. The elected incentive package shall be irrevocable for the entire duration of entitlement to such incentives.
Under CREATE MORE, the rule is still the same for enterprises enjoying ITH, in so far as their exemption and payment of national internal revenue taxes are concerned. They are exempted from paying income tax, but not all other kinds of national taxes, during ITH entitlement. With respect to payment of local business taxes, fees, and charges imposed by the LGUs, as a rule, they are also not exempt from paying these. However, the Act introduced a new kind of tax called the RBE local tax or the RBELT that the entity enjoying ITH can pay in lieu of payment of all other kinds of local taxes, fees, and charges. The RBELT is a local tax that must be imposed only through the enactment of an ordinance by the LGU. The rate of RBELT must not be more than 2% of the RBE’s gross income. The RBELT can also be availed by enterprises covered under the ED regime. Once implemented, the payment of the RBE local tax will exempt the RBEs enjoying the ITH or ED incentives from paying all local business taxes, fees, and charges imposed by the LGUs.
Starting November 28, 2024, the effectivity of CREATE MORE, RBEs under the ED regime, is subject to income tax at a reduced rate of 20% on their taxable income derived from registered projects or activities. These enterprises availing of the ED are entitled to deduct additional 100 percent on their power expense incurred in the taxable year and additional 50 percent on expenses relating to exhibitions, trade missions, or trade fairs. Those who opted to avail of the ITH first, and then chose ED after the ITH period expires, can carry over their net operating loss incurred during the first three years of commercial operations within a period of five years immediately following the last year of the ITH entitlement, and no longer from the following year of loss.
Under CREATE MORE, enter -
cluding France, Germany, and Spain —have jointly called for efforts to appeal to scientists who might suffer from research interference and ill-motivated and brutal funding cuts, Politico reported. France has formally launched a “Choose France for Science” platform, positioning itself as a haven for researchers in critical fields like health, climate, biodiversity, digital technology and artificial intelligence.
“The freedom and independence of science must be defended collectively,” Yasmine Belkaid, president of the Pasteur Institute and a former NIH researcher, said on LinkedIn. “It also represents a unique opportunity for our country and for Europe to
Opinion
BusinessMirror
Leaving something better after death
Iprises enjoying 5 percent SCIT that used to be exempt from payment of all kinds of taxes, both national and local, but not from payment of all other kinds of local fees and charges imposed by LGUs, are now exempted from paying the latter kind. These income tax-based incentives will be granted either by the Fiscal Incentives Review Board or the Investment Promotion Agency (IPA), with the period to avail the tax incentives depending on the granting authority. The IPAs grant the incentives for investments amounting to P15 billion and below. But the FIRB approves the incentives of those with more than P15 billion amount of investments. Entities with incentives approved by the FIRB enjoy longer period of entitlement.
The new law extended the period to enjoy ED or SCIT of the RBEs for up to 10 to 27 years, but not the period to avail ITH, which remains at four to seven years. In CREATE MORE, expansion activities or projects are granted only SCIT or ED, and there is no ITH.
Once the duration of entitlement of the tax incentives expires, the entities can reapply for extension, but subject to the condition that they must meet and maintain the required level of employment of local employees. If the re-application is granted, they can avail only SCIT or ED for a maximum period of five to 10 years.
Based on these, it seems that the changes introduced by CREATE MORE focused on the grant of nonITH incentives (SCIT or ED), with the government trying to strike a balance between the need to increase its revenues and the aim to improve the country’s competitiveness in offering tax incentives to priority and qualified sectors. The effects of the changes are yet to be significantly seen in the future, but we hope that the new law paved the way for CREATE-ing MORE business opportunities.
The author is a partner of Du-Baladad and Associates Law Offices (BDB Law) (www.bdblaw. com.ph).
The article is for general information only and is not intended, nor should be construed as a substitute for tax, legal, or financial advice on any specific matter. Applicability of this article to any actual or particular tax or legal issue should be supported, therefore, by a professional study or advice. If you have any comments or questions concerning the article, you may e-mail the author at mabel.buted@ bdblaw.com.ph or call 8403-2001 local 160.
strengthen its competitiveness and once again become a central hub in the global knowledge economy.”
Denmark is also making an overt pitch. Brian Mikkelsen, CEO of the Danish Chamber of Commerce, issued an open invitation to American researchers: “In Denmark, we value science. We believe in facts,” he said in a post on LinkedIn over the weekend in which he called for “a fast-track initiative to welcome up to 200 American researchers over the next three years.”
At home, the US situation continues to deteriorate. The Trump administration has begun slashing the Department of Health and Human Services workforce by 20,000 positions, cutting deep into key agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, NIH and the Food and Drug Administration. Bloomberg
Siegfred Bueno Mison, Esq.
THE PATRIOT
N an eerily sequence, death has befallen to the families of wellknown celebrities. Gloria Romero (January 12), Margarita Fores (February 11), Pilita Corrales (April 12), Nora Aunor (April 16). All four will reportedly receive the Presidential Medal of Merit, posthumously, for their contributions to the Philippines’ cultural and artistic heritage. While the country of 110 million Filipinos mourns their death, the Catholic world of more than a billion believers are grieving the death of Jorge Mario Bergoglio, more known as Pope Francis.
Aside from being the first pope coming from Latin America, Pope Francis was known to be a reformer and a progressive leader. While Jesus may have used parables and the Apostle Paul used letters, Pope Francis used social media to spread the Gospel, earning him the moniker as the digital pope. He used Facebook live and disseminated a papal letter to bishops through several Twitter accounts in multiple languages, reportedly with more than 53 million followers. Some followers say that Pope Francis’ greatest achievement in “reforming” the Church was when he initiated an open dialogue about social issues among priests, bishops, lay people and women. Issues such as the blessing of gay couples and priestly celibacy were subjected to “the biggest consultation exercise in human history,” as opined by some observers. I remember Pope Francis as a simple, modest, and humble leader as he never availed himself of ornate papal privileges, like cars and apartments in the Apostolic Palace. As Francis continued to go beyond the traditions of the 2,000-year-old
Church, he became a global superstar in many countries, including the Philippines which he visited for a week in 2015. The outdoor mass in Manila that he officiated is reportedly the largest papal event in history with around 6–7 million attendees.
So, what does global celebrity Pope Francis have in common with Filipina celebrated actress Gloria Romero, popular chef Margarita Fores, Asia’s Queen of Songs, Pilita Corrales, and “superstar” National Artist Nora Aunor? It may seem unfair to compare their deaths and legacies but what I know is that all of them are sinners. Yes, sinners all they were just as I am. In a 2013 interview, in response to a question, “Who is Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Pope Francis said—“I am a sinner… This is the most accurate definition. It is not a figure of speech, a literary genre. I am a sinner.” In recognition of his human frailties, Pope Francis knew that he was a human being first before being a Pope. I think this is the greatest legacy of Pope Francis—humility.
In death, we all leave behind legacies of some kind. Some in -
I received from my father who died two years ago a good family name known for discipline and integrity. I still reap the benefits of my father’s legacy way after my life in the military and in government. People in the corporate sector will always see me as a person of discipline and integrity simply because or primarily due to my family name. Whereas I received from my Heavenly Father the gift of the Holy Spirit, for my own benefit.
herit a great amount of money or a business empire. To have a legacy is to have something left behind. When Jesus died for us, he left us a model of humility by washing the feet of His disciples and leaving us with a new commandment—“My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” ( John 13:3335 ). Aside from leaving us the proof of love by dying on the cross for our sins, His legacy, as summarized by Pastor John MacArthur, includes the “hope of Heaven, the guarantee of power, the assurance of supply, and the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Jesus left a legacy of His very self out of His love for us. In death, He gave us life. I received from my father who died two years ago a good family name known for discipline and integrity. I still reap the benefits of my father’s legacy way after my life in the military and in govern -
Government learning academies
CDEBIT CREDIT
Part 12
ERTIFIED Public Accountants (CPA) or other practitioners doing government regulatory engagements should have intellectual property (IP) rights and procedures in their skill set. Not too many professional practitioners engage in the IP practice due to a lack of awareness or competence in this area. IP can be a lucrative practice for my fellow CPAs, and they can consider the various training institutions to gain knowledge in this field.
The Intellectual Property Academy (IP Academy), operating under the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines, serves as the premier institution for IP learning, training, and capacity building. Established as part of IPOPHL’s mandate to promote IP awareness and expertise, the IP academy plays a pivotal role in developing human capital in intellectual property across various sectors.
The IP Academy aligns with IPOPHL’s mission to protect and secure the exclusive rights of scientists, inventors, artists, and other persons to their intellectual property creations. The IP Academy also serves diverse groups, including IP government officials and policymakers, researchers and technology specialists, teachers, curriculum designers, and education policymakers, Legal and accounting professionals and licensing executives, corporations, small and medium enterprises, and entrepreneurs, and the global community stakeholders.
The IP Academy has established numerous strategic partnerships that enhance its attainment of its mandate and extend its reach:
It has a collaboration with the ASEAN IP Academy to deliver regional training programs. In 2023,
the IP Academy sponsored the first ASEAN IP Academy training program on “IP and Emerging Technologies with a special focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI)” in August 2023, and the “IP and GRTKTCE” (Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Traditional Cultural Expressions) in November 2023. I attended the event, which consisted of a week-long series of lectures and discussions.
The IP Academy also collaborates with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). The IP academy works closely with WIPO on multiple initiatives, including the IP4Youth&Teachers Program. Another collaboration is the three-phase training program for teachers, curriculum designers, and education policymakers from seven Asean members held in October to November 2024.
Through the Funds-in-Trust Japan Industrial Property Global, the Japanese Patent Office supported the IP Academy’s teacher training program in 2024.
The IP Academy also has linkages with the industry and academic sectors. It partners with academic institutions in the Philippines, including, among others, the Ateneo Intellectual Property Office, De La Salle University, and the University of the
ment. People in the corporate sector will always see me as a person of discipline and integrity simply because or primarily due to my family name. Whereas I received from my Heavenly Father the gift of the Holy Spirit, for my own benefit. “But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.” ( John 16:7 ). Some people who truly know me might consider me as a person who is prayerful, gentle, and loving since they know that I am a Jesus’ follower. I fail sometimes to obey His commandments for I too am a sinner just like Pilita, Nora, Gloria, Margarita, and Pope Francis. And just like all sinners who follow Christ, I know the meaning of repentance and forgiveness since the Holy Spirit dwells in me. Much as I received a small part of my father when he died, I also received an Advocate as a “reward” when Jesus died on the cross. Since the Spirit is within us, all believers and followers of Christ ought to know that we live in this world with much hope and love for one another. Given His death gave us the gift of the Holy Spirit, we should be reminded that we should yield to the Spirit, content from knowing what we have in Christ within us.
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.
The Intellectual Property Academy (IP Academy), operating under the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines, serves as the premier institution for IP learning, training, and capacity building. Established as part of IPOPHL’s mandate to promote IP awareness and expertise, the IP academy plays a pivotal role in developing human capital in intellectual property across various sectors.
Philippines. Their collaboration includes various initiatives such as research conferences, a joint master’s program, and a research journal. The IP Academy has its IP4Youth&TeachersProgram that is designed for educators, featuring creative teaching methods, IP lesson plan development, and curriculum integration strategies.
The IP Academy has also touched base with the industry groups such as the Licensing Executives Society Philippines. In 2020, IPOPHL and LESP signed a Memorandum of Agreement to organize a certificate program for advanced learning on IP licensing. In addition, IPOPHIL and LESP agreed to tap the latter’s foreign connections through its umbrella organization, Licensing Executives Society International. While the IP Academy does not have a brick-and-mortar building to house its activities and training, it has a Library that provides a diverse range of educational programs catering to different audiences ( https://www.ipophil. gov.ph/ip-academy/) It’s Learn, BeEmpowered, Adopt, and Profit from IP (LEAP IP) courses include Professional IP Training with an “Advanced IP Licensing Course” which is a series of masterclasses like the “IP Masterclass for Musicians; a Patent eTools Tutorials that trains digital filing systems like eINVFile, eUMFile, and eI -
DFile for patents, utility models, and industrial designs; and, an Emerging Technologies Course focused on IP and AI that explores challenges from generative AI, IoT, Metaverse, Blockchain and NFTs, including AI’s intersection with human creativity and copyright protection.
The IP Academy provides Enforcement and Dispute Resolution courses, including “Shaping the Future of IP Disputes,” covering adjudication and alternative dispute resolution trends.
The IP Academy employs various delivery methods in the conduct of its training and other activities. There are virtual training, hybrid events, and in-person events. Many programs are offered free of charge, particularly those supported by international partners.
The IP Academy continues to evolve as a dynamic institution at the forefront of intellectual property education, playing a crucial role in positioning the Philippines as a regional leader in IP knowledge and innovation. Through its diverse programs and strategic partnerships, it empowers individuals and organizations to fully leverage intellectual property for economic and creative development. I will discuss in my subsequent columns the opportunities available to my fellow CPAs and other professionals in this intellectual property field.
To be continued Joel
Joel L. Tan-Torres
Ramming suspect in Pinoys’ Canada festival attack charged
By Jim Morris, Claire Rush & Rob Gillies The Associated Press
VANCOUVER, British Columbia—A 30-year-old man was charged with multiple counts of murder on allegations he killed 11 people when he rammed a crowd of people at a Filipino heritage festival in Vancouver, as hundreds attended vigils across the city for the victims and the Canadian prime minister visited the site on the eve of a federal election.
Kai-Ji Adam Lo, 30, was charged with eight counts of second degree murder in a video appearance before a judge on Sunday, hours after he was arrested at the scene, said Damienne Darby, spokeswoman for British Columbia prosecutors. Lo has not yet entered a plea. Investigators ruled out terrorism as a motive and said more charges are possible. They said Lo had a history of mental health issues.
An attorney for Lo was not listed in online court documents and The Associated Press wasn’t immediately able to reach an attorney representing him. Those killed were between the ages of 5 and 65, officials said. About two dozen people were injured, some critically, when the black Audi SUV sped down a closed street just after 8 p.m. Saturday and struck people attending the Lapu
Lapu Day festival. Authorities had not released victims’ names by Sunday evening.
Nathaly Nairn and her 15-yearold daughter carried flowers to one of the vigils. They had attended the festival on Saturday, and Nairn recounted seeing the damaged SUV and bodies on the ground.
“Something really dark happened last night,” Nairn said, as she and her daughter wiped away tears.
Emily Daniels also brought a bouquet. “It’s sad. Really sad,” she said. “I can’t believe something like this could happen so close to home.”
Police Interim Chief Steve Rai called it “the darkest day in Vancouver’s history.” There was no indication of a motive, but Rai said the suspect has “a significant history of interactions with police and health care professionals related to mental health.”
Video of the aftermath showed the dead and injured along a narrow street in South Vancouver lined by food trucks. The front of the Audi SUV was smashed in.
Kris Pangilinan, who brought his pop-up clothing and lifestyle booth to the festival, saw the vehicle enter slowly past a barricade before the driver accelerated in an area packed
with people after a concert. He said hearing the sounds of people screaming and bodies hitting the vehicle will never leave his mind.
“He slammed on the gas, barreled through the crowd,” Pangilinan said. “It looked like a bowling ball hitting bowling pins and all the pins are flying into the air.”
Suspect detained by bystanders RAI said the suspect was arrested after initially being apprehended by bystanders.
Video circulating on social media showed a young man in a black hoodie with his back against a chain-link fence, alongside a security guard and surrounded by bystanders screaming and swearing at him.
“I’m sorry,” the man said, holding his hand to his head. Rai declined to comment on the video.
Prime Minister Mark Carney canceled his first campaign event and two major rallies on the final day of the election campaign before Monday’s vote.
“Last night families lost a sister, a brother, a mother, father, son or a daughter. Those families are living every family’s nightmare,”
By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo Special to the BusinessMirror
THE Philippines ranked the same as long-haul destinations Denmark and Canada, in terms of desirability by Chinese tourists in their outbound travel plans.
This was disclosed by Sienna Parulis-Cook, Director of Marketing and Communications for Dragon Trail International, after the company’s recent webinar on it latest Chinese Traveler Sentiment Report.
“None of our survey respondents who had already traveled in 2025 went to the Philippines on their 2025 trips so far. Among the 764 respondents who intended to travel outbound later in 2025, six of them planned to go to the Philippines [0.8 percent], putting the Philippines in 18th place as a destination, tied with Denmark and Canada. Five [83.3 percent] of the six respondents who planned to go to the Philippines would be first-time visitors.”
She also told the BusinessMirror, “In addition to the visa situation, flight capacity is still only at 45 percent between China and the Philippines as of the end of March [2025], with 84 flights a week. In comparison, flight capacity to Malaysia is 126 percent of 2019 levels, with 487 weekly flights, and Singapore is at 111 percent, with 421 weekly flights.”
The weak passenger demand to and from mainland China has
forced Philippine carriers to reallocate their flights to more popular destinations like Vietnam and Thailand. The diplomatic tensions between Beijing and Manila over the West Philippine Sea have also been cited by aviation sources as a cause for the carriers’ cancellation of their routes to the Chinese capital.
Preference for visa-free countries SINCE the flare up of tensions with Beijing, the Department of Foreign Affairs has suspended the rollout of its electronic visa program in China. However, Chinese tourists can still submit their visitor visa applications to Philippine consular offices, while Chinese nationals who already have a valid US, Japan, Australia, Canada, or Schengen visa can travel to the Philippines, visa-free.
“The lack of a visa-waiver program definitely makes the Philippines less competitive as a Southeast Asian travel destination for Chinese visitors, now that they have so many visa-free choices. I remember speaking to some travel services providers in the Philippines in 2022, who told me about Chinese tourists having to cancel their trips because they couldn’t get their visas in time. In countries like Malaysia, this wouldn’t be a worry, so it definitely makes them more competitive,” explained Parulis-Cook.
Meanwhile, Dragon Tail’s survey as of April 2025 showed, 41 percent
By Andrea E. San Juan
THE Department of Trade and In-
dustry (DTI) said it will expand its monitoring of substandard steel bars to e-commerce platforms to ensure the safety of the country’s steel makers, industries, and consumers.
Trade and Industry Secretary Cristina A. Roque told reporters, however, that DTI has not discussed yet if it would impose a ban on steel bars being produced by facilities using induction furnace (IF).
“We haven’t talked about the ban yet but we’ll strictly monitor and enforce. That’s what we’ll do for steel,” the DTI chief told reporters in an interview on Monday in Makati City.
“Actually, I have a head now of e-commerce who will really make sure to monitor and to really check on these e-commerce platforms just to protect the Philippine manufacturers and the industries,” added Roque.
The Philippines’s Trade chief said this as she highlighted the importance of protecting consumers against the proliferation of substandard steel which could pose a risk to public safety.
“In steel, we need to protect the consumers, the people, and the buildings. We cannot be selling substandard steel. That’s impossible because when there’s an earthquake, the buildings will fall. We’re very strict on that,” Roque said.
In a Viber message sent to the BusinessMirror last week, Philippine Iron and Steel Institute (PISI) President Ronald C. Magsajo divulged that substandard steel bars are already being sold online.
“Unfortunately we have not monitored YouTube Ads. We have, however, monitored online selling of substandard bars on Facebook Marketplace,” Magsajo told this paper, which
showed him a Youtube ad soliciting buyers for an IF machine.
Experts explained that IF was the process used in producing steel bars that built the government building that collapsed during a 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck Thailand.
Facilities that use IF do not remove harmful elements in the liquid steel, resulting in the inconsistent quality of products they churn out.
Magsajo clarified, however, that he “cannot say for sure” if these substandard steel bars being sold at the online marketplace can be identified as steel bars produced with the use of IF.
The PISI president said the local steel industry has no capability to stop these sellers/resellers of substandard steel bars online but noted: “They have been reported through to DTI for action.”
With this, he advised consumers to keep an eye out amid the proliferation of these substandard steel bars in the online market.
“As for consumers, I advise that they be vigilant and not settle for ‘mura.’ Also, if they encounter substandard products, please inform DTI right away of both the product and the seller,” added Magsajo.
The PISI chief also explained that it’s harder to monitor substandard steel products on Facebook. He said: “Sometimes there are postings, after a few days, it’s gone.”
“Easiest at the plant level. There are fewer. Physical stores or hardware stores next as you can still see and to physical weighing of the product. Online is difficult, can be one source with multiple accounts or many sources with many accounts,” Magsajo also told this paper. (See: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2025/04/22/group-warnssubstandard-steel-sold-on-facebookmarketplace/)
“fully leverage” its tariff advantage amid shifting global supply chains. In her paper, former Trade and Industry Undersecretary Rafaelita M. Aldaba underscored how the Philippines, compared to its regional peers, benefits from a “relatively lower” reciprocal tariff rate, which she noted offers a “strategic opening” to enhance its export competitiveness and attract “reconfigured” global supply chains, among others.
Using a Tariff Exposure Composite Index (TECI), Aldaba’s paper revealed that the Philippines, along with Malaysia, fall within the “moderate-to-low” risk tier, owing to “relatively low reciprocal tariff rates and strong exemption coverage”—particularly for highvalue electronics. Electronics—including semiconductors—account for over 50 percent of the country’s total exports, and many of these products are included in the US exemption list, the paper said. (See: https://businessmirror.com. ph/2025/04/23/to-leveragetariff-edge-phl-needs-betterlogistics-labor/).
By Malou Talosig-Bartolome
THE Department of Foreign Affairs is studying the possibility of filing a diplomatic protest against China for allegedly occupying a strip of sand near the Philippine-controlled Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea.
Chinese state media showed photos of China Coast Guard personnel landing and unfurling a Chinese flag on the Sandy Cay, located 1.5 nautical miles northwest of Pagasa Island. CCTV said China had “imple -
mented maritime control and exercised sovereign jurisdiction” on the reef earlier in April.
The CCG personnel also collected “video evidence of relevant illegal activities by the Philippines,” and cleared rubbish like plastic bottles, wood sticks and other debris, the report said.
“We’re definitely monitoring that [Sandy Cay incident] and we are assessing the situation,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo told BusinessMirror He said the DFA will discuss the possibility of filing a diplomatic
protest as soon as they gather and assess the reports of relevant security agencies.
Palace: Defense of territory continues PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will continue to defend the country’s territories in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), including Sandy Cay amid reports it was claimed by China, according to Malacañang. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro disputed Chinese state media claims that the uninhabited reef was already under China’s control.
Citing National Security Council (NSC) Assistant Director General Jonathan E. Malaya, she said Sandy Cay remains under Philippine control. “They [four teams] completely carried it [operations] out, and they are denying that it was
Editor: Jennifer A. Ng
Strong power demand lifts Meralco net income in Q1
By Lenie Lectura @llectura
THE robust performance of the distribution and generation businesses of the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) boosted the earnings of the utility firm in the first quarter of the year.
Meralco closed the quarter with a net income of P10.4 billion and a consolidated core net income (CCNI) of P11.2 billion, an increase of 8.9 percent and 10.8 percent, respectively, from the same period a year ago.
Revenues grew 10 percent to P114.5 billion, driven by volume growth of the distribution utility (DU), power generation and retail electricity supply (RES) businesses.
Meralco reported Monday that the DU business accounted for the largest share of 60 percent or P6.7billion of CCNI. The share of power generation grew 31 percent, with a P3.4-billion contribution. The RES business and non-electricity
Cemex
By VG Cabuag
@villygc
Tbusinesses brought in a combined P1.1 billion or 9 percent. “Our first quarter results reflect a strong start in 2025, with solid financial performance across the business portfolio,” said Meralco Senior Vice President and Chief Finance Officer Betty Siy-Yap.
Meralco’s average retail rate increased to P11.06 per kilowatt hour (kWh), mainly due to an equivalent increase in generation charge, which accounted for 63 percent of total retail rate.
Energy sales volumes, mainly from Meralco and Clark Electric Distribution Corp. (Clark Electric), grew to 12,493 gigawatt (GWh) hours from
12,307 GWh recorded a year ago.
The commercial segment accounted for the largest share of the sales mix at 4,744 GWh. Sales from the residential sector grew to 4,257 GWh while industrial segment rose marginally to 3,456 GWh.
At end-March, consolidated customer count was at 8.1 million, marking a 3-percent increase from 7.9 million in the first quarter of 2024.
Meanwhile, the power generation business held by Meralco PowerGen Corp. (MGen) ended the quarter with a 25-percent increase in CCNI contribution from a year ago, owing largely to stable plant availability across its portfolio, sustained revenue generation from the Reserve Market, and contribution of Chromite Gas Holdings Inc. (Chromite Gas) beginning February this year.
MGEN delivered a total of 5,294 GWh of energy which was 64 percent higher than the same period last year.
Through Chromite Gas, MGEN now holds an effective 40.2 percent attributable interest in two gas-fired power plants—the 1,200 MW facility of South Premiere Power Corp. and the 1,275-MW facility of Excellent
Energy Resources Inc. (EERI)—along with an LNG import regasification terminal.
For the RES business, its units and affiliate suppliers delivered 1,671 GWh.
Meralco Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan maintained a doubledigit growth outlook in the company’s earnings for the year. “Probably early to get a definitive outlook on the numbers for the full year but our target is to be able to produce double-digit growth in our core income for the year.”
Meralco’s franchise was renewed for another 25 years from June 2028.
“The recent 25-year renewal of Meralco’s franchise, signed by President Marcos, is a milestone for the company, for which we are grateful indeed. This reinforces our commitment to public service, to sustainable growth, to nation-building. It is as well a reminder of our public accountability.
As we move forward, we remain dedicated to enhancing our services and ensuring that our stakeholders receive the best value from partnering with us for development,” Pangilinan said in a statement.
name change gets SEC nod
HE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has approved the renaming of cement firm of Cemex Holdings Philippines Inc. to Concreat Holdings Philippines Inc.
The rebranding is a milestone in the company’s evolution after its acquisition by the Consunji Group, led by engineering conglomerate DMCI Holdings Inc., last December 2, 2024. The name Concreat, combines the Consunji name and the word “create,” to reflect a renewed focus on
integrity, reliability, resilience and nation-building. These are the values that have long defined the DMCI group, the company said.
“This rebranding represents a bold new direction under DMCI management, guided by an all-Filipino team deeply rooted in local insight and long-term stewardship,” Concreat President and CEO Herbert M. Consunji said.
“While challenges remain, DMCI has a strong track record of navigating industry cycles with discipline and determination. We are especially grateful to the previous management of Cemex Philippines for laying the groundwork we now
proudly build upon.”
Now managed and owned by Filipinos, Concreat will continue to operate its Solid Cement Plant in Antipolo City and Apo Cement Plant in the City of Naga, Cebu.
Well-established brands such as Rizal, Island and APO will remain part of Concreat’s product portfolio, the company said, adding that this ensures continuity and trust for partners and customers.
“Concreat symbols a blend of concrete strength and shared vision,” Consunji said.
“It brings together Cemex Philippines’ national footprint and DMCI’s broad capabilities across construc-
tion, real estate, energy, mining and water services. Our integration goes beyond operations—it is built on shared values and a collective commitment to nation-building.”
He said Concreat may take three years to turn around, longer than the initial target of one-year.
Consunji, who is also DMCI chief finance officer, said the company can at least be “above water” this year after the new management work on operational efficiency since taking over the fourth largest cement firm in the country.
“There are a lot of things to do. There are room for improvement. We will try everything positive.”
Toyota Industries shares surge on Akio Toyoda buyout proposal
TOYOTA Industries Corp. shares surged by their daily limit as investors scrambled to interpret what Toyota Motor Corp.
Chairman Akio Toyoda’s proposal to buy out the company would mean for corporate governance at Japan’s largest business group.
Toyota Industries, the company founded by Toyoda’s great grandfather, rose 23 percent on Monday after the company formed a special committee and hired advisers to review the proposal, Bloomberg News reported last week, citing people familiar with the matter.
The stock had remained untraded for most of the day as bids to buy outnumbered offers to sell. Toyota Motor shares rose as much as 5.2 percent.
The proposal values Toyota Industries, which makes looms for textile manufacturing as well as parts for Toyota’s cars, at ¥6 trillion ($42 billion), one of the people said, who asked not to be identified because the information isn’t public. The deal would represent a roughly 40-percent premium over its market capitalization at the close Friday.
The deal, which would represent one of the biggest buyouts in the world, comes against the backdrop of increasing pressure from investors in Japan for stronger corporate gov-
ernance and better returns. Toyoda’s bid to strengthen his grip over Toyota Industries raises questions over what it would mean for the governance of world’s biggest carmaker.
While Toyota Industries has been selling its cross-shareholdings and distancing itself from its subsidiaries recently, this latest move seems to be a “step in the opposite direction,” according to IwaiCosmo Securities Co. analyst Norikazu Shimizu, who warned it could trigger opposition among shareholders.
“If Akio Toyoda has in fact made such a proposal, the founding family would strengthen its grip on the
group business through its stake in Toyota Industries, but it could also be a setback to ongoing efforts to improve corporate governance,” SMBC Nikko Securities Inc. auto analyst Kazunori Maki wrote in a report.
“We’ve fielded such concerns from a number of investors.”
A buyout could also make an improved return on equity less likely at both Toyota Industries and Toyota Motor, Maki said.
Still, investors piled into Toyota Industries shares Monday in anticipation of a premium from the potential buyout.
The deal would give Toyota’s
founding family “more freedom of management,” which could be a plus for Toyota Motor shareholders in the long run, said Tatsuo Yoshida, an analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence. Toyota Industries’ core industrial vehicle business “has been and will continue to be a promising area of profitability,” he added.
News of the potential buyout is “another strong evidence that Toyota Group is improving its corporate governance,” wrote Macquarie analyst James Hong in a report. “This should be positive for all Toyota Group entities.”
Toyota Motor’s shares are getting an extra boost from anticipation ahead of the carmaker’s earnings announcement next week, Eiji Kinouchi, chief technical analyst at Daiwa Securities, wrote in a report. The company is expected to post a strong increase in profit before the impact of tariffs kicks in, he wrote.
“Even if US-Japan tariff negotiations are unsuccessful, the government is planning measures to promote domestic auto demand,” Kinouchi wrote, meaning Toyota’s future earnings outlook is not too murky.
Toyoda holds less than 1 percent ownership in Toyota Industries, though the company has a 9.1-percent stake in Toyota, the carmaker. Bloomberg News
ABOITIZ Power Corp. is expected to add 407.5 megawatts (MW) of power generation capacity from renewable energy (RE) energy storage system projects by 2026.
During the company’s stockholders’ meeting last Monday, company president Danel Aboitiz said AboitizPower has begun the construction of an additional unit of coal, two solar power plants, three battery energy storage projects, and its first wind project, which it targets to complete in the fourth quarter of 2026.
AboitizPower’s share in some of these new projects will result in additional attributable capacity of 212-megawatt peak (MWp) from the Olongapo Solar project, 89 MWp from the San Manuel Solar, 20 MW Bay battery energy storage system (BESS), 8-MW Magat BESS, 58.5-MW CamSur Wind, and 20MW Binga BESS. At end-2024, its capacity stood at 5,002MW. This consists of 3,073 MW of coal, 607 MW of hydro, 518 MW of solar, 514 MW of oil, and 290 MW of geothermal. In 2023, its overall power generation capacity stood at 4,576 MW.
“While we expect coal plants to continue to play a key role in the country’s energy landscape, particularly since the Department of
US President Donald Trump’s trade war with China may be beneficial for Brazil’s soybean exports, but Cargill Inc.’s top executive in the country sees a risk to the company’s plans to expand oilseed crushing capacity.
Increased Chinese demand for Brazilian soybeans would mean more competition in the South American nation for the same oilseeds used by crushers to produce soybean oil, biofuels and soybean meal, Cargill Brazil President Paulo Sousa said in an interview. Uncertainties related to tariffs could influence the company’s plans for more crushing capacity in Brazil.
“We always look at a pipeline of investments, but we need to see if these unfavorable tariffs to Brazilian soy crushing will continue,” Sousa said.
“If so, we would need to reconsider.”
He added that it’s not as easy solution to simply say Brazil needs to produce more, as global demand remains unchanged. His comments came as the world’s largest commodities trader swung to a 2024 loss in Brazil on unfavorable exchange rates and fluctuations in crop prices.
Cargill has made significant investments in the South American agricultural powerhouse to expand its soy crushing capacity.
In 2023, most of Cargill’s Brazilian investments went toward the acquisition of three soy crushing plants and biodiesel facilities from grains processor Granol, as well as four warehouses in the country. Last year,
Energy stated that there are still considerable committed capacities from before the coal moratorium, we also expect that LNG [liquefied natural gas] and renewable energy, along with energy storage systems, will have an increased share of the energy pie in the coming years,” said Aboitiz.
The power firm marked its foray into the LNG space when its subsidiary, Therma NatGas Power Inc. (TNGP), entered into an investment agreement with Meralco Power Gen Corporation (MGen) and acquired 40 percent of Chromite Gas Holdings. Chromite Gas Holdings, in turn, acquired a 67-percent interest in two gas-fired power plants and a natural gas import and regasification terminal in Ilihan, Batangas last January 2025.
“This acquisition, alongside our other green and brownfield projects, positions AboitizPower to sustain the group’s upward earnings trajectory over the long term and represents a significant leap forward to support the Philippine energy transition,” he added.
In 2024, AboitizPower’s 5-gigawatt power generation portfolio generated 28.6 terawatt hours of energy, which brought its total energy sold to 36 terawatt hours in 2024, which was flat year on year. Lenie Lectura
the company poured 1.7 billion reais into improving the Granol facilities, as well as into a new grain terminal aimed at boosting shipments from Amazon ports.
The company plans 1.5 billion to 2 billion reais of investment this year, partly for increasing biodiesel and soy meal production. Cargill will also expand its fleet of barges.
Cargill Brazil reported an accounting loss of 1.7 billion reais ($275.3 million) for 2024, compared with a 2.5 billion reais profit in the prior year, due mainly to a stronger dollar that increased the company’s debt in reais.
Last year was “particularly challenging” for Cargill and the commodities market as a whole, Sousa said in a statement. But he said the company continues to invest and expand in the country.
Revenue coming from Brazil decreased by 14 percent to 109.2 billion reais, reflecting a 12-percent decrease of all products shipped by the company after weather-related crop losses.
For 2025, profit margins could improve as the Trump administration considers steps to boost sales of biofuels. Still, tariffs loom as a threat that could end of raising costs.
“The demand shifting from one country to another makes products more expensive at the end. When the price rises, it has an effect on demand,” Sousa said. “I can’t see the
of
THE solar farm of San Carlos Sun Power Inc., Aboitiz Power Corp.'s first solar power plant venture, in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental. PHOTO FROM WWW.ABOITIZPOWER.COM
RATES of short-dated Treasury bills (T-bills) declined on Monday after the debt market absorbed the recent Fixed-Rate Treasury Notes (FXTNs) issuance of the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr), which drained excess liquidity ahead of the offering.
According to Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort, the T-bill yields corrected slightly lower after the 10-year FXTNs offering of the Treasury. The latter, he added, siphoned off P300 billion from the financial system. The auction committee made a full award of all three tenors of the government securities, raising a total of P25 billion.
What is mental accounting?
MENTAL accounting is a cognitive bias. First introduced by Nobel laureate Richard Thaler, mental accounting refers to our tendency to categorize and treat money differently based on its source, intended use, or emotional significance.
At its core, mental accounting is how our minds compartmentalize money into different mental accounts. For instance, you might have separate mental accounts for your job salary, freelance work income, and cash gifts. These accounts can lead to positive and negative outcomes depending on how they influence your spending and saving habits.
Mental accounting has three aspects:
1. Segregation of funds. Mental accounting often leads us to separate money into specific buckets, such as daily expenses fund, emergency fund, travel fund, and so on. This can help us manage our finances more efficiently but, unfortunately, it also limits our flexibility.
For example, your emergency fund is in a low-risk, low-interest savings account. If you stumble upon a good investment opportunity, you will most likely hesitate to invest the money in your emergency fund. This has both advantages and disadvantages. It’s good that you’re not touching your emergency fund, but you could be missing out on earning extra cash from this investment opportunity.
2. Emotional spending. Mental accounting is closely tied to our emotions. Money from unexpected windfalls or cash gifts may be treated less cautiously and spent more freely than your regular work income. This is why some people would splurge or go shopping instead of paying off debts when they receive cash rewards or bonus commissions.
3. Loss aversion. Mental accounting can cause someone to experience loss aversion. When we perceive losses in one mental account, we tend to be more riskaverse and conservative in decision-making. For instance, if your retirement fund that is invested in a mutual fund experiences a loss in value due to market fluctuations, you might become more reluctant to invest more money into it, even if it’s a sound decision from a longterm perspective. How to manage mental accounting
1. Consolidate and simplify. While mental accounting can have benefits, too much compartmentalization can hinder your financial progress. Consider consolidating multiple accounts into broader categories that align with your goals.
The total amount tendered reached P80.265 billion, or 3.2 times oversubscribed the P25 billion initially intended for offering.
Broken down, the average annual rate of the 91-day T-bill remained unchanged at 5.546 percent. The rate settled between 5.494 percent and 5.608 percent.
Total bids for the tenor amounted to P22.025 billion, of which P8 billion, as planned, was awarded.
The 182-day T-bill, meanwhile, fetched an average annual yield of 5.655 percent, down by 2 basis points from the 5.675 percent posted in the previous auction last week. Rates were as low as 5.600 percent to as high as 5.684 percent.
Bids for the 182-day tenor reached P29.210 billion, with the auction committee awarding the full P8
If you have several types of investments, it’s better to put everything under one mental account —your investment portfolio. This way, you can rebalance your allocations more effectively and optimize the returns of the whole portfolio instead of the individual investments.
2. Set clear goals. Be intentional about the mental accounts you create and the goals they represent. By setting clear priorities for each account, you’ll be less likely to make impulsive decisions that deviate from your financial objectives.
3. Be flexible. While it’s important to allocate funds responsibly, don’t shy away from adjusting your mental accounts when circumstances change. Adaptability is vital to achieving long-term financial well-being.
4. Avoid the “sunk cost” fallacy. Mental accounting can lead to the “sunk cost” fallacy, where individuals hesitate to abandon a failed investment or project because they’ve already invested significant money.
Assess decisions based on their current and future potential rather than fixating on past performance.
5. Consider opportunity costs. When evaluating spending decisions within specific mental accounts, also consider the opportunity cost—the potential benefits you forego by choosing one option over another. This broader perspective can help you make more informed choices.
In conclusion MENTAL accounting is a powerful psychological tool that positively and negatively shapes our financial behaviors. By understanding how it affects your financial decisions, you can make more informed choices and invest in alignment with your long-term financial goals. Remember, you don’t need to be afraid or even avoid doing mental accounting.
Use its principles to your advantage while staying aware if its disadvantages are already limiting you. This thoughtful balance will help you better manage your finances and achieve sustainable financial well-being.
Fitz Villafuerte is a Registered Financial Planner of RFP Philippines. To learn more about personal finance, join the 111th batch of RFP program this May. Please email info@rfp.ph for details. The writer’s views do not necessarily reflect those of the BusinessMirror s
billion. Average annual rate of the 364-day T-bill settled at 5.688 percent, 0.3 basis points lower than the previous auction’s 5.691 percent. The yield averaged between 5.683 percent and 5.708 percent.
The full P9 billion on offer was awarded by the auction committee as the amount tendered reached P29.030 billion.
Compared to the Philippine Bloomberg Valuation (PHP BVAL) rates, yields of the 91-day and 364day tenor T-bills were higher than the benchmark rates, except for the 364-day T-bill.
The PHP BVAL reference rates are 5.455 percent for the three-month tenor, 5.608 percent for the sixmonth tenor and 5.736 percent for the one-year tenor.
According to Ricafort, T-bill rates
By VG Cabuag @villygc
THE Unionbank of the Philippines saw its net income plunged 30 percent during the first three months of the year to P1.43 billion from the previous year’s P2.01 billion due to one-time, tax-related write-offs from a subsidiary and front-loaded non-recurring costs.
According to the Aboitiz-led bank, it had P19.4 billion in revenues for the January-to-March quarter, which it said was 8-percent higher than the previous year.
“The underlying drivers of our financial performance remain solid. We continue to see substantial new client acquisitions month-on-month as well as expansion of our net interest margin and fee- based income,” Man-
uel R. Lozano, the bank’s CFO, said.
“These indicate that the strong revenue trend will be sustained. Moreover, if we normalize for the impact of one-offs, our net income would be comparable to prior quarters. Moving forward, we expect performance to get back to this trajectory and we remain confident that we will exceed our 2024 performance,” Lozano said.
The bank said its higher revenues continue to be driven by a growing consumer business, expanding net interest margin and increasing feebased revenues.
Consumer loans account for 62 percent of the total loan portfolio, nearly three times higher than the industry average. This is attributed to a diversified strategy with credit cards, personal loans and teachers’
BPI to offer 1st tranche of ₧200B bond program
Talso declined after improved market sentiment in the United States caused the drop in the benchmark 10-year US Treasury yield to 4.24 percent, among 4.5-month lows.
The RCBC executive added that traders in Fed Fund Futures priced in three more rate cuts by the US Federal Reserve this year. Ricafort said that could be matched by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) if monetary authorities seek to maintain healthy interest rate differentials.
“Treasury bill average auction yields also slightly eased after global crude oil prices eased to among 3-year lows and the peso exchange rate appreciated further to the strongest in nearly seven months against the greenback,” he added.
According to Ricafort, a stronger peso “could still help further ease
loans exhibiting the fastest growth, it said. The bank’s retail client base is now at 17.6 million. Net interest margin improved by 69 basis points to 6.3 percent on the back of higher-margin consumer loans and lower funding costs.
Fee-based income grew 21 percent to P3.7 billion as the larger customer base resulted in higher transactions.
Fees-to-assets increased to 1.3 percent from 1.1 percent, one of the highest in the industry.
price and inflationary pressures, support more benign inflation and help justify possible monetary easing/rate cuts, going forward.”
The government has raised a total of P99.46 billion from the sale of Tbills this April.
In May, the Treasury is set to auction off 91-day, 182-day and 364-day tenor T-bills and raise a total of P25 billion every Monday.
This year, the government will borrow P2.545 trillion, following an 80:20 borrowing mix in favor of domestic sources. So far, it has borrowed P552.692 billion as of the end of February.
Outstanding debt of the national government reached a new high of P16.632 trillion as of end-February, 9.57 percent higher year-on-year from P15.178 trillion.
Ana Maria A. Delgado, the bank’s president and CEO, said the deployment of artificial intelligence in its core operations have improved the bank’s ability to approve loans quickly, which also increased the number of credit card holders by 10 times prior to its acquisition of Citbank portfolio.
“This is really because AI has powered our customer onboarding platform. Number one, we embed AI in our KYC process. So that allows us to process a lot more applications than before, because before people would have to be KYC on a manual basis, so that that cost a lot of backlog,” Delgado said. She added that the bank uses it for credit approval or underwriting portion of the process, We also use it in fraud prevention, Delgado said. “So this has really helped us to reduce the number of potentially fraudulent applications coming through, but also if there are attempts to do fraud on our platforms, AI is helping us to eliminate and deter any fraud from happening,” she added.
HE Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) will be offering the inaugural tranche of its P200-billion bond and commercial paper program next month.
The initial tranche of the lender’s bonds will be a P5 billion-worth fixed rate offer that will have a tenor of 1.5 years.
The bonds will also carry the “Asean Sustainability” label, affirmed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) last March.
“The net proceeds of the offer will be used for the financing or refinancing of eligible projects under BPI’s sustainable funding framework consistent with the Asean Sustainability Bond Standards,” read a statement issued by the BPI.
Applications to invest in the BPI’s bonds, which it calls “Sinag,” will be received at a minimum principal investment amount of P500,000, and in increments of P100,000 thereafter.
The Offer will commence on May 20, 2025 and end on May 30, 2025, unless otherwise determined by the country’s third-largest lender in terms of assets. The “Sinag” bonds are expected to be issued and listed with the Philippine Dealing and Exchange Corp. on June 10, 2025.
TBy Andrea San Juan
HE Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) would “recalibrate” its strategies after President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. rejected provisions in the BCDA charter, including a hike in the agency’s authorized capital A message sent over Viber read that the BCDA “welcomes” the President’s decision “as an opportunity for an even stronger collaboration with Congress.” In his veto message to both Houses of Congress, Marcos cited concerns raised by
BPI Capital Corp. and Standard Chartered Bank are the joint lead arrangers and selling agents (Jlasa) for the offer.
The Jlasas reserve the right to update the Offer terms, periods and dates prescribed above, as deemed appropriate and with due notice.
Earlier, BPI reported of having posted a net income of P16.6 billion in the first quarter of the year on the back of higher revenues offsetting increases in operating expenses.
The Zobel de Ayala-led lender disclosed last Monday its net income grew by 9 percent from the P15.3 billion recorded during the same period last year. The bank’s income is also higher by 18.3 percent from the P14.1 billion it booked in the fourth quarter of 2024.
BPI President and CEO Jose Teodoro K. Limcaoco said in a news briefing last Monday that the bank is on track to exceed last year’s record net income of P62 billion.
With recession a Damocles sword over the global economy, Limcaoco said he expects the Philippines to be affected. However, he believes that given the strong consumption and with inflation under control, the country would be insulated than most economies.
some agencies that the bill works against the interest of the national government. Among the provisions the President rejected was the proposal to raise the P100 billion in authorized capital of BCDA. (See https://businessmirror. com.ph/2025/04/28/for-risking-fiscal-position-usurping-denr-powerbill-amending-bcda-charter-vetoed/)
THE Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) announced that its pilot e-marketplace racked up P31 million in total sales as of 2025.
In a news briefing last Monday, PSDBM Executive Director Genmaries Entredicho-Caong said 86 orders worth around P80 million have been placed in the e-marketplace. About 15 of these orders amounted to P31 million, which have already been delivered Entredicho-Caong said adding that some orders are pending payment.
There are 63 motor vehicle models currently being sold on the e-marketplace with multi-purpose vehicles and passenger vans as the most-ordered units. Entredicho-Caong said the government was able to save P10 million by procuring motor vehicles through the platform, as the prices of items in the e-marketplace are cheaper by around 30 percent to 40 percent compared to physical markets.
She added that the PS-DBM plans to expand the offerings to include cloud computing services, airline tickets, software and licenses. Later within the year, ICT equipment, printer ink and some paper products will also be up for procurement.
“So once we onboard more merchants, of course, the agencies whose requirements match the brands carried by these merchants, we expect to
gain more sales from them,” Entredirecho-Caong said.
The attached agency of the DBM further anticipates that orders in the e-marketplace will quadruple to P360 million from the current value of orders logged worth P80 million.
“The earlier we procure our goods and services, the earlier this would help the economy,” Budget Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman said. With 70 percent of the national budget spent through public procurement, Pangandaman said improving the efficiency of this process will foster economic activity by creating more jobs and expediting the completion of projects.
This also allows agencies to incur savings through bulk orders, which in turn, provides an additional fiscal space for other programs and grants by the government, added the Budget chief.
Meanwhile, Pangandaman, who leads the Cabinet-level Development Budget and Coordination Committee (DBCC), said there will be no major revisions for the country’s growth target this year.
“No, not yet,” Pangandaman said when asked by reporters, adding that the impact of the United States’ tariffs will affect the economy by less than one percent.
The country’s economic managers set a 6-percent to 8-percent economic growth target for 2025 and 2026.
PERSONAL FINANCE
Fitz Gerard Villafuerte
A children’s art workshop and a shirt that promotes world peace
Fan event centered on the
and world peace, the participants appeared fixated on something else. After all, in this art workshop for children, including some from underprivileged communities, who could blame the bright-eyed kids for not listening to the program’s opening speeches, especially when there were boxes of crayons, pencils, and papers already within their reach?
Global apparel retailer Uniqlo mounted the interactive workshop at Museo Pambata last Friday. The event aligns with a global initiative wherein art seminars are held across 25 countries in Asia, Europe and North America, culminating in a grand showcase of collated outputs in Paris next month. It’s all part of the partnership between Uniqlo’s Peace for All charity T-shirt project and the estate of esteemed visual artist Pablo Picasso.
In 2022, Uniqlo introduced its Peace for All initiative with the idea that “a single shirt has the power to spread peace.” The project features designs provided by the brand’s partner organizations expressing a wish for peace, with all profits from sales of shirts from the collection donated to international humanitarian organizations.
This year, Uniqlo’s Peace for All project welcomed to its roster of partners the Picasso Foundation, marking the first collaboration between the Japanese brand and the iconic artist. The Picasso Peace for All shirt, called “Bouquet of Friendship,” features the artist’s 1958 lithograph The Flowers of Peace, created for a peace demonstration held in Stockholm that year. The image shows two hands clutching onto the same bouquet of lively flowers in a symbolic gesture of hope and unity.
For the Philippine edition of the global effort, Uniqlo invited a few scholars of Project Pearls, a nonprofit organization committed to working for the basic human rights of impoverished children. The brand considers Project Pearls as one of its long-term sustainability partners, as they work toward creating an impact on the lives of underprivileged kids by fostering their creativity and providing outlets to express themselves.
“We thought of creating this art workshop so that the children can really relate to the design of the shirt, which is all about peace,” said Uniqlo Philippines Head of PR And Sustainability Reiny Vergara.
The Uniqlo Peace for All x Picasso art workshop included Project Pearls scholars in Grades 4 to 12 who reside in Tondo, Cavite and Bulacan. Along with other kids, they were taught the basics of the art-making process, primarily how to draw flowers inspired by Picasso’s “Bouquet of Friendship” shirt design. Teaching them were local artists from Uniqlo’s global partner Artolution, a community-based public arts organization founded in creative empowerment through participatory and collaborative art-making.
According to Karen Beblañas, Project Pearls
Education and Literacy Program Manager, their scholars looked forward to the art workshop.
“They were really excited because they usually only get to show their skills in school, their community, and during our Saturday programs. But through this art workshop, I’m sure they will have increased confidence in exploring their art skills even further,” she said.
To date, more than 6.6 million shirts under the Uniqlo Peace for All project have been sold, raising close to US$13 million in donations. The funds raised are provided to three partner organizations, namely, UNHCR (the United Nations Refugee
Agency), Save the Children, and Plan International, all to promote global peace projects. The donations also strengthen initiatives designed to support emergency humanitarian assistance, protect the lives of displaced people around the world, and aid children who are facing difficult circumstances due to conflicts or other issues.
After the workshop, the children’s outputs were collaged into a single piece by the instructors from Artolution. The big canvas will be showcased in a global exhibit at Uniqlo’s Paris store later next month, alongside the collated artworks from other Uniqlo markets worldwide. n
Philippine printmaking exhibit on view
AN exhibition on the rich history and diverse techniques of the art form, Perspectives in Philippine Printmaking showcases a range of works by established masters, current practitioners, and emerging artists.
The event is in collaboration with the Purita KalawLedesma Foundation Inc., the Association of Pinoy Printmakers, and Talyer 15. The installation is produced by the Center for Campus Art and Fine Arts in CultureBased Arts Program of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) and co-presented by Fundacion Sansó.
Curated by visual artist Ricky Francisco, the show traces the growth of printmaking in the country from the 1950s to the present.
“In the late 1950s and early 1960s, several events contributed to the growth of printmaking as a viable medium for art in the Philippines. This means that the growth of printmaking is tied to Philippine modernism as a whole,” Francisco explained.
“This is not to say that the Philippines lacked a tradition of printmaking,” he added. “In fact, the colonization of the country was largely documented and aided by printmaking.” Francisco, with decades of experience as an active museum worker, expounded that 1920s commemorative prints have likewise demonstrated the high degree of technical ability and sophistication of local artists and artisans in the medium.
“These works stand as testimony to the Philippines’ emerging fine art print tradition, one that was slowly evolving under the pressures and influences of colonial history and the interplay of local and foreign aesthetics,” he said. “However, it was with the growth of Modern Philippine Art that printmaking came into its own.”
Perspectives in Philippine Printmaking features approximately 200 prints. Among the highlights are the works of visual artist Manuel Rodriguez Sr., one of the pioneers of printmaking in the country, from the Purita Kalaw-Ledesma Foundation Inc., a non-stock non-profit foundation which promotes the advancement of Philippine Art and Culture.
It includes a notable collection by important practitioners such as the Spanish-born Philippine artist Juvenal Sansó, as represented by the non-profit organization Fundacion Sansó. With his recent passing, the exhibition takes on a deeper significance and DLS-CSB is honored to display his prints and celebrate his legacy as a multi-faceted artist.
Selected entries from over 20 young talented DLS-CSB Fine Arts in Culture-Based Arts students are also on view, which exemplifies the discipline’s continued vitality.
Perspectives in Philippine Printmaking is available on view until June 14 at the 6F Corridor of the Benilde Design + Arts Campus in Malate Manila. It is open Mondays through Saturdays, from 10 am to 6 pm.
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TODAY’S HOROSCOPE
By Eugenia Last
(Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Broaden your knowledge, and you’ll gain perspective regarding something you want to pursue. Planning a trip, signing up for a course or engaging in a rally that offers insight into how you can contribute will give you a sense of belonging and purpose. HHHHH
h SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Use your energy wisely. Exercise, competitive sports, physical challenges and participating in something that motivates you will positively impact your life. An investment looks promising. Research, use intelligence and discipline, and position yourself for victory. A financial gain and lifestyle change are apparent if you are true to yourself and trust your instincts. HHH
iSAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Domestic issues will surface if you are reluctant to handle matters upfront. Hesitation will lead to accumulated mistrust with someone you need to get along with. Take an innovative approach, choose your words wisely and make a reasonable suggestion or offer, and you will gain respect and avoid mind games. HHH
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CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Listen, observe and protect your achievements and possessions. Tone down the rhetoric and refrain from bragging about what or how much you’ve got. A change of attitude regarding who you allow in your inner circle will help you maintain your status quo and keep outsiders from guessing your next move. HHHHH
kAQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Stay calm, pace yourself and make only necessary changes. Focus on broadening your outlook, skills and pursuits and pouring your energy into actions rather than discord. A talent, skill or idea will carry you in a direction that offers more significant income, a higher position or selfimprovement. Explore the possibilities. HH
lPISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Settle in and look at the big picture. Before making a move or altering how you feel and do things, be sure to study the consequences and who stands to win or lose. Worthwhile change begins with a positive attitude and the intent to choose what works for the majority. HHH
BIRTHDAY BABY: You are unyielding, emotional and articulate. You are outgoing and intense.
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BY MATT FOREST
The Universal Crossword • Edited by David Steinberg/Anna
Scenes from Uniqlo’s recent Peace for All x Picasso art workshop at Museo Pambata, featuring the collated output set to be showcased in a global exhibit in Paris next month. The participants mostly include scholars of Project Perlas, a
‘SINNERS’ BITES OFF A PHENOMENAL 2ND WEEKEND AS A 20-YEAR-OLD STAR WARS MOVIE TAKES 2ND PLACE
HORROR movies are often one-week wonders at the box office, but Ryan Coogler’s Sinners is defying the odds and proving to be true event cinema
In its second weekend in theaters, Sinners earned $45 million in ticket sales from theaters in the US and Canada, according to studio estimates Sunday. That’s down a miniscule 6% from its Easter holiday launch, the smallest drop in any genre since Avatar in 2009. Worldwide, Sinners has now made $161.6 million.
For the industry, the showing proves the film’s reach has broadened beyond horror fans to mainstream audiences wanting to see what the hype is about. Last weekend, men made up 56% of the audience. This weekend, the gender divide narrowed to 50/50. Premium large format showings, like the 70mm IMAX screens, are also a big draw. IMAX screens worldwide accounted for some 21% of the second weekend globally, a nearly 9% increase from last weekend.
The original ensemble movie, starring Michael B. Jordan as twins, rode into theaters on a wave of great reviews. And, to be fair, Sinners isn’t simply a horror film: It blends elements of drama, action and musical into its southern gothic milieu.
“That’s one of the lowest second weekend holds for an overperforming wide release ever,” said Paul Dergarabedian, the senior media analyst for Comscore. “It’s an absolute phenomenon.”
Hollywood expects significant drop-off in a movie’s second week of release. Even a 50% dip is considered a solid number, baked into the movie math. When it’s anything less than that, it’s notable.
“You can buy a great opening weekend with marketing, but if a movie doesn’t have the goods, it’ll drop-off,” Dergarabedian said. “There’s no greater barometer of success than a second weekend hold like this.”
The film was produced by Coogler’s Proximity Media and Warner Bros., which handled the theatrical release. After some disappointments earlier in the year, it’s the second major win for the studio after A Minecraft Movie helped energize the box office earlier this month. Sinners easily topped the biggest new competition this week: The Accountant 2, a sequel starring Ben Affleck and released by Amazon MGM Studios, which opened in third place with an estimated $24.5 million in its first weekend. Gavin O’Connor directed the film, which played in 3,610 theaters in North America. Audiences gave it a promising A- CinemaScore.
The film that beat The Accountant 2 for second place was a 20-year-old Star Wars movie: Revenge of the Sith. The anniversary re-release took in an estimated $25.2 million over the weekend, with many sellouts reported, more than doubling last year’s release of The Phantom Menace. Internationally, it earned $17 million from 34 territories, giving it a $42.2 million global weekend. It’s one of the top grossing re-releases ever. A Minecraft Movie landed in fourth place with $22.7 million, bringing its domestic total to around $380 million. The scary video game adaptation Until Dawn also opened this weekend to an estimated $8 million, rounding out the top five. Sony Pictures released the film, starring Ella Rubin and Michael Cimino, which has earned $18.1 million globally.
The Minecraft and Sinners wins have meant a huge boost for the April box office, which is up 102% from April 2024. The annual box office is also up over 10% from last year after running at a double-digit deficit in March. And this is all happening right before the industry’s summer movie season kicks off on May 2 with Disney’s Thunderbolts*.
“There cannot be a better opening act for the summer movie season than this weekend,” Dergarabedian said. AP
Grief is really just love
AGOOD friend who lost a loved one recently shared the realization she had while she was in mourning over the passing of her longtime companion — that the core of grief is still love, the love that the griever would want so much to give and release, but can no longer do it because the receiver is gone, for good. In recent weeks, there were a lot of final goodbyes—Gloria Romero, Nora Aunor, Pilita Corrales, Hajji Alejandro, and Pope Francis.
Janine Gutierrez lost both her grandmothers in less than a week. Aunor passed away on April 16 while Corrales on April 12. She had originally planned to take a 10 day off from work to travel but things took a turnaround. “I think of my two new angels and how they always powered through. I
‘Black
AYALA Malls Cinemas continues to set the standard as the premier destination for movie enthusiasts, offering an unmatched cinematic experience tailored for true film lovers. As the goto spot for exclusive releases, Ayala Malls Cinemas presents Black Bag—the latest edge-of-your-seat spy thriller from acclaimed director Steven Soderbergh. Featuring a stellar cast including Michael Fassbender, Cate Blanchett, Marisa
think of how I can continuously make them proud,” she posted on her social media accounts.
Romero’s daughter Maritess and only grandson Christopher were strength personified during Corrales’s wake, attending to family and friends who came to pay their last respects to the movie queen. Their pain was visible but both remained composed and calm throughout those emotionallycharged days.
“During those hours when all the people had left, although we were physically tired, those quiet times were the moments when we mourned and grieved in silence, in the confines of our bedroom, when I spoke to God and Mom alternately, to watch over us, to give us strength to move on now that she is gone,” Romero’s precious unica hija shared with us recently. Hajji Alejandro’s singer-daughter Rachel did not arrive in time for the cremation of her dad, but penned a heart-wrenching tribute on social media. Alejandro compared her father to the brightest star in the galaxy, whom she described was a happy, optimistic man who provided for his family, and his longtime partner Alynna Velasquez. We were also deeply touched by the images of an old nun in a navy blue habit and headscarf, shedding tears as she reflectively fixed her gaze at the lifeless body of Pope Francis.
Sister Genevieve Jeanningros, a good friend of
the late Pope was allowed to break protocol to stand in an area normally reserved for cardinals, priests and bishops, very close to the open coffin of her dear friend of more than two decades. The 81-yearold French-Argentinian nun stood in solitude and contemplation, initially sobbing uncontrollably, her hands drawn quickly to her face.
Sister Genevieve first met the Pope when he was still Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, in the early 2000s, when he was the Archbishop of Buenos Aires. They’d remained in touch, and since 2022 she had been regularly attending the general audiences of the Pope in the Vatican. In some occasions, she also brought groups of migrants and transgender prostitutes with her to meet the Pope. She saw him for the last time around nine months ago, when Pope Francis visited her in Ostia, Rome.
Her grief was very raw, quiet yet powerful, a reflection of the close bond she had with her good friend who had gone ahead.
It’s a different kind of loneliness when someone beloved has gone ahead. There are no words to describe the loneliness that comes with a loss that is forever. Their loved ones are uniquely theirs and theirs alone, and so is their loneliness.
Grief, indeed, is just love with no place to go. May those who are experiencing a deep sense of loss at these times be consoled with an overflowing love that calms, comforts and consoles. n
Ayala Malls Cinemas beginning May 7
Abela, Tom Burke, Naomie Harris, Regé-Jean Page, and Pierce Brosnan, this gripping film is best experienced at Ayala Malls Cinemas.
Black Bag revolves around George Woodhouse (Fassbender), a top British intelligence officer working for the National Cybersecurity Center (NCSC) as he faces the ultimate test of loyalty when he investigates a critical security breach. His devotion to his country is only matched by his loyalty to his wife, fellow agent
MICHAEL Fassbender and Cate Blanchett in Black Bag.
Kathryn St. Jean (Cate Blanchett). When the agency is alerted to a mole within their ranks, Woodhouse is given a list of five suspects to investigate, a list that includes his beloved wife.
The trailer can be seen at https://tinyurl.com/ bdz5nrfw.
As the heart of the film is centered around the relationship between George and Kathryn, writer David Koepp and director Steven Soderbergh wanted actors that will deliver authenticity, and that’s where Fassbender and Blanchett come in. “Both Michael and Cate bring exceptional acting skill, which is easy to say but difficult to find,” Koepp says. “They both have a powerful understanding of screen acting and how to do more with less. George’s job is to withhold, to be steely.
Michael’s performance is a masterpiece of minimalism.
Cate’s role is much more expressive, but you often wonder what’s really going on behind her eyes.”
Renowned for showcasing a dynamic lineup of internationally acclaimed films from celebrated directors and stars across all genres, Ayala Malls Cinemas offers more than just a movie—it delivers a full cinematic escape. Enjoy state-of-the-art visuals and immersive audio with Dolby ATMOS technology, all while relaxing in plush, comfortable seating designed for maximum enjoyment.
Elevate your movie night with a visit to The Movie Snackbar, where you can indulge in a variety of delicious treats, from classic popcorn to hearty burgers and refreshing drinks.
Black Bag is showing exclusively at Ayala Malls Cinemas starting May 7.
FROM left: Janine Gutierrez with grandma Pilita Corrales, Maritess Gutierrez with mom Gloria Romero, and Rachel Alejandro with dad Hajji.
STARRING
DSWD, Tulong Kapatid Partner to Expand Services for Filipinos
TULONG Kapatid, the corporate social responsibility alliance of foundations under the MVP Group of Companies, led by its Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan, recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). As the MVP Group’s unified CSR arm, Tulong Kapatid brings together the philanthropic efforts of its member foundations to deliver a collective and coordinated impact. With a shared goal of making a broader difference in the lives of Filipinos, DSWD and Tulong Kapatid will work hand in hand to expand the reach of vital social services across the country.
By working together, the DSWD and Tulong Kapatid aim to create broader, more meaningful impacts through aligned initiatives and pooled resources. This collaboration will support the implementation of DSWD programs such as Walang Gutom 2027, Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program, Sustainable Livelihood Program, Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, KALAHI-CIDSS, and Disaster Response Operations.
Tulong Kapatid will enhance its existing initiatives and align them with sustainable programs to support DSWD’s mission of uplifting the living conditions of the poor, vulnerable, and disadvantaged sectors of society. Through this partnership, the combined strengths of the MVP Group Foundations will reinforce government-led efforts across multiple fronts.
In the signed agreement, the PLDTSmart Foundation (PSF) will provide food and disaster relief, support livelihood initiatives, and offer skills training. One Meralco Foundation (OMF) will contribute to community electrification, sustainable livelihood, environmental programs, and emergency aid. Alagang Kapatid Foundation (AKFI) will deliver relief packs, hygiene kits, and small-scale livelihood support.
Metro Pacific Investments Foundation (MPIF) will aid in environmental and disaster relief efforts as well as livelihood assistance. Maynilad Water Services, Inc. (MWSI) will lend its expertise in water sanitation and hygiene (WASH), provide water in calamity or disaster-affected areas, and conduct educational activities. Makati Medical Center Foundation (MMCF) will offer medical services, nutrition programs, and emergency response support.
In his message during the ceremonial signing on April 10, 2025 at the DSWD New Press Center in Quezon City, DSWD Secretary Hon. Rex Gatchalian said the partnership exemplifies a whole-of-society approach to social development.
“It is our belief that social progress and development can be achieved when all
sectors collaborate and work together for the united purpose of extending help to those who need it most, as we steer them towards a better life. Thus, on behalf of the Department, I am privileged to forge this formal partnership with the MVP Group Tulong Kapatid,” said Gatchalian.
Pangilinan spoke on the importance of purposeful collaboration, noting how partnerships like this can shape a more responsive and inclusive approach to public service: “Sometimes, the most important work is not always the most visible. There is an intangible infrastructure that holds our nation together. Compassion, solidarity, and the will to serve, these are some attributes that are hallmarks of the DSWD under the leadership of Secretary Rex. We’re here because we share the common conviction with the DSWD that the strength of the nation lies in how it cares for its most needy and vulnerable.”
This collaboration opens the door to more responsive, inclusive, and sustained service delivery. While much work remains, this partnership sets the groundwork for sustained efforts that aim to improve everyday realities for Filipino communities across the country.
BPI, Knowledge Channel Foundation continue to empower students through financial education series
THE Bank of the Philippines Islands (BPI), through its social development arm, BPI Foundation (BPIF), strengthens its commitment to financial literacy by partnering with Knowledge Channel Foundation, Inc. (KCFI) to bring “Estudyantipid,” an engaging financial education video series, to schools in the Bicol region. This partnership is supported by the donation of Knowledge Channel TVs (KCTV), ensuring students gain access to quality financial learning resources.
BPIF and KCFI are working together to provide KCTVs to beneficiary schools in Naga City, Camarines Sur, and Sorsogon, areas significantly affected by Typhoon Kristine last year. More than just providing equipment, this initiative aims to instill financial awareness and
responsibility among students.
“Together with our partners from KCFI, we are delighted to contribute to the revitalization efforts of our beneficiary schools in Bicol. Through the “Estudyantipid” series, we aim to inspire and equip the youth with essential financial knowledge, helping them develop healthy financial habits early on. By doing so, we empower them to build a more secure and financially stable future,” said Carmina Marquez, BPIF Executive Director.
Launched in September 2024, “Estudyantipid” presents short-form video lessons that introduce students to basic financial concepts, including saving, budgeting, and responsible spending. Integrating these lessons into classroom learning empowers students
MR.D.I.Y., a leading home improvement retailer in the Philippines, has made a landmark move by becoming the first retail company to participate in the Retail Aggregation Program (RAP) and switch to 100 percent renewable energy through ACEN RES, the retail electricity supply unit of the Ayala group.
Under the agreement, ACEN RES will supply power to 28
MR.D.I.Y.’s stores and facilities in Metro Manila, Rizal, Quezon, Laguna, Bulacan, and Cavite using 100 percent renewable energy sourced from its diverse portfolio of solar, wind, and geothermal power plants.
This initiative marks a significant step towards sustainable operations for MR.D.I.Y. and sets a precedent for other retail companies to embrace renewable energy solutions.
The Retail Aggregation Program, initiated by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), enables multiple electricity consumers to pool their power demand and negotiate supply terms directly with a licensed retail electricity supplier like ACEN RES.
This program empowers businesses to access competitive rates and have greater control over their power supply terms. In the case of MR.D.I.Y., the switch to retail aggregation also opened the opportunity for the company to draw its supply exclusively from renewable energy sources.
MR.D.I.Y. Philippines also transitioned its first 100 percent Renewable Energy-Powered Facility in its Dasmariñas Warehouse last October 2024 through the Green Energy Option Program in partnership with ACEN.
In recognition of MR.D.I.Y.’s commitment to sustainability, ACEN RES awarded the company with its proprietary “Powered by Renewable Energy” badge. This badge serves as a symbol of distinction, highlighting businesses that have made the switch to 100% renewable energy through ACEN RES. ERC Chair Monalisa Dimalanta said, “The ERC is pleased to see MR.D.I.Y. taking full advantage of the Retail Aggregation Program. This initiative demonstrates the program’s potential to empower businesses by
in their journey towards sustainability. This partnership demonstrates the viability and benefits of renewable energy for retail businesses. By providing 100 percent renewable energy, we are helping MR.DIY reduce its carbon footprint and achieve its sustainability goals. The ‘Powered by Renewable Energy’badge is a testament
to build smart financial habits that will serve them well into adulthood. The program supports the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) ongoing advocacy for youth financial literacy.
The partnership between BPIF and KCFI was launched in 2024, during which 15 KCTVs were donated to lastmile schools across various provinces, including Ifugao, Aklan, Cebu, South Cotabato, and Sarangani, benefiting over 8,000 students.
This year, Tinago National High School in Naga City became the first recipient of a KCTV, providing students and teachers with access to “Estudyantipid” and other valuable educational content. Additional schools in Bula, Camarines Sur, and Donsol, Sorsogon, will also receive KCTVs as part of this ongoing effort. The initiative is expected to benefit over 7,000 students in the region.
“We are pleased to partner with BPIF in this transformative campaign to support the Filipino youth. By integrating Estudyantipid into classroom learning, we aim to equip students with essential financial knowledge, empowering them to make informed decisions and build a foundation for long-term success,” said Edric Calma, KCFI Vice President.
BPI has remained dedicated to empowering Filipinos and building a better Philippines—one family, one community at a time. Through BPIF, Estudyantipid and the donation of KCTVs underscore BPI’s commitment to its aspiration, “Kasama Lahat sa Pag-Unlad,” reinforcing its role as a catalyst for financial inclusivity and education.
renewable energy—a milestone in sustainability and innovation
How Para-Paraan Reimagined Metro Manila and the Everyday Commute
Middle Child Media has officially concluded the broadcast of “Para-Paraan,”a dynamic and informative show created especially for Metro Manila commuters, with a focus on Thomasians. It was produced by third-year Communication students from the University of Santo Tomas’ Faculty of Arts and Letters, in line with the academic requirements of their TV Production course.
The show was developed under the mentorship of Assistant Professor Faye M. Abugan, MA, a seasoned media professional. The show provided insights into the city’s complex transportation system under a distinctive game-show format that combined education and entertainment.
Each episode followed three Thomasian challengers as they embarked on a race from the University of Santo Tomas to various key destinations across the metro. Their mission was to determine which route was the fastest, most affordable, and most convenient. The show also featured insights from transportation and infrastructure professionals, which shed light on broader efforts to improve commuter experiences in the Philippines. At its core, Para-Paraan aimed to answer a common yet crucial question: “What is the best way to go from Point A to Point B?” In its pilot episode, challengers Ynigo Diaz, Jake Caraan, and Chelsea Derla took on the journey to the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) using different modes of public transport: UV Express and e-jeep, LRT, and bus, respectively. The episode also featured expert insights from Ms. Kolyn Gervacio-Calbasa, Senior Corporate Affairs Officer at MWM Terminals, Inc. (PITX), who emphasized the importance of early travel to avoid peak-hour congestion. She also highlighted the direct LRT-1 connection to PITX as a gamechanging development in Manila’s public transport system. The second episode saw all three challengers take on the bustling commuter hotspot of Cubao, which is widely known as ‘the center of the universe’ for its complex network of transit options. Expert insights were provided by Gabriel Go, Head of the MMDA’s Special Operations Group – Strike Force. Go emphasized the critical role of pedestrian infrastructure in solving Metro Manila’s traffic issues. He noted safe and accessible sidewalks as a top priority to an effective and inclusive transportation system. For its final episode, Diaz, Caraan, and Derla
MVP Group of Companies Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan with DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian during the signing of the MOU between Tulong Kapatid and DSWD.
EDUCATORS and community members attend an insightful session on making informed financial decisions, facilitated by the BPI Foundation and Knowledge Channel.
REPRESENTATIVES from ACEN RES and MR.DIY proudly celebrate their groundbreaking collaboration on the ‘Retail Aggregation Program,’ marking MR.DIY’s switch to 100 percent
Trump’s 100-day blitz: A high-speed agenda sparks economic concerns and political risks
By Josh Wingrove, Nancy Cook, Jennifer A Dlouhy & Stephanie Lai
WHEN Stephen Miller left the White House in 2021, the key adviser to Donald Trump turned in his badge with a parting quip: “I’ll see you in four years.”
Almost immediately, Miller and a cadre of loyalists set about devising a flurry of actions and orders they’d unleash if the 45th president was able to mount a comeback.
The fine print was later drawn up in a nondescript building in West Palm Beach, the nerve center of Trump’s 2024 campaign and, eventually, the transition. A floorto-ceiling likeness of Trump— bearing the words “Welcome to the Thunderdome”—covered one wall. The team repackaged some of Trump’s first-term priorities to make them more likely to become entrenched. And they were girded for legal fights they expected, if not sought—in part thanks to the work of conservative groups founded by Miller and other Trump allies after his 2020 election loss.
That preparation, described by people familiar with the process, enabled what has been a defining feature of the first 100 days of Trump’s second term: A breakneck speed that is both one of the administration’s most effective tools and most glaring vulnerabilities.
It allowed Trump to put his black Sharpie signature on a dizzying number of executive orders on everything from energy to education and diversity efforts that have overwhelmed opponents of his MAGA agenda and exploited the slow-moving nature of court challenges. Senior administration officials tout their rapidly enacted immigration policies as helping to dramatically slow illegal crossings at the US Southern border.
But the quick tempo has also sent the administration hurtling toward economic and political peril. The president’s hastily implemented and frequently revised tariff policies have sown deep uncertainty among trading partners and in financial markets. Economists say the levies have increased the odds of a US recession—a potentially devastating blow to credibility for a president who reclaimed the White House on the promise of taming price increases and delivering prosperity.
“The president was elected to tackle the border crisis and to address the economy,” said Marc Short, a first-term Trump aide. “One he is doing well and one he is not.”
Another signature effort, Elon Musk’s DOGE cost-cutting campaign, has fueled chaos as it moved rapidly to fire thousands of government employees and gut a raft of programs, including initiatives some Republicans would have preferred to keep.
Now Trump faces the enormous challenge of implementing the cavalcade of executive orders he has enacted, a task that is likely to be especially daunting when the ranks of staff remain thin at key agencies such as Treasury, Commerce and the Energy Department.
“It’s nice that they’re moving
quickly, but this is going to take persistent effort for all of the four years,” said Ben Lieberman, a senior fellow with the Competitive Enterprise Institute.
Trump’s aggressive pace is accompanied by greater confidence in his political instincts and an inner circle even more stocked than last time with loyalists. That combination has left him emboldened to test the limits of executive power like never before, such as his exploration of whether he can fire Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell—an idea he appears to have backed away from.
Trump and his team say they’ve learned lessons from the first term about who to hire and how to effectively ingrain their agenda— even as polls offer warning signs that his moves so far are weighing on his popularity. Trump heads to Michigan Tuesday to tout his manufacturing agenda and 100day blitz.
“We’re setting records right now—we’re getting more things approved than any president has ever done in the first 100 days; it’s not even close,” Trump said in an April 8 speech. “And we’re going to continue that way, if not more so.”
Feedback loop of affirmation TRUMP has slipped comfortably back into the trappings of the presidency. He spends time cloistered in the White House and decamps nearly every weekend to Palm Beach, humming with MAGA acolytes and administration officials. Trump observed a strike on the Houthis from a temporary situation room set up at the golf club.
He remains a voracious consumer of cable television and has been listening to podcasts when he can’t sleep, including one on the Civil War and another by his crypto adviser, David Sacks, according to a person familiar with his habits.
One former president is occupying his mind: William McKinley, who as a member of Congress rolled out tariffs on the scale Trump is now contemplating. McKinley’s tariffs were widely seen as unpopular. To Trump, though, they made America rich. Trump’s trade agenda is part of his larger plan to drastically overhaul how the federal government does business and to reject what he sees as failures of the existing world order, said one senior administration official. Tariffs have been a rare issue to pierce what is often a feedback loop of affirmation for Trump that includes his top advisers and cabinet leaders. US automakers won a reprieve from levies after appealing to Trump, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent largely has taken over talks with trading partners after Trump paused them to stem a market rout.
Despite that key role for Bessent, tariff hawk Peter Navarro still occupies a special place in the Trump orbit. Trump views the
Harvard-trained economist as one of his most loyal aides after Navarro served four months in jail for defying a subpoena to testify about the January 6, 2021, riot at the US Capitol.
Trump aides and allies have downplayed the 100-day milestone—they insist the pace will not abate and cast it as an artificial metric. One senior administration official said there are many other initiatives, particularly on culture war issues, that the Trump team has yet to unveil.
But Trump himself has hinted he’s not exactly ignoring the measure.
In a rally a day before his inauguration, he promised “the best first day, the biggest first week, and the most extraordinary first 100 days of any presidency in American history.”
Flood the zone PERHAPS the most frenzied day of the second Trump administration came on April 9, when the president made a surprise announcement that he would pause most of the sweeping so-called reciprocal tariffs that had gone into effect roughly 13 hours earlier, while further raising the rate on China. The retreat fed a euphoric rally in a stock market that had just plunged close to bear-market territory.
Yet on that hugely consequential day, the president quickly turned to another subject close to his heart—or, at least his head—when he signed an executive order directing the repeal of conservation standards that limit showerhead water flows.
“I have to stand under the shower for 15 minutes until it gets wet,” he complained to reporters in the Oval Office. “It comes out— drip, drip, drip—it’s ridiculous.”
The moment reflected the flood-the-zone strategy Miller has encouraged, with the president ping-ponging from his globalorder-busting tariff policy to something seemingly so mundane. And the policy itself puts in sharp relief the administration’s wider strategy for executive orders.
Trump, who has said the curbs on water pressure make it difficult to wash his “beautiful hair,” had already tried to unwind the limits during his first term. Those 2020 changes were reversed under former President Joe Biden— and Trump’s advisers had been plotting a redo ever since.
This time, they came prepared, armed with plans to get the regulatory pivot in motion right away. The order Trump signed this month includes a controversial— and legally risky—gambit to expedite the change by waiving requirements that significant regulatory shifts be accompanied by public notice and comment periods. Instead, Trump declared in his order: Such “notice and comment is unnecessary because I am ordering the repeal.”
It was classic second-term Trump—using an executive order to address a grievance and unfinished business from his first four years, while testing the bounds of presidential authority in novel ways.
And, it was in keeping with a message delivered repeatedly to officials and lawyers who’ve helped draft executive orders. Instead of questioning whether something can be done, ask why can’t we do it, said a person familiar with the matter.
Trump has used executive orders to push the limits of the power of his office, invoking emergency powers and national security concerns to impose tariffs, deport foreigners in the US, freeze federal funding in defiance of Congress and strip security clearances from law firms with ties to political opponents. Many of Trump’s orders also seek to extend the reach of the federal government well beyond Washington, directing Justice Department probes and mandates that have prompted changes from statehouses to corporate boardrooms.
Critics say some of Trump’s orders are blatantly contrary to federal law. But that may be a feature—not a bug—for administration officials and advocates who’ve openly relished the opportunity for Supreme Court rulings on the president’s power.
‘Intellectual Godfathers’ THE roadmap for Trump’s second act has been years in the making. Allies in 2021 launched the influential America First Policy Institute think tank and Miller created America First Legal in a bid to avoid the legal pitfalls of the first term. Two years later, the Heritage Foundation published Project 2025. All three groups, along with a wider constellation of think tanks, policy analysts and lawyers, effectively stocked readymade policy options that were designed in response to Trump’s public remarks to deliver on his vision.
“Preparation is key, and in some cases, preparation is king,” said Chad Wolf, a former top Trump official who’s now executive vice president of America First Policy Institute.
Mike McKenna, a former White House adviser under Trump, said it was largely a trio of “intellectual godfathers” teeing up the next term: Miller, longtime Trump whisperer (and occasional public critic) Steve Bannon, and trade adviser Navarro.
As Trump’s 2024 campaign heated up, his allies used that scaffolding. Conservatives aligned with the Heritage Foundation held dozens of listening sessions with hundreds of experts and representatives from key industries, including health care, finance, energy and agriculture. The events were run like focus groups, with leaders helping coax participants to go beyond outlining routine policy wish lists to share more original and innovative ideas. The sessions led to policy recommendations, but, just as importantly, said one participant, served to knit together a network, with some of the experts now serving in the administration.
Meanwhile, teams of conservative lawyers, former government officials and think tank representatives across Washington were drafting potential language to implement policy changes, including unfinished business from Trump’s first term. The effort spanned subjects from energy to financial services, with participants going beyond just writing executive orders to developing the framework of other key regulatory documents, according to people familiar with the initiative.
Not every major Trump effort has had extensive groundwork.
A White House official conceded that DOGE, the Musk-led project to remake the federal government, was an effort that took shape throughout the first 100 days, on the fly. Musk’s moves sometimes surprised and dismayed administration officials, who were not always kept abreast of his plans and who did not always agree with his tactics, like locking federal workers out of offices for show.
That may help explain why its ambitions appear to have narrowed. Musk once mused about finding $2 trillion in savings, but he’s since floated a $150 billion target.
Transition team
AFTER Trump defeated Kamala Harris in November, Miller and another policy aide, Vince Haley, led the effort on orders and presidential memos, helping to ensure a flurry of actions awaited Trump’s signature hours after inauguration. The transition policy team also included Russ Vought, Mark Paoletta and May Mailman—all veterans of Trump’s first term—who helped shape the executive orders, people familiar with the matter said.
The transition team purposefully didn’t let the cabinet picks know the full extent of the plans, so they could avoid them coming into play in confirmation hearings, one Trump adviser said. Meanwhile, a separate team of aggressive, onlinecentric operatives mapped out a strategy to ensure even the most controversial nominees got confirmed by the Senate. They threatened to bully and mount primary challenges for any lawmaker who did not comply.
Vice President JD Vance served as a key conduit to Capitol Hill during contentious confirmation processes.
Vance and the entire White House team are “returning calls, they’re reaching out, they’re initiating conversation and they’re not letting you be surprised by what is going to happen,” said Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn.
Many of the aides who arrived in Washington with Trump
had worked on his campaign, helping make his operation more cohesive than last time. His chief of staff, Susie Wiles, holds clear authority—a contrast to early in Trump’s first term when Reince Priebus, Jared Kushner and Bannon were competing centers of power.
Trump’s top advisers are also committed to swiftly translating the president’s policy utterances into reality. The dynamic means asides in speeches or quips to reporters can rapidly form the basis of new policy—but also add to the workload for staff tasked with developing new initiatives instead of focusing on long-term administration priorities.
Take, for instance, Trump’s surprise commitment at an April 8 event to offer government guarantees meant to keep coal companies in business despite political shifts in Washington. Trump confessed he’d just come up with the idea “about 15 minutes before I got up here,” but staff were already working on it.
Looking abroad
TRUMP has told aides he’s delighted with the early pace, hanging photos of his ordersignings through the West Wing. Still, some of his pledges abroad have fallen flat—his promised swift end to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine hasn’t materialized, there’s little to show for his vow to confront Iran and he’s expressed misgivings about the outcome so far of the hostage deal between Hamas and Israel that he once took credit for. One official summarized his next 100 days in four words: trade deals, peace deals.
At home, the “one, big, beautiful bill” to overhaul taxes is a core part of his plan for the border, and to offset the economic headwind of his tariffs. However, it’s anything but a sure thing to pass and could add trillions to the budget deficit.
Trump has turned his attention to pressuring Republicans lawmakers to pass the bill. “IT MUST BE DONE,” he wrote in one post Sunday. In another, he floated that tariff revenue could offset income-tax cuts, with a focus on those making under $200,000 annually.
Democrats, meanwhile, are grappling with how to counter it—and Trump himself.
“We have to have the backs of the American people and focus on showing how we can deliver the things that he’s not delivering, the unkept promises,” said Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota.
Democrats should also highlight Trump’s clashes with courts and attempts to expand presidential authority, she said. “But most of the people out there in my state are talking to me about the economy.”
Polling suggests her party may have an opening there, with a majority of voters disapproving of Trump’s handling of the economy. The president will likely use his Tuesday appearance in Michigan to try to bolster his standing on this issue, talking up his vision to use tariffs to bring manufacturing back to the US.
“They want to continue to push the envelope, and they want to do more, and they want to do better,” said AFPI’s Wolf.
“So I don’t think they’re quite satisfied yet.” With assistance from Gregory Korte/Bloomberg
Editor: Jun Lomibao
Suzuki takes one-shot lead over Sarines
STRONG start gave Ryuji
ASuzuki some cushion, taking the lead despite two late bogeys in the first round of the International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) Splendido Taal Junior Philippine Golf Tour (JPGT) Championship on Monday in Laurel, Batangas.
Suzuki carded a 77 at the tough Splendido Taal Golf Club, seizing a one-shot lead over Vito Sarines in the 11-14 division.
Dominant at Eagle Ridge, Suzuki seemed on track for another early surge after shooting two birdies against two bogeys with three holes left coming in.
However, bogeys on the seventh and ninth holes forced him to settle for nines of 37-40, keeping Sarines—who beat Suzuki by five shots at Sherwood Hills—well within striking distance after posting a 78, highlighted by two birdies on the back nine.
Jacob Casuga, who stayed close to the frontrunners early on, faltered with a frontside 42 for an 84, dropping seven shots behind Suzuki. Meanwhile, Matthias Espina and Ryuichi Tao turned in matching 86s, and Robert Coyiuto scored a 92.
Suzuki lamented his struggles on the greens, citing costly errors.
“I could’ve played better if not for two four-putts,” said Suzuki, who remains wellpositioned for another leg win.
“Anything can happen here, but I hope to hit a lot of fairways tomorrow [Tuesday]. Because if you don’t, most likely you’ll end up with a bogey,” he added.
The battle for the girls’ plum in the same age group also came down to a shootout, as twin sisters Lisa and Mona Sarines turned in identical 78s with matching 38-40 nines to lead Alexie Gabi by five strokes.
Lisa, who swept the first two legs at Eagle Ridge and Sherwood Hills, had to birdie the final hole (No. 9) to catch Mona, who is determined to end her sister’s early domination of the sevenstage series that stakes ranking points for spots in the North vs South finals.
“My game wasn’t great today [Monday]—I struggled to get my drives on the fairways,” rued Lisa, who carded five bogeys and two double bogeys against three birdies. “I made some birdies, but I just couldn’t really get my game going.”
Javiniar eclipses Carcueva in Tour of Luzon Stage 5
By Josef T. Ramos
CLARK, Pampanga—Joseph Javiniar attacked with five kilometers left and held on to win the fifth stage of the Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC) Tour of Luzon: The Great Revival on Monday. Now a rider for Excellent Noodles Cycling Team after leaving his job as a waiter at a Filipino restaurant in Laguna, Javiniar finished the 160.6-kilometer Calrk-to-Clark stage in three hours, 29 minutes and 20 seconds. Javiniar held off three-time national cycling road champion Jonel Carcueva of MPT Drivehub, who finished 42 seconds behind with Marc Ryan Lago of Go For Gold completing the podium for the day.
“I didn’t expect to win. It was a tough breakaway. I almost gave up but I pushed myself to finish strong,” Javiniar said.
“I resigned as a waiter in Laguna to focus on competitive cycling two
years ago,” Javiniar, who also pocketed P10,000 for the stage win, added. “This is also my first career stage victory.”
South Korea’s Joo Dae-Yeong of Gapyeong Cycling Team kept the yellow jersey on his shoulders with an aggregate time of 14 hours, seven minutes and 40 seconds after five stages.
Ronald Oranza of Standard Insurance Philippines trails four minutes and 30 seconds in the individual general classification.
Aidan James Mendoza of Go For Gold Cycling Team stayed in third, 4:36 behind, while Dominic Perez of Exodus Army Cycling Team remained in fourth (4:43) followed by Mervin Corpuz of MPT Drivehub (4:44).
George Oconer of Standard Insurance Philippines stands sixth (4:46) and Rustom Lim of MPT Drivehub seventh (4:54) followed by Carcueva (4:57), Jeremy Lizardo of Standard Insurance (5:05) and Lago (5:10).
An eight-man group launched an
attack right on the iconic Sacobia Bridge in Mabalacat, Pampanga just after the neutral zone.
The speeding pack held on to the lead throughout to as far as San Jose in Tarlac where the rolling and swerving terrain, plus the heat, made life difficult for the 99 surviving riders from 16 teams in the eight-stage race presented by DuckWorld PH and Cignal.
Meanwhile, Excellent Noodles owner Alex Billan praised not only Javiniar, underscoring the efforts of Angelo Ombal, Ryan Tugawin, Joshua Pascual, Mar Sudario, Jomar Camingao and Ramon Dela Cruz.
“We expected the race to be very hard today and everyone was aggressive so we anticipated it. So we made a plan throughout the race,” Billan, a longtime cycling aficionado, said.
Billan placed fourth in the executive race last Sunday. Standard Insurance Philippines kept the team general classification
Bigger volleyball events eyed after AVC success
FOR an organization initially hesitant to take on the challenge, Sports Vision’s seamless organization and execution of the just-concluded AVC Women’s Volleyball Champions League proved nothing short of spectacular.
Despite being tapped on short notice after Korea and Vietnam backed out due to logistical issues, Sports Vision—through its Premier Volleyball League—rose to the occasion. Top officials from the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) were unanimous in their praise of the smooth and successful staging of what used to be the Asian Club Championship for Men and Women.
“At first, it was supposed to be Korea, then Vietnam. But after some challenges,
we talked to Ricky Palou and Don Caringal, and agreed there was no other choice but to host it here,” said AVC and Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) president Ramon Suzara. He thanked the PVL for stepping up.
“This is an important event. We appreciate Sports Vision’s commitment. Since I became president, we’ve worked to rebrand the Champions League to create a new image for AVC, and this hosting was a perfect start,” said Suzara.
Palou, president of Sports Vision and the PVL, humbly shared the credit with his team, emphasizing the collective effort that ensured the successful hosting of 12 top clubs from
10 different countries.
Beyond just pulling off the event, Palou noted that hosting the Champions League provided valuable insights that will help further strengthen the organization of the country’s premier women’s volleyball league.
Sports Vision has long been at the forefront of Philippine volleyball, having revived the sport in 2004 with the Shakey’s V-League, and later rebranding it into the PVL. In 2021, it transitioned into a full-fledged professional league while continuing to organize the Spikers’ Turf for men and the V-League for collegiate teams.
UST scores huge wins in UAAP 3x3 opener
NIVERSITY of Santo Tomas made a strong opening statement in both the High School Boys and Junior High School Boys 3x3 basketball tournaments in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) on Monday morning at Ayala Malls Manila Bay in Parañaque. In the boys’ division, UST leaned on its champion core of Carl Manding, Koji Buenaflor, Charles Bucsit, and Charles Esteban to dispatch the University of the East Junior Warriors, 19-13. In the junior high division, Andwele Cabanero, Miguel Jubilado, Dustin Bathan, and Roi Balague beat UE’s 16-and-under squad with a 13-11 triumph.
“Our coaches told us before the game to just play our game. We really prepared for this because we knew UE was strong, so we really gave it our all,” said Cabanero, a Season 87 5-on-5 Mythical Five member.
49ers and the NBA Playoffs
I’VE been a San Francisco 49ers die hard fan ever since Joe Montana was drafted. I’ve been a fan through highs and lows and through peaks and valleys. From “The Catch” of Dwight Clark to all those painful playoff losses to the Dallas Cowboys and the Green Bay Packers in the early 90’s through to all the quarterbacks after Steve Young from Elvis Grbac, Jeff Garcia, Alex Smith, the controversial Colin Kaepernick, who I think would’ve won a couple of Super Bowls for the organization with his athleticism if he conveyed his principles and beliefs in a different way rather than bend a knee to Jimmy G to CJ Beathard to Blaine Gabbert to Trey Lance, and last but not the least, Brock Purdy, who is looking for an extension in the neighborhood of more than 50 million dollars. The Niners lost a plethora of offensive and
Joining UST on the winners’ board were Far Eastern University-Diliman, Adamson University, and National University-Nazareth School in the boys’ division, and NUNazareth, UP Integrated School, and Ateneo in the junior high level in this tournament supported by Molten.
The Baby Tamaraws, powered by Salangsang’s seven points and four rebounds and Cabs Cabonilas’ clutch showing, outlasted Ateneo, 18-15.
A layup by Ateneo’s Lans Lagdamen trimmed FEU’s lead to 14-13 with 1:04 remaining, but Burgos calmly sank two free throws before Cabonilas iced the game with a dagger layup.
“We need to improve our communication because sometimes we don’t talk to each other on the court, and we lose our defensive shape. For us, we just have to do our best and win the championship so we can repeat,” said Cabonilas, the runner-up in the 5-on-5 MVP race.
lead after five stages with a time of 56:50:50. MPT DriveHub was in second, only 19 ticks behind, while Go for Gold is 55 seconds off pace.
The individual general classification champion will earn P500,000 while the team champion brings home P1 million in the race also backed by Pilipinas Live, Meralco, Maynilad, Metro Pacific Health, Megaworld, Landco, PLDT and Smart.
The Tour of Luzon is endorsed by the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), Philippine Sports Commission, Games and Amusements Board, BCDA and MVP Sports Foundation, and sanctioned by the PhilCycling headed by President Abraham Tolentino, also the POC head.
Tuesday’s Stage Six is another long and winding route of 174.5kms going to Lingayen, Pangasinan, but is largely flat covering the towns of San Jose, Camiling and Bayambang in Tarlac and Urbiztondo, Mangatarem and Bugallon in Pangasinan.
The champion will be crowned after Stage 8 on Thursday in Baguio City.
learns to be a dual threat quarterback like Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens. nnn NBA officials are practicing a bit of leniency in these NBA playoffs. Allowing players to play and allowing more physicality. How about bringing back hand-checking and the old playoff format? Maybe the league has taken notice of the low attendance and ratings because of every Tom, Dick, and Harry launching three’s from all players in all shapes and sizes.
This writer thinks playoffs should mean stronger and better defense and a little bit of physicality may come with it because you’re trying to stop teams from scoring.
Maybe fans are tired of seeing space and pace and now want more grit and grind in halfcourt sets and stopping teams dead on their tracks. I personally like defensive struggles. Championships are won on defense. Offense puts points on the board but defense wins titles.
Let’s bring back basketball from the 80’s, 90’s and 2000’s. you can still get a lot of three’s from stops in halfcourt sets. If your team rebounds more, you get more opportunities to run and launch all the three’s you like on the break.
THE MVP Group, headed by chairman and staunch sports advocate Manuel V. Pangilinan, formalized its ironclad support for the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) for the historic staging of the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship Philippines 2025 from September 12 to 28.
sporting and tourism destination,” said Pangilinan, who brings along PLDT, Smart, Meralco, Metro Pacific Investments, Cignal and mWell as among the few companies under his belt for an all-out backing to PNVF.
“We wish the federation well in its hosting duties and we want to reaffirm our support for the world-class event,” Pangilinan said. “All the best, Tats.” PLDT, the county’s largest telecommunications network, will serve as the official broadband internet partner, while media giant Cignal TV is the official broadcast partner of the men’s volleyball world conclave that will be hosted by the country for the first time ever.
“The MVP group has been supporting our national teams and this partnership signifies our shared vision to uplift the sport, inspire athletes and galvanize fans across the nation together as one. Maraming salamat boss MVP. Mabuhay po ang MVP Group of Companies,” added Suzara, also the concurrent executive vice president of the FIVB and the president of the Asian Volleyball Confederation.
“Together, we will deliver an event that involves the spirit of volleyball and reinforces our commitment to excellence and sportsmanship,” Suzara added. In 2023, Suzara served as the chief implementer and master planner of the FIBA World Cup organizing committee en route to a successful staging led by Pangilinan, the chairman emeritus of the then host federation Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.
It’s now the turn of the PNVF with Suzara at helm with a major backing from Pangilinan, who eyes a larger vision of making the Philippines a mecca of worldclass sports with the 32-nation men’s volleyball slugfest as the largest delegation in history.
Zverev gets warning after taking photo of ball mark
JOO DAE-YEONG of Gapyeong Cycling Team keeps the yellow jersey, holding a lead of four minutes and 30 seconds with three stages left. ROY DOMINGO
RYUJI SUZUKI hits his irons solid but rues tricky putts that kept him from extending his lead.
FIVB executive vice president Ramon “Tats” Suzara and sports patron Manny V. Pangilinan again team up as the country hosts another world championship. NONIE REYES
ANDWELE CABANERO shines as UST gets off to a strong start.
ALEXANDER ZVEREV takes a picture of the disputed ball mark and later posts it on social media. AP
