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A broader look at today’s business n

Sunday, December 8, 2024 Vol. 20 No. 60

P25.00 nationwide | 2 sections 12 pages | 7 DAYS A WEEK

STUDENTS and their parents, equipped with raincoats and umbrellas, leave the Corazon Aquino Elementary School premises as heavy rains brought by a low-pressure area affect Quezon City on January 5, 2023. The Quezon City government localized the suspension of classes in heavily affected areas, but the late announcement left many already at school despite the inclement weather. NONOY LACZA

TIMELY OR TARDY?

Experts weigh in on lead time’s role in class suspensions, as teaching days lost in ‘typhoon country’ Philippines harm efforts to reverse learning decline.

By Bless Aubrey Ogerio

Karol Mark Yee, executive director of the Second Congressional Commission on Education, lamented that the whopping number of disruptions provided “very limited time” for students to “absorb the lessons.”

Emphasizing the need to effectively communicate lead time to the public, Saturay expressed a belief that DO 37 could still be enforced while suggesting that automatic class suspensions should not be declared immediately upon raising a storm signal.

“There can still be an automatic suspension but they shouldn’t say automatic suspension immediately upon raising,” he said. “Maybe give it 12 hours or 24 hours after the signal number is raised, then it can still be an automatic suspension.”

The teacher’s advice to DepEd? “In consultation with Pagasa, they should set the appropriate time for suspension.”

W

HEN is actually the best time to suspend classes?

The Department of Education’s (DepEd) Order 37 serves as the basis for automatic class suspensions, tied to storm signal warnings issued by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

For instance, classes in all levels are only canceled automatically in areas under Signal No. 3.

The order also indicates that local government heads can announce class suspensions based on local conditions, a decentralized approach that allows flexibility.

Pagasa’s current system issues warnings with varying durations depending on the severity of the storm; the lead time decreases as the signal number increases. Signal No. 1, for example, allows up to 36 hours of lead time before the expected onslaught of a storm.

For Ricarido Saturay, a science high-school teacher, the lead time

is not always indicative of an immediate threat, as wind impacts may not be felt for hours. As such, suspending classes too early may result in missed learning days. Saturay majored in geology for both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees, and holds a PhD in data science.

“The 36 hours, it’s such a long time, but it’s good to be prepared ahead,” he told BusinessMirror in a mix of English and Filipino. “But as I was thinking, how long does it take for you to send your kids back to their homes? You could have one or two days [of class] that you will miss … you still won’t [really] experience that wind threat in 36 hours.”

The last academic year lost a total of 55 teaching days, according to the government think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), due to typhoons, conflict, and school celebrations, among others.

Amend DO 37?

IN this January 5, 2023, file photo, a student crosses the F.B. Legaspi Bridge in Pasig after the local government issued a late-day announcement of class suspensions, catching many off guard and already on their way to school. BERNARD TESTA

ON November 20, an education undersecretary said that his principal, Secretary Sonny Angara, vowed that DO 37 would be amended to

ensure the balance between students’ safety and the need for uninterrupted learning.

“His instruction was that by next week, we should report our draft amendments to DO 37,” Undersecretary for governance and field operations Revsee Escobedo said in a radio interview.

“What Secretary Angara wants is to have a balance between prioritizing the safety and welfare of our teachers and learners, but on the other hand, ensure that the class suspensions are reasonable and would not further exacerbate the learning crisis that we are currently in,” he added.

Pagasa side

THE lead time, while helpful, is not always sufficient to fully prepare for the storm, especially in terms of the amount of rainfall that can arrive even before the wind does, according to Pagasa Zamboanga officer-in-charge Rodel Inclan.

“In those short periods, there are a lot of things that can happen,” he said during a hydrometeorological risk reduction forum on November 22.

Continued on A2

PESO EXCHANGE RATES n US 58.0740 n JAPAN 0.3869 n UK 74.1024 n HK 7.4625 n CHINA 8.0041 n SINGAPORE 43.3777 n AUSTRALIA 37.4577 n EU 61.4888 n KOREA 0.0411 n SAUDI ARABIA 15.4617 Source: BSP (December 6, 2024)

NewsSunday BusinessMirror

A2 Sunday, December 8, 2024

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Local residents fear impact of new data center amid growing demand for tech infrastructure

By Dan Merica & Jesse Bedayn

A

The Associated Press

LEXANDRIA, Virginia—Richard Andre Newman thought he would live the rest of his life in his quiet, leafy neighborhood in suburban Virginia.

He was born and raised in Bren Mar Park, where children ride their bikes and neighbors wave hello.

But now, as he’s approaching 60, he’s considering selling his Fairfax County home and moving away. That’s because he’s getting a new neighbor: Plaza 500, a 466,000-square-foot data center and an adjacent electrical substation to be built a few hundred feet from townhomes, playgrounds and a community center.

Newman feels helpless to stop it.

“I planned on staying here until I died,” he said, “until this came up.”

The sprawling, windowless warehouses that hold rows of highspeed servers powering almost everything the world does on phones and computers are increasingly becoming fixtures of the American landscape, popping up in towns, cities and suburbs across the United States.

Demand for data centers bal-

looned in recent years due to the rapid growth of cloud computing and artificial intelligence, and local governments are competing for lucrative deals with big tech companies.

But as data centers begin to move into more densely populated areas, abutting homes and schools, parks and recreation centers, some residents are pushing back against the world’s most powerful corporations over concerns about the economic, social and environmental health of their communities.

Tyler Ray, a vocal critic of data centers and leader in the fight against the Virginia project, said the incentives offered are not enough to counteract the consequences of building a facility so close to homes.

“All that we are asking for is, as the county is trying to bring in this data center income, that they are doing it in a way that doesn’t run

residents away from their homes," he said.

Dotting the hills in Northern Virginia

IN Northern Virginia, more than 300 data centers dot the rolling hills of the area’s westernmost counties.

Cyclists who ride the popular Washington & Old Dominion trail are at times flanked by data centers, and the thousands of commuters who head into the nation’s capital each day can see them in the distance from the Metro.

Plaza 500, one of the latest proposals in the area, is encroaching on neighborhoods like never before, said Newman, who heads a homeowners association in the community.

The pitch from Starwood Capital Group, the private investment firm founded by billionaire Barry Sternlicht, to Fairfax County officials promised a significant property tax boost and, in addition to permanent positions in the data center itself, hundreds of temporary construction and electrical jobs to build the facility.

Tyler Ray and his husband moved to the Bren Pointe community in 2022, hoping to balance proximity to Washington with a desire for green space.

But shortly after the couple moved in, Starwood Capital began scoping out a commercial property near their new home as a possible location for the Plaza 500 project.

AN aerial view of the QTS Data Center under construction in Central Phoenix showcases the rapid expansion of data centers across the United States, a trend driven by increasing demand for cloud computing and AI technologies. While these facilities provide economic benefits, such as job creation and significant tax revenues, their encroachment into residential areas has sparked concerns about environmental and community impact. WIRESTOCK VIA DREAMSTIME.COM

When Ray and his neighbors learned of the proposal, they held protests, attended regular county meetings and drew media attention to their concerns to try and stop the development. But their efforts were largely unsuccessful: the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in September said all newly proposed data centers must adhere to stricter zoning rules, but the Plaza 500 project would be grandfathered in under the old rules.

Ray worries that more data centers in the area could compromise the already stressed power grid: Over 25% of all power produced in Virginia in 2023 went to data centers, a figure that could rise as high as 46% by 2030 if data center growth continues at its current pace. Some estimates also show a mid-sized data center commands the same water usage every day as 1,000 households, prompting concerns over the cost of water. Ray also frets over air quality, as the massive diesel generators that help power the data centers’ hardware send plumes of toxic pollutants into the atmosphere.

A spokesman for the firm declined to respond to questions for this story.

“I don’t know how a general resident, even someone who has been engaging intently on an issue,” Ray said, “has any chance to go up against the data center industry.”

Local leaders say data centers provide a financial boon

FOR local governments, attracting data centers to their municipalities means a financial boon: Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin said in 2024 that Virginia’s existing data centers brought in $1 billion in tax revenue, more than the $750 million in tax breaks given to the tech companies that own them in 2023.

For average-sized facilities, data centers offer a small number of direct jobs—often fewer than 100 positions. Google announced recently

that its two data centers in Loudoun County, which has about 440,000 residents, created only around 150 direct jobs. But data center advocates argue that the number of indirect jobs like construction, technology support and electrical work make the projects worthwhile. In that same announcement, Google said their investment spurred 2,730 indirect jobs.

Kathy Smith, the vice chair of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, voted in favor of the Plaza 500 proposal because, in her estimation, data center growth is inevitable in the region, and Fairfax County should reap the benefits.

“I have a responsibility to step back from what we do and look at the big picture,” Smith said. “Data centers are not going away.”

Amazon data centers welcomed by some in Oregon county

ON the other side of the country, in Morrow County, Oregon, Amazon Web Services has built at least five data centers surrounding the 4,200-person town of Boardman, nestled among vast stretches of farmland flecked with mint patches and wind turbines, next to the Columbia River.

Last year, AWS, which is owned

by Amazon, paid roughly $34 million in property taxes and fees stipulated in the agreements after receiving a $66-million tax break. The company also paid out $10 million total in two, one-time payments to a community development fund and spent another $1.7 million in charitable donations in the community in 2023.

That money has been instrumental in updating infrastructure and bolstering services for the roughly 12,000-person county, going toward a new ladder fire engine, a school resource officer, police body cameras, and $5,000 grants for homebuyers among other things.

Still, some residents are skeptical of the scale of tax break deals.

Suspicions started years ago, when three formerly elected officials allegedly helped approve data center deals while owning a stake in a company that contracted with AWS to provide fiber-optic cables for the data centers. In June, they each paid $2,000 to settle an ethics complaint against them.

Those officials are no longer in office. But some remain wary of the relationships between the company and local officials, and raised eyebrows at one of the latest data center deals which gives AWS an estimated $1 billion in tax breaks spread over the 15 years to build five new data centers.

Former county commissioner Jim Doherty described a meeting with AWS officials soon after he was elected to office at an upscale restaurant in Boardman, where large windows opened onto the Columbia River.

The AWS representatives asked what Doherty wanted to accomplish as a commissioner. “They said, ‘Tell us what your dreams are. Tell us what you need. Tell us what we can do for you,’” Doherty recalled. Other former officials have described similar interactions. Doherty said AWS didn’t ask for anything in return, but the exchange left him uneasy.

“We engage with stakeholders in every community where we operate around the world, and part of that outreach is to better understand a community’s goals,” said Kevin Miller, AWS’ Vice President of global data centers. “This helps AWS be a catalyst for communities to achieve those goals, and reflects our ongoing commitment to being good neighbors.”

Doherty and another former county commissioner Melissa Lindsay said they pushed unsuccessfully in 2022 for AWS to pay more in taxes in new data center negotiations.

They also lobbied to hire outside counsel to negotiate on their behalf, feeling outgunned by the phalanx of AWS-suited lawyers.

“We didn’t want to blow it up.

We didn’t want to run them off,” said Lindsay. “But there were better deals to be made.”

Boardman Mayor Paul Keefer and Police Chief Rick Stokoe say their direct line to AWS allows them to get the most out of the company.

“This road right here? Wouldn’t happen if it wasn’t for AWS,” said Keefer, riding in the passenger seat of Stokoe’s cruiser, pointing out the window at construction workers shifting dirt and laying pavement.

Both Keefer and Stokoe have been in positions to vote on whether to authorize tax breaks for AWS. “These companies would not be here if they weren’t getting some kind of incentive,” Stokoe said.

“There wouldn’t be any money to talk about.”

TIMELY OR TARDY? Continued from A1

“The signal number given is only for the strength of the wind. But the rain, most likely, is already in that area.”

Inclan said it’s better to be prepared before it’s too late. “It’s not exactly 36 hours,” he said. “So at least we can prepare and take care of our kids.”

He added that whether earlier class suspensions are recommended depends on the specific conditions of each area.

“There are some places where they have a signal number, but they don’t flood, they don’t have an open area, or the effect is less on them,” Inclan stressed.

Still, he clarified that the decision to cancel classes—whether in-person, online or both—ultimately lies within the purview of the DepEd and local government units (LGUs).

“In our agency, we provide the scenario and the information, but the ultimate decision is taken by DepEd. They are the deciding factor,” the Pagasa officer said.

“What we do is that we give them the in-

formation, and based on that information, they are going to create or they are going to have the decision-making.”

Solidum: Lead time for preps

Department of Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum emphasized that the lead time has more to do with preparations.

“The wind signals have a lead time before the effect is felt. This is to provide early warning for preparedness,” he told the BusinessMirror in a Viber message.

He added, “Hence what can be reviewed are the SOPs [standard operating procedures] by DepEd, LGU and NDRRMC [National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council] based on warning. But rainfall is another consideration and rainfall warning information is also available.”

In an email to the BusinessMirror, Pagasa advocated a rationalized approach to class suspensions by prioritizing safety while minimizing disruptions to education.

“Much of the disruptive nature of suspension in relation to wind signal was brought about by the recent changes in the automatic class suspension guidelines…without due consideration of the lead time or the level of potential impacts from winds,” said Robb Gile, a senior weather specialist.

“To ensure a balance between safety and educational continuity, TCWS [tropical cyclone wind signal] can be used as basis for automatic suspension of classes by considering…the lead time available based on the time of hoisting of a signal level,” he added.

The agency also suggested involving predisaster risk assessment (PDRA) meetings to guide suspension decisions.

“A possible way forward which may be considered is to base the suspension decision on the result of the PDRA meeting undertaken by the NDRRMC, regional DRRM councils, and local DRRM offices.”

Editor: Angel R. Calso

TheWorld

Sunday, December 8, 2024

A3

A million livelihoods at stake: Ghana’s gold mining crisis tests election politics

T

By Yinka Ibukun & Jack Ryan

HERE’S no escaping gold in Tarkwa. It’s in the forest. It’s under your feet as you walk the streets of Ghana’s biggest mining town. It’s the economy. Exposed holes in the ground bear witness to attempts at illegally digging out some of the precious metal and a polluted river on the edge of town shows the consequences of the boom in semiindustrial scale mining.

The environmental damage has triggered a wave of protest in the capital Accra demanding a ban on all small-scale mining operations in places like Tarkwa. In turn, anxious local politicians— ahead of national elections on December 7—have tried to reassure registered mines that they will be shielded from the government’s threat to crack down on illegal activities, which it calls “galamsey”.

“In Accra, they want to ban you, but I’m here to tell you that I support miners,” George Mireku Duker, the deputy mining minister and a local legislator, told managers at four underground mines during site visits in October. Duker acknowledges that illegal mining is a “worry”, but he knows that a voter backlash against the New Patriotic Party government which he is part of could cost him his job on December 7. He won the seat by just 101 votes in 2020.

“The small-scale mining sector employs more than 1 million Ghanaians and large-scale mines employ less than 10,000,” Duker told Bloomberg News. “You want to take their livelihood from them?”

The mines visited by Duker have existed since colonial times and are now operated either privately or for community use by Ghanaians to counterbalance the foreign grip on large-scale mining in the indebted West African country.

These artisanal and small-scale (ASM) mines—defined as operations on an area smaller than 25 acres—produced more than a quarter of the four million ounces of gold Ghana officially mined in 2023, estimated to be worth $10.6 billion at today’s prices, up from 10 percent in 2012.

Equipped with heavy machinery and turbocharged by lax regulation, the ASM sector remains largely informal: by some estimates, as many as 70 percent of these mines—which have mushroomed in places like Tarkwa—are unregulated.

The illicit gold rush is being powered by surging prices—up by more than a third this year to a record-high of $2,787 an ounce in October—and willing buyers in Dubai and beyond. The impact in Tarkwa is visible: tents at the top of slopes, with threadbare clothes hanging over wood panels hide the activities of a mine at the heart of the town while young men loiter outside Chinese machinery shops, offering their services as operators in exchange for a share of what is found in the rivers.

The line between legal and illegal operators is often blurred. “A lot of people do have a license,” says Ishmael Quaicoe, head of the envi-

ronmental and safety engineering department at Tarkwa’s University of Mines and Technology, “but their operations don’t conform with what the law asks them to do.”

Demonstrations in September and October focused on the impact of galamsey miners. But when the Trades Union Congress threw its weight behind the campaign it raised the stakes, calling for an outright ban on all small-scale gold mining to halt activity blamed for polluting rivers—one Ghana Water Company facility said in August that 60 percent of the raw water it treated was affected by illegal mining, depressing cocoa production and destroying forests.

Both main political groups— the governing NPP and the opposition National Democratic Congress—have traded accusations over the mining issue. And with elections around the corner President Nana Akufo-Addo responded to the calls for a ban by threatening to send soldiers to mining towns to crack down on galamsey operations.

He has yet to follow through on that pledge, but the announcement t r ig gered memor ies of a heavy-handed effort to close down illegal mining in 2017. The ban on ASM mining lasted about two years, but the move backfired on the government, with allies citing it as one of the reasons for the loss of its parliamentary majority in the 2020 elections.

At least 4.5 million people— workers and dependents—rely on gold for their livelihood, according to a 2020 government estimate.

So the timing of the protests has created a dilemma for the NPP which polls suggest could be headed for its worst-ever election results on December 7, according to the Accra-based Global Analytics.

For all its mineral wealth, almost 20 percent of people in Tarkwa-Nsuaem municipality—Duker’s constituency—live in acute poverty, facing multiple deprivations from a lack of clean water to decent shelter, according to the Ghana Statistical Service. A shortage of educational opportunities means young people often gravitate toward the ASM sector’s lowskilled and often dangerous jobs.

“They are already dying from poverty so they don’t hear you when you talk about the dangers of mercury or cyanide,” says Elorm Ama Governor-Ababio who was arrested while participating in a protest by Democracy Hub—the activist organization—in Accra. “You put them through so much trauma that when they see a literal threat to their life they see it as a beacon of hope,” adds Governor-Ababio,

further dropping the tax,” which was cut to 1.5 percent from 3 percent in 2022, driving an immediate spike in Ghana’s output.

who denies any wrongdoing.

Making the good delivery list

SCHOOL children in Ghana are taught that their country—known as the Gold Coast since British colonial rule—is so rich in the precious metal that the sand glistened as the first Europeans approached shore in the 15th century.

In those early days, Akan traders bartered their gold dust for European alcohol, copper and even clothing. Centuries later Ghana remains Africa’s biggest producer, with major operators such as the UK-based Anglogold Ashanti Plc, Gold Fields Ltd. from South Africa, American miner Newmont Corp and China’s Chifeng Jilong Gold Mining Co. all active.

At the other end of the scale are the ASM operators. Adwoa Pokuaa Boaduo, a mining engineer who wrote a doctoral thesis on the potential for artisanal and small-scale mining reform in Ghana, says a lack of compliance checks makes it relatively easy for licensed gold buyers to purchase from illegal mines, legitimizing their output.

Rosemary Addico, who leads the responsible gold program at Solidaridad’s West Africa—an NGO which encourages miners to follow global best practices—believes the onus should be on the buyers to scrutinize the source: “Once international buyers insist on some requirements, the traders will be more careful about where they are sourcing gold from and how it’s mined.”

For gold to be accepted by the world ’s most demanding buyers, including central banks, institutional investors and luxury brands, it must come from refiners on the London Bullion Market Association’s Good Delivery List.

The influential trade body doesn’t certify mines, but does make the refiners it accredits responsible for the gold in their supply chains, leaving many loath to accept anything directly from small-scale producers that could jeopardize their place on the list.

There are, however, plenty of other willing buyers of Ghanaian gold with few questions asked. Nana A kwuasi Awuah, the head of the state-owned gold marketing company—and a number of market participants—say metal from the smaller illegal mines often ends up with Dubai refineries. None of these are on the LBMA’s Good Delivery List, though the emirate does have rules requiring refiners to check that gold has been sourced responsibly.

Once imported, the gold can be re-refined and sold as “recycled” bullion to jewelers in India and other markets further east, and even LBMA-accredited refiners, without reference to its origin.

The LBMA requires refiners to conduct checks to ensure gold is sourced responsibly, but the reality is that the provenance of recycled gold can be very difficult to determine, according to a 2022 study published on the trade association’s website.

Illegal mining also carries an economic cost for Ghana, which is wrestling with more than $30 billion of external debt and secured a $3 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund last year.

If the industry was formalized, Ghana would earn more than double its revenue from gold this year, according to Martin Ayisi, the chief executive officer of

The Dubai connection

TWO men separating gold ore from other metals at an unregulated mine on the site of a former cocoa farm in Kwabeng. Legal and illegal artisanal and small-scale mines have mushroomed as gold price have hit record highs. PAUL NINSON/BLOOMBERG

Ghana’s Minerals Commission, which regulates large and small miners. At least three-quarters of the country’s artisanal and smallscale gold output isn’t captured in export figures at all, he estimates.

That’s because it’s either smuggled out by land to neighboring Ivory Coast, Togo and Burkina Faso,

which have a lower withholding tax on unprocessed gold, or it’s treated as a transshipment from one of these countries through Ghana, even though it was mined in Ghana all along.

“There are all sorts of schemes to smuggle out the gold,” says Ayisi. “There’s one way to stop it, by

IN 2023, the United Arab Emirates reported that $3.2 billion of gold (52.9 metric tons net weight) was imported from Ghana. That same year, Ghana reported exporting just $1.7 billion of the metal to the UAE (27.8 metric tons net weight), according to the United Nations’ Comtrade Database. That amounts to a shortfall about $1.5 billion.

Dubai—one of the seven emirates that make up the UAE—has no gold mines, and has positioned itself as a hub for the metal. The LBMA considers the UAE a highrisk jurisdiction and imposes additional checks for any gold sourced from there.

But Safeya AlSafi, the UAE’s acting assistant undersecretary for commercial control and governance at the Ministry of Economy, told See “Ghana,” A4

A4

Sunday, December 8, 2024

TheWorld BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Atos consortium fumbles rollout of EU biometric border system

By Olivia Solon & Tomas Statius

I

CURRENTLY, the EU has no automated way of tracking how long non-EU citizens without visas stay inside the bloc. Individual countries stamp visitors’ passports when they arrive, but have no way of knowing whether people travel

to other EU countries, and when— or if—they leave.

“No one has the faintest idea what the irregular or illegal population of third-country nationals in the EU is,” said Jacob Funk Kirkegaard, a senior fellow at Bruegel, a Brussels-based economic think tank. “If you are a government, this is a deeply dissatisfying state of affairs and one that provides political ammunition for farright anti-immigration parties.”

T he Eu ropea n pa rl i a ment moved to establish the EES in 2017, describing it as a “priority initiative” with a planned launch date in 2022. The plan was to replace border agents stamping passports with an automated biometric system that uses self-service kiosks to capture faces and fingerprints, and which connects to a central registry that tracks cross-border movement.

The consortium’s inability to meet deadlines became clear early on. Central and back-up data centers were completed eight months after a July 2020 deadline, according to an EU-Lisa letter addressed to the companies dated April 11, 2022.

After that, the consortium “missed all milestones,” EU-Lisa’s Executive Director Krum Garkov wrote in that letter, even after a new timeline was established.

While IBM developed some of the system’s overall architecture and managed the project, Atos was tasked with building EES’s hardware and software. A former senior executive at Atos, who asked not to be identified discussing a private matter, said the French IT company was responsible for the core part of the project, which represented about two-thirds of the work. Leonardo provided cybersecurity.

In the April 11 letter, EU-Lisa complained that the consortium often sent “young teams with no experience to perform complex tasks,” and that the companies had regularly been “unable to mobilize the necessary resources to provide fixes within the agreed schedules.”

In one case, the consortium took more than six weeks to “deploy a single bug fixing release team,” illustrating its “lack of competence” in critical moments.

“Despite all the efforts deployed

by EU-Lisa and member states,” the letter continued, the consortium “still repeatedly missed deadlines, performed partial installations and/or mixed delivery sites.”

It cited “missing cables, misconfigured devices, transportation returned from border for missing delivery documentation” and having hardware retained by border police as among the problems. Two people with direct knowledge of the matter said these issues were Atos’s responsibility.

Excluding ESS, the EU has stumbled on several ambitious

recording what leaves Ghana.

Ghana was one of the first countries in Africa to legalize artisanal and small-scale mini ng , a sec tor wh ic h g loba l ly contributes about a fifth of the world ’s gold supply, according to a World Gold Council report. Today, most officials agree that further formalization is essential to curb smuggling and reverse the environmental fallout.

The country has now joined a pilot program—along with Peru, the Philippines and Tanzania— to pre-approve some small-scale mines and sell their gold directly to refiners certified by the LBMA. But the lack of financial incentives to operate responsibly gives the miners little reason to join the pilot, critics say.

T he LBM A is par t ly motivated by a desire to secure more “clean” gold for its refiners, who

are effectively losing out on a fifth of the global supply because of its stringent sourcing requirements.

For governments it means they can sell directly to LBMA refineries, opening up a more formal market for their gold.

“Will we solve all of the evils of the world?” asks Neil Harby, the LBMA’s chief technical officer. “No, but we’ve got to start somewhere.”

Back in Accra, one of just three of Ghana’s 16 regions that doesn’t produce gold, the antigalamsey movement is gaining momentum even if the protests have died down as the election focus has shifted to the economy—with inflation above 20 percent for more than a year—and a lack of jobs, in the country of 34 million. Billboard-sized images of brown rivers and reports of birth defects, allegedly linked

N August, the EU’s Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson gave a rousing speech about a soon-to-launch “smart” border system that would track the movements of hundreds of millions of travelers in and out of the bloc using fingerprints and facial recognition.

“Soon, we will switch on the most modern digital border management system in the world,” said Johansson, announcing a Nov. 10 launch date for the so-called Entry/Exit System.

But a month before the scheduled debut, Johansson announced that EES wouldn’t be operational until 2025. It was the fourth time the project had been delayed in five years. And, according to internal correspondence between EU officials and contractors viewed by Bloomberg, a trio of companies with Atos at the center was largely responsible.

The French IT firm, in consortium with International Business Machines Corp. and Leonardo SpA, won the €142 million contract in 2019 to build EES, but Atos was in charge of the bulk of the work— and at the center of many of the problems, according to hundreds of pages of documents seen by Bloomberg and investigative newsroom Lighthouse Reports as well as people familiar with the matter.

The documents, whose contents haven’t been previously reported, represent years of internal reports and emails from EU-Lisa, the EU agency that oversees large-scale information technology projects, as well as communication between the agency and the companies in the consortium. They show how Atos effectively slowed work by only partially installing equipment, misplacing parts, taking weeks to fix bugs and often sending teams lacking in experience, leading to missed deadlines and millions in additional maintenance costs. These claims were corroborated by three people involved in the project.

Representatives for Atos, IBM and Leonardo said they couldn’t comment due to confidentiality obligations.

The EES is intended to radically change the EU’s approach to policing its borders. By integrating the immigration systems of the 29 countries in the Schengen area under a common technological umbrella for the first time, it will transform border control from a national to a European issue. Yet

Ghana. . .

Continued from A3

Bloomberg News that the shortfall could be due to incorrect information from the country of origin, adding, “I don’t know exactly if there is any actual smuggling. We have a very strict system.”

At the Minerals Commission, Ayisi acknowledged challenges

at a moment in which migration is upending the bloc’s political landscape, the documents raise questions about whether the EU will be able to introduce a unified border system effective enough to keep countries from implementing their own protectionist policies.

The problems with EES have already had knock-on effects. One hundred and thirty staffers hired

by EU border management agency Frontex to work on the European Travel Information and Authorization System, a €200 million visa waiver system built on the same underlying technology, had to be reassigned because of delays, according to two people familiar with the matter.

EU-Lisa declined to comment on the setbacks, or any of the findings of the investigation. It said it did not “currently have access” to the documents or its communications with the consortium.

Publicly, the EU has blamed the holdup on technical issues and contractor delays. Yet the documents paint a much more tense and chaotic picture, corroborated by people involved with the contract, who asked not to be identified discussing private business matters.

A key supplier to both the French nuclear industry and the recent Paris Olympic Games, Atos has been on the brink of bankruptcy after a series of setbacks and profit warnings sent its market value from €8.2 billion euros ($8.6 billion) at the end of 2020 to about €74 million today. The company has cycled through seven CEOs since 2021 as it has grappled with debt and failed rescue plans.

Last month, a French commercial court approved a restructuring strategy that will see its creditors take control of the troubled business and wipe out existing shareholders.

Grand ambitions

THE Atos headquarters in Bezons, a suburb of Paris, in March. ANITA POUCHARD SERRA/BLOOMBERG

tech infrastructure projects in recent years. A 2020 initiative to modernize the bloc’s customs operations was beset by financial and logistical problems. Gaia-X, a cloud computing platform for Europe intended to challenge the market dominance of US companies such as Microsoft, Google and Amazon, never managed to gain momentum. (Gaia-X’s Chief Executive Officer Ulrich Ahle said that his organization’s core mission was to enhance data sovereignty, not compete directly with cloud companies.)

Maegan Hendow, a senior researcher at International Centre for Migration Policy Development, a Vienna-based think tank, noted that the EES delays were perhaps not surprising given the system’s complexity. It not only has to seamlessly integrate the immigration systems of all member states, but also be able to cross-reference other biometric databases such as Eurodac, which monitors asylum seekers.

“If any of those elements don’t function across any member state,” she said, “the whole thing doesn’t function.”

Troubled start

IN the early months of 2022, the situation became so dire that EULisa established daily “war room” meetings to troubleshoot EES problems, according to the documents. Those highlighted tensions as IBM, Atos and Leonardo would argue amongst themselves in front of their client. Meetings devolved into EU representatives adjudicating disputes between companies, rather than working on the project together. In its April 11 letter to the consortium, EU-Lisa accused the trio of having “failed completely in its role.”

By June, the consortium proposed cutting corners on testing parts of the system in order to meet a 2023 launch date, according to a to galamsey, have left voters with graphic images of the damage.

Yet neither of the two main parties is in a position to fully capitalize on the anti-ASM anger. Both have at different times clamped down on illegal mining but have also have financially benefitted from “illegalities in the small-scale mining sector,” according to a 2021 report by a former environment minister, Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng.

In 2022 Ghana passed a law that authorized mining in forest reserves earmarked for conservation. Out of these mining licenses, at least four have been granted by the government in reserves given special status due to their rare flora and fauna, according to The Fourth Estate, an investigative project by Ghanaian journalists.

T he Fr impong-Boateng report, which accused politicians

letter it sent EU-Lisa that month.

Overall, the former Atos executive said, the company badly managed the EES project. He added that it was flagged to the chief executive that year as one that needed more careful supervision.

Two EU-Lisa officials affirmed this view, saying they held Atos mostly responsible.

Atos declined to comment.

Still, two EU officials who asked not to be named discussing private matters said that EU-Lisa needs to shoulder some of the blame. While building an incredibly complex database system does require outsourcing, they noted that the small agency outsourced everything, even project management.

EU-Lisa and the consortium were also under pressure from outgoing Home Affairs Commissioner Johansson to complete and implement the entire system before her tenure was up. Johansson delivered her speech announcing the Nov. 10 launch date against the objections of members states, according to an EU official, as they were concerned that the system was still too buggy and should be introduced country-by-country.

A representative for Johansson declined to comment.

Responding to a public information request about the delays, Garkov, who left EU-Lisa in late 2022, declined to single any company out. However, he wrote in a public letter that the consortium “substantially underestimated the complexity of the work for development and implementation of EES,” and that the “quality of key deliverables did not meet requirements.”

Payment disputes

AFTER missing the first few milestones, the consortium asked the EU to waive penalties on late deliveries, while also requesting an early payment of about €2.5 million.

Although EU-Lisa described the demand as “outrageous” in annoon both sides of having a conflict of interest, was dismissed by the presidency as lacking evidence. But it prompted a probe by Ghana’s Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice that is continuing.

“For about two decades now, par ties have been reward ing their loyalists with concessions,” says E. Gyimah-Boadi, founder of the Accra-based non-partisan research network, Afrobarometer.

“They are not going to expose themselves by committing to doing anything that will tie their hands.”

Richard Ahiagbah, the director of communications at the NPP rejects the claim, saying that the 2017 ban, shows the government is committed to clamping down on the ASM sector. The NDC also denies any conflict of interest during their own time in office. Samuel

tations on the request letter from the consortium that was shared internally, the EU did agree to allow the companies to pay their late fees at the end of the project in order to ensure that work on the system wouldn’t be interrupted.

In a report published earlier this year on the spending practices of EU agencies in 2023, the European Court of Auditors noted that the three members of the consortium “refused to cover the extra cost of maintenance for certain IT products.” That added about €20 million in additional costs for EU-Lisa, according to internal documents seen by this investigation.

By the end of 2023, a rollout the fol low ing year was looking plausible. But as the November launch date loomed, new problems emerged.

A system set up over the summer to allow member states to test EES couldn’t handle more than one country using it at a time, two of the people said. Member states had to book slots to test it. An October dress rehearsal for the launch of EES was chaotic, with some member states struggling to connect to the central database. The November deadline was missed a month later after France, the Netherlands and Germany said the technology wasn’t ready.

The project, still overseen by the consortium, has now been postponed to 2025, with no fixed launch date. A spokesperson for the European Commission said that despite initial plans to simultaneously launch EES across a l l member st ates, it wou ld now take a progressive approach to allow for a “period of adjustment for authorities and travelers.”

“The EU can’t afford to get this wrong, for obvious political reasons,” Kirkegaard said. “Nobody wants chaos at the airports or external borders.” With assistance from Gian Volpicelli and Benoit Berthelot/ Bloomberg

Gyamfi, the party’s national communications officer, described the environmental crisis as “unprecedented ” and blamed the NPP for it.

For Dora Kowfia, a 54-yearold former artisanal miner, it is a confusing moment. She has has previously backed the NPP, but says that this time she doesn’t know who to vote for. She now sells textile at a roadside stall outside Tarkwa, overlooking the Bonsa River, where the impact of illegal mining is visible in the brown waters.

Asked if she was concerned about the pollution, Kowfia, echoing a widely held view in mining communities in Ghana, says: “Accra is saying ‘stop galamsey’. I want leaders who will either protect it or bring us new jobs.” With assistance from Verity Ratcliffe, Ekow Dontoh and Michael Ovaska/Bloomberg

Sunday, December 8, 2024

www.businessmirror.com.ph • Editor: Lyn Resurreccion

A5

PHL steering toward green, circular economy

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By John Eiron R. Francisco

AGAYAN DE ORO CITY— The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is dedicated to steering the nation’s shift toward a green and circular economy, but Science Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr. acknowledged that the effort cannot be achieved alone.

“We need the cooperation of industries, policy-makers and the public to make the circular economy a reality,” he said in his speech on the DOST Circular Economy Initiatives toward Smart and Sustainable Communities at the recent 2024 National Science and Technology Week (NSTW) in this city.

Circular economy is a model of production and consumption, which involves sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling existing materials and products as long as possible, thereby extending the life cycle of products.

In his address, Solidum highlighted the urgent issue of plastic pollution, which poses a significant challenge for the Philippines. Plastics, while widely used, are non-biodegradable, breaking down into microplastics that contaminate oceans and landfills.

According to Our World in Data, the global production of plastic waste reaches about 350 million tons each year, with roughly a quarter, not being handled properly. It is neither recycled, burned, nor securely stored in landfills, which increases the risk of it polluting the environment.

In the Philippines, the SEA Circular, a project of the UN Environment Programme and the Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia, reported that the country is among the leading contributors to marine plastic pollution. Between 0.28 and 0.75 million tons

of plastic waste enter the oceans and coastal areas of Manila Bay each year.

The plastic waste primarily consist of cigarette butts, food containers, straws, stirrers, plastic utensils, beverage bottles and caps, and plastic bags.

“This is a result of the limitations we see in a linear economy,” Solidum said, explaining that the country’s economic model has long followed a “take, make, and dispose” approach.

This system, he said, puts immense pressure on natural resources, leading to significant waste generation.

He explained that a shift toward a more sustainable approach is needed, that encourages the reusing, repurposing, and recycling of materials.

“Adopt our technologies and use the available technologies that we have,” he said.

Sol idu m poi nted out t h at DOST is well-positioned for this challenge, with its extensive network of experts, state-of-theart facilities, and a proven history of developing technologies that have evolved into successful businesses.

“We invite you to collaborate with us in further building a circular economy that benefits everyone,” Solidum said.

Legislative push gains momentum

IN line with this, Solidum noted that the DOST is contributing

to the discussions on bills in the House of Representatives (HOR) aimed at establishing a national circular economy framework.

The HOR “is also working on policies intended to institutionalize and advance the circular economy,” he said, highlighting the ongoing legislative momentum for sustainability.

Meanwhile, in his key note speech at one of the plenaries of the NST W, Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri revealed that the DOST ’s budget for 2025 will increase to over P29 billion after Senate deliberations, a significant rise from the P26.9 billion approved by the HOR and the P28.4 billion outlined in the National Expenditure Program.

Zubiri explained that the overall increase in the DOST’s budget stems from his belief that science and technology are vital to the nation’s progress.

This funding boost will support critical initiatives—including improvements in weather forecasting, education, textile innovation, and the development of artificial intelligence—which Solidum welcomed as essential for advancing key programs and research projects.

Framework for circular economy

MOREOVER, to support this vision, Solidum said that through the DOST ’s Science, Technology, and Innovation for Circular Economy (STI4CE), a strategic framework has been developed to integrate science, technology, and innovation into the shift toward a more sustainable, circular economy.

He explained that the framework sets out key objectives, such as driving innovation, empowering stakeholders, encouraging leadership in sustainability, and promoting transformative solutions, while embedding circular economy principles.

According to Solidum, key enablers—such as research and development, funding, partnerships, technology, infrastructure, policy support, and public awareness—are essential to the success of these initiatives.

9 biotech experts receive awards

By Bless Aubrey Ogerio

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INE distinguished biotechnology experts, including a former Science and Technology secretary, were honored during the ninth Filipino Faces of Biotechnology Awards on December 5 at the Philippine International Convention Center.

The honorees—former Department of Science and Technology (DOST) secretary and Academician Dr. Estrella Alabastro, biologist/entrepreneur Ma. Antonia Odelia Arroyo, Dr. Edward Barlaan, entomologist Dr. Emiliana Bernardo, Dr. Antonio Laurena, Academician Dr. Eufemio Rasco Jr., Dr. Edison Riñen, Prof. Edgardo Tulin and researcher Lilian Villamor—are celebrated for their outstanding contributions to the different aspects of biotechnology in the Philippines.

In his message, Department of Agriculture Biotech Program Director Paul C. Limson said the event was “not only recognizing exceptional talents but also celebrating the vibrant ecosystem that supports and nurtures the biotech community.”

“As we navigate this fast-paced world, it is crucial to pause for a moment and recognize those who have seamlessly woven the tapestry of innovation in pursuit of crafting solutions to address challenges in the sectors of agriculture, environment, health, and industry—challenges that impact the lives of every Filipino across communities,” Limson said.

He pointed out that the awardees are “champions who possess a unique combination of scientific exper tise, visionary thinking, and entrepreneurial spirit.”

THIS year’s Filipino Faces of Biotechnology Awards are (from left) Dr. Edison Riñen, Ma. Antonia Odelia Arroyo, Lilian Villamor, Prof. Edgardo Tulin, Dr. Eufemio Rasco Jr., Dr. Emiliana Bernardo (represented by her husband), Dr. Antonio Laurena, and Dr. Edward Barlaan. DA BPO PHOTO

“They are our pioneers in transforming industries, and trailblazers who constantly push the limits of what is achievable and motivate others to join them in their quest for scientific greatness,” he said.

Lim said: “Let us not only applaud their accomplishments but also recognize their sacrifices and the dedication that have fueled their journey to this momentous stage.”

The awardees

ALABASTRO, a chemical engineer, served as secretary of the Department of Science and Technology from 2001 to 2010, and is currently a member of the National Academy of Science and Technology Philippines (NAST). She pioneered in research on the thermal processing of local food products to ensure their safety for consumption.

Arroyo, known as “Maoi,” is a key figure

in biotechnology and entrepreneurship.

She founded Hybridigm Consulting, the Philippines’ first biotechnology commercialization firm, and co-founded the Ignite Impact Fund, which aims to address poverty in the country through strategic investments.

Barlaan is a Professor Emeritus at the University of Southern Mindanao. His efforts include improving the resistance of the “carabao” mango to diseases and developing DNA probe kits for detecting banana disease pathogens using digital and real-time polymerase chain reactions.

B ernardo, a former entomology professor at the University of the Philippines Los Baños, has been at the forefront of promoting environmentally sustainable agricultural practices. She is an expert in integrated pest management and biosafety and is particularly recognized for her work

AN illustration of the Circular Economy concept GEISSDOERFER, M., PIERONI, M.P., PIGOSSO, D.C. AND SOUFANI, K./WIKIPEDIA CC BY4.0

“By addressing these elements, the STI4CE aims to promote human well-being, foster wealth creation, reinforce wealth protection by protecting natural resources, and institutionalize sustainability across various sectors,” he said.

The initiative covers critical areas—such as education, health, food, agriculture, transport, energy, climate, and environmental protection—all aimed at advancing key Sustainable Development Goals.

With a total investment of P1.3 billion, the DOST has laid out its STI4CE Roadmap.

The roadmap is divided into four key segments: n “ T hin k Green”—ra ising awareness and educating stakeholders about circular economy practices, encouraging people to rethink production and consumption patterns. n ”Make Green”—emphasizes cleaner production methods, sustainable processes, and the development of innovative technologies to reduce waste and improve resource efficiency. n “Turn Green”—supports the transfer and commercialization of eco-friendly solutions, ensuring that innovations are adopted and scaled within industries. n “Keep Green”—aims to sustain the efforts through long-term with Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)-modified crops, including Bt eggplant.

Laurena, a research professor at the University of the Philippines Los Baños, specializes in plant biochemistry and molecular biology. His research focuses on advancing agricultural applications through cell biology and plant biotechnology.

Rasco is recognized for his pioneering and outstanding contributions in the field of plant breeding. He won the Rockefeller Foundations Food System Vision Prize “Special Mention,” which made his team one of the top 14 out of 1,300 teams who submitted entries in 2021.

Riñen, a former director of Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority, he has made significant strides in Bt cotton development, particularly in its commercialization, which was approved in 2023.

Tulin is the incumbent President of Visayas State University. He has been instrumental in advancing regional agricultural research and fostering innovation and sustainable practices in higher education. He has also received the Searca Professorial Chair Award, recognizing his academic excellence in Southeast Asia.

Villamor, affiliated with the Department of Agriculture’s Philippine Carabao Center, has contributed to the understanding of domesticated buffalo species in the country, helping to clarify their genetic distinctions.

Agriculture Undersecretary Asis Perez and Limson led the conferment of awards.

Since its inception in 2016, the Filipino Faces of Biotechnology Awards has recognized 66 individuals who have contributed to bridging research and its practical applications to advance the Philippines’ progress in the science field through biotechnology.

partnerships, strategic actions, and continuous improvements to maintain and expand the circular economy over time.

Solidum shared updates on projects under the STI4CE initiative aimed at promoting a sustainable circular economy.

For the Think Green segment, one project focuses on creating a laboratory, the “Establishment of the Biodegradability, Eco-toxicity, and Compostability Testing Facility in the Philippines”, to test biodegradable, compostable, and eco-toxic qualities of alternative packaging materials.

Another project, “PlastiZen,” encourages citizen participation in reducing plastic pollution by expanding a platform to gather more data on marine litter.

In the Make Green strategy, researchers are developing more sustainable ways to produce plastics using plant oils instead of fossil fuels.

They are also working on creating lightweight construction materials from agricultural waste, such as foamed composites. The project, “Post-radiation Reactive Extrusion of Plastic Waste Plastic,” aims to improve recycled plastics through a process called radiation intervention.

The Turn Green strategy includes a project in Mindanao

to create eco-cement from local industrial waste and reservoir sediments, which reduces carbon dioxide emissions compared to regular cement.

Another project focuses on the establishment of a 25-kW direct combustion waste-to-energy integrated system at the University of the Philippines Los Baños, which generates electricity from municipal waste.

Additionally, a project led by Mindanao State University is studying new methods to convert low-quality waste materials into fuel for power generation.

Solidum said that DOST has led 53 research and development projects focused on advancing the circular economy to tackle plastic waste management.

These efforts involved the development of technologies that transform plastic waste into useful materials, as well as methods for producing biodegradable alternatives and finding sustainable ways to recycle and repurpose textile and agricultural waste.

By collaborating with industries, academic institutions, and global organizations, the Science chief explained that they exchange knowledge, expand innovations, and create best practices that contribute to advancing sustainability initiatives.

Market interest rates predicted

by AI. Thanks to Ateneo math pros

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ATHEMATICIANS from Ateneo de Manila University have developed artificial intelligence (AI) tools designed to help forecast f luctuations in money market interest rates.

The study, titled “Deep Learning Approaches in Interest Rate Forecasting,” underscored the growing significance of AI in financial decision-making, suggesting that more advanced neural network models could further refine forecasting capabilities.

The research was published on November 15 in AIP Conference Proceedings by Ateneo mathematicians Halle Megan Bata, Mark Jayson Victoria, Wyonna Chezska Alvarez, Elvira de Lara-Tuprio and Armin Paul Allado.

The market interest rate reflects the cost of borrowing or the reward for saving money. It fluctuates based on supply and demand: rates rise when borrowing increases and saving decreases, and fall when the opposite occurs.

Inflation and central banks also impact rates, with central banks adjusting them to promote economic growth or curb rising prices.

“Interest rates are among the most important macroeconomic factors considered by both government and private entities when making investment and policy decisions,” the researchers explained. “A reliable forecast is a requisite to sound management

of exposure to different types of risk.”

The Ateneo team tested two deep learning models: Multi-layer Perceptrons (MLP), which processes data through multiple layers to identify complex patterns, and Vanilla Generative Adversarial Networks (VGAN), where one network generates data and the other evaluates its authenticity, enabling refined analysis.

Both AI models demonstrated the ability to predict changes in Philippine Benchmark Valuation (BVAL) rates, particularly during the pandemic, offering a glimpse into how the tools could forecast economic shifts and market disruptions.

Based on the findings, both models are effective, with MLP show ing strong per for mance with simpler structures and fewer variables, while VGAN excelled in analyzing more intricate scenarios with larger datasets, maintaining high accuracy across different time frames, including one, three, and six months, and even one year.

It also highlighted the potential practical applications of AI in finance, including its use by financial institutions to manage various types of risks, from market to liquidity.

“Governments could also potentially use these models to optimize debt issuance strategies by reducing borrowing costs,” the study said. Bless Aubrey Ogerio

A6 Sunday, December 8, 2024

Faith

Sunday Editor: Lyn Resurreccion • www.businessmirror.com.ph

Bishop-elect Sescon says his appointment was unexpected

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OR Fr. Rufino “Jun” Sescon Jr, the adage “expect the unexpected” has never rung truer.

the Manila archdiocese.

“Even to be [assigned] here in Quiapo is something I never imagined,” Sescon said.

At 52, he said, to be elevated to the episcopate is an “extraordinary grace… even though I am undeserving.”

“But God’s plan, above all, must prevail… that’s why I wholeheartedly accept this even though I am filled with fear and aware of my shortcomings,” Sescon said.

“I know that what I will bring to this mission is not myself, but what God will do through me for everything is grace,” he added.

The bishop-elect will succeed Bishop Ruperto Santos, who became the bishop of Antipolo in July 2023.

CMMA official BISHOP-ELECT Rufino “Jun” Sescon Jr., celebrates Mass at the Quiapo Church in Manila on Dec. 5, 2024. SCREENSHOT FROM QUIAPO CHURCH VIDEO

Pope Francis on Tuesday appointed Sescon as the new bishop of the Diocese of Balanga, a role that took him by surprise.

“I did not expect this,” Sescon admitted in a video message a day after his appointment.

A priest for 26 years, he has only

been serving at Quiapo Church since 2022 — his first assignment as rector and parish priest.

As the center of Filipino devotion to the Black Nazarene, the minor basilica is a major assignment, placing him in charge of one of the most prominent churches in

THE Catholic Mass Media Awards (CMMA), to which Sescon is the executive director and trustee for several years, congratulated him on his appointment as bishop of the Diocese of Balanga, covering the province of Bataan.

“Your dedication and service to the Church continue to inspire us.

May God bless and guide you in this new chapter of your ministry,” the CMMA said in its Facebook page.

Sescon graduated from San Car-

los Seminary, where he studied philosophy and theology, earning master’s degrees in both fields.

After being ordained a priest in 1998, he served as assistant to Cardinal Jaime Sin until 2001 and as secretary from 2001 until the archbishop’s death in 2005.

He also ser ved as the archdiocese’s chancellor from 2008 to 2011 under Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales and from 2011 to 2015 under Cardina l Luis Antonio Tagle.

Sescon has repeatedly served as a member of the Presbyteral Council, a body of priests required by canon law to serve as counsel to the archbishop.

Before being assigned to Quiapo Church, he also served as chaplain of Greenbelt Chapel and priestin-charge of Mary, Mother of Hope Chapel at Landmark, both in Makati City.

Bishop Santos, who led the Balanga diocese for 13 years, said Sescon’s journey of spiritual leadership and pastoral care “has undoubtedly prepared him for this noble responsibility.”

“He is a true gift to the community, bringing hope, wisdom, and divine grace to all who seek comfort and strength in their faith,” Santos said. Roy Lagarde/CBCP News

21 new cardinals to reflect Church’s unity amid geographic expansion

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AT IC A N —T he 21 ne w cardinals created by Pope Francis at the December 7 consistory reflected the pontiff ’s vision for a missionary Church that reaches out to the world’s peripheries.

Following the 10th consistory of his pontificate, Pope Francis have effectively cemented the expansive geographical diversity of the College of Cardinals as well as chosen approximately 60 percent of all its members and almost 80 percent of the cardinals who will choose his successor in a future conclave.

Among the new cardinals is the Philippines’ Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, the immediate past bishop of the Diocese of Kalookan.

While the College of Cardinals will still largely be European — with a high proportion who are either representing Italian churches or are of Italian origin — after the consistory more than 90 countries are represented in the college responsible for advising the pope in the care of the universal Church.

T he D e ce m b e r con s i s tor y saw the College of Cardinals expand to a total of 253 members.

Though the vast majority of cardinals are usually secular clergy, this year’s consistory brought the number of cardinals belonging to religious congregations and institutes to 68.

The continued expansion of the college beyond traditionally Catholic Europe is also evident in the selection of cardinals belonging to missionary congregations in countries where Catholics are a minority.

Both Cardinals Archbishop Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi, SVD, of Tokyo and Archbishop Ladislav Nemet, SVD, of Belgrade-Smederevo, Serbia, belong to the Society of the Divine Word religious congregation and represent the Church in countries where the Catholic population is at 5 percent and below.

According to Canon 349 of the Code of Canon Law, cardinals hold the duty to act collegially in choosing a pope’s successor should

a conclave be convoked. However, not all cardinals hold the right to cast a vote in a conclave.

More than half of the college after the consistory is set to be “cardinal electors.” These cardinals are below the age of 80 and therefore eligible to vote for a new pope.

Among the 140 cardinals with voting rights, the highest representation by country is Italy with 17 cardinal-electors, followed by the US with 10 cardinal-electors, and then Spain with six cardinalelectors.

The college’s remaining 113 “cardinal non-electors” are 80 years old and older. While they are eligible to participate in the meetings leading up to the start of a conclave, they do not have voting rights and so will not participate in the conclave itself.

Both the eldest and youngest College of Cardinals members were created at the December 7 consistory.

At 99, Italian Cardinal-elect Angelo Acerbi, the prelate emeritus of the Knights of Malta, is the

oldest member of the college. Having served the Catholic Church as a bishop for 50 years, he also has 40 years of experience working in the Holy See’s diplomatic corps.

Between 1974 and 2001, he served as nuncio to New Zealand, Colombia, Hungary, Moldova, and the Netherlands.

Bishop Mykola Bychok of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Eparchy of Sts. Peter and Paul in Melbourne, Australia, is the youngest cardinal at age 44. His elevation as cardinal brought the total number of cardinals from the vast Oceania region to four.

In an October 6 letter welcoming the new cardinals to the “Roman clergy,” Pope Francis said membership to the College of Cardinals “is an expression of the Church’s unity and of the bond that unites all the Churches with this Church of Rome.”

The consistory for the creation of the new cardinals took place in the Papal Chapel of St. Peter’s Basilica on Saturday afternoon.

Kristina Millare/Catholic News Agency

Buddha’s relic China loaned to Thailand gets warm welcome

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A NGKOK — More than 2,000 people took part on Wednesday in a procession to escort a relic of the Buddha lent by China to a shrine in the Thai capital Bangkok to honor the birthday of King Maha Vajiralongkorn and to celebrate half a century of diplomatic relations between Thailand and China.

The tooth relic, considered sacred by Buddhists, was flown in earlier in the day from the Lingguang Temple in Beijing, which normally houses it.

Loans of the tooth as a show of friendship have been an effective form of soft diplomacy

by China, even though competing claims from various countries on possessing the Buddha’s tooth raise questions about its provenance.

PEOPLE take picture Buddha’s sacred tooth relics, on loan from China, to the Royal garden in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, December 4, 2024. AP/SAKCHAI LALIT

The tooth was put in an ornate, golden container and placed on a flower-bedecked float as it was paraded through one of the oldest neighborhoods of the city.

Attendants flanked the vehicle as it travelled about 2 1/2 kilometers to the relic’s temporary home, a soaring pavilion on Sanam Luang, a large field outside Bangkok’s

famous Grand Palace.

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and members of her Cabinet received the relic amid the sounds of chanting monks.

Representatives of China, including Beijing’s ambassador to Thailand, were also present, according to local media.

The loan is the latest in a series of events to mark the 72nd birthday of the Thai king. It also commemorates the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Thailand and China, which occurs next year. It was previously displayed in Thailand in 2002 to mark the 75th birthday of Vajiralongkorn’s father, King Bhumibol, who died in 2016.

The relic will be on public display at the pavilion until midFebruary. AP

CARDINAL-DESIGNATE Pablo Virgilio David (left) walks with Cardinal Jose Advincula of Manila and Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, during the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops at the Vatican on October 28, 2023. ROY LAGARDE/CBCP NEWS FILE

Senate Resolution aims to congratulate ‘Bishop Ambo’ as newest PHL cardinal

By Butch Fernandez

T

HE 10th Filipino raised to the rank of cardinal since 1960 is an exemplary pastoral leader, a theologian and a courageous beacon in some of the country’s darkest moments, according to Sen. Risa Hontiveros, who urged colleagues to adopt a resolution commending him.

The Most Reverend Bishop Pablo Virgilio Siongco David of the Diocese of Kalookan, was recently appointed by Pope Francis as a new cardinal of the Catholic Church He is the third Filipino made a cardinal by Pope Francis, and the first from the Diocese of Kalookan; Bishop Ambo “will be joining the other living cardinals— Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales, Cardinal Orlando Guevedo, Cardinal Jose Advincula, and Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle—in helping Pope Francis bridge the local churches to the universal Catholic Church, in proclaiming God’s goodwill to all people, in shepherding the faithful, and in showing great mercy and compassion to people overwhelmed by pain and suffering,” Hontiveros said in filing proposed Senate Resolution 124.

Bishop Ambo, as David is fondly called, was born on March 2, 1959, in Betis, Guagua, Pampanga, to spouses Pedro Sahagun David and Bienvenida Sanchez Siongco, “at an early age, naturally and spontaneously found his priestly vocation from his catechism class to the Eucharist and his fondness for the promotion of the Pampanga Church’s heritage, especially the grand Betis Church.”

He was ordained priest in 1983, appointed as auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of San Fernando in 2006, and designated as bishop of the Diocese of Kalookan in 2015; A priest for 41 years, Bishop Ambo “is one of the country’s leading biblical scholars, holding a licentiate and doctorate in sacred theology from the Catholic University of Louvain and having been trained at the Ecole Biblique et Archeologique Francaise de Jerusalem,” Hontiveros said.

He is recognized, Hontiveros noted, “as one of the leading voices against inhumane government policies that violate human rights and trample on human dignity, such as the violent and bloody war on drugs that stigmatized and traumatized the impoverished communities of the Diocese of Kalookan, which covers the cities of Caloocan, Navotas, and Malabon.”

The senator also noted “his gentle and kind persona, living according to his personal motto of kenosis, realizing his duty to care for his flock, and his profound understanding of the Church, its philosophy of life and social teachings, finding its expression during the height of the war on drugs and thereafter, through organized faith communities, establishing spiritual sanctuaries, and mission stations to bring the Church to the poor, to those on the margins of the society, and the excluded.”

As a bishop for 18 years, he is entrusted with responsibilities and the mission to help further the ministries of the Catholic Church in his capacities as president (2021-present) and vice president (2017-2021) of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), incoming vice president of the Federation of Asian Bishops Conference in January 2025, and member of the Ordinary Council of the General Secretariat of the Synod, to name a few.

The elevation of Bishop Ambo as the country’s new cardinal “comes at a most special time as the communities of faithful prepare for the opening and observance of the holy year of the Jubilee 2025, as an opportunity to be renewed in hope in Christ, with the Church,” the senator added.

Hontiveros has personally worked with Bishop Ambo and “shared most of his advocacies, his appointment, and elevation as cardinal brings a sense of admiration, immense joy, and great hope knowing that those in the peripheries, the lost, the least, the last, the vulnerable, the oppressed, and the excluded, will be bound, in communion, to one another in the unity of the Church.”

“As the country’s new cardinal, he clearly understands the assignment, that even if the majority of Filipinos are Catholic, in the rest of Asia, Christianity is, in his words, a tiny, tiny minority, it is one of his responsibilities to ensure openness to intercultural, interreligious dialogue, and to finding spaces to be able to collaborate, to be able to walk with people of other faiths, other religions, other denominations, within Christianity, to be able to work together for social justice, for the poorest of the poor, for human rights and the integrity of Creation,” added Hontiveros.

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Sunday, December 8, 2024 A7

Editor: Lyn Resurreccion

Learning from PHL eagle Chick#30’s death

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By Jonathan L. Mayuga

sisted pipping through air space areas of the egg where the membrane was unattached to prevent suffocation from excess carbon buildup—a common risk when the hatching period extends beyond a safe duration.

“The decision to use the ‘help out’ method…was a calculated measure based on years of experience and the chick’s status during the later stages of incubation. Without our intervention, the risk of losing this hatching to suffocation was high,” Domingo Tadena, NBBS facility manager and PEF’s conservation breeding expert explained.

HE Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) jubilantly announced the hatching of Philippine eagle Chick #30 on November 11. However, barely three weeks after, the joy turned to sadness when the bird died.

The male chick was the first to have hatched on the newly established National Bird Breeding Sanctuary (NBBS) in Barangay Eden, Davao City.

The momentous event signified a major milestone for Philippine Eagle conservation and represented the first successful hatching at the facility, which only began operations a few months ago.

Unfortunately, 18 days later, PEF announced that the chick died, a heartbreaking loss and a solemn reminder of how delicate chick-rearing can be and how critically endangered species are particularly vulnerable.

Critically endangered ONE of the rarest birds of prey in the world, the critically endangered Philippine eagle is the country’s national bird.

It can only be seen on four islands in the country—Luzon, Samar, Leyte, and Mindanao.

Experts estimate that there are less than 400 pairs of these large and powerful birds of prey in the wild because of habitat loss and hunting for trophy and illegal wildlife trade.

Philippine eagles are solitary and territorial creatures; they take five to seven years to sexually mature and reproduce.

However, they only lay a single egg every two years. They wait for their offspring to make it on their own which usually takes two years before producing another offspring.

They typically nest on large dipterocarp trees like the native lauan species, which is also becoming rare

because of deforestation.

For the egg to hatch, both parent eagles need to alternately incubate it for 58 to 60 days.

In the wild, chances of the chick growing up enough to fend for itself and find its own territory and mate, is not easy, making it hard for this species to reproduce.

Captive-breeding program AS the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’s conservation partner and protector of the Philippine eagle and their habitat, the PEF has been implementing a captivebreeding program to repopulate suitable territories for the bird.

Over the past 35 years, it has produced 29 chicks in its center in Barangay Malagos, Davao City.

The PEF applies cooperative artificial insemination and natural pairing techniques in breeding the eagles at the PEC. Chick #30 represented a new chapter in the fight to conserve the Philippine Eagle.

In a statement highlighting the successful hatching of the first Philippine eagle chick in its new facility, PEF Executive Director Dennis Salvador said: “This achievement underscores the unique challenges faced by specialists in breeding our National Bird. They are not only difficult to pair but they also only mature and become productive after a long time.”

“One necessarily needs to invest time and resources to make it work.

But more importantly, besides skill, knowledge, and experience, it is the

Ideal location

PHILIPPINE eagle Chick #30 PHOTO COURTESY OF PHILIPPINE EAGLE FOUNDATION dedication and passion of our team that made this possible,” Salvador added.

A heartbreaking loss “ THIS hatching marks a historic first for the NBBS, occurring just months after its establishment,” he pointed out.

“It proves that with cutting-edge technology, cross-cultural collaboration, and unwavering dedication, we can create new hope for the Philippine Eagle and ensure that future generations,” he said.

Hence, the death of the chick was considered a heartbreaking loss and a solemn reminder of how delicate chick-rearing can be.

“The loss of Chick #30 is a challenging setback for our team, as we f aced u ne x pec ted compl ic ations despite our best efforts. This loss pushes us to learn, adapt, and strengthen our care practices moving forward,” Tadena added.

Initial normal behavior THE eagle chick initially displayed normal behavior and feeding patterns, Tadena noted.

However, on November 26, the bird began exhibiting respiratory distress, including labored breathing and sneezing.

Immediate interventions, such as oxygen therapy and fluid suctioning, stabilized his condition.

But despite dedicated care and monitoring, the chick ’s health declined, and resuscitation efforts ultimately proved unsuccessful.

A necropsy conducted by Dr. Bayani Vandenbroeck pointed to a yolk sac retention and infection or the resulting complications, as the cause of death.

The chick’s weight was also significantly below the expected range for his age.

“Of all the chicks that they’ve successfully hatched and raised, this is the first time that the PEF breeding team had a case of yolk sac retention, which is usually linked to infection or other causes. Strict hygiene and management protocols were followed, so we did not expect this at all. But we will probe where else we can improve,” Vandenbroeck, the PEF’s veterinarian, said.

Vandenbroeck told the BusinessMirror via messenger on December 2 that the yolk sac is present in newly hatched birds and gets absorbed within the first 48 hours of life.

“If it’s not absorbed, it makes the chick more susceptible to infection, since it’s not supposed to be there anymore,” he said.

There are a lot of factors that can affect the rate of yolk sac absorption.

“It could be contamination, temperature of incubator or brooder, feed or lack of it, size of the birds, and others,” he explained.

He said they also found some abnormal changes in the chick’s other

organs, such as the liver, kidneys, and intestines.

“All indicative of infection,” he said.

To have a clearer picture of how Chick #30 got infected, he said they are sending out samples for analysis “That’s why it’s also surprising because all the established strict hygiene and management protocols were followed and of all the chicks previously hatched. This is the first time we encountered this,” he said.

“It’s the initial gross necropsy [autopsy] findings that just basically told us there was an infection, but we’re doing a deeper analysis pa to try to see where the chick got infected, and hopefully, we can incorporate these into our future protocols,” he said.

Taking captive breeding to the next level AT the new breeding facility in Barangay Eden, the PEF hopes to take the captive-breeding program to the next level, by encouraging breeders to pair naturally—incubate and rear the chick once they hatch.

While Chick #30 was a product of cooperative artificial insemination, its parent Pinpin, the female eagle, naturally incubated the egg for the first seven days.

It hatched following a 56-day incubation period with the intervention of the PEF team, which implemented a “help out” method that involves as-

IN a telephone interview with the BusinessMirror, Tadena maintained that the NBBS is an ideal location, and he remains confident that breeding can be done much faster because of the temperature, which is colder than the PEC in Barangay Malagos.

He explained that under a conducive environment, the PEC could produce two eggs in one breeding season through the double clutching technique. This means that each female can produce twice as many eggs within a breeding season, which starts between June and July.

Tadena said that in the new facility, eggs can be produced through natural pairing, and because the temperature in Barangay Eden facility is conducive, they can allow a pair to incubate naturally.

He said there’s one natural pair in the NBBS and they are expecting the pair to eventually lay an egg. Hopefully, under the program, he said incubation and rearing will eventually be done naturally in the facility.

The Philippine Eagle Foundation said that with their experience on the death of Chick #30, it is implementing new measures.

“As we mourn this loss, we also draw inspiration from the lessons learned, which will guide us in our mission to protect and recover the Philippine eagle population. We remain steadfast in our dedication to ensuring the survival of this iconic species,” Tadena said.

‘Silyang Pinoy,’ wastewater treatment project of DOST-FPRDI bag awards from Seoul invention fair

ENGR. Edward S. Marasigan (center) poses with Eileen S. Fernando (left) of DOST-TAPI’s Technology Information and Promotion Division, and DOST-TAPI Director Atty.

Marion Ivy D. Decena. DOST-FPRDI PHOTO

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HE Seoul International Invention Fair (SIIF) 2024 in South Korea recognized the green innovations from the Department of Science and Technology’s Forest

THE “Silyang Pinoy” are used as table and chair in classrooms, and converted into bed when schools are turned into evacuation areas. LYN RESURRECCION Products Research and Development Institute (DOST-FPRDI) in Seoul, South Korea.

The Korea Invention Promotion A s s o c i at ion re c e nt l y con fe r re d

the Silver Award to DOST-FPRDI’s Multi-Functional School Furniture, also called “Silyang Pinoy,” because of its technical excellence, business potential, design, and explanation

of the invention.

Silyang Pinoy is a chair-table combination that can easily be transformed into a bed, which is especially useful during calamities when public

schools are converted into evacuation centers.

T his susta inable f ur niture is mainly produced using engineered bamboo and other raw materials.

M e a n w h i l e , t h e I n s t i t u t e ’s “Equipment System and Process for Treating Wastewater from WetTy pe Finishing Spray Booth ” was recog nized as the Best Inter nationa l Invention and Innovation by the Nationa l Research Council of T hailand.

T he equipment addresses the improper discharge of wastewater from furniture finishing that usually contains toxic chemicals, such as aromatics, benzene derivatives, alcohol, siloxanes, propanoic and pentanoic acid, which are harmful to aquatic plants and animals.

“This international recognitions

are significant achievements for DOST-FPRDI. They only prove the capability of our innovators and researchers to win in the world stage, boosting the Institute’s reputation in scientific and technological advancements,” said DOST-FPRDI Director Rico J. Cabangon.

Both technologies were presented

by Engr. Edward Paul S. Marasigan.

DOST-FPR DI’s participation was made possible through the assistance of DOST-Technology Application and Promotion Institute.

SIIF 2024 is an international event that offers a platform for networking and collaboration. Held from November 27 to 30, the event brought together inventors, researchers, manufacturers, investors, and distributors from over 30 countries. Apple Jean C.

Martin-de Leon/S&T Media Service

DOST gets Guinness for largest bamboo planting event

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AGAYAN DE ORO CIT Y— The Philippines has made it to the Guinness World Record for the most number of people planting bamboo simultaneously in multiple locations.

Guinness World Records Adjudicator Sonia Ushiriguchi confirmed this on November 28 during the celebration of the National Science, Technology, and Innovation Week (NSTW) that was organized by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) held in Cagayan de Oro City.

A total of 2,305 planters participat-

ed in the record-setting event, which was conducted by DOST and its Kawayanihan Circular Economy Movement partners on October 18 in 19 different locations across Mindanao and Leyte.

T he record-setting initiative, spearheaded by DOST-X, aimed to raise awareness about bamboo’s potentia l to promote a Circu lar Economy, Climate Resilience, and Sustainability.

A circular economy is essential for conserving finite resources, reducing environmental impacts, and fostering economic resilience. It advocates

for the reuse, repair, and recycling of materials, minimizes waste, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and helps combat climate change.

DOST collaborated with Bukidnon first District Rep. Hon. Jose Manuel F. Alba and 85 other local government units, nongovernment agencies, private sector organizations, and members of Congress.

The Kawayanihan Circular Economy Movement aligns with DOST’s framework on Science, Technology, and Innovation for Circular Economy.

As the lead agency providing in-

novative S&T solutions and opening opportunities, the framework guides DOST agencies to collaborate in promoting a circular economy, sustainable consumption and production, and the integration of Environmental, Social, and Governance aspects.

“We must love our environment as much as we love our children—ensuring they are healthy and live in a peaceful, stable place,” emphasized DOST Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr., underscoring the importance of the framework during the DOST Circular Economy Initiative Towards Smart

SONIA USHIRIGUCHI, the Guinness World Records adjudicator, awards the Guinness World Record to DOST and the Kawayanihan partners for achieving the Most Number of People Planting Bamboo Simultaneously (Multiple Venues). DOST PHOTO and Sustainable Communities activity.

The collaboration between DOST and its Kawayanihan partners has

paved the way for solutions and opportunities in the green economy.

Joshua Robin/S&T Media Services

NBA returns to China after more than 5 yrs

Sports BusinessMirror

By Tim Reynolds The Associated Press

A8 | S

unday, December 8, 2024

mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

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HE National Basketball Association (NBA) is returning to China next season, striking a deal to play preseason games there more than five years after the league was effectively banned over Commissioner Adam Silver not punishing Daryl Morey for tweeting support of anti-government protesters in Hong Kong.

An agreement will be announced on Friday, said a person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because neither the NBA nor Chinese officials have spoken publicly on the matter.

The Brooklyn Nets and the Phoenix Suns will play in China’s gambling hub of Macao on October 10, 2025, and again two days later, the person said, adding there are plans for two more preseason games in China in 2026.

The teams will play at Macao’s Venetian Arena, which is owned by the Las Vegas Sands Corp.—which is a casino operator there as well. Sands president and chief operating officer Patrick Dumont became governor of the Dallas Mavericks late last year after his family acquired the team.

The Nets are owned by Joe Tsai, the chairman of Chinese tech giant Alibaba.

There will be an NBA presence at that Macao arena this weekend: Basketball Hall of Famers Tony Parker, Ray Allen and Tracy McGrady, along with former NBA standouts Stephon Marbury, DeMarcus Cousins and Cuttino Mobley, will headline a celebrity game on Saturday.

program segment at the International Skating Union Grand Prix Finals of Figure Skating Thursday in Grenoble, France. AP INTERNATIONAL Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach speaks at the opening of the organization’s executive board meeting at the Olympic House in Lausanne. AP

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Bach talks on working with Trump toward 2028 Los Angeles Games

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of the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC).

“We are very confident there with regard to the steps and efforts being undertaken,” Bach said at a news conference after an executive board meeting of the International Olympic Committee in Lausanne, Switzerland.

“We saw also that President-elect Trump repeatedly declared his support for the games, which we never had any doubt because he has declared this support from the very beginning.”

On Wednesday, Trump said he appointed Monica Crowley as his representative for “major US hosted events,” including the LA Olympics and the 2026 World Cup in men’s soccer.

Trump will be invited as head of state by FIFA to present the trophy to the winning captain at the World Cup final. That game is on July 19, 2026 at MetLife Stadium near New York City.

“The World Cup and the Olympics, I was responsible for getting both of them, actually,” Trump told Bill Belichick on the “Let’s Go!” podcast before the November 5 election.

The US will co-host soccer’s biggest event with Canada and Mexico, having beaten the rival bid of Morocco in a June 2018 vote in Moscow by FIFA member federations.

Trump has had a warmer relationship with FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who twice visited the White House in the first administration.

They also co-headlined at Davos, Switzerland, in January 2020 in an event on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum.

On Thursday, Trump’s video message to FIFA, expressing his “highest regards and respect to

It’s all part of a long series of moves toward some sort of return to normalcy between China and the league. The NBA, on some level, has been welcomed back for a while: Miami’s Jimmy Butler, who has an endorsement deal with Chinese apparel company Li-Ning, has toured the country and drawn large crowds in each of the last two offseasons, while Golden State’s Stephen Curry and Sacramento›s De’Aaron Fox drew enormous crowds when they visited in September.

Then in October, Silver said he thought the league would “bring games back to China at some point.”

The geopolitical rift started in October 2019 when Morey, then the general manager of the Houston Rockets and now GM of the Philadelphia 76ers, tweeted support for anti-government protesters in Hong Kong. The tweet was deleted quickly, but the fallout lasted years and Beijing was clearly displeased by Silver supporting Morey’s right to speak out on the issue.

“If that’s the consequences of us adhering to our values, we still feel it’s critically important we adhere to those values,” Silver said at the time.

The timing of the tweet was particularly awkward, given that the Nets and Los Angeles Lakers were in China at the time for two games.

The games were played—largely in silence with fans in attendance, many taping over the NBA logos on the jerseys they wore—and even without customary pregame and postgame news conferences.

The NBA was criticized by both Republican and Democratic lawmakers in the US for playing and for not saying more about China’s human rights record.

In large part because Silver did not sanction Morey to China’s liking, no NBA games were shown on CCTV,

China’s state broadcaster, for one year after that tweet. The end of the 2020 NBA Finals was shown on CCTV, which began showing games in earnest again in 2022. NBA games were available to Chinese fans on the streaming service Tencent, another of the league’s broadcast partners.

The league said the rift cost up to $400 million in lost revenue in the year that followed, and that figure surely continued rising. But there were steps toward a reconciliation along the way; NBA legend and Yao Ming went to the US for the memorial service for commissioner emeritus David Stern in January 2020, a move viewed at the time as a mutual sign that the league and China wanted to mend fences. That was followed by China publicly thanking the NBA in February 2020—when what became the Covid-19 pandemic was in its earliest days—for sending more than $1 million in medical supplies to assist coronavirus relief efforts there.

The league has played a preseason game in Macao once before, with Orlando beating Cleveland there in 2007. The Magic, on that same trip, also played a Chinese all-star team in Macao.

And in 2008, USA Basketball played exhibitions in Macao before the Beijing Olympics.

“The game of basketball around here, the fans respect the game so much,” then-Cavaliers star LeBron James said after playing in Macao in 2007. “It’s great to see that.”

Macao—a former Portuguese colony that was returned to Chinese rule in 1999—is the only place in China where casino gambling is legal. Beijing has called for the city to diversify its gambling-reliant economy, with hopes that it can grow tourism and be a bridge for trade between China and Portuguesespeaking countries.

FIFA urged not to award 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia

Amber performance The US’s Amber Glenn competes in the women’s short

ENEVA—Olympic leaders are “very confident and relaxed” about working with the incoming Trump administration ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Games, outgoing IOC president Thomas Bach said Thursday.

US President-elect Donald Trump has talked up his own role helping get the games for LA in 2017, though a White House meeting during that campaign with an Olympic delegation including Bach was not a success.

Still, the two men could meet again as soon as Saturday in Paris, which hosted the 2024 Olympics that LA originally bid for.

Trump is traveling to the French capital for ceremonies this weekend to reopen Notre Dame Cathedral that was devastated by fire five years ago.

Bach also is invited to return to the Olympic host city where he has excellent relations with French President Emmanuel Macron, who formally opened the Summer Games on July 26.

President Trump should do the same duty at the LA Olympics opening ceremony on July 14, 2028 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.

Though the LA Olympics are privately funded and organized, federal government guarantees and funding are needed for security, as well as providing visas to ensure athletes, coaches and officials from 206 national teams, plus a refugees team, can enter the US to train and compete.

Bach said Thursday responsibility for “taking early contact with the incoming team” of the Trump administration is with organizing committee officials in LA, and leaders

CHINESE fans react during a preseason game between the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers at the Mercedes Benz Arena in Shanghai, China, on October 10, 2019. AP

Gianni,” was broadcast at the soccer body’s draw ceremony in Miami for the 2025 Club World Cup. It was attended by Trump’s daughter Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner.

IOC says 5 billion followed Paris Olympics

THE IOC said its commissioned research showed 5 billion people—84 percent of the potential global audience aged over 4 years old— followed the Paris Olympics.

“These Olympic Games met the expectations of the world,” Bach said.

The IOC’s “Audience and Insights” report used data gathered by research firms Nielsen, Ipsos and Publicis Sport & Entertainment, and said more than 55,000 people aged from 13 to 65 in 18 countries were surveyed.

In France, the report claimed 95 percent of the potential audience watched

on average 24 hours of coverage.

Among the athletes surveyed, 95 percent rated their Olympic experience as good or satisfactory.

Revenues rising

THE IOC reported total revenue of $7.6 billion from the 2021-24 Olympic cycle that included the 2022 Beijing Winter Games and 2024 Paris Summer Games.

For the 2025-28 period, covering the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Games and 2028 Los Angeles Summer Games, the IOC already secured $7.3 billion and expects to beat the previous total, Bach said.

The IOC uses most of its income from broadcast and sponsor deals to make billion-dollar payments toward Olympic hosts’ costs, pay shares to sports’ governing bodies and national Olympic committees, plus training scholarships for hundreds of athletes in less wealthy countries. AP

THE King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jiddah, Saudi Arabia. AP

ENEVA—FIFA was urged Wednesday not to give Saudi Arabia the 2034 World Cup hosting rights next week without binding commitments to protect migrant labor working on massive projects in the kingdom.

Human Rights Watch detailed alleged abuses after speaking to more than 150 current and former workers, and families of some who died in Saudi Arabia, over two years for the report “Die First, And I’ll Pay You Later.”

They alleged abuses including paying illegal and excessive recruitment fees, forced labor, wage theft, working in extreme heat and lack of legal protection. Researchers spoke to workers in construction, hospitality, private health services and retail sectors.

“Saudi authorities are systematically failing to protect them from and remedy these abuses,” Human Rights Watch said. “This blatant failure to protect migrant workers creates a near certainty that the 2034 World Cup...will be stained with pervasive rights violations.”

Saudi Arabia is the only candidate to host the 2034 tournament at an online meeting of FIFA’s 211 member federations next Wednesday.

FIFA is set to ask members to acclaim Saudi Arabia and the sole candidate to host the 2030 World Cup—Spain, Portugal and Morocco, plus single games in each of Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay— without an itemized vote.

FIFA has resisted calls from independent rights activists and lawyers calling for greater scrutiny of the Saudi World Cup plan including access for international observers.

They say FIFA risks repeating a decade of similar issues that tainted preparations for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar despite consistent warnings by groups like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International.

Qatar did reform much of the “kafala” labor system that ties workers to employers, and exists also in Saudi Arabia, though critics said laws were not always enforced.

An in-house evaluation by FIFA of the Saudi bid praised it last week while noting it must invest “significant effort and time” to comply with international rights standards, which were widely criticized this year at the United Nations Human Rights Council.

Most of the 15 stadiums in the World Cup proposal; hotels to add 175,000 available rooms in the five host cities rail, road and airport upgrades; the futuristic mega city Neom.

Eight stadiums must be built from scratch including a 92,000-seat arena in Riyadh set to host the opening game and final. Three are currently being built for the 2027 Asian Cup. The other four will be upgraded or renovated.

The stadium in Neom was promised in July to be “the most unique stadium in the world” with a field elevated 350 meters above ground. Human Rights Watch describes mega-projects like Neom as “management consultant-abetted fantasies” backed by sovereign money from the Public Investment Fund.

The report says there are 13.4 million migrant workers in Saudi Arabia, or about 40 percent of the population.

Bangladesh provides the largest quota of the foreign population with 15.8 percent of the total, Human Rights Watch said. About 14 percent of the total come from each of India, Pakistan and Yemen.

The report cited Bangladeshi government figures that 498,000 of its residents traveled to Saudi Arabia in 2023 to work. It said 887 Bangladeshis died in Saudi Arabia between January and July this year, and 80 percent were attributed to “natural causes.” AP

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A LOVE LETTER TO FANS

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YOUR MUSI

Lola Amour’s ‘The Album Concert Film’ highlights band’s five-year journey

By Ana Zoe V. Davad

S one of the most vibrant, colorful parts of the Filipino indie music scene, Lola Amour brings their unique brand of nostalgia to their fanbase with the premiere of Lola Amour: The Album Concert Film.

Directed by Jed Regala of First Light Studios, the concert film features candid rehearsal footage, interviews with fans, and exclusive insights from the band members themselves and their team. This multidimensional approach makes the film not only a celebration of their music but also a tribute to the community that has supported them through the years.

Publisher : T. Anthony C. Cabangon Editor-In-Chief : Lourdes M. Fernandez Concept : Aldwin M. Tolosa Y2Z Editor : Jt Nisay SoundStrip Editor : Edwin P. Sallan Group Creative Director : Eduardo A. Davad Graphic Designers : Niggel Figueroa Anabelle O. Flores Contributing Writers

With a 100-minute runtime, the film gives us fourteen songs performed live, with many treats in store for fans from a surprise appearance by the band’s former keyboardist Martin Kim to performances with TV personality Dante Gulapa and hip-hop quintet PLAYERTWO. Nothing can quite capture that magic in the air that only live music can conjure, but The Album Concert Film comes close. It successfully evokes the electricity of live music – the synergy between the band and their audience, the sights and sounds, and the fleeting feeling of witnessing something special.

The concert closes with a performance of the hit that put Lola Amour in the spotlight: “Raining in Manila.” It’s made the rounds as the unofficial rainy day anthem of the Philippines, reaching international stars from Coldplay’s Chris Martin to

LOLA Amour reminisces on the years that went into creating The Album. | Photo by Zoe Davad Chanyeol of EXO and becoming a staple of rainy day memes and edits online.

With its newfound success, it’s easy to forget that The Album spent five years in the making. The way it bounces from genre to genre has become part of its charm; it doesn’t attempt to fit into any one category and is all the better for it.

Initially, I wasn’t a fan of the documentary’s many straight-on shots, but it does help one appreciate the bright, summery set pieces and the band’s themed outfits. More notably, it reminded me of being in the crowd during a concert and recording

: Tony M. Maghirang Rick Olivares Jill Tan Radovan Reine Juvierre S. Alberto John Eiron R. Francisco Pocholo Concepcion Francine Y. Medina

Justine Xyrah Garcia

Bea Rollo Trixzy Leigh Bonotan Bless Aubrey Ogerio Photographers

: Bernard P. Testa Nonie Reyes

Y2Z & SOUNDSTRIP are published and distributed

LOLA Amour kicks off their Circuit Makati concert. | Photo from Lola Amour

free every Sunday by the Philippine Business Daily Mirror Publishing Inc. as a project of the

The Philippine Business Mirror Publishing, Inc., with offices on the 3rd Floor of Dominga Building III 2113 Chino Roces Avenue corner Dela Rosa Street, Makati City, Philippines.

Tel. Nos. (Editorial) 817-9467; 813-0725.

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A bird’s-eye view of Circuit Makati’s concert grounds, filled with fans. | Photo from Lola Amour

everything with your phone, pouring every bit of concentration into making sure the video doesn’t come out shaky and that every part of the stage is visible – all the better for nostalgiafueled trips down memory lane.

As the film progresses, visual variety increases, incorporating scenes of fans singing and cheering, adding a heartfelt dimension to the narrative.

During The Album Concert’s press conference, the band shared their deep appreciation for the loyal fans who consistently show up for them, dedicating the film to their fanbase as an early Christmas gift. The film is more than just a showcase of Lola Amour’s hits or straight concert footage — it is also a tribute to the community and team that has supported them throughout their journey.

Evolution is this band’s middle name – you’ll never catch Lola Amour stagnating; the septet is constantly trying new things and testing the boundaries of what they can do. In an interview with Billboard Philippines, Lola Amour shared that originally they’d doubted whether it was the right choice to include such a wide variety of genres and sounds in their debut studio album, but they came to the realization that it was simply their artistic identity.

The band also has plans to expand their reach to the international stage, as shared by vocalist Pio Dumayas. “We love the Philippines, we love playing here, but we want to look for opportunities to get out into the world more.”

The band also teased a new song created as a collaboration with Australian singer-songwriter Oliver Cronin set to come out in January 2025, titled “Maria.”

IC

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BUSINESS

BEST OF BOTH WORLDS

Filipino-American Rapper MBNel on using heritage as strength

A

By Ica Hontiveros-Cheng

FTER exchanging pleasantries with Filipino-American Rapper MBNel, (Jhonel Dongon in real life) in our recent Zoom interview, he noticed the framed ‘Witcher’ poster behind me. “Cool posters back there,” he said. “Yes!” I exclaimed, excited to talk about my Henry Cavill signed ‘The Witcher’ poster. “That’s dope,” he told me and shared how he played (The Witcher) games.

Currently in the US, MBNel and I talked about his latest single ‘Popstar’ which is an infectious track whose music video was shot in Manila, and featured its street life, and even had MBNel rapping inside a jeepney.

that song. It was just talking about the outlandish lifestyle, I was just having fun with it. That’s how I wanted to put the video as- the outlandish lifestyle and you know-popstar / rockstar vibes.”

The Popstar life

With a number of MBNel’s music videos being shot in the Philippines I had to ask him: “If budget and permits were not an issue, where would you

I ASKED the rapper, ‘What is a Popstar to you?’ to which he responded: “At the time of making

want to shoot a music video in the Philippines?” To this he answered: “I would like to shoot a music video on a boat in El Nido Palawan, or something.” And I for one can see that happening, the music video can also be a good way to promote tourism in the Philippines, and MBNel has the reach, with over 177,000 subscribers on his YouTube channel and more than 750,000 listeners on Spotify.

MBNel’s previous single ‘Ashtray’ which featured Pinoy rap trio ‘O Side Mafia’ reached the top 11 on the Viral 50 Spotify Philippines Charts and already has 1.1 million views on Youtube. About the song I asked MBNel, “Ashtray is performed in both English and Tagalog. Is this a conscious effort in your writing?” To which he answered: “Yeah for sure. I knew I was going to make the trip (to the Philippines) and I honestly made the song for ‘O Side Mafia’ because of their sound, which was (reminiscent of) Super California Bay Area sound.

LA-ish sounds. I peeped that they ride that sound pretty well. So I kind of, like it was a good mix of how they sounded.”

A Double edged-sword

BORN and raised in South Stockton California, MBNel is the eldest son

of first-generation immigrants, his mother came from Cebu while his father is from Siquijor. His family was supportive of his music, his father who was a DJ even helped him by getting him gigs when he was starting out.

We talked about how his Filipino upbringing influenced his music. “It is difficult competing in the rap game, here in the States” MBNel began, “Because, being a Filipino Rapper you are definitely a minority, you know in this genre out here in the US. So, but it also gave me an advantage because it was just so unique at the same time.

There was a Filipino rapper in my area that happened to talk about what I talked about, or looked like me, and made that type of music, so it was like a double-edged sword.”

With the year coming to a close we talked about what his fans and followers can expect from him in the coming year, “Definitely more music,” he answered. “I’m working on projects and one of them is specifically geared to the Philippines.”

So yeah, that music video featuring MBNel rapping on a white boat on the crystal clear blue waters of El Nido, Palawan is looking more and more like a reality. Let’s make it happen.

Is Secret Santa stressing you out?

Here’s your holiday gift-exchange survival guide

By Kaitlyn Huamani The Associated Press

T

he commencement of the holiday season often means the lengthening of to-do lists.

There are lights to hang, cards to mail, cookies to bake and, of course, gifts to buy. Gift exchanges, whether they’re among friends, family or coworkers, can be a fun way to get in the holiday spirit. But can also be another stressor during a busy time of year.

Secret Santa exchanges—where participants are assigned a gift recipient and tasked with finding them a perfect present within a price limit— sometimes mean that those in friend groups are paired with “frenemies,” someone inevitably draws themselves, or colleagues who are virtually strangers are matched up.

Those possible pitfalls inspired Peter Imburg to create Elfster, a free online Secret Santa organizer, after he saw the time and effort it took to coordinate the logistics of a gift exchange with his family over 20 years ago. More top-down organization, he says, helps things run more smoothly.

Say goodbye to picking names from a hat Elfster, for instance, creates pairings, asks for wish lists, offers gift suggestions at different price points and sends reminders, among other features meant to make the organizational hurdles of a gift exchange less daunting.

“The organizer is like the hero.

They make it all happen,” Imburg said, adding that his site aims “to make it a lot easier for the organizer to do that with a minimal amount of effort.”

“I don’t want to give someone something solely to check a box,” said Cameron Rogers, a New Jersey-based social media content creator. “I want them to enjoy it, instead of being like, ‘What do I do with this now?’” Photo by RDNE Stock project on Pexels.com

Reliable gift ideas Cameron Rogers, a New Jerseybased social media content creator and podcast host on wellness and motherhood, understands the stress that gift exchanges can bring up.

“Having to give generic gifts to people I’m not necessarily close with is extremely difficult,” Rogers said. “I can pick a good gift for my husband or my kids or my mom, but for people who I don’t know the ins and outs of their lives, I think it’s hard to pick something that you know they’re actually going to enjoy.”

She recently shared a guide to Secret Santa gifts under $50 on her social media channels, emphasizing how challenging it can be to find something within a set price range that will be well-received.

Gifts with a specific purpose— kitchen gadgets, home items or winter gear—and gifts that have a personalized aspect like a monogram are

good go-to options for anyone feeling lost after receiving their Secret Santa assignment, she said.

Imburg said the “gift gurus” at Elfster also have suggestions, especially for recipients who aren’t offering any clues as to what they’d like. In a similar vein as Rogers, the Elfster team offered ideas for some practical gifts, like water bottles, blankets and massage guns. Other no-nonsense home and kitchen items, like food storage containers, charging stations and more are featured on the site’s “Top Trending Gift Ideas for 2024” list.

Gift cards, although they are not particularly glamorous, are an essentially foolproof option, Rogers said, and they won’t leave your recipient wondering where they’ll find room on their shelf for another mug or book.

“I don’t want to give someone something solely to check a box,” Rogers said. “I want them to enjoy it, instead of being like, ‘What do I do

with this now?’”

Embrace Secret Santa as a stress reliever, instead Some gift-givers find that Secret Santa (and its many counterparts like White Elephant and Yankee Swap) actually cuts down on stress and spending, as it’s often done in place of giving individual presents to each member of a group.

Nicole Troiano of Cranston, Rhode Island, finds them to be a fun way to handle holidays with large groups— even if co-workers may need to ask around to get specifics on their assigned person.

“It’s fun to do it that way and think about something that would be good for that person,” she said. “And then, when they open it, they’re like, ‘Oh my God!’” n Cover photo by Valeria Boltneva on Pexels. com

To control your spending this holiday season, stick with cash

T

hese days, consumers have no shortage of payment options, each seemingly more enticing than the last. Do you swipe your credit card and pick up “free” miles? Do you use buy-now-pay-later and spread the payments out over time? Do you use a debit card to avoid going into debt?

Before spending any money this season of giving, it is important to set a holiday budget. The problem is that while everyone thinks setting a budget is a good idea, few people do it, and even fewer stick to it. Remember that budgeting is like dieting: Temptation and

‘Budgeting is like dieting: Temptation and time pressure cause the best intentions to fail.’ time pressure cause the best intentions to fail.

Using cash can help you avoid making the same mistake as others. For instance, committing to just using paper money provides an automatic method of budgeting. When you’re out of cash, you’re done shopping. Of course, it is not recommended to put all of your money into your wallet at once. Instead, take only a

4 BusinessMirror

portion of your budgeted cash when going shopping, or if you are taking all of it, split the money up and keep some in a separate reserve.

Using cash also helps you spend less because of the “pain of paying.”

Spending paper money causes a momentary feeling of regret, research in consumer psychology shows. Lastly, in the long run, paying cash for things

December 8, 2024

is cheaper because you don’t have to pay interest on purchases. About half of all credit card users carry a balance each month.

The holiday season isn’t supposed to be just an exercise in consumerism.

It’s supposed to be fun, but it’s not so enjoyable if you are stressing about money.

How do you stick to a budget and ensure you don’t have huge bills to pay after the holidays are over? The answer is simple: Use cash. By itself, cash won’t make the holidays a jolly time, but it removes one big problem. The Conversation