STATE-RUN Maharlika Investment Corporation (MIC) and Charoen Pokphand Group Co., Ltd. (CP Group) are looking to establish a private equity fund to raise up to $1 billion (roughly P58 billion) in capital.
In a statement, the MIC said it entered into a partnership with CP Group to drive investments in agriculture, digital innovation, and renewable energy in the Philippines.
A memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed by MIC President and CEO Rafael D. Consing Jr. and CP Group Chairman Soopakij Chearavanont at Malacañan Palace on Saturday, with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. witnessing the event.
“This partnership will lay the groundwork for a multisectoral investment initiative that will drive long-term economic growth while reinforcing the Philippines’ position as a premier investment destination,” Consing was quoted in a statement as saying.
The fund’s key investment areas include agri-food modernization by strengthening food security and agricultural value chains, digital and e-commerce expansion through digital transformation and fintech adoption and scaling up renewable energy and green initiatives.
A steering committee will oversee project selection and fund structuring, with the first capital close expected within the next nine to 12
months, according to the MIC. CP Group, founded in 1921, is one of Asia’s largest multinational conglomerates with operations in more than 30 countries with a focus on agriculture, food production and retail.
The MIC is the country’s sovereign wealth fund, established under Republic Act No. 11954, mandated to generate sustainable long-term returns that support national economic priorities.
Consing said the MIC aims to finalize three to four investment deals this year, with energy distribution projects in Mindoro and Palawan as among their priority initiatives.
The MIC made its first investment by acquiring a 20-percent stake in the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) in January this year, after the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) was created in July 2023. The MIC is the sole vehicle for mobilizing and utilizing the MIF for investments
OVER INFLATION
The Singapore-based SMBC said the country’s weaker than expected economic growth in the last quarter of 2024 and the full year would be enough impetus for the BSP to reduce policy rates further.
In the fourth quarter, the country’s GDP growth slowed to 5.2 percent, bringing the economy’s average growth rate to 5.6 percent in the full year of 2024.
“In Asia, BSP is likely to continue cutting rates on February 13 to boost economic growth. Asian currencies are expected to remain range bound this week as market participants maintain a wait-and-see stance due to high uncertainties over US policies,” SMBC said.
However, Moody’s Analytics expects the BSP to maintain key policy rates at 5.75 percent. Nonetheless, the think tank did not explain its forecast in its latest brief.
Meanwhile, BMI, Fitch Solutions Company, said one of the major drivers of economic growth in the country, household spending, is expected to post a growth of 5.3 percent this year. In real terms, BMI said, this means household spending too will grow to P13.2 trillion, using 2010 prices, in 2025.
“Spending will remain influenced by the elevated inflationary pressures seen over 2025 as well as currently high debt levels, along with related debt servicing costs,” BMI said.
“A tight labor market will support spending, as real wage growth returns to positive territory, which will support purchasing power over the year,” it added.
Inflation is expected to pick up
JBy Bless Aubrey Ogerio @blessogerio
OBS in agriculture and construction are expected to be the most challenged by weather disturbances this year, with severe storms and heavy rainfall threatening both work stability and productivity, the government’s socioeconomic planning body said on Monday.
According to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), these sectors are especially vulnerable because agriculture depends heavily on good weather for planting and harvesting, while construction workers often face delays when
weather conditions aren’t ideal.
“As an example, if it’s rainy, they can’t plant or harvest. In construction, workers can’t continue building if the weather’s bad,” said NEDA Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon in Filipino during a press briefing at Malacañan Palace in response to questions from BusinessMirror
She also noted that temporary increases in unemployment in 2024 were linked to weather disturbances.
“For 2024, we saw some temporary rises in unemployment, and they were actually related to weather disruptions,” she explained.
On February 6, National Stat-
in its resident direct investor. FDI can be in the form of equity capital, reinvestment of earnings, and borrowings,” it added. The BSP said nonresidents’ net investments in debt instruments contracted by 17.9 percent to
istician Claire Dennis Mapa reported that the unemployment rate of 3.8 percent and underemployment rate of 11.9 percent in 2024 were the lowest recorded since 2005, marking a historic low.
However, the number of employed Filipinos dropped by 339,000 in December 2024, with 50.19 million people employed, compared to 50.52 million in December 2023. (See: https://businessmirror.com. ph/2025/02/06/jobless-rateimproves-in-2024/)
The Philippine Statistics Authority further showed that the services sector led employment
Industry challenges
DOMESTIC traffic expanded by 5.7 percent in RPK, yoy, while capacity increased by 2.5 percent in ASK. China was the standout performer, with a 12.3-percent rise in passenger traffic, as well as India, up 7.6 percent, yoy. Meanwhile, Walsh warned of current challenges plaguing the industry, such as safety issues, as seen by recent tragic accidents in the United States and Asia, as well as the continued poor production of sustainable aviation fuels, despite the increased purchases by airlines. He suggested that governments strengthen their national energy security plan and remove the challenges to the production of SAF.
Visiting forces deal between Canada, PHL nears sealing
By Malou Talosig-Bartolome
THE Philippines and Canada are close to finalizing an agreement granting limited immunity to soldiers participating in military exercises or port calls in each other’s territory.
“hesitant” about making the switch due to concerns about range, charging accessibility and “upfront costs.”
“Through continuous education and incentives, we can show that EVs are not just the future—they are already here, and they make economic and environmental sense,” Araga also noted.
EVAP said it will ensure that the Philippines “keeps pace” with global trends in sustainable transportation, with the goal of achieving 50 percent EV adoption in new vehicle sales by 2040, in line with Asean’s electrification targets. Andrea E. San Juan
“I am especially happy to announce that we are in the final stages of negotiating a Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) that will enable us to have even more substantive participation in joint and multilateral training, exercises, and operations with our Philippine allies,” Canadian Ambassador to Manila David Hartman said at a reception for defense attaches and diplomatic corps last week. The SOVFA is similar to the Visit-
ing Forces Agreement that the Philippines has with the United States, Australia and Japan. It would provide the legal framework for the Canadian armed forces to come to the Philippines and how they will be treated if they get entangle with the law. The Philippines had given US, Australian and Japanese forces immunity from criminal and civil liability if the act was done in the official performance of their duties.
Storms to hit agri, construction…
Continued from A1
This privilege will also be extended to Filipino soldiers going to Canada on official missions.
Last Friday, Royal Canadian Navy patrol frigate HMCS Ottawa arrived in Manila Bay for a brief port visit.
“The HMCS Ottawa has been a steady visitor to the Philippines over the past decade, but even more so with the release of Canada’s 2022 Indo-Pacific Strategy which sees the Royal Canadian Navy sending three Frigates annually into the Region,” Hartman said.
in December 2024, accounting for 60.5 percent of the workforce, while agriculture and industry made up 21.3 percent and 18.3 percent, respectively.
To address the challenges posed by extreme weather, the NEDA Undersecretary stressed the need for “out-of-the-box solutions.”
“In agriculture, for example, we need modern planting methods,” Edillon said.
She went on to quote Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr., who suggested using
The 2022 Indo-Pacific strategy is coupled with Canada’s Defense Policy Update “Our North Strong and Free” and the Canadian Armed Forces’ “Operation Horizon.’” Canada has made commitments to the Philippines and the rest of the region to “reinforce” Canada’s military presence in the region.
The diplomatic presence of Canada in the Philippines has also grown, and is now the second largest in the world.
greenhouses as a way to keep production going even during storms.
“Greenhouses would allow work to continue, even during a typhoon. You can still work inside the greenhouse,” she said.
In its climate outlook, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration has forecasted that between four and 10 tropical cyclones may develop or enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) in the first half of 2025.
The Neda also said projects such as the TB Implementation Framework Agreement (TIFA); U.S.-Philippines Partnership for Skills, Innovation and Lifelong Learning (UPSKILL) Project; YouthWorks PH; US Department of Health and Human Service President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) Program in the Philippines of the US CDC; and the US (PEPFAR) Program in the Philippines - Quality Improvement Solutions for Sustained Epidemic Control (QISSEC) Program funded by the US HRSA.
Meanwhile, the six AARNR, all funded by the USAID, include the Buy-In to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Mission Support Participating Agency Partnership Agreement; Climate Resilient Cities; and Fish Right Program.
The list includes Investing in Sustainability and Partnerships for Inclusive Growth and Regenerative Ecosystems (INSPIRE); Peace Corps Small Project Assistance V; and Philippines Sustainable Interventions for Biodiversity, Oceans and Landscapes (SIBOL).
Meanwhile, of the five Infra projects, two were funded by the USAID and three by the USTDA. The USAIDfunded projects were the Energy Secure Philippines (ESP) and the Safe Water Activity. The three USTDA funded grants were the BIR Information Communication Technology Modernization Strategy and Data Center Technical Assistance Project; Metro Cebu Intelligent Transportation System Master Plan (MCITSMP); and Vessel Traffic Management System.
The Neda document also showed that three ITT projects, all funded by USAID, included the Better Access and Communication (BEACON); Regulatory Reform Support for the Rule of Law in the Philippines (RESPOND); and Strengthening Private Enterprise for the Digital Economy (SPEED).
slightly to 3.3 percent in 2025 from 3.2 percent in 2024. BMI noted that this falls within the BSP’s target range of 2 to 4 percent.
BMI said Filipino consumers need to get used to “higher-thanusual inflation in the short term” or at least compared to the prepandemic years of 2015 to 2019 when inflation averaged only 2.8 percent.
Nonetheless, BMI warned that if nominal incomes do not grow and keep pace with inflation, the purchasing power of consumers will deteriorate and prevent them from spending, leading to a slowdown in economic growth.
“Prolonged inflation, particularly in relation to food, will mean that consumers will have to increasingly allocate more of their disposable income towards meeting necessities,” BMI said.
Risks to this outlook, BMI said, include the possibility that inflation remains elevated for longer than they currently expect. This will lead to an
erosion of the purchasing power of Filipino consumers.
The list of risks also include geopolitical risks given the current tensions in the Middle East. If oil prices rise from current levels due to geopolitical tensions, inflation is expected to remain higher for longer.
The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) earlier reported that inflation accelerated to 2.9 percent in December 2024 and averaged 3.2 percent in 2024. (See: https://businessmirror.com. ph/2025/01/07/inflation-surges-to-2-9-in-dec-2024-fastestsince-aug-2024-psa/)
Data from the PSA showed the increase in inflation has eroded the value of a hundred peso to P79. This means, Filipinos need to shell out P121 today to purchase P100 worth of goods in 2018. (See: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2025/01/08/ costly-goods-seen-spurringsearch-for-gigs-better-jobs/)
For GID, all funded by USAID, the projects included the Cities for Enhanced Engagement and Governance (CHANGE); Philippines Performance Audit Partnership (PPAP); and the Urban Connect Activity. the procedural rules.
The OSG also argued that Judge Medina committed grave abuse of discretion when it denied the prosecution’s motion for reconsideration on the ground that the order of acquittal can no longer be questioned without violating the constitutional right against double jeopardy of the accused.
In granting the OSG petition, the CA agreed that there was grave abuse on the part of the judges in granting the demurrer to evidence of the accused.
“It is crystal clear that the filing of the private respondents’ Demurrer to Evidence and the issuance of the 20 June 2023 assailed Order (Gallegos Order) was made even before the parties were informed of the 19 June 2023 Order that admitted the prosecution’s documentary evidence,” the CA pointed out.
“In other words, the RTC, without observing the principle of due process, hastily issued immediately the 20 June 2023 assailed Order (Gallegos Order) that granted the private respondents’ Demurrer to Evidence,” it added.
$791 million in November 2024 from $964 million in November 2023.
Per the data, the 11-month period showed a contraction of 0.1 percent to $5.982 billion in 2024 from the $5.988 billion posted in the same period of 2023.
In terms of nonresidents’ net investments in equity capital (other than reinvestment of earnings), the data showed this declined by 58.9 percent to $35 million from $85 million.
In the January to November 2024 period, the data showed this grew 37.7 percent to $1.491 billion from the $1.083 billion in the same period of 2023.
The data showed nonresidents’ reinvestment of earnings was stable at $74 million, the same level recorded in November 2023.
In the 11-month period, nonresidents’ reinvestment of earnings contracted 3.6 percent to $1.107 billion in 2024 from $1.148 billion in 2023.
“The bulk of the equity capital placements in November 2024 came from Japan, the United States, and Singapore,” BSP said. These investments, the data showed, were channeled into the manufacturing, real estate, financial and insurance, and administrative and support service industries. Cai U. Ordinario
Thus, the CA held the RTC “deliberately deprived the prosecution of the opportunity to file its comment and/ or objection to the private respondents’ demurrer to evidence.”
“Inasmuch as the acquittal of the private respondents was done without regard to due process of law, the same is null and void. It is as if there was no acquittal at all, and the same cannot constitute double jeopardy,” the CA ruled.
The CA directed the RTC to resolve the demurrer to evidence with dispatch after giving the prosecution the opportunity to file its comment and/ or opposition to the demurrer to evidence of the accused.
Canadian Ambassador to Manila David Hartman. PHOTO FROM PNA
Impeachment prosecutors to seek subpoenas for Sara’s bank records
HOUSE of Representatives
impeachment prosecutors are preparing to request subpoenas for the bank records of Vice President Sara Duterte once the Senate convenes as an impeachment court on June 2, aiming to strengthen the case against her.
Manila Rep. Joel Chua, a member of the House prosecution team, confirmed that legal avenues are being explored to obtain financial records relevant to specific articles in the impeachment charges against Duterte.
He cited the Bank Secrecy Law’s exception for impeachment cases, affirming the prosecution’s intent to utilize all legal means to secure pertinent financial documents alongside existing evidence.
The Articles of Impeachment, transmitted to the Senate on February 5, remain pending as the upper chamber has yet to formally convene as an impeachment court.
Chua pointed to Article XI, Section 3(6) of the 1987 Constitution, which grants the Senate the exclusive power to try and decide impeachment cases. He also underscored Republic Act 1405 (Bank Secrecy Law), which generally protects bank records’ confidentiality but explicitly allows exceptions for impeachment proceedings.
Duterte’s bank accounts, as well as those of her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, have
faced scrutiny in the past. Former senator Antonio Trillanes previously alleged massive undisclosed wealth in these accounts, an issue that resurfaced during the House Quad Committee hearings.
The legal precedent for subpoenaing bank records in impeachment trials was set in the 2012 impeachment of then Chief Justice Renato Corona, whose financial records were used to prove allegations of ill-gotten wealth and non-disclosure of assets in his Statement of Assets and Liabilities, leading to his conviction and removal from office.
Similarly, the Articles of Impeachment against Sara Duterte include allegations of ill-gotten wealth, making her financial records a crucial point of investigation.
House prosecutors are also looking into working with the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) and the Commission on Audit (COA) to trace financial transactions that may be linked to alleged irregularities involving public funds.
Despite the legislative break, Chua assured the public that the prosecution team is reviewing existing evidence, securing additional documentary records, coordinating with financial agencies for further investigation, and preparing key witnesses for the trial.
N. dela Cruz
Jovee Marie
Bets urged to protect environment
AWASTE and pollution watchdog on Monday called on candidates in the coming elections to be mindful of the environment, expressing its support to the Commission on Elections’s (Comelec) advocacy for an “ecological campaign that will show respect and take care of Mother Earth,” in words and actions.
At a creative event dubbed “Kalikasan: Pangalagaan sa Halalan” held outside the poll body’s headquarters in Intramuros, Manila, the EcoWaste Coalition called on all candidates to reduce waste generation and to integrate environmental protection into their platforms and campaign strategies and activities.
The event was held a day before the official campaign period for senatorial and party-list candidates will start on February 12 and before the campaign for local posts beginning March 28.
With elections often linked to environmental problems such as massive plastic waste from campaign materials, littering and improper disposal of election paraphernalia, and high energy consumption, the EcoWaste Coalition urged national and local candidates, political parties, party-list groups, and voters to take an active role in reducing the environmental impact of the democratic exercise.
To dramatize the adverse impact of the electoral campaign on the environment, a woman dressed in the colors of the flag held a globe representing Mother Earth visibly bruised and grimacing in pain due to the out-of-control use and disposal of plastic tarpaulins and other single-use plastics that is making her sickly and sad.
“We agree with the Comelec that running for an elective post is not a license to degrade and ruin the environment. On the contrary, it carries a huge responsibility to care for and protect our fragile environment,” said Jove Benosa, Zero Waste Campaigner of EcoWaste Coalition.
“The desire of a person or group to get elected should not come at the cost of environmental degradation. Therefore, we appeal to all candidates and other electoral stakeholders to prevent and reduce garbage, particularly to minimize pollution from plastic campaign materials and their toxic chemical additives.”
At the launching last Friday of the Committee on Environmentally Sustainable Elections, Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia pointed out that “candidacy is not a license to destroy the environment or the peace of our constituents,” adding “we want
Charges filed vs House leaders over ‘insertions’ in 2025 budget
By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie
&
Joel R. San Juan
@jrsanjuan1573
THE Citizens Crime Watch on Monday filed graft and falsification of legislative documents charges against leaders of the House of Representatives before the Ombudsman over the alleged P241 billion worth of “insertions” in the 2025 national government budget.
in the GAA, was not in the first version of the national budget subjected to first reading, the P241B was not in the version approved on second reading; the P241B was still not included in the version approved on third reading [be it for the House or Senate] version. The P241B was not even in the Bicam Report approved by the Bicam; and the P241B was still not in the Bicam Report submitted for Congressional approval through ratification by the plenaries of the HRep and the Senate. It wasn’t even Congress, acting collectively as a body, that inserted it into the national budget,” it added.
election campaigns to be environmentfriendly and the candidates are taking care of the environment.”
As part of its advocacy towards a zero waste and toxics-free society, the EcoWaste Coalition reiterated the importance of using reusable or recyclable campaign materials that can be easily and safely reused or recycled and practising ecological waste management every step of the campaign to prevent materials from being littered, dumped or burned.
As written on their placards, the EcoWaste Coalition asked candidates not to nail their campaign materials on trees; avoid the use of confetti, balloons and banderitas; maximize the use of digital platforms; make their campaign meetings and sorties tobacco- and vape-free; limit the production of sample ballots; and to conduct post-campaign cleanup regardless of the poll results.
As stated in Comelec Resolution 11111, or the Guidelines on the Use of Environmentally Sustainable Election Propaganda, only election propaganda in the form of posters or standing displays (standees) made of cloth, paper, cardboard, or any recyclable materials shall be allowed.
As reiterated by the poll body, under Resolution 11086, it shall be unlawful to use single-use plastics under applicable laws, rules, and relevant issuances; fireworks for election-related campaign meetings or celebratory gatherings; and styrofoam and other non-biodegradable materials and hazardous substances used in election campaigns, services, or events.
The poll body also encourages the use of sustainable campaign materials including reusable materials for food and beverage containers; energy-efficient lighting and sound systems during rallies, banners that are biodegradable or made with reusable materials, electric vehicles or hybrid-electric vehicles for motorcades, and other materials with sustainable local alternatives such as natural fabrics, recycled paper, and compostable plastics.
“We urge all candidates and their supporters to heed the Comelec guidelines to make the midterm elections environmentally caring as much as possible. By choosing recyclable and reusable non-toxic campaign materials, reducing the consumption of single-use plastics, and ecologically managing the campaign discards, we can collectively reduce pollution and ensure a cleaner, healthier environment for all,” the EcoWaste Coalition said. Jonathan L. Mayuga
Charged were Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez; House Majority Leader Manuel Dalipe; the former House Committee on Appropriations chairman, Ako Bicol Rep. Elizalde Co; current Committee on Appropriations chairperson, Marikina Rep. Stella Luz Quimbo, and a “John and Jane Doe,” who allegedly assisted in the commission of the alleged crime. Romualdez and the other respondents were specifically charged with 12 counts of falsification of legislative documents as defined and penalized in Article 17 of the Revised Penal Code and violation of Section 3 (e) of Republic Act 3019 or the Antigraft and Corrupt Practices Act.
Known allies of former President Rodrigo Duterte led the filing of the complaint who include former Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, and
senatorial candidates of PDP-Laban, lawyers Jimmy Bondoc and Raul Lambino.
The complainants argued that the P241 billion was not in the Bicameral Committee Report as signed and approved by the congressmen and senators composing the panel.
It was also not in the Bicam Report transmitted to and voted upon by the plenaries of the House and the Senate.
“And yet the P241 billion was included in the GAA [General Appropriations Act]. These are more than sufficient reasons alleging material irregularities, that justifies the inapplicability of the enrolled bill doctrine, and violated essential requirements for the passage of a law, as provided for in the 1987 Constitution,” the complaint said.
“The P241B, as it appeared
Thus, the complainants said that the P241 billion was inserted in the 2025 GAA “through the commission of a crime called falsification of legislative documents.”
Why only House leaders?
THE House of Representatives on Monday dismissed the filing of graft and falsification complaints against its leaders as politically motivated, emphasizing that the passage of the 2025 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) was a constitutional duty of Congress, not an act of wrongdoing.
Dalipe said the approval of the national budget is not a crime—it is a fundamental responsibility of Congress.
“This process adheres to the checks and balances enshrined in our Constitution, ensuring transparency, accountability, and fiscal responsibility,” he said.
Dalipe pointed out that Alvarez, one of the complainants, had been present during the deliberations of the 2025 budget but did not raise any objections at the time.
“[Alvarez] as a sitting member of the House during the deliberations of the 2025 General Appropriations bill, he had every opportunity to raise objections, question allocations, and point out any supposed infirmities during plenary discussions. Yet, he did not. His silence during the legislative process and his sudden emergence as a complainant only reinforce the fact that these accusations are not grounded on actual violations but are politically motivated attacks meant to discredit the House leadership,” he said.
The House leader further suggested that the complaint was a retaliatory tactic, coming at a time when the House was focusing on addressing questionable budget allocations.
For his part, TINGOG Rep. Jude Acidre has rejected the complaints, asserting that the accusations have no merit.
He stressed that both the Senate and House leadership have addressed concerns regarding alleged blank spaces in the bicameral conference committee report, dismissing them as unfounded.
Acidre further clarified that the enrolled bill submitted to and signed by President Marcos was complete, legal, and in accordance with proper legislative procedures.
He also questioned why the complaint targeted only the House of Representatives despite the budget process being a shared responsibility of both chambers of Congress.
Congressmen: Marbil extension needed
By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie
LEADERS of the House of Representatives on Monday said the extension of the term of Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil, National Police (PNP) chief, is crucial as the national police prepares for the elections in May.
With Marbil’s extended term, the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs chairman, Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, and the chairman of the House Committee on Public Order and Safety, Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez, expressed confidence that the ongoing reforms will be further strengthened, particularly the country’s preparation for the May 12, 2025 midterm elections.
The two lawmakers backed President Marcos’s decision to extend the tenure of Marbil by four months, or until June 2025, citing
effective crime prevention strategies and a humane, intelligencedriven approach to the country’s anti-drug campaign.
Barbers and Fernandez also echoed sentiments from top PNP officials, who also welcomed the President’s decision. A statement signed by several ranking PNP officers emphasized the need for continuity in the face of ongoing institutional reforms and preparations for the 2025 midterm elections.
“General Marbil has successfully shifted our anti-drug operations toward a community-driven and intelligence-based approach, ensuring that law enforcement is effective without the unnecessary bloodshed we saw during the previous administration,” Barbers said.
“His continued leadership will ensure that these much-needed reforms remain on track,” he added.
Barbers noted that under Marbil’s command, the PNP has moved
away from aggressive tactics, prioritizing the protection of lives and upholding human dignity—a shift that has restored public trust in law enforcement.
Fernandez commended Marbil’s overall approach to crime prevention, particularly his efforts to modernize law enforcement tactics.
“The President’s decision to retain Gen. Marbil ensures that ongoing reforms within the PNP will not lose momentum,” Fernandez said.
Barbers and Fernandez also recognized the leadership of the Metro Manila police commander, Brig. Gen. Anthony Aberin, and Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group chief, in maintaining peace and order in Metro Manila and leading criminal investigations nationwide.
Since assuming command of the National Capital Region Police
PARTY-LIST Rep. Wilbert Lee officially withdrew from the senatorial race on Monday, citing his lack of “time and machinery” as the primary reason for backing out.
In an interview, Lee, the nominee to the House of Representatives of the party-list group AGRI, admitted that his decision “was not easy,” especially after months of traveling across the country and engaging with different communities.
“Through my visits and conversations, realized that I simply don’t have enough
time and machinery to push for the causes we are fighting for,” he explained, partly in Filipino.
Lee noted that despite his efforts, there were still many areas he was unable to reach, reinforcing his belief that his campaign lacked the necessary machinery. This is despite his widespread visibility through large billboards and digital advertisements.
From April 20 to July 18 last year alone, Facebook reported that Lee had already spent approximately P2.5 million on advertisements, making him one of the biggest political spenders even before the official campaign period began.
Beyond social media, his campaign was also prominently featured on billboards nationwide.
Lee acknowledged that his low rankings in senatorial surveys “may have” also influenced his decision to withdraw.
Office in November 2024, Aberin has implemented the “AAA” policing strategy, which resulted in a 19.61 percent drop in crimes against persons and property in January 2025 compared to the previous year. His emphasis on strict police discipline, community engagement, and accountability has strengthened public trust in law enforcement.
Meanwhile, Torre’s tenure at the CIDG has led to major breakthroughs in dismantling criminal syndicates. Under his leadership, the CIDG arrested 1,159 suspects in November 2024 alone, including 881 fugitives on the country’s most wanted list.
“The commendable efforts of Generals Aberin and Torre have significantly contributed to our nation’s safety,” Barbers said. “Their dedication and effective strategies prove that the PNP is making real progress in keeping the public safe.”
“That may have been a factor, but the main reason remains—there’s simply not enough time, and we lack the necessary machinery,” he said. The latest Pulse Asia survey placed Lee between 31st and 65th place, with only a 1 percent voting preference and a 3 percent voter awareness level. Despite his withdrawal, Lee said he has no regrets about the money spent on his campaign—which he has yet to compute—because his advocacy for lower food costs, job security, and fair wages for workers will continue. His wife, former Rep. Delphine Gan Lee, will carry on his initiatives in the Lower House if AGRI secures a seat in the 20th Congress. Meanwhile, the Commission on Elections confirmed that Lee’s name will remain on the ballot since printing already resumed last week. Any votes that will be casted for him will be considered stray. With his withdrawal, the number of senatorial candidates for the May 12 polls is now down to 65. The official campaign period is set to begin on Tuesday, February 11.
Rice stocks increase by 6.4 percent
in December.
TBy Ada Pelonia @adapelonia
HE country’s rice stockpile increased by 6.4 percent in January, with households and the National Food Authority (NFA) posting a bigger inventory.
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that rice stocks increased to 2.16 million metric tons (MMT) as of January 1 from the previous year’s 2.03 MMT.
“This month’s rice stock inventories registered annual increases from the NFA depositories by
‘Bilateral
R485.1 percent and from the households by 5.4 percent. On the other hand, an annual decrease was noted from the commercial sector by 16.5 percent.”
However, the state statistics agency noted that last month’s stock inventory was 15.7 percent lower than the 2.56 MMT recorded
The agency said 37.9 percent or some 816,510 metric tons (MT) of rice was held by commercial entities while 48.9 percent or 1.05 MMT was stored by households.
It added that rice stocks in the NFA warehouses as of January 1 reached 284,810 MT, accounting for 13.2 percent of total inventory during the reference period.
“In comparison to the December 2024 rice stocks levels, increments were noted from the NFA depositories by 97.7 percent, and in the households by 17.4 percent. Meanwhile, rice stocks inventory from the commercial sector decreased by 46.1 percent.”
In the same report, the PSA said total corn inventory as of January
1 shrank by 45 percent to 328,400 MT from 597,620 MT last year. It added that the latest total corn inventory was 40.1 percent lower than the 548,310 MT registered in December.
PSA data showed that the corn inventory in commercial entities reached 272,890 MT while corn stocks in households were at 55,500 MT.
“From the same month of the previous year’s level, corn stocks inventory recorded annual decreases from the commercial sector by 49.5 percent and from the households by 2.7 percent.”
“Relative to the inventory level in December 2024, decreases in the volume of corn stocks were noted from the commercial sector by 43.4 percent and from the households by 16.2 percent.”
labor pacts should focus on protection, dispute mechanisms’
By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM
EPORTS that the government was in talks with at least 10 countries keen on hiring, and some even upskilling, Filipino workers are welcome, but protection of workers and dispute mechanisms should always be at the top of any bilateral labor agreement.
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian stressed this on Monday as he welcomed a report by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) that it was engaging these 10 countries, located in various parts of the globe.
“Any bilateral labor agreement with foreign countries for potential job placement of Filipinos should ensure safe working conditions and guarantee the rights of our migrant workers. Protection against exploitation and dispute
resolution mechanisms should be put in place to safeguard the rights of our workers.”
“The welfare, security, and wellbeing of all migrant workers should be strictly monitored by the Department of Migrant Workers to ensure that no incidence of abuse, neglect, and unfair labor practices are committed against our kababayan, Gatchalian added.
Having said this, he suggested that the government should focus on ensuring an inclusive and sustained economic growth and development that would generate meaningful jobs for Filipinos to minimize the need for our countrymen to seek employment abroad.
Earlier, the DMW reported that “ten countries are eyeing to hire and enhance the skills of more Filipino workers as well as replicate the country’s migration framework.
DMW reported it engaged in high-level bilateral talks with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), Finland, the Bahamas, Oman, Jordan, Egypt, Indonesia, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Libya during the Global Labor Market Conference in Riyadh, KSA last month to discuss possible cooperation.
A highlight of the discussions is the interest of some of the said countries to open their doors to more OFWs.
“Various countries expressed their interests in hiring more Filipino skilled workers in the healthcare industry, hospitality, and construction, and other sectors,” said DMW Undersecretary Patricia Yvonne Caunan in a statement.
Moreover, DMW said some of the countries also want to partner with the Philippines on upskilling initiatives for OFWs or to study its overseas employment program, particularly its “best practices on
facilitating the safe and ethical recruitment and deployment of Filipino workers, and its initiatives to combat illegal recruitment.”
“The DMW and the said various countries intend to explore cooperation on creating a sustainable workforce through mutual development and training of its human resources and facilitate labor mobility and decent work in adherence to the standards and principles of safe, orderly, and regular migration,” the agency said.
The International Labor Organization (ILO) has considered the comprehensive Philippine labor migration policy as a model for other countries.
DMW also announced it is negotiating to update and strengthen its 2013 Memorandum of Agreement with KSA for the protection of Filipino domestic worker in the kingdom. With earlier report by Samuel P. Medenilla
Today, an ethical culture is needed and expected in business and in government
By Henry J. Schumacher
GIVEN the fact that all companies today are rethinking strategies into the future, looking at disruptive innovation or creative disruption, I would like to remind everybody that building and maintaining an ethical business culture must be part of the agenda. Business leaders have to be aware that being caught in corruption, unfair competition, data breaches, cybercrime etc. will not only lead to heavy fines but will definitely affect the reputation of the company.
So, let’s talk about building an ethical culture in practice. What is the difference between ethics and building a culture of trust?
Ethics are a set of principles. An ethical culture is a culture committed to pursuing those principles—and sometimes the pursuit of those principles leads an employee to take actions somebody else might dislike. Perhaps the employee reports suspicions of misconduct, involving bribery or collusion in competition or mismanagement of data privacy. Either way, the employee needs to trust
that the company will support that decision to step forward. The apparatus of a corporate compliance program—the training, the internal reporting systems, the Code of Conduct, the due diligence procedures; all of it—should work toward the goal of a strong sense of trust within the organization. When you view “building an ethical culture” from that perspective, suddenly several tasks rise to the top of the priority list. For example, as much as we all love a strong internal reporting system, most employees report their concerns to managers. Most employees also take their cues about how to behave from managers. Consequently, training managers about how to weave ethical standards into the
company’s daily routines is critical.
Formal training will always be important; employees will always need to know what the law says about bribery, or privacy, or collusion, or whatever else comes along. Culture, however, is much more than training, full of informal practices, norms, and expectations. Therefore, ethics and compliance programs must work with middle managers on what those practices, norms, and expectations are, and how to base them on the company’s ethical principles. That’s where you win or lose this battle.
Let’s also be clear that leaders in the government and in the private sector have a crucial role in building an ethical culture since they send the signals about the corporate culture that people in government and in the private sector need tooperations translate into daily routines.
Let’s look at 3 ways you can build an ethical culture:
1. Develop clear ethical values— honesty, respect, fairness; whatever fits your organization. Talk with senior leaders and the board about what those values should be. Put them in the Code of Conduct, in a
place of prominence so that every employee is aware of it.
2. Develop clear training materials based on those values. Create real-life scenarios that employees might encounter, where the resolution shows how ethical conduct is the higher priority than commercial success.
3. Refine your internal reporting system to assure the confidentiality of whistleblowers. Someone who does report an allegation to a hotline (or some other system that circumvents his or her manager) has a fear about doing the ethical thing. He or she needs to trust that the company will protect their identity—that is, they need to trust the system. They need to see that your internal reporting system is trustworthy. The same trust system must be available in government to fight corruption!
Those are only a few examples of what building an ethical culture entails. It’s long, painstaking work, that relies on communication and collaboration but that’s how you get to an ethical culture. If assistance is needed, let me know.
Feedback is welcome; please email me at hjschumacher59@gmail.com.
DA bans importation of poultry products from two US states
THE Department of Agriculture (DA) slapped a temporary ban on poultry products from Maryland, and Missouri, United States, following bird flu outbreaks.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. signed Memorandum Order (MO) 7, which authorized the ban on the entry of imported domestic and wild birds, including their products, such as poultry, day-old chicks, eggs, and semen from the two US states.
The DA said it decided to issue the ban after US veterinary authorities confirmed several outbreaks of H5N1 High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Maryland and Missouri.
It added that the rapid spread of bird flu in the US in a short period since its first laboratory detection prompted a “wider coverage” of trade restriction to prevent the disease’s entry and protect the local poultry industry.
The agency also noted that there has been a mutual HPAI-related arrangement in 2016 between the veterinary authorities of the USA and the Philippines wherein a state-wide ban should only be imposed if there are three or more counties affected by bird flu in one state.
Following this report, Laurel ordered the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) to suspend the issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance (SPSIC) to the affected commodity.
He also noted that only birds
slaughtered or products processed 14 days before the first outbreak in the particular locality will be allowed to enter the country. In this case, Maryland and Missouri’s first outbreak were recorded on January 14.
The agency warned that shipments that failed to comply would be stopped and confiscated by veterinary quarantine officers or inspectors at all major ports of entry.
The DA also recently imposed a temporary ban on poultry products that originated in South Dakota.
Meanwhile, the US has been grappling with bird flu cases, which recently put pressure on egg prices.
The Associated Press reported that bird flu is pushing US egg prices to more than double their cost in the summer of 2023. (See: https://businessmirror. com.ph/2025/01/29/egg-prices-aresoaring-dont-expect-that-to-changeanytime-soon/)
It noted that the average price per dozen nationwide hit $4.15 in December, adding that the US Agriculture Department forecasts that prices are going to soar another 20 percent this year.
“Shoppers in some parts of the country are already paying more than double the average price, or worse, finding empty shelves in their local grocery stores. Organic and cage-free varieties are even more expensive.” Ada Pelaonia
Subic eyes port MOU with San Diego
SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—The Port of Subic is pushing for a cooperation agreement with the Port of San Diego, the fourth largest in the US West Coast, to further advance maritime development under a program for Subic Bay to become a port city.
This developed following a visit here on Thursday, February 6, by San Diego port Commissioner Gil Anthony Ungab and port Director Joel Valenzuela.
In the meeting, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose Aliño proposed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the two ports to identify and explore areas of cooperation, particularly in artificial intelligence, automation, break cargo handling and management, shore power connection, cruise ship terminal and market development, and ship repair.
“We are proposing an MOU between our two ports with the vision to develop concrete projects that are mutually beneficial to our ports,” Aliño said.
“In line with the SBMA’s new vision to be a green port city, the proposed partnership with the Port of San Diego is a vital step in advancing Subic’s interests in maritime project development,” he added.
The two San Diego port officials expressed excitement over the proposal and invited Aliño to visit San Diego to see for himself various port-related initiatives, as well as to formally seal the proposed agreement.
Ungab, who is the first Filipino-American to be appointed to the San Diego port authority, said they see the potential in developing trade and commerce between Subic and San Diego.
Valenzuela, who is director for Maritime Business Line, meanwhile pointed out similarities between the two ports and cited the need to strengthen and continue to develop partnership in the maritime industry.
Valenzuela’s office is responsible for the port’s business development, planning, operations and infrastructure development for cargo and cruise businesses, waterfront industrial leaseholds, shipyards and shipbuilding facilities, and public piers and docks.
SBMA Senior Deputy Administrator Ronnie Yambao, who welcomed the visitors with Aliño, said the MOU would be “a positive step in expanding the global reach and trade network of the Port of Subic in the United States.” He said the US Bureau of Transportation Statistics has ranked the Port of San Diego as one of America’s top 30 containership ports, bringing in nearly three million metric tons of cargo per year through the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal and the National City Marine Terminal. Yambao added that in 2015 the SBMA likewise signed an MOU with the Virginia Port Authority to develop trade and exchange best practices in break-bulk and cruise ship logistics management and operations. Henry Empeño
Most Filipinos strongly back welfare programs, surveys say
By Bless Aubrey Ogerio
GOVERNMENT welfare programs are getting a strong thumbs-up from most Filipinos, with surveys showing that many believe they are making a real difference for the nation’s poor.
percent calling it “very helpful” and 24 percent considering it “somewhat helpful.”
The Pulse Asia survey, meanwhile, which was conducted from January 18 to 25 with 2,400 respondents, showed 82 percent of Filipinos believe 4Ps are improving the financial stability of lowincome families.
helping stabilize finances.
The Walang Gutom Program (formerly the Food Stamp Program) also received an impressive 81 percent approval rating, according to SWS.
Commissioned by think tank Stratbase, both surveys come with a ±2 percent margin of error.
families. These programs serve as a safety net for Filipino families, which helps them meet their basic needs,” he said. Manhit also stressed transparency in ensuring public funds are used effectively for the intended purpose.
Ensuring transparency
Surveys from research firms Social Weather Stations (SWS) and Pulse Asia highlighted key programs like the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD), Ayuda sa Kapos and Kita Program (AKAP) and the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS).
Based on the SWS survey, which was conducted from January 17 to 20 with 1,800 respondents, around 90 percent of people said they found 4Ps helpful, with 66
For TUPAD, SWS found that 88 percent of Filipinos think it’s beneficial, with 51 percent rating it as “very helpful” and 37 percent saying it is “somewhat helpful.” Pulse Asia also showed 82 percent of respondents praising TUPAD for its role in providing livelihood opportunities.
When it comes to AKAP, 81 percent of Filipinos in both surveys showed it is making a positive impact on the underprivileged and
Electricity rates expected to rise this month due to increased generation and transmission charges
EBy Lenie Lectura @llectura
LECTRICITY rates this month are expected to go up due to higher generation and transmission charges for the January supply month.
“We are still waiting for all the final billings from our suppliers but initial indications point to a higher generation charge due to Peso depreciation, which affects costs of our suppliers which are mostly dollar-denominated,” said Meralco vice president and head of corporate communications Joe Zaldarriaga said.
Meralco is set to release the rates on Tuesday.
“On top of this, we are expecting increase in transmission charge component of the overall rate with the collection of the remaining 70% of the reserve market settlement fees incurred in March last year,” added the Meralco official.
Gas, diesel and kerosene pump prices down Tuesday
OIL firms announced Monday lower fuel prices to take effect this week.
In separate advisories, Petron, Shell, Caltex, Seaoil, PTT, Unioil, Total, and Jetti said they will cut prices per liter of gasoline by P0.10, kerosene by P0.30, and diesel by P0.10.
This will be the third consecutive week of rollbacks for both diesel and kerosene.
Except for Cleanfuel, which will adjust its pump prices at 8:01 a.m., oil firms will reflect the new pump prices at 6 a.m. on Tuesday.
Adjustments in local pump
prices are done every week to reflect movements in the world oil market.
“Weak demand concerns in the US following a larger-thanexpected build in crude oil and gasoline stockpiles and worries that the renewed China-US trade
Red Cross responds to flood crisis in Puerto Princesa, providing shelter and medical aid to affected families
THE Philippine Red Cross (PRC) - Palawan swiftly to flood emergency in Puerto Princesa and nearby areas after the recent flooding caused by the shearline, affecting nine barangays in Puerto Princesa City and other municipalities in the province.
The PRC - Palawan Chapter deployed assessment teams to evaluate the situation in affected areas and identify immediate needs. In Puerto Princesa, 11 evacuation centers have been established, providing temporary shelter to 731 families, or approximately 2,641 individuals.
Plans are underway to set up welfare desks and child-friendly spaces in these centers to provide
By Claudeth S. Mocon-Ciriaco @claudethmc3
THE Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) has forged a partnership with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) for the implementation of skills training and job matching for workers.
“TESDA is committed to continuously developing training regulations and competency standards, creating more specialized programs, and providing more scholarships to help our workers meet the demands of the 21st century. To achieve this, we need the support of PEZA, government agencies, and the private sector,” said TESDA Director General Jose Francisco
“Kiko” B. Benitez who signed an MOU with PEZA Direc -
psychosocial support and ensure the well-being of displaced families.
Still submerged in deep flood water, the PRC dispatched an ambulance to Barangay San Miguel to transport an elderly bed-ridden patient rescued by the Armed Forces.
The patient was brought to A&A Plaza Hospital due to unavailability of hospital rooms. Additionally, doxycycline medicines were distributed to PRC volunteers, staff, and evacuees who had been submerged in floodwaters to prevent waterborne diseases.
Despite the challenges, including a power outage from 9 p.m. to midnight of Feb. 9, floods in most areas of Puerto Princesa are subsiding.
However, the situation in Aborlan remains critical, with roads impassable and flooded farmlands.
Local PRC volunteers, who are residents of the area, continue to provide updates from the ground.
PRC Chairman Richard Gordon expressed his gratitude to the dedicated staff and volunteers who responded swiftly despite being personally affected by the floods.
“Our volunteers and staff exemplify the true spirit of humanitarian service. Even when their own homes were flooded, they went on helping others after securing their families. Their bravery and selflessness are deeply appreciated,” said Gordon.
The PRC is also monitoring
tor General Tereso O. Panga last January 22.
The said partnership aims to establish cooperation in implementing skills training, job matching for workers, including Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), and related activities promoting the TESDA and PEZA programs.
Additionally, the partnership will oversee the registration and implementation of enterprise-based training (EBT) programs, such as those utilizing the Dual Training System training modality and Apprenticeship program, which provide workers with hands-on and industry-relevant skills.
The MOU will strengthen workforce alignment by facilitating skills and job matching for local workers and OFWs, supported by developing a job-matching system with key partners.
It will also promote industry immersion programs for TESDA trainers in PEZA-registered companies, allowing them to gain practical knowledge of industry standards.
As part of the partnership, officials from TESDA and PEZA held a roundtable discussion in the PEZA boardroom to engage in an in-depth dialogue on strategies to enhance workforce skills. The discussion focused on aligning training programs with the needs of industries within economic zones and improving training delivery under the Enterprise-Based Education and Training (EBET) framework.
Benitez also highlighted the importance of bridging the jobskills gap through collaborative efforts and emphasized the agency’s commitment to workforce development, highlighting the importance of collaboration in attaining
WITH rising prices of basic goods putting more strain on Filipino families, social welfare programs are becoming increasingly crucial, according to Stratbase President Dindo Manhit.
“With 90 percent of Filipinos feeling the strain of rising food prices—particularly rice—social welfare programs has become an essential lifeline for struggling
To recall, the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) directed the recovery of these fees over a period of three months beginning the February billing.
“We hope these upward pressures will be somehow tempered by the one-time refund of regulatory reset costs of distribution utilities similarly ordered by the ERC effective this month. This is equivalent to around 23 centavos per kWh for Meralco customers,” Zaldarriaga said.
war could slow down economic growth and dampen demand for oil further pressured prices,” Jetti Petroleum said.
The Department of EnergyOil Industry Management Bureau (DOE-OIMB), likewise, attributed the decline to the United States government’s push to boost production with pro-drilling policies and lower oil prices. Lenie Lectura
the situation in Brooke’s Point to assess the needs on the ground. Meanwhile, evacuation centers in Baco and Calapan, Mindoro are being evaluated for further support.
On Sunday, PRC rescuers successfully saved 30 individuals using a rubber boat in Barangay San Manuel, Puerto Princesa City. The organization remains vigilant and ready to conduct additional rescue operations if necessary.
As the PRC continues to assist affected communities, the chapter urges everyone to prioritize safety and remain vigilant. The current source of potable water is from local water refilling stations, and efforts are ongoing to ensure a steady supply.
Meanwhile, Gordon reminded residents to avoid wading in floodwaters and to go out only if absolutely necessary to reduce their risk of contracting waterborne diseases.
Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco
shared goals.
For his part, Panga shared that the partnership will ensure that skills training programs are not just accessible but also aligned with market demands, addressing the pressing needs for job readiness and placement.
“By combining our expertise and resources, we take meaningful steps toward making the Philippines not just an attractive investment destination but also a hub of opportunity for highly skilled and empowered Filipino workers,” Panga said.
Also present during the signing ceremony were TESDA Deputy Directors General Vidal D. Villanueva III, Nelly Nita N. Dillera, and Felizardo R. Colambo, as well as PEZA Deputy Directors General Maria Veronica F. Magsino and Anidelle Joy M. Alguso.
“There is a need to ensure that public funds serve their intended purpose—to uplift the lives of the poor—and not the personal interest of some. When taxpayers’ money are spent properly, the Filipino people benefits through better services and economic progress,” he said.
Recent data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed inflation for the country’s bottom 30 percent of income households eased to 2.4 percent in January 2025, down from 2.5 percent in
December 2024 and 3.6 percent in the same month last year. The overall inflation, however, remained at 2.9 percent, unchanged from the previous month but slightly higher than 2.8 percent in January last year. In November 2024, a report by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) raised concerns over the conditional cash transfer program’s effectiveness in combating child malnutrition. Although it initially showed promise, recent evaluations indicated inconclusive results, with improvements in stunting seen only under specific conditions.
Army commander assures all support for quick recovery of wounded troops
By Rex Anthony Naval
HILIPPINE Army (PA) commander Lt.
PGen. Roy Galido assured troops wounded during the January 22 ambush by lawless elements in Basilan that all support will be provided to them to ensure their immediate recovery from their battle wounds.
He made this promise during his visit to the troops undergoing treatment at Camp Navarro General Hospital, Calarian, Zamboanga City last Feb. 7, PA spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala said in a statement Monday. There, Galido assured these recovering troops that they will be provided the necessary appropriate support and medical attention. It can be recalled that the PA chief, during his assumption of command in 2023, said that his tenure will be centered on mission accomplishment and morale and welfare of the troops.
“As we fulfill our mandate, let us place equal emphasis on keeping our troops’
morale high, especially for those who are accomplishing their missions. Ensure that individual privileges are served upon fulfilling the requirements of their work. In doing so, we are preserving not just the spirit of our troops but also of their loved ones,” Galido said. Likewise, the PA chief encouraged the recovering troops and lauded their heroism and bravery. He also visited other wounded troops admitted to private hospitals in Zamboanga City and those undergoing treatment at the Basilan Medical Center in Basilan. In the Jan. 22 ambush that took place in Barangay Lower Cabengbeng, Sumisip town, Basilan, two troopers from the 32nd Infantry Battalion were killed while another 12 were injured. This clash took place as troops from the 32nd Infantry Battalion were providing security to United Nations Development Programme personnel engaged in a crucial peace and development project.
PHL-Cambodia aim to increase trade, investments on agriculture, services, tourism, SME development
BUSINESS chambers of Philippines and Cambodia signed an agreement to increase trade and investments between the two nations, particularly in the areas of information and communications technology, agriculture, manufacturing, franchising, tourism and small and medium enterprise development, among others.
On February 10, 2025, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) President Enunina V. Mangio and the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce President Neak Oknha Kith Meng signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
Among the objec tives of this deal is for both parties to organize outbound or host inbound trade and investment missions between the two economies.
Moreover, the MOU noted that “Each party shall assist the other party in the organization of or participation in exhibitions, trade fairs, symposiums, seminars, conferences, study tours, business-matching, and other means of trade and investment promotion and similar events taking place in their territories that aim to expand business and economic cooperation.”
Meanwhile, it was also agreed upon by the two business chambers that they will organize a Philippines-Cambodia Business Council that will meet on a “mutually agreed” schedule and place to discuss, plan and implement joint initiatives that these two parties will undertake.
A t the Philippines-Cambodia Business
Forum, Ceferino S. Rodolfo, the Philippines’ Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) Undersecretary for Industry Development and Investment Promotions Group, said there is “strong complementarity” in agricultural exports from Cambodia and electronics/technology from the Philippine side, with both countries benefiting from “more efficient” regional trade.
“The Philippines excels in manufacturing electronics and services while Cambodia is strong in textiles and basic manufacturing,” Rodolfo’s presentation read, adding that this creates potential for collaboration in manufacturing and export.
In agric ulture, Rodolfo said Cambodia can supply raw agricultural products such as rice, rubber, and cassava to the Philippines, which can process and export these goods. For Philippines’ part, Rodolfo said the Philippines can offer “expertise” in services such as in the areas of business process outsourcing (BPO), digital services, and education to help Cambodia build its service sector. Philippines is the second fastest growing economy in Southeast Asia while Cambodia is the third fastest growing economy in the said region.
Rodolfo said the Philipines’ growth is driven by large domestic market, OFW remittances, and the services sector while Cambodia’s growth is driven by infrastructure, exports of agri-products and garment and textiles. Andrea E. San Juan
BusinessMirror
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Trump repeats pledge to take control of Gaza even as pressure mounts to renew ceasefire
By Mohammad Jahjouh & Tia Goldenberg The Associated Press
MUGHRAQA, Gaza Strip—New details and growing shock over emaciated hostages renewed pressure Sunday on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to extend a fragile Gaza ceasefire beyond the first phase, even as US President Donald Trump repeated his pledge that the US would take control of the Palestinian enclave. Talks on the second phase, meant to see more hostages released and a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, were due to start Feb. 3. But Israel and Hamas appear to have made little progress, even as Israeli forces withdrew Sunday from a Gaza corridor in the latest commitment to the truce.
Netanyahu sent a delegation to Qatar, a key mediator, but it included low-level officials, sparking speculation that it won’t lead to a breakthrough. Netanyahu, who returned after a US visit to meet with Trump, is expected to convene security Cabinet ministers on Tuesday.
Trump weighs in on Gaza again SPEAKING on Sunday, Trump repeated his pledge to take control of the Gaza Strip.
“I’m committed to buying and owning Gaza. As far as us rebuilding it, we may give it to other states in the Middle East to build sections of it. Other people may do it through our auspices. But we’re committed to owning it, taking it, and making sure that Hamas doesn’t move back. There’s nothing to move back into. The place is a demolition site. The remainder will be demolished,” he told reporters onboard Air Force One as he traveled to the Super Bowl.
Trump said Arab nations would agree to take in Palestinians after speaking with him and insisted Palestinians would leave Gaza if they had a choice.
“They don’t want to return to Gaza. If we could give them a home in a safer area—the only reason they’re talking about returning to Gaza is they don’t have an alternative. When they have an alternative, they don’t want to return to Gaza.”
Trump also suggested he was losing patience with the deal after seeing the emaciated hostages released this week.
“I watched the hostages come back today and they looked like Holocaust survivors. They were in horrible condition. They were emaciated. It looked like many years ago, the Holocaust survivors, and I don’t know how much longer we can take that,” he said.
Israel has expressed openness to the idea of resettling Gaza’s population—“a revolutionary, creative vision,” Netanyahu told his Cabinet on Sunday—while Hamas, the Palestinians and much of the world have rejected it.
Egypt said it will host an emergency Arab summit on Feb. 27 to discuss the “new and dangerous developments.”
Trump’s proposal has moral, legal and practical obstacles. It may have
Pope’s
been proposed as a negotiation tactic to pressure Hamas or an opening gambit in discussions aimed at securing a normalization deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia condemned Netanyahu’s recent comment that Palestinians could create their state there, saying it aimed to divert attention from crimes committed by “the Israeli occupation against our Palestinian brothers in Gaza, including the ethnic cleansing they are being subjected to.”
Qatar called Netanyahu’s comment “provocative” and a blatant violation of international law.
Hostage families say time is running out
FAMILIES of remaining hostages said time is running out as some survivors described being barefoot and in chains.
“We cannot let the hostages remain there. There is no other way. I am appealing to the cabinet,” said Ella Ben Ami, daughter of a hostage released Saturday, adding she now understands the toll of captivity is much worse than imagined.
The father of a remaining hostage, Kobi Ohel, told Israel’s Channel 13 the newly released men said his son, Alon, and others “live off half a pita to a full pita a day. These are not human conditions.” Ohel’s mother, Idit, sobbed as she told Channel 12 her son has been chained for over a year.
Michael Levy said his brother, the newly released Or Levy, had been barefoot and hungry for 16 months. “The decisionmakers knew exactly what his condition was and what everyone else’s condition was, and they did not do enough to bring him back with the urgency that was needed,” he said.
On Saturday, as Israelis reeled, former defense minister Yoav Gallant said on social media that the deterioration in hostages’ conditions was something “Israel has known about for some time.”
The ceasefire’s extension is not guaranteed
THE ceasefire that began on January 19 has held, raising hopes that the 16-month war that led to seismic shifts in the Middle East may be headed toward an end.
The latest step was Israel forces’ withdrawal from the 4-mile (6-kilometer) Netzarim corridor separating northern and southern Gaza, which was used as a military zone. No troops were seen in the vicinity Sunday. As the ceasefire began last month, Israel began allowing hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians to cross Netzarim and return to the north.
But the deal remains fragile. On Sunday, civil defense first responders in Gaza said Israeli fire killed three people east of Gaza City. Israel’s military noted “several hits” after firing warning shots and warned Palestinians against approaching its forces.
Cars piled with belongings headed
migration chief to Trump admin: Uphold Christian values in migrant policy, USAID funding
By Nicole Winfield The Associated Press
VATICAN CITY—Pope Francis’ point-man on migration and development has urged the Trump administration to remember Christian principles about caring for others, saying people are being “terrorized” by the US crackdown on migrants and vital churchrun aid programs are being jeopardized by the planned gutting of USAID. Cardinal Michael Czerny, a Czechborn Canadian Jesuit, is one of the cardinals most closely associated with Francis’ pontificate and heads the Vatican office responsible for migrants, the environment, the church’s Caritas Internationalis charity and development.
In an interview with The Associated Press, Czerny said every incoming government has the right to review its foreign aid budget, and to even reform
north. Under the deal, Israel should allow cars to cross Netzarim uninspected. Troops remain along Gaza’s borders with Israel and Egypt.
Hamas spokesperson Abdel Latif Al-Qanoua said the troops’ withdrawal showed the militant group had “forced the enemy to submit to our demands” and thwarted “Netanyahu’s illusion of achieving total victory.”
Israel has said it won’t agree to a complete withdrawal from Gaza until Hamas’ military and political capabilities are eliminated. Hamas says it won’t hand over the last hostages until Israel removes all troops.
During the ceasefire’s 42-day first phase, Hamas is gradually releasing 33 Israeli hostages captured during its Oct. 7, 2023, attack that sparked the war in exchange for the release of nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and a flood of humanitarian aid to Gaza. Israel has said Hamas confirmed that eight of the 33 are dead.
Families of the hostages gathered in Tel Aviv to urge Netanyahu to extend the ceasefire, but he is also under pressure from far-right political allies to resume the war. Trump’s proposal for the US to take control of the Gaza Strip may also complicate the situation.
“They are dying there, so we need to finish this deal in a hurry,” said Ayala Metzger, daughter-in-law of hostage Yoram Metzger, who died in captivity. The war in Gaza, sparked by Hamas’ attack that killed 1,200 people and took 250 hostage, has killed more than 47,000 Palestinians, according to local health authorities, who do not differentiate between fighters and noncombatants in their count. Much of the territory has been obliterated.
Violence in the occupied West Bank
VIOLENCE has surged in the occupied West Bank during the war and intensified in recent days with an Israeli military operation against Palestinian militants in the territory’s north.
On Sunday, the Palestinian Health Ministry said Israeli gunfire killed two women, one of them, Sundus Shalabi, eight months pregnant. It said Rahaf alAshqar, 21, was also killed. The shooting occurred in the Nur Shams urban refugee camp, a focal point of Israeli operations.
Israel’s military said its police had opened an investigation.
Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz on Sunday announced the expansion of the operation that started in Jenin several weeks ago. He said it was meant to prevent Iran—allied with Hamas—from establishing a foothold in the West Bank.
Goldenberg reported from Tel Aviv, Israel. Associated Press writers Natalie Melzer in Tel Aviv, Israel, Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Isabel DeBre in Ramallah, West Bank, and Darlene Superville, traveling aboard Air Force One, contributed to this report.
an agency like USAID. But he said it’s another thing to dismantle an agency after it has made funding commitments.
“There are programs underway and expectations and we might even say commitments, and to break commitments is a serious thing,” Czerny said Sunday.
“So, while every government is qualified to review its budget in the case of foreign aid, it would be good to have some warning because it takes time to find other sources of funding or to find other ways of meeting the problems we have.”
USAID is the main international humanitarian and development arm of the US government and in 2023 managed more than $40 billion in combined appropriations. The Trump administration and billionaire ally Elon Musk have targeted USAID hardest so far in their challenge of the federal government: A sweeping funding freeze has shut down most of USAID’s programs worldwide,
though a federal judge on Friday put a temporary halt to plans to pull thousands of agency staffers off the job. One of USAID’s biggest nongovernmental recipients of funding is Catholic Relief Services, the aid agency of the Catholic Church in the US, which has already sounded the alarm about the cuts. Other programs, including Caritas international programs at the diocesan and national levels, are also being impacted directly or indirectly, Czerny said.
“I think people are still reeling from the news and beginning to figure out how to respond,” he said.
While large, the USAID budget is less than one percentage point of the US gross domestic product and a fraction of the biblical call to tithe 10 percent of one’s income, Czerny noted.
Czerny acknowledged Francis has often complained about Western aid to poor countries being saddled with conditions that may be incompatible
See “Pope,” A16
Thailand to discuss tariff risks, consider boosting US imports
By Patpicha Tanakasempipat
THAILAND will consider importing more US goods and discuss tariff risks with businesses, according to Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira, as the Southeast Asian nation seeks to ease Washington’s concerns over its large trade surplus.
The minister is due to meet with the American Chamber of Commerce in Thailand to discuss trade concerns, saying tariff risks and US energy imports are likely on the agenda.
Thailand is a net energy importer and has enough domestic demand to import more US energy products, Pichai said. Bloomberg reported last week that Thailand will increase imports of US ethane by at least 1 million tons this year, as well as agricultural products.
Thailand lists the US as its second-largest trading partner and it had a surplus of around $35.4 billion with the North American country in 2024, according to data from the Thai Commerce Ministry. President Donald Trump has railed against several economies that run a surplus with the US, slapping tariffs on rivals and allies alike.
“It’s clear they can increase and decrease tariffs to get what they want, so we will look at the state of our trade with the US,” Pichai said. “If we have demands for something, and we can import more of it, then we may do it.”
Thailand will only look to import from the US what it already has demands for, providing that the quality and prices of the goods are within acceptable ranges, Pichai said. Asked about importing US ethane, Pichai said, “I understand they will need to talk about it and compare prices, because many companies have demand for ethane.”
Last week, Commerce Minister Pichai Naripthaphan met with the US Chamber of Commerce and the US-Asean Business Council in Washington DC to entice foreign investments.
Thailand risks an influx of cheap Chinese goods following the Trump administration’s move to slap tariffs on Chinese imports, an industry group said. If Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s government fails to act, the number of industries hit hard by cheap imports may swell to 30 from 23 last year, said Kriengkrai Thiennukul, chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries.
Bloomberg earlier reported that a government official has said Thailand is set to increase imports of US ethane and agricultural products in a bid to prevent damage to its export-driven economy as the Trump administration threatens countries with trade wars.
The government has asked Thai petrochemical companies to significantly step up the purchase of US ethane by at least 1 million tons, Pongsarun Assawachaisophon, a deputy secretary-general to Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, told Bloomberg News. The market value of 1 million tons is about $200 million.
“We’re being proactive and hope that we can leverage this in our talks with the US,” he said, adding the government is considering efforts to strengthen defense and security relations. “Their great trade deficit with us will likely be negotiated, but they also still need an ally in Southeast Asia.” Thailand lists the US as its second-largest trading partner and it had a surplus of around $35.4 billion with the North American country in 2024, according to data from the Thai Commerce Ministry. President Donald Trump has railed against several economies that run a surplus with the US, slapping tariffs on rivals and allies alike.
Thai feed mills will also import more soybean meal and other agricultural products to use in their feed mix for cattle, poultry and pigs, Pongsarun said, without specifying the additional import volume. The current major importers of US ethane are China, India, Canada and Norway, according to the US Energy Information Administration. Ethane is consumed almost exclusively in the petrochemical industry as a feedstock, it said.
Thailand’s export-reliant economy could take a heavy hit from US tariffs. With assistance from Stephen Stapczynski/Bloomberg
Aid surge averts famine in Gaza amid fragile ceasefire, but UN warns of renewed threat
By Samy Magdy The Associated Press
CAIRO—Famine has been mostly averted in Gaza as a surge of aid enters the territory during a fragile ceasefire, the United Nations humanitarian chief said Sunday. But he warned the threat could return quickly if the truce collapses.
Tom Fletcher spoke to The Associated Press after a two-day visit to Gaza, where hundreds of trucks carrying humanitarian aid have arrived each day since the ceasefire began on January 19.
“The threat of famine, I think, is largely averted,” Fletcher said in Cairo. “Those starvation levels are down from where they were before the ceasefire.”
He spoke as concerns grow over whether the ceasefire can be extended and talks are meant to begin on its more difficult second phase. The six-week first phase is halfway through.
As part of the agreement, Israel said it would allow 600 aid trucks into Gaza each day, a major increase after months of aid officials expressing frustration about delays and insecurity hampering both the entry and distribution of food, medicines
and other badly needed items.
The UN humanitarian office has said more than 12,600 aid trucks have entered Gaza since the ceasefire took effect.
Fletcher urged both Hamas, which quickly reasserted its control of the territory in the hours after the ceasefire took effect, and Israel to stick to the deal that has “saved so many lives.”
“The conditions are still terrible, and people are still hungry,” he said. “If the ceasefire falls, if the ceasefire breaks, then very quickly those (famine-like) conditions will come back again.”
The internationally recognized mortality threshold for famine is two or more deaths a day per 10,000 people.
For months before the current ceasefire, food security monitors, UN officials and others had been warning of possible famine in
parts of devastated Gaza, especially the north, which had been largely isolated since the earliest weeks of the 16-month war. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have been able to return to the north under the ceasefire.
“We can’t...sit by and just allow these people to starve to death,”
Cindy McCain, the American head of the UN World Food Program, told CBS in December. The Biden administration repeatedly urged Israel to allow more aid deliveries and warned that failing to do so could trigger US restrictions on military support.
Fletcher said more food and medical supplies are crucially needed for the territory of more than 2 million people, most of them displaced, and he expressed concerns about disease outbreaks due to the lack of basic health supplies. He also called for scaling up the delivery of tents and
other shelters to those who have returned to their home areas, as winter continues.
“We must get tens of thousands of tents very rapidly in, so that people who are moving back, particularly moving back into the north, are able to take shelter from those conditions,” he said.
Fletcher entered the Palestinian territory through the Erez crossing between Israel and northern Gaza, where he said he drove through “bombed-out, flattened and pulverized” areas.
“You can’t see the difference between a school or a hospital or a home,” he said of the north. He said he saw people trying to find where their homes had been and collecting the bodies of loved ones from the rubble. He saw dogs looking for corpses in the rubble, too.
“It is a horror movie. It’s a horror show,” he said. “It breaks your heart again and again and again. You drive for miles and miles and miles, and this is all you see.”
Fletcher acknowledged that some Palestinians have been angry at the international community over the war and its response.
“There was despair and anger. And I can understand the anger at the world that this has happened to them,” he said. “But there was also a sense of defiance as well. People were saying, ‘We will go back to our homes. We will go back to the places that we have lived for generations, and we will rebuild.’”
Egypt announces emergency Arab summit after Trump’s Gaza plan infuriates key allies
CAIRO—Egypt announced Sunday that it will host an emergency Arab summit on February 27 to discuss “new and dangerous developments” after US President Donald Trump proposed to resettle Palestinians from the Gaza Strip.
Trump’s suggestion, made at a White House meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week, infuriated the Arab world, including Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia—key allies of Washington.
Both Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi and Jordanian King
Germany’s Scholz describes Trump’s Gaza proposal as a ‘scandal’ in election debate
BERLIN—German Chancellor Olaf Scholz described President Donald Trump’s suggestion that the US could take ownership of the Gaza Strip, relocate its population and redevelop it as a “scandal” in a pre-election debate Sunday. His main challenger also voiced unease but suggested there’s “a lot of rhetoric” coming from Washington.
The center-left Scholz and center-right challenger Friedrich Merz, the front-runner in the Feb. 23 election, discussed top domestic issues such as Germany’s struggling economy and migration, and also addressed foreign policy three weeks into Trump’s new term.
Asked what he made of Trump’s proposal to redevelop Gaza into “the Riviera of the Middle East,” Scholz replied: “A scandal. Besides that, a really terrible expression,” given the extent of the destruction that is now visible there.
“The relocation of populations is unacceptable and
against international law,” he added in the debate on ARD and ZDF public television. He pointed to the position of Egypt and Jordan.
“I share this assessment,” Merz said. “But it is one of a whole series of proposals coming from the American administration that are certainly disconcerting, but one has to wait and see what is really
meant seriously and how it is implemented—there’s probably a lot of rhetoric in this.”
The two candidates differed in their assessment of a Trump order directing the federal government to recognize only two sexes—male and female. Merz said it “is a decision I can understand.”
“I think it’s inappropriate,” Scholz said. “Every person should
statement from Egypt’s Foreign Ministry said it would host the
League summit in Cairo following talks at the highest level in Arab countries in recent days, “including the state of Palestine that asked to hold the summit in order to discuss new and dangerous developments for the Palestinian cause.” AP
be happy the way they want to be happy.”
Merz said the new US president is “predictably unpredictable.” He said that “there are significant concerns on this side of the Atlantic about what else is coming; so it’s all the more important that we on this side of the Atlantic are as united as possible.” He said that, if elected, he would put a great deal of effort into ensuring such European unity. Scholz said that his strategy for dealing with Trump is “clear words and friendly conversations.” He pointed to his public statements after Trump said he wouldn’t rule out the use of military force to take control of the Panama Canal and Greenland that all countries must respect existing borders.
He also pointed to the importance of European unity and said he and other countries are working on proposals to increase NATO’s presence in Greenland.
Asked about a response to possible US tariffs against the
ARAB League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit, right, meets with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa during his visit at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, Thursday, February 6, 2025. AP/AMR NABIL
Ceasefire brings new wave of restrictions: Israel tightens grip on West Bank, disrupting daily life
By Isabel Debre The Associated Press
RAMALLAH, West Bank—
Abdullah Fauzi, a banker from the northern West Bank city of Nablus, leaves home at 4 a.m. to reach his job by 8, and he’s often late.
His commute used to take an hour—until Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, after which Israel launched its offensive in the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli military also ramped up raids against Palestinian militants in the northern West Bank, and diverted its residents through seven new checkpoints, doubling Fauzi’s time on the road.
Now it’s gotten worse.
Since the ceasefire in Gaza between Israel and Hamas took effect, Fauzi’s drive to the West Bank’s business and administrative hub, Ramallah, has become a convoluted, at least four-hour wiggle through steep lanes and farm roads as Israel further tightens the noose around Palestinian cities in measures it considers essential to guard against militant attacks.
“You can fly to Paris while we’re not reaching our homes,” the 42-year-old said from the Atara checkpoint outside Ramallah last week, as Israeli soldiers searched scores of cars, one by one.
“Whatever this is, they’ve planned it well,” he said. “It’s welldesigned to make our life hell.”
A ceasefire begets violence
AS the truce between Israel and Hamas took hold on Jan. 19, radical Israeli settlers—incensed over an apparent end to the war and the release of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Israeli hostages—rampaged through West Bank towns, torching cars and homes.
Two days later, Israeli forces with drones and attack helicopters descended on the northern West Bank city of Jenin, long a center of militant activity.
More checkpoints started going up between Palestinian cities, slicing up the occupied West Bank and creating choke points the Israeli army can shut off on a whim. Crossings that had been open 24/7 started closing during morning and evening rush hours, upturning the lives of hundreds of thousands of people.
New barriers—earthen mounds, iron gates—multiplied, pushing Palestinian cars off well-paved roads and onto rutted paths through open fields. What was once a soldier’s glance and
head tilt became international border-like inspections.
Israel says the measures are to prevent Hamas from opening a new front in the West Bank. But many experts suspect the crackdown has more to do with assuaging settler leaders like Bezalel Smotrich, the finance minister and an important ally of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has threatened to topple the government if Israel does not restart the war in Gaza.
“Israel now has a free hand to pursue what it has wanted to in the West Bank for a long time: settlement expansion, annexation,” said Tahani Mustafa, a senior analyst at the International Crisis Group. “It was considered a potential trade-off.”
Asked why Israel launched the crackdown during the ceasefire, the Israeli military said politicians gave the order in part over concerns that the release of Palestinian prisoners—in swaps for Israeli hostages held by Hamas—could raise tensions in the West Bank.
The checkpoints all over the West Bank, it said, were “to ensure safe movement and expand inspections.”
“Checkpoints are a tool we use in the fight against terror, enabling civilian movement while providing a layer of screening to prevent terrorists from escaping,” said Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani, an Israeli military spokesman.
Life disrupted TO spend rush hour at an Israeli checkpoint is to hear of the problems it has brought—Palestinian families divided, money lost, trade disrupted, sick people kept from doctors.
Ahmed Jibril said not even his position as manager of emergency services for the Palestinian Red Crescent protects him.
“We’re treated like any other private car,” he said, describing dozens of cases in which Israeli soldiers forced ambulances to wait for inspection when they were responding to emergency calls.
In one case, on Jan. 21, the Palestinian Health Ministry reported that a 46-year-old woman who had suffered a heart attack in the
southern city of Hebron died while waiting to cross a checkpoint.
The Israeli military said it was not aware of that specific incident.
But citing Hamas’ use of civilian infrastructure like hospitals to conceal fighters, the army acknowledged subjecting medical teams to security checks “while trying to reduce the delay as much as possible in order to mitigate harm.”
The UN humanitarian agency, or OCHA, reported that, as of last November 28, Israel had 793 checkpoints and roadblocks in the West Bank, 228 more than before the war in Gaza.
The agency hasn’t updated the tally since the ceasefire, but its latest report noted a surge in “suffocating restrictions” that are “tearing communities apart and largely paralyzing daily life.”
A bubble bursts
WITH its upscale restaurants and yoga studios, Ramallah gained a reputation in past conflicts for being something of a well-to-do bubble where cafe-hopping residents can feel immune to the harsh realities of the occupation.
Now its residents, struck in numbingly long lines to run simple errands, feel under siege.
“All we want to do is go home,” said Mary Elia, 70, stalled with her husband for nearly two hours at the Ein Senia checkpoint north of Ramallah last week, as they made their way home to east Jerusalem from their daughter’s house. “Are we meant to never see our grandchildren?”
Suddenly, her face contorted in discomfort. She had to urinate, she said, and there were hours to go before they crossed.
A national obsession
ROLL down the window at a bottlenecked checkpoint and the same soothing female voice can be heard emanating from countless car radios, reeling off every Israeli checkpoint, followed by “salik”— Arabic for open—or “mughlaq,” closed, based on the conditions of the moment.
These reports recently beat out
3 Baltic states disconnect from Soviet-era grid to merge with the European energy system
By Liudas Dapkus The Associated Press
VILNIUS, Lithuania—The flow of electricity between the Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania and Russia was officially severed Saturday morning after officials switched off the Soviet-era grid’s transmission lines and prepared to join the rest of Europe on Sunday. This came more than three decades after the collapse of the Soviet Union, ending the Baltics’ final ties to oil- and
weather broadcasts for top slot on the West Bank radio lineup.
Almost every Palestinian driver seems able to expound on the latest checkpoint operating hours, the minutiae of soldiers’ mood changes and fiercely defended opinions about the most efficient detours.
“I didn’t ask for a Ph.D. in this,” said Yasin Fityani, 30, an engineer stuck in line to leave Ramallah for work, scrolling through new checkpoint-dedicated WhatsApp groups filled with footage of soldiers installing cement barriers and fistfights erupting over someone cutting the line.
Lost time, lost money It was the second time in as many weeks that his boss at the Jerusalem bus company called off his morning shift because he was late.
Worse still for Nidal AlMaghribi, 34, it was too dangerous to back out of the queue of frustrated motorists waiting to pass Jaba checkpoint, which severs his east Jerusalem neighborhood from the rest of the city. Another full day’s work wasted in his car.
“What am I supposed to tell my wife?” he asked, pausing to keep his composure. “This job is how I feed my kids.”
Palestinian trucks, packed with perishable food and construction materials, are not spared the scrutiny. Soldiers often ask truckers to pull over and unload their cargo for inspection. Fruit rots. Textiles and electronics get damaged.
The delays raise prices, further choking a Palestinian economy that shrank 28 percent last year as a result of punitive Israeli policies imposed after Hamas’ attack, said Palestinian Economy Minister Mohammad Alamour. Israel’s ban on most Palestinian workers has left 30 percent of the West Bank’s workforce jobless.
“These barriers do everything except their stated purpose of providing security,” Alamour said.
“They pressure the Palestinian people and the Palestinian economy. They make people want to leave their country.”
gas-rich Russia. For the three countries, as well as the rest of Europe, the move was steeped in geopolitical and symbolic significance.
“The Baltic energy system is finally in our hands, we are in full control,” Lithuania Energy minister Žygimantas Vaičiūnas told reporters.
On Saturday, all remaining transmission lines between them and Russia, Belarus and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, wedged between EU members Poland and Lithuania and the sea, were switched off one by one. Lithuania first—where a specially-made 9-meter (about 29-foot) tall clock in downtown
See “Baltic,” A17
PALESTINIAN motorists line up at the Ein Senia Israeli army checkpoint near the West Bank city of Ramallah, Wednesday, January 29, 2025. AP/NASSER NASSER
Tuesday, February 11, 2025
Global leaders convene in Paris to shape the future of AI amid geopolitical tensions
By Sylvie Corbet & Kelvin Chan The Associated Press
PARIS—The geopolitics of artificial intelligence will be in focus at a major summit in France where world leaders, executives and experts will hammer out pledges on guiding the development of the rapidly advancing technology.
It’s the latest in a series of global dialogues around AI governance, but one that comes at a fresh inflection point as China’s buzzy and budget-friendly DeepSeek chatbot shakes up the industry.
US Vice President JD Vance— making his first trip abroad since taking office—will attend the Paris AI Action Summit starting Feb. 10, while China’s President Xi Jinping will be sending his special envoy, signaling high stakes for the meeting.
Here’s a breakdown:
Summit basics HEADS of state and top government officials, tech bosses and researchers are gathering in Paris for the two-day summit hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The event aims to address how to harness artificial intelligence’s potential so that it benefits everyone, while containing the technology’s myriad risks.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is attending, along with company officials from 80 countries, including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Microsoft President Brad Smith and Google CEO Sundar Pichai.
Tesla chief Elon Musk, who attended the inaugural 2023 summit at former codebreaking base Bletchley Park in England, and DeepSeek founder Liang Wenfeng have been invited, but it’s unclear if either will attend.
Panel talks and workshops at the Grand Palais venue on Monday will be followed by a dinner at the Elysee presidential palace for world leaders and CEOs. Leaders and company bosses are expected to give speeches at Tuesday’s closing session.
What’s at stake?
MORE than two years after ChatGPT ‘s debut, generative AI continues to make astounding advances at breakneck speed. The technology that powers all-purpose chatbots is transforming many aspects of life with its ability to spit out high-quality text, images or video, or carry out complex tasks. The 2023 summit in the UK resulted in a non-binding pledge
Continued from A9
with Catholic doctrine, such as programs promoting gender ideology. The Trump administration has said it is targeting these “woke” programs in its USAID cuts.
“If the government thinks that its programs have been distorted by ideology, well, then they should reform the programs,” Czerny said. “Many people would say that
by 28 nations to tackle AI risks. A follow-up meeting hosted by South Korea last year secured another pledge to set up a network of public AI safety institutes to advance research and testing.
AI safety is still on the agenda in Paris, with an expert group reporting back on general purpose AI’s possible extreme dangers.
But this time organizers are expanding the discussion to more countries, and widening the debate to a range of other AI-related topics. Like previous editions, this summit won’t produce any binding regulation. “The summit comes at a time when many are trying to position themselves in the international competition,” Macron told reporters, according to La Provence newspaper. “It’s about establishing the rules of the game. AI cannot be the Wild West.”
The deliverables ORGANIZERS are working on getting countries to sign a joint political declaration gathering commitments for more ethical, democratic and environmentally sustainable AI, according to Macron’s office. But it’s unclear whether the US would agree to such a measure.
A public-interest partnership named “Current AI” is to be launched with an initial $400 million investment. The initiative aims at raising $2.5 billion over the next five years for the public-private partnership involving governments, businesses and philanthropic groups that will provide open-source access to databases, software and other tools for “trusted” AI actors, according to Macron’s office.
Macron’s team wants to shift the focus away from the race to develop better-than-human artificial intelligence through sheer computing power and, instead, open up access to data that can help AI solve problems like cancer or long Covid.
“We now have this incredible opportunity to figure out not only how we should mitigate the potential harms from artificial intelligence, but also how we can ensure that it’s used to improve people’s lives,” said Martin Tisné, the summit’s envoy for public interest AI.
Trump’s team
US President Donald Trump has
shutting down is not the best way to reform them.”
Another area of concern for the Vatican and Catholic hierarchy in the US is the Trump administration’s crackdown on undocumented migrants. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said last week that more than 8,000 people had been arrested in immigration enforcement actions since Trump’s Jan. 20 inauguration. Some are being held in federal prisons while others are being held at the Guantanamo
spoken of his desire to make the US the “world capital of artificial intelligence” by tapping its oil and gas reserves to feed the energyhungry technology. Meanwhile, he has moved to withdraw the US— again—from the Paris climate agreement and revoked former President Joe Biden’s executive order for AI guardrails.
Trump is replacing it with his own AI policy designed to maintain America’s global leadership by reducing regulatory barriers and building AI systems free of “ideological bias.”
The US position might undermine any joint communique, said Nick Reiners, senior geotechnology analyst at the Eurasia Group.
“Trump is against the very idea of global governance,” Reiners said. “It’s one thing to get countries to agree that AI should have guardrails and that AI safety is something worth caring about. But they’ve widened the scope to talk about the future of work and the environment and inclusivity and so on—a whole range of concepts. So, it’s hard to imagine getting a widespread agreement on such a broad range of subjects.”
China’s role
CHINESE leader Xi is sending Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing, who’s been elevated to the role of Xi’s special representative.
It’s a big step up from the 2023 Bletchley meeting, when the Chinese government sent the vice minister of science and technology. It signifies that Xi wants China to play a bigger role in global AI governance as Trump pulls back, Reiners said.
DeepSeek’s release last month stunned the world because of its ability to rival Western players like ChatGPT. It also escalated the wider geopolitical showdown between Beijing and Washington over tech supremacy.
Trump said DeepSeek was a “wake-up call” for the US tech industry and his AI advisor David Sacks accused DeepSeek of training its model on stolen OpenAI data. The DeepSeek chatbot app
Bay Naval Base in Cuba.
“A crackdown is a terrible way to administer affairs and much less to administer justice,” said Czerny, whose own family immigrated to Canada as refugees after World War II. “And so I’m very sorry that many people are being hurt and indeed terrorized by the measures.”
“All we can hope for is that the people, God’s people and the people of goodwill, will help and protect those vulnerable people who are suddenly made much more vulnerable,” he added.
now faces investigations, and in some cases, bans in the US and a number of other countries over privacy and security concerns.
Yet the rise of DeepSeek, which built its open source AI model at a fraction of the cost and with fewer chips, also puts China’s interests in line with France’s.
French organizers said “the summit aims at promoting an ambitious French and European AI strategy” as advances in the sector have been led by the US and China. Macron hopes to make room for others, including French startup Mistral, which also uses an open source AI model.
“DeepSeek is being seen as a kind of vindication of this idea that you don’t have to necessarily invest hundreds of billions of dollars in in chips and data centers,” Reiners said.
Transatlantic tensions ANOTHER showdown could involve Brussels, which has long been a thorn in the side of USbased Big Tech companies, cracking down with antitrust penalties against the likes of Google, Apple and Meta. Trump lashed out at last month’s World Economic Forum with “very big complaints” about the EU’s multibillion-dollar fines, calling them a tax on American companies.
More recently, the European Union’s artificial intelligence regulation has met resistance from the companies. The EU recently unveiled a non-binding “code of practice” for its AI Act but Meta’s top lobbyist said the company, which owns Facebook and Instagram, won’t sign up.
The EU guidelines, intended to standardize how the AI Act’s regulations are applied across the 27-nation bloc, are “unworkable” and the continent’s regulatory environment is “pushing Europe to the sidelines,” Chief Global Affairs Officer Joel Kaplan told a Brussels event.
Chan reported from London. AP writer John Leicester in Paris contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump will need the Supreme Court, with three justices he appointed, to enable the most aggressive of the many actions he has taken in just the first few weeks of his second White House term.
But even a conservative majority with a robust view of presidential power might balk at some of what the president wants to do.
The court gave Trump major victories last year that helped clear away potential obstacles to his reelection, postponing his criminal trial in Washington, D.C., then affording immunity from prosecution for official actions. But Trump’s first term was marked by significant defeats—as well as some wins—at the court.
“It will be an extraordinary test for the Roberts Court whether it’s willing to stand up for constitutional principles it has long embraced,” said Michael Waldman, the president of New York University’s Brennan Center and the author of a book that is critical of the court. “Some of the things we have seen are so blatantly unconstitutional that I am confident the court will stand up. Other things that align with the accumulation of the power of the presidency make me very nervous.”
There’s no shortage of issues that could find a path to the nation’s highest court. Lower courts already have paused orders on birthright citizenship, a freeze on government grants and loans, and a buyout order for federal workers.
Other lawsuits have been filed over restrictions on transgender people, limits on asylum-seekers, efforts to shutter USAID, Elon Musk and his team’s access to sensitive data and the firing of officials at independent federal agencies.
Trump met with mixed success at the court in his first term. By a 5-4 vote, the justices upheld his ban on travel to the US from several mostly Muslim countries, but only after courts had blocked the first two versions of it.
The same five conservative justices backed Trump’s firing of the head of the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau and cleared the way for the administration to tap billions of dollars in Pentagon funds to build sections of a border wall with Mexico, while a lawsuit over the money continued.
At the same time, Chief Justice John Roberts joined with the court’s then-four justice liberal bloc to prevent Trump from ending the DACA program for immigrants who were brought here as children. The same five-justice majority also stopped the administration from including a question about citizenship on the 2020 census.
Roberts also bluntly rebuked Trump for denouncing a judge who rejected his migrant asylum policy as an “Obama judge.”
One big difference from the first Trump presidency is that there are just three liberal justices, after Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death in September 2020 allowed Trump to appoint a third justice, Amy Coney Barrett, in the final months of his term. She joined earlier Trump appointees, Neil Gorsuch and
The US conference of Catholic bishops put out an unusually critical statement after President Donald Trump’s initial executive orders, saying those “focused on the treatment of immigrants and refugees, foreign aid, expansion of the death penalty, and the environment, are deeply troubling and will have negative consequences, many of which will harm the most vulnerable among us.” It was a strong rebuke from the US Catholic hierarchy, which considers abortion to be the “preeminent priority” for Catholic voters and had cheered the 2022 Supreme Court decision to end constitutional protections for abortion that was made possible by Trump-appointed justices. Trump won 54 percent of Catholic voters in the 2024 election, a wider margin than the
Brett Kavanaugh.
Birthright citizenship could offer a critical early test
THE issue that might be first in line this time is Trump’s order ending birthright citizenship for the children of parents who are in the US illegally. The administration already has indicated it will appeal a judge’s ruling that has so far blocked it.
Depending on how quickly the federal appeals court in San Francisco acts, an emergency appeal to the Supreme Court could arrive within weeks if Trump’s Justice Department wants to press courts to allow the order to take effect while the legal fight continues.
While there is some support in legal circles for what Trump is trying to do, the more broadly held view among both liberal and conservative scholars is that this is a fight the president won’t win.
“I’m exceedingly skeptical about there being any votes for the birthright citizenship executive order as written,” said Jonathan Adler, a law professor at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland who describes himself as right-of-center. Will Trump’s order to freeze federal spending stand?
TRUMP’S now-paused effort to freeze federal spending and his call to shut down USAID also might meet resistance, even in front of the conservative court, though more modest reductions could fare better.
“The court will be more skeptical, especially if the administration tries to completely unwind an agency that has been created by statute,” said Villanova University law professor Michael Moreland, who worked in the George W. Bush White House. The history of the travel ban, which the court eventually upheld after it was revised twice, is instructive, Adler said.
“Make the broad announcement that’s a bit blunderbuss, a bit aggressive, that pushed the envelope. Then settle back to a more defensible space after pushback. It results in something more modest, but still dramatic,” he said.
The Biden administration figured out a legally defensible way not to spend border wall money that Congress appropriated.
“There’s a lot more play in the joints than people recognize,” Adler said.
The president’s power to fire is on firmer ground
TRUMP is on firmer ground in his firing of National Labor Relations Board member Gynne A. Wilcox and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission members Charlotte Burrows and Jocelyn Samuels, all Democrats.
Wilcox already has sued, arguing that federal law protects her from being arbitrarily dismissed.
But even her lawyers acknowledged in their filing that her lawsuit could tee up a Supreme Court challenge to a 90-yearold precedent that Roberts and the other conservatives already have narrowed. The case known as Humphrey’s Executor held that President Franklin Roosevelt could not arbitrarily fire a member of See “Trump,” A17
FRENCH President Emmanuel Macron, center, Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, right, and Secretary General of the OECD Mathias Cormann at the French Foreign Ministry ahead of the AI Action Summit in Paris, Sunday, February 9, 2025. AP/MICHEL EULER
www.businessmirror.com.ph
The World BusinessMirror
Musk’s role in government efficiency raises concerns over transparency, accountability
By Chris Megerian The Associated Press
WASHINGTON—Elon Musk made a clear promise after Donald Trump decided to put him in charge of making the government more efficient.
“It’s not going to be some sort of backroom secret thing,” Musk said last year. “It will be as transparent as possible,” maybe even streamed live online.
It hasn’t worked out that way so far.
In the three weeks since the Republican president has been back in the White House, Musk has rapidly burrowed deep into federal agencies while avoiding public scrutiny of his work. He has not answered questions from journalists or attended any hearings with lawmakers. Staff members for his so-called Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, have sidelined career officials around Washington.
It is a profound challenge not only to business-as-usual within the federal government, which Trump campaigned on disrupting, but to concepts of consensus and transparency that are foundational in a democratic system. Musk describes himself as “White House tech support,” and he has embedded himself in an unorthodox administration where there are no discernible limits on his influence.
Donald K. Sherman, executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, said Trump has allowed Musk to “exert unprecedented power and authority over government systems” with “maximal secrecy and little-to-no accountability.”
The White House insisted that DOGE is “extremely transparent” and shared examples of its work so far, such as canceling contracts and ending leases for underused buildings. House Republicans said the Trump administration also discovered that Social Security benefits were being paid to a dozen people listed as 150 years old.
“We’re going to find billions, hundreds of billions of dollars of fraud and abuse and, you know, the people elected me on that,” Trump said in a Fox News interview to be aired along with the Super Bowl on Sunday. He described Musk as “terrific” and said he would soon focus on the Department of Defense, the country’s largest government agency.
Asked on Friday if Musk should publicly answer questions about
Trump. . .
Continued from A16
his work, the president said, “Oh sure.”
“He’s not shy,” Trump said. “Elon’s not shy.”
That is true, at least judging by Musk’s social media, where no thought appears to be suppressed. His X account is a flood of internet memes, attacks on critics and professions of loyalty to the president. He has made clear the grand scope of his ambitions, talking in existential terms about the need to reverse the federal deficit, cut government spending and roll back progressive programs.
“This administration has one chance for major reform that may never come again,” he posted on Saturday. “It’s now or never.”
Musk is used to doing things his own way. The world’s richest person, he became wealthy with the online payment service PayPal, then took over the electric car manufacturer Tesla and founded the rocket company SpaceX. More recently, he bought Twitter and rebranded it as X, cutting jobs and remaking its culture.
He seems to be taking a similar approach to the federal government, but he can be tightlipped about his plans. For example, he has not explained how his team will utilize access to payment systems that include sensitive data on people in the United States.
Much of DOGE’s work is happening behind the scenes. Team members have shown up at the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Treasury Department, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, among other agencies. Their arrival is never publicly announced, and career staff members are looking over their shoulders for unfamiliar faces in the hallways.
At the Education Department, DOGE employees are working out of a conference room on the seventh floor, which also houses the secretary’s office.
Sheria Smith, president of a federal employees union that represents some of the agency’s staff, said it is unclear what internal systems have been accessed by Musk’s team and for what reason.
“It’s the lack of transparency that’s alarming,” she said.
the Federal Trade Commission, a ruling that applied to other independent federal agencies as well. That ruling, though, has run into a legal theory embraced by conservatives that says the Constitution gives all executive power to the president, the one person who is accountable to the entire American
Baltic. . .
Continued from A15
Vilnius counted down the final seconds—then Latvia a few minutes later, followed by Estonia.
While longtime staff members fret about their future, DOGE workers have been spotted cheerfully trading high-fives with each other.
“They don’t seem to answer to anyone and are not engaging with anyone in our agency,” Smith said.
Sometimes a rumor circulates that Musk himself is making the rounds. But he generally has been at the White House complex, where he has an office.
David Sacks, a Musk ally working on artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency issues for the administration, said he stopped by to check on the DOGE team.
“The whole room was full of young coders,” he said during The All-In Podcast, which Sacks hosts with three other venture capitalists. “The facilities people don’t know what to do because they’ve never had people ask to stay late on Friday night before.”
Journalists have been piecing together the identities of people who work for DOGE, discovering a cadre of young acolytes with technology and engineering backgrounds.
Some were previously employed by Musk’s companies, and Musk has said it is a crime to reveal their names. He has not cited any law that would be broken by such a disclosure.
It does not appear to be an idle threat. Ed Martin, the Trumpappointed interim US attorney in the nation’s capital, said last week that “we will pursue any and all legal action against anyone who impedes your work or threatens your people.”
Martin followed up on Friday to thank Musk for referring suspects who were “stealing government property and/or threatening government employees.” No additional information was provided by Martin’s office or the White House.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright defended DOGE’s work, saying in a CNBC interview Friday that members of Musk’s team were like “young gun management consultants coming in to take a critical look at how things are run.”
electorate.
In the CFPB case in 2020, Roberts brushed aside Justice Elena Kagan’s complaint that the court was removing “a measure of independence from political pressure.” Roberts left Humphrey’s Executor
“They’re part of a team assembled by DOGE, friends in Elon’s broader circle that are very good at IT and very good at systems,” Wright said.
It took more than two weeks after Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20 to figure out that Musk had formally joined the administration as a special government employee. The White House said Musk will file a financial disclosure report, but it will be kept secret. Because of Musk’s sprawling business interests, the report would likely be among the most extensive ever compiled.
It’s unclear whether Musk swore an oath to the Constitution like other federal workers. Even though Trump promised that Musk would steer clear of any areas where he has a conflict of interest, no details have been provided on how that is being evaluated. A test of that arrangement could come soon, with Musk set to review spending at the Pentagon, where SpaceX has billions of dollars in contracts to put satellites in orbit.
Democrats on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee tried to issue a subpoena to force Musk to testify, but the effort was blocked by Republicans.
“Who is this unelected billionaire, that he can attempt to dismantle federal agencies, fire people, transfer them, offer them early retirement, and have sweeping reform or changes to agencies without any congressional review, oversight, or concurrence?” said Rep. Gerald Connolly of Virginia, the committee’s top Democrat.
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York said Republicans were “doing the bidding of an unelected, out of control, billionaire puppet master.”
Trump said he was still in charge of Musk, saying “I’ll tell him to go here, go there, he does it.”
H e also backed Musk’s aggressive approach.
“We have to take some of these things apart to find the corruption,” he said.
Associated Press writers Collin Binkley and Fatima Hussein contributed to this report.
standing, but diminished, even as Justice Clarence Thomas and Gorsuch wrote that they would have gone ahead and overruled it. “If I had to speculate, I’d say it would be—if not outright overruled—at least severely constrained,” Moreland said.
derwater cables in the Baltic Sea.
Ecuador to hold runoff election between conservative incumbent and leftist challenger amid crime concerns
By Regina Garcia Cano The Associated Press
GUAYAQUIL, Ecuador— Ecuador will choose its next president in a runoff election after conservative incumbent Daniel Noboa and leftist lawyer Luisa González garnered enough votes Sunday to beat 14 other candidates.
The contest, set for April 13, will be a repeat of the October 2023 snap election that earned Noboa a 16-month presidency.
Noboa and González are now vying for a full four-year term, promising voters to reduce the widespread criminal activity that upended their lives four years ago.
The spike in violence across the South American country is tied to the trafficking of cocaine produced in neighboring Colombia and Peru. So many voters have become crime victims that their personal and collective losses were a determining factor in deciding whether a third president in four years could turn Ecuador around or if Noboa deserved more time in office.
Noboa, an heir to a fortune built on the banana trade, and González, the protégée of Ecuador’s most influential president this century, were the clear front-runners ahead of the election.
Figures released by Ecuador’s National Electoral Council showed that with 80 percent of ballots tallied, Noboa received more than 3.71 million votes, or 44.43 percent, while González earned over 3.69 million votes, or 44.17 percent. The 14 other candidates in the race were far behind them.
Voting is mandatory in Ecuador. Electoral authorities reported that more than 83 percent of the roughly 13.7 million eligible voters cast ballots.
Crime, gangs and extortion
UNDER Noboa’s watch, the homicide rate dropped from 46.18 per 100,000 people in 2023 to 38.76 per 100,000 people last year. Still, it remained far higher than the 6.85 per 100,000 people in 2019, and other crimes, such as kidnapping and extortion, have skyrocketed, making people fearful of leaving their homes.
“For me, this president is disastrous,” said Marta Barres, 35, who went to the voting center with her three teenage children. “Can he change things in four more years? No. He hasn’t done anything.”
Barres, who must pay $25 a month to a local gang to avoid harassment or worse, said she supported González because she believes she can reduce crime across the board and improve the economy.
Noboa defeated González in the October 2023 runoff of a snap election that was triggered by the decision of then-President Guillermo Lasso to dissolve the National Assembly and shorten his own mandate as a result.
Noboa and González, a mentee of former President Rafael Correa, had only served short stints as lawmakers before launching their presidential campaigns that year.
To win outright Sunday, a candidate needed 50 percent of the vote or at least 40 percent with a 10-point lead over the closest challenger.
More than 100,000 police officers and members of the military were deployed across the country to safeguard the election, including at voting centers. At least 50
officers accompanied Noboa, his wife and their 2-year-old son to a voting center where the president cast his ballot in the small Pacific coast community of Olón.
Testing the limits of laws and norms of governing
N OBOA, 37, opened an event organizing company when he was 18 and then joined his father’s Noboa Corp., where he held management positions in the shipping, logistics and commercial areas. His political career began in 2021, when he won a seat in the National Assembly and chaired its Economic Development Commission. As president over the past 15 months, some of his mano dura, or heavy-handed, tactics to reduce crime have come under scrutiny inside and outside the country for testing the limits of laws and norms of governing.
His questioned tactics include the state of internal armed conflict he declared in January 2024 in order to mobilize the military in places where organized crime has taken hold, as well as last year’s approval of a police raid on Mexico’s embassy in the capital, Quito, to arrest former Vice President Jorge Glas, a convicted criminal and fugitive who had been living there for months. His head-on approach, however, is also earning him votes.
“Noboa is the only person hitting organized crime hard,” retiree German Rizzo, who voted to get the president reelected, said outside a polling station in Samborondón, an upper-class area with gated communities separated from the port city of Guayaquil by a river.
‘Things are not going to change’ GONZÁLEZ , 47, held various government jobs during the presidency of Correa, who led Ecuador from 2007 through 2017 with free-spending socially conservative policies and grew increasingly authoritarian in his last years as president. He was sentenced to prison in absentia in 2020 in a corruption scandal.
González was a lawmaker from 2021 until May 2023, when Lasso dissolved the National Assembly. She was unknown to most voters until Correa’s party picked her as its presidential candidate for the snap election.
Quito’s University of the Americas professor Maria Cristina Bayas said Sunday’s result was “a triumph” for Correa’s party because pre-election polls projected a wider difference between Noboa and González. Esteban Ron, dean of the Faculty of Social and Legal Sciences at the International University SEK in Quito, said Noboa will be forced to reengineer his campaign at the risk that he may have already reached his vote ceiling. Ron attributed the outcome to the problems Noboa faced during his administration.
Waiting for her turn to vote in Guayaquil, architecture student Keila Torres said she had not yet decided who to vote for. None, she said, will be able to lower crime across Ecuador due to deep-rooted government corruption.
“If I could, I wouldn’t be here,” said Torres, who witnessed three robberies in public buses over the past four years and barely escaped a carjacking in December.
“Things are not going to change.”
For 24 hours after detaching from the Soviet-era grid, the Baltic Power System will operate independently. If all goes as planned, the power system will merge with the European energy networks on Sunday afternoon through several links with Finland, Sweden and Poland. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, as well as the presidents of Poland and the Baltic states, are expected for a ceremony in Vilnius on Sunday evening along with other dignitaries.
all NATO members, have often had chilly ties with Russia since declaring independence from the USSR in 1990—and relations soured further over Russia’s fullscale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The Baltic countries, which are
Sixteen power lines that used to connect the Baltic states with Russia and Belarus were dismantled over in recent years as a new grid linking them with the rest of the EU was created, including un -
“This is physical disconnection from the last remaining element of our reliance on the Russian and Belarusian energy system,” Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda told The Associated Press in a recent interview.
The three Baltic countries, which together have a 1,633-kilometer-long (1,015-mile) border with Russia and Belarus,
informed Moscow and Minsk of the disconnection plan in 2024 to head off any hostile reaction.
“We have a protocol with the Russians on how everything should be disconnected,” Rokas Masiulis, CEO of Litgrid, told reporters on Saturday.
Leaders of all three countries assured their nations that the shift would go smoothly but special measures were taken to pre -
vent possible provocations. In Latvia, the National Armed Forces and the National Guard were instructed to carry on their duties in a reinforced mode. No incidents were reported early Saturday. The Kaliningrad region, which has no land ties to mainland Russia, already relies on its own power generation, according to Litgrid.
SENATE Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., holding hands with Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., accompanied by other members of Congress, speaks during a rally against Elon Musk outside the Treasury Department in Washington, Tuesday, February 4, 2025. AP/JOSE LUIS MAGANA
R. Calso
Fair markets: The key to PHL food security
THE National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) has correctly identified uncompetitive practices as a significant barrier to the Philippines achieving its food security objectives. Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan’s recent statement underscores the critical role of pro-competition policies in ensuring that all Filipinos have access to affordable and nutritious food. This isn’t just about economics; it’s about the well-being and future of our nation.
(Read the BusinessMirror story: “Anti-competition policies crimp food security goals,” February 7, 2025).
Balisacan, drawing on his experience as the founding chairperson of the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC), highlights the importance of competition in driving efficiency, innovation, and fair pricing within the agricultural sector. Free and fair markets for agricultural inputs, storage, logistics, and distribution are essential to address supply chain inefficiencies and prevent market distortions that ultimately hurt both producers and consumers.
The government’s recent efforts to control food inflation, such as lowering rice tariffs and removing non-tariff barriers, are commendable steps in the right direction. These measures encourage market players to augment local food supplies, increasing availability and potentially lowering prices. However, these are short-term solutions. A comprehensive and sustained pro-competition policy is needed to address the root causes of food insecurity.
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has also warned that supply-side constraints affecting food could lead to a faster increase in inflation. The lingering effects of El Niño, the African Swine Fever (ASF), and Avian Flu all threaten local production, impacting the availability and affordability of essential food items. These challenges further emphasize the need for a resilient and competitive agricultural sector capable of adapting to disruptions and ensuring a stable food supply.
The path to food security requires a multi-pronged approach. Beyond immediate measures to address supply constraints, the government must prioritize the enforcement of competition laws and the implementation of policies that promote a level playing field for all market participants. This includes tackling anti-competitive practices such as cartels, monopolies, and unfair trading practices that stifle innovation and drive up prices. Investing in agricultural research and development, improving infrastructure, and providing support to smallholder farmers are also crucial to enhancing productivity and competitiveness. By empowering local producers and fostering a more competitive market environment, the country can reduce its reliance on imports and build a more resilient and sustainable food system.
Looking to the future, it’s crucial that everyone involved—including the government, farmers, and consumers—understands how important competition is for a strong food system. By collaborating to create more equitable markets, we can lessen the impact of supply chain issues and foster an environment where our farmers can thrive.
Ultimately, achieving food security is not just about producing enough food; it’s about ensuring that all Filipinos have access to it at affordable prices. By embracing pro-competition policies and fostering fairer markets, the country can unlock the full potential of its agricultural sector and move closer to realizing its aspirations for food security and shared prosperity for all.
Opinion
GRAIN DEAL at a Kadiwa ng Pangulo stall in Las Piñas: NFA rice is now available at P36 per kilo—well below earlier estimates—as the Department of Agriculture intensifies measures amid a declared food security emergency. A recent survey by Social Weather Stations and Stratbase Group revealed that 59 percent of Filipinos experienced the steepest price hike for rice in the last three months of 2024, compared to 25 percent for meat, 11 percent for vegetables, and 4 percent for seafood.
PSE: The sound of disappointment
BAntonio L. Cabangon Chua
John Mangun
OUTSIDE THE BOX
ACK in high school, when learning a foreign language was compulsory, I realized I was not exactly a linguistic prodigy. But, I did pick up on something intriguing—words often sound like their meanings.
A key concept of Rastafarian reasoning is that “word sound has power” and there is truth to it.
Take “Schnell ”in German, meaning fast—its pronunciation is as quick as the word suggests. Or “gato” in Spanish, which sounds like a cat purring, perfect for the feline it represents.
Then there is the Tagalog word “malas” for misfortune—could there be a better match for the sound of bad luck? Here is another in English: liquidity, a term I have obsessed over as crucial for stock market vitality, that has a fluid sound to it, used only in finance since the late 17th century.
“Vibrant” is another favorite of mine—it captures the essence of energy, color, and excitement.
Now, let us shift gears to the stock
DeepSeek sparks
TDennis D. Estopace
Angel R. Calso, Dionisio L. Pelayo
Ruben M. Cruz Jr.
Eduardo A. Davad Nonilon G. Reyes
D. Edgard A. Cabangon Benjamin V. Ramos Aldwin Maralit Tolosa Rolando M. Manangan BusinessMirror
market. The headline shouted, “Stock tax cut seen to boost market appeal,” with the Capital Markets Efficiency Promotion Act (CMEPA) slashing the Documentary Stamp Tax from 1 percent to 0.75 percent and tweaking other tax rates to favor both shortterm and long-term investments. They even cut the tax on PCSO and lotto winnings above P10,000 should you choose to gamble on luck if you get tired of trading the market.
The experts are saying this new law, reducing the Stock Transaction Tax from 0.6 percent to 0.1 percent, will make the PSE more appealing for investors. However, they also cited “the need for the government to educate Filipinos on how to invest.”
But hang on, the PSE forecasts trading will hit P4.9 trillion by 2029 with these tax cuts and reforms.
Here is the kicker: to achieve that, we would need a Compound Annual Growth Rate of 30 percent from the most recent full year 2024 peso value of transactions at P1.49 trillion.
That takes a leap of faith. A 30 percent CAGR to reach P4.9 trillion by 2029? Is that a forecast or a fantasy?
While the academics harp on investment education, data from 2023 shows 1.91 million stock market accounts, predominantly retail.
Yet Filipinos are educated enough to rank 5th globally in crypto ownership, with 16 million in that game according to Tranglo, and Chainalysis placing us 8th in crypto service usage. Sorry, experts, Filipinos know how to invest; they just avoid the PSE.
The numerous tax rate changes particularly with the incentives for foreigners are nice but taxes on profits come AFTER you make a profit. No profits. No taxes. No big deal. The PSE? No one ever called the Philippine stock exchange “vibrant.”
What makes a stock market vibrant?
High liquidity trading in innovative companies and a regulatory framework that ensures investor protection encourages participation.
You need companies that are exciting. Most corporate information disclosures on the PSE are boring and even sad. “XXX acquired a majority stake for P10 million.” I am supposed to get enthusiastic about
a P4 billion revenue company spending pocket change for expansion?
Compare that to Alphabet Inc., with a 2024 revenue of $350 billion and a 2025 capex of $75 billion—that is exciting. Imagine also if we had a ‘minicorn’ startup on our exchange without the baggage of political connections or scandal. Further, nobody wants to raise money by listing their company on an exchange that has outdated trading practices. Thailand allowed short selling in 1998; Indonesia in 2009. The PSE trying to catch up with modern trading practices is like waiting for a jeepney to turn into a bullet train.
The Capital Markets Integrity Corporation and the Securities and Exchange Commission work at the regulatory job only to have the courts and the attorneys virtually guarantee that justice delayed becomes justice denied. A vibrant market starts with vibrant ideas, not just tax cuts. Maybe it is time for a real shake-up, or at least, a more honest conversation about what ‘vibrant’ means in the context of the Philippine stock market.
E-mail me at mangun@gmail.com. Follow me on Twitter @mangunonmarkets. PSE
Southeast Equities Inc.
hope for renaissance in China’s tech
By Charlotte Yang
HE rise of Chinese AI startup
DeepSeek is forcing investors to re-evaluate the nation’s leading internet companies and their potential to capitalize on artificial intelligence that’s boosted global peers.
Market watchers are increasingly touting how the AI model will be a game changer for Chinese tech companies and their stocks, which have remained under pressure by concerns over the economy. Already Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. shares surged last week over such hype, with a gauge of tech stocks entering a bull market on Friday.
“The refreshed attention could shift investor focus from ‘thinking about risks’ to ‘thinking about potential’ when they look at the large Chinese internet names,” said Jian Shi Cortesi, a portfolio manager at Gam Investment Management in Zurich.
“This is positive, especially given the big valuation discount of these names compared to US peers,” she added.
The upcoming results season may provide stock catalysts in the form of management comments on progress with AI models and demand for cloud services. Meanwhile, options traders have boosted bets on China tech, and the stocks remain historically cheap.
The Hang Seng Tech Index entered a bull market after last week’s 9 percent gain. Still, the gauge of Hong Kong-listed Chinese tech stocks is trading at less than 17 times estimated forward earnings, below the Nasdaq 100’s 27 times and even its own five-year average of 25 times.
Multiples for China’s tech stocks have suffered from weak demand among domestic consumers as well as intense competition in their e-
The excitement extends beyond the startup level, with Alibaba announcing the latest version of its AI model just days after DeepSeek’s release, and touting even better results. That drove its Hong Kong-listed shares up 13 percent last week. Competing offerings from other majors include Tencent Holdings Ltd.’s Hunyuan, Baidu Inc.’s Ernie Bot and ByteDance Ltd.’s Doubao.
commerce and cloud businesses. That comes as geopolitical tensions with the US have also reduced global appetite for the nation’s equities.
“The lack of foreign investor interest and liquidity in the market was one reason it was a value trap,” said Alex Au, managing director at Alphalex Capital Management HK Ltd. “Now, DeepSeek has significantly aroused international investors’ interest in Chinese tech again and should help narrow the valuation gap.”
megacaps
The excitement extends beyond the startup level, with Alibaba announcing the latest version of its AI model just days after DeepSeek’s release, and touting even better results. That drove its Hong Konglisted shares up 13 percent last week. Competing offerings from other majors include Tencent Holdings Ltd.’s Hunyuan, Baidu Inc.’s Ernie Bot and ByteDance Ltd.’s Doubao. The latest wave of services should accelerate AI adoption by enterprises as well as consumers, while also reducing costs for hyperscalers. It also means a boon to cloud service providers like Alibaba and Tencent, given that users rely on cloud computing to run AI infrastructure.
“The much cheaper and capable model introduced by DeepSeek should help democratize AI in China and encourage usage and spending,” said Alphalex Capital’s Au. “We think the cloud operators like Alibaba will be major beneficiaries.” Cloud business growth for
China marriages fall to record low as demographic crisis deepens
MARRIAGES in China plunged by a fifth to the lowest level on record last year, a setback to efforts by the government to reverse a demographic crisis threatening the world’s second-biggest economy.
The number of marriage registrations fell to 6.1 million, according to statistics released by China’s Ministry of Civil Affairs on Saturday, after a post-pandemic increase to nearly 7.7 million in 2023. The tally for last year marks the fewest marriages since public records began in 1986 and is less than half the peak reached in 2013.
The failure to encourage more people to tie the knot in the country of 1.4 billion people represents a challenge for a government struggling to arrest China’s sharp drop in births. A marriage certificate is typically required to register new babies, though some localities have moved to scrap the requirement so single parents or unmarried couples can enjoy the same rights as married ones.
“Marriage has been falling out of favor, particularly with younger people, due to high costs, the sluggish economy and evolving attitudes toward traditional marriages,” Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Ada Li said in a report.
Registrations may also have suffered last year because 2024 was an inauspicious year for marriage— known as a “Widow Year.” Some 2.6 million people also filed for divorce, up 1.1 percent from 2023, the data showed.
China’s population shrank for The failure to encourage more people to tie the knot in the country of 1.4 billion people represents a challenge for a government struggling to arrest China’s sharp drop in births. A marriage certificate is typically required to register new babies, though some localities have moved to scrap the requirement so single parents or unmarried couples can enjoy the same rights as married ones.
Opinion
Erroneous collections upon renewal of permits: Remedies
Rthe third straight year in 2024, even though births rose slightly.
Some of the improvement was attributed to the belief that the Year of the Dragon in the Chinese zodiac is lucky for having children.
Even so, last year saw the secondlowest number of births since the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, underscoring a persistent long-term risk for the economy as a shrinking workforce puts a strain on growth.
The number of marriages has been in a near-constant state of decline over the past decade, with the annual figure dropping below 10 million in 2019. In a speech last October, President Xi Jinping called for giving stronger guidance to young people in shaping their attitude toward marriage, childbearing and family.
In August, China proposed a draft law that made it easier to register for marriages and tougher to file for divorce, provoking a wave of public backlash, with netizens questioning the intention of the authorities.
The topic of China’s steep drop in marriage registrations last year was trending China’s social media platform Weibo on Monday, where some of the top comments pointed to the financial strains involved in getting married. In the words of one user, “life is already so tiring. Who has the courage to get married?”
Another comment read: “Getting married is a big expense. I suddenly felt this year that it’s pretty good being single, I don’t have such big pressure and can spend the money I earned myself.” With assistance from Katia Dmitrieva /Bloomberg
New Zealand changes ‘golden visa’ to lure wealthy migrants
By Ainsley Thomson
NEW Zealand is simplifying its so-called “golden visa” program, including removing an English language requirement, to attract wealthy immigrants and help spark an economic recovery.
From April 1, the Active Investor Plus visa will be narrowed to just two categories, while the scope of acceptable investments will be expanded, Immigration Minister Erica Stanford said Sunday in Auckland. As well as dropping the language test, other potential barriers to investment such as the amount of time investors must stay in the country will also be adjusted, she said.
After a sharp recession in 2024, the New Zealand government wants to capitalize on falling interest rates to lift economic performance but has acknowledged it lacks the necessary capital. It has started reworking foreign investment regulations, created a single agency to act as a one-stop shop for overseas fund managers and eased rules to allow visitors to work remotely, hoping that might encourage highly skilled people to relocate permanently.
“Capital is highly mobile and in an increasing complex world, people are looking for a safe and stable country to do business,” Stanford said. “We are now making our investor visa simpler and more flexible to incentivize investors to choose New Zealand as a destination.”
The Active Investor Plus visa was successful at luring rich individuals to New Zealand and raked in an average NZ$1 billion ($570 million) a year, but has languished after rule changes in late 2022.
Just 43 applications have been fully approved since those adjustments were made, equating to NZ$545 million of nominated investment funds, according to data from Immigration New Zealand. The actual amount of money coming across the border was significantly less, the government said today.
The new program will have two categories:
Growth, or higher risk, requiring a minimum investment of NZ$5 million over three years either directly into businesses or into managed funds; visa holders must spend just 21 days in the country.
Balanced, or mixed risk, requiring a minimum of NZ$10 million invested over five years into bonds, stocks, new property development including residential, or existing commercial and industrial property; holders must spend at least 105 days in the country but can reduce the period by investing above the minimum.
By offering an option for low-risk investors the program will be attractive to a wider group of people, rather than just focusing on those with a high risk appetite, Stanford said, adding there is already of a large amount of interest from applicants that had been generated during consultations with the industry.
New Zealand’s easing of its investor visa rules comes at a time when many other nations are ending theirs. Spain will end its golden visa program on April 3, while the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, Greece and Malta have either ended or tightened the rules around their golden visa or equivalent policies. With assistance from Ben Westcott / Bloomberg
Fulvio D. Dawilan
TAX LAW FOR BUSINESS
ENEWAL of business permits by taxpayers engaged in business would usually require the payment of local business taxes, together with some other fees and charges. And it is not unusual for disputes to arise in relation to the amounts required to be paid and their bases. Despite disagreements—belief that the amount being imposed is erroneous or illegal—taxpayers reluctantly pay for fear of being denied the necessary permit to continue doing business.
When this happens, what are the remedies available to the taxpayer?
Some taxpayers would be duped to seek refuge under Section 195 of the Local Government Code (LGC). Others proceed to pay and then recover the amount paid under Section 196 of the same Code. These two remedies are actually tricky, especially when involving the payments made as a result of an application for the renewal of business permits. That being said, we seek guidance on the pronouncements and clarifications made by the Courts in a number of cases (e.g., GR Nos. 230846, 198681, and 185622; CTA AC Nos. 268 and 270) on the applicability of these two remedies. Sections 195 (protesting an assessment) and 196 (refund of erroneously or illegally collected taxes) of the LGC are two different remedies available to taxpayers. Section 196 is triggered by an assessment – through the issuance of an assessment notice. On the other hand, the remedy under Section 196 is initiated by a taxpayer who believes to have paid taxes erroneously or illegally. Knowing the differences between the two remedies is important because the required action and the periods to be observed are different.
In a local tax assessment, a taxpayer who receives an assessment need not pay the tax. The remedy would be strictly confined to Section 195. To proceed, a taxpayer must file a written protest with the local treasurer within 60 days from receipt of the assessment. If the protest is denied, or if the local treasurer fails to act on it, then the taxpayer must appeal the assessment before a court of competent jurisdiction within 30 days from receipt of the denial, or the lapse of the 60-day period within which the local treasurer must act on the protest. The taxpayer, however, is not prohibited from paying the tax being assessed even if he believes that the assessment is without basis. This is resorted to for a number of reasons. If he does that and wants to recover, the taxpayer must still file a written protest within the 60-day period, and then bring the case to court within 30 days from either the decision or inaction of the local treasurer. In this court action, the taxpayer may, at the same time, question the validity and correctness of the assessment and seek a refund of the taxes it paid. What procedure should be observed when there is no assessment preceding the payment of the tax?
The taxpayer is not prohibited from paying the tax being assessed even if he believes that the assessment is without basis. This is resorted to for a number of reasons. If he does that and wants to recover, the taxpayer must still file a written protest within the 60-day period, and then bring the case to court within 30 days from either the decision or inaction of the local treasurer. In this court action, the taxpayer may, at the same time, question the validity and correctness of the assessment and seek a refund of the taxes it paid.
If there is no assessment notice issued by the local treasurer, and the taxpayer claims that it erroneously paid the tax, or the same has been illegally collected from him, Section 196 applies. This is initiated by filing a written claim for refund with the treasurer’s office. Both the written administrative claim as well as the claim with the proper court should be filed within two years from the date of the payment of the erroneously or illegally collected tax.
One important factor to consider is to determine whether a notice of assessment was issued that would trigger the procedures for contesting an assessment under Section 195. If none, and an erroneous payment or illegal collection had been made, Section 196 would properly apply.
Our Courts had relied on Section 195 itself in determining whether or not tax payments involve assessments. Clearly, the wordings of Section 195 require the issuance of a notice of assessment when the local treasurer finds that correct taxes, fees, or charges have not been paid. Said notice of assessment should
Japan’s Ishiba shows how to work with Trump
By Alastair Gale
JAPANESE
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba went into his first summit meeting with US President Donald Trump amid concerns in Tokyo that Japan could be next in the firing line of US allies after Canada and others.
Instead, the Japanese leader flew home having appeared to strike up a warm relationship with Trump and averted any new specific demands from him, even as the president proceeds with tariff threats against his trade partners including a blanket 25 percent levy on all steel and aluminum imports.
“I do think we have chemistry,” said Ishiba on Sunday, following his return to Japan.
Ishiba’s playbook for dealing with Trump appeared to focus on what Japan can do for the US. With that goal in mind, he promised to buy more energy from the US while ramping up investment there to help create more jobs.
The prime minister’s 24-hour whirlwind visit to Washington DC even resulted in the potential dislodging of a thorn in the side of US-Japan ties after Trump said he’s excited about Nippon Steel Corp. making a major investment in US Steel Corp, instead of purchasing it outright.
Trump reiterated on Sunday his opposition to a proposed buyout of the iconic US company, saying that the Japanese steel company can’t have a majority stake. His predecessor Joe Biden already blocked the deal.
By highlighting what Japan could
DeepSeek. . . Continued from
Chinese hyperscalers has lagged that of major US peers so far. Analysts estimate cloud revenues for the December quarter rose 9.7 percent from a year ago at Alibaba and 7.6 percent at Baidu,
do to help Trump’s “America First” agenda, Ishiba offered a template for other countries to deal with Trump’s transactional nature, said Yuka Hayashi, a vice president of the Asia Group, a consultancy.
Ishiba’s praise of Trump for everything from surviving an assassination attempt, removing restrictions on US fossil fuel extraction and spurring Japan’s moves to invest more in its military contributed to a summit that exceeded expectations, Hayashi said.
“Ishiba hit a home run,” she said.
The prime minister appeared to show deference to Trump’s concerns over US Steel on Sunday, saying on a TV broadcast that “it’s very important from the president’s perspective that it remains an American company and produces high quality products.”
When asked about the risk of additional tariffs, Ishiba said “there’s no way a relationship based on one side exploiting the other will last.”
“I’m not so sure there are any issues between Japan and the US that would call for a hike in tariffs,” he added.
Japanese government officials said planning for the summit looked at areas in which Tokyo’s interests intersected with Trump’s priorities. One relatively easy win was in energy
Ishiba’s playbook for dealing with Trump appeared to focus on what Japan can do for the US. With that goal in mind, he promised to buy more energy from the US while ramping up investment there to help create more jobs.
policy. Japan imports almost all its energy and Trump has pledged to unleash America’s untapped energy reserves.
During the summit, Japan said it would import more LNG from the US and also expressed interest in cooperating in an ambitious project to deliver LNG through a pipeline from northern Alaska. Details of what Japan would contribute remain vague, but at the press conference Trump celebrated the agreement as a breakthrough that couldn’t have happened under Biden.
Prior to the summit, Ishiba consulted with previous prime ministers about US-Japan relations, and in the opening exchanges with Trump in the Oval Office, Ishiba mixed praise for the US leader with details about new Japanese investment in the US, including new and upgraded auto plants from Isuzu Motors Ltd. and Toyota Motor Corp. American and Japanese interests also closely align when it comes to concerns about China’s growing military power. One of the top goals for the Washington summit for Japan was to confirm the US commitment to their security alliance, which was made clear by Trump and in a joint statement referring to an “unshakable commitment” by the US to de-
state the (1) nature of the tax, fee, or charge, and the (2) amount of: (a) deficiency, (b) surcharge, (c) interests, and (d) penalties. These are the important information that must be contained in an assessment notice. On this basis, the Courts had also declared that what are usually referred to as “assessments, ” covered by Billing Statements, Order of Payments, Statements of Account, and other similar documents which are to be paid as prerequisite for the renewal of business permit could not be considered as the notice of assessment. This is because said Billing Statements, Order of Payments, Statements of Account, and similar documents do not contain deficiency taxes, surcharges, interests, and penalties. It can therefore be deduced that payments required to be made upon the application for renewal of business permit could not be considered as a notice of assessment that would trigger the procedures for contesting an assessment under Section 195 of the LGC. The amounts usually contain only the taxes due from the taxpayer for the current quarter/ year. As such, there is no deficiency tax to speak of, and correspondingly, no surcharge, interest, or penalty to be imposed. It follows that if the taxpayer proceeds with the payment but believes that the payment is without basis, it may proceed to recover the same using the refund process.
The author is a managing partner of Du-Baladad and Associates Law Offices (BDB Law) (www. bdblaw.com.ph), a member-firm of WTS Global. The article is for general information only and is not intended, nor should be construed as a substitute for tax, legal or financial advice on any specific matter. Applicability of this article to any actual or particular tax or legal issue should be supported therefore by a professional study or advice. If you have any comments or questions concerning the article, you may e-mail the author at fulvio.dawilan@ bdblaw.com.ph or call 8403-2001 loc 310.
in first summit
fend Japan. The leaders reaffirmed that a group of islands in the East China Sea controlled by Japan but also claimed by China are covered by the US-Japan defense treaty, anchoring the US security presence in the region as Beijing expands its maritime ambitions. Throughout the events, the prime minister never appeared uncomfortable, even when Trump said tariffs could be an option if Japan continues to run a trade surplus with the US. The Japanese leader’s slow, deadpan delivery didn’t appear to make exchanges awkward, with Trump heaping praise on Ishiba, who has been national leader for just over four months.
“I think that he is going to be a great prime minister. I think he’s a very strong man, very, very strong. I have great respect for him,” Trump said.
Ishiba even prompted a smile from Trump and laughs from US officials when he was asked by a journalist if Japan would consider retaliation if the US imposed new tariffs on Japan. “Well, as we always say in official situations, I can’t answer a hypothetical question,” Ishiba said.
Kurt Tong, a former deputy head of mission of the US embassy in Tokyo who is now managing partner at the Asia Group, said the summit helped provide a road map for how other US friends and allies might approach the US under Trump.
“Clearly the Japanese side adjusted their approach to Trump’s style and policies,” he said. With assistance from Sakura Murakami /Bloomberg
Tuesday, February 11, 2025
More passengers choosing Middle Eastern carriers
By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo Special to the BusinessMirror
CONFLICTS
among countries may no longer be a challenge to the growth of international air passenger traffic, but these events are pushing more passengers to tap Middle Eastern carriers.
This developed as the International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported that full year international air traffic expanded by 13.6 percent in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK) in 2024, year-onyear (yoy), while airline capacity grew by 12.8 percent in terms of available seat kilometers (ASK).
“Although conflicts and strained airspace continued to impact the free flow of air traffic in some parts of the world, total international RPK surpassed 2019 levels by 0.5 percent in 2024. These events have certainly reshaped the global network, leading more passengers to travel through Middle Eastern hubs than ever be-
fore,” said the IATA report. The global trade trade association for the world’s airlines also predicted that overall passenger growth will moderate to 8 percent this year, in line with expansion rates in the past.
‘Strong demand, record efficiency’ IN a news statement, IATA Director General Willie Walsh said, “2024 made it absolutely clear that people want to travel. With 10.4-percent demand growth, travel reached record numbers domestically and internationally. Airlines met that strong demand with record efficiency. On average, 83.5 percent of all seats on offer were filled—a new record high,
Other funds eyed, but USAID halt to impact mostly TA projects
By Cai U. Ordinario
THE National Economic and Development Author-
ity (Neda) is unfazed by the shuttering of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), saying the government can obtain other grant sources to finance affected projects.
In a briefing on Monday, Neda
Undersecretary Rosemarie G. Edillon confirmed, however, that the decision of the Trump administration to put on hold USAID projects for a period of 90 days will affect projects in the Philippines.
Nonetheless, Edillon said these projects are mostly technical assistance projects whose funding may be sourced from other development partners.
“We will have to wait until they resolve that issue. But with respect to the ongoing na mga technical assistance, we are actually still continuing,” Edillon said.
“So, for example, there are studies that we’re still continuing and we also have a good relationship with the USAID staff, so many of them are giving inputs...like it’s out of their goodwill,” she added.
Neda Investment Programming Group Undersecretary Joseph J. Capuno recently told BusinessMirror that Neda has not received any official communication from USAID regarding the status of its projects in the Philippines.
“No official USAID communication to us yet,” Capuno told this newspaper. “We don’t know exactly how they will be affected by the recent Trump announcements.”
An industry source told BusinessMirror that such a move by the USAID could leave its projects stalled or even closed given the disappearance of funding. The absence of funding, the source said, will lead to work stoppage and operational difficulties, if operations continue. In general, if the funding dries up, projects stop.
In a list provided to BusinessMirror by Neda, as of June 2024, there were currently 33 new and ongoing US
funded grant projects and the bulk or 28 were funded by the USAID.
Three projects were funded by the US Trade and Development Agency and one each funded by the US Center for Disease Control (CDC) and US Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). Of the 33, three projects were considered new and funded through USAID. These new projects are under the Social Reform and Community Development sector and implemented in Mindanao and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
These were the BARMM Resilience Activity to be implemented by the Department of Health and Mindanao Province Emergency Flood Relief Assistance 1 and 2 of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Office of Civil Defense.
Among the 30 ongoing projects, 13 were classified under the Social Reform and Community Development (SRCD); six were classified under Agriculture, Agrarian Reform and Natural Resources (AARNR); five, Infrastructure Development (Infra); and three each in Industry, Trade, and Tourism (ITT) as well as Governance and Institutions Development (GID).
The 13 SRCD projects included the Advanced Manufacturing Workforce Development Alliance for Industry 4.0 (AMDev); Advancing Basic Education in the Philippines (ABC+); Family Planning/Maternal and Neonatal Health Innovations and Capacity Building Platforms (ReachHealth); and Gabay (Strengthening Inclusive Education for Blind, Deaf and Deafblind Children).
The list includes Improving Learning Outcomes in the Philippines; Opportunity 2.0 Second-chance Opportunities for Out-of-School Youth; RenewHealth: Expanding Access to Community-Based Drug Rehabilitation Program; and Strengthening Local Systems and Partnership for More Effective and Sustainable Counter-Trafficking in Persons in the Philippines (CTIP-P).
partially attributable to the supply chain constraints that limited capacity growth. Aviation growth reverberates across societies and economies at all levels through jobs, market development, trade, innovation, exploration, and much more.” He added, “Looking to 2025, there is every indication that demand for travel will continue to grow, albeit at a moderated pace of 8 percent, that is more aligned with historical averages.” IATA represents some 340 airlines, accounting for over 80 percent of global air traffic.
Last year’s overall air passenger exceeded the prepandemic traffic by 3.8 percent. In terms of total capacity, this was up 8.7 percent in ASK in 2024, yoy. Airlines in the Asia-Pacific drove the overall passenger growth last year, at 16.9 percent, yoy, in RPK. It was followed by Africa at 13.2 percent, while airlines in North America came in last, at 4.6 percent, as the latter already recovered right after the Covid-19 pandemic.
Int’l traffic lifted by AsPac growth IN terms of international air traffic, airlines in Asia Pacific saw a 26-percent rise in RPKs, yoy, the strongest among the regions. IATA attributed
this to 24.7-percent expansion in capacity in ASKs, boosting the passenger load factor by 0.8 percentage point to 83.8 percent.
“Despite this strong growth, opportunities for further growth remain high, as international RPKs remain 8.7 percent below 2019 levels,” said Walsh, even as passenger traffic in December 2024 rose by 17.1 percent versus December 2023.
Following this was Latin American airlines, which recorded a 14.4-percent expansion in intrnational traffic last year, Africa (+13.2 percent), Europe (+9.7 percent), the Middle East (+9.4 percent), and North America (+6.8 percent).
On the supply side, all regions posted increases in international seat capacity but were lower than RPK growth, except for North America, thus leading to higher passenger load factors. IATA explained that, “Lower new aircraft deliveries and engine issues in some markets that have pressured airlines [last] year have likely contributed to this outcome to some extent. At the same time, the increases in seat supply still broadly followed those of passenger demand.”
EVAP PRODS GOVT ON STRONG POLICY SUPPORT FOR SECTOR
THE Electric Vehicles Association of the Philippines (EVAP) is calling for stronger policy support to sustain the momentum of the country’s electric vehicle (EV) industry as the number of registered EVs is expected to reach record-high in 2024.
In a statement on Monday, the EV industry association, citing data from the Land Transportation Office (LTO) reported that newly registered electrified vehicles reached 10,001 units in the first half of 2024.
For the entire 2023, there were 10,388 units registered EVs.
Asked if the Philippines will achieve a record-high number of registered EVs in 2024, EVAP Chairman Rommel Juan told the BusinessMirror, “Yes it is.”
“The strong growth in EV sales is a positive sign, but we need to ensure that this momentum is backed by long-term policies and investments,” EVAP President Edmund Araga said in a statement.
“Now is the time to solidify our commitment to electrification and create an ecosystem where EV adoption is practical, convenient, and beneficial for all,” Araga said.
To sustain the momentum, the EV industry association is pushing for additional mea-
sures, such as expanding import tax exemptions on EV components, offering higher subsidies for EV buyers, and accelerating the installation of public charging stations.
According to EVAP, the Philippines currently has 500 operational charging stations. However, industry estimates suggest that at least 5,000 charging stations will be needed by 2030 to meet projected demand.
The EV industry group said the increase in EV adoption “aligns” with the implementation of the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act (Evida) which mandates a 5-percent EV fleet requirement for government agencies and corporations. Meanwhile, EVAP said consumer demand has also shifted “significantly,” with more Filipino drivers considering EVs as a viable alternative to traditional fuel-powered vehicles. The industry group of electric vehicles in the country said it continues to work closely with the government and private sector to expand “public awareness” and address concerns about “EV range, charging accessibility, and cost efficiency.”
According to thw EVAP president, many Filipinos are still
CA
By Joel R. San Juan
THE Court of Appeals (CA) has revived the criminal charges for violation of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines (TCCP) against two individuals allegedly behind the unlawful importation of container vans declared as plastic scraps but which turned out to be hazardous waste from Canada in 2013. In a 10-page decision penned by Association Justice Eleuterio Bathan, the CA’s Eight Division reversed and set aside the order issued by now-retired Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Manila Branch 47 Presiding Judge Paulino Gallegos on June 20, 2023 and the resolution issued by current Manila RTC Branch 47 Pre-
siding Judge John Benedict Medina. Judge Gallegos’s order granted the demurrer to evidence filed by respondents Adelfa Eduardo, owner of Chronics Plastics and customs broker Leonora Flores, which led to the dismissal of the complaint for violation Sections 3601 and 3602 of the TCCP, otherwise known as “The Toxic Substance and Hazardous Wastes and Nuclear Wastes Control Act of 1990,” and Article 172 in relation to Article 171 of the Revised Penal Code for falsification of documents. On the other hand, Judge Medina’s resolution denied the prosecution’s motion for reconsideration of the order issued by Judge Gallegos.
The cases stemmed from a complaint filed by the Bureau of Customs (BoC) against Eduardo and Flores
Canada waste imports
before the Department of Justice.
The complaint pertains to the unlawful importation of 50 container vans declared as “Plastic Scrap” but found to have household garbage, including used adult diapers, or infamously known as the “Canada Waste,” consigned to Chronics Plastics.
After a preliminary investigation, the DOJ issued a resolution finding probable cause against the private respondents and sued them in the trial court.
In dismissing the case, the trial court ruled that the prosecution failed to present clear proof that the accused “fraudulently acted or deliberately omitted to do acts constituting smuggling.”
It said the evidence failed to show the accused have knowledge of the
facts that the real contents of the container vans are hazardous waste. The government through the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) raised the issue to the CA, saying the trial court committed grave abuse of discretion in granting the demurrer to evidence of the respondents. The OSG noted that when the respondents filed their demurrer to evidence on June 17, 2023, they had yet to receive the trial court’s order on the prosecution’s formal offer of evidence, as it was
Editor: Jennifer A. Ng
SM Prime targeting to raise ₧25B from bond issuance
By VG Cabuag @villygc
SHOPPING mall operator SM Prime Holdings Inc. has set the interest rates for its P25 billion pesodenominated fixed rate bonds, which it will start to sell this week.
The company said its Series Y due 2028 will have a yield of 6.0282 percent, Series Z maturing on 2031 have a rate of 6.2113 percent and Series AA due 2035, 6.4784 percent. The company will issue a principal amount of P20 billion, with oversubscription option of up to P5 billion. The offer period of the bonds will take place from February 12 to February 18.
The proposed issuance is under the company’s P100-billion shelf registration of fixed rates bonds approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission in June 2024.
SM Prime had said it will open two new malls in China, mainly in Fujian Province--one each in Xiamen and in Fuzhou next year.
SM Supermalls President Steven T. Tan said the company will com-
plete the fourth expansion mall of SM City Xiamen which will include a boutique hotel.
“Right now, we’ve already opened the first part of the Xiamen 4 and, including the hotel, it should be complete by next year. Xiamen is really progressive. If you total it all, it might actually be even bigger than Mall of Asia and Megamall.”
SM first opened SM City Xiamen and then added SM Lifestyle mall beside it. In 2023, it opened the SM Xiamen 3 expansion mall.
Tan said the company is finalizing a deal with the Intercon Group for one of their brands to operate the boutique hotel which will have over 100 rooms.
He did not state the name of the brand that it will carry.
SM Prime is also opening another mall in the outskirts of Xiamen
which will also open by 2025.
“There was an opportunity. There was a new lot that was offered by the government. And we studied it and it was good. That one is a single mall. This one isn’t as big as the Xiamen original site. But it’s not small,” Tan said.
“We feel that there’s an opportunity there. Our head office is in Xiamen. So it’s easier to control. This will be our second mall in Xiamen since our original Xiamen mall has already four buildings. And it’s doing extremely well. Take-up is also very good.”
Tan also said the company is building a mall in Fuzhou in the Fujian province. It should be completed and open by 2027.
“Right now, our focus is really more on the Fujian province. Simply because of proximity.”
Alternergy profit falls in fiscal H1
ALTERNERGY Holdings Corp.
(ALTER) posted lower earnings in the first half of fiscal year (FY) 2025 due to lower revenues from its wind power asset.
From P121.2 million, Alternergy reported a net income of P88.6 million for the six-month period ending December 31, 2024. The decrease was attributed to lower revenues from the Pililia wind power project which saw lower wind speeds during the period.
The company said its operating revenues surged by 81 percent to
P181 million from P100 million, boosted by the inclusion of sixmonth operating results of the Palau Solar Power Project, with a capacity of 15.3-megawatt peak (MWp) solar PV and 12.9-MW hour (MWh) battery energy storage system (BESS). It started commercial operations in December 2023.
Alternergy’s other solar projects—Kirahon Solar Project and portfolio of CityMall rooftop projects—continued to provide steady revenue contributions. “As we complete four additional
projects and bring these to commercial operations, we expect a further boost in ALTER’s revenues by 2026,” Alternergy President Gerry P. Magbanua said. He was referring to the 128-MW Tanay Wind Power Project, the 64-MW Alabat Wind Power Project, the 28-MWp Balsik Solar Power Project and the 4.6- MW Dupinga Run-of-River Power Project.
The company’s total assets jumped by 44 percent to P12.55 billion from P8.74 billion. It also reported 33-percent growth in cash
position to P4.4 billion following successful drawdowns of project financing for the construction of the Tanay Wind Power Project in Rizal.
“With a healthy financial position, ALTER made significant equity infusions of P2.1 billion over the reporting period to jumpstart construction of our Tanay Wind, Alabat Wind and Balsik Solar Projects. These are strategic investments that drive ALTER’s growth trajectory and strengthen our position in the renewable energy market,” added Magbanua. Lenie Lectura
Yanson matriarch scores legal win
THE Bacolod court has declared as null and void the extrajudicial settlement (EJS) of the estate of the Ricardo B. Yanson, affirming Olivia Yanson’s majority ownership and control over the Yanson Group of Bus Companies.
After the passing of Ricardo in 2015, Olivia together with her six living children, executed the document in an attempt to settle the estate of the family patriarch out of court. As agreed to by all, Olivia would waive her one-seventh share in the estate of her late husband, in favor of her children, but would retain ownership over her conjugal share of 50 percent.
Olivia was then made to sign the document but without any annexes. Later on, she would find out, that the annexes were belatedly attached to the EJS made it appear that Olivia gave her conjugal share to her
children, including her shares in the bus companies, contrary to what was agreed. The Regional Trial Court Bacolod City, Branch 45, in its seven page decision dated January 21, held that the resulting EJS which Olivia was made to sign did not accurately reflect what she had agreed to earlier. In fact, the belated attachment of the annexes completely changed the meaning of the EJS and no longer conformed to what the heirs had intended.
“It was never the intent of Mrs. Yanson to give, waive, donate, or otherwise dispose of any part of her conjugal share to her children, including her conjugal share in the bulk of the high-valued properties and her shares of stocks in the Yanson Bus Companies,” the court said in its decision. Since Olivia did not consent to the resulting agreement, the court nullified the EJS and set it aside.
“Like any other contracts, parties in an extra judicial settlement are given wide latitude to stipulate terms and conditions they feel fair and not prejudicial to another. Mrs. Yanson feel defrauded and prejudiced when she was asked to sign the EJS without informing her that she was deprived of her 50 percent share in the conjugal partnership of gains.”
The said document was what Olivia’s four children—Ricky, Roy, Celina and Emily Yanson—presented to bolster their claims of majority ownership of Yanson Group’s bus companies.
The four children have used, attached and referenced this EJS in various complaints that they have lodged against their mother and other siblings, Ginnette and Leo Rey.
The court also saw no need to issue an injunction against the four Yanson siblings from using the EJS because
By Lenie Lectura @llectura
ACEN Corp. has obtained a higher rating from CDP, the global nonprofit that assesses corporate environmental transparency and performance in climate change, deforestation and water security. It said on Monday that the power arm of Ayala Corp. has achieved Leadership level and an A− rating for its climate actions from CDP. This marks an improvement from ACEN’s previous B rating.
CDP scores organizations from A (highest) to D- (lowest) based on the comprehensiveness of their disclosures, awareness of environmental issues, management strategies and progress toward sustainability goals.
ACEN group CFO and Chief Strategy Officer Jonathan Back said the company’s improved rating reinforces commitment to responsible growth and scaling renewable energy investments that drive both financial and environmental impact.
“Achieving CDP Leadership status reflects ACEN’s disciplined approach to integrating sustainability into our business strategy. Transparency and strong climate governance are key to ensuring long-term value for our
it has already declared the same as null and void.
Ricky, Roy, Celina and Emily cannot be reached for comment as they remain to be fugitives, as they have outstanding warrants of arrest issued by the courts for various offenses including carnapping and qualified theft which are non-bailable, the company said.
CA ruling
MEANWHILE, the Court of Appeals (CA) has affirmed with finality the resolution issued by the Department of Justice (DOJ) dismissing the qualified theft, falsification and perjury complaint filed by the “Yanson 4” siblings against their mother Olivia and other siblings in connection with their dispute over the control and shares of stocks in Vallacar Transit Inc. (VTI).
Continued on B2
DISASTER RISK REDUCTION CONFAB
First Philippine Holdings Corp. (FPH) has received a plaque of recognition from the Department of National Defense (DND) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for valuable support FPH provided to assure the successful hosting in Manila of the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDRR). FPH Chairman and CEO Federico R. Lopez (second from right, front row), along with other private sector sponsors, received plaques of recognition during a thanksgiving luncheon last January 30, hosted by DND Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. (third from left, front row) and DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga (not in photo). Also in photo are DND Senior Undersecretary Irineo Espino (second from left, front row), Private Sector Alliance for Disaster Resilient Societies Co-Chairman Alexander Pama (fourth from left, front row), and other private sector sponsors, as well as government officials, who supported the 2024 APMCDRR. The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction and the Philippine government, through the DND and
ALCANTARA-LED Alsons Consolidated Resources (ACR) has listed on the Philippine Dealing and Exchange Corp. (PDEx) P1.6 billion of commercial papers.
The amount is part of the company’s P3-billion commercial paper (CP) program meant to support its capital working requirements.
“ACR is committed to helping address the country’s growing demand for reliable and affordable power. This commercial paper program provides us with an efficient and costeffective way to support our working capital requirements, enabling us to fulfill our mission of unlocking potential and empowering progress in Mindanao and beyond,” ACR Deputy Chief Financial Officer Philip Edward B. Sagun said on Monday.
ACR is focused on building its renewable energy capacity with several hydro and solar power projects in various stages of development. In 2024, the company completed construction and commenced commercial operations of its first hydro power facility in Maasim, Sarangani— the 14.5-megawatt (MW) Siguil Hydro Power Plant.
ACR also remains a key player in the Mindanao energy market through the 237-MW Sarangani Energy Corp. baseload power plant, powering key areas in the region
stakeholders while accelerating the energy transition.”
ACEN has completed the world’s first market-based Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM) in November 2022. This involved divesting a 246 megawatt coal plant in Batangas and committing to its early retirement by 2040, 15 to 25 years ahead of the typical 40–50-year coal plant lifespan. This initiative is projected to reduce up to 50 million tons of carbon emissions.
Building on this momentum, ACEN’s ETM project is now serving as a pilot for Transition Credits, with the goal of accelerating the plant’s retirement to 2030--10 years earlier than planned--cutting carbon emissions by an additional 19 million tons. Transition credits are high-integrity carbon credits that facilitate the just and responsible phaseout of coal, replacing it with clean energy. ACEN is developing this pioneering initiative in collaboration with the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and The Rockefeller Foundation under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.
Manila and Singapore have affirmed their support, with a Memorandum of Understanding signed in August 2024 and an Implementation Agreement targeted for completion this year.
including Sarangani Province, General Santos, Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, Dipolog, Dapitan, Pagadian, Samal, Tagum, Kidapawan, and Butuan, among others.
Moreover, the company provides essential ancillary services to the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines through the 105.8-MW Mapalad Power Corp. in Iligan and 107-MW Western Mindanao Power Corp. in Zamboanga.
“We are also anticipating the completion and operation of the first phase of our 95.2-megawatt Bohol In-Island Diesel Power Plant in Ubay, our first power project outside of Mindanao,” Sagun added.
“The project is designed to provide a reliable backup power source for consumers in Bohol, ensuring a continuous electricity supply when the province is isolated from the Visayas grid due to calamities or natural disasters.”
ACR is also growing its Retail Electricity Supply (RES) customer base, securing two power supply agreements with Holcim Philippines and Metro Retail Stores Group Inc., totaling up to 43 MW of RES.
“We are optimistic about the expansion of our RES unit as we continue to enhance our market presence, improve our operational capability, and develop our power assets.” Lenie Lectura
ACEN's wind farm in Ilocos. PHOTO FROM WWW.ACENRENEWABLES.COM
Banking&Finance
NG’s P16.051-T debt makes wage earners ‘most pitiful’
By Reine Juvierre Alberto @reine_alberto
AS the national government’s debt climbed, wage earners grappling with rising living costs are feeling the pinch of tax deductions directed toward debt servicing.
Latest data from the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) showed the outstanding debt as of end-2024 climbed to P16.051 trillion, 9.8 percent or P1.435-trillion higher than the P14.616 trillion recorded at end-2023 (See: https://businessmirror.com. ph/2025/02/05/phl-debt-climbedto-%e2%82%b116-051-trillionin-2024-or-60-7-of-gdp/).
That debt level doesn’t bode well for wage earners, De La Salle University Economist Maria Ella C. Oplas told the BusinessMirror.
Sought for reaction, Oplas said that wage earners are the “most pitiful” as their employers automatically deduct from their salary the individual income taxes, which the government will use to pay its debts.
“Instead of public service delivery, tax will be allocated to debt payment. Hence, affecting or lowering the quality of services that we are getting,” Oplas said. Ateneo de Manila University Economist Leonardo A. Lanzona Jr. added that the first ones to be hit
Valentine’s day tips for couples to manage finances together
ALENTINE’S Day is more than
Vjust a day for flowers and chocolates—it’s a time to celebrate love, partnership, and shared dreams.
This special occasion offers couples an opportunity to reflect not only on their emotional connection but also on their financial future. Money can be a sensitive topic, but when managed together with understanding and teamwork, it becomes a powerful tool to strengthen your bond.
Here are six comprehensive tips to inspire couples this Valentine’s season:
1. Communicate openly about money. The foundation of any strong relationship is communication, and finances are no exception. Many couples shy away from money conversations, fearing disagreements or misunderstandings. However, avoiding these discussions can lead to bigger issues down the road. Take the time to sit down and openly share your financial habits, goals, and concerns. Discuss your income, savings, debts, and even your spending triggers. By being transparent, you build trust and ensure you’re on the same page.
2. Set joint goals and plan a budget. Nothing brings a couple closer than working toward shared dreams. Whether it’s saving for a dream vacation, buying a home, or building a retirement fund, setting clear and measurable financial goals fosters a sense of unity. Once you’ve defined your goals, create a budget that reflects your priorities. Decide how you’ll divide expenses— whether equally or based on individual income—and track your progress regularly.
3. Build financial security.
Unexpected expenses can arise at any time, making it essential to have a safety net in place. Building an emergency fund with three to six months’ worth of living expenses is a critical step toward financial stability. Additionally, ensure you both have adequate health and life insurance coverage to protect your family’s future.
4. Work together on debt management. Debt can be a significant source of stress in a relationship, but addressing it as a team can lighten the burden. Create a repayment plan that prioritizes high-interest debts, and explore ways to reduce expenses so you can allocate more funds toward debt repayment. Supporting each other in making smart financial choices can strengthen your partnership.
5. Plan for long-term financial growth.
Investing is key to achieving longterm financial goals. Explore options such as mutual funds, stocks, or real estate that align with your risk tolerance and objectives. The earlier you start in-
would be wage earners whose wages are tied to their contracts.
“Unless the contracts are modified every month, they are vulnerable to sudden shifts in the government’s debt position,” Lanzona told the BusinessMirror
The government will allot P876.7 billion in 2025 for its debt payments, 13.8 percent of the P6.326-trillion national budget. This is 25.4 percent higher than last year’s P699.2 billion allocation.
“While high debt levels can exacerbate poverty through reduced public spending, economic instability, and vulnerability to shocks, prudent use of debt for productive investments can promote growth and poverty reduction,” Lanzona said.
Despite debt being used to finance the country’s development, failed government policy, such as wasteful projects, has resulted in unsustainable growth, he added.
Along with the equally increasing debt service burden, the government
PERSONAL FINANCE
vesting, the more time your money has to grow. Consider consulting a financial advisor to develop a strategy tailored to your needs.
6. Celebrate financial milestones together.
Achieving financial goals, no matter how small, is an accomplishment worth celebrating. Whether it’s building your emergency fund, reaching a savings target, or completing a major purchase, take the time to acknowledge your success. Celebrating these moments strengthens your bond and reinforces positive financial habits.
Managing finances as a couple requires commitment, patience, and mutual support. This Valentine’s Day, let love guide not only your heart but also your financial journey. When you work together to create a strong financial foundation, you’re building a future filled with possibilities and shared accomplishments.
Remember, true love is about partnership—in good times and challenging ones. By aligning your financial goals and supporting each other every step of the way, you’re not just managing money; you’re nurturing a relationship built on trust, respect, and shared dreams. Make this Valentine’s Day the start of a stronger financial partnership and a deeper connection. When couples work together on their finances—starting with something as simple as a Valentine’s Day budget— they strengthen their communication and decision-making skills. This alignment becomes even more significant when there are children involved.
A harmonious approach to finances doesn’t just benefit your relationship; it also creates a positive ripple effect for your family. When children observe parents who collaborate on money matters, they learn the value of financial responsibility, planning, and compromise. These lessons can serve them well as they grow, equipping them with skills for their own financial futures.
So, as you plan a thoughtful yet budget-friendly celebration this Valentine’s Day, remember: your efforts today contribute to a legacy of financial wellness—for yourselves and for your children.
Karlo Biglang-Awa is a Registered Financial Planner of RFP Philippines. His views in this article do not necessarily reflect those of the BusinessMirror’s. To learn more about financial planning, attend the 110th RFP Program this March 2025. To inquire on how to join, please e-mail info@rfp. ph for details.
is also prioritizing funding programs with no long-term impact, such as “ayuda” programs or financial assistance.
“To manage high debt, governments may implement austerity measures, such as cutting public spending or increasing taxes. These measures can disproportionately affect low-income populations, leading to reduced access to social services and increased poverty,” Lanzona said.
“It’s beyond the tax that we are getting but also about public services that we do not get to enjoy because we need to pay debt,” Oplas said.
Although wages of employees have slightly improved, sometimes, the increase in tax deductions is higher than their salary increases, she explained, calling on the government to avoid imposing new taxes.
“Imagine how much their takehome pay would be while the cost of goods is also rising. This means their purchasing power would be even smaller,” Oplas said. Their quality of life would also
diminish, as they will not be able to afford the basics, their priorities would shift and there would be no work-life balance. Worst, Filipinos will not prioritize health and education, leading to more unhealthy and sickly Filipinos and more droppedout students, Oplas added.
For his part, Lanzona said the government should implement infrastructure projects in remote areas or sectors where capital is limited to ensure the productivity of additional capital or debt is higher.
“In effect, if we place the resources from the debt in the more impoverished areas, we can achieve the twin goals of productivity and poverty reduction at the same time,” he explained.
“Effective governance, sound economic policies, and international cooperation are crucial in managing this relationship to ensure that debt contributes to sustainable development rather than perpetuating poverty,” Lanzona added.
Meanwhile, Oplas said the government must actively seek new investments, such as foreign direct investments, to address the cycle of indebtedness.
In time for planting season, she said the government should also “seriously look” at upgrading the agriculture sector. The whole agrilogistics system—roads, transportation, storage, distribution and outlet—must be examined. “It doesn’t stop with providing them seeds and fertilizer. Agriculture cooperatives should be capacitated so that our farmers will have a united voice. The capacity to negotiate and claim what is rightfully theirs,” Oplas added. The government’s outstanding debt is projected to reach P17.353 trillion at the end of the year. This is seen to reach P20.7 trillion by the end of the Marcos Jr. administration. Debt servicing, meanwhile, is expected to amount to P2.050 trillion in 2025, paying off interest payments and principal amortization.
THE national government borrowed P22 billion from the domestic debt market last Monday amid a higher correction of Treasury bill (T-bill) yields as the market anticipated a reduction in key policy rates on February 12.
The auction committee fully awarded bids for the 91-day, 182-tenor and 364-day T-bills. Total tenders reached P50.113 billion, 2.27 times oversubscribed from the initial offering of P22 billion.
The 91-day government securities fetched an average yield of 5.128 percent, 2.7 basis points (bps) higher than the 5.101 percent yield of the same tenor during last week’s auction. Interest rates ranged from a low of 5.100 percent to a high of 5.148 percent.
The short-term debt papers were sold at the full amount of P7 billion, attracting tenders amounting to P19.238 billion. The auction committee rejected P12.238 billion worth of offers.
Meanwhile, average yield of the 182-day tenor averaged 5.562 percent. This is 8.5 bps higher than the 5.5.477 percent set at the previous auction as accepted rates ranged from 5.500 percent to 5.590 percent.
The 182-day tenor was also sold at the full amount of P7 billion after attracting tenders totaling P14.950 billion and prompting the auction committee to reject P7.950 billion.
Lastly, the 364-day tenor T-bills average yield settled at 5.726 percent, up by 5.5 bps from last week’s 5.671 percent yield. The rate settled between 5.690 percent and 5.765 percent.
The 364-day tenor was also sold in full, amounting to P8 billion with the auction committee receiving tenders amounting to P15.925 billion and rejecting P7.925 billion.
Most T-bill yields are higher than the comparable Philippine Bloomberg Valuation (PHP BVAL) benchmarks, except for the 91-day government securities. The three-month tenor’s rate was at 5.170 percent,
while the six-month tenor and oneyear tenor fetched rates of 5.496 percent and 5.720 percent, respectively. T-bill yields went up after declining for five straight weeks ahead of the widely expected 25-bps rate cut on Wednesday, Michael L. Ricafort, chief economist at Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) said.
Central bank Governor Eli M. Remolona Jr. earlier said that a rate cut is on the table in Wednesday’s meeting of the Monetary Board as the economy continues to underperform.
A total of 50-bps rate cut could be delivered this year to bring down interest rates to 5.25 percent. An initial 25-bps cut is expected in the first half of the year while another 25-bps will follow in the second half, according to Remolona.
“[T-bill] average auction yields also corrected slightly higher after some increased market demand/ interest for long-term local government securities (as alternative
THE CIMB Bank Philippines Inc. announced last Monday it aims to add a million clients to its growing customer base this year. The lender’s statement read that CIMB Bank has already crossed the nine-million customer mark after only six years in operation. The aim for 2025 is to cross the 10-million mark in the number of clients it serves.
Last year, the digital-only commercial ban achieved a profit-before-tax growth that is 45 times higher than 2023 and surged past P800 billion in transactions.
“When we first established CIMB in the Philippines back in 2018 as the pioneer alldigital banking services provider, our mission was and still is to give every Filipino access to banking and provide effortless banking with real value passed on to the everyday consumer. This promise was meaningful yet challenging, but in just six short years, we are proud to be the trusted partner of over nine million Filipinos and counting,” CIMB Bank PH CEO Vijay Manoharan was quoted in the statement as saying.
CIMB Bank attributes its success in expand-
ing its customer base to its partnerships with GCash and SeaMoney for various products. It
also continued to expand its offerings in 2024 to serve its customers better, starting with the launch of MaxSave Time Deposit, CIMB’s next generation digital time deposit account.
The bank’s partnership with Lazada Philippines also resulted in the launch of new product offerings, LazPayLater, Lazada Philippines’ flagship Buy Now Pay Later product, and LazSave, an all-digital savings account that is fully enabled within the Lazada app.
CIMB also expanded into the overseas Filipino segment last year with the launch of CIMB Kababayan, which caters specifically for overseas Filipinos. CIMB PH is the only bank which is powering financial solutions across three of the major digital platforms in the Philippines.
“This is a reflection of the growing demand of Filipinos for our innovative banking solutions, which in turn addresses our customers’ needs. This truly keeps us driven to continue delivering products and offers that empower them to achieve their financial goals,” Manoharan said.
The bank intends to launch more products, enter new market segments, and form new partnerships which will surely delight its nine million customers and counting. Cai U. Ordinario
By Lenie Lectura @llectura
LOBE Telecom Inc. and GoTyme Bank Corp. have teamed up to strengthen cybersecurity efforts amid rising cases of financial crimes.
Under the Data Sharing Agreement (DSA) signed by the Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) Anton Reynaldo M. Bonifacio for Globe and Albert P. Dela Cruz for GoTyme, both may share information about mobile numbers potentially used by fraudsters, including names, addresses, and contact details.
Without the agreement, a law enforcement agency or court would need to issue a warrant or subpoena to obtain information about a suspected scammer, a process that could take months. Similarly, GoTyme may share necessary information with each other to support investigations, in compliance with the Data Privacy Act and the terms of the Data Sharing Agreement.
This move follows the guidance of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and the National Privacy Commission, urging collaboration among financial institutions, companies, and telecom entities in fraud investigations.
It further solidifies the telco leader’s commitment to cyber-
investment to short-term local government securities) which mostly corrected lower recently after lower US Treasury yields recently,” Ricafort said. The 10-year PHP BVAL yield dropped to a new 1.5-month low at 6.12 percent after the benchmark 10-year US Treasury yield eased to a 1.5-month low at 4.49 percent, after the Trump administration signaled that lowering the 10-year US Treasury yield would be a policy priority rather than criticizing the US Federal Reserve’s decisions on interest rates, he added.
A total of P88 billion is programmed for this month’s offering of T-bills, while P115 billion is targeted to be raised from long-term Treasury bonds. The national government will raise P2.545 trillion this year, following an 80:20 mix in favor of local sources.
The Philippines’s outstanding debt climbed to P16.05 trillion as of the end of 2024. Reine Juvierre S. Alberto
security and ongoing efforts to combat spam, phishing, identity theft, and other online criminal activities.
The collaboration will improve their ability to prevent fraud, investigate incidents more efficiently, and implement proactive measures to stop scams before they impact customers.
“This partnership reflects our ongoing commitment to championing cybersecurity and protecting our customers from the growing threats in the digital world. Through collaborations, we can combine our expertise and resources to better safeguard the financial sector and our customers from cybercrime,” said Globe Chief Privacy Officer Atty. Irish Salandanan-Almeida.
“We, at GoTyme Bank, provide not just a simple and beautiful banking experience but also secure and safe service. This DSA with Globe augments the bank’s cybersecurity systems and measures to protect customers from cyber criminals and fraudsters,” said Dela Cruz. Globe and GoTyme are also working with financial institutions, payment gateway providers, third-party service providers, and law enforcement agencies to share relevant information and conduct fraud investigations in compliance with existing laws and regulations.
Karlo Biglang-Awa
LITERACY DEAL This Thursday, February 6, 2025, photo shows (left to right): Credit Card Association of the Philippines Executive Director Alex G. Ilagan, CCAP Chairman Rolando P. Ebreo, Visa Philippines Country Manager Jeff Navarro and CCAP President Geraldine C. Liggayu during a signing ceremony on financial literacy. CREDIT: VISA INC.
Art BusinessMirror
The ‘Mona Lisa’ will get its own room under a major renovation of the Louvre
By Sylvie CorBet The Associated Press
ARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron
Pannounced Tuesday that the “Mona Lisa” will get its own dedicated room inside the Louvre museum under a major renovation and expansion of the Paris landmark that will take up to a decade.
The renovation project, branded “Louvre New Renaissance,” will include a wide new entrance near the Seine River, to be opened by 2031, Macron said in a speech from the room where Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece is displayed.
Macron didn’t disclose an exact amount budgeted for the project to modernize the world’s most visited museum, which is plagued with overcrowding and outdated facilities. But it’s estimated to reach up to 800 million euros ($834 million).
The Louvre’s last overhaul dates back to the 1980s, when the iconic glass pyramid was unveiled.
A look at what’s at stake:
MOVE DESIGNED TO MAKE LOUVRE EXPERIENCE EASIER
MACRON said the expansion of the museum will allow the “Mona Lisa” to be moved to a new, dedicated room accessible to visitors through a special ticket. That will make the visit simpler for those who want to see the painting and ease the experience of other visitors in the rest of the museum, he said.
“Conditions of display, explanation and presentation will be up to what the ‘Mona Lisa’ deserves,” he said. Leonardo’s masterpiece is now being shown behind protective glass in the museum’s largest room, overcrowded with long, noisy lines of visitors eager to take a selfie with the groundbreaking portrait of the woman with the enigmatic smile. That makes some other paintings in the room by Venetian painters like Titian and Veronese go unnoticed by many.
The museum’s big renovation in the 1980s was designed to receive 4 million annual visitors.
Last year, the Louvre received 8.7 million visitors, more than 75% being foreigners mostly from the United States, China and neighboring countries Italy, the UK, Germany and Spain.
COSTLY AND COMPLEX OVERHAUL
MACRON said that a new entrance for the Louvre will be created near the Seine by 2031, to be financed by
ticket sales, patronage and licensing money from the museum’s Abu Dhabi branch.
A design competition will be staged in the coming months, he said. In addition, some new underground rooms will be created to expand the museum.
A French top official said that the cost of the renovation is estimated at 700 to 800 million euros ($730 to 834 million) over the next decade, including half for the creation of the new entrance. The official couldn’t be named in line with the French presidency’s customary practices.
Macron said that ticket prices would be raised for foreign visitors from outside the European Union, up from 22 euros ($23) now. He promised the museum would be safer and more comfortable for both the public and employees.
Comparing the project to Notre Dame’s recent reopening, Macron said that “the redesigned Louvre, restored and expanded, will become the epicenter of art history for our country and beyond.”
Half the Louvre’s budget is being financed by the French government, including the wages of the 2,200 employees.
The other half is provided by private funds includ-
ing ticket sales, earnings from restaurants, shops and bookings for special events, as well as patrons and other partners.
WATER LEAKS AND OTHER DAMAGE
THE renovation announcement came after Louvre Director Laurence des Cars expressed her concerns in a note to Culture Minister Rachida Dati earlier this month saying that the museum is threatened by “obsolescence.”
According to the document first released by French newspaper Le Parisien, she warned about the gradual degradation of the building because of water leaks, temperature variations and other issues “endangering the preservation of artworks.”
The pyramid that serves at the museum’s entrance, unveiled in 1989 as part of late President François Mitterrand’s project, now appears outdated. The place isn’t properly insulated from the cold and the heat, and it tends to amplify noise, making the space uncomfortable for both the public and the staff, des Cars said.
In addition, the museum suffers from a lack of food options and restroom facilities, she said. n
Metrobank Foundation recognized in Hall of Fame at 60th Anvil Awards
THE Metrobank Foundation Inc. (MBFI) solidified its excellence in public relations at the 60th Anvil Awards Gabi ng Parangal, garnering four Silver Anvils among a record-breaking 750 Anvil entries. MBFI was also acknowledged as a Hall of Famer in an event recognizing exceptional PR programs and tools organized by the Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP) at The Manila Hotel. Among the honors received were four Silver Anvils for MBFI’s programs and tools titled:” A Heart that Serves: The Metrobank Foundation 45th Anniversary Celebration” for Special Event Milestone category; “Sibol: Cultivating Partnerships for Cultural Growth” for Best Use of Partnerships; “Sibol: An Art Exhibition that Moves, Inspires and Grows” for Special Event Launch; and “Guro, Pulis, Sundalo na may Galing, Puso, at Sigasig (GPS²): Empowering Pag-asa Island
by Leveraging Multi-Sectoral Government Relations” for Best Use of Government Relations.
As tribute to the Anvil Awards’ Diamond Anniversary, MBFI received a Hall of Fame recognition for its three previously lauded programs: Metrobank Art & Design Excellence (MADE) in 2016, Metrobank-MTAP-DepEd Math Challenge in 2018, and National Teachers’ Month in 2020. A commemorative video showcased notable Grand and Platinum Anvil winning entries throughout history, including Metrobank Foundation Search for Outstanding Teachers (SOT) in 2010, National Teachers’ Month Campaign in 2011, and the impactful Supplemental Aid to Community Pantries in 2022.
“We are deeply honored to receive these prestigious Anvil Awards,” said Aniceto M. Sobrepeña, MBFI president. “These awards are a testament
to our dedication, together with our awardees and partners in social development, to creating impactful social development programs that inspire, empower, and uplift communities.” Sobrepeña likewise paid tribute to his corp of veteran program implementors and corporate communications specialists who prepared the winning entries. “We are delighted that the PRSP continues to recognize our collective efforts,” he added.
These latest achievements add to MBFI’s impressive Anvil Awards track record. To date, MBFI has won 102 Anvil awards, including: the Company of the Year Award at the 51st Anvil Awards in 2016, and two Platinum Anvils for “Launching Dreams: The Metrobank Foundation Inc. 35th anniversary Celebration” in 2015 and “Empowering Filipinos, Building the Nation,” the 2014 Metrobank Foundation Annual Report in 2016.
Eugenia
and
the
to a
HHHH hSCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Engage in activities that ease stress and take your mind off situations you cannot control. Concentrate inward and on what you can do to improve yourself, your skills and your future. Traveling, talking to experts and discovering your options will help guide you in a prosperous direction.HH
iSAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Today is all about giveand-take, maintaining equality and striving for common ground with those who can contribute to whatever you are trying to achieve. Take a unique approach to running your home and dealing with personal relationships. Love and show compassion to yourself, but distance yourself from drama and inconsistency. HHHHH
j
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Protect your health, well-being and reputation. Relying on others will lead to disappointment. Change can be good if you take the initiative and do the work yourself. Separate emotions from business. Take care of your physical needs; make fitness and health a priority.HHH
k
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Rather than challenge others for having different opinions, channel your energy into pursuing the most agreeable path. Concentrate on what matters most to you and spend time with those who share your thoughts and feelings, not those who oppose them. Focus on personal improvements and projects that bring you joy. HHH
lPISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Participation will be in your best interest. Sign up for something that interests you and the people you meet, and the information you gather will give you a sense of what you want to pursue next. An open mind and a desire to try something new will lead to something exceptional. HHH
BIRTHDAY
Metrobank Foundation President Aniceto M. Sobrepeña (left) and executive vice president Philip Francisco U. Dy (right) present the Foundation‘s most recent awards to The Metrobank Group chairman Arthur V. Ty (center).
GMA Network’s anti-fake news campaign wins gold Anvil award
GMA Network’s groundbreaking advocacy “Panata Kontra-Fake News” won Gold in the Best Use of Partnerships category at the 60th Anvil Awards held on January 28 at The Manila Hotel. Receiving the award was Oliver Victor B. Amoroso, Senior Vice President and Head of GMA Integrated News, GMA Regional TV, and Synergy.
Launched on National Press Freedom Day in 2024, Panata Kontra-Fake News is a multi-platform initiative dedicated to combating disinformation by raising awareness, fostering critical thinking, and encouraging active public engagement.
GMA Network Chairman Atty. Felipe L. Gozon, who spearheaded the campaign, emphasized the importance of truth in nation-building.
“Truth is the very mechanism by which we build a better nation. It is not always the most viral, but it remains the best story to tell. Lagi’t lagi, sama-sama tayong magpahayag ng katotohanan na walang kinikilingan, walang pinoprotektahan, walang kasinungalingan, sa pamamagitan ng serbisyong totoo lamang,” he said.
GMA Network shares the recognition with the nearly 60 media organizations, tech companies, and academic institutions that stood united and heeded the challenge to fight disinformation in the covenant-signing event that kicked off the country’s largest campaign against fake news.
Through special reports, multimedia content, and interactive engagement across TV, radio and digital platforms, the initiative has empowered millions of Filipinos to navigate the digital landscape responsibly. Amoroso highlighted the need to strike a balance between countering disinformation and safeguarding freedom of expression.
“In an age where misinformation spreads faster than ever, we at GMA Integrated News have embraced our responsibility to counter fake news with accuracy, accountability and clarity. Panata Kontra-Fake News is not just a campaign – it is our pledge to empower Filipinos with credible information, to spark critical thinking, and to safeguard our democracy,” he said. He also dedicated the award to the collective efforts of journalists, editors, producers, staff and audiences who support truthful journalism.
“This award is not ours alone. It belongs to every journalist, editor, producer and staff member who worked tirelessly to ensure that truth prevails. It also belongs to our viewers and readers whose trust and engagement inspire us every day. Let this award be a reminder that when we unite to combat disinformation, we create a more informed and empowered society,” he added.
Mikey De Quiros, 60th Anvil Awards APR Chairman, noted that GMA was among the top three nominees for the Grand Anvil, the highest honor from the Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP).
“GMA’s program was strong. The output was good. What mattered was its impact on society and how it helps the Filipino people — even beyond our borders,” he said. The Anvil Awards, organized annually by PRSP, is the country’s most prestigious recognition for excellence in public relations, honoring outstanding initiatives and impactful PR campaigns.
The art and business of being Kiray Celis
ONE goal that comedy actor Kiray Celis set for herself after growing out of her teens was to be able to continue evolving both as a person and as an actor.
“I started really early in the entertainment business and I felt like I grew up really fast. Back then, I would just go where the tide took me to since I was very young.
But as I become more aware of the realities of the entertainment industry, I knew deep inside me that for me to keep moving forward in this business, I must be able to constantly evolve into something else, somebody more interesting than what the public already knows. And that scared me a bit.”
She continued, “Inside me were so many questions: What if they get tired of me as a comedian? What if projects become scarce and rare? What else can I bring to the table? What kind of other forms of entertainment could I provide? All these questions kept repeating inside my mind.”
Then the pandemic came and the more scared Kiray got. Gladly, she was introduced to the world of promoting products on social media, which eventually led to doing live selling which a few celebrities discovered to be a good income-generating activity when the world momentarily stopped during the Covid19 outbreak.
“It was an entirely new world for me, I mean talking endlessly in front of a small camera for three hours just to sell stuff to total strangers. I knew that I had a fun and sparky personality, but I never thought I would be able to sell goods and products on social media. So when my first session sold millions of pesos, I simply could not believe it.”
Kiray initially thought that it was a mere stroke of luck, or perhaps coincidence that many tuned in to her first session out of curiosity, but the next ones she did proved to draw in more audiences and gave her client more sales. Her boyfriend Stephan Estopia then thought of a brilliant idea — if Kiray could sell millions of products owned by other people and other companies, how much more would she earn if she started venturing into her own products and selling these on these social media platforms?
Kiray and Stephan immediately checked their savings, then gathered their core team, brainstormed for many nights, and came up with the decision to have their own brands of drink supplements targeting health and beauty. And just recently, they formally launched the brands Hello Bloom Juice, Day-li Supplements and Hot Babe Coffee.
Even before the big launch, Kiray was able to generate more than P8 million in sales in just half a year’s time, and this inspired her and her team so much to pursue this new venture more.
“You wouldn’t know how far you can go when you do not try. When things seem to be so challenging, that’s the best time to take that big leap because the push you will give yourself will be the biggest push ever since you’re aware that there is no turning back, and you know you have carefully thought of it many times and prepared for it long enough to give you the confidence to just move forward.”
Kiray chose beauty and wellness products because
it caters to everyone. Her Hello Bloom brand has three separate varieties: Hello Bloom Glow contains L-Glutathione for fairer, glowing skin. Hello Bloom Gleam has Hydrolyzed Marine Collagen that keeps one’s skin fresh and hydrated. Hello Bloom Glam has stem cell extracts that focus on skin repair and regeneration.
For health-conscious coffee drinkers, Hot Babe Coffee contains special fat-burning ingredients that double as slimming agents while her Day-Li supplements are formulated with the highest quality of ingredients that aim to provide both health and beauty.
“I made sure that I was hands-on in the development of these products — from research to the ingredients, colors, flavors, up to the smallest details in packaging. I am happy to share that we already have clients inquiring on how they can be resellers and distributors,“ she shared.
Aware that she needs to balance her work as an artist and her new role as a businesswoman, Kiray says it will all boil down to proper time management. “While the momentum is there, I’ll keep this new business growing, and as far as my being an actor is concerned, I guess I have to be more choosy with the projects I commit to since I think that I have to manage my time really well. And while I also need to grow as an artist, quality projects will now be my priority. Of course, providing laughter and entertainment are still tops in my list as a performance artist.”
This coming Valentine’s Day, Kiray will take the weekend off from her busy schedule to celebrate with the love of her life. “Stephan is my inspiration, my fuel, my source of strength, the wind beneath my wings, and he deserves my full focus on this Valentine’s Day weekend!” Kiray Celis is turning 30 this year and she feels that life is just about to take her to the fast lane. “Bring it on. I am ready!” she gushed. n
‘Anora’ wins at Producers and Directors Guild Awards
DID a wide-open Oscar race just get a frontrunner?
Sean Baker’s Brooklyn comedy Anora took top honors at both the Producers Guild Awards and the Directors Guild Awards on Saturday night, catapulting it to Oscar favorite status with wins from a pair of closely watched Academy Awards precursors.
Hollywood’s award season has been uncharacteristically up for grabs with half a dozen films viewed as legitimate best-picture contenders. Some had pegged Anora as the frontrunner going into the season after the film, starring Mikey Madison as a Brooklyn exotic dancer who marries the son of a Russian oligarch, won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival.
But after a number of films took turns in the spotlight, including Golden Globe winners The Brutalist and Emilia Pérez, Anora reemerged in a big way over the weekend. Baker’s film also won best picture at the Critics Choice Awards on Friday.
Both guild ceremonies were held in Beverly Hills, California. The PGA’s top prize, the Darryl F. Zanuck Award, has matched the Oscar winner for best picture in 16 of the last 21 years. Since 2009, when the guild and the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences both adopted a preferential ballot to pick a winner from 10 nominees, they’ve corresponded all but three times.
The DGA is similarly predictive. In the past 74 years, 66 winners have gone on to triumph at the Oscars. That makes Baker the favorite for best director in a field entirely composed of first-time nominees.
The guild also named RaMell Ross’ Nickel Boys best first film. Ross’ movie, nominated for best picture by the Oscars, is his narrative film debut. Oscar voting begins Tuesday. Jacques Audiard’s Emilia Pérez is the lead nominee with 13 nominations, but the Netflix film has seen its chances crater following multiple waves of backlash and controversy.
Another Oscar category also found clarity over the weekend. On Saturday at the Annie Awards, DreamWorks Animation’s The Wild Robot cleaned up with nine awards including best film. The Wild Robot will be the heavy favorite to win best animated film at the March 2 Academy Awards. AP
Taylor Swift gets booed by heavily pro-Eagles crowd as she watches the Chiefs at the Super Bowl
NEW ORLEANS — Taylor Swift was back at the Super Bowl to watch Travis Kelce and his Kansas City Chiefs play the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.
Her reception was a whole lot different than last year.
The pop superstar, who was cheered loudly when she showed up at the big game in Las Vegas, was instead booed by the heavily pro-Eagles crowd when shown on the video boards inside the Superdome during a break in the first quarter.
Sitting next to rapper Ice Spice, Swift gave a bit of a side-eye and wrinkled her nose when she realized the booing was directed at her. Swift and Kelce have been a sports-and-entertainment power couple since early last season, when the four-time All-Pro tight end invited the now 14-time Grammy Award winner to watch him play in a matchup with the Bears. Kelce had famously tried to
deliver a friendship bracelet to Swift when she played at Arrowhead Stadium, only to be thwarted. Their relationship blossomed as the Chiefs pursued their second consecutive Super Bowl last year, and Swift was part of the on-field celebration on a cold night in Baltimore when the Chiefs beat the Ravens to win the AFC championship. Then came Swift’s star turn at the big game in Las Vegas. She was in the midst of her Eras Tour and had played a concert in Tokyo the same weekend. Swift made a mad dash from there to the airport, hopped a private jet to Los Angeles, and made it to Las Vegas with time to spare. Once inside Allegiant Stadium, fans and TV cameras watched Swift win a beerchugging contest, party with celebrity friends such as Blake Lively and Lana Del Rey, and eventually make
her way to the field following the Chiefs’ 25-22 win over the 49ers.
Kelce and Swift celebrated by locking lips as red and gold confetti fell around them like rain.
There was no closely watched trip around the globe this week, though.
Swift arrived in the Big Easy in time to join Kelce on a double date with Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes and his wife, Brittany, on the players’ night off Friday. The couples dined at Lilette, a French restaurant near the Garden District. On the eve of the big game, Swift was spotted with musicians Danielle and Alana Haim at Gianna Restaurant. The big question swirling Sunday was not whether Swift would make it to the game, like last year, but what could happen if she found herself on the field
afterward, celebrating Kelce’s third straight Super Bowl title and fourth overall. T he 35-year-old Kelce has been noncommittal about playing next year, and some within the Chiefs organization are bracing for his potential retirement. Kelce has been laying the groundwork for his post-playing career, building a lucrative podcast with his brother, retired Eagles center Jason Kelce, and appearing on Saturday Night Live and other TV shows. Then there’s the question of whether Kelce might pop the question. According to BetMGM, those willing to gamble on his plans could get 8/1 odds that Kelce would propose to Swift with a Chiefs victory. The Chiefs are 19-3 with her in the crowd, including 9-0 this season. She has never seen them lose in the playoffs. AP
GSIS opens debt relief window through new loan buyout program
THE Government Service Insurance System recently launched a loan buyout program offering government workers a chance to consolidate their debts at interest rates as low as six percent.
GSIS President and General Manager Wick Veloso emphasized the pension fund’s mission to shield members from excessive interest rates in the lending market. “Through the MPL Max, we are throwing a lifeline to our members who are weighed down by debt,” Veloso said. “This goes beyond consolidating loans – we are helping our members rebuild their lives by creating a clear path to financial recovery and stability.
The MPL Max program starts with a memorandum of agreement between the GSIS and the agency. Once signed, employees can combine all their loans into a single loan that offers lower interest rates and extended payment terms.
MPL Max offers qualified borrowers the opportunity to borrow up to 19 times their
salary or P5 million, whichever is lower, with payment terms extending up to 10 years. The GSIS has eliminated surcharges on existing GSIS loans and waived all service fees. The program also includes loan insurance coverage at no additional cost, with the flexibility to pre-terminate without penalties.
To qualify, members must have paid at least one month of premium contributions within the past six months, have no existing multi-purpose loans, and no defaulted GSIS Financial Assistance Loans. They must also be free of administrative or criminal cases, and have sufficient net take-home pay as required by the General Appropriations Act. Required documents include the application form, borrower loan agreement, and loan voucher or other certified
documents showing existing loans. Also needed are statement of account from lending institutions with the borrower’s confirmation of correctness, along with a copy of the ID of the lending institution’s authorized representative who will claim the check from GSIS, and latest pay slip.
The GSIS said members should submit these documents in person after setting an appointment through its GSIS Touch facility. “Our appointment system guarantees that each member receives proper attention when applying for this financial relief program,” Veloso said.
Upon approval, the GSIS will directly pay off the members’ loans to the lending institutions. Any remaining proceeds after loan settlements will be credited to the member’s GSIS eCard or regular ATM account. Monthly payments will be automatically deducted from the member’s salary.
For more information about the MPL Max program, members may visit the GSIS website at www.gsis.gov. ph or the GSIS Facebook page, @gsis.ph; email gsiscares@gsis.gov.ph; or call the GSIS Contact Center at 8847-4747.
Vietnam experience is a blueprint for Revitalizing PHL’s Auto Parts Industry
VIETNAM’S automotive industry has seen remarkable growth, thanks to its strategic implementation of local content rules that prioritize domestically produced auto parts. By requiring automakers to source a significant percentage of components locally, Vietnam has not only boosted its auto parts manufacturing sector but also created thousands of jobs and attracted billions in investments.
In 2022, Vietnam’s auto parts industry contributed over US$5 billion to its economy, with local content accounting for 40 to 50 percent of total vehicle production. This success story offers valuable lessons for the Philippines, where the auto parts manufacturing industry has been struggling to compete globally.
The Philippine Parts Maker Association (PPMA), under the leadership of President Ferdi Raquelsantos, has been advocating for similar measures to revitalize the local auto parts sector. “Vietnam’s local content policy is a game-changer. It has transformed their auto industry into a regional powerhouse, and we can achieve the same here in the Philippines,” Raquelsantos said. “By implementing a robust local content rule, we can create a sustainable ecosystem for our parts manufacturers, generate employment, and reduce our reliance on imports.” Currently, the Philippines’ auto parts industry contributes only US$1.2 billion annually, with local content in vehicle production hovering at a mere 20 percent. This is a stark contrast to Vietnam’s thriving
sector. Raquelsantos emphasized that with the right policies, the Philippines could double its auto parts output within five years. “We have the talent, the technology, and the capability. What we need is a clear policy framework that incentivizes automakers to source locally and supports our manufacturers in meeting global standards,” he added.
The PPMA is urging the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to explore ways to replicate Vietnam’s success. One proposal from PPMA is to mandate a 30% local content requirement for vehicles assembled in the Philippines, coupled with tax incentives for automakers that comply. This move could attract an estimated US$500 million in investments and create over 50,000 new jobs in the auto parts sector. Additionally, it would reduce the country’s annual auto parts import bill, which currently stands at US$2.5 billion.
Vietnam’s success proves that with the right policies, a struggling auto parts industry can be transformed into a thriving economic driver. For the Philippines, the time to act is now. By adopting a local content rule and providing targeted support to manufacturers, the country can unlock the full potential of its auto parts sector, create jobs, and boost economic growth.
As Raquelsantos aptly put it, “The road to success is clear. All we need is the will to take the first step.”
Puregold to Empower More Schools through Pusong Panalo Program 2025 Initiatives
PUREGOLD will continue to fulfill its commitment to elevating education, promoting sustainable development, and empowering rural communities this 2025 through its Pusong Panalo Program. Following the success of its 2024 initiatives, which included school infrastructure improvements, community Christmas festivities, and support for typhoon victims, Puregold is set to broaden the reach of its acclaimed Pusong Panalo CSR program. By 2028, the program aims to benefit 30 more schools. Planned initiatives include classroom renovations, essential goods distributions, solar panel installation, and technology donations. The Pusong Panalo program employs a communitycentered approach to giving back with the end goal of uplifting the lives of Filipinos. Under this program, Puregold helps bridge the gap between urban and rural communities by offering much-needed aid to areas that are often overlooked.
In 2024, Puregold installed solar panels to provide a sustainable and reliable energy source at Laiban Elementary School in Tanay, Rizal. The school also received a new playground and replenished the canteen. The company also donated new laptops to the school’s teachers. Further, the multi-channel retailer extended assistance to another set of schools in Rizal: MagataManggahan School, Nayon Elementary School, and Talim
Elementary in the form of solar installation, playground, school supplies, canteen supplies, and hygiene kits.
“Education is the key to a better life for many children.
Puregold is happy to help provide better tools and facilities so Filipino students can help achieve their dreams. We are expanding the scope of the program to include more schools as part of our long-term vision,” said Ferdinand Vincent Co, President of Puregold Price Club, Inc.
Just a few days before Christmas, Puregold returned to Laiban Elementary School to spread holiday cheer to the students, teachers, and families. Puregold President Ferdinand Vincent Co, led the gift-giving and provided the food, entertainment, and games for the delegations from Laiban and the MagataManggahan school.
As part of the Pusong Panalo program, Puregold, together with Monde Nissin and Angat Buhay Foundation, also assisted nearly 200 Tindahan ni Aling Puring (TNAP) members who were affected by Typhoon Kristine in Naga, Camarines Sur.
Puregold conducted a “salo-salo” for TNAP members, which featured games, food and drinks, raffles, and activity
booths that offered additional prizes. Members with start-up businesses were surprised by Puregold with negosyo packages each worth at least P5,000. During the event’s raffle, 10 winners received Php15,000 additional Monde Nissin products for their stores and another five TNAP members were given P75,000 for store renovations.
Puregold will always be committed to Pusong Panalo and its mission of enhancing lives and fostering development in rural and last mile areas through inclusive growth and sustainable development,” added Vincent.
Holcim Receives Domestic Bidders’ Certificate of Preference for Locally Manufactured Cement Products
HOLCIM Philippines, Inc., a leading building solutions provider, was recently awarded the Domestic Bidders’ Certificate of Preference for its locally manufactured cement products: Excel ECOPlanet Blended Cement (Type 1TMH), Solido Blended Cement (Type 1P), Premium, and 4x Ordinary Portland Cement Type 1. The certification was issued by the Department of Trade and Industry’s Domestic Bidders (DoBid) Certificate of Preference Program Competitiveness Bureau in recognition of Holcim’s commitment to producing highquality products in the Philippines. Under the Tatak Pinoy Act (RA 11981), the Domestic Bidder’s Certificate grants a 15 percent margin of preference to local bidders, supporting the government’s initiative to prioritize Philippine-made products and fostering economic growth, job creation, sustainability, patriotism and economic selfreliance. The certification reinforces Holcim’s commitment to the local economy and sustainable development through innovative,
eco-friendly solutions. The company’s certified cement products contribute to infrastructure development and align with the goals of the Proudly Pinoy Act. At the awarding ceremony on December 10, 2024, Holcim Philippines was represented by its Senior Leadership team led by Sajith Edirisuriya, alongside the Presales Team and Brand Communications. The event was officiated by Bureau of Competitive Development Director Lilian G. Salonga, with the DoBID Program Team and representatives from the Department of Trade and Industry.
“We are honored to receive the Domestic Bidder’s Certificate of Preference, reaffirming our commitment to supporting the local economy with high-quality, locally manufactured building solutions. This recognition inspires us to further contribute to national development by delivering sustainable and innovative products that serve our communities,” remarked Edirisuriya, Holcim Philippines SVP and Head of Commercial.
From Bahay Kubo to Modern Homes by Alagang Wilcon
THE third episode of Alagang Wilcon, titled “Champions of Filipino Architecture and Design,” takes viewers through the inspiring journeys of three prominent architects and designers: Arlen De Guzman, Dryan Tria, and Royal Pineda. These professionals are not just reshaping the Filipino landscape; they are intertwining the past with the future, redefining what it means to build Filipino spaces in a modernized world.
For Tria, Chief Operating Officer and Design Consultant of DST design+, architecture is not just about structures; it’s about honoring nature. “Nature has always been our guiding light in building our projects,” he shares. Tria believes that incorporating natural elements like stone and wood reflects the beauty created by God. The design consultant believes that there is something beautiful when nature is incorporated in the process of creating.
This perspective is echoed by Pineda, principal of Royal Pineda+. As a naturalist and modernist, Pineda seeks to modernize Filipino design while staying true to its roots. “The very essence of a bahay kubo is sustainability. The bamboo and nipa, [are locally] available. Filipino architecture is permeable, open, and welcoming, just like the Filipino people.” He believes that modern Filipino sensibility should be accessible to everyone.
For De Guzman, the journey always starts with a story. Having been in the business since 1978, he believes that every project is an extension of his client’s lifestyle. This approach ends up with precious personal connections to his clients, making each design a deeply personal and meaningful endeavor. He also noted that “the Filipino dream is always oriented towards family—from the lolos and lolas to the apos,” a reason for why he prides himself as a Filipino designer.
A common thread among these three
professionals is their commitment to shaping modern Filipino spaces that do not forget their heritage. They are passionate about breaking stereotypes that view Filipino design as baduy or outdated. Instead, they see the potential for Filipino architecture to evolve and resonate globally while remaining authentic to its roots. At the heart of their mission lies a partnership that brings their visions to life, Wilcon Depot. All three professionals recognize Wilcon as more than just a resource for materials, but a partner in innovation. “Wilcon has done a good job bridging the gap,” says De Guzman. “Before, we had to [source] a lot of products abroad, but now, it is at your reach.”
For Tria, Wilcon is his “happy place,” where he can stay the whole day, exploring and drawing inspiration from the products available. “Wilcon guided me in the process of product knowledge. They have the professionals who will guide you through the process.” He also boasts that he has been a “batang Wilcon.”
Pineda emphasizes Wilcon as a hub for sparking creativity and innovation. “[Wilcon is] your fast and easy destination for your any home fix or any styling that you want to be creative.” These testaments highlight the wide selection of quality products and solutions empowers professionals and designers alike to explore new possibilities and push creative boundaries.
In their Alagang Wilcon episode, these professionals demonstrate how Filipino design can embrace the future while staying rooted in its cultural identity. And with Wilcon by their side, their vision of a modern Filipino aesthetic is no longer just a dream. It’s a reality that Filipinos can experience and take pride in, one home at a time.
Watch the Alagang Wilcon Episode 3 on Wilcon Depot’s Youtube channel, @Wilcon TV: https://youtu.be/G0foop5ohBY. For more information about Wilcon, visit www.wilcon.com.ph or follow their social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. You can also subscribe to and connect with them on Viber Community, LinkedIn, and YouTube. For inquiries, you may contact the Wilcon Depot Hotline at 88-WILCON (88945266).
HOLCIM Philippines received the DoBID Certificate of Preference from the Department of Trade and Industry’s Competitive Bureau, recognizing its commitment to locally manufactured products. In the photo are, from left, Holcim Head of Presales Joy Aballe, SVP Head of Commercial Sajith Edirisuriya, DTI Director Lilian G. Salonga, Holcim Brand Communications Manager Kristine Teodoro, and Pre-sales Officer Gerson Demano.
VIETNAM’S local content policy has transformed their auto industry into a regional powerhouse.
Trump’s rush to unleash executive power hits judicial wall as legal challenges pile up
JUDGES
By Zoe Tillman & Erik Larson
are putting the brakes on some of the most dramatic moves of President Donald Trump’s first three weeks in office, slowing actions targeted at migrants, federal workers, government spending and transgender Americans.
According to a Bloomberg News analysis, more than 40 lawsuits have been filed challenging the barrage of activity by the new administration.
Trump could eventually prevail, but judges have halted some of his most aggressive moves to carry out his policy agenda as they weigh whether
DOGE and Musk
AS “special government employee”
Elon Musk moves to gut federal agency personnel and programs as part of his government efficiency mandate from Trump, opponents argue the Tesla Inc. and SpaceX CEO and his team are violating US laws. There are lawsuits seeking to stop the US Treasury Department from giving Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency access to a federal payments system, arguing it would expose confidential information about individuals and US companies. A New York judge temporarily blocked DOGEaffiliated officials from accessing some data pending a hearing in the coming days.
On Friday, US District Judge John Bates, appointed under former President George W. Bush, denied a request to block DOGE’s access to Labor Department records. He wrote that he “harbors concerns” about DOGE’s activities, but found the unions that sued hadn’t shown they had standing to press the case.
Federal workforce
OPPONENTS of the administration’s moves have argued that the livelihoods and in some cases the physical safety of thousands of federal employees are at risk. The suits challenge changes to the classification of federal employees, a proposed buyout for federal employees nationwide and the release of names of FBI employees who investigated the 2021 attack on the US Capitol.
On Friday, in a pair of suits brought by anonymous FBI employees, the US government reached a temporary agreement not to make public a list of the bureau’s agents, analysts and support staff who helped investigate the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol by Trump’s supporters. The accord bars any disclosure until US District Judge Jia M. Cobb in Washington rules on a more lasting ban.
“I do acknowledge that if this information were released, I think there’s no question it would put a number of FBI agents in significant immediate danger,” said Cobb, an appointee of former President Joe Biden, without weighing in on the merits of the claims.
It remains to be seen how judges will view Trump’s executive order that would make it easier to fire high-level civil service employees who are normally protected from changes in administrations. At least four suits from groups of federal employees allege the change in employee classification—long sought by conservative groups—goes against the intent of lawmakers since Congress established “due process rights” for career employees.
they’re lawful.
“There’s a bunch of judges hearing a whistling noise like flying artillery fire as cases land on their desks,” said Dickinson College President John Jones, a former federal judge in Pennsylvania appointed by George W. Bush. The US court system will be “tested
Judicial enforcement
TRUMP has been open about his frustration with judges who exercise their constitutional duty to serve as a check on the presidency’s vast authority.
Opponents are on alert for evidence that US officials are
failing, or deliberately refusing, to comply with court orders.
On Friday, Democratic state attorneys general suing over Trump’s freeze of certain federal grants, assistance and loans alerted a Rhode Island judge that there were problems accessing funds
Immigration agenda TRUMP’S move to restrict automatic birthright citizenship was the most overt example of him brushing aside legal precedents to carry out a hardline immigration agenda. Judges in Maryland and Washington state have blocked it so far. The Justice Department has appealed the latter ruling, kicking off a constitutional battle that could reach the US Supreme Court.
Immigrant advocacy groups have also filed lawsuits challenging Trump’s order suspending access to asylum proceedings for people crossing the southern border, a policy change that would allow immigration enforcement actions in or near places of worship and the termination of programs that provide legal information to migrants facing deportation and lawyers for children. Judges haven’t acted in those cases yet.
Civil rights, DEI
CIVIL rights cases have largely focused so far on protecting the rights of transgender Americans, including those serving the US military. At least two groups of active duty trans troops have sued to challenge a Trump executive order banning them from service, alleging the directive violates equal protection rights under the Constitution.
The cases are in early stages, but US District Judge Ana Reyes, a Biden appointee, on Feb. 6 ordered the government to immediately alert the court if the Defense Department “issues any policy or guidance implementing the challenged Executive Orders in the military.” The judge said she’d consider a temporary restraining order if the military took any moves to change the status of the plaintiffs in the case before she can hear arguments on a longer lasting injunction later this month.
Meanwhile, a judge barred the administration from halting medical treatment for transgender women in federal prisons or transferring them to men’s facilities, writing that the harm is “not abstract at all.”
even with a temporary restraining order in effect. They didn’t ask to sanction the administration but asked for an immediate order that officials “take every step necessary” to comply.
Judges have some options to enforce orders. They could
like it hasn’t ever been.”
Hours before more than 2,000 US Agency for International Development employees were set to be placed on leave Friday, US District Judge Carl Nichols, a Trump appointee, paused it. The government had shown “essentially zero harm” if it had to wait a little longer, he said. A day earlier, a Boston federal judge delayed a deadline for a federal worker buyout program to allow “proper consideration.”
Other judges across the country have criticized Trump for trying to overturn what’s been considered settled law on US citizenship for more than a century, forced a retreat on a chaotic funding freeze and ordered the administration to agree to temporarily place some restraints on Elon Musk’s government efficiency team.
It’s a similar dynamic to Trump’s first term, when judges blocked or slowed some of his policies. Several
courts halted his ban on US travel from certain majority-Muslim countries, but nearly a year later a divided Supreme Court let it take effect. This time, the measures are larger in volume and coming more quickly from the White House. Advocacy groups and Democratic state officials are trying to keep pace challenging them in court. White House spokesperson Harrison Fields said in a statement that the “lawsuits are nothing more than an extension of the Left’s resistance— and the Trump Administration is ready to face them in court.” A Justice Department spokesperson declined to comment. Vice President JD Vance weighed in on social media, claiming that “judges aren’t allowed to control the executive’s legitimate power.” Here are some of the most consequential cases:
summon top White House or agency officials to testify and direct the US Marshals to bring them in if they refuse. Judges can impose fines or even place the responsible official behind bars.
If Trump directed officials to refuse to comply with a court
order, a judge could exercise at least some contempt power over him, Jones said, but such a showdown would mean that “the rule of law has completely collapsed.” With assistance from Misyrlena Egkolfopoulou and Sabrina Willmer/Bloomberg
DEMONSTRATORS and lawmakers rally against President Donald Trump and his ally Elon Musk as they disrupt the federal government, including dismantling the US Agency for International Development, which administers foreign aid approved by Congress, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, February 5, 2025. AP/J. SCOTT APPLEWHITE
Eagles deny Chiefs Super Bowl ‘3-peat’
Teen freestyle skier Rabe debuts in Asian Winter Games in Harbin
By Josef Ramos
ARBIN, China—Teen freestyle
Hskier Laetaz Amihan Rabe makes her debut in the 9th Asian Winter Games against a field of experienced competitors on Tuesday at the Freeski Slopestyle Stadium in Yabuli. R abe, 15, is the youngest in the women’s freeski slopestyle event field but is unfazed as she faces Japan freestyle slopestyle ski champion Kiho Sugarawa, Kanon Kondo, also of Japan, and Chinese veteran campaigners Han Linshan, Liu Mengting and Yang Ruyi.
The competition starts at 11 a.m.
“I t’s a tough field but I am ready for the competition. I hope it goes well,” Rabe, who is based in Geneva, said. “I have to do my best despite any situation. The park is very friendly, and the snow conditions are okay.”
In f igure skating at the HIC Multifunctional Hall in Harbin, Isabella Gamez and Filipino-Russian Aleksander Korovin compete in the mixed pair skating short program starting at 3:30 p.m.
We are excited and honored to be here representing the Philippines,” Isabella said. “We are confident with our training leading up to this, as we keep the same mentality for every competition we go to, and we will continue to do the same for Harbin.” Philippine Skating Union (PSU) president Nikki Cheng and coach Abraham Domdom said there is no room for error in the short program.
“They developed their strong sense of confidence backed by months of rigorous training and unwavering mental preparation,” Domdom said. “It is going to be a tough field and absolutely no room for any error, but I believe they are ready.”
Paolo Borromeo is set to compete at 5 p.m. in the men’s short program.
In c urling at the Harbin Pingfang Arena, the Philippine men’s team bounced back from a stinging defeat to North Korea with a 4-1 victory over Kazakhstan.
Filipino-Swiss siblings Marc and Enrico Pfister joined forces with lead Alan Frei and vice skip Christian Haller in the victory over Kazakhstan, bouncing back from a 6-1 loss to South Korea in the opener on Sunday.
“This one was a very important win. But routine is still missing, but we are happy we won,” Pfister said, who thanked the Filipino fans, the Philippine Olympic Committee headed by president Abraham Tolentino and the Philippine Sports Commission.
The men’s team next takes on Kyrgyzstan before facing Chinese Taipei on Wednesday.
T he women’s team, meanwhile, absorbed its first setback after three games.
Japan rallied in the last four ends to beat the Filipina curlers, led by Kathleen Dubberstein and Leilani Sumbillo An, 6-4.
T he team, which also has Sheila Mariano, Anne Bonache and alternate Jennifer dela Fuente, grabbed the second and third ends for a 4-1 advantage before Japan’s Ai Matsunaga and Suzune Yasui conspired in wiping out the deficit.
W ith a 2-1 record following a 13-1 blowout triumph over Qatar on Sunday night, the women’s national team faces Kazakhstan and Thailand on Tuesday before taking on China and Korea the next day.
T he top four in the nine-team round-robin preliminaries advance to the semifinals.
Sports BusinessMirror
B8 | Tuesday, FeBruary 11, 2025
mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph
Editor: Jun Lomibao
NEW ORLEANS—A ferocious Philadelphia Eagles defense tormented and frustrated Patrick Mahomes while Jalen Hurts made all the plays the offense needed.
So much for the Kansas City Chiefs’ quest for a Super Bowl three-peat. It wasn’t even close.
Cooper DeJean got a pick6 on his 22nd birthday, Josh Sweat pressured Mahomes all night and the Eagles routed the Chiefs, 40-22, on Sunday to secure the franchise’s second Super Bowl championship.
Just didn’t play to my standard, and I have to be better next time,” Mahomes said.
Hurts threw for two touchdowns and ran for a score on a tush push to earn Super Bowl MVP honors, and Vic Fangio’s defense was so dominant that the Eagles didn’t need much from Saquon Barkley.
T he game-changing running back finished with 57 yards, breaking Terrell Davis’s record for yards rushing in a season, playoffs included. Hurts threw for 221 yards.
“This is the ultimate team game. You can’t be great without the greatness of others. Great performance by everybody—offense, defense, special teams,” coach Nick Sirianni said. “We
PBA unveils new logo ahead of 50th anniversary celebration
IN grand celebration of its golden anniversary, the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) officially launched a new logo for its coming 50th season.
It’s an all-gold logo commemorating the 50th anniversary of the league, with the letters PBA50 all colored gold and the silhouette of a dribbling player in the middle now in black color. The logo signifies the long journey trekked by the league since its inception in 1975 and eventually earning the status as the pioneer in professional league in all of Asia.
The PBA Board led by chairman
Ricky Vargas and Commissioner Willie Marcial led the formal unveiling on Monday at the ground floor of the Launchpad Building in Sheridan in Mandaluyong City.
T he league officials were joined by Deputy Commissioner Eric Castro and TV5/Cignal Executives led by Jane Basas, Guido Zaballero, and Sienna Olaso.
PBA legend and former MVP Allan Caidic was also present during the affair representing the selection panel for the 10 additional players that will complete the list of the league’s 50 Greatest. Marcial said the logo launch was
Brian Semonian
OVER
made in time for the golden anniversary celebration of the league on April 9 where the 10 new players added to the 50 Greatest will be revealed to the public.
T hat’s just the start of what would be a hectic schedule lined up by the league to observe its once-ina-lifetime celebration.
A series of activities has been prepared by the PBA for the opening of Season 50 on October 5.
A rare homecoming featuring former players, officials, executives and personalities involved in the league through the years are in store for basketball fans, together with the
Australia and the UK for nearly three decades.
The system he plays with, which is the current trend in the National Basketball Association (NBA), revolves around scoring in bunches in the shortest possible time though he can adjust and adapt to any roster given to him.
Remember Paul Westhead’s Lakers and his Loyola Marymount University team in the 90s led by the late great Hank Gathers and Bo Kimble?
How about Mike D’Antoni’s Phoenix Suns in the mid 2000s implementing and executing the “7 second offense” where you shoot the basketball within the first seven seconds of the shot clock.
A ccording to www.breakthroughbasketball.com : “The Suns Fast Break is the Phoenix offense. There is not much movement and there is not the traditional secondary or transition fast break options. The fast break is defined by 2 things, spacing and philosophy. The Suns’ philosophy is to get a shot within the first 7 seconds.” Obviously, Coach Semonian likes to run and if a player is to
unveiling of a new championship trophy.
A lso announced was the mall and school tours featuring all 12 teams and their respective players, adopt a court program and the return of the Homecourt, where the league makes a surprise visit to different courts around various barangays in the National Capital Region.
A t the same time, both TV5 and Cignal made its recommitment of support to the league through its numerous multiplatform coverages to ensure a memorable and historical celebration of the PBA’s 50th anniversary.
didn’t really ever care what anyone thought about how we won, or their opinions. All we want to do is win.”
With Donald Trump becoming the first president in office to attend a Super Bowl, the Eagles outplayed Kansas City in every facet, delighting a raucous pro-Philly crowd that celebrated each score with a familiar rendition of “Fly! Eagles! Fly!”
Even Taylor Swift’s presence couldn’t help the Chiefs. They lost for the first time in 10 games this season with the pop superstar in a suite watching boyfriend Travis Kelce, who didn’t catch a pass until late in the third quarter.
Not in Kansas City’s worst nightmares could its fans have imagined such a lackluster performance. The Chiefs had won three of the previous five Super Bowls, losing 31-9 to Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers four years ago.
Mahomes was 8-0 against Fangio’s defenses before the longtime coordinator and former Broncos head coach outcoached Andy Reid, capping his first season with his hometown team.
Reid fell to 3-3 in Super Bowls, including a loss with the Eagles.
The Eagles sacked Mahomes six times, the most of his career, including 2 1/2 by Sweat and two by Milton Williams. And they did it without Fangio calling a single blitz.
“Defense wins championships,” Hurts said. “We saw how they played today. We saw the difference they made in the game.
They gave us opportunities, gave us short fields. And we’re able to do what we do.”
B arkley, the 2024 AP National Football League (NFL) Offensive Player of the Year, only had 31 yards rushing in the first half when Philly built a 24-0 lead.
The Chiefs were aiming to become the third team in NFL history to win three straight championships and the first to three-peat in the Super Bowl era. Hur ts nearly led the Eagles to victory against the Chiefs two years ago in Arizona, but Mahomes led a comeback and Harrison Butker kicked the game-winning field goal in the final minute for a 38-35 victory. Mahomes rallied Kansas City to an overtime victory over San Francisco last year for the Chiefs’ second straight title.
“That’s a great football team and we had to come out and play our best, and we did,” Sirianni said. This time, a revamped Philly defense featuring eight new starters from the 2022 team made sure Mahomes had no chance to pull off his magic.
Today was a rough day all around. Nothing went right. I didn’t coach well. Proud of our guys for fighting. We will learn from this,” Reid said. “Too many turnovers,
Rising star Hwang focused on mission
KOREAN rising star Hwang Yoon aims to make a strong impression at the International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) Worldwide Link Philippine Ladies Masters unfolding Wednesday at the challenging The Country Club (TCC) course in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.
Making her debut in the Philippines, Hwang is determined to dominate and secure back-to-back victories in the first two overseas events of the Korean Dream Tour.
Fresh off her maiden victory at the Indonesian Women’s Open three weeks ago—where she edged fellow Korean Cho Yeongmin on the second suddendeath hole—Hwang is determined to carry that momentum to the highstakes TCC tournament.
“The goal of every competition is always to win. I will play with confidence,” said Hwang, 23, during a practice session at the challenging TCC course over the weekend.
make a significant contribution in the aforementioned system, he or she needs to be at a high level of fitness and excellent shape.
Players who play for him have to have a firm “control of the controllables” like fitness, effort, pace of play, food, hydration and recovery.
The Arizona native follows a formula, established by those LMU teams gleaned from those coaches, for a 40- and 48-minute game respectively.
Semonian is not only a teacher and a student of the game but he’s also an “Exercise Scientist” and a “Movement Enhancement Specialist.”
A s per www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov: “The scientific study of human movement performed to maintain or improve physical fitness.”
Anybody can move but there’s a science behind it.
And as for movement enhancement, www.movementenhancement.com says “creates functional and comprehensive training programs for any athlete in any sport.” My understanding of it is sports specific training programs so it is exercises and workouts customized for a particular sport.
W hile she acknowledges the tough competition ahead—with 50 top players each from the Korean and Taiwan Ladies Professional Association (LPGA), and the top 32 from the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour (LPGT)—Hwang remains focused on the course’s demands.
“Like in Indonesia, I will study the course and understand its characteristics,” she said. “Tee shots and putting are the most important aspects.
However, TCC presents additional challenges, including its demanding length and unpredictable winds, which are expected to impact play on most holes, especially the closing par-four 18th, widely regarded as one of the toughest finishing holes in Asia. The 54-hole $200,000 championship is the first KLPGA-sanctioned event held in partnership with the LPGT and TLPGA, ensuring a high level of competition over three intense days.
The former head coach of the Manchester Giants of the defunct BBL or British Basketball League also had
WITH Donald Trump—accompanied by daughter Ivanka Trump and grandson Theodore— becoming the first president in office to attend a Super Bowl, the Eagles outplay the Chiefs and frustrate Patrick Mahomes in every facet of the game. AP
