tions made on the national budget could lead to financing poorly prepared projects, according to the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), government’s own think tank.
In a research paper, PIDS Senior Research Fellow Adoracion M. Navarro and former research analyst Jokkaz S. Latigar said congressional insertions are replacement projects that are brought in through “political intervention” when the budget is being finalized.
Unfortunately, Navarro and Latigar said, these projects have not gone through due diligence such as thorough planning and consultation with stakeholders.
‘MAY FACTORY
“The issue regarding the ‘For Later Release’ funds is complex and has deep political economy ramifications. It seems to be a battle of wills on project implementation between two major political forces,” Navarro and Latigar said.
“On one end are legislators who always find ways to insert new or expanded line items into the budget. On the other end is the President, who can resort to postGAA [General Appropriations Act] procedures that enable him to approve/reject the release of funds related to every Congressional insertion,” they added.
They said these congressional insertions are composed largely of road transport projects. Since these
did not go through due diligence, some become unfeasible projects that can create a bottleneck and delay project implementation.
“This is one reason for the existence of the ‘for later release’ funds category in the government budget. Unless a project has undergone proper evaluation [e.g., project feasibility, documentation, or clearances], the DBM [Department of Budget and Management] cannot release the funds immediately. This way, the government can mitigate the potential misuse of allocations,” the authors said. In order to address these insertions, the government needs reform champions and efforts to
INDICATES STAGNATION’
By Cai
manufacturing sector was “broadly stagnating” as the Philippines Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) declined in May, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence.
The PMI index score of the country fell to 50.1 in May from 53 in April. It can be noted that 50 is the PMI threshold for an “overall increase” in factory performance.
“The latest PMI data by S&P Global indicated a setback to growth momentum built in April, with May recording a broadly stagnating picture in the Filipino manufacturing sector,” the report stated.
“Output fell into contraction territory while new order growth waned, with the downturn in demand from foreign markets also weighing on total new sales,” it added.
The report noted that there was a “fresh decline” in production in May and marked the second contraction in the past three months. Manufacturers also encountered
problems with foreign markets. Maryam Baluch, Economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence, said there was an increase in new orders but the growth was at a slower pace.
Filipino manufacturers, the report stated, observed a stronger decline in new export orders, following broadly steady export sales in March and April. Baluch also said that because of this, there was a decline in employment, and inventories as well as finished goods.
The report indicated that the rate of job shedding, albeit “modest,” was the strongest in 11 months. Surveyed respondents linked the downturn to voluntary resignations and the non-replacement of those roles.
By Reine Juvierre S. Alberto @reine_alberto
F
INANCIAL instability, job insecurity and uncertainty about the future are fueling higher levels of stress, anxiety and depression among working-class Filipinos compared to the global average, according to a study by life insurer AXA.
AXA’s Mind Health Report revealed that nearly seven in 10 Filipinos suffer from at least mild forms of anxiety, stress or depression, among the highest rates globally.
Economic pressures were found to be the primary drivers of this mental health crisis, with 76 percent of Filipinos citing financial instability and employment worries as major stressors, far above the global average of 53 percent. Beyond money matters, the
feeling of loneliness and social isolation at 58 percent versus 42 percent globally, as well as uncertainty about the future at 70 percent compared to the global average of 53 percent, also weigh heavily on Filipinos’ well-being.
The report also found that exposure to negative news at 55 percent versus 45 percent and anxiety about climate change (57 percent versus 38 percent) affect Filipinos’ mental health. Moreover, Filipinos aged 18 to 34 are more likely than other generations to suffer from severe mental health symptoms and are diagnosed with conditions at higher rates than their global peers, according to the report.
“Workplaces play a significant role in both stress and support. The data points to an opportunity for organizations to be part
By Lorenz S. Marasigan
DEPARTMENT of Transportation (DOTr) Secre -
tary Vince Dizon said on Monday he expects the cost of the Edsa Rebuild Project—initially set at around P15 billion—to go down following Malacañang’s directive to complete the overhaul in just six months instead of two years.
In a press briefing, Dizon said implementing the project using “non-conventional ways to do this faster” will also result in it being more affordable.
“What the President said is very clear: we need to find a better way that is shorter and obviously if it’s
shorter it will be cheaper. But as for the details, I will have to defer to the DPWH [Department of Public Works and Highways],” he said.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered all concerned agencies to “go back to the drawing board” and find—in a month—faster, less disruptive, and ultimately cheaper alternatives to the originally proposed P15-billion project originally scheduled for completion in 2026.
“It shows the President’s resolve in not only rebuilding Edsa, but in making sure that the inconvenience of the motoring public and to the commuters is minimized using the most advanced technology out there,” Dizon said.
However, he expressed doubts that the one-month study period given by the President will be sufficient to completely overhaul the project’s implementation plan.
“Whether we can finalize everything in one month, I’m not sure— but what’s certain is the President will not allow a two-year timeline. He wants this done in six months,” he said. “We cannot do this using the conventional way because that will take too long.”
Originally, the government will implement the project under a phased approach, starting with the rehabilitation of the southbound and northbound Edsa sections from Pasay to Shaw Boulevard.
This segment is expected to be completed by the end of the year, after which works will proceed to the remaining sections. Dizon noted that the DOTr will continue to augment Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Line 3 and the Edsa Busway operations regardless of the revised construction timeline. Early deployments and capacity boosts are being lined up to ease the impact of the eventual road works on commuters.
The Edsa Rebuild, which aims to overhaul the capital’s busiest thoroughfare, has faced growing public opposition due to fears of prolonged gridlock and economic losses during its construction.
FINAL SESSION STRETCH Senators return for the resumption of the 19th Congress’ regular session on Monday, June 2, 2025. With the current Congress nearing its end, the Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce (JFC) urged lawmakers to fast-track three priority reform bills seen as critical to boosting the country’s competitiveness in the Asean region. These include the Konektadong Pinoy Act, the Enhanced Fiscal Regime for Large-Scale Metallic Mining Act, and amendments to the Investor’s Lease Act. ROY DOMINGO
“The Philippines got 17 percent. We were not spared. But we were treated better than most. That gives us a comparative advantage. And comparative advantage must be activated. If we do not act, it will disappear,” he added.
Salceda also reiterated his push for deeper structural reforms, including full autonomy for economic zones.
“Treat ecozones as municipal corporations. They should be fully autonomous from the host LGU in everything—permits, zoning, budgeting, and operations. The only tie that remains is the obligation to remit the LGU’s lawful share of taxes. In all else, they should govern themselves. Like the City of London within Greater London,” he said.
Salceda called on the DTI, EMB, and Board of Investments (BOI) to act with urgency.
Online travel platform scored by DOTr for price gouging
By Lorenz S. Marasigan
THEDepartment of Transportation (DOTr) will file criminal charges of economic sabotage against AirAsia Move, the online travel platform affiliated with AirAsia, over alleged price gouging.
In a press briefing on Monday, Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon alleged that the online travel agency (OTA) was charging fares as high as P77,704 for a one-way ticket for two passengers on the Tacloban to Manila route.
flation, and potential downsizing of businesses.
For its part, the Department of Labor and Employment said it can only recommend minimum wage adjustments through the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards. They said the power to legislate an across-the-board increase rests solely with Congress.
Malacañang echoed this stance in April, saying it would not certify the bill as urgent since wage-setting should remain the responsibility of the regional boards.
The rate, he said, was several times higher than the average price offered by Philippine Airlines (PAL), which was around P12,000. Dizon said the company was supposedly taking advantage of a local crisis in Leyte, as the San Juanico Bridge was partially closed for heavy vehicles, including passenger buses.
“This is totally unacceptable,” he said. “This is just absurd and really it’s criminal,” he said.
The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) had issued an immediate cease and
desist (CD) order dated May 26 against AirAsia Move for allegedly selling airline tickets of other carriers at prices exceeding the fare ceilings set by regulators.
AirAsia Move responded by asserting it is not under CAB’s jurisdiction, arguing that it is a foreign-based online travel agency.
CAB Executive Director Carmelo Arcilla defended the agency’s enforcement actions, stating that its jurisdiction is based on the subject matter— fare regulations—not solely on the nature of the company.
“There is such a thing as the doctrine of necessary implication. If our fare ceilings are violated, they come within our enforcement proceedings,” he explained.
Arcilla underscored that the pricing
behavior observed constituted price gouging—unjustifiably increasing rates during periods of abnormal demand, in this case, due to a transport disruption in Tacloban.
“We find a very compelling reason to issue the cease and desist due to confluence of events,” he said.
The government aims to finalize and file the case within the week, with requests already to take down AirAsia Move’s booking access points.
“We will put the full force of the government and the law against these unscrupulous online platforms,” Dizon emphasized.
AirAsia Move explains IN response, AirAsia Move CEO Nadia Omer said the company “welcomes the opportunity to
proactively engage with relevant authorities to provide clarity on the issue and asks for due process to take its course for the benefit of all passengers booked via the platform.”
She clarified that the fare discrepancy was due to “temporary data synchronization issues” with a third-party pricing partner and noted that the glitch also affected other platforms.
Omer added that the company had taken immediate corrective actions, engaged with its pricing provider, and implemented enhanced safeguards to prevent similar incidents.
She noted that AirAsia Move “has been working closely with relevant authorities and is fully compliant with all regulatory requirements applicable” to OTAs operating in the Philippines.
ERC seeks comments on RAB valuation
By Lenie Lectura @llectura
THE Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) is soliciting comments from industry stakeholders on how best to evaluate the Regulatory Asset Base [RAB] of power firms.
“The ERC reiterates its call on all energy stakeholders, experts, academics, and consumers to comment on the Issues Paper on the Valuation of the Regulatory Asset Base (RAB), which serves as an important step toward ensuring fair and just electricity pricing for Filipinos,” it said on Monday.
The RAB is a crucial component in determining the allowed revenue and rate-setting for regulated entities.
This move supports the commission’s compliance with the Supreme Court’s (SC) decision to adopt a new approach to RAB valuation for distribution utilities (DUs) that aims to ensure that power is delivered to consumers at the least possible cost.
The SC voided the optimized depreciated replacement cost (ODRC) approach in the valuation of the RAB of the Manila
Electric Co. (Meralco). The court also directed ERC to determine a reasonable and fair valuation of the RAB that will provide electricity to consumers “in the least cost manner.”
The ERC was mandated to set the parameters that will determine whether “expenses that are not directly and entirely related to the operation of a distribution utility shall be passed on wholly or partially to consumers” in a fair and least cost manner in accordance with the SC decision.
The agency said it “strongly encourages” interested parties to submit their written comments on or before June 5. A public consultation on the Issues Paper is scheduled this Friday.
“We encourage all our regulated entities, experts, the academe and all electricity consumers to actively participate in this exercise. The rules to be crafted will play a critical role in ensuring that only justifiable and fair charges are being recovered in the electricity bills of Filipino consumers, in full compliance with SC’s decision,” said ERC Chairperson Monalisa Dimalanta.
strengthen project identification and prioritization at the Regional Development Council (RDC) level.
“Tracking how many and what percentage of RDC-endorsed projects make it to the GAA may be institutionalized. Moreover, it helps if there is more transparency in the accounting for and reporting of RDC priorities, and greater assurance on rightof-way readiness of projects in the RDC list,” Navarro and Latigar said. The study showed that while there have been improvements in the country’s national roads as only 1.25 percent of them are gravel roads and 0.09 percent remain earth roads, progress has been “uneven.” Navarro and Latigar cited a 2017 survey conducted among select local government units (LGUs) that about 47 percent of their municipal roads remain unpaved.
Based on the data presented in the study, as of 2017, 8,739.07 kilometers of roads are paved with concrete and 499.57 kilometers are paved with asphalt. However, 4,998.38 kilometers of roads were gravel roads and 3,333.03 kilometers were earth roads.
They also found that there were more local roads that are rated as “poor” to “bad” than those rated as “good” to “fair.” In 2021, of the 8,546 bridges nationwide, 4,361 were in good condition; 3,738 were fair; 372 were poor; and 75 were considered in bad condition.
Further, the authors found that previous faulty practices in farm-tomarket road (FMR) implementation continue to weaken connectivity.
“The standard costing of FMR [at P12 million per kilometer at the time the KIIs were conducted] is not realistic as it applies only to straight roads,” the authors added.
The authors said that in 2020, almost half of the budget for farmto-market roads was under the forlater-release mode.
Since these roads had no accompanying RDC endorsements, the funds were not immediately made available to implement these projects.
Cai U. Ordinario
of the solution—by fostering psychologically safe environments, supporting mental health literacy, and encouraging open conversations,” AXA said.
Even if mental health symptoms persist among this age group, more young Filipinos are exploring digital tools for support.
According to the report, 39 percent of Filipinos use artificial intelligence (AI)-powered mental health tools, higher than the global average of 28 percent.
The report also found that half of all Filipinos now use digital platforms such as websites, blogs, forum and social media for mental health support.
“As more young Filipinos turn to self-guided tools and digital channels for help, the availability of accessible resources for early mental health awareness and care becomes increasingly important,” it added.
Among the digital options
available are simple and nondiagnostic tools such as AXA’s Mind Health Self-Check, designed to help individuals reflect on their mental state and take the next steps when needed.
Several health plans available in the market have also begun offering free mental health consultations, while others have started to include coverage for select mental health conditions, acknowledging the reality of mental health conditions.
“Because mental health is not just a personal issue—it’s a public one. And tackling it requires shared understanding, accessible tools, and sustained support,”
AXA Philippines Chief Executive Officer Ayman Kandil said. “And while we still have a long way to address the gaps, know you can do something now and thrive with the right support.”
AXA’s annual Mind Health Report identifies global and local attitudes toward mental health and tracks emerging trends and behaviors that influence mental wellness across life stages and cultures.
“The situation was further exacerbated by a deteriorating demand from foreign markets, with May witnessing a sharper drop in new export orders. As global trade tensions escalate, the outlook for overseas demand appears increasingly precarious,” Baluch said.
However, Baluch said, inflation remains tame and is helping manufacturers create a buffer against challenges from external market uncertainties.
The report stated that cost burdens and output charges increased but the pace of inflation was considered “relatively modest.”
S&P Global Market Intelligence also said new orders are expected to increase in 12 months but based on the latest survey, the level of sentiment was the third-weakest in the series history.
S&P Global compiled by S&P Global from responses to questionnaires sent to purchasing managers in a panel of around 400 manufacturers. The panel is stratified by detailed sector and company workforce size, based on contributions to GDP. Data collection began in January 2016. Survey responses are collected in the second half of each month and indicate the direction of change compared to the previous month. A diffusion index is calculated for each survey variable.
The index is the sum of the percentage of “higher” responses and half the percentage of “unchanged” responses. The indices vary between 0 and 100, with a reading above 50 indicating an overall increase compared to the previous month and below 50 an overall decrease. The indices are then seasonally adjusted.
Marcos to new PNP chief: Keep force clean, honorable
By Samuel P. Medenilla
@sam_medenilla & Rex Anthony Naval
PRESIDENT Marcos on Monday called on the newly-sworn in National Police (PNP) chief, Gen. Nicolas D. Torre III to ensure that the police will be reliable and continue the intensified campaign against illegal drugs and other evolving challenges which threaten public security.
Torre officially assumed command of the 230,000-strong force in a combined change of command ceremony and retirement honors of his predecessor, General Rommel Francisco D. Marbil in Camp Rafael T. Crame, Quezon City.
In his speech, Marcos ordered Torre to continue cleansing the ranks of PNP of its erring members and to increase police visibility.
“My challenge to you: Keep our police force clean and honorable. Speed up the investigation of cases against police officers who have violated the law so that we can deliver justice as soon as possible,” Marcos told Torre in Filipino.
“Also, increase the police presence in the streets. Ensure that more police officers patrol the streets and patrol our communities, especially in areas where crime and unrest are common,” he added.
He also tasked Torre to continue enhancing the PNP’s public image by continuing its crackdown against illegal drugs as well as other emerging security threats including transnational crimes, cyber threats, and extremist violence and engaging with communities.
“Let your badge be your daily pledge— not to command—but to serve with integrity. Let every decision uphold the law, and let every gesture reflect the quiet dignity of true public service. May the PNP become a source of hope and reassurance to every community that you protect,” Marcos said.
The President also recognized the achievements of Marbil during his administration of PNP, which led to the institution to become “more people-centered, structured, and regulated.”
“In moments that tested our resilience—from disaster response to crisis
management, from general public safety to the conduct of a credible and peaceful 2025 National and Local Elections—you showed us what a smart, capable leadership looks like,” Marcos told Marbil in his speech.
Humbled TORRE, the 31st PNP chief, said he was “humbled” by the enormity of his task as head of the country’s 230,000-strong police service.
“Today I stand before you as a public servant, humbled by the enormity of the task, and inspired by the mission all of us share, to serve and protect the Filipino people with integrity, courage, and compassion,” he said.
In line with this, Torre also expressed his gratitude to Marcos for entrusting him with the responsibility to command the PNP.
“To President Marcos, Sir, thank you for entrusting me [with] this responsibility. This is a position of trust, and as a duly elected leader of the Filipino people, you have my full commitment, and I will abide solely by your directive in faithful service to our nation and the strengthening of the PNP,” he added.
Likewise, Torre also expressed his thanks to Marbil for his service and legacy.
“I and the entire PNP will build on your efforts and aims to steer our organization forward, grounded in unity and guided by the principles of the rule of law. We recognize that every step we take from today is built on the foundations that you have laid,” he added.
“And to the Filipino people, the very reason for our existence, we, the Philippine National Police, shall work harder to earn and ensure that our communities are safe, your rights are respected, and your trust is earned. I believe that we are ready to deliver on your expectations, as we have done in the past. At hindi ako nagiisa, I stand shoulder to shoulder with the over 230,000 strong and dedicated men and women of the PNP, each one entrusted with upholding the dignity and honor that our badge represents,” Torres stressed.
Three pillars AS he formally takes over the PNP, Torre
See “PNP,” A4
Teodoro meets with Japanese, Ukrainian, Dutch defense execs
IN line with its ongoing efforts to expand the Philippines’ security ties, Secretary of National Defense (SND) Gilberto Teodoro on Sunday conducted a series of bilateral meetings with defense officials of Japan, Ukraine, and the Netherlands during highlevel security engagements on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore
“Secretary Teodoro and Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani’s meeting took place following their last engagement in Manila in February 2025, which preceded the visit to the Philippines of Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba last April.
Secretary Teodoro expressed gratitude for Japan’s continued trust and goodwill,” Defense Assistant Secretary Arsenio Andolong, spokesman for the Department of National Defense, said in a statement Monday.
During the meeting of the two defense chiefs, Nakatani welcomed Teodoro’s retention in office and reaffirmed Japan’s desire for deeper involvement in joint exercises like “Balikatan” and “Kamandag” upon the entry into force of the PhilippinesJapan Reciprocal Access Agreement.
“Both sides agreed on the importance of expanding cooperation in defense equipment production, which they recognized as mutually beneficial.
Secretary Teodoro also emphasized the need for sustained bilateral and multilateral dialogues to deter actions that undermine regional peace, and called for stronger alliances rooted in shared principles,” Andolong said.
During his engagement with Ukrainian Deputy Minister of Defence Oleksandr Kozenko, the DND chief expressed admiration for the Ukrainian people’s resilience and extended prayers for their
Senate prioritizes Ledac bills over Sara impeachment trial
By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM & Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie
ENATE President Francis Es -
Scudero on Monday stood his ground on the sequencing of business in the last six session days of the 19th Congress, saying “nothing is lost” in the impeachment process by moving the presentation of the complaint to June 11, but “so much will be lost” if lawmakers fail to enact urgent reform bills already in advanced stages.
Escudero asserted this in response to reporters’ queries on his earlier decision to reset from June 2 to June 11 the formal presentation by House prosecutors to the Senate plenary of the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte.
“So, I will appeal to them to first finish all the unfinished business,” Escudero said of how the session will unfold Monday afternoon, when the chamber reconvenes after a long recess, and begins its last chapter before bowing out.
He reminded reporters in a news conference that “we still have to confirm 200 officials,” including members of the diplomatic corps, and military and civilian officers, and failing to do this could result in serious disruptions to the bureaucracy.
The other more pressing business that he frontloaded—ahead of the impeachment case—is the Senate’s action on at least a dozen urgent reform bills listed by the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (Ledac).
Escudero, in a letter sent to Speaker Martin Romualdez after the May 29 Ledac meeting, had notified the latter that the Senate is moving from June 2 to June 11 the formal presentation by the House prosecution panel of the impeachment complaint against Duterte.
our shared sense of urgency in passing important legislation in the last days of the 19th Congress, including the landmark Anti-POGO bill, we cannot postpone our constitutional obligations any longer.”
She warned that, “Any further delays in commencing the trial against Vice President Duterte would violate the Constitution, which clearly states that the Senate ‘shall forthwith proceed’ with an impeachment trial. Hindi kapag ready na , hindi kapag convenient, kundi shall forthwith proceed.” Huwag naman sana balewalain iyon .”
The Supreme Court, Hontiveros noted, has also previously ruled that the Senate is treated as a continuing body when it comes to non-legislative functions, and those include the vital duty to sit as an impeachment court.”
At the House of Representatives, Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said that the lower chamber has already fulfilled its constitutional role in the impeachment process against Duterte, and it is now up to the Senate to decide on how to proceed.
“The impeachment complaint has been transmitted to the Senate. So, it’s best we leave it to the sound discretion of the Senate on how they plan on disposing of it,” Romualdez added.
On Escudero’s list of urgent Ledaclisted measures are:
1. A mendments to the Foreign I nvestors’ Long-Term Lease Act;
2. E -Governance Act;
3. O pen Access in Data Transmission (Konektadong Pin oy Act);
4. R ationalization of the Fiscal M ining Regime;
5. A mendments to the Universal H ealth Care Act;
6. V irology Institute of the Philippines;
7. G overnment Optimization Act;
8. A mendments to the Right-ofWay Act;
Same effect
ESCUDERO stressed that unlike the urgent bills that need urgent action, the impeachment-related process will not be affected because “whether June 3 or June 11, [it has the]same effect,” since the 10 days to be given when the Senate impeachment court issues summons is the same. Meaning, even if the Senate plenary convenes as an impeachment court after receiving the formal complaint from the House on June 3, the most it can do is agree on the rules and issue summons, for which recipients are given 10 days— by which time the 19th Senate would have adjourned anyway.
“The farthest this Senate can go is issue the summons,” Escudero said in walking through the steps that will follow the June 11 formal presentation to the Senate plenary.
At this point, he said, there are many possibilities, but whatever motion is made by any member, it is the plenary, voting by a majority, that will decide.
eating into the hours badly needed for processing the end-stage bills.
Dangerous compromise AN assistant minority leader at the House of Representatives assailed the Senate’s decision to delay the presentation of the Articles of Impeachment against Duterte, calling the move a dangerous compromise of their constitutional responsibility.
Assistant Minority Leader Gabriel Bordado Jr. raised alarm over the postponement of the impeachment proceedings—initially set for June 2 but rescheduled to June 11 to accommodate priority bills before the June 14 sine die adjournment.
“Are we to tell the Filipino people that imp each able offenses committed by the second-highest official of the land are less urgent than our legislative targets? ” Bordado asked. “Is this delay not, in effect, a compromise of our solemn duty as public servants sworn to uphold the Constitution? ” He directly refuted Escudero’s justification that the chamber needs to first address 12 priority measures and over 200 pending presidential appointments.
“When did convenience become a valid excuse to delay justice? ” Bordado said. “When did we decide that institutional housekeeping is more important than institutional integrity? ” The lawmaker underscored the seriousness of the accusations against Duterte—including the alleged misuse of over P600 million in confidential funds, disregard for congressional oversight, and conduct unbecoming of her office—stressing that the issue transcends partisan lines.
continued strength.
“Mr. Kozenko thanked the Philippines for its support to Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity, and shared the upcoming assignment of a Ukrainian defense attaché to Manila, who will help develop bilateral defense ties,” Andolong added.
Meanwhile, Teodoro expressed the Philippines’ interest for technological development and expressed the country’s interest in Ukraine’s experience.
“Deputy Minister Kozenko is also keen on learning from the Philippines, especially in areas of maritime disaster response and post-trauma recovery,” Andolong said. Both sides remain committed in upholding international law, with Ukraine emphasizing its adherence and strict compliance with the Geneva Conventions on warfare, and openness to defense cooperation with the Philippines.
In a separate meeting with Dutch Minister of Defence Ruben Brekelmans, Teodoro highlighted the importance of working with resilient and like-minded partners.
“He pointed out the risks posed by functional illiteracy, especially in terms of misinformation and disinformation acceptance, and expressed interest in learning from the Netherlands’ best practices in defense governance,” Andolong noted.
Brekelmans echoed support for the rules-based international order and conveyed interest in exploring joint military activities with the Philippines.
Andolong said both officials extended invitations for future visits, maintaining their intent to broaden defense engagement and cooperation. Rex Antony Naval
“That’s why we came out with a notice on the afternoon of Thursday [May 29], after the Ledac. This Ledac said sayang naman [it’s a pity, these bills are already in] advanced stage; they will have to start from zero if not passed in the 19th Congress,” Escudero explained, partly in Filipino.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minority Leader Anna Theresia Hontiveros expressed concern over the “repeated delays in the process of the impeachment trial,” and expressed hope “this would be the last delay.”
In a statement, Hontiveros said: “While I support my colleagues in
BI nabs
T9. S etting the Term of Office of B arangay Officials and Members o f the Sangguniang Kabataan
In Monday’s news conference, Escudero declined to react to newly elected Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima of Mamayang Liberal, who was quoted saying that moving the presentation to June 11 is a signal that some quarters want to kill the impeachment case.
“The 19th Congress can say, that [impeachment case] will cross over to the next congress,” but the plenary in the 20th congress can say, it should not, and decide to dismiss the case.
He disputed the concern of Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III that resetting the formal presentation to June 11 is unnecessary because the Senate’s act of receiving the formal complaint will not take too long and need not disrupt the passage of the urgent bills.
Escudero argued that once the discussion on the impeachment case begins, neither he nor Pimentel can bar any member from raising questions or points than can lead to debates, thus
39 undocumented Chinese working in telco
“I did not sign the Articles of Impeachment lightly,” he said. “This is not a political vendetta. This is a principled stand for transparency, integrity, and the rule of law.” He urged his fellow legislators not to allow political expediency to overshadow their constitutional duty: “We cannot allow political expediency to blunt the sword of accountability. We must not forget that our allegiance is not to any political party or personality—it is to the people, to the Constitution, and to the truth.”
“As legislators, we are often measured not by what we pass, but by what we permit. If we permit delay in the face of alleged abuses of power, then we too become complicit in the erosion of our democracy,” he said.
“The nation is watching. And the nation deserves better,” he added.
By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573
HE Bureau of immigration (BI) has arrested 39 Chinese nationals working in a telecommunications company in Bonifacio Global City (BGC) for alleged violation of immigration laws.
The operation was conducted by the BI Intelligence Division in coordination with the National Police (PNP) Southern Police District (PNP-SPD) on May 29. The BI said the foreigners were arrested after they failed to present valid travel
THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) clarified that the agency will provide a gradual and monitored P80,000 livelihood aid to “Rose,” the woman recently rescued from a Makati sewer, ensuring she’s well-guided as she establishes her own sari-sari store.
Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian clarified over the weekend that the aid
documents during the raid, rendering them undocumented aliens under Philippine law.
While the foreign nationals managed to secure working visas, these were issued under petitions from a different company— constituting a breach of the conditions of their stay.
“Foreign nationals who wish to work in the Philippines must comply with all our laws and procedures. Those who enter under false pretenses or switch employers without proper authorization will face the full force of the law,” BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said.
won’t be given all at once but will follow the agency’s standard operating procedures for all clients.
“In all our cases, it’s a gradual monitoring system; it’s a hand-holding process,” Gatchalian said. ”Our social workers will first provide initial assistance—like last night, they already started buying items for the store. Then, we’ll monitor them again.
“This operation sends a strong message: the BI will not tolerate violations that threaten our national security and undermine our immigration system,” he added.
Prior to the raid, authorities conducted surveillance and intelligence gathering for several weeks in coordination with other government agencies as part of the ongoing campaign against illegal foreign workers.
The BI said the arrested individuals have been transferred to the BI detention facility in Bicutan, Taguig City, pending the conduct of deportation proceedings.
If we see good progress, we’ll gradually add more until the P80,000 is completed.” He added that DSWD social workers will serve as case managers, closely monitoring Rose to ensure she maximizes all given resources for her sustained development. Gatchalian emphasized the importance
THE Bureau of immigration (BI) yesterday announced the arrest of a South Korean fugitive who is facing a large-scale fraud cases involving some P400 million.
Immigration authorities identified the suspect as Nam Sungjin, 53, who was arrested on Friday in Pasay City by the agents of the bureau’s-Fugitive Search Unit who were accompanies by representatives of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office of the Republic of Korea as well as Air Force (PAF) intelligence personnel.
Nam’s arrest stemmed from an arrest warrant issued by the Changwon District Court, Miryang Branch in South Korea in 2024 for violation of Article 347-(1) of the Korean Criminal Act, which covers fraud. “Foreign fugitives attempting to use the Philippines as a safe haven will be located and deported,” Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado warned. An official report from Korean authorities stated that Nam allegedly
Retail price growth in NCR slows to 0.9 percent in April
By Bless Aubrey Ogerio
THE faster annual decline in the prices of mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials was the main driver behind the slower growth in retail prices in Metro Manila last month, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said. In its latest report, the PSA said the General Retail Price Index (GRPI) in the National Capital Region (NCR) rose by 0.9 percent
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said he will use “three core pillars” as his leadership guide.
“Pillar number one is in compliance with the directive of the President for swift and responsive public service. We will institutionalize a three-minute emergency response time in major urban centers, and this had been done already during my term in Quezon City in the three-minute response time project,” he said.
Torre said that this is not just a benchmark but a lifeline as every call for help deserves immediate attention and action.
To achieve this, he said PNP personnel will be seen in the streets, communities, market places, and every other place needing police presence to ensure security and safety for all Filipinos.
“To support this, we must ensure pillar number two, unity and morale within the ranks. A divided force cannot defend a nation. Thus, we will strengthen our core from within, guided by discipline, mutual respect and leadership by example,” he stressed.
Also, Torre said that he expects nothing but the best for all PNP personnel when it comes to protecting the community.
“With this expectation, we will also give you the best, best training, best leadership, best support and the best opportunity to grow in this institution. Because those who are asked to give all also deserve nothing less in return,” he added.
Pillar number three refers to accountability and modernization.
“In support of the President’s reform agenda and of key pillar number one on swift and responsive public service, we will modernize our systems, enhance our investigative tools and adopt innovative technologies that protect rights while ensuring order,” Torre said.
He also vowed to reward all police officers who will work hard to achieve these three pillars, adding that under his term, action will be rewarded.
“Appointments will be based solely on merit and only the most competent will be entrusted with the right positions in the right places. Deliver excellence in your police work. File affidavits. Execute warrants. Bring criminals to justice. Raise your hands in front of judges and fiscals and provide evidence against these criminals to support their conviction. And you will be recognized and rewarded,” he added.
Torre also reiterated that all these actions must be done within the ambit of the law, evidence-based and rightsrespecting.
year-on-year in April 2025, easing from 1.1 percent in March 2025, and below the 2.1 percent increase recorded in April 2024. The decline in the mineral fuels index deepened to 4.7 percent in April, from 2.6 percent in the previous month.
On one hand, other commodity groups posted slower annual increases during the period, such as the food index rose by 1.2 percent, compared to 1.4 percent in March.
Moreover, beverages and tobacco registered a 3.3 percent increase, down from 3.6 percent. The chemicals group, which includes animal and vegetable oils and fats, also saw a 1.9 percent rise, slightly lower than the 2.1 percent posted the month before.
Likewise, manufactured goods classified chiefly by materials recorded an annual growth of 0.8 percent, easing from 1 percent in March. Miscellaneous manufactured articles also slowed to 0.9
The Power of Proactive Foresight
By Henry J. Schumacher
AVISIONARY idea became reality because someone spotted the cracks before they became chasms.
But it endured and thrived because the visionary leader understood something
percent from 1 percent.
Meanwhile, two categories retained their previous month’s rates: crude materials (inedible except fuels) stayed at 0.6 percent, while machinery and transport equipment remained at 0.2 percent.
The GRPI measures changes in the general level of prices at which retailers sell goods to consumers or end-users, making it a key indicator of consumer inflation trends in the region, per the statistics agency.
Philippines leads global talks on platform work
By Justine Xyrah Garcia
THE Philippines has been elected to chair the committee on platform work at the 113th International Labor Conference (ILC), the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) announced on Monday.
Dole said Labor Undersecretary Benedicto Ernesto Bitonio Jr. will lead the International Labor Organization (ILO) committee tasked with starting negotiations on labor standards for digital platform work—an area not yet covered by existing ILO conventions.
The ILC, scheduled from June 2 to 13 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, will bring together tripartite delegations—governments, workers, and employers—from the ILO’s 187 member states.
The conference will also take up the adoption of a new standard on biological
hazards in the workplace and policies to facilitate the transition of workers from the informal to the formal economy.
Labor Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma heads the Philippine delegation, which includes officials from Dole, the Department of Migrant Workers, and the Department of Foreign Affairs through the Philippine Mission to United Nations in Geneva.
Lawmakers and representatives from labor and employer groups are also part of the delegation.
Dole said Laguesma is set to deliver the country’s plenary statement on June 10, where he is expected to highlight the Philippines’ efforts in promoting decent work, social justice, and adherence to international labor standards.
“The Philippine government delegation will also hold bilateral meetings with key international partners to strengthen cooperation in
skills development, industrial relations, social protection, and other labor and employment priorities,” the department added.
In a statement, DOLE noted that the country has stepped up its engagement with the ILO in recent years.
This includes the ratification of Convention 190 on the elimination of violence and harassment in the world of work and Convention 81 on labor inspection, as well as the Philippines’ return to the ILO Governing Body.
The country also holds seats on the ILO’s Committee on Freedom of Association and the board of the ILO’s training center in Turin, Italy.
“All these underscore the government’s firm commitment to international labor standards and its readiness to assume more leadership and strategic roles in the multilateral system,” Dole said.
Slight hike in diesel, gasoline pump prices
OIL companies announced Monday an increase in gasoline and diesel prices to take effect on Tuesday morning. They said in separate advisories that gasoline prices will go up by P0.40 per liter and diesel by P0.30 per liter. Kerosene prices, on the other hand, will go down by P0.10 per liter.
Petron, Shell, Caltex, Unioil, Total, Seaoil, PTT, Phoenix, Jetti will adjust their pump prices at 6 a.m. of June 3. Cleanfuel, meanwhile, will implement the mixed price
Legislator
Aadjustment at 4:01 p.m. Oil companies adjust their prices weekly to reflect movements in the world oil market.
According to Oil Management Bureau Director Rodela Romero said the oil price increase was attributed to the rising geopolitical tensions in oil producing countries, easing US-EU tariff concern, and potential new US sanctions on Russia that overshadowed the anticipated Organization of Petroleum Exporting countries (Opec)+
production hike.
Meanwhile, the rollback was influenced by the decision of Opec+ to increase production in July by 411,000 barrels per day. The economic slowdown, particularly in Asia, and shifting energy priorities also contributed to the reduced demand forecasts.
Last week, gasoline prices increased by P0.10 per liter while diesel and kerosene went down by P0.20 per liter and P0.40 per liter, respectively.
eyes solar power for isolated islands
PARTY-LIST lawmaker is pushing for electrification of most isolated island communities through state-funded Solar Home System units.
Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co said that what was once a distant dream has now become a tangible reality for hundreds of families in some of Albay’s most isolated island communities.
“An estimated 260 households in Rapu-Rapu have received state-funded Solar Home System units, ending decades of darkness and ushering in an era of clean, sustainable, and reliable energy,” said Co.
“The initiative, in partnership with the National Electrification Administration (NEA) and Albay Electric Cooperative (Aleco), and with the support of President Marcos and Speaker Martin Romualdez, signified an important move towards inclusive development,” added Co.
“With this project, we will put an end to the suffering of our countrymen and the darkness in their places,” said Co.
“It’s not merely the electrification of their houses; rather, it’s about giving them dignity and hope after years of living in darkness at night,” he said.
Each household received a comprehensive Solar Home System, equipped with solar panels, four light bulbs, cell phone charging ports, a transistor radio, battery storage, and an inverter—providing not just light, but also convenience and enhanced security. A minimal P7 daily maintenance fee ensures the sustainability of the program, with all installation and equipment provided free of charge.
“We will make sure that even the remotest areas will have electricity in their houses,” he added.
For residents like Emy Rose Berba, a 23-year-old online teacher, and Loreta Bola, an 80-year-old lifelong island resi -
dent, the solar panels are more than just electricity—they are a symbol of change.
“I used to travel to Tabaco City using a small boat just so I could work as an online teacher,” shared Berba. “Now, I can work here in the house. I can tutor my Korean students without leaving my family.”
“Our only source of light was a gas lamp,” Bola added. “Now, we have solar light; we no longer need the gas lamp. We are safer, and we have hope that next time around we will have a power line already.”
During the same ceremony, 50 more households in sitio Dinagsaan, Hacienda, San Miguel Island in Tabaco City also received their solar units—proof of the program’s wide reach and strong commitment to inclusive development.
“This is the administration’s solution to the lack of electricity in communities in other islands, on top of the mountains, and those with no power lines. This is the president’s way of giving dignity to those who live in darkness,” Co emphasized.
Co stated that the government’s solar electrification program provides reliable energy to households, noting that 1,000 of the 12,000 available solar units are specifically allocated for Albay. Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz
Steve Jobs preached at every turn:
“We don’t hire smart people to tell them what to do; we hire them so they can tell us what to do.”
Jobs’ words capture the spirit of Proactive Foresight: the value of surrounding yourself with people who see what you can’t.
That trusted leader can be you
ARE you the one who sees the problem before anyone else does?
If that’s you, we need more of you.
If that’s not you, don’t worry.
Proactive Foresight is a skill you can build. And it might just be the one that sets you apart. Why do raise this subject? I do it because in this uncertain world created by Trump and cohorts around the world, proactive thinking is required by all of us to stay ahead!
What Is Proactive Foresight
PROACTIVE Foresight is the critical structural skill that solves problems before they have names. It’s not prediction. It’s pattern recognition. Strategic anticipation. Quiet, unglamorous thinking that earns trust because it prevents firefighting.
In simpler terms?
It’s the skill of spotting the “uh-oh” before anyone else sees it, plus having the courage to raise your hand.
Why You Need It (Now More Than Ever)
IN a world of constant change, reactive thinking won’t do it. Without proactive foresight, by the time the pressure mounts, there’s often only time to contain, respond, or clean up—not to lead. And that’s a problem.
Proactive foresight gives you: n A head star t before crises hit n The presence of mind to prepare Plan
B while others celebrate Plan A n The ability to adapt before you’re forced to
And more importantly? It makes you indispensable, especially if you communicate your views with impact.
In short, the most effective leaders in the private sector and government demonstrate foresight, urgency, and adaptability.
Today’s leadership capacity is not enough to meet tomorrow’s demands. The biggest skill gaps aren’t technical—they’re human.
Competencies like managing change, inspiring commitment, thinking strategically, and taking initiative remain underdeveloped just when they’re needed most.
And the problem isn’t just skill. It’s focus. Too many organizations overlook future-facing capacities like foresight. But as disruption accelerates around us, those who wait to react are already too late.
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Proactive foresight closes that gap.
It cultivates the strategic anticipation, the adaptive leadership, and the courageous thinking today’s world demands and tomorrow’s world will reward!!!
In the age of AI, when technology comes for your role, the person who sees around corners is the one we’ll still want in the room. I am sure, we all want to be in that room.
How to develop Proactive Foresight?
It’s about building habits of anticipation, observation, and proactive leadership. Consider the following ways to fine-tune your proactive foresight muscle:
1. Understand the ROI of Proactive Foresight
n In Leadership: Prevents decision fatigue and reduces reactivity
n In Innovation: Supports a culture of readiness
n In Trust-Building: People follow those who help them be ready for anything
2. Journal the Patterns
n Keep track of changes in people, markets, and behaviors
n Notice the signals before they become trends
n D ocument insights from strategic c uriosity practices
3. Red Team for the Sake of Clarity
n Assume the contrarian view from time to time
n Ask the unpopular questions: What if this breaks? What’s the weakest link?
4. Think Like a Chess Player Use foresight to gain positional advantage:
n Play multiple moves ahead rather than reacting to what’s in front of you
n B alance short-term tactics with longterm strategy
n Consider the ripple effects of every decision, not just the next one
5. Think Like a Scientist Approach uncertainty with structured experimentation:
n B e skeptical. Test hypotheses, rather than assuming you’re right
n Obser ve without attachment, data over ego
n Use failure as feedback to refine your next move
It’s not about perfection. It’s about proactive preparation. That’s the quiet power of Proactive Foresight. It doesn’t shout. But it shows up right on time.
I hope, I convinced you that proactive foresight is a must for all of us. I certainly look forward to your responses; contact me at hjschumacher59@gmail.com.
Job opportunities expand as new law requires agriculturists nationwide
PBy Samuel P. Medenilla
@sam_medenilla
RIVATE companies and national government agencies involved in agriculture must now employ or engage with registered agriculturists after President Ferdinand Marcos signed Republic Act (RA) No. 12215 also known as the Philippine Agriculturists Act. Under the 16-page law signed by the President on 29 May 2025, all corporate farms, golf courses, agri-tourism sites, agri-related corporations or businesses, and other similar institutions or facilities involved in agriculture must now have a certain number of registered agriculturists.
A sole proprietor, consulting firm, association, organization may engage
in the practice of agriculture profession provided they are duly registered with the Department of Trade and Industry, Securities and Exchange Commission or other appropriate agencies; majority of the officers and board members of the firm, association, organization are registered agriculturists; and their practice is carried out by registered agriculturists.
For the public sector, registered agriculturists must occupy existing technical plantilla positions of provincial, city, and municipal agriculturists offices, including all agriculture technical positions therein. The minimum salary must not be lower than Salary Grade 13. It also mandates those who will teach agricultural courses in all higher educational institutions to be registered agriculturists.
Mpox is preventable and diagnosable, but masks not the answer, say experts
By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco @claudethmc3
THERE has been public concern over the increasing number of mpox cases in the country, but before it will spark panicbuying of face masks, the Philippine Society for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Inc. (PSMID) on Monday said that using it will not prevent the spread of the disease.
“Compulsory masking in these areas or within the broader community is not necessary. Enforcing masks is not a cost-effective measure and will not prevent the spread of mpox,” PSMID said in a statement.
PSMID explained that mpox is not known to be transmitted by the airborne route, for example, through the air across rooms, marketplaces, offices, and even inside planes.
PSMID also reiterated that all mpox cases in the country remain part of clade II, as confimed by the Department of Health (DOH), “with no detection of the more severe
Clade 1b strain found in recent outbreaks abroad.”
The first case of mpox in the Philippines was reported in July 2022.
“To date, no case of Clade Ib, the more recent strain implicated in the 2024 outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo [DRC], has been identified in the Philippines,” it added.
PSMID also said that individuals with skin rash should consult healthcare workers so that they can be properly assessed.
“Mpox can be confirmed through PCR [polymerase chain reaction] of a sample from the rash,” the group added.
Meanwhile, PSMID warned that some individuals with other medical conditions, such as uncontrolled or untreated HIV or cancer, may develop more severe skin lesions and experience complications requiring hospital admission for management.
“There is a vaccine that can prevent mpox, but global supply is limited. Mpox can be prevented and diagnosed,” PSMID said.
MMDA, LTO target ‘Takip Plaka’ drivers; over 50 face charges for obscuring plates
MORE than 50 drivers are possibly facing criminal charges after the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority-Special Operations Group Strike-Force (MMDA-SOGSF) turned over documents to the Land Transportation Office (LTO) containing images of motorists involved in “Takip Plaka” method to evade the Non-Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP).
Meanwhile, MMDA Chairman Romando Artes said that they respect those who are opposing the implementation of NCAP, especially from the transport sector.
“Susuriin ng MMDA ang mga concerns tungkol sa NCAP at titiyakin na masosolusyunan ang mga ito,” Artes said after protest action was staged by members of the transport and private motorist sectors, against the implementation of NCAP on Monday.
Takip Plaka
MMDA-SOGF head Gabriel Go, personally turned over documents containing images of motorists who intentionally covered, concealed, and tampered the license plates of their vehicles. The agency’s CCTV cameras captured these images if Takip Plaka and some were reported to the MMDA, or monitored on social media.
“More than 50 drivers are possibly facing criminal charges for obscuring their license plates. Within a week of the NCAP›s implementation, 90 percent of those apprehended had their license plates veiled, and generally were motorcycles,” said Go in a press briefing held at the LTO office in Quezon City.
“Chairman Artes ordered our field personnel to physically apprehend and to issue citation tickets to vehicles with concealed license plates immediately. The MMDA continuously monitors traffic situations using CCTV cameras at our MMDA Communication and Command Center,” he added.
For his part, LTO Executive Director Greg Pua Jr. assured that they will immediately send show cause orders to the traffic violators.
He also warned motorists against fraudulently concealing their license plates to avoid NCAP apprehension, citing Republic Act No.11235 or the Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act, following the provisions
PRBA creation RA 12215 created the Professional Regulatory Board of Agriculture (PRBA) composed by a chairman and five other members, which will be accredited by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) to prepare and modify the board examination for agriculturists.
Like other Accredited Integrated Professional Organization (AIPO), among the powers of the PRBA will be to promulgate, administer and enforce rules and regulations including the Code of Ethics and Code of Technical Standards for Registered Agriculturists as well as supervise and regulate the licensure practice of registered agriculturists.
The exam will have six foundation subjects namely crop science; animal science; crop protection; agricultural economics, agribusiness, agri-entre -
preneurship; and agricultural extension and communications.
To qualify for the licensure exam for agriculturists, applicants must have completed from an educational institution recognized by the government with any of the following degrees: Bachelor of Science (BS) in Agriculture; BS in Agricultural and Applied Economics; BS in Agribusiness Management; BS in Agricultural Biotechnology; BS in Agricultural Chemistry; and other agriculture-related courses that may be hereafter identified or recognized by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the PRBA.
They must also be a Filipino citizen or a national of a country with a policy on reciprocity for the practice of agriculture profession, have good moral character, and is not convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude.
Transition period
TO help with the transition process in the implementation of RA 12215, existing unlicensed agriculturists may register with the PRBA as agriculturists without examination (AWE).
AWEs applicants must be a graduate of a Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture or agriculture-related degree or related baccalaureate program from an educational institution recognized by the government; served the agriculture industry in any technical capacity in the government or private sector for not less than five years before the effectivity of RA 8435 or also known as the “Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act of 1997,” prior to the start of the Agriculturists Licensure Examination in 2003 pursuant to PRC Board of Agriculture Resolution No. 2, series of 2003 and prior to the
creation of the Board of Agriculture; is a holder of a regular doctorate degree in agriculture from a reputable university on any of the six fields of specialization.
The registration without examination may only be availed within five years upon effectivity of RA 12215. The PRBA, with the approval of the PRC is also allowed to issue Special Temporary Permit to foreign registered agriculturists if there is a lack of local registered agriculturists. Those who will violate the provisions of RA 12215 can face a fine of not less than P100,000 nor more than P500,000 or imprisonment of not less than six months nor more than six years.
The new law will take effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Romualdez celebrates 19th Congress’ legacy, welcomes re-elected members
By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie
PEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez
Son Monday called on members of the 19th Congress—especially those who did not win reelection in the 2025 midterm polls—to take pride in the accomplishments of the chamber, saying the chamber delivered on its mandate through unity, purpose, and concrete legislative outcomes.
“Let me say this with pride: This House of the People delivered,” Romualdez said as he addressed his colleagues during the resumption of session at the House of Representatives.
“Your service in this Chamber will not be forgotten. Even if you weren’t given another term, remember: you were part of something bigger than any one election,” he added.
The Speaker lauded their dedication, noting, “You helped pass laws. You shaped debate. You served your districts with passion and integrity. You gave your all — and the Filipino people saw it.”
Romualdez emphasized that their impact extends beyond their time in office.
“Your legacy is now woven into the fabric of this Congress, and even if you won’t be here in the next term, you will remain part of the success of the 19th Congress.”
The House leader also took the opportunity to welcome colleagues who won reelection.
“To those who prevailed — congratulations. The people have placed their trust in you once again. Carry that trust with honor, humility, and courage. Use your renewed mandate to fight even harder for their needs, for their hopes, and for a future where no Filipino is left behind,” he added.
In his speech, Romualdez cited several key laws that were passed under his leadership, including measures to combat smuggling and support local agriculture.
“We cracked down on smugglers and hoarders who make basic goods unaffordable for ordinary families,” he expressed. “We gave stronger support to our rice farmers—with P30 billion a year for seeds, mechanization, and productivity.”
The House also passed measures aimed at building a competitive workforce and safeguarding the rights of overseas Filipino workers.
“We passed laws to fix job-skills mismatches, invest in young workers, and prepare our people for the demands of a modern economy…We passed the Magna Carta for Filipino Seafarers—to give dignity and protection to those who power our global maritime reputation,” Speaker Romualdez stated.
The House of Representatives processed 13,868 measures between July 25, 2022, and May 28, 2025.
Of this number, 11,506 were bills, and 2,361 were various forms of resolutions. The chamber also submitted 1,451 committee reports and ultimately approved 1,493 measures on final reading, including 280 Republic Acts—93 national and 187 local laws.
Landmark legislation MEANWHILE , Romualdez reaffirmed support for landmark digital and technological legislation.
PHL, EU to meet on security, defense late this year
By Malou Talosig-Bartolome
Bof Article II, Section 12, which states that purposely concealing a readable license plate is punishable with imprisonment ranging from six months and one day to two years, or a fine of not more than P10,000.
“No one escapes the law; the LTO will immediately send show cause orders against motorists who tampered their vehicles’ license plates and will be penalized,” explained Pua.
“Covering a license plate is already a traffic code violation. We will use all our resources to identify violators. This is also to ensure road and public safety,” Pua added.
LTO is also coordinating with the Anti-Cybercrime Group and other law enforcement agencies to track down those promoting illegal tactics on social media and selling items intended to hide the details on the license plates.
LTO and MMDA are urging the public to report such infractions so they could act on it.
NCAP violators
Meanwhile, over 5,000 traffic violators were recorded by the MMDA following the resumption of the No NCAP on May 26.
Data from the MMDA showed that a total of 5, 436 apprehensions were recorded from May 26 up to June 1.
Most violations are: disregarding traffic signs, Edsa bus lane, motorcycle lane violations in Commonwealth, and public utility vehicles’ inappropriate loading and unloading locations.
On the other hand, Artes has expressed satisfaction claiming that motoroists are more disciplined after the enforcement of NCAP.
“Yes, there is a significant decline in the number of apprehensions in the past three days. The only reason we see is that drivers are cautious and are following traffic rules knowing violations can be caught through CCTV cameras,” Artes said. Earlier, the SC has partially lifted the injunction it imposed in August 2022, allowing the MMDA to resume enforcing the NCAP.
The MMDA has around 350 CCTVs deployed in strategic locations along Edsa and other major roadways. Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco
ESET with geopolitical crises of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and China’s growing assertiveness in the South China, the European Union and the Philippines are meeting late this year to identify more ways to improve security and defense cooperation.
The establishment of a bilateral talkshop mechanism at a “high-level” was one of the highlights of the visit of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/VicePresident of the European Commission Kaja Kallas in Manila on Monday.
“Recognizing the growing complexity of security threats, both sides agree to enhance their cooperation and announce the establishment of a Security and Defense Dialogue,” Kallas and Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said in a joint statement.
Kallas said the bilateral dialogue is an exchange of cooperation in security, defense including maritime security, cybersecurity, hybrid threats and foreign information and interference.
“As like-minded partners committed to a rules-based international order, we hope
that through the Security and Defense Dialogue we will remain proactive and united in addressing emerging security threats and challenges that transcend borders— cyberattacks and foreign interference and manipulation of information [FIMI] to name a few,” Manalo said.
The EU has 27 member countries — Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.
The bloc has no unified military force but relies on NATO for collective defense.
NATO, which includes certain EU members, the United States and Canada, has almost similar provision with the Philippine-US Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) where an attack of one is also considered an another on another.
Geopolitical analyst Prof. Victor Dindo Manhit of The Stratbase Group lauded the initiative saying that it is a “step forward” from the commitment of the EU to the rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific region.
“We have seen individual EU countries like Germany, France, Sweden, Italy, Spain supporting the Philippines in Arbitral Award in the South China Sea. This time, it is the whole bloc which will give more strength and resources to their previous commitment,” Manhit told B usiness M irror
He conceded though that the level of cooperation is still conservatively at the “dialogue” level to accommodate other EU countries perceived to be supportive of China such as Hungary.
The EU has security and defense partnership agreement with South Korea and Japan, that includes naval cooperation with their navies and EU’s Naval Force Atalanta (EUNAVFOR Atalanta) as well conducting joint exercises and port calls.
According to Manalo and Kallas, among the joint activities they have in mind include “exchange of knowledge and best practices on submarine cables and uncrewed vessels as new areas of cooperation.”
The Philippines and EU have been active in joint maritime security activities such as the Critical Maritime Routes Indo-Pacific (CRIMARIO II), Copernicus, and Enhancing security cooperation in and with Asia (ESIWA Plus).
“Let us pass the Open Access in Data Transmission Act — to make fast, reliable internet accessible to every barangay,” Romualdez said. He urged the chamber to act on the E-Governance Act, which aims to integrate and digitize government services.
“Let us finalize the E-Governance Act so that public services become faster, smarter, and less prone to red tape,” Speaker Romualdez said.
Romualdez highlighted the need to enact the country’s first comprehensive law on artificial intelligence.
“Let us pass the first-ever Philippine legislation on artificial intelligence—to embrace innovation while protecting ethics, privacy, and human dignity,” he said. He further expressed full support for President Marcos’ P20 rice initiative, calling it both a policy and a moral commitment.
“Let us support the P20 rice program of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.—not just as a national policy, but as a promise to every Filipino family struggling to make ends meet,” he said.
DMW to repatriate remains of 2 OFWs who died in UAE fire incident, offers support to families
THE Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said it will repatriate the remains of two overseas Filipino workers (OFW), who died from the Albarsha-1 fire incident in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) last month. DMW Secretary Hans J. Cacdac made the commitment in a video message, which he recorded in UAE and posted in his social media account last Monday.
“We will help their families right now. Especially in bringing back the remains of our countrymen,” he said.
The two fatalities were among the 500 Filipinos, who were affected by the fire, which happened on 13 May 2025 in Dubai.
Cacdac said he was able to meet with 200 of the Filipino fire victims during his three-day visit in Dubai to attend the 127th celebration of the Philippine Independence in UAE. As of May 24, 2025, the DMW Migrant Workers Office in Dubai
DOT ‘greatly serious’ about safety of tourists from South Korea
By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo @akosistellaBM Special to the BusinessMirror
THE Department of Tourism (DOT) has reiterated that it continues to work with relevant government agencies to ensure the security of South Koreans traveling in the Philippines.
In a news statement on Monday, Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said: “This is something that we take with great seriousness; we have called on our fellow government agencies to really ensure that we come together to prioritize tourist safety for South Koreans and all tourists coming into the Philippines.”
She also said the DOT had proposed the formation of a National Task Force on Tourist Safety in a meeting with Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on May 21, 2025. She likewise appealed to the Philippine National Police to “ensure that we add police personnel, especially in the destinations where our South Korean visitors frequent.”
Visitor arrivals in the Philippines continued to slip for the fourth straight month this year to 2.1 million with South Korea, a key market, dropping by 18 percent to 468,337 from January to April, year on year. Rising criminal incidents victimizing Korean nationals in the Philippines, have reportedly discouraged visitors from that country. (See, “Tourist arrivals still sluggish at 2.1M in January-April ’25,” in the B usiness M irror , May 26, 2025.)
No comment on visitors drop FRASCO whose courtesy resignation has yet to be acted on by President Marcos Jr., had no comment, however, on the overall tepid arrivals of foreign tourists in the country, even as other Asean members are already moving toward pre-pandemic tourist numbers. For instance, in the first quarter of 2025, over 6 million foreign travelers arrived in Vietnam, exceeding the total number of tourists in the Philippines last year.
(BusinessMirror also learned that heads and board members of other DOT attached
agencies, have tendered their respective courtesy resignations in accordance with a May 26, 2025 notice from the Governance Commission for Government-Owned or -Controlled Corporations.)
Other key markets such as China, Taiwan, Singapore, and Malaysia have also registered decreases in tourist arrivals in the Philippines in the first four months of the year, as per DOT data. Despite the drop in arrivals, South Korea continues to be the top source market for the Philippines.
The DOT aims to attract 8.4 million inbound tourists this year, even as 5.95 million visitors arrived in 2024, missing the agency’s target that year of 7.7 million.
Continued marketing efforts MEANWHILE , Frasco said the DOT has sustained its initiatives to boost South Korean visitors through“fortified promotional activities.”
Among these efforts are the availability of Korean-speaking agents at the DOT’s Tourist Assistance hotline
(151-TOUR/151-8687); the appointment of South Korean singer-songwriter and actor Seo In Guk as celebrity Tourism Ambassador for the Philippines; the rollout of co-marketing campaigns with travel agencies and aviation partners; organization of a familiarization tour for South Korean social media influencers in late 2025; and the continued promotion of Philippine tourism products at a dedicated showroom in Seoul and through social media campaigns.
“In addition, we continue to work on our connectivity to make our destinations easy to reach. That includes Cebu, Clark, Bohol, and other such destinations in the country,” said Frasco. Stakeholders in the tourism industry are calling for better ways to promote the Philippines beyond its immediate source markets, and improve the traveler’s experience to boost visitor arrivals. (See, “Better marketing, visitor experience’ to save tourism,” in the B usiness M irror , May 27, 2025.)
A6 Tuesday, June 3, 2025
Editor: Angel R. Calso
31 killed, 170 wounded as Israeli forces open fire on crowds seeking aid in Gaza
By Mohammad Jahjouh & Samy Magdy The Associated Press
RAFAH, Gaza Strip—At least 31 people were killed and over 170 were wounded Sunday as large crowds were on their way to receive food in the Gaza Strip, health officials and witnesses said. Witnesses said Israeli forces fired toward the crowds just before dawn around a kilometer (about 1,100 yards) from an aid site run by an Israeli-backed foundation.
Israel’s military denied its forces fired at civilians near or within the site in the southern city of Rafah. An Israeli military official, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with procedure, said troops fired warning shots at several suspects advancing toward them overnight.
The military also released drone footage it said was shot Sunday, apparently in daylight, in the southern city of Khan Younis, showing what it said were armed, masked men firing at civilians trying to collect aid. The Associated Press could not independently verify the video, and it was not clear who was being targeted. “Hamas is doing everything in its power to prevent the successful distribution of food in Gaza,” the statement said.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation—promoted by Israel and the United States—said in a statement it delivered aid “without incident,” and released a separate video it said was shot Sunday at the site that appeared to show people collecting aid. The AP was not able to verify the video. The foundation has denied previous accounts of chaos and gunfire around its sites, which are in Israeli military zones where independent
media has no access.
It was the deadliest incident yet around the new aid distribution system, which has operated for less than a week.
The International Committee of the Red Cross said in a statement its field hospital in Rafah received 179 casualties including women and children, 21 of them declared dead upon arrival, the majority with gunshot or shrapnel wounds. It was unclear if any of the dead were militants.
“All patients said they had been trying to reach an aid distribution site,” the ICRC said, calling it the highest number of “weaponwounded” people in a single inci -
ing a young man who died at the scene. “We weren’t able to help him,” he said.
Mohammed Abu Teaima, 33, said he saw Israeli forces open fire and kill his cousin and a woman as they headed toward the distribution site. He said his cousin was shot in his chest, and his brotherin-law was among the wounded.
“They opened heavy fire directly toward us,” he said.
dent since the hospital was set up over a year ago.
The head of the World Food Program, Cindy McCain, told ABC News that staffers on the ground were reporting people killed and called it a “tragedy.”
“Aid distribution has become a death trap,” the head of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, Philippe Lazzarini, said in a statement.
In a separate statement, Israeli military chief of staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir ordered that more aid sites be established—and that troops’ ground operation be expanded in unspecified parts of northern and southern Gaza.
A new aid system marred by chaos
MULTIPLE witnesses have said Israeli troops fired on crowds near the foundation’s sites. Before Sunday, 17 people were killed while trying to reach them, according to Zaher al-Waheidi, head of the Gaza Health Ministry’s records department.
The foundation says private security contractors guarding its sites have not fired on crowds. Israel’s military has acknowledged firing warning shots on previous occasions.
The foundation said in a statement it distributed 16 truckloads of aid early Sunday “without incident,” and dismissed what it described as “false reporting about deaths, mass injuries and chaos.”
U.N. agencies and major aid groups have refused to work with the new system, saying it violates humanitarian principles.
‘The scene was horrible’
THOUSANDS of people headed toward the distribution site hours before dawn. As they approached, Israeli forces ordered them to disperse and come back later, witnesses said. When the crowds reached the Flag Roundabout, around 1 kilometer away, at around 3 a.m., Israeli forces opened fire, the witnesses said.
“There was fire from all directions, from naval warships, from tanks and drones,” said Amr Abu Teiba, who was in the crowd.
He said he saw at least 10 bodies with gunshot wounds and several other wounded people, including women. People used carts to ferry the dead and wounded. “The scene was horrible,” he said.
Most people were shot “in the upper part of their bodies, including the head, neck and chest,” said Dr. Marwan al-Hams, a Health Ministry official at Nasser Hospital, where many were transferred from the Red Cross field hospital.
A colleague, surgeon Khaled al-Ser, said 150 wounded people had arrived, along with 28 bodies.
The hospital corridors were filled with patients, “but unlike what I have witnessed before, where most of the patients were women and children, today it was mainly men,” a spokesperson with medical charity MSF, Nour Alsaqa, said in a statement.
Ibrahim Abu Saoud, another witness, said the military fired from about 300 meters (yards) away. He said he saw many people with gunshot wounds, includ -
An AP reporter arrived at the field hospital at around 6 a.m. and saw dozens of wounded, including women and children. The reporter also saw crowds of people returning from the distribution point. Some carried boxes of aid but most appeared to be empty-handed.
Gaza’s Health Ministry said least 31 people were killed and over 170 were wounded.
“This is sinful, enough with the humiliation. They humiliated us for the sake of food,” said Ilham Jarghon as fellow Palestinians wept and prayed for the dead.
Later Sunday, Israeli artillery shells struck tents sheltering displaced people in Khan Younis, killing three and wounding at least 30, according to Nasser Hospital. Israel’s military said it was looking into it.
The UN says new aid system violates humanitarian principles ISRAEL and the US say the new system is aimed at preventing Hamas from siphoning off assistance. Israel has not provided evidence of systematic diversion, and the U.N. denies it has occurred.
U.N. agencies and major aid groups say the new system allows Israel to control who receives aid and forces people to relocate to distribution sites, risking yet more mass displacement in the coastal territory.
“It’s essentially engineered scarcity,” Jonathan Whittall, interim head in Gaza of the U.N. humanitarian office, said last week.
The U.N. system has struggled to bring in aid after Israel slightly eased its nearly three-month blockade of the territory last month. The groups say Israeli restrictions, the breakdown of law and order and widespread looting make it extremely difficult to deliver aid to Gaza’s roughly 2 million Palestinians.
Experts have warned that the territory is at risk of famine if more aid is not brought in.
The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251. They are still holding 58 hostages, around a third believed to be alive, after most of the rest were released in ceasefire agreements or other deals.
Israel’s military campaign has killed over 54,000 people in Hamasrun Gaza, mostly women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not say how many of the dead were civilians or combatants. The offensive has destroyed vast areas, displaced around 90% of the population and left people almost completely reliant on international aid.
The latest efforts at ceasefire talks appeared to stumble Saturday when Hamas said it had sought amendments to a US ceasefire proposal that Israel had approved, and the US envoy called that “unacceptable.”
Mediators Qatar and Egypt in a joint statement Sunday said they continued “intensive efforts to bridge the gaps in viewpoints” and hoped for “a swift agreement for a temporary ceasefire lasting 60 days, leading to a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.”
THICK smoke and flames surge from an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, Sunday, June 1, 2025. AP/JEHAD ALSHRAFI
Tuesday, June 3, 2025 A7
UK unveils major military revamp to counter Russian threats amid rising global instability
By Jill Lawless & Pan Pylas The Associated Press
LONDON—The United Kingdom will build new nuclear-powered attack submarines and create an army ready to fight a war in Europe as part of a boost to military spending designed to send a message to Moscow—and Washington.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Britain “cannot ignore the threat that Russia poses” as he pledged to undertake the most sweeping changes to Britain’s defenses since the end of the Cold War more than three decades ago.
“We have to recognize the world has changed,” Starmer told the BBC. “With greater instability than there has been for many, many years, and greater threats.”
What’s happening on Monday?
THE government is to respond to a strategic defense review commissioned by Starmer and led by George Robertson, a former UK defense secretary and NATO secretary general. It’s the first such review since 2021, and lands in a world shaken and transformed by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and by the reelection of President Donald Trump last year.
Months after Britain’s last major defense review was published in 2021, then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson said with confidence that the era of “fighting big tank battles on European landmass” are over. Three months later, Russian tanks rolled into Ukraine.
Starmer’s center-left Labour Party government says it will accept all 62 recommendations made in the review, aiming to help the UK confront growing threats on land, air sea and in cyberspace.
Defense Secretary John Healey said the changes would send “a message to Moscow, and transform the country’s military following decades of retrenchment, though he said he does not expect the number of soldiers—currently at a historic low—to rise until the early 2030s.
Healey said plans for defense spending to hit 2.5% of national income by 2027 a year are “on track” and that there’s “no doubt” it will hit 3% before 2034.
Starmer said the 3% goal is an “ambition,” rather than a firm promise, and it’s unclear where the cash-strapped Treasury will find the money. The government has already, contentiously, cut international aid spending to reach the 2.5% target.
Starmer said he wouldn’t make a firm pledge until he knew “precisely where the money is coming from.”
Deterring Russia
EVEN 3% falls short of what some leaders in NATO think is needed to deter Russia from future attacks on its neighbors. NATO chief Mark Rutte says leaders of the 32 member countries will debate a commitment to spend at least 3.5% of GDP on defense when they meet in the Netherlands this month.
Monday’s announcements include building “up to 12” nuclear-powered, conventionally armed submarines under the AUKUS partnership with Australia and the United States. The government also says it will invest 15 billion in Britain’s nuclear arsenal, which consists of missiles carried on a handful of submarines. Details of those plans are likely to be scarce.
The government will also increase conventional Britain’s weapons stockpiles with up to 7,000 UK-built long-range weapons.
Starmer said rearming would create a “defense dividend” of well-paid jobs—a contrast to the post-Cold War “peace dividend” that saw Western nations channel money away from defense into other areas. Like other NATO members, the UK has been reassessing its defense spending since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Healey said Russia is “attacking the UK daily,” with 90,000 cyberattacks from state-linked sources directed at the UK’s defense over the last two years. A cyber command to counter such threats is expected to be set up as part of the review.
“This is a message to Moscow,” Healey told the BBC. Bolstering Europe’s defenses IT’S also a message to Trump that Europe is heeding his demand for NATO members to spend more on their own defense.
European countries, led by the UK and France, have scrambled to coordinate their defense posture as Trump transforms American foreign policy, seemingly sidelining Europe as he looks to end the war in Ukraine. Trump has long questioned the value of NATO and complained that the US provides security to European countries that don’t pull their weight.
James Cartlidge, defense spokesman for the main opposition Conservative Party, welcomed more money for defense but was skeptical of the government’s 3% pledge, “All of Labour’s strategic defense review promises will be taken with a pinch of salt unless they can show there will actually be enough money to pay for them,” he said.
Global shares sink as Russia-Ukraine war, Opec+ output plan push oil prices higher
By Jiang Junzhe The Associated Press
HONG KONG—Global shares
sank on Monday and oil prices jumped as trade tensions and the Russian-Ukraine conflict ratcheted up geopolitical uncertainty.
The future for the S&P 500 lost 0.5% while that for the Dow Jones Industrial Average gave up 0.4%. Germany’s DAX retreated 0.4% to 23,891.11 and the CAC 40 in Paris declined 0.5% to 7,712.40. British FTSE 100 gained 1% to 8,778.84.
In Asia, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng initially plunged more than 2% as Beijing and Washington traded harsh words over trade.
US President Donald Trump’s announcement that he will double tariffs on steel and aluminum to 50% layered on still more worries for investors.
But the Hang Seng closed just
0.6% lower, at 23,157.97. Markets in mainland China were closed for a holiday.
China blasted the US for issuing AI chip export control guidelines, stopping the sale of chip design software to China, and planning to revoke Chinese student visas.
A report over the weekend that China’s factory activity contracted in May, although the decline slowed from April as the country reached a deal with the US to slash President Donald Trump’s skyhigh tariffs, further undermined market sentiment.
Oil prices rallied after Opec+ decided on a modest increase in
output beginning in July. It was the third monthly increase in a row.
US benchmark crude oil gained $2.08 to $62.87 per barrel, while Brent crude, the international standard, was up $1.75 at $64.53 per barrel.
Moscow pounded Ukraine with missiles and drones just hours before a new round of direct peace talks in Istanbul and a Ukrainian drone attack destroyed more than 40 Russian planes deep in Russia’s territory, Ukraine’s Security Service said on Sunday.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng dropped 0.6% to 23,157.97 as China and the US accused each other of breaching their tariff agreement reached in Geneva last month.
Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 lost 1.3% to 37,470.67, while the Kospi in Seoul added 0.1% to 2,698.97.
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 retreated 0.2% to 8,414.10.
India’s Sensex lost 0.4% while the Taiex in Taiwan fell 1.6%.
On Friday, Wall Street closed its best month since 2023. The S&P 500 retreated less than 0.1% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average edged 0.1% higher. The Nasdaq composite fell 0.3%.
Hopes had largely been rising
that the worst of such worries had passed, which in turn sent stocks rallying, after Trump paused his tariffs on both China and the European Union. A US court then on Wednesday blocked many of Trump’s sweeping tariffs. That all sent the S&P 500 in May to its first winning month in four and its best since November.
But the tariffs remain in place while the White House appeals the ruling by the US Court of International Trade, and the ultimate outcome is still uncertain.
In the bond market, Treasury yields eased after a report showed that the measure of inflation that the Federal Reserve likes to use was slightly lower in April than economists expected.
A separate report from the University of Michigan said that sentiment among US consumers was better in May than economists expected. Sentiment improved in the back half of the month after Trump paused many of his tariffs on China.
In currency trading early Monday, the US dollar fell to 142.91 Japanese yen from 143.87 yen. The euro inched up to $1.1421 from $1.1351.
Colorado flamethrower attack injures 8 during pro-Israel demonstration amid conflict in Gaza
By Colleen Slevin & Eric Tucker The Associated Press
BOULDER, Colo.—A man with a makeshift flamethrower yelled “Free Palestine” and hurled an incendiary device into a group that had assembled to raise attention for Israeli hostages in Gaza, law enforcement officials said Sunday. Eight people were injured, some with burns.
The suspect, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, was booked into the Boulder County jail north of Denver and expected to face charges in connection with the attack the FBI was investigating as a terrorist act. Online records did not immediately show when he would make a court appearance.
The burst of violence at the popular Pearl Street pedestrian mall, a four-block area in downtown Boulder, unfolded against the backdrop of a war between Israel and Hamas that continues to inflame global tensions and has contributed to a spike in antisemitic violence in the United States. The attack happened on the beginning of the Jewish holiday of Shavuot, which is marked with the reading of the Torah and barely a week after a man who also yelled “Free Palestine” was charged with fatally shooting two Israeli embassy staffers outside of a Jewish museum in Washington.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement Monday saying he, his wife and the entire nation of Israel were praying for the full recovery of the people wounded in the “vicious terror attack” in Colorado.
“This attack was aimed against peaceful people who wished to express their solidarity with the hostages held by Hamas, simply because they were Jews,” Netanyahu said.
Across the US, the New York Police Department said it has upped its presence at religious sites throughout the city for Shavuot.
“Sadly, attacks like this are becoming too common across the country,” said Mark Michalek, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Denver field office, which encompasses Boulder. “This is an example of how perpetrators of violence continue to threaten communities across the nation.”
The eight victims who were wounded range in age from 52 to 88 and the injuries spanned from serious to minor, officials said.
The attack occurred as people with a volunteer group called Run For Their Lives was concluding their weekly demonstration to raise visibility for the hostages who remain in Gaza. Video from the scene shows a witness shouting, “He’s right there. He’s throwing Molotov cocktails,” as a police officer with his gun drawn advances on a bare-chested suspect who is holding containers in each hand.
Alex Osante of San Diego said he was having lunch on a restaurant patio across the pedestrian mall when he heard the crash of a bottle breaking on the ground, a “boom”
See “Flamethrower,” A9
Mexico holds first judicial elections; experts question low voter turnout
By Megan Janetsky, María Verza & Fabiola Sánchez
The Associated Press
MEXICO CITY—Mexico held its first-ever judicial elections Sunday, stirring controversy and sowing confusion among voters who struggled to understand a process set to transform the country’s court system.
Polls closed and poll workers began counting colored ballots Sunday night with the question hanging in the air of what will become of Mexico’s judiciary, the answer to which will only emerge in the coming days as results roll in.
Mexico’s electoral authority announced late in the night that 13% of Mexico’s 100 million voters cast ballots at the polls, lagging far behind the 60% turnout just a year before during the country’s presidential election.
Nevertheless, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum called the voting “a complete success.”
“Mexico is the most democratic country in the world,” she added. Experts warned of startling low turnout in the lead up to the historic elections due to the mindboggling array of unfamiliar choices and the novelty of voting for judges. Experts say those factors may throw into question the legitimacy of the election, which has faced months of fierce scrutiny.
Sheinbaum, a member of Mexico’s ruling party, Morena, rejected the criticisms and insisted the election would only make Mexico more democratic and root out corruption in a system that most people in the country believe is broken.
“Whoever says that there is authoritarianism in Mexico is lying,” she said. “Mexico is a country that is only becoming more free, just and democratic because that is the will of the people.”
While some voters said they felt pushed to vote in an election they felt would determine the fate of the country’s democracy, many more expressed a deep sense of apathy, citing disillusionment due to de -
sound followed by people yelling and screaming.
In video of the scene captured by Osante, people could be seen pouring water on a woman lying on the ground who Osante said had caught on fire during the attack. A man, who later identified himself as an Israeli visiting Boulder who decided to join the group that day, ran up to Osante on the video asking for some water to help.
After the initial attack, Osante said the suspect went behind some bushes and then re-emerged and threw a Molotov cocktail but apparently accidentally caught himself on fire as he threw it. The man then took off his shirt and what appeared to be a bulletproof vest before the police arrived.
cades of corruption and lack of basic information about the vote.
“I’m not interested (in voting). Parties and their messages—they come and they go. It’s all the same,” said Raul Bernal, a 50-year-old factory worker in downtown Mexico City walking his dog.
A historic vote
EVEN without the final tally, the results of the vote are set to transform Mexico’s judiciary. Morena overhauled the court system late last year, fueling protests and criticism that the reform is an attempt by those in power to seize on their political popularity to gain control of the branch of government until now out of their reach.
“It’s an effort to control the court system, which has been a sort of thorn in the side” of those in power, said Laurence Patin, director of the legal organization Juicio Justo in Mexico. “But it’s a counter-balance, which exists in every healthy democracy.”
Instead of judges being appointed on a system of merit and experience, Mexican voters have cast ballots to choose between some 7,700 candidates vying for more than 2,600 judicial positions.
Mexicans head to the polls
SOME of the country’s voting centers opened with only a trickle of people and small lines forming throughout the day.
Esteban Hernández, a 31-yearold veterinary student, said he didn’t agree with electing judges and doesn’t support Morena, but
came to vote because “since there isn’t much participation, my vote will count more.”
He had studied the candidates on a website listing their qualifications and decided to pick those who had doctorates. Other critics said they only voted for the Supreme Court and other top courts.
Francisco Torres de León, a 62-year-old retired teacher in southern Mexico, called the process “painstaking because there are too many candidates and positions that they’re going to fill.”
Sheinbaum’s predecessor and political mentor, former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who had pushed through the judicial reform but remained out of the public eye since leaving office last year, voted in Chiapas near his ranch.
“I wanted to participate in this historic election,” he said. “Never in the history of our country … have the people decided and had the right to elect judges.”
Democratic concerns
THE process has raised concerns.
Civil society organizations like Defensorxs have raised red flags about a range of candidates running for election, including lawyers who represented some of Mexico’s most feared cartel leaders and local officials who were forced to resign from their positions due to corruption scandals.
Also among those putting themselves forward are ex-convicts imprisoned for years for drug trafficking to the United States
The man dropped to the ground and was arrested without any apparent resistance in the video that Osante filmed.
As people tried to help the woman on the ground, another woman who appeared to be a participant in the event yelled to others out of the camera’s view, defending their cause, saying they don’t talk about the government but just talk about the hostages.
Lynn Segal, 72, was among about 20 people who gathered Sunday. They had finished their march in front of the courthouse when a “rope of fire” shot in front of her and then “two big flares.”
She said the scene quickly turned chaotic as people worked to find water to put out flames and find help.
Segal, who said she is Jewish on her father’s side and has supported Palestine for more than 40
and a slate of candidates with ties to a religious group whose spiritual leader is behind bars in California after pleading guilty to sexually abusing minors.
Others like Martha Tamayo, a lawyer and former congresswoman from conflict-ravaged Sinaloa, cast doubt on projections that the election could hand even more power over to criminals and criminal groups, simply because they already have a strong control over courts.
“The influence of criminal groups already exists,” she said. “The cartels go with the judges (bribe them) whether they are elected or not.”
‘You have to start with something’
THE public has been plagued by confusion over a voting process that Patin warned has been hastily thrown together. Voters often have to choose from more than a hundred candidates who are not permitted to clearly voice their party affiliation or carry out widespread campaigning.
As a result, many Mexicans said they were going into the vote blind, though others voting Sunday noted they supported the process despite the confusion.
Mexico’s electoral authority has investigated voter guides being handed out across the country, in what critics say is a blatant move by political parties to stack the vote in their favor.
“Political parties weren’t just going to sit with their arms crossed,” Patin said.
While still unsure if his vote would improve access to justice for many Mexicans, 61-year-old actor Manuel José Contreras defended the election, Sheinbaum and her party. He cast his ballot with a tone of hope.
“The reform has its problems but we needed an urgent change,” he said. “You have to start with something.”
AP journalists in Mexico Edgar H. Clemente in Tapachula, Alba Aléman in Xalapa and Fernando Llano in Mexico City contributed to this report.
years, was concerned that she might be accused of helping the suspect because she was wearing a pro-Palestine shirt.
“There were people who were burning, wanted to help,” she said. “But I didn’t want to be associated with the perpetrator.”
Authorities did not disclose details about Soliman but said they believe that he acted alone and that no other suspect was being sought. No criminal charges were immediately announced but officials said they would move to hold Soliman accountable. He was also injured and was taken to the hospital to be treated, but authorities didn’t elaborate on the nature of his injuries.
FBI leaders immediately declared the attack an act of terrorism and the Justice Department denounced it as a “needless act of violence, which follows recent attacks against Jewish Americans.”
DEMONSTRATORS shout slogans against the country’s first judicial elections at a protest near the Angel of Independence in Mexico City, Sunday, June 1, 2025. AP/FERNANDO LLANO
PRESIDENT Marcos deserves recognition for his wise decision to retain the core of his economic team amid ongoing cabinet adjustments. By heeding the call of investors, industry leaders, and the broader business community, the President has underscored the importance of stability and continuity in navigating the country’s economic future. This move sends a strong signal of reassurance and demonstrates a pragmatic approach to governance.
The retention of key figures such as Trade Secretary Maria Christina Roque, Finance Secretary Ralph Recto, Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, and Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Secretary Frederick Go, is a welcome step. These officials have been instrumental in implementing policies that have fostered investor confidence, maintained fiscal discipline, and addressed challenges like inflation and supply chain disruptions.
However, continuity should not be limited to the highest echelons of economic management. The President should also consider extending stability to key roles within the Department of Trade and Industry, especially for members focused on international trade relations and tariff negotiations with the US. These positions are crucial for fostering strong trade partnerships and ensuring the nation’s economic growth. By maintaining experienced personnel in these areas, we can enhance our negotiating power and navigate the complexities of global trade more effectively. Specifically, retaining PEZA Director General Tereso Panga would allow him to fully realize his vision of positioning Philippine ecozones as “global benchmarks” of sustainability. (Read the BusinessMirror story: “PEZA to position its ecozones as global benchmarks of sustainability in pursuit of Eco-Industrial Park Certification,” May 21, 2025).
PEZA’s pursuit of the International Finance Corporation-World Bank’s (IFC-WB) Eco-Industrial Park (EIP) Certification is a forward-thinking initiative that aligns with global trends towards sustainable development. This certification program aims to boost the adoption of sustainability standards in industrial parks, freeports, and economic zones. The pilot ecozones identified for this program—Lima Technology Center, First Philippine Industrial Park, Laguna Technopark, Light Industry and Science Park, and Carmelray Industrial Park—will serve as crucial testbeds for integrating sustainability into business strategy.
As PEZA transitions to the EIP model, it is imperative that the agency receives the necessary support and stability to achieve its goals. By embracing industrial symbiosis, climate resilience, green infrastructure, and energy efficiency, Philippine ecozones can evolve beyond mere investment locations and become drivers of sustainable growth. The voluntary compliance of PEZA locators with EIP Certification, the Global Reporting Initiative, and decarbonization programs will further bolster efforts to promote the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards, and the EIP framework.
In the face of looming trade wars and global economic uncertainties, it would do well for the President to prioritize stability and sustainability in his economic strategy. By retaining experienced officials in critical positions and empowering them to focus on their jobs without fear of disruption, the Chief Executive can send a clear signal to foreign investors, industry leaders, and the business community that the Philippines is a reliable and forward-thinking investment destination. This commitment to continuity and sustainability will be essential for navigating the challenges ahead and securing a prosperous future for the country.
Opinion
AOUTSIDE THE BOX
NATION’S debt becomes unsustainable when servicing or repaying it risks gutting the economy, society, or government. The United States teeters on that edge. Economists use hard metrics to spot this mess: debt-to-GDP ratio, interest burdens, and fiscal wiggle room—the cash left before the budget chokes. The US debt-to-GDP ratio, set at 122 percent in 2025 by Penn Wharton, flashes red if growth stalls or rates jump. Japan’s 252 percent ratio, shackled to a lifeless economy, looms over Washington’s borrowing binge, yet Congress spends like it is chasing a gold medal.
Interest payments leech government revenue. When they hit 20 to 25 percent of income, the budget buckles. The Congressional Budget Office projects US interest payments will hit $1.2 trillion by 2030, roughly 20 percent of federal revenue. The primary balance—revenue minus non-interest spending—resembles take-home pay after rent but before the Meralco bill comes. The US 6 percent of GDP budget deficit in 2024 signals danger without more growth or tax revenue. Congress keeps signing IOUs, blind to the cliff ahead.
When the debt’s interest rate outpaces GDP growth, you run in quicksand. US 10-year Treasury yields at 4.5 percent against 2.5 percent
growth signal a debt bomb. Foreigners hold 40 percent of US debt with China and Japan poised to cash out. With $9 trillion maturing in 2025, refinancing at higher rates resembles trading a bank credit card bill for a 5/6 loan. The 2023 debt ceiling circus proved nobody trusts Washington’s promises anymore. The US dollar’s dominance allows America to borrow like a tycoon on a lost weekend, but empires crumble. The “De-dollarization” whispers from Beijing to Brasília could clamp down hard. Unfunded liabilities— $75 trillion for Social Security and Medicare—form a fiscal guillotine. Inflation, exchange rates, and geopolitical storms fan the flames. If faith in the dollar fades, America’s
The unsustainable debt of the US poses a severe global risk, with the Philippines also vulnerable to its fallout. Deeply tied to US markets and currency, the Philippines faces repercussions: reduced export demand, diminished remittance flows, and escalating borrowing costs. A US economic falter would reverberate, severely affecting Manila’s economic stability. The Philippines cannot escape the consequences of a US debt crisis. Trump must deliver, or the bond market will chew him up.
borrowing spree hits a brick wall or a shark infested ocean. Both metaphors work.
Moody’s slashed the US credit rating from Aaa to Aa1, a body blow unseen since the 2008 crash. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, unmoved by strong jobs, inflation, and profit numbers, keeps rates skyhigh. GDP climbs, energy stays cheap, but 6.5 to 7 percent mortgages freeze housing sales. Trump rages, saddled with a $37 trillion debt—$7 trillion from predecessors—and $3 billion daily interest payments, cursing a Fed that stonewalls him.
Trump stands as the first since Bill Clinton to tackle a $2 trillion budget deficit and $1.2 trillion trade gap with some cojones. The Department
of Government Efficiency carved $160 billion in cuts in 100 days—like chopping a palm tree with a spoon. It offers a start, but only if it scales to $500-$700 billion and Trump drops the theatrics. His budget bloats defense—salaries, missile shields, drones—and tosses handouts to farmers. Cuts barely nick the fat. Is this fiscal discipline or government smoke and mirrors? The deficit forms a noose. Trump’s options are grim: strip spending, raise taxes (economic poison), or extend tax cuts and pray for growth. Scrapping taxes on tips, Social Security, and first responders is populist candy, not the business investment dynamite needed. If the deficit persists, the Fed will not cut rates, and $1 trillion in yearly interest will hammer the budget. Without cuts, Trump is juggling fire torches.
History delivers ugly lessons. The Weimar Republic printed wheelbarrows of cash, birthing a depression. Confiscating wealth, as left-leaning politicians and pundits want, killed markets in Athens, Rome, and Renaissance Italy. Renouncing debt, as South American nations attempted, turns bonds into tissue paper. Who would touch US bonds afterward? This debt could become America’s epitaph.
Trump’s tariff fetish offers a Band-Aid on a bullet wound. Tariffs yield 1 to 3 percent of federal revenue; See “Mangun,” A11
China accuses US of violating trade deal, vows firm response
CR. 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 is published
By Josh Xiao
HINA accused the US of violating their recent trade deal and vowed to take measures to defend its interests, dimming the prospect of an immediate leadership call that Donald Trump wants to have to further bilateral talks.
The Chinese Ministry of Commerce issued a statement on Monday rebuking the US president’s claim that Beijing breached the consensus reached in Geneva last month. The dust-up threatened to upend trade relations even as Trump expressed hope Friday he will speak with Chinese President Xi Jinping, with White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett expecting a call to take place this week.
Beijing accused the US of unilaterally introducing new discriminatory restrictions, including new guidelines on AI chip export controls, curbs on chip design software sales to China and the revocation of Chinese student visas.
“If the US insists on its own way and continues to damage China’s interests, China will continue to take
resolute and forceful measures to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests,” the ministry said. It also said the US violated the consensus reached between Trump and Xi on Jan. 17, when they last spoke, without elaborating.
Asian shares dropped along with US stock-index futures, with a gauge of Chinese stocks traded in Hong Kong falling as much as 2.9 percent, the most in nearly two months.
Tensions between the world’s largest economies are ratcheting up again after the tariff thaw in May.
The Trump administration last week said it planned to start revoking visas for Chinese students while moving to restrict the sale of chip design software to China. They have also barred the export of critical US jet engine parts and technology to China, the
Beijing accused the US of unilaterally introducing new discriminatory restrictions, including new guidelines on AI chip export controls, curbs on chip design software sales to China and the revocation of Chinese student visas.
New York Times reported.
Beyond strains in economic ties, geopolitical friction is also growing. China’s Foreign Ministry over the weekend protested US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s assertion at a gathering of military chiefs that China poses an imminent threat to Taiwan, a self-ruled island claimed by Beijing.
Trump didn’t elaborate when he accused Beijing of violating the tariff truce on Friday, but US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer complained that China had not sped exports of critical minerals needed for cutting-edge electronics.
China has been loosening the grip on its exports of rare earths over the
past week at a pace that’s “slower than industry would like,” said Michael Hart, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in China. In the statement, the Commerce Ministry said it “resolutely rejects” the US accusations and that the country has strictly and sincerely implemented the consensus.
Trump’s comments came a day after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said talks with China on trade had stalled and suggested that a call between Trump and Xi might be necessary to break the deadlock.
The US president “is going to have a wonderful conversation about the trade negotiations this week with President Xi,” Hassett, director of the White House National Economic Council, said Sunday on ABC’s This Week. “That’s our expectation.” Trump has signaled a wish to have a call with his Chinese counterpart as early as February and later said he was willing to travel to the Asian nation to meet with Xi, although no such engagement has been scheduled so far. Bloomberg
John Mangun
Opinion
BusinessMirror
Hegseth wins praise but Asia still has strong doubts about Trump
ABy Alberto Nardelli, Philip J. Heijmans & Josh Xiao
FTER US military allies in Europe were torched by Vice President JD Vance in March over military spending, free speech and the war in Ukraine, America’s partners in Asia warily awaited Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s arrival at a security conference in Singapore.
Turns out there was little reason to worry, apart from the perpetual anxiety over President Donald Trump’s social media feed.
While Hegseth delivered Trump’s demands for higher security spending on par with Europe, he couched it as necessary to prepare for a potentially “imminent” Chinese invasion of Taiwan. The US wouldn’t be pushed out the region, he said, nor let allies and partners “be subordinated and intimidated”—a commitment lauded by many in attendance.
But in the hallways of the Shangri-La Hotel, Hegseth couldn’t dispel concerns about the erratic policymaking of his boss. Many of the generals, defense ministers and intelligence officers from Asia and Europe—who are key to helping the US counter China—were still reeling from the shock of Trump’s sectoral levies and “reciprocal” tariffs.
Hegseth “offered a needed level of reassurance to allies and partners that the United States will remain present in the Indo-Pacific and committed to countering China’s coercive threats,” said Rory Medcalf, head of the National Security College at the Australian National University. “But
this message will remain discounted by the dysfunction we are seeing in Washington.”
On his second trip to Asia since March, the Pentagon chief displayed some diplomatic nuance that surprised some officials who expected more grandstanding from the former television personality. Hegseth was also able to capitalize on a huge absence at the annual gathering: China didn’t send a defense minister for the first time since 2019, putting Beijing’s lower-level officials on the back foot.
That void gave US officials space to set the tone and work the room, vowing greater cooperation with countries like Cambodia, Thailand and Indonesia. And it gave America’s traditional partners even more room to criticize Beijing, despite their dependence on trade with China.
Yet even if Hegseth was more reassuring than Vance, it still wasn’t enough to overcome the uncertainty created by Trump’s trade policies. That’s particularly the case in Southeast Asia, which was among the hardest hit by Trump’s tariffs in April.
“Trade is not a soft power indulgence—it is part of our strategic ar-
VAT on digital services
AAtty. Mabel L. Buted
TAX LAW FOR BUSINESS
FTER numerous discussions among various stakeholders, the imposition of VAT in the country on the digital services provided by nonresidents finally came into play last year. Beginning yesterday, June 2, 2025, all nonresident digital service providers (DSPs) shall immediately be subject to VAT. Here is what we know about the VAT on Digital Services Act so far.
The new law expanded the coverage of services considered performed in the Philippines that are subject to VAT to include the digital services rendered by nonresidents consumed in the country. Digital services refer to any services that are supplied over the Internet or other electronic network with the use of information technology, and where the supply of such services is essentially automated. These include digital goods such as downloads of digital contents, subscription-based supplies of contents, supply of software services and maintenance, and licensing of content. Digital services are considered consumed or used in the Philippines if the buyer is located in the Philippines. This means that services considered digital are subject to VAT if such are consumed by a buyer in the Philippines, regardless of the place where the nonresident DSP operates. Under the implementing revenue regulations, the manner in which the VAT on digital services is paid and remitted to the tax authority will depend on the type of transaction—if it is a B2C (Business-to-Consumer) transaction or a B2B (Business-to-Business) transaction. In a B2C transaction, the nonresident DSP pays and remits directly the tax. On the other hand, in a B2B transaction, it is the Philippine customer engaged in business that is liable to pay and remit the VAT due by withholding the tax, which the law describes as a reverse charge mechanism.
The new law expanded the coverage of services considered performed in the Philippines that are subject to VAT to include the digital services rendered by nonresidents consumed in the country.
In a B2B transaction, instead of paying the tax to the nonresident, the buyer withholds the amount of VAT and pays it directly to the tax authority. The buyer, in turn, claims the amount remitted as creditable input tax.
The law provides that nonresident DSPs shall be liable to register for VAT if the gross sales for the past 12 months or for the next 12 months have exceeded P3,000,000. Later, it was clarified by the tax authority in a revenue memorandum circular that this rule applies to all nonresident DSPs exceeding the threshold amount, even if it is not the nonresident DSPs that are responsible in the payment and remittance of VAT, i.e., in B2B transactions where the buyer engaged in business pays the tax. Further, all nonresident DSPs are required to file tax returns, be it in B2C or B2B transaction.
The registration shall be made through the VAT on Digital Services (VDS) Portal of the BIR. To date, the VDS is not yet completed. Prior to the roll-out of the portal, registration shall be done through the BIR’s Online Registration and Update System (ORUS). With all these rules in place, there
But in the hallways of the Shangri-La Hotel, Hegseth couldn’t dispel concerns about the erratic policymaking of his boss. Many of the generals, defense ministers and intelligence officers from Asia and Europe—who are key to helping the US counter China—were still reeling from the shock of Trump’s sectoral levies and “reciprocal” tariffs.
chitecture,” Malaysia Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said, referring to Southeast Asia. “It must be protected, not from competition but from the onslaught of arbitrary imposition of trade restrictions.”
Trump’s barrage of tariffs and general volatility—he announced a doubling of steel and aluminum tariffs over the weekend—was the subject of much of the chatter on the sidelines of the annual conference, according to several officials who asked not to be identified, citing private discussions.
The officials said they were unsure whether the US president would stand by their side in a moment of need and that any deal reached with him could unravel moments later in a social media post.
That uncertainty appeared to be pushing Indo-Pacific nations and Europe toward each other in a stronger sense of shared security and free-trade opportunities based
might be challenges in requiring even the nonresidents engaged purely in B2B transactions, wherein VAT is paid and remitted directly by the Philippine buyer, to register and file tax returns. What would their registration certificates and tax returns look like? In any case, for these nonresidents engaged purely in B2B transactions, their tax returns should reflect zero amount of VAT payable.
There are also some questions that ought to be clarified.
Still on the requirement of registration, some nonresident DSPs had already previously obtained one-time Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) for use in some prior applications with the BIR. What happens to their previously-issued TINs, and what should these nonresident DSPs need to do with their registration numbers?
If it happens that the gross sales of digital services of nonresidents for the past 12 months and in the next 12 months do not exceed P3,000,000, will VAT or withholding VAT still apply?
The Act was enacted to boost government revenues and to level the playing field between our domestic suppliers who pay VAT on their sale to Philippine consumers and the nonresident sellers who did not levy VAT previously. As with other laws, to be fully effective, the new law must be equally efficiently administered. We hope that our administrators address the challenges brought by the implementation of the new law to ease the burden on the compliance requirements imposed on the nonresident DSPs. We also hope that the tax authority provides further clarification on the questions raised.
The author is a partner of Du-Baladad and Associates Law Offices (BDB Law) (www.bdblaw.com.ph).
The article is for general information only and is not intended, nor should be construed as a substitute for tax, legal, or financial advice on any specific matter. Applicability of this article to any actual or particular tax or legal issue should be supported, therefore, by a professional study or advice. If you have any comments or questions concerning the article, you may e-mail the author at mabel.buted@bdblaw.com.ph or call 8403-2001 local 160.
on longstanding global rules. It also sparked pushback against what several nations saw as efforts to establish “spheres of influence” where the US or China can dominate.
“Our shared responsibility is to ensure with others that our countries are not collateral victims of the imbalances linked to the choices made by the superpowers,” French President Emmanuel Macron said at the conference’s opening on Friday.
Macron’s words about “strategic autonomy” and his call for Europe and Asia to join forces to “de-risk” supply chains struck a chord with many attendees. Several countries in the region are already having similar debates in their own capitals, some of the officials said.
Many governments in the region rely on China economically and on the US for security, and are keen to not antagonize either. However, there’s also a desire to be more autonomous and less dependent on either of the world’s two-biggest economies, opening up new space for middle powers in Europe and Asia to join hands.
Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s top diplomat, made that pitch to Asian nations throughout the weekend.
“If you reject unilateralism, bullying and aggression, and instead choose cooperation, shared prosperity and common security, the European Union will always be by your side,” she said.
Amid the US-China turbulence,
smaller nations sought to build ties. Japan’s defense minister, Gen Nakatani, touted efforts to build closer relations with India and the Philippines. Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene said on Sunday that her country was working with partners in the region to counter Russian and Chinese cyber threats, as well as Beijing’s dominance of drone manufacturing and ship building.
Even one of America’s closest partners in the region, Australia, signaled some independence from its ally.
Hegseth’s outreach to the region “is deeply welcome,” Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said. But he quickly added that “liberal trade has been the lifeblood of the Asian region, and the shock and disruption to trade from high tariffs has been costly and destabilizing.”
During his remarks, Hegseth was pressed on the trade concerns and whether there was a contradiction in the Trump administration’s message. He sidestepped the question with a smile, saying he was “in the business of tanks, not trade.” He called for allies to spend more on defense to counter China, including pushing Australia to raise military outlays to 3.5 percent of gross domestic product.
The Pentagon chief aimed to “provoke, divide, instigate confrontations, stir up the region,” said Rear Admiral Hu Gangfeng, vice president of China’s National Defense University. Another official, Senior Colonel Lu Yin, decried the atmosphere at the forum, saying that “labeling China, blaming China, verbally attacking China are politically right here.”
In one of the sharpest exchanges of the weekend, Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro had a testy exchange with two senior colonels in the People’s Liberation Army, receiving applause after he thanked them for “propaganda spiels disguised as questions.” Referring to China, Teodoro said he couldn’t trust a country that “represses its own people.”
Yet although China’s presence was diminished, most countries still wanted to balance ties between Beijing and Washington.
“If we have to choose sides, may we choose the side of principles,” Singapore Defense Minister Chan Chun Sing said on Sunday at the final panel of the weekend. “Principles that uphold a global order, where we do not descend into the law of the jungle, where the mighty do what they wish and the weak suffer what they must.” With assistance from Alastair Gale, Courtney McBride and Alfred Cang /Bloomberg
Last year, China’s delegation surprised observers by repeatedly calling unscheduled press briefings. This year they surprised delegates by barely appearing at all. When they did engage, China’s representatives pushed back at Hegseth’s accusation that Beijing was destabilizing Asia and sparred with other speakers more broadly.
Top defense officials say Ukraine war has blurred lines, exposing global threats
By David Rising | Associated Press
SINGAPORE—China and North Korea’s support for Russia in its war against Ukraine has exposed how lines between regions have blurred, and the need for a global approach toward defense, top security officials said Sunday.
North Korea has sent troops to fight on the front lines in Ukraine, while China has supported Russia economically and technologically while opposing international sanctions.
Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovilė Šakalienė told delegates at the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia’s premiere defense forum, that if Ukraine were to fall, it would have a ripple effect in Asia and suggested it could embolden China in its territorial claims on Taiwan and virtually the entire South China Sea.
“If Russia prevails in Ukraine, it’s not about Europe. It’s not about one region,” she said. “It will send a very clear signal also to smaller states here in IndoPacific that anyone can ignore their borders, that any fabricated excuse can justify invasion.”
The comments echoed those from French President Emmanuel Macron as he opened the conference on Friday advocating for greater European engagement in the Indo-Pacific.
On Saturday, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth suggested European countries should focus their defense efforts in their own region and leave the Indo-Pacific more to the US, but Šakalienė said the regions were clearly intertwined.
“It’s not a secret that when we talk about the main perpetrators in cyber security against Japan it’s China, Russia and North Korea,” she said.
“When we talk about main cyber security perpetrators against Lithuania it’s Russia, China and Belarus—two out of the three are absolutely the same.” She added that “the convergence of Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea into an increasingly coordinated authoritarian axis,” demands a unified response. Iran has been a key supplier of attack drones to Russia for its war effort.
Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovilė Šakalienė told delegates at the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia’s premiere defense forum, that if Ukraine were to fall, it would have a ripple effect in Asia and suggested it could embolden China in its territorial claims on Taiwan and virtually the entire South China Sea.
“In this context, the United States’ strategic focus on IndoPacific is both justified and necessary, but this is not America’s responsibility alone,” she said.
Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles told reporters on the sidelines that his main takeaway from the three-day conference, hosted by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, was the “real intent in the way in which European countries have engaged” in the debates.
“It reflects the sense of connection, interconnectedness... between Indo-Pacific on the one hand and the North Atlantic on the other,” he said.
China sent a lower-level delegation from its National Defense University this year to the conference, but its Foreign Ministry on Sunday responded to comments from Hegseth that Beijing was destabilizing the region and preparing to possibly seize Taiwan by force.
“No country in the world deserves to be called a hegemonic power other than the US itself, who is also the primary factor undermining the peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific,” it said, while reiterating its stance that the Taiwan issue was an internal Chinese matter.
“The US must never play with fire on this question,” the ministry said.
Philippines Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr, whose country has been involved in
increasingly violent clashes with China over competing claims in the South China Sea, scoffed at the idea that the US was the problem.
“What the Chinese government considers fair and just may stand in stark contrast to the norms and values accepted by the rest of the world, especially the smaller countries,” he said.
“To envision a China-led international order, we only need to look at how they treat their much smaller neighbors in the South China Sea.” He also underscored the international implications of the tensions in the Indo-Pacific, noting that the South China Sea was one of several maritime routes that are “arteries of the global economy.”
“Disruption in any of these maritime corridors triggers ripple effects across continents, impacting trade flows, military deployments, and diplomatic posture,” he said.
Singapore’s Defense Minister Chan Chun Sing said China missed an opportunity to have its voice heard by not sending its own defense minister, but it was still incumbent upon others to reach out to Beijing to try and build bridges and prevent misunderstandings.
Singapore has close ties to both the US and China, and is part of the regionally influential Association of Southeast Asian Nations along with the Philippines and others.
“It is in the interest of all of us to work with China, and it is also in the interest of China to work with everyone else in the world,” he said. “It is in the interest of all of us to have a deeper understanding of China’s fears, concerns and aspirations, just as it is important for China to understand how the rest of the world perceives China.”
Tuesday, June 3, 2025
BusinessMirror
BOI: Tariffs prompt review of investment pledges goal
By Andrea E. San Juan @andreasanjuan
THEBoard of Investments (BOI) said it will revisit the its P1.75trillion investment approvals target for the year as it takes into account “emerging challenges,” such as the additional tariffs imposed by Washington.
“We’re still going to meet regarding that [target], but we’re still pushing [to hit it],” BOI Chairman and Trade Secretary Cristina A. Roque told reporters on the sidelines of the signing of the joint memorandum circular (JMC) for the Investment Facilitation Network (INFANet) in Makati City last Monday. Roque said the meeting will involve other government agencies and will also touch on how to increase the investment pledges.
“So, we’ll talk about it. With these government agencies coming together, will it improve?” she said,
referring to the JMC signed by 38 government agencies last Monday. The JMC sought to improve the ease of doing business and predictability in doing business in the Philippines.
The country’s Trade chief said the additional tariffs imposed by Washington will also be a factor to consider in recalibrating the investment promotion agency’s investment approvals target for 2025.
“Of course tariff is also part of the [discussions]. Our export to the US is also substantial, so that’s another thing that we have to consider, but we try to look at the positive side.
We try to be more strategic in our approach to make sure that we reach our target,” added Roque.
Frederick D. Go, Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs (SAPIEA) said investments approved by all investment promotion agencies for this year should surpass last year’s P1.9 trillion registered investments, which was a record-high.
“Last year, the good news is all the investment promotion agencies in the Philippines generated a total of P1.9 trillion of registered investments,” he said.
“This is great news, because now that becomes the base that is now the statistic that we have to beat in 2025 and all the way to 2028 so all the more we need this kind of joint undertaking to really convince the investors that we are serious about improving the ease of doing business and improving the predictability in doing business,” he added.
Go said the signing of the JMC would mean “enhanced inter-agency coordination,” as these agencies aim to cut red tape and create a more “business-friendly” environment.
The BOI reported over the weekend that it has been seeing a slowdown in
investment approvals this year.
“While investment approvals in 2025 have seen a slowdown, this trend is expected and reflects the natural cycle of investment activity,” it said in a statement.
BOI cited external factors, such as tighter global financial conditions and heightened geopolitical uncertainty, which it contributed to a “more cautious” investment environment.
Data provided by the BOI to reporters showed that the agency has approved P329.52 billion of investments in January to May. This is 48.53 percent lower than the P640.22-billion investments greenlit by the agency in the same period last year.
Over the next two quarters, however, the agency attached to the Department of Trade and Industry is expecting to approve P1.12 trillion in investment pledges, which includes projects in the renewable energy, IT-BPM, manufacturing, food security sectors, among others.
Once approved, BOI said these projects could generate approximately 4,278 jobs.
In 2024, the agency gave its nod to P1.62 trillion in investments, surpassing its P1.5-trillion target last year.
THE Award for Promoting Philippines-China Understanding (APPCU) has named 12 individuals as its new laureates for 2025 and will recognize them in rites on June 3 at the Manila Hotel.
The APPCU is a novel awardgiving body paying special tribute to Filipinos who have made efforts through time in promoting friendly ties and mutual understanding between the Philippines and China. They are recognized for their efforts through time in strengthening friendly ties and promoting mutual understanding between the two nations through their advocacies and expertise in various fields and disciplines.
The Association for Philippines-China Understanding
(APCU) and the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Manila held a press conference recently to announce the Laureates of the Award for Promoting Philippines-China Understanding (APPCU) 2025.
The 12 laureates are: Hall of Fame Awardee, former senator Anna Dominique “Nikki” Coseteng; Outstanding Contribution Awardees—Dominic Edgard A. Cabangon and Maynard S. Ngu; Major Contribution Awardees—Ma. Josefina Tanya Go Belmonte-Alimurung, Ng Siu Seng, Joaquin Sy and Teodorico Nebres Dofiles II; Amity Awardees—Marianne Lourdes M. Leonor, Nelson Garcia Santiago, Eden Batangoy Accad, Shirley C. Agrupis and Justine Clarence Lao Tembresa.
By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie
THE chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means
on Ways and Means Chairman Joey Sarte Salceda made the proposal during the cere-
monial awarding of Export-Oriented Enterprise Certificates, a key feature of the newly enacted CREATE MORE law, which he principally authored. The law restores VAT zero-rating and provides an additional 100-percent deduction on electricity costs for qualified exporters.
“If an agency does not decide within the legal timeframe,” Salceda declared, “the IPA or EMB may issue a certificate. That counts as a permit granted. Silence becomes approval. We turn delay into action.” Salceda emphasized that good laws are not enough without responsive governance.
“This certificate is not just a fix. It is a platform. It lets us build something better,” he said.
He urged the executive branch to take the lead in implementing investment reforms, noting that the legislative agenda could stall in the months ahead due to political distractions.
“Allow me to emphasize the centrality of executive agencies in the political context we are entering. With the Senate preoccupied, Congress is unlikely to pass meaningful reforms for months. The President and his agencies, such as the DTI, remain the only center of initiative
capable of moving the economy decisively,” he said.
He cited historical precedent, pointing to the Marcos Sr. administration’s active use of executive powers.
“Between 1965 and 1969, President Marcos issued 1,300 executive directives—more than any other first-term administration—and the economy grew by 6.9 percent, the fastest in Philippine history,” he said. Salceda also urged swift action to take advantage of the Philippines’s relatively favorable treatment under the new US tariff regime.
By Justine Xyrah Garcia
AS the 19th Congress resumed session, several labor groups gathered outside the House of Representatives on Monday to renew their call for the immediate passage of the P200 acrossthe-board wage hike bill.
In a joint statement, the National Wage Coalition (NWC)—composed of Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino, Kilusang Mayo Uno, Nagkaisa! Labor Coalition, and the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines—stressed that the proposed wage increase is a necessary lifeline for millions of workers struggling to survive on current pay levels.
“This wage hike is the only hope to rescue both present and future generations from the cruel absurdity and harsh reality of getting paid a minimum wage for working for a living yet wallowing in abject record-high self-rated poverty and involuntary hunger where they cannot even feed their family, send their children to school, go to hospital for medical emergencies, or even live with dignity,” the coalition said.
Labor groups said an “overwhelming consensus” in Congress was built through years of deliberations and testimonies showing that current regional wages are inadequate and that a legislated hike is urgently needed to restore workers’ purchasing power.
Currently, the national average daily wage stands at P469, with rates
ranging from P645 in Metro Manila to just P361 in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao—the lowest in the country. Momentum for the measure began building in February, when the House Committee on Labor and Employment, after an eight-month impasse, approved the bill on second reading. The proposed measure mandates a P200 daily wage hike for all minimum wage earners in the private sector, including contractual and sub-contractual workers, in both agricultural and non-agricultural industries.
The Senate had already passed a similar measure last year, though its version provides only for a P100 across-the-board wage hike. If enacted, this would mark the first legislated nationwide wage increase since 1989. With only six session days left before Congress adjourns sine die, the NWC urged lawmakers in the lower chamber to act without delay. The coalition said passing the measure would demonstrate the House’s commitment to protecting workers’ rights and welfare.
“This is the moment of truth. Let us not fail the more than five million minimum wage earners who have suffered for far too long,” the workers added.
Earlier this year, several economists and employer groups cautioned that a P200 wage hike could result in higher unemployment, in-
Editor: Jennifer A. Ng
Foreign carriers to seek nod for collection of airport fees
By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan
FOREIGN airlines are preparing to file their own petitions to collect terminal enhancement fees at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia).
According to Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) Executive Director Carmelo Arcilla, international carriers—through industry groups such as the Airline Operators Council and the Board of Airline Representatives—are closely monitoring the outcome of local airline petitions and are expected to follow suit.
“They are waiting. They are in the wings just waiting for what will happen with the local carriers. They indicated that they are going to file,” he said in a chance interview on Monday.
Last year, local carriers sought for the approval to collect terminal enhancement fees,
as the operator of the country’s main gateway, New Naia Infrastructure Corp. (NNIC), implements higher take off and landing fees.
They asked to include a P150 fee for domestic flights and P300 for international flights.
The proposal remains under CAB review pending the final submission of documents, but Arcilla emphasized the issue is “complex” and will require “extensive review.”
“This is a significant matter. We won’t rush it. It will take time.”
Airlines—both local and foreign— have the option to bundle the adjusted terminal fees into ticket prices, a move
Arcilla said would ultimately depend on each carrier’s pricing strategy.
“It’s the call of the airlines. There are many ways to skin a cat so to speak.”
NNIC is also scheduled to implement an increase in passenger service charge in September. It had said that fee adjustments are based on terms agreed with its winning bid.
In July 2024, then Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista underscored the necessity of “the increase to compensate for their investments,” which are expected to enhance the airport’s capacity and efficiency from 32 million passengers per annum to 62 million passengers per year.
The fee increases have faced significant opposition from consumer advocacy groups and aviation industry stakeholders. CitizenWatch Philippines, through its Co-Convenor Kit Belmonte, has been vocal against the hikes, labeling them as “premature” and “brazen.”
Belmonte said improvements at Naia should precede any fee increases to avoid unjustly burdening passengers.
Maynilad IPO gets SEC green light
THE Securities and Exchange Commis-
sion (SEC) has approved the initial public offering (IPO) of West Zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services Inc., which would yield some P37.41 billion in proceeds.
In its en banc meeting, the SEC approved the registration statement of Maynilad covering 1.93 billion primary shares and 354.7 million secondary shares.
Maynilad will offer to the public up to 1.66 billion common shares priced at up to P20 apiece, with an overallotment option of up to 249.04 million shares and a preferential offer of up to 24.9 million.
The secondary shares that are part of the offer will be sold by the company’s shareholder, Maynilad Water Holding Co. Inc.
Maynilad could net up to P37.41 billion from the IPO, assuming the overallotment option and preferential offer are fully subscribed.
The company will not receive proceeds from the sale of secondary shares by Maynilad Water Holding Co. Proceeds will be used to fund Maynilad’s capital expenditures and for corporate general purposes.
The offer period will run from July 3 to 9, with the shares expected to be listed on the main board of the Philippine Stock Exchange on July 17, according to the latest timeline
submitted to the SEC.
Maynilad tapped BPI Capital Corp., The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corp. Ltd. Morgan Stanley Asia (Singapore) Pte. and UBS AG, Singapore Branch as joint global coordinators and joint bookrunners for the offer. The company is doing its IPO now as its legislative franchise requires it to have a public offering by 2027.
Maynilad had said its expects business to be “encouraging” this year.
“(It) should be a better year. The economy is still growing and definitely demand for water will still continue to grow,” Ramoncito
PGPC to use TNFD framework for disclosure reports
THE Philippine Geothermal Production Co. Inc. (PGPC), a wholly owned subsidiary of SM Investments Corp., is adopting the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) framework for its corporate disclosure reports.
PGPC said it is the fourth Philippine company to adopt the TNFD framework. The company, which is Southeast Asia’s first commercial geothermal power resource provider, will utilize the TNFD framework for its 2025 Sustainability Report. According to the TNFD website, “The TNFD Recommendations and Additional Guidance are designed to help organizations to report and act on evolving nature-related issues with the ultimate aim of supporting a shift in global financial flows away from nature-negative outcomes and toward nature-positive outcomes.”
TNFD is a 40-member taskforce representing financial institutions, corporates and market service providers supported by national governments, businesses and financial institutions worldwide. The taskforce was formally launched in June 2021.
More than 500 organizations in over 50 countries and territories have adopted the TNFD framework for their disclosure reports. These include consulting firms EY and PwC; airlines ANA, JAL and Qantas; financial services companies Moody’s Corp. and S&P Global; and conglomerates Sony Group Corp. and Sumitomo Corp. Lenie Lectura
CHEMICAL manufacturer D&L Industries Inc. said it will remain profitable in the coming years as it continues to ramp up exports.
In an online media briefing after the firm’s annual stockholders’ meeting, D&L President and CEO Alvin D. Lao said the company’s cash flow will continue to be “healthy.”
“We do expect profitability to continue to increase. So, we’re quite comfortable in terms of the outlook of future years’ dividends,” Lao said.
“As part of the efforts of ramping up production in our Batangas plant, we’re focusing on exports and, because of that, we are visiting clients in other countries, attending trade shows and exhibitions, to try and drum up business. Because of that, we are able to get new clients in new markets all the time.”
With D&L’s product portfolio, the majority of which cater to basic and essential in-
dustries, he said the company will continue to expand.
“Over the longer-term, management has a lot of confidence that the new investments that the company has made over the past years will pave the way for higher and more sustainable profit growth.”
During the stockholders’ meeting D&L Industries declared total cash dividends of P1.52 billion, higher than the P1.49- billion payout last year.
D&L declared a regular cash dividend of P0.164 per share, plus a special cash dividend of P0.049 per share, to shareholders of record as of June 18. Ex-date is on June 17 and payment will be made within 30 days of the dividend declaration or on July 2.
“Management remains highly committed to its regular dividend policy of a 50 percent payout ratio based on prior year’s net income,” the company said. VG Cabuag
Fernandez, Maynilad president, said.
“We’re looking forward for a better year, much much better. Our water supply is definitely better with La Niña. Plus also all of our programs and projects have already started to yield positive impact to our operation.”
Fernandez said the company is sticking to its medium-term capital spending of P160 billion, of which spending for the year may hit north of P30 billion.
About 30 percent of the allocation will go to the company’s expansion of its wastewater treatment plants, he added. VG Cabuag
Banking&Finance
Recto reiterates better PhilHealth package bias
By Reine Juvierre Alberto @reine_alberto
FINANCE Secretary Ralph G. Recto reiterated the stance of the Department of Finance (DOF) to retain the current premium rates of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) as two measures in Congress seek lowering premium contributions to the state health insurer.
“I would rather increase [the] benefit packages to reduce out-of-pocket expenses. PhilHealth is on track to
Manulife,
THE Manufacturers Life Insurance Company (Phils.) Inc. and the China Banking Corp. (Chinabank) renewed their bancassurance partnership through the Manulife China Bank Life Assurance Corp. (MCBL) for another 15 years to sell life, health and wealth insurance.
A statement issued last Monday by the local arm of Manulife Financial Corp. announced the continuation of the partnership to provide services through more than 650 branches of Chinabank and its subsidiary China Bank Savings Inc.
“As we renew this strategic alliance, we look forward to growing our reach across the country through Chinabank’s distribution network, providing holistic and accessible financial and wealth solutions that enrich the lives of more customers within the bank’s growing customer base,” Manulife Philippines President and CEO
doing so,” Recto told the BusinessMirror last Tuesday. Recto’s reaction to the Business-
Mirror’s query comes as nongovernment organization Action for Economic Reforms (AER) flagged the proposed PhilHealth premium reductions adding such move raises serious concerns about the state-run health insurer’s financial capacity.
The group pointed to House Bill (HB) 11357 and Senate Bill (SB) 2620. Both bills seek to amend the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law by reducing PhilHealth premiums to 3.5 percent in 2026 from 5 percent.
According to the AER, if the proposed amendments were to be passed, it would have “catastrophic consequences” as the state-run health insurer would require increased and sustainable financing as it expands and improves members’ benefits.
This is also on top of PhilHealth not receiving any budget allocation for this year, following the transfer of its reserve funds amounting to P60 billion to the national treasury.
According to the AER, it appealed to the Senate panel of the Bicameral Conference Committee to defer the passage of the amendments to the UHC Law.
The group said Congress’s proposal to decrease PhilHealth’s premium rate is rooted in its assumption that the insurer has excess funds, which is the same reason why it was not given any budget this year.
“However, from the oral arguments presented during the Supreme Court hearing on the transfer of PhilHealth funds to the national government, it was established that
PhilHealth’s insurance contract liabilities exceeded its reserve fund.
Additionally, PhilHealth is further increasing benefits,” AER said.
The premium rate is currently at 5 percent of the basic monthly salary, with an income floor or P10,000 and an income ceiling of P100,000.
The AER cited the DOF’s position that lowering the premium rates will undermine the financing of benefits expansion that the government and PhilHealth have committed to.
Declining PhilHealth funds caused by the decreased premiums will also result in a failure to reduce the out-of-pocket health expenses, particularly of the lower-income class, the AER added.
“In this light, AER maintains that it would be prudent and wise for Con-
gress to pause the amendments and allow changes to take their course, learn from the Supreme Court ruling, and assess the UHC Law first rather than rush to legislate questionable provisions,” the group’s statement read.
HB 11357 and SB 2620 were both approved on third reading and among the priority measures under the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (Ledac).
The Senate resumed its plenary session on June 2, 2025, and will adjourn sine die on June 14, 2025. The House of Representatives also resumed on Monday, with only two weeks to spare before the sine die adjournment of the Third Regular Session and the conclusion of the 19th Congress on June 13, 2025.
Treasury capitalizes on easing investors’ yields bid
SRahul Hora was quoted as saying in the statement.
Chinabank President and CEO
Romeo D. Uyan Jr. said the bank remains focused on helping its customers achieve their financial goals and MCBL supports this commitment.
Since the partnership began in 2007, MCBL has introduced health and life insurance plans with coverage for the most common critical illnesses in the country.
The MCBL also focuses on long-term savings and retirement planning to help customers secure a comfortable retirement, fund their children’s education or achieve other financial goals. It also offers investment options aligned with various risk profiles and financial goals, aimed at supporting customers in preserving their legacy and building long-term wealth. Reine Juvierre S. Alberto
TRONG demand for shortterm government securities prompted the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) to upsize the volume of Treasury bills (T-bills) it awarded and capitalize on easing yields sought by investors.
On Monday, the government raised a total of P28.6 billion from the P25 billion initially planned.
Total bids for the auction reached P116.316 billion, making the auction 4.6 times oversubscribed.
Due to the overwhelming demand, the auction committee decided to double the accepted noncompetitive bids for the 364-day T-bills to P7.2 billion, bringing the amount raised to P12.6 billion.
The 364-day T-bills fetched an average yield of 5.680 percent, down by 1.4 basis points from the previous auction’s 5.694 percent. Yields ranged from a low of 6.650 percent to a high of 5.690 percent.
Demand for the government IOUs amounted to P42.986 billion, equivalent to 4.7 times the initial P9-billion offer.
The average yield of the 91-day
Pay yourself first: How to prioritize savings
MANY people often say they want to save money; but most of the time, saving becomes the last thing they do. After paying the bills, buying groceries, sending money to family and spending a little for themselves, there’s usually nothing left to save. They end up borrowing or using credit cards when emergencies come. There is a simple way to develop the habit of saving without drastically changing your lifestyle. This is where the idea of “Pay Yourself First” comes in. Paying yourself first means saving money before you spend anything else. Instead of saving whatever is left after spending, you set aside savings as the first thing once you receive your income. Think of it as paying a bill—but this time, you’re paying your future self. It may sound small but doing this every time you receive money can lead to big results over time.
This method helps create discipline. Once the habit is there, you no longer think twice about putting money into savings. Even if the amount is small, what matters is you’re consistent. For example, if someone earns P15,000 a month and decides to pay themselves first by saving 10 percent or P1,500 monthly, they’ll have P18,000 in a year. That’s already a good emergency fund or seed money for
a small side hustle.
A lot of people think they need to earn more before they can save. But, in reality, many who earn more also spend more. Sometimes, it’s not about how much you earn but how you manage what you have. To avoid spending on unnecessary things, it is best to pay yourself first. This simple technique will force you to budget what is left. You become more mindful of your expenses.
One simple trick is to automate the process. If you’re using a bank account, try to set up auto-transfer to a separate savings account every payday. That way, you don’t even have to think about it. The money just goes straight to savings without any effort. If you’re working freelance or receiving money through e-wallets or remittance centers, you can still do this manually. Just make it a rule to set aside your savings the moment you receive the money. Don’t wait until the end of the week or month.
It’s also important to separate your savings from your daily spending account. If you can see the money, you’ll be tempted to use it. Open a different account with no ATM or keep your savings in digital wallets with limited access. Some even keep it in a paluwagan with trusted friends or place in digital savings apps with better interest rates than traditional banks.
Of course, there will be times when it feels hard. When expenses pile up or when unexpected things happen, you might think of skipping your savings.
But if you start small and treat saving as a non-negotiable part of your budget, it becomes a habit. Just like how people pay rent or electricity no matter what, saving becomes just another regular part of your money routine.
Some may say, “What if I really don’t have enough?” That’s a fair question. But even just P50 a week is still P2,600 in a year. Not bad for something that many would just spend on milk tea or snacks (I mean most of the time or always). The key is to start where you are. Don’t wait for the “right time” or a bigger income. Saving is not just for rich people—it’s for anyone who wants a better life in the future.
Also, it helps to have a reason for saving. Are you saving for emergencies? For your child’s tuition? For a trip? Having a goal makes it more meaningful and keeps you motivated. You’ll be surprised how much you can save if you give it purpose.
Paying yourself first is a simple but powerful move. It teaches you to take care of your own future before anything else. Life can be uncertain. Prices go up, jobs can be unstable and emergencies can happen anytime. But if you have even just a small savings cushion, it gives you peace of mind. You won’t always need to depend on others or borrow money.
So next time you get paid, remember before you pay the bills or buy anything, pay yourself first. You’ll thank yourself later.
Clyde Gamolo is a Registered Financial Planner of RFP Philippines. To learn more about financial planning, attend the 111th RFP program this month. Please email info@rfp.ph to get more information on how join. The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the BusinessMirror
debt paper settled at 5.452 percent, lower by 1.6 basis points from the 5.468 percent yield last week. Rates ranged from 5.434 percent to 5.463 percent.
The amount tendered for 91-day T-bills was P31.675 billion, while the auction committee fully awarded the P8 billion initially intended to raise.
Meanwhile, the 182-day T-bills average yield increased by 1.4 basis points to 5.565 percent from the previous 5.551 percent yield. The rate settled between 5.553 percent and 5.579 percent.
Total tenders for the tenor reached P41.655 billion, of which P8 billion, as planned, was awarded by the auction committee.
As compared to the Philippine Bloomberg Valuation (PHP BVAL) rates, the average yields of all three tenors are lower than the secondary benchmark rates.
The PHP BVAL reference rates are 5.4330 percent for the threemonth tenor, 5.5968 percent for the six-month tenor and 5.7253 percent for the one-year tenor as of June 1.
Rizal Commercial Banking Corp.
Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said the T-bill yields declined slightly as investors expect inflation to slow further in May, increasing the chances of a key policy rate cut.
“Some investors take positions and/or lock in still relatively higher yields before they go down in the coming months,” Ricafort said.
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) expects the increase in commodity prices to be flat in May, projecting inflation to settle within 0.9 and 1.7 percent (See: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2025/05/31/ bsp-sees-may-inflation-slowestsince-october-2019/ ).
BSP Governor Eli M. Remolona Jr. said earlier that the recent slowdown in inflation is giving the Monetary Board a wider berth to introduce reductions in the policy rate.
The BSP said it is considering two more 25-basis-point cuts in key policy rates this year, given the slowdown in inflation and rise in global uncertainties.
The Monetary Board is set to meet on June 19, where Remolona said a rate cut is on the table. However,
this may not necessarily be consecutive cuts.
This June, the Treasury is set to raise a total of P100 billion through the sale of 91-, 82- and 364-day T-bills every Monday. It will also generate P130 billion through Treasury bonds. The national government’s gross borrowings reached P1.135 trillion in the first four months of the year, making up 44.59 percent of the government’s borrowing program for the year, set at P2.545 trillion. It will follow an 80:20 borrowing mix to minimize its exposure to foreign exchange risks, where P2.037 trillion will be raised domestically while P507.408 billion will come from external sources. The government borrows to finance its spending requirements as well as to cover its budget deficit. The budget deficit widened by 75.62 percent to P478.8 billion in the first quarter.
The national government’s outstanding debt rose to P16.683 trillion as of end-March 2025, 11.78 percent higher year-on-year from P14.925 trillion. Reine Juvierre S. Alberto
Shareholders of two banks to get dividends
TBy Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario
HE Board of Directors of the Bank of Commerce (BankCom) and BDO Unibank Inc. (BDO) approved increased and regular cash dividends, respectively for their shareholders.
In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE), BankCom said its shareholders will receive a total of P0.45 per share—comprising a regular dividend of P0.25 and a special dividend of P0.20. These will be paid out on July 15 to shareholders of record as of June 19, 2025.
The San Miguel Corp. (SMC) said the approval was a 79-percent increase in cash dividends for common shareholders, following the bank’s record P3-billion profit in 2024.
➔ BAP releases videos on cybercrime
“A few years ago, we set forth on an ambitious 5-year plan that would take us from an ROE [return on equity] of six percent in 2021 to an ROE of 10 percent in 2026,” BankCom President and CEO Michelangelo R. Aguilar said at the company’s annual stockholders’ meeting held recently. “We have now surpassed that target one year ahead of schedule.”
This is BankCom’s second dividend declaration since going public in 2022. The total payout amounts to over P851 million, including P220 million for preferred shares.
The payout represents 28 percent of its 2024 net income and will be funded from retained earnings, which remain well above levels at the time of its initial public offering. The increased dividend follows strong performance across corporate lending, investment banking, and transaction fees. Net income for 2024 rose to P3 billion, the highest since BankCom became part of San Miguel in 2008.
THE Bankers Association of the Philippines announced it released on June 1 a series of educational videos to raise awareness on how the Filipino public can protect themselves from cybercrime. These include the most common forms of cybercrimes, as well as emerging dangers in the cyber space. The videos touch on various topics such as money muling, the consequences of clicking links from strangers, cybercrime as a form of economic sabotage and how the public protect against cybercrime. These videos could be viewed on the official Youtube page of the BAP. (https://www.youtube. com/@bankersassociationofthephi5490).
➔ Citi Manila explores digital payment
CITIBANK N.A. (Manila Branch) announced it continues to find ways to respond to the need of their corporate clients to transition from traditional cash or checks to digital payments to boost their commercial and treasury requirements. This was the firm’s message at the “Future of Payments Forum” it organized. “At Citi, we understand that payments are at the heart of global commerce. With a digital-first approach, our network is connected, embedded and designed to help deliver a best-in-class experience across the entire journey of an organization’s payments flow,” Citi Country Officer Paul
First-quarter 2025 net income reached P866.8 million, up 13 percent from the same period last year, driven by growth in interest income, trading, and foreign exchange gains. Meanwhile, the Board of Directors of BDO approved the declaration of regular cash dividends on common shares of the bank worth P1.10 per share for the second quarter of 2025. These dividends will be payable on June 30 to all stockholders of recod as of June 18, 2025. The bank has 5.33 billion common shares and 618 million preferred shares.
A. Favila was quoted in the statement
Art BusinessMirror
Eugenia Last
Art Lounge Manila’s ‘Ebb and Flow’ celebrates World Ocean Day
AMASSIVE group exhibition by Art Lounge Manila (ALM) hopes to catalyze collective action for environmental conservation in celebration of World Ocean Day on June 8.
CCP
Titled Ebb and Flow, the exhibit will run for eight days across two venues, highlighting the beauty and critical importance of our oceans through artworks inspired by these delicate systems. The show kicks off on June 5 at ALM Podium and on June 12 at ALM Alabang with different sets of featured artworks. Both will run until June 15 as a collaborative cultural and environmental project, organized in collaboration with partner groups who support the cause, namely, premier jewelry salon Hoseki, non-profit organization Fundacion Sansó, and local clean beauty brand Pure Culture.
“We are very excited to have this very unique partnership and collaboration with different forms of art,” Art Lounge Manila managing director Susanne
“OCEAN,” B5
21AM collection artworks on display at National Gallery Singapore
THE Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP, www. culturalcenter.gov.ph), through its Visual Arts and Museum Division, has loaned five significant artworks from its collection to the National Gallery Singapore (NGS), reinforcing
its ongoing efforts to bring Philippine art to a wider international audience. This initiative not only showcases the depth of Filipino creativity but also helps strengthen cultural ties across Southeast Asia, fostering greater appreciation and collaboration in the region’s vibrant arts scene.
The artworks from the CCP 21st Century Art Museum (21AM) Collection—Painting No. 1 by National Artist Jose Joya; Portrait of Fernando Zóbel and Fernando Zóbel Lecturing on Art and a Student Listening II, both by David Cortez Medalla; Calligraphic Oracle by Manuel Rodriguez Sr.; and Ku III by Fernando Zóbel—are featured in Fernando Zóbel: Order is Essential, NGS’s first-ever solo exhibition dedicated to transcontinental abstract artist Fernando Zóbel (1924–1984).
Born in the Philippines to a prominent Spanish family, Zóbel was an avid traveler, a cosmopolitan thinker and writer, and a pioneering collector who established two modern art museums in the Philippines and Spain.
His lifelong, wide-ranging interests shaped his expressionist and abstract works in drawing, printmaking, painting, and photography.
Zóbel’s Ku III, part of his renowned Ku series, exemplifies his deeply personal and abstract style, marked by delicate
color palettes and expressive, nuanced brushwork. This piece underscores the artist’s distinctive contribution to abstract expressionism.
According to the CCP Encyclopedia of Philippine Art, David Medalla’s Portrait of Fernando Zóbel marks an early phase in the artist’s exploration of unconventional expression. The work emphasizes the flatness of the canvas through simple, linear forms inspired by children’s drawings and so-called “primitive” art. It also reflects a strong Dadaist influence and aligns with the raw aesthetic of Art Brut, blending satire and playfulness—characteristics that later became hallmarks of Medalla’s practice.
In the portrait, the usually refined and esteemed business tycoon Zóbel is reimagined through a whimsical lens. Using mixed media on black paper, Medalla transforms him into a playful figure with an exaggerated grin, subverting the formality typically associated with portraiture.
The exhibit opened on May 9 and will run until November 30, 2025, at the Wu Guanzhong Gallery and Level 4 Gallery at National Gallery Singapore.
For more information on Fernando Zóbel: Order is Essential, visit www.nationalgallery.sg/sg/en.html.
it’s necessary to consider what’s best for you and push forward. Distance yourself from people using pressure tactics. ★★★★
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Stop worrying about what others do and pay attention to what you can achieve. Put your energy into personal growth and gain, and look for positions that will help you earn and learn more. Change is within reach, and affiliating with the right people will help you reach your destination quickly. ★★
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Stop, look, listen, evaluate and carry on with confidence and vision. A change will do you good, but first, you must determine what and who you need, and eliminate dead weight. Strategy is everything, and there is no room for error. Precision and detail are essential to reach your goal. ★★★
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Clear your head and make room to expand in areas that will help you discover who you are and what you want. Choosing the best path forward depends on gathering pertinent information to help eliminate fear and replace it with clarity. Mix discipline with innovative ideas, and act on your own behalf. ★★★
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Participate in events that give you the wherewithal to bring about change. Embracing what and who moves you the most will help build confidence and insight into how to achieve happiness. Don’t follow others when discovering the path to peace of mind is your destiny. ★★★★
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Get moving, see the sights, take in what life offers and find a path to do something you enjoy. Socialize and network to find your circle and share ideas, concerns and opportunities. You have plenty to gain if you are open to trying something new and engaging in lifestyle changes. ★★
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Look at your options, but don’t make a move. Formulate, rethink and design a future that is tailor-made for you. Nothing happens overnight, but with time, effort and persistence, you can turn the framework you build now into something lucrative in the future.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Say no to changes you don’t want. Refuse to let anyone talk you into something that isn’t
RONNIE LIM CHRISTIAN MIRANG
Show BusinessMirror
Gabbi Garcia gears up for greater heights with grit and gratitude
TRUTH is, stardom was not handed to GMA Network’s “It Girl” on a silver platter. It took the current toast of Sparkle 11 years of hard work, determination and loyalty to get to where she is today. We were invited to witness her contract-signing recently with the network’s bigwigs in attendance, among them GMA Network president and CEO Jimmy Duavit, senior vice president Annette Gozon-Valdes, CFO and corporate treasurer Philip Yalong, Sparkle Artist Center big boss Joy Marcelo, and corporate communications vice president Angel Javier.
“I had absolutely almost no idea of what I was getting into when I started. I am the first one in my family to have been lured by show business, we had no connections whatsoever. Perhaps it is destiny, when life brings you to an unfamiliar place and after some time, you get to settle warmly and comfortably into your new environment, learning about it and accepting the realities that come with it.”
She told us that she had very little expectations since she was just absorbing everything she could, one experience at a time. “The only goal I set was to make myself fit in this business, to establish myself well and keep my foundation solid and sturdy. I guess those are important factors so I can learn to love what I do and be truly happy doing what I do.”
Garcia added, “Sustaining whatever little success I had and was blessed with, was another challenge as I grew into the business. I always keep my eyes and ears open and observe how others work and play their cards. And through the years, I have come to realize that longevity can be my goal, and I can be an actor with a purpose.”
Almost 27, Garcia shared that she has experienced all kinds of auditions just to get to play a part. “I started when I was 15 and these auditions opened my eyes to many things, and I’ve also learned a lot about acceptance because you get more rejections during auditions when you are new and nameless. I have also learned to acknowledge my emotions but not to dwell on them for long, because it is easier to move forward if you have less emotional baggages in tow. Believe me when I say that I’ve done everything someone in this business is expected to do—acting, singing, vlogging, hosting, being part of a love team, endorsing products, meeting tycoons, politicos, religious leaders, international celebrities, I’ve experienced all these. But it might still be that little girl inside me who continue to make me curious about what I still can do and see and experience, that is why I always keep the options open and explore the many possibilities that come with each new undertaking.”
long term support system, they will be there when you are at your lowest, and they will be truly happy for every success you achieve—whether big or small.”
Aside from her parents and her sister, Garcia cherishes her longtime boyfriend Khalil Ramos who is also an actor. “He is first and foremost my best friend, and I know and I am constantly assured of his unconditional love and support. Friendship can be
we can both grow together and continue sharing each other’s dreams and aspirations in our small universe.”
The gorgeous Gabbi Garcia is aware that gratitude is something that she needs to always keep in her heart. “We are all only small specks in this vast universe. We carry our own lights, and it is up to us to learn how to keep our lights burning so we can continue to illuminate the space where we are at.” n
GMA NETWORK’S ‘PANATA KONTRA-FAKE NEWS’ TRIUMPHS AT ASIA-PACIFIC BROADCASTING+ AWARDS
GMA Network Inc.’s groundbreaking advocacy “Panata Kontra-Fake News” was named Best Multi-Platform Campaign at the prestigious Asia Pacific Broadcasting+ Awards, held at the Crowne Plaza Changi Airport in Singapore. National Press Freedom Day 2024, Panata Kontra-Fake News is a bold, multi-sectoral initiative that empowers Filipinos to stand against disinformation. Spearheaded by GMA Network in collaboration with key partners in media, education, and technology, the campaign media literacy, truth-telling, and critical across a wide spectrum of audiences.
GMA Integrated News led the charge in mobilizing nearly 60 partner organizations through a landmark MOA signing event, while driving sustained efforts such as multi-platform fact-checking initiatives and the GMA Masterclass: Eleksyon 2025 “Dapat Totoo” Series which gathered more than 12,000 students in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, empowering the young generation of Filipinos and championing the fight against fake news. Through impactful special reports, interactive multimedia content, and immersive storytelling deployed across TV, radio and digital platforms, the campaign has reached millions—equipping the masses with the tools to spot and reject falsehoods in everyday life.
Continued from B4
Tiausas said during last week’s media preview at ALM Podium. “It’s really everyone’s responsibility to be conscious of saving and protecting the oceans—to be able to enjoy it now and for future generations.”
is set to feature pieces that capture the natural dance of our marine environment, the tides, migrations, and the ecosystems, while tackling pressing issues like climate change and pollution. Among the previewed pieces is a heavily textured Rainier Duhaylungsod seascape, along with a surrealist Luin Veluz showing a relaxed camel aboard a paper boat, and Bell Sison’s radiant marine life sculptures that include a manta ray and pufferfish.
The show also promotes the vital link between ocean health and human well-being. Through art, jewelry, skincare, and educational dialogue, the exhibit aims to inspire sustainable practices and foster a deeper appreciation of our oceans’ resilience and fragility.
According to Hoseki chief creative officer Knoi Esmane, pearl jewelry offers a delicate balance between elegance and environmental stewardship. Sustainable pearl farming, he said, “actually contributes significantly in maintaining marine diversity,” as oysters act as natural saltwater filters.
“Did you know that in a one-hectare pearl farm, all the oysters there can filter more than one billion liters of salt water per day, which is equivalent to a small lake?” he said.
“This international recognition is both an honor and a call Oliver Victor B. Amoroso, senior vice president and head of GMA Integrated News, GMA Regional TV, and Synergy. “Panata Kontra-Fake News reflects our unwavering commitment to credible journalism, and to working with communities and institutions to protect the truth. This award belongs to every journalist, partner and Filipino who believe Asia Pacific Broadcasting+ Awards celebrates excellence in broadcasting, innovation, and digital transformation across the region. Winners are recognized not only for outstanding content but also for redefining the media landscape and driving meaningful change. More information can be found at www.gmanetwork.com. ‘Lilo &
LILO & Stich and Mission: Impossible–The Final Reckoning dominated the box office charts again after fueling a record-breaking Memorial Day weekend. Theaters in the US and Canada had several new films to offer this weekend as well, including Sony’s family-friendly Karate Kid: Legends and the A24 horror movie Bring Her Back. According to studio estimates on Sunday, it added up to a robust $149 million postholiday weekend that’s up over 120 percent from the same timeframe last year.
Disney’s live-action hybrid Lilo & Stitch took first place again with $63 million from 4,410 locations in North America. It was enough to pass Sinners to become the second-highest grossing movie of the year with $280.1 million in domestic ticket sales. Globally, its running total is $610.8 million. Sinners, meanwhile, is still going strong in its seventh weekend with another $5.2 million, bumping it to $267.1 million domestically and $350.1 million globally.
The eighth Mission: Impossible movie also repeated in second place, with $27.3 million from 3,861 locations. As with Lilo & Stitch that’s down 57 percent from its opening. With $122.6 million in domestic tickets sold, it’s performing in line with the two previous installments. But with a reported production budget of $400 million, profitability is a ways off. Internationally, it added $76.1 million (including $25.2 million from China where it just opened), bringing its
global total to $353.8 million. “This is the year of longterm playability,” said Paul Dergarabedian, Comscore’s senior media analyst. “The currency of word-of-mouth and the strong hold is more important than opening weekend dollars.”
Leading the newcomers was Sony’s Karate Kid: Legends, with an estimated $21 million from 3,809 locations. The movie brings Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio together to train a new kid, the kung fu prodigy Li Fong ( Ben Wang ). Chan starred in a 2010 reboot of the 1984 original, while Macchio has found a new generation of fans in the series Cobra Kai, which just concluded a six-season run. Reviews might have been mixed, but opening weekend audiences gave the PG-13 rated film a strong “A-” CinemaScore and 4.5 stars on PostTrak. It also
only cost a reported $45 million to produce and has several weeks until a new family-friendly film arrives. Karate Kid: Legends opened earlier internationally and has a worldwide total of $47 million. Fourth place went Final Destination: Bloodlines, which earned $10.8 million in its third weekend. The movie is the highest-grossing in the franchise, not accounting for inflation, with $229.3 million globally. The weekend’s other big newcomer, Bring Her Back rounded out the top five with $7.1 million from 2,449 screens. Starring Sally Hawkins as a foster mother with some disturbing plans, the film is the sophomore feature of twin filmmakers Danny and Michael Philippou, who made the 2023 horror breakout Talk to Me. It earned a rare-for-horror “B+” CinemaScore and is essentially the only new film in the genre until 28 Years Later opens on June 20. A new Wes Anderson movie, The Phoenician Scheme, also debuted in New York and Los Angeles this weekend, where it made $270,000. It expands nationwide next weekend. The summer box office forecast remains promising, though there’s a long way to go to get to the $4 billion target (a pre-pandemic norm that only the “Barbenheimer” summer has surpassed). The month of May is expected to close out with $973 million—up 75 percent from May 2024, according to data from Comscore. AP
“If we support sustainable pearl farming, we just don’t adorn ourselves with beautiful pieces but we also adorn ourselves with pieces that speak highly of our environment. It mirrors the kind of seas that we have.”
Meanwhile, Pure Culture CEO Stephanie Oller talked about how the ocean serves as the “No, 1 inspiration” of her microbiome-based skincare brand.
“Our biggest line is made of green caviar, or lato, which is a very strong antioxidant. Also, every bottle that we sell, we get to collect a pound of plastic, making us a plastic-neutral plus company,” she said. “It is in our DNA to give back to the planet and the ocean, so I’m very grateful because these amazing brands and Art Lounge Manila came together for this wonderful World Oceans Month this June.”
Lastly, Fundación Sansó director Ricky Francisco shared how the late great artist Juvenal Sansó embodied the saying “saving the ocean is saving ourselves.” Francisco said that finding peace in the ocean was a release for Sansó from the trauma of war. Today, he added, as “we are faced with so many things in the world, everything is moving so fast, and we need our own mental space and our mental health. Keeping our oceans clean and safe is actually a great way of saving ourselves.”
As part of the Art Lounge Manila’s Ebb and Flow, Fundacion Sansó will release special giclees by the late master with views of seascapes to support ocean conservation. A portion of all sales will benefit Save Philippine Seas, a non-profit organization that aims to empower “seatizens” toward collective action and behavior change, reinforcing the commitment to protecting marine ecosystems.
at @artloungemanila. n
Stitch’
Swiss Elegance Now Closer to Home with Claude Bernard
From the quiet village of Les Genevez in Switzerland to the heart of Philippine luxury retail, Claude Bernard—a brand rooted in Swiss watchmaking heritage—has officially arrived. Founded in 1973 and proudly independent, Claude Bernard is globally recognized for its hand-assembled timepieces crafted with the same dedication that has defined Swiss horology for centuries.
Each watch reflects a legacy of precision and passion, blending tradition with modern design. From mechanical to quartz movements, every model is built to exacting Swiss standards and features sapphire glass, premium stainless steel, and a timeless aesthetic suited for today’s discerning wearer.
“As we enter the Philippine market, we’re excited to share the soul of our Swiss atelier with a new generation,” says Christian Hotz, Claude Bernard & Edox Marketing and Sales Director, Member of the Board.
“With Lucerne as our trusted partner, Claude Bernard is now within reach of Filipino collectors seeking both craftsmanship and authenticity.”
Claude Bernard’s collection celebrates Swiss elegance shaped for modern life. From the timeless lines of the Classic series to the ultra-slim sophistication of the Slim Line, the brand offers refined choices for those who appreciate understatement with impact.
The Aquarider brings a sporty edge, designed for versatility and built to endure with water resistance up to 200 meters. For women, the Dress Code collection introduces delicate proportions and feminine details that elevate everyday elegance.
Completing the story is Proud
Heritage—a vintage-inspired line that nods to the pioneering age of aviation with oversized crowns and character-rich styling. Each collection is distinct, yet united by the brand’s unwavering dedication to quality, precision, and design integrity. With Swiss movements, sapphire crystals, refined casework, and handassembly in every model, Claude Bernard redefines what accessible luxury means in modern watchmaking.
The brand’s entry into the Philippine market is made possible through a strategic partnership with the Lucerne Group, the country’s premier name in luxury timepieces. With its reputation for curating the world’s most respected horological brands, Lucerne
ensures that Claude Bernard will be experienced with the care and sophistication it deserves.
Claude Bernard watches are now available at select Chronos, Wristpod, and Swiss Gear boutiques nationwide—bringing Swiss precision and timeless design directly to Filipino wrists. Each store offers a tailored shopping experience, allowing customers to explore the brand’s full range of collections in a setting that reflects Claude Bernard’s refined identity.
Whether you’re a seasoned collector or new to fine timepieces, Claude Bernard invites you to explore a new era of watchmaking— one where heritage, innovation, and elegance converge, one tick at a time.
into unforgettable experiences. The newest brand ambassador, Loisa Andalio, and a series of exciting and upcoming surprise bar takeovers are bringing the brand’s philosophy to life across the metro.
Absolut Vodka SPRITE, the premium alcoholic ready-to-drink (ARTD) cocktail that perfectly blends the smooth taste of Absolut Vodka with the clean, crisp lemon-lime flavor of SPRITE, is designed for these moments. Already available nationwide since its rollout late last year, it’s the convenient, ready-to-enjoy companion that ensures you’re always prepared to add good vibes and a premium touch to any spontaneous get-togethers, wherever and whenever they happen!
The spirit of being ready for anything unexpected recently came to life in a big way when Absolut Vodka SPRITE surprised guests at a trendy hangout place in Poblacion, Makati, with an unexpected bar takeover featuring brand ambassador, Loisa Andalio.
This also served as the official launch of the brand’s collaboration with Loisa. She led the fun and toasted to the occasion, showcasing how the simple act of having Absolut Vodka SPRITE on hand elevates the party experiences and unexpected, good times. ”Sometimes, it’s really those unexpected and chill hangouts with friends and loved ones that turn out to be the most fun, and these moments become the best when enjoyed with a can of Absolut Vodka SPRITE,” Loisa says.
“In today’s world where planning often dominates, Absolut Vodka SPRITE cheers on people to relish life’s unplanned moments,” shares Rocko Ogsimer, Frontline Marketing Director for ARTD – Coca-Cola Philippines. “We are happy to champion the idea of embracing unplanned get-togethers with Loisa Andalio, offering our adult drinkers a unique way to embrace the unexpected. This premium alcoholic cocktail, a perfect mix of two iconic brands, is designed for convenience and great taste, ensuring people are always ready to spread good vibes in on-thespot gatherings and turn any moment into an unbelievable great experience.”
Building on the energy of the surprise event, Absolut Vodka SPRITE is bringing the spirit of spontaneity to key spots across the metro with a series of ‘unplanned’ bar takeovers and pop-up events. People of legal drinking age can look forward to these takeovers for a chance to enjoy the distinct smooth experience of Absolut Vodka SPRITE, and of course, create new unforgettable memories on the spot.
Celebrate ‘Only the Best for Dad’ This Father’s Day at Okada Manila
THIS Father’s Day, Okada Manila honors the heart of every home with “Only the Best for Dad,” a resort-wide celebration that brings together exceptional dining, worldclass pampering, and heartfelt family moments until June 15, 2025. With indulgent offers across its dining, wellness, retail, and entertainment outlets, Okada Manila makes it easy to give Dad the celebration he truly deserves.
Epic Feasts That Say “Thank You, Dad” Give Dad the spotlight at the table with specially crafted menus across Okada Manila’s signature restaurants. At Enbu, the Father’s Day Set Menu for four is available for P5,088 nett from June 13 to 15. It features a satisfying spread of Agedashi Tofu in Ground Chicken Sauce, Sashimi (three kinds), Sautéed US Beef Ribeye with Ponzu Sauce, Chicken Tempura with Miso Vinegar Sauce, Assorted Mushroom Rice, LapuLapu Suimono, and a decadent Matcha Roll. On June 15, Medley Buffet rolls out its special Father’s Day lineup for lunch and dinner, featuring Boston Lobster, King Prawns, Curacha Crab, Squid, Mussels, Clams, Oyster Rockefeller, Roasted Prime Rib, Peking Duck, Crispy Pata, Whole Lamb with Saffron Pulao, Whole Lechon, Whole Steamed Fish, and a rich dessert selection. Beverages include free-flowing red, white, and sparkling wines, cocktails, beers, sodas, chilled juices, and house-blend iced teas. This one-day exclusive spread is available at P4,500 for adults and P2,250 for kids.
Over at Yu Lei, a Father’s Day lunch and dinner menu is available until June 15 for P6,000 nett per diner. The curated set includes Chef’s Choice of seven types of appetizers, Stuffed Tofu with Dried Shrimp and Minced Pork in Ginger Leeks Sauce, Braised Prawns and Vegetable with Vermicelli in Chili Barbecue Sauce, Stir-Fried US Beef Tenderloin and Mushroom in Black Miso Sauce served in Lettuce Wraps, and Singaporestyle Vegetable Rice Vermicelli. For dessert, enjoy Chilled Mango Sago with Pomelo and Deep-Fried Golden Sesame Balls. Guests with reservations will also receive a complimentary serving of Yu Lei’s original Machang (stuffed glutinous rice) to take home.
Signature Sips for a Signature Man
Celebrate Dad with exclusive cocktails at Sportsbook Bar and Okada Lounge, each crafted for boldness and character. From June 9 to 22, enjoy The Alpha, Ironman, and
EDynasty at P480 nett each—a perfect toast to the man of the hour.
Wellness and Grooming Made for Dad
Until June 15, The Retreat Spa invites guests to book the Dad’s Day of Wellness experience, a package that includes the signature Indayog ng Duyan body treatment and a finishing Foot Reflexology session. Meanwhile, from June 13 to 15, the Beauty Salon offers the Revitalize and Refresh package, featuring a Scalp Cleansing with Herbal Infusion Hair Spa treatment and a complimentary Natural Manicure or Pedicure for P5,888 nett (regular rate: P7,176 nett). Also from June 13 to 15, The Perfect Father’s Day Cut at the Barbershop features Precision Barbering & Styling with a complimentary 30-minute Head, Neck & Shoulder massage at a special rate of P1,988 nett (regular rate: P3,988 nett). Every salon or barbershop package includes a Father’s Day Gift containing seven pairs of Detox Foot Patches. For a sweet bonding moment, the Pamper Together package at NAS Nail Artisan Studio (June 13 to 15) offers two Yasashii Foot Spa services and a complimentary 30-minute foot massage—a full treatment that includes a calming milky foot soak, cuticle care, callus removal, chocolate foot scrub, and a soothing massage, plus the same detox foot patch gift. Over at The Sole Retreat, guests can also book a wellness experience for two with Asian or Ingham-style Foot Reflexology, available from June 13 to 15, under the A Spa Date for Mom and Dad promotion.
Celebrate “Only the Best for Dad” This Father’s Day at Okada Manila.
Loisa Andalio and friends enjoy a can of Absolut Vodka Sprite. Photo
Trump faces skepticism over trillion-dollar tax cuts as Federal debt concerns mount
By Josh Boak The Associated Press
WASHINGTON—President
Donald Trump faces the challenge of convincing Republican senators, global investors, voters and even Elon Musk that he won’t bury the federal government in debt with his multitrillion-dollar tax breaks package.
The response so far from financial markets has been skeptical as Trump seems unable to trim deficits as promised.
“All of this rhetoric about cutting trillions of dollars of spending has come to nothing— and the tax bill codifies that,” said Michael Strain, director of economic policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute, a right-leaning think tank. “There is a level of concern about the competence of Congress and this administration and that makes adding a whole bunch of money to the deficit riskier.”
The White House has viciously lashed out at anyone who has voiced concern about the debt snowballing under Trump, even though it did exactly that in his first term after his 2017 tax cuts.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt opened her briefing Thursday by saying she wanted “to debunk some false claims” about his tax cuts.
Leavitt said the “blatantly wrong claim that the ‘One, Big, Beautiful Bill’ increases the deficit is based on the Congressional Budget Office and other scorekeepers who use shoddy assumptions and have historically been terrible at forecasting across Democrat and Republican administrations alike.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson
piled onto Congress’ number crunchers on Sunday, telling NBC’s “Meet the Press,” “The CBO sometimes gets projections correct, but they’re always off, every single time, when they project economic growth. They always underestimate the growth that will be brought about by tax cuts and reduction in regulations.”
But Trump himself has suggested that the lack of sufficient spending cuts to offset his tax reductions came out of the need to hold the Republican congressional coalition together.
“We have to get a lot of votes,” Trump said last week. “We can’t be cutting.”
That has left the administration betting on the hope that economic growth can do the trick, a belief that few outside of Trump’s orbit think is viable.
Most economists consider the non-partisan CBO to be the foundational standard for assessing policies, though it does not produce cost estimates for actions taken by the executive branch such as Trump’s unilateral tariffs.
Tech billionaire Musk, who was until recently part of Trump’s inner sanctum as the leader of the Department of Government Efficiency, told CBS News: “I was disappointed to see the massive spending bill,
frankly, which increases the budget deficit, not just decreases it, and undermines the work that the DOGE team is doing.”
Federal debt keeps rising
THE tax and spending cuts that passed the House last month would add more than $5 trillion to the national debt in the coming decade if all of them are allowed to continue, according to the Committee for a Responsible Financial Budget, a fiscal watchdog group.
To make the bill’s price tag appear lower, various parts of the legislation are set to expire. This same tactic was used with Trump’s 2017 tax cuts and it set up this year’s dilemma, in which many of the tax cuts in that earlier package will sunset next year unless Congress renews them.
But the debt is a much bigger problem now than it was eight years ago. Investors are demanding the government pay a higher premium to keep borrowing as the total debt has crossed $36.1 trillion.
The interest rate on a 10-year Treasury Note is around 4.5%, up dramatically from the roughly 2.5% rate being charged when the 2017 tax cuts became law.
The White House Council of Economic Advisers argues that its policies will unleash so much rapid growth that the annual budget deficits will shrink in size relative to the overall economy, putting the US government on a fiscally sustainable path.
The council argues the economy would expand over the next four years at an annual average of about 3.2%, instead of the Congressional Budget Office’s expected 1.9%, and as many as 7.4 million jobs would be created or saved.
Council chair Stephen Miran told reporters that when the growth being forecast by the White House is coupled with expected revenues from tariffs, the expected budget deficits will fall. The tax cuts will
increase the supply of money for investment, the supply of workers and the supply of domestically produced goods—all of which, by Miran’s logic, would cause faster growth without creating new inflationary pressures.
“I do want to assure everyone that the deficit is a very significant concern for this administration,” Miran said.
White House budget director Russell Vought told reporters the idea that the bill is “in any way harmful to debt and deficits is fundamentally untrue.”
Economists doubt Trump’s plan can spark enough growth to reduce deficits
M OST outside economists expect additional debt would keep interest rates higher and slow overall economic growth as the cost of borrowing for homes, cars, businesses and even college educations would increase.
“This just adds to the problem future policymakers are going to face,” said Brendan Duke, a former Biden administration aide now at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a liberal think tank. Duke said that with the tax cuts in the bill set to expire in 2028, lawmakers would be “dealing with Social Security, Medicare and expiring tax cuts at the same time.”
Kent Smetters, faculty director of the Penn Wharton
Budget Model, said the growth projections from Trump’s economic team are “a work of fiction.” He said the bill would lead some workers to choose to work fewer hours in order to qualify for Medicaid.
“I don’t know of any serious forecaster that has meaningfully raised their growth forecast because of this legislation,” said Harvard University professor Jason Furman, who was the Council of Economic Advisers chair under the Obama administration. “These are mostly not growth- and competitiveness-oriented tax cuts. And, in fact, the higher long-term interest rates will go the other way and hurt growth.”
The White House’s inability so far to calm deficit concerns is stirring up political blowback for Trump as the tax and spending cuts approved by the House now move to the Senate. Republican Sens. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin and Rand Paul of Kentucky have both expressed concerns about the likely deficit increases, with Paul saying Sunday there are enough GOP senators to stall the bill until deficits are addressed.
“I think there are four of us at this point” who would oppose the legislation “if the bill, at least, is not modified in a good direction,” Paul said on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”
“The GOP will own the debt once they vote for this,” Paul said.
Four Republican holdouts would be enough to halt the bill in the Senate, where the party holds a three-seat majority.
Trump banking on tariff revenues to help THE White House is also banking that tariff revenues will help cover the additional deficits, even though recent court rulings cast doubt on the legitimacy of Trump declaring an economic emergency to impose sweeping taxes on imports.
When Trump announced his near-universal tariffs in April, he specifically said his policies would generate enough new revenues to start paying down the national debt. His comments dovetailed with remarks by aides, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, that yearly budget deficits could be more than halved.
“It’s our turn to prosper and in so doing, use trillions and trillions of dollars to reduce our taxes and pay down our national debt, and it’ll all happen very quickly,” Trump said two months ago as he talked up his import taxes and encouraged lawmakers to pass the separate tax and spending cuts.
The Trump administration is correct that growth can help reduce deficit pressures, but it’s not enough on its own to accomplish the task, according to new research by economists Douglas Elmendorf, Glenn Hubbard and Zachary Liscow. Ernie Tedeschi, director of economics at the Budget Lab at Yale University, said additional “growth doesn’t even get us close to where we need to be.” The government would need $10 trillion of deficit reduction over the next 10 years just to stabilize the debt, Tedeschi said. And even though the White House says the tax cuts would add to growth, most of the cost goes to preserve existing tax breaks, so that’s unlikely to boost the economy meaningfully.
“It’s treading water,” Tedeschi said.
Supreme Court clears path for Trump to end protections for nearly 1 million immigrants, raising deportation fears
By Lindsay Whitehurst
The Associated Press
ASHINGTON—
WThe Supreme Court on Friday again cleared the way for the Trump administration to strip temporary legal protections from hundreds of thousands of immigrants for now, pushing the total number of people who could be newly exposed to deportation to nearly 1 million.
The justices lifted a lower-court order that kept humanitarian parole protections in place for more than 500,000 migrants from four countries: Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela. The decision comes after the court allowed the administration to revoke temporary legal status from about 350,000 Venezuelan migrants in another case.
The court did not explain its reasoning in the brief order, as is typical on its emergency docket. Two justices publicly dissented.
The administration filed an emergency appeal to the Supreme Court after a federal judge in Boston blocked the administration’s push to end
the program. The Justice Department argues that the protections for people fleeing turmoil in their home countries were always meant to be temporary, and the Department of Homeland Security has the power to revoke them without court interference.
Abigail Jackson, a White House spokeswoman, said the Biden-era policies weren’t in line with immigration law. “We are confident in the legality of our actions to protect the American people and look forward to further action from the Supreme Court to vindicate us,” she said.
But Karen Tumlin, founder and director of Justice Action Center, said the decision has “effectively greenlit” deportation orders for a halfmillion people. “I cannot overstate how devastating this is,” she said. The court “allowed the Trump Administration to unleash widespread chaos, not just for our clients and class members, but for their families, their workplaces, and their communities.”
Republican President Donald Trump promised on the campaign trail to deport
millions of people, and in office has sought to dismantle Biden administration policies that expanded paths for migrants to live legally in the US. In a 2024 presidential debate, Trump amplified false rumors that Haitian immigrants in Ohio, including those with legal status under the humanitarian parole program, were abducting and eating pets, court documents note.
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson wrote in dissent to Friday’s ruling that the effect of the high court’s order is “to
have the lives of half a million migrants unravel all around us before the courts decide their legal claims.” Justice Sonia Sotomayor joined the dissent. Jackson echoed what US District Judge Indira Talwani wrote in ruling that ending the legal protections early would leave people with a stark choice: flee the country or risk losing everything. Her ruling came in mid-April, shortly before permits were due to be canceled. An appeals court refused to lift it. The Supreme Court’s order is
not a final ruling, but it means the protections will not be in place while the case proceeds. It now returns to the 1st US Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston.
Talwani, an appointee of Democratic President Barack Obama, did allow the Trump administration to revoke parole, but on a case-by-case basis.
But the Trump administration argued the parole was granted en masse, and the law doesn’t require ending it on an individual basis. Taking on each case individually would be a “gargantuan task,” and slow the government’s efforts to press for their removal, Solicitor General D. John Sauer argued. The high court’s decision could ultimately affect another ruling from Talwani this week in favor of other people covered by humanitarian parole policies, including Afghans, Ukrainians and children from Central America.
Joe Biden used humanitarian parole more than any other president, employing a special presidential authority in effect since 1952.
Beneficiaries included the
532,000 people who have come to the United States with financial sponsors since late 2022, leaving home countries fraught with “instability, dangers and deprivations,” as attorneys for the migrants said. They had to fly to the US at their own expense and have a financial sponsor to qualify for the designation, which lasts for two years. The Trump administration’s decision was the first-ever mass revocation of humanitarian parole, attorneys for the migrants said. They called the Trump administration’s moves “the largest mass illegalization event in modern American history.” The case is the latest in a string of emergency appeals the administration has made to the Supreme Court, many of them related to immigration. The court has sided against Trump in other cases, including slowing his efforts to swiftly deport Venezuelans accused of being gang members to a prison in El Salvador under an 18th century wartime law called the Alien Enemies Act.
The Associated Press writer Mark Sherman contributed to this report.
THE Supreme Court is seen on Capitol Hill in Washington, April 25, 2024. AP/J. SCOTT APPLEWHITE
PRESIDENT Donald Trump speaks during a swearing in ceremony for interim US Attorney General for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. AP/EVAN VUCCI
Yates wins Giro: Defining moment
ROME—British rider Simon Yates cruised to overall victory in the Giro d’Italia on Sunday—finally winning the race that had eluded him so often.
After attacking on the gravel-road climb to take the pink jersey in the penultimate stage on Saturday, Yates finished nearly four minutes ahead of runner-up Isaac Del Toro, the 21-yearold Mexican who wore pink for 10 days before Yates took control.
It’s the second Grand Tour title for Yates after he won the Spanish Vuelta in 2018.
“It’s a defining moment of my career, there’s no doubt about that,” Yates said. Yates wore pink for 13 days during the 2018 Giro before cracking on one of the final climbs. He also had to withdraw from the Italian race in 2020 and 2022—because of coronavirus and a knee injury, respectively.
“I ’m still in shock of what I’ve done,” Yates said. “It’s something that I’ve been working toward for a long time.” Yates, who rides for Team Visma Lease a Bike, finished three minutes and 56 seconds ahead of Del Toro and 4:43 ahead of Richard Carapaz, the 2019 champion from Ecuador. D utch rider Olav Kooij, Yates’s teammate, won the final stage in a sprint finish. It was his second victory in this Giro after also winning the 12th stage—and third overall after winning one in 2024.
“Perfect final weekend for us. After yesterday we were all really happy with what Simon pulled off,” Kooij said. “To finish it off is really cool.”
During the non-competitive neutralized period just before the mostly ceremonial final stage actually began, the peloton passed through the Vatican and was blessed by Pope Leo XIV.
The 143-kilometer final stage concluded with a circuit of eight laps through downtown Rome and finished next to the Circus Maximus—the ancient Roman chariot-racing stadium.
Pope Leo XIV tells cyclists: You’re role models
VATICAN CITY—Pope Leo XIV blessed the 159 cyclists competing in the Giro d’Italia on Sunday as the three-week race’s final stage began with an unprecedented ride through the Vatican gardens behind St. Peter’s Basilica.
After entering the Vatican, overall race leader Simon Yates and leaders of the other classifications got off their bikes and walked forward to shake hands with the pope, who was presented with a replica of the leader’s pink jersey.
You are role models for young people all over the world,” Leo told the peloton. “May God bless all of you on this last part of the Giro d’Italia. Congratulations to all of you. May you know that you are always welcome here in the Vatican. You
are always welcome by the church, which represents God’s love for all people.”
In an off-script moment, Colombia’s Nairo Quintana, the 2014 Giro champion, stopped to greet the pope after all of the other riders had already moved on.
“For some reason I didn’t realize we were going to stop and really to meet him,” Yates said later after wrapping up the title. “I thought we would just pass through. So an unforgettable moment for me, for all the riders there as well, just to be there and have his blessings.”
A t age 32, Yates already acknowledged that this victory is “the peak” of his career. His best finish in the Tour de France was fourth in 2023.
Twin brothers Simon and Adam SIMON YATES and his twin brother, Adam, have long been among the peloton’s elite.
Adam Yates rode this Giro for UAE Team Emirates as a support rider for Del Toro—so was competing against his brother. But the brothers posed arm-inarm for photos together during the final stage.
Before the final stage started, a moment of silence was observed following the death of former Visma rider Robert Gesink’s wife.
By Josef Ramos
belt twice—in November 2018 and May 2021—and went for more after that but couldn’t handle unified 118-lb world champion Naoya Inoue of Japan. Sporting a 42-8 win-loss record with 28 knockouts, Donaire remains to be one of the most exciting Filipino fighters today due to his aggressiveness and action-packed moves. He beat Frenchman Nordine Oubaali via a fourth-round knockout in May 2021 to win the World Boxing Council
IZABELLE CAMCAM emerged as the lone two-division champion while Tyronne Caro posted a win and a runnerup finish in the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala (PPS-PEPP) Governor’s Cup National Tennis Championships at the DAO Sports Complex in Pagadian City over the weekend.
T he top-seeded Camcam, 14, survived a gritty challenge from No. 2 Zaia Gumbao to top her age group with a hard-fought 7-5, 7-6(5) victory.
S he then raised her game to again beat Gumbao in a gripping 16-and-under final, 6-1, 3-6, 7-6(4), to complete a double in the Group 2 tournament presented by Dunlop.
T he Muntinlupa City native, who had struggled in recent campaigns on the PPS-PEPP circuit, finally broke through in style in the nationwide series initiated by Palawan Pawnshop president and CEO Bobby Castro. Caro, meanwhile, lived up to his billing in the boys’ 12-and-under after dispatching Dioford Cabatingan, 6-3, 6-2, in the title match. He fell short to top seed Prince Centino, 6-4, 3-6, 1-6, in the 14-and-under
W hile popes have blessed the Giro riders before and the race has previously passed through or next to St.
Del Toro top young rider ISAAC DEL TORO finished with the white jersey for the top young rider. Despite his tactical mistakes on Saturday, Del Toro appears to have a promising career ahead of him. This was just his second Grand Tour after placing 36th in the Vuelta last year.
“I’m learning,” Del Toro said. “I should be happy with myself.”
Danish rider Mads Pedersen took the maroon jersey for points after winning four stages.
bantamweight belt at 38 years old. Campos, a 28-year-old former world title challenger, owns a 17-2-1 record with six knockouts and is coming off a third-round technical knockout win against Venezuela’s Jimson Garcia only last April 12 in Chile.
Despite standing three inches shorter in height and another four inches disadvantage in react to the 5-foot-6 Donaire who has a 68-inch reach, Campos is known for his counterpunches and tactical approach. T he fight is part of the WBA’s annual KO to Drugs Festival on June 14 in Buenos Aires.
KEANU JAHNS returns to the site of his breakthrough win with tempered expectations but renewed determination as the International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) Forest Hills Classic starts Tuesday at the challenging Jack Nicklaus-designed course in Antipolo City. “I’m not really expecting anything, as usual. I try to keep myself in the present,” said the FilipinoGerman standout on the eve of the event. “I know that if I can do that, I usually play my best.” ahns stunned the field at Forest Hills last year when he edged Rupert Zaragosa by two shots to capture his maiden Philippine Golf Tour crown. owever, his form seesawed so far this season—he posted a promising tied-for-sixth finish at Pradera Verde in February, but faltered to a joint 17th at Eagle Ridge in March. espite the rocky start, he remains quietly confident heading back to ’m pretty confident. As long as I can manage the course well enough, I can put up some good scores,” he said. otivation has also taken on a deeper, more personal tone since becoming a father last November.
Of course, I’ve been more motivated since my daughter’s birth,” he said. “She’s been a huge inspiration.” Still, balancing work and preparation has been a challenge for the 29-year-old pro. “I h aven’t had a lot of time for on-course practice because
SIMON YATES lifts the Trofeo Senza Fine—or the Trophy With No End—for the first time.
POPE LEO XIV blesses the pack during the neutralized section of the final stage of the Giro d’Italia inside the Vatican on Sunday. AP
Gin Kings triumph Barangay Ginebra San Miguel beat Magnolia, 85-81, on Sunday to get its winning ways back and at the same time spoil the Chicken Timplados debut of William Navarro—seen here being guarded by Scottie Thompson—who only scores five points in the Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup game at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Ginebra improved to 6-3
IZABELLE CAMCAM (right) and Tyronne Caro hold their trophies with Zamboanga del Sur sports coordinator Alfred Cimafranca.
