COMPLAINTS received by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) involving unauthorized transactions have reached P3.37 billion in the past two years.
Unauthorized transaction complaints make up only 13 percent of complaints received and processed by the BSP Consumer Assistance Mechanism (Cam).
The complaints received by BSP have reached a total of 135,369 complaints between 2022 and 2024. The highest was 70,112 total complaints recorded in 2024.
“Amounts involved in unauthorized transaction complaints range from one peso to millions of pesos. It should be noted that
By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario
The data showed remittances reached $2.664 billion in April 2025, up by 4 percent from the $2.562 billion registered in April 2024. However, this is the lowest level recorded since the $2.583 billion in May 2024.
On a month-on-month basis, remittances contracted 5.2 percent from the $2.81 billion posted in March 2025. Unionbank Chief Economist Ruben Carlo O. Asuncion said there could be seasonal factors involved such as preparing for the coming school year.
“We have actually lowered our OFW remittance forecast this year to 2.4 percent growth [previously 2.8 percent] for total flows of $35.3 billion, as we expect higher risk of weak overseas job opportunities amid global business conditions turning lackluster in a high tariff, global environment, despite the recent US-China trade compromise,” Asuncion told BusinessMirror on Monday.
Ateneo de Manila University economist Leonardo Lanzona Jr.
said seasonal factors may play a part but this year, more “permanent factors” are also at play. Lanzona said April is considered the end of the fiscal year as Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) may have paid their taxes.
He added that they may also be waiting for tax refunds before sending their remittances to their families in the Philippines. Start of decline?
HOWEVER , the increasing possibility of recession and reduced job opportunities, especially in migrant-hosting countries, could mean that the April figures may be the start of a downward trend in remittances.
“As the economies of major migrant-hosting countries experience downturns, migrants may earn less, reducing the money they can send home,” Lanzona told BusinessMirror
“Furthermore, stricter immigration policies especially in the
By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo
“Vince” B. Dizon underscored the need for a Philippine Transport Safety
Board (PTSB) that will ensure the safety of all forms of transportation on land, sea, and air, just like the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in the United States. The PTSB will help the Philippines pass its safety about which was rescheduled to 2026.
“There will be an Icao [International Civil Aviation Organization] audit next year and the only thing we really need to ensure we breeze through that audit practically is the PTSB...I don’t have to tell you about our problems with road safety, maritime safety, and air [safety, so
this data is based solely on complainants’ voluntary disclosure of the amount in dispute; and that some complaints narratives about unauthorized transactions do not contain information on amounts,” BSP Cam told reporters.
BSP Cam explained that unauthorized transaction complaints may include those alleged to be caused by phishing in all its forms such as voice phishing, SMS phishing, fake QR code phishing.
These unauthorized transactions also include other social engineering schemes, and alleged fraud perpetrated by employees and/or other clients of the BSP Supervised Institutions (BSIs).
Between 2022 and 2024, the
top recipient of complaints about unauthorized transactions are the universal and commercial banks followed by the non-bank e-money issuers.
This is due to “their large aggregate number of account holders and highly digital nature of transactions, compared to other types of financial institutions.”
“[Half or] 50 percent of the total CY 2022 and CY 2023 complaints were resolved in favor of complainants; 41.2 percent of the total CY 2024 complaints were resolved in favor of complainants,”
BSP Cam said.
“These percentages increase to 76 percent for each year, if we include resolutions that are par-
tially favorable to complainants,” it added.
The data shared by BSP Cam also showed that on average, the majority or 62 percent of complainants with unauthorized transactions who escalated to the BSP CAM were female between 2022 and 2024.
About 80 percent of these complainants are located in Luzon, and about 8 percent reside in Visayas. The rest either reside in Mindanao or outside the Philippines, or did not disclose their location when they filed their complaints.
Earlier, BSP said it may see a decline in bank complaints, especially when it comes to scams
By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos will strike a balance between national interest and the concerns raised by the telecommunications companies and cable television groups before he decides on whether to sign or veto the proposed Konektadong Pinoy Act (KPA) or the Open Access Transmission Act. Palace Press Office Claire Castro made the assurance in a press briefing on Monday amid the calls for the chief executive to veto the KPA, passed by the bicameral conference last week, for its alleged unfair provisions which benefit data trans-
mission providers.
The bill is now awaiting the signature of the President.
“Let’s expect the President to listen to possible issues regarding this bill and we will [strike a] balance for the good of the countrymen, also for issues regarding national security and whether there is a negative impact on the telco industry,” she said.
The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) undersecretary said they are still determining if Marcos already received a copy of the KPA.
“The President will expedite this [review] as long as he [completes the] study of the bill’s every provi-
sion,” she said.
The bill, on the list of priority legislation of the Marcos administration, aims to simplify the entry of service providers into the market to make internet services cheaper for consumers.
Among the companies and organizations calling for the veto of KPA are the PLDT Inc., Federation of International Cable TV and Telecommunications Association of the Philippines (Fictap), and the Philippine Association of Private Telecommunications (Paptelco).
These private companies rejected the proposed legislation because it exempts transmission providers from securing congressional fran-
chise and a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity. They also expressed alarm on the KPA provisions, which will supposedly reduce the regulatory duties of the National Telecommunications Commissions (NTC), and remove the vetting for new telecommunication players.
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) support the passage of the KPA, saying it will help increase market competition in the country’s telecommunications sector.
DA: No MSRP, for now, for local pork amid tight supply
By Ada Pelonia @adapelonia
THEmaximum suggested retail price (MSRP) for pork is off the table due to tight local supply, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).
“We will no longer set an MSRP for local pork because it’s short,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. told reporters on Monday.
“When something is in short supply, you cannot really control it. We can’t do anything about that,” he added.
spection, where he noticed imported meat being passed off as fresh meat and sold to consumers at P450 to P480 per kilo.
“So, we have to put order in retail [markets that there shouldn’t be] cheating,” he said.
“Let’s not hit the local producer with the MSRP, and just give a cheaper alternative to the consumer. It will pull down their price automatically,” he said.
P350 per kilo for liempo. However, he did not disclose when the measure would be implemented.
These figures were also higher than the price of frozen kasim between P230 and P300 per kilo and frozen liempo at P290 to P350 per kilo, based on the government’s latest price monitoring report.
Continued from A14
learned from my international experiences.”
A known figure especially in the international diplomatic community, Chef Adrillana is a passionate advocate of Filipino cuisine and has been asked to cook the best of Filipino cuisine in many several Philippine embassy events, as well as participated in several food festivals abroad. Besides her catering company, she is also an F&B consultant and owns Unfrench Bistro.
bill) was very divisive. It’s always a debate. You know, like, my lola’s cooking is better than yours, or my mother’s cooking is better than yours. It’s always like that, right?
“But food is food. It’s not about competition but what we love, what is sustainable. Kapampangan food is good, I have nothing against it. But of course, there are so many regions where there are also a lot of good food. In Zamboanga, in Mindanao, for instance, you have piyanggang manok. In Negros, there is chicken inasal, which is super good. So many dishes to explore and we’re barely scratching the surface. We know sisig, we know adobo, we know kaldereta, but we know little beyond that.”
The DA chief said the country lost 5 million hogs since the African swine fever (ASF) battered the country’s farms, which slashed output.
DICT…
Continued from A14
“We have to repopulate. We lost 5 million pigs, and you need at least a minimum of 3 years [to get that number back], but 5 to 7 years is more reasonable,” Laurel said. Instead, Laurel said the MSRP would be implemented on imported pork following a recent market in-
urged “converging, rather than competing” infrastructure strategies.
Aguda acknowledged that reducing consumer prices requires structural reforms.
The DICT is working with the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to explore spectrum refarming and backbone sharing to
He explained that the agency is in the process of fixing the legalities and policies of the DA.
“For them to be able to sell imported pork in the market, it has to be chilled. They can’t just lay it out carelessly like they are doing now because it’s prone to bacteria,” Laurel said.
The DA chief is eyeing to place the MSRP for imported pork at P270 to P300 per kilo for kasim, and P300 to
reduce operational expenses and encourage telco investment.
Aguda emphasized that these infrastructure and connectivity reforms are part of a broader economic strategy to mainstream digital participation and create inclusive growth.
“Our aim is to make the digital sector contribute P5 trillion year af-
“So, it’s okay to raise [the prices] a bit, because they are now required to have ice and containers to maintain the freshness or quality of the product,” Laurel said.
“The current system we have in the market, where the pork is just left out and placed anywhere without ice or refrigeration, honestly, that’s not right. It’s unhygienic,” he added.
ter year,” he said. “The ultimate goal is to really generate jobs with household income increasing by 17 percent.”
With 30 percent of the country still lacking basic connectivity, Aguda said the reforms and investments over the next three years will be decisive.
“For every 10 percent increase in connectivity, it [translates] to almost 2 percent increase in GDP,” he noted. “The biggest beneficiaries will be the ones in the countryside. Yes, it will require investments, but that’s a small price to pay for the 2-percent GDP increase.”
Remittances…
Continued from A1
US can be discouraging remittances, as transaction costs, especially in bank regulations, can be rising,” he added.
Institute for Migration and Development Issues (IMDI) Executive Director Jeremaiah M. Opiniano also finds it curious that a month after the United States announced that its GDP contracted in the first quarter, there were month-on-month declines in remittances.
Opiniano shared data from several top remittance- receiving countries which showed that Bangladesh saw a 19.74-percent contraction in month-onmonth remittances; Pakistan, 27.59-percent decline; and Mexico, 7.99-percent decline.
He also noted that Bangladesh, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Mexico draw a significant portion of their remittances from the US. In April 2025, at least 12.02 percent of remittances sent to Bangladesh came from the US; 9.51 percent, Pakistan; 39.54 percent, Philippines; and almost 100 percent, Mexico.
“It is to note that globally, month-on-month cash remittances to the Philippines dropped by some 5.21 percent. The drop may be the usual decline in certain months for the Philippines,” Opiniano told BusinessMirror
“But look at the month-onmonth remittance flows from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Mexico [among the top ten receivers of cash or workers’ remittances]: they dropped too,” he added. However, Opiniano noted
Besides her seasoned talent, Chef Adrillano is also active in spreading the importance of sustainability as well as the call for mitigating waste especially in food establishments. She observed, “I’ve seen people suffering from hunger in many parts of the world. So much food goes to waste, most especially in the food business, And in my own little ways, I want to do my best [in reducing waste] with the hope that I can influence other people to do the same.”
At the same time, recognizing that global hunger is also rooted in economic inequality and power imbalances. Chef Adrillana believes that food is likewise a political issue. “Food is political in our context here. It’s not just political, it’s status driven. There’s a big divide. Like, food is divisive in terms of what the less fortunate eat, versus what the middle-class eat., versus what rich people eat.
“I’’s very political because it’s defined by a lot of taxes, a lot of tariffs, a lot of influences from the higher ups. They influence the demand, the inflation, which affects everyone else, even the farmers.”
No sole best cuisine FOOD is inclusive and diverse, too, Chef Adrillano asserted, reacting to the recent vetoed bill declaring Pampanga as a culinary capital of the country, I believe that (the Senate
that the year-on-year April remittances still rose by some 3.95 percent. What is important to consider, moving forward, is the share of the US in terms of source of remittances.
He said that while it is true that the US serves as a the payments and clearinghouse system that facilitates all global transfers, this means not all remittances classified as coming from the US come from OFWs in the US.
Nonetheless, Opiniano hoped that the spate of raids, deportations and prevailing immigration policies of the US government will not dampen the motivation of Filipinos to remit to their families regularly.
This is on top of a proposed 5-percent tax on remittance transfers that could make sending remittances from the US even more expensive.
“The US remittance corridor alone may not meet the United Nations’ SDG goal of 3-percent remittance charges, if this proposed policy of a ‘remittance tax’ pushes through,” Opiniano said.
“We also express concern on the Filipinos in Iran, Israel and Palestine given the current situations there—hoping that such concerns do not trickle to Filipinos in the other Middle East countries,” he added.
Asuncion said the uncertainties in the global economy such as high tariffs and morphing landscape of global supply chains, among others, could spur countries—outside of the US—to not only streamline inventories but also manpower.
This, he said, could even lead to tighter immigration policies that will likely spill over to other host countries, making it difficult for labor exporters like the Philippines to send workers abroad.
“[This] could also spill over into
senio M. Balisacan said the Philippines will continue to trail behind its neighboring countries in 2022 in terms of households with access to fixed broadband at 33 percent. He said this was lower compared to Malaysia’s 50 percent, Thailand’s 58
Sustainable cuisine AT a time when sustainable cuisine or gastronomy is the word du jour around the world, Chef Adrillana noted that many local dishes are a reflection of how Filipinos are also advocates of mitigating food waste.
“I believe, Filpinos have been practicing sustainability for a really, really long time. Maybe we’re just not conscious about it. Igado, for instance, uses all the innards of the pig, the heart, and liver. Sisig is also an example of practicing sustainable cuisine.”
“Filipino cuisine is sustainable and can be even more sustainable. We can add even more sustainable practices to it, We can add more advocacies such as no to food waste.” The recently concluded MAFBEX 2025 is proof that it’s an exciting time for Filipino food as it gathered the biggest names as well rising names in the food and beverage industry. But when it comes to the nagging food for thought, what is the best cuisine, Chef Adrillana surmised: “You know, the world and the Philippines will always vie to be the best cuisine. But for me, food is love. Food is about spreading love. It’s not about what is the best, because we always do our best. Nothing is the best. It’s always a matter of preference.”
tighter access to overseas job markets in a political effort to curb ‘overstaying aliens,’ except for those with high-end value skill sets from medical workers to IT engineers,” Asuncion said.
Nonetheless, Opiniano said, the Philippines should not wait for external concerns such as economic uncertainties in the global economy to affect “overseas Filipinos and their sending of incomes to the homeland.”
“The Philippines must continue to upscale efforts to increase the overall financial education of citizens in the homeland and abroad, and roll out more approaches [by private and government-run financial institutions, civil society groups, etc.] to stretch the foreign remittance incomes as sources of savings, entrepreneurial capital and investments,” Opiniano said. Meanwhile, BSP data also showed cumulative cash remittances reached $11.11 billion in JanuaryApril 2025, marking a 3-percent increase from the $10.78 billion recorded in January-April 2024. BSP said the higher growth of remittances from the United States, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates drove the overall increase in remittances during January-April 2025.
“By country source, the US accounted for the largest share of total cash remittances in JanuaryApril 2025, followed by Singapore and Saudi Arabia,” the BSP said. Filipinos abroad sent $2.97 billion in personal remittances in April 2025, up by 4.1 percent from the $2.86 billion recorded in April 2024
In January-April 2025, cumulative personal remittances rose by 3 percent from the $12.01 billion registered in January-April 2024 to $12.37 billion.
percent, and Vietnam’s 76 percent. Increasing the internet connectivity among Filipino households will help further growth of the digital economy, which already contributed P2.25 trillion to the local economy growth last year.
AFP welcomes deployment of another Typhon system
By Rex Anthony Naval
THE Armed Forces (AFP) on Monday said it strongly wel-
comes the announcement of the United States to deploy another Typhon Medium Range Capability (MRC) missile system as long as the Filipino government gives approval.
Col. Francel Margareth Padilla, AFP spokesperson said the military is very open to such a move as this will greatly enhance the interoperability of Filipino units with their US counterparts aside from increasing their capabilities.
The first Typhon MRC was deployed for training purposes in the Philippines during the April 2024 iteration of the “Salaknib” maneuvers between Filipino and US troops.
“This is possible as deployment would open more joint training activities with American units
handling the Typhon MRC,” Padilla added.
Training of Filipino troops in the use and operations of modern and advanced weapon systems is normal as these are often done in “Salaknib” and “Balikatan” exercises.
Padilla also said joint training will also allow Filipino troops an opportunity to train on the operation of modern weapons which in turn will help the country’s defense preparedness.
Also, Padilla said the Typhon MRC is a symbol of deterrence and not of aggression.
She added that the presence of the weapon improves the multidomain defense posture of the Indo-Pacific Theater.
“And for the AFP, any capability that improves its capability to defend the Filipino people and country’s sovereignty is welcome,” she added.
Report bullying concerns to 911–Torre
SCHOOL children affected by bullying and their parents can seek police assistance for bullying-related activities outside school premises by calling 911, the National Police (PNP) chief, Gen. Nicolas Torre III, said on Monday. Torre made the announcement as he inspected some public schools in Quezon City on school opening on Monday.
He also said that police hotlines are manned and ready to attend to the concerns raised by bullying victims and their parents.
The PNP chief said this initiative is part of the force’s security preparations for this year’s school opening.
Under this system, Torre said the first response of call takers would be to relay the information to local police stations whose operatives would then forward the report to school heads for action.
Aside from this, the PNP will
also help in monitoring bullying cases as these incidents not only happen inside school premises but also outside, he added.
An estimated 37,000 police officers were deployed to secure Monday’s school opening while around 5,000 police assistance desks were activated for this activity.
Torre said the opening of classes was generally peaceful but despite this, police officers were tasked to be vigilant and responsive while on watch.
Torre ordered police commanders to maximize the concept of “fixed visibility point prioritization” to ensure the safety of students, teachers and parents.
“Our commanders have been analyzing beforehand where policemen should patrol. With the school opening, the foci [are] areas near schools,” Torre said, adding that they are trying to prevent criminals from preying on students. Rex Anthony Naval
Romualdez calls on Israel, Iran for restraint, return to diplomacy
SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Monday urged restraint and a return to diplomacy amid escalating hostilities between Israel and Iran, warning that continued conflict could endanger regional stability and the safety of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Middle East.
Romualdez said the government is closely monitoring the situation with serious concern.
“We are watching these developments with grave concern. Under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., our foremost priority is the protection of our overseas Filipino workers who may be caught in the crossfire of this dangerous standoff,” said Romualdez.
Recent days have seen rising tensions and retaliatory strikes in the region, raising fears of wider conflict.
In response, Romualdez called on the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to strengthen coordination with host governments and international partners—especially in Israel, Lebanon, Jordan, and Gulf states where many Filipinos live and work.
“We expect our frontline agencies to remain vigilant and proactive in ensuring the safety and security of our kababayans, including possible repatriation plans should the situation worsen,” Romualdez said.
Gunmen kill House official, Speaker demands swift justice
By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz
THE leadership of the House of Representatives on Monday condemned the fatal shooting of Director Mauricio “Morrie” Pulhin, chief of the technical staff of the House Committee on Ways and Means, describing the incident as a “brutal and senseless act of violence that demands swift justice.”
Pulhin, a long-time employee of the House of Representatives, was gunned down over the weekend in an attack that has stunned the congressional community and raised serious concerns over the safety of government personnel.
“I am deeply saddened and outraged by the tragic death of Director Mauricio ‘Morrie’ Pulhin,” Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said.
“This crime must not go unpunished. Justice must prevail.”
“We condemn this brutal act of violence in the strongest possible terms,” he said.
The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) said that Pulhin was with his family at the Don Jose Heights Subdivision’s clubhouse at around 2:55 p.m. on Sunday for his daughter’s seventh birthday celebration when two unidentified male assailants suddenly appeared and shot him without warning.
According to initial reports, the assasins fled the scene on a motorcycle. A witness stated that the suspects managed to evade subdivision security despite efforts to lock down exits. One of the assailants allegedly fired a shot at the
duty guard stationed at the main gate during their escape.
Pulhin was rushed to the FEUNicanor Reyes Medical Foundation Hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival.
The QCPD said authorities are pursuing leads and examining possible motives behind the killing.
Meanwhile, Romualdez urged the National Police (PNP), the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and all concerned authorities to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation.
“While it is too early to determine the motive behind this heinous crime, we call on the PNP, the NBI, and all law enforcement agencies to conduct a thorough, impartial, and swift investigation,” Romualdez said.
“All angles must be pursued— including, but not limited to, his professional affiliations—so that the truth may come out and justice may be served,” he emphasized.
Romualdez also expressed his heartfelt condolences and support to Pulhin’s family, promising that the House leadership would pursue all efforts to hold those responsible accountable.
“We will do everything in our power to ensure that those behind this crime—whether the perpetrators or the masterminds—are
brought to justice,” he assured.
Addressing the House Secretariat and the broader congressional workforce, the Speaker called for unity, vigilance, and a shared commitment to the pursuit of justice.
“To the men and women of the House Secretariat and our broader congressional family: we share in your grief and your anger,” Romualdez said.
“Let us channel that into vigilance, unity, and an unwavering demand for justice—not only for Director Pulhin, but for every Filipino who falls victim to senseless violence,” Romualdez added.
The House Committee on Ways and Means chairman, Albay Rep. Jose Clemente “Joey” Sarte Salceda, on Monday strongly condemned the killing of Pulhin, calling the attack a brazen and heinous act that must not go unpunished.
“The murder of Director Pulhin was shocking in its brazenness— he was shot in front of his family, within the supposed safety of his gated neighborhood,” Salceda said. “This heinous act must be condemned in the strongest terms, and the perpetrators must be brought to justice without delay.” Salceda urged law enforcement agencies to move swiftly and decisively in investigating the case and ensuring accountability.
Customs seizes ₧5-M party pills from Paris
By Reine Juvierre S. Alberto
ECSTASY tablets valued at around P5.126 million from Paris, France were seized by the operatives from the Bureau of Customs (BOC).
In a statement on Monday, the BOC said it thwarted an attempt to smuggle exactly 3,004 pieces of party drugs intended for delivery to Taguig City.
The BOC’s the Drug Enforcement Agency (Pda) relayed information about a shipment of drugs arriving at the Port of Clark in Pampanga on June 4, 2025.
He reaffirmed the Philippines’ longstanding commitment to peace and diplomacy, stressing that armed confrontation must give way to dialogue.
“We call on all parties involved to take a step back and allow diplomacy to do its work,” Speaker Romualdez said. “This is a time for dialogue, not destruction. Any further escalation will only deepen human suffering and destabilize an already fragile region.”
Romualdez emphasized the House’s unwavering support for OFWs, vowing to work closely with the executive branch to protect their welfare.
Echoing global calls for restraint, Romualdez appealed to regional and international actors to intervene and help defuse the situation before it spirals out of control.
“This conflict is unfolding in a region that has known too much war and too little peace. The world must not allow another full-blown crisis to erupt,” Romualdez said.
As diplomatic channels remain open, Romualdez also advised Filipino communities overseas to stay calm, follow official advisories, and remain in close contact with Philippine embassies and consulates.
“The best way to face uncertainty is through unity and vigilance. We will not waver in our commitment to every Filipino’s safety, wherever they may be in the world,” he said. Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz
As a response, Customs examiners and Pdea operatives conducted a K-9 sniff test the following day, which yielded positive results for narcotics.
This was followed by a full
physical inspection revealing the ecstasy tablets concealed in four transparent pouches hidden within dog food pellets.
The BOC said this was an apparent ploy to evade X-ray detection by imitating the shape and color of pet food.
A chemical analysis confirmed the substance as Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), a dangerous drug listed under Republic Act 9165, as amended.
The shipment was issued a Warrant of Seizure and Detention for violation of Section 118(g), Section 119(d), and Section 1113 paragraphs (f), (i), and (l) of Republic Act No. 10863, or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), in relation to RA 9165.
“Every successful interdiction directly protects the health,
safety, and future of every Filipino,” District Collector Jairus S. Reyes was quoted as saying.
“By keeping harmful substances out, we are not only safeguarding our borders—we are ensuring the well-being of every Filipino household.”
“It protects families and reinforces public safety. Backed by President Marcos’ strong vision for a drug-resistant society, the Bureau of Customs will continue to act decisively and vigilantly,” Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio added.
Meanwhile, the BOC - Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) intercepted high-grade marijuana with an estimated street value of P7.984 million during an inspection at the Central Mail Exchange Center (Cmec) in Pasay City.
The BOC said on Sunday night that a total of 5.703 kilograms of kush stored in ten parcels consigned to different recipients were seized and turned over to the Pdea for further investigation and case build-up.
Charges for violations of RA 9165 and RA 10863 will be filed against the shippers and consignees of the shipments the BOC said.
“We understand the dangers illegal drugs bring to our families and neighborhoods. That’s why we’re stepping up our inspections, working closely with other agencies, and using every tool we have to stop these substances before they even make it past our borders,” Rubio said.
Last year, the BOC confiscated a total of P2.512 billion worth of illegal drugs in the country, resulting from 154 seizure operations.
Group hits govt’s ‘band aid’ solution to education crisis
APARTY-LIST group on Monday called on the national government to end its reliance on short-term “band-aid” solutions to the worsening education crisis, citing issues such as the country’s low functional literacy rate, overcrowded classrooms, and excessive teaching loads.
House Deputy Minority Leader France Castro, together with ACT Teachers Rep.-elect Antonio Tinio, warned that “band-aid” approaches only worsen the “dire situation in public schools.”
“Our country’s low functional literacy rate stems from glaring and basic shortages in our education system,” said Castro. “This school year, we are facing a shortage of 165,000 classrooms and 56,050 teachers, yet the government refuses to address these urgent gaps. Our teachers’ salaries are not even enough for a decent living, and they are forced to handle at least 27.6 million enrollees this year.”
Castro, the nominee to the
House of Representatives of the party-list group ACT Teachers, criticized the Department of Education’s stopgap measures—such as overcrowded classrooms, additional teaching loads, hybrid learning, and multiple shifting schedules in congested schools— noting that these do more harm than good.
“These so-called solutions— large class sizes, heavier teaching loads, and hybrid modes—aren’t solutions at all. They worsen learning outcomes for students and stretch our teachers to the breaking point,” she added.
Tinio echoed Castro’s concerns, slamming the administration’s failure to provide structural, longterm reforms.
“The chronic shortages of classrooms and teachers are a direct result of the government’s neglect and underfunding. DepEd’s so-called adjustments only mask the real problems and pass the burden onto teachers and students,” Tinio said.
“We need comprehensive reforms and significant state investment in education, not temporary fixes that erode the quality of learning.”
Tinio said the government should not normalize overcrowded classrooms and excessive workloads for teachers.
“These ‘band-aid solutions’ reflect the administration’s indifference to the youth’s right to quality education,” he said.
Castro and Tinio called on the administration to prioritize genuine reforms and adequate funding for the education sector.
“If the government is serious about uplifting the future of our youth, it must address the root causes: build more classrooms, hire more teachers, and ensure living wages for education workers. Anything less is a betrayal of our children’s right to quality education,” Castro added.
‘Bisita-Eskwela’ TO mark the start of School
Year 2025–2026, ACT Teachers launched its annual “Bisita-Eskwela” initiative on Monday. The group said the initiative seeks to directly consult with school administrators, teachers, staff, and students to uncover the realities on the ground—realities often hidden behind the administration’s “band-aid” responses and sanitized reports. The team is looking into long-standing issues such as overcrowding, classroom and teacher shortages, multiple shifting schedules, and the poorly executed blended learning setup.
The “Bisita-Eskwela” team visited Batasan Hills National High School, Melencio Elementary School, Caloocan Central Elementary School, and San Francisco High School.
“We launched Bisita-Eskwela to see for ourselves the harsh realities our teachers and students face daily—realities that are often glossed over by the DepEd’s
Tuesday, June 17, 2025
ILO calls for full implementation of house-help law
By Justine Xyrah Garcia
THE International Labor Organization (ILO) on Monday urged the government to ensure the full implementation of Republic Act 10361 or the Domestic Workers Act, which was signed into law more than a decade ago.
Despite its passage in 2013, ILO Country Director Khalid Hassan said many domestic workers still suffer from low wages, long hours, limited social protection, and the absence of contracts or grievance mechanisms.
“The struggle for visibility and respect continues…domestic workers are rarely included in disaster preparedness plans or emergency assistance programs.
Their needs are often overlooked, even though they are essential to a household’s ability to recover,” Hassan said.
“This reflects a deeper societal flaw: care and domestic work are still not valued as essential,” he added.
The ILO executive said that while RA 10361 exists on paper, gaps in implementation persist.
“In many regions, the minimum wage for domestic workers is still below a living wage. Labor inspections in private households are limited. Access to social protection is uneven, and grievance mechanisms are often weak or unknown to the workers who need them most,” he said.
He stressed that enacting the law is not enough as the government must also ensure it is fully
enforced for all domestic workers nationwide.
He also called on policymakers to revisit current minimum wage rates, which remain low and outdated in many regions.
Under the law, domestic workers are entitled to at least eight hours of rest per day and 24 consecutive hours of rest each week, with weekly rest days ideally based on religious preferences.
They must not be assigned to non-household work unless paid at applicable wage rates and given additional compensation.
The law also requires employers to pay domestic workers no less than the prevailing regional minimum wage, ensure timely and direct payment of wages, provide 13th month pay, and grant access
Unicef calls for child-focused PHL climate promise
By Bless Aubrey Ogerio
THE United Nations Chil -
dren’s Fund (Unicef) Phil -
ippines has called on the government to shape its upcoming climate commitments with children in mind, as it prepares to submit its updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC 3.0) ahead of the COP30 Climate Conference in Brazil.
In a recent statement, Unicef urged that the new climate roadmap should include child-sensitive measures that ensure safe, equitable and uninterrupted access to quality education, even in the face of intensifying environmental disruptions.
“Climate-related class disruptions deprive them of opportunities to develop the necessary foundational and socioemotional skills to thrive in the future,” UNICEF
Philippines representative Behzad Noubary said.
“Later is too late. We need to transform climate goals into reality for children now,” he added. Children represent roughly one-third of the nation’s population and are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. As such, environmental stressors have been shown to impair children’s brain function, lung capacity, immune responses and other vital systems, according to Unicef.
On one hand, the Philippines has consistently ranked highest on the World Risk Index for disaster risk over the past three years. A separate Unicef report placed the country second in East Asia and the Pacific for climate-related child vulnerability. Unicef recommended that these national commitments
must incorporate provisions that specifically protect children and future generations. This includes acknowledging children’s vulnerabilities, recognizing them as rights-holders and including them as stakeholders in climate action planning.
As a signatory to the Paris Agreement, the Philippines is required to update its NDCs by 2025.
Local landscape A REPORT by the Second Congressional Commission on Education (Edcom 2) showed that extreme weather events have led to class suspensions that cost students up to a month of school days each year.
When disasters strike, many public schools are repurposed as evacuation centers despite the Republic Act 10821 or the Children’s
Garin cites need for continuity in policy
DEPARTMENT of Energy
(DOE) officer-in-charge
(OIC) Undersecretary Sharon Garin said on Monday that the policies, which are instrumental in fulfilling the marching orders of the Marcos administration, have been laid down by former Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla, and it’s now her duty to make sure that these are carried out successfully.
“What’s next? I think it’s continuity, as per instructed by Secretary ‘Popo’ Lotilla, that we continue what we have done so far because we can still improve on it. And also the implementation of what we have accomplished. Because there are already many contracts, we just have to make sure that they happen. So, I think we continue the policies and the reforms that Secretary Lotilla has done. So that the President’s targets will continue by 2028.
“I think the key word, not only for the media but also for all the DOE family, is continuity. Everybody stays as long as you’ve done
your work well and you believe in the reforms that we have done. Then everybody stays as is and continues what Secretary Lotilla has done,” Garin said.
Lotilla, who formally assumed leadership of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Monday, said it would be better to let the public decide if his three-year stint at the DOE has made the lives of the Filipinos better than before.
“I think I would leave that to be answered by you and by the public. What I’m just asking you is, are you better off now in terms of energy security and energy supply than before, than three years ago? So, you are the best judge of that.
“I am not the best judge of that. It is for consumers themselves to judge for themselves,” said Lotilla. Lotilla assumed for the second time the DOE top post on July 27, 2022. He said the energy sector was in a different state when he was appointed as DOE chief in 2005.
“My previous term was under
different circumstances. At the time, the government was a major player in the power sector. Now, it is no longer in control of the generation assets, the transmission assets. So, it has been different.”
Fast forward, privatization of the power assets previously controlled by the government happened. Lotilla said the private sector now shares the blame for the various problems encountered by the energy sector.
“Since the private sector is the one that is running and directing our energy sector from upstream to downstream, then they should take more responsibility for both failures and for advances in the sector. Whenever there is a problem with power supply, our business sector and our consumers should not only look at DOE and the government for answers. They should hold the private sector stakeholders accountable for any failures and also give them credit for any progress. And I would say that it’s been a mixed bag insofar as working with the private sector. We thank them for cooperating with us, with the department, in pursuing and implementing the policies. But there are areas where the private sector still has to improve. Market failure can happen and has happened,” he said, citing the recent power supply problems
Education. . .
Continued from A4
rosy reports. We need to expose the severe congestion, the lack of classrooms, and the exhausting shifting schedules that are the direct result of state neglect,” said Castro. Tinio, for his part, emphasized
to government social protection programs such as Social Security System, PhilHealth, and Pag-IBIG Fund.
For domestic workers overseas, Hassan urged the government to strengthen domestic enforcement mechanisms as a foundation for overseas protection.
“Fair treatment abroad starts with fairness at home. Ethical recruitment practices and effective bilateral labour agreements are more likely when we protect our workers here first,” he explained.
Hassan added that beyond legislation, a “cultural shift” is needed in how society values domestic work.
Emergency Relief and Protection Act, stating that schools should only serve this role as a last resort.
In addition to lost learning time, physical damage to school infrastructure, transportation issues and destroyed learning materials are compounding the challenge.
Edcom 2 also noted that the Department of Education incurs an estimated P17.98 billion in annual losses owing to hazard exposure.
Unicef expressed the belief that with the right policies and investments, education systems can become a cornerstone of climate resilience.
These include bolstering infrastructure, upgrading curricula, training teachers, improving learning materials and developing flexible learning options to ensure that education continues even when disruptions occur.
in Siquijor and Mindoro.
“We are still looking for the right balance between government regulation and private sector initiative. As Usec Garin pointed out, there are still a lot of areas where we can improve. And that is the continuing challenge,” said Lotilla.
On top of Garin’s to-do list are to permanently resolve the power supply problems in Siquijor, accelerate the push for nuclear energy, and attain energy security.
“Secretary ‘Popo’ laid the groundwork for the future to have better prices and energy security. Right now, in 2025, the average price of renewables sa Luzon is P4.95 per kilowatt hour [kWh]. If you look at the simulations in IEMOP [Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines], if all the projects come in by 2028, it will be P4.02 and by 2030 it would be P2.62. You don’t reap today the benefits of what the Secretary has done… We have transmission, generation, and distribution that we have to get everything in place. The foundations are there already, like the supply for indigenous gas, even the nuclear energy. You cannot fast track the construction of a nuclear facility because there has to be a law, regulations and policies in place. Those are being done. That is what you call legacy work,” said Garin. Lenie Lectura
the importance of these visits in shaping their legislative agenda.
“These on-the-ground observations will directly inform the bills and resolutions we will file in the 20th Congress. We cannot rely on sugarcoated data from the administration. We need to anchor our policies on the lived experiences of our school communities,” he said.
“They are skilled professionals. Their labor deserves the same respect and value as any other form of work. Trade unions, employers, women’s organizations, and civil society must help drive this narrative forward,” he said. In 2011, the Philippines became the first—and remains the only—country in Asia to ratify ILO Convention 189 on Decent Work for Domestic Workers. A year later, then-President Benigno Aquino III signed RA 10361 into law. It took effect in June 2013.
As of April 2025, the Philippine Statistics Authority estimates that around 13.43 million Filipinos—or 27.6 percent of the 48.67 million employed—work in elementary occupations, which include domestic helpers. In addition, 2.6 million Filipino domestic workers were employed overseas as of 2023.
An ethical culture is needed and expected in business
By Henry J. Schumacher
GIVEN the fact that all companies today are rethinking strategies into the future, looking at disruptive innovation or creative disruption, I would like to remind everybody that building and maintaining an ethical business culture must be part of the agenda. Business leaders have to be aware that being caught in corruption, unfair competition, data breaches, cybercrime etc. will not only lead to heavy fines but will definitely affect the reputation of the company.
So let’s talk about building an ethical culture in practice. What is the difference between ethics and building a culture of trust?
Ethics are a set of principles. An ethical culture is a culture committed to pursuing those principles—and sometimes the pursuit of those principles leads an employee to take actions somebody else might dislike. Perhaps the employee reports suspicions of misconduct, involving bribery or collusion in competition or mismanagement of data privacy.
Either way, the employee needs to trust that the company will support that decision to step forward.
The apparatus of a corporate compliance program—the training, the internal reporting systems, the Code of Conduct, the due diligence procedures; all of it—should work toward the goal of a strong sense of trust within the organization.
When you view “building an ethical culture” from that perspective, suddenly several tasks rise to the top of the priority list.
For example, as much as we all love a strong internal reporting system, most employees report their concerns to managers. Most employees also take their cues about how to behave from managers. Consequently, training managers about how to weave ethical standards into the company’s daily routines is critical.
Formal training will always be important; employees will always need to know what the law says about bribery, or privacy, or collusion, or whatever else comes along.
Culture, however, is much more than training, full of informal practices, norms, and expectations. Therefore, ethics
and compliance programs must work with middle managers on what those practices, norms, and expectations are, and how to base them on the company’s ethical principles. That’s where you win or lose this battle.
Senior leaders in government and in the private sector have a crucial role in building an ethical culture since they send the signals about the corporate culture that people in operations translate into daily routines. Let’s look at 3 ways you can build an ethical culture:
1. Develop clear ethical values—honesty, respect, fairness; whatever fits your organization. Talk with senior leaders and the board about what those values should be. Put them in the Code of Conduct, in a place of prominence so that every employee is aware of it.
2. Develop clear training materials based on those values. Create real-life scenarios that employees might encounter, where the resolution shows how ethical conduct is the higher priority than commercial success.
3. Refine your internal reporting system to assure the confidentiality of whistleblowers. Someone who does report an allegation to a hotline (or some other system that circumvents his or her manager) has a fear about doing the ethical thing. He or she needs to trust that the company will protect their identity—that is, they need to trust the system. They need to see that your internal reporting system is trustworthy. Those are only a few examples of what building an ethical culture entails. It’s long, painstaking work, that relies on communication and collaboration but that’s how you get to an ethical culture. Please also take into consideration that the young people don’t want to work for companies that are not in compliance with good governance. Integrity is a must! Feedback is more than welcome; please email me at hjschumacher59@gmail.com.
Editor: Angel R. Calso
Tuesday, June 17, 2025 A5
Oil extends gain as Israel-Iran conflict stokes supply concerns
By Bloomberg News
Oil rose after Israel and Iran continued attacks on each other over the weekend, with the market bracing for an escalation that could disrupt supply from a region that produces around a third of the world’s crude.
Brent jumped as much as 5.5% at the open before paring gains to trade around $75 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate was near $74. Israel launched an attack on the South Pars gas field, forcing the halt of a production platform, after strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites and military leadership last week.
While an attack on Iran’s gasproducing infrastructure is a concern, the biggest fear for the oil market centers on the Strait of Hormuz. Middle East producers ship about a fifth of the world’s daily output through the narrow waterway, and prices could soar further if Tehran attempts to block the route.
“We don’t expect to see another significant leg higher in crude prices” unless there are attempts to close the Strait of Hormuz or Iran-backed Houthis
in Yemen target shipping, said Robert Rennie, head of commodity and carbon research at Westpac Banking Corp. “We see Brent capped below $80.”
The flare up in tensions has rattled financial markets, with oil jumping more than 13% on Friday before easing, and investors seeking haven assets such as gold. Iran canceled nuclear talks that were scheduled with the US in Oman on Sunday following Israel’s attacks.
Israel’s strike on South Pars triggered a powerful explosion and fire at a gas-processing plant on Saturday, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported. Iran’s gas is mainly for domestic use and is not widely exported, although a type of oil known as condensate is also produced and shipped overseas.
Iran’s biggest oil customer is
China, and attempts to block the Strait of Hormuz would likely disrupt Tehran’s own exports, cutting valuable revenue. From an economic and political standpoint, shutting the waterway doesn’t make sense, according to Muyu Xu, an analyst at Kpler.
So far, Iranian oil export infrastructure remains unscathed, but the hostilities have led to prices clawing back all their losses for the year. Concerns over the fallout from President Donald Trump’s trade policies, and the rapid increase of production quotas by Opec+ had weighed on futures.
Widely watched market metrics are pointing to fears over prompt supply risks, as well as growing concerns of a protracted conflict in the Middle East. The gap between the grade’s two nearest December contracts—a key indicator on long-term balances—rose by as much as $1.29 a barrel to $3.48.
Options markets are also flashing warning signs, with skews remaining in a bias toward bullish calls in the Asian session as volatility remains high. Volumes were also far higher than usual.
Trump said he believed it’s possible Israel and Iran could reach a deal to end the conflict, but may need to continue fighting before coming to an agreement. “Sometimes they have to fight it out, but we’re going to see what happens,” he told reporters at the White House on Sunday.
“A potential blockage of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran remains the most important market-moving event to watch for, which could tip oil markets into unprecedented territory,” Rystad Energy AS Analyst Mukesh Sahdev said in a note. “There are no signs yet that such a scenario is on the cards.” With assistance from Yongchang Chin and Nicholas Lua/Bloomberg
Trump vetoed Israeli plan to kill Iran’s supreme leader, US official tells AP
By Aamer Madhani
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump rejected a plan presented by Israel to the US to kill Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to a US official familiar with the matter.
The Israelis informed the Trump administration in recent days that they had developed a credible plan to kill Khamenei. After being briefed on the plan, the White House made clear to Israeli officials that Trump was opposed to the Israelis making the move, according to the official, who was not authorized to comment on the sensitive matter and spoke on the condition of anonymity.
The Trump administration is desperate to keep Israel’s military operation aimed at decapitating Iran’s nuclear program from exploding into an even more expansive conflict and saw the plan to kill Khamenei as a move that would enflame the conflict and potentially destabilize the region.
Asked about the plan during an interview on Fox News Channel’s “Special Report with Bret Baier,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not directly address whether the White House rejected the plan.
“But I can tell you, I think that we do what we need to do, we’ll do what we need to do,” Netanyahu said. “And I think the United States knows what is good for the United States.”
Netanyahu spokesperson Omer Dostri later called reports about the Israeli plan to kill Khamenei “fake.”
Netanyahu in the Fox interview also said regime change “could certainly be
the result” of the conflict “because the Iranian regime is very weak.”
Trump’s rejection of the proposal was first reported by Reuters.
Meanwhile, Trump on Sunday issued a stark warning to Iran not to retaliate against US targets in the Middle East.
Trump in an early morning social media posting said the United States “had nothing to do with the attack on Iran” as Israel and Iran traded missile attacks for the third straight day. Iran, however, has said it would hold the US—which has provided Israel with much of its deep arsenal of weaponry—responsible for its backing of Israel.
“If we are attacked in any way, shape or form by Iran, the full strength and might of the US Armed Forces will come down on you at levels never seen before,” Trump said.
Hours later Trump took to social media again to predict “Iran and Israel should make a deal, and will make a deal” and that it could come “soon.”
But as he departed the White House on Sunday evening for the Group of Seven leaders summit in the Canadian Rockies, Trump was more tempered in comments to reporters about when the Israeli strikes and Iranian retaliation would wind down.
“I hope there is going to be a deal, and we’ll see what happens, but sometimes they have to fight it out,” Trump said. The conflict is expected to loom large during his talks with the leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the European Union.
The US president said he has a track record for de-escalating conflicts, and that he would get Israel and Iran to cease hostilities “just like I got India
and Pakistan to” after the two countries’ recent cross-border confrontation.
India struck targets inside Pakistan after militants in April massacred 26 tourists in Indian-controlled Kashmir. Pakistan has denied any links to the attackers. Following India’s strikes in Pakistan, the two sides exchanged heavy fire along their de facto borders, followed by missile and drone strikes into each other’s territories, mainly targeting military installations and airbases.
It was the most serious confrontation in decades between the countries. Trump on Sunday repeated his claim, disputed by India, that the two sides agreed to a ceasefire after he had offered to help both nations with trade if they agreed to de-escalate.
Trump also pointed to efforts by his administration during his first term to mediate disputes between Serbia and Kosovo and Egypt and Ethiopia.
“Likewise, we will have PEACE, soon, between Israel and Iran!” Trump posted. “Many calls and meetings now taking place. I do a lot, and never get credit for anything, but that’s OK, the PEOPLE understand. MAKE THE MIDDLE EAST GREAT AGAIN!”
There’s a divide in Trump world about how far the president should go in backing Israel.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk and former Fox News host Tucker Carlson are among the prominent backers of Trump who have argued that voters supported Trump because he would not involve the nation in foreign conflicts.
The Associated Press writer Gary Fields contributed reporting.
By Jon Gambrell, Natalie Melzer & Tia Goldenberg The Associated Press
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates— Israel and Iran traded more missile attacks Sunday despite calls for a halt to the fighting, with neither country backing down as their conflict raged for a third day.
Iran said Israel struck its oil refineries, killed the intelligence chief of its paramilitary Revolutionary Guard and hit population centers in intensive aerial attacks that raised the death toll in the country since Israel launched its major campaign Friday to 224 people. Health authorities also reported that 1,277 were wounded, without distinguishing between military officials and civilians.
Israel, which has aimed its missiles at Iran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program and military leadership, said Iran has fired over 270 missiles since Friday, 22 of which slipped through the country’s sophisticated multi-tiered air defenses and caused havoc in residential suburbs, killing 14 people and wounding 390 others.
In an indication of how far Israel was seemingly prepared to go, a US official told The Associated Press that President Donald Trump nixed an Israeli plan to kill Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who serves as a religious authority and commanderin-chief of the armed forces.
Israel, the sole though undeclared nuclear-armed state in the
Middle East, has said this attack— its most powerful ever against Iran—was to prevent the country from developing a nuclear weapon.
The latest round of talks between the US and Iran on the future of Tehran’s nuclear program had been scheduled Sunday in Oman but were canceled after Israel’s attack.
Iran turns metro stations, mosques into bomb shelters CLAIMING to operate almost freely in the skies over Iran, Israel said its attacks Sunday hit Iran’s Defense Ministry, missile launch sites and factories producing air defense components. Iran also acknowledged Israel had killed three more of its top generals, including Gen. Mohammad Kazemi, the Revolutionary Guard intelligence chief. But Israeli strikes have increasingly extended beyond Iranian military installations to hit government buildings including the Foreign Ministry and several energy facilities, Iranian authorities said, most recently sparking huge fires at the Shahran oil depot north of Tehran and a fuel tank south of the city.
Those new targets Sunday, coming after Israel attacked Iran’s South Pars, the world’s largest natural gas field, raised the prospect of a broader assault on Iran’s heavily sanctioned energy industry that remains vital to the global economy and markets.
Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh and other Iranian diplomats shared photos of the Foreign Ministry’s offices and library laid to waste by flying shrapnel.
Iran’s state TV broadcast footage of a dust-covered man carrying a baby away from the ruins of a residential building and a woman covered in blood making panicked phone call from the site of an Israeli missile strike in downtown Tehran. The spokesperson for Iran’s Health Ministry, Hossein Kermanpour, said 90% of the 224 people killed were civilians.
The Washington-based rights advocacy group, called Human Rights Activists, reported a far higher death toll in Iran from Israeli strikes, saying the attacks have killed at least 406 people and wounded another 654. Iran routinely has undercounted casualties in recent crises, such as the 2022 mass demonstrations over mandatory hijab laws after the death of Mahsa Amini.
State TV reported that metro stations and mosques would be made converted into bomb shelters beginning Sunday night. Tehran residents told of long lines at gas stations and cars backed up for hours as families fled the city.
Traffic police closed a number of roads outside the city to control congestion. Energy officials on state TV sought to reassure the jittery public there was no gasoline
shortage despite the long lines. Iranian state-linked media acknowledged explosions and fires stemming from an attack on an Iranian refueling aircraft in Mashhad deep in the country’s northeast. Israel described the attack on Mashhad as the farthest strike it has carried out in Iranian territory.
The death toll rises in Israel AIR raid sirens sounded across Jerusalem and major Israeli cities, sending Israelis scrambling to bomb shelters in the seaside metropolis of Tel Aviv and the northern port city of Haifa.
The Israeli military reported that almost two dozen Iranian missiles had slipped through the vaunted Iron Dome aerial defense system and struck residential areas.
Early Sunday, Israel’s Magen David Adom emergency service reported that at least six people, including a 10-year-old boy and a 9-year-old girl, were killed when a missile smashed into a high-rise apartment in Bat Yam, a coastal city south of Tel Aviv.
Daniel Hadad, a local police commander, said 180 people were wounded and seven missing in Bat Yam. Residents appeared dazed, staggering through the rubble of their homes to retrieve personal belongings while rescuers sifted through twisted metal and shattered glass in their search for more bodies.
Another four people, including a 13-year-old, were killed and 24 wounded when a missile struck a building in the Arab town of Tamra in northern Israel, emergency authorities said, while a strike on the central city of Rehovot wounded 42 people.
The Weizmann Institute of
Science, a center for military and other research also in Rehovot, reported “a number of hits to buildings on the campus” and said no one was harmed.
An oil refinery was damaged in the northern Israeli city of Haifa, the firm operating it said. Israel’s main international airport and airspace was closed for a third day.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said if Israeli strikes on Iran stop, then “our responses will also stop.”
Netanyahu says conflict could result in regime change in Iran
ISRAELI Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has brushed off urgent calls by world leaders to de-escalate.
In an interview with Fox News on Sunday, he said regime change in Iran “could certainly be the result” of the conflict. He also claimed, without providing evidence, that Israeli intelligence indicated Iran intended to give nuclear weapons to Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.
Iran has always said its nuclear program was peaceful, and the U.S. and others have assessed that it has not pursued a nuclear weapon since 2003.
But Iran has enriched everlarger stockpiles of uranium to near weapons-grade levels in recent years and was believed to have the capacity to develop multiple weapons within months if it chose to do so.
A senior US official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive nuclear talks, said Washington remained committed to the negotiations and hoped the Iranians would return to the table.
The region is already on edge
as Israel seeks to annihilate the Palestinian militant group Hamas, an Iranian ally, in the Gaza Strip, where war still rages after Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel.
‘Many months’ to repair nuclear facilities IN Iran, satellite photos analyzed by AP show extensive damage at Iran’s main nuclear enrichment facility in Natanz. The images captured Saturday by Planet Labs PBC show multiple buildings damaged or destroyed. The structures hit include buildings identified by experts as supplying power to the facility. U.N. nuclear chief Rafael Grossi told the Security Council that the above-ground section of the Natanz facility was destroyed. The main centrifuge facility underground did not appear to be hit, but the loss of power could have damaged infrastructure there, he said. Israel also struck a nuclear research facility in Isfahan. The International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N. nuclear watchdog, said four “critical buildings” were damaged, including an uraniumconversion facility. The IAEA said there was no sign of increased radiation at Natanz or Isfahan. An Israeli military official, speaking on condition of anonymity Sunday in line with official procedures, said it would take “many months, maybe more” to restore the two sites.
Melzer reported from Nahariya, Israel, and Goldenberg from Tel Aviv, Israel. Associated Press writers Nasser Karimi and Amir Vahdat in Tehran, Iran; Aamer Madhani in Washington; Sam Mednick and Melanie Lidman in Tel Aviv, Israel, and Julia Frankel in Jerusalem contributed to this report.
G7 summit opens in Canada with focus on trade, wars–and not riling Trump
By Josh Boak & Rob Gillies The Associated Press
KANANASKIS, Alberta—When US President Donald Trump last came to Canada for a Group of Seven summit, the enduring image was of him seated with his arms folded defiantly as then-German Chancellor Angela Merkel stared daggers at him.
If there is a shared mission at this year’s G7 summit, which begins Monday in Canada’s Rocky Mountains, it is a desire to minimize any fireworks at a moment of combustible tensions.
The 2018 summit ended with Trump assailing his Canadian hosts on social media as he departed on Air Force One, saying he had instructed the US officials who remained in Quebec to oppose the G7 joint statement endorsed by the leaders of Japan, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany and, of course, Canada.
“I have instructed our US Reps not to endorse the Communique as we look at Tariffs on automobiles flooding the US Market!” Trump posted on the site then known as Twitter.
This time, Trump already has hit several dozen nations with severe tariffs that risk a global economic slowdown. There is little progress on settling the wars in Ukraine and Gaza and now a new and escalating conflict between Israel and Iran over Tehran’s nuclear program.
Add to all of that the problems of climate change, immigration, drug trafficking, new technologies such as artificial intelligence and China’s continued manufacturing superiority and chokehold on key supply chains.
Asked if he planned to announce any trade agreements at the G7 as he left the White House on Sunday, Trump said: “We have our trade deals. All we have to do is send a letter, ‘This is what you’re going to have to pay.’ But I think we’ll have a few, few new trade deals.”
At stake might be the survival of the G7 itself at a time when the Trump administration has sent mixed signals about whether the president will attend the November Group of 20 summit in South Africa.
What Trump opposed at the 2018 summit in Quebec wasn’t just tariffs, but a focus on having alliances with a shared set of standards seeking to shape policies.
“The big dispute in Quebec were the references to the rulesbased international order and that’s where that famous photo comes from,” said Peter Boehm, Canada’s counselor at the 2018 G7 summit in Quebec and a veteran of six G7 summits. “I think it gave everyone the idea that G7s were maybe not business as usual.”
The German, UK, Japanese and Italian governments have each signaled a belief that a friendly relationship with Trump this year can reduce the likelihood of outbursts.
“Well, I have got a good relationship with President Trump, and that’s important,” UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Saturday as he flew to Canada.
There is no plan for a joint statement this year from the G7, a sign that the Trump administration sees no need to build a shared consensus with fellow democracies if it views such a statement as contrary to its goals of new tariffs, more fossil fuel production and a Europe that is less dependent on the US military.
“The Trump administration almost certainly believes that no deal is better than a bad deal,” said Caitlin Welsh, a director at the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank who was part of Trump’s team for the G7 in Trump’s first term.
The White House has stayed decidedly mum about its goals for the G7, which originated as a 1973 finance ministers’ meeting to address the oil crisis and steadily evolved into a yearly summit that is meant to foster personal relationships among world leaders and address global problems.
The G7 even briefly expanded to the G8 with Russia as a member, only for Russia to be expelled in 2014 after annexing Crimea and taking a foothold in Ukraine that preceded its aggressive 2022 invasion of that nation.
Trump will have at least three scheduled bilateral meetings during the summit with other world leaders while in Canada, staring on Monday morning with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. The US president is also expected to have bilateral meetings with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, according to an administration official.
The US president has imposed 25% tariffs on steel, aluminum and autos, all of which have disproportionately hit Japan. Trump is also charging a 10% tax on imports from most countries, though he could raise rates on July 9, after the 90-day negotiating period set by him would expire.
The United Kingdom reached a trade framework with the US that included quotas to protect against some tariffs, but the 10% baseline would remain as the Trump administration is banking on tariff revenues to help cover the cost of its income tax cuts. Canada and Mexico face separate tariffs of as much as 25% that Trump put into place under the auspices of stopping fentanyl smuggling, through some products are still protected under the 2020 US-Mexico-Canada Agreement signed during Trump’s first term.
The Trump administration has insisted that its broad tariffs will produce trade agreements that box out China, though it’s unclear how antagonizing trade partners would make them want to strengthen their reliance on the US. Carney, the Canadian leader, has been outspoken in saying his country can no longer look to the US as an enduring friend.
That might leave Trump with the awkward task of wanting to keep his tariffs in place while also trying to convince other countries that they’re better off siding with the US than China.
“Trump will try to coordinate the group against China’s economic coercion,” Josh Lipsky, chair of international economics at the Atlantic Council, wrote in an analysis. “But the rest of the leaders may turn back to Trump and say that this kind of coordination, which is at the heart of why the G7 works, would be easier if he weren’t imposing tariffs on his allies.”
Boak reported from Calgary, Alberta. Associated Press writer Jill Lawless contributed to this report.
Minnesota lawmaker’s suspected killer arrested after massive 2-day manhunt
By Obed Lamy, Steve Karnowski, Mike Balsamo & Alanna Durkin Richer
The Associated Press
BELLE PLAINE, Minn.—The man suspected of killing a Minnesota lawmaker and wounding another crawled to officers in surrender Sunday after they located him in the woods near his home, bringing an end to a massive, nearly two-day search that put the entire state on edge.
Vance Boelter was arrested and charged with two counts of murder and two of attempted murder. He is accused of posing as a police officer and fatally shooting former Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, in their home early Saturday in the northern Minneapolis suburbs. Authorities say he also shot Sen. John Hoffman, a Democrat, and his wife, Yvette. They were injured at their residence about 9 miles (about 15 kilometers) away.
“One man’s unthinkable actions have altered the state of Minnesota,” Democratic Gov. Tim Walz said at a news conference after Boelter’s arrest. The search for Boelter was the “largest manhunt in the state’s history,” Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley said. It began when Brooklyn Park officers went to check on Hortman’s home and saw her husband gunned down before the shooter fled.
Authorities on Sunday located a vehicle Boelter was using abandoned in rural Sibley County, where he lived, and a police officer reported that he believed he saw Boelter running into the woods, Bruley said.
Police set up a large perimeter and called in 20 different tactical teams, divvying up the area and searching for him.
During the search, police said they received information confirming someone was in the woods and searched for hours, using a helicopter and officers on foot, until they found Boelter. He surrendered to police, crawling out to officers in the woods before he was handcuffed and taken into custody in a field, authorities said.
A targeted attack DREW EVANS, superintendent of the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, said the violence likely would’ve continued had Brooklyn Park offices not checked on Hortman’s home, causing Boelter to flee.
The Hoffmans were attacked first at their home in Champin early Saturday. A criminal complaint unsealed after Boelter’s arrest indicated their adult daughter called 911 just after 2 a.m. to say a masked person had come to the door and shot her parents.
After police in nearby Brooklyn Park learned that a lawmaker had been shot, they sent patrol officers
to check on the Hortmans’ home.
Brooklyn Park police officers arrived just in time to see Boelter shoot Mark Hortman through the open door of the home, the complaint says. It says they exchanged gunfire with Boelter, who fled inside the home before escaping the scene.
Melissa Hortman was found dead inside, the complaint said.
Authorities said Boelter posed as a police officer, even allegedly altering a vehicle to make it look like a police car.
No details on motive
AUTHORITIES did not give a motive as they announced Boelter’s arrest.
A list of about 70 names was found in writings recovered from the fake police vehicle that was left at the crime scene, said two law enforcement officials who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss details of the ongoing investigation. The writings and list of names included prominent state and federal lawmakers and community leaders, along with abortion rights advocates and information about healthcare facilities, according to the officials.
A Minnesota official told AP lawmakers who had been outspoken in favor of abortion rights were on the list. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because the investigation was ongoing.
Boelter is a former political appointee who served on the same state workforce development board as Hoffman, records show, though it was not clear if or how well they knew each other.
Around 6 a.m. Saturday, Boelter texted friends to apologize for his actions, though he didn’t say what he had done.
“I’m going to be gone for a while. May be dead shortly, so I just want to let you know I love you guys both
and I wish it hadn’t gone this way,” he wrote in messages viewed by AP. An escalation in political violence THE shootings come as political leaders nationwide have been attacked, harassed and intimidated amid deep political divisions. Lawmakers said they were disturbed by the attacks as Twin Cities residents mourned.
“This cannot be the norm. It cannot be the way that we deal with our political differences,” Walz said Sunday.
On Sunday evening, US Sen. Amy Klobuchar shared a statement from Yvette Hoffman expressing appreciation for the outpouring of public support.
“John is enduring many surgeries right now and is closer every hour to being out of the woods,” Yvette Hoffman said in a text that Klobuchar posted on social media. “He took 9 bullet hits. I took 8 and we are both incredibly lucky to be alive. We are gutted and devastated by the loss of Melissa and Mark.”
Brightly colored flowers and small American flags were placed Sunday on the gray marbled stone of the Minnesota State Capitol along with a photo of the Hortmans. People scrawled messages on small notes including, “You were our leader through the hardest of times. Rest in Power.”
Pam Stein came with flowers and kneeled by the memorial. An emotional Stein called Hortman an “absolute powerhouse” and “the real unsung hero of Minnesota government.”
Karnowski reported from Minneapolis, and Balsamo and Durkin Richer reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Michael Biesecker in Washington; Jim Mustian in New York; Sophia Tareen in Chicago and Makiya Seminera in Raleigh, N.C., contributed.
Huge turnout at second Dutch protest seeking government action against Israel
By Molly Quell The Associated Press
HE HAGUE, Netherlands—
TTens of thousands of demonstrators in the Netherlands donned red clothing and marched Sunday to protest the Dutch government’s policy toward Israel, exceeding the turnout for a similar event in May.
Protesters walked a 3-mile (5-kilometer) loop around the center of The Hague to symbolically create the red line they say the government has failed to draw to halt Israel’s campaign in Gaza.
“I don’t want to be complicit in these horrendous crimes happening there and I want to speak out,” protester Marin Koning told The Associated Press.
The human rights groups and aid agencies—including Amnesty International, Save the Children and Doctors Without Borders— that organized the march estimated the peaceful crowd at more than 150,000 people. Local media put the numbers closer to 100,000.
In neighboring Belgium, around 75,000 people, many of them also clad in red, hit the streets in the capital Brussels, police said. Several rallies have been held to draw attention to Israel’s actions in Gaza, but Sunday’s was the biggest rally so far.
The Dutch protest sent a “clear signal,” according to Marjon Rozema of Amnesty International Netherlands. Dutch officials must “act now, at both the national and international level, to increase the pressure on the Israeli government,” she said in a statement.
As during the first Red Line protest in May, the march took the crowds past the Peace Palace, headquarters of the United Nations’ International Court of Justice, where last year judges ordered Israel to do all it can to prevent
death, destruction and any acts of genocide in Gaza.
Israel strongly denies that it is violating international law in Gaza.
The event takes place weeks after the country’s ruling fourparty coalition collapsed, leaving the Netherlands with a caretaker government when it hosts a summit of NATO leaders at the end of June.
Hamas started the war with its Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel, with militants killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking another 251 hostage. The militants still hold 53 hostages, fewer than half of them alive, after most of the rest were released in ceasefire agreements or other deals.
Israel’s military campaign has killed over 55,300 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. It says women and children make up most of the dead but doesn’t distinguish between civilians and combatants. Israel says it has killed more than 20,000 militants, without providing evidence.
The European Union’s top diplomat, meanwhile, convened an emergency meeting of the 27-nation bloc’s foreign ministers on Tuesday to discuss the conflict between Israel and Iran. The meeting, to be held via video link, “will provide an opportunity for an exchange of views, coordination on diplomatic outreach to Tel Aviv and Tehran, and possible next steps.” EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas’s office said Sunday.
“We will continue to contribute to all diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions and to find a lasting solution to the Iranian nuclear issue which can only be through a negotiated deal,” it said.
Lorne Cook in Brussels contributed to this report.
Protesters in Barcelona, Mallorca squirt tourists with water guns to highlight overtourism crisis
By Joseph Wilson The Associated Press
BARCELONA, Spain—Protesters used water guns against unsuspecting tourists in Barcelona and on the Spanish island of Mallorca on Sunday as demonstrators marched to demand a rethink of an economic model they believe is fueling a housing crunch and erasing the character of their hometowns.
The marches were part of the first coordinated effort by activists concerned with the ills of overtourism across southern Europe’s top destinations. While several thousands rallied in Mallorca in the biggest gathering of the day, hundreds more gathered in other Spanish cities, as well as in Venice, Italy, and Portugal’s capital, Lisbon.
“The squirt guns are to bother the tourists a bit,” Andreu Martínez said in Barcelona with a chuckle after spritzing a couple seated at an outdoor café. “Barcelona has been handed to the tourists. This is a fight to give Barcelona back to its residents.”
Martínez, a 42-year-old administrative assistant, is one of a growing number of residents who are convinced that tourism has gone too far in the city of 1.7 million people. Barcelona hosted 15.5 million visitors last year eager to see Antoni Gaudí’s La Sagrada Familia basilica and the Las Ramblas promenade.
Martínez says his rent has risen over 30% as more apartments in his neighborhood are rented to tourists for short-term stays. He said there is a knock-on effect of traditional stores being replaced by businesses catering to tourists, like souvenir shops, burger joints and “bubble tea” spots.
“Our lives, as lifelong residents of Barcelona, are coming to an end,” he said. “We are being pushed out systematically.”
Around 5,000 people gathered
in Palma, the capital of Mallorca, with some toting water guns as well and chanting “Everywhere you look, all you see are tourists.”
The tourists who were targeted by water blasts laughed it off. The Balearic Island is a favorite for British and German sun-seekers. Housing costs have skyrocketed as homes are diverted to the shortterm rental market.
Hundreds more marched in Granada, in southern Spain, and in the northern city of San Sebastián, as well as the island of Ibiza.
In Venice, a couple of dozen protesters unfurled a banner calling for a halt to new hotel beds in the lagoon city in front of two recently completed structures, one in the popular tourist destination’s historic center where activists say the last resident, an elderly woman, was kicked out last year.
‘That’s lovely’ PROTESTERS in Barcelona blew whistles and held up homemade signs saying “One more tourist, one less resident.” They stuck stickers saying “Citizen Self-Defense,” in Catalan, and “Tourist Go Home,” in English, with a drawing of a water gun on the doors of hotels and hostels.
There was tension when the march stopped in front of a large hostel, where a group emptied their water guns at two workers positioned in the entrance. They also set off firecrackers next to the hostel and opened a can of pink smoke. One worker spat at
the protesters as he slammed the hostel’s doors.
American tourists Wanda and Bill Dorozenski were walking along Barcelona’s main luxury shopping boulevard where the protest started. They received a squirt or two, but she said it was actually refreshing given the 83-degree Fahrenheit (28.3 degrees Celsius) weather.
“That’s lovely, thank you sweetheart,” Wanda said to the squirter. “I am not going to complain. These people are feeling something to them that is very personal, and is perhaps destroying some areas (of the city).”
There were also many marchers with water guns who didn’t fire at bystanders and instead solely used them to spray themselves to keep cool.
Crackdown on Airbnb CITIES across the world are struggling with how to cope with mass tourism and a boom in short-term rental platforms, like Airbnb, but perhaps nowhere has surging discontent been so evident as in Spain, where protesters in Barcelona first took to firing squirt guns at tourists during a protest last summer.
There has also been a confluence of the pro-housing and anti-tourism struggles in Spain, whose 48 million residents welcomed record 94 million international visitors in 2024. When
thousands marched through the streets of Spain’s capital in April, some held homemade signs saying “Get Airbnb out of our neighborhoods.”
Spanish authorities are striving to show they hear the public outcry while not hurting an industry that contributes 12% of gross domestic product.
Last month, Spain’s government ordered Airbnb to remove almost 66,000 holiday rentals from the platform that it said had violated local rules.
Spain’s Consumer Rights Minister Pablo Bustinduy told The Associated Press shortly after
the crackdown on Airbnb that the tourism sector “cannot jeopardize the constitutional rights of the Spanish people,” which enshrines their right to housing and wellbeing. Carlos Cuerpo, the economy minister, said in a separate interview that the government is aware it must tackle the unwanted side effects of mass tourism.
The boldest move was made by Barcelona’s town hall, which stunned Airbnb and other services who help rent properties to tourists by announcing last year the
elimination of all 10,000 shortterm rental licenses in the city by 2028. That sentiment was back in force on Sunday, where people held up signs saying “Your Airbnb was my home.”
‘Taking away housing’ THE short-term rental industry, for its part, believes it is being treated unfairly.
“I think a lot of our politicians have found an easy scapegoat to blame for the inefficiencies of their policies in terms of housing and tourism over the last 10, 15, 20 years,” Airbnb’s general director for Spain and Portugal, Jaime Rodríguez de Santiago recently told the AP.
That argument either hasn’t trickled down to the ordinary residents of Barcelona, or isn’t resonating.
Txema Escorsa, a teacher in Barcelona, doesn’t just oppose Airbnb in his home city, he has ceased to use it even when traveling elsewhere, out of principle.
“In the end, you realize that this is taking away housing from people,” he said.
AP Videojournalist Hernán Múñoz in Barcelona, and Associated Press writer Colleen Barry in Venice, Italy, contributed.
Marcos vows to boost education: 100,000 new classrooms, Internet for all schools
By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla
THE Marcos administration is targeting to provide internet access to all schools and build an additional 100,000 classrooms to boost the country’s quality of education.
In an interview with reporters during the opening of classes at the Epifanio Delos Santos Elementary School (EDSES) in Manila last Monday, President Ferdinand Marcos disclosed that only 60 percent of schools nationwide have
internet services.
“This is very low. The problem is really the electricity [availability]. So we will fix that. Slowly we will see that everything will be 100 percent,” Marcos said in Filipino.
He said they will prioritize providing internet access to schools in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas using new technology such as the satellitebased internet of Starlink, which he recognized last week.
“It is a good thing there is already a technology so we can establish a good [internet] system nationally,” Marcos said.
Classroom shortage ASIDE from improving internet accessibility, Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Juan “Sonny” M. Angara said they are also currently working to finally address their existing classroom shortage.
He said they proposed a public private partnership (PPP), which
will involve a loan payable in 10 years to allow DepEd to construct over 100,000 classrooms.
The proposal is now undergoing approval from the Internet Coordination Committee of the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev).
Angara said they think the country’s education system will be left behind if it fails to address the existing classroom shortage.
“Probably by next year, we can start with the construction,” Angara said in a separate interview.
“In our proposal, in the next three years we will start with the construction of 105,000 classrooms.”
Currently, he said DepEd is only able to construct 3,000 to 5,000 classrooms each year. The BusinessMirror reported that
DOTr to sue transport operators over overcharging, abuse, and assault of PWD
TBy Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan
HE Department of Transportation
the Philippine Institute and Development Studies (PIDS) estimated that the government needs to ramp up the construction to 6,000 to 8,000 new classrooms annually to address classroom deficits by 2040.
Continuous support
MARCOS committed to continue providing support to the public schools and its students, which includes the hiring of an additional 20,000 additional teaching staff and 10,000 administrative duties, reducing the school supplies and transportation expenses for students and their parents, and addressing cyberbullying.
The President also announced they will also soon launch the expanded feeding program of
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the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for students.
The program, which previously only covered the first 1,000 days of a child will now also include those who are 5-years old, according to Marcos. In his brief online meeting with other education officials during his visit at EDSES, he vowed to address other concerns, which will be raised by teachers.
“If you see anything else that can be improved, please let us know. Tell your DepEd representative, even at the LGU [local government unit], up to the region, so we can know. Your superintendents, please give us whatever you think we can do to make things better,” Marcos said.
A t the sidelines of the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines (EJAP) Infrastructure Forum, Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said that the driver in a viral video that was seen overcharging a passenger for a short trip between Naia Terminals 2 and 3 has been been
(DOTr) is pursuing legal action against two transport operators involved in separate incidents of overcharging and abuse, including a criminal case involving the assault of a person with disability (PWD).
apprehended, with his license already suspended.
“We have impounded the car with the Land Transportation Office. We have suspended the driver’s license and in all likelihood, his license will be revoked after the hearing,” he said.
D izon noted that further investigation
revealed that the operator of the cab, Taxihub Transport, has been “illegally plying the roads since March 2025, after its franchise expired.” “S o not only did they overcharge, but they were technically operating without a valid franchise. For all intents, they’re considered
NBI arrests two sisters for online sexual exploitation of minors
HE National Bureau of Investigation
T(NBI) has arrested of two sisters for allegedly facilitating sexual exploitation and abuse of minors online.
NBI Director Jaime B. Santiago presented the suspects before the media Monday following their arrest in Concepcion, Tarlac last June 10.
Authorities did not name the suspects who have been charged with violation of Republic Act No. 11930
or the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children and Child Sexual Abuse (OSAEC) or Exploitation Materials (CSAEMM), Republic Act (R.A) No. 9208 as amended by Republic Act No. 11862 (Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act), and R.A. 7610 (Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination).
Santiago said NBI operatives were able to rescue 10 minors, who were
relatives of the suspects and victims of their illegal activities.
Among those rescued were seven boys and three girls with ages ranging from three months to 16 years old.
The rescued minors, according to the NBI, have been referred to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD ) for proper care and protection.
The operation stemmed from the arrest of Swedish national and alleged child-sexual offender Heinz Henry Andreas Berglund on April 2, 2025, by the NBI–Violence Against Women and Children Division (VAWCD) and the Bureau of Immigration—Fugitive Search Unit (BI-FSU).
Berglund was arrested based on the red notice issued by the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) and arrest warrant issued in Sweden in connection with the rape case filed against him in 2021 involving a 10-year-old girl.
Further investigation showed links between
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Berglund and a Filipino woman who was a subject of a surveillance by the NBI- VAWCD following a referral from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Manila.
The Filipino woman, according to information, was involved in the sale and distribution of sexually explicit images, videos, and live streaming shows featuring their underage sisters.
The Nordic Liaison Office (NLO) in Manila also provided information linking Berglund to the same Filipina subject of NBI’s investigation.
NBI-VAWCD Chief Yehlen Agus disclosed that their investigation revealed that Berglund has been paying the two sisters for CSAEM ranging from P200 to P4,000.
Acting on the information, the NBI VAWCD secured two warrants to search, seize and examine computer data for separate residences of the suspects in Concepcion, Tarlac.
An entrapment operation was subsequently conducted by authorities which resulted in the arrest of the sisters. Joel R. San Juan
and fraudulent transactions, with the passage of the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act (Afasa). In a briefing, BSP Office of the General Counsel and Legal Services Deputy Director Janice G. Ayson-Zales said the Afasa allows banks to immediately hold accounts once they receive complaints from account holders.
Ayson-Zales said this is one of the key features of the Afasa which allows banks and other financial institutions, including e-wallets, to hold disputed funds initially for five days which can be extended to 30 days. (See: https:// businessmirror.com.ph/2025/06/12/bsp-scamcomplaints-may-decline-with-anti-financialaccount-scamming-act-in-place/). Cai U. Ordinario
we really need that [PTSB]. In fact, I’ll be in Washington next week meeting with the NTSB, because we want to understand how the regulatory framework works,” he said.
In the absence of a law establishing the PTSB, Dizon said they are “proposing an executive order (EO) that will do the business of a national transport safety board, while we’re waiting for legislation. We’re cognizant that sometimes Congress takes time [in approving legislation], but we will push for that [a new bill].”
Optimistic for new legislation
HE expressed optimism that the incoming set of lawmakers will propose and approve new legislation to form a PTSB. Earlier, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. had vetoed House Bill No. 9030/Senate Bill No. 1077, which would have established the PTSB, on the grounds it was too expensive, considering there are already existing government agencies that oversee the safety of the country’s transport system, such as the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (Caap).
Icao was scheduled to conduct a safety audit of the Philippines/CAAP in March but this was postponed as an accommodation to Dizon’s predecessor, Jaime Bautista, after it was informed of the President’s veto of approved bill on PTSB. (See, “ICAO defers safety audit; aviation law pushed,” in the B usiness M irror , March 5, 2025.)
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“It hasn’t reached that point yet, but our agencies are ready if repatriation is needed,” she said.
She said the government is closely monitoring the status of OFWs in Israel after Iran’s retaliatory airstrike over the weekend.
Last Friday, Israel launched a surprise assault on Iran’s nuclear sites to stop the latter’s nuclear program.
“The President’s directive to the DFA [Department of Foreign Affairs], DMW and OWWA [Overseas Workers Welfare Administration] is to provide immediate assistance to our countrymen. No one is left behind, that is the instruction of President Marcos Jr.,” Castro said.
Government aid
IN an interview with state-controlled PTV, DMW Secretary Hans J. Cacdac said two of the injured OFWs were already discharged from the hospital.
“There is still one who is in critical condition, and another one who is at the hospital but has already recovered,” he said.
Cacdac said they are currently assisting 14 other Filipinos in Israel, who were affected by the Iranian missile attacks.
Dizon hopes there would also be time to push the a new proposed legislation “between now until the budget deliberations start.” After his trip to Washington, Dizon said the proposed EO will be presented to the President, adding “we desperately need this, not just for air, but for sea and land as well.” Aside from the NTSB, Dizon will also meet with officials from the US Federal Aviation Authority, and the Department of Defense—the latter “for possible assistance to the [Philippine Coast Guard].”
Nixes Senate run MEANWHILE , the DOTr chief doused rumors of a possible run for the Senate in 2028. Dizon has been very visible in many public places such as the Metro Rail Transport-3, the Bus Carousel, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, among others, always speaking with individuals, thus sparking the rumors.
“That’s not true. That’s not true. That won’t happen,” he said in Filipino. “I will return to my colleagues at ICTSI.” Prior to his appointment as DOTr chief, Dizon was working as chief regulatory officer at Prime Infra, the infrastructure concern of the Enrique Razon Jr.-led ICTSI.
During the Duterte administration, Dizon was adviser on flagship programs and projects, deputy chief implementer of the National Action Plan against Covid-19, and president and CEO of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority.
They are also providing aid to 18 Filipinos stranded at the Dubai airport because of the blocked airspace of Israel and Jordan as Iran continues to launch its missile attacks.
The OFWs were repatriated and were provided financial aid worth two months of their salary.
DMW is also coordinating with the recruitment agencies to provide help to OFWs who are unable to travel to Israel and Jordan.
Travel advisory
AMID the prevailing risks in the Middle East, Cacdac said he issued an advisory urging OFWs to defer travel to Israel and Jordan, where they are currently under Alert Level 2 or the Restriction stage. Only returning OFWs or those with existing employment contracts will be allowed to travel to countries under Alert Level 2. Cacdac said they are seeking guidance from DFA on whether the alert levels from these countries will be raised. For Lebanon, DFA has hoisted an Alert Level 3 or the Voluntary Repatriation phase. All OFWs are prohibited from traveling to the Middle East country.
“When it comes to Israel, Lebanon and Jordan, our advice to our countrymen is not to proceed to these places,” Cacdac said.
Over 27 million students return to classrooms as DepEd marks smooth SY 2025-2026 opening
By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco @claudethmc3
THE Department of Education
(DepEd) welcomed over 27 million learners across around 48,000 public and 12,000 private schools on Monday for School Year (SY) 2025-2026, marking the country’s first return to a June opening since the academic calendar was adjusted during the Covid-19 pandemic.
DepEd said that the opening proceeded smoothly across regions, following weeks of preparation through Brigada Eskwela (BE) and Oplan Balik Eskwela (OBE) which mobilized local communities, schools, and government agencies to repair classrooms, clean campuses, and resolve logistical issues in time for the start of classes.
As of June 14, DepEd said, the 2025 OBE Public Assistance Command Center, recorded a total of 1,690 concerns raised by parents, learners, and school personnel.
Of these, 1,406 were resolved on the spot as DepEd was able to address promptly through coordinated efforts with schools and field offices.
The Department will continue to monitor the opening of classes through field office command centers and provide immediate response to school-level concerns.
To ensure that schools are safe, functional, and ready to welcome learners nationwide, President Ferdinand Marcos officially opened this SY at Epifanio Delos
Santos Elementary School (EDSES) in Malate, Manila, as the DepEd highlighted major education reforms aimed at creating a better learning environment for Filipino students and teachers.
“Ang buong pamahalaan, lalo na basta sa edukasyon, lahat ng mga departamento, mula DOH (Department of Health), DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development), DTI (Department of Trade and Indusrty), DOTr (Department of Transportation), PNP (Philippine National Police), DICT (Department of Information and Communications Technology) hanggang sa Office of the President, ay nakabantay sa inyong lahat para tiyakin na lahat ng mga pangangailangan lalong lalo ng mga kabataan ay mapaabot naming,” the President said during his virtual interaction with select principals nationwide.
DepEd, under Marcos’ directive, has implemented various reforms to support both learners and educators. These include mandatory easier and cost-friendly enrollment process, health assessments for students, early delivery of laptops, smart TVs, and other digital tools to schools, increased medical and teaching allowances for teachers, the hiring of more teachers and administrative staff, and workload rationalization.
“Malaking pasasalamat natin kay Pangulong Marcos sa mga repormang agad niyang itinulak para sa edukasyon. Mas mararamdaman ito ng ating ng mga guro at mag-aaral ngayong balik-eskwela.
Gasoline, diesel, kerosene to increase by ₧1.50 to ₧1.80 per liter this week
LOCAL pump prices are going up by over P1 per liter this week. Oil firms announced Monday they will jack up gasoline prices by P1.80 per liter, diesel by P1.80 per liter, and kerosene by P1.50 per liter starting Tuesday. This was announced by Petron, Shell, Caltex, Unioil, Total, PTT, Phoenix, Cleanfuel, Jetti, and Seaoil.
The new prices will take effect at 6 a.m. for most oil firms except Cleanfuel which will adjust at 4:01 p.m.
SBy Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga
ECRETARY Raphael P.M. Lotilla
formally assumed leadership of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) during a turnover ceremony held Monday at the DENR Central Office in Visayas Avenue, Quezon City. Lotilla replaces Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzagan who turned over the DENR’s flag to the former Department of Enenery (DOE) Secretary during the turnover ceremony. Loyzaga, who has led the DENR since 2022, is credited for steering science-based policy reforms and advancing climate resilience programs that benefited vulnerable communities across the country.
She is also admired for implementing science-based programs and for ensuring a broader participation in policy and decision-making activities of the DENR that include scientists, academe, and nongovernment organizations, community-based groups and local government units (LGUs) Lotilla, meanwhile, brings with him a wealth of experience as a public servant, legal scholar, and energy policy expert. Prior to his appointment to DENR, he served two terms as Secretary of Energy under Presidents Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Ferdinand Marcos Jr. His public service track record includes
The oil price hike was attributed to the recent developments in the world oil market which affects local fuel prices. The Department of Energy cited the ongoing geopolitical tensions as the primary reason for the increase. Other reasons are the possibility of a US-China trade agreement, the negative sentiment surrounding nuclear talks between the US and Iran, and the dwindling oil supply against high demand in the US. Lenie Lectura
key leadership roles at the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), and the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM).
An academician at heart, Secretary Lotilla has been a professor at the UP College of Law since 1985 and served as Vice President for Public Affairs of the University of the Philippines from 1991 to 1996.
He is also widely recognized for his contributions to global discussions on clean energy, environmental governance, and sustainable marine and coastal development.
The DENR expects Secretary Lotilla’s background in law, public policy, and sustainable development to strengthen the Department’s ongoing efforts in environmental protection, climate resilience, and resource conservation.
As the new DENR chief, Lotilla is expected to act on critical issues such as the crafting of implementing rules and regulation for offshore wind and floating solar energy projects which were approved during his tenure at DOE.
He is also expected to face the challenge of ruling that will decide the date of pending dump-and-fill and seabed quarrying projects in Manila Bay, while implementing a Supreme Court continuing mandamus to bring back the waters to it’s pristine state amid the massive development and rapid urbanization in various parts of the Manila Bay region
Kasama na dyan ang ang dagdag-suporta, kagamitan, at mga polisiyang nagpapagaan sa araw-araw nilang karanasan sa paaralan,”
Education Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara said.
Marcos toured EDSES, one of Manila’s oldest public elementary schools, joined by Angara, DepEd officials, and the school’s personnel.
The visit included a classroom engagement with Grade 1 learners, a briefing on school safety systems, and a virtual interaction with selected schools from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao- a move made after listening to widespread calls from teachers, parents, and learners to avoid extreme weather disruptions and restore academic continuity.
Positive start
ANGARA also noted the positive start to the school year, citing the collaborative effort across all levels of government and local communities.
“Alam nating mahirap ang paghahanda, pero mas maayos ang pasukan ngayong taon dahil sa tulong-tulong na kilos ng lahat—ni Pangulong Marcos, guro, magulang, LGU, at mga ahensya. Sobrang laki ng naitulong ng Brigada Eskwela at Oplan Balik Eskwela,” he said as he thanked key national and local agencies also contributed to school readiness from traffic management and utility connections to school safety and learner welfare.
DepEd will also pilot a strengthened
Senior High School (SHS) curriculum this school year to improve readiness for college and employment.
With renewed momentum and the strong support of stakeholders, DepEd commits to strengthening the quality and continuity of basic education for every Filipino learner.
‘Go beyond mere acknowledgments’ THE Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC), meanwhile, has expresses its commendation to our public school teachers who, once again, demonstrated unwavering commitment and readiness for the opening of the new school year.
Despite perennial challenges, our teachers showed up prepared, passionate, and resilient.
However, the successful school opening must not mask the persistent and deeply rooted problems that continue to plague our public education system.
Reports from the ground confirm that this year’s opening is marred by the same unresolved issues: shortages in classrooms, learning materials aligned with the new curriculum, functional toilets, clean water and adequate school furniture. These are not new and yet, year after year, we face the same scenario.
The TDC called on DepEd and Marcos to “go beyond mere acknowledgments and take decisive, concrete action.”
“There must be a stronger and sustained push for adequate budgetary support from
Congress to finally resolve these problems.
If the President is truly sincere, he should visit a public school at least once every quarter—not for show or media exposure, but to gain genuine insight and engage in meaningful consultation with teachers and learners,” the TDC said.
If the government is serious about pursuing real and lasting education reform, the group added, it must start by upholding the rights and welfare of teachers, providing the necessary support and ensuring fair compensation.
“No curriculum, no infrastructure and no program will ever succeed if those tasked with implementing them are demoralized, overworked, underpaid and underappreciated,” the group added.
The TDC said that they will continue to engage the DepEd, Congress and other relevant institutions to “push for genuine reform that prioritizes the welfare of our teachers and the future of our learners.”
The TDC also laid some specific proposals to the government, particularly to the President and the legislature, urging them to act decisively through the following concrete measures:
1. Substantially increase the education budget in compliance with the Constitution, prioritizing school infrastructure, learning materials, better compensation for education workers, teacher training, and student welfare.
2. Raise the salaries of teachers by enacting the P15, 000 across-the-board increase
and expand essential benefits, including those for health, transportation, housing, education and training, and social security.
3. Reduce class sizes by building more classrooms and hiring additional teachers, particularly to address overcrowding in primary grades and specialized classes.
4. Redirect funds lost to corruption and unnecessary spending toward meaningful education reforms and essential learner support.
5. Implement a nationwide schoolbased feeding program to ensure that no child has to learn on an empty stomach.
6. Hire sufficient non-teaching personnel to handle administrative tasks, allowing teachers to focus on instruction and pedagogy.
7. Reform and simplify the curriculum, focusing on foundational competencies such as literacy, numeracy, life skills, critical thinking, and civil, cultural, and citizenship education.
8. Revise teacher performance evaluation systems to make them fair, realistic, and
9. Review and rationalize policies on student discipline and assessment, striking a balance between learners’ rights and teachers’ authority.
10. Launch a national, multi-sectoral campaign to uplift literacy levels—grounded in community engagement, family involvement, sustained public investment, and a nationwide discourse that will inform and guide Congress in crafting responsive education policies.
Addressing teenage pregnancy key to boosting college completion rates, says PIDS study
By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario
EFFORTS to address teenage pregnancy will help more students survive college and earn their degrees, according to the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS).
In a discussion paper, PIDS Senior Research Fellow Connie G. Bayudan-Dacuycuy found that students who are single and recipients of government support programs have the lowest chance of exiting schools.
Bayudan-Dacuycuy said given this, efforts to address teenage pregnancy would help more students avoid exiting school and/or continuing their schooling after childbirth.
“While teenage pregnancy is not a covariate in the estimation exercises conducted, the potential implications of the student’s marital status resonate with the issues of teenage pregnancy,” Bayudan-Dacuycuy said.
Citing data from the 2022 National Demographic Household Survey, BayudanDacuycuy said the percentage of 17-, 18-, and 19-year-olds who have been pregnant
is higher than the national figure at 5.6 percent, 5.9 percent, and 13.3 percent, respectively.
Based on the national average, the overall rate of teenage pregnancy declined to 5.4 percent in 2022 from 8.6 percent in 2017.
“Non-single students and those in households headed by the elderly and separated/widowed adults have higher risks of exits. Meanwhile, beneficiaries of government aid and students in households with college-educated heads have lower hazards of exit,” Bayudan-Dacuycuy said.
“Students with a vulnerable profile (non-recipient of government support, non-single, and members of households headed by non-college, senior, and separated/widowed adults) have the highest incidence (of exits),” she added.
In order to address teenage pregnancy, Bayudan-Dacuycuy said there is a need to ensure that information being obtained by teenagers on pregnancy and sex are from reliable sources.
This means sex education can be integrated into the school curriculum.
However, content and appropriateness of the subject should be developed through in-depth consultation and collaboration with stakeholders such as parents, guidance counsellors, teachers, and child development experts.
Further, Bayudan-Dacuycuy said there should also be programs developed to help teenage parents become self-sufficient. These should include financial support and counseling services.
“Programs that can be considered include counseling services to determine their next course of action (i.e., college re-entry, shift to technical vocational education) and financial support for these plans,” the PIDS Senior Research Fellow said.
“The provision of the latter can be made conditional on achieving certain outcomes, such as delayed subsequent pregnancy and the utilization of reproductive, maternal, and natal care services,” she added.
Meanwhile, apart from teenage pregnancy, efforts to improve financial aid beneficiaries should also be undertaken, especially with the government’s limited resources.
Bayudan-Dacuycuy said the results of the study indicated that the government’s financial aid can mitigate the adverse effects of household-level vulnerabilities on the hazards and incidence of school departures.
Improving financial aid, she said, may include considering the “household heads” age and civil status can be used as non-income criteria when improving the targeting scheme.”
Further, Bayudan-Dacuycuy said efforts to mainstream the collection of information when students enter and exit schooling is vital. She said monitoring these movements can determine attrition in the overall tertiary education ecosystem.
“At the aggregate level, data on intentions and goals upon entry, as well as whether and how these intentions and goals have been achieved upon exit, are needed. Accounting for this information mitigates the overestimation of the underperformance of the tertiary education system,” Bayudan-Dacuycuy said.
MMDA launches ‘May Huli Ka 2.0’: A website for easy access to traffic violations under NCAP
DRIVERS can now easily access their traffic violations under the No Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP), the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said in Monday.
A new website “May Huli Ka 2.0” was launched by the MMDA for vehicle owners to conveniently check for traffic violations.
By simply entering their plate or conduction sticker number and their motor vehicle (MV) file number, MMDA Chairman Romando Artes said that the website also contains the steps to take if there is a violation, the payment process, where fines
SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go, principal author and co-sponsor of the Virology Institute of the Philippines Act, expressed full support for the ratification of the bicameral conference committee report that reconciled the Senate and House versions of the bill.
The bicameral conference committee report on Senate Bill No. 2893 was ratified by both the Senate and the House of Representatives on June 9.
Go underscored the hard lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, stressing how the absence of a dedicated research facility had left the country highly vulnerable.
“Ang pandemya po ay naging leksyon sa ating lahat. Kung may sarili lamang tayong pasilidad noon para sa research and devel -
can be settled, and how to contest or appeal the apprehensions.
“The inclusion of the MV file number is an added security and protection so that only the vehicle owners can securely check their violations under NCAP,” said Artes during the launch held at the MMDA Communications and Command Center, MMDA Head Office in Pasig City.
Before, vehicle owners verify their violations by entering their plate numbers on the former website. However, Artes said, this system raised data privacy concerns, prompting the need for a more secure and
opment ng bakuna at antiviral drugs, mas nagingmabilissanaangatingtugonsakrisis pangkalusugannadulotngCOVID-19,” he said.
Go explained that the proposed establishment of the Virology and Vaccine Institute of the Philippines will mark a crucial step toward achieving biomedical self-reliance and longterm resilience against future pandemics.
“KungmaisabatasangpagtayongVirology and Vaccine Institute of the Philippines, mas mapapalakas natin ang kapasidad ng bansa natukuyin,aralin,atlabananangmga virus namaaaringmagdulotngmalawakangsakito pandemya.Isaitongmalakinghakbangtungo sa pagiging self-reliant natin pagdating sa mgabakunaatgamotlabansamga infectious diseases,” he explained.
authenticated access.
To further improve user convenience and enforcement efficiency, Artes said several enhancements and additional features are planned for future rollout.
These include access to detailed violation information, including photo and video evidence, date and time, type of violation, corresponding fines, and settlement locations through the platform; real-time SMS and email notifications upon account creation for any new violations recorded; and ability for users with multiple vehicles or fleets
He emphasized that science and technology must be central to the country’s health governance and that investments in institutions like the Virology Institute are essential to building lasting solutions.
“Naniniwala po ako na ang siyensya at teknolohiyaaymahalagangbahagingating healthstrategy.Dapattayongmamuhunansa mgainstitusyongtututoksalong-termsolutionssamgakrisispangkalusugan,”Go added. If enacted, the Virology Institute will operate as an attached agency under the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). It will be responsible for advanced research and development on virology, encompassing human, animal, and plant viruses. The institute will spearhead pre-clinical studies, genome sequencing,
to enroll all their registered units under a single account; online contest process and hearing schedules; and online payment integration.
The MMDA will also launch a real-time notification system that includes SMS and email alerts, along with online access to violation details.
Philippine National Police chief General Nicolas Torre III, as well as leaders and representatives from the transport groups, motorcycle ride-hailing firms, and the transport network vehicle services, attended the event.
diagnostic design, and vaccine prototyping. It will also maintain high-containment biosafety laboratories and establish biobanks for specimen storage and analysis.
A governing board composed of representatives from relevant agencies and sectors—including DOST, the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the private sector—will oversee the institute’s
Lotilla formally assumes DENR top post
Beyond the numbers: Why reproductive rights are crucial for PHL’s economic development
AS the Philippines nears a population of 116.8 million, it faces intricate challenges that go beyond simple statistics. A recent report from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) underscores a pressing issue: the unmet reproductive rights and choices of millions of Filipinos, which require immediate action. This situation highlights a fertility crisis that is not caused by overpopulation, but by the inability of individuals to exercise their reproductive rights (Read the BusinessMirror story: “PHL still among world’s most populous states; population to hit 116.8 million,” June 12, 2025).
The statistics are alarming. With an 8 percent unmet need for contraception among all Filipinos and a staggering 12 percent among those married or in union, it is evident that access to reproductive health services is severely lacking. The prevalence of modern contraception stands at just 26 percent for the general population. These figures serve as a stark reminder that effective family planning resources are still out of reach for many, particularly marginalized groups such as farmers, fisherfolk, and persons with disabilities.
Undersecretary Lisa Grace Bersales has rightly pointed out the need for targeted outreach and access to preferred contraceptive methods, particularly for adolescents and unmarried individuals. The local government units (LGUs) must play a proactive role in dismantling barriers to reproductive health services. Without such concerted efforts, the dream of family planning remains elusive for countless families across the archipelago.
UNFPA Executive Director Natalia Kanem emphasizes that reproductive agency encompasses more than just access to contraception; it includes a holistic approach that ensures gender equality, economic stability, and decent healthcare. The barriers to reproductive rights are deeply rooted in societal norms and economic realities. Gender discrimination, lack of community support, and low-quality healthcare services perpetuate a cycle of disadvantage that affects reproductive choices.
These findings carry significant implications. When people lack control over their reproductive health, they experience economic instability and limited opportunities, which perpetuates a cycle of poverty and inequality. The link between reproductive rights and broader societal well-being is clear: empowering individuals to make informed reproductive choices is essential for national development.
Additionally, tackling gender-based violence and discriminatory norms is essential for helping individuals achieve their fertility goals. We should create a space where people can freely exercise their rights without fear of pressure or judgment. This requires a multifaceted approach, including comprehensive education, community support, and robust healthcare services.
With the Philippines poised to reap the benefits of a potential demographic dividend, it is essential that the government and civil society work together to ensure that reproductive rights are not just acknowledged, but also actively supported and protected. The path forward must prioritize the holistic health and well-being of all citizens, allowing them to thrive and contribute to a prosperous future.
The current landscape of reproductive health in the country presents both challenges and opportunities. By addressing the unmet needs for contraception and fostering an environment of gender equality and economic stability, the Philippines can transform its population dynamics into a source of strength rather than a crisis. Only by doing so can the country ensure healthier families, stronger communities, and a more sustainable future for all.
2005
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T. Anthony C. Cabangon
Lourdes M. Fernandez
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D. Edgard A. Cabangon Benjamin V. Ramos
Aldwin Maralit Tolosa
Rolando M. Manangan
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Opinion
Rice crises expose policy failures
RJohn Mangun
OUTSIDE THE BOX
ICE is Asia’s economic pulse and lifeblood, a cultural cornerstone that binds societies. Yet Japan and the Philippines are turning this food staple into a policy disaster.
Why does rice trip up governments? In Tokyo, bare shelves mock Prime Minister Ishiba’s leadership. In Manila, rice prices—P44/kg in June 2025, down from P50.78/kg— wobble, echoing 2023’s 8.7 percent inflation protests. Rice supply uncertainty keeps consumers and farmers guessing. Both nations, chained to antiquated policies, are harvesting chaos instead of grain.
Japan’s rice crisis is self-sabotage.
A 5-kg bag costs ¥4,260 (P1,650), up 92 percent from last year. Only 10 percent of the 512,000 tons released from reserves since March reached consumers—milling jams, bureaucratic red tape clog the system. Some reserves are diverted to non-
consumer uses like livestock feed or industrial purposes.
With the July 2025 election looming, Ishiba’s Liberal Democratic Party is trembling. Approval at 34 percent show voters are annoyed. Rice at ¥4,260 stings. The July election will hurt the government. The LDP’s power grip is loose, but the opposition is too weak to grab the wheel. Voters want change, not chaos.
Scorching 2023 heat, a 2024 “megaquake” panic, and 342,000 extra tourists gutted Japan’s rice supply. Once self-sufficient, Japan now pleads with South Korea and the US for imports—February 2025 alone matched 40 percent of 2023’s total. Paying farmers $2.3 billion to
grow less rice shrank the 2024 “Harvested Area” to 1.45 million hectares, the lowest on record. Enter Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, replacing the former Minister of Agriculture genius who said, “I don’t buy rice.” Koizumi’s solution: imports to cap prices at P775 yen equivalent per 5 kilograms.
The Philippines, eighth in global rice production, stumbles just as badly. Rice fuels 35 percent of total calories—60 percent for the poor.
Output hit 20 million metric tons in 2023 but dropped to 19 million in 2024, battered by El Niño. Yields at 3.8 tons per hectare lag Vietnam’s by a wide margin. Consumption, at 17 million metric tons, forces nearly 4 million tons of imports, mostly from Vietnam. Manila’s tariff cuts trim retail prices, but farmers face ruin at P17.50/kg. Balancing consumer price relief with grower survival is not being accomplished.
The 2019 Rice Tariffication Law cut tariffs from 35 percent to 15 percent, flooding markets with cheap imports but gutting farmgate prices, leaving farmers struggling to survive. Inefficient supply chains, weather disruptions, and high production costs drive the price increases. Import reliance—4.7 million metric tons pro-
jected for 2024–2025—exposes the Philippines’ failure to boost yields or curb post-harvest losses. Japan and the Philippines cling to agricultural policies stuck in the Dark Ages. The EU and US push farmers to max out crop production, with governments covering any shortfalls through subsidies. Japan, however, plays a different game. Tokyo’s policy caps rice output, shelling out $2.32 billion to keep fields idle. Subsidizing full harvests would cost $2.65 billion annually, Japan claims, so it sticks to rationing. Why pay farmers to grow less when others bankroll abundance? It is a head-scratcher only bureaucrats could love.
The Philippines bets on imports over its own growers. Why do farmers march in Tokyo for deregulation and in Manila beg for protection? Because governments dismiss them. Japan’s tariff walls and Manila’s import obsession are two halves of the same flawed coin.
Even with Japan’s debt mess and the Philippines’ weather vulnerabilities, rice failures are inexcusable. Koizumi’s import tweaks and Manila’s tariff cuts are Band-Aids on a fractured system. Japan alienates See “Mangun,” A13
Air India crash victim families upset by slow recovery efforts
By P R Sanjai
RELATIVES of people feared dead or missing after last week’s crash of an Air India Boeing Co. 787 jet have become frustrated by a lack of information about the cause of the disaster and slow-moving recovery operations.
Just one of two flight data “black boxes” have been recovered by investigators, and most victims’ identities are still awaiting DNA testing. A final death toll is still pending, with 80 of the dead having been positively identified through DNA samples and 33 bodies turned over to grieving relatives, according to a report from the Press Trust of India.
“We’re expediting the DNA matching process to hand over the bodies to their respective relatives,” Dr. Rajnish Patel, an official with a local hospital in Ahmedabad, said Sunday. “We’re trying our best to facilitate the process and bring closure to the families.”
Aviation authorities have been combing through the wreckage of Air India flight AI171 to determine why the aircraft lost momentum shortly after takeoff Thursday and plunged into a densely populated residential area in the western city of Ahmedabad. All but one of the 242 people aboard were killed, along with an untold number of victims on the ground at the crash site.
Students of the B.J. Medical Col-
lege were having lunch in their hostel dining hall when the jet loaded with fuel smashed into the building and exploded. Many family groups have gathered at the site, anxiously seeking more details about the accident and word about the whereabouts of loved ones.
Payal Tushar Thakur, a young woman in her late 20s, said she’s still waiting for news about her mother, who was working at a canteen at the medical college.
“We’re poor, so no one seems to care about keeping us informed,” said Payal, her voice cracking with emotion. “We’re in shock, unable to eat or drink. Who needs compensation when we’ve lost our loved ones?”
Air India will be paying the equivalent of roughly 21,000 British pounds ($28,500) to each of the families of the deceased and to the survivor, the carrier said. This is in addition to the some 85,000 British pounds announced by Air India owner Tata Sons.
‘No choice’ MUHAMMED OWESS, 35, flew
from Australia upon learning of the tragic loss of his sister-inlaw, Nusrat Jahan, in the crash.
Despite the challenging circumstances, Owess expressed a measure of satisfaction with response and outreach efforts by the airline and government. But his deceased relative has yet to be identified with DNA matching.
“We have no choice but to wait, given the magnitude of the tragedy,” he said.
To facilitate the DNA sampling process, local officials said 12 teams are working in shifts, conducting DNA testing around the clock. But some of the collection efforts have been chaotic, with at least one instance of the remains of more than one person being found in a single body bag.
The Gujarat state health department has deployed over 855 health personnel, including 100 healthcare workers, at a trauma center near the crash site. The team includes regular hospital staff and supplementary manpower specifically deployed for emergency response. Counseling support also has been provided to the affected families to help them cope with their loss.
“Determining the total death toll will take time,” Alok Kumar Pandey, the Gujarat government’s commissioner of relief, said Sunday. “We kindly request your pa -
tience as we work diligently to identify the victims and notify their families.”
Experts from Boeing and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, as well as several civil aviation authorities, have surveyed the location. Efforts by some of those directly impacted to learn more have been frustrated by the slow trickle of information being released by the government. India’s aviation ministry has held only one press briefing since the crash.
Ambulances have been shuttling remains to a mortuary complex near the site of the crash. On Sunday it was crowded with anxious families eagerly awaiting news about their loved ones. A steady stream of dignitaries, including local ministers and senior police officers, have visited the site to pay their respects and promise to help with search and recovery efforts.
Some of those waiting weren’t satisfied with those pledges, criticizing government authorities for what they see as a lack of coordination and timely updates.
“We’ve been waiting for over 72 hours for any news,” said Rohit Patel, who lost his nephew and niece-in-law in the crash. “I’m inundated with calls from my family and community, asking for updates. What am I supposed to tell them?” With assistance from Mihir Mishra /Bloomberg
China reviews impact of US data curbs due to Trump’s budget cuts
CHINA’S government is reviewing impacts on the nation’s scientific research after President Donald Trump’s moves to withdraw funding from some US agencies and halt publication of certain categories of data.
Several Chinese ministries and bodies have in recent weeks started assessing potential disruption to their work, and made efforts to determine the extent to which some activities have become reliant on data published by the US, according to people familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified to discuss details that aren’t public.
Agencies carrying out reviews include the Chinese Academy of Sciences, China Meteorological Administration, Ministry of Natural Resources and Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, one of the people said. One area of work facing potential disruption has been studies of coral bleaching in the South China Sea, according to another person.
Chinese researchers had used a US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration product that published coastal water temperatures, which was decommissioned last month, the person said.
The move comes as Beijing and Washington have been working to get bilateral relations back on track, with negotiators agreeing on a framework to ease trade tensions and revive the flow of sensitive goods between the world’s two largest economies. But details are scarce and many issues remain unresolved, including China’s massive trade surplus with the US. Reviews being carried out by the Chinese ministries will examine if domestic sources can replace the use of US data that’s now unavailable, the people said. Investigations are being conducted quietly to avoid giving the US any potential bargaining chip, according to the people.
The Chinese Academy of Sciences, China Meteorological Administration, Ministry of Natural Resources and Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.
Beijing has sought in recent years to reduce its dependence on foreign sources for critical technology and products. Past US actions have only accelerated China’s push for selfreliance, much like how US curbs on chip sales have spurred growth in the country’s home-grown semiconductor industry.
China views climate science as a geopolitical battleground. President Xi Jinping wants his country to become a weather superpower and have a bigger say in global meteorological governance. Beijing spent nearly 500 percent more on climate diplomacy from 2013 to 2023, following a familiar strategy of offering financial help to other nations to boost the use of Chinese technology and services.
Mangun.
. . Continued from A12
In the US, job losses and funding cuts have impacted the collection and availability of data in fields like climate, weather and health. Hundreds of employees have been fired at NOAA as part of the Trump administration’s broader efforts to shrink the federal government.
NOAA declined to comment on whether the removal of data products and websites has impacted cooperation with other countries, including China. The agency said coastal water temperature data remains available in other formats.
The White House didn’t respond to a request for comment. The coastal water temperature guide made data “easier for scientists or interested lay people to see it and analyze it,” said Craig McLean, an ocean researcher who worked at NOAA for decades before retiring in 2022. Without the original presentation, “it could be a more complicated journey” for anyone trying to use and make sense of the information, he said.
Cuts to research and information sharing in the US will also impact partners from Europe to Australia, across fields such as astronomy, physics, public health and weather monitoring, the Australian Strategic Policy Institute said last month.
Chinese data IT isn’t just the US that has pulled back on the amount of data it makes public. China has drawn criticism for tightening its grip on sensitive details, limiting the ability of economists, think tanks, financial analysts and others to access information.
Restrictions have included corporate registries, bond market transactions, official biographies of politicians and academic papers.
Domestic data firm Wind Information Co. in 2023 stopped providing detailed information on local companies to overseas clients, while the Ministry of State Security repeatedly warned that foreign entities are obtaining sensitive data, including on food production, geography and weather patterns, through software, non-governmental organizations and unwitting Chinese citizens.
China has a history of working with America’s federal science agencies, including NOAA, and last year renewed a treaty first signed in 1979 covering cooperation in several fields. Researchers have often praised the accuracy and comprehensive coverage of US data—in 2017, the China Meteorological Administration said the US data prediction was among the best in the world. With assistance from Mary Hui, Zahra Hirji and Jing Li /Bloomberg
Opinion
Digital Services Tax—From the seller’s perspective
LTAX LAW FOR BUSINESS
AST month, I wrote an article entitled “Digital Services Tax –From the Buyer’s Perspective” wherein we took a peek at what the VAT on digital services actually mean for the Philippine based customers.
From then, the BIR released several tax issuances dealing with the implementation of the tax measure. Interestingly, it contained developments that would be of interest to digital service providers, specifically to nonresidents. For today, let’s explore the impact of the digital services tax to nonresident digital service providers (NDSP).
First, the period for registration of NDSPs has been extended yet again to July 1, 2025. It is important for nonresidents to note that while the period of registration has been extended, the imposition of the VAT on digital services still commenced on June 2, 2025. This means that the lack of registration would not stop the imposition of VAT and the resulting obligation to comply with reportorial requirements—that is the filing of the VAT returns.
Second, the VAT on Digital Services (VDS) Portal is still not yet operational and the existing Online Registration and Update System (ORUS) has been down for an extended period. NDSPs have resorted to adopting manual means for their registration needs. Based on existing guidelines, the filing of the VAT return and the payment of VAT shall
be done via the VDS Portal. Will the VDS Portal be operational before the inaugural filing period? Or will NDSPs be forced to appoint local tax representatives to manually file the VAT returns on their behalf?
Speaking of VAT returns, the third development deals with the introduction of BIR Form No. 2550DS. This is the quarterly VAT return that NDSPs are required to file regardless of whether their transactions are B2B or B2C. While the manner and rules for the filing of the tax return and payment of the VAT would be the subject of future issuances, a close look at BIR Form No. 2550-DS would solicit some curious observations: With respect to NDSPs with purely B2B transactions, the filing of the VAT return would result in a nil payment since the VAT should have been withheld by the B2B buyer. So what would be the relevance in requiring NDSPs with purely B2B transactions to still file the return? Wouldn’t it be better and easier to focus on monitoring the proper withholding and remittance of the VAT by the B2B buyer rather than adding another layer of reportorial requirement for NDSPs?
BIR Form No. 2550-DS adopted a simplified way of reporting the relevant VATable transactions. Basically, the NDSP is required to report its gross sales for the quarter and deduct from it the gross sales subjected to withholding VAT. The difference/ balance, if any, would then be subjected to VAT which would have to be paid by the NDSP.
However, if a B2B buyer would fail to withhold VAT then that particular sale would have to be reported as part of the difference/balance subject to VAT following the formula in the VAT return. This manner of computation raises some serious questions: Is the NDSP required to verify that the B2B buyer subjected the digital service to VAT? Is this an exception to the reverse charge mechanism? Does this mean that the obligation to pay the VAT is now passed onto the NDSP despite the B2B nature of the transaction?
I proffer that it should not be the case. The obligation to withhold is with the buyer and should not be shifted to the NDSP in B2B transactions.
NDSPs are required to report the gross sales in BIR Form No. 2550-DS. It should be noted that they are only required to put the total gross sales. The tax return does not require a breakdown—for now. Reporting the total amount without any schedule/ list detailing its breakdown would do no good for the BIR so I believe that NDSPs would eventually be required to submit a summary list to accompany the tax return. This would be consistent with the reportorial requirements for ordinary VAT returns.
ON International Domestic Workers’ Day, Khalid Hassan, Director of the ILO in the Philippines, recognizes the vital contributions of domestic workers and reaffirms the need for fair wages, protections and dignity. https://www.ilo.org/resource/ article/not-just-labour-lifelines-recognizing-essential-role-filipino-domestic
International Domestic Workers’ Day on June 16 marks 14 years since the adoption of the ILO’s landmark Convention No. 189 on Decent Work for Domestic Workers. This instrument affirmed a long-overdue truth: domestic workers are workers with rights like others. They deserve the same protections, fair wages, and dignity like other professions.
The Philippines contributed historically to this achievement. It is the only country in Asia to have ratified the Convention, which triggered its entry into force. The Philippines then passed the Batas Kasambahay in 2013 and created the Department of Migrant Workers in 2021. These actions show commitment and leadership worth recognizing.
clean homes, assist the elderly, and provide emotional and physical labor that keeps households running. Overseas, they perform the same duties in foreign homes, often at great personal sacrifice—missing birthdays, graduations, and years of their own children’s lives.
The economic contribution of domestic workers is undeniable. Their earnings support families, stimulate local consumption, and sustain rural economies. Their labor allows others—especially working mothers—to enter and remain in the formal labor force. They contribute to the national economy not only through remittances but by investing on their children’s education and building stronger, more resilient communities.
E-mail me at mangun@gmail.com. Follow me on Twitter @mangunonmarkets. PSE stock-market information and technical analysis provided by AAA Southeast Equities Inc.
farmers by refusing to fund full production; Philippines sacrifices food security for cheap imports. Tangible answers—like modern irrigation or climate-resilient crops—are still nowhere near. Voters in both nations are watching. Every overpriced bowl of rice, from Tokyo’s sleek kitchens to Manila’s humble carinderias, screams government failure. Japan’s July election and the Philippines’ next harvest will be judgment days. How long will leaders pretend they understand the cost of a meal?
By Vinícius Andrade, Zijia Song & Maria Elena Vizcaino
INVESTORS are betting the months-long rally in emerging markets has further to run even as tariff threats and escalating geopolitical tensions signal a rocky path ahead.
Money managers from Lazard Asset Management Ltd. to Pictet Asset Management Ltd. have been
scooping up Latin American local bonds, Asian currencies and some high-yield sovereign debt. The optimism—fueled by fading concerns about Trump’s trade policies—got a fresh boost last week after a string of soft US inflation data reignited bets the Federal Reserve will lower interest rates more than once this year. That helped send the dollar to 2022 lows, pushing EM assets to extend yearly gains.
And yet, for far too many domestic workers, the promises of rights and protections remain distant. They still work long hours for low pay, with limited social protection and, often, without contracts or grievance mechanisms. The struggle for visibility and respect continues.
Domestic workers—overwhelmingly women—are the hands behind the daily routines of millions of Filipino families. They care for children,
Their role becomes even more critical in times of crisis. During the Covid-19 pandemic, domestic workers were among the unsung frontliners—caring for the sick and elderly while risking their own health. After typhoons and earthquakes, many helped families evacuate, clean up, and recover. In countries as far apart as Lebanon, Haiti, Indonesia, and the Philippines, domestic
However, this transitory measure did not differentiate between B2B and B2C transactions. For B2B transactions, it would seem that there is yet another exception (albeit as part of transition) to the reverse charge mechanism. From a business standpoint, this is a concerning transitory measure for NDSPs, regardless of whether they are engaged in B2B or B2C transactions. The additional VAT burden that they are being required to shoulder is not part of the many considerations they took into account when deciding on the price of their digital services. Can they pass it on to their buyers? Or will they be forced to absorb the burden?
I hope that our NDSPs are fully aware of all these requirements. There are a lot of moving parts in the imposition of VAT on digital services. A lot of i’s to dot and t’s to cross.
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 jomel.manaig@ bdblaw.com.ph
Fourth, it is common for NDSPs, especially those using a subscription model, to require payments in advance (e.g. annual subscriptions). In a revenue issuance, it was revealed that the BIR expects NDSPs to shoulder and pay the VAT for existing contracts with advance payments for the portion of the digital services provided from June 2, 2025 onwards. The lack of control over the payment on the side of the buyer was used as the rationale for such requirement.
Not just labor, but lifelines: Recognizing the essential role of Filipino domestic workers
workers have played crucial but unrecognized roles in householdlevel disaster response and recovery.
A nd yet, domestic workers are rarely included in disaster preparedness plans or emergency assistance programs. Their needs are often overlooked, even though they are essential to a household’s ability to recover. This reflects a deeper societal flaw: care and domestic work are still not valued as essential.
Globally, ILO research paints a troubling picture. Many domestic workers routinely work more than 10 hours a day, often without rest days. In several countries, they are excluded from minimum wage laws and social protection schemes. Migrant domestic workers, especially women, remain vulnerable to exploitation due to restrictive immigration systems, isolation, and lack of legal support.
In the Philippines, despite having progressive laws in place, implementation gaps remain. In many regions, the minimum wage for domestic workers is still below a living wage. Labor inspections in private households are limited. Access to social protection is uneven, and grievance mechanisms are often weak or unknown to the workers who need them most.
So what can we do?
First, revise minimum wages for domestic workers and ensure the full implementation of the Batas Kasambahay. This means paid rest days, accessible complaint mecha-
Traders hold their nerve to ride bumpy emerging-market rally
“Increasing momentum in the weaker dollar narrative and a still structurally elevated valuation for the dollar suggest there is much more room to go for EM local as an asset class,” said Chris Preece, a portfolio manager at Pictet. “Sure, there can be a pullback—but I don’t think we can say the move in FX has been over-extended.” Emerging markets have been on a stellar run: currencies are having
the best start to the year since 2009, stocks are beating the S&P 500 Index and local bonds are on a tear. The jump left the extra yield investors demand to hold junk-rated dollar debt from the developing world over Treasuries at the lowest in almost four years.
That has made assets more vulnerable to looming US policy risks and the escalating conflict in the Middle East. The latest reminder
came at the end of last week, following Israeli airstrikes on Iran.
For Morgan Stanley strategists, that means traders “will need to hold their nerve” going into the second half.
“The next few days will be critical to this, but we would think there is a higher bar for markets to panic” given previous experiences of conflicts between Israel and Iran over the last two years, JPMorgan
nisms, protection from abuse, and full social protection.
Second, strengthen the Philippines’ negotiating position through strong domestic regulation. Fair treatment abroad starts with fairness at home. Ethical recruitment practices and effective bilateral labor agreements are more likely when we protect our workers here first.
Third, invest in better data. Domestic work must be counted, tracked, and understood. Without reliable data, policies risk being misdirected or ineffective.
Fourth, promote a cultural shift. Domestic workers are not “helpers”—they are skilled professionals. Their labor deserves the same respect and value as any other form of work. Trade unions, employers, women’s organizations, and civil society must help drive this narrative forward. Finally, include domestic workers in disaster preparedness and crisis response systems. They are not just vulnerable; they are essential to community resilience.
On this International Domestic Workers’ Day, the ILO Country Office for the Philippines salutes the millions of Filipino domestic workers—those working within the country and across borders. You are not invisible. You are not marginal. You are essential.
Let us honor your work not only with words, but through real protections, fair wages, and the dignity that all workers deserve.
Chase & Co. strategists including Jonny Goulden and Saad Siddiqui said Friday. They reaffirmed an overweight recommendation for EM currencies. Markets on Monday showed some of that optimism as both the EM
and
and
Atty. Jomel N. Manaig
Tuesday, June 17, 2025
BusinessMirror
No forced repatriation yet, as OFWs in Israel get hurt
By Malou Talosig-Bartolome and Samuel P. Medenilla
ATleast six Filipinos were injured by a barrage of retaliatory missile strikes from Iran that hit Israel this weekend, the Philippine Ambassador in Tel Aviv said.
Two of the injured Filipinos sustained moderate to critical injuries.
Ambassador Aileen Mendiola said 27 Filipinos need relocation as missiles struck the buildings where they are staying.
Most of the injured Filipinos were affected by Iran’s missiles that penetrated Israel’s Iron Dome air defense systems Sunday.
Media reports say 17 people in Israel have died since hostilities began four days ago.
The Philippine Embassy dispatched its rapid response team to the hospitals to check on the injured Filipinos.
In Shamir Medical Center in TelAviv, a Filipina caregiver is at the Intensive Care Unit.
She sustained severe injuries to her heart and her right lung collapsed.
Mendiola said the doctors are monitoring her condition and the next 12 hours starting Monday night would be critical to determine if she can undergo surgery.
The embassy expressed hope “she can get over this time. Our thoughts and prayers are with them and their families, especially our kababayan who is now fighting for her life. We ask the Filipino community to join us in praying for her survival and healing.”
In Kaplan Medical Center in Rehovot in the central district of Israel, two Filipinos were hospitalized. One of them is a 44-year-old man
who sustained injuries to his arm and leg.
The other patient is a 43-year-old woman who underwent emergency surgery.
Mendiola said the other injured Filipinos have already been discharged from the hospital.
The Embassy is coordinating with hospital social workers and the local government to ensure that the Filipino injured victims will be transferred to appropriate shelters, granted their due compensation and benefits, and properly assisted in their recovery.
“We are doing everything within our means to reach and assist our nationals affected by this crisis,” Mendiola said.
Filipinos evacuated MENDIOLA said every time a missile hit a residential area, they would conduct a social media shoutout and phone calls on Filipinos living in the affected area.
So far, there are 27 Filipinos needing relocation as their rental flats were also hit by missiles and deemed no longer safe to live in.
Mendiola said the Israeli local
‘FILIPINO FOOD IS SUSTAINABLE, ‘NO CUISINE IS THE SOLE BEST’
By Francine Medina Interview and Photo by Bernard Testa
Fgovernments provided temporary shelter or hotel accommodation.
The Philippine Embassy is also willing to help these Filipinos find their new apartment.
At least 13 OFWs have also signified their intention to be repatriated.
However, the airport in Tel-Aviv is closed and they can be evacuated via land border towards Jordan is this option is deemed safe enough. No forced repatriation yet DESPITE escalating tensions in the Middle East from the ongoing clash between Israeli and Iranian military forces, Malacañang said there is still no need for forced repatriation for Filipinos in the region.
The Department of Migrant of Workers (DMW), however, urged Filipino workers to postpone any unnecessary travel to Israel, Jordan and Lebanon, which is affected by the ongoing conflict.
In a press briefing on Monday, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the government has yet to enforce mandatory repatriation efforts in the Middle East.
ILIPINO food, once predicted as the next big thing by international culinary celebrities, is already enjoying recognition abroad for its flavorful taste profile and diverse ingredients, as well as the deep cultural influences that goes in each dish across regions.
On June 15, the last day of the Manila Beverage and Food Expo or MAFBEX 2025 at the World Trade Center in Pasay City, Chef Michelle Adrillana whetted appetites with her cooking demonstration featuring Banana Matcha Turon. The dish, inspired from the popular street food turon (sliced banana wrapped in lumpia or spring roll wrap, coated with brown sugar, and deepfried till crunchy) became an innovative dish that both spelled home and the borderless appeal of world cuisine.
Chef Adrillana showed the versatility of Filipino cuisine with her deconstructed version of the dish: instead of wrapping the sliced saba bananas, they were layered in between layers of crispy fried lumpia wrappers like delicate French mille feuille, but in place of puff pastry. Besides the bananas, the layers
were also slathered with sweet matcha. Dulce de leche, drizzled on top of the dish, served as its perfect topping. The result was an elevated treat where just one bite of the crispy texture of the lumpia wrappers, the tender banana slices lingering with the matcha sauce, and the rich caramel taste of the dulce de leche was just pure heaven. Her delicious creation, however, stirred the question whether her dish was still considered Filipino food. “My stye of cooking involves using local flavors while adding and infusing international techniques into it. The Banana Matcha Turon has different flavors but I think I did not betray where I came from,” she explained. “I did not betray the Filipino flavors and culture because you can still taste the Filipino in it, but using what I’ve
By Lorenz S. Marasigan
THE Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is setting an ambitious goal of connecting all underserved barangays and slashing internet connectivity costs by up to 50 percent by 2028, as it intensifies efforts to close the Philippines’s digital infrastructure gap. Speaking at the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines (EJAP) Infrastructure Forum, DICT Secretary Henry R. Aguda said the agency is doubling down on its mission to deliver inclusive, affordable, and high-quality digital access in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to “fix the connectivity problem once and for all.”
“We want universal access. We want to connect all 10,875 underserved barangays—either through tower, fiber or satellite,” he said. “With all these tech at our disposal, it will happen.”
He said over his first 100 days, the agency has restored and activated nearly 19,000 Free Wi-Fi sites, with 6,183 located in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAs). It has also completed 3,026 kilometers of the National Fiber Backbone, now serving 20 provinces and over 1,000 government offices. Access points have recently been installed in remote areas, including 153 in Batanes and 54 in Tawi-Tawi.
Mainly driving this vision is the aggressive expansion of the government’s Free Public Internet Access Program (FPIAP). According to Aguda, the program aims to increase the number of access points from 15,700 to 50,000 by 2028. Over the same period, the number of beneficiaries is projected to grow from 3.93 million to 12.5 million.
This despite the budget drop from P6.1 billion in 2024 to P3.5 billion in 2028, as technology becomes more advanced yet more affordable.
Aguda said that through technology breakthroughs, public-private partnerships, and regulatory reforms, the cost of providing internet access could fall to as much as 50 percent from the prevailing rates.
“We’re targeting a 30- to 50-percent reduction in prices. It won’t happen overnight, but it will happen gradually,” he added. The push for cheaper internet has drawn cautious support from telcos, which flagged the need to reduce systemic costs.
PLDT Inc. Head of Network Strategy and Transformation Eric Santiago said collaboration with the government on co-building and maintaining infrastructure, along with AI-based efficiencies, could help lower expenses. Globe
Editor: Jennifer A. Ng
Wilcon: Headwinds to crimp 2025 sales, earnings growth
By VG Cabuag @villygc
WILCON Depot Inc. said it expects same-store sales to increase at a single digit and earnings to post a “very mimimal growth” this year as the Philippines is facing several headwinds.
The company said 2025 will be a recovery year for Wilcon and that it could at least record flat income growth compared to its previous year’s performance.
“We’re still experiencing the different headwinds that we’ve experienced in the past year. But, looking at the coming months, we’re looking at a very good showing especially towards the end of June,” Rosemarie B. Ong, the company’s COO, said. Ong said the recent elections gave
the company’s sales a little boost.
“So, we’re still looking at growth, but as again, it’s gonna be conservative.”
Lorraine Belo-Cincochan, the company’s president and CEO, noted that Wilcon saw a decline in its financial performance in the second half of 2024, which spilled over to the first quarter of this year. The company, she said, it may consider implementing rightsizing in some of its branches to optimize
its spending.
“We are looking to rightsize some stores that may be a bit large in certain areas where maybe perhaps we have already a few branches that are already existing and that we need to review the size of the stores. And subsequently, inventory, space and all the expenses that are associated with it.”
Cincochan said Wilcon’s Metro Manila stores are “challenged” as bore the brunt of the market slowdown.
“However, our Calabarzon branches—the Cavite-Laguna area—wherein we are really focused on expanding our footprint, is doing quite well compared to Metro Manila,” she said.
“Our Metro Manila (stores) definitely is challenged. I mean, the impact of the market slowdown was really felt in Metro Manila.”
Despite this, the company is still targeting to open eight new branches this year, but Cincochan said the
company would be willing to delay its expansion plans.
“Our target really is to get to the 100 stores. So, even if it would cost us more, so long as we get to 100, by the deadline we’ve set for ourselves, we were okay with it. But this time, we’re targeting eight stores.
But meeting a deadline or accelerating it would cost more, so, we are now okay with the delay so long as we stick to our budget,” Cincochan said.
The company has a total of 103 stores.
Wilcon has allotted some P3.2 billion in capital expenditures (capex) this year, some 45 percent higher than last year’s P2.2 billion. Of the amount, P652 million was already spent in the first quarter.
Of the capex for 2025, P2.2 billion were earmarked for new stores and warehouses; store and transportation equipment, P327 million; renovations and repairs, P568 million; and IT infrastructure, P137 million.
Thai Airways exits debt rehabilitation
THAI Airways International
Pcl won court approval to exit a debt restructuring program, paving the way for resumption of trading in its stocks after a four-year gap.
The Central Bankruptcy Court in Bangkok on Monday granted the national carrier’s plea to emerge from the court-supervised debt rehabilitation. The airline successfully completed the restructuring as it managed to increase capital as specified under the plan, restructure its business without any delay, and generate profit before tax, the court said in a statement.
The exit will now allow the company to carry out normal business operations five years after it fell
into pandemic-triggered financial distress with more than 400 billion baht ($12.3 billion) of debt. Trading of the company’s shares may also resume in late July or early August following the court’s decision, Thai Airways has said.
“It’s now the duty of the new board to ensure sustainable growth of Thai Airways as the court-appointed debt rehabilitation team members have laid the groundwork for the company’s business expansion,” Piyasvasti Amranand, court-appointed debt administrator, told reporters.
The airline is currently benefiting from a post-pandemic travel boom, which has boosted its earnings and cash flow. Its improved financials have allowed it to order a new fleet
of Boeing Co. and Airbus SE jets to support its expanding operations.
Thai Airways saw its net income jump fourfold in the first quarter of this year as the number of passengers it served rose more than 11 percent from a year earlier. The airline sees strong bookings in the second quarter, led by rising demand for its flights to Europe, Australia and India, Chief Executive Officer Chai Eamsiri said in May.
The airline appointed a new board of directors in April, including two senior officials from the Finance Ministry, to prepare for the debt program exit. The ministry’s permanent secretary Lavaron Sangsnit is among the 11-member board.
As part of the rescue plan, the
CNPF receives awards for fishing
ENTURY Pacific Food Inc.
C(CNPF), the food unit of Po family, on Monday said it bagged Tambuli awards for its initiative dubbed Sustenido Bulan.
The company said the program promotes sustainable sardine fishing practices among smallholder fishers in Bulan, Sorsogon.
It said it bagged Corporate Purpose-Driven Impact—gold for Inclusive Growth and silver for Care for the Environment.
“The recognition reflects the meaningful outcome of the program.”
Sustenido Bulan has resulted in a 10-percent reduction in fish rejection rates, which minimized food and marine waste while boosting the incomes of over 200 smallholder fishers.
The initiative created more than 850 local jobs and enabled the production of over 65 million servings of quality sardine products.
“These Tambuli represent more than recognition. They reflect the values we strive to uphold,” Ronald M. Agoncillo, the company’s vice president and general manager of sardines.
“What began as a necessity became a partnership and a mission. Through our SustenidoBulan initiative, we didn’t just improve fish quality or create jobs—we helped empower lives.”
The company also extended its
flagship school feeding program Kain Po, through the RSPo Foundation, reaching over 1,000 children in Bulan with regular servings of protein-rich meals.
Developing a more resilient supply chain has enabled CNPF’s sardine business—home to brands such as 555 and Ligo—to achieve profitable growth.
carrier’s creditors agreed to convert about 53 billion baht of debt into shares. It also sold about 23 billion baht in new shares to existing shareholders to boost its capital.
Thai Airways’ shareholder equity returned to a surplus after completing the debt-to-equity conversion and rights offering. It had a negative shareholder equity of about 27 billion baht after years of losses.
“We have a lot of financial strength in Thai Airways to continue our expansion and success in the competitive air travel industry,” Chai said in a statement Monday. “Thai Air’s main mission is to sustain its long-term growth and push for Thailand as the region’s aviation hub.” Bloomberg News
CNPF has partnered with the local government and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources to deliver training on sustainable fishing practices. VG Cabuag
INDONESIA’S stock exchange will consider extending trading hours, in its latest effort to draw foreign investors to Southeast Asia’s biggest economy after heavy selloffs earlier this year.
The local bourse could start trade at 8 a.m. to appeal to Asian investors in earlier time zones, or end later at 5 p.m. to better reach European traders, Iman Rachman, president director of Indonesia Stock Exchange, said in an interview Thursday. Extending timings on both ends is also being considered as part of an internal review that may conclude in three months, he said.
The Indonesian stock market currently operates in a sevenhour window of 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Extended trading hours may help boost trading volumes and allow investors to respond to global events in real time. The consideration comes amid concerns over foreign outflows from local stocks and rising global uncertainties, and as investors debate the sus -
tainability of a recent rebound in local equities.
The stock market entered into a technical bear market earlier this year before bouncing back in the current quarter. A series of routs prompted the IDX to defer rollout of short-selling in stocks until September.
program Indonesia bourse mulls extending trading window
The exchange aims to implement short-selling in the fourth quarter, provided it gets a nod from the Financial Services Authority, Rachman said. It also plans to introduce “liquidity providers” to improve the market’s depth and create fair value for stocks, with 13 firms registering for the role, he said. Overseas investors have pulled a net $2.9 billion from Indonesian equities so far this year—the biggest withdrawal across Southeast Asia in the period, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Caution is rising over the nation’s economic outlook as recent trade and manufacturing data suggest momentum remains lackluster. Bloomberg News
TICKERS display stock prices inside the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) in Jakarta, on March 19, 2025. PHOTOGRAPHER: DIMAS ARDIAN/BLOOMBERG
Banking&Finance T-bill yields at sideways on policy easing bet
By Reine Juvierre Alberto @reine_alberto
THE Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) awarded P26.7 billion of its Treasury bill (T-bill) offering on Monday as yields went sideways ahead of the expected monetary policy easing coupled with the latest developments in the Israel-Iran conflict.
According to Michael L. Ricafort, chief economist at Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., the yields were “mostly marginally higher but essentially little changed.” Ricafort opined the yields were left in situ after Israel launched warplanes and drones to attack Iran’s nu-
and overall inflation that could potentially reduce/delay future Fed [US Federal Reserve] rate cuts and BSP [Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas] rate cuts,” Ricafort said.
Monetary authorities are expected to deliver a 25-basis point reduction in the key policy rate on June 19, while Fed Fund Futures priced in 0.48 Fed rate cuts for the rest of the year.
clear and military structure. He said Israel’s attack against Iran pushed global oil prices to a 4-month high and weakened the peso to P56.50 against the US dollar, the lowest in 1.5 months.
“Both of which would lead to some pick up in importation costs
Local cement makers renew call for actions against ‘import surge’
By Justine Xyrah Garcia
OCAL cement manufacturers
Lreiterated last Monday their appeal to the Tariff Commission (TC) to impose safeguard measures against what they described as a “concerning” surge in cement imports.
Speaking during the formal hearing of the TC’s investigation into the alleged import surge, an official of the Cement Manufacturers Association of the Philippines (CeMAP) warned that the unchecked entry of foreign cement—largely from Vietnam—is “pushing the local industry to the brink.”
According to CeMAP President John Reinier H. Dizon, without any safeguard mechanisms such as higher tariffs, tariff quotas, or quantitative restrictions, their members risk deeper financial losses, potential plant closures and lay off more workers.
“For us, that’s a scary thought,” Dizon told members of the commission. “I know this sounds dramatic, but the accumulated losses or operating loss of the domestic industry was at P5 billion last year. And already, as demonstrated, we had to be forced to lay off people.”
“As a Filipino, I’m scared for the industry. I’m scared for the loss of jobs. It’s not good for our economy. It’s sad if we have all these natural resources and we’re unable to translate them,” he added.
Based on CeMAP data, the Philippines had a total production capacity of 51 million metric tons (MT) of cement in 2024, well above the estimated national demand of 35 million MT. However, actual output reached only 27 million MT, translating to a low capacity utilization rate of just 53 percent.
According to the CeMAP, domestic production over the past five years fell by 24 percent, revenue by 28 percent, and operating income by 42 percent—a cumulative loss of around P5 billion.
“Companies are forced to reduce the number of employees due to the slowdown in their business operations caused by the decrease in production and with the decline in profitability,” CeMAP Executive Director Renato A. Baja said.
The group acknowledged that external factors such as high electricity costs, inflation, and global conflict have also posed challenges to the industry.
Market impact
ACCORDING to the CeMAP, capacity underutilization was primarily due to the rising share of imported cement, which reached 7.6 million MT in 2024. The group said this represents an 8-percent annual growth
rate from 2019 to 2024.
This upward trend is supported by official figures from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), which cited data from the Single Administrative Document of the Bureau of Customs (BOC-SAD).
Cement imports rose by 10 percent in 2020, 17 percent in 2021, and 5 percent in 2023. From January to June 2024, imported cement reached 3.7 million MT—already 52 percent of the 2023 full-year level.
Vietnam has also remained the dominant supplier throughout the period of investigation. Its share of Philippine cement imports rose from 79 percent in 2019 to 91 percent in 2020, 93 percent in 2021, 95 percent in 2022, and 98 percent in 2023.
In the first half of 2024, 93 percent of total cement imports were from Vietnam. Japan followed with a 5-percent share, Indonesia with 2 percent and China with near-zero contribution.
The DTI also noted that cement imports have steadily gained ground relative to domestic production.
From 30 percent in 2019, the share of imports rose to 35 percent in 2020, 36 percent in 2021, and 41 percent in 2022—signaling a growing dependence on foreign supply.
Offshore competitor
DIZON said that the simultaneous cuts in volume and pricing marks the most damaging impact of the surge in cement imports.
“I think any business would want to, in the normal course of business, you want to be able to also improve your prices. But it’s very difficult in this context,” he said during the hearing. “We do our best to control our costs. We do our best to maintain our plants. But this surge of imports is both. The main effects, I think it’s two. One, we’re losing volumes. And number two, there’s price suppression.”
Earlier this year, cement importers rejected claims of a harmful surge, arguing that import volumes rose during the pandemic in response to increased demand—particularly when some local manufacturers struggled to operate.
But the CeMAP maintained that the industry’s capacity has long been sufficient to meet domestic needs.
“We believe competition is healthy; it’s good for the consumer. The issue at hand is not about us versus another global competitor, but we are facing a competitor that’s offshore,” Dizon said.
“These are imports coming into the Philippines and effectively eating [into] our market share. That is the issue at hand. It’s not about local versus local,” he added.
After inflation slowed to 1.3 percent in May, the slowest in 66 months, the BSP said the “more manageable” inflation outlook and downside risks to economic activity support a shift to a “more accommodative monetary policy.”
The results of the T-bills auction were mixed as the auction committee partially awarded the 91-day T-bills, upsized the volume of 182-day securities and fully awarded the 364-day debt papers.
ALL appointive directors, trustees and members of GOCC governing boards only have until June 20 to submit their courtesy resignations, as ordered by the President last month.
In a notice to GOCCs dated June 13, the Governance Commission for Government Owned and Controlled Corporations (GCG) nudged the officials of state-run firms to submit their courtesy resignations.
Last May 26, the GCG has ordered all heads of GOCCs to hand in their resignations to allow the President to assess the performance of key officials in all government agencies, including GOCCs (See: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2025/05/29/ gcg-chief-orders-gocc-execs-to-resign-on-govt-recalibration/ ).
According to the latest notice, non-ex-officio chairpersons and
The money raised from the auction was, nonetheless, P1.7-billion higher than the P25 billion programmed for the offering as total demand reached P74.205 billion, making the auction 2.9 times oversubscribed.
The 91-day T-bills were awarded a partial P6.5 billion from the P8 billion planned offering. Tenders amounted to P19.425 billion, or 2.4-times the initial offer.
The average yield of the shortestdated security slightly increased by 0.8 basis points to 5.459 percent from the previous yield of 5.451 percent. Yields were as low as 5.443 percent to as high as 5.490 percent.
Meanwhile, the auction committee doubled the accepted non-competitive bids for the 182-day T-bills to P6.4 billion.
Total accepted bids for the tenor amounted to P11.2 billion as tenders
CEOs must submit their courtesy resignation directly to the Office of the President, while all other appointive members of GOCC governing boards shall present their resignation to the GCG.
The GCG said it will submit to the Office of the President a list of all incumbent appointive members of GOCC governing boards, including those who have submitted and have yet to submit their courtesy resignation after the deadline.
It also reminded that the current term of office is until June 30, 2025, and after that, all appointees with formal appointments shall be considered in hold-over capacity.
“For information, those serving in hold-over or acting capacity may be replaced at any time by the President, consistent with the President’s appointing authority under the law,”
SBy Butch Fernandez @butchfBM
ENATOR Pilar Juliana “Pia” S. Cayetano expressed support for calls to uphold the mandatory allocation of sin tax revenues to the Philippine Health Insurance Corp., following zero budget for Philhealth in the 2025 national appropriations.
A petition was filed before the Supreme Court questioning the same by the Medical Action Group and Social Watch Philippines, which asserts that the government violated Republic Act 11346 by failing to allocate earmarked revenues from sin taxes for Philhealth. The groups are also seeking the remittance of unaccounted shares dating back to 2019.
“The sin tax law is clear,” Cayetano said. “A portion of revenues from tobacco and sugar sweetened beverages must go to Philhealth to fund the delivery of healthcare services to the Filipino people. Ignoring this is a violation of the law and a disser-
reached P29.670 billion or 3.7-times the initial P8 billion offering.
Yields of the 182-day T-bills barely eased to a low of 5.505 percent to a high of 5.543 percent, settling to an average of 5.523 percent. The average yield is marginally lower by 0.1 basis points from last week’s 5.524 percent.
Lastly, the 364-day T-bills were awarded in full, as tenders amounted to P25.110 billion, or 2.8 times oversubscribed the P9-billion offer.
The government IOUs fetched an average yield of 5.657 percent, just 0.1 basis points higher than the previous 5.656 percent yield.
Yields of the 182-tenor and 364day tenor were below the secondary benchmark rates, while the 91-day tenor’s was higher.
The Philippine Bloomberg Valuation (PHP BVAL) rates are 5.440 percent for the three-month, 5.570
the GCG explained.
As of June 5, over 390 individuals from 78 GOCCs have submitted their courtesy resignation letters. Most are members or acting members of state-run firms.
Heads of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor), Maharlika Investment Corp. (MIC), state-run banks Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank) and Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), state insurers Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) and Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) have already submitted their respective courtesy resignations.
GCG is the central policy-making and regulatory board mandated to ensure that the operations of GOCCs are transparent and responsive to the needs of the public.
GOCCs are stock or non-stock cor-
percent for the six-month and 5.692 percent for the one-year tenors as of June 16. So far, the government has raised a total of P83.9 billion from offering T-bills this June. It plans to generate P100 billion by auctioning off 91-, 182- and 364-day T-bills every Monday.
The government has borrowed P1.135 trillion as of end-April, or exactly 44.59 percent of the P2.545trillion borrowing program for the year. Of the amount, P2.037 trillion will be raised domestically while P507.408 billion will come from external sources.
Outstanding debt of the national government reached a new record level of P16.683 trillion as of end-March 2025, 11.78 percent higher year-on-year from P14.925 trillion.
porations performing governmental or proprietary functions directly chartered by special law or under general corporation law.
These state-run corporations are important sources of revenue for the national government, as they are required to declare and remit 75 percent of their annual net earnings.
About 50 GOCCs have remitted a total of P76 billion in dividends during the first five months of the year. The top contributor was LandBank with P33.5 billion in dividend remittances, followed by Pagcor with P12.6 billion and the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. with P10.13 billion.
The Department of Finance expects GOCC dividends to exceed P100 billion by the end of the year and surpass the P136.29 billion collected in 2024. Reine Juvierre S. Alberto
vice to our most vulnerable sectors.”
During the deliberations on Philhealth’s 2025 budget, Cayetano, who served as senior vice-chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance handling the health budget, raised concerns over the failure of the government to comply with the mandates of the Sin Tax law. She noted that at least P69.81 billion from sin taxes should have been allocated to Philhealth that year. She also signed the bicameral report of the 2025 General Appropriations Act with reservations, citing her “objection to the removal of government subsidy for Philhealth.”
“Philhealth’s accumulation of excess funds is an equally important issue, but it should be addressed separately. Fiscal discipline and accountability are important, but they cannot justify abandoning funds legally designated for Philhealth,” Cayetano said. “This is about upholding the law and protecting the rights of millions of Filipinos who rely on Philhealth coverage.”
CASH e-wallet operator GXchange Inc. has partnered with a logistics provider to allow shoppers to pay for cash-ondelivery (COD) products by scanning a QR code upon receipt.
A statement issued by the firm announced the partnership with Flash Express Co. Ltd. Inc. in this “scan on delivery” (SOD) mode to address common challenges faced by online shoppers and delivery riders.
As CODs remain popular among online shoppers as a payment method, SOD will allow customers to pay instantly by scanning a GCash QR code, the company’s statement read. Delivery riders will also benefit from this digital payment option as this would solve issues such as a lack of exact change, bill splitting and the risk of carrying cash, it added.
This would allow riders to focus more on delivering efficient service by simplifying the remittance process by reducing the need for manual deposits, according to the company. The mode not only changes how GCash users make their payments for cash on delivery but also increases security and reduces risks, the statement read. The partnership will enable customers to pay through the Flash Express app using GCash through Webpay, according to the company. Other than payments, riders can manage their commissions through Cash’s funds disbursement, providing payouts directly to riders’ GCash wallets and eliminating the need for over-the-counter cash releases, the company said through its statement.
Reine Juvierre S. Alberto
Art BusinessMirror
Art meets fashion in Art Underground’s 10th anniv shows
SThe twin exhibitions hosted the artistic dialogues between contemporary visual artists and fashion designers.
Arce joined forces with Joe San Antonio in Tambour, while painter SAIS worked with Daryl Maat in Guhit ng Gunita. The shows ran at Fifth on 5th, The Philippine Stock Exchange Tower, Taguig City on June 7. In Tambour, the namesake embroidery frame shines as a subject and symbol, presented at face value and as an introspective piece charged with meaning.
showcased in the exhibit his
Arce, a Fine Arts graduate from the University of Santo Tomas, showcased in the exhibit his experimental technique and views of distortion. His textured artworks brought the tambour to life, inviting close inspection with each stroke, as Joe San Antonio’s garments added layers and purpose. Known for her romantic and lyrical silhouettes, the fashion designer studied at the Fashion Institute of the Philippines, and later at Central St. Martins in London.
Meanwhile, Guhit ng Gunita featured the works of SAIS and Daryl Maat, capturing the spontaneity
SEE “UNDERGROUND,” B5
DESIGN STUDENTS, TEACHERS HOLD ART WORKSHOP FOR HOSPICIO DE SAN JOSE SPECIAL NEEDS RESIDENTS
TO offer valuable opportunities for selfexpression and skills development, a group of student creatives and educators conducted an art workshop for the special needs residents of Hospicio de San Jose. Located at the Isla de Convalecencia in Ermita, Manila, Hospicio de San Jose
has been a sanctuary for abandoned and marginalized children since the year 1810.
Through time, it has adapted to the evolving needs of society and opened its doors to the elderly, persons with special needs, and individuals in crisis.
Kulay-Kamay, the activity was organized by young students from the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLSCSB) Interior Design Program as part of their service-learning projects. These transformed selected dormitories of the institution into spaces which provided a sense of belonging, comfort and joy.
“The art workshop is designed specifically for the residents, where we believe the creative process of teaching and making art can serve as both a therapeutic and enjoyable experience,” the students shared.
“By engaging them in this activity, we aim to promote healing, self-expression and empowerment through art,” they added.
Kulay-Kamay was facilitated by IDr. Karol Antonio, visual artist and batch adviser, together with fellow mentor IDr. Randy Pabona and educator IDr. Kathrina Germino.
Likewise present at the event were representatives of the donor families,
Sharon Viduya and Sarah Po with her daughter Sofia, whose support made the outreach program possible.
The workshop welcomed 15 highfunctioning persons with special needs.
Following a buddy system, each resident was assigned a partner from the Interior Design team who guided them throughout the class. Their house parent, Aling Bebang, was also in attendance to help boost their self-esteem.
The session commenced with a selfportrait challenge, which encouraged the participants to utilize their imagination and creativity to showcase how they viewed themselves.
To warm up, they practiced drawing basic strokes, and were then guided to start with a circle and a cross to establish visual proportions. Once finished with their initial sketches, they were handed palettes of paint to add color and life to their artworks.
The second part of the activities motivated the partakers to engage in a “creative mess”—to explore their senses and further release their artistic sides in a fun and encouraging environment.
With large canvases spread on the floor, the participants—the residents, students,
faculty members, and donors alike—braved to paint with their hands. The prompt was to draw elements which depicted how they perceive Hospicio de San Jose as a community.
Mutual feelings of fun and enrichment were shared. Interior Design student Marimonte Shanelle Viduya believed the outreach program not only served as an avenue for the volunteers to bond with the beneficiaries but also to be inspired by their stories. It was, according to her, teamwork through art.
The residents likewise expressed their heartfelt thanks to the Interior Design team for allowing them to get to know them as their “ate” and “kuya” and igniting their newfound interest in art.
More than just an art workshop, KulayKamay provided the special needs residents with a unique opportunity to be actively involved in the service-learning initiative.
All the finished artworks were displayed at the culminating exhibition of the renovation project—and eventually found a home on the walls of the newly renovated dormitories of Hospicio de San Jose.
More information about the project can be found at tinyurl.com/LIWAGA2025.
leap of faith. Romance is favored. ★★★★★
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Take time to educate yourself before you get into a debate or decide to volunteer for a cause. Protect your safety against illness or injury. Be aware of your surroundings and heed warning signs. A professional move looks promising. Pick up any additional skills that will encourage you to apply for a higher position. ★★★
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Refuse to let the little things people do annoy you. Build momentum and initiate the necessary changes to dazzle everyone with your astute and unique way of bringing about change. Trust your instincts and create opportunities that put you in the running for a key position. ★★★
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Distance yourself from drama, temptation and conversations that can turn into a shouting match. Surround yourself with tranquility, and put more time and effort into researching and fixing up your space to accommodate your needs. A creative outlet will help calm your nerves and remind you of your talents. Make love, not war. ★★★
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Remember what life is about and the people and things that make you happy, and head in that direction. Visiting someone who makes you forget about time or kicking back with a great book will help you adjust your lifestyle to do more to please yourself. ★★★★★
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Invest more time in personal growth, updating your skills and making your life run efficiently. Think outside the box, and you’ll discover how a couple of minor adjustments can make a world of difference regarding your accomplishments. ★★
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Choose to do things in unison with someone who shares your beliefs and goals. Talks that lead to plans to cut expenses are favored. A change that promotes momentum will tempt you, but first, make sure you are acting on your behalf and not just trying to win someone else’s approval. ★★★★
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Raise the bar and turn your surroundings or lifestyle into something engaging. Refuse to let boredom and monotony settle in and rob you of the life you long for. Light up your life, and participate in events and activities that make you feel alive.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Review and refresh your life; update from the inside out. Check out influences on social media and see what motivates you. Ask your partner or a friend to join you on an adventure that entails a new beginning, lifestyle or look. ★★★
BIRTHDAY BABY: You are questioning, creative and apprehensive. You are protective and thorough.
AN Juan City gallery Art Underground marked its 10th anniversary with two sets of collaborations between artists who ply their trades in canvas and cloth.
THE self-portrait challenge encouraged the residents to utilize their imagination and creativity to showcase how they view themselves.
Sculptor
PIECES of Memories, SAIS x Daryl Maat
Queer-centered filmfest Lantad! 2025 premieres for Pride Month
LANTAD! 2025, the first queer-centered film festival to be staged by the Film Department of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB), welcomes members and allies of the LGBTQIA+ community to celebrate Pride Month with a movie marathon.
The filmfest is an initiative to provide opportunities for student filmmakers to showcase their works and connect with the audience. The event is BenildeFilm’s third and final microfestival for the academic year.
“With the resounding success of Lagim! [Horror Festival] and Ligaw! [Romance Festival], BenildeFilm is eager to finish strong with Lantad! and the diverse stories its selected films will share,” Alec Berame, BenildeFilm officer in charge chairman, stated.
The two-day screening will likewise feature participants from different colleges and universities in the country.
The lineup for June 17 are In Case You Miss It by Jadrien Morales, After Party by Mikee Peña and Geth Leroy; Toti Mary Parang Musical (Medyo Hindi) by Aspen Ramirez, Prom Queer by Dylan Cerio, Bola by Anghela Lim and Cine Nieto; Banal na Kasalanan by Nicolo Banawa and Timothy Morales; and Ikog by Ed Rianne Paraggua.
On June 18, film enthusiasts can view Embracing Lilet by Sean Verdejo, Isang Daang Taon ng Pangungulila by Mira Vidal, Una’t Huling Inuman by Dominic Rivera, Para, Pose! by Franz Allen Ojeda, Nasa Langit na si Heaven by Pearl Barcos, Alamat ng Isdang Kulay Bahaghari by Avin Dela Cruz, and Gawad Uliran: The Rise to Superstardom! by Allen Pangilinan and Jego Rafael.
Students from other colleges and universities are required to pre-register via tinyurl.com/lantad2025reg.
It will be held on June 17 and 18, 5:30 to 8 pm, at the 12th Floor Screening Room of the Design and Arts Campus. More information can be found at www.facebook. com/BenildeFilm.
GMA NETWORK LAUNCHES NEW SEASON OF KAPUSO LUCKY NUMBERS DRAW
ON GMA Network’s 75th anniversary, the public is in for another exciting season of winning as Kapuso Lucky Numbers of the Day returns for its 4th season. From June 16 to August 3, viewers will have more chances to take home cash prizes just by watching and engaging with their favorite GMA shows.
To participate, viewers simply need to tune in to participating GMA programs and watch out for the Kapuso Lucky Numbers that will flash on their screens during the broadcast.
Once the numbers are revealed, participants can submit their entries by visiting www. gmanetwork.com/luckynumbers. They will need to register their first and last name (as it appears on a valid ID), complete address, mobile number, and e-mail address.
The Kapuso Lucky Numbers will appear during these GMA programs: weeknights during Encantadia Chronicles: Sang’gre, Mga Batang Riles, Sanggang Dikit FR, Beauty Empire, and Amazing Earth; and on weekends during Pepito Manaloto, Magpakailanman (Saturday), Bubble Gang (Sunday), and The Boobay and Tekla Show (Sunday). Kapuso Lucky Numbers of the Day Season 4 is giving away weekly cash prizes and a grand prize of P50,000.00. More information can be found at www.gmanetwork.com/luckynumbers.
Underground...
Continued from B4
of youth through drawing and design. The exhibit explored intimate memories of early identity, tracing to childhood and adolescence, as guhit, or drawing, becomes a visual mark and a conduit to gunita, meaning recollections.
Sais graduated from the Technological University of the Philippines-Manila with a Fine Arts degree. His childlike visual representations in charcoal and graphite convey personal thoughts as he shares parts of himself through his artworks. For Maat, a renowned Filipino fashion designer, traditional Filipino garments are up for innovative reinterpretations.
His Pad Paper Barong collection, in particular, takes inspiration from childhood memories and presents playful and nostalgic designs that blend tradition with modernity. Maat is also committed to promoting sustainable fashion practices and supporting local artisans.
n More information about the shows and Art Underground’s 10th anniversary is available at www.aumanila.com.
Show BusinessMirror
Breaking new grounds
FOR almost a month starting tomorrow, wellloved singer-songwriter-actress Nicole Laurel Asensio will take up her artist residency at the super posh Café Carlyle, located in Carlyle & Co., a progressive private members’ club that’s part of the Rosewood Hotel Group, in Hong Kong.
The Club, through its director of Music & Artist Curation Francisco Ricafort, made its formal announcement a few weeks ago. “Café Carlyle Hong Kong brings an unrivaled lineup of international names and unmatched talent to Hong Kong’s most intimate stage. This June, we’re thrilled to introduce our newest resident artist, Nicole Laurel Asensio, for her Café Carlyle debut.”
Asensio will be taking the stage for a series of 16 shows beginning on June 18 until July 12, accompanied by renowned international jazz musicians hailing from different corners of the world.
Consistently beautiful inside and out, she shared with us her excitement. “I am so humbled that I’m the first ever Philippine-based artist to be admitted to the residency program of this elite club in Hong Kong. The club is known for its unique design, art collection and a deep focus on cultural and intellectual enrichment for its members.”
She added, “Every time I get an opportunity to perform overseas, it gives me joy. I get to make this creative exchange of bringing a piece of my home and heritage with me and at the same time siphoning the soul of the place and infusing it into what inspires my music. I am most honored and excited to share the stage with international musicians of world-class calibre and I’m also bringing with me the talented Gabe Dandan who will be my musical co-creator and bridge between the familiar and the artistry I have yet to discover. I always love to learn from everyone around me.”
After almost two decades as a singer, songwriter, actress and all-around performing artist, Asensio continues to raise the flag and up the ante of Filipino artistry through her many acclaimed performances, compositions, creations and collaborations, specifically in the world of music and modern jazz.
Through the years, the multi-awarded Asensio has performed for international audiences in the
LOS ANGELES—How to Train Your Dragon took flight at the box office this weekend, proving that some remakes still have teeth.
The Universal live-action adaptation of the beloved animated franchise soared to a strong $83.7 million debut in North American theaters, according to Comscore estimates on Sunday.
The film, directed by franchise veteran Dean DeBlois, follows the unlikely friendship between a young Viking named Hiccup (Mason Thames) and a dragon called Toothless.
The reboot easily outpaced 2019’s How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, which opened with $55 million. The latest film earned more than $114.1 million internationally, bringing the global total to $197.8 million.
“This is yet another example of a live-action remake really delivering on the promise of the marketing,” said Paul Dergarabedian, the senior media analyst for Comscore.
“I think the longevity and playability of some of these films particularly in the summer has been nothing short of miraculous.”
How to Train also claimed the No. 1 spot ahead of Disney’s Lilo & Stitch, which slipped to second place after topping the charts for three weekends. That hybrid live-action remake added another $15 million, pushing its domestic total past $386.3 million.
Materialists, a modern-day New York love story starring Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal, and Chris
fresh in the minds who grew up with her songs, Nadal is back with a grand planned concert at the Smart Araneta Coliseum this weekend, June 21.
on official
For this residency, Asensio is prepared to take her audience through songs that span the ages as she relives the golden days of jazz infused with a modern soulful groove and a multi-faceted setlist of timeless tunes that will bare her heart and soul.
One of the features to look forward to, aside from the musical performances, is a curated menu inspired by the artist’s heritage and stories.
“I am excited to see the culinary narrative the master chefs have come up with to enhance the experience, I am so looking forward to see how they blend bits of our Philippine heritage into an international array of delights, a thoughtful touch to make audiences feel extra special while watching my performances,” Asensio excitedly shared.
KITCHIE NADAL AT THE BIG DOME
IT’S been more than 20 years since singer-songwriter Kitchie Nadal first took the local music industry by storm. With unforgettable hits, like “Bulong,” “Same Ground” and “Huwag Na Huwag Mong Sasabihin” still
Now based in Europe with her Spanish husband and their two children, Nadal was offered to headline this one-night-only show by local producers which she could not say no to. Billed as New Ground, Nadal told us that it will be a powerful fusion of soul, sound and storytelling.
“I have to admit that I miss performing for the Filipino audience in the Philippines. From time to time, I’d get to be invited to perform overseas in events and celebrations, but I really, really miss concerts, and I’ve been secretly wishing to have one in my home country again. I guess my prayers have been answered, and sa Big Dome pa ang venue!”
Nadal is elated that the new generation of singers and music creators have agreed to be part of her concert. “My special guests include Zild, female pop group Kaia, and Skusta Clee. Joining us are amazing talents, like JR Oclarit, Andrea Andres, 1452, and Soul Tribe. I have also been informed that there will be surprise guests, but they won’t tell me yet who. I guess these are artists I have performed with during my time two decades ago.” n
with a $12 million debut. The romantic dramedy features Johnson as a savvy matchmaker caught between two suitors: a broke, struggling actor who happens to be her ex, and a wealthy “unicorn” who seems too good to be true.
Mission: Impossible–The Final Reckoning slid to fourth place, taking in $10.3 million and avoiding a dip into single-digit territory.
The John Wick spinoff Ballerina fell to fifth place with $9.4 million, despite strong reviews from both critics and audiences. Directed by Len Wiseman, the action film stars Ana de Armas and features Keanu Reeves reprising his role in a supporting turn. Dergarabedian said Ballerina could have a surge later down the line similar to 2014’s John Wick “It took a while for that franchise to really catch on,” he said. “You saw a huge outpouring of interest for the first John Wick when it hit home video or happen here.” In sixth place, Karate Kid: Legends earned $5 million followed by Final Destination: Bloodlines at seventh with $3.9 million. Wes Anderson’s latest The Phoenician Scheme brought in $3 million eighth place. The Life of Chuck, based on a Stephen King story, placed ninth with $2.1 million.
Rounding out the top 10 was Sinners. The Ryan Coogler film starring Michael B. Jordan, drew $1.4 million—which is impressive since the movie is available to watch at home through online and digital platforms after being released two months ago. Overall, the box office is up 23 percent from this point in 2024.
Dergarabedian said he’s looking forward to films in the coming weeks that could have a positive presence at the box office, such as Eilo, F1, Superman and 28 Days Later AP
United Kingdom, Spain, China, Thailand, Malaysia, Maldives, Japan, the United States, and even for royalties and world leaders who come to the Philippines
business.
NICOLE LAUREL ASENSIO (left) and Kitchie Nadal
TW Steel’s Tonneau Collection is a bold new curve in time
TW Steel, the Dutch watchmaker known for oversized confidence and unapologetic design, introduces its latest statement in modern horology: the Tonneau Collection. A refined departure in shape, but not in attitude, this collection brings the brand’s signature boldness into a new era of contemporary sophistication.
Since its founding in 2005 by fatherand-son duo Ton and Jordy Cobelens, TW Steel has carved a lane all its own, defined by daring proportions, robust engineering, and a lifestyle-first approach to time. With the Tonneau Collection, the brand pays homage to the classic barrel-shaped silhouette often found in haute horlogerie, reinterpreting it through a distinctly TW Steel lens: oversized, athletic, and impeccably styled.
EEvery timepiece in the collection features a 42mm tonneau case, VD53 quartz chronograph movement, and a sapphire-coated crystal for enduring clarity. Engineered with 10 ATM water resistance and rubber straps with folded clasps, the watches are crafted for those who lead with style but demand performance.
The Tonneau Collection speaks directly to the man who moves between worlds — from city streets to coastal getaways, from business meetings to after-hours. It blends modern elegance with rugged functionality, delivering a timepiece that fits every facet of the contemporary lifestyle. This is not a watch for the background. It’s for those who are bold enough to stand out, yet refined enough to know when to do it.
Each of the four models in the Tonneau Collection offers its own unique expression of character and style. The TO1 embodies timeless versatility with a brushed steel case, satin black dial, and black rubber strap — a clean, understated classic. The TO2 introduces a bold sense of luxury with a yellow gold PVD case that contrasts
strikingly with the jet-black detailing, making it a standout for those who gravitate toward presence and polish. Meanwhile, the TO3 captures a more artistic sensibility, pairing a rose gold brushed case with a deep navy strap and dial, delivering a rich contrast that feels both modern and refined. Finally, the TO4 channels a stealth-inspired aesthetic with an all-black PVD brushed case and matching black dial and strap — a minimalist, monochromatic watch that speaks volumes without saying a word. Backed by a two-year global warranty, each model is built to last — just like the style it represents.
For TW Steel, the Tonneau Collection isn’t just a product drop — it’s a design milestone. It blends the brand’s roots in oversized innovation with a contemporary form language that pushes style boundaries.
The Tonneau Collection is available now at Authorized TW Steel Boutique stores and select retail partners including Chronos, Wristpod, and Swissgear Boutique. Discover the full collection and choose the watch that defines your statement.
EK announces two major attractions reopening in October
NCHANTED Kingdom, the first and only world-class theme park in the Philippines, is set to bring even more enchanting experiences to all Filipinos for its 30th anniversary, as it temporarily closes two of its major rides, the Space Shuttle and AGILA The EKsperience, from July 1 to September 30, 2025.
EK President and Chairman Cesar Mario O. Mamon shared that the major enhancement and upgrade of the two attractions are at the forefront of their ongoing park revitalization and commitment to providing more magical experiences to all park goers.
“Beyond our steadfast pursuit of introducing new enchanting experiences, we are also dedicated to reimagining and reengineering our existing attractions, ensuring that multi-generational guests will be forever enchanted this 2025 and the years to come,” he furthered. Both attractions are expected to reopen as part of EK’s 30th anniversary celebration in October.
The iconic rollercoaster ride, Space Shuttle, is one of EK’s legacy rides which has been bringing thrill and excitement ever since the theme park opened its gates to the public in 1995. Aside from its signature twists and turns, the upgrade will feature a new loading and unloading experience, along with more efficient operation and monitoring of the ride.
AGILA The EKsperience, the first and only flying theater in the Philippines, has been the cornerstone of EK’s magical and educational entertainment, catering to over half a million students each year. Park goers experience a magical journey soaring on the wings of the Philippine eagle to witness the most iconic destinations in the country.
The reopening of AGILA will elevate learning and entertainment to new heights as it delves further into advancing awareness of environmental responsibility and sustainability.
WHEN great minds come together, magic happens in the kitchen. This year, that magic is coming to the Philippine dining scene as Unilever Food Solutions (UFS) rolls out the highly anticipated Future Menus 2025 experience across the country. Following the global launch in Thailand, UFS is set to bring the latest culinary insights to life through a series of local activations. Food service operators, chefs, and restaurateurs in key cities—including Bacolod, Cebu, and Davao—can look forward to hands-on workshops, live demos, and immersive masterclasses designed to help them apply global trends in locally relevant ways.
“As a key market in the region, the Philippines plays an important role in the evolving food service landscape,” said Monica Reyes, Head of Marketing, Unilever Food Solutions Philippines. “We’re excited to equip local chefs with the insights and inspiration they need to future-proof their menus and create meaningful dining experiences.”
A Global Launch: Culinary Leaders Converge in Thailand Last May 21, 2025, UFS unveiled Future Menus 2025 at the regional event in Thailand where hundreds of culinary
leaders, chefs, and trendsetters from across Asia gathered to explore the top trends poised to influence the business of food. This gathering marked the official launch of the highly anticipated trend report by UFS, unveiling key global and regional insights that will shape the future of dining.
Street Food Couture
Traditional street foods are being elevated to gourmet offerings with chef expertise in every food service channel, including fine dining. Gen Z is a major driver of this trend, with 65 percent seeking value for money when it comes to food and dining experiences. With humble ingredients and cooking techniques like charcoal grilling, steaming, and wok hei, chefs are elevating favorites such as crepes, tacos, skewers, burritos, spring rolls, dumplings, bao buns, and Korean corn dogs.
Diner Designed
Diner Designed is all about putting personalization at the heart of the culinary experience, with growing demand
Globe provides laptops to Bohol barangays, helps resolve disputes
IN support of digital inclusion and grassroots empowerment, Globe donated ten refurbished laptops to several barangays in Bohol to start off their digitalization journey and adoption of eGovernance.
The laptops will support the work of the Lupon Tagapamayapa, a barangay-based group tasked with helping the community resolve disputes peacefully. By shifting from typewriters to laptops, the Lupon can reduce manual errors, keep digital records rather than hardcopies for convenience, send and receive documents via email, and store important files securely. It’s a small shift that can make day-to-day processes smoother and help barangay officers focus on what matters most.
The turnover was recently held at the Bohol Provincial Capitol in Tagbilaran City, where Board Member Benjie Arcamo, representing Vice Governor Tita Baja, delivered the keynote address. He was joined by 1st District Board Member Aldner Damalerio, Liga ng mga Barangay
President Romulo Cepedoza, and Globe Vice President for External Affairs Patrick Gloria.
Both Arcamo and Cepedoza expressed appreciation to Globe and BM Damalerio for their steadfast support in advancing ICT development across the province. Barangay Captain Joseph Sagaral of San Isidro, Tagbilaran City, also shared a heartfelt message on behalf of all the beneficiaries.
The recipient barangays are San Isidro in Tagbilaran City; Sto. Rosario in Antequera; Guiwanon in Tubigon; Canapnapan in Corella; Dangay in Albur; Sta. Cruz in
Union in Catigbian; and Municipality of Cortes.
“This initiative is part of Globe’s ongoing efforts to create a #GlobeOfGood by enabling communities through technology. We recognize the vital role of the Lupon Tagapamayapa in maintaining peace and order at the grassroots level, and we are proud to support them with tools that improve access, accuracy, and efficiency,” said Patrick Gloria, Vice President for External Affairs of Globe.
Arcamo welcomed the support, noting, “This contribution from Globe will directly improve how our barangay peace councils carry out their duties. Access to these resources helps formalize their work and enhances the services they provide to the public.”
Sourced through Globe’s sustainability programs— which promote electronic waste reduction by extending the life and value of digital devices—the initiative also supports the province’s Strategic Change Agenda under Governor Aris Aumentado, advancing digital inclusion and community resilience within the Bohol Island UNESCO Global Geopark and Regenerative Island framework. Globe remains committed to nation-building by expanding access to digital tools, supporting inclusive development, and enabling community resilience through technology-driven solutions. To learn more about Globe’s sustainability and community programs, visit https://www.globe.com.ph/ about-us/sustainability#gref.
Hongqi Philippines Matches Luxury and Performance with EH7, EHS7
AFTER months of teasing and speculation, Hongqi Philippines finally launched its highly anticipated electric models – EH7 and EHS7. The debut of the vehicles is a benchmark moment for the Philippine electric vehicle market, and a sign of wonderful things to come for Asia’s oldest luxury marque. The EH7 and EHS7 are in a class of their own, combining top-tier performance, opulent design, and sustainable, eco-friendly technology, making each drive a uniquely luxurious experience.
From the moment one steps into either of the two vehicles, it’s noticeable just how much attention to detail was put into making them. Both vehicles have hand-stitched Nappa leather seats, 99 percent UV protection glass roofs, and a soundproof front door glass, all of which are supplemented by the vehicles’ Intelligent Damping Control Systems (IDCS). Through the IDCS, the EH7 and EHS7 automatically adapt to all kinds of road surfaces, allowing for consistently smooth sailing for each drive.
This beautiful interior is, of course, enveloped in the models’ beautiful exterior, carefully crafted to represent Hongqi’s new visual language. The sharper lines of the vehicle provide a look that’s both polished and dynamic, meeting right at the point where strength and speed meet finesse and style.
All of these design features, however, are nothing without the power of the vehicles’ engines. Both the EH7 and the EHS7 feature the same dual-motor AWD setup delivering, with an astonishing output of 455 kW (610 hp) and 756 Nm of torque. This translates to an acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.5 seconds for the EH7, and 3.9 seconds for the EHS7. All this power owes to the models being powered by a whopping 111 kWh next generation battery pack, which offers a single-charge driving range of up to 650km for the EH7 and 540km for the EHS7. The battery also charges at tip-top speeds, recharging from 10
percent to 80 percent in 20 minutes. The strength of these vehicles also does not come at the expense of safety. With a prestigious 5-star Euro NCAP safety rating for both vehicles, every driver will be comforted in knowing that whenever they ride a Hongqi EH7 or EHS7, the robust structural integrity, intelligent safety technologies, and comprehensive suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) at Level 2 autonomy keep them safe. Notable in the ADAS features, in particular, are things such as automatic emergency braking, a 360-degree around-view monitor, as well as a parking assist feature.
Taking all the foregoing into account, the EH7 and EHS7 are manifesting a new dawn for both luxury vehicles and electric vehicles, by blending strength, style, speed, sustainability, and safety. Coming in both Executive and Flagship variants, the EH7 starts at P2,280,000 for the Executive and P2,880,000 for the Flagship variant. Similarly, the EHS7 starts at P2,580,000 for the Executive and P3,080,000 for the Flagship variant. Drivers who choose the Flagship variants get the chance to add premium enhancements such as upgraded interior ambient lighting, a more advanced audio system, and exclusive design touches with added power and range.
by enabling immersive, multisensory meals. Diners now enjoy more control through techniques like tableside cooking, 3D printing, build-your-own
Borderless Cuisine
culinary experiences.
Calape; Cogon Norte in Loon; Magsija in Balilihan; Triple
Hongqi’s all-new all-electric SUV, the EHS7, is ready to blend luxury, performance and safety in one sustainable vehicle.
In the photo are, from left, Chef Pipo Aluning, Senior Sous Chef; Chef Brando Santos, Senior Sous Chef; Vangie Hu. Marketing Director of UFS SEA, Southeast Asia; Chef Paulo Sia, Senior Sous Chef; and Chef Kenneth Cacho, Country Executive Chef.
Russia strives for balance amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran: A diplomatic tightrope act
By The Associated Press
RUSSIA has maintained a delicate balancing act in the Middle East for decades, trying to navigate its warm relations with Israel even as it has developed strong economic and military ties with Iran.
Israel’s military strikes this weekend on Iranian nuclear and military facilities, killing top generals and scientists, and Tehran’s response with drones and missiles, put Moscow in an awkward position, requiring fine diplomatic skills to preserve ties with both parties. But it also could open opportunities for Russia to possibly become a power broker to help end the confrontation.
Some observers in Moscow also argue that the focus on the confrontation between Israel and Iran could distract global attention from the war in Ukraine and play into Russia’s hands by potentially weakening Western support for Kyiv.
A Russian condemnation but little else
RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin spoke to both Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, offering to help de-escalate the conflict.
In his call with Pezeshkian, Putin condemned the Israeli strikes and offered his condolences. He noted that Russia has put forward specific initiatives aimed at resolving the situation around the Iranian nuclear program.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry issued a strongly worded statement
condemning the Israeli strikes as “categorically unacceptable” and warning that “all the consequences of this provocation will fall on the Israeli leadership.” It urged both parties “to exercise restraint in order to prevent further escalation of tensions and keep the region from sliding into a full-scale war.”
But despite the harshly worded condemnation of Israel’s actions, Moscow hasn’t issued any signal that it could offer anything beyond political support to Tehran despite a partnership treaty between the countries.
In his call with Netanyahu, Putin “emphasized the importance of returning to the negotiation process and resolving all issues related to the Iranian nuclear program exclusively through political and diplomatic means,” and he offered his mediation “in order to prevent further escalation of tensions,” the Kremlin said in a readout.
“It was agreed that the Russian side will continue close contacts with the leadership of both Iran and Israel, aimed at resolving the current situation, which is fraught with the most disastrous consequences for the entire region,” it added.
Putin and US President Donald Trump discussed the escalating situation in the Middle East by phone Saturday. Putin’s foreign
affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov said the Kremlin leader emphasized Russia’s readiness to carry out mediation efforts, and noted it had proposed steps “aimed at finding mutually acceptable agreements” during US-Iran negotiations on the Iranian nuclear program.
Moscow-Tehran ties: From tense to strategic partners RELATIONS between Moscow and Tehran often were tense in the Cold War, when Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was a US ally. After the 1979 Islamic Revolution, leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini branded the US as the “Great Satan,” but also assailed the Soviet Union as the “Lesser Satan.”
Russia-Iran ties warmed quickly after the USSR’s demise in 1991, when Moscow became an important trade partner and a top supplier of weapons and technology to Iran as it faced international sanctions. Russia built Iran’s first nuclear power plant in the port of Bushehr that became operational in 2013.
Russia was part of the 2015 deal between Iran and six nuclear powers, offering sanctions relief for Tehran in exchange for curbing its atomic program and opening it to broader international scrutiny. It offered political support when the US unilaterally withdrew from the agreement during Trump’s first term.
After a civil war in Syria erupted in 2011, Russia and Iran pooled efforts to shore up Bashar Assad’s government. They helped Assad reclaim most of the country but failed to prevent a swift collapse of his rule in December 2024 after a lightning opposition offensive.
When Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the West alleged that Tehran signed a deal with the Kremlin to deliver Shahed drones and later
launch their production in Russia. In January, Putin and Pezeshkian signed the “comprehensive strategic partnership” treaty that envisions close political, economic and military ties.
Russia-Israel ties stay strong despite tensions DURING the Cold War, Moscow armed and trained Israel’s Arab foes. Diplomatic relations with Israel ruptured in 1967 but were restored in 1991. Russian-Israeli ties quickly warmed after the collapse of the Soviet Union and have remained strong.
Despite Moscow’s close ties with Tehran, Putin has repeatedly demonstrated his readiness to take Israeli interests into account.
He has maintained warm, personal ties with Netanyahu, who frequently traveled to Russia before the war in Ukraine.
Russia and Israel have built a close political, economic and cultural relationship that helped them tackle delicate and divisive issues, including developments in Syria. It survived a tough test in 2018, when a Russian military
reconnaissance aircraft was shot down by Syrian forces responding to an Israeli airstrike, killing all 15 people aboard.
And even though Russia supplied Iran with sophisticated S-300 air defense missile systems, which Israel said were taken out during its strikes last year on Iran, Moscow has dragged its feet on deliveries of other weapons in an apparent response to Israeli worries. In particular, Russia has delayed providing advanced Su-35 fighter jets that Iran wants so it can upgrade its aging fleet.
Israel, in its turn, appeared to take Moscow’s interests into account by showing little enthusiasm for providing Ukraine with weapons in the 3-year-old war.
The Kremlin’s friendly ties with Israel has fueled discontent in Tehran, where some members of the political and military leadership reportedly were suspicious of Moscow’s intentions.
Possible Russian gains from Middle East tensions
W good ties with both Israel and Iran could pay off now, placing
Moscow in a position of a power broker trusted by both parties and a potential participant in any future deal on Tehran’s nuclear program.
Long before Friday’s strikes, Putin discussed the mounting Middle East tensions in his calls with Trump, conversations that offered the Russian leader a chance to pivot away from the war in Ukraine and engage more broadly with Washington on global issues.
Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov suggested in recent days that Russia could take highly enriched uranium from Iran and convert it into civilian reactor fuel as part of a potential agreement between the United States and Iran.
Prospects for negotiating a deal under which Iran would accept tighter restrictions on its nuclear program appear dim after the Israeli strikes. But if talks resume, Russia’s offer could emerge as a pivotal component of an agreement.
Many observers believe the Israeli attacks will likely fuel global oil prices and help enrich Moscow at a time when its economy is struggling.
“It will destroy the hopes of Ukraine and its allies in Western Europe for a drop in Russian oil revenues that are essential for filling the military budget,” Moscow-based military analyst Ruslan Pukhov wrote in a commentary.
Some commentators in Moscow also argue the confrontation in the Middle East will likely distract Western attention and resources from the war in Ukraine and make it easier for Russia to pursue its battlefield goals.
“The world’s attention to Ukraine will weaken,” said proKremlin analyst Sergei Markov. “A war between Israel and Iran will help the Russian army’s success in Ukraine.”
Japan’s bond market roars back to life, triggering global debt market
By Ruth Carson & Masaki Kondo
JAPAN’S once-slumbering bond market has roared back to life with a burst of volatility that is echoing around the world.
Major debt markets have moved in tandem with Japanese government bonds during the recent rout, with a spike in super-long yields in the Asian nation amplifying ructions fueled by global fears of widening fiscal deficits.
The risk of more spillover is on the horizon. An analysis by Bloomberg shows that Treasuries have become more sensitive to moves in Tokyo, just as fluctuations in Japan’s $7.8 trillion debt market soar to the highest level in over two decades.
This is in stark contrast to just a few years ago, when the Bank of Japan’s yield-curve control regime acted as a kind of global anchor on borrowing costs. With that now gone, the broader fixedincome market is finding itself unmoored.
The turmoil has already handed investors in global bonds the first monthly loss for the year as US tariffs and rising government borrowings dented sentiment. In Japan’s case, weakening investor appetite points to even higher yields, increasing a government debt load that is the worst among major economies.
“The rise in Japan bond yields has meaningful spillover impacts globally,” said Freddy Wong, head of Asia Pacific fixed income at Invesco Ltd. which oversees $1.94
trillion. “As JGB yields rise, the relative attractiveness for sovereign bonds in other parts of the world decreases, which drives selloffs and increases volatility in other sovereign debt markets.”
The US debt market has long been exposed to risks from Tokyo, given that Japanese investors are the largest foreign holders of US bonds. But a key turning point came in 2022, when the BOJ started to loosen its grip on bond yields. Treasuries have become steadily more susceptible to changes in JGBs since then, according to Bloomberg’s analysis of 10- to 30-year spreads in both markets.
This change, and the recent spike in volatility in Japan, are reshaping the dynamics of the global day for bond trading. Under yield-curve control that started in 2016, Japan’s market was a world unto itself, with benchmark 10-year securities sometimes going untraded for days. Not anymore. When the
market opens in Tokyo at around 9 a.m. local time, investors across Asia and beyond tune in for moves that may flow through to Frankfurt, London and New York.
“You do see this correlation and spillover across global bonds,” said Idanna Appio, portfolio manager at First Eagle Investments, which oversees $152 billion. “When JGB yields move up, then you come in New York time and US Treasury yields start rising.”
A correlation coefficient between Japan’s 30-year bond yields and similar-tenor UK debt climbed to a record high last month, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. A similar gauge between Japanese bonds and Treasuries hit a fiveyear high.
On one of the most remarkable days of trading in late May in Japan, after a poorly received auction of 20-year bonds sent super-long yields soaring in Tokyo, yields on 30-year Treasuries hit a 19-month
high, while the rate on similarmaturity German bunds rose to the highest in two months.
The surge in Japan’s market volatility amplified upward pressure on offshore yields just as President Donald Trump’s signature tax-cut bill fueled concern over US fiscal deficits. The moves were also augmented by waning bets for Federal Reserve interest-rate cuts on signs that inflation might prove stickier than expected.
“There is likely to be more volatility at the long end of the curve in government bonds since Japan is such a large creditor nation,” said Kathy Jones, chief fixed income strategist at Charles Schwab & Co. in New York. “What happens there is going to have an impact on other developed-market bonds.”
The growing pressure on the long end of the yield curve has fueled calls for the Ministry of Finance to adjust issuance by increasing sales of shorter-maturity securities and trimming offerings of longer-dated ones.
“Traders are expressing their views via the BOJ’s rinban operations where they are offering to sell the central bank bigger quantities in short dated debt than longer durations. This shows that investors are expecting Japan’s MOF to tweak debt issuance via an operation twist that skews supply to the near end of the yield curve,” said Mark Cranfield, MLIV Strategist.
The volatility has broader ramifications for investors who use bond indexes to set allocations in their portfolios. Japanese
government bonds have a 16.7% weighting in the Bloomberg Global Treasury Total Return Index, the highest share after US debt. That means a sharp drop in the value of Japan’s bonds can result in investors nursing losses worldwide.
“The significant weight means ructions in the JGB market will directly impact funds that track benchmarks, including losses for global bond investors,” said TD Securities strategist Prashant Newnaha, who has covered debt markets for 25 years.
All this is happening while the Bank of Japan is also scaling back its debt purchases after years of snapping up bonds. The monetary authority owns more than half of all outstanding sovereign notes, and large institutional investors have not stepped in to fill the gap left by the reduction of the central bank’s purchases.
The BOJ’s holdings of JGBs fell ¥6.18 trillion ($43 billion) in the first quarter, the biggest-ever drop according to data going back to 1996, as it slowed purchases and existing debt matured. Following the recent market turmoil, the BOJ is likely to consider slowing the pullback from April next year, according to people familiar with the matter. An announcement on this may come at the conclusion of a two-day policy meeting on Tuesday.
Japan’s Kato says talks with markets key for bond issuance THE surge in volatility has been particularly acute in bonds due in
turmoil
more than 10 years, Bloomberg’s analysis shows. A draft of the government’s annual fiscal policy plan emphasized the need to increase the domestic buying of government bonds to help curb further yield increases.
“There has been a global distaste for ultra-long duration due to inflationary concerns and now Japan is in the spotlight—with repercussions around the world,” said Calvin Yeoh, portfolio manager at hedge fund Blue Edge Advisors. Despite all the risks, some say the pessimism is overdone and that calm will return to Japan’s bond market.
Pacific Investment Management Co., which oversees more than $2 trillion in assets, said the recent selloff in JGBs was driven by technical factors and policymakers have the tools to address the risks. The spike in yields has boosted the bonds’ appeal, with 30-year JGBs hedged to the US dollar yielding over 7%, co-head of Asia-Pacific portfolio management Tomoya Masanao and portfolio manager Ryota Kawai wrote in a report.
Pictet Asset Management’s Patrick Zweifel noted that Japan’s debt repayment ability remains sound, and that while long-term yields are rising sharply, “this won’t lead to an uncontrollable increase in debt costs.” Even so, market watchers are mindful of several risks that may complicate the outlook in the coming months. With assistance from Mia Glass and Hideyuki Sano/Bloomberg
IRANIAN President Masoud Pezeshkian, center left, and Russian President Vladimir Putin, center right, arrive for a signing ceremony following talks at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, on Friday, January 17, 2025. VYACHESLAV PROKOFYEV, SPUTNIK, KREMLIN POOL PHOTO VIA AP
BusinessMirror
Mondo unbreakable as EJ gropes for form Sports
B8 | Tuesday, June 17, 2025
mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph
Editor: Jun Lomibao
RMAND “MONDO” DUPLANTIS
Alifted his pole vault world record to 6.28 meters at the Diamond League meet at the Olympic Stadium on Sunday in Stockholm where two-time Olympian Ernest John “EJ” Obiena struggled for a seventh-place finish.
The Olympic and world champion added a centimeter at his first attempt to the previous record he set at the end of February in France.
I t was the 12th pole vault world record for the 25-year-old Swede and the first time in front of home fans.
B efore the Stockholm meet, Duplantis said setting a world record at home was one of his dreams.
his own world record at home while Ernest John “EJ” Obiena’s back woes just won’t go away.
LEAGUE PHOTO
DE LA SALLE Team I served early notice of its title aspirations in the International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) Intercollegiate Tour by topping both the men’s and women’s individual and team competitions at the tournament’s launch at the Sherwood Hills Golf Club in Trece Martires, Cavite, on Monday.
S easoned amateur Perry Bucay led the way in men’s individual play with a one-over-par 73, beating College of Saint Benilde’s Sean Granada by one faltering with three straight bogeys from No. 14 to close with a 74. R anz Balay-odao of the University of the Cordilleras tied for third with University of the Philippines’ (UP)
Joshua Buenventura with 76s. In the women’s side, Julia Lua made an 87 to top the 18-hole event by six strokes for the other De La Salle victory over UP’s Katrisse Datoc, who carded a 93 with Lua’s teammate Stacey Chan placing third with a 98. T he tournament, co-presented by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc. and the Philippine Golf Foundation, served primarily as a test run to iron out technical and logistical aspects ahead of the official kickoff on July 18.
T he soft launch allowed teams and players to adjust to the competitive format, build chemistry, and address kinks in scoring and operations as the PGTI and the Philippine Golf Foundation
aim to establish a long-term collegiate golf circuit.
“This was all about familiarization and fine-tuning,” said tournament director Jack Imperial. “The official stroke play event begins in July, and this was crucial to ensure everything runs smoothly moving forward.”
Rounds 2 to 4 will be staged on July 27 (men), August 3 (women), August 11 (men and women) and August 17 (men) and August 24 (women) with the grand finals set for September 23 to 25. Venues will be announced soon.
Despite the non-bearing nature of the launch event, team standings were still tracked, and La Salle also ruled the men’s team play under the threeto-play, two-to-count format.
Iriga athlete surprise winner in Ironman 70.3
JOHN PATRICK CIRON turned his first-ever Ironman 70.3 appearance into an unforgettable triumph in the Century Tuna Ironman 70.3 Subic Bay on Sunday.
A du athlon specialist, the bet from Iriga City ruled the 1.9-km swim, 90-km bike and 21-km run race in four hours, 37 minutes and 28 seconds, with 2022 Ironman 70.3 Cebu champion August Benedicto 4:40:58 and Mervin Santiago (4:42:40) completing the podium.
“I told myself that I had to catch them in the second lap of the run, or I might lose my shot at winning,” said Ciron, who clocked 1:28:17 in the run after his 30:45 in the swim and 2:33:21 in the bike leg. He won the World Triathlon Development Regional Cup duathlon ahead of the Subic event organized by Sunrise Events Inc. In donesia’s Dea Salsabila Putri took the women’s title in 5:26:22 with split times of 27:44, 3:10:21 and 1:41:07, followed by local favorite Erika Burgos (5:32:30, 27:52-03:16:05-01:41:57).
Nicole Andaya, who clocked 38 minutes in the swim leg, was superb on
Sports Marketing experience
Subic
the bike (2:54:02) but faded in the run (1:59:31) to finish third in 5:37:09. Benedicto and Burgos shared the Bagong Bayani awards, a special elite category for current and former Filipino national athletes.
Darrell Bada, a standout product of the Ironkids program, won the overall crown in the Sunrise Sprint which featured a 750-meter open-water swim, 20-km bike ride and 5-km run. Bada clocked 1:06:29 to beat Dayshaun Ramos (1:06:35) and Peter del Rosario (1:10:02)—they also swept the top spots in the 15–19 age group.
Marketing is the process of creating, communicating and delivering value to customers in order to build strong customer relationships and achieve organizational goals.
It encompasses a range of activities, including identifying customer needs, developing products or services that meet those needs, pricing them appropriately, distributing them effectively and promoting them through various channels.
U ltimately, marketing aims to attract customers, increase brand awareness, generate leads and drive sales.
I’m neither a sports marketing expert nor an authority on the subject, I just love it and am passionate about it.
I once worked for a sports brand known around the world for my OJT and I had so much fun especially setting up the onground event the night before.
Passion and caffeine can keep you up and going until the early hours of the morning and doing it was a lot of fun.
A couple years ago, I worked for a media agency and the client was a sports drink and it was during the pandemic so there was a pivot from the usual on-ground events to something more digital based.
S ports events were of the bubble variety so you had to summon all your creativity and innovation to deliver for the client.
“It’s a magical feeling,” Duplantis said. “I wanted it so bad. I kept saying it was the only thing I was missing. Now, I’m done. I can just chill.”
The Louisiana-born Duplantis competes for his mother’s native Sweden.
After clearing 6.00 meters, Duplantis didn’t target his own meet record of 6.16 but went straight for the world record.
He celebrating by ripping off his shirt and pumping his fist to the delight of roaring fans in the sellout crowd.
W hile Duplantis soared, Ernest John “EJ” Obiena struggled.
Obiena, who finished with a “No Mark” at the Diamond League in Oslo last week, finished seventh at 5.70 meters among nine pole vaulters at the Bauhaus-Galan Wanda 2025.
He failed thrice at 5.80 meters.
Jim L afferty, Obiena’s personal adviser, told BusinessMirror, that everyone must be patient with Obiena who’s still recovering from that spine injury that hounded him at the Paris Olympics.
“There is not a single person on this planet who has not hit a rough patch in his life, be it their job, relationship, in life in general,” Lafferty said. “EJ is no different and we all need to be patient.”
“He is still sorting out his approach and pole selection at this stage of his recovery from the fractured spine he had end-2024,” he said. “It will come. EJ is tough and he is focused and disciplined.”
Duplantis bagged his eighth gold of the year in Stockholm where Kurtis Marshall of Australia seized the silver medal at 5.90m and Menno Vloon of the Netherlands grabbed bronze at 5.80 meters.
France’s Renaud Lavillenie was fourth also at 5.80m, followed by the US’s Keaton Daniel and Türkiye’s Ersu Sasma at fifth and sixth places also at 7.50m.
Paris Olympics bronze winner Emmanouil Karalis of Greece had a worse day that Obiena at eighth place, while the US’s Sam Kendricks, who got silver also in Paris, was ninth at 5.60m. AP and Josef Ramos
the poorest TV turnout since the pandemic “bubble” finals in 2020.
D on’t blame the Thunder and Pacers for that.
It’s been a back-and-forth over the first four games—and now, a best-ofthree will decide the NBA title.
Game 5 is in Oklahoma City on Monday night, with the Thunder trying to take their first lead of the series and the Pacers trying to head back home one win away from a championship.
“I do not care, to be honest with you,” Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton said when asked what he’d say to those who, for whatever reason, haven’t tuned into the series. “This is high-level basketball and I’m excited to be a part of it.”
Game 1 had a frantic Indiana comeback and a Haliburton buzzerbeater. Game 2 saw Oklahoma City do what it has done in the majority of games all season: take full control early and roll to a win. Game 3 in Indiana had the Pacers› bench fueling a win. And Game 4 saw the MVP do MVP things, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scoring 15 points in the final five minutes to carry the Thunder to a comeback win.
Add it up, and it’s Thunder 2, Pacers 2. The Thunder are outscoring the Pacers by 3.3 points per game—the Pacers are outshooting the Thunder by 1.4 percent. It’s only the third time in the last 15
I notice in the Philippines, sports marketing is too concentrated on basketball and there’s nothing wrong with that, but with the meteoric rise of women’s volleyball, sports brands need to look at other sports. When I was working for the media agency, creativity and being out of the box told us to look at other sports and even hobbies as well like jumping rope or skipping rope and in-line skating and establishing working relationships with running clubs.
Here in New Zealand, they’re very flexible and the sports marketer’s job is to convince the brand that they’ll receive value for money, messaging and branding for the pairs of eyes to see. What’s in it for the brand? What’s in it for the advertiser and sponsor?
B udget constraints may curtail possible commitments which can be turned into a workaround if you throw in products and merchandise plus product mentions for all and sundry to see and hear. Product endorsers are based on the number of followers. I’m lukewarm and not exactly enthusiastic with endorsers but if
years that the finals have had all that through four games—2-2 tie, 3.3-point differential or less, shooting within 1.4 percent of each other. Golden StateBoston had it in 2022, and DallasMiami had it in 2011. It all seems pretty even, and the looks aren’t deceiving.
“It’s good for y’all,” Thunder guard Alex Caruso said. “Good for me, we’d be getting ready for a parade right now.” Parades in Indianapolis or Oklahoma City are going to have to wait at least until this coming weekend. This series seems like it could have debunked some of the tired complaints about the game in recent years: the nobody-playsdefense, too-much-isolation, too-many3s arguments that have been out there.
“I think from an outside perspective it’s great for the league,” Caruso said. “It’s great for basketball. I think these two teams play stylistically the best versions of basketball right now as far as pressure and being influencing and aggressive on defense—causing turnovers, making stuff hard and then offensively free-flowing, shot making, passing the ball... A great brand of basketball.” A nd that means it could end up as a great finals, whether more people start watching or not.
“ We appreciate the opportunity to play this deep into the season,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “If you’re playing this deep into the season, your opponent is going to be really good. They have won 12 games to get to this point just like we have. You just know it’s going to be an unbelievable level. There are definitely times in it where [you’re saying], ‘Man, this is a high, high level.’” AP
JOHN PATRICK CIRON is no longer just a duathlon specialist, he’s crossed to the more difficult Ironman 70.3.
