AS the national government settled a record P2.020 trillion in debt obligations in 2024, an economist warned that ballooning debt payments could push the Philippines towards a financial crisis.
Latest data from the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) showed the country’s debt payments swelled by 26 percent to P2.020 trillion in 2024 from P1.603 trillion in 2023.
Ateneo de Manila University economist Leonardo A. Lanzona told the BusinessMirror that higher debt payments may trigger the acquisition of new and higher-interest loans to pay off existing obligations.
“This spiral can lead to a financial crisis,” Lanzona said, which could quickly happen once the public loses its confidence in the government to pay off its debts.
BTr data showed interest payments increased by 21.48 percent to P763.313 billion in 2024 from P628.333 billion in 2023. About P539.829 billion in interest was paid to domestic sources, 23.88 percent higher than the P435.742 billion settled last year.
This includes interest payments amounting to P32.685 billion for Treasury bills, P340.504 billion for fixed-rate Treasury bonds, P153.921 billion for retail Treasury bonds and P12.719 billion for other
liabilities. The government also cleared P223.484 billion in interest payments to foreign financiers, 16.04 percent higher than the P192.591 billion in 2023. Meanwhile, amortization or the repayment of loan principal jumped by 28.92 percent to P1.257 trillion in 2024 from P975.278 billion a year ago.
Amortization shelled out to foreign sources nearly doubled to P239.292 billion in 2024 from P121.113 billion.
Domestic lenders were also paid P1.257 trillion in amortization in 2024, up by 28.92 percent from P975.278 billion in 2023.
“As the government incurs more debts, financial institutions will no longer be willing to lend money for the government and the rest of the country. This forces interest rates to rise, gradually forcing the financial institutions to close,” Lanzona said. If the government continues to take on more expensive debt, since tax revenues are just enough to pay for its expenditures, Lanzona said more costly debt will pile up—leading to fiscal risks and more unappropriated programs in the future. This will also dim government hopes of obtaining an “A” credit rating for the Philippines, he said. “The government is able to stave
By Reine Juvierre S. Alberto @reine_alberto
THEPhilippines’s external debt reached an all-time high of $137.63 billion by endDecember 2024, as the government and the private sector borrowed more to meet their liquidity requirements, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).
By
THE Philippines is targeting to export “highquality” medicines and medical supplies to its neighbors in Southeast Asia from its pharmaceutical economic zones or pharmazones. The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza) said this is one of the chief goals of the government in rolling out a new policy on the establishment of pharmazones. Peza said these ecozones seek to improve the quality of medicines manufactured in the Philippines and cut drug prices.
Approved by the Peza board on February 20, the new policy
lays down the rules for setting up pharmazones, which are expected to attract major investments in pharmaceuticals, medical devices and healthcare industries.
“These zones are expected to attract substantial pharma, medical, and healthcare-related investments, advance technology, and increase local production and research—creating numerous jobs and enhancing the country’s export potential—positioning the Philippines as a competitive player in the global pharmaceutical market,” Peza Director General Tereso Panga said in a statement.
“As investors come in using the Philippines as a manufac -
turing hub in Southeast Asia for dependable medicines and bring in their cutting-edge technologies, I am sure that higher quality of medicines and medical supplies will be developed for the whole region and ultimately increase the availability and lower the price of medicines for the Filipino people,” he added. The guidelines indicated that pharmazones must cover at least 10,000 square meters in the National Capital Region and other metropolitan areas and those in provinces must span a minimum of 50,000 square meters. Companies operating in these zones, such as developers and
registered business enterprises, will be eligible for tax perks under Title XII of the amended Tax Code.
Meanwhile, ecozone developers, operators and utilities that dedicate at least 70 percent of their leasable or saleable space to exporters will get the same incentives as export enterprises, per Peza Memorandum Circular 2023-033.
Panga expressed optimism that the policy will be beneficial for the pharmaceutical sector, citing stronger collaboration with the Office of the Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs and the Food and Drug Administration.
Bless Aubrey Ogerio
ERC issues final guidelines on GEA allowance collection
By Lenie Lectura
THE Energy Regulatory (ERC)
has released the final guidelines for the collection of the green energy auction allowance (GEA-All) from consumers.
In a four-page resolution publicly released on Sunday afternoon, the ERC resolved to approve and adopt the guidelines on the collection of the GEA-All and disbursement of the GEA-All fund and the Renewable Energy Payment Agreement (REPA) template for GEA program. Simply put, the GEA-All will be a new charge that will appear as a separate line item in the billing statements of all consumers. This will be
collected by the distribution utilities which, in turn, will be remitted to the National Transmission Corp. (TransCo).
This new collection is meant to fund the GEA-All Fund, which will cover payments to the renewable energy (RE) suppliers that won in the GEA Program (GEAP). There is no amount yet as to how much consumers will shell out for the GEA-All since TransCo has to apply this first and ERC has to approve it. This set up is similar to the feed-in-tariff allowance (FIT-All). TransCo is the FIT-All administrator and will also be the GEA-All Fund administrator. The ERC stressed the need to put
in place the guidelines for the collection and disbursement of the GEA-All Fund separate from the FIT-All Fund. This is to maintain transparency and non-commingling of the GEA-All Fund and FIT-All Fund. While both support RE development, the FIT-All is intended to compensate RE supply under the FIT program, while the GEA-All will fund payments to RE developers under the GEAP.
“The resolution establishing the GET All Fund and guidelines provide the regulatory support that is required of the ERC pursuant to the policies issued by the ERC. Under these guidelines, consumers are assured that fees will only be collected
PHL meat imports jump by 50% in Jan
(MMT) this year, citing estimates from the Department of Agriculture (DA). Pork output peaked at 1.9 MMT in 2019.
“Even so, it is a far cry from the 2019 peak. Unless the hog industry can return to previous production level and at competitive pricing, im-
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ports will continue to grow,” Cham said via Viber.
Meanwhile, chicken imports grew by 48.18 percent to 45,631 MT from 30,794 MT last year. Majority of the shipments were mechanically deboned meat (MDM) at 24,226 MT, with chicken leg quarters trailing be-
hind at 12,462 MT.
Beef shipments expanded by 50.93 percent to 19,895 MT in January from 13,181 MT in the same period last year. A chunk of the imports consisted of beef cuts at 12,761 MT.
“The high price of local pork has pushed the consumer to chicken,
and payments to RE suppliers will only be paid for power generation supplied to the system,” said ERC Chairperson Monalisa Dimalanta via Viber.
The same resolution also prescribed a template for the REPA, which ensures that RE developers receive payments for their actual RE generation under the GEAP framework.
The GEAP aims to promote RE as one of the country’s primary sources of energy through competitive selection. RE developers compete for incentivized fixed power rates by offering their lowest price for a certain capacity.
which is lower priced, and beef, which is now slightly higher priced compared to the past. This accounts for the increased volume of these proteins,” Cham said.
While shipments of the favorite meat products of Filipinos recorded growth, other products like turkey registered declines in January, based on BAI data.
In particular, buffalo meat imports fell by 63.10 percent to 1,932 MT from 5,235 MT in the previous year.
Turkey and duck shipments also shrank by 94.24 percent to 7 MT from 130 MT and 25.33 percent to 18 MT from 24 MT, respectively.
Brazil was the country’s top supplier of pork (25,027 MT), chicken (22,914 MT), and beef (7,440 MT) shipments in January, based on BAI data.
Increasing…
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off fears by increasing non-tax revenues or by gradually reducing its gross international reserves.
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billion while private sector borrowers accumulated net availments of $4.03 billion.
Foreign investors acquiring $3.37 billion in Philippine debt securities also increased the country’s debt stock, which the resulted from investor preference towards emerging market debt securities for most of 2024, as well as prior years’ adjustments of $634.76 million, according to the BSP.
Meanwhile, this was partially offset by the negative foreign exchange revaluation of borrowings denominated in other currencies of $1.39 billion.
Compared to the previous quarter, the country’s external debt declined by 1.4 percent from $139.64 billion as of end-September 2024.
BSP data also showed that public sector external debt fell by 1.8 percent to $85.34 billion as of the fourth quarter of 2024 from $86.88 billion in the previous quarter.
The increase in public sector borrowings was largely driven by the $1.44-billion negative FX revaluation of borrowings denominated in other currencies.
Further, prior periods’ adjustments of $71.23 million and net repayments of $63.51 million reduced the outstanding levels.
The data showed $79.31 billion or 92.9 percent of public sector obligations are attributed to the national government, while the remaining $6.03 billion or 7.1 percent pertained to borrowings of government-owned and controlled corporations, government financial institutions and the BSP.
Meanwhile, private sector debt slightly eased by 0.9 percent to $52.29 billion at the end of the fourth quarter of 2024 from $52.76 billion at the end of September 2024 level.
The decline in private sector borrowings was due to the $870.03-million net acquisition by residents of debt securities issued
Once these resources dry up, then fears will be further heightened,” he added.
The Philippines is aiming for an “A” credit rating after it obtained a rating of “A-” from the Japan Credit Rating Agency and “BBB+” from Standard and Poor’s Global
offshore, negative FX revaluation of borrowings denominated in other currencies by $154.11 million and net repayments of $70.00 million. Loans from official sources (multilateral and bilateral creditors) accounted for the largest share at $54.12 billion or 39.3 percent of the total outstanding debt. This was followed by borrowings in the form of bonds/notes worth $45.11 billion or 32.8 percent and obligations to foreign banks and other financial institutions at $31.22 billion or 22.7 percent. The rest were owed to other creditors (mainly suppliers and exporters) amounting to $7.18 billion or 5.2 percent.
The country’s major creditor countries were Japan with $15.18 billion; Singapore, $5.06 billion; and the Netherlands, $4.55 billion. In terms of currency mix, the BSP said the country’s debt stock remained largely denominated in US dollars at $101.79 billion or 74 percent of the total. This was followed by the Philippine peso at $12.68 billion or 9.2 percent and the Japanese yen at $10.33 billion or 7.5 percent of the total.
The rest at $12.82 billion or 9.3 percent pertained to 12 other currencies, including the euro at $8.07 billion or 5.9 percent of the total and Special Drawing Rights, $3.71 billion or 2.7 percent.
In terms of debt profile, the country’s external debt remained predominantly medium- and longterm (MLT) in nature.
Outstanding MLT borrowings stood at $109.72 billion with its share to total at 79.7 percent. Meanwhile, outstanding short-term debt under the remaining maturity concept comprised 20.3 percent or $27.91 billion of the total outstanding external debt. Of the MLT accounts, the BSP said $63.42 billion (or 54.4 percent) have fixed interest rates, $51.98 billion (or 44.5 percent) carry variable rates, and $1.28 billion (or 1.1 percent) are non-interest bearing.
Ratings. A higher credit rating allows the government to borrow at lower interest rates. By end-2025, the government’s debt service bill is seen to reach P2.050 trillion.
Reine Juvierre S. Alberto
Ambassador Antonio L. Cabangon Chua…
Continued from A14
Through the years, he built an extensive media network that remains relevant and impactful today. Among his most notable ventures was DWIZ 882 AM, a powerhouse in news and public affairs radio, delivering fearless journalism and indepth reporting. He also launched 97.9 Home Radio FM, catering to a wide audience with its music and entertainment programs.
In print media, he founded BusinessMirror, one of the country’s leading business newspapers, known for its sharp analysis of economic and corporate affairs. His passion for storytelling was evident in his revival of the Philippines Graphic, a premier literary magazine that continues the legacy of his dear friend, National Artist for Literature Nick Joaquin. To make business news more accessible to the masses, he established Pilipino Mirror, the country’s first business tabloid in Filipino. In television, his heirs have recently fulfilled one of his dreams by launching Aliw Channel 23, a free-to-air digital television bringing high-quality content to Filipino audiences.
Cabangon Chua’s deep love and dedication to media were nurtured and strengthened by the friendships he built with some of the most respected figures in journalism and literature. Among them were Blas Ople, Amado Hernandez, Celso Carunungan, Nick Joaquin, Clem Roxas, Greg Brillantes, Pete Lacaba, Gimo de Vega, Rolando Carbonell, Emil Jurado, Tony Lopez, Cesar Mella, Willy Baun, Butch Del Castillo, Nering
Andolong, Bubby Dacer, Cecil Arillo, Fred dela Rosa, Caloy Castro, Teddy Boy Locsin, Juan Dayang, Amado Gat Inciong, Pat Gonzales, and Joe Tumbokon.
Cabangon Chua understood the role of media in shaping society. He was not one to write headlines or report from the field, but he made it his mission to build platforms where journalism could thrive, ensuring that the Filipino people had access to credible news and responsible reporting. His contributions were not just about business; they were about service to the nation.
Maralit also highlighted Cabangon Chua’s dedication to religious advocacies, including promoting Beato Lorenzo Ruiz’s canonization. He commissioned the Brown Madonna, a Filipino Marian image, gifting a replica to Pope John Paul II. He supported churches and religious groups, furthering his commitment to faith. His legacy continued in 2015 when Isuzu Gencars provided the Popemobile for Pope Francis’ visit, which the Pontiff praised as a “beautiful car.” Later that year, the Cabangon family donated a second Popemobile to the Vatican. His work as Ambassador to Laos further cemented his legacy, fostering diplomatic ties and strengthening international relations. He extended his generosity by funding scholarships and supporting Laotian children, many of whom now hold esteemed positions in their country.
As his portrait was unveiled among the nation’s greatest journalists, statesmen, and media icons, the Cabangon family, represented by the children of Ambas-
sador Cabangon Chua—D. Edgard, T. Anthony, D. Antoinette, Doan, and Randy Cabangon—as well as his grandson, Wesley Cabangon stood before the gathered guests and graciously accepted the honor, thanking the NPC for recognizing Ambassador Cabangon Chua’s lifelong dedication to media. D. Edgard A. Cabangon expressed deep gratitude for the recognition, saying, “On behalf of our family, we thank the National Press Club for this great honor given to our father, Ambassador Antonio L. Cabangon Chua.”
He also pledged to uphold his father’s legacy, stating, “We will continue to strengthen his vision and ensure that the institutions he built serve Filipinos with integrity, relevance, and dedication, just as he intended.”
Leading the occasion were NPC officials, including President Leonel Abasola, Secretary Ma. Kristina Maralit, Treasurer Mina Navarro, and Auditor Lydia Bueno, along with NPC directors Aya Yupangco, Alvin Murcia, Benedict Abaygar, Gina Mape, Jeane Lacorte, Jun Mendoza, and Dennis Napule.
Among those in attendance were former NPC presidents Paul Gutierrez, Rolando Gonzalo, and Lydia Bueno, along with Presidential Task Force on Media Security Undersecretary Jose Torres, Amba’s close friends, and members of the media.
As the ceremony concluded, it became clear that Cabangon Chua’s legacy in Philippine media would not simply be remembered—it would continue to shape and inspire generations to come.
www.businessmirror.com.ph
List of dubious names on Sara’s list of confi fund recipients gets longer
TBy Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie
HE list of dubious names allegedly used to justify millions in confidential fund disbursements under Vice President Sara Duterte’s office continues to grow, with House Deputy Majority Leader Paolo Ortega V of La Union exposing new questionable entries, including a so-called “Dodong Gang” and individuals named “Jay Kamote” and “Miggy Mango.”
House Deputy Majority Leader Paolo Ortega V said the latest revelations deepen concerns over fraudulent confidential fund transactions under the OVP, further bolstering the impeachment case against the country’s second-highest official. Ortega, in a statement, noted that
the emergence of more suspicious names highlights the scale of the alleged scheme, reinforcing what he now dubs the “Budol Gang” of fabricated beneficiaries used to facilitate the misuse of public funds.
Among those flagged were at least five individuals named “Dodong” appearing as fund recipients: Dodong Alcala, Dodong Bina, Dodong Bunal, Dodong Darong, and Dodong S. Barok. Additionally, names such as “Jay Kamote” and “Miggy Mango”— which amusingly resemble a root crop and a fruit—were also discovered in the confidential fund records.
“First, there were snacks and cellphones.
Now, we have fruits and root crops. And most notably, it looks like there’s a whole ‘Dodong Gang’ in this list! Not just one or three, but five Dodongs,” Ortega, who represents La
Union, remarked.
These names follow the earlier discovery of alleged fake recipients “Mary Grace Piattos,” “Pia Piatos-Lim,” and “Renan Piatos,” whose surnames bore striking similarities to a well-known snack brand, as well as “Xiaome Ocho,” which sounded like a popular smartphone brand.
Similar to the previously flagged names, “Jay Kamote,” “Miggy Mango,” and the five Dodongs have no birth, marriage, or death records with the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), yet they appeared in the OVP’s confidential fund reports.
PSA findings have further cast doubt on the legitimacy of the confidential fund disbursements under Vice President Duterte. Of the 1,992 supposed fund recipients, official records show that 1,322
Comelec wraps up printing of ballots for May elections
By Justine Xyrah Garcia
HE Commission on Elections (Comelec)
Thas completed printing 68.5 million ballots for the coming midterm elections, staying on schedule despite initial setbacks.
In a press briefing on Saturday, Comelec Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia said that the printing process took a total of 48 days.
had no birth records, 1,456 had no marriage records, and 1,593 had no death records.
“What kind of payroll is this? Imaginary? We can’t even verify if these supposed recipients are real people,” Ortega pointed out.
The PSA certifications, dated December 8 and December 11, 2024, were submitted to the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, also known as the Blue-Ribbon Committee, and now serve as key evidence in the impeachment case against the Vice President.
Ortega argued that these findings further strengthen the impeachment case, which is centered on the questionable use of P612.5 million in confidential fund allocations under the OVP and the Department of Education (DepEd), where Duterte previously served as Secretary.
“This is not just negligence—it is a carefully planned embezzlement of public funds. The names are fake, the liquidation is fake, and accountability is nonexistent,” Ortega asserted.
Speaker on hike in troops’ food allowance: Best is yet to come
MEMBERS of the Armed Forces (AFP) were reassured by the House of Representatives leadership on Sunday that the increase in their daily sustenance allowance from P150 to P350 is just the start of larger efforts to improve benefits and support for the troops.
Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez welcomed the approval of Executive Order 84, which increases the daily subsistence allowance of AFP personnel from P150 to P350.
“This is not the final step. We will continue to advocate for programs that provide better conditions for our soldiers— including healthcare benefits, housing, and other assistance for their families,” Romualdez said.
“This is a well-deserved increase for our brave and dedicated soldiers
who tirelessly defend our country. It is a concrete manifestation of our commitment to improve their welfare and recognize their sacrifices for our nation,” Romualdez, who pushed the additional subsistence allowance under the 2025 national budget, said. He reaffirmed the commitment of the House of Representatives to work closely with President Marcos and relevant agencies to consistently address the AFP’s needs.
“Under the Bagong Pilipinas initiative, we will ensure that our soldiers are not neglected. Your service will never be forgotten, and the government will continue to provide the support you rightfully deserve,” he said.
Garcia said these remaining ballots are set for release in the second week of April to allow sufficient time for ongoing manual and machine verification at the National Printing Office (NPO) and Amoranto Stadium in Quezon City.
He said ballot distribution will prioritize far-flung regions such as the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region and Caraga to ensure timely delivery.
“Although we encountered some issues at the start, we delivered on our promise. The public need not worry—we have the ballots ready for May 12,” Garcia said, partly in Filipino. The printed ballots are for the national and local elections, excluding those for the Bangsamoro parliamentary polls, as well as the test and final testing and sealing ballots.
He also assured the public that ballots will remain secure throughout deployment, with police personnel guarding them at all times.
“The Comelec is linked to the National Police’s operations center, so we can monitor the exact location of ballot shipments. This is to ensure their security and safety,” Garcia said.
With each ballot costing P21, Comelec estimates spending around P1.43 billion on ballot printing alone, excluding the budget allocated for personnel overseeing verification.
While ballot printing is considered as one of the biggest election-related expenses, Garcia assured that no funds are wasted since the “bad ballots” or defective ones that fail verification are not included in the commission’s payments to NPO.
‘No turning back’ WHEN asked about the possibility of lastminute additions to the official ballot, Garcia said it is highly unlikely for the commission to add their names.
“At this point, reprinting would be nearly impossible. We worked hard to get this done…There’s no turning back now,” he said.
Garcia added that if a political aspirant secures a temporary restraining order from the Supreme Court, the Comelec en banc will deliberate on the next steps.
Earlier this year, the commission temporarily halted ballot printing after the High Court ordered it to reinstate several national and local candidates, including senatorial aspirant Subair Mustapha and
See “Comelec A4
Lacson to servicemen: Remain professional, loyal to country
By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM
FThe protests came alongside amid reported calls for partisan activity following the arrest of the former President. Lacson also said Saturday that members of the PNP and AFP should double-check such calls, especially those made through social media, because of the proliferation of fake news.
“They should remain professional and loyal to their duty. That is the best message,” Lacson, a former National Police chief before See “Lacson,” A4
ORMER senator Panfilo Lacson on Sunday reminded uniformed personnel to “remain professional and loyal to the country,” amid rumors that the arrest and handover to the International Court of Justice (ICC) of former President RodrigoDuterte was stirring unrest among soldiers and policemen. Lacson’s message to the National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces (AFP) was conveyed as some of Duterte’s civilian supporters mounted sporadic protests in the Philippines and the Netherlands, where the ICC is headquartered.
‘Enough water for NCR this dry season’
By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga
AYNILAD Water Ser -
Mvices, Inc. on Sunday said it has increased its water production capacity by approximately 315 million liters per day (MLD) in 2024, strengthening its ability to sustain uninterrupted water service despite the so-called summer or dry season when water consumption drastically increases.
The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), in coordination with the National Water Resources Board (NWRB), had taken proactive measures to ensure Angat Dam was adequately filled earlier this year, securing sufficient raw water supply for the dry months.
Maynilad is the largest private water concessionaire of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) in terms of customer base. Its service area includes the cities of Manila (all but portions of San Andres and Sta. Ana), Quezon City (west of San Juan River, West Avenue, Epifanio delos Santos Avenue, Congressional and Mindanao avenues, the northern part starting
from the Districts of Holy Spirit and Batasan Hills), Makati (west of South Super Highway), Caloocan, Pasay, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Valenzuela, Navotas, and Malabon, all in Metro Manila; and the cities of Cavite, Bacoor, and Imus, and the municipalities of Kawit, Noveleta, and Rosario, all in the province of Cavite.
Angat water to last until end-summer
AN official of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), meanwhile, said the water level at Angat remains way above the normal operating level, and areas dependent on water from Angat will have sufficient supply that could last until the onset of the rainy season.
“The news for Metro Manila is that we have enough water to last until the end of summer,”
Environment Undersecretary for Integrated Science Primo David, concurrent head of the Water Resource Management Office (WRMO) said. Learning from experience, water agencies are now more pro-active in saving water from Angat, where 90 percent of water for Metro Manila and near -
by areas like Bulacan, Cavite, and Rizal, come from.
As of 8 a.m. on March 16, the water level at Angat Dam was 212.88 meters above sea level. The minimum operating level at Angat is 180 meters above sea level.
The current supply going to Metro Manila residents, including parts of Rizal, Cavite, and Bulacan, through private water concessionaires is 52 cubic meters per second (CMS).
Nevertheless, David said the WRMO is not being complacent and is monitoring the water level at Angat.
“If the water level goes down, we will immediately reduce supply, but right now, there’s no need. Our supply is going at full capacity, including for the irrigation supply of farmers in Pampanga and Bulacan,” he said.
Maynilad proactive measures
MAYNILAD said that despite the assurance of adequate supply from the MWSS, it implemented several key initiatives last year to enhance water production and strengthen service reliability.
Among the major accomplishments in 2024 are:
NCR retail prices soften further in February
By Bless Aubrey Ogerio
METRO Manila’s retail price index lost momentum in February, with the decline in mineral fuel and lubricant costs leading the slowdown, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said.
The General Retail Price Index (GRPI) in the National Capital Region (NCR) slowed to 1.3 percent in February from 1.4 percent in January this year. Compared to February 2024, the year-on-year growth rate was significantly lower at 2.1 percent.
The index of mineral fuels, lubricants, and related materials recorded a 1.3 percent annual decline in February 2025, reversing from a 0.9 percent increase in January. Meanwhile, the food index slowed to 1.6 percent from 1.8 percent in the previous month.
Meanwhile, beverages and tobacco saw a slightly higher annual increase at 3.9 percent from 3.8 percent in January 2025, while crude materials, inedible except fuels,
rose to 0.8 percent from 0.6 percent. Annual growth rates remained unchanged in February 2025 for chemicals (including animal and vegetable oils and fats) at 2.2 percent, manufactured goods at 1.1 percent, machinery and transport equipment at 0.2 percent and miscellaneous manufactured articles at 1.1 percent.
The GRPI tracks changes in the overall price levels at which retailers sell goods to consumers or end-users, the PSA explained It also noted that “retail price” refers to the price sellers accept for immediate or earliest delivery, typically in small quantities. “It covers transactions on cash basis in the open market. Excluded are black martket prices of commodities which are considered ‘on sale’ such as an inventory sales, Christmas sale, summer sale, anniversary sale, and the like,” the statistics agency said.
The GRPI currently uses 2012 as its base year.
NCR building retail prices PRICE growth of construction materials for retail in Metro Manila decelerated in February 2025, weighed down by softer price increases in plumbing materials, the latest data from PSA showed.
The Construction Materials Retail Price Index (CMPRI) in the National Capital Region (NCR) dipped to 1.1 percent in February, down from 1.2 percent in January. On the other hand, February’s growth rate matched the figure recorded in the same month last year.
According to the PSA, six out of seven commodity groups posted slower annual growth in February 2025 compared to the previous month.
“Among the six commodity groups, the primary drivers of the continued downtrend of CMRPI during the month were the slower annual increases observed in the indices of plumbing materials,” the PSA said, stating that its annual growth slowed to 0.4 percent from
n Expansion of the Poblacion Water Treatment Plant (WTP) in Muntinlupa, which now provides around 150 MLD.
n An additional 20 MLD from the Laguna Lake Modular Treatment Plant, reinforcing the output of Putatan WTP 1 & 2.
n Intensified pipe replacement and leak repair efforts, allowing Maynilad to recover more water and reduce system losses.
n Commissioning of the Anabu Modular Treatment Plant (ModTP), which now contributes 12 MLD of potable water sourced from the Imus River.
n Reactivation and construction of deep wells, tapping additional groundwater sources to augment supply.
“With these production enhancements, we are well-prepared to meet increased water demand this summer,” said Maynilad Chief Operating Officer Randolph T. Estrellado.
“Our continued investments in treatment facilities, deep wells, and network improvements ensure reliable water service for our customers, even during peak demand periods.”
0.8 percent in January 2025.
Meanwhile, miscellaneous construction materials saw their annual growth slow to 0.4 percent from 0.6 percent, while tinsmithry materials eased to 1.5 percent from 1.6 percent in the previous month.
Slower annual growth was also recorded in the indices of carpentry materials (0.9 percent from 1.0 percent), electrical materials (1.7 percent from 1.8 percent) and masonry materials (0.2 percent from 0.3 percent).
In contrast, painting materials and related compounds saw a higher annual increase, rising to 2.7 percent from 2.2 percent in January 2025.
Per the statistics agency, the “retail price” in the CMRPI refers to the price at which sellers accept orders for immediate or earliest delivery, typically in small quantities.
“It covers transactions on cash basis in the open market. Excluded are black martket prices of commodities which are considered ‘on sale’ such as an inventory sales, Christmas sale, summer sale, anniversary sale, and the like,” it added.
Forum tackles need for foreign allies to protect democracy, poll integrity
TO fight the challenges brought by the continuous rise in cybercrimes and the on-going threat of foreign interference ahead of the 2025 national elections, the Philippines needs to form alliances with like-minded partners to safeguard democracy and election integrity.
In a recent two-day conference on cybersecurity organized by the Stratbase Institute in partnership with the Embassy of Canada in the Philippines, ambassadors from Canada, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and Germany emphasized the value of partnership and cooperation to fight the growing threat of cybercrime. Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines David Hartman stressed the importance of cooperation with Philippines and other likeminded allies to build cyber resilient systems and protect each other’s sovereignty.
“There is tremendous potential for Canada and the Philippines, as well as other partners in the region, to collaborate on cybersecurity initiatives. Our countries can share best practices and lessons learned, work together on incident response, enhance capacity building and advocate together for responsible state behavior in cyberspace,” Hartman explained.
He shared that similar to the Philippines, Canada is primarily concerned with malicious cybersecurity threats,which attack their critical infrastructure and which spread online disinformation campaigns and engage in malign influence operations. He noted that a Canadian public inquiry
found that multiple foreign states engaged in malicious activities to undermine Canada’s sovereignty during their 2019 and 2021 federal elections.
“Foreign state actors are increasingly using the information space to interfere in Canada’s internal affairs and to undermine our sovereignty… Let me be blunt: Canada is clear-eyed about the threat that disinformation and online manipulation present, and we are very serious about responding to it,” Hartman said.
Senior Official for Cybersecurity at the Government of Canada Sami Khoury highlighted the growing risks posed by artificial intelligence (AI) to electoral processes and civic engagement. He noted that Canada will hold its federal elections in October 2025.
“China continues to be the cyber actor that almost certainly poses the greatest ongoing cyber espionage threat. Their cyber activities outpace those of other nations in volume, sophistication, and the breadth of their targeting. They are well-resourced, persistent, and capable of sustaining multiple campaigns simultaneously,” Khoury warned.
Similarly in the Philippines, with the May 2025 Philippine midterm elections approaching, concerns over online disinformation and foreign interference are mounting.
In his speech during the conference, Stratbase Institute President Victor Andres Manhit discussed the web of disinformation, perpetuated by foreign actors, but used by Filipinos to spread disinformation
online, particularly about the West Philippine Sea, and influence the decision-making of Filipinos ahead of the 2025 election season.
“The digital space, once a tool for democracy, is now weaponized. Pro-China narratives and propaganda infiltrate social media, distorting public opinion and undermining sovereignty—particularly on issues like the West Philippine Sea,” Manhit said.
He then emphasized the role of likeminded partners like Canada in strengthening the Philippines cyber defense.
“We must continue working with likeminded partners such as Canada to share threat intelligence, facilitate technology transfers, and engage in training, among others. It is through these that we will be able to fill any gaps in cyber defense. Leveraging the contributions and expertise of the government, private sector, civil society, and like-minded partners is crucial amid today’s evolving cyber landscape,” Manhit noted.
Further, top diplomats from other countries and regions also shared their experience in fighting cyber threats and highlighted the need to strengthen collaboration with like-minded partners like the Philippines.
British Ambassador to the Philippines Laure Beaufils said the Philippines and United Kingdom continue to fight the same threats, which are being launched from anywhere in the world.
“Both of our countries have suffered
Binay
to
DOH:
If you build it, maintain it
By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie
THE Department of Health (DOH) should not shift the financial responsibility of operating health centers to local governments after constructing them, an Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas candidate said.
Senatorial candidate and Makati
Mayor Abby Binay emphasized that while the national government takes charge of building health infrastructure, the burden of managing and funding these facilities falls on local governments.
“It is an unfair expectation for many local governments, especially those in poorer municipalities,” Binay said.
As a sitting mayor, Binay highlighted the concerns of local governments regarding Super Health Centers. “When a health center is built, it is the local government that has to find doctors and nurses and maintain the facility. More often than not, municipalities and local governments simply do not have the
capacity to do so,” she explained. Binay called for a more collaborative approach between the DOH and local governments.
“There has to be coordination. The DOH and local governments need to engage in continuous consultations to encourage the establishment of more Super Health Centers,” she said.
According to Binay, the national government must ensure that the health needs of the people are addressed effectively, without compromising the financial stability of local governments.
“Sustained national government support is essential for our localities to be motivated to open more Super Health Centers. They cannot afford to build hospitals because the costs are simply too high,” Binay stressed.
As a potential solution, Binay proposed that local governments could form clusters and share the costs of operating a strategically located Super Health Center that would be accessible to all cluster members.
‘Probe text scams proliferation despite SIM registration law’
ASENATOR is seeking a legislative inquiry into the persistent proliferation of text scams despite the implementation of the SIM registration law.
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian lamented at the weekend that even after two years of enforcement, the proliferation of text scams continues to be a pervasive problem in the country. In filing Resolution 1324 seeking to conduct an inquiry into the issue, he cited estimates that 600,000 people fell prey to such scams in 2024 alone.
His call comes amid proposals to require SIM card owners to be physically present during registration as part of a comprehensive review aimed at improving the implementation of the SIM Registration Act. “This proposal would be inconvenient for consumers, as it would require them to
AFP. . .
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ransomware attacks on critical healthcare systems and seen our governance targeted by hostile states. Sharing intelligence, building resilience, and taking down these actors together are key to keeping our societies secure,” Beaufils said.
European Union Ambassador to the Philippines Massimo Santoro emphasized the need for a global commitment to an open and transparent digital world.
“By working together, we strengthen not only our capacities, but also our global commitment for a democratic, open and transparent digital world. We are sure that we can build a cyberspace that is not only secure, but equitable, inclusive and future-proof,” Santoro noted.
German Ambassador to the Philippines Andreas Michael Pfaffernoschke highlighted the broader role of cyber diplomacy.
“Cyber diplomacy is not merely about protecting networks and systems. It’s about fostering a global community where all nations, individuals, and organizations can safely and freely participate in the digital world.”
Similarly, Malaysian Ambassador to the Philippines Melvin Castelino Anthony said multilateral engagement is crucial in tackling cybersecurity challenges.
“With technology rapidly evolving, it is intentional to maintain the momentum of international discussions to establish clear norms, principles and cooperative mechanisms that guide state behaviour in cyberspace,” he said. Rizal Raoul Reyes
The adjustment, retroactive to January 1, 2025, was approved by President Marcos through EO 84 and will be funded under the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA). The House of Representatives and the Senate collaborated to ensure the inclusion of provisions for the welfare of uniformed personnel.
register in person, similar to the process of applying for a driver’s license or an NBI clearance,” Gatchalian said. The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has admitted that scammers remain ahead with new tactics, including text hijacking devices or counterfeit cell sites, also known as International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) catchers, which allow them to mimic legitimate cell towers, send fraudulent SMS, and deceive mobile users.
“Given the crucial role of technology in nation-building, it is essential to strengthen cybersecurity and verification measures and implement additional safeguards to combat the continuous proliferation of text scams in the country,” he added. Butch Fernandez
Romualdez emphasized that this increase aligns with the administration’s goal of uplifting the morale of uniformed personnel and providing adequate support for their daily needs.
Lacson. . .
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being elected senator, said in Filipino in a radio interview.
“In this day and age of information technology, fake news spreads fast. And we know that is in their training to conduct fact-checking first. If there are reports of partisan activity, they should not get involved,” he added.
“Our promise has been fulfilled! Our soldiers will now receive a higher subsistence allowance—from P150 to P350 per day or P10,500 per month. This is a significant step in ensuring that their sacrifices are met with the proper support from our government,” he said.
Romualdez also stressed that investing in the welfare of soldiers is crucial to strengthening national security and ensuring a stable country.
“When our soldiers are well taken care of, our nation becomes stronger. This subsistence allowance increase is a step towards a more resilient, progressive, and secure Philippines,” he added.
Meanwhile, Lacson said he is studying possible legislation to crack down on fake news, noting the current laws against cyber-libel may need more teeth. Unless laws are strengthened against fake news and cyber-libel, he said these threats may undermine our culture and destroy good manners and right conduct.
“We must focus on penalizing the spread of fake news. This threatens our culture, and contributes to the destruction of our good manners and right conduct,” he said.
Lacson had served in the AFP as a member of the Philippine Constabulary (PC) from 1971 to 1991. He also served in the PNP, heading the institution from 1999 to 2001.
Comelec. . .
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Any votes cast for them will be considered
Editor: Angel R. Calso
Russia and Ukraine exchange heavy drone attacks amid ceasefire talks
By Samya Kullab The Associated Press
KYIV, Ukraine—Russia and Ukraine traded heavy aerial blows overnight, with both sides on Saturday reporting more than 100 enemy drones over their respective territories.
In a statement earlier on Saturday, Zelenskyy had accused Moscow of building up forces along the border.
the war with Ukraine.
Putin told a press conference on Thursday that he supported a truce in principle but set out a host of details that need to be clarified before it is agreed. Kyiv has already endorsed the truce proposal, although Ukrainian officials have publicly raised doubts as to whether Moscow will commit to such a deal.
Speaking to reporters in Kyiv on Saturday, after virtual talks between Western allies hosted by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Zelenskyy voiced Ukraine’s support for the 30day full ceasefire proposal to discuss a longer-term peace plan, but said Russia would attempt to derail talks with conditions and “buts”.
Starmer has told allies to “keep the pressure” on Putin to back a ceasefire in Ukraine, hailing Ukraine as the “party of peace.” Starmer said Putin will “sooner or later” have to “come to the table.
“The buildup of Russian forces indicates that Moscow intends to keep ignoring diplomacy. It is clear that Russia is prolonging the war,” he said. However, Zelenskyy stressed that if Russia did not agree with the US proposal there would be “specific, harsh and straightforward” response from the administration of US President Donald Trump.
He also said that Kyiv’s troops were maintaining their presence in Russia’s Kursk region after Trump said Friday that “thousands” of Ukrainian troops had been surrounded by the Russian military.
“The operation of our forces in the designated areas of the Kursk region continues,” Zelenskyy said. “Our troops continue to hold back Russian and North Korean groupings in the Kursk region. There is no encirclement of our troops.”
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke Saturday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. In the call, they discussed next steps to follow up on
recent meetings in Saudi Arabia and agreed to continue working towards restoring communication between the United States and Russia, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in a statement.
Ukraine’s air force said Saturday that Russia had launched a barrage of 178 drones and two ballistic missiles over the country overnight. The attack was a mixture of Shahed-type drones and imitation drones designed to confuse air defenses. Some 130 drones were shot down, while 38 more failed to reach their targets.
Russia attacked energy facilities, causing significant damage, striking energy infrastructure in the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, Ukraine’s private energy company DTEK said in a statement on Saturday. Some residents were left without electricity.
“The damage is significant. En -
ergy workers are already working on the ground. We are doing everything possible to restore power to homes as soon as possible,” the energy firm said.
Falling drone debris in Russia’s Volgograd region sparked a fire in the Krasnoarmeysky district of the city, close to a Lukoil oil refinery, according to Gov. Andrei Bocharov, who provided no further details. Nearby airports temporarily halted flights, local media outlets reported. No casualties were reported.
The Volgograd refinery has been targeted by Kyiv’s forces on several occasions since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than three years ago, most recently in a drone attack on February 15.
Katie Marie Davies in Manchester, England, contributed to this report.
Hamas conditions release of hostages on ceasefire agreement; 9 killed in Israeli strikes in Gaza Strip
CBy Samy Magdy The Associated Press
AIRO—Hamas said Saturday it will only release an AmericanIsraeli and the bodies of four other hostages if Israel implements their ceasefire agreement, calling it an “exceptional deal” aimed at getting the truce back on track. Israeli airstrikes meanwhile killed nine people in the Gaza Strip who the military identified as militants, allegations denied by a UK-based aid group that said eight of its workers were killed.
A senior Hamas official said longdelayed talks over the ceasefire’s second phase would need to begin the day of the release and last no longer than 50 days. Israel also would need to stop barring the entry of humanitarian aid and withdraw from a strategic corridor along Gaza’s border with Egypt. Israel has said it won’t pull out from the corridor, citing the need to combat weapons smuggling.
Hamas would also demand the release of more Palestinian prisoners in exchange for hostages, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the closed-door talks.
Edan Alexander, 21, who grew up in New Jersey, was abducted from his military base during Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack that ignited the war. He is the last living US citizen held in Gaza. Hamas still has 59 hostages, 35 believed to be dead.
Speaking at a protest camp set up last week outside Israeli military headquarters in Tel Aviv, relatives of hostages said Netanyahu was “violating the agreement he signed and abandoning the hostages in Gaza.”
“You want to sacrifice our children for the pleasures of power,” said Itzik Horn, father of hostage Eitan and freed hostage Iair.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu late Saturday told negotiators to prepare for the continuation of talks regarding the release of hostages, his office said.
Airstrikes kill nine
T WO Israeli airstrikes in the northern town of Beit Lahiya near the border killed at least nine people, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
The Palestinian Journalists’ Protection Center, a local watchdog, said the dead included three Palestinian journalists who were documenting aid distribution. Local health official Fares Awad identified one as Mahmoud Islim, who was operating a drone.
The Israeli military said it struck two people operating a drone that it said posed a threat to soldiers in the area. It said it launched another strike at a group of people who came to collect the drone equipment, identifying all those targeted as militants.
The army later released the names of six people it said were militants killed in the strikes, including one accused of taking part in the October 7 attack and another who it said had been released as part of the ceasefire. The military said two others, including Islim, were militants posing as journalists.
The UK-based Al Khair Foundation said that eight of its workers were killed in the strikes. It denied the Israeli military’s allegations that those killed were militants or had connections to Hamas.
Hamas in a statement called the attack a “serious escalation” showing Israel’s attempts to “sabotage any opportunity” to implement the ceasefire agreement.
Also Saturday, Israel’s military said it removed a platoon of soldiers from Gaza who were seen in a video on social media opening fire during a celebration of the Jewish holiday of Purim. The video shows soldiers shooting, apparently randomly, while another performs the customary reading of the Book of Esther. The military said the soldiers “will face disciplinary measures.”
No major fighting has occurred in Gaza since the ceasefire took hold on January 19, but Israeli strikes have killed dozens of Palestinians who the military said had entered unauthorized areas, engaged in militant activities or otherwise violated the truce.
Israel has cast doubt on Hamas’ offer T HE United States said it presented on Wednesday a proposal to extend the ceasefire a few weeks as the sides negotiate a permanent truce. It said Hamas was claiming flexibility in public while privately making “entirely impractical” demands.
Talks continued in Egypt, which
Trump orders strikes on Houthi rebels in Yemen, vows ‘overwhelming force’
By Michelle L. Price, Samy Magdy & Lolita C. Baldor The Associated Press
PALM BEACH, Fla.—
EST
WPresident Donald Trump said he ordered a series of airstrikes on the Houthi-held areas in Yemen on Saturday, promising to use “overwhelming lethal force” until Iranian-backed Houthi rebels cease their attacks on shipping along a vital maritime corridor. The Houthis said at least 18 civilians were killed.
“Our brave Warfighters are right now carrying out aerial attacks on the terrorists’ bases, leaders, and missile defenses to protect American shipping, air, and naval assets, and to restore Navigational Freedom,” Trump said in a social media post. “No terrorist force will stop American commercial and naval vessels from freely sailing the Waterways of the World.”
He also warned Iran to stop supporting the rebel group, promising to hold the country “fully accountable” for the actions of its proxy. It comes two weeks after the US leader sent a letter to Iranian leaders offering a path to restarting bilateral talks between the countries on Iran’s advancing nuclear program. Trump has said he will not allow it to become operational.
The Houthis reported explosions in their territory Saturday evening, in the capital of Sanaa and the northern province of Saada, the rebels’ stronghold on the border with Saudi Arabia, with more airstrikes reported in those areas early Sunday. Images online showed plumes of black smoke over the area of the Sanaa airport complex, which includes a sprawling military facility. The Houthis also reported airstrikes early Sunday on the provinces of Hodeida, Bayda, and Marib.
along with Qatar has served as mediators with Hamas in the indirect talks with Israel.
Israel and Hamas were to begin negotiations on the ceasefire’s second phase in early February, but only preparatory talks have been held. In Phase Two, Hamas would release all remaining hostages in exchange for a lasting truce.
The first phase saw the release of 25 Israeli hostages and the bodies of eight others in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Israeli forces pulled back to a buffer zone along Gaza’s border and allowed a surge of humanitarian aid.
After the first phase ended early this month, Israel said it had agreed to a new US proposal in which Hamas would release half the remaining hostages in return for a vague commitment to negotiate a lasting ceasefire. Hamas rejected that offer.
Netanyahu’s office said in a statement that he held in-depth discussions with the negotiating team and security officials on Saturday evening. Afterward, he told the negotiating team to prepare for continued talks as per the mediator’s response to US envoy Steve Witkoff’s proposal, the statement said.
Palestinian official says no fuel left for wells F OR two weeks, Israel has barred the delivery of food, fuel and other supplies to Gaza’s roughly 2 million Palestinians, and cut electricity to the territory a week ago, to pressure Hamas to accept the new proposal.
The southern city of Rafah, on the Gaza-Egypt border, said it could no longer provide fuel needed to pump water from dozens of wells. Ahmed al-Sufi, head of the municipality, said fuel shortages caused by the Israeli siege have forced it to “suspend essential services, threatening the lives of thousands.”
Associated Press writer Natalie Melzer in Nahariya, Israel contributed to
At least 18 people were killed, including 13 in Sanaa and five in Saada, according to the Houthi-run health ministry. At least 24 others were wounded, including nine in Sanaa and 15 in Saada, it said.
A US official said this was the beginning of air strikes on Houthi targets that are expected to continue. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the press.
Nasruddin Amer, deputy head of the Houthi media office, said the airstrikes won’t deter them and they would retaliate against the US. “Sanaa will remain Gaza’s shield and support and will not abandon it no matter the challenges,” he added on social media.
Another spokesman, Mohamed Abdulsalam, on X, called Trump’s claims that the Houthis threaten international shipping routes “false and misleading.”
The airstrikes come a few days after the Houthis said they would resume attacks on Israeli vessels sailing off Yemen in response to Israel’s latest blockade on Gaza. They described the warning as affecting the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Arabian Sea.
There have been no Houthi attacks reported since then.
Earlier this month, Israel halted all aid coming into Gaza and warned of “additional consequences” for Hamas if their fragile ceasefire in the war isn’t extended as negotiations continue over starting a second phase.
The Houthis had targeted over 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones, sinking two vessels and killing four sailors, during their campaign targeting military and civilian ships between the start of the war between Israel and Hamas in late 2023 and January of this year, when this ceasefire in Gaza took effect.
The attacks raised the Houthis’ profile as they faced economic and other problems at home amid Yemen’s decade-long stalemated war that’s torn apart the Arab world’s poorest nation.
The Houthi media office said the US strikes hit a residential neighborhood in Sanaa’s northern district of Shouab. Residents said at least four airstrikes rocked the Eastern Geraf neighborhood there, terrifying women and children.
“The explosions were very strong,” said Abdallah al-Alffi. “It was like an earthquake.”
The Eastern Geraf is home to Houthi-held military facilities and a headquarters for the rebels’ political bureau, located in a densely populated area.
The Houthis reported fresh strikes on the southwestern Dhamar province late Saturday. They said the strikes hit the outskirts of the provincial capital, also named Dhamar, and the district of Abs.
The United States, Israel and Britain have previously hit Houthi-held areas in Yemen. Israel’s military declined to comment.
However, Saturday’s operation was conducted solely by the US, according to a US official. It was the first strike on the Yemen-based Houthis under the second Trump administration.
Such broad-based missile strikes against the Houthis were carried out multiple times by the Biden administration in response to frequent attacks by the Houthis against commercial and military vessels in the region.
The USS Harry S. Truman carrier strike group, which includes the carrier, three Navy destroyers and one cruiser, are in the Red Sea and were part of Saturday’s mission. The USS Georgia cruise missile submarine has also been operating in the region.
Trump announced the strikes as he spent the day at his Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.
“These relentless assaults have cost the US and World Economy many BILLIONS of Dollars while, at the same time, putting innocent lives at risk,” Trump said.
Baldor reported from Washington and Magdy reported from Cairo. AP White House Correspondent Zeke Miller and AP writer Tara Copp in Washington contributed to this report.
Judge halts Trump’s deportations under 18th century law amid legal challenge
By Nicholas Riccardi & Will Weissert The Associated Press
WASHINGTON—A federal judge barred the Trump administration Saturday from carrying out deportations under a sweeping 18th century law that the president invoked hours earlier to speed removal of Venezuelan gang members from the United States.
ernment custody but ordering that any planes in the air be turned around.
The ruling came hours after Trump claimed the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua was invading the United States and invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, a wartime authority that allows the president broader leeway on policy and executive action to speed up mass deportations.
The act has only ever been used three times before, all during wars. Its most recent application was during World War II, when it was used to incarcerate Germans and Italians as well as for the mass internment of JapaneseAmerican civilians.
last decade. Trump and his allies have turned the gang into the face of the alleged threat posed by immigrants living in the US illegally and formally designated it a “foreign terrorist organization” last month.
Authorities in several countries have reported arrests of Tren de Aragua members, even as Venezuela’s government claims to have eliminated the criminal organization.
Monster storm wreaks havoc across us, killing 32 and leaving trail of destruction
“I do not believe I can wait any longer and am required to act,” Boasberg said during a Saturday evening hearing in a lawsuit brought by the ACLU and Democracy Forward. “A brief delay in their removal does not cause the government any harm,” he added, noting they remain in gov -
US District Judge James E. Boasberg said he needed to issue his order immediately because the government already was flying migrants it claimed were newly deportable under President Donald Trump’s proclamation to be incarcerated in El Salvador and Honduras. El Salvador already agreed this week to take up to 300 migrants that the Trump administration designated as gang members.
In a proclamation released just over an hour before Boasberg’s hearing, Trump contended that Tren de Aragua was effectively at war with the United States.
“Over the years, Venezuelan national and local authorities have ceded ever-greater control over their territories to transnational criminal organizations, including TdA,” Trump’s statement reads. “The result is a hybrid criminal state that is perpetrating an invasion of and predatory incursion into the United States, and which poses a substantial danger to the United States.”
The order could let the administration deport any migrant it identifies as a member of the gang without going through regular immigration proceedings, and also could remove other protections under criminal law for people the government targeted.
In a statement Saturday night, Attorney General Pam Bondi slammed Boasberg’s stay on deportations. “This order disregards well-established authority regarding President Trump’s power, and it puts the public and law enforcement at risk,” Bondi said.
The Tren de Aragua gang originated in a prison in the South American country and accompanied an exodus of millions of Venezuelans, the overwhelming majority of whom were seeking better living conditions after their nation’s economy came undone
The government said Trump actually signed the proclamation on Friday night. Immigration lawyers noticed the federal government suddenly moving to deport Venezuelans who they would not otherwise have the legal right to expel from the country, and scrambled to file lawsuits to block what they believed was a pending proclamation.
Boasberg issued an initial order at 9:20 a.m. Saturday blocking the Trump administration from deporting five Venezuelans named as plaintiffs in the ACLU suit who were being detained by the government and believed they were about to be deported. The Trump administration appealed that order, contending that halting a presidential act before it has been announced would cripple the executive branch.
If the order were allowed to stand, “district courts would have license to enjoin virtually any urgent nationalsecurity action just upon receipt of a complaint,” the Justice Department wrote in its appeal.
Boasberg then scheduled the afternoon hearing on whether to expand his order to all people who could be targeted under Trump’s declaration.
Deputy Assistant Attorney General Drew Ensign contended that the president had broad latitude to identify threats to the country and act under the 1798 law. He noted the US Supreme Court allowed President Harry Truman to continue to hold a German citizen in 1948, three years after World War II ended, under the measure.
Associated Press writer Regina Garcia Cano in Caracas, Venezuela, contributed to this report.
PBy Jeff Roberson, Rebecca Reynolds & Julie Walker The Associated Press
IEDMONT, Mo.—Violent tornadoes ripped through parts of the US, wiping out schools and toppling semitractor-trailers in several states, part of a monster storm that has killed at least 32 people as more severe weather was expected late Saturday.
The number of fatalities increased after the Kansas Highway Patrol reported eight people died in a highway pileup caused by a dust storm in Sherman County on Friday. At least 50 vehicles were involved.
In Mississippi, Gov. Tate Reeves announced that six people died in three counties and three more people were missing. There were 29 injuries across the state, he added in a nighttime post on the social platform X.
Missouri recorded more fatalities than any other state as scattered twisters overnight killed at least 12, authorities said. The deaths included a man whose home was ripped apart by a tornado.
“It was unrecognizable as a home. Just a debris field,” said Coroner Jim Akers of Butler County, describing the scene that confronted rescuers.
“The floor was upside down. We were walking on walls.”
Dakota Henderson said he and others rescuing people trapped in their homes Friday night found five bodies scattered in the debris outside what remained of his aunt’s house in hardhit Wayne County, Missouri.
“It was a very rough deal last night,” he said the following day, surrounded by uprooted trees and splintered homes. “It’s really disturbing for what happened to the people, the casualties last night.”
Henderson said they rescued his aunt from a bedroom that was the only one left standing, taking her out through a window. They also carried out a man who had a broken arm and leg.
Officials in Arkansas said three people died in Independence County and 29 others were injured across eight counties.
“We have teams out surveying the damage from last night’s tornadoes and have first responders on the ground to assist,” Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders said on X.
She, Reeves and Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp declared states of emergency.
Kemp said he was doing so in anticipation of severe weather moving in later in the day.
On Friday, meanwhile, authorities said three people were killed in car crashes during a dust storm in Amarillo, in the Texas Panhandle.
Extreme weather encompasses a zone of 100 million people
T HE deaths came as the massive storm system unleashed winds that triggered deadly dust storms and fanned more than 100 wildfires.
Extreme weather conditions were forecast to affect an area that is home to more than 100 million people.
Winds gusting up to 80 mph (130 kph) were predicted from the Canadian border to Texas, threatening blizzard conditions in colder northern areas and wildfire risk in warmer, drier places to the south.
The National Weather Service issued blizzard warnings for parts of far western Minnesota and far eastern South Dakota starting early Saturday. Snow accumulations of 3 to 6 inches (7.6 to 15.2 centimeters) were expected, with up to a foot (30 centimeters) possible.
Winds gusting to 60 mph (97 kph) were expected to cause whiteout conditions.
Evacuations were ordered in some Oklahoma communities as more than 130 fires were reported across the state, and nearly 300 homes were damaged or destroyed. Gov. Kevin Stitt said at a Saturday news conference that some 266 square miles (689 square kilometers) burned in the state. The State Patrol said winds were so strong that they toppled several tractor-trailers.
Experts said it’s not unusual to see such weather extremes in March.
Tornadoes hit amid storm outbreak S IGNIFICANT tornadoes continued to hit Saturday, with the region at highest risk stretching from eastern Louisiana and Mississippi through Alabama, western Georgia and the Florida panhandle, the Storm Prediction Center said.
Bailey Dillon, 24, and her fiancé, Caleb Barnes, watched a massive twister from their front porch in Tylertown, Mississippi, away as it struck an area about half a mile (0.8 km) near Paradise Ranch RV Park. They drove over afterward to see if anyone needed help and recorded video of snapped trees, leveled buildings and overturned vehicles.
“The amount of damage was catastrophic,” Dillon said. “It was a large amount of cabins, RVs, campers that were just flipped over—everything was destroyed.”
Paradise Ranch said via Facebook that all staff and guests were safe and accounted for, but Dillon said the damage extended beyond the RV park itself.
“Homes and everything were destroyed all around it,” she said. “Schools and buildings are just completely gone.”
Some imagery from the extreme weather went viral online.
Tad Peters and his father, Richard Peters, had pulled over to fuel up their pickup truck in Rolla, Missouri, on Friday night when they heard tornado sirens and saw other motorists fleeing the interstate to park.
“Whoa, is this coming? Oh, it’s here. It’s here,” Tad Peters can be heard saying on a video. “Look at all that debris. Ohhh. My God, we are in a torn...” His father then rolled up the window.
The two were headed to Indiana for a weightlifting competition but decided to head back home to Norman, Oklahoma, about six hours away, where they encountered wildfires. Wildfires elsewhere in the Southern Plains threatened to spread rapidly amid warm, dry weather and strong winds in Texas, Kansas, Missouri and New Mexico.
Walker reported from New York, and Reynolds from Louisville, Kentucky. Bruce Shipkowski in Toms River, New Jersey, Jeff Roberson in Wayne County, Missouri, Gene Johnson in Seattle and Janie Har in San Francisco contributed.
Starmer challenges Putin to prove he is serious about peace by signing up to Ukraine ceasefire
By Pan Pylas The Associated Press
LONDON—British Prime Minister Keir
Starmer on Saturday challenged Russian President Vladimir Putin to sign up to a ceasefire in its war against Ukraine if he is serious about peace, and said allies will keep increasing the pressure on the Kremlin, including by moving planning for a peacekeeping force to an “operational phase.”
Following a two-hour virtual meeting of what he has termed the “coalition of the willing,” Starmer said the Kremlin’s “dithering and delay” over US President Donald Trump’s ceasefire proposal, and Russia’s “continued barbaric attacks” on Ukraine, “run entirely counter” to Putin’s stated desire for peace.
“We agreed that now the ball was in Russia’s court, and President Putin must prove he is serious about peace and sign up to a ceasefire on equal terms,” the prime minister said. Around 30 leaders were involved in the call, including European partners such as French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Also present were Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and leaders from Australia, Canada and New Zealand, as well as officials from NATO and the European Union’s executive.
Starmer convened the meeting, the second in two weeks, as a means of helping Ukraine in the face of a change of approach by the US, following the return of President Donald Trump, as well as gauging support for any future possible peacekeeping mission. Many more countries were involved this time than the previous meeting on March 2.
He said there was a “stronger collective resolve and new commitments were put on the table,” both in relation to defending the deal and also on the wider issue of the defense and security of Europe.
troops in Ukraine to safeguard peace
S TARMER said all those attending had reaffirmed their commitment to Ukraine’s longterm security, and agreed that Ukraine “must be able to defend itself and deter future Russian aggression.”
He added that “robust and credible security arrangements” are the best way to ensure lasting peace in Ukraine, and said military planners would convene again in the UK on Thursday to progress practical plans to support Ukraine’s future security.
Without providing precise details, Starmer again said the allies were ready to put troops into Ukraine in order to safeguard the peace after any ceasefire. The UK and France have been working to get Ukraine’s allies to provide troops, weapons or other aid to a European military force that could be deployed to reassure Ukraine and deter Russia from attacking again.
Pope recovers steadily from pneumonia, continues reform efforts from
By Colleen Barry The Associated Press
ROME—Pope Francis entered the fifth week of hospital treatment for double pneumonia Saturday very much looking ahead as he worked on a signature priority of his papacy and signs of his recovery remained on a positive trajectory.
Working from the Gemelli hospital, Francis has approved a three-year implementation and evaluation process for his reform project that aims to make the church a more welcoming and responsive place. The Vatican office for the synod, or gathering of bishops, released a timetable through 2028 to implement the reforms and said Francis had approved the calendar last week.
In a new medical update, the Vatican said that doctors were working to reduce the pope’s nighttime reliance on the non-invasive ventilation mask, which will allow his lungs to work more.
Doctors underlined that while the pope’s condition is stable, he still requires hospitalization for both physical and respiratory therapy, which are ‘’showing further gradual improvements,” the Vatican said Saturday in the first medical update in three days. Besides treatment, the pontiff spent the day alternating between prayer, rest and some work. The Vatican has announced that it would provide medical updates on the pope less frequently, in what it called a positive development. The next medical update will be made in the middle of next week, the Vatican said. It also has ceased issuing brief morning advisories that the pope had slept well and was starting his day.
Doctors this week said the 88-year-old pontiff was no longer in critical, life-threatening condition, but have continued to emphasize that his condition remained complex due to his age, lack of mobility and the loss of part of a lung as a young man.
Francis was admitted to the hospital on Feb. 14 after a bout of bronchitis that made it difficult for him to speak. Doctors soon added a diagnosis of double pneumonia and a polymi -
hospital
P E o PLE pray for Pope Francis in front of the agostino Gemelli Polyclinic, in rome, s aturday, March 15, 2025, where the Pontiff is hospitalized since February 14. a P Photo/a ndrew Medichini
crobial (bacterial, viral and fungal) infection.
The first three weeks of his hospitalization were marked by a rollercoaster of setbacks, including respiratory crises, mild kidney failure and a severe coughing fit.
But medical updates this week have focused on his continued physical and respiratory therapy, as well as the rotation from high-flow oxygen through nostril tubes during the day and a non-invasive ventilation mask at night to help ensure his rest. An X-ray this week confirmed that the infection was clearing. Doctors have not indicated how much longer Francis will be hospitalized.
The pope this week participated in Lenten spiritual exercises from the hospital, which Vatican officials have said implied a lighter workload. He received a cake and hundreds of messages wishing him well on the 12th anniversary of his papacy Thursday.
The only public sign of life from the pope since his hospitalization was a recorded audio message thanking people for their prayers for his recovery in a weak and labored voice. It was played in St. Peter’s Square for the faithful gathered for a nightly recitation of the rosary prayer earlier this month.
For the last four Sundays, the traditional blessing that the pope delivers from a window overlooking St. Peter’s Square has been released as a text.
“We will build up Ukraine’s own defenses and armed forces, and be ready to deploy as a ‘coalition of the willing’ in the event of a peace deal, to help secure Ukraine on the land, at sea, and in the sky,” he added.
Ceasefire without conditions
T HE meeting took place in the wake of a US proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine, which Zelenskyy has backed. Putin has indicated that he supports a truce in principle but has set out a host of details that need to be clarified before agreeing to a ceasefire.
Starmer said Zelenskyy’s backing for an unconditional ceasefire shows that Ukraine is the “party of peace,” while Macron said it showed “courage.”
In a statement, Macron said Russia “does not seem to be sincerely seeking peace” and that Putin was intensifying the fighting before negotiating.
“This is the moment when our strategy of peace through strength comes into play,” he
said. “If we want peace, Russia must respond clearly and the pressure—in coordination with the United States—to secure this ceasefire must be clear.”
Zelenskyy emerged from the meeting calling for strengthened sanctions to pressure Russia into accepting a ceasefire without conditions that could pave the way for a peace deal. In a series of posts on X, he said “Moscow understands one language” and that a 30-day ceasefire “without killings” would create a window in which “it would truly be possible to negotiate all aspects of a real peace.”
He also said it wasn’t up to Putin who is stationed in Ukraine after any peace agreement as he gave his backing to a European contingent on the ground with an American “backstop.”
“If Putin wants to bring some foreign contingent onto Russia’s territory, that’s his business. But it is not his business to decide anything about Ukraine’s and Europe’s security,” Zelenskyy said.
A potential problem for the coalition and
for Zelenskyy is that Trump has given little or no support for any security arrangements that will involve US military backing.
‘Good vibes coming out of russia’
T HE United States has shifted its approach on the war since the return of Trump to the White House. The change of approach relative to that taken by President Joe Biden became particularly notable after Trump clashed with Zelenskyy on February 28 in the Oval Office.
Starmer has taken the lead, along with Macron, in assembling the “coalition of the willing,” in part to persuade Trump to maintain support for Kyiv. One outcome has already been a growing acceptance from European countries in particular that they need to do more to ensure their own security, including by increasing their defense spending.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s office said the German leader welcomed Zelenskyy’s readiness to enter an “unconditional” 30-day ceasefire and “stressed the significance of the American president’s leadership role.”
Trump voiced optimism Friday that Putin, who met with US envoy Steve Witkoff earlier in the week, will back a ceasefire.
“I’m getting from the standpoint about a ceasefire and ultimately a deal some pretty good vibes coming out of Russia,” he said. Ukraine, under severe military pressure on parts of the front line three years after Russia’s full-scale invasion, has already endorsed the truce proposal. Russia’s army has gained battlefield momentum, and analysts say Putin likely will be reluctant to rush into a ceasefire while he feels he has an advantage.
“Sooner or later, Putin will have to come to the table,” Starmer said. “So, this is the moment, let the guns fall silent, let the barbaric attacks on Ukraine, once and for all, stop and agree to a ceasefire now.”
John Leicester in Le Pecq, France, and Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed to this report.
Voters flood town halls with fears of Social Security cuts, putting heat on GOP over Elon Musk and DOGE
By Joey Cappelletti
The Associated Press
ho LL and, Mich.— o ne after another, callers on a telephone town hall with US r ep. Bill h uizenga pressed the Michigan r epublican about possible cuts to Social Security. a mong them was a retired teacher and coach from west Michigan who said he and his wife, both with disabilities, have struggled to access their benefits.
t he man, identified only as Michael from a llegan, said he feared that office closures and massive layoffs of federal workers—part of an effort by President d onald trump and e lon Musk’s d epartment of Government e fficiency to slash government spending—will make it even harder.
“ we worked our entire life,” he said. “But we can’t get any help because we can’t get through to anybody.”
h uizenga pledged throughout the meeting: “Let me just reiterate, Social Security is not being touched.”
Similar exchanges have played out across the political battleground of Michigan and elsewhere in the US in recent days, as widespread cuts prompt fears among constituents about the popular program, which provides monthly benefits to retirees and some children. i t’s left r epublicans scrambling to reassure voters and play down Musk’s comments about Social Security and his ability to make cuts. t he G o P also has accused d emocrats of “fear-mongering” on the matter.
t’s clear the issue has resonated. o f the 13 questions h uizenga took, nine were related to Social Security. i n a nearby mid-Michigan district that was among the most competitive US h ouse races last year, a poll taken at the beginning of first-term G o P r ep. tom Barrett’s telephone town hall showed Social Security and Medicare as the top issue for attendees.
a nd at a fiery in-person town hall in a sheville, n orth c arolina, one of the first questions r ep. c huck e dwards fielded was on how he would “ensure the protection of our Social Security benefits.” a fter the question was read, the room of about 300 people erupted in applause.
w hile trump has repeatedly said he “will not cut Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid benefits,” the administration has begun layoffs affecting over 10 percent of the Social Security a dministration workforce and the closure of dozens of offices nationwide. Musk, the world’s richest man and one of trump’s most influential advisers, has called Social Security
“the biggest Ponzi scheme of all time.” h e hinted that it could be a primary target in his broader effort to downsize the federal government, saying in an interview on Fox Business n etwork that “most of the federal spending is entitlements” and “that’s the big one to eliminate.” t he w hite h ouse insisted Musk was only referring to fraud. d emocrats, struggling for a unified message against trump, see an opportunity. Polling indicates that cuts to Social Security would be unpopular, including within trump’s base. a solid majority of r epublicans said the US is spending “too little” on Social Security in a January a P- norc poll, and only about 1 in 10 said “too much” is being spent on the program. i n her rebuttal to trump’s joint congressional address earlier this month, d emocratic Sen. e lissa Slotkin warned that the president “could very well come after your retirement.” Potential cuts to critical government programs— such as Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security— brought Leslie Boyd out to listen to e dwards’ town hall in n orth c arolina on t hursday. t hose programs need to be improved instead of cut, Boyd said before the event, and she hoped e dwards had “the courage to stand up for that.” Boyd, 72, said she has some savings, but depends on Social Security.
“ i paid into that my entire career,” Boyd said. “ worked from the time i was 16. i paid into that, it’s mine and want it.”
a sked about the program inside the packed meeting, e dwards began by saying “President trump has made it clear” before he was interrupted by jeers.
h e then shifted to discuss his own viewpoint on the program instead.
i ’m not going to vote to dissolve your Social Security. i ’m not looking to,” e dwards started to say before being drowned out by shouting. h e continued, “ t hat’s a promise that’s been made to the a merican people. t hose folks who have worked all their life and paid into that certainly deserve to reap the rewards.” Several attendees continued to yell at e dwards, demanding he stand up to Musk.
Barrett opened a telephone town hall in his midMichigan district Monday night by addressing the flood of concerns over do G e he said his office had been receiving. Barrett stressed that Musk is merely an adviser and said programs are “temporarily paused and under review.” i want to be very clear that this does not include Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid,” he said. “a gain, this does not include Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid. i t’s important to keep in mind that do G e is only giving recommendations.”
r epublican leaders have cautioned lawmakers against in-person town halls, contending without offering evidence that paid activists were disrupting events.
Michigan r ep. Lisa Mc c lain, a staunch trump ally, claimed d emocratic donors had “organized” the disruptions. yet even in tightly controlled telephone town halls, where questions are often screened in advance by congressional staffers, Social Security was a top concern. Associated Press writer Makiya Seminera contributed from Asheville, N.C.
Belgrade rally draws over 100,000
protesters
against Serbia president amid rising tensions
By Jovana Gec & Dusan Stojanovic
The Associated Press
BELGRADE, Serbia—At
least 100,000 people descended on Belgrade on Saturday for a mass rally
seen as a culmination of monthslong protests against Serbia’s populist President Aleksandar Vucic and his government.
Large crowds of flag-waving protesters clogged the downtown area of the capital despite occasional rain, with people hardly able to move and many stuck hundreds of meters away from the planned protest venue.
Following apparent sporadic incidents between protesters and the police, university students—who have been leading the peaceful protests for the past four months—abruptly called for an end to the demonstration Saturday, saying they no longer can guarantee safety at the rally.
Most of the protesters dispersed, but thousands remained on the streets as tensions surged.
Police said the crowd reached 107,000 people at the peak of the protest. Serbian independent media described the rally as the biggest ever in the country, saying the numbers were much higher. All public transport in Belgrade was canceled as protesters streamed into the city from various directions.
The rally was part of a nationwide anti-corruption movement that erupted after a concrete canopy collapsed at a train station in Serbia’s north in November, killing 15 people.
the scheduled start of the gathering.
Reflecting the tensions, police said they arrested a man who rammed his car into protesters in a Belgrade suburb, injuring three people. Hundreds of police officers were deployed inside and around government buildings and in front of the presidential palace.
Many railway and bus links toward Belgrade have been canceled, in an apparent effort to prevent people from attending the rally. The transport company said the cancellation was made “for security reasons.”
Several reporters from neighboring Croatia as well as Slovenia have been turned back from Serbia’s border under explanation that their presence at the rally “represents a security risk.”
US aid cuts leave Ivory Coast village vulnerable as extremist threat grows amid regional turmoil
Saturday’s rally was dubbed “15 for 15,” referring to the date of the protest and the number of people killed in the city of Novi Sad on November 1. The crowds fell silent for 15 minutes in the evening to honor the victims.
Ahead of the demonstration, Vucic repeatedly warned of alleged plans for unrest while threatening arrests and harsh sentences for any incidents.
A deafening sound of whistles, drums and vuvuzelas filled the air on Saturday. Some protesters carried banners that read, “He’s Finished!” Crowds chanted “Pump it Up,” a slogan adopted during past four months of student-led protests.
“I expect that this will shake his authority and that Vucic will realize that people are no longer for him,” Milenko Kovacevic, a protester, said.
The massive rally is not the endgame in a struggle for a more democratic Serbia, Dejan Simic, another
Almost daily demonstrations that started in response to the tragedy have shaken Vucic’s firm grip on power in Serbia like never before in the past 13 years in charge. Many in Serbia blamed the crash on rampant government corruption, negligence and disrespect of construction safety regulations, demanding accountability for the victims.
Stuck NASA astronauts welcome
By Marcia Dunn AP Aerospace Writer
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.—Just over a day after blasting off, a SpaceX crew capsule arrived at the International Space Station on Sunday, delivering the replacements for NASA’s two stuck astronauts.
The four newcomers—representing the US, Japan and Russia—will spend the next few days learning the station’s ins and outs from Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams. Then the two will strap into their own SpaceX capsule later this week, one that has been up there since last year, to close out an unexpected extended mission that began last June.
Wilmore and Williams expected to be gone just a week when they launched on Boeing’s first astronaut flight. They hit the nine-month mark earlier this month.
protester, said. “This is just the beginning of the end, a process which I hope will end soon,” he said.
Protesting university students have been a key force of the anti-graft movement with their call for justice. Students’ determination has struck a chord among the citizens who are disillusioned with politicians and have lost faith in the state institutions.
Hundreds of police deployed in city
O N Friday evening, tens of thousands of people staged a joyous welcome for the students who have been marching or cycling for days from across Serbia toward Belgrade.
Interior Minister Ivica Dacic told state RTS broadcaster that 13 people were detained overnight. He said police detained six opposition activists for allegedly plotting to stage a coup and stir unrest.
By Saturday morning people were assembling in various parts of the city as they marched toward the center. The entire downtown zone was flooded with people hours before
Vucic claims West is backing protests
V UCIC has rejected earlier proposals for a transitional government that would prepare an early election. Fueling fears of clashes, Vucic’s supporters have been camping in central Belgrade in front of his headquarters. They include exmembers of a dreaded paramilitary unit involved in the assassination in 2003 of Serbia’s first democratic Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic, as well as soccer hooligans who are known for causing violence.
Private N1 television on Saturday broadcast footage of dozens of young men with baseball caps going into the pro-Vucic camp.
Vucic has been claiming that Western intelligence services were behind almost daily student-led protests with an aim to oust him from power. He has presented no evidence for the claims.
Previous student-led rallies in other Serbian cities have been peaceful while drawing huge crowds.
their newly arrived replacements to the space station
The Boeing Starliner capsule encountered so many problems that NASA insisted it come back empty, leaving its test pilots behind to wait for a SpaceX lift.
Wilmore swung open the space station’s hatch and then rang the ship’s bell as the new arrivals floated in one by one and were greeted with hugs and handshakes.
“It was a wonderful day. Great to see our friends arrive,” Williams told Mission Control.
Wilmore’s and Williams’ ride arrived back in late September with a downsized crew of two and two empty seats reserved for the leg back. But more delays resulted when their replacements’ brand new capsule needed extensive battery repairs. An older capsule took its place, pushing up their return by a couple weeks to mid-March.
Weather permitting, the SpaceX
T H i S image, created from video footage by n ASA, shows astronauts greeting one another after a SpaceX capsule docked with the i nternational Space Station, Sunday, March 16, 2025. Top row from left: n ick Hague, Alexander Gorbunov, Suni Williams, Alexei o vchinin and i van Vagner. Bottom row from left: Butch Wilmore, Takuya o nishi, Anne McClain, Kirill Peskov, n ichole Ayers and d on Pettit. NASA v IA AP
capsule carrying Wilmore, Williams and two other astronauts will undock from the space station no earlier than Wednesday and splash down
off Florida’s coast. Until then, there will be 11 aboard the orbiting lab, representing the US, Russia and Japan.
KBy Monika Pronczuk The Associated Press
IMBIRILA-NORD, Ivory Coast—With its tomato patches and grazing cattle, the Ivory Coast village of Kimbirila-Nord hardly looks like a front line of the global fight against extremism. But after jihadis attacked a nearby community in Mali five years ago and set up a base in a forest straddling the border, the US committed to spending $20 million to counter the spread of al-Qaida and the Islamic State group here and in dozens of other villages.
The Trump administration’s sweeping foreign aid cuts mean that support is now gone, even as violence in Mali and other countries in the Sahel region south of the Sahara has reached record levels and sent tens of thousands of refugees streaming into northern Ivory Coast.
Locals worry they have been abandoned. Diplomats and aid officials said the termination of aid jeopardizes counterterrorism efforts and weakens US influence in a part of the world where some countries have turned to Russian mercenaries for help.
In Kimbirila-Nord, US funding, among other things, helped young people get job training, built parks for cattle to graze so they are no longer stolen by jihadis on Malian territory, and helped establish an information-sharing system so residents can flag violent encounters to each other and state services.
“What attracts young people to extremists is poverty and hunger,” said Yacouba Doumbia, 78-year-old chief of KimbirilaNord. “There was a very dangerous moment in 2020. The project came at the right time, and allowed us to protect ourselves.”
“Seize a narrow prevention window”
Ove R the last decade, West Africa has been shaken by extremist uprisings and military coups. Groups linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group have conquered large areas and killed thousands in the Sahel and have been spreading into wealthier West African coastal states, such as Ivory Coast, Benin and Togo.
In 2019, President Donald Trump signed the Global Fragility Act that led to the initiatives in northern Ivory Coast. The US goal in this area was to “seize a narrowing prevention window,” according to this year’s congressional report about the implementation of the bipartisan legislation.
e xperts say local concerns help drive the popularity of extremist groups: competition for land and resources, exclusion, marginalization and lack of economic opportunities. Across the region, Islamic extremists have recruited among groups marginalized and neglected by central governments.
“Ivory Coast is one of the few countries that still resist the terrorist threat in the Sahel,” said a UN official working in the country who was not authorized to speak on the matter publicly. “If we do not continue to support border communities, a minor issue could send them into the arms of extremists.”
Trump issued an executive order in January directing a freeze on foreign assistance and a review of all US aid and development work abroad. He charged that much of foreign aid was wasteful and advanced a liberal agenda.
“Everyone was just looking out for themselves” N 2020, when the jihadis struck a Malian village 10 kilometers (6 miles) away, KimbirilaNord in many ways fit the description of a community susceptible to extremism.
The lives of Malians and Ivorians were intertwined. People crossed the border freely, making it easy for extremists, who like resi -
dents spoke Bambara, to access KimbirilaNord. Many residents did not have identity cards and few spoke French, leaving them with no access to states services or official information. Different ethnic groups lived next to each other but were divided by conflicts over scarce natural resources and suspicions toward the state. And young people did not have opportunities to make money.
“We were very scared” when the extremists attacked, said Aminata Doumbia, the head of the village’s female farmers’ cooperative. “ e veryone was just looking out for themselves.”
The Ivorian government runs a program that provides professional training, grants and microloans. But access is difficult in villages such as Kimbirila-Nord.
Kimbirila-Nord is home to refugees from Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea. Sifata Berte, 23, fled there with his family two years ago from Mali. He is not eligible for the government-run program, but got training through the project funded by the US Agency for International Development and now works as an apprentice in an iron workshop. Other things the USAID-funded project set up included a network of community radios in local languages, so people could get access to information. It also used mobile government trucks to help tens of thousands of people across the region get their identity documents. And it brought people together with microcredit cooperatives and with a special committee of ranchers and farmers that helps resolve tensions over land.
“It’s thanks to the project that we can sleep at night,” Doumbia, the village chief, said. “We learned how to be together.” e qual Access International, an international nonprofit, designed and implemented the US-funded project.
The USAID project also has been the only direct source of information on the ground in northern Ivory Coast on violent events for the US-based Armed Conflict and Location & e vent Data Project, the main provider of data on violence in the Sahel.
The village had big plans Iv ORY Coast became known as a target for extremists in 2016, when an attack on the seaside resort of Grand Bassam killed tourists. In 2021, a string of attacks occurred near the country’s northern border, but the violence has been largely contained after Ivorian authorities, Western governments and aid groups rushed into this impoverished and isolated part of the country with military buildup and development projects.
In 2024, the US Africa Command provided over $65 million to projects in Ivory Coast, most of which “focused on counterterrorism and border security” in the northern part of the country, according to the group’s website. The Pentagon said in a statement that it was “not aware of any budget cuts that have undermined counterterrorism training or partnership programs in Africa.” Ivory Coast has the second-highest GDP per capita in West Africa, but according to the UN it remains one of the world’s least developed countries. Many in remote villages like Kimbirila-Nord do not have access to running water. “At first we thought that we only had to solve these problems with a military solution,” Famy Rene, the prefect of Korhogo, the region’s capital, said. “But we saw that this was not enough. We had to put in place programs that strengthen the resilience of the population.” Residents of Kimbirila-Nord had big plans before the US froze aid. The US was supposed to finance the first well in the village,
Monday, March 17,
Paddy rice production seen rising slightly in Q1
TBy Ada Pelonia @adapelonia
HE country’s paddy rice output could increase slightly in the first quarter due to the improvement in yield, according to the results of the Philippine Statistics Authority’s (PSA) standing crops survey.
In its report, the statistics agency said palay harvest may go up by 0.7 percent to 4.72 million metric tons (MMT) in January to March from 4.69 MMT last year despite the reduction in harvest area.
However, the latest production forecast is 0.5 percent lower than the agency’s initial estimate of 4.74 MMT.
PSA said total palay harvest area in the first quarter may shrink by 2.3 percent to 1.15
“The yield per hectare of palay based on standing crop for the period of January to March 2025 may increase to 4.11 metric tons or by 3.0 percent from the previous year’s same period yield per hectare of 3.99 metric tons.”
FAO: Extreme weather puts pressure on coffee prices
CONSUMERS could pay more for coffee this year if major growing regions will again experience extreme weather, such as drought and excessive rains, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
FAO noted that world coffee prices reached a multi-year high in 2024, increasing 38.8 percent on the previous year’s average, mostly driven by inclement weather affecting key producing countries.
According to its report on global coffee market trends, in December 2024, arabica, the higher quality coffee favored in the roast and ground coffee market, was selling at 58 percent up on a year ago, while robusta, used mainly for instant coffee and blending, saw a price surge of 70 percent in real terms.
“This marked a narrowing of the price differential between the two varieties for the first time since the mid-1990s.”
Key factors behind the recent price increase include limited export quantities from Vietnam, reduced output in Indonesia, and adverse weather impacting coffee production in Brazil.
In Vietnam, prolonged dry weather caused a 20 percent drop in coffee production in the 2023/24, with exports falling by 10 percent for the second consecutive year. Similarly, in Indonesia, coffee production in 2023/24 declined by 16.5 percent yearon-year on the back of excessive rains in April-May 2023 that damaged coffee
cherries. Exports dropped by 23 percent.
In Brazil, dry and hot weather conditions prompted successive downward revisions to the 2023/24 production forecast, with official estimates shifting from an anticipated 5.5 percent year-on-year increase to a 1.6 percent decline.
Data from FAO indicated that Brazil and Vietnam together account for nearly 50 percent of world coffee production.
Global coffee production amounts to over $20 billion annually and the value of total coffee trade is estimated at over $25 billion per year.
The global coffee industry generates over $200 billion in annual revenues.
FAO said higher shipping costs were also found to be one of the factors contributing to the increase in world coffee prices.
Early data indicates that in December 2024, the increase in world prices translated into consumers paying 6.6 percent more for their coffee in the United States and 3.75 percent more in the European Union, compared to the same period in 2023.
“The high prices should provide incentives to invest more in technology and research and development in the coffee sector—which relies largely on smallholder farmers—to increase climate resilience,” said Boubaker Ben-Belhassen, director of FAO’s Markets and Trade Division, adding that climate change is impacting coffee production in the longer term.
million hectares (ha) from the 1.17 million ha recorded in the same period last year.
As of February 1, PSA said about
287,600 hectares or 25.1 percent of the 1.15 million hectares updated harvest area of standing crop have been harvested. This translates
to palay output of 1.17 million metric tons.
“Of the total area of 860,010 hectares of standing palay yet to be harvested as of 01 February 2025, 5.1 percent were at the vegetative stage, 52.0 percent at the reproductive stage, and 42.9 percent were at the maturing stage.”
Industry sources said palay output will rebound this year on the back of improved weather conditions, with the Department of Agriculture targeting to harvest 20.46 MMT this year.
The country’s paddy rice output reached 19.09 MMT last year, 4.85 percent lower than the record harvest of 20.06 MMT in 2023.
Corn forecast
MEANWHILE , the PSA expects corn output in the first quarter to drop by 7 percent to 2.35 MMT from the actual output of 2.53
MMT in the previous year.
The latest forecast is 1.7 percent lower than its previous outlook of 2.4 MMT.
The harvest area during the period was expected to contract by 8.8 percent to 643,150 ha from the 705,520 ha recorded in the previous year while yield per hectare may grow by 2 percent to 3.66 MT from 3.59 MT.
“As of 01 February 2025, about 193,910 hectares or 30.2 percent of the 643,150 hectares updated harvest area of standing corn have been harvested, translating to a 663,950 metric tons of corn output,” the PSA said.
“Of the total area of 449,230 hectares of standing corn yet to be harvested as of 01 February 2025, about 3.1 percent were at the vegetative stage, 45.4 percent at the reproductive stage, and 51.5 percent at the maturing stage.”
Filipino firm unveils ₧300-M biofertilizer facility in Laguna
STA . Rosa, Laguna—Filipino company AgriSpecialist Inc. (ASI) on Sunday launched its P300-million plant which will produce biofertilizer.
The company said the plant is equipped with a fully automated manufacturing facility and laboratory. It is capable of churning out 7,000 metric tons (MT) of biofertilizers dubbed Bio N annually.
ASI said it is capable of supplying the biofertilizer requirements of rice and corn farmers in the country.
“This plant is enough for the whole Philippines because ([farmers] will have to use only one kilo per hectare,” Mario Labadan Jr., president of ASI, told reporters on the sidelines of the facility’s inauguration here.
The manufacturing facility would produce biofertilizers by blending Azospirillum bacteria with nutrient-rich mediums.
As the plant is capable of meeting the country’s biofertilizer needs, he said the Philippines will be able to reduce its purchases of imported chemical fertilizers.
“[However], this biofertilizer will not work without inorganic
fertilizer. This can only replace or complement 30 to 50 percent of urea [alone].”
The company claimed that its biofertilizer could reduce farmers’ input costs as it is price at P100 per 200-gram pack. This would translate to P500 per hectare of rice.
ASI said one kilo of Bio N worth P500 could fix nitrogen equivalent to two 50-kilo bags of urea.
Data from the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) showed that from March 3 to March 7, the average price of urea (granular) reached P1,608.94 per 50-kilo bag, while urea (prilled) amounted to P1,646.42 per 50-kilo bag.
The late Dr. Mercedes Garcia of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology discovered the crucial nitrogen-fixing bacteria.
According to the firm, Bio N has been tested by rice farmers in 13 regions across the country over the last two cropping seasons.
With this, farmers have reported healthier plants as seen through deep green leaves, sturdy stems, and robust root systems along with fewer pests and reduced need for
chemical pesticides.
‘Revolutionary’ SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez said the plant would provide farmers with “genuine choices, effective solutions, and substantial support.”
Speaking at the inauguration, Romualdez emphasized the facility’s potential to “revolutionize” Philippine agriculture. Developed by Filipino scientists at UPLB, Bio N is a biofertilizer that reduces dependence on chemical fertilizers, improves soil health, and cuts farming costs.
“This means cheaper fertilizer for our farmers, more yield, higher income, and more nutritious and affordable food for every Filipino,” he said.
He highlighted the burden of expensive imported fertilizers on Filipino farmers, affecting food security and household budgets.
“Every sack of rice, every ear of corn, every vegetable on our tables comes from the sweat and sacrifice of our farmers. But if they are struggling with high costs and low yields, we all feel the impact.”
He noted that the plant equipped
with advanced bioreactors and a research lab. Romualdez stressed the plant’s significance beyond production capacity, viewing it as a symbol of “hope, opportunity, and independence.”
He also underscored the plant’s “100 percent proudly Filipino” origin, recognizing the decades of research by UPLB scientists.
“This plant represents more than just production capacity—it represents hope, opportunity, and independence,” Romualdez said. He added that the facility is proof that the private sector, the government, and research institutions can work together to bring real change to the lives of ordinary Filipinos.
“This project is a bold step forward. But we cannot stop here. We must continue investing in innovation, research, and real solutions that uplift our farmers and strengthen our agriculture sector.” He also exhorted policymakers and business leaders to invest more in agriculture, saying that a strong agriculture sector means a strong economy, strong communities, and a stronger nation. Ada Pelonia and Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz
Indonesia’s cocoa farmers work with businesses to fight the bitter impact of climate change
TANJUNG Rejo, Indonesia—The loud whirr of a chainsaw sounds through the forest as a small group of farmers gathers around a tree filled with red seed pods. With one slow stroke, a severed knobby branch hits the ground.
“Now it will help the tree grow new fruit,” farmer Tari Santoso says with a smile.
Thousands of cocoa farmers across Indonesia like Santoso are working with businesses and other organizations to protect their crops from the bitter impacts of climate change and underinvestment that have pushed cocoa prices to record levels.
Cocoa trees are high maintenance: Grown only near the equator, they require a precise combination of steady temperatures, humidity and sunlight. It takes five years for a tree to start producing the seeds that are processed into cocoa used to make chocolate and other delectable foods.
Climate change raises the risks for farmers: Hotter weather hurts yields and longer rainy seasons trigger
the spread of fungus and deadly pests. Increasingly unpredictable weather patterns have made it harder for farmers to deal with those challenges.
So farmers are switching to other crops, further reducing cocoa supplies and pushing prices higher: In 2024, prices nearly tripled, reaching about US$12,000 per ton, driving up chocolate costs and leading some chocolate makers to try growing cocoa in laboratories.
Indonesia is the thirdlargest producer of cocoa in the world, behind Cote D’Ivoire and Ghana, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, farmers are joining with businesses and nongovernmental organizations to develop better growing practices and improve their livelihoods.
Sitting in the shade of his forest farm in south Sumatra, 3 miles (5 kilometers) from a national park where Sumatran tigers and rhinos roam, farmer Santoso is working with Indonesian chocolate maker Krakakoa.
After he began working with the company in 2016, Santoso starting using practices that helped his cocoa trees flourish, regularly pruning and grafting new branches onto older trees to promote growth and prevent the spread of disease. He is using organic fertilizer
and has adopted agroforestry techniques, integrating other crops and trees such as bananas, dragon fruit, coffee and pepper, into his farm to foster a healthier ecosystem and invest in other income sources.
“It wasn’t very successful
before we met Krakakoa,” Santoso said. “But then, we received training...things are much better.”
Krakakoa has trained more than 1,000 cocoa farmers in Indonesia according to its founder and CEO, Sabrina Mustopo. The company also provides financial support.
Santoso and other farmers in Sumatra said the partnership helped them to form a cooperative provides low-interest loans to farmers, with interest paid back into the cooperative rather than to banks outside of the community.
Cocoa farmers who need bigger loans from governmentowned banks also benefit from partnering with businesses, as the guaranteed buyer agreements can provide collateral needed to get loans approved, said Armin Hari, a communications manager at the Cocoa Sustainability Partnership, a forum for public-private collaboration for cocoa development in Indonesia.
Dozens of other businesses, the government
and nongovernmental organizations and cooperatives are also working with cocoa farmers to better cope with climate change, benefiting thousands, Hari said. He pointed to a collaboration between Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency and the local division of international chocolate maker Mars, which have released a new variant of cocoa that produces more pods per tree.
Challenges still remain, said Rajendra Aryal, the FAO’s country director for Indonesia. Fewer people see cocoa farming as a lucrative business and instead are planting other crops such as palm oil. And many small-scale farmers still cannot get loans, he said.
But Aryal said he hopes that continued collaboration between farmers and others will help.
“If we can look at the major issues these (farmers) are facing ... I think this sector could be, again, very attractive to the farmers,” he said.
“Despite the challenges in Indonesia, I see that there are opportunities.” AP
THIS BusinessMirror file photo shows a farmer in Pangasinan displaying threshed rice.
A FARMER holds an opened cocoa pod at a plantation in Tanjung Rejo, Lampung province, Indonesia, Wednesday, February 19, 2025 AP/DITA ALANGKARA
DHL report predicts strong trade growth for the Philippines
THE recently released DHL Trade Atlas 2025 paints an optimistic picture for the Philippines, forecasting substantial trade growth over the next five years. Despite global economic uncertainties and potential challenges from new US tariffs, the report identifies the Philippines as one of the top 30 countries expected to experience significant trade expansion. This projection offers a welcome boost of confidence for the Philippine economy and highlights the nation’s untapped potential in the global market. (Read the BusinessMirror story, Report: “PHL trade to expand despite global headwinds,” March 15, 2025).
According to the DHL report, the Philippines is expected to jump from 129th to 15th place in terms of trade growth speed and from 68th to 30th in scale. This impressive leap is attributed to the country’s potential to benefit from supply chain diversification and reorientation, similar to the opportunities seen in Vietnam and Indonesia. The report forecasts a 7.4 percent compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) for the country’s trade volume, with exports growing at 7 percent and imports at 7.6 percent.
Ken Lee, CEO for Asia Pacific, DHL Express, rightly points out the Philippines’ diverse and growing economic landscape. The manufacturing sector, particularly in semiconductors, electronics, and automobiles, is showing promising signs of growth. This aligns with the report’s emphasis on the country’s existing capabilities and the potential for further development across various industries.
Steven A. Altman, Senior Research Scholar at NYU, offers a crucial perspective on the forecast. He notes that the relatively slow trade growth of the past five years (0.5 percent) creates a “base effect,” allowing for significant acceleration in the coming years. This suggests that the Philippines has considerable room to catch up and capitalize on emerging opportunities.
While the report does not pinpoint a specific catalyst for this acceleration, it emphasizes the country’s untapped potential as part of the broader supply chain reorientation. The Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 aims to address constraints to growth and promote socioeconomic transformation. Key strategies involve strengthening the economy’s production and social sectors and establishing a favorable policy and regulatory environment. Priorities include inclusive growth and job creation, human capital development, resilient communities, environmental sustainability, a stronger public sector, and accelerated digital transformation.
The Asian Development Bank also has a Country Partnership Strategy for the Philippines (2024-2029) focused on human development, economic competitiveness, and quality infrastructure, while boosting nature-based development and disaster resilience.
The DHL Trade Atlas 2025 serves as a valuable resource for businesses, policymakers, and educators alike. Its detailed analysis of global trade patterns provides crucial insights for informed decision-making. For the Philippines, the report’s optimistic forecast should serve as a call to action. By focusing on key sectors, attracting foreign investment, and streamlining trade processes, the Philippines can solidify its position as a major player in the global trade landscape and achieve the substantial trade growth predicted in the DHL Trade Atlas 2025.
Opinion BusinessMirror
The economics of generosity
IN 2024, the Philippines showed incredible heart as Filipinos came together to support those hit by natural disasters. Despite a global drop in volunteerism, the Philippines remained one of the top countries for volunteering, with 44 percent of people saying they’d volunteered in the past year, according to a Gallup study.
Think about it: how often have we joined forces to help families in medical emergencies or communities ravaged by fires or floods? Don’t we encourage our kids to sort through their closets once a year to donate clothes and toys to those less fortunate? What portion of our income do we set aside each month for our favorite charities? These acts of kindness reflect our personal values and show a broader cultural inclination towards giving.
But have you ever stopped to consider how generosity can transform not only our personal lives but also modern business practices? In an era where making a profit often
comes first, embracing generosity as a core value can revolutionize corporate culture and the bottom line. Generosity in business isn’t just about giving back; it’s about creating a mindset of empathy and shared value. By making generosity part of their strategies, companies can build stronger relationships, boost their reputations, and achieve long-term financial success.
Generosity creates a culture of goodwill, strengthening ties with customers, employees, and partners. Acts of kindness build trust and loyalty, laying the groundwork for sustainable growth and collaboration. For example, offering mentorship
In an era where making a profit often comes first, embracing generosity as a core value can revolutionize corporate culture and the bottom line. Generosity in business isn’t just about giving back; it’s about creating a mindset of empathy and shared value. By making generosity part of their strategies, companies can build stronger relationships, boost their reputations, and achieve longterm financial success.
programs or educational resources can connect experienced professionals with emerging talent, building a network of skilled and motivated individuals who are more likely to advocate for the brand.
In business partnerships, focusing on what you can give rather than what you can gain can lead to unexpected benefits. By prioritizing generosity, companies can create mutually beneficial alliances where both parties thrive. This approach is especially effective in “David and Goliath” partnerships, where smaller companies can offer unique insights or functionalities that larger corporations lack.
Community-driven initiatives are another powerful way generosity can be used in business. These projects empower communities by tackling social and environmental challenges through locally-led projects. By working with community organizations and social enterprises, businesses can foster ownership, collaboration, and sustainability.
While generosity can be a strategic asset, it must be balanced with financial realities. Businesses should focus on generous acts that create significant value and align with revenue opportunities. This balance ensures that generosity supports financial stability rather than undermining it. Contrary to what many think, generosity can lead to long-term financial benefits. By creating shared value, businesses build lasting customer relationships, increase loyalty, and attract employees and investors who share their mission. Generous companies often see higher customer satisfaction, employee retention, and long-term profitability. In the end, integrating generosity into business strategies offers a promising way forward. It combines social responsibility with economic success in a way that benefits both communities and companies.
Compromise agreement in Tagaytay court embodies CJ Gesmundo’s commitment to fairness, transparency, and efficiency
ALITO GAGNI
COMPROMISE agreement aimed at alleviating the burden of a congested court is now awaiting the signature of a Regional Trial Court in Tagaytay City. This innovative development is a result of the efforts of Supreme Court Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo, who has crafted a six-year roadmap to ensure fair, transparent and ethical responsibility in the delivery of justice.
This compromise agreement presents a fair solution to resolve Civil Case No. TG-18-219, a dispute involving the reconveyance of title and damages between family members Luisito Benitez, Venancio Benitez, Rolando Benitez, and Myra Pascual Benitez. The case involves the transfer of their late parents’ properties.
On March 8, the Joint Motion to Approve the Compromise Agreement was filed with Presiding Judge Michael C. Maranan of the Fourth Judicial Region Branch 134 in Tagaytay City. The proposed agreement seeks to conclude the long-standing trial by accepting the nullity of the title transfers at the heart of the dispute, a step to -
ward just resolution for all parties involved.
Through this planned compromise, the vision of Chief Justice Gesmundo in decongesting the courts and instituting new and equitable procedures for dispensing justice is gaining real traction. His emphasis on the importance of arbitration as a means of resolving legal conflicts further underlines his commitment to ensuring justice is both accessible and effective for all citizens.
The Gesmundo Court has also made significant strides in addressing the personal needs of the judiciary, providing essential services such as daycare centers and health care units. These initiatives ensure that
the judiciary remains focused on its core mission of delivering fair, timely, and ethically sound decisions. By relieving judges and court personnel of mundane concerns, these measures contribute to the creation of fair and balanced judgments.
Chief Justice Gesmundo’s sixyear Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations reflects his meticulous attention to detail, honed during his early years as a journalist. This plan embodies his long-standing commitment to justice with a focus on creating practical solutions that allow the judiciary to deliver decisions efficiently, impartially, and without delay.
The six-year roadmap, which will extend a year beyond his tenure, also seeks to address the persistent complaint that “justice delayed is justice denied.” This remedy for the protracted nature of court proceedings is precisely the kind of systemic improvement that Chief Justice Gesmundo has prioritized.
The plan, which is encapsulated in the “Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations” (SPIJ), sets the tone for a more responsive and real-time approach to justice. The six-year initiative, set to conclude in 2027, is a direct response to challenges that emerged after the Covid-19 pandemic. It highlights the need
for the judiciary to establish new frameworks while building upon and refining existing systems to ensure the timely and just delivery of justice.
A key component of the SPIJ is the revision of the Rules of Court, an area Chief Justice Gesmundo has identified as contributing to prolonged court cases. His promise to implement these changes next year underscores his commitment to justice with efficiency, a goal informed by his experience as a journalist who understood the importance of meeting deadlines.
From the outset of his tenure, Chief Justice Gesmundo set a clear objective: a 24-month deadline for resolving cases at the High Court. This ambitious goal, rooted in his journalistic background, underscores his belief that justice must be swift and decisive without compromising fairness or the integrity of the process.
While previous Chief Justices have worked to reduce the congestion of cases at the highest court, Chief Justice Gesmundo’s unique approach includes setting deadlines that ensure justice is delivered in a timely, transparent manner. He has also placed a significant focus on exhausting arbitration procedures before formal litigation begins, en-
RISING SUN
Atty. Jose Ferdinand M. Rojas II
Job loyalty–The Duterte dynamics Government learning academies
IJoel L. Tan-Torres
DEBIT CREDIT
Part six
T is good that the Philippines was able to implement the best practice of other countries of establishing a training academy for the country’s tax collectors and administrators. Now in its 15th year of existence, the Philippine Tax Academy (PTA) should be gearing up more strategic initiatives to pursue more effectively its mandate of providing the learning requirements of all of the government tax collectors.
The different tax collecting offices of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Bureau of Customs (BOC), and the local government units’ treasurers, under the auspices of the Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF), all have their respective training and learning units and programs. These have long been conducting training programs of their staff. There is a need for the PTA to start dialogues with these agencies to harmonize the training programs, avoid duplication of what the PTA would be offering, and the Academy filling the gaps for training requirements that the three agencies may not be addressing.
For this, the PTA, together with the BIR, BOC, and BLGF should conduct a comprehensive training needs and curriculum assessment to inventory the existing training courses and identify the gaps and additional needs. This process should include consultations with representatives from the Department of Finance, Local Government Academy (LGA), Civil Service Commission, and external stakeholders, such as the professional tax associations, taxpayer groups, and schools offering professional courses in law, accountancy, and public finance.
The PTA, on its own, can establish an online resource center that provides access to e-books, journals, case studies, and tax legislation. This can be made available to all stakeholders for their research and learning requirements. This can also provide a knowledge sharing network that can host discussion forums and webinars featuring tax experts from the Philippines and international institutions.
The PTA should initiate the formation of an Inter-agency Coordination Board (Board) comprised of the training representatives of the BIR, BOC, and the LGA, with the PTA President as the Chairman. This Board shall be tasked to set the key policies that will govern the training activities of the three agencies and the PTA. These policies can include guidelines on a standardized training certification and accreditation, usage of local and international training grants, and the promotion of inter-agency
couraging litigants to reach mutual agreements and preventing the courts from becoming overwhelmed.
In leaving behind the SPIJ, Chief Justice Gesmundo hopes to be remembered for his dedication to public service and his determination to make a meaningful difference in the lives of everyday people seeking justice. The SPIJ will stand as a testament to the collective efforts of the Court en banc, the Office of the Court Administrator, the Philippine Judicial Academy, the Judicial Integrity Board, and other court officials and employees—all of whom share the common goal of ensuring equitable access to justice for all.
As Chief Justice Gesmundo reflects on his legacy, he takes pride in knowing that his initiatives have contributed to a more just and fair
IThe different tax collecting offices of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, Bureau of Customs, and the local government units’ treasurers, under the auspices of the Bureau of Local Government Finance, all have their respective training and learning units and programs. These have long been conducting training programs of their staff.
training of tax administrators for understanding of the broader tax community.
Policies can also cover the directions for a ladderized training pathways, the creation of speakers or trainors pool that will cater to the in-house and external stakeholder demand for speakers, and access of third parties, including taxpayers and tax professionals, to non-confidential training courses.
The Board should also set the policies on the use of technology and artificial intelligence in the development and delivery of courses, promotion of regional and global exchange of tax programs, and approach to information dissemination of newly passed tax legislation and programs.
These measures that the PTA should adopt can harmonize the existing training programs of the BIR, BOC, and BLGF to avoid duplication with what the PTA would institute as its training initiatives. The Board suggested to be created will ensure coordinated key policies on training directions.
These measures will result in a more efficient, standardized, and impactful tax learning system for the tax collectors of the country.
To be continued
Joel L. Tan-Torres was the former Dean of the University of the Philippines Virata School of Business. Previously, he was the Commissioner of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, the chairman of the Professional Regulatory Board of Accountancy, and Tax partner of Reyes Tacandong & Co. and the SyCip Gorres and Velayo & Co. He is a Certified Public Accountant who garnered No. 1 in the CPA Board Examination of May 1979. He has his own tax and consultancy practice and can be contacted at joeltantorress@yahoo.com and his firm JL2T Consultancy.
judicial system—one that fosters trust, accountability and transparency for all Filipinos. After all, justice is not merely a concept but a living, breathing ideal, entrusted to the hands of those who uphold it with unwavering integrity. For CJ Gesmundo, who has spent much of his years in the judiciary with a stint at the Sandiganbayan, he echoes the thought that the judiciary, as the pillar of fairness, must remain steadfast in its commitment to impartiality, ensuring that every case is weighed with equal consideration and every individual is treated with respect and dignity.
For in the balance of scales, the true measure of justice is not found in the loudest voice, but in the quiet, resolute pursuit of what is right. Thus, with the innovative thrust of CJ Gesmundo, we can truly say that justice has been served, not only in the eyes of the law but in the hearts of those who seek its protection.
Siegfred Bueno Mison, Esq.
THE PATRIOT
T was a week full of choices where loyalty was in full display. Lines have been drawn as experts, critics, lawyers, and the public in general have expressed their sentiments as to the recent arrest and surrender(?) of former President Rodrigo Duterte to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Some opined that government broke the law in turning over the “accused” to a foreign tribunal while there is a pending case against him in Philippine courts. After all, the ICC merely complements local courts. The obvious sentiment of those who admired the leadership style of Duterte was anger, since Duterte was not given a chance to challenge the warrant in local courts. Others stated that due to the Duterte influence, any proceeding or trial in the Philippines would be an exercise in futility. Hence, in applying Republic Act 9851 or the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide and Other Crimes Against Humanity, the administration of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was correct as it had legal basis to surrender heinous crime suspects to international investigators and jurors. Under Section 17 of RA 9851, “In the interest of justice, the relevant Philippine authorities may dispense with the investigation or prosecution of a crime punishable under this Act if another court or international tribunal is already conducting the investigation or undertaking the prosecution of such crime. Instead, the authorities may surrender or extradite suspected or accused persons in the Philippines to the appropriate international court, if any, or to another State pursuant to the applicable extradition laws and treaties.”
But according to former Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and now lawyer for the accused Duterte, the swift and obviously premeditated service of the warrant was a case of “extrajudicial rendition” or in layman’s terms, a case of kidnapping. Much will be talked
about how the warrant was served and, knowing how criminal procedures work, the first order of the defense counsels would attack the validity of the arrest. In a wise move, the ICC’s Office of Public Counsel for the Defence, an independent body within the ICC that consists of specialized lawyers who can provide immediate legal assistance to defendants to ensure an “equality of arms” throughout all stages of trial, was also tapped by Duterte. Given the relative inexperience of Medialdea, this Public Counsel will surely help in strategizing to expose the apparent loopholes in the charges where Duterte is “criminally responsible for the crime against humanity of murder” committed in the Philippines between November 2011 and March 2019, as per the ICC Prosecutor. But instead of focusing on the legal arguments, I rather look at how people around Duterte have reacted and will react in the days to come. Duterte’s loyal followers and supporters based here and abroad showed up at The Hague during the initial hearing. Take the case of Senator Robin Padilla who took little time to fly to The Hague to lend support to his benefactor. Atty. Harry Roque did the same thing, although, I am not aware of his legal role in the ICC proceedings since Duterte chose Medialdea as one of his counsels. Former Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo remains in the Philippines but has been very vocal against the ICC, even to the point of provoking the service of the warrant as far back as last month when he guested in a media forum. Needless to say, the alleged charges against humanity are serious as the ICC Prosecutor said that “Mr. Duterte is alleged to have committed these crimes as part of
We can all claim that we are loyal to something or someone. But loyalty is tested in adversity. Both Medialdea and Torre showed loyalty in varying degrees and levels during a critical time when a lot of people were closely watching. In these moments, true loyalty shines brightest. For sure, there will be other moments of hardships coming in this expectedly long ICC-Duterte episode. I just hope and pray that supporters from both sides will choose a Job-like loyalty to our one True Master over any other job loyalties. Be loyal to our Abba Father above all else.
a widespread and systematic attack directed against the civilian population.” The weaker in spirit would have walked away and stayed in the sidelines, afraid of the political backlash that will surely arise, either win or lose. This trial will definitely show stories of how loyalty can strengthen relationships and inspire courage.
On one side, Salvador Medialdea exemplified loyalty by doing what he could to challenge the service of the writ to the point of being arrested himself for obstruction of justice. Loyalty requires a willingness to stand by someone or something, even when the path is difficult. Medialdea surely showed incredible patience against the number of police officers who were tasked to bring Duterte to a private chartered aircraft. Despite not being included in the warrant, Medialdea opted to accompany Duterte all the way to The Hague, not leaving his side whenever possible. From another side, police general Nicolas Torre embodied professionalism and a different kind of loyalty as he kept his composure amid the understandable wrath coming from the family members of Duterte during the arrest. Torre relentlessly used persuasive arguments instead of physical force in serving the warrant, although he could have done so whenever any accused would resist any arrest. He repeatedly urged both Duterte and Medialdea that the service of the warrant was just part of his “job order,” obviously coming from higher headquarters. For me,
both Medialdea and Torre showed that being loyal is not always easy, but I think the attribute of loyalty is always worth venerating and emulating. Both were simply doing their jobs; one was doing his job for a client and “boss” (Duterte), while the other was doing his job for his organization (police).
But, biblically speaking of one Job, the story of Job’s can be considered as one of the most powerful lessons on loyalty. Despite losing almost everything—his wealth, his children, and his health, Job never lost one thing—his trust in the Lord. He never cursed our Almighty God, and his loyalty remained steadfast, even when his wife told him to “curse God and die.” Job stayed true and faithful even in the face of unimaginable hardship. I, too, once faced hardships brought about by some challenges in the workplace several years ago. Those were tough times as I earnestly and desperately tried to find solutions and intermediaries, only to eventually discover that our Almighty God alone can resolve whatever trials we face, but in His time. With restored relationships, I recall how Job and his unwavering loyalty managed to emerge victorious even when almost everything was taken from him.
We can all claim that we are loyal to something or someone. But loyalty is tested in adversity. Both Medialdea and Torre showed loyalty in varying degrees and levels during a critical time when a lot of people were closely watching. In these moments, true loyalty shines brightest. For sure, there will be other moments of hardships coming in this expectedly long ICC-Duterte episode. I just hope and pray that supporters from both sides will choose a Job-like loyalty to our one True Master over any other job loyalties. Be loyal to our Abba Father above all else.
A former infantry and intelligence officer in the Army, Siegfred Mison showcased his servant leadership philosophy in organizations such as the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Malcolm Law Offices, Infogix Inc., University of the East, Bureau of Immigration, and Philippine Airlines. He is a graduate of West Point in New York, Ateneo Law School, and University of Southern California. A corporate lawyer by profession, he is an inspirational teacher and a Spirit-filled writer with a mission. For questions and comments, please e-mail me at sbmison@gmail.com.
Wall Street rips up credit forecasts as policy woes snowball
By Josyana Joshua
JUST a few months into the year and Wall Street credit analysts are ripping up their forecasts and penciling in a new, grimmer outlook after this week’s jolt to the market.
Prognosticators from Barclays Plc to Goldman Sachs Group Inc. were caught flatfooted this week and had to revise their estimates as the selloff rippling through the markets drove corporate bond spreads wider and saw a series of borrowers postpone sales.
“Credit spreads are not pricing in enough risk,” Barclays Plc. analysts Bradley Rogoff and Dominique Toublan warned as they updated their forecasts Friday after a flurry of tariff updates and mounting recession fears blew out their prior outlook. “The uncertainty about the magnitude and speed of the tariff implementation is a key driver of this change.”
The bank now expects highgrade spreads to widen to as much as 125 basis points in the next six months, some 30 basis points wider than their prior forecast. Investment-grade spreads reached 97 basis points Thursday, the widest since September.
In high-yield, Barclays now expect spreads to reach as wide as 425 basis points in the same time period, about 100 basis points wider than their previous outlook.
Monday’s selloff after Presi -
dent Trump refused to rule out a downturn caught many offguard. The relatively staid corporate debt market, which in February had seen narrower price swings than Treasuries, got swept into the melee. US government bonds held steady on the week while the risk premium to hold corporate debt went to the widest since September.
Banks are warning credit spreads could widen further as investors seek higher premiums to protect against the risk of default.
Driving up the borrowing costs for corporates risks further slowing growth in a US economy that some see as edging closer to a downturn.
On Wednesday, Goldman sharply raised their forecasts for US credit spreads, citing tariff risks and the White House’s willingness to tolerate shortterm economic weakness. The bank had expected US investment-grade spreads to be around 82 basis points in the first quarter.
Overdue correction
TO Bank of America Corp. the recent selloff signals a correction after a yearslong rally—at least for riskier high-yield debt.
Analysts, including Barclays, view US credit fundamentals as solid with a subdued but not stalled supply and healthy demand weighing against the larger concerns in the credit market. Despite the delays, around $110 billion of new debt has already been sold in March alone, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
“Cracks that appeared in the credit market last week culminated into a fracture this week,” BofA strategists led by Neha Khoda wrote. “HY entered this period of volatility priced to perfection, and a perfect economy it is not.”
BofA raised their high-yield spread forecast to 350 basis points, adding there’s a chance it widens even further to 380 basis points. The debt currently stands at 335 basis points, the widest since August. In investment grade bonds, the bank stuck to its outlook for spreads of between 80 basis points and 100 basis points this year.
Citigroup Inc.’s revision came ahead of this week’s turmoil.
Last Friday, analysts widened their fair value models to as much as 121 basis points for investment-grade bonds citing increased volatility across assets and a sudden rise in foreign bonds yields relative to US fixed income.
“The bearish view could be further cemented by evidence of foreign outflows, or even indications of lighter net demand from European or Japanese investors drawn back into local-currency bond markets,” Citigroup analysts said at the time. They saw high-grade debt spreads as having less support to withstand more negative shocks.
Recession risk
CURRENTLY, spreads are pricing in less than 5 percent of a recession risk, according to Barclays analysts not enough given how quickly the environment has deteriorated.
“Our forecast implies spreads pricing in about 20 percent recession risk, though still trading below their long-term medians,” they wrote. Still, analysts, including Barclays, view US credit fundamentals as solid with a subdued but not stalled supply and healthy demand weighing against the larger concerns in the credit market. Despite the delays, around $110 billion of new debt has already been sold in March alone, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. All-in yields should also help support credit spreads, according to Barclays. The analysts expect high-grade and junk allin yields to be in the middle of their ranges since the Fed began raising rates in 2022. “That is still attractive compared with the last 15 years.” Bloomberg
2nd Front Page
G7 to seek help of Asean in securing maritime routes
By Malou Talosig-Bartolome
FOREIGN
ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) nations are planning to reach out to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and other interested parties to ensure that the South China Sea and other major strategic sea lanes worldwide are secure and free from rogue states, terrorists and other illicit activities.
Aside from the South China Sea, the top diplomats from G7 countries identified East China Sea, Taiwan Strait, Black Sea and the Red Sea as “problematic maritime areas.”
Three of these five maritime zones are actively being claimed by China, which now has the biggest navy in the world—South and East China seas and the Taiwan Strait.
For the first time, the G7 foreign ministers specifically mentioned the Black Sea which is largely affected by the Ukraine-Russia war, and the Red Sea where international cargo vessels are being harassed by the Yemen’s Houthi forces.
freedom of navigation and overflight, and illicit shipping activities.”
“State behavior in these areas has increased the risk of conflict and environmental damage, and imperils all nations’ prosperity and living standards, especially for the world’s poorest,” the G7 said.
According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), roughly 80 percent of global trade volume is transported by sea. Also, 99 percent of intercontinental data traffic flows through submarine cables, the fiber-optic cables laid on the ocean floor.
“Disruptions to maritime routes pose a direct threat to international food security, critical minerals, energy security, global supply chains, and economic stability,” it stressed.
“We condemn China’s illicit, provocative, coercive and dangerous actions that seek unilaterally to alter the status quo in such a way as to risk undermining the stability of regions, including through land reclamations, and building of outposts, as well as their use for military purpose,” the statement read.
The ministers’ declaration was silent about the Philippines, although there were direct references again to the incidents in the South China Sea where Chinese Coast Guard and Navy harassed Philippine Coast Guard and other Philippine civilian boats and aircraft.
It also reiterated that the Philippine-initiated ruling by an arbitral tribunal ruling as “legally binding.”
The 2016 arbitral ruling threw away China’s massive claim in the South China Sea.
By Lenie Lectura
ANOTHER refund possibly awaits customers of the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) following the P19.9-billion refund ordered by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) last week.
Meralco must first file another refund application to cover for the months that were not included in the latest ERC order.
“Meralco will make supplemental filing for the remaining months of the lapsed period, i.e., for the period January to June 2025. The P20-billion refund that ERC provisionally approved was for the period July 2022 up to December 2024,” said Meralco utility economics head Lawrence Fernandez.
kilowatt hour (kWh), must be completed in 36 months.
The last time the influential grouping issued a separate declaration on maritime issue was nine years ago in Hiroshima, Japan. G7 comprises advanced economies which share values of liberal democracies—Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the High Representative of the European Union.
Maritime declaration IN its declaration, the G7 expressed “deep concern” over the growing risks to maritime security, “including strategic contestation, threats to
The G7 foreign ministers met in Quebec, Canada for two days and released a standalone document called “G7 Declaration on Maritime Security and Prosperity.”
Ambassador Antonio L. Cabangon Chua inducted into the National Press Club Hall of Fame
IN the storied halls of the National Press Club of the Philippines (NPC) in Intramuros, Manila, where the legacies of the country’s most influential journalists are enshrined, a new portrait now hangs—a tribute to a man who may not have been a journalist by profession but whose impact on Philippine media is undeniable.
On March 14, 2025, Ambassador Antonio L. Cabangon Chua was posthumously honored and inducted into the NPC Hall of Fame, joining a distinguished group of individuals who have made a lasting impact on the industry. He is among the few who have received this rare distinction since the NPC’s founding in 1952.
NPC President Leonel “Boying” Abasola led the simple but moving ceremony, highlighting the weight of this recognition. He noted that the Hall of Fame is not an accolade given often or lightly—the last induction took place more than a decade ago, way back in 2012, recognizing the late pioneering publishereditor Jose G. Burgos Jr. The decision to honor Cabangon
Chua was the result of careful deliberation by the NPC board, with a formal proposal initiated by NPC Board Director Aya Yupangco.
During the ceremony, Board Secretary Ma. Kristina Maralit presented a deeper look into his legacy, beginning with the words he held closest to his heart—that he wished to be remembered “for
The G7 maritime declaration has provided “framework of cooperation” with non-G7 partners including countries hosting major ports, large merchant fleets, or extensive flag registries.
Relevant international nongovernment such as Asean and International Maritime Organization and Asean, will be welcomed as soon G7 forms this maritime cooperation.
“We acknowledge the importance of regional maritime security frameworks, to support coastal states to address collectively threats to their maritime security,” they added.
Tough language G7 ministers again called out China for its aggressive behavior in the South China Sea, East China Sea and Taiwan Strait.
The ministers also pointed out that while contested areas are still subject to final delimitation, coastal states should refrain from making “unilateral actions that cause permanent physical change to the marine environment insofar as such actions jeopardize or hamper the reaching of the final agreement.”
They also stressed the need to make “every effort to enter into provisional arrangements of a practical nature,” in those areas.
Last year, the Philippines and China have agreed on a “provisional” arrangement allowing Philippine boats access to Ayungin Shoal (Scarborough Shoal) to provide food and other provisioning to Filipino soldiers stationed in the grounded naval ship BRP Sierra Madre. (See related story: PHL, China agree on RORE to Ayungin Shoal)
the love of a child for his mother.”
This devotion to his mother Dominga, she explained, was the foundation of his drive, the force that led him to success, and the reason he dedicated his life to creating opportunities for others.
At just 26, he took his first bold step into the business world by establishing Filipinas Pawnshop, reaching millionaire status before the age of 30. But for him, success was never just about personal wealth—it was about creating opportunities and making a difference in people’s lives. His vision led to the rise of a vast business empire spanning multiple industries, covering every stage of life’s journey. He built businesses that
served people from birth to one’s final moments, from memorial care and pre-need services to insurance, media, banking, pawnshops, real estate, car dealerships, hotels, education and security, among others. Each venture was driven by his vision to meet essential needs and uplift communities.
But it was in media that his passion truly found its purpose. Cabangon Chua believed that a well-informed nation was a strong nation. With this vision, he built the ALC Media Group, launching institutions dedicated to journalistic integrity.
“This will have to be after June 2025, so that we will have actual AWAT [actual weighted average tariff] to compare against the ERC approved distribution rate of Meralco,” he added.
Last Thursday, the ERC issued a provisional authority on Meralco’s refund application. This refund was filed in compliance with an ERC order that declared July 2022-June 2025 as lapsed period. This period was supposedly under the 5th Regulatory Period (5RP) but the reset process was not completed.
The total approved amount— P19,958,945,951.00—covers the difference between Meralco’s AWAT and Meralco’s approved distribution tariff from July 2022 to December 2024. As such, another application will be filed after Meralco has incurred, completed, and determined the AWAT for the remaining period from January to June 2025.
Meralco said it has yet to receive the official ERC order. “We welcome this development as this will provide relief to our customers especially as we approach the summer months when rates historically increase due to high demand for electricity,” the utility firm said in a statement last week.
The latest refund, which is equivalent average rate for all customer classes amounting to P0.1189 per
Meralco customer classes are grouped into residential and small businesses with a contracted capacity below 5 kilowatts (kW); businesses with a contracted capacity between 5kW and 39kW; large commercial and industrial customers with a combined contracted capacity exceeding 40kW; GHMSCI (government, hospitals, metered streetlights, and charitable institutions); Meralco-owned streetlights; and generator wheeling. The 30-page order stated that the refund rate for residential customers is equivalent to P0.2024 per kWh. The refund rate, which should be immediately implemented in the next billing cycle, will be reflected as a separate line item in the electricity bills of customers during the refund period.
In a 3-2 vote, the ERC’s 30-page order said it resolved to grant the proposed refund scheme of Meralco but disallowed its proposed offsetting of alleged under-recoveries from July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2020 in the amount of P862.034 million, resulting in a refund amount of P19.958 billion.
ERC Chairperson Monalisa Dimalanta dissented from granting the approved refund proposal as she wanted a short refund period of 12 months since she argued that a provisional authority is limited to a one-year effectivity. Commissioner Catherine Maceda, also dissenting, reiterated the refund should be completed in the shortest time possible.
“After careful deliberations, the majority, comprised of commissioners Alexis Lumbatan, Floresinda Digal, and Marko Romeo Fuentes resolved to grant provisional authority to Meralco’s application for confirmation of the true-up calculation of the AWAT vis-à-vis approved final distribution rate implemented during the lapsed period from July 2022 to December 2024, with modifications and subject to the instructions issued by the Commission during the discussion,” the ERC said.
Govt shutters warehouse
By Reine Juvierre S. Alberto
THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) locked down a warehouse in Valenzuela storing smuggled disposable vape products, ukay-ukay or used clothing and other assorted merchandise from China valued at P1.18 billion.
In a statement, the BOC said Customs Intelligence and Investigation Services-Manila International Container Port (CIIS-MICP) temporarily padlocked the warehouse on March 13. Handheld and desk fans, phone chargers, Chinese food items, wireless headsets, disposable syringes, office chairs, wall panels and other assorted merchandise were also discovered in the warehouse.
“We are seeing many Filipinos, especially the younger generations, shift to vapes from traditional tobacco products. This shift in the market makes border control measures all the more important because we need to ensure we put safe, tested, and licensed vape products out there,” Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio said.
The vape products have an estimated value of P320.069 million while the smuggled ukay-ukay products and other general merchandise were valued at P860 million, according to CIIS Director Verne Enciso.
“The total of P320 million for the vape products alone includes the excise taxes that the government should have collected from the importation of these products,” Enciso said.
An inventory will be conducted by Customs examiners and agents from the CIIS, Enforcement and Security
Service (ESS) and storage representatives.
The BOC said the warehouse and shop owners might face charges for violating Section 117 (regulated importation and exportation) and Section 1400 (misdeclaration in goods declaration) of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) in relation to Section 1113 (property subject to seizure and forfeiture).
They may also face charges under Republic Act 8293, otherwise known as the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines, Republic Act 10963, the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN Law), and the National Tobacco Administration (NTA) Board Resolution No. 079-2005 (amended rules and regulations governing the exportation and importation of leaf tobacco and tobacco products).
“Consumers are being victimized twice by counterfeit and smuggled products,” Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Group Juvymax Uy said.
“First, they buy products made of unsafe and substandard materials. These products pose health risks. And second, smuggled products do not have warranties and guarantees. So, they are not only inferior to their original counterparts, they also put their consumers at financial and health risks,” Uy added.
Last week,
PHOTOS BY BERNARD TESTA
Editor: Jennifer A. Ng
Maynilad nears ₧43.78B IPO
By VG Cabuag @villygc
THE West Zone water concessionaire Maynilad Water Services Inc. expects to raise P43.78 billion from its initial public offering (IPO) at the Philippine Stock Exchange.
In its disclosure to the Philippine Dealing System, Maynilad’s board approved the public offering of 1.81 billion common shares, an overallotment option of 266.3 million common shares and an upsize option of 379.28 million common shares. It will have a par value of P1 per share and will be offered at a price of P20 apiece.
Maynilad CEO Ramoncito S. Fernandez said via the disclosure that 2025 is the company’s sweet spot for listing at the PSE as postponing the deal to next year would already be too hectic.
“The franchise of Maynilad calls for it offering up to 30 percent to
the [PSE] on or before January 2027. That said, the company is preparing so that it can be push-button within this year depending on different factors: macro, economic and geopolitical,” Fernandez said.
“That’s where we are today. And the early, the better because, if you understand our predicament; if we push it next year, we might be running out of options. So it’s a sweet spot really this year,” he added explaining going public next year would be
“already tight.”
“And we may be forced to sell (low),” Fernandez said.
Maynilad has tapped the HongKong Shanghai Banking Corp. (HSBC), Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, UBS Group AG and Bank of the Philippine Islands to prepare the company for the IPO.
Meanwhile, Maynilad expects to
deliver an uninterrupted water supply to its concession area this summer for the second year in a row.
“The mitigating actions that we have started since three years ago are already in place and ensuring that there will be no unplanned service interruption. Last year, in the midst of El Niño, we didn’t have any unplanned interruption,” Fernandez said.
The executive pointed to the Poblacion plant the company built in Muntinlupa, which will supply 150 million liters of water per day.
“Number two, we have deep wells also on standby that has been reactivated. Number three we have also built modular treatment plants,” Fernandez said adding that the company’s non-revenue water reduction efforts “have (also) been very successful.”
Niche telco InfiniVAN eyes listing at PSE
INFINIVAN Inc., a Japanese telecommunications company that offers internet solutions to businesses, may go public late this year or early year, hoping to raise some P2 billion to P3 billion from local investors.
Eduardo V. Francisco, president
of BDO Capital and Investment Corp., said the company operates in a “very niche” market as it is doing mostly business-to-business transactions.
“It’s a small company but they’re doing very well. They’re very niche. Their office is in BGC (Bonifacio
Global City in Taguig),” Francisco said adding that the Japanese firm, with some Filipino investors, already has a lot of customers.
“As a corporate, you have a priority broadband provider but you have a backup. They were that back-up. So, in that case, they’re a very good back-
up. In some cases, for some smaller companies, they are the (main internet provider),” he said. The company sub-contracts lease lines from PLDT Inc. and then selling the connections to the businesses. They were able to also resell longterm contracts, he said. VG Cabuag
sees 4.5% increase in consolidated energy sales
THE Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) announced a target of a 4.5-percent increase in consolidated energy sales this year from the 54,325-gigawatt hours (GWh) the company recorded last year. Energy sales volume that will be attributed to Meralco may reach 56,000 GWh this year while Clark Electric Distribution Corp. may post around 700 GWh.
“Around 4.5 percent. We’re targeting for Meralco alone, 56,000 gigawatt hours and for Clark around 600 to 700 gigawatt hours,” said Meralco Senior Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer Ferdinand O. Geluz. Clark Electric is 65-percent owned by Meralco.
“Last year, our sales reach 54,325GWh so this year probably 2,490GWh will be added,” added Veluz.
For the first quarter this year, energy sales could be “positive but a bit flattish,” Geluz said. Moving on to the next quarter, the Meralco official said the numbers are likely to be on an upward trend due warmer temperatures which will drive a spike in demand.
“The first half is a bit challenging because we grew 9 percent last year because of El Niño, but much of the catch up will probably be in the second half. Maybe first quar-
ter is positive but a bit flattish while second quarter is a bit up, said the Meralco official.
In 2024, Meralco’s consolidated energy sales volumes recorded a sixpercent growth from 51,044 GWh in 2023 to 54,325GWh. Volumes attributed to Meralco and Clark Electric increased by 6 percent and 4 percent, respectively.
Meralco customers stood at 8.04 million last year, up three percent from 7.83 million in 2023. “Normally, we grow around 200,000 new customers every year,” said Geluz. To better serve and empower its growing number of customers, Meralco has been implementing initiatives to further enhance its physical and digital touchpoints with digital channels servicing more than 60 percent of the total customer transactions.
In support of customer choice programs, Meralco has been strengthening its grid infrastructure and metering capabilities through its “advance metering infrastructure” strategy that aligns with regulatory requirements and integrates smart metering solutions. Investments in back-end architecture further ensured the seamless implementation of retail aggregation program, which marked a significant milestone last month with the switching of the first retail aggregation customer. Lenie Lectura
Banking&Finance
Pulse of Fintech
WHILE global fintech (financial technology) investment dropped in the second half of 2024 (H2’24) compared to H1’24, a closer look at the fourth-quarter 2024 (Q4’24) results highlighted an upswing in total investment as interest rates continued to fall, the cost of capital began to improve, and the completion of a number of elections globally lessened some of the uncertainty in the global market.
Despite ongoing geopolitical tensions and conflicts, there is some optimism that the fintech market globally has turned a corner and that investment and deal activity will continue to recover heading into the first half of the year (H1’25).
Here are our top predictions for fintech in H1’25:
1. B2B-focused fintechs will continue to see significant interest and investment. Interest in the businessto-business (B2B) space will continue to surge over the next six months, particularly in areas like payments and regtech (regulatory technology).
2. PE firms will increasingly participate in fintech deals. Private equity (PE) firms have been sitting on the fence for quite some time due to market conditions and concerns about valuations. In H1’25, PE participation in fintech deals will likely grow given their abundance of dry powder and the growing pressure they are facing to get more active and to provide returns.
3. M&A activity will continue to pick up. Following on the uptick in Q4’24, mergers and acquisitions will likely grow in H1’25, driven both by increasing consolidation as startups look to gain scale in order to become more competitive or better manage regulatory pressures and as corporates increasingly look for opportunities to make strategic acquisitions.
4. Interest in AI enablement will grow. Fintech investors—particularly corporates—will show increasing interest in startups focused on AIenablement, such as using artificial intelligence (AI) to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of activities like regulatory compliance and cybersecurity, or to enable customer facing staff to provide more value or quicker responses to customers.
5. Regtech will continue to be a priority for investors in the EMEA region. Regtech will continue to gain attention from investors, particularly in the EMEA (Europe, the Middle East and Africa) region given the increasing complexities associated with ensuring regulatory compliance.
6. Partnerships will remain a key focus in Aspac. Cross-jurisdictional fintech partnerships will continue to grow the fintech ecosystem in AsiaPacific, with growing partnerships between regulators, between central banks, and between corporates and fintechs.
7. Changeover in US administration will likely boost investment in crypto. All eyes will be on the US in H1’25 as the administration changes over given expectations of deregulation and a government more supportive of
H2’24
crypto. Should expected changes materialize, investment in the crypto and digital assets space will likely grow, particularly on the infrastructure front; globally, stablecoins and asset tokenization are also expected to see increasing interest from investors.
Fintech funding in Aspac region falls to ten-year low TOTAL fintech investment in the Aspac region fell to $11.4 billion in 2024— the lowest level seen since 2014; the decline was driven by several factors, including geopolitical uncertainties associated with the mass changes to governments globally, the continued focus on efficiency and cost cutting among many corporates, and the continued softness in China’s fintech sector. The payments sector remained quite a hot area of investment throughout the region, while lending-focused solutions continued to struggle. Total fintech investment in China dropped from $2.6 billion to just $687 million between 2023 and 2024, while investment in India slipped from $4.4 billion to $4.1 billion. Other jurisdictions saw more positive results; Australia saw fintech investment more than double from $839 million to $2.1 billion year-overyear, while investment in Japan held steady at $662 million.
Outlook for Fintech in the Philippines
DESPITE the overall funding decline in Aspac, fintech remains a key driver of financial inclusion and digital transformation in the Philippines. KPMG in the Philippines Vice Chairman and COO, Head of Advisory, and Financial Services Sector Head Emmanuel P. Bonoan shared:
“The Philippines continues to see strong momentum in digital payments, regtech, and AI-driven financial solutions. While global fintech funding faced headwinds in 2024, we see opportunities for Philippine fintech firms to attract investment. As regulatory frameworks evolve, partnerships between banks, fintechs, and digital platforms will be crucial in driving sustainable growth.”
As fintech adoption grows, businesses will need to leverage innovation to remain competitive. The interplay between regulation and technology will shape the next phase of fintech in the country, providing opportunities for both startups and established financial institutions to collaborate and expand their offerings.
China Bank expanding instant credit card-issuance program
THE China Banking Corp.
(Chinabank) announced the expansion of its instant issuance of program to more locations, which the lender expects to give customers their physical credit card in just 30 minutes if approved by its staff. The 30-minute processing is subject to credit evaluation and is applicable to onsite applications only, the bank said.
“This cutting-edge web-based, mobile-optimized processing solution ensures a seamless application process that provides an instant credit decision and a physical card in hand within 30 minutes,” the bank said.
Slowed release of govt funds seen to upset growth stride
By Reine Juvierre Alberto @reine_alberto
THE slowing pace in releasing the 2025 national budget is expected to impact the growth momentum of the economy.
Data from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) showed that the release in government fund remained slow as of the end of February 2025. Latest status of allotment releases showed the DBM released 67 percent or P4.236 trillion of the P6.326-trillion budget allocation for the year.
The budget release is slower compared to the 79.3 percent rate recorded during the same period a year ago.
“This could slow down government spending, especially on infrastructure and other important social services that could, in turn, slow down overall economic growth,” Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) Chief Economist Michael L.
Ricafort said.
However, election-related spending by candidates and their donors could offset the slowdown, Ricafort added. Budget Policy and Strategy Group Assistant Secretary Romeo T. Balanquit said government spending could slow down in the first half of the year but the economy could rebound in the second half.
“We want greater efficiency in the use of resources and of the budget. The only things we will approve of are those with complete documents and are implementation-ready. That’s the only time we will be able to release the budget,” DBM Chief Economist Joselito R. Basilio said.
DBM data showed it disbursed
P2.982 trillion of the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA), accounting for 70.6 percent of the total P4.221 trillion funding.
About P2.808 trillion, or 76.1 percent of the P3.691 trillion budget, was disbursed to various departments and agencies.
Special purpose funds (SPFs) released also amounted to P173.537 billion, or 32.8 percent of the P529.595 billion allocation.
Meanwhile, P1.228 trillion in automatic appropriations was shelled out by the DBM as of end-February 2025. This makes up 58.4 percent of the P2.105 trillion funding.
About 65.1 percent of the tax expenditures fund/customs duties and taxes amounting to P9.432 billion was also released by the DBM.
The DBM freed up all the national tax allotment (P1.034 trillion), block grant (P83.421 billion), pension of former presidents and their widows (P480,000) and special account in the general fund (P27.352 billion).
The DBM also fully released P68.55 billion in retirement and life insurance premiums for government
employees in January and inserted P5.612 billion more in February. Meanwhile, the DBM has yet to release the budget for net lending worth P28.700 billion and interest payments at P848.030 billion. In terms of other releases, the DBM set down a total of P25.680 billion as of end-February.
About P22.395 billion was allocated to other automatic appropriations while P2.190 billion was given to continuing appropriations from 2024.
Under unprogrammed appropriations, P1.095 billion was disbursed to the Metropolitan Development Authority as support to foreign-assisted projects.
Unprogrammed appropriations are those which provide standby authority to incur additional agency obligations for priority programs or projects when revenue collection exceeds targets, and when additional grants or foreign funds are generated.
The DBM has yet to release 33 percent or P2.089 trillion of the remaining P6.326 trillion total budget allocation for the year.
Filipinos opted to save more vs pandemic worries–poll
ECONOMIC uncertainty during the pandemic prompted Filipino households to prioritize savings over incurring debt, leading to a significant decline in 2021, according to a nationwide survey by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).
Based on the 2021 Consumer Finance Survey conducted from March to December 2022, with a sample size of 18,000 households, only 29.3 percent of households carried any form of debt during this period.
This is lower than the 40.4 percent of Filipino households that have outstanding debts in the 2018 survey as households were more reluctant to take on additional debt, the BSP said.
“The pandemic prompted a significant reorientation of Filipino households’ approach to debt and savings. Faced with economic uncertainty, households increased their precautionary savings to protect against the risks of job losses and falling incomes,” the BSP said.
Broken down, liabilities incurred by Filipino households during the pandemic consisted of past-due
household bills at 16.4 percent and outstanding loans at 15.2 percent.
Only 0.7 percent of households had outstanding credit card debt, which was mostly used for the purchase of basic goods.
The BSP said traditional spending opportunities such as travel, dining and entertainment were severely limited due to government-imposed restrictions on movement and business operations.
However, households were able to raise savings during the crisis because of these restrictions inadvertently impacting spending. Households also benefited from government financial assistance programs, according to the BSP.
Meanwhile, spending on food and beverages consumed at home remained the top expense for Filipino households at 55.4 percent.
Among non-food expenses, housing and utilities accounted for 10.6 percent, while transportation costs made up 7.2 percent of household budgets.
The BSP said this spending pat-
tern highlights the critical role of government policies in managing the prices of essential goods and services.
In terms of financial assets owned by Filipino households, deposit accounts recorded the highest ownership rate at 35.3 percent.
This was followed by traditional cash savings kept at home at 28.7 percent and the rapidly growing emoney accounts at 24.3 percent.
“The post-pandemic recovery period witnessed substantial growth across financial asset categories, particularly in formal banking relationships and digital financial products,” the BSP said.
“Financial institutions played a pivotal role in this transition by accelerating the development of userfriendly digital services. These services addressed the evolving needs of consumers who increasingly required remote access to financial resources during lockdown periods,” it added.
Meanwhile, home appliances and equipment remained the most commonly owned non-financial asset at 96.6 percent.
This is followed by residential properties at 69.9 percent and vehicles at 35.3 percent, with motorcycles (61.7 percent) commonly owned. More families also shifted to rental accommodations at 11.3 percent, compared to 10.2 percent in 2018. The increasing importance of digital connectivity, particularly during times of crisis, was reflected in mobile phones (92.8 percent) surpassing televisions (81.1 percent) as the most common household item since 2018.
Further, wages continued to be the primary source of household income as households receiving wage income grew by 91.5 percent in 2021 from 73.7 percent in 2018. The BSP said the increase was due to government employment initiatives implemented to counteract job losses during the pandemic.
About 9.8 percent of households received income from businesses, primarily sole proprietorships in retail or food service, while 55.6 percent relied on other sources, mainly government pandemic assistance or ayuda. Reine Juvierre S. Alberto
DoubleDragon becomes SSS’s CSP program partner
IN a landmark social security partnership, SSS President and CEO Robert Joseph Montes
De Claro and DoubleDragon Corp.
Chairman Edgar “Injap” J. Sia II formally signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to register the listed firm as a “Contribution Subsidy Provider” (CSP).
According to a statement issued by the SSS, De Claro cited Sia’s move to heed the pension fund manager’s call last January for government and businesses to support Filipino workers and their families through the SSS’s CSP program.
According to Chinabank, it will install its booth in select SM supermarket. Customers will have to present its existing principal credit card from another bank for at least one year and a valid government-issued ID. They should complete an interview with a Chinabank sales personnel, who will collect the information for the application process. The final issuance is subject to credit evaluation. Applicants must wait for an SMS update on the status of their application. An applicant can pick up the Chinabank credit card at the booth and upon activation. The fifth-largest lender in terms of assets said this program targets female users. VG Cabuag
He was quoted in the statement as saying that DoubleDragon would fully subsidize the SSS contributions for 2,000 informal sector workers in Iloilo City and Roxas City for 12 months for a total commitment of P18.2 million. The move, according to the SSS, addresses “the financial barriers that prevent workers from accessing essential social security benefits.”
This SSS contribution subsidy will also benefit the extended families of these workers, De Claro said.
“It will provide these informal sector workers with the opportunity to join the SSS and gain access to its benefits,” he added. “By offering access to social security, DoubleDragon is empowering these
As a partner, DoubleDragon aims to make a significant impact in the lives of those who need it most: workers in the informal economy.
informal sector workers to have a safety net to rely on in times of need.”
We are beaming with pride to have DoubleDragon give back to SSS and Filipino workers as a CSP after almost three decades since Sia took out a corporate loan from SSS in 1997 followed by continuing SSS participation in capital market issuances of DoubleDragon up to the present, De
Claro further said. Under the CSP program, SSS partners with private or government entities who commit to paying the contributions on behalf of selected self-employed workers, land-based Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and voluntary members of the SSS. The minimum subsidy period under the program is six consecutive months.
Sia said the program gives entrepreneurs like him “a chance to be able to pay it forward and to be able to assist and help thousands of our countrymen who needed some lift in life.” He believes that DoubleDragon’s partnership with the SSS can positively affect thousands of Filipinos. He shared that this collaboration is his way of reciprocating the assistance he received from the SSS when he was an emerging entrepreneur, noting that the SSS provided him with a corporate loan that enabled him to build a 59-room hotel in Iloilo City in 1997. After 28 years, Sia said he “remains grateful for the credit facility and looks forward to a continuing, meaningful partnership with the SSS in the years ahead.”
What’s a recession and why is rising anxiety about it roiling markets?
By Christopher Rugaber AP Economics Writer
WASHINGTON—Stock markets are plunging, consumers and businesses have started to sour on the economy, and economists are marking down their estimates for growth this year, with some even seeing rising odds of a recession.
tricity it sends to the United States. For now, the economy appears to be stable. Stock prices often fluctuate and sharp, temporary drops typically don’t harm the economy. Most analysts still think the chances of a recession are fairly small. Goldman Sachs expects slower growth this year than last but still puts the odds of a recession at just 20 percent. Still, fears of a downturn are rising as investors, economists, and business executives are realizing that Trump’s import taxes are much more at the forefront of his economic policy this time than his last term in the White House. Tax cuts and deregulation appear for now to be on the back-burner. During Trump’s first term, tax cuts came before the import duties. Tariffs can slow the economy in a variety of ways: By raising prices for consumers, they can slow spending. Businesses may pull back on investing in new projects if they face higher costs from tariffs. And the uncertainty from Trump’s on-again, off-again approach can also cause firms to delay hiring and investment.
“The longer the tariffs stay on, the more the risk of recession grows,” says Luke Tilley, chief economist at M&T Bank/Wilmington Trust.
Here are some questions and answers about recessions:
Are there any signs a recession is imminent?
Not really. But one development that has sparked widespread fears is a real-time economy tracker maintained by the Federal Reserve’s Atlanta branch. Last week it showed a sharp downshift and is now projecting that the US economy will shrink at an annual rate of 2.4 percent in the first three months of this year.
The Atlanta Fed’s tracker is not technically a forecast but instead a running tally that is updated as economic data is released. It turned negative after trade data showed a surge in imports in January, which likely reflected an effort by businesses to get ahead of tariffs.
Most economists still expect the U.S. economy to expand in the first quarter, though at a slower pace. JPMorgan sees growth slowing to just 1 percent at an annual rate in the first quarter, down from 2.3 percent in last year’s fourth quarter.
Still, Harvard University economist Larry Summers, a former treasury secretary for the Clinton administration, on Monday put the odds of a recession at 50-50.
“All the emphasis on tariffs and all the ambiguity and uncertainty has both chilled demand and caused prices to go up,” Summers posted on X. “We are getting the worst of both
worlds—concerns about inflation and an economic downturn and more uncertainty about the future and that slows everything.”
Typically, a recession occurs when some short of shock hits the economy, such as the pandemic in 2020, or the bursting of the housing bubble in 2007. It’s not yet clear that tariffs will have a large enough impact to knock the economy into reverse.
Dan North, senior economist at Allianz Trade Americas, a financial services firm, doesn’t expect a recession, but says a “full-blown trade war” with all Trump’s proposed tariffs taking effect and sparking retaliation by other countries overseas “could constitute a shock.”
What else has caused the stock markets to drop?
Trump helped spark the sharp market selloff Monday by refusing to rule out a recession during a Sunday interview on Fox News.
When asked whether he expected a recession this year, Trump said, “I hate to predict things like that. There is a period of transition because what we’re doing is very big....It takes a little time.”
Some of Trump’s advisers, however, have dismissed recession concerns and have said the economy should continue to grow.
Why didn’t Trump’s tariffs spark recession fears last time?
The import taxes Trump is threatening to impose this time are far more sweeping than the duties he put in place in 2018-2019, which were mostly
focused on China and a few targeted items, such as steel, aluminum, and washing machines.
Now, Trump has placed 20 percent duties on all imports from China, has threatened to impose 25 percent tariffs on all imports from Canada and Mexico—the United States’ two largest trading partners—and also says the US will place reciprocal tariffs on all countries that have tariffs on US exports, including Europe, India, and Japan.
All told, Jan Hatzius, chief economist at Goldman Sachs, estimates that the average US tariff on imported items could rise 10 percentage points as a result, five times the increase he imposed in his first term.
And most economists say that Trump’s 2018-2019 duties did cause a downturn in the manufacturing sector. The Federal Reserve ended up cutting its benchmark interest rate three times in 2019 to shore up the economy.
Other things also could take a toll on the economy: Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, is seeking to cut tens of thousands of federal government jobs and sharply cut government spending, which could weigh on the economy.
Major commercial airlines said this week that they are seeing a slowdown in government travel.
Delta Air Lines said Monday that declining consumer and business confidence amid widespread economic uncertainty is weakening demand.
What signals would suggest that a recession has begun?
The clearest signal would be a
steady rise in job losses and a surge in unemployment. Companies generally stop hiring, and sometimes lay off workers, if they see their business shrinking.
The unemployment rate did tick up last month, to 4.1 percent from 4 percent, though that is still quite low. But employers added 151,000 jobs, a sign that businesses are still seeking to add workers.
Many economists monitor the number of people who seek unemployment benefits each week, a gauge that indicates whether layoffs are worsening. Weekly applications for jobless aid remain quite low by historical standards.
Who decides when a recession has started?
Recessions are officially declared by the obscure-sounding National Bureau of Economic Research, a group of economists whose Business Cycle Dating Committee defines a recession as “a significant decline in economic activity that is spread across the economy and lasts more than a few months.”
The committee considers trends in hiring. It also assesses many other data points, including gauges of income, employment, inflation-adjusted spending, retail sales and factory output. It assigns heavy weight to a measure of inflation-adjusted income that excludes government support payments like Social Security.
Yet the organization typically doesn’t declare a recession until well after one has begun, sometimes as long as a year afterward.
Artworks reimagined as scarves at Corso Como 88
ART and fashion seamlessly merge at a luxury retail store at One Ayala Mall in Makati City. Amid high-end European brand names such as Valentino, Lagerfeld, Balenciaga, and Dior are acclaimed Filipino artists such as Ofelia Gelvezon-Tequi, Atty. Gladys Tiongco, Karina Herrera-Orozco, JJ Duque and Danger Sanchez.
The five creative talents are the featured artists in a multi-themed exhibit, called “Five States of Being,” which runs until March 31, at Corso Como 88. Interestingly, their selected works have been reimagined into wearable art—as limited-edition scarves.
“We’re blending the worlds of visual arts and fashion in a unique and inspiring way. Corso Como 88 takes pride not only in offering the finest luxury merchandise and an unparalleled retail experience, but also in being a collaborative space that provides a platform for artists and creatives alike,” said president and CEO Imelda Menguito-Sciandra.
“Together with the five artists, we have mounted this group art exhibit and created a limited edition of scarves based on selected artworks included in this exhibit. Wearing one of these scarves is always an opportunity for self-expression,” added MenguitoSciandra.
Here, the five visionary artists share their inspirations and creative process:
OFELIA GELVEZON-TEQUI:
A MASTER OF PRINT AND MEANING
BASED in France, Gelvezon-Tequi is an awardwinning Filipina artist renowned for her painting and printmaking. A trailblazer, she was the first woman to
JOSE
MORENO would have celebrated his 100th birthday this year, 2025. In honor of the occasion and his legacy as a fashion icon, an exhibition in his honor, titled Timeless: J. Moreno, was unveiled. The grand opening took place at The M’s new venue in BGC on the evening of February 26, just one day after Moreno’s centennial birth anniversary. Led by head curator Dr. Florina Capistrano-Baker with the assistance of Ditas Samson and Clarissa Esguerra, the exhibition highlights the life, career and legacy of Pitoy Moreno, touted as the Fashion Czar of Asia. After graduating from the Fine Arts program at the University of the Philippines, he rented his first studio on Taft Avenue and began his fashion career by making costumes for the Bayanihan Dance Company. What ultimately allowed Pitoy to reach his level of national and international recognition was not only his talent but his ability to sustain his relationships with established people in politics and high society. Thus, his designs became a symbol of high status and he became the face of local couture, a constant in Philippine fashion and culture.
The opening ceremony was attended by the late designer’s family, friends, and former clients, many of whom wore their own Pitoy-designed ternos. Among the attendees were Dr. Ramon Moreno, Beba Moreno Yau and family, Marie Luisa Moreno, and the designer’s nephews, Jimmy and Roland Cruz. Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was the evening’s guest of honor. Seated beside her were the US Ambassador Mary Kay Carlson and the wife of Japanese Ambassador, Endo Akiko, alongside representatives of the Jusi at Pina Legacy Foundation, the organizers of Timeless: J. Moreno. The exhibition runs until June 29, 2025.
receive the prestigious Thirteen Artists Award from the Cultural Center of the Philippines in 1972.
For the exhibit, Gelvezon-Tequi presents prints from her Anting Anting series, created using viscosity color printing, and her Ha Long Bay series, crafted through etching with color.
“As for the inspiration for the Anting-Anting I have always thought the Filipinos are the original creators of the bullet-proof vests. These images were taken from the fallen insurrectos who believed the shirts with Latin prayers and religious icons could protect them from bullets.
“For the Ha Long Bay series, we lived for a couple of years in Hanoi during the mid-1990s as my husband Marc was working for his bank there. Several times
Philippines recently
widow in 2020, in between Netflix, Korean dramas, family outings and dinners, I discovered painting. I started with painting by numbers. I have done hundreds of them. Gave them as gifts to my family, to my nephews and nieces.
“God works in mysterious ways. My friend Yasmin Crisostomo invited me to join her painting class. I started the watercolor painting class with teacher Roland Santos. Patience, perseverance, practicepractice pa more made me love painting.”
KARINA HERRERA-OROZCO: THE MAGIC OF MANDALAS
“I HAVE been into arts and crafts since my childhood days. I enjoy sketching, painting, gardening, cooking, photography, and just creating other pretty things. I believe this artistic side runs in my family.
“It was during the pandemic when I unearthed my art materials and started painting again. My subjects are usually landscapes, flowers, and other soft content. This time, I decided to explore mandala and Mediterranean arts due to my fascination with their colorful and intricate patterns. I taught myself how to paint this subject on round woods.
“So, after two years of creating mandalas, we are finally launching my first art exhibition now. I am truly honored to feature my artworks, together with these very talented and inspiring artists.”
DANGER SANCHEZ: WHERE COFFEE MEETS CREATIVITY
ROBERTO FERNANDO O. SANCHEZ—better known as Danger—is an artist, philosopher, melomaniac, and all-around creative rebel whose journey started with coffee art, but soon evolved into mixed-media decoupage, layering acrylics, pens, correction ink, and unexpected materials into textured, expressive works.
“Everyday events and encounters inspire me.
“Why coffee art and mixed media decoupage? I want to give all my friends a painting each and this the fastest way to create it. I’ve given more than 300 pieces. And something I can afford to give. Preferably, I want to reconnect and have coffee with them.
“[The inspiration] for the collection on exhibit is mixed media to incorporate all boring painting styles I know hoping to create something different.”
JJ DUQUE: DOODLING WITH A TWIST A WRITER, chef and an acclaimed artist, JJ Duque turned his love for doodling into a full-fledged art
BSP honors Cebuana Lhuillier Commitment to Anti-Money Laundering and Financial Security
THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) recently honored Cebuana Lhuillier for its outstanding contributions to strengthening the country’s financial security policies. As one of the Philippines’ most trusted financial institutions, Cebuana Lhuillier has long been committed to supporting government initiatives aimed at ensuring financial stability, transparency, and security. The company’s efforts in collaborating with various government agencies have played a pivotal role in uplifting communities while also complying with legal and regulatory frameworks.
The recognition came during the NACCSFISC Stakeholder Appreciation Program, held on March 5, 2025, at the BSP Complex in Manila. Cebuana Lhuillier’s continuous partnership with the BSP and other government bodies has helped enhance compliance with anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing (CTF) standards. As part of this collaboration, the company played a vital role in supporting the BSP’s Asia Pacific Joint Group Onsite Assessment Activities, a significant effort aimed at strengthening financial security in the region. Their involvement underscored Cebuana Lhuillier’s commitment to implementing and adhering to global financial security standards.
The award, a Certificate of Appreciation, was presented by the National Anti-Money Laundering/Countering the Financing of Terrorism Coordinating Committee (NACC) through the Supervision of Financial Institutions Sub-Committee (SFISC). This recognition highlights Cebuana Lhuillier’s dedication to financial governance and its ongoing efforts to foster collaboration between the private sector and government agencies in safeguarding the country’s financial systems.
Jean Henri Lhuillier, President and CEO of Cebuana Lhuillier, expressed his honor and gratitude for the recognition and emphasized the importance of the partnership between the private sector
and the government in advancing financial security measures. He acknowledged the BSP’s leadership in promoting global standards for anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing.
In his statement, Lhuillier said, “This partnership demonstrates the company’s commitment to strengthening financial systems while adhering to international standards. By aligning our efforts with government policies and programs, we hope to set an example for others in the industry and showcase the importance of collaboration between the private sector and government agencies in shaping a brighter, safer financial future for the nation.”
Cebuana Lhuillier’s role in supporting the BSP’s efforts is particularly significant in light of the growing challenges in global financial security. With the rising concerns around money laundering, terrorism financing, and other illicit activities, financial institutions have become key players in helping prevent and mitigate risks to the global financial system. Cebuana Lhuillier’s participation in initiatives such as the Asia Pacific Joint Group Onsite Assessment Activities showcases their proactive stance in tackling these issues head-on.
Beyond financial security, Cebuana Lhuillier has also been a key proponent
PhilHealth head convenes Technical Advisory Council to refine disease coverage selection process
PHILHEALTH Acting President and CEO Dr. Edwin Mercado convened the Technical Advisory Council (TAC) for its second meeting on March 10, 2025. The session focused on improving actuarial assumptions and refining the disease coverage selection process.
During the meeting, experts discussed practical ways to strengthen actuarial projections that will directly benefit PhilHealth members. The council emphasized the need for more detailed, market-based assumptions that assess whether current healthcare providers can actually deliver the covered services.
“By improving our actuarial assumptions, we can better predict healthcare costs and utilization patterns,” explained Dr. Mercado. “This means we can expand benefits in a sustainable way while ensuring members can actually access the care we’re promising.”
The TAC supported Dr. Mercado’s direction to expand coverage for high-cost, high-burden diseases to increase access to critical services. For members, this translates to greater financial protection against catastrophic health expenses that previously caused significant hardship for many Filipino families.
“Going granular means understanding if our current healthcare infrastructure can deliver the services we’re covering, and developing strategies to create robust markets where they don’t exist. What this means is that we know where our doctors and other medical professionals are but we also know how many patients they can handel every day so that it will not affect the
quality of healthcare the patients need,” added the PhilHealth President and CEO. “When we promise coverage for a condition, we want to ensure our members can find qualified providers to deliver that care without
excessive out-of-pocket expenses or long travel times.” Council members committed to developing a practical framework that will guide this expansion while ensuring service delivery capability.
COUNCIL Members consist of Dr. Tessa Tan-Torres Edejer, health economist who served as the Coordinator of the Unit on Costs, Effectiveness, Expenditure and Priority Setting in the Department of Health Financing and Governance (HGF), WHO in Geneva; Dr. Carlo Irwin A. Panelo, health systems, policy and financing expert; Honesto A. Nuqui, Jr., actuary, mathematician, and seasoned insurance executive; Dr. Michael L. Tee, university professor, scientist, and chancellor; Dr. Valerie Gilbert T. Ulep, health economist and well-published senior research fellow; Dr. Vivencio Jose Villaflor, a practicing surgeon and seasoned hospital administrator; and Henry Aguda, information technology and digital transformation expert.
City takes lead in removing unauthorized election campaign materials
BIÑAN City Mayor Arman Dimaguila and Vice-mayor Gel Alonte spearheaded a clearing operation to rid the city of unauthorized, illegally-placed election campaign materials last March 10, 2025.
Commission on Elections (Comelec) Resolution No. 11086 states that “all prohibited forms of election propaganda shall be immediately removed, or caused to be removed, by said candidate or party at least 72 hours before the start of the campaign period.”
For the upcoming polls, the 90-day campaign period for senators and party-list representatives started last February 11 until May 10, while local candidates will be allowed to campaign beginning March 28 to May 10.
Dimaguila said their clearing campaign is “non-discriminating,” and will apply to all oversized streamers illegally placed in sites prohibited by the Comelec, whether these streamers or tarpaulins support national or local candidates.
“Let us not wait for the start of the campaign for local officials on March 28. Earlier, we removed oversized streamers because it was placed in the wrong location. We should only post campaign materials in the common crossing area. Everyone should follow, including administration candidates. Let us place our campaign materials in the right places.”
He further said that election campaign materials should not be posted on trees since this practice is not environment friendly.
For his part, Alonte said that this early, voters can already gauge the character and intent of a candidate in the way a candidate posts his or her election paraphernalia.
“We do not need to place too many streamers. We can gauge the performance of the candidates, from the start of the election campaign period up until election day,” Alonte said.
of financial inclusion, recognizing the importance of providing accessible and secure financial services to underserved communities across the Philippines.
The company has long been involved in various social responsibility programs that aim to uplift the lives of Filipinos by making financial services more accessible, especially in rural and remote areas.
Through strategic partnerships with the government and other organizations, Cebuana Lhuillier has contributed significantly to the promotion of financial literacy and inclusion across the country. These efforts align closely with BSP’s goal of achieving a more inclusive financial system, which can better serve the needs of all Filipinos, particularly those who are unbanked or underbanked.
Sole Pharma Meets Rising Demand for High-Quality Supplements in PHL
IN response to the growing demand for high-quality health supplements in the Philippines, Sole Pharma, as one of the leading European pharmaceutical manufacturer, announces its expansion into the Southeast Asian market. Products are available in Mercury Drug, Watson’s, Rose’s Pharmacy, Allgreen RX, and Evercare Pharmacy; and via online through Sole Pharma’s official Lazada and Shopee stores. With the country’s supplement industry projected to grow at a rate of 9.32 percent from 2024 to 2029, Sole Pharma is committed to providing science-backed, high-quality formulations to support Filipinos in their journey toward better health.
As modern life presents increasing challenges ranging from stress management to maintaining cognitive and physical health Filipinos are turning to trusted supplements for support. Sole Pharma, with its strong track record in over 25 countries, aims to address these needs through its portfolio of specialized health solutions.
In response to these challenges, many Filipinos are placing more importance on health and wellness and are looking for reliable supplements to help them boost their energy, manage stress, and enhance mental focus.
The demand for quality supplements that offer real benefits has never been higher, as people seek products that align with their goal of leading healthier, more balanced lives. With a wide range of choices available, consumers are advised to be discerning and choose reliability and effectiveness.
Fortunately, Filipinos don’t need to look far. Sole Pharma is leading the way in providing trusted, highquality supplements that promote overall health and wellness. As one of the leading European pharmaceutical manufacturers, the company first launched in 2008 and has since built a strong foundation in international markets, forging global partnerships in over 25 countries. With more than 50 successful products sold in over 25 countries, Sole Pharma is now geared towards expansion in the SEA region, particularly the Philippines.
“Sole Pharma is committed to empowering people to live healthier, more energetic lives”, Elza Muizniece, Business Unit Manager at Sole Pharma® Healthcare. “We believe that
health and wellness should be accessible. We’re excited to be part of the Filipino’s journey towards a healthier future, one supplement at a time.”
High-quality manufacturing is a top priority at Sole Pharma, and all products are crafted in compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), US and Philippine FDA standards, and ISO regulations. The company’s commitment to precision is also reflected in their new logo inspired by the Golden Ratio.
“Our commitment to responsible manufacturing and community support sets Sole Pharma apart, and we’re proud to uphold these values as we continue to grow,” adds. With the promise of #PowerUp, Sole Pharma prides itself on developing supplements that contain multiple powerful ingredients in a single formula. The company currently has six brands that cater to various health concerns.
Sole Max is a memory enhancer supplement while Stressnol as its name suggests, a stress management supplement. Focumax is an eye care supplement, along with Immunity Glucan, an immunity booster.
For people in midlife and beyond, there’s Artroveron, a 5-in-1 expert in joint health for knee and joint support with omega-3 and collagen, and Hepastrong, a liver care supplement.
Whether used as part of a daily routine or shared as a thoughtful gift, Sole Pharma supplements bring a sense of vitality and care. Giving a loved one the “gift of health” has never been more accessible.
For those ready to begin their wellness journey with Sole Pharma, products are available in Mercury Drug, Watson’s, Rose’s Pharmacy, Allgreen RX and Evercare Pharmacy, as well as on Sole Pharma’s official Lazada and Shopee stores. For more information, visit https://www.solepharm. com/ or https://abgph.com/. Follow them on Instagram @ solepharmaph, Facebook Sole Pharma PH, for educational content while purchase from official Lazada and Shopee stores. Visit https://www.solepharm.com/, Instagram @ solepharmaph, Facebook Sole Pharma PH.
For more queries, please email: solepharmamkt@ docquity.com.
Biñan
IgnItIng your legacy: a call to aspIrIng communIcators
An inspirational message delivered at the International Public Relations PH x Centro Escolar University session, March 7, 2025.
DEA r future storytellers, architects of connection, and fellow communicators,
I stand before you today not just as a seasoned professional, but as a fellow traveler on the path you’re about to embark on. Like you, I once stood at the threshold, wondering: how do we find our true calling in the vast, ever-evolving world of communication?
We’ve all seen the stories: those who knew their path from childhood, and those who, sadly, found themselves adrift, realizing their true passions only in their twilight years. I consider myself profoundly fortunate to have discovered my purpose in public relations. And while I acknowledge the role of “luck,” I believe it’s far more
n Calling the next generation of filipino inventors: James Dyson awarD 2025 opens for entries MANILA, PHILIPPINES—The James Dyson Award 2025 is officially open for entries, championing the spirit of innovation among young engineers and designers across 28 countries and regions. With over P70 million in global prize money since its inception, the annual competition continues its legacy of empowering students to turn real-world problems into world-changing solutions.
Over the years, Filipino innovators have made a powerful mark on the global stage of the James Dyson Award.
ramUn (resistivity acquisition and monitoring of the Underground), 2024 national winner
JOSEPH Ar ISTOTLE DE L E-
ON ’s invention digs deep, quite literally. His real-time underground monitoring system, r AMUN, reimagines how we approach flood control, subsidence, and groundwater management in cities. With a flexible, non-invasive design tailored for urban environments,
the De La Salle University-Manila student is reshaping the way communities understand the world beneath their feet.
make-roscope, 2023 top 20 international finalist
S OMETIMES , the most revolutionary ideas come in small packages. Just ask Make-roscope inventor Jeremy De Leon from Mapúa. His palm-sized, keychain microscope transforms smartphones and tablets into science lab tools that magnify objects up to 125x, no lab required. Built with food-grade silicone and made for the curious, this innovation is democratizing science, one student at a time.
Brakong, 2022 top 20 international finalist W HAT if a prosthesis could feel like a second skin? Brakong, by University of the Philippines–Diliman duo Emmanuelle Pangilinan and Jason Pechardo, is a featherlight, sustainable breast prosthesis made from the antimicrobial aquatic plant bakong. With 3D scanning for personalized fit and a strong focus on circular design, Brakong redefines comfort for breast cancer survivors and offers a gentler, greener approach to healing. Sir James Dyson, Founder of Dyson, said: “I started the James Dyson Award 20 years ago with the mission to inspire and support the next genera -
than chance. It’s the confluence of exposure, influence, and the indelible mark left by those who nurtured my understanding of communication.
The formative years, those between five and twelve, are said to shape our destinies. For me, they were a masterclass in the art of connection. Weekends in Punta, Santa Ana, Manila, were spent observing my father, r ene, as he masterfully navigated community relations for a multinational oil company. My sister and I were given a rare glimpse into the world of a leading P r practitioner.
Years later, in 1987, my father’s retirement from Exxon marked the beginning of Perceptions, Inc., his own P r counsel firm. The learning continued, a vibrant, immersive experience far beyond textbook knowledge. Planning campaigns over family holidays, dissecting strategy during Sunday brunches—these were my real-world classrooms.
tion of design engineers. The brilliant ideas we’ve seen since then prove that young people are passionate about providing solutions to the world’s most pressing problems, using design, engineering and technology—in medicine, the environment and much more. I look forward to discovering what inventions will be put forward this year—good luck!”
The deadline to apply is midnight on 16th July 2025. Shortlisted entries in each participating country or region will then be evaluated by national judging panels with expertise across design and engineering, based on functionality, design process, differentiation, and commercial viability.
The National Winners, selected by these judging panels and each winning P361,300 prize, will be announced on 10th September, the Global Top 20 Shortlist, selected by Dyson Engineers, on 15th October, and the Global Winners, selected by James Dyson, on 5th November.
n she Delivers: how lalamove anD Common room are moving the Dreams of pinay makers forwarD MANILA, PHILIPPINES—Multitasking. Masterminding. Moving forward. For many Filipina entrepreneurs, these aren’t just buzzwords, they’re daily realities. From managing
By 1991, my path was clear. I stepped into the world of Pr a decision I’ve never regretted. Now, 34 years later, I have the privilege of leading the firm, carrying forward the legacy he built. My journey has been filled with impactful campaigns: “Biyahe Tayo!,” igniting a nation’s love for its homeland; “Tears,” transforming an ad series into a powerful national campaign and coffee table book; and “ r ead to Lead,” fostering a nationwide love of reading. Each Grand Anvil award was a testament to the power of communication to make a real difference.
And yes, luck played its part. Imagine a different path, had
operations and marketing to customer service and beyond, Pinay business owners wear multiple hats as they build brands, nurture communities, and chase their passions. But even the most dedicated dreamers need a strong support system. Enter Lalamove: a delivery partner that does more than just move packages. It moves possibilities.
This Women’s Month, Lalamove shines the spotlight on Common r oom, a women-founded creative hub and marketplace that champions the brilliance of over 300 local makers. From handmade curiosities to thoughtful crafts, Common r oom is a testament to what happens when passion meets purpose—and now, with Lalamove in the picture, the journey from creator to customer just got smoother, faster, and more empowered. Common r oom, founded by sisters Maan Agsalud and r oma Agsunod, Common r oom has long been a space where artistry thrives and women-led brands bloom. “Since most of our crafts are proudly local, we have always believed in creating spaces where local makers, artists, and entrepreneurs—especially women—can thrive. When we opened our doors in 2015, we recognized the challenge of limited physical spaces for the country’s growing arts and crafts community. This is why partnerships are so impor -
my father been a doctor or a lawyer. The world might have missed a few stories, have a smaller population due to botched operations or perhaps our jails would be a bit more crowded. But here’s the core of my message: luck opens doors, but passion, dedication, and continuous learning propel you through them. I embraced every opportunity, honed my skills, and cultivated a profound love for the art of public relations. As communication students, you possess that same boundless potential. You have the power to shape narratives, build bridges, and inspire change. Never
tant to us, and we truly appreciate Lalamove for supporting our logistical needs. With their reliable delivery solutions, our makers can connect with more customers, ensuring that their passion and creativity reach even more homes. Together, we continue to empower local craftsmanship and entrepreneurship.”
Common r oom’s women entrepreneurs say they appreciate Lalamove’s affordable services.
Lala De Leon, a perfumer and all-around crafter from Simoy ng Haraya said, “Lalamove is my go-to for rush orders. Some buyers just need the items now and I’m happy to make it happen.” Simoy ng Haraya aims to capture the essence of Filipino culture, lifestyle, and traditions through scents.
Cai Sio, a multi-tasking mom, from Paper Chic Studio highlighted Lalamove’s convenient payment options. “My favorite feature is the Lalamove Wallet! I like the convenience of cashless transactions plus the discounts when I top-up,” she said.
Patricia Fernandez Lim, owner of Woven, a business working with crafting communities to create Filipino handicrafts for the modern lifestyle, mentioned that Lalamove helped them connect with the communities they serve. “We use lalamove for our retail and
underestimate the influence of your experiences, the guidance of your mentors, and the fire of your passion.
Let these lessons guide you:
n Embrace Influence: Be open to learning from those who have walked the path before you.
n Find Your Passion: Let your passion be your compass. When you love what you do, it shines through in every endeavor.
n Continuous Learning: The world of communication is a dynamic landscape. Never stop learning, adapting, and growing.
n Make a Difference: Use your skills to create campaigns that leave a positive, lasting impact on society.
Don’t wait for luck to find you. Create your own opportunities. Be curious, be creative, and be driven by a genuine desire to make a difference. You are the future of communication. You are the storytellers, the strategists, and the changemakers. Embrace your potential, and let your voice resonate.
PR Matters is a roundtable column by members of the local chapter of the United Kingdom-based International Public Relations Association (IPRA), the world’s premier association for senior professionals around the world. Noel Rene Nieva, president and CEO of Perceptions, Inc., one of the country’s leading PR counsels, is the current national chair of IPRA Philippines
wholesale orders, as well as supply deliveries— anything from raw materials to packaging. Apart from the cheaper rates and ease of use, my favorite is the wallet option since I can top up whenever and simply hand over any item that needs to be delivered. It’s one less thing I need to think about in running the business, and we get vouchers, too!” she remarked.
Beyond convenience, what Lalamove offers is empowerment—a way for local brands to scale, connect, and flourish without getting weighed down by logistical limitations. Lalamove Managing Director Djon Nacario says, “At Lalamove, we are committed to empowering businesses of all sizes by providing reliable and efficient delivery solutions. This Women’s Month, we are proud to partner with Common r oom to support local women crafters and womenled brands. Through this collaboration, we aim to celebrate their creativity, resilience, and entrepreneurial spirit by giving them the logistical support they need to grow and thrive. We believe that by enabling these businesses, we are also helping build a more inclusive and empowered community.” For more information about how Lalamove can help you grow your business, visit https://www.lalamove.com/enph/business
aU thor with perceptions founder, rene nieva, during one of their many sunday brainstorming breakfasts
Fighting Maroons nip Lady Falcons, overcome Nitura’s record 38 points
B8 | Monday, March 17, 2025
mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph
Editor: Jun Lomibao
TCC hosting junior world golf qualifiers
BERTHS to the USwing Mojing Junior World Championship in California will be on the line as the country’s most promising young golfers clash in the qualifiers starting Wednesday at The Country Club in Santa Rosa, Laguna.
Four winners from last year’s Junior Philippine Golf Tour Match Play finals headline the field, eager not only to punch their tickets to San Diego but also to fine-tune their game ahead of the upcoming JPGT season, which kicks off at Eagle Ridge next month.
Leading the charge in the 13-14 age group are standout players Precious Zaragosa and Ralph Batican, while Ally Gaccion and Zach Villaroman are set to spearhead the competition in the highly competitive 15-18 division.
Hosting a Junior World qualifier for the first time, the TCC presents a fresh and exacting challenge for participants.
As a tournament sanctioned for World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) points, the event is also a key part of the JPGT’s 15-tournament calendar this year.
NUEVA ECIJA and Rizal
Obiena hits reset after disappointing finish in Sweden
By Josef T. Ramos
ERNEST
JOHN “EJ” OBIENA looks to hit reboot and regain his rhythm as he focuses on the outdoor season after less-than-ideal results in a series of indoor events. After placing eighth place in his last indoor tournament Mondo Classic in Uppsala, Sweden last week, Obiena returned to basic training under long-time Ukrainian trainer Vitaly Petrov. Obiena is out of the World Indoor Ath-
The 12-and-under players will battle it out in separate eliminations at Eagle Ridge with the winners of each category earning not just medals and certificates but also free roundtrip tickets to the US. The next three finishers will also receive medals and certificates.
Raising the stakes even higher, a cut will be made after 36 holes, with only the Top 10 per division and those within six strokes of the fourth placer advancing to the final round. Players who card a 95 or higher in any round will be eliminated, ensuring only the most prepared and focused competitors remain in contention.
Among the players battling for honors are Johanna Uyking, Tiffany Bernardino, Alexie Gabi, Alexie Gabi, and siblings Mona and Lisa Sarines, while Batican will go up against formidable challengers such as Javie Bautista, Inno Flores, Zian Edoc, Jose Jacobo Gomez, Anthony Zingapan, Miguel Orbita, Ken Guillermo, Peter Calimag, Jr. and Guio Pasquil.
Xentromall notched contrasting wins on Saturday to join the early leaders in the Manny Pacquiao presents 1xBet-MPBL 2025 Season at the Nueva Ecija Coliseum in Palayan City. The Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards held the Basilan Viva Portmasters without a field goal in the last six minutes and 57 seconds to prevail, 71-66, and climb to 2-0 in the round-robin elimination round of the 30-team tournament. The Rizal Golden Coolers also improved to 2-0 with an impressive 11181 pounding of Manila Batang Quiapo. Also at 2-0 are the Pangasinan Heatwaves and the Abra Weavers.
Give Liverpool respect
IT’S annoying how many pundits (I really don’t care for the fans’ point of view because they are hardly logical or even sensible) marginalize Liverpool’s chances of winning this season’s Premier League.
Here’s the consensus among these prejudiced or agendadriven pundits:
They haven’t been dominant.
They have been lucky so far because of a favorable schedule
Title contenders like Man City and Arsenal have been beset by injuries.
Let’s debunk these uneducated theories.
They haven’t been dominant.
this
UNIVERSITY of the Philippines overcame Shaina Nitura’s league record 38 points, defeating Adamson University, 25-15, 15-25, 24-26, 25-22, 15-10, on Sunday in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines women’s volleyball tournament at the Araneta Coiliseum.
Adamson super rookie Nitura set a new league scoring mark but it was UP’s Irah Jaboneta who shone brightest and ended up with the big win.
The third-year spiker out of De La Salle-Zobel fired seven of her 19 points in the fifth set, including the final point of the match.
Jaboneta’s push shot went through the blockers to give UP the hard-fought, spoiler win after two hours and 25 minutes.
“It’s a given that Nitura can score a lot of points, especially with close matches. But with UP, it’s more of a group effort. When something does not go as planned, we simply rally back and work as a group,” UP coach Benson Bocboc said.
The Fighting Maroons’ snapped a four-match slide, ending the first round of elimionations in solo fifth with a 3-4 record.
“As a senior, I had to step up. My teammates, they needed to see me
fight. We fight together for the team,” Jaboneta, who also had 12 excellent digs and 11 receptions, said. Middle blocker Niña Ytang led UP in scoring with 20 points on 15-of-25 attacks, three blocks, and two aces. Joan Monares added 15 points, 17 digs, and 14 receptions, while Kianne Olango also had 15 points.
Nitura delivered a monster performance of 38 points on 35 spikes and three aces, surpassing the 35-point records by former Ateneo standout Alyssa Valdez and University of Santo Tomas star Sisi Rondina. Coincidentally, the records by Valdez (Season 75, 2013) and Rondina (Season 81, 2019) also ended up in losses. Valdez’s Ateneo lost to Adamson on January 20, 2013, 22-25, 21-25, 25-19, 25-16, 10-15, while Rondina’s UST bowed to Ateneo on March 20, 2019, 25-19, 2522, 25-27, 22-25, 11-15. Barbie Jamili chipped in for Adamson with 18 points and 10 digs while rookie setter Fhei Sagaysay tossed 30 excellent sets. Second-year libero Juris Manuel also shone with 28-of-42 excellent receptions and 16 digs. The Lady Falcons dropped their fourth consecutive match for a 2-5 record, joint-sixth with the Ateneo Blue Eagles.
letics Championships in China from March 21 to 23 after missing the qualifying mark of 5.85 meters and is now focusing on regaining his old form ahead of the outdoor season in April.
Life coach Jim Lafferty told BusinessMirror that Obiena has yet to find his rhythm after a two-month layoff because of a spine injury from his stint in the Paris Summer Olympic Games last August, where he placed fourth by clearing 5.90-m. “As EJ explained he doesn’t have his timing together. How his run up,
plant, and vault all work as one. He will get it but it takes time. The two months off post back injury had a very huge impact,” Lafferty said.
EJ will train for the outdoor competitions in Padua or Formia, Italy. “When he restarted training he barely had time to train before competition started.”
Still Asia’s top pole vaulter, Obiena had subpar performances in six indoor competitions—despite winning twice and earning a silver medal, he could not clear over 5.85m.
Southwoods Invitational draws record field
THE Southwoods Invitational, one of Manila Southwoods’ most eagerly anticipated member-guest tournaments, tees off on Wednesday with a record-breaking field of 400 teams (800 players) ready to battle it out.
This year’s edition promises to be bigger, better and even more competitive with the event to unfold over four action-packed days at the Masters and Legends courses in Carmona, Cavite. The remarkable growth in participation—an increase of 70 teams from last year—highlights the tournament’s immense appeal among members, their dependents and guests. Renowned for its mix of competitive golf and social engagement, the Southwoods Invitational is more than just a tournament—it’s an experience. Participants
Rob Celiz led Nueva Ecija, the 2022 MPBL champion, with 18 points, 13 rebounds and four assists, while Jaycee Marcelino had 18 points and six assists.
Basilan, which fell to 0-2, led for the last time at 62-61, following two free throws by Sherwin
can look forward to an exclusive package of perks and rewards, including two weekday practice rounds to familiarize players with the courses, P7,000 pro shop gift certificates to be used for premium golfing gear, exclusive giveaway items for all participants, complimentary breakfast and snacks during tournament days, and a grand awards dinner and raffle draw, featuring exciting prizes.
The competition will utilize two format at the Masters course and Aggregate at the Legends layout. Both rounds will be scored using the Stableford Points System. Play schedule will be sequential tee times from Day 1 to 3 and Day 4 will have a shotgun start at 6:30 a.m. at the Masters and at 7 a.m. at the Legends.
WCanino rules Open division of National Age Group Chess Championships
OMAN FIDE MASTER Ruelle
Canino added one more feather to her cap as she reigned supreme in the male-dominated premier Under-18 Open standard division of the National Age Group Chess Championships over the weekend at the FPJ Arena in San Jose, Batangas. The 16-year-old Cagayan de Oroborn lass drew with Karlycris Clarito, Jr. in the eighth and final round and finished undefeated with seven points, a full point ahead of the field that included top seed FIDE Master Christian Gian Karlo Arca.
It was another big win for Canino, who topped the national women’s champion over older, more experienced masters and then beat three Women Grandmasters in helping seal the national team a historic Group II gold medal in last year’s Budapest Olympiad.
The impressive effort also earned the University Athletic Association of
Concepcion with 5:28 to go.
The Portmasters, however, couldn’t buy a bucket after that, settling for two charities each by Jeff Viernes and Emman Calo against the 10 points pooled by McAloney, the Marcelino twins, John Byron Villarias and Billy Robles. Basilan got 19 points from Alex Cabagnot, 11 points from Concepcion, and 10 points from Rabeh Al-Hussaini. Arwind Santos had four points and 11 rebounds. Alwyn Alday sparkled for Rizal with
They have been lucky because of a favorable schedule.
they create their own schedule? They didn’t. So this is a non-issue. Contenders like Man City and Arsenal have been beset with injuries. Man City lost Rodri last September but it is possible he will be back soon because he was listed in the team’s Champions League line-up.
Arsenal lost Gabriel de Jesus to a season ending injury, and they lost all their strikers at a crucial point during the season.
News flash, bub. Injuries are part of the game. Now, unless you only field 11 players for the entire season, you can argue that. I don’t hear anyone pointing out how Liverpool suffered these injuries in defense of their title in that ill-fated 2020-21 campaign.
Here is who they lost that year:
the Philippines juniors MVP the right to represent the country in the U18 Open section of the Asian Youth Chess Championships slated November 20 to 30 in Bangkok, Thailand.
Also earning a spot in the Bangkok tilt was April Joy Claros, who trounced Maryss Anxeniel Caldoza in the last round and then edged Jersey Marticio, whom the former had similar seven-point output, via higher tiebreaker to top the category.
Also winning in the tournament sponsored by CoinEx and backed by host Mayor Ben Patron and Congressman Mark Lester Patron, the Philippine Sports Commission and NCFP, were Kaye Lalaine Regidor (girls U16), Mark Gabriel Usman (open U16), Soffia Joy Mamangun (girls U14), Christian Tolosa (open U14), Khana Kathrine Ventolero (girls U12), Steve Zacky Bolico (open U12), Faith Louise Dorupa (girls U10), and Danry Seth Romualdez (open U10).
27 points, hitting seven three-pointers, while Michael Canete tallied 16 points and eight rebounds.
Rizal Coach Ralph Rivera also drew 11 points from Marco Balagtas and 10 points from Eric Camson.
Manila slid to 1-1 despite the 23-point, eight-rebound effort of Richard Albo and the 11-point, sevenrebound output of Algin Andaya. The Valenzuela Classics recovered from a meltdown to subdue Quezon City Galeries Taipan, 74-66.
