and institutional reforms in agriculture and the services sector, the national government will be hard-pressed to reach the high-end of its economic growth target until next year.
In its Monetary Policy Report for February, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said the country’s economic growth is expected to be “moderate” compared to its previous assessments as it will settle at the lower end of the 6 percent to 8 percent growth target of the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) for 2025 and 2026.
“Uncertainty surrounding global economic policies, particularly the potential impact from proposed US tariffs, poses additional risks to domestic growth,” the central bank said. The slowdown in services and contraction in agriculture which resulted in the lower-than-expected 5.2 percent economic growth in the fourth quarter of 2024, as well as higher global commodity prices, are seen to dampen economic activity.
By Andrea E. San Juan @andreasanjuan
LOCAL exporters are banking on key fiscal reforms, such as CREATE More and the development of ports and railway systems, to stay afloat, according to the Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (Philexport). Aside from the scarce budget for promotion, the group said exporters will also have to contend with domestic and external risks.
“In addition to the insuffi-
THE national government reverted to a budget surplus in January 2025 for the first time in four months, as higher revenue collection outpaced expenditures, according to the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr).
Latest data from the Treasury showed the government posted a budget surplus of P68.4 billion in January 2025, 22.27 percent lower than the P88-billion surplus recorded in the same month a year ago.
Ateneo De Manila University economist Leonardo A. Lanzona told the BusinessMirror the government will swing to deficit in the succeeding months as it ramps up its spending.
“The year-to-year decline indi-
cates tougher conditions in the coming months,” Lanzona said.
BTr data showed revenue collection increased by 10.75 percent year-on-year to P467.1 billion from P421.8 billion, driven by higher tax revenues.
Taxes contributed 93.66 percent or P467.1 billion to overall revenues, which rose by 13.60 percent year-on-year from P385.2 billion.
Broken down, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) raised P355.1 billion, higher by 15.13 percent from P308.4 billion a year ago.
The growth in collections was attributed to the increase in value-added tax (P21.4 billion), gains in income taxes (P18.1 billion) percentages taxes (P3.4
billion) and other taxes (P3.7 billion) collections. The BIR’s “intensified collection efforts, aggressive illicit trade campaigns and digital transformation projects” also improved its collections for the month, the Treasury said. The Bureau of Customs (BOC) also generated P79.3 billion, 7.98 percent higher than the P73.4 billion it collected a year ago due to the agency’s modernization program.
VAT collections amounted to P7.7 billion, while excise collections grew to P1.8 billion, which the Treasury said counterbalanced the reduction in duty collections due to lower tariffs on rice imports under Executive Order No. 62.
Lanzona said the month of January is the peak month for tax collections in the Philippines as taxpayers make advance payments. The collection of other taxes, such as VAT and excise taxes, remain strong in the first quarter, partly due to “lingering holiday spending.”
Despite this, non-tax revenues dropped by 19.16 percent to P29.6 billion in January 2025, due to the base effect of one-time gains last year, according to the Treasury. The Treasury contributed P15.7 billion to non-tax revenues, although lower than the P16.7 billion it remitted a year ago. Meanwhile, government spending in January 2025 amounted to
cient fund for export, particularly export promotion, we will continue to face key domestic and external risks this year that include weather disturbances, extreme natural disasters, an acute and protracted global economic slowdown in major economies, ongoing geopolitical tensions and conflicts, trade wars, and protectionist trade policies, especially in the United States,” Philexport President Sergio R. Ortiz-Luis Jr. said during the 1st Quarter General Membership Meeting (GMM) of Philexport.
By Bless Aubrey Ogerio @blessogerio
PUBLIC-PRIVATE partnership (PPP) projects under the national government’s pipeline stood at 176, including eight new projects, based on data from the PPP Center.
The agency said the projects in the pipeline as of March 14 would cost a total of P2.6 trillion. The number of projects was unchanged from February.
Six projects, including two national and four local ones, were delisted.
The delisted projects, all unsolicited, were the Design Build Finance Operate the Air Navigation Services of the Philippines;
General Mariano Alvarez Cavite Digitalized Traffic Enforcement; RENEWSTABLE Green Hydrogen Power Plant in Marinduque; Pagsanjan Digitalized Traffic Enforcement; Cauayan City Digitalized Traffic Enforcement; and Cainta Digitalized Traffic Enforcement.
“The change in the number of projects in the pipeline is due to the addition in the list of unsolicited proposals endorsed by the PPP Center to Implementing Agencies [IA] for their decision to proceed with detailed evaluation or rejection of the same projects included in the list of PPP projects submitted by IAs to the PPP Center; and addition of project updates received
through PPPC’s engagement with various IAs,” the PPP Center said in a document shared with reporters.
Of the new projects added to the PPP pipeline, six are at the national level while two are at the local level.
Project KILO is the largest among the newly added projects, with an estimated cost of P163.94 billion. It is an unsolicited national project currently under evaluation by the Bureau of Corrections and privately proposed by ENDEC Development Corp.
Two other national projects-the Operation and Maintenance of the Panguil Bay Bridge Project and the Public-Private Partnerships for School Infrastructure
Project Connect, do not have cost estimates yet as they are still under conceptualization. Meanwhile, the TUBO: A Tariff and Utility Blueprint for Water Operations, Model for the Iligan City Waterworks System is a solicited local project currently under development, with its cost yet to be determined.
The Aquilino Q. Pimentel Jr. International Convention Center Project (P100 million) and the Cavite Bus Rapid Transit System (P1.87 billion) have been removed from the pipeline database following their award to contractors. They are now reflected in the PPP Center’s database of projects under implementation.
By Reine Juvierre S. Alberto @reine_alberto
P398.8 billion. This is 19.45 percent higher than last year’s P333.9 billion.
The Treasury attributed the spending to disbursements for completed infrastructure projects, ongoing health and social protection programs, and the Commission on Elections’ preparatory activities for the 2025 National and Local Elections.
Higher National Tax Allotment (NTA) releases and subsidies to state-run corporations, as well as increased interest payments due to a shift in coupon payment timing from the reissuance of Treasury bonds, also contributed to the rise in spending in January.
Interest payments swelled by 40.71 percent to P104.4 billion in January 2025 from P74.2 billion in January 2024, pushed by the resistance strategy and early servicing of a Global Bond with a February 1 coupon date that fell on a weekend.
“Despite this, the overall debt management strategy remains prudent, ensuring fiscal sustainability and strong economic growth,” the Treasury said.
The crucial point, Lanzona said, is for the government to focus on improving production as this leads to greater revenues.
“The government cannot rely on consumption and monetary policies since these are only part of the demand side of the economy. While the monetary policies seem adequate, it’s the real sector that needs attention,” Lanzona said. Reine Juvierre S. Alberto
DA: Panel will again monitor domestic meat supply, prices
By Ada Pelonia @adapelonia
THEDepartment of Agriculture (DA) has reactivated its price and volume watch body for livestock and poultry to monitor the country’s meat supply.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. and Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa confirmed to this newspaper the reactivation of the body, which was formalized through a meeting with industry stakeholders.
“They already held a meeting. This would help monitor the production, importation, and prices [of livestock and poultry],” De Mesa told the BusinessMirror on Tuesday.
United Broiler Raisers Association (Ubra) said the body would be composed of broiler and layer groups, pork producers, meat importers, and processors. They held a meeting last week.
“I think they realize that there are uncertainties in the supply. We really need data,” Ubra Chairman Elias Jose Inciong told reporters partly in Filipino on the sidelines of a recent forum organized by the University of Asia
and the Pacific’s Center for Food and Agribusiness in Pasig City.
He noted that the monitoring body would serve as an avenue for the government and industries to plan and anticipate problems.
“We may not be able to solve things a hundred percent, but at least for the benefit of the industry and the consuming public, we can minimize or shorten any problem,” Inciong said.
However, the Ubra chief stressed the need for the agency’s projection on commodities’ output.
“We need [the DA’s] forecast and then if we have disagreements, we can talk about the range of solutions,” he said.
Inciong noted that he requested for the price and volume watch meeting to be held monthly. The next meeting would coincide with the review of the maximum suggested retail price
(MSRP) for pork, he added.
“We’re going back to a rational approach to how things are done, which is database and subject to consultations [and] not analysis based on experience which has its limitations,” Inciong said.
‘Low compliance’
THE DA recently bared the low compliance of retailers with the MSRP for pork imposed by the government, as only 20 percent of over 170 Metro Manila stalls followed the price guidance.
The agency imposed the MSRP on pork in Metro Manila wet markets starting March 10 at P380 per kilo for pork belly or liempo and P350 per kilo for ka-
sim or pork shoulder and pigue or pork ham.
De Mesa also noted that the compliance with MSRP for “sabit ulo” at P300 per kilo, or the price at which traders pass on pork to retailers, stood below 10 percent.
“If they are not compliant with ‘sabit ulo,’ therefore [retailers] would really have a hard time complying with the MSRP of P350 to P380 [per kilo]. So, we will focus on that,” he told reporters in a press briefing on Monday.
De Mesa noted that the DA will hold another meeting to determine the causes for the low compliance rate despite holding consultations with stakeholders.
and improvement of existing ports and railway systems,” he added.
“As for growth impetus, we have pinned our hopes on some silver lining, such as the topics that will be discussed later in the panel. The corporate recovery and tax incentives for enterprises to maximize opportunities for reinvigorating the economy or create more jobs is expected to be effectively positioned in the Philippines as a key investment destination,” he added.
Elyjean Portoza, Director for Legal and Compliance Service under the Board of Investments (BOI), said during the same event that even if local exporters are not registered with an investment promotion agency (IPA), as long as they are compliant with the 70-percent export requirement, their transactions on local purchases will already enjoy VAT zero-rating under CREATE More.
“For example, for 2025, for you to avail of the VAT zero rate on your transactions on your local purchases, you should be able to comply with the 70-percent export requirement in the preceding year. For 2026, you will qualify for the VAT zero for as long as you are able to comply with the 70-percent export requirement for the year 2025, which will be certified by the EMB [Export Marketing Bureau],” she said.
“I think that’s a very good feature of the CREATE More for our exporters,” she added.
Meanwhile, Ortiz-Luis underscored the importance of the infrastructure projects, saying this would help in enticing investors.
“Infrastructure development is important also in the government’s priority to attract investments in tourism and exports. The list includes 69 projects, including the development of new
While the country’s economic outlook for 2025 is “promising,” due to lower inflation and strong consumption spending, OrtizLuis noted that the export sector is not regarded as a growth driver.
“Despite the Philippines, the eighth fastest-growing economy last year compared to the 46 countries that have released their Q4 GDP data as of January 2025, the outlook for 2025 also remains bullish, fueled by lower inflation and higher consumption and investments,” he said.
“What is wrong with this picture? That export is missing in the growth drivers is a very telling situation, especially from Philexport’s and the export industries’ point of view,” he said.
He stressed anew that the country’s exports of goods and services this year may only reach $110 billion, with the country’s exporters “living through chance” due to the lack of support from the government. (See: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2025/01/20/ philexport-sets-110-billionrealistic-target-for-exportof-goods-and-services-in2025philexportphilexportsets-110-billion-realistic-target-for-export-of-goods-andservices-in-2025/)
The $110-billion projection of the Philexport chief is below the targets set for 2025 under the Philippine Export Development Plan (PEDP) 2023-2028 and the Philippine Development Plan (PDP).
Under the PEDP, export groups had set a target of $163.6 billion for the outward shipments of goods and services for 2025. Meanwhile the PDP had set a $113.42-billion target for the country’s exports of goods and services in 2025.
TC sets hearings on gypsum imports
By Andrea E. San Juan
THE Tariff Commission (TC) has set public hearings on the imposition of anti-dumping duty against importations of gypsum board from Thailand on March 31 and April 1 to 4. “Notice is hereby given that public hearings on the determination of the merits of imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty against importations of Gypsum Board (AHTN 2022 Subheading Nos. 6809.1100 and 6809.19.90) from Thailand, shall be conducted on March 31, April 1, 2,3, and 4, 2025 at 10 a.m.,” it said in a notice it published on March 17. TC said
New York-based think tank
GlobalSource Partners said it Philippine economy will grow at a “steady” pace in early 2025, slightly below its previous expectations.
Economists Diwa Guinigundo and Wilhelmina Manalac said the economy will expand above 5.7 percent in the first quarter of the year and rise to 5.9 percent by the second quarter. Their projection is lower than the 6 percent to 6.3 percent growth outlook of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank for the Philippines.
The previous GDP performance and agriculture and service sectoral development were cited as long-term major
drivers for economic growth. However, economists said available infrastructure and existing institutions in these sectors remained “stagnant.”
“Despite the announced policy initiatives in these areas, no significant gains have been achieved insofar as the existing infrastructure and institutions are concerned; current levels of economic efficiency and productivity could just be steady,” economists said.
Apart from this, global and regional developments, such as recent conflicts in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, could affect geopolitical shifts and sectoral output dynamics, the economists said.
Trumpian policies on tariffs, taxes and immigration were
Philippines Inc. in November 2023. In its report on the initiation of a probe on the application for anti-dumping duty on gypsum board from Thailand, Knauf Gypsum Philippines alleged gypsum board is being imported from Thailand at dumped prices.
“There was a substantial margin of dumping of gypsum. board from Thailand for the period January to December 2022 based on the domestic wholesale and export prices as gathered by the gypsum board industry,” Knauf, the sole manufacturer of gypsum in the Philippines, said in its 2023 report. Based on the report, the industry claimed that the dumped imports of gypsum board began causing injury in 2019. Players stated that the key impact of dumping has been in the gypsum board industry’s declining revenues resulting in lower profitability. In November 2024, however, or a year after Knauf filed the petition for an anti-dumping duty, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) had imposed a provisional anti-dumping duty in the form of a cash bond on importations of gypsum board from Thailand, for a period of four months commencing from the date of issuance by the Bureau of Customs of the relevant Customs Memorandum Order (CMO). Citing Section 2 of RA 8752 or the Anti-Dumping Act of 1999, the anti-dumping case report published on the DTI website in November 2023 explained the purpose of anti-dumping duty: “It is hereby declared the policy of the State to protect domestic enterprises against unfair foreign competition and trade practices.”
“Towards this end, substantive and procedural remedies available to domestic enterprises shall be strengthened and made responsive to recent developments in world trade,” it added.
In a television interview, Castro agreed that it is time for the government to consider rejoining the ICC to allow Filipinos to obtain justice during times when securing it from local courts becomes difficult.
“There are times that we really need some kind of justice from an international criminal court because it’s so sad to say...but sometimes it really happens. And that justice in the country is kind of questionable sometimes,” she said.
also identified as risks that must be factored into their model for economic forecasting. Meanwhile, the foreign exchange rate, influenced by trade balances and remittances, consumer confidence and Treasury bill interest rates are identified as key short-term drivers of growth.
The Philippine peso is seen to remain “generally stable” with limited risks, barring drastic reductions in key policy rates and serious exogenous shocks.
“If both domestic and geopolitical shocks happen in a big, adverse way, they could unsurprisingly alter the outcome of this initial analysis,” they added.
‘Roque asylum bid ploy to evade accountability’
By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie
ALEADER of the House of Representatives on Tuesday denounced former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque’s decision to seek asylum in the Netherlands, describing it as a desperate attempt to evade accountability for his alleged involvement in offshore scam hubs, or Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogos), and related crimes, including human trafficking.
House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs Chairman Jude Acidre of the Tingog party-list group said Roque’s asylum bid “is nothing more than a cowardly maneuver to escape the consequences of his actions.”
“He has been cited in contempt and ordered detained for his refusal to cooperate in our investigation into Pogo-related criminal activities. Now, he wants to flee the country to avoid answering for his alleged role in a human-trafficking scheme. If he has nothing to hide, why is he running?” Acidre said.
Roque’s move comes five months after a human-trafficking case was filed against him and two others before the Department of Justice (DOJ). Government prosecutors allege that Roque used his position and influence to protect and enable criminal syndicates operating offshore gambling hubs involved in human trafficking, cyber fraud, and money laundering.
Acidre emphasized that Roque’s
sudden asylum application only raises further suspicions about his deeper involvement in these illegal operations.
“This is not just about contempt in Congress anymore.
Roque is now facing serious criminal charges that involve human trafficking—one of the gravest crimes under Philippine and international law,” Acidre stressed. “His decision to seek refuge abroad is an obvious attempt to shield himself from prosecution and avoid being held accountable for his actions.”
The Quad Committee, composed of the House Committees on Dangerous Drugs, on Public Order, on Public Accounts, and on Human Rights, has been conducting an extensive probe into the rampant criminality linked to Pogos.
Roque, who has been implicated in questionable dealings with certain Pogo operators, was ordered detained by the House after repeatedly refusing to cooperate and answer critical questions about his alleged connections to illicit activities.
Acidre urged law enforcement agencies to work with international authorities to prevent Roque from exploiting asylum protections to evade prosecution.
“The law must take its course. We cannot allow individuals to exploit international legal mechanisms just to escape criminal liability,” he said. “Roque may attempt to run, but the long arm of the law will eventually catch up with him. We will ensure that he faces justice—whether here or abroad.”
‘Cooperation with Interpol not optional’
AS cooperation with the International Police Organization (Interpol) is not optional, a lawmaker on Tuesday reiterated that the National Police (PNP) must fulfill its legal duty to cooperate with Interpol in the event that an arrest warrant is issued against former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s co-accused in the International Criminal Court (ICC), including Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, a former PNP chief. House Assistant Majority Leader Pammy Zamora, in a statement, said this is an opportunity for those accused, including dela Rosa, to have their day in court.
“Instead of seeing it as persecution, they should take this as a chance to defend themselves and clear their names,” Zamora, who represents Taguig, said. She emphasized that despite the Philippines’ withdrawal from the Rome Statute in 2019, its international legal obligations remain in effect.
“Cooperating with Interpol is not optional; it is a legal obligation that we continue to observe. It reflects our commitment to the international community and adherence to the rule of law,” she explained. Zamora also refuted claims that assisting in the enforcement of an ICC warrant would mean surrendering Philippine sovereignty.
QC
Tactivates
Chinese exec awaiting Palace OK of citizenship in ‘scam hub’ bldg
By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM
CHINESE businessman Liduan Wang, whose application for Filipino citizenship has stirred controversy over his alleged links to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogos), was found in the building that housed an alleged “scam hub” that was raided Monday night by a composite government team.
The revelation, confirmed by Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado at a Senate hearing, prompted the probe panel chief, Sen. Anna Theresia “Risa” Hontiveros to raise the alarm. The reason: the bill granting Liduan Wang Filipino citizenship is already in Malacañang, awaiting the signature of President Marcos. Hontiveros, asked the Presidential Antiorganized Crime Commission (Paocc) to comment on government documents showing Wang among the incorporators of New Oriental Club
88 Corporation—a company deemed the largest Pogo Service Provider that was closed in 2019 for various violations.
Paocc’s spokesperson Winston Casio replied, “Yes mam, we confirmed the SEC [Securities and Exchange Commission] document that was shown earlier, that basically establishes his [Wang’s] links to Pogo.” Casio also confirmed that the Chinese businessman was found in a building that was raided on the night of March 17.
The BI mission order, which
became basis for the raid, had stated that “there was a scam operation” in the raided building, he added.
Hontiveros then asked BI chief Viado to elaborate on the mission order’s rationale.
Viado said he issued the mission order “based on the intelligence allegation of an ongoing scam” in that building.
Viado, however, said of Liduan Wang being caught in the raided area: “We received info that he was within the building, but not within the premises” of the raided office.
In her opening statement, Hontiveros explained the urgency of getting to the roots of Liduan Wang’s case because it perpetuates the evils begun by the Pogo operations, organized crime that was sought to be snuffed out with the presidential order to ban all Pogos as of January 1, 2025.
She said, Liduan Wang’s history reflects a certain recidivism.
Despite his original company being shuttered for violations in 2019, “they remained unfazed, and in 2020 they amended their AOI so they can be placed under a Special Class of BPO that serves as service provider for offshore online gaming.”
Liduan Wang’s company “remained extant as of last year, and
Guevarra leaves fate to Marcos
S“Cooperating with an international tribunal does not mean we are surrendering our sovereignty. In fact, it is an assertion of our commitment to justice and the rule of law,” he explained.
She urged the PNP and other law enforcement agencies to carry out their duties without bias or political interference.
“Our law enforcers have sworn to uphold the law impartially. This issue should not be politicized—it is about justice, not political alliances or friendships,” she added.
She warned against efforts to politicize the ICC proceedings and shield individuals from accountability.
“As I have said before, if you committed killings, you must face the consequences. This is a clear criminal matter and should not be turned into a political issue,” she stressed.
Zamora added that the ICC’s jurisdiction remains valid over crimes allegedly committed before the Philippines’ withdrawal from the treaty.
“We must remember that the ICC retains jurisdiction over cases filed before our withdrawal. The law does not simply disappear due to a unilateral decision,” she said.
See “Coop,” A4
special task force vs mercury
HE Quezon City Health Department (QCHD) recently convened a special task force to protect the public against harmful cosmetics believed to be tainted with excess mercury. Mercury is a toxic metal that poses serious health risks to humans and the environment.
The QC Task Force vs Banned Mercury Cosmetics was convened last week by Dr. Ramona Abarquez, officer-in-charge of the QC Health Department and concurrent chairperson of the task force, a few weeks after its creation.
The task force is mandated to implement a city-wide ban on mercury-containing cosmetics in
response to reports of persistent sale of these supposedly banned products in physical and online markets.
A toxics watchdog group, EcoWaste Coalition, affirmed its support to the city’s renewed drive to combat the illegal trade of skin whiteners with mercury content.
Dr. Laarni Malapit, head of QCHD Special Services Division and vice chairperson of the task force, welcomed the participants representing various city government departments and offices and the EcoWaste Coalition.
Pharmacist Jeanette Dacanay, chief of Food-Drug Regulation Section and Secretariat of the task
we have seen he is one of the incorporators; and that as recently as August 2024 they amended again their AOI to extend their corporate term and existence.”
Hontiveros expressed dismay that “all this was hidden from Congress,” which early this year passed the bill sponsoring Wang’s bid for citizenship. In calling the hearing, the senator sought to tackle issues arising from the primary question: “How exactly did [dismissed Bamban mayor and Pogo enabler] Alice Guo leave the country and who helped her slip past our borders?” She recalled that in examining this case alone, “many anomalies surfaced involving the Bureau of Immigration, allegations of espionage and the persistent scourge of human trafficking to direct unsuspecting jobseekers to scam compounds outside the Philippines.” The hearing is meant to reform policies for the entry and exit of bad actors in the country.
“It is both laughable and cause for weeping,” she added, that “we have come full circle. In the Pastillas Scam, we discovered there is an entrance fee for illegal workers. And now, it seems there is an exit fee [to allow bad actors to leave].”
Crime (PCTC) Undersecretary Lt. Gen. Anthony Alcantara, Capt. Johnny Gulla and the Bureau of Immigration (BI).
By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573
OLICITOR General Menardo Guevarra said on Tuesday that he would leave it up to President Marcos to decide whether to keep or replace him from his post following his refusal to defend the Palace and other key Executive Branch officials over their decision to handover former President Rodrigo Duterte to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
In an interview with reporters, Guevarra, who was Duterte’s secretary of justice, maintained that the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) “does not only represent the government but the entire Filipino people.”
Duterte is facing trial for crimes against humanity in connection with the killing of 43 individuals during his bloody anti-illegal drug war campaign.
“The OSG is not only the government’s counsel, it is also the tribune of the people, the President, in his wisdom, fully understands this,” Guevarra said.
Guevarra has been consistent with his position that the ICC has lost jurisdiction over the Philippines following the country’s
force, then reviewed the powers and functions of the task force and the specific roles of member departments and offices.
During the meeting, the EcoWaste Coalition acknowledged and thanked the QCHD, particularly the seven fooddrug regulation officers, for their focused efforts to form the task force. This will surely promote collaboration and synergy among the departments and offices to prevent contraband cosmetics with mercury from being traded in Quezon City.
Created through Executive Order 2025-2 signed by Mayor Joy Belmonte last February 12, the task force has been assigned
See “Mercury,” A4
withdrawal from the Rome Statute, the law creating the ICC, on March 17, 2019.
On Monday, he submitted a manifestation and motion seeking to recuse himself from defending in the respondents in the consolidated petitions for a writ of habeas corpus filed by Duterte’s children Davao Mayor Sebastian Duterte, Davao Rep. Paolo “Polong” Duterte and Veronica A. Duterte following the arrest of the former President by the National Police (PNP) by virtue of an arrest warrant issued by the ICC.
When asked if he will stay as chief government counsel following his recusal, Guevarra said: “Only the President can say that.”
The SC earlier gave the respondents in the writ of habeas petitions 24-hours or until Monday to file their respective comments on why a writ should not be issued in favor of the Duterte siblings.
As chief government counsel, Guevarra was supposed to prepare and submit the respondents’ reply to the petition.
However, Guevarra begged off from representing the respondents citing the OSG’s consistent position on the lack of ICC’s juris -
diction over the country.
“In steadfast adherence to this sovereign decision, the OSG [Office of the Solicitor General] has consistently maintained, both in its submissions before the ICC and in its public statements, that the case of the Philippines was not admissible and that the ICC failed to timely exercise its jurisdiction,” Guevarra said in his manifestation.
“Consequently, the Philippine Government has no legal obligation to cooperate with the ICC nor recognize any process emanating from the ICC following the effectivity of the country’s withdrawal from the Rome Statute,” he maintained.
Named as respondents in the writ of habeas petitions were Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla, National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Francisco Marbil, PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CID) director Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III, Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Romeo Brawner Jr., Executive Director of the Philippine Center on Transnational
DOJ takes over AS this developed, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla confirmed that the Department of Justice (DOJ) has assumed the responsibility of representing the government in the case.
“Yes, we were given the authorization by the ES [Executive Secretary]. We already replied, we gave our comment already yesterday [Monday],” Remulla said.
Remulla, however, refused to discuss the arguments raised by the DOJ against the issuance of a writ of habeas corpus for Duterte.
“The thing speaks for itself, whatever we submitted that’s it. I will not speak about the comment because it’s in court right now,” he said.
He added that it is already impossible for the former President to be returned to the Philippines since he is already in the custody of the ICC and a hearing has already been set in connection with his case.
“It’s a done deal already. I think there’s judicial notice that hearings are ongoing already in The Hague and there is a setting for September 23...we rely on that,” Remulla said.
PNP files charges vs cop over social media rants
By Rex Anthony Naval
THE National Police (PNP) on Monday said it is non-partisan and neutral as it announced the filing of charges against a policeman for his social media rants following the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte. Charges of Inciting to Sedition (Article 142 of the Revised Penal Code) in relation to the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012
(Republic Act 10175) were formally filed by the Quezon City Police District against Pat. Francis Steve Tallion Fontillas for it added.
This develoved in the wake of Fontillas’s unauthorized and politically charged social media posts in reaction to Duterte’s arrest.
QC District Personnel Records and Management Division (DPRMD) records indicate that Fontillas has been assigned to the District Personnel and Holding
Admin Section (DPHAS) since February 20 but has been absent without official leave (Awol) since March 6. The National Police chief, Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil, reaffirmed the organization’s strict adherence to neutrality, saying: “The PNP is a pillar of law and order, not a platform for personal or political agenda. Let this serve as a warning—any police officer who undermines
See “PNP,” A4
Economy
A4
Wednesday, March 19, 2025 www.businessmirror.com.ph
WITH a recent leadership change at the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), a senior lawmaker is urging a comprehensive review and overhaul of the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) Registration Law, or Republic Act 11934, to combat the ongoing surge in text and online scams.
Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte, a coauthor of RA 11934, said the DICT Officer-in-Charge, Undersecretary Paul Mercado, must prioritize addressing the law’s ineffectiveness.
“The DICT on his [Mercado’s] watch needs to do a much better job of arresting the unbroken surge in text and online scams, which the government was supposed to get rid of with the enactment of RA11934,” said Villafuerte. He proposed a collaborative effort involving the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), Congress, National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the National Police (PNP), and other relevant agencies to amend the 2022 law.
Zamora also underscored the Philippines’ continued participation in Interpol, which requires law enforcement agencies to comply with international legal mechanisms.
Zamora called on Duterte’s allies to stop using political narratives to evade legal scrutiny, urging them instead to respect due process.
‘Rejoin ICC’
A MILITANT group of fishermen has joined the growing clamor for the Philippines to rejoin the ICC.
In a statement, Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas Vice Chairperson Ronnel Arambulo underscored the importance of being a signatory to the Rome Statute, an international treaty that established the ICC, to ensure accountability from “despotic leaders.”
To recall, local and international humanrights groups have called on President Marcos to rejoin the ICC.
Arambulo said, “there have been numerous times that the justice system in the Philippines failed the people, and turning to international mechanisms such as the ICC became crucial.
“The Philippines should not stay as a non-member of the ICC especially in the middle of widespread violation of democratic rights and prevalence of abusive government officials.”
He added that Marcos administration is obliged to lead the country in rejoining the ICC for the protection of the people against the culture of violence and lack of accountability.
While calling for the country to rejoin the ICC, Arambulo also called to strengthen the country’s justice system that favors the ordinary people more than the people in power. With Jonathan L. Mayuga
DENR’s 46 water projects to benefit 30K households
By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga
Among the possible amendments is the mandatory in-person registration to require registrants to appear in person, similar to driver’s license and NBI clearance applications.
The proposal also wants to limit valid IDs to restrict the types of government-issued IDs accepted for registration and require agencies issuing accredited IDs to provide platforms for Public Telecommunications Entities (PTEs) to verify registrant identities.
Also, Villafuerte said the government should authorize the NTC to regulate the number of SIM cards individuals can register.
Such amendments to toughen the SIM Registration Law are needed to check text and online scams, Villafuerte said, given that RA 11934’s penalties of prison terms of up to six years and a cash fine of up to P4 million have not deterred unscrupulous persons from scamming people through text and online fraud.
According to the DICT, millions of phone numbers have been blacklisted or deactivated owing to suspected cyber fraud, and the
CICC continues to receive numerous complaints about unwanted text messages.
Villafuerte emphasized the need for stronger anti-cybercrime efforts and stricter enforcement of RA 11934 and RA 10175, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
“Our authorities need to double down on their anti-cybercrime efforts, and it is time to give them new and better tools to prove their true mettle as law enforcers by taking down perpetrators of text and online scams,” he said.
RA 11934 imposes a cash fine of P300,000 or a prison term of six months to six years or both for SIM registration violations.
RA 10175, meanwhile, slaps penalties ranging from P50,000 to P1 million or imprisonment of either one month and one day to six months or six years and one day to 12 years or both on cybercrimes like illegal access to or interception of computer data, cyber-squatting, computer-related fraud, forgery or identity theft, unsolicited commercial communications to sell or advertise products without prior affirmative consent of recipients, and cybersex.
La Union ARBs go organic
GRARIAN reform benefi -
Aciaries (ARBs) in La Union have completed training on Organic Farming Technology under the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR)’s Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support (CRFPS)—Sustainable Livelihood Project to boost their productivity and income.
The training, facilitated by the agency, equipped ARBs with practical skills and knowledge to adopt organic farming methods, allowing them to produce higher-value crops, reduce farming costs, and promote
our core values of integrity, service, and professionalism will face the full force of the law. We will never allow partisan influence to erode public trust in the PNP.”
Marbil also underscored the PNP’s zero tolerance for political bias in its ranks. All personnel are reminded to remain apolitical and uphold the highest ethical standards, both in their official duties and in their personal conduct, including their presence on social media.
He also assured the public that this case will be pursued with full transparency and due process, reinforcing its commitment to serving with integrity and impartiality.
environmental sustainability.
Four agrarian reform beneficiaries organizations (Arbos) participated—Old Central MultiPurpose Cooperative in Sudipen, Gusing Sur Multi-Purpose Cooperative in Naguilian, Maize Crafters de San Juan Agrarian Reform Cooperative in Aringay, and Bagulin Multi-Purpose Cooperative in Bagulin.
“This program helps local farmers improve soil health, increase crop yields, and access better market opportunities through organic farming,” DAR Provincial Agrarian Reform
THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Water Resource Management Office (DENR-WRMO) is implementing 46 water infrastructure projects in various parts of the country.
“These small projects will provide desalinated water to isolated areas, including island barangays, subsurface water supply, and water refilling stations, Undersecretary for Integrated Science Carlos Primo David, concurrent head of the WRMO,” said.
“We now implement actual water supply projects. The island barangays are the first to benefit,” he said, adding, “last year, we started with six projects.”
“This year, our budget is small, P200 million,” he said.
Congress initially allocated the DENR-WRMO P50 million last year for desalination projects in six island barangays. This year, other water infrastructure projects include a new type of water supply called subsurface water supply. “For that, we are piloting seven projects,” he said.
A total of 14 water filtration projects will also be implemented by the DENR this year in various areas in Zamboanga City, including Alicia, Buenavista, Banton, Santo Matnog, Inabanga, Bien Unido Hagonoy, Zamboanga City proper, Lubang, Taytay and Nueva Valencia.
Water refilling projects, which
Program Officer Christianne C. Suguitan said.
Beyond training, DAR provides continuous technical assistance to ensure farmers successfully adopt these methods. The initiative is expected to enhance food security, boost farmers’ earnings, and strengthen climate resilience in La Union.
DAR remains committed to helping ARBs adapt to climate change, improve agricultural productivity, and achieve sustainable livelihoods through training, resources, and modern technologies. Jonathan L. Mayuga
Local govts, FPIP housing project to benefit Typhoon Kristine victims
TWO local governments in Batangas and Lopez-led economic zone developer
First Philippine Industrial Park (FPIP) have launched a project to provide new houses for more than a hundred indigent families who lost their homes during the onslaught of Typhoon Kristine last year.
Proponents of the project, called Sulong Batangas, held a groundbreaking ceremony on March 12, in the town of Agoncillo to mark the start of construction of the free houses. Sulong Batangas aims to gather funds and other resources for the construction of 150 houses at an estimated total cost of P45 million.
The houses, each occupying a 50-square-meter lot and costing P300,000, will be awarded to families who were displaced when Kristine barreled through Batangas and other areas of Luzon in late October 2024. Most of these typhoon victims still live in temporary shelters in Agoncillo five months after the typhoon.
Batangas Gov. Hermilando Mandanas, through Provincial Administrator Wilfredo Racelis, initiated the project along with Mayor Cinderella Valenton-Reyes of Agoncillo and with FPIP officials, led by Vice President Ricky Carandang.
Under the project, the Agoncillo local government donated
a one-hectare lot as site for the free housing project. As the main private sector representative, FPIP will organize a campaign to raise funds from other private entities, including FPIP locators. As of March 12, 32 units have already been committed by various donors.
“This is FPIP’s way of showing support not only to our proactive local governments but also to our fellow Batangueños,” Carandang said. Through the widened campaign for support, non-profit organization Gawad Kalinga Community Development Foundation has joined the project with a commitment to build the housing units and oversee its community development aspects.
Batangas Vice Gov. Mark Leviste, Valenton-Reyes and Agoncillo Vice Mayor Daniel Reyes likewise extended help to the project in their personal capacities Other proponents of the project included Batangueño businessman James Chan, Lima Estate and several other individuals.
Valenton-Reyes said more than 400 poor families in Agoncillo lost their homes to Kristine. The Sulong Batangas project, which is an ongoing drive for donations, aims to help more typhoon victims in Agoncillo build their new homes.
will convert 12 water projects into water refilling stations in hard-toreach areas, will be implemented this year.
Some of the beneficiaries of the project are the Kapatagan Water District, Tukuran Water District, Kamalarang Water District, Bayawan Water District, Metro Carigara Water District, and Abulug Water District.
The DENR-WRMO also has a list of potential filtration projects, which aims to address problems caused by salt water intrusion.
“Last year, the DENR officially became an infra department through water infrastructure, and we are now implementing small projects for small island barangays, surface water supply, and water districts,” David said. A licensed geologist, David said that with the DENR’s P200 million, around 150,000 people or 30,000 households will have access to safe drinking water.
“In our desalination projects, people there have been relying on rainwater for drinking water. Once completed, the desalination project will provide them with safe drinking water,” David said. The other projects will also provide water—not from deep wells or rivers but through subsurface water supply.
Next year, David said the DENRWRMO is proposing a budget increase of P50 million to P250 million for various water infrastructure projects to reduce the number of Filipino families with no access to water and sanitation.
BPI files charges vs onion importer
TBy Ada Pelonia @adapelonia
HE Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) has filed a complaint against an onion importer for allegedly importing P2.37 million worth of yellow onions without an import permit.
In a statement, the attached agency of the Department of Agriculture (DA) said it filed the complaint with the Manila City Prosecutor’s Office against JRA and Pearl Enterprises Inc. along with its directors for importing fresh yellow onions in violation of food safety and plant quarantine regulations.
Henrick Exconde, area manager of the BPI’s National Plant Quarantine Division at the Port of Manila, South Harbor, lodged the complaint following JRA’s importation of 25 metric tons (MT) of fresh yellow onions from China without the required import permit.
The DA said a shipment worth around P2.37 million was consigned to JRA and arrived at Manila’s South Harbor last July.
Exconde noted that during the period of importation, the BPI had suspended the issuance
Mercury.
Continued from A3
to enforce and ensure the effective implementation of City Ordinance No. 2767, banning the manufacture, distribution, and sale of mercury-containing skinwhitening cosmetics.
of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances (SPSICs) for fresh yellow onions.
“It is important to note that during this time, the BPI had suspended issuing SPSICs for fresh yellow onion imports,” Exconde stated in his complaint.
The BPI had stopped the issuance of import permits for fresh yellow onions from January 1 to August 19 last year.
However, the agency noted that JRA “failed to provide a satisfactory explanation” on why it imported the onions without securing an SPSIC.
The SPSIC would ensure that an inbound shipment is safe for human consumption and would not spread pests or plant diseases. For his part, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the complaint was part of the agency’s efforts to safeguard local farmers and consumers from unfair trade practices and potential public health risks.
“Similar legal actions are being prepared as we intensify our campaign against agricultural smugglers. Let this serve as a warning to those who seek to challenge our resolve,” Laurel said.
The group is also tasked to identify and apprehend the importers, distributors, and retailers of prohibited mercury-containing cosmetics within the city’s jurisdiction; address related reports, notices, and complaints; conduct information drives about the hazards of such cosmetics; and monitor and coordinate with other stakeholders towards the effective implementation of the said ordinance.
Enacted in 2018 in response to the illicit trade in Quezon City of cosmetics with mercury content as documented and exposed by the EcoWaste Coalition, City Ordinance 2767 mandates compliance with the ban on mercurycontaining cosmetics to protect human health and the environment against mercury, which is considered by the World Health Organization as one of the top 10 chemicals of major public health concern. Jonathan L. Mayuga
Senate grants House request for facilities ahead of VP Sara’s impeachment trial
By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie
THE Senate has granted the House prosecution panel’s request for rooms in preparation for the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, House Secretary General Reginald S. Velasco said on Tuesday.
Velasco and his officials went to the Senate on Tuesday to inspect the facilities that will be allotted for the House prosecution team and impeachment secretariat. His team first visited the Senate
session hall, where the impeachment trial will be conducted, and expressed satisfaction with the setup.
“We’re happy to see these facilities of the Senate where the trial will be held. This is exactly the venue where the last impeachment trial was held. This was the time of President PNoy Aquino and then the trial of Chief Justice [Renato] Corona,” Velasco told reporters during an interview.
Velasco emphasized that the House is working closely with the Senate to ensure that preparations
are in place for the historic trial.
“This is our first visit here, and we are very happy with the setup. We have no comments, no complaints, but we are happy that the Senate is joining us. We are one in this forthcoming event,” Velasco added.
Following the inspection of the session hall, Velasco proceeded to the Sen. Arturo M. Tolentino Room, which has been initially designated as the office for the House prosecution team.
Velasco noted that Senate Secretary Renato Bantug Jr. was
PN to fire major missile systems ‘Balikatan’
By Rex Anthony Naval
ALL major Philippine Navy (PN) missile systems will be having a major workout as they will be used in various live-fire drills in this year’s “Balikatan” exercises with the United States, naval service chief Vice Admiral Jose Ma. Ambrosio Ezpeleta said Tuesday.
showing them the rooms that would be given to the House prosecutors and the impeachment secretariat.
Asked whether the House has any specific requests regarding the facilities, Velasco said they would assess the available spaces before making any recommendations.
He reiterated the importance of having proper facilities to support the House prosecutors and their staff.
“To see the facilities where the House prosecutors and the [Impeachment] Secretariat that will
PN’s operational capabilities and marks a step in redefining, or refining, shaping realistic and combat-ready military doctrines.
backstaff the prosecution panel. So, our first visit will be this area; this is where the trial will be held,” he said.
“But we will also have an office in the House of Representatives, some sort of a backroom operation; we will designate a room there where the secretariat and other House officials will be staying for the duration of the trial,”
Velasco said Velasco also highlighted that the Senate President will act as the presiding officer over the impeachment trial, with senators serving as trial judges.
“The trial judges will be here. And then the Senate President will act as the presiding officer during the trial,” he said, pointing to seats in the session hall.
“We are equally excited to participate in the upcoming Balikatan exercises this April. A key opportunity to collaborate with our allied forces and exercise will include multilateral maritime exercises, wherein the PN will be part of the maritime strike component,” he said.
SC
grants
In these events, Ezpeleta said the PN capital ship assets will be firing C-Star cruise anti-ship missiles, along with Spike NLOS missiles and Mistral anti-air missiles against a target ship this coming April 21 off Mariveles, Bataan.
Duterte siblings chance to challenge govt’s surrender of FPRRD to
ICC
T“And we will launch the C-Star surfaceto-surface missiles, the Spike NLOS and the Mistral surface-to-air missiles from our Navy assets. Our involvement in the combined exercise is instrumental in strengthening interoperability, enhancing our collective response to regional security challenges, and ensuring that we remain ready to confront emerging threats,” he added.
Ezpeleta said this live-missile firing represents a significant advancement in the
In line with this, the PN chief reiterated their commitment to protecting the Philippines’ maritime interests.
“First and foremost, the PN is resolute in its mission to safeguard our maritime borders and assert our sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea. Echoing the firm resolve of our Commander-in-Chief, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., we will continue to defend every inch of our sovereign territory,” he added.
Malacañang screens MRT-3 chief candidates after GM’s removal
By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla
(PCO) undersecretary, however, said she has information on how many candidates were submitted by DOTr to the PMS.
By Joel San Juan @jrsanjuan1573
HE Supreme Court (SC) gave the Duterte siblings in Tuesday the opportunity to challenge the justification submitted by the government in handing over their father former President Rodrigo Duterte to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to face trial for crimes against humanity in connection with the killing of 43 individuals during his bloody anti-illegal drug war campaign.
At a press briefing, SC spokesman Camille Sue Mae Ting confirmed that the Palace and other key government officials have submitted their consolidated compliance, through the Department of Justice (DOJ), on the Court’s order for them to comment on the consolidated petitions for the issuance of a writ of habeas corpus filed by the Duterte siblings.
D uring special en banc session, Ting said the Court ordered the Duterte siblings -- Davao Mayor Sebastian Duterte, Davao 1st District Rep. Paolo “Polong” Duterte Veronica A. Duterte -- to file a “traverse” in response to the compliance submitted by the DOJ within a non-extendible period of five days from receipt of notice.
T he traverse allows the petitioner to present evidence or arguments that contradict or refute the custodian’s explanation for the detention.
“It ’s just really a responsive pleading in the case of habeas corpus cases. So, there is a show cause order explaining why the Court should not issue the writ of habeas corpus, of course there is an explanation, they also would like to see the other side in response to allegations, specifically said in the compliance,” Ting explained.
In the c onsolidated compliance filed by the DOJ through DOJ Undersecretary Nicholas Felix Ty, the respondents asked the Court to dismiss the habeas corpus petition on the ground of lack of merit and for being moot.
T he DOJ argued that the writ can no longer be availed by the Duterte siblings since the former President has already been handed over to the ICC.
F urthermore, the DOJ said a writ of habeas corpus is only enforceable within the Philippines.
“It is indubitable tha t at the time the instant petitions were filed, FPRRD was no longer in the custody of the Philippine authorities and was on his way to The Hague, Netherlands, where he was ultimately detained at the ICC Detention facility,” the compliance read.
It main tained that the former president was a subject of an arrest warrant issued by the ICC and that the implementation of such was proper and sanctioned by Republic Act 9851 or the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity.
T he DOJ cited Section 17 of the said law which states: “In the interest of justice, the relevant Philippine authorities may dispense with the investigation or prosecution of a crime punishable therein if another court or international tribunal is already conducting the investigation or undertaking the prosecution of such crime.”
It fur ther provides that “authorities may surrender or extradite suspected or accused persons in the Philippines to the appropriate international court…”
“Responden ts humbly submit that in surrendering FPRRD to the ICC, the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP), in the public interest, has opted to dispense with the investigation or the prosecution of the alleged crimes against humanity against him and allow the ICC to continue the proceedings in an impartial and fair manner,” it added.
T he DOJ also said the SC has no jurisdiction over the cooperation extended by the government to the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) in serving the ICC-issued arrest warrant “for being a political question.”
Thus, in extending assistance to the Interpol, the GRP led by the President, is merely complying with its international obligation and performing his role as the chief architect of the country’s foreign policy,” the DOJ said.
“ This, naturally, is well within the President’s discretion to do so, and the exercise thereof is patently a political question, which is beyond the review power of the courts,” it argued.
Named as r espondents in the writ of habeas petitions were Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Gen. Francisco Marbil, PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CID) Director Gen. Nicolas Torre III, Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra, F oreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Romeo Brawner Jr., Executive Director of the Philippine Center on Transnational Crime (PCTC) Undersecretary Lt. Gen. Antonio Alcantara, Capt. Johnny Gulla and the Bureau of Immigration (BI).
Mean while, Ting also announced that the Court merely “noted without action” the motion for reconsideration filed by the former President and Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa with regard to the denial of their prayer for the issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO) seeking to immediately enjoin the government from cooperating with the ICC in connection with its probe on the drug-related killings during the previous administration.
T he SC, however, ordered the government to comment within a non-extendible period of 10 days from receipt of notice to the new matters raised in the supplemental petition filed by the petitioners.
MALACAÑANG is now screening the candidates, who are vying to become the head of the Metro Rail Transit-3 (MRT) after its former general manager (GM), Oscar Bongon, was recently removed from his post.
Last Tuesday, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro announced that the Department of Transportation (DOTr) already submitted the list of candidates to the Presidential Management Staff (PMS).
“ We are told that the list has been submitted to the PMS and we are just waiting to see who could be the next GM of the MRT,” Castro said in Filipino in a press briefing.
T he Presidential Communications Office
DO Tr announced it relieved Bongon from this position last Tuesday after MRT was plagued by several issues this month.
This includes one of the trains of MRT losing power near the Santolan-Annapolis Station as well as an incident, wherein the movement one of its escalators abruptly reversed resulting in the injury of at least 10 passengers.
T he said incidents prompted DOTr Secretary Vivencio “Vince” B. Dizon to inspect the services of MRT last Monday.
Following the inspection, Dizon proposed several measures to improve the services of MRT including deployment of additional trains during peaks and extending its operating hours.
DAR turns over FMR in Davao del Sur, Antique
THE Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) announced the turn-over of farmto-market (FMR) roads in Antique and Davao del Sur.
The road projects are expected to improve the economic opportunities for agrarian reform beneficiaries and other farmers in the affected areas.
In Davao del Sur, DAR Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer Jupiter S. Arandela Jr. and DAR Project Management Service OIC-Director IV Von Mark R. Mendoza led the inauguration of a P29.85-million FMR in Sitio Curvada, Barangay Latian, Kiblawan.
The project, completed in partnership with the Kiblwan municipal government, was met with excitement from local farmers and residents, who had long awaited improved transportation for their agricultural products.
“ The completion of this road underscores DAR’s commitment to empowering ARBs by providing better access to markets, reducing transportation costs, and improving the overall income potential,” Arandela said.
In S an Remigio, DAR-Western Visayas Assistant Regional Director Antique, Anthony P. Arostique turned over the 1.389-kilometer
rehabilitated Tubudan-Nagbangi FMR to the Lantao Agrarian Reform Community (ARC).
F unded by the Agrarian Reform Fund (ARF), the P15-million project benefits
3,120 farmers—including 578 ARBs and 2,542 non-ARBs—across Barangays Tubudan and Nagbangi I. The improved road ensures faster and safer transport of goods, lower logistics costs, and greater access to essential services.
San Remigio Mayor Margarito C. Mission, Jr., Coop-NATCCO Party-list Representative Felimon Espares, and other local leaders witnessed the turnover ceremony. Arostique urged farmers to maintain the road properly and called on the local government to support its upkeep for long-term benefits.
The DAR continues to implement infrastructure and support services to strengthen ARCs. Aside from farm-to-market roads, the agency is also building and rehabilitating bridges, warehouses, solar drying pavements, and communal irrigation systems while providing modern farm technology and livelihood programs to help ARBs increase productivity and improve their quality of life.
Jonathan L. Mayuga
Editor: Angel R. Calso
Israel launches devastating airstrikes in Gaza, killing 404 Palestinians and breaking ceasefire
By Wafaa Shurafa & Josef Federman The Associated Press
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza
Strip—Israel launched airstrikes across the Gaza
Strip early Tuesday, killing at least 404 Palestinians, including women and children, according to hospital officials. The surprise bombardment shattered a ceasefire in place since January and threatened to fully reignite the 17-month-old war.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the strikes after Hamas refused Israeli demands to change the ceasefire agreement. Officials said the operation was openended and was expected to expand. The White House said it had been consulted and voiced support for Israel's actions.
The Israeli military ordered people to evacuate eastern Gaza and head toward the center of the territory, indicating it could soon launch renewed ground operations.
“Israel will, from now on, act against Hamas with increasing military strength,” Netanyahu’s office said.
The attack shattered a period of relative calm during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and could resume a war that has already killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and caused widespread destruction across Gaza. It also raised questions about the fate of the roughly two dozen Israeli hostages held by Hamas who are believed to still be alive.
A senior Hamas official said Netanyahu’s decision to return to war amounts to a “death sentence” for the remaining hostages. Izzat al-Risheq accused Netanyahu of launching the strikes to try and save his far-right governing coalition and called on mediators to “reveal facts” on who broke the truce.
There were no reports of any attacks by Hamas several hours after the bombardment, indicating it still hoped to restore the truce.
The strikes came as Netanyahu comes under mounting domestic pressure, with mass protests planned over his handling of the hostage crisis and his decision to fire the head of Israel’s internal security agency. His latest testimony in a long-running corruption trial was canceled after the strikes.
The main group representing families of the captives accused
the government of backing out of the ceasefire, saying it “chose to give up on the hostages.”
“We are shocked, angry and terrified by the deliberate dismantling of the process to return our loved ones from the terrible captivity of Hamas,” the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said in a statement.
Wounded stream into Gaza hospitals
A STRIKE on a home in the southern city of Rafah killed 17 members of one family, including at least 12 women and children, according to the European Hospital, which received the bodies. The dead included five children, their parents, and another father and his three children.
In the southern city of Khan Younis, Associated Press reporters saw explosions and plumes of smoke. Ambulances brought wounded people to Nasser Hospital, where patients lay on the floor, some screaming. A young girl cried as her bloody arm was bandaged.
Many Palestinians said they had expected a return to war when talks over the second phase of the ceasefire did not begin as scheduled in early February. Israel instead embraced an alternative proposal and cut off all shipments of food, fuel and other aid to the territory’s 2 million Palestinians to try to pressure Hamas to accept it.
“Nobody wants to fight,” Palestinian resident Nidal Alzaanin told the AP by phone from Gaza City. “Everyone is still suffering from the previous months,” he said.
At least 235 people were killed in the strikes overnight and into Tuesday, according to records from seven hospitals. The toll does not include bodies brought to other, smaller health centers, and rescuers were still searching for dead and wounded people.
US backs Israel and blames Hamas
THE White House sought to blame Hamas for the renewed fighting. National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes said the militant group “could have released hostages to extend the ceasefire but instead chose refusal and war.”
An Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the unfolding operation, said Israel was striking Hamas’ military, leaders and infrastructure and planned to expand the operation
beyond air attacks. The official accused Hamas of attempting to rebuild and plan new attacks. Hamas militants and security forces quickly returned to the streets in recent weeks after the ceasefire went into effect.
Israel’s defense minister, Israel Katz, said the “gates of hell will open in Gaza” if the hostages aren’t released. “We will not stop fighting until all of our hostages are home and we have achieved all of the war goals,” he said.
Talks on a second phase of the ceasefire had stalled
THE strikes came two months after a ceasefire was reached to pause the war. Over six weeks, Hamas released 25 Israeli hostages and the bodies of eight more in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners in a first phase of the ceasefire.
But since that ceasefire ended two weeks ago, the sides have not been able to agree on a way forward with a second phase aimed at releasing the 59 remaining hostages, 35 of whom are believed to be dead, and ending the war altogether.
Hamas has demanded an end to the war and full withdrawal of Israeli troops in exchange for the release of the remaining hostages.
Israel says it will not end the war until it destroys Hamas’ governing and military capabilities and frees all hostages—two goals that could be incompatible.
Netanyahu’s office on Tuesday said Hamas had “repeatedly refused to release our hostages and rejected all offers it received from the US presidential envoy, Steve Witkoff, and from the mediators.”
Taher Nunu, a Hamas official, criticized the Israeli attacks. “The international community faces a moral test: either it allows the return of the crimes committed by the occupation army or it enforces a commitment to ending the aggression and war against innocent people in Gaza,” he said.
Gaza already was in a humanitarian crisis THE war erupted when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking 251 hostages. Most have been released in ceasefires or other deals, with Israeli forces rescuing only eight and recovering dozens of bodies. Israel responded with a military
offensive that killed over 48,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, and displaced an estimated 90% of Gaza’s population. The territory’s Health Ministry doesn’t differentiate between civilians and militants, but says over half of the dead have been women and children.
The ceasefire had brought some relief to Gaza and allowed hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians to resume to what remained of their homes.
Netanyahu faces mounting criticism
THE return to fighting could also worsen deep internal fissures inside Israel over the fate of the remaining hostages.
The released hostages, some of whom were emaciated, have repeatedly implored the government to press ahead with the ceasefire to return all remaining captives. Tens of thousands of Israelis have taken part in mass demonstrations calling for a ceasefire and return of all hostages. Mass demonstrations are planned later Tuesday and Wednesday following Netanyahu’s announcement this week that he wants to fire the head of Israel’s Shin Bet internal security agency. Critics have lambasted the move as an attempt by Netanyahu to divert blame for his government’s failures in the October 7 attack and handling of the war. Since the ceasefire in Gaza began in mid-January, Israeli forces have killed dozens of Palestinians who the military says approached its troops or entered unauthorized areas.
Still, the deal has tenuously held without an outbreak of wide violence. Egypt, Qatar and the United States have been trying to mediate the next steps in the ceasefire. Israel wants Hamas to release half of the remaining hostages in return for a promise to negotiate a lasting truce. Hamas instead wants to follow the ceasefire deal reached by the two sides, which calls for negotiations to begin on the ceasefire’s more difficult second phase, in which the remaining hostages would be released and Israeli forces would withdraw from Gaza.
Federman reported from Jerusalem. Associated Press writers Fatma Khaled and Samy Magdy in Cairo, and Tia Goldenberg in Tel Aviv, Israel, contributed.
Trump and Putin to discuss ceasefire proposal amid skepticism over peace efforts in Ukraine
By Aamer Madhani The Associated Press
ASHINGTON—President Donald
WTrump is set to hold talks on Tuesday with Russian President Vladimir Putin as he looks to get buy-in on a US ceasefire proposal that he hopes can create a pathway to ending Russia’s devastating war on Ukraine.
The White House is optimistic that peace is within reach even as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy remains skeptical that Putin is doing much beyond paying lip service to Trump as Russian forces continue to pound his country.
The engagement is just the latest turn in dramatically shifting US-Russia relations as Trump has made quickly ending the conflict a top priority, even at the expense of straining ties with longtime American allies who want Putin to pay a price for the invasion.
“It’s a bad situation in Russia, and it’s a bad situation in Ukraine,” Trump told reporters on Monday. “What’s happening in Ukraine is not good, but we’re going to see if we can work a peace agreement, a ceasefire and peace. And I think we’ll be able to do it.”
In preparation for the Trump-Putin call, White House special envoy Steve Witkoff met last week with Putin in Moscow to discuss the proposal. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had persuaded senior Ukrainian officials during talks in Saudi Arabia to agree to the ceasefire framework.
The US president said Washington and Moscow have already begun discussing “dividing up certain assets” between Ukraine and Russia as part of a deal to end the conflict.
Trump, who during his campaign pledged to quickly end the war, has at moments boasted of his relationship with Putin and blamed Ukraine for Russia’s unprovoked invasion, all while accusing Zelenskyy of unnecessarily prolonging the biggest land war in Europe since World War II.
Trump has said that swaps of land and power plants will be part of the conversation with Putin.
Witkoff and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt suggested that US and Russian officials have discussed the fate of the Zaporizhzhia power plant in southern Ukraine.
The power plant has been caught in the crossfire since Moscow sent troops
into Ukraine in 2022 and seized the facility shortly after. The U.N.’s International Atomic Energy Agency has repeatedly expressed alarm about the nuclear power plant, Europe’s largest, fueling fears of a potential nuclear catastrophe.
The nuclear power plant is a significant asset, producing nearly a quarter of Ukraine’s electricity in the year before the war.
“I can say we are on the 10th yard line of peace,” Leavitt said. “And we’ve never been closer to a peace deal than we are in this moment. And the president, as you know, is determined to get one done.”
But Bradley Bowman, senior director of the Center on Military and Political Power at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, questioned whether Putin is ready to end the war or will hold out for potential further concessions as Trump grows impatient.
After a disastrous Feb. 28 White House meeting with Zelenskyy, Trump temporarily cut off some military intelligencesharing and aid to Ukraine. It was restored after the Ukrainians last week signed off on the Trump administration’s 30-day ceasefire proposal.
“The US has been consistently offering
in some form preemptive concessions that have been weakening the American and Ukrainian negotiating position,” Bowman said. “I think there’s a real danger here that the administration’s approach is boiling down to sticks for Ukraine and carrots for Putin.”
Zelensky in his nightly video address on Monday made clear he remains doubtful that Putin is ready for peace.
“Now, almost a week later, it’s clear to everyone in the world—even to those who refused to acknowledge the truth for the past three years—that it is Putin who continues to drag out this war,” Zelenskyy said.
In his dealings with Zelenskyy and Putin, Trump has frequently focused on who has the leverage. Putin has “the cards” and Zelenskyy does not, Trump has said repeatedly.
Trump, who has long shown admiration for Putin, has also made clear he’d like to see the US-Russia relationship return to a more normal footing.
The president during his recent contentious meeting with Zelenskyy grumbled that “Putin went through a hell of a lot
See “Trump,” A10
China conducts air and sea drills near Taiwan in response to US and Taiwanese statements
By Christopher Bodeen The Associated Press
TAIPEI, Taiwan—An unusually large number of Chinese military ships, planes and drones entered airspace and waters surrounding Taiwan between Sunday and Monday, the self-governing island republic’s Defense Ministry said.
China said the drills were a response to recent statements and actions by the US and Taiwan.
It’s unclear what prompted the large Chinese deployment. Daily figures often vary widely based on statements by the Taiwanese authorities or their US partners.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Monday the drills were “a resolute response to foreign connivance and support to Taiwan independence, and a serious warning to Taiwan separatist forces.”
China’s military actions are “necessary, legal and justified measures to defend national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity,” Mao said.
objects to actions by the US and other foreign navies in the area. China on Saturday lashed out at accusations by top diplomats from the Group of 7 industrialized democracies who said Beijing is endangering maritime safety.
The ministry on Tuesday published on its social media several images of Chinese drones and ships and said 43 out of 59 of them entered Taiwan’s air defense identification zone but that no confrontations were reported. Taiwan monitored the situation and deployed aircraft, navy ships and coastal anti-ship missile defenses in response, the ministry said.
China launches such missions on a daily basis in hopes of wearing down Taiwanese defenses and morale, although the vast majority of the island’s 23 million people reject Beijing’s claim of sovereignty over Taiwan and its threat to use force to assert its control.
European allies debate using $300 billion in frozen Russian assets for Ukraine as US support wavers
By David Mchugh, Lorne Cook & Emma Burrows
The Associated Press
FRANKFURT, Germany—With US support for Ukraine in doubt, Kyiv’s European allies are weighing whether to seize $300 billion in frozen Russian assets and use the money to compensate Ukraine, support its military and help rebuild shattered homes and towns. For now, the assets are still on ice, with opponents of seizure warning that the move could violate international law and destabilize financial markets.
Here are key things to know about the debate surrounding the Kremlin assets that were frozen shortly after Russia’s full-scale invasion in early 2022:
What are the assets and where are they?
ORIGINALLY, the money was in short-term government bonds held as reserves for the Russian central bank. By now, most of the bonds have matured and turned into cash piling up in custodian banks. Some 210 billion euros are in European Union member states, with the biggest chunk, some 183 billion euros, at Euroclear, a Belgian clearinghouse for financial transactions.
“In particular, the United States deleted the literal expression that reflected the one-China principle and that did not support Taiwan independence on the website of the US Department of State, which indicates wrong signals to Taiwan separatist forces,” Mao was quoted as saying.
Taiwanese President William Lai Ching-te also raised Beijing’s
Other amounts are at financial institutions in Great Britain, Japan, France, Canada, Switzerland, Australia and Singapore. So far, the Group of Seven democracies have used the interest on the frozen cash to fund $50 billion in upfront assistance to Ukraine by borrowing against future interest income. That solution avoids legal and financial complications associated with outright confiscating the money and giving it it to Ukraine.
Who is calling for seizing the assets and why?
SOME of Ukraine’s friends—Poland, the United Kingdom and the Baltic states Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia—want to do more by taking the principal as well, given the enormous damage Russia has done. The World Bank estimates that reconstructing
hackles last week when he said that Taiwan law designates mainland China as a “foreign hostile force” and said tougher measures were being taken to prevent Chinese subversion through the media and civic exchanges. Lai also warned of the danger of influential figures and current and retired military
Ukraine will cost $524 billion over 10 years, already more than the total of the Russian assets. If one or more Western governments resists seizing the assets, the others that want to could still go ahead. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s allies in Europe are contemplating stepping up their financial aid in the wake of statements by US President Donald Trump that Europe must take care of its own security. Several of those allies—France and Belgium, for instance—are already saddled with troublesome debt levels above 100% of gross domestic product.
Why do France, Germany and Belgium oppose seizing the assets?
EUROPEAN leaders say seizing the assets now would mean they couldn’t be used as
members selling secrets to China. The Taiwan Strait is an international body of water and one of the most important channels for global trade. While China does not interfere with civilian shipping in the Strait—or in the South China Sea to the south that it claims almost in its entirety—it routinely
a bargaining chip in any peace deal or to help enforce a ceasefire.
French Finance Minister Eric Lombard said Tuesday that it was against international law to seize assets in central banks. If Russian assets were seized without legal grounds, “it could pose a risk to European financial stability,” he said.
“I advocate great caution when it comes to those frozen assets,” Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever said at a March 6 EU summit. “At the moment, that is actually a chicken that also lays golden eggs. Those windfall profits are going to Ukraine.”
Opponents of seizure also fear that countries and investors would hesitate to use European financial institutions if they are afraid assets could be seized, undermining the euro’s role as an international currency for state reserves.
The G7 had said in a joint statement: “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.”
China called the G7 statement “filled with arrogance, prejudice and malicious intentions.”
Faced with the rising threat from China, Taiwan has ordered new missiles, aircraft and other armaments from the US, while revitalizing its own defense industry with submarines and other key items.
More specifically, governments worry that countries such as Saudi Arabia and China may sell European government bonds in response, said Elina Ribakova, an economist with the Bruegel think tank in Brussels. That would raise borrowing costs for governments already deep in debt. She favors seizure, however, arguing that the European Central Bank has tools to thwart any unjustified bond selloff by purchasing government bonds. Also looming over the issue are memories of the 2010-2012 European government debt crisis, in which borrowing costs spiked and raised concerns the euro currency could break up.
There is a “good deal of PTSD in the EU around messing with the EU sovereign
See “Frozen,” A11
THIS photograph released by Taiwan Ministry of National Defense taken from a Taiwan Air Force P-3C Orion anti-submarine aircraft, shows a Chinese Cloud Shadow WZ-10 drone near Taiwan, Monday, March 17, 2025. TAIWAN MINISTRY OF NATIONAL DEFENSE VIA AP
Pope Francis considers the absurdity of war during health recovery, set to meet with King Charles III
By Nicole Winfield The Associated Press
ROME—Pope Francis said in a letter published Tuesday that his lengthy illness has helped make “more lucid” to him the absurdity of war, as his top deputy shot down any suggestion of resignation and plans progressed for an April 8 meeting with Britain’s King Charles III.
Italian daily Corriere della Sera published a letter to the editor from Francis, signed and dated March 14 from Rome’s Gemelli hospital where the 88-year-old pontiff has been treated since Feb. 14 for a complex lung infection and double pneumonia.
In it, Francis renewed his call for diplomacy and international organizations to find a “new vitality and credibility.” And he said that his own illness had also helped make some things clearer to him, including the “absurdity of war.”
“Human fragility has the
Google faces legal battle as mother claims AI chatbot’s influence led to son’s tragic death
MBy Malathi Nayak
EGAN GARCIA says her son would still be alive today if it weren’t for a chatbot urging the 14-year-old to take his own life.
In a lawsuit with major implications for Silicon Valley, she is seeking to hold Google and the artificial intelligence firm Character Technologies Inc. responsible for his death. The case over the tragedy that unfolded a year ago in central Florida is an early test of who is legally to blame when kids’ interactions with generative AI take an unexpected turn.
Garcia’s allegations are laid out in a 116-page complaint f iled last year in federal court in Orlando. She is seeking unspecified monetary damages from Google and Character Technologies and asking the court to order warnings that the platform isn’t suitable for minors and limit how it can collect and use their data.
B oth companies are asking the judge to dismiss claims that they failed to ensure the chatbot technology was safe for young users, arguing there’s no legal basis to accuse them of wrongdoing.
Char acter Technologies contends in
a filing that conversations between its Character.AI platform’s chatbots and users are protected by the Constitution’s First Amendment as free speech. It also argues that the bot explicitly discouraged Garcia’s son from committing suicide.
G arcia’s targeting of Google is particularly significant. The Alphabet Inc. unit entered into a $2.7 billion deal with Character.AI in August, hiring talent from the startup and licensing know-how without completing a full-blown acquisition. As the race for AI talent accelerates, other companies may think twice about similarly structured deals if Google fails to convince a judge that it should be shielded from liability from harms alleged to have been caused by Character. AI products.
“The inventors and the companies, the corporations that put out these products, are absolutely responsible,” Garcia said in an interview. “They knew about these dangers, because they do their research, and they know the types of interactions children are having.”
Before the deal, Google had invested in Character.AI in exchange for a convertible
See “Suicide,” A11
power to make us more lucid about what endures and what passes, what brings life and what kills,” he wrote.
Responding to a letter from the newspaper’s editor-in-chief, Luciano Fontana, Francis also urged him and all those in the media to “feel the full importance of words.”
“They are never just words: they are facts that shape human environments. They can connect or divide, serve the truth or use it for other ends,” he wrote. “We must disarm words, to disarm minds and disarm the Earth.”
The letter was published as Francis registered slight improvements in his treatment and as the Vatican No. 2, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, shot down any suggestion the pope might resign.
“Absolutely no,” Parolin told journalists on Monday. Parolin has visited Francis twice during his hospitalization, most recently March 2, and said he found Francis better than during his first visit on February 25.
Francis is now able to spend some time during the day off high flows of oxygen and use just ordinary supplemental oxygen delivered by a nasal tube, the Holy See press office said. Doctors are also trying to cut back on the amount of time he uses a noninvasive mechanical ventilation mask at night, to force his lungs to work more.
While those amount to “slight improvements,” the Vatican isn’t yet providing any timetable on when he might be released. That said, Buckingham Palace announced Monday that King Charles III was scheduled to meet with Francis on April 8 at the Vatican.
Such state visits are always closely organized with Parolin’s office, suggesting that the Holy See believed the pope would be back home by then, barring any setbacks.
The developments came as the Vatican released some details on the first photograph of Francis released since his hospitalization.
The image, taken Sunday from behind, showed Francis sitting in his wheelchair in his private chapel in prayer without any sign of nasal tubes.
The photo, showing Francis wearing a Lenten purple stole, followed an audio message Francis recorded March 6 in which he thanked people for their prayers, his voice soft and labored.
Together, they suggested Francis is very much controlling how the public follows his illness to prevent it from turning into a spectacle. While many in the Vatican have held up St. John Paul II’s long and public battle with Parkinson’s disease and other ailments as a humble sign of his willingness to show his frailties, others criticized it as excessive and glorifying sickness.
The image certainly reassured some well-wishers who came to Gemelli to pray for Francis, who is recovering in the 10th floor papal suite reserved for popes.
“After a month of hospitaliza -
tion, finally a photo that can assure us that his health conditions are better,” said the Rev. Enrico Antonio, a priest from Pescara. At the Vatican, Sister Mary, a nun from Kenya, said she thought “he looks great.”
“The situation was very critical. But now seeing the photo, it makes me smile. It makes me feel better,” she said. “It makes me even feel safer that the church is still going on, that our pope can come back to us.”
But Benedetta Flagiello of Naples, who was visiting her sister who is a patient at Gemelli, wondered if the photo was even real.
“Because if the pope can sit for a moment without a mask, without anything, why didn’t he look out the window on the 10th floor to be seen by everyone?” she asked. “If you remember our old pope (John Paul II), he couldn’t speak up, but he showed up.”
Paolo Santalucia and Silvia Stellacci contributed.
Continued from A7
with me,” a reference to the federal investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election in which
he beat Democrat Hillary Clinton. Trump on Monday again underscored his view that Ukraine is not in a strong negotiating position. He said Russian forces have “surrounded” Ukrainian troops in Russia’s Kursk region—amplifying an assertion made by Russian officials that’s
been refuted by Zelenskyy.
Ukraine’s army stunned Russia in August last year by attacking across the border and taking control of an estimated 1,300 square kilometers (500 square miles) of land. But Ukraine’s forces are now in retreat and it has all but lost a valuable
bargaining chip, as momentum builds for a ceasefire with Russia.
Zelenskyy has acknowledged that the Ukrainians are on their back foot but refutes Russian claims that they have encircled his troops in Kursk.
Trump suggested that he’s taken un -
specified action that has kept Russia from slaughtering Ukrainian troops in Kursk.
“They’re surrounded by Russian soldiers, and I believe if it wasn’t for me, they wouldn’t be here any longer,” Trump said. Leavitt is one of three Trump administration officials who face a lawsuit
from The Associated Press on First- and Fifth-Amendment grounds. The AP says the three are punishing the news agency for editorial decisions they oppose. The White House says the AP is not following an executive order to refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America.
Germany’s defense splurge set to favor European companies
By Michael Nienaber
EUROPEAN weapons manufac -
AG
Thyssenkrupp
turers from
to BAE Systems Plc and smaller drone makers stand to gain the most from Germany’s massive defensespending splurge, according to people familiar with the matter, after comments by President Donald Trump raised doubts about the US’s commitment to transatlantic cooperation. At the top of Berlin’s shopping list are six F127 battleships from Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems valued at more than €15 billion ($16.4 billion), and 20 added Eurofighter jets from BAE and its partners worth some €3 billion, said the people, who spoke on condition of anonymity as the procurement plans aren’t public. European defense stocks rose in premarket trading Tuesday, with BAE up 1.6% and Thyssenkrupp rising 2.4%
Suicide. . .
Continued from A9
note and also entered a cloud service pact with the startup. The founders of Character. AI were Google employees until they left the tech behemoth to found the startup.
As G arcia tells it in her suit, Sewell Setzer III was a promising high school student athlete until he started in April, 2023 roleplaying on Character.AI, which lets users build chatbots that mimic popular culture personalities—both real and fictional. She says she wasn’t aware that over the course of several months, the app hooked her son with “anthropomorphic, hypersexualized and frighteningly realistic experiences” as he fell in love with a bot inspired by Daenerys Targaryen, a character from the show Game of Thrones.
Garcia took away the boy’s phone in February 2024 after he started acting out and withdrawing from friends. But while looking for his phone, which he later found, he also came across his stepfather’s hidden pistol, which the police determined was stored in compliance with Florida law, according to the suit. After conferring with the Daenerys chatbot five days later, the teen shot himself in the head.
Garcia’s lawyers say in the complaint that Google “contributed financial resources, personnel, intellectual property, and AI technology to the design and development” of Character.AI’s chatbots. Google argued in a court filing in January that it had “no role” in the teen’s suicide and “does not belong in the case.” The case is playing out as public safety issues around AI and children have drawn attention from state enforcement officials and federal agencies alike. There’s
on Germany’s Tradegate exchange. Airbus SE, which also helps to make the Eurofighter, gained 1.3% while German weapons maker Rheinmetall AG was 1.1% higher. The emphasis on European-made gear marks a departure from Germany’s previous €100 billion splurge in 2022. A strong “Buy American” component in that debt-financed deal, orchestrated by outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz, led to orders for 35 F-35 fighter jets, 60 Chinook transport helicopters made by Boeing Co. and Patriot air-defense systems. German lawmakers this week are expected to pass sweeping changes to the constitution that will remove borrowing restriction for defense spending in excess of 1% of gross domestic product, or roughly €45 billion ($49 billion). As most of the €100 billion from the special fund to modernize the Bundeswehr armed forces is either spent or earmarked,
currently no US law that explicitly protects users from harm inflicted by AI chatbots.
To make a case against Google, attorneys for Garcia would have to show the search giant was actually running Character.AI and made business decisions that ultimately led to her son’s death, according to Sheila Leunig, an attorney who advises AI startups and investors and isn’t involved in the lawsuit.
“The question of legal liability is absolutely a valid one that’s being challenged in a huge way right now,” Leunig said. Deals like the one Google struck have been hailed as an efficient way for companies to bring in expertise for new projects. However, they’ve caught the attention of regulators over concerns they are a work-around to antitrust scrutiny that comes with acquiring up-and-coming rivals outright—and which has become a major headache for tech behemoths in recent years.
“Google and Character.AI are completely separate, unrelated companies and Google has never had a role in designing or managing their AI model or technologies, nor have we used them in our products,” José Castañeda, a spokesperson for Google, said in a statement.
A Character.AI spokeswoman declined to comment on pending litigation but said “ther e is no ongoing relationship between Google and Character.AI” and that the startup had implemented new user safety measures over the past year.
La wyers from the Social Media Victims Law Center and Tech Justice Law Project who represent Garcia argue that even though her son’s death pre-dates Google’s deal with Character.AI, the search company was “instrumental” in helping the startup
the new legislation will open the flood gates for additional defense procurement projects of unprecedented scale.
European defense-focused stocks have been among the biggest gainers this year as governments make a more concerted push to increase their military budgets and seek to procure more from their home region. US arms shipments still make up the majority of exports to NATO countries, meaning Europe has to catch up if it wants to gain a bigger share of the investments.
Germany’s latest spending plans have been influenced by signs that the US will be a less-reliable partner in Europe’s defense, after the returning US president briefly stopped arms shipments to Ukraine, and threatened not to help NATO allies if they don’t spend more on defense. His close adviser, Elon Musk, has suggested exiting the post-World War security alliance.
design and develop its product.
“The model underlying Character.AI was invented and initially built at Google,” according to the complaint. Noam Shazeer and Daniel De Freitas began working at Google on chatbot technology as far back as 2017 before they left the company in 2021, then founded Character.AI later that year and were rehired by Google last year, according to Garcia’s suit, which names them both as defendants.
Shazeer and De Freitas declined to comment, according to Google’s spokesperson Castañeda. They’ve argued in court filings that they shouldn’t have been named in the suit because they have no connections to Florida, where the case was filed, and because they were not personally involved in the activities that allegedly caused harm.
The suit also alleges the Alphabet unit helped market the startup’s technology through a strategic partnership in 2023 to use Google Cloud services to reach a growing number of active Character.AI users—which is now more than 20 million.
In the fast-growing AI industry, startups are being “boosted” by big tech companies, “not under the brand name of the large company, but with their support,” said Meetali Jain, director of Tech Justice Law Project.
Google’s “purported roles as an ‘investor,’ cloud services provider, and former employer are far too tenuously connected” to the harm alleged in Garcia’s complaint “to be actionable,” the technology giant said in a court filing.
Matt Wansley, a professor at Cardozo School of Law, said tying liability back to Google won’t be easy.
“It’s tricky because, what would the
Germany’s defense ministry is poised to start negotiations with Thyssenkrupp Marine to buy six more of the next-generation Fregatte 127 to replace three anti-aircraft frigates of the so-called Saxony class from 2035 onwards, according to the people.
The Thyssenkrupp unit formed a joint venture last year with domestic shipbuilder Naval Vessels Lürssen to pitch for the F127 order. The deal, which could even surpass the targeted price tag of €15 billion, is likely to be passed by budget lawmakers in the second half of this year, the people added.
A defense ministry spokesman declined to comment.
Another big order will be the purchase of 20 added Eurofighter jets in a contract worth up to €3 billion, the people said. The Eurofighter is made by a partnership led by Britain’s BAE, Franco-German aircraft manufacturer Airbus SE and Italy’s Leonardo SpA.
connection be?” he said.
Early last year, Google warned Character. AI that it might remove the startup’s app from the Google Play store over concerns about safety for teens, the Information reported recently, citing an unidentified former Character.AI employee. The startup responded by strengthening the filters in its app to protect users from sexually suggestive, violent and other unsafe content and Google reiterated that it’s “separate” from Character.AI and isn’t using the chatbot technology, according to the report. Google declined to comment and Character.AI didn’t respond to a request from Bloomberg for comment on the report.
Garcia, the mother, said she first learned about her son interacting with an AI bot in 2023 and thought it was similar to building video game avatars. According to the suit, the boy’s mental health deteriorated as he spent more time on Character.AI where he was having sexually explicit conversations without his parents’ knowledge.
When the teen shared his plan to kill himself with the Daenerys chatbot, but expressed uncertainty that it would work, the bot replied: “That’s not a reason not to go through with it,” according to the suit, which is peppered with transcripts of the boy’s chats.
Character.AI said in a filing that Garcia’s revised complaint “selectively and misleadingly quotes” that conversation and excludes how the chatbot “explicitly discouraged” the teen from committing suicide by saying: “You can’t do that! Don’t even consider that!”
Anna Lembke, a professor at Stanford University School of Medicine specializing in addiction, said “it’s almost impossible to know what our kids are doing online.” The Frozen. . . Continued from A8
bond market” because of that, said Tom Keatinge, director of the Centre for Finance and Security at the Royal United Services Institute in London.
Would confiscating the assets be legal under international law?
SOME experts argue that seizure would be an appropriate “countermeasure.” That’s a specific legal term referring to an action that would normally be illegal but which is justified as a means to push Russia to stop its own violations of international law.
“There is no dilemma between using an aggressor’s assets to protect its victim and maintaining a commitment to the rules-based order,” wrote Nigel Gould-Davies, senior fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies and Britain’s former ambassador to Belarus, in a legal analysis.
Other scholars say confiscation would not be a legitimate countermeasure.
One reason: justifying a countermeasure as compensation for damages—instead of merely as pressure to behave—would be “a very significant expansion of the way we have used countermeasures in the past,” said Ingrid Brunk, professor of international law at Vanderbilt University Law School. “I would term it as a violation of international law on countermeasures.”
Additionally, Brunk said international law grants strong protection to central bank reserves against seizure—a principle that has been “absolutely sacrosanct for a century.”
“At a time when countries agree on almost nothing, this is a widely, universally accepted rule,” Brunk said, cautioning against “destabilizing one of the few ironclad bases for the international financial system.”
Keatinge said the legal question is a “50-50 call.” It boils down to a question of “political will.”
Scholz announced the intention for the purchase in a speech at the Berlin air show in June 2024, but the order so far was not executed due to disagreements over spending priorities in the outgoing coalition.
Shifting priorities
SOME lawmakers had argued that Germany shouldn’t invest too much in fighter jets, after the €10 billion purchase of the 35 Lockheed Martin Corp. F35s in 2022 ate up roughly one 10th of the first special fund.
With budget constraints soon to be lifted, Berlin will now push ahead with the Eurofighter order to balance out its military procurement and put a bigger emphasis on European manufacturers, the people said. In 2020, Germany placed an order for 38 Eurofighter jets worth €5.5 billion.
Germany also plans to invest several billion euros into the modernization of its military satellite infrastruc -
professor also said it’s unsurprising that the boy’s interactions with the chatbot didn’t come up in several sessions with a therapist who his parents sent him to for help with his anxiety, as the lawsuit claims.
“Therapists are not omniscient,” Lembke
ture, the people said. One beneficiary could be OHB SE, the Bremen-based manufacturer that won a €2.1 billion German order last year.
Other spending targets include hundreds of millions of euros for artillery ammunition, according to the people, including by exercising options on existing contracts with Germany’s Rheinmetall AG and others. Germany also plans more investments in air defense, after large parts of the first fund were spent to buy Iris-T systems from Bavaria-based Diehl, Patriot systems from the US and Arrow 3 from Israel and the US, the people added.
Further billions of euros will be spent on more submarines and a yet to be developed drone strategy, which will lead to various orders from German manufacturers like Helsing or Quantum Systems, the people said. With assistance from Isolde MacDonogh/Bloomberg
said. “They can only help to the extent that the child knows what’s really going on. And it could very well be that this child did not perceive the chatbot as problematic.” Bloomberg News
Have other countries’ frozen assets been confiscated in the past?
FROZEN state assets were used to compensate victims of Iraq’s 1990 invasion of Kuwait and Iran’s 1979 seizure of the US Embassy in Tehran. Those actions were legally justified because they were part of post-conflict peace deals: a UN resolution in the case of Iraq, and by diplomatic accords in the case of Iran, noted Brunk.
What has Russia said or done about the frozen assets?
THE Kremlin has repeatedly warned that the seizure of Russian assets would be illegitimate and erode investors’ confidence. “We view those intentions as unlawful, and any attempt to fulfill them would entail very serious legal consequences,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters earlier this month. Russia could, in theory, seize the assets of the estimated 1,800 Western companies that continue to do business in Russia. Recent legislation would enable state seizure of companies based in countries designated as “unfriendly,” Russian news media report. However, there’s less to seize on Russia’s end. Foreign companies have suffered more than $170 billion in losses since 2022, often as they decided to leave Russia or scale back there, according to the Kyiv School of Economics.
Burrows reported from London. Cook reported from Brussels. Associated Press writer Sylvie Corbet in Paris contributed to this report.
Minimum wage hike in NCR: A small boost amid rising pork prices and inflation challenges
MINIMUM wage earners in the National Capital Region (NCR) saw their daily pay rise by P35 after the Regional Tripartite Wage Productivity Board approved the increase. The additional pay brought the daily minimum wage in the capital region to P645. Some 4 million workers in the NCR are expected to benefit from this pay hike, according to a report by the Philippine News Agency.
The current daily wage of workers in the NCR, however, would not allow them to enjoy more than a kilo of pork, based on the latest government data. The average retail price of pork belly, which is preferred by most pork eaters, settled at P419.55 per kilo. Pork ham or kasim was cheaper at P372.22 per kilo, based on the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) price monitoring report.
A two-income family in the NCR would have to shell out half of their daily earnings if they want to buy a kilo of pork for adobo or sinigang. A one-income family, however, would have to reduce their pork purchases or stop buying it altogether as the prevailing retail price represents some 65 percent of their earnings. Eating pork adobo at home for a one-income family is now too expensive and would mean fewer funds for their other expenses.
As meat products were considered as one of the major drivers of food inflation in the past two months, the government imposed a maximum suggested retail price for pork. (See, “Government says maximum suggested retail price for pork in wet markets starts March 10,” in the BusinessMirror, March 6, 2025). The intent was to reduce current retail prices in Metro Manila wet markets and bring it back to more affordable levels. Prior to imposing the MSRP, the government convened stakeholders—retailers and producers—and they all agreed to go with the scheme.
Unfortunately, the government found that only 20 percent of retailers in Metro Manila could follow the price guidance. (See, “DA finds low compliance with pork MSRP,” in the BusinessMirror , March 17, 2025). Even traders are having difficulties selling pork at the suggested price for “sabit ulo.” The DA said it would look into this and determine the causes behind the inability of both traders and retailers to comply with the MSRP scheme despite their concurrence during the consultations. To be fair, the MSRP for pork has been in effect for only a week and it would probably take some time for those in the supply chain to adjust to it. Hog raisers, however, would certainly need more time to deliver the pork requirements of Metro Manila considering the damage caused by African swine fever (ASF), a disease that is fatal to hogs. Many of them continue to struggle to raise output and bring it back to pre-pandemic levels.
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) indicated that output last year fell by 5.1 percent to 1.703 million metric tons last year, from 1.793 MMT in 2023. Hog raising accounted for nearly 80 percent of the livestock subsector’s production in 2024. Until the government and the private sector can find a way to increase their output despite the onslaught of ASF, consumers in urban areas would continue to grapple with high retail prices.
Safe and green spaces
IT. Anthony C. Cabangon
Lourdes M. Fernandez Jennifer A. Ng Vittorio V. Vitug
Lorenzo M. Lomibao Jr., Gerard S. Ramos Lyn B. Resurreccion, Dennis D. Estopace Angel R. Calso, Dionisio L. Pelayo
Ruben M. Cruz Jr.
Eduardo A. Davad Nonilon G. Reyes
D. Edgard A. Cabangon Benjamin V. Ramos Aldwin Maralit Tolosa
Rolando M. Manangan
BusinessMirror is published daily by the
Mark Villar
THE BUILDER
NVESTING in green infrastructure projects that promote active, healthy and safe lifestyles is now the wave of the future.
As the Philippines becomes an upper-middle-income country amid rapid urbanization, prioritizing green spaces and child-friendly infrastructure is essential for a healthy and sustainable future. These spaces are crucial for physical and mental well-being, providing adults and children with areas for relaxation, play and rest.
Parks, playgrounds, zoos, sports venues, bike lanes, esplanades, walkways, tourist rest areas and well-designed public beaches play an important role and improve the quality of living in the country.
These spaces do not only embody leisure activities, but also promote the physical and mental health of the population.
Green spaces foster active lifestyles, improve air quality and offer therapeutic benefits through nature, stimulate the mind and promote community interaction. They are vital for children’s social development, providing safe environments for play and exploration.
Investing in safe, green and childfriendly infrastructure is not just about economic growth, it is also about enhancing the quality of life. Children, in particular, need safe, inclusive and accessible spaces to play, learn and thrive. Every child deserves a safe environment to grow and explore.
To combat the growing reliance of our youth on gadgets and modern devices, physical activities, sports
and physical games should be encouraged. The reduction of open, green and secure spaces due to rapid urbanization negatively impacts children’s development. Access to safe play areas is crucial for their physical, emotional and cognitive growth.
As the mental health of children has become a buzzword nowadays, it is time to rediscover the wonders of nature to improve their cognitive skills and emotional health.
Social media and online games have diverted the attention of children from reality, but green spaces will definitely keep them grounded and active.
Policies should mandate the integration of child-friendly spaces into community development plans. These include expanding public parks, playgrounds, pedestrianized zones, educational hubs and recreational centers.
Children should be allowed to walk and run in safe zones and discover nature. To make this possible, cities should be designed with families in mind, making child-friendly zones essential components of urban
By David Voreacos and Greg Stohr
US government lawyers defiantly defended President Donald Trump’s deportation of hundreds of alleged Venezuelan gang members and refused to provide a judge with information he says he needs to determine if the administration ignored his orders to turn planes back to the US.
US District Judge James Boasberg convened a hearing Monday to press Justice Department lawyers for answers about whether the deportations took place after he’d issued an order Saturday not to do so. After the hearing, the judge ordered government lawyers to file a sworn declaration with answers to his questions by Tuesday at noon.
The hearing came less than two hours after the Justice Department
asked a federal appeals court to take Boasberg off the case, saying his questions were “flagrantly improper” and presented “grave risks.”
At the hearing, Boasberg pressed a government attorney, Abhishek Kambli, to explain how many flights left the US on Saturday for El Salvador. The planes left a few hours after Trump publicly invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to target alleged members of the Tren de Aragua gang for deportation.
planning. Laws and ordinances should also prioritize children’s well-being by developing safe routes to schools, implementing traffic-calming measures and supporting communityled initiatives for child safety. A nationwide program integrating green spaces and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure is needed in every province, emphasizing their vital role in sustainability, public health and economic resilience.
Successful models like the Boracay Circumferential Road and Tondaligan Beach Walkway in Dagupan City, Pangasinan should be replicated nationwide, demonstrating how well-designed public infrastructure enhances mobility, boosts tourism and improves quality of life.
As infrastructure modernizes, prioritizing green spaces and childfriendly developments is critical. Incorporating parks, urban forests and well-planned pedestrian pathways into national infrastructure projects alleviates urban congestion, reduces carbon emissions and encourages healthier lifestyles.
Green spaces mitigate urban heat, improve air quality and promote mental well-being, while pedestrian infrastructure fosters community engagement and local economic growth.
This aligns with global urban planning trends that integrate sustainability without compromising economic development. Collaboration between local governments, private stakeholders and environmental organizations is pivotal in designing and implementing ecofriendly urban projects that prioritize walkability, accessibility and environmental conservation.
Several cities in Europe, in fact,
encourage active mobility and designated car-free zones. These include Paris, Amsterdam, Venice, Barcelona and Oslo, to name a few. The movement has been gaining ground in many countries and cities across the world.
In the Philippines, several cities such as Manila, Mandaluyong, Makati, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Pasig and Quezon City have designated car-free zones on Sundays to underscore the importance of active and healthy lifestyle.
Outside Metro Manila, Davao City promotes car-free Sundays along the Coastal Road to provide residents a safe space for jogging, walking and cycling.
These areas naturally attract local crowd looking for safe and pleasant spaces. Tourists soon follow, boosting economic activities and creating more livelihood opportunities in local communities.
Every Filipino deserves a community where they can walk safely, breathe fresh air and enjoy nature. Expanding pedestrian infrastructure and green spaces nationwide is an investment in a healthier, more livable and more resilient future. Supporting legislative measures that promote urban greening, reforestation and pedestrian-friendly city planning is vital.
With increasing concerns over climate change, traffic congestion and deteriorating urban environments, a nationwide promotion of green spaces and pedestrian infrastructure is an indispensable step toward a more sustainable and inclusive Philippines.
For feedback e-mail to senatormarkvillar@ gmail.com or visit our web site: https://markvillar. com.ph
US District Judge James Boasberg convened a hearing Monday to press Justice Department lawyers for answers about whether the deportations took place after he’d issued an order Saturday not to do so. After the hearing, the judge ordered government lawyers to file a sworn declaration with answers to his questions by Tuesday at noon.
Kambli said the government didn’t violate Boasberg’s written order issued on Saturday about 7:25 p.m. to halt any flights under the law. Earlier, at a two-hour hearing, the judge had verbally directed the government to order the any flights in the air to turn around.
But at Monday’s hearing, Kambli said the government didn’t have to honor the judge’s oral directive, which the attorney said didn’t have the same force of law as a written order. Kambli said he couldn’t reveal key logistical details about the flights, which involved classified information.
“Apparently, my oral orders don’t carry much weight,” said Boasberg, the chief judge in Washington federal court.
The judge’s order after the hearing said US lawyers must say whether anyone was deported based on the Alien Enemies Act after 7:25 pm on Saturday; and when Trump’s proclamation was signed, when it was made public, and when it went into effect. Boasberg also wants the governSee “Trump,” A13
Trump vows to authorize coal-fired power to counter China
By Jennifer A. Dlouhy & Ari Natter
US President Donald Trump said he would look to counter China’s economic advantage from coal-based electricity by authorizing his administration to ramp up production of power from the fossil fuel.
“I am authorizing my Administration to immediately begin producing Energy with BEAUTIFUL, CLEAN COAL,” Trump wrote in a social media post.
It’s not clear what Trump was referring to or how his social media decree would affect US policy. Trump already signed an executive order declaring a national energy emergency and directed the Environmental Protection Agency to boost fossil fuel production and distribution.
Coal accounts for about 15 percent of power generation in the US, down from more than 50 percent in 2000, according to the US Energy Information Administration.
The decline of coal-based power in the US has been stoked by competition from renewable alternatives and cheap natural gas, in addition to federal regulations that have raised its operational costs.
Still, Trump could tap emergency powers to revitalize coal-fired electricity, repeating maneuvers from his first term, when officials drew up plans to order grid operators to buy electricity from struggling coal and nuclear plants in an effort to extend their life.
Last week, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum told Bloomberg Television the administration was considering using emergency powers to bring back coal-fired plants that have closed and stop others from shutting. Separately, Energy Secretary Chris Wright said earlier this month the administration was working on a “market-based” plan to stem the closing of US coal-fired power plants.
An additional 120 coal-fired power plants are scheduled to shut down in the next five years in part because of environmental regulations that have made them uneconomic, according to the America’s Power trade group that represents utilities and miners such as Peabody Energy Corp. and Core Natural Resources Inc.
Earlier this month, the EPA said it planned to revisit regulations limiting mercury and greenhouse gas pollution, which could help lower operational costs for coal plants, prolonging their life. Supporters of those requirements have emphasized the need to curb pollution, in-
. . .
continued from A12
ment to estimate how many people in the US are subject to deportation based on Trump’s proclamation, and how many of those are in custody.
Seeking answers
US lawyers also must provide answers about “the particulars of the flights,” which the judge said they could do in his chambers or a classified setting. If the government concludes it can’t provide that information “under any circumstances,” Boasberg said it must provide a legal rationale.
The legal fight began when five Venezuelans filed a lawsuit early Saturday morning in anticipation that Trump would invoke the Alien Enemies Act to target alleged members of the Tren de Aragua gang. Trump had signed a presidential proclamation to put the act into effect on Friday, but didn’t release it until Saturday afternoon. That day, Boasberg issued an order to temporarily stop the deportation of the five Venezuelans. In the afternoon, he halted use of the law to deport any alleged Tren de Aragua members. But by then planes had already taken off.
FPI
calls for calm and restraint to protect economic
TCoal accounts for about 15 percent of power generation in the US, down from more than 50 percent in 2000, according to the US Energy Information Administration. The decline of coal-based power in the US has been stoked by competition from renewable alternatives and cheap natural gas, in addition to federal regulations that have raised its operational costs.
cluding soot, a fine particle that can penetrate the bloodstream, raising risks of cardiovascular and respiratory problems. The metal mercury also is converted in soil and water into a neurotoxin that can lower IQ, damage the nervous system and lead to heart attacks. Trump officials and coal-power advocates have argued that keeping the plants online could help lower energy costs and supply energy to power-thirsty data centers and artificial intelligence. China has relied on coal-fired power to surge manufacturing of an array of goods—including solar panels, critical minerals and semiconductors—and drive the country’s economic expansion, helping make it the world’s No. 1 emitter of the greenhouse gases fueling global warming. Even as its annual gross domestic product, in current US dollars, jumped from about $361 billion in 1990 to around $14.7 trillion by 2020, China’s coal consumption quadrupled and carbon dioxide emissions more than tripled.
China’s use of cheap coal power to fuel manufacturing has spurred bipartisan concern in the US, where officials have fretted that Beijing’s growing dominance in producing clean-energy tech and other goods imperils jobs in the US. Even so, China has engaged in record-setting installation of solar and wind power, and the country has pledged to peak its overall emissions before the end of the decade. With assistance from Dan Murtaugh. Bloomberg Philanthropies’ work with the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal campaign has helped retire over 70 percent of the nation’s coal plants since 2011.
Trump’s proclamation claimed Tren de Aragua is “undertaking hostile actions and conducting irregular warfare against the territory of the United States both directly and at the direction, clandestine or otherwise, of the Maduro regime in Venezuela.”
‘This is war’ THE president defended his use of the wartime law in a discussion with reporters Sunday night aboard Air Force One.
“This is war,” Trump said. “In many respects, it’s more dangerous than war because, you know, in war, they have uniforms. You know who you’re shooting at.” Justice Department lawyers urged the judge to cancel Monday’s hearing, arguing in a court filing that the judge should “de-escalate the grave incursions on Executive Branch authority that have already arisen.” They said the government couldn’t reveal “national security or operational security details” about the flight. But Boasberg rejected the request, ordering the hearing to proceed.
Two groups that sued the administration alleged in a court filing Monday that the government may have violated the judge’s order to halt the expulsions. Bloomberg
MAKE SENSE
HE recent arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte could potentially lead to an unfavorable situation for the country, hindering our economic progress. Unfortunately, I cannot comment on the legality of the incident, as I have not reviewed the relevant documents related to the case.
However, we at the Federation of Philippine Industries, Inc. (FPI) are calling for calm and restraint. We should recognize the critical need to maintain peace during this potentially divisive period. FPI emphasizes that escalating tensions through political actions or unrest could have significant repercussions, especially concerning foreign investment and overall economic stability.
I am deeply concerned that an escalation of the situation could negatively impact vulnerable Filipinos, especially the poor. If calm and restraint are not maintained, the risk of escalation increases. A destabilized political climate can significantly erode investor confidence. Foreign investors, essential for eco -
nomic growth and development, are especially wary of political risks. That’s why I would like to send a plea to religious groups, civil society leaders, and respected political figures to collaborate in maintaining social order. This is crucial, as it also protects the country’s economic prospects. Ultimately, our goal is to prevent a situation in which foreign investors lose confidence, resulting in economic stagnation or decline. In any country, political instability is a harmful factor that hinders the flow of foreign direct investment. As seen historically, reduced investment can translate to slow economic growth. We also need to point out that political instability can result in an unpredictable business environ-
We at the Federation of Philippine Industries, Inc. are calling for calm and restraint. We should recognize the critical need to maintain peace during this potentially divisive period. FPI emphasizes that escalating tensions through political actions or unrest could have significant repercussions, especially concerning foreign investment and overall economic stability.
ment, which can negatively impact corporate profitability. The Philippines requires investments to drive economic growth, particularly as the country’s total debt has reached P16.05 trillion. We need investments that will create jobs for our citizens. At the Federation of Philippine Industries, we are committed to fostering economic growth. That’s why we have long been combating all forms of illicit trade, including smuggling, which we recognize as a serious threat to Filipino industries.
I believe this is the right time to call on our national leaders to come together for a meeting. Their involvement is crucial in helping to calm and stabilize the situation.
stability
There’s a saying that goes, “whatever will be, will be.” I believe the truth will eventually reveal itself. In the meantime, during these difficult times, our political leaders must act responsibly to avoid escalating tensions. Their words and actions can either soothe or inflame public sentiment. By promoting dialogue and collaboration, they can help restore trust in the political system. I admonish everyone to respect our duly constituted authority as we await the outcome of the case. Our aim is to uphold the legitimacy and effectiveness of this authority, which are vital for fostering a peaceful society. We want to create an environment where everyone can go about their daily lives free from fear of violence or disruption. I’m praying to God that our country might find peace. The escalating turmoil weighs heavily on the shoulders of the poor, who feel utterly helpless. Heaven forbid, but if the political climate worsens, our economy is likely to stagnate, leaving us trapped in a cycle of despair with no way out.
Dr. Jesus Lim Arranza is the chairman of the Federation of Philippine Industries and Fight Illicit Trade; a broad-based, multisectoral movement intended to protect consumers, safeguard government revenues and shield legitimate industries from the ill effects of smuggling.
I-LEAD: Indigenous women and girls transforming communities in Mindanao
By Dr. Selva Ramachandran
MARCH holds particular importance as it marks the annual National Women’s Month of the Philippines. Under the theme “Babae sa Lahat ng Sektor, Aangat ang Bukas sa Bagong Pilipinas,” this year’s commemoration envisions a future where all women from different sectors and backgrounds can claim equal rights, power, and opportunities.
Critical to this future is the pivotal role of indigenous women and girls in carrying forward the journey toward biodiversity conservation and in fostering inclusive peace and development.
One cannot deny that Indigenous Peoples (IPs) are significant on-site stewards of the rich biodiversity of the Philippines. There is an almost 1:1 correspondence of Key Biodiversity Areas and ancestral domains in the Philippines. This is proof that the traditional knowledge, systems, and practices of IPs that are deeply rooted in their culture and belief are, in fact, sustainable. Thus, the Indigenous Peoples, the holders of vast natural resources, are at the forefront of environmental management.
IPs, particularly women, continue to experience economic and social challenges, even with the Philippines’ adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). Limited access to education, health care, electricity, and financial services, as well as tenurial insecurity and lack of or limited public and private investments, persist in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs) where ancestral domains are situated. Cultural and gender norms create additional barriers hindering meaningful participation, leadership, and economic opportunities for indigenous women and girls. Notably, 60% of the IPs in the Philippines reside in
Mindanao, a region rich in biodiversity and with immense potential for sustainable development.
To address the above-mentioned issues, a targeted intervention in Mindanao has been launched through the support of the Government of New Zealand, and with the partnership of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the Philippines.
The Indigenous Women and Girls—Leadership and Empowerment in Ancestral Domains (ILEAD) Project aims to bolster the intergenerational socio-economic development of indigenous women and girls in Mindanao. It targets two key barriers: weak participation of indigenous women and girls in governance and management of ancestral domains, and their constrained access to education and livelihood services hindering their economic participation.
I-LEAD will focus on enhancing employment and livelihood opportunities for indigenous women and girls through investments in entrepreneurial skills and leadership training, raising awareness of the rights of indigenous women and girls, and addressing formal and informal customs that perpetuate gender-based social exclusion.
The project will operate in select ancestral domains in Regions XI and
US births fell in 2023 to
lowest
UBy Jessica Nix
S births declined in 2023 to the lowest level in more than 40 years, continuing a decades-long trend toward smaller American families.
Total births for the year fell to 3.596 million, a 2 percent decline from 2022, according to a report released Tuesday by the US National Center for Health Statistics that confirms preliminary data published last year. Births have been declining globally as political instability and un-
The Indigenous Women and Girls—Leadership and Empowerment in Ancestral Domains (I-LEAD) Project aims to bolster the intergenerational socio-economic development of indigenous women and girls in Mindanao. It targets two key barriers: weak participation of indigenous women and girls in governance and management of ancestral domains, and their constrained access to education and livelihood services hindering their economic participation.
XII, and will prioritize gender and human rights perspectives.
This is a bold step forward. It is a project rooted in optimism and hope—believing in the immense potential of Indigenous women and girls to become agents of change in their communities.
Ancestral domains, which are home to the Philippines’ most valuable natural resources, present an opportunity for sustainable development. Through this initiative, we aim to ensure that these resources are harnessed responsibly to benefit all members of Indigenous communities, especially women and girls, who often play a vital but underrecognized role in protecting and nurturing their environments.
To address barriers, the project will carry out interventions to ensure that IP women and girls can benefit from improved accountability and transparency of ancestral domain management and governance. It also seeks to improve livelihoods and provide increased incomes for IP women and girls and improve
gender and human rights-responsive policy and institutional support for IP women and girls at national and regional levels.
UNDP Philippines has been active on this front for decades. Since 2010, in partnership with the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and the NCIP, it has worked with 17 IP communities on mapping ecosystems, documenting indigenous knowledge, and supporting 25 IP organizations in establishing community-led livelihoods. Among key recent projects is the Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS) Project, which ensures equitable sharing of benefits from using genetic resources, promoting sustainable resource use and equitable partnerships. Additionally, through the CoRe FW4A Project with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), UNDP is bridging the digital divide in remote IP communities, improving education, disaster preparedness, and economic opportunities, particularly in Zambales and Bukidnon.
In collaboration with development partners, UNDP will continue to accompany indigenous women and girls as they engage in meaningful participation and leadership in biodiversity conservation and governance and in the full realization of their human rights towards inclusive and sustainable peace and development.
With collaborative efforts, we are building a more equitable future where indigenous women and girls can fully realize their potential and lead the way in their communities.
Dr. Selva Ramachandran is the UNDP Philippines resident representative.
level in more than four decades
certainty discourage people from having children. Earlier this month, the European Union said 2023 births dropped to 3.6 million—a 5 percent rate of decline not seen in more than six decades. The number of babies born in China last year, 9.5 million, was the second-lowest since the nation’s establishment in 1949.
Americans have been putting off parenthood because of sky-high health costs for themselves and their children, according to Sarah Hayford, director of the Institute for Population Research at the Ohio
State University. General political, economic and even climate uncertainty have also contributed to the delays, she said in an interview.
“When people are worried about the future, they often put off having children,” she said. US women of childbearing age saw declining or unchanged birth rates in various age groups in 2023, also following recent trends. Large drops seen among women ages 15 to 24 were likely due to prioritizing education over parenthood, Hayford added. The average age for a first-
time mother was 27.5 years, a record high for the US, the report said. Teen birth rates declined by 4 percent from 2022 and have sunk by 68 percent since 2007, the researchers said. The total fertility rate was 1.6 births per woman—a pace that has generally declined since 2008 by 2 percent each year, meaning the US will have to rely on immigration to sustain current population levels. The report from the NCHS, a unit of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is based on birth certificate data. Bloomberg
Trump
Dr. Jesus Lim Arranza
Wednesday, March 19, 2025
Exemption of P12.6-B AKAP fund from poll ban gets nod
By Justine Xyrah Garcia
THECommission on Elections
(Comelec) has approved an additional request from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to exempt its financial assistance program from the election spending ban ahead of the 2025 midterm polls.
Under Comelec Memorandum 25-01080, made public on Tuesday, the poll body granted the DSWD’s request to include an additional P12.6 billion in funding for the Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) among the government initiatives allowed for distribution during the March 28 to May 11 spending prohibition.
This approval follows an earlier exemption granted by Comelec, which covered P882 million worth of AKAP funds along with other DSWD programs.
Under AKAP, qualified beneficia-
ries may receive various forms of assistance, including medical aid (ranging from P1,000 to P160,000), funeral assistance (P5,000 to P50,000), food assistance (P2,000 to P10,000), and cash relief (P2,000 to P10,000).
However, the program has faced scrutiny, with some legislators raising concerns over its P26-billion allocation in the 2025 national budget. Critics have warned that it could be used for political purposes in the lead-up to the elections, drawing comparisons to the now-defunct
MALACAÑANG on Tuesday blamed the low farmgate price of unmilled rice on unscrupulous local traders who wanted to maximize their profits amid the ongoing harvest of paddy rice.
In a press briefing, Palace Press Office Claire Castro belied talk that the low farmgate price of palay or unmilled rice was caused by the increase in imports.
“It is not true that this is the cause of the drop in the buying [price] of palay from farmers. Because based on records, our [rice] imports are lower [this year],” Castro said, citing data from the Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.
“This is what is happening—Secretary Kiko told me—the local traders will prevail here,” she said.
In its latest report, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that the average farmgate price for unmilled rice last month was P20.29 per kilogram (kg), which is significantly lower compared to P25.03 recorded a year ago. The regions with the lowest farmgate price are Calabarzon (P17.34 per kg), Soccsksargen (P17.53 per kg); and Mimaropa (P18.61 per kg).
The retail price for regular milled rice during the first week of the month was also down to P46.30 per kg compared to the previous month’s P47.77 per kg.
To address the issue, Castro urged the affected farmers to sell their rice to the National Food Authority (NFA) instead of rice traders.
“The NFA buys dry [unhusked rice] for P23 to P24 [per kg],” she explained.
The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) undersecretary said the affected farmers can coordinate with their local government units (LGU) to help bring their harvested rice to the nearest NFA buying station.
She said DA is currently procuring more trucks to help farmers bring their harvested rice to the NFA.
DA earlier said it wants to release 300,000 metric tons (MT) of rice in the warehouses of NFA so it can buy new rice stocks amid the ongoing dry harvest season from December to May.
Last month, the NFA told this newspaper that it will procure as much as 870,000 MT of palay this year.
“[We aim to procure] 545,000 MT, and if there’s still a budget for it we will go as high as 870,000 MT of palay,” NFA Administrator Larry Lacson told the BusinessMirror on Wednesday.
The grains agency said it is seeking more funds to increase its buffer stock as mandated by the amended Rice Tariffication Law.
Priority Development Assistance Fund—which was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.
In its memorandum, Comelec said the program should not “in any manner influence the conduct of the May 12, 2025, national and local elections.”
The commission also prohibited the involvement of elected officials or candidates in the distribution of financial aid.
The poll body further clarified that beginning May, or 10 days before election day, only medical and burial assistance will be allowed to continue under AKAP.
Aside from AKAP, Comelec has exempted 12 other DSWD programs from the spending ban. These include the Philippines Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Project (P28.2 billion), Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens (P15.3 billion), LAWA and BINHI projects (P503 million), and the Supplementary Feeding Program (P1.1 billion), among others.
‘Funded by taxpayers’ IN a press briefing, Comelec Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia reminded the public that cash aid programs like AKAP are funded by
taxpayers.
“These assistance programs exist because we, the people, deserve them. They do not belong to any politician, and no one should be excluded from receiving aid simply because they do not support a certain candidate,” Garcia said.
He also encouraged voters to report any irregularities, particularly if local governments engage in improper distribution practices.
Beyond the DSWD, several programs under the Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Health, Department of Agriculture, and National Housing Authority have also been granted exemptions from the spending ban.
In February, the Comelec tasked its Kontra Bigay Committee to lead the monitoring and preventing the abuse of state resources (ASR) for electoral advantage.
Under its guidelines, the commission now presumes ASR when an incumbent official or government employee uses public resources to benefit their own candidacy, a political ally, or a relative running for office.
Candidates who will be found guilty of ASR violations will be immediately disqualified.
By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla
MALACAÑANG said the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) can freeze the assets of former President Rodrigo R. Duterte so it can be used to compensate the families of the victims of extrajudicial killings (EJK) during his term.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said, however, that the freeze order should come from the International Criminal Court (ICC).
“If this will have an issue or the ICC will come out with an order [on this], [we] will give it to the AMLC if necessary,” Castro said in Filipino in a press briefing last Tuesday. The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) undersecretary made the remark after former Senator Antonio F. Trillanes IV said the ICC may order the freezing or seizure of the assets of Duterte, who is now facing crimes against humanity, specifically for murder during his administration’s war against illegal drugs.
At least 6,000 people reportedly died during the intensified campaign of the Duterte administration against illegal drugs and criminality.
As of last week, Trillanes said the victims of the drug war have
yet to request for the freezing of the assets of the former president, who is currently under ICC custody in Scheveningen, Netherlands amid the ongoing hearings on his case. In his Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) in 2017, Duterte reported a net worth of P28.5 million. The Office of the Ombudsman denied the requests for the release of SALN of Duterte during his term.
Castro said, however, that the AMLC’s compliance with the freeze order should not be misconstrued as the government cooperating with the ICC. The Philippines’s withdrawal from the Rome Statute took effect in 2019.
The Duterte administration initiated the withdrawal when the Hague-based tribunal started its investigation on the anti-illegal drug campaign of his administration. Despite the withdrawal, the ICC maintained it can still investigate the incidents of extrajudicial killings in the country prior to 2019. Castro noted it is the responsibility of the government to provide reparations to the victims of the drug war regardless of who ordered it.
“We have to give them what is due them,” she said.
187 Filipinos freed from Myanmar scam hubs
Samuel P. Medenilla By Malou Talosig-Bartolome
AT least 187 Filipinos were freed from online fraud hubs in rebel-controlled areas in Myanmar after a trilateral crackdown involving Myanmar, Thailand and China, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said during a Senate hearing Tuesday.
However, at least 62 Filipinos are still being held inside the compounds of scam farms in Myawaddy, Myanmar, Philippine Charge d’Affaires to Yangon Angelito Nayan said.
DFA Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega flew to Yangon this week and met with the Myanmar authorities to request the orderly
and safe repatriation of Filipino human trafficking victims from Myanmar to Thailand.
“Because of our discussions with Myanmar authorities yesterday, they are accelerating the process [of transfer], and it’s possible that up to 187 will be allowed to cross the border next week,” De Vega told the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights.
Aside from Filipinos, around 7,000 foreigners from a dozen other countries were also freed from the recent crackdown on cyberscam operations in the lawless border areas of Myanmar.
Most of these foreigners are Chinese nationals, De Vega said. Many of these foreigners were victims of human trafficking,
lured with the promise of highpaying jobs in Thailand. They were then transferred to the border in Myanmar where they were held hostage and forced to commit online fraud.
De Vega said the 187 freed Filipinos will pass through the Mae Sot Bridge in the border of Thailand and Myanmar on March 24 and 25. He said that because of the sheer volume of freed human trafficking victims, Thai and Myanmar authorities have scheduled Monday and Tuesday as the days to transport other nationalities, while Chinese nationals are scheduled to be transported from Wednesday to Friday. The plan, he added, was for the Philippine Embassy in Bangkok to facilitate their repatriation straight from Mae Sot City in Thailand, some 500 kilometers away from Bangkok. De Vega said China and Thailand cut the power, water and internet supplies to Myawaddy. This forced many scam hub operators to close shops. As for the 62 other Filipinos believed to be stranded
Editor: Jennifer A. Ng
Silicon Valley firm to pour $5M in Batangas business
By Andrea San Juan @andreasanjuan
SILICON Valley-based fourthparty logistics (4PL) firm Omega Global Technologies Inc. (Omega GTI) announced it is investing over $5 million (about P286 million) for new equipment and building in Batangas City, according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
Foreign Trade Service Corps (FTSC) Assistant Secretary Alma F. Argayoso told the BusinessMirror Omega GTI Asia Inc. Executive Vice President Jayson Alfonso confirmed the information.
Alfonso added the company plans to hire more people to support the full operations of Omega GTI.
Argayoso said the grand opening of Omega GTI’s facility in the Philippines as well as the commencement of the operations was on March 6.
The DTI-FTSC official told the BusinessMirror that the new equipment covered by the expansion of
the Silicon-valley based firm includes real-time X-ray inspection equipment for electronic assemblies, PCB (printed circuit boards) boards and failure analysis, decapsulation, baking and vacuum sealing, visual inspection monitors and microscope, among others.
“They will conduct same activity they have in their headquarters in Silicon Valley but this time in the Asian region through their facility in the Philippines,” Argayoso said. These activities, she said, include material handling (kitting or assembly of printed circuit boards)
and electronics distribution (global sourcing, vendor managed inventory and inventory management).
Argayoso said the company initially plans to open 50 jobs but hire more people in the near future.
A DTI-FTSC statement issued last Tuesday read that Omega GTI specializes in comprehensive supply chain solutions for the semiconductor and electronics industry. It added that the company operates a “state-of-the-art” lab that conducts testing of electronic components to verify their authenticity and quality.
Trade Commissioner Anne Marie Kristine C. Umali said Omega GTI’s expansion in the Philippines “marks a significant boost to the country’s logistics and supply chain capabilities, reinforcing its role as a strategic hub for semiconductor and electronics manufacturing in the global value chain.”
Umali, the DTI-Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Sillicon Valley (PTIC-SV) Commissioner, also noted that this move paves the way for “deeper collaboration” between Silicon Valley and the Philippines,” which she noted would drive innovation and investment opportunities.
“Choosing the Philippines for this
Ajinomoto to taste savory sales in ‘25
AJINOMOTO Philippines
Corp. (APC) expects sales this year to hit the “doubledigit” level despite transitioning to more costly packaging materials, its top official said.
“We do not [disclose] this information officially, but I can say more than double digit; more than double digit,” APC Group President Koichi Ozaki told reporters last Tuesday.
Ozaki pointed to the firm’s seasoning products, ginisa (stir-fry) products and Crispy Fry brand of breading mix as “the main [drivers] of our business.” However, he added more “driving forces” of APC include the food-ingredients and frozen-food businesses. The firm has also launched instant soup and instant noodles products, he added.
Ozaki said the Philippines is one of the big markets of Ajinomoto in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations region. However, Thailand is the top consumer of Ajinomoto food products.
He said that more than 90 percent of the Ajinomoto products are already being produced in the Philippines while some products, particularly frozen food products, are being imported from Thailand. Ozaki said more than 80 percent of Filipino households use Ajinomoto products.
APC Chief Sustainability Officer
Ernie S. Carlos noted there is pressure being put on the prices of the products due to the firm’s shift to
sustainable packaging.
“From our side, we make it a point that we balance everything. As I mentioned, sustainability will go hand in hand with the business. So we continue to study and do our business. Of course cost would be an issue but from our side against balancing all the impacts, we have to consider and we are considering actually,” Carlos said.
For his part, Ozaki revealed that the firm is currently “absorbing” the cost increase as it is shifting to more sustainable packaging but he noted that “an adequate price increase is needed.”
The Ajinomoto president noted that it was two years ago when Ajinomoto started to launch paper-packed Ajinomoto package products, with some of the company’s stock-keeping units (SKUs) gradually shifting from plastic to “mono-material packaging.”
“Of course the packaging price is a little bit higher, but we do believe this is our message to the consumer that how important the packaging material is for the burden of the environment. So we aim to increase the number of SKUs using paper-packaging in the future,” Ozaki added.
Carlos said the company still continues to manage despite the additional cost.
“Although he mentioned that price is quite high for the packaging because of the modern materializa-
tion, this is actually a new technology. But again, our companies still continue to manage. And also, in terms of sustainability budget, we can still incorporate it. And also, we are considering this in our future budget as well,” he said.
However, the added cost is somehow being offset by the reduction in energy consumption as the firm is also transitioning to renewable energy, according to APC Sustainability Executive Kiff Buyoc.
“To add to that, it’s very common to assume that sustainability is an expense, it’s a business expense. But actually, at least in practice, how we do it in Ajinomoto PH, a lot of our sustainability activities actually involve eco-efficiency. So we’re actually saving money,” Buyoc said.
“A big contributor is the transition to renewable energy via ACEN. We actually generated savings in our electricity consumption. So sustainability is not really just the business expense, but it’s actually a way of doing business more efficiently,” he added.
Carlos said Ajinomoto’s facility in Bulacan transitioned to 100-percent renewable energy in 2023 while its factory in Cebu has shifted to 100-percent RE last February 26.
APC has two Ajinomoto Philippines Flavor Food Inc. factories: one in Bulacan and one in Cebu. The company has nine sales areas and 26 sales station nationwide and one head office in Makati. Andrea E. San Juan
Vitarich taps French firm for egg production
UBLICLY-listed Vitarich
PCorp. announced it has partnered with French firm Novogen SAS to offer low cost, high-yielding chickens to local farmers.
Vitarich President and CEO Ricardo Manuel M. Sarmiento told reporters in Pampanga said they will use Novogen’s “white” breed, which has the ability to produce up to 470 eggs per hen per 100 week-cycle.
“With this partnership, with their expertise in genetics and
Aexpansion was a strategic decision,” Omega GTI President Zedric Ochoa said. “This country is home to incredible talent, a strong work ethic, and a spirit of perseverance that aligns perfectly with our company’s vision.”
Alfonso also underscored importance of the company’s goal to attract further investment from Silicon Valley to the Philippines.
“This expansion is just the beginning, and we are committed to strengthening partnerships that will drive innovation, create jobs, and enhance the country’s position in the global electronics and technology industries,” he was quoted in a statement as saying.
Electronic products are the Philippines’s top export commodity. This commodity group reached $39.08 billion in export receipts last year, occupying 53.38 percent of the country’s commodity exports pie of $73.21 billion last year, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed.
The FTSC, a unit attached to the DTI, works internationally to connect Philippine companies and investors with their counterparts abroad.
GRI-BUSINESS company AgriSpecialist Inc. (ASI) wants to corner at least 30 percent of the market this year before exporting its biofertilizers to Southeast Asian countries.
ASI President Mario C. Labadan Jr. said the firm’s biofertilizers could be reproduced in other tropical countries, such as Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, or Bangladesh.
“If we reach that [30-percent] target, we’re good with that,” Labadan told reporters on the sidelines of the facility’s inauguration in Santa Rosa, Laguna over the weekend.
“By that time, at least, more farmers are already using [the biofertilizers] and we can think about exporting to Southeast Asia since this offers a better testimony,” he added.
Labadan noted that the firm aims to educate farmers on biofertilizers through their agronomists and work with farmer cooperatives and associations (FCAs).
The animal nutrition and health products provider recently launched its P300-million plant, which will produce biofertilizer.
The plant is equipped with a fullyautomated manufacturing facility and laboratory capable of churn -
ing out 7,000 metric tons (MT) of biofertilizers annually. The manufacturing facility would produce biofertilizers by blending Azospirillum bacteria with nutrient-rich mediums.
According to ASI, it could supply the biofertilizer requirements of rice and corn farmers in the country. Because of this, Labadan 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],” he explained.
The company claimed that its biofertilizer could reduce farmers’ input costs as it is priced at P100 per 200-gram pack. This would translate to P500 per hectare of rice, according to the ASI. ASI said one kilo of its “Bio N” brand of biofertilizer 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. Ada Pelonia
our expertise in animal nutrition, we believe that this is the perfect synergy for us to offer to the Philippine farmers,” Sarmiento said.
“The Novogen White, the genetic we would be using, has more egg output, better feed conversion and the egg shells are more sturdier.
“So all of that means lower cost and higher production for our farmers, and it means more profit for them. That’s the essence of this partnership,” he said.
Sarmiento said the partnership
with Novogen is expected to be one of the company’s cash cow.
“With their genetics and our feeds, I really think we will be able to bring something special to the market. We’re working together to offer a complete solution for our farmers for the breed and the feeds that are designed for each other,” he continued.
As Vitarich celebrates its 75th anniversary, Sarmiento said that in terms of profits, the company has achieved its best performance in 2024. VG Cabuag
Banking&Finance
‘PHL’s financial system remains robust’
By Reine Juvierre Alberto @reine_alberto
WHILE the government increased the releases of cash allocations, spending of departments and local government units remained sluggish as of February 2025, latest data from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) showed.
Notices of cash allocation (NCAs) released by the DBM went up by 16.54 percent to P710.855 billion from January to February 2025 compared to P609.962 billion a year ago.
NCA refers to the cash authority issued by the DBM to central, regional and provincial offices and operating units to cover the cash requirements of the government agencies.
THE dip in the total resources of the country’s financial system from December is considered a hiccup as P33.658 trillion reflects the robustness of banks and related institutions.
Preliminary data showed total funds and assets of the country’s financial system, excluding the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), grew by 7.94 percent to P33.658 trillion as of end-January 2025 from P31.181 trillion during the same period in 2024, latest data from the BSP revealed.
nancial environment and increasing economic activity,” Reyes Tacandong & Co. Senior Adviser Jonathan Ravelas said. “The year-on-year growth is a positive sign of the sector’s resilience and potential for continued expansion.”
trillion in December 2024, which Ravelas noted as seasonal or shortterm fluctuations but are not uncommon.
Broken down, about 83 percent of the total resources came from banks amounting to P27.954 trillion as of end-January 2025. This posted a 9.10-percent year-on-year growth from P25.621 trillion.
Under Philippine banks, universal and commercial banks (UKBs) recorded the highest share in resources with P26.137 trillion as of end-January 2025.
Big banks’ resources represented 93.49 percent of Philippine banks’ total resources, which also saw an increase by 8.88 percent from the P24.004 trillion posted in the same period a year ago.
P1.156 trillion as of end-January 2025. This was 7.38 percent more than the P1.077 trillion recorded in the same period last year.
Rural and Cooperative Banks (RCBs) also accounted for 1.88 percent or P527.1 billion of the total resources of Philippine banks as of end-January 2025.
The resources of RCBs grew by 18.05 percent from the P446.5 billion-level that these banks held in end-January 2024.
BSP data further showed digital banks (DGBs) contributed 0.47 percent to the Philippine banks’ total resources amounting to P133.3 billion as of end-January 2025.
The total resources of DGBs expanded by 43.95 percent year-onyear from the P92.6 billion.
authorized agent banks (AAB) foreign exchange corporations. Non-bank institutions also include the Social Security System (SSS), Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and private insurance companies where assets are reported net of allowance for probable losses and depreciation, the BSP added. Spending by
However, government agencies, state-owned corporations and local government units (LGUs) posted a utilization rate of 83 percent. This is equivalent to P586.659 billion in NCAs utilized while P124.196 remains unused.
State agencies recorded an 88 percent utilization rate during the same period in 2024, spending P533.797 billion of the P609.926 billion in NCAs released.
A higher NCA utilization rate shows the capacity of agencies to disburse their allocated funds on time and implement their programs and projects.
DBM data showed NCA releases to government departments amounted to P497.859 billion in the first two months of the year. This is higher by 22 percent than the P408.074 billion disbursed during the same period in 2024.
Of the amount, departments utilized P376.488 billion or 76 percent. T his is lower than the 81 percent utilization rate posted during the same period last year.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) received the highest cash allocation worth P112.147 billion, followed by the Department of Education (DepEd) with P101.754 billion and the Department of Interior a nd Local Government (DILG) with P45.709 billion.
DPWH recorded an 81 percent utilization rate of its NCAs while DepEd a nd DILG posted 89 percent and 81 percent, respectively.
Meanwhile, government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOOCs) obtained P22.805 billion in cash allocations as of end-February 2025, higher b y 7.34 percent year-on-year from P21.245 billion.
GOCCs’ cash utilization hit 95 percent, but lower than the 99 percent recorded in end-February 2024. Fu rther, LGUs were allocated P190.189 billion in the first two months of 2025, up by 5.28 percent year-on-year from P180.642 billion. LGUs tapped 99 percent or P188.591 billion of the cash allocation. For February alone, total cash allocation amounted to P410.185 billion. Of t his, P352.859 billion was spent, pushing the utilization rate to 86 percent. In 2024, the government released a total of P4.903 trillion NCAs, of which P4.830 trillion or 99 percent was utilized. Reine Juvierre S. Alberto
By VG Cabuag @villygc
AYA Business Solutions
MInc., the enterprise arm of fintech Maya Group, claimed last Tuesday that it facilitated majority of the country’s card and QR PH transactions last year. The company said it has surpassed one million registered formal businesses in 2024, driven by its expanding cashless solutions for quick service restaurants, a growing SME merchant base, and a strategic focus on high-margin sectors such as services and retail. “It’s exciting to see our innovations powering payments for businesses of all sizes across the country. Our technology is about accessibility,” Shailesh Baidwan, Maya Group president and Maya Bank co-founder said.
“This growth indicates a robust fi-
THE national government generated P30 billion from the sale of reissued 10-year Treasury bonds (T-bonds) amid lower demand as investors are at a “wait-and-see” stance following political uncertainties in the country.
On Tuesday, the auction committee made a full award of the re-issued 10-year T-bonds with an average yield of 6.207 percent. Yields ranged from a low of 6.195 percent to a high of 6.222 percent.
The average yield is higher by 8.9 basis points than the 6.118 percent yield set during the previous auction of the securities with the same tenor a month ago.
However, this is lower than the comparable 10-year Philippine Bloomberg Valuation (PHP BVAL) benchmark rate of 6.24 percent.
The 10-year T-bond yield has been fluctuating within a tight range despite yield increases in government bonds in Germany and the United States, according to Michael L. Ricafort, chief
FBy Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan
INANCIAL technology (fintech)
startup Higala Technology Inc. has extended its seed funding round to $2.8 million, following new investments from Talino Venture Studios and Singapore-based venture capital (VC) firm 1982 Ventures.
Led by 1982 Ventures, which specializes in backing fintech startups across Southeast Asia, the new funding will help Higala accelerate its expansion plans, including the formal launch of its platform banking service.
“Funding has been really, really hard these days. And so we’re so happy that a Singporean VC called 1982
“We meet merchants where they are, rather than expecting them to adapt to traditional models,” Baidwan said.
Maya maintains its leadership in the QRPH P2M market as a receiver, holding a 44 percent market share in terms of volume of transactions for 2024, as per data from BancNet.
Visa also recognized Maya for processing the highest e-commerce and contactless payment volumes in the Philippines from 2021 to 2024. Visa has also previously recognized Maya as the top acquirer for merchant transaction volume, underscoring their shared commitment to drive digital acceptance and cashless transactions.
Beyond serving large enterprises and government agencies, Ma -
ya’s growth has been fueled by the MSME segment. Small businesses
However, total resources declined by 0.9 percent from P33.960
economist at Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC).
While the arrest of former President Rodrigo R. Duterte last week has led to political noise, Ricafort said markets are still observing if such will trigger large protests or instability that could impact investor confidence.
“The markets are still on a wait-andsee mode for the coming days/weeks as a matter of prudence if there would be risk of massive protest rallies or any form of destabilization/distraction from the important priorities of the government,” the RCBC executive said.
Ricafort said this could be offset by the dovish signals of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Eli M. Remolona of reducing key policy rates in April.
Last week, Remolona said that with inflation on track, the central bank will gradually cut rates this year by 25 bps at a time. However, a 50-bps rate cut is also possible if a hard landing—or the Philippine economy falling into recession—occurs.
Ventures is leading a round of financing that will culminate into a total of $2.8 million,” Higala CEO Winston Damarillo said in a press briefing on Tuesday.
Scott Krivokopich, Managing Partner at 1982 Ventures, said the Singapore-licensed VC invested in Higala is consistent with its vision of “using fintech to change lives.”
He said the firm is “proud to partner with Higala in launching a modern payments rail, which will make the Philippines’ five billion monthly transactions faster, cheaper, and available to all sectors of the economy.”
Higala operates a real-time payments network. It was launched in 2024. Since then, it has been working
in the Philippines have traditionally relied on cash transactions with limited access to financial services, but Maya is changing this by offering tailored solutions that empower micro and small enterprises.
“These small businesses want more than just payment options. They want financial services that help them grow,” Baidwan said.
Unlike traditional financial institutions that primarily cater to large retailers, Maya serves businesses of all sizes. With tools like Maya Checkout, Maya Terminal and Maya QR, businesses can accept payments via credit and debit cards, e-wallets and QR PH codes—helping both urban entrepreneurs and rural vendors reach more customers.
Maya has also expanded its network through partnerships with
Meanwhile, thrift banks (TBs) accounted for 4.13 percent of all resources of Philippine banks, at
Moreover, resources lodged in nonbank financial institutions grew to P5.704 trillion as of end-January
Demand for the T-bonds amounted to P58.947 billion, with the committee rejecting P28.947 billion.
The demand was lower than the previous auction’s P60.212 billion and in the previous months with bids reaching nearly P100 billion. Still, the auction was 1.96 times oversubscribed compared to the P30 billion initial offering.
The T-bonds have a remaining life of eight years and nine months and a coupon rate of 6.250 percent.
So far, the Treasury raised a total of P30 billion from the sale of T-bonds this March. Next Tuesday, it will auction 3-year tenor and 25-year T-bonds with an aggregate amount of P35 billion.
This year, the national government will borrow P2.545 trillion, following an 80:20 mix in favor of local sources, as planned.
The government’s outstanding debt reached a new record high at P16.312 trillion as of the end of January 2025. This is 10.29 percent higher year-onyear from P14.790 trillion.
Reine Juvierre S. Alberto
to connect more rural banks, thrift banks, commercial banks, and electronic money issuers to its network, which promises lower transaction costs and reduced barriers to digital payments adoption.
Higala is set to launch its platform banking service in the second quarter of this year, allowing smaller financial institutions to offer digital payment services and participate in the instant payments ecosystem.
The fintech firm’s growing network now includes Rizal Commercial Banking Corp.’s (RCBC) SynerFi participants and select rural banks such as Rizal Microbank, Guagua Rural Bank, Rural Bank of Cadiz, Rural Bank of Ilog, and Pangasinan Bank, among others.
global players such as Visa, Mastercard, JCB, and American Express, as well as local platforms including BancNet, GCash, and GrabPay. This dual approach enhances both international reach and local convenience.
As the first major player to adopt the QR PH standard, an initiative by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to unify digital payments, Maya has made cashless transactions more accessible to smaller merchants—key contributors to financial inclusion in the country. Maya’s continued expansion aligns with the BSP’s push for digitalization. With the central bank achieving its goal of 70 percent digital retail payment volume by 2028, Maya is well-positioned to capitalize on the growing adoption of digital transactions.
2025, up by 2.58 percent year-onyear from P5.560 trillion. Non-bank institutions consist of investment houses, financing companies, investment companies, securities dealers/brokers, pawnshops, lending investors,
AI and the future of tax and audit
SO much has been written and discussed about Artificial Intelligence (AI) that I don’t want to join in the “bandwagon” anymore, since people have become wary and insensitive on this topic already.
But with the many innovations going on around using AI, one cannot help but learn more about it. Let me focus this time on one area where we are most busy with these days: taxes and audit. I was wondering when there would come a time when preparations for tax reports and financial statements; even audits, will be done in less time than what we have now.
The past days when we had business meetings in Zoom, I was pleasantly surprised that when I used an AI companion, the summaries of the meetings were more précised and even better written than when a human did the job of writing the minutes of the meeting! I told myself, these are exciting times.
However, we should be reminded that generative AI like ChatGPT is different from the traditional AI which is used for audit and taxation purposes to analyze data.
One area where AI can be a supportive tool in taxation is as a virtual assistant to answer questions about tax matters. It used to be that it took a lot of time researching and browsing through the internet for tax questions. And if no answer is found, we usually turn to the phone by calling the tax experts or meeting with them. Singapore uses AI for instance, and has this virtual assistant which answers tax questions in multiple languages and has shortened the time for call-center inquiries by half. In Korea, an AI guide was deployed to help citizens file and pay taxes (imf.org; February 25, 2025).
But the big question is: Will AI make the life of the regulatory agencies and the taxpayer easier and more harmonious?
There are now available AI systems that can analyze large data. The taxpayer and auditors for instance, can evaluate its past tax reports and tax declarations to see there are no possible areas which could be subject to tax penalties or even possible fraud. The analysis can also be used as a comparison, as they prepare their existing and future financial reports and returns. The same is true not only for taxpayers but more with the tax collectors—the AI can help them detect through the evaluation, possible high risk scores to indicate possible
fraud or errors.
In audit, although smaller firms may not be using it yet, the use of AI can be a big support. It enables auditor to use a data-driven approach rather than what is being used now which is transaction-based orientation. It enables auditors to understand client processes from transaction initiation right through the general ledger. Furthermore, it minimizes the risk of over-testing since AI can you give you 100 percent of the population instead of just a random sampling test and which makes AI more reliable if based on proper parameters set by the auditors. (“Journal of Accountancy,” Dennis, Anita. 2024).
However, there is still a need for human intervention to use AI successfully. With the vast information, constantly evolving regulations, and files being scattered with even incomplete digitization, AI still needs human brain to determine the accuracy and relevance of the documents.
And as with any technology, AI carries with it some risks. One risk is that data might integrate human historical biases so that it cannot be fully relied upon since AI algorithms are trained on data. There is also the risks that some jobs might be taken over such as repetitive and clerical tasks like data and transaction entry and classification, and even reconciliation tasks such as bank reconciliation, accounts payable and accounts receivable reconciliation, matching of receipts against deposits and such other tasks that a human usually performs. Although this could free up humans who perform such tasks to focus more on strategic work, their jobs can also be at risk and be taken over by the system.
In the end, since machines are made by people, there should be ethical considerations. And it is important its development and use should be done responsibly ensuring fairness and accuracy. Wilma
Limiting activities that drain you
IN today’s fast-paced world, people often feel drained without realizing why. While time is widely recognized as a valuable resource, energy is just as crucial yet frequently overlooked. Maintaining balance and well-being requires identifying energy-depleting activities and taking intentional steps to manage or limit them. While some drains are unavoidable, many can be minimized or approached differently to prevent exhaustion and burnout.
The first step in managing your energy is identifying the specific activities that leave you feeling drained. Excessive social interactions, especially with emotionally demanding individuals can be draining, just as unstructured or lengthy meetings can sap mental energy and waste time. Multitasking, though seemingly efficient, often leads to fatigue and reduced focus. Constant digital engagement, such as scrolling through social media or responding to notifications, can also be mentally exhausting. Overcommitting and failing to set boundaries may result in burnout, while negative environments can further deplete energy. Additionally, repetitive or unfulfilling tasks that lack creativity or purpose can leave one feeling mentally exhausted.
To pinpoint your biggest drains, start tracking your energy levels throughout the day and pay attention to how you feel after different tasks, conversations, or situations. If something consistently leaves you feeling exhausted or unmotivated, it may be time to reassess how much space it takes in your life. Once you have identified what depletes you, the next step is to set boundaries and develop strategies to limit their impact. If excessive social interactions leave you drained, be mindful of how you spend your time. Prioritize quality over quantity. Focus on meaningful conversations rather than attending every social event out of obligation. Schedule alone time to recharge, and do not be afraid to set boundaries by politely declining invitations or limiting interactions with people who constantly drain your energy. Meetings are often a significant energy drain, especially when they lack structure. Try to
batch meetings into specific time slots to avoid interruptions throughout your day. If possible, suggest alternatives like email updates, or shorter and focused discussions. Set a clear agenda to ensure meetings stay on track, and do not hesitate to excuse yourself from unnecessary ones.
While multitasking might seem productive, it actually drains more energy by constantly shifting focus. Instead, practice single-tasking which is working on one thing at a time and give it your full attention before moving on. The Pomodoro Technique, which involves working in focused 25-minute intervals followed by short breaks, can help boost efficiency while preventing mental fatigue.
Spending too much time on screens, whether for work or leisure, can leave you feeling drained and overstimulated. To manage this, set app limits, turn off non-essential notifications, and schedule screenfree breaks throughout the day. Consider designating tech-free zones, like keeping your phone out of the bedroom to improve sleep quality. Engaging in offline activities such as reading, journaling, or spending time outdoors can help restore energy.
Overcommitting yourself is a major cause of burnout. Practice saying “no” to things that do not align with your priorities or add unnecessary stress. Delegate tasks when possible, and focus your time on high-impact activities that contribute to your goals.
Prioritization techniques, such as the Eisenhower Matrix, can help you focus on what truly matters. Your surroundings play a big role in your energy levels. If possible, minimize exposure to negative environments. This could mean distancing yourself from toxic relationships, setting boundaries with difficult coworkers, or improving your workspace for better focus and comfort. Surrounding yourself with supportive, uplifting people can help counterbalance draining interactions. Not all draining activities can be eliminated, but you can balance them by integrating more energyboosting activities into your daily routine. Exercise, mindfulness, meditation, and hobbies that bring you joy can help replenish your mental and physical energy. Getting enough sleep, staying hydrated, and taking regular breaks can also make a significant difference in how well you manage energy-draining tasks
Being constantly drained does not have to be a way of life. By identifying what drains your energy and taking intentional steps to limit or manage those activities, you can create a more balanced and fulfilling lifestyle. The key is not to eliminate all obligations but to be mindful of where your energy goes and ensure you have enough left for what truly matters. Protecting your energy is not selfish. It is essential for long-term well-being and success. ■
Nior makes listeners understand love and acceptance in new single ‘Ethanol’
OPM band Nior takes listeners on a rollercoaster ride of emotions with its newest single under GMA Music, titled “Ethanol.” Available on all digital streaming platforms starting March 11, “Ethanol” is about falling in love and accepting one’s imperfections. The vocalist and songwriter Gabrielle Van Polanen Petel shares, “I wrote it last year after a gig I went to with my boyfriend. It was a local gig with different local artists, and I was there to witness their original compositions. After that, I was highly influenced and inspired to make one.”
Gabrielle assures that listeners can
relate to their latest love song, “It is highly based on experience. Every time I make a song, I want it to always relate with other people. The idea is that when you enter a relationship, it’s quite a rollercoaster ride. You learn to adjust and accept the flaws and imperfections the other person has.”
If there’s one thing Nior wants to impart to their listeners is that love involves compromise, especially during trials and uncertainties. Gabrielle says, “I want them to know that it’s normal to feel unsure in a relationship because as time passes by and you get comfortable with them, you
gradually learn how to accept and voice out your opinions. It’s just a matter of patience and understanding.”
Formed in April 2023, the name Nior reflects the band’s dynamic mix of juniors and seniors, while also symbolizing camaraderie, as it also means “bro.”
Featuring Gabrielle Van Polanen Petel (vocals), Brian Nucup (rhythm guitar/vocals), Jessie Ocampo (drums), Paul Tanchiatco (lead guitar), and Christian Cervera Mallari (bass), the band specializes in indie, OPM, and alternative music but welcomes other genres.
By Eugenia Last
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept.
Count your pennies and rule out purchases you
Focus on changes at
debt for the wrong reasons will lead to
Going
and
that are
up knowledge and skills that can help you do for yourself instead of hiring help. Barter when an expert is required. ★★★★★ LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): A chipper attitude will draw attention and interest regarding your achievements. Let your charm lead the way, approach anyone you feel can contribute and make your desires a reality. Now is not the time to waffle; it’s the time to engage, get things done and take a bow. ★★★★
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Strut your stuff, put your best foot forward and make your initiative known to those you need beside you. A social or networking event will give you the platform to charm others into your sphere and recruit the best of the best to ensure you get the desired results. ★★★
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Emotions will be close to the surface. Stick to the truth, say what you think and feel, and let your gestures and actions lead the way to solidarity. It’s time to be upfront: Show where your loyalty lies, and take responsibility for the opportunities you desire.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Mix business with pleasure,
PROBLEMATIC
YOU know you are problematic when people you work with have a nickname for you and it’s one they collectively agreed upon. In public, the celebrity makeup artist may be laying low with the attitude but in person, he is the same controversial guy who many find obnoxious. He likes to throw tantrums and scream at people. Imagine the coordination nightmares that brand staff have when brands collaborate with him. Sure, he is nice to the brand owners but the staff is another story. It’s a pity because the makeup artist is really talented. It’s too bad he is not kind or nice.
NEW ROMANCE
THE politician’s controversial child may be fighting people because of her father but the guy she is dating is from a family that is at the fringes of power. Thus, there is a possibility that their political preferences could be a source of conflict between them in the future. The girl once dated a semi-famous guy but things didn’t work out for them. Meanwhile, the guy has been relatively low key, even if he comes from a political family.
RED FLAGS
EVEN now, the actress cannot believe that she fell for her ex-husband without seeing all the red flags. Before they got married, the actress and her ex lived together and the former thought that time was enough to get to know him but she was wrong. After they got married, that’s when the can of worms opened, so to speak. She discovered infidelities and other issues in connection with money.
NO TO POLITICIANS
HOW true is it that a politician, who is known to go for actresses, once tried to hook up with a beautiful star but she snubbed him? The politician sent feelers through mutual friends but the actress was not interested at all. She knows politicians can be users. She’s had personal experiences with this and while she has a femme fatale image, the actress prefers her relationships to be based on love, trust, and respect.
NEW TRAILER FOR JAPANESE
PSYCHOTHRILLER ‘GANNIBAL’
SEASON 2 PREVIEWS
UPCOMING HORRORS
WITH less than a month to go until the premiere of Japanese psychothriller, Gannibal Season 2, Disney+ has released a new trailer and poster to give fans a taste of what to expect when they return to Kuge Village.
Set to release as a two-part premiere on March 19 with another two episodes to follow on March 26, the eight episodes of Gannibal Season 2 will follow police officer Daigo Agawa as he struggles with his inner darkness while trying to take down the monstrous Goto Family and end the village’s rumored practices of cannibalism.
Season 2 will also explore the twisted history of the Goto family, with actress Yuri Tsunematsu joining the fray as young Gin Goto, the matriarch of the Goto family. Diving into the character’s past, viewers will learn how Gin came to exert control over Kuge, using her allure and insanity to drive the village’s descent into madness.
The upcoming season sees the return of stars Yuya Yagira (Nobody Knows), Show Kasamatsu (Tokyo Vice) and Riho Yoshioka (House of Ninjas); Mitsuo Yoshihara (Or Utopia), Baijaku Nakamura (The Blood of Wolves II), Mitsuko Baisho (52-hertz Whales), as well as newly announced cast members Yuki Kura (Shōgun), Kosuke Toyohara (Kuchinai Sakura), Hashizume Isao (City Hunter) and more.
Stream the first two episodes of Gannibal Season 2 from March 19 on Disney+.
Show
Lady Gaga strikes a chord: The superstar singer rekindles passion for music with new album ‘Mayhem’
By Jonathan Landrum Jr. The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES—When Lady Gaga walked into a New York City bar she frequented five years ago, the memories hit hard: Back then, she wrote songs there, feeling lost and disconnected from herself.
But this time was different. While sitting in the bar, Gaga felt a sense of peace and rejuvenation, reminiscent of her teenage years spent scribbling lyrics on napkins.
In recent years, Gaga rediscovered her passion for music by taking a step back from the limelight, cutting ties from fake friendships, swapping the spotlight for quiet nights at home and surrounding herself with people she truly trusts. That personal transformation became the soul of her new album, Mayhem
“I reclaimed myself as an artist,” said Gaga, a 14-time Grammy and one-time Oscar winner who returned to her dark pop music roots on the album, which spans 14 tracks. Her new project follows last year’s Harlequin, a jazz-inspired companion album for the film Joker: Folie à Deux, which stalled at No. 20 on the Billboard 200.
But Gaga’s singles for the 14-track Mayhem have been received well on the charts, including “Disease,” “Abracadabra ” and “Die With a Smile,” a collaboration with Bruno Mars, spending five weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 1 and winning a Grammy for best pop duo/group performance earlier this month.
While recording Mayhem, Gaga refused to rest on her past hits or accolades to define her new work. She credited her renewed creative drive to a journey of self-discovery, which ultimately empowered her to step back into the spotlight for several big moments last month. The superstar performed with Bruno Mars at the Grammys—including a tribute song
“California Dreamin’” to Los Angeles wildfire victims, closed out the FireAid benefit concert with “All I Need is Time” and delivered a surprise performance singing “Hold My Hand” before the Super Bowl in New Orleans.
Next month, Gaga will headline Coachella and perform a free concert on Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana Beach in May.
“I built a routine in my daily life around music all the time, and not around self-promotion,” said Gaga, 38, who was a producer and co-executive producer with her fiancé Michael Polansky, 41, on Mayhem “When my life was circulating self-promotion, I think I lost a lot of my passion. When my life was around my family, my partner and my music, it gave me back that realness.”
DETERMINED TO PROVE THAT SHE’S THE ARCHITECT OF HER SUCCESS
WHILE Gaga was dropping early hits, like “Just Dance” and “Poker Face,” she noticed critics who downplayed her role in the success, giving more credit to producers and even stylists.
With Mayhem, Gaga aimed to showcase that her talent was the true driving force behind her rise.
Fueled by the skeptics, the singer is determined to show she’s the architect of her success, not just another industry creation.
“They tried to qualify and quantify me,” she said.
“Very often as a woman in music, they say it was
other people. You’re a product, like you were made. Something that was really important to me on this was really taking from myself my own inventions.”
When Gaga began recording her new album, she focused on crafting the kind of dark pop melodies that defined her early career, pairing them with lyrics that spoke in code. She said it all came back naturally, giving her reassurance that she was on the right path to fully owning her identity as an artist instead of a made-up character.
“This was a way for me actually to feel like I wasn’t. That it was the real me,” she said. “I was the creator. This was my work. It was just not a character I was playing. It was something that I made.”
HOW GAGA PUSHED FAME AWAY TO RECLAIM HER CREATIVE SPARK
EARLY in her career, fame came with a price that Gaga wasn’t willing to pay. She felt isolated, trapped in transactional relationships and struck in an environment that prioritized competition over creativity.
The spotlight began to feel like an endless race, draining her passion for making music. She began to notice a shift as her sales climbed beyond the first 10 million records.
Gaga realized that staying in that energy would ultimately stifle her creativity, knowing it was time to break free.
“I lost the thing that I would teach my child, which is to sit alone with your thoughts and write a poem,” Gaga said. “Sit alone and write a song. Just put good old-fashioned hard work and craftsmanship into what you believe in. I lost that for a long time.”
Eventually, Gaga hit reset. She cut loose draining relationships and building a stable family with Michael Polansky and their beloved dogs.
It helped Gaga channel her energy back into her artistry.
“This is the first day I’ve done interviews without makeup on, and it’s nice,” she said. “I just get to share with you about my experience with music, and I’m not feeling pressure to perform for you in any other way than as a female artist.” n
CCP BRINGS CINEMALAYA FILMS FOR WOMEN DEPRIVED OF LIBERTY (WDL) IN VISAYAS
IN celebration of the 2025 National Women’s Month, the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) presents Lakbay Sine Para sa mga Inday, special online screenings of selected award-winning Cinemalaya films for Women Deprived of Liberty (WDL) in three jails in Iloilo City, Pototan-Iloilo, and Bacolod City every Sunday and Monday of March.
Bringing the stories inside to shed light on the lived experiences of incarcerated women, this program hopes to unite artists beyond prison walls through a series of online film screenings and talkbacks involving over 500 detainees in three jails—Iloilo City District Jail Female Dormitory (ICDJFD), Iloilo District Jail Female Dormitory (IDJFD) Pototan Iloilo and Metro Bacolod District Jail Female
This cultural caregiving initiative directly addresses the needs of some of the most underserved women artists behind bars—persons/women
deprived of liberty (PDL/WDL)—who often remain invisible, voiceless, powerless, and marginalized. Set to be screened are the following Cinemalaya films by women, about women and for women: Sanglaan by Milo Sogueco, Mayohan by Dan Villegas and Paul Sta. Ana, Balota by Kip Oebanda, The Baseball Player by Carlo Obispo, Pan de Salawal by Che Espiritu, Utwas and Mga Handum nga Nasulat sa Baras by Arlie Sweet Sumagaysay and Richard Jeroui Salvadico, and Primetime Mother by Sonny Calvento.
The screening schedules are Iloilo on March 23, and 30, Sundays, 9 to 11 am, and in Pototan and Bacolod on March 24, and 31, Mondays, 2 to 4 pm.
The special screening project is organized through the Film, Broadcast, and New Media Division and the Cultural Exchange Department, in partnership with Super Inday Prison Art Project, a CCP Kalinga ng Sining grantee. The CCP Lakbay Sine is a film program that brings
different film projects, such as the CCP Cine Icons, Cinemalaya, Gawad Alternatibo, to different regions, partner communities, organizations, and campuses primarily to popularize the works of Filipino filmmakers and encourage film appreciation among the youth and the general public.
The prison arts program seeks to break through the boredom, hopelessness, darkness of anxiety and depression by offering spaces for artistic expression, healing, inspiration, and transformation. Through the power of cinema and storytelling, the value of expressive arts emerges not only as a medium for pain to be transcended into beauty but also as a profound healing force for the self and the collective.
More information on upcoming screenings from the CCP Film, Broadcast, and New Media
OKADA Manila, the six-time Forbes five-star integrated resort, proudly opened the third leg of the PAGCOR Photo Exhibit at the Fountain Foyer on March 5, 2025. Running until April 3, 2025, the exhibit showcases 48 awardwinning photographs from PAGCOR’s 2023 and 2024 Photography Competitions, offering an immersive visual journey through the Philippines’ diverse destinations and agricultural communities.
“As a world-class destination committed to elevating Filipino culture, we at Okada Manila are excited to host this remarkable exhibit,” said Byron Yip, Okada Manila President and COO. “It captures the Philippines’ natural splendor, highlights our agricultural richness, and reflects our dedication to providing guests with experiences that honor our country’s heritage.”
essential role they play in sustaining our nation,” said Alejandro Tengco, PAGCOR Chairman and CEO. “Carefully chosen by a panel of seasoned photographers and visual artists, these 48 masterpieces are the testament to the incredible talent and creativity of Filipino photographers”
During the opening, PAGCOR also announced the launch of the 2025 PAGCOR Photography Contest, themed “Infrastructure for Economic Development.” Photographers nationwide are invited to capture the transformative power of infrastructure projects from transport networks to urban developments and their role in driving economic growth, enhancing mobility, and improving Filipinos’ quality of life.
“This collection vividly depicts the beauty of our rural landscapes, the resilience of our communities, and the
The 2023 competition with the theme, “Sa’n Tayo Next?,” focuses on the exploration and discovery of lesserknown tourist destinations across the Philippines. While the 2024 competition, “Harvest Time,” pays tribute to the country’s agricultural resources and the hardworking farmers and fisherfolk who play a pivotal role in sustaining the nation.
Life Moves Fast—Get That Loan Even Faster with Maya
IFE
Lpops up. When time is money, you can’t afford to wait. Good thing Maya’s got your back. Now, more upgraded Maya users can borrow instantly with Maya Easy Credit and Maya Personal Loan, no long lines, no endless paperwork, just straight-up speed. A few taps in the Maya app, and boom, funds are in your Maya Wallet, ready to fuel your every move.
Borrow on Your Terms—Fast, Flexible, and All-in-one app.
UNLIKE typical banks, Maya keeps things fast, digital, and stress-free. No waiting weeks for approval. No jumping through hoops. Just instant access to cash—whether it’s for everyday needs or life’s biggest moments. For emergencies and everyday essentials: Maya Easy Credit gives you a revolving credit line of up to P30,000, so you can borrow instantly for urgent expenses like grocery runs, bills, or unexpected costs. Repay flexibly and borrow again whenever needed.
• For big life moves: Maya Personal Loan lets you borrow up to P250,000, payable in up to 24 months—perfect for major purchases, home upgrades, business investments, or even that much-needed dream vacation. And because Maya is an all-in-one digital bank app, using your borrowed funds is just as easy. Use it to pay with your Maya Card, scan to pay at thousands of merchants, settle bills in-app, or transfer money in seconds—giving you ultimate flexibility, anytime, anywhere.
How to Apply? Easy.
GETTING started is simple, just open the Maya app and go to Credit or Loans to check if you’re eligible. Need extra funds on demand? Apply for and activate Maya Easy Credit in a few taps and borrow instantly. Eyeing a bigger loan? Apply for a Maya Personal Loan, enter your desired amount, and complete your application in minutes. Once approved, your funds land straight in your Maya Wallet—ready for payments, transfers, or cash withdrawals.
When life moves fast, Maya moves faster. Tap, borrow, and go—only with the #1 Digital Bank in the Philippines. Apply today via the Maya app. Visit maya.ph and mayabank.ph, and follow @mayaiseverything on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok for updates.
Casio to Release G-SHOCK Collaboration with BarbieTM
CASIO Computer Co., Ltd. announced the release of the latest addition to the G-SHOCK family of shock-resistant watches. The new GMA-S110BE was designed in collaboration with the BarbieTM brand, which was launched in 1959 as the original girl empowerment brand.
BarbieTM started as a revolutionary idea — a doll that inspired girls to explore their limitless potential. Today, BarbieTM continues to empower self-discovery that unlocks a world of possibilities for tomorrow. The current collaboration is a great match with G-SHOCK’s
vision as a watch brand that supports free-thinking, tough women with strength at their core.
The new shock-resistant watch is based on the GMA-S110, which features an intricate, dimensional design achieved by layering small components. The watch has a sleek monochromatic pink color scheme, accented with subtle variations across each component. The BarbieTM logo appears on the band loop and at the 3 o’clock position, and a heart-motif indicator adorns the inset dial at the 9 o’clock position. The band and case back also boast the famous BarbieTM silhouette, further projecting the BarbieTM worldview. The new watch also comes in special packaging inspired by BarbieTM doll boxes, aiming to deliver the same excitement people have always felt when unboxing a new BarbieTM doll. The GMA-S110BE is priced at P12,020.00 and is available at select authorized G-SHOCK stores nationwide and at CASIO’s online store in the Philippines.
The exhibit is open to the public until April 3, 2025, offering an opportunity for all to experience the beauty and diversity of the Philippines. Additionally, there will be a Photography Workshop that will take place
New Lotus 2025 Emira lineup now in the Philippines
THE new 2025 Emira lineup has arrived in the Philippines, featuring the Emira Turbo, Emira Turbo SE and Emira V6. These models build on the strong foundation set by the Emira First Edition and Emira V6 First Edition, which have captivated driving enthusiasts around the world since their respective launches in 2022 and 2023.
The new models feature enhanced levels of performance and design whilst building on the attributes the automotive world has come to expect, including striking lines, thrilling dynamic performance delivering a unique blend of ride and handling, outstanding aerodynamics.
Customers will still have the choice of the Lotus Emira V6 with its supercharged 3.5-litre engine which is matched to a choice of six-speed manual and automatic transmissions. Drivers will also be able to choose between the Emira Turbo and Turbo SE which both utilise a 4-cylinder variable geometry Turbocharged engine with an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) gearbox.
“We are thrilled to announce the addition of new variants to the award winning Emira, one of the most successful Lotus models to date. In 2025, the Emira range will extend to meet wider customer needs while retaining the brand’s DNA and driving dynamics Lotus is renowned for,” commented Dan Balmer, President & CEO, Lotus Cars – Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa.
The Emira Turbo is powered by a 4-cylinder variable geometry turbocharged 360bhp engine with an 8-speed DCT gearbox. This performance has been enhanced in the new Emira Turbo SE which is equipped with 400 bhp and has an increase in torque of 50Nm. The Emira V6 maintains its 400bhp charge-cooled and supercharged 3.5-litre V6 engine, which is available with a choice
BingoPlus, your comprehensive digital entertainment platform in the country, has turned more players into instant millionaires overnight. Two BingoPlus players were awarded their winning jackpot prize and were interviewed on February 28, 2025 at the BingoPlus Studio in Quezon City.
One player won the jackpot for the game Slots & Casino with a total prize of P81,700,889. While, in the game of Jackpot & Bingo, the winner received a total of ₱52,000,000.
A BingoPlus avid player for leisure has always dreamt of winning to ease her worries in life. To support her children’s education until college and to pay off debts are some of the issues that have been troubling her.
.One fateful night, her life changed as she luckily hit the jackpot prize of P52,000,000. She jumped out of excitement when she found out that she had won. Her advice to other players who are hoping to achieve the same luck, “Try and try lang po. That’s because you will never know when your luck will come.” While there might still be many like her who are still skeptical when it comes to online games like BingoPlus, she said that BingoPlus was able to earn her trust and loyalty as a player.
“I was able to build my trust in BingoPlus, especially during the when I experienced some difficulty and lost P50 when I encountered problems with one of their Bingo machines. So I requested for a refund but did not receive it right away. I tried to ask for help with their Customer Service and I saw that they communicated with me immediately and that’s where my trust in BingoPlus grew. I said to myself that this was legitimate because they have a Customer Service that immediately acts on complaints,” she said.
She shared her gratitude towards BingoPlus, saying, “Thank you all so much. I never expected to win.” She
of standard 6-speed manual or cost option 6-speed automatic gearbox.
Lotus has incorporated new levels of performance features and all new design features into the Emira Turbo, Emira Turbo SE and Emira V6. In addition to a wide array of options that are available for customers who want to choose the Emira that reflects them.
The Emira Turbo features new core performance features such as single piece brakes, alongside a host of new design features. These include new 20” 10-Spoke lightweight cast alloy wheel in gloss silver, new ‘Emira Turbo’ branding, new standard foot pedals and a new interior technical fabric headliner.
Other key core features include Vivid Red paint, black brake callipers, black leather interior, 12-way electric seats, Touring suspension settings and the acclaimed Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport tyres which have been developed exclusively for Emira.
The Emira Turbo SE also hosts a variety of new performance features such as an increase of 40 bhp and 50 Nm which equates to an 11mph increase in top speed and a reduction in 0-100km/h time to 4.0 seconds. The Emira
went on to say that she is hoping that the brand will continue to help change lives of many more Filipinos.
“Mabuhay po ang BingoPlus! To the hosts, to the team that handles the VIP team, thank you all so much. God bless you all.”
On the other hand, the winner of P81,700,889, living in Quezon City and has been playing BingoPlus games for a year. Her child was the one who encouraged and taught her to play. She said her life changed greatly as she became an instant millionaire overnight. Everything is for her children, she assured. Also she shared that the money will be used for good purposes.
Turbo SE comes with the Lotus Drivers Pack as standard including Sports suspension settings, uprated cross drilled and ventilated two-piece brake discs and launch control. In addition to performance enhancements the Emira Turbo SE also comes with a variety of core design features. These include newly finished 20” V-spoke forged Satin Grey wheels as standard as well as Zinc Grey paint, Alcantara headliner, red brake calipers, new ‘Emira Turbo SE’ badging, new black Lotus branding and black Lotus badging and tailpipes.
The Emira V6 includes performance features such as cross drilled and ventilated two-piece brake discs, Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport tyres, Touring suspension and
originally an optional ‘Special Equipment’ package, first introduced on the Type 14 Elite. It was also used with the Type 26 Elan, Elan SE Turbo, Lotus Cortina and the Elan S3, Elan S4 and Plus 2. In addition, Lotus has historically used the SE
For a long time, she has been working earnestly as a vendor, and now that she became an instant millionaire, she wants to experience taking the time to relax and enjoy life with her family. When asked what her message is for BingoPlus, she became emotional while thanking the platform that changed her life.
“My winnings at BingoPlus will be of great help to my family. Of all the players, they chose me to be the winner. I will look after my winnings. Thank you all so much because I never dreamed that I would win such an amount. Thank you.” Moreover, the jackpot winners had a session with a professional financial coach for Pusta de Peligro, a campaign initiated by the BingoPlus Foundation. Thus, BingoPlus is committed to promoting responsible gaming and helping players be equipped with the knowledge and tools to sustain and maximize their winnings, as well as making informed choices.
DigiPlus Interactive Corp. pioneered digital entertainment in the Philippines. It introduced leading platforms BingoPlus and ArenaPlus, widely known for their engaging experiences in interactive gaming and sports entertainment. DigiPlus also operates SpinPlus, and GameZone, with more to come. For more information, visit: www.digiplus.com.ph.
OKADA Manila proudly opened the third leg of the PAGCOR Photo Exhibit at the Fountain Foyer last March 5, 2025 and it was graced by Okada Manila executives, PAGCOR representatives, and distinguished guests.
Editor: Tet Andolong
Safeguarding lives and properties through proactive measures
By Rizal Raoul S. Reyes @brownindio
WHILE March derives its name from Mars, the Roman god of war, it’s intriguing that this month is also designated as Fire Prevention Month, a time dedicated to safeguarding against destruction.
According to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), fire incidents increased from 16,387 cases in 2023 to 18,217 in 2024—a whopping 10.6 percent. This underscores the need for stronger fire readiness efforts. Among the regions, Region 6 has the highest total number of fire incidents in January to June 2024 with 2,630 fire incidents.
Angelica Perez, the CEO and founder of AP&A Architectural Design Studio, told the BusinessMirror in an interview that the top three causes of fire incidents are still caused by electrical issues (loosened connections, faulty wirings, and overloading), open flames from cooking, and ignition sources (fireworks, welding slags).
“Nevertheless, building owners or occupants view building permits and fire safety compliance as just another expense and requirement for securing permits. Fire safety codes exist primarily to reduce risks of fire hazards or mitigate the effects when unexpected things happen,” Perez said.
She also discourages the practice among Filipinos to extend houses, even without renovation permits. “Do not encroach on setbacks, know the importance of firewalls as it helps prevent rapid spreading of fire. For the materials, consider fire resistant materials such as fire rated walls and ceilings [eg: concrete, gypsum board with fire resistant treatment], and fireproof doors that will help contain fire,” Perez recommended. Since cooking is one of the leading causes of fire hazard, Perez said the design of the kitchen must be planned properly. She said the stove should be provided with reasonable clearance from storage or shelves where flammable items may be placed, such as paper towels, wooden utensils, and flammable liquids. Putting a fire extinguisher nearby is highlu recommended. “Smoke detectors near the kitchen are also useful, but this requires a few design considerations to reduce false alarms from regular cooking. Distance and type of smoke
Cinema Under The Stars:
ON the enchanting evening of February 22, 2025, Amiya Raya transformed into a dreamlike outdoor cinema as homeowners gathered for a spectacular event—Cinema Under The Stars. Nestled atop the scenic heights of this premier community, families and friends came together to experience a night of cinematic wonder under a canopy of twinkling stars. The evening featured two highly anticipated films: Wicked, the spellbinding musical that explores the untold story of the witches of Oz, and Moana 2, the adventurous sequel following the beloved wayfinder on a new journey across the seas. Against the breathtaking backdrop of Amiya Raya’s open skies, the films took on an even more magical dimension, immersing audiences in their stories like never before.
The event kicked off at sundown with cozy seating arrangements and picnic-style lounging, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. Homeowners indulged in a delightful selection of snacks, to refreshing tropical beverages from food stalls curated for the event., enhancing the immersive movie experience.
detectors that are less sensitive to cooking fumes may be considered,” Perez said. For new construction homeowners should get a registered or professional electrical engineer to ensure that the electrical works and installation follows the approved plans. Same when moving to an existing home, especially for old houses, Perez said having a licensed electrician inspect the condition of the wiring to have a peace of mind. “Of course, do not overload power outlets or extension cords,” she said. For dwellers of multi-storey apartments and townhouses, Perez said they should have additional fire safety measures given the number of floors, limited exit routes and shared walls. “It’s very
common for Filipinos to enclose their windows with grilles that will protect them from intrusion, but this in turn becomes a fire hazard,” she said. If you are residing on top floors, it would be helpful if you have a fire extinguisher, axe, rope, and fire blanket.
F inally, Perez pointed out that prevention is still better than cure, especially when it comes to fire safety. While it’s crucial to have escape tools and emergency plans during a crisis, a well-designed, fire-safe home is eventually cheaper and will give dwellers their peace of mind. “With fire incidents typically peaking during summer, this annual observance serves as an important reminder of the devastating impact of fires and the need for preventive measures
As the first movie, Wicked, unfolded on the big screen, the audience was captivated by the mesmerizing performances and iconic musical numbers. Cheers and applause filled the air as the film’s powerful themes of friendship and destiny resonated with viewers. Following a brief intermission filled with lively conversations and stargazing, Moana 2 transported everyone into a world of adventure and discovery, with children singing along to its catchy tunes and families sharing laughter under the starlit sky. More than just a movie night, Cinema Under The Stars was a celebration of community, bringing together Amiya Raya homeowners in an evening of connection and joy. The event perfectly captured the essence of what it means to live in this serene and picturesque
setting—where luxury meets nature, and where every moment is an experience to cherish.
As the credits rolled and the night drew to a close, guests lingered a little longer, savoring the cool evening breeze and the lingering sense of magic. Cinema Under The Stars was more than just a film screening; it was a reminder of the beauty of shared experiences, the wonder of storytelling, and the simple joy of watching a movie beneath the vast, starry sky. Amiya Raya continues to provide its homeowners with experiences that go beyond the ordinary—creating not just houses, but a true sense of home and community.
ETRO Manila’s condominium market is experiencing a record-high oversupply, presenting a prime opportunity for first-time homebuyers. According to the 2024 Metro Manila Residential Report, around 26,300 ready-for-occupancy (RFO) units remained unsold at the end of last year. Additionally, the city’s rising vacancy rate, driven by aggressive property development, has contributed to the growing number of available units.
In response, developers are offering competitive pricing, flexible payment terms, and additional incentives. With interest rate cuts expected to bring down mortgage rates, conditions are becoming increasingly favorable for buyers.
To attract new homeowners, developers are simplifying and making homeownership more accessible with:
n Discounts on total contract prices: Developers are offering significant price reductions to cash buyers, with discounts reaching up to 30 percent.
n Incentives and added benefits: To attract buyers, some developers offer special discounts for specific groups like first-time buyers and OFWs, along with exclusive perks such as partner discounts or upgrades on the amenities.
to safeguard lives and property.”
Fire insurance
FIRE prevention starts with awareness, but true preparedness means having a safety net when the unexpected happens. While we take precautions to avoid fires, accidents can still happen—often when we least expect them.
Unfortunately, incidents can still occur, and they can strip your family of your hard-earned assets and savings. Contrary to popular belief, insurance doesn’t have to be costly—going without it is what can be truly expensive.
Meijhen Maulanin, Brand Manager of Palawan Group of Companies’ microinsurance arm, ProtekTODO, emphasized: “Insurance, in general, is often underrated in
our country. While some people recognize its value, many still overlook certain types of coverage. Most individuals tend to focus on health, life, and personal accident insurance, but they may be missing out on the crucial protection that fire cash assistance offers.”
Although less common, Maulanin said this type of coverage provides invaluable peace of mind in the event of the unexpected. He said Fire Prevention Month should teach people how to prevent fires but also to be prepared in case they occur.
To tap the mass market, it introduced the Palawan ProtekTODO Fire 99. It provides up to P30,000 in fire cash assistance and an accidental death benefit of up to P10,000.
n Extended down payment terms: Flexible payment plans are being offered, extending down payment periods up to 48 months to make ownership more accessible. These offers make condo ownership more affordable and practical, giving buyers the chance to own a home and build equity instead of spending on rent. With properties in prime locations, owners can spend less time in traffic and save on transportation costs, making daily life more convenient and efficient. Furthermore, real estate often appreciates over time, giving owners the potential to earn from future sales or rental income.
Prospective homebuyers now have more opportunities to secure flexible financing options amid favorable market conditions. Those purchasing brand-new condominium units from accredited developers can take advantage
THE month of March could always be described as fiery March because of the high number of fires.
EVERY owner should follow the housing standards in electrical installation and construction to ensure a safe home.
HOMEOWNERS enjoy the outdoorcinema
B8 | Wednesday, March 19, 2025
mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph
Editor: Jun Lomibao
IOC puts boxing back on Olympic program
COSTA NAVARINO, Greece—Boxing is set to be on the program for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles after years of disputes over how the sport is run.
International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach said Monday the executive board he chairs approved including boxing on the 2028 program.
It still needs a full IOC Session of about 100 members to sign off on the decision later this week, but that is usually a formality.
The IOC organized the boxing tournaments at the Tokyo Olympics held in 2021 and the Paris Summer Games last year after relations with the Russian-led International Boxing Association (IBA) broke down, but said it needed a new partner in time for 2028. L ast month, the IOC recognized a new governing body, World Boxing.
“I am very confident that the session will approve it so that all the boxers of the world then have certainty that they can participate in the Olympic Games LA 2028 if their national federation is recognized by World Boxing,” Bach said.
The IOC suspended the IBA in 2019 following long-running disputes over governance, its finances and the integrity of bouts and judging, and took the rare step of banishing it from the Olympic movement entirely in 2023, shortly after some IBA members broke away to form World Boxing.
Russian president Umar Kremlev have continued to feud with the IOC, particularly over the rules on eligibility for women’s boxing at the Paris Olympics.
T he IBA said last month it planned to file criminal complaints against the IOC in the United States, France and Switzerland.
World Boxing is expected to work on reviewing and updating rules on female eligibility that need to be in place before Olympic qualifying events start, likely next year.
“This is a very significant and important decision for
to the Olympic program,” World Boxing president Boris van der Vorst said in a statement Monday.
“I have no doubt it will be very positively received by everyone connected with boxing, at every level throughout the world, who understands the critical importance to the future of the sport of boxing continuing to remain a part of the Olympic movement.”
A merican and British boxing officials were among World Boxing’s founders in 2023, and the breakaway body has since added countries with key influence in Olympic circles, including India and, last week, China.
T he new boxing body now has a membership of more than 80 national federations though Russia, Spain and many African countries are among those which did not yet sign up.
The IOC indicated Monday that national boxing bodies would be given time to switch allegiance to World Boxing before qualification begins.
Russia’s responsibility
LIKE boxing’s IBA, the Russian Olympic Committee has been exiled by Bach and the IOC.
There seems to be no immediate way back right now from the suspension imposed in October 2023 for what was effectively a land grab of regional sports councils in eastern Ukraine.
CBy Josef Ramos
ALVIN OFTANA is hoping to regain his rhythm soon as TNT tries to get back on the driver’s seat of the Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup Finals against Barangay Ginebra.
T he series is tied at one game apiece, with Game 3 set 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City, and Oftana is determined to finally deliver after so-so performances in the title showdown.
The former San Beda gunner came up with only 10 points in Game 1 and five points in Game 2, but although he is raring to contribute more, he isn’t frustrated with his current numbers.
That’s fine with me. I will just let my game come,” Oftana told BusinessMirror on Tuesday.
“I do not want to rush things. If it does not come, I just play my best. But I will stay aggressive in both ends defensively and offensively.”
O ftana averaged 18 points in the elimination round and 16 points in the semifinals against Rain or Shine, which went five games. His scoring average dipped partly because of Ginebra’s defense.
Justin Brownlee, meanwhile, is hoping to help Ginebra get a streak going and take control of the matchup.
The naturalized Filipino was pleased the Gin Kings were able to level the series, but noted there’s a lot to work on after Sunday’s 71-70 Game Two win.
“There’s still no satisfaction right now,” Brownlee, who erupted for 35 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in Game 2, said.
“I think we just have to stay hungry. We know how good they are because they beat us before.” Brownlee also isn’t worried about exhaustion as he expects a long series.
The ball is in the court of the Russian Olympic Committee,” Bach said Monday, though he added “on the working level the contacts have always been maintained.” AP
Southwoods Invitational draws record 800 players
GOLFERS at this year’s Southwoods Invitational are in for a spectacular week as two brand-new cars, a seven-night Alaska cruise and a suite of other incredible prizes await those who can ace their shots at Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club in Carmona, Cavite.
T he highly anticipated memberguest tournament kicks off Wednesday and boasts a record-breaking 400 teams and 800 players, ensuring a dynamic mix of intense competition and high-class social engagement. This year’s most coveted prizes include Mitsubishi XForce GLS 1.6G 2WD CVT and Toyota Raize 1.2M/T— luxury rides waiting for those who hit a hole-in-one, along with a seven-night Alaska cruise aboard the Serenade of the Seas for two, including roundtrip flights (Manila-Vancouver-Manila), courtesy of RCI, an Ogawa Massage Chair for the ultimate relaxation, a three-night luxury stay at Hamp Court Palace, complete with roundtrip flights (Manila-TaipeiManila) from Klio International, and
Jovi
Neri writes from Cebu City
HERE is Cebu City’s Jovi Neri, the celebrated columnist of Inquirer Golf. Humbling.
“Since I grew up in Cebu during a time before live telecasts or cable TV, newspapers were my primary source for sports results. But it was Al S. Mendoza’s column that filled my appetite for reading beyond the recaps and box scores.
“P ublished regularly in what was the country’s top circulated broadsheet, his regular column ‘Spectator’ was a commentary on the relevant sporting events in the news. Written in simple and direct language, Mendoza’s insights put context and conveyed emotion to his subjects in a manner that was profound yet relatable.
“I would eagerly wait that extra day or two after a sporting news broke to read Mendoza’s takes. While beat articles informed me of the wins and losses, it was the ‘Spectator’ that made me feel the agony and ecstasy of that
or
an MF Electric Golf Cart. If no one scores an ace, the cars, Alaska cruise, Ogawa chair, Taiwan trip and MF Electric Golf Cart will be raffled off among the participants.
O ther sponsors—including Gamboa & Sons Inc., K&G Apparel and Tee One/ J-Ten Sports Inc.—also offer exciting prizes for aces on designated holes.
The competition will feature two exciting formats—Best Ball at the Masters course and Aggregate at the Legends course with all rounds following the Stableford Points System.
“But
was hampered by a swollen eye brought about by allergies, making it a struggle to adjust to
Bunt or strike? Bunt or strike?
Hard to say but both Ciarina Eder of De La Salle and catcher Ashlee Tuprio of Ateneo have their eyes on the ball in this University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 87 softball action that the Lady Archers dominated, 9-1, in four-and-a-half innings on Tuesday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium. The victory was De La Salle’s second straight for a 3-3 win-loss record record and seize solo third place behind Adamson University (4-0) and University of the Philippines (4-1), and ahead of University of Santo Tomas (2-4), with Ateneo out of the running at 0-6.
“Fatigue is just something I’m trying to not worry about. If I’m tired, I just have to push through it like everybody else on the team,” Brownlee said, who praised teammates Stephen Holt and Jamie Malonzo for helping limit TNT import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.
Tim Cone, the winningest coach in the PBA with 25 titles, believes Ginebra says not all games will be pretty and he doesn’t mind, noting that the series will feature tough defense which will result in tough scoring—Ginebra is shooting 33.3 percent and TNT 32.9 percent.
“It’s going to be a defensive series, and we know we’re going to win ugly. All our effort will come from our defense,” Cone said. “We have to keep showing that true grit and character in this series.” Two-time Best Import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson,
THE Gin Kings must watch out once Calvin
who played the full 48 minutes in both games, vowed to do better after a disappointing finish in Game Two when he could not put up a shot against Ginebra’s defense.
“I want to get better or grow from it. I will watch it many times. I am not afraid to see where I messed up, where I made a mistake,” Hollis-Jefferson said. He wound up with 25 points and 15 rebounds.
Junior golfers see action in high-stake duel at TCC
THE race for a coveted spot to the prestigious Junior World Championship in San Diego heats up as 77 of the country’s top young golfers prepare for a high-stakes threeday showdown at The Country Club (TCC) starting Wednesday in the City of Santa Rosa.
The USwing Mojing Junior World Qualifying event—a 54-hole elimination tournament—serves as more than just a qualifier but a stepping stone toward a promising golf future with college scouts closely monitoring performances in the Junior World.
“The Junior World is very important for me because it is a good tournament that makes jungolfers meet a lot of college coaches,” said Ally Gaccion,
Augusta National’s fast greens.
a standout player from Cagayan de Oro, now linked with the University of Central Arkansas women’s golf team. “That’s where I got most of the scholarships that offered me.” Gaccion leads the girls’ 15-18 category where she will go head-to-head with equally determined challengers Lia Duque, Montserrat Lapuz, Crista Miñoza, Rafa Anciano, Levonne Talion and Chloe Rada. Gaccion, who tees off in the last flight at 9:25 a.m. on No. 10 with Reese Ng and Anya Cedo, was among the four winners of last year’s Junior Philippine Golf Tour Match Play Finals, claiming top honors in the premier 15-18 division alongside boys’ champion Zach Villaroman, also at TCC. The two others were Precious Zaragosa and Ralph Batican, who will be spearheading the case in their respective age classes in the 13-15 bracket. The boys’ 15-18 division is no less intense and features a formidable field led by Villaroman, son of two-time Junior World winner Carito. Villaroman is set to clash with a starstudded lineup, including Tristan Padilla, Shinichi Suzuki, Luciano Copok, Alexis Nailga, Patrick Tambalque and Geoffrey Tan. Adding more firepower to the division are Emilio Hernandez, Alonso Espartero, Bryce Lacid, John Paul Agustin Jr., Santino Pineda and Cliff Nuñeza. Sanctioned for World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) points, this qualifier also serves as a key part of the JPGT’s 15-tournament calendar this year, with WAGR points up for grabs in every leg.
“Mendoza’s column put in context Miñoza’s performance while suggesting in the end that he found a silver lining. That column also gave me comfort in knowing that there was a deeper backstory to that Masters stint than just the missed cut as reported in the news.
“That particular piece and many more are collected in his book, Spectator Gems, edited by Joseph A. Dumuk and published by the UP Press last year. Covering 1986 to 2000, carefully curated pieces are presented by topic, making it a more organized read considering Mendoza’s subjects ran the gamut of anything and everything related to sports.
“I found familiar columns I read before as a kid: the full-circle moment of Sonny Jaworski and Mon Fernandez in the 1989 PBA All-Star Game up to the year-end awards night; the Game 7 winning shot by Rudy Distrito in the memorable Ginebra-Shell PBA Finals; and, that final 1991 SEA Games gold by Lydia De Vega in the later stages of her storied career.
One piece that was particularly moving upon re-reading it was about Gerard Cantada’s unfair exclusion from the national team.
Instead of complaining, Gerard continued his calling to develop junior golf talents while working on his own game. The Gerard I knew growing up, along with his dad, Boy, were always very kind to the junior golfers from the provinces. It was very sad to hear of his and his father’s recent passing just months apart.
“Then there was the 1999 piece where Mendoza wrote about
that Manny Pacquiao could ‘become another [Flash] Elorde—if not even better.’ Written right after Pacquiao’s 27th professional fight and long before his rise to superstardom, that column demonstrated Mendoza’s deep understanding of athletes with a keen eye on foretelling the future.
“The advent of the Internet represents today’s modern era of sports coverage. Instant website updates have relegated the need for newspaper recaps and box scores. Commentary and discussion immediately scatter around social media pages and channels from armchair
that took the 13-year-old me to a journey with Frankie Miñoza playing The Masters.” You are too kind, Jovi. Thank you very much from the bottom of my heart.
THAT’S IT The book, sold at Shopee, Lazada and UP Press,
THE inclusion of boxing in the Los Angeles 2028 program still needs a full International Olympic Committee Session of about 100 members to sign off on the decision later this week, but that is usually a formality. AP
Oftana gets his rhythm going.
ALLY GACCION leads the girls’ 15 to 18 years old category while Ralph Batican is one of the favorites in the boys’ 13-15 category.
