THE tariff uncertainty should serve as a “wake- up call” for the Philippines’ lawmakers to prioritize beefing up the country’s export capability despite its status as the “most unsupported export” country in Asia, according to Philexport President Sergio R. Ortiz-Luis Jr.
“I would like to see what is happening in tariff as a wake-up call to our politicians, to our duly elected—that they have really, not abandoned, forgotten exports,” the Philexport chief said at a fo -
rum on Monday.
“With the most unsupported export industry in the whole of Asia, we don’t even have funds for export development and research and development. Our MSME sector, many of whom are exporters, are the most underbanked in Asia,” added Ortiz-Luis.
Comparing the funds allocated for small merchants with those of the Philippines’s neighbors, OrtizLuis said only $11.6 billion was allocated for Filipino MSMEs in lending.
Whereas, he said Thailand has a $190-billion funding. “The nearest to us is Indonesia with $17 bil-
lion.”
“And for export promotion, you know, it’s an embarrassment. There’s so many international shows that we should be joining. We are not because there’s no fund.”
The Philexport chief stressed anew that the umbrella organization of Philippine exporters has been asking for some funding for exports.
“What do we expect from DTI for instance to develop trade but there’s no budget. When we go there to the legislature to ask for budgets, they will ask us, where will you get it? And they will not
even entertain the issue of getting it partly from the giveaway money,” added Ortiz-Luis. The head of Philexport said this in the context of reallocating funds especially from conditional cash transfer (CCT) program.
Earlier this year, Ortiz-Luis had set a $110-billion “realistic” target for export of goods and services.
“This year, it’s only about $110 billion...We’re not seeing any support, so I think we’re just leaving it to chance,” the Philexport chief told this paper in January.
“So we shouldn’t be surprised that our neighbors are now leaving us behind,” he also noted.
GOVT BUDGET DEFICIT
WIDENS IN JAN-APRIL
By Reine Juvierre S. Alberto
months of the year despite posting a bigger surplus in April, as the surge in government spending outpaced revenue growth.
By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario
ILIPINO small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are facing a $221-billion funding gap that prevents them from contributing more to the economy and creating more jobs, according to Visa.
In a briefing on Tuesday, Visa Head of Commercial Money Movement, Regional Southeast Asia Gareth Parrington said the funding gap globally for SMEs is estimated at $5.2 trillion and of this amount, $2.4 trillion is accounted for by the Asia-Pacific region.
Parrington said the Philippines accounts for 10 percent of the regional funding gap and
this is considered one of the highest in the region. This, he said, is disproportionate to the economy considering that SMEs account for 99 percent of all businesses in the country.
“It’s around 10 percent [of the regional gap]. So it’s actually one of the largest funding gaps that we see by proportion across Asia-Pacific. I think it’s the second largest according to the data that we see. So it is disproportionate in this economy,” Parrington said. In a statement, Visa said the only SME funding available in the Philippines is $15 billion.
Parrington noted that the challenges faced by Filipino SMEs include lack of capital. The
By Justine Xyrah Garcia
AMID mounting concerns over heavier traffic once the P8.7-billion Edsa rehabilitation project starts next month, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) clarified on Tuesday that there will be no mandatory work-from-home (WFH) policy for private sector workers.
In a radio interview, Labor Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma said employers will not be required to implement alternative work arrangements, but he urged them to make adjustments that could ease the burden on their employees.
“We will not compel them, but we strongly encourage them,” Laguesma said.
“There’s a need to improve or
strengthen the system [on WFH] so that the outcome is mutually beneficial, both for our workers and the business sector,” he added. Laguesma explained that under Republic Act No. 11165 or the Telecommuting Act, remote work remains a voluntary arrangement subject to the agreement of both employer and employee. Under the law, private companies may offer telecommuting options, provided these comply with minimum labor standards, including compensable hours, overtime, rest days, and leave entitlements. Employers must also issue written terms for such arrangements. Although RA 11165 does not allow the government to mandate a WFH setup, Laguesma appealed to companies to consider flexible
it. What you can get… sectoral, negotiate, I buy your cotton, buy me a knit somewhere else…,” should get priority, said Jocson-Agoncillo.
The local garments industry hit over $1.8 billion in export revenues in 2024 from apparel, shoes and bags.
Jocson-Agoncillo said 65 percent of Conwep’s exports go to the United States.
Owing to the US Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), the Conwep official said the industry got a GSP preference for travel goods which helped the industry generate around $400 million in export revenues through the years.
The US GSP, however, is currently under review after it expired in December 31, 2020.
Trade Undersecretary Allan B. Gepty earlier told this paper: “We are also advocating reauthorization of US GSP. Right now [most-favored nation] MFN rates apply to our exports to the US.” With this, the local textile and garment industry, which previously enjoyed duty-free status for many products, faces standard tariffs.
According to the DTI’s FTA integrated platform, “This could lead to reduced demand from US buyers unless exporters can justify their higher prices through branding or product differentiation.” (See related story: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2025/05/26/ survival-of-phl-garments-sector-rests-on-slapping-of-highertariffs-for-asean-rivals/)
Andrea E. San Juan
NEA sues 2 electric co-ops’ execs over retirement funds
By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573
THENational Electrification Administration (NEA) on Tuesday filed separate syndicated estafa and qualified theft charges before the Department of Justice (DOJ) against former and current executives of two electric cooperatives (ECs) for the alleged embezzlement of several millions of employees’ retirement funds.
At a press briefing, NEA Administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda identified the two ECs subject of the complaints as Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative, Inc. (INEC) and First Bukidnon Electric Cooperative, Inc. (FIBECO).
Almeda said officials of another EC are also under investigation for similar anomalies and will likely be charged in the coming days before the Justice department. The complaints against officials of
cated estafa case which involves the embezzlement of P118 million of the cooperatives’ Employees Retirement Fund.
INEC and FIBECO were filed through the assistance of the National Bureau of Investigation, which helped in the case build-up against those involved in the misappropriation of INEC and FIBECO’s funds.
“That is the retirement fund of the employees, the general fund for the retirement of the employees,” Almeda pointed out.
Almeda said six former general and department managers of INEC were named as respondents in the syndi-
In FIBECO’s case, Almeda said its former general manager was charged with qualified theft for alleged misappropriation of the cooperative’s fund amounting to at least P20 million.
The cases stemmed, according to Almeda, from the “mother of all retirement fund scams” that happened last year involving an employee of an EC in Central Luzon who embezzled P150 million of the cooperative’s retirement fund.
“It prompted the NEA, my office, to sound off all the electric cooperatives to check on the retirement funds of their own electric cooperative and it turned out that Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative does have an anomaly like that,” Almeda said.
“From there we were able to build a case and now we have a
Govt…
ago.
About 94 percent of revenues came from taxes, which increased by 11.49 percent year-on-year to P1.429 trillion from the previous year’s P1.282 trillion.
Broken down, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) collected P1.110 trillion as of end-April, 14.50 percent higher than the P970 billion generated a year ago.
In April, the BIR posted an 11.1-percent increase in tax collections, reaching P420.5 billion, driven by the annual corporate tax filing, as well as enhanced digital services and anti-illicit trade efforts.
The Bureau of Customs (BOC), meanwhile, raised P306.1 billion, up by 2.16 percent from P299.6 billion in end-April last year. However, collections in April declined by 7.48 percent to P74.7 billion, due to the impact of lower import volumes amid the global trade challenges.
Additionally, non-tax revenues contributed P90.7 billion as of end-April, down by 51.94 percent from P188.8 billion. This also dropped by 68.08 percent to P24.1 billion in April alone, as most state-run firms have yet to remit dividends.
Govt spending MEANWHILE , expenditures jumped by 13.57 percent to P1.931 trillion in the first four months of 2025, from P1.700 tril-
criminal complaint,” he added.
Lawyer Bethyl Joy Porras of the NBI said the investigation on INEC started following the mass retirement of its employees last June 2023 due to reforms on retirement benefits initiated by its former manager.
Porras noted that INEC’s retirement benefits fund was higher than other ECs which caused the mass retirement.
“After the mass retirement it was found that there is no sufficient fund to cover the retirement benefits of all 97 employees, so NEA conducted an audit of the retirement funds and it found out that there are missing funds because the retirement committee actually released loans above the employee salary rates without the approval of the board as well as NEA,” Porras explained.
“So that’s the reason why we conducted the investigation,” she added.
lion in the same period a year ago. In April 2025, expenditures declined by 8.03 percent to P454.8 billion from P494.5 billion last year, on the back of lower interest payments and subsidies to government corporations.
Interest payments dropped by 31.19 percent year-on-year to P46.4 billion from P67.5 billion. Primary expenditures also went down by 4.37 percent to P408.3 billion from the previous year’s P427 billion.
As of end-April, interest payments rose by 10.35 percent to P287.4 billion from P260.5 billion last year. Primary expenditures also saw a 14.16-percent expansion, reaching P1.644 trillion from P1.440 trillion a year ago.
Economists from De La Salle University (DLSU) said that while government spending may pumpprime the economy, this should not get derailed by objectives, such as the need to consolidate the budget.
“With or without the tariff war, the Philippines needs much more government spending to provide all the public services the country needs,” they said in DLSU’s latest report on the Philippine economy.
As for public spending leaning towards public infrastructure, the economists said “this is not the one-all and be-all solution that the country needs in order to achieve sustained economic prosperity in the long haul,” they said.
“Unless the economy’s potential growth increases as a result of economic transformation, actual growth will not increase and be sustained,” they added.
Prescriptions
“WHILE the P1.52 trillion in revenues is a positive sign, it may not be sufficient to fully support ambitious spending plans,” Rivera said.
This, unless the revenue mobilization is further strengthened through better tax administration, new tax
marketing budget. “We can’t compete globally if we’re invisible—especially when neighboring countries are investing heavily in promotion.” Last year, DOT’s marketing budget was reduced by P1 billion to just P200 million.
However, President Marcos Jr. restored the original P500-million marketing budget of the DOT this year, while a P40-million subsidy was given to DOT’s marketing arm, the Tourism Promotions Board, on top of the latter’s P1.32-billion allocation under the Tourism Promotions Fund. (See, “BBM credits Yulo, Vasquez with boosting PHL image,” in the BusinessMirror, January 16, 2025.)
“There’s also a need to move beyond traditional markets. By developing ties with countries like Australia, Canada, India, and our regional neighbors—and by creating tailored offers for digital nomads and niche travelers—we open the door to a more diverse and resilient tourism base. This also includes supporting the DOT’s focus areas like dive tourism, culinary and heritage experiences, and senior-friendly travel,” Atondo added.
Visitor experience must likewise be improved by “strengthening safety, transport, and tourism infrastructure, particularly in our top destinations,” he said. “Local government units and stakeholders need to work hand in hand to ensure these places are not only beautiful, but safe, accessible, and welcoming.”
measures or improved economic activity.
“Sustaining the deficit at this pace could also raise concerns over fiscal sustainability and credit outlook,” he added.
Michael L. Ricafort, chief economist at Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC), echoed the call for implementing revenue-enhancing as well as costcutting measures.
“Additional tax revenue collections based on existing tax laws or through new tax reform measures and even higher tax rates would be needed, especially if inflation becomes more benign and better controlled, since higher taxes could add to inflationary pressures,” Ricafort said.
The RCBC economist said that rightsizing the bureaucracy, increasing government corporations’ dividend remittances and leveraging digital tax reforms would boost structural revenues, narrow the budget deficit and curb additional need for debt. Ricafort added that the new 12 percent value-added tax on foreign digital services and the 1-percent withholding tax on online merchants will improve the country’s overall fiscal performance.
Meanwhile, Jonathan Ravelas, senior adviser at Reyes Tacandong & Co., said introducing new taxes while the Philippine economy is still trying to recover from the pandemic may be “inappropriate.”
“Government asset sales and tax efficiency measures should be utilized first before new taxes. But I am open to further increasing the rate of sin taxes,” Ravelas said. The Cabinet-level Development Budget Coordination Committee had projected that revenue collection could reach P4.644 trillion this year,
PNA
Marcos: Freedom of navigation at SCS, Arabian Sea crucial for international trade
By Samuel P. Medenilla
@sam_medenilla
RESIDENT Ferdinand Mar -
Pcos said maintaining free -
dom of navigation in the South China Sea (SCS) and Arabian Sea are crucial for regional and international trade.
The Chief Executive made the remark during the second Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean)-Gulf Cooperation Countries (GCC) Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Tuesday.
“The South China Sea and the Arabian Sea cover vital sea lanes that serve as lifelines to regional and international commerce both in our regions,” Marcos said.
Filipinos in New York set Independence Day event
By Troi Santos
NEW YORK—The Philippine Independence Day Council, Inc. (Pidci) will host the 127th Philippine Independence Day Anniversary Commemoration on Sunday, June 1, 2025 with a full day of festivities on Madison Avenue from 38th to 27th Streets, marking the 35th consecutive year of this deeply rooted cultural celebration in New York City. Themed “Embrace and Preserve Our Culture to Unite and Empower the Future,” the celebration honors Filipino heritage through a lively parade, street fair, cultural festival, and evening events attended by leaders, performers, and Filipino-American communities from across the region. With thousands of participants and spectators expected, the Pidci event remains the largest Philippine Independence Day parade and celebration held outside the Philippines. Leading the parade are 2025 Grand Marshals Angie CruzQuines and Emilio Quines, alongside Honorary Grand Marshals: Strike B. Revilla, Josie Neri Jampayas, and Ismael Jampayas. The leadership of 2025 Pidci President Arman David, along with the current Board: Lea Frain, Joyce Andes-David, Jovel Golingan, Nora Galleros, Antero Martinez, Manny Quintal, Aida Pantoja Tagle, Czar Lopez, Bong Echavez, MoppetMaria Villasin Nucum, Nongsky Aquino, Sol Kapunan, Teodora Koltsidis, Betty Corrales, Arnel Piamonte, Paul M. Verzosa, Rico Viray, Randel Maglantay and Janeth Blake has been instrumental in continuing this decades-long tradition that brings together generations of Filipino Americans.
The event begins at 8:00 a.m. with a flag raising ceremony and mass at the Philippine Center, followed by the Parade Opening Ceremony at 11:45 a.m. and the full-scale parade at 12:00 noon. A street fair and cultural festival will continue into the afternoon, running until 6:00 p.m., while the Independence Ball takes place on June 7, 2025, in Queens.
This year’s celebration features a stellar roster of special guests. Sofronio Vasquez, winner of The Voice Season 26, brings a historic presence as the first Filipino to win a major US singing competition. Martin Nievera, the Philippines’ beloved “Concert King,” brings his decades of music and storytelling to the stage. BINI, the breakout P-Pop girl group, and international vocal powerhouse 4th Impact will electrify the crowd with high-energy performances. Adding pageant royalty to the mix is Marizza Delgado, recently crowned Miss New York USA 2024. A Filipino-American advocate for women in STEM, Delgado is the first Filipina to win the title. Representing the sporting world, the
“As such, it is necessary to provide the freedom of navigation, to guarantee unimpeded commerce, and to protect the marine environment through compliance with established international law, specifically UNCLOS [United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea],” he added. He made the appeal as China continues to encroach and claim parts of the West Philippines Sea (WPS), areas of the SCS within the Philippines Exclusive Economic Zone, including maritime features around Pag-asa Island. The most recent of the said incidents of aggression from the
Chinese Coast Guard was when it fired water cannon against a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources research vessel on May 21.
China continues to claim the whole of the SCS despite the 2016 international arbitral court ruling, which voided it.
Marcos has reiterated his call for the expedited adoption of the SCS Code of Conduct (COC) between Asean and China to peacefully resolve any maritime issues in the SCS. The Palace hopes the COC will be adopted by next year once the Philippines host the ASEAN Summit.
Meanwhile, the Indian Coast Guard is currently trying to contain
the spread of hazardous materials from a ship which sank in the Arabian Sea during the weekend.
Global issues
ASIDE from maintaining the freedom of navigation at crucial waterways, Marcos also raised other international conflicts like Israel’s ongoing military operations across the Gaza Strip, which have resulted in the continued rise of the death of civilians.
“The Philippines calls upon all parties to adhere to their obligations under international law, with particular emphasis on the protection of civilians, especially women and children, and the fa -
Senator seeks review of NGCP performance
TBy Lenie Lectura @llectura
HE vice chairman of the Senate Committee on En -
ergy wants the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to review the performance of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP).
“I urge the DOE and ERC to start the comprehensive review of NGCP’s performance. Public interest depends on this, including the availability of sufficient and cheap electricity,” said Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian.
The review will help determine if NGCP’s franchise should
be extended, added the senator.
“Any extension of the NGCP’s concession agreement should not be off the cuff and automatic. Instead, it should be anchored on a comprehensive and independent evaluation of the agency’s performance, including compliance with legal and regulatory requirements and contributions to energy goals.”
DOE, ERC and the NGCP did not comment.
Gatchalian also said the transmission grid has to be built out in a timely manner in accordance with broader energy targets.
NGCP has said over P600 billion is being set aside for the
development of more than 100 capital expenditure transmission projects in the pipeline.
NGCP’s franchise is valid until 2033. The company is in charge of operating, maintaining, and developing the country’s stateowned power grid, an interconnected system that transmits gigawatts of power at thousands of volts from where it is made to where it is needed.
Monte Oro Grid Resources Corporation and Calaca High Power Corporation each hold 30 percent of the outstanding capital stock of NGCP, whereas the State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC) holds a minority share of 40 percent.
‘MRT7 operation to ease impact of Edsa repairs’
By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM
WHILE government agen -
cies have listed measures to ease the impact on daily traffic flow in Metro Manila of Epifanio delos Santos Avenue’s impending rehabilitation, Sen. Grace Poe has cited another possible means for improving the lot of Edsa’s daily commuters.
On Tuesday, Poe urged the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to ramp up the completion of the MRT-7 to improve connectivity and ease the public’s commuting woes.
With the scheduled Edsa repair and the heavy traffic it will bring, Poe said the timely completion of the railway project will provide an additional mass transportation option to the people.
By Justine Xyrah Garcia
HE Commission on Elec -
Ttions (Comelec) on Tuesday reminded all candidates that exceeding the campaign spending limit set by law could lead to criminal charges and perpetual disqualification from holding public office.
Comelec Spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said the poll body has already filed thousands of cases before regional trial courts involving violations of campaign expenditure rules.
“Overspending is an election offense. Let us remember, this is a criminal case—it carries one to six years of imprisonment, forfeiture of the right to suffrage, and more seriously, perpetual disqualification to hold public office,” Laudiangco reminded candidates.
Under Section 13 of Republic
Motorists will also have an alternative ride to their destination instead of bringing their cars, thus reducing vehicles on the road.
“Everyone in Metro Manila is waiting to get on board. We hope the MRT-7 project will soon be a reality,” Poe, chairperson of Senate Committee on Finance, said.
The big-ticket rail project promises a 35-minute travel time from North Avenue in Quezon City to San Jose del Monte City in Bulacan and will have 14 stations.
Poe noted that MRT-7 is targeted to be fully operational by 2026.
Poe said the train system will spare commuters from the daily Commonwealth Avenue crawl and will make travel time faster and comfortable.
“Sabi nga ng meme tungkol sa ating trains sa Facebook, ‘Papasok
Act 7166, candidates from political parties may spend up to P3 per registered voter in the area where they are running.
Independent candidates and political parties, meanwhile, are allowed up to P5 per voter.
Spending limits vary for local candidates depending on the number of registered voters in their jurisdiction.
Laudiangco also reminded candidates that all campaign expenses must be reported in their Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (Soce), which must be filed within 30 days after election day or on June 11.
The submission requirement applies to all candidates and partylist groups, regardless of election outcome.
“But just a reminder, if you fail to submit your Soce—especially for winning candidates—you will not be able to assume office until
cilitation of humanitarian assistance to all those who are in need,” Marcos said.
He also called for an international response to climate change, which he said is significant to Asean and GCC since many of their members are vulnerable to its effects, particularly sea level rise, rising temperatures, desertification, and loss of biodiversity, among others.
The President urged members of both regional blocs to contribute to the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD), which is currently being hosted by the Philippines, to provide financial aid to countries, which were affected by climate change.
China
Coast
“The Philippines’ hosting of the FRLD will accelerate the unhindered access of developing nations to climate finance, which shall aid in the development and implementation of transformative and science-based strategies and initiatives for climate change adaptation, mitigation, and disaster risk management, towards ensuring sustainable and inclusive growth for all,” Marcos said. Before he ended his intervention, he also urged members of the regional bloc to support the Philippines’ candidacy to the United Nations Security Council for the term 2027–2028.
Guard
ships
shadow
‘Atin Ito’ mission to Pag-asa–PN
By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie & Rex Anthony Naval
TWO China Coast Guard (CCG) on Tuesday were reported shadowing the “Atin Ito” civilian mission which is headed for Pag-asa Island, a ranking Navy (PN) officer said on Tuesday.
Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad, PN spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS), said latest reports from the group indicated that they are now being followed by the Chinese ships.
The “Atin Ito” civilian mission left El Nido, Palawan early morning Tuesday and is expected to reach Pag-asa by Wednesday.
“The last report from the group was that they were being tailed by two CCG vessels,” Trinidad said.
The group utilized the M/V Kapitan Felix Oca, a training ship for this trip.
kang estudyante, lalabas kang mandirigma.’ Sana may katapusan naman ang paghihirap ng ating mga commuter,” she said.
Moreover, she recalled that in 2014, she took a ride at the MRT3 during rush hour at the North Avenue Station to see the passengers’ daily ordeal ahead of a Senate inquiry on MRT-3 incidents.
She joined the long queue, experienced machine malfunction and took an hour and a half to get to the Taft Station in Pasay City.
Poe later on became chairperson of the Senate Committee on Public Services that held numerous legislative inquiries on the country’s train systems, pushing for better facilities, operations and maintenance, and scrutinizing contracts with private take over providers.
you have filed it,” the Comelec spokesperson said.
Under the law, first-time nonfilers may be fined between P1,000 to P30,000.
Late submissions will still be considered as non-filing.
Offenders have 30 days from receipt of notice to settle the fine or face enforcement through a writ of execution against their assets.
“If this is your second time not filing a Soce, the law says you will be subjected to administrative cancellation. You will also face perpetual disqualification,” Laudiangco added.
Repeat violations are subject to higher fines, from P2,000 to P60,000, on top of perpetual disqualification from holding public office.
Comelec noted that only a few candidates have submitted their Soces so far, with most expected to file near the deadline next month.
“Atin Ito” earlier said that CCG vessel with bow number 3306 and CCG 21549 followed the M/V Kapitan Felix Oca approximately 54 nautical miles from El Nido, Palawan.
Trinidad also said the PN, along with the Armed Forces (AFP), and other government maritime agencies is ready to support the group if needed.
“We would like to encourage other civic society groups to show their support to the government’s stand in the WPS by conducting similar activities that would send a message to our internal audience and even the international community,” he added.
Also, Trinidad said there is still no significant increase of Chinese vessels in the vicinity of Pag-asa Island.
“There has been no significant increase...[There is a presence] but no significant increase in the numbers,” he added.
Solon hits shadowing
Akbayan Rep. Perci Cendaña said the incident occurred around 8:00 a.m. Tuesday, approximately 54 nautical miles off the coast of El Nido, Palawan—alarmingly close to Philippine shores. Citing reports, the lawmaker said CCG 3306 was just three nautical miles away from the Filipino vessel, while CCG 21549 was five nautical miles away. Both Philippine and Chinese vessels issued radio challenges during the encounter.
“What is China so afraid of—a peace concert? And why are they operating within our exclusive economic zone?” Cendaña said. “We extended an invitation to China, through their embassy, to join this sea-based peace concert. They did not respond—yet now they act like uninvited gatecrashers in our own EEZ.” Cendaña denounced the maneuver as a clear act of intimidation against Filipino civilians and artists peacefully asserting the country’s sovereign rights.
“This is a blatant act of bullying against Filipino civilians and artists asserting our sovereign rights through peaceful means. That this shadowing happened so near El Nido is unacceptable,” Cendaña added. He reaffirmed Akbayan’s full support for Atin Ito’s third civilian mission, which seeks to assert Philippine sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea through non-military, cultural expressions.
“The Sea Concert for Peace is a powerful symbol of unity and courage. While China wields coercion, we respond with music and solidarity. While they sow fear, we sing for freedom. The West Philippine Sea belongs to the Filipino people—not to a foreign bully,” Cendaña said.
A PARTY-LIST lawmaker on Tuesday strongly condemned the shadowing of the “Atin Ito” civilian vessel by two China Coast Guard (CCG) ships—CCG 3306 and CCG 21549—while en route to Pag-asa Island for the first-ever “Sea Concert for Peace and Solidarity” at the West Philippine Sea.
House appoints spokesperson
THE House of Representatives has appointed lawyer Priscilla Marie T. Abante as its official spokesperson, a major move in its institutional campaign to fight disinformation and enhance public communication.
The appointment, signed by House Secretary General Reginald Velasco, forms part of the continuing efforts by the Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez to promote transparency and ensure accurate, timely dissemination of legislative priorities, investigations, and national policies. Abante is the daughter of Manila Rep. Bienvenido “Benny” Abante, chairman of the House Committee on Human Rights. Abante will lead the House’s official engagement with the press and the public—delivering statements, clarifying legislative intent, and helping make
congressional initiatives more accessible and understandable to ordinary Filipinos.
“The House cannot afford to be silent while lies travel faster than truth. We will speak with clarity, we will speak with purpose, and we will speak without hesitation,” Abante said. She clarified that her communications scope will cover the remainder of the 19th Congress and the incoming 20th Congress. However, she will not serve as the spokesperson for the House impeachment prosecution team.
“We are entering a time when public trust is no longer given. It must be earned daily, through facts and through honesty. That is what this role demands, and that is what intend to uphold,” she said.
A4
Wednesday, May 28, 2025
DOE assures continuous supply of fuel to Samar
By Lenie Lectura @llectura
THE Department of Energy (DOE) on Tuesday assured uninterrupted supply of petroleum products, including liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), to the Island of Samar.
In light of the new weight restriction on vehicles crossing the San Juanico Bridge, the DOE coordinated with both government and industry stakeholders to implement alternative solutions that address logistical challenges in fuel deliveries to the Island. There is now a three-metric ton weight limit on vehicles crossing the bridge. The standard fuel tank-
ers typically weigh between 19 to 20 metric tons for a 10,000-liter load.
The National Disaster Risk reduction and Management Council (NDRMMC), according to the DOE, approved to prioritize oil tankers in the roll-on/roll-off (Roro) vessel loading queues. Additionally, Transportation Secretary Vivencio Dizon has assured
the DOE that the Roro port in Basey, Samar will be made ready to accommodate fuel shipments, further supporting this critical logistical shift.
To operationalize this priority loading, the DOE, in close coordination with the Petroleum Institute of the Philippines (PIP), will provide the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and Region VIII with a list of fuel tanker trucks targeted to be transported on May 29 from the Port of Ormoc to the Ports of Maginoo and Calbayog in Samar.
The DOE also acknowledged the support of Insular Oil Corporation, which operates a fuel storage depot in San Isidro, Northern Samar. The company has agreed to accommodate petroleum deliveries from both major oil companies and independent players, providing an additional layer of supply resilience for the region.
“The DOE remains committed to safeguard the energy security of Samar and its people. By working hand-in-hand with government agencies and oil industry partners, we are confident in our shared ability to rise above these challenges with unity, urgency, and purpose,” Energy Secretary Raphael P.M. Lotilla said.
Current estimates show that most gasoline stations in Samar maintain a maximum storage capacity of up to two weeks, necessitating regular replenishment every seven to 14 days.
The DOE said it will continue convening meetings with concerned government agencies, downstream oil industry stakeholders, and private sector partners to optimize fuel logistics, enhancing port infrastructure, and establishing coordinated delivery schedules to maintain stable and secure fuel supply chains.
Aliling: ‘Business as usual’ at DHSUD
By Bless Aubrey Ogerio
THERE will be no disrup -
tions, only upgrades—this was the message of newly appointed Housing Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling as he formally took the helm of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) during a turnover ceremony on Monday.
Aliling, a construction industry veteran and chief executive officer of Jose Aliling Construction Management Inc., pledged continuity of the department’s flagship programs, “with enhancements,” to meet evolving demands.
“I missed DHSUD…I’m back,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino, who previously served as an undersecretary at the department.
The Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino (4PH) program, he said, will remain a top priority, but with a broader scope and fresh strategies.
“4PH will now include horizontal developments. We will prioritize the preparation of the 4PH Guidelines for Horizontal Developments,” he said. “We will prioritize the release of the IRR [implementing rules] for Horizontal Developments.”
Earlier this year, DHSUD admitted that the rollout of 4PH had been delayed by at least two years owing to the transition from traditional horizontal housing to vertical or condominium-style projects, as well as bureaucratic bottlenecks in paperwork submission.
Thus, fewer than a hundred housing projects are currently in development, with thousands of applications being processed under the program. Additionally, Aliling committed to make DHSUD fully digital before the end of President Marcos’ term in 2028.
Among the department’s digital initiatives is the 4PH website launched in February, which serves as a one-stop hub for project updates, application procedures, policies and interactive tools.
He also called for unity among key shelter agencies and expressed openness to feedback from private developers and consumers alike. Moreover, he said DHSUD would also work more closely with homeowners
associations, promising to help resolve conflicts before they reach the courts.
“We will make DHSUD the most transparent and efficient department in government,” he vowed in Filipino. “There will be zero tolerance for corruption.”
“To those saying there’s no hope for DHSUD, I say: Rhe fight isn’t over,” Aliling declared. “We’re only in the second half (2025 to 2028). DHSUD will catch up.”
Based on the government data in 2019, the country has around 3.75 million squatter families, with a housing backlog of 6.5 million units.
Aliling replaced Jose Rizalino Acuzar, who was appointed Presidential Adviser for Pasig River Rehabilitation.
SBy Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie
INGAPORE-HEADQUARTERED green energy firm Nexif Ratch Energy (NRE) is investing $1.5 billion to build a 500-megawatt (MW) offshore wind (OSW) project in San Miguel Bay (SMB), Camarines Sur, reinforcing the province’s growing reputation as the renewable energy (RE) capital of the Philippines, a senior lawmaker said on Tuesday.
Outgoing Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte announced that this wind farm will be one of the country’s first OSW ventures designed to deliver clean power. It joins a pipeline of 17 green energy projects in the province, including a $3-billion OSW project by Copenhagen Infrastructure New Market Fund Philippines Corp. (CINMF), also in SMB.
Headquartered in Singapore and with regional offices in Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines, NRE is 51 percent owned by the Nexif Energy of Singapore and 49 percent by the RATCH Group of Thailand.
“Soon, CamSur will be the renewable energy capital of the Philippines,” Villafuerte, the province’s incoming governor, said.
“These green investments of billions of dollars in our province will surely generate green jobs, opportunities, and revenues,” he said, “and at the same time support the Marcos administration’s commitment to fast-track projects meant for the Philippines to meet its bold target to raise the share of renewables in the country’s energy mix from the current 22 percent to 35 percent by 2030 and an even higher 50 percent by 2040.
NRE is set to join the DOE’s Green Energy Auction 5 (GEA-5), which is exclusively focused on offshore wind. This event follows previous rounds under the DOE’s Green
THE Department of Agriculture (DA) will receive a $16 million grant from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (Koica) to advance local aquaculture development and community-based agribusiness.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. and Koica Country Director Jung Youngsun signed the Records of Discussions (RDs) to bankroll two separate grant assistance projects.
Continued from A3
Abante sees the role as an opportunity to lead a broader dialogue between the House and the public.
She previously served three terms as a councilor in Manila and most recently headed the Manila Public Information Office. She also held the roles of spokesperson and communications head under the Office of the Mayor.
She earned her Bachelor of Arts major in Journalism and Bachelor of Laws degrees from the University of Santo Tomas and served as Commissioner-at-Large at the National Youth Commission from 2005 to 2009. She later joined the Ponce Enrile Reyes & Manalastas Law Firm, where she handled high-profile civil cases and handled criminal litigation. Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz
‘No clearance before job offer’
AN incoming lawmaker announced on Monday that he will file the proposed “No Clearance Before Job Offer Act” to remove the burden on jobseekers of securing government clearances—such as National Bureau of Investigation or police certifications—before receiving a formal job offer.
Albay Rep.-elect Adrian Salceda said the measure, when enacted into law, is projected to benefit an estimated 185,000 to 220,000 additional job seekers annually.
“Requiring NBI or police clearance before any offer is even made
forces the poor to pay for suspicion,” Salceda said. “And it wastes everyone’s time—including the NBI and the police. Their limited personnel and logistics are better used solving real crimes, not screening innocent job applicants by the millions.”
The measure will prohibit both public and private employers from requiring police, NBI, or other criminal background checks before making a formal job offer. Once hired, employers may require only one such clearance—streamlining the current practice where jobseekers are often required to submit multiple documents such as police, NBI, barangay, and court clearances.
“If you’re jobless and broke, or newly graduated, every peso counts. Requiring P100 to P500 worth of clearances repeatedly before giving you a shot is unjust and inefficient,” he said.
Violations of the proposed law would be determined by the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole), with penalties escalating to as much as P100,000 in fines and potential suspension of hiring licenses or business permits for repeat offenders.
Salceda highlighted the potential economic benefits of the bill, saying it could reduce labor market friction, increase productivity, and make government operations
CamSur site of $1.5 billion offshore wind power project
Energy Auction Program (GEAP) aimed at scaling up RE deployment. This SMB project covers 6,237 hectares of nearshore area. It is NRE’s second investment in CamSur, following the 74-MW Calabanga Solar Power Project. Villafuerte had previously emphasized that the Philippines should take advantage of its growing prominence among global emerging markets to attract substantial overseas financing for wind farms and other renewable power projects.
He commented that the government should “exert its best effort in seeking more RE investments overseas from clean energy champions such as Denmark.” This call comes in light of commitments made at the 29th annual COP (Conference of Parties) summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, where wealthy economies pledged only $300 billion—less than a quarter of the $1.3 trillion in annual climate financing sought by disasterprone economies like the Philippines. Furthermore, affluent member states of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) committed to tripling this annual climate financing target from the current $100 billion to $300 billion by 2035 at COP29 in December. With seemingly insufficient local funds for RE projects, Villafuerte saidd, “The government can hope to achieve our country’s ambitious decarbonization goal only by getting ample funding from overseas investors for more RE projects to seriously wean our country away from fossil fuel in the global transition to a lowcarbon, if not zero-carbon, carbon-neutral economy.”
Notably, the Philippines recently climbed two spots to No. 2 (after India) out of 110 emerging markets in the 13th annual Climatescope report, highlighting its increasing appeal for renewable energy investments.
in the region through the establishment of an Agribusiness Incubation Center in Zambales and the enhancement of the existing DA Technology Business Incubation facility in Tarlac.
www.businessmirror.com.ph House. . .
more efficient.
“Every redundant clearance is a delay in filling a job. It’s lost time, lost productivity, and lost income,” he said.
By eliminating upfront financial barriers, Salceda said the bill could encourage an estimated 185,000 to 220,000 additional jobseekers annually to enter or re-enter the labor market.
These include discouraged workers, first-time job applicants, and rural jobseekers who often forgo opportunities because they cannot afford repeated clearance fees ranging from P100 to P500.
Also, Salceda said productivity gains of P15 to P20 billion yearly could be realized through improved job-matching efficiency and reduced informal employment.
He added government resource reallocation could save over one million man-hours per year currently spent by the NBI and the police on employmentrelated clearance processing— time that could be better used for public safety and criminal investigations.
“This is pro-worker, progrowth, and pro-efficiency,” Salceda said. “We want an economy where the poor can apply for a job without having to prove they’re not criminals first.” Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz
The $10 million grant would fund the project aimed at helping local fishermen boost their income by enhancing aquaculture production and strengthening the value chain, which will run for seven years.
Under the “Capacity Building on Aquaculture Development for Income Increase of Fisherfolk in Guimaras Province, Philippines” project, the agencies would prop up the establishment of aquaculture infrastructures, such as a hatchery system and a pilot pond for high-value species.
This would also include transferring advanced aquaculture technologies through capacity-building programs and developing cooperatives’ business operation structures.
The remaining $6 million funding would diversify income sources and strengthen the agricultural activities of marginal farmers
Continued from A3
ALAS Pilipinas Men’s Volleyball Team joins the festivities, fresh off international competitions, bringing pride from the court to the community.
In a special street performance, El Gobernador Band of Bacoor, Cavite, one of the Philippines’ most iconic marching bands, will bring their signature brass brilliance to the streets of Manhattan. The parade also includes a wide array of local schools, cultural groups, and community organizations, each showcasing distinct regional dances, costumes, and traditions. The streets will be filled with floats, rhythmic drums, waving flags, and the joyful energy of
The “Development of Community-Based Agribusiness to Improve the Livelihood and Income of Marginal Farmers in Central Luzon” project would also conduct training sessions and other capacity-building initiatives, introduce agricultural interventions, and provide assistance in agribusiness activities. This is set to run for six years.
“Both projects highlight Koica’s unwavering support for enhancing the Philippine agricultural sector and improving the lives of Filipino farmers and fisherfolk.”
“The recent partnership also showcases DA’s relentless pursuit of agricultural development and modernization through collaborative engagements with local and international institutions towards the realization of a bankable agriculture industry and nationwide food security.” Koica previously provided $20.78 million worth of grants to the Philippine government, which includes three other projects on agri-mechanization development, smart agriculture, and dairy herd improvement currently being implemented by the DA. Ada Pelonia
Filipino pride in motion. Together, they reflect a story of heritage passed from one generation to the next, written in dance, music, and shared memory. The 2025 festivities are made possible by platinum sponsors TFC, MYX, ABS-CBN International, and Philippine Airlines, with additional support from Weee!, Western Union, Fritzie’s Bakeshop, PNB New York, and Galleros Robinson. As it has been for 35 years, Pidci’s annual celebration continues to serve as a symbol of community strength, cultural pride, and civic unity for Filipinos across the East Coast. With each passing year, it grows not only in scale but in its power to remind the world what it means to be proudly Filipino— wherever you are.
MMDA to conduct one-month dry run of odd-even scheme starting June 16 amid Edsa rebuild project
By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco @claudethmc3
THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Tuesday said that there will be one-month dry run for the scheduled implementation of the odd-even scheme on June 16 as the Edsa Rebuild Program starts.
On Monday the MMDA said that the dry run will only last for a week but was quick to clarify the next day that the dry run will now last for a month.
“Walang huhulihin sa loob ng isang buwan. Ang mga lalabag ay sisitahin lamang at padadalhan ng notice p ero hindi pa papatawan ng multa,” the MMDA said, noting that it is part of the agency’s information drive.
Under the odd-even scheme, vehicles with license plates ending in odd numbers (1,3,5,7,9) are not allowed to use Edsa during Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
Meanwhile, vehicles with license plates ending in even numbers (2,4,6,8,0) are prohibited to ply Edsa during Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
The MMDA Traffic Engineering Center, on the other hand said, the following vehicle categories are exempted from the odd-even scheme:
n Electric Vehicles (EVs), Plug-in Hybrids, and Hybrids that are recognized by the Department of Energy under the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act (EVIDA)
n Motorcycles and non-motorized vehicles
n Emergency vehicles, like ambulances, fire trucks, and police mobile units
working hours and to relax attendance policies, especially on tardiness, in anticipation of longer commutes.
“Based on my experience, our employers have always shown broad and open-minded perspectives...As long as operations aren’t disrupted, we shouldn’t let workers shoulder all the consequences,” the secretary said.
He added that should Malacañang issue an executive order directing alternative work schemes, DOLE will implement it accordingly.
“We will support and assist...DOLE always operates under the principles of tripartism and social dialogue. We strive to help workers and employers reach acceptable arrangements to avoid disruptions,” Laguesma said.
The government said the multibillionpeso Edsa rehabilitation project aims to improve pedestrian lanes as well as its flood management.
It is scheduled for completion in 2027.
Labor groups seek dialogue LABOR groups, meanwhile, believe DOLE should go beyond appeals and take the lead in organizing formal consultations.
Sentro Secretary-General Josua Mata
Visa study had 44 percent of SMEs saying their cash flow is a significant worry; 54 percent said their cash reserves would only last six months.
Apart from preventing them from growing, these challenges also make them prone to debt cycles. Parrington said since there is a lack of access to financing for SMEs, many are forced to turn to informal lending providers that charge them interest of upwards of 20 percent.
“So those five-six lenders you hear about, not only is that a burden, it can trap the SMEs in a debt cycle, which they find difficult to escape, there’s no consumer protection that’s offered around that, so what does that mean?” Parrington said.
“That means that the assets that you put up as part of your collateral can be removed and seized pretty quickly, and there can be a lot of harassment that takes place around that, so a small business owner that’s trapped in that potentially can’t focus on driving their business, operating effectively, concentrating on furthering that, so that’s the problem,” he added. Parrington added that the lack of collateral, limited credit history, and informal business practices prevent SMEs from
n Public Utility Vehicles, like city buses, jeepneys, and taxis
n Transport Network Vehicles (TNVs) that are operating under the accredited ride-hailing platforms
n Authorized marked government vehicles with official plates and used as essential services
Meanwhile, those vehicles that will cross Edsa through the intersection are exempted from the scheme.
The MMDA also clarified that the expanded number coding scheme shall still be implemented on other thoroughfares in Metro Manila.
The two-year Edsa Rebuild, part of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ‘s “Build Better More,” is a major infrastructure project envisioned as a long-term solution to the dilemma of pothole patching and damaged road pavements by using reinforced concrete to strengthen road integrity against high vehicular volume.
The concept of the Edsa rebuild is to change the pavement into a new sturdy one.
Preparatory works for the project will begin on June 13. Department of Public Works and Highways will employ several contractors all at the same time to hasten the project.
Repair and upgrade will be segmentized and will be done per lane with each portion expected to be completed every two months.
The road works will start on the bus lane or innermost lane in both directions until reaching the outer lanes. The stretch of Pasay to Shaw Boulevard, both Northbound and Southbound, will be prioritized.
warned that the impact of the project on workers, many of whom rely on Edsa for daily transport, could be significant.
“What’s needed now is a frank consultation between DOLE and workers, with all options on the table, leading to a comprehensive response,” Mata told BusinessMirror
He said solutions should not be limited to WFH or flexible hours, but must also include traffic management, improved public transport, and worker assistance programs.
For Federation of Free Workers (FFW) President Sonny Matula, the scale of the project calls for structured tripartite dialogue involving labor, employers, and government.
“Commuters are workers. Disruptions in mobility will directly affect jobs, income, and productivity,” Matula said.
“No matter how good a government or employer program is, if workers aren’t included in the decision-making, they won’t appreciate it and it could lead to misunderstanding,” he added.
Matula said that the FFW will also initiate bilateral talks with other labor and employer groups to recommend ways forward.
“A coordinated, inclusive approach can help craft mutually beneficial solutions—such as flexible work arrangements, transport assistance, or adjusted work hours—that cushion the blow on both ends,” he said.
participating in the formal financial system. This includes the problems of women entrepreneurs. Visa estimated that 38 percent of SMEs globally are run by women but they lack access to financial literacy and land property rights, preventing them from accessing financing.
Visa Philippines Country Manager Jeffrey Navarro said in the Philippines, this becomes a problem for women because of certain practices, traditions, and norms. He said it is common for bills to be placed under the name of patriarchs instead of matriarchs because of traditional gender norms. Navarro said credit card bills and similar household accounts are placed under the name of fathers because it is assumed that they are the primary breadwinner in the family.
“I think it’s not by design, but it could be some of the practices and tradition and norms that we might have. So for example, in the Philippines, it’s always known generally. For example, even in my family, most of the cars and everything else normally is under my name. So that builds my credit, admittedly that’s one,” Navarro said.
“The other one is there’s also the norm that theoretically, if you want to lend, you also look at the capacity to pay based on the economic productivity of a person. And in our culture, always, you know, there’s a certain bias that it’s really the men who also
Comelec says opposition letters on Duterte Youth party-list case won’t impact decision
By Justine Xyrah Garcia
HE Commission on Elections
T(Comelec) assured on Tuesday that letters from opposition groups will not influence the poll body’s decision on the pending petition to cancel the registration of the Duterte Youth party-list.
In an ambush interview, Comelec Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia said they are accepting the letters sent by Gabriela and Kabataan party-lists but emphasized that these will not affect the deliberations of the Comelec division handling the case.
“Technically, a letter should not influence or speed up the resolution of a case, or sway it in favor of any party. Otherwise, everyone would simply write to the Comelec to seek favorable rulings or faster decisions,” Garcia said.
Duterte Youth is currently facing two
separate petitions seeking to cancel its registration, one of which was initially filed in 2019.
The 2019 petition sought to nullify Duterte Youth’s registration on the grounds of material misrepresentation and questioned the group’s qualifications as a party-list.
Central to the case was the substitution of Duterte Youth Chair Ronald Cardema as the group’s nominee after its original five nominees withdrew following the elections but before the proclamation of winners.
At the time of filing his Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance, Cardema was already 34 years old—above the age limit of 30 for youth sector representatives under Republic Act No. 7941.
The Comelec disqualified Cardema in August 2019 and upheld the ruling in 2020 after rejecting his motion for reconsideration.
His wife, Ducielle Marie Suarez Cardema—one of the original nominees who had earlier withdrawn—eventually took the seat in Congress.
Petitioners also claimed that Duterte Youth failed to publish its list of nominees, which is required under election rules to ensure transparency.
Because of this, they argued that the group’s registration should be considered void.
A separate petition filed on May 8 also calls for the cancellation of Duterte Youth’s registration and its disqualification for the group’s alleged “repeated and malicious” labeling of other candidates—acts that allegedly violate Comelec Resolution No. 11127.
Chairman Garcia said a draft resolution on the cancellation case is already with the division and they are only waiting to see if any commissioner will issue a dissenting opinion.
“There’s a process in the Division. Once the ponente has a draft, it is circulated among the members. They then study it and decide whether they will concur or dissent. Let’s just wait,” he said. Garcia also assured the public that the commission is handling the Duterte Youth case fairly, adding that delays compared to other cases stem from its legal complexity.
“In the case of [Bagong Henerasyon party-list], the issue was purely technical. But with Duterte Youth, it’s more complicated. According to the Division, the case goes into the very heart of accreditation. How was the group able to run in 2019, 2022, and now 2025? It’s not as straightforward as the BH party-list,” he explained. Last week, the poll body dismissed the petition to cancel the registration of BH party-list due to the petitioner’s procedural lapses.
MAP hopes to be part of crafting of rules, regulations of Early Childhood Care and Development Law
By Andrea San Juan @andreasanjuan
THE Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) is hoping to participate in the crafting of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the recentlysigned Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) Law.
MAP, a business group that has launched in 2023 its Campaign Against Malnutrition And Child Stunting (CAMACS), said it fully supports the ECCD law, which was signed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. two weeks ago.
With this, it stressed: “The MAP will welcome the opportunity to participate in the crafting of the Implementing Rules and Regulations [IRR] of the ECCD Law.”
“As envisioned, the ECCD Law shall be anchored on complementary strategies that include service delivery for children below 5 years of age, educating and training parents and parent-substitutes on responsible caregiving, encouraging the active involvement of parents and communities in ECCD programs, and raising awareness about the important efforts that improve the quality of life for young children and families,” MAP also noted.
The business group said it hopes this measure will enable future budgets to be allocated to initiatives and resources that can be made available to “nutrition-sensitive” programs that will “holistically address key underlying determinants of proper nutrition.”
“These include food security, access to nutritious food at cheaper prices, access to health and social services, as well as nutrition-specific interventions that deal with micronutrient deficiency and other immediate causes of maternal and child malnutrition,” MAP explained.
Citing a World Bank study, the business group said severe malnutrition remains a
sometimes work and then women takes care of the family,” he added.
Recognizing the crucial role SMEs play in economic development, Visa, through the Visa Foundation, had launched a $100-million small business accelerator initiative aimed at advancing digital financial inclusion, stimulating job creation, and increasing access to capital for SMEs in Asia Pacific, including the Philippines.
This program has reached an estimated 29.6 million SMES in the region, including 10.9 million women-led SMEs. The program is complemented by Visa’s Practical Business Skills program, which equips SME owners with essential knowledge in cash flow management, digital payment integration, and financial planning.
“SMEs form the backbone of our economy and supporting them helps contribute to overall economic growth. We continue to work with local partners to bring financial products and solutions responsive to their unique needs, and we share the government’s vision to help SMEs unlock their full potential through innovation and resilience,” Navarro said.
Visa has been actively working with local partners to launch innovative products designed to expand financial inclusion for SMEs. Recently, it signed a new deal with CIMB Bank Philippines to launch a new Visa Business Debit Card.
serious problem for about 30 years, with one in every three Filipino children below 5 years old suffering from stunting.
Moreover, MAP noted the country ranks fifth among countries in East Asia and the Pacific region with the “highest prevalence” of child stunting.
The business group underscored the importance of addressing child stunting, adding that being able to work on this issue will spur national development.
“We are worried, yet we are hopeful too,
that we can solve child stunting by working together. Failure to address this national problem in an urgent and decisive manner will place our country’s future in the hands of stunted children becoming adults whose capacity to be productive, competitive, and creative are limited. That will imperil national development and progress,” MAP.
According to local think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) the ECCD System Act or Republic Act No. 12199, which was signed into law last May
8, aims to “close long-standing gaps in care, nutrition, and education for children from birth to age five.”
The local think tank said only 20 percent of children aged 3 to 4 were enrolled in prekindergarten in 2022 and merely 23 percent are benefitting from feeding programs.
“The country also faces a supply side shortfall of around 33,000 daycare centers, far below the estimated 96,000 needed, and three times lacking of the current stock of child development workers,” PIDS noted.
Editor: Angel R. Calso
Asean opens summit with Persian Gulf nations and China as US threatens tariffs
By Eileen Ng The Associated Press K
New aid system in Gaza has started operations, a US-backed group says
By Wafaa Shurafa & Samy Magdy
The Associated Press
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip—A new aid system in Gaza opened its first distribution hubs Monday, according to a US-backed group that said it began delivering food to Palestinians who face growing hunger after Israel’s nearly threemonth blockade to pressure Hamas.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation is taking over the handling of aid despite objections from United Nations. The desperately needed supplies started flowing on a day that saw Israeli strikes kill at least 52 people in Gaza.
The group said truckloads of food—it did not say how many—had been delivered to its hubs, and distribution to Palestinians had begun. It was not clear where the hubs were located or how those receiving supplies were chosen.
“More trucks with aid will be delivered tomorrow, with the flow of aid increasing each day,” the foundation said in a statement.
The UN and aid groups have pushed back against the new system, which is backed by Israel and the United States. They assert that Israel is trying to use food as a weapon and say a new system won’t be effective.
Asean. . .
Continued from A6
to synergize their markets and promote cross-regional investment, he said.
“I am confident that Asean, the GCC, and China can draw upon our unique attributes and shape a future that is more connected, more resilient, and more prosperous,” he told the summit, attended by Chinese Premier Li Qiang.
Li said the three-way cooperation would benefit all sides, contributing to economic development and peace in the region.
China is Asean’s top trading partner, and has sought to present itself as a reliable ally to the region amid its rivalry with the US. The GCC supplies over a third of China’s crude oil imports.
“China will join Asean and the GCC in forging synergies that multiply rather than simply at our own strength,” he said.
Malaysia is the current chair of Asean, which also includes Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Earlier Tuesday, Anwar told a separate Asean-GCC forum that partnership between the two blocs would be key to navigate an increasingly complex world due to economic uncertainty and geopolitical challenges.
Kuwait’s Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah
Khalid Al Sabah said the two blocs, which held their first summit in Riyadh in 2023,
Israel has pushed for an alternative aid delivery plan because it says it must stop Hamas from seizing aid. The UN has denied that the militant group has diverted large amounts. It’s not clear who is funding the group The foundation began operations a day after the resignation of its executive director. Jake Wood, an American, said it had become clear the foundation would not be allowed to operate independently. It’s not clear who is funding the group, which said it had appointed an interim leader, John Acree, to replace Wood.
The organization is made up of former humanitarian, government and military officials. It has said its distribution points will be guarded by private security firms and that the aid would reach a million Palestinians— around half of Gaza’s population—by the end of the week.
Under pressure from allies, Israel began allowing a trickle of humanitarian aid into Gaza last week after blocking all food, medicine, fuel or other goods from entering since early March. Aid groups have warned of famine and say the aid that has come in is nowhere near enough to meeting mounting needs.
Hamas warned Palestinians on Monday not to cooperate with the new aid system, saying it is part of Israel’s plans to transfer much of Gaza’s population to other countries. Israel says it plans to facilitate what
would build on their momentum to deepen cooperation and “improve our ability to face crisis.” He said the GCC is Asean’s seventh largest trade partner, with total trade reaching $130.7 billion in 2023. The GCC comprises the oil-producing nations of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Anwar said last week the GCC already has strong links with the US and “wants to be close to China too.”
Asean has maintained a policy of neutrality, engaging both Beijing and the United States, but US President Donald Trump’s threats of sweeping tariffs came as a blow.
Six of the bloc’s members were among the worst hit, with tariffs between 32% and 49%.
Trump announced a 90-day pause on tariffs in April for most of the world, and this month struck a similar deal with key rival China, easing trade war tensions.
Asean is seeking a summit with Trump on the tariffs, while moving to expand trade ties with China and others.
Collins Chong Yew Keat, a foreign affairs, strategy and security analyst with Universiti Malaya, said the Asean-GCC-China summit underscored Beijing’s efforts to strengthen support during its trade battle with the US. He noted it came on the heels of Trump’s recent charm offensive in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
Asean is seen as tilting towards China, and has failed to take strong action against
it describes as the voluntary migration of much of Gaza’s population of 2 million, a plan rejected by Palestinians and much of the international community.
Israel’s military campaign has destroyed vast areas of Gaza and internally displaced some 90% of its population. Many have fled multiple times.
Airstrikes hit shelter
THE Israeli airstrikes killed at least 36 people in a school-turned-shelter that was hit as people slept, setting their belongings ablaze, according to local health officials. The military said it targeted militants operating from the school.
Israel renewed its offensive in March after ending a ceasefire with Hamas. It has vowed to seize control of Gaza and keep fighting until Hamas is destroyed or disarmed, and until it returns the remaining 58 hostages, a third of them believed to be alive, from the October 7, 2023, attack that ignited the war.
Hamas-led militants killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted 251 people in the 2023 attack. Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed around 54,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. It says more than half the dead are women and children but does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count.
Beijing’s aggression in the disputed South China Sea, Chong said. Asean members Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei have overlapping claims with China, which asserts sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea.
While relying on US defense support,
The strike on the school in the Daraj neighborhood of Gaza City also wounded dozens of people, said Fahmy Awad, head of the ministry’s emergency service. He said a father and his five children were among the dead. The Shifa and al-Ahli hospitals in Gaza City confirmed the overall toll.
Awad said the school was hit three times while people slept, setting fire to their belongings. Footage circulating online showed rescuers struggling to extinguish fires and recovering charred remains.
The military said it targeted a militant command and control center inside the school that Hamas and Islamic Jihad used to gather intelligence for attacks. Israel blames civilian deaths on Hamas because it operates in residential areas.
A separate strike on a home in Jabalya in northern Gaza killed 16 members of the same family, including five women and two children, according to Shifa Hospital, which received the bodies.
Palestinian militants meanwhile fired three projectiles from Gaza, two of which fell short within the territory and a third that was intercepted, according to the Israeli military.
Ultranationalists march in east Jerusalem, break into UN compound
Ultranationalist Israelis gathered Monday in Jerusalem for an annual procession
Asean is increasing reliance and partnership with China and other US rivals, Chong said.
“If this continues under the current Trump administration, it will create further room for Washington to distance itself from the region, which will spell disaster and create an even deeper Chinese presence,” he said.
marking Israel’s 1967 conquest of the city’s eastern sector. Some protesters chanted “Death to Arabs” and harassed Palestinian residents.
Police kept a close watch as demonstrators jumped, danced and sang. The event threatened to inflame tensions that are rife in the restive city amid nearly 600 days of war in Gaza.
Hours earlier, a small group of protesters, including an Israeli member of parliament, stormed a compound in east Jerusalem
belonging to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, which Israel has banned. The compound has been mostly empty since January, when staff were asked to stay away for security reasons. The UN says the compound is protected under international law.
Magdy reported from Cairo. Associated Press writers Tia Goldenberg in Tel Aviv, Israel, and Julia Frankel in Jerusalem contributed to this report.
As Ukrainian POWs die in Russian prisons, autopsies point to a system of brutality
By Hanna Arhirova, Vasilisa Stepanenko & Illia Novikov The Associated Press
KYIV, Ukraine—“Everything will be all right.” Ukrainian soldier
Serhii Hryhoriev said this so often during brief phone calls from the front that his wife and two daughters took it to heart. His younger daughter, Oksana, tattooed the phrase on her wrist as a talisman.
Even after Hryhoriev was captured by the Russian army in 2022, his anxious family clung to the belief that he would ultimately be OK. After all, Russia is bound by international law to protect prisoners of war.
When Hryhoriev finally came home, though, it was in a body bag.
A Russian death certificate said the 59-year-old died of a stroke. But a Ukrainian autopsy and a former POW who was detained with him tell a different story about how he died – one of violence and medical neglect at the hands of his captors.
Hryhoriev is one of more than 200 Ukrainian POWs who have died while imprisoned since Russia’s full-scale invasion three years ago. Abuse inside Russian prisons was likely a contributing factor in many of these deaths, according to officials from human rights groups, the UN, the Ukrainian government and a Ukrainian medical examiner who has performed dozens of POW autopsies.
The officials say the prison
death toll adds to evidence that Russia is systematically brutalizing captured soldiers. They say forensic discrepancies like Hryhoriev’s, and the repatriation of bodies that are mutilated and decomposed, point to an effort to cover up alleged torture, starvation and poor health care at dozens of prisons and detention centers across Russia and occupied Ukraine. Russian authorities did not respond to requests for comment. They have previously accused Ukraine of mistreating Russian POWs—allegations the UN has partially backed up, though it says Ukraine’s violations are far less common and severe than what Russia is accused of.
‘Alive and well’
HRYHORIEV joined the Ukrainian army in 2019 after he lost his job as an office worker at a high school. When the war began three years later, he was stationed with other soldiers in Mariupol, an industrial port city that was the site of a fierce
battle—and far from his home in the central Poltava region.
On April 10, 2022, Hryhoriev called his family to reassure them that “everything will be all right.” That was the last time they ever spoke to him.
Two days later, a relative of a soldier in Hryhoriev’s unit called to say the men had been captured. After Mariupol fell to Russia, more than 2,000 soldiers defending the city became Russian prisoners.
Soon his family got a call from the International Committee of the Red Cross, which confirmed he was alive and officially registered as a POW, guaranteeing his protection under the Geneva Conventions. “We were told: ‘that means everything is fine … Russia has to return him,’” Hryhoriev’s wife, Halyna, recalled.
In August 2022, she received a letter from him, that addressed her by a nickname. “My dear Halochka,” he wrote. “I am alive and well. Everything will be all right.”
Desperate for more information, his daughter Oksana, 31, scoured Russian social media accounts, where videos of Ukrainian POWs regularly appeared. Eventually, she saw him in one—looking gaunt and missing teeth. His gray hair was cropped very short, framing gentle features now partially covered by a beard.
In the video, likely shot under duress, Hryhoriev said to the camera: “I’m alive and well.”
“But if you looked at him, you could see that wasn’t true,” Oksana said.
The truth was dismal, said Oleksii Honcharov, a 48-year-old Ukrainian POW who was detained with him.
Honcharov lived in the same
prison barracks as Hryhoriev starting in the fall of 2022. Over a period of months, he witnessed Hryhoriev absorb the same severe punishment as every other POW at the Kamensk-Shakhtinsky Correctional Colony in southwest Russia.
“Everyone got hit—no exceptions,” said Honcharov, who was repatriated to Ukraine in February as part of a prisoner swap. “Some more, some less, but we all took it.”
Honcharov endured months of chest pain while in captivity. Even then, the beatings never stopped, he said, and sometimes they began after his pleas for medical care, which were ignored.
“Toward the end, I could barely walk,” said Honcharov, who was diagnosed with tuberculosis once back in Ukraine – an increasingly common ailment among returning POWs.
A 2024 UN report found that 95% of released Ukrainian POWs had endured “systematic” torture. Prisoners described beatings, elec -
tric shocks, suffocation, sexual violence, prolonged stress positions, mock executions, and sleep deprivation.
“This conduct could not be more unlawful,” said Danielle Bell, the UN’s top human rights monitor in Ukraine.
The report also said some Russian POWs were mistreated by Ukrainian forces during their initial capture—including beatings, threats and electric shocks. But the abuse stopped once Russian POWs were moved to official Ukrainian detention centers, the report said.
Hryhoriev was physically strong and often outlasted younger prisoners during forced exercises, Honcharov recalled. But over time, he began showing signs of physical decline: dizziness, fatigue and, eventually, an inability to walk without help.
Yet despite his worsening condition, prison officials provided only minimal health care, Honcharov said.
Piecing together how POWs died IN a bright, sterile room with the sour-sweet smell of human decomposition, Inna Padei performs autopsies on Ukrainian soldiers repatriated by Russia, as well as civilians exhumed from mass graves.
Hundreds of bodies zipped up in black plastic bags have been delivered in refrigerated trucks to the morgue where she works in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine. Those who died in battle are still wearing military fatigues and often have obvious external wounds. The bodies of former POWs are dressed in prison uniforms and are often mutilated and decomposed. It is the job of Padei and other forensic experts to piece together how soldiers like Hryhoriev died. These reports are often the only reliable information the soldiers’ families get—and they will be used by Ukraine, along with testimony from former POWs, to bring war crimes charges against Russia at the International Criminal Court. The body of a former POW recently examined by Padei had an almond-sized fracture on the right side of its skull. That suggested the soldier was struck by a blunt object—a blow potentially strong enough to have killed him instantly, or shortly after, she said.
“These injuries may not always be the direct cause of death,” Padei said, “but they clearly indicate the use of force and torture against the servicemen.”
Earlier this year, Amnesty International documented widespread torture of Ukrainian POWs in Russia. Its report was especially critical of Russia’s secrecy regarding the whereabouts
See “POW,” A9
Police: Driver who plowed into Liverpool soccer fans acted alone, not believed to be terrorism
By Brian Melley & Steve Douglas
The Associated Press
LONDON—A 53-year-old British man plowed a minivan into a crowd of Liverpool soccer fans who were celebrating the city’s Premier League championship Monday, injuring more than 45 people as shouts of joy turned into shrieks of terror.
The driver arrested was believed to be
Continued from A8
and condition of POWs, saying it refused to grant rights groups or health workers access to its prisons, leaving families in the dark for months or years about their loved ones.
Of the more than 5,000 POWs Russia has repatriated to Ukraine, at least 206 died in captivity, including more than 50 when an explosion ripped through a Russiancontrolled prison barracks, according to the Ukrainian government. An additional 245 Ukrainian POWs were killed by Russian soldiers on the battlefield, according to Ukrainian prosecutors.
The toll of dead POWs is expected to rise as more bodies are returned and identified,
the only one involved and the crash was not being investigated as an act of terrorism, police said.
Ambulances took 27 people to the hospital, including two with serious injuries, and another 20 people were treated at the scene for minor injuries, said Dave Kitchin of North West Ambulance Service.
At least four children were injured.
Four of the victims, including a child, were trapped under the van and firefighters had to lift the vehicle to free them. A
but forensic experts face significant challenges in determining causes of death.
In some cases, internal organs are missing. Other times, it appears as if bruises or injuries have been hidden or removed.
Ukrainian officials believe the mutilation of bodies is an effort by Russia to conceal the true causes of death. Extreme decomposition is another obstacle, officials say.
“They hold the bodies until they reach a state where nothing can be determined,” said Petro Yatsenko, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian government agency in charge of POW affairs.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said the prompt exchange of POWs must be part of any ceasefire agreement, along with the return of
paramedic on a bicycle was also struck but was not injured.
“It has cast a very dark shadow over what had been a joyous day for the city,” City Council leader Liam Robinson said at a late night news conference.
As the parade was wrapping up, a gray minivan turned onto the parade route and plowed into the sea of fans wrapped in their red Liverpool scarves, jerseys and other memorabilia. A video on social media showed the van strike a man, tossing him in
thousands of Ukrainian civilians, including children forcibly deported to Russia. A major prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine took place over the weekend.
The Associated Press interviewed relatives of 21 Ukrainian POWs who died in captivity. Autopsies performed in Ukraine found that five of these POWs died of heart failure, including soldiers who were 22, 39 and 43. Four others died from tuberculosis or pneumonia, and three others perished, respectively, from an infection, asphyxia and a blunt force head wound.
Padei said cases like these—and others she has seen—are red flags, suggesting that physical abuse and untreated injuries and illness likely contributed to many soldiers’ deaths.
“Under normal or humane conditions,
the air, before veering into a larger crowd, where it plowed a path through the group and pushed bodies along the street before coming to a stop.
“It was extremely fast,” said Harry Rashid, who was with his wife and two young daughters as the minivan passed by them. “Initially, we just heard the pop, pop, pop of people just being knocked off the bonnet of a car.”
Rashid said the crowd charged the halted vehicle and began smashing
these would not have been fatal,” Padei said. In one autopsy report, coroners said an individual had been electrocuted and beaten just days before dying of heart failure and extreme emaciation. Other autopsies noted that bodies showed signs of gangrene or untreated infections.
“Everything the returned prisoners describe…we see the same on the bodies,” Padei said.
‘Angel in the sky’ MONTHS into Hryhoriev’s detention at the Kamensk-Shakhtinsky prison—and after his daughter saw him in the Russian army’s social media video—his health deteriorated significantly, according to Honcharov.
But instead of being sent to a hospital,
windows.
“But then he put his foot down again and just plowed through the rest of them, he just kept going,” Rashid said. “It was horrible. And you could hear the bumps as he was going over the people.”
Rashid said it looked deliberate.
“My daughter started screaming, and there were people on the ground,” he said.
“They were just innocent people, just fans going to enjoy the parade.”
Liverpool fans had come out in the
Hryhoriev was moved to a tiny cell that was isolated from other prisoners. Another Ukrainian captive, a paramedic, was assigned to stay with him.
“It was damp, cold, with no lighting at all,” recalled Honcharov. He died in that cell about a month later, Honcharov said. It was May 20, 2023, according to his Russian death certificate.
The Hryhoriev family didn’t learn he had died until more than six months later, when a former POW reached out. Then, in March 2024, police in central Ukraine called: A body had arrived with a Russian death certificate bearing Hryhoriev’s name.
A DNA test confirmed it was him.
hundreds of thousands to celebrate the team winning the Premier League this season for a record-tying 20th top-flight title.
Peter Jones, who had traveled from Isle of Man, said he heard the car smash into the crowd and saw at least a half-dozen people down.
“We heard a frantic beeping ahead, a car flew past me and my mate, people were
See “Driver,” A11
Hryhoriev’s body was handed over to the family last June, and soon after he was buried in his hometown of Pyriatyn. To honor him, Hryhoriev’s wife and older daughter, Yana, followed Oksana’s lead and tattooed their wrists with the optimistic expression he had drilled into them.
“Now we have an angel in the sky watching over us,” Halyna said. “We believe everything will be all right.”
The Associated Press reporters Yehor Konovalov, Alex Babenko and Anton Shtuka in Kyiv, and Dasha Litvinova in Tallinn, Estonia, contributed to this report.
An autopsy performed in Ukraine disputed Russia’s claim that Hryhoriev died of a stroke. It said he bled to death after blunt trauma to his abdomen that also damaged his spleen.
King Charles III arrives in Canada to underscore its sovereignty after Trump annexation threats
By Rob Gillies The Associated Press
OTTAWA, Ontario—Brit -
ain’s King Charles III ar -
rived Monday in Ottawa on a visit that Canada’s leader says will underscore his nation’s sovereignty amid President Donald Trump’s talk of the United States annexing its northern neighbor.
Trump’s repeated suggestion that the US annex Canada prompted Prime Minister Mark Carney to invite Charles to give the speech from the throne that will outline his government’s agenda for the new Parliament.
The king is the head of state in Canada, which is a member of the British Commonwealth of former colonies.
“This historic honor matches the weight of our times. It speaks to our enduring tradition and friendship, to the vitality of our constitutional monarchy and our
distinct identity, and to the historic ties that crises only fortify,” Carney said in a statement.
“Canada’s strength lies in building a strong future while embracing its English, French, and Indigenous roots—the union of peoples that forms our bedrock.”
Carney, the new prime minister and a former head of the Bank of England, and Canada’s first Indigenous governor general, Mary Simon, the king’s representative in Canada, greeted the king and Queen Camilla at the airport. A 25-member honor guard from the Royal Canadian Dragoons, for which the king is colonel-in-chief, was also on hand.
The king, in a taupe suit and red tie, later dropped the ceremonial first puck during a street hockey game at a community event.
Spectator Norman MacDonald said he’s “proud” the king came to Ottawa to deliver a message on
behalf of Canadians.
“Canada is not, obviously, for sale, and it’s not going to be bullied,” he said.
Canadians stress their differences from the US IT is rare for the monarch to deliver what’s called the speech from the throne in Canada. Charles’ mother, Queen Elizabeth II, did it twice in her 70-year reign, the last time in 1977.
Canadians are largely indifferent to the monarchy, but Carney has been eager to show the differences between Canada and the United States. The king’s visit clearly underscores Canada’s sovereignty, he said.
After America gained independence from Britain, Canada remained a colony until 1867 and afterward, continued as a constitutional monarchy with a Britishstyle parliamentary system.
“We are different,” former Que -
bec Premier Jean Charest said. “If you look at why King Charles is reading the speech from the throne, then you have to then acknowledge Canada’s story.”
However, the new US ambassador to Canada, Pete Hoekstra, said sending messages isn’t necessary and Canadians should move on from the 51st state talk, telling the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation that if there’s a message to be sent there are easier ways to do that, such as calling him or calling the president.
Royal historian Carolyn Harris expects Trump to notice the visit because he has repeatedly spoken about his admiration for the royal family. Trump might see how different Canada is from the US.
“It is a very distinctive history that goes back to the waves of loyalists who settled here after the American revolution,” Harris said. “And we’re going to seeing
the king in a Canadian context, escorted by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, surrounded by Canadian symbolism. This is very much King Charles III in his role as King of Canada.”
A royal invitation to Trump ruffles Canadians’ feathers
THE speech, which will be delivered Tuesday, is not written by the king or his UK advisers as Charles serves as a nonpartisan head of state. He will read what is put before him by Canada’s government.
“Charles can only act with the consent and with the advice of his prime minister. But at the same time, he cannot act in a way that would throw any of the other 14 Commonwealth realms under the bus. So, it is the finest tightrope to walk,” said Justin Vovk, a Canadian royal historian.
Canadians were not happy when UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer
extended a state visit invitation to Trump on behalf of the king during a time when Trump threatened Canada’s sovereignty.
“They weren’t impressed by that gesture, quite simply, given the circumstance,” Carney told Britain’s Sky News. “It was a time when we were quite clear ... about the issues around sovereignty.”
The king has more recently been showing support for Canada, including displaying Canadian military medals on his chest during a visit to a British aircraft carrier.
Charles will meet privately with Carney. And Camilla participated in a swearing-in ceremony to become a Canadian privy counsellor, a lifetime appointment that allows her to give advice about the country to the king.
The king will return to the UK after Tuesday’s speech and a visit to Canada’s National War Memorial.
Trump’s immigration crackdown unnerves Cuban exiles shielded from deportation
By Joshua Goodman The Associated Press
MIAMI—Immigration officials said Tomás Hernández worked in high-level posts for Cuba’s foreign intelligence agency for decades before migrating to the United States to pursue the American dream.
The 71-year-old was detained by federal agents outside his Miami-area home in March and accused of hiding his ties to Cuba’s Communist Party when he obtained permanent residency.
Cuban-Americans in South Florida have long clamored for a firmer hand with Havana and the recent apprehensions of Hernández and several other former Cuban officials for deportation have been extremely popular among the politically powerful exile community.
“It’s a political gift to Cuban-American hardliners,” said Eduardo Gamarra, a Latin American expert at Florida International University. But many Cubans fear they could be next on Trump’s list, he said, and “some in the community see it as a betrayal.”
Some pleased among Trump fans, others worried
WHILE President Donald Trump’s mass deportation pledge has frightened migrants
Driver. . .
Continued from A9
chasing it and trying to stop him, windows smashed at the back,” Jones said. “He then drove into people, police and medics ran past us, and people were being treated on the side of the road.”
Police said they were conducting extensive inquiries to establish what led to the collision and asked people not to speculate or share “distressing content online.”
Police identified the suspect as white, in a possible decision to prevent misinformation from flooding social media.
Last summer, a teen in the nearby town of Southport killed three girls in a stabbing rampage at a dance class and wounded 10 others, including two adults. An incorrect name of the suspect was spread on social media and people said he was an asylum seeker. In fact, he had been born in the U.K. Rioting spread across England and Northern Ireland, targeting Muslims and refugees in hotels of asylum seekers and lasted about a week.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the scenes appalling and hailed the bravery of rescuers.
“Everyone, especially children, should be able to celebrate their heroes without this horror,” Starmer said. “The city has a
from many nations, it has come as something of a shock to the 2.4 million Cuban-Americans, who strongly backed the Republican twice and have long enjoyed a place of privilege in the US immigration system. Amid record arrivals of migrants from the Caribbean Island, Trump in March revoked temporary humanitarian parole for about 300,000 Cubans. Many have been detained ahead of possible deportation.
Among those facing deportation is a proTrump Cuban rapper behind a hit song “Patria y Vida”—“Homeland and Life”—that became the unofficial anthem of anti-communist protests on the island in 2021 and drew praise from the likes of then Republican Sen. Marco Rubio, now Secretary of State. Eliéxer Márquez, who raps under the name El Funky, said he received notice this month that he had 30 days to leave the US. Thanks to Cold War laws aimed at removing Fidel Castro, Cuban migrants for many decades enjoyed almost automatic refugee status in the US and could obtain green cards a year after entry, unlike migrants from virtually every other country.
Support for Trump among likely CubanAmerican voters in Miami was at an all-time high on the eve of last year’s election, according to a poll by Florida International University, which has been tracking the Cuban-American community since 1991.
long and proud history of coming together through difficult times. Liverpool stands together and the whole country stands with Liverpool.”
Liverpool Football Club’s legacy is overshadowed by a disaster 36 years ago when 97 of its fans were killed in a stadium crush during a match against Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield. The tragedy was compounded by a coverup into the cause and missteps by police.
Supporters were denied the chance to publicly celebrate the club’s last league title in 2020 due to restrictions in place during the Covid-19 pandemic.
This time, flag-waving fans braved wet weather to line the streets and climb up traffic lights for a view of Liverpool’s players, who were atop two buses bearing the words “Ours Again.”
The hourslong procession—surrounded by a heavy police presence—crawled along a 10-mile (16-kilometer) route and through a sea of red smoke and rain. Fireworks exploded from the Royal Liver Building in the heart of the city. The team in a short statement said its thoughts and prayers were with those affected. The Premier League issued a similar statement expressing shock at the “appalling events in Liverpool.”
The Associated Press writer Jill Lawless in London contributed to this report.
Trump rarely mentions Cubans in his attacks on migrant targets including Venezuelans and Haitians. That has given many Cubans hope that they will remain immune to immigration enforcement actions.
Politics of a crackdown
DEMOCRATS , meanwhile, have been trying to turn the immigration crackdown to their advantage. In April, grassroots groups erected two giant billboards on Miami highways calling Rubio and Republican Reps. Mario Díaz-Balart, María Elvira Salazar and Carlos Giménez “traitors” to the CubanAmerican community for failing to protect tens of thousands of migrants from Trump’s immigration policies.
The arrest of former Cuban state agents is one way to bolster Trump allies, Gamarra said.
In March, Giménez sent Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem a letter with the names of 108 people he said were former Cuban state agents or Communist Party officials living unlawfully in the US.
“It is imperative that the Department of Homeland Security enforce existing US laws to identify, deport and repatriate these individuals who pose a direct threat to our national security, the integrity of our immigration system and the safety of Cuban exiles and American citizens alike,” Giménez wrote, adding that the US remains a “beacon of
hope and freedom for those escaping tyranny.”
A mission to topple the government
GIMÉNEZ’S target list was compiled by Luis Dominguez, who left Cuba in 1971 and has made it his mission to topple Cuba’s government. In 2009, when the internet was still a novelty in Cuba, Dominguez said he posed as a 27-year-old female sports journalist from Colombia to lure Castro’s son Antonio into an online romance.
“Some people dream with making money, or with growing old and going on vacation,” said Dominguez, who lives in Connecticut. “I dream with seeing my country free.”
With support from the right-wing Foundation for Human Rights in Cuba, he started combing social media and relying on a well-oiled network of anti-socialist sources, inside Cuba and outside the country, to dox officials allegedly behind human rights abuses and violations of democratic norms. To date, his website, Represores Cubanos—Cuban Repressors—has identified more than 1,200 such state agents, some 150 in the United States.
“They’re chasing the American dream, but previously they condemned it while pursuing the Cuban dream,” Dominguez said. “It’s the typical double life of any Communist regime. When they were in power they criticized anything about the US. But now that they’re
here, they love it.”
Dominguez, 62, said he regularly shares his findings with federal law enforcement but a spokesman for US Immigration and Customs Enforcement didn’t comment on the agency’s relationship with the activist.
An elite spy department
ENRIQUE GARCIA , a former colleague, said he studied with Hernández in the former Soviet Union in the 1970s. Upon their return, Hernández was sent to work in the spy agency’s elite “North America” department, said Garcia.
Garcia, who defected to the US in the 1990s and has devoted himself to helping American spy catchers unmask Cuban agents, said one-time Cuban agents have infiltrated the current migration wave while hiding their past and even current loyalties to the Cuban government.
“You can’t be on both sides at the same time,” he said. It’s not known when Hernández entered the US and why. US immigration law generally bars people who’ve belonged to Communist parties. Anyone caught lying on their green card application can be deported or prosecuted.
But removing Cubans who are no longer welcome in the US could prove challenging.
The Trump administration sends a single 60-passenger plane to Cuba every month as
part of its deportation drive, unchanged from the past year’s average, according to Witness at the Border, which tracks removal flights. At that rate, it would take almost 700 years to send back the estimated 500,000 Cubans who arrived during the Biden administration and now lack protected status.
Crackdown on loyal fans AT Versailles Restaurant, the epicenter of Miami’s Little Havana, few among its antiCommunist clientele seemed poised to turn on Trump, who visited the iconic cafe twice during the recent presidential campaign. One regular retiree, 83-year-old Rafael Nieto, even wore a giant Trump 2024 hat and pin. Most of the aging exiles applauded Trump’s migration crackdown overhaul but there were a few cracks in the GOP armor. As the late afternoon banter switched between talk of CIA plots to assassinate Castro and President John F. Kennedy’s failure to provide air cover during the 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion, one retiree stood up and quietly stepped away from his friends.
“People are trembling,” Tony Freitas, who came to the US from Cuba in the 1980 Mariel boatlift, said in a hushed voice. “For any little thing, you could be deported.”
AP journalist Gisela Salomon contributed to this report.
PHL sugar output poised to exceed government forecast amid pest threat
SUGAR production for the current crop year, which will end on August 31, is on track to breach the revised projection of the government. Data from the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) showed that raw sugar output as of May 11 had already reached 1.87 million metric tons, slightly higher than the adjusted forecast of 1.84 MMT. (See, “Pest threatens to dampen PHL sugar output,” in the BusinessMirror, May 21, 2025). Sugar Order 1 released by the SRA in September 2024, indicated that the country’s output of the sweetener for crop year 2024-2025 would reach only 1.78 MMT.
While the latest figure is still 3 percent lower than the 1.92 MMT recorded in crop year 2023-2024, which ended on August 31, 2024, the Philippines may repeat its performance during the previous crop year. For one, some mills in the Visayas and Mindanao are still in operation. The absence of El Niño has also allowed plantations to prop up their sugarcane output during the current crop year.
However, the infestation of a pest dubbed red-striped soft scale is threatening the country’s sugar production. A study conducted by researchers from the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) and the SRA revealed that the initial detection of the insect pest occurred in Bacolor, Pampanga in June 2022. The pest, which had initially affected Luzon, is now in Negros Island, regarded as the country’s sugar bowl. (See, “SRA raises alarm: RSSI, sugarcane pest, invades Negros Occidental plantations,” in the BusinessMirror , May 24, 2025).
The spread of red-striped soft scale in Negros Occidental has alarmed the government given the potential of the pest to slash sugar content by nearly 50 percent. The SRA said the pest has been detected in farms in the southern part, central and northern part of the province. Around 87 hectares have already been infested with the red-striped soft scale, while a 12-hectare farm reported a 70-percent infestation.
Addressing the infestation of this pest should be given top priority by the national and local governments. For one, the study noted that sugarcane holds “significant agricultural importance” in the Philippines as it directly supports the livelihoods of approximately 700,000 Filipinos in farming and over 25,000 in sugar mills and refineries. Additionally, five million are indirectly employed within the Philippine sugar industry.
Lower output could also lead to a spike in the wholesale and retail prices of the sweetener, a development that could keep the prices of local food items elevated. Coupled with animal diseases that have kept hog output lower during the pandemic years and chicken more expensive, more costly sugar could make it more difficult for the government to tame inflation. The national and the local governments should heed the prescriptions of the UPLB-SRA study, which was conducted in 2023. One of its recommendations is to train all stakeholders on pest and parasitoid recognition and identification, practical demonstrations of rapid assessment and strategic parasitoid release. It also pushed for the crafting of a comprehensive research and development plan for the long-term management of the redstriped soft scale pest in sugarcane cultivation throughout the country.
Major road repair works
ATHE BUILDER
PART from new roads and bridges, communities and businesses benefit from the repair, rehabilitation and maintenance of existing infrastructure.
Repairs and maintenance works protect the integrity of vital transportation links, prevent further erosion, smoothen pavement surfaces, strengthen resilience against extreme weather and extend longevity.
Businesses rely on efficient transportation arteries—band deteriorating infrastructure can shackle economic growth and competitiveness.
Regular rehabilitation and maintenance of roads and bridges are part of the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) annual budget. This ensures they serve the mobility and logistics needs of the economy.
Neglecting these essential tasks can lead to poor conditions, compromising the safety of motorists and commuters.
Potholes and cracks, for example, can cause traffic congestion, if not accidents.
When maintenance is post -
Dponed, minor issues emerge and later become major problems. Small cracks turn into large fissures, potholes multiply and bridge integrity weakens. They cause bumpy rides, increased vehicle wear and serious safety hazards.
Poor road conditions also bump up vehicle operating costs because of higher fuel consumption and accelerated wear on tires and suspension systems. Sudden lane closures for emergency repairs, without planning, leads to major congestion.
We, thus, commend the government for scheduling major road rehabilitation projects to enhance the travel experience of motorists and commuters. The key is to undertake these projects in an organized and faster way to minimize disruption to traffic flow.
We support the rehabilitation of Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) starting June 13, 2025, as
By Frances Schwartzkopff
UTCH pension fund PME is issuing a blanket warning to US money managers, amid concerns America’s investment industry is caving in to pressure from the Trump administration to abandon basic principles of stewardship.
They “aren’t condemning what Trump is doing and how he is operating and how he is handling issues like climate change and demolishing the judiciary,” Daan Spaargaren, senior strategist for responsible investing, said in an interview. “We are worried about that.”
PME, with assets under management of about €57 billion ($65 billion), is the latest in a string of pension funds in Europe to express such concerns. Earlier this year, State Street lost mandates in Scandinavia and the UK after it withdrew from a major climate alliance for the industry. PME has already made clear it is reviewing a €5 billion mandate with BlackRock Inc., after the world’s largest asset manager quit a key net zero coalition. It expects to make a decision in the coming weeks.
Spaargaren says PME has come to the conclusion that “existing frame-
works on benchmarking different asset managers—the old frameworks —are not working anymore.”
The administration of President Donald Trump has attacked the judiciary and is in the process of derailing America’s energy transition. It has also sought to wipe out diversity, equity and inclusion policies, dubbing these “illegal.”
It’s a political development that requires the investment industry to take a stand, Spaargaren said. If asset managers “align their interests and their policies with the current administration in the US, then we are legitimizing also these steps and these practices by offering them our funds,” he said.
PME is now “evaluating” next steps, Spaargaren said. Whether it stays invested in companies—or holds on to existing external mandates—will depend on the outcome
announced by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA). The long-overdue project includes repairing the Guadalupe Bridge, which connects Makati and Mandaluyong cities.
The project is part of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s “Build, Better, More” program. Although the project will certainly affect traffic in Metro Manila, the government is planning a massive information drive on the project’s schedules, plans, rerouting schemes and other mitigating measures.
Per Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Vince Dizon, the project will not be a standard rehabilitation but a “total rebuild” of Edsa, as it has been 45 years since its last rehabilitation.
The DOTr, as chair of the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB), plans to open portions of the Skyway for free access. Other project details are being discussed with other government agencies and project partners.
The DPWH is also undertaking a nine-month rehabilitation of damaged portions of Roxas Boulevard’s southbound lane. The restoration works between Quirino and Vito Cruz are expected to be completed by November 2025.
The DPWH vowed to complete the project ahead of time, ensuring the closed lanes will be immediately opened to the public upon completion.
of a revised screening process the pension fund has introduced, he said. The new filter will assess holdings based on parameters such as how well investments support good governance, freedom of association, as well as environmental considerations such as water scarcity. It will also automatically exclude passively managed equity investments in emerging markets because of the perceived environmental, social and governance risks.
Spaargaren says investors need to adapt to what’s become a fundamental split between values in Europe and those being promoted by the Trump administration.
“There is now a divide between European and American asset managers,” which is “quite” clear when it comes to engagement, active ownership, membership of climate initiatives and voting, he said. Key is watching how firms navigate the Trump administration, he said.
Others in Europe have made similar points. Last week, a senior portfolio manager at Allianz Global Investors warned that Republican policies under Trump mean the US may no longer offer a “reliable invest-
The DPWH also announced three-month repair works along Taft Avenue in Pasay City on the road’s southbound portion from Trece de Agosto to Buendia Avenue. It advised motorists to take alternate routes to avoid inconvenience. The initiative aims to enhance road safety and traffic efficiency in Metro Manila.
In the Visayas, the government will start repairing the 52-year-old San Juanico Bridge linking Samar and Leyte provinces. The DPWH began imposing a temporary weight limit on vehicles crossing the bridge as it prepares for major repairs expected to last up to two years. Per the DPWH, the bridge’s 42 spans require major repairs, as the steel components are corroding, and the bridge no longer meets standard load-bearing capacity. The works are projected to cost around P900 million.
Completed in 1973, San Juanico Bridge is a vital link between Samar and Leyte Islands and a key segment of the Maharlika Highway, connecting Eastern Visayas to the rest of the country. The government, in addition, plans to build a second bridge spanning 2.6 kilometers and longer than the San Juanico Bridge. It is undergoing detailed engineering design and is projected to begin construction by 2026.
Road and bridge construction,
ment
PME currently uses a number of the biggest US asset managers to help oversee its portfolio. The fund reviews those mandates on an annual basis, with the next update set for around June 30. The Dutch pensions investor is rolling out its new ESG screen this year, starting with equities. It’s already cut the universe in which it will invest by roughly two-thirds, to around 1,000 stocks. US companies have the opportunity to persuade institutional investors like PME that they’re not caving in to Trump’s agenda, which includes continuing to provide clear ESG disclosures, Spaargaren said.
“The problem is if companies stop reporting on diversity, equity and inclusion or on climate,” he said. Though PME has regularly reviewed its external managers, Spaargaren says this time is “different.” It’s “a new situation when it comes to the attitude of asset managers in the
he said. “They sometimes align with, or go very easy on
runway.”
Mark Villar
Japanese bond yields decline ahead of test at 40-year auction
By Mia Glass & Masahiro Hidaka
YIELDS on Japan’s super-long bonds extended their retreat to a third day amid speculation the government may consider reducing issuance of the debt after a rout last week drew global attention.
Rates on 40-year and 30-year maturities slid about 10 basis points in Tokyo on Tuesday. This follows last week’s carnage which saw 40-year yields rise to 3.675 percent, the highest since the tenor’s debut in 2007.
Strategists on Tuesday cited reasons for the rally ranging from yields moving too fast to the possibility of issuance being reduced for long tenors.
“Many market observers suspect the MOF will fine-tune its total issuance program by reducing super-long issuance and increasing mediumterm offerings, all while maintaining the overall volume,” said Shoki Omori, chief desk strategist at Mizuho Securities Co. “Although it remains unclear whether an actual reduction will materialize, the market’s recent behavior makes it clear that expectations are running well ahead of official announcements.”
Wednesday’s 40-year debt sale is coming at a time when long-term borrowing costs have also surged in other major economies, including the US. Japan’s super-long bonds became increasingly unstable after last week’s 20-year debt auction drew the weakest demand in more than a decade. That sent jitters through global markets.
“Even life insurers are saying that the super-long yields have gone too far,” said Naoya Hasegawa, chief bond strategist at Okasan Securities. “Since everyone thinks they are overshooting, buying is being seen as a correction of undervaluation.”
Japan’s yields, particularly in the super-long sector, have been on the rise as the Bank of Japan scales back its bond purchases, while life insurers are failing to fill in that gap. Bonds have trimmed their losses this week but there are concerns yields may rise again if the 40-year auction fails to attract buyers.
“If the auction goes poorly, the 10-year yield will likely hit a new high,” said Keisuke Tsuruta, a senior fixed-income strategist at Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities. “The recent rise in yields has reduced investor appetite and there are likely to be few investors willing to bid aggressively.”
The auction takes place at 12:35 p.m. Tokyo time on Wednesday. Longer-term yields are surging globally as government spending rises, but the steepening in Japan’s yield curve has been particularly acute. The higher yields point to increased
continued from A12
repair and rehabilitation are crucial government services funded from the annual budget to ensure the continuous delivery of goods and services and movement of people between towns and islands.
Japan’s yields, particularly in the super-long sector, have been on the rise as the Bank of Japan scales back its bond purchases, while life insurers are failing to fill in that gap. Bonds have trimmed their losses this week but there are concerns yields may rise again if the 40-year auction fails to attract buyers.
borrowing costs for the government, as Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba cautions over additional spending and says Japan’s financial conditions are worse than Greece’s.
A finance ministry estimate released in January said the government expects its annual debt-servicing costs to rise to almost $230 billion over the next four years.
The BOJ surveyed bond market participants last week ahead of the review of its bond-buying plans at a board meeting next month. Major life insurance companies and pension funds expressed concerns over rising super-long bond yields and called for action by the central bank.
Four of Japan’s biggest life insurers reported about $60 billion of combined unrealized losses on their domestic bond holdings for the latest fiscal year. BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda has refrained from making any indications that he’s prepared to take action in the bond market.
Another Japanese life insurer, Taiyo Life Insurance Co., plans to increase its holdings of domestic bonds, but says there is a possibility that it may need to postpone some investments.
“Yields have reached levels where we would like to invest, but liquidity is low and price fluctuations are too large, so we have no choice but to consider the timing of investment,” said Yoshitaka Sato, general manager of the investment planning department at Taiyo Life.
Some market participants are hoping that strong results at the 40-year auction may put a halt to the recent rises in yields.
“Given the high yield levels, the reduced issuance amount and the investor-friendly auction method, this might be a pretty good auction,” said Kazuhiko Sano, chief strategist at Tokai Tokyo Securities. “It might serve as a catalyst to stop the excessive increases in yields.” With assistance from Hidenori Yamanaka and Naoto Hosoda/ Bloomberg
Putting
Ha price tag on the
nation’s dignity
Everyone therefore is guilty by omission and by commission.
MAKE SENSE
OW do you put a price tag on our nation’s dignity?
We are practically doing this every time we allow the sale of ukay-ukay, or used clothing originally intended for humanitarian purposes, despite being prohibited under Republic Act (RA) 4653 titled “An Act to Safeguard the Health of the People and Maintain the Dignity of the Nation by Declaring it a National Policy to Prohibit the Commercial Importation of Textile Articles Commonly Known as Used Clothing and Rags.”
The now 60-year-old law declares that it is unlawful for any person, association or corporation to introduce into any point in the Philippines textile articles commonly known as used clothing and rags.
Then under Customs Memorandum Circular 127-2014, which was issued pursuant to a memorandum released by former Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman, a moratorium was implemented on the acceptance of forfeited used clothing by the DSWD. Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo also gave her go-signal for the burning of all confiscated ukay-ukay.
But what happened since then?
Well, as you can see, ukay-ukay is everywhere. They’re in subdivisions, public markets, small malls, and home garages. It is a flourishing business and I’m starting to wonder how these ukay-ukay retailers are able to operate in plain view, obtain their business permits, or even declare their income taxes. These businesses are illegal from the start, plain and simple.
Now, let me ask this: can you identify any local government official who is not aware or has not seen these ukay-ukay stores? We all know the obvious answer: none.
By commission because they are allowing these illegal sellers of ukayukay to operate by granting them permits and licenses. By omission because they are not doing anything to implement the law.
Now, based on RA 4653, one of the penalties—if committed by a government official—is perpetual disqualification from holding public office. Are we now in danger of losing every local government official in the country to perpetual disqualification?
For our law enforcement officers, doesn’t the plain view doctrine allow them to seize evidence of a crime without a warrant when the evidence is clearly visible?
We commend the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)-7 for the seizure of P752,000 worth of ukayukay at GZ RTW Trading in Cebu City last February and for subsequently charging the store’s owner, a Filipino-Chinese national, for violation of RA 4653.
This shows that the law, despite being passed in 1966, is still very much enforceable and relevant.
I hope that there is no selective application of the law because despite some apprehensions, ukay-ukays continue to thrive.
Services rendered by non-residents: VAT
SFulvio D. Dawilan
TAX LAW FOR BUSINESS
ERVICES are generally subject to value-added tax in the Philippines. However, this is not without limitation. While VAT is imposed on fees derived from the performance of services, our laws require, as a condition, that the service must be performed in the country to be covered by our VAT system. This is not simply a principle drawn from practice. It is the VAT law itself that provides that requirement. Hence, its implementation cannot simply be disregarded, unless the law is changed.
There could be an interplay of other principles—such as the crossborder doctrine or the destination principle—that may affect the VAT treatment of service transactions.
But the basic requirement remains applicable. The activity that gives rise to the payment of service fee must be performed in the Philippines to be subject to VAT. Jurisprudence goes further by stating that, being an excise tax, the same can be levied by the government only when the acts, privileges, or businesses are done or performed within the jurisdiction of the Philippines. Hence, before any other rules could be applied in determining the VAT implication of a specific service transaction, a determination should be made first as to where the service is rendered.
that the service must be performed in the Philippines for VAT to be imposable on service fees. The imposition of VAT should not be based solely on the utilization, application, or consumption in the Philippines. To do so would disregard the basic requirement that the service must be performed in the Philippines.
And these rules apply to both resident and non-resident service providers. Having said that, a few deviations from this rule should be noted.
the Philippines” as the basis for the imposition of VAT. It only expands the coverage of that phrase to include digital services consumed in the Philippines. Hence, for digital services, a specific provision is provided in our VAT law as basis for the imposition of VAT based on place of consumption. Without that provision, there would have been no basis for imposing VAT on digital services, simply on the basis of consumption in the Philippines. For all other services, there is no similar provision. In the absence of similar rule for all other types of services, these could not be taxed based on place of consumption. If there is an existing rule that would have also covered the digital services, and there would have been no need to modify the rule to specially capture digital services consumed in the country.
We know how these unscrupulous ukay-ukay importers and sellers and their “partners” in the national and local governments are affecting legitimate local businesses. Our textile industry used to have 1.5 million spindles that can hire up to 35 people on a 24-hour basis. This number today has dropped to about 100,000. Our legitimate apparel retailers and makers of RTWs are being severely affected by ukay-ukay. The desire of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to create more jobs and encourage more investments is being negated by this continuously flourishing ukay-ukay business. Don’t ever defend these establishments by using the argument that they are catering to the poor who cannot afford brand-new clothes. What is illegal is illegal. “Dura lex, sed lex” (The law is harsh, but it is the law).
And we should never compromise the dignity of our nation. I’m ready to debate with anyone who will say otherwise, anytime, anywhere.
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.
While repairs may cause temporary disruptions to traffic flow, they are essential for ensuring safe and convenient long-term transportation.
For feedback e-mail to senatormarkvillar@gmail. com or visit our web site: https://markvillar.com.ph
These infrastructure projects are integral to nation-building, playing a vital role in economic growth and improving the quality of life.
On this basis, the government has the right to impose VAT on service fees if the related service is performed or to be performed in the Philippines. In other words, when the service is not performed or will not be performed in the Philippines, no VAT is imposable. Fees for services rendered outside the country should not be covered by the Philippine VAT system even if the consumption is in the country.
To reiterate, the basic rule requires
Special Treatment of Digital Services Rendered by Non-Residents: A different treatment applies to digital services, especially those rendered by non-residents. Based on a recently enacted law (RA 12023), digital services rendered by nonresident digital service providers shall be considered performed or rendered in the Philippines if the digital services are consumed in the Philippines. This makes the consumption in the Philippines the basis for the imposition of VAT on digital services rendered by nonresidents.
But this is not actually a deviation from the basic rule—that the service must be performed in the Philippines to be subject to VAT. It still recognizes the “performance in
Services Rendered by Non-Residents to Registered Business Enterprises (RBEs): Before the enactment of CREATE, our tax authority had issued a number of rulings confirming the exemption from VAT on services rendered by nonresidents to businesses registered with and operating within the economic and freeport zones—even if the service is rendered within the economic or freeport zone. This exemption was anchored on the interplay of the cross-border doctrine or the destination principle with the laws creating or recognizing these economic and freeport zones and the incentives provided to their locators.
Needless to say, these doctrines and principles are no longer applicable. Suffice it to say that the bases of those exemptions are no longer found in our tax incentive laws, particularly with the enactment of CREATE and CREATE MORE. Nonetheless, these new laws include as among the incentives available to registered export enterprises (REEs) and reg-
North Korea says Trump’s Golden Dome risks ‘space nuclear war’
By Denny Thomas
ORTH Korea sharply criti-
Ncized President Donald Trump’s plan for a Golden Dome missile-defense system, a shield intended to counter threats from rivals including Pyongyang. The program “is an outer space nuclear war scenario supporting the US strategy for uni-polar domination,” the official Korean Central News Agency reported on Tuesday, citing a memo from an institute under the Foreign Ministry in Pyongyang.
The memorandum described the US program as “the height of self-righteousness, arrogance, highhanded and arbitrary practice,” adding that Washington “has been hell-bent on the moves to militarize outer space, claiming that those who dominate outer space can win victory in the future war.” Trump vowed last week that the Golden Dome shield should be operational by the end of his term, saying it would be able to protect the US from threats including ballistic missiles, hypersonics and advanced cruise
missiles. Much of the tech around the system remains unproven, especially plans for space-based interceptors to knock down incoming ballistic missiles.
Over the past several years North Korea has been trying to add a multiple warhead intercontinental ballistic missile to its arsenal, a move that would increase the chance of at least one nuclear weapon making it past interceptors and reaching its target.
Last year, North Korea claimed it successfully conducted a test of a
Over the past several years North Korea has been trying to add a multiple warhead intercontinental ballistic missile to its arsenal, a move that would increase the chance of at least one nuclear weapon making it past interceptors and reaching its target.
missile that exploded in the early stages of flight.
North Korea joins China in criticizing the Golden Dome plan. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said earlier it “violates the principle of peaceful use of outer space,” adding that it would start an arms race. Beijing has been Pyongyang’s biggest benefactor for decades, supplying aid that has propped up an economy badly hobbled by international sanctions over North Korea’s nuclear program.
istered high-value domestic market enterprises (HVDMEs) their exemption from VAT on their importations. One of the many questions I have received in relation to this VAT exemption on importation is—are services purchased from non-residents by REEs and HVDMEs covered by the VAT exemption on importation? That is not clear, but I believe they should enjoy exemption. In relation to the imposition of VAT on digital services mentioned earlier, Revenue Memorandum Circular (RMC) No. 047-2025 had clarified that digital services rendered by non-resident digital service providers to REEs and HVDMEs are exempted from VAT, if the digital services are directly attributable to the registered activity or project of the buyer. While the subject of this RMC is the clarification of the application of digital services tax law, this specific pronouncement exempting digital services is based on the application of CREATE and CREATE MORE. This reason for the exemption of digital services purchased from non-residents by REEs and HVDMEs should also apply to all other purchases of services from non-residents by REEs and HVDMEs. Hence, purchase of all types of services by REEs and HVDMEs from non-resident service providers should also enjoy exemption if said services are attributable to their registered projects or activities.
The author is a managing partner of Du-Baladad and Associates Law Offices (BDB Law) (www. bdblaw.com.ph).
The article is for general information only and is not intended, nor should be construed as a substitute for tax, legal, or financial advice on any specific matter. Applicability of this article to any actual or particular tax or legal issue should be supported, therefore, by a professional study or advice. If you have any comments or questions concerning the article, you may e-mail the author at fulvio.dawilan@ bdblaw.com.ph or call 8403-2001 loc 310.
Last month, Trump said he plans to reach out to North Korea “at some point” and reiterated that he has a “very good relationship” with leader Kim Jong Un. During his first term, Trump announced the suspension or scaling down of some major US-South Korea military drills after starting faceto-face talks with Kim. While those discussions ultimately collapsed, Trump has indicated a willingness to reach out for renewed talks during his second term. With assistance from Shinhye Kang/Bloomberg
Villar . . .
Dr. Jesus Lim Arranza
Wednesday, May 28, 2025
BusinessMirror
‘Better marketing, visitor experience’ to save tourism
By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo Special to the BusinessMirror
STAKEHOLDERS
in the tourism industry are calling for better ways to promote the Philippines beyond its immediate source markets, and improve the traveler’s experience to boost visitor arrivals.
In a Viber message to the BusinessMirror, Philippine Hotel Owners Association Executive Director Benito C. Bengzon Jr. said: “We are hoping that foreign visitor arrivals in the country will go back to prepandemic levels as soon as possible. Our hotels and resorts are still largely dependent on business coming from international guests. Government and private sector representatives must meet immediately and agree on the priority source markets and marketing activities so we can arrest the decline.”
further our long-haul presence— though we may not get as many tourists—but we get the longstaying tourists. I believe Department of Tourism [DOT] is already strengthening Asean travel along with other nations, especially in the Asean summit currently happening in Malaysia.”
look at to find out what to be careful of in certain destinations. Travelers are just ‘informed.’ As to the impact, it is not as huge as we think, though as much as possible, we hope the government can mitigate what is happening on the ground.”
CONWEP TELLS GOVT: BRING IN WHOLE SUPPLY CHAIN TO PHL
THE Philippine garments industry hopes to revive the textile manufacturing industry and bring the whole supply chain in the country in order to kickstart a “wide industrialization” program which can help provide 250,000 direct jobs for every $1-billion export revenues, according to the Confederation of Wearable Exporters of the Philippines (Conwep).
The Conwep official said the wearables industry is the only industry that “can really provide the whole spectrum of a higher value-added component to the supply chain, that’s the design, that’s merchandising, that’s marketing, that’s branding, that’s stores.”
Down the supply chain, she noted, is employment.
Aileen Clemente, president of Rajah Travel Corp., stressed the need for “consistent marketing outside of the Philippines” while strengthening the country’s tourism products.
Reach out to long-haul travelers SHE added: “We have to increase
For his part, Harold S. Atondo, secretary-general of the Philippine Tour Operators Association (Philtoa), said: “Reinstating and streamlining the visa process—especially for high-potential markets like China—can immediately remove a major barrier. A faster, more secure electronic-visa system with proper fraud control could help regain lost visitor traffic.”
Latest DOT data showed the continued slippage in tourist arrivals, reaching just 2.1 million from January to April this year. Aside from large decreases in arrivals from China and South Korea, less tourists from Taiwan, Singapore, and Malaysia, yearon-year, have also been recorded. (See, “Tourist arrivals still sluggish at 2.1M in JanuaryApril ’25,” in the BusinessMirror, May 26, 2025.)
Meanwhile, Clemente, who is also former executive vice president of the Tourism Congress of the Philippines, doesn’t see any huge impact from the recent travel advisories issued by the United States and South Korea regarding safety issues in the Philippines. “Travel advisories are just that, advisories. These are similar to what I and our corporate clients
Washington has kept the Philippines at Level 2 in a renewed travel advisory on May 8, 2025: “Exercise increased caution in the Philippines due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, and kidnapping.” It advised its citizens to “reconsider travel to other areas in Mindanao, and do not travel” to the Sulu archipelago. The advisory was likely issued after an American vlogger was kidnapped then killed in Zamboanga del Norte last December.
The South Korean embassy also raised the alarm on recent crimes perpetrated against its nationals in supposed safe enclaves like Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.
Work on infra, transport, safety PHILTOA’S Atondo, meanwhile, underscored the importance of restoring the DOT’s international
“We’re telling the government to finally bring in the whole supply chain, because the industry of apparel, textile, shoes and bags, is rooted in actually, our base is agriculture. We get our fabric from cotton, from pineapples. We get our materials…wool from farms, farming. So it’s a whole supply chain,” Conwep Executive Director Maritess Jocson-Agoncillo said at the forum “Trade Wars and the Evolving PostGlobalization International Trading Order” in Makati City.
“If we can bring back in textile manufacturing, bring back the supply chain here, with all the issues against China, let’s bring it here, and then that’s the start of a very wide industrialization program that can provide jobs across the spectrum. For every $1-billion export by any country, it’s about
“We can provide jobs to the less privileged, the marginalized that have not been able to get proper education and these will be the garment workers. So there’s enough space to grow here,” she added.
Jocson-Agoncillo stressed the need for the country to industrialize, adding that there’s a lot to be done in the space of garment, textile, shoes and bags that can impact the Philippine economy.
Washington’s tariff policy, she noted, is just a short-term issue, but bringing in the whole supply chain in the country is the longterm strategy that may solve the industry’s as well as economic woes.
“We’re telling the government this tariff issue of the United States is a midyear concern, short-term issue. Let’s look into
By Samuel P. Medenilla
@sam_medenilla
WITH much untapped business potential between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries such as in setting halal standards and digital economy, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he will push for closer ties between the two regional blocs during their next scheduled meeting next year, to be hosted by Manilla.
In his intervention at the second Asean-GCC Summit, the chief executive said Asean and GCC should elevate their economic partnership to “leverage their complementary strengths.”
“Asean, with its rapidly growing digital economy and youthful, tech-savvy population, can partner with the GCC, whose strengths in energy, investment capital, and logistics infrastructure are meeting globally,” Marcos said.
“Together, we can co-create resilient supply chains, sustainable energy solutions, and innovationdriven ecosystems,” he added. Both regional blocs, he said, can also explore halal trade and standard harmonization through a mutually recognized halal certification regime. Halal is anything permissible under Islamic law for food, drinks, actions and behaviors.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has highlighted the enormous potential for halal product by noting how the country achieved P16 billion in halal sales last February due to its successful “Halal-friendly Philippines” campaign last year.
“Establishing a more mutually recognized halal certification regime will enhance trust, reduce regulatory friction, and create a powerful export platform for our MSMEs [micro, small, and medium enterprises] and our agri-food producers,” Marcos said.
Digital, workforce cooperation
HE said he is also eyeing for Asean to cooperate with GCC as it crafts its Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA).
“We see potential to engage the GCC in advancing interoperable digital standards, same-tech collaboration, emerging technologies, and cross-border e-commerce platforms,” Marcos said.
“This is particularly timely as global trade increasingly shifts online and new trade corridors are being shaped by the new technologies. The GCC is an important region for the Philippines on the aspect of labor mobility,” he added.
He noted Asean member states already have 2.7 million citizens, 2 million of whom are overseas Filipino workers, in GCC countries.
Providing upskilling to the Asean workforce will not only benefit the regional bloc, but also GCC members, according to Marcos.
“It is important for both regions to continue to provide upskilling opportunities and ensure the protection and promotion of their rights and their welfare,” Marcos said.
Innovation-driven growth THE President also pushed a similar economic partnership during the 16th Brunei DarussalamIndonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMPEeaga), which he chaired.
“Since 2017, our cooperation has deepened, and our partnership has delivered tangible benefits for our peoples,” Marcos said during the recent BIMP-Eaga.
The subregional grouping of Asean, he said, can further enhance their cooperation on connectivity, trade and investment facilitation, food and energy security, ecotourism, and green development.
“I am confident that through our cooperation, we will continue to transform these aspirations that we have held into lasting impact for our peoples,” Marcos said.
Kadiwa scheme to cover minimum pay earners
THE Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) agreed in principle to include minimum wage earners among the beneficiaries in the subsidized rice program sold in Kadiwa sites.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. stressed that strong interagency collaboration is crucial in sustaining and expanding the impact of the P20 per kilo rice program.
“For now, participation is limited to workers from companies that have expressed interest in the pilot program,” Laurel said in a statement.
The agency noted that eligible workers from participating compa-
nies could start purchasing the P20 per kilo rice by June. However, the DA did not disclose the participating companies.
For his part, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma thanked the DA chief for supporting his proposal to include minimum wage earners in the subsidized rice program.
“We had a very good and fruitful discussion in our shared goal of helping our workers, particularly minimum wage earners. By including them in this rice program, we aim to improve their purchasing power,” Laguesma said.
“We are looking forward to a very successful implementation of this convergence of the DA and the DOLE.”
The government launched the P20 per kilo rice program this month as part of efforts to fasttrack the freeing up of space in the National Food Authority (NFA) warehouses.
This grants the grains agency storage space to purchase more palay from local farmers at higher prices, which range from P18 to P24 per kilo. Such rates ensure farmers earn a
Editor: Jennifer A. Ng
Vista Land income rises on higher sales in Jan-March
By VG Cabuag @villygc
VISTA Land & Lifescapes Inc., the property development arm of the Villar Group, on Tuesday said its income grew 5 percent to P3.39 billion in the first quarter from the previous year’s P3.22 billion.
Revenues inched up by a slim 4 percent to P10.64 billion from the previous year’s P10.25 billion, as most of its businesses grew at almost the same pace.
Revenues from real estate sales went up by 5 percent to P5.85 billion for January to March, from the previous year’s P5.55 billion.
“This was primarily attributable to the increase in the overall completion rate of sold inventories of some of its business units as well as the recognition of the significant financing component for the period,” the company said.
The real estate revenue of Crown Asia jumped by 66 percent to P740
million from the previous year’s P444 million, mainly due to the increase in the number of sold homes completed or under construction in the Mega Manila area in the upper middle-income residential segment.
The company said there were also some significant financing components recognized.
Vista Residences revenues, meanwhile, rose by 7 percent to P1.51 billion from P1.41 billion previously, due to the increase in the number of sold condominium units completed.
Vista Residences is the business unit of Vista Land that develops and sells vertical projects across the Philippines.
Revenues from Brittany, meanwhile, expanded by 20 percent to P573 million from P478 million last year, as the company sold more highend or upscale residential segment.
Revenues from communities Philippines, the affordable residential developer, increased by 4 percent to P2.07 billion from P1.99 billion. Camella’s revenues were almost flat at P1.35 billion compared with last year’s P1.34 billion.
Rental income, meanwhile, rose by 4 percent to P4.35 billion from P4.18 billion last year due to the hike in rates for the period.
Interest income from installment contracts receivable fell 22 percent to P105 million from P135 million last year due to the decrease in the number of buyers obtaining in-house financing.
Parking, hotel, mall administrative and processing fee and other revenue went down by 9 percent to P338 million from the previous year’s P370 million, as the company had more forfeitures during the period.
Exec: MPTC mulls over waiving toll
By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan
METRO Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan on Tuesday said he is open to waiving toll on select expressway segments to help ease the expected traffic gridlock during the upcoming Edsa Rebuild.
This, he said, takes cue from the government’s initiative to make portions of San Miguel Corp.’s (SMC) Skyway Stage 3 toll-free during the rehabilitation of Edsa.
“We also have the (Nlex) Connector. Maybe we should do the same thing,” he said in a chance interview.
Pangilinan acknowledged the need for toll operators to step up amid anticipated traffic disruptions along Edsa, noting that MPTC—operator of the Nlex Connector—could play a role in providing alternative routes to motorists.
“San Miguel has taken the lead there. It was a good lead that they’ve done.And I think we should follow their example. To help you out in the traffic situation, I guess, for the next two years or so.”
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is set to begin the phased rehabilitation of Edsa on June 13, starting with the stretch between Pasay and Shaw Boulevard in both directions. Officials hope to complete this segment by year-end, with the remaining sections to follow.
To mitigate congestion, the government earlier announced that select portions of San Miguel’s Skyway Stage 3 would be toll-free during the construction period.
Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said discussions with the Toll Regulatory Board are underway to determine how SMC will be compensated, including the possibility of extending its concession agreement.
Aside from toll relief, the government is rolling out a wider traffic management plan that includes deploying 100 additional buses on the Edsa Busway, boosting MRT 3 train capacity, removing road obstructions on alternate routes, and implementing an oddeven traffic scheme.
The Edsa Busway will remain operational throughout the construction period.
STATE-RUN firm Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) said it has signed a 25-year contract with Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) for the lease of the John Hay Technohub (also known as Ayala Technohub) in Camp John Hay, Baguio City.
Under the terms of the agreement, BCDA said the property will continue to serve its current purpose, providing stability for the existing business while paving the way for “broader” economic gains.
The state-run firm said this property will include a “conducive” business process outsourcing building (BPO) building and “vibrant” retail clusters.
BCDA said this partnership may generate around P600 million in revenues and provide more job opportunities to the local community.
It attributed this “fiscal benefit” to the “demonstrated success” in land value capture, which it noted has averaged 14-percent across Ayala developments.
Beyond the fiscal benefits, BCDA said the agreement it will continue to provide a “considerable uplift” in job stability in the area, which currently employs 3,000.
“The partnership emphasizes a commitment to maximizing the utility of existing assets, attracting fresh investments, and critically, cultivating
a resilient and sustainable economic ecosystem for the benefit of the Filipino people,” the state-run firm said in a statement.
Since it recovered Camp John Hay property in January, the BCDA said it bagged over P1.4 billion in investments from new commercial and residential lease agreements.
For his part, BCDA President and CEO Joshua M. Bingcang said this partnership “ensures that business continues to thrive smoothly while we build a brighter future for all.”
“It reflects the deep trust and confidence that respected companies like Ayala place in government. At BCDA, we are living up to our promise to keep Camp John Hay a place where great things happen.”
BCDA said it remitted P2.04 billion in dividends to the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr).
It noted that this marked a 30.68-percent surge from last year’s P1.56 billion and represents 80 percent of the agency’s net earnings in 2024. The figure was above the 50 percent minimum stipulated under Republic Act 7656 (the Dividend Law), and exceeded the call by the Department of Finance for governmentowned and -controlled corporations to remit at least 75 percent of their net income.
Andrea E. San Juan
Moody’s affirms ratings of 3 banks
By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario
MOODY’S Ratings has affirmed the credit ratings of three Philippine banks on the back of stable asset quality, strong solvency, and healthy liquidity but noted that the country’s sovereign ratings prevents the banks from getting credit rating upgrades.
The banks assessed by Moody’s were the BDO Unibank Inc. (BDO), Metropolitan Bank & Trust Company (Metrobank), and the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI). Their Baseline Credit Assessment (BCA) affirmed a “Baa2” rating.
“(An upgrade of the bank’s) BCA and ratings is unlikely as they are already at the same level as the Philippines sovereign rating,” read a statement Moody’s issued last Monday.
Moody’s said BDO’s rating reflected its stable asset quality and strong credit underwriting despite its high consumer loan growth over the past three years.
The credit rating agency also said the affirmation reflected BDO’s robust funding and liquidity, good profitability and adequate capital.
In the case of Metrobank, the affirmation of its rating reflected its strong solvency, balanced against weakened funding and liquidity metrics.
Moody’s assumed “Metrobank will receive support from the Government of Philippines (Baa2 stable) in times of need, the bank ratings do not benefit from government support uplift because its BCA is already at the same level as the sovereign rating.”
For BPI, Moody’s said, reflected its adequate capital, healthy liquidity, and good profitability. The credit rating agency said “these credit strengths are balanced against BPI’s deteriorating asset quality, driven by its rapid loan growth into the higher risk consumer segments.” Meanwhile, Moody’s said credit downgrades are possible for the banks.
In the case of BDO, its BCA could be downgraded if its capital declines or its tangible common equity as a percentage of Moody’s-adjusted risk weighted assets (TCE/RWA) gets close to 11.5 percent.
A credit rating downgrade is also possible if the bank sees a significant and sustained increase in non-performing loans (NPLs) which could increase to over 100 basis points, hurt the bank’s profitability, and decrease its capital.
“BDO’s BCA could also be lowered if there is a significant increase in related party lending. Its deposit rating could be downgraded if the BCA is downgraded by more than one notch. A downgrade of the sovereign rating will lead to a downgrade of BDO’s BCA and long-term ratings,” Moody’s said.
For Metrobank, Moody’s said, a downgrade is possible if its usage of market funds increase to 25 percent of its tangible banking assets.
The credit rating agency also said a downgrade is possible if the amount of “unencumbered liquid resources as a percentage of tangible banking assets declines to 20 percent.”
“A material increase in related party lending or a decline in the bank’s TCE/ RWA ratio below 12 percent would also be negative for its BCA. Metrobank’s deposit ratings would be downgraded if the sovereign rating is downgraded,” Moody’s said. In the case of BPI, Moody’s said, its rating could be downgraded if its solvency metrics see a significant deterioration or its bad loans ratio increases above five percent.
A downgrade is also possible if Moody’s-adjusted TCE/RWA ratio decreases to below 12 percent. Moody’s also said BPI’s BCA could also be lowered if there is a significant increase in related party lending.
“A downgrade of the sovereign rating will lead to a downgrade of BPI’s BCA and long-term ratings,” Moody’s said.
BDO reported total assets of P4.9
Banking&Finance PHL, HK tax treaty talks taking off
By Reine Juvierre Alberto @reine_alberto
TALKS on a tax treaty seen benefitting firms operating across both markets have taken off, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) announced last Tuesday.
According to the BIR, the initial round of talks for the “Comprehensive Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement” (DTA) with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) was held from May 21 to May 23 in Kowloon, Hong Kong.
The revenue agency added that the discussions “reaffirmed the Philippines’s commitment to strengthen-
ing international tax cooperation, fostering economic partnerships and ensuring fair and equitable taxation on cross-border income.”
Internal Revenue Commissioner
Romeo D. Lumagui Jr. led the Philippine negotiating panel while the Hong Kong SAR delegation was headed by Commissioner Benjamin Chan Sze-wai of the Inland Revenue
Department.
Both delegations engaged in technical discussions on key provisions of the proposed treaty, including the elimination of double taxation, tax relief mechanisms and frameworks for mutual cooperation between the two tax authorities.
“We recognize the importance of the DTA in fostering economic growth, promoting investment and providing clarity for businesses and individuals operating in both jurisdictions,” Lumagui was quoted in a statement as saying.
“The BIR is open to all international discussions that aim to promote the economic situation of all parties. We are here to find a winwin solution for all our international partners,” he added.
Both negotiating panels have agreed to conduct a second round of
BTr rejects high bid yields for T-bonds
THE Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) made a partial award of the reissued 15-year Treasury bonds (T-bonds) as the government rejected higher bid yields sought by investors seeking to lock in favorable returns ahead of the expected reduction in key policy rates.
The auction committee only awarded P19.758 billion out of the P30 billion planned offering last Tuesday to investors of government securities.
With a remaining life of 13 years and seven months, the debt papers capped an average yield of 6.473 percent, higher than the secondary market benchmark rates.
This is up by 6.41 basis points from the Bloomberg Valuation Service (BVAL) Reference Rate for the 15-year government securities at 6.4089 percent.
Likewise, this is also above by 12.3 basis points than the BVAL Reference rate for the security at 6.350 percent.
Had the Treasury awarded in full the reissued long-tenor debt papers, the average yield would have gone up to 6.500 percent. The lowest bid yield was at 6.300 percent.
Still, the auction was oversubscribed as total tenders reached P34.469 billion, slightly higher than the P30 billion offering.
Nonetheless, the Treasury rejected some bids it deemed too expensive to pay back in the future, according to Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort.
Despite the relatively lower bids compared to recent weeks, Ricafort said that the uptick in yields reflects the broader market trend following the recent spike in US Treasury yields. The latter was borne from Moody’s downgrade of US credit rating to Aa1 from Aaa on May 16 as
well as from renewed concerns over fiscal expansion under US President Donald Trump’s proposed tax cuts and stimulus plans, the RCBC executive explained.
The benchmark 10-year US Treasury yield has climbed to 4.46 percent, the highest in three months, which could lead to higher borrowing costs for many governments, corporates and other major borrowers worldwide since their debts are priced at a spread above the comparable US Treasury yields, Ricafort said.
The movement in yields was due to Trump’s trade war, which could lead to higher US inflation and unemployment rates and causing the cautious stance by US Federal Reserve officials, Ricafort added.
He believes the signaling by key Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) officials for more rate cuts this year offset these upward pressures.
BSP Governor Eli M. Remolona Jr. recently said there are two 25-basis point reductions in key policy rates for the remainder of the year, citing uncertainties in the global economy and continued easing inflation.
“So far, the hard data says we have plenty of room to cut, especially because inflation is low. But we have to be careful because we don’t want to cut too much. If you cut to the point where our demand exceeds our capacity, then that will be inflationary,” Remolona said.
The key policy rate was lowered by 25 basis points, bringing the target reverse repurchase rate to 5.50 percent. The interest rates on the overnight deposit and lending facilities were also reduced to 5 percent and 6 percent, respectively.
The next rate-setting meeting of the Monetary Board, the BSP’s highest policy-making body, is scheduled for June 19.
Meanwhile, the US Federal Reserve is seen delaying its rate-cutting cycle, with Fed Fund Futures now pricing in fewer than two 25-basis point cuts for the rest of the year, with the first cut pushed to as late as October.
This May, the Treasury raised a total of P159.758 billion through the issuance of T-bonds to the local debt market.
Next month, the Treasury will borrow a total of P130 billion by auctioning off 3-, 5-, 7-, 10- and 25year T-bonds.
Treasury bills will also be offered to investors, with tenors of 91-, 182and 364-day, every Monday. A total of P100 billion is eyed to be generated from short-term debt papers in June.
The government’s gross borrowings amounted to P745.142 billion as of the first quarter, about 29.27 percent of this year’s borrowing program worth P2.545 trillion set by the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC).
An 80:20 borrowing mix will be followed to lessen the government’s exposure to foreign exchange risks. About P2.037 trillion will be raised domestically, while P507.408 billion will be borrowed from foreign sources.
The government borrows to finance its spending requirements as well as to cover its budget deficit. As of end-April, that deficit widened by 78.98 percent to P411.5 billion.
The national government’s outstanding debt stood at a fresh record level of P16.683 trillion as of the first quarter, as higher domestic and external borrowings pushed up liabilities. Reine Juvierre S. Alberto
talks to resolve outstanding issues and finalize the agreement. The BIR didn’t identify the outstanding issues.
According to Lumagui, while “significant progress has been made, there is still a need to carefully address remaining open issues to ensure a fair and balanced agreement.”
“These matters require further deliberation to reach a comprehensive and equitable outcome that serves the best interests of both the Philippines and Hong Kong,” he added.
DTAs are treaties between two countries or jurisdictions that aim to prevent individuals and companies from being taxed in the source country and again in the taxpayer’s home country.
This may arise under several conditions, such as when both taxes are imposed on the same property or
INFLUENTIAL business organizations have expressed their firm support for the ongoing Cabinet revamp triggered by the dismal performance of the Marcos Jr. administration in the just-concluded midterm senatorial elections. This is the first reshuffle in the executive branch since the “Hello Garci” scandal rocked the Arroyo Cabinet in 2005. Both the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) are calling for merit-based appointments, while the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCII) issued a statement of support for the courtesy resignation of all Cabinet members. The Makati Business Club (MBC) believes there won’t be a major change since the replacement of many top officials could be disruptive.
In the first round of the Cabinet revamp last May 22, all five members of the economic cluster were spared from the chopping block. They are: Trade Secretary Cristina A. Roque; Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto; Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan; Budget Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman; and, Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Frederick D. Go.
subject matter, for the same reason, by the same government or taxing authority, during the same period, and with the same kind or character of tax.
With a DTA in place, more foreign direct investments could flow into the Philippines, as well as enhanced cross-border trade and deeper integration into global value chains.
Earlier this year, the Manila and Phnom Penh signed a DTA to eliminate double taxation on income earned in both countries, prevent tax evasion, and enhance economic cooperation, in line with commitments under the “Asean Forum on Taxation.”
The Philippines currently has 44 DTAs with several countries, including the People’s Republic of China, the United States of America, Canada, Singapore and Spain.
Tax reforms under the retained economic team briefs
➔ Church volunteers’ SSS contributions to be subsidized CALUMPIT, BULACAN–The Social Security System (SSS) announced it has entered into an agreement under the Contribution Subsidy Provider Program (CSPP) with the Life Builder Fellowship (LBF). SSS Vice President for Luzon Central 2 Division Gloria Corazon Andrada was quoted in a statement as saying that the LBF pledged to sponsor the monthly SSS contributions of an initial group of ten dedicated volunteers for a minimum of six months, with plans to extend the support to more volunteers in the future. “Many volunteers generously give their time and effort without any compensation. Through partnerships like this, we ensure that no one is left behind when it comes to social protection,” Andrada said.
➔ GSIS, PGEA hold dialogue
Deposit Insurance Corp. (PDIC) General Counsel Maria Antonette Brillantes-Bolivar highlighted the critical role of deposit insurance in protecting depositors and promoting financial stability. In her address during the recent 33rd Bankers Institute of the Philippines (Baiphil) National Convention held at the Iloilo Convention Center, Bolivar discussed the PDIC’s recent policy adjustment to the maximum deposit insurance coverage to P1 million per depositor per bank, along with key initiatives to advance financial literacy and inclusion. She also outlined the PDIC’s commitment to integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles into risk management, and addressing emerging global challenges such as climate-related financial risks and governance issues.
THE Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) announced recently it held a dialogue with members of the Philippine Government Employees Association (PGEA) on GSIS programs and services. “Listening to our members and pensioners guides us in making real improvements. it is a principle that steers the improvement of our programs and services. The feedback we receive helps ensure that our services remain relevant, accessible, and truly responsive to the evolving needs of government workers and retirees,” GSIS President and General Manager Jose Arnulfo A. Veloso was quoted in a statement the agency issued
and
Leaders of the MAP, the MBC, the PCCI and the FFCCCII were unanimous in lauding the President’s decision to retain his economic managers. According to PCCI President Enunina V. Mangio, “they have been instrumental in the continued growth of the economy despite global economic headwinds.” MBC Executive Director Rafael Alfonso Salvador G. Ongpin said their retention “strengthens the continuity and stability of economic policies and initiatives.”
This is the same economic team responsible for tax reforms aimed at enticing foreign direct investments (FDIs) to the Philippines—foremost of which is Republic Act (RA) 12066. Otherwise known as the “Create More” law, RA 12066 lowered the income tax rates of registered business enterprises from 25 percent to 20 percent and granted more fiscal incentives to qualified companies.
The country has been a laggard in Southeast Asia when it comes to attracting FDIs. Data from the United Nations Trade and Development (Unctad) showed that $6.2 billion in FDIs flowed into the Philippines in 2024, compared to Vietnam’s $18.5 billion, Indonesia’s $21.6 billion, and Singapore’s $159.7 billion.
Another tax reform measure being supported by the economic team is House Bill (HB) 11360 seeking the rationalization of excise tax rates on tobacco and vapor products to curb government revenue losses from illicit trade. HB 11360 was passed by the House of Representatives last February and is now being deliber-
ated upon by the Senate ways and means committee. Tobacco excise tax collections dropped from P176 billion in 2021 to P130 billion in 2024. Meanwhile, adult smoking rose from 19.0 percent to 24.4 percent over the same period, with the number of Filipino smokers rising to 16.4 million today.
Beneath these statistics lies a dark reality: the country’s black market for tobacco and vapor products is thriving. Partly to blame is the current taxation system, which is complex, punitive, and out of step with enforcement capacity. HB 11360 aims to address this gap by simplifying the excise tax structure on vape products and recalibrating the automatic increases on tobacco products. At the heart of the crisis is a mismatch between tax policy and regulatory enforcement. Based on recent committee hearings at the Senate, up to 80 percent of vape products are now illicit. On the other hand, illicit cigarettes are sold online for as low as P30 per pack while the legitimate brands are retailing between P160 and P225 per pack. No amount of public health messaging can compete with that price differential.
Imposing high taxes is counterproductive and would further fuel the illicit vape industry. A better approach is to simplify the structure, eliminate arbitrage opportunities for smugglers, and apply a rate that will discourage youth use.
Rohan Pike, an Australian security expert who testified at the Senate hearing last May 19, warned that overly aggressive bans on tobacco and vape products—like those attempted in Australia—have fueled not only illicit sales but also violent incidents. This proves that organized crime is increasingly embedded in the black market. What we need now is a smarter tax system that aligns with the realities of enforcement. As Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has proposed, a full-time inter-agency task force on illicit trade should be established with prosecutorial teeth. The government’s intention to save lives is being undercut by the unintended consequence of making harmful illicit products cheaper and largely unregulated in the underground economy.
Joseph Araneta Gamboa
Show BusinessMirror
Scarlett Johansson debuts as a director in Cannes with a comic tale of grief and empathy
Even the actress has been bashed by her fans because of the rumored relationship as they wanted another boyfriend for her. She even reportedly had a falling out with a friend because of her rumored relationship. People suspect the actress and the politician lay low during the election period, but now that it’s over, she will slowly begin to introduce him into her public life. Will this affect her popularity or will it be accepted by her remaining fans? Let’s see!
ANGRY POLITICIAN
How true is the rumor that a politician plans to sue those who criticized him online, claiming he lost the recent election because of them? The politician refuses to believe that he lost because people don’t like him. He really believes that he lost because voters read and believed the bad things being said about him online. So he plans to get back at them by suing them for cyber libel. This makes one wonder how much money and time he has to pursue this.
RICH AND NOT FAMOUS
By Eugenia Last
THE starlet’s social media channels show her living in style. Her designer items alone seem more expensive than those of bigger stars. She isn’t an heiress nor does she have a lot of jobs so it’s not surprising that people are wondering how and why she can afford to live like this. There have been talks that she’s a politician’s kept woman. The politician’s wife has actually filed a complaint against her but the authorities are keeping this under wraps. Meanwhile, the starlet continues to live her life seemingly oblivious of the rumors.
MUA IN TROUBLE
THE celebrity makeup artist is notorious for filtering the photos of clients that she posts on her social media. This is how she still gets clients. But many non-celebrity clients have been disappointed in the quality of service they have received from her. One is her attitude and those of her entourage. They are reportedly ill-mannered. Two is the lack of hygiene and third is the lackluster look she gives clients.
GMA
says with a smile. In just over a month’s time, she’ll be back in a big summer movie, Jurassic World Rebirth. But even that gig is a product of her own interests. Johansson had been a fan of the Jurassic Park movies for years, and simply wanted to be a part of it.
Following her own instincts, and her willingness to fight for them, has been a regular feature of her career recently. She confronted The Walt Disney Co. over pay during the pandemic release of Black Widow, and won a settlement. When OpenAI launched a voice system called “Sky” for ChatGPT 4.0 that sounded eerily similar to her own, she got the company to take it down.
“At some point, I worked enough that I stopped worrying about not working, or not being relevant— which is very liberating,” Johansson says. “I think it’s something all actors feel for a long time until they
don’t. I would not have had the confidence to direct this film 10 years ago.”
“Which isn’t to say that I don’t often think many times: What the hell am I doing?” she adds. “I have that feeling, still. Certainly doing Jurassic, I had many moments where I was like: Am I the right person for this? Is this working? But I just recently saw it and the movie works.”
So does Eleanor the Great, which Sony Pictures Classics will release at some future date. That’s owed significantly to the performance of Squibb, who, at 95, experienced a Cannes standing ovation alongside Johansson.
“Something I’ll never forget is holding June in that moment,” says Johansson. “The pureness of her joy
SEE “JOHANSSON,” B5
Pictures’ award-winning film ‘Green Bones’ premieres on Netflix worldwide
GMA Network’s critically acclaimed and heart-wrenching drama Green Bones will stream worldwide on Netflix beginning on June 19.
Produced by GMA Pictures and GMA Public Affairs, and co-produced with Brightburn Entertainment, the film stars award-winning actors Dennis Trillo and Ruru Madrid who won Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor, respectively, at the 50th Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF).
Directed by the esteemed filmmaker Zig Dulay and based on the original concept by GMA Public Affairs’ senior manager for documentaries JC Rubio, Green Bones is the story of a soon-to-be-released prisoner named Domingo Zamora (Trillo), who was incarcerated for the murder of his sister. His release is put in jeopardy by Xavier Gonzaga (Madrid), a newly-assigned prison guard who makes it his
personal mission to keep him behind bars.
The drama explores the belief that the presence of green bones in a person’s remains is proof of one’s goodness in life.
Joining the acting powerhouse pairing of Trillo and Madrid are Michael de Mesa, Ronnie Lazaro, Wendell Ramos and Alessandra de Rossi. The movie also features the special participation of Iza Calzado and Nonie Buencamino.
Besides earning acting awards for its two lead actors at the MMFF, Green Bones also won for Best Picture, Best Screenplay for National Artist Ricky Lee and Angeli Atienza, Best Cinematography for Neil Daza, and Best Child Performer for Sienna Stevens.
Green Bones will stream across Netflix platforms globally beginning on June 19.
More information is available at www.gmanetwork.com.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Stay on top of matters that concern work, money and reputation. Anger won’t go over well with superiors. Use knowledge, experience and connections to ensure you have the backing you need, valid information and a clear path forward before implementing your plans.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Contracts, property investments and quotes will offer challenges. Leave nothing to chance, get a second opinion and prepare to walk away if you don’t like what you see or hear. Put more energy into professional advancement and expanding your interests, skills and qualifications to suit the changes and updates in your field. ★★★
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): An emotional checklist will be necessary if you don’t want to appear vulnerable. Be a good listener and give yourself time to ponder what’s being said or implemented before joining forces with anyone. When uncertainty surfaces, consider moving forward alone or looking elsewhere for a better deal. Protect your emotional well-being. ★★★
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Direct your energy on your target and fire away. Self-preservation and determination go together and will ensure that you come out a winner. Focus on doing your best, protecting what you have and exploring and expanding what you love doing most. ★★★★★
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Take a pass; give yourself a chance to breathe and rejuvenate. Assess your situation, consider your options and expand your plans to
HEALTH-BOOSTING MALL ADVENTURE
FROM popular running clubs to full-house indoor cycling classes, fitness is having a moment. People just want to get healthier, smash goals, and find their tribe. Leisure destination Shangri-La Plaza is joining the fitness revolution as it hosts Stride: Walkathon at the Shang on June 7 at 8 am to promote wellness, self-care, and an
the walkathon route lets participants rediscover Shang and also enjoy all the
and engaging booths from wellness and lifestyle brands. The
off with an energizing pre-walk warmup and orientation, and finishes even stronger with fantastic goodies, prizes, and a fun celebration. Register for P1,000 and get an event singlet, bib, event map, exclusive drawstring bag, and raffle stub. The Stride walkathon kit can be claimed at the Concierge on Level 1, Main Wing from May 30 to June 3. All finishers will also receive a medal, made of sustainable wood. Interested participants can register at tinyurl.com/4pnrhdyr Supporting Shang’s first-ever walkathon are Sunnies Studios, TinyBuds, Red Bull, DermPlus, Regrow Botanicals, Dentiste, Unilab, Belo Medical Group, Tempur, OwnDays, Papemelroti, Sneaker Kyler, Digital Walker, Hi-Fi Gallery, I Do Nails, Wobbly Pan, The Crafter’s Marketplace, and Cocoa Boxes PH.
Johansson...
Continued from B4
and her presence in that moment was very touching, I think for everyone in theater. Maybe my way of processing it, too, is through June. It makes it less personal because it’s hard for me to absorb it all.”
Some parts of Eleanor the Great have personal touches, though. After one character says he lives in Staten Island, Squibb’s character retorts, “My condolences.”
“Yeah, I had to apologize to my in-laws for that,” Johansson, who is married to Staten Island native Colin Jost, said laughing. “I was like: Believe it not, I didn’t write that line.”
“I was very young when I made [her 2001 breakthrough film Ghost World]. I think I was 15, and the character is supposed to be 18 or 19. When I was a teenager, I often played characters who were a bit older than myself,” Johansson says. “Even doing Lost in Translation, I think I was 17 when I made it. I think I was playing someone in their mid-20s.”
“It’s a funny thing,” she says. “I wonder sometimes if it then feels like I’ve been around so long, that people expect me to be in my 70s now.” n
is good management
WE have all been there. Someone on the team complains that the boss is micromanaging again and you see several nods, eye rolls, and even smirks. The word alone makes people cringe. You picture someone standing over your shoulder, pointing at every step you take, or double-checking things you have done a hundred times. It feels like they do not trust you. But the truth is, micromanaging is not always about distrust or control. Sometimes, it is good for the person, the job, and the whole team. Imagine a new person joins the team. They are eager, respectful, and show up early each day, clearly eager to do a good job. However, they are just beginning to understand how things in the office work. They do not know where tools or supplies are kept, how the systems and tools function, or how tasks are prioritized. Even the basic routines may seem unfamiliar. A manager who tells them to “figure it out” and walks away sets them up to fail, possibly causing confusion, mistakes, or delays.
On the other hand, a good manager will stay close, explain each step, answer questions, correct small
errors before they become big ones, and provide steady guidance. This may look like micromanaging, and technically it is, but it plays a key role in helping new team members learn the ropes, build confidence, and become productive assets of the team. It prevents costly setbacks and ensures the whole team keeps moving in the right direction.
Now, imagine your team needs to complete an assessment to determine if a new project is even possible. The deadline to finish the report is tight and every detail matters. The manager is watching closely, making sure the team checks all the important factors like the cost estimates, current conditions, materials needed and potential risks. The manager asks for regular updates and suggests adjustments to the plan as new information comes in.
This might feel like micromanaging, but it is about protecting the project and the team. One mistake in the assessment could lead to costly delays, wasted resources, or even a project failing before it even starts. In times like this, the extra attention from the manager is not to control but to ensure that the team succeeds. It helps keep the team focused so that the assessment is accurate and complete.
On another note, imagine that one of the team members has been performing poorly. Perhaps they have personal issues at home, are dealing with stress, or are simply having a hard time keeping up with the workload. They are missing steps, cutting corners, and their work frequently needs to be redone. A bad boss might ignore the problem entirely, hoping it will fix itself, or go straight to disciplinary action and start handing out write-ups.
However, a good manager will take a different approach. They will pull the worker aside, have an
How Kuya J plans to ‘bring the whole country’ to your plate
By Jt Nisay
THERE’S much more to Filipino restaurant Kuya J these days than their famous Crispy Pata and HaloHalo.
In two separate events at its Venice Piazza branch in McKinley Hill, the brand’s top brass discussed their big plans for this year to members of the lifestyle and business media, over some of Kuya J’s staple and newer offerings. Aside from the favorites, among those served on both occasions was the Filipino version of fish and chips, featuring fried tawilis from Batangas to go with kamote chips, presented in a coned banana leaf, showcasing the restaurant’s thrust on food innovation. There was a preview as well of two new items, born from Kuya J’s commitment to offering the best local delicacies across the country.
One was Otap Tiramisu, featuring the oval-shaped puffed pastry cookie from popular Cebuano brand Titay’s, and the other was Ube Piaya Cheesecake crafted with Bongbong’s Piaya from Bacolod.
“We’re not a run-of-the-mill Filipino restaurant, where we’re just content and ‘bahala na,’” said Winglip Chang, president of the Kuya J Restaurant Group, which is also the Philippine master franchise holder of Popeyes, and is behind Landers Central, Majestic Restaurant and Central Eats. “We want to stay relevant to our customers.”
Kuya J traces its roots to a popular local eatery in Cebu named “Ang Kan-Anan ni Kuya J.” Chang and his group acquired the brand and all its recipes, turning it into a successful nationwide chain that had over 100 stores pre-pandemic. Today, the count stands closer to 80, with a revamped growth strategy anchored on regionality and renovation.
“In terms of food, Kuya J is trying to be super
Tirol. “We’re trying to say that Filipino restaurants are about the whole Philippines, and in the upcoming months, towards the end of the year, we’ll be heavily focused on Mindanaoan foods. We’re bringing in the whole country into your plate, so to speak.” Kuya J’s focus on regionality comes from the idea of catering to the “modern Filipino,” which Tirol described as a well-traveled one.
“That is something we want to bring to the table—a little bit of food you miss from everywhere, and we try to make it as close to how it is served in all these places,” he said. “We want to be the real definition of a real, modern Filipino restaurant, as the modern Filipino is not just from Luzon. The modern Filipino is from everywhere.”
continue renovating its stores. According to the group’s senior marketing manager Caren Aguado, the restaurant’s branding has transitioned this year into a minimalist, modern aesthetic, which saw its logo dropping the loud colors while retaining the firewood emblem. The idea is to reflect this look in all of the stores nationwide, and to answer the demand for more semi-enclosed areas, noting the customer trend favoring dining privacy. This year, Kuya J looks to open only around four stores. The soonest is in Laoag, scheduled for next month. The focus lays on refreshing the existing branches, with up to 15 stores lined up for renovations in the coming months, each costing five to seven million pesos. The group has allotted around P100
honest conversation to understand what is going on, and then start working more closely with them to offer support. This might mean going over their checklist every morning, reviewing tasks together before they move on to the next, or staying nearby during the day to help them stay focused and avoid mistakes. It is not about punishment or control but about coaching and rebuilding confidence. And, yes, it is a form of micromanaging, but it is done with the intention of helping the worker get back on track, improve their performance, and remain a valuable part of the team, not to push them out the door. All work goes through changes that can come in the form of new equipment, new systems, or new procedures. Even if you are an experienced worker, new changes in tools or processes can be disorienting and frustrating.
During those transitions, managers often tighten control. They will walk through every step, doublecheck inputs, hold extra meetings, and sometimes slow things down. It can feel like micromanagement overload but the goal is not to slow you down permanently, but to make sure no one gets left behind and that the quality of work does not suffer while everyone adjusts to the change.
At the end of the day, micromanaging is not always about someone being a control freak. It is a tool that can be overused but when it is used with the right intent such as training, supporting, or protecting, it helps people do well. So the next time you hear someone complain about being micromanaged, take a moment to ask why the manager is watching so closely. If the answer is that they care about the job, your safety, or helping someone improve, then maybe it is not such a bad thing after all. n
million in total for its expansion and store renovation efforts.
“Expansion is still in the pipeline,” Tirol said, adding that franchising remains a priority of the group.
Meanwhile, in terms of market Kuya J looks to target the Gen Z market and their discerning taste when it comes to the food’s flavor and authenticity.
Aguado said she and her group keep their pulse on social media, on the lookout for the freshest trends and potential areas of innovation.
While “other restaurants probably have like six, and that’s already a lot,” Kuya J takes pride in launching 20 new dishes in the past year alone, according to Tirol. “What may be hard for other restaurants to disperse in 80 branches, we can do it right away in a short time because of our technology, management power, and supply chain.”
Aguado noted that during Lent, for instance, they amplified healthy items on their menu, such as the Sizzling Pompano sa Gata and the Ginataang Gulay. Then, when summer rolled in, they highlighted four flavors of their famous Halo-Halo offerings, known for their balanced flavor and silky shaved ice. Aguado said what also makes their version stand out is how they made it about “everything you love about HaloHalo,” deducing it to fundamentals to make sure “you don’t leave anything behind.”
“Plus,” she added, “there’s a big leche flan on top.” All told, Kuya J’s strategy proves to be working. Tirol said that they’re hitting record sales numbers this year, with each branch logging double-digit growth—backing up the words of Chang.
“We don’t want to just be like Kuya J of 10 years ago,” the group’s president said. “We’d like to keep on evolving so that we can stay relevant in the industry.”
BDO Foundation & SEC: Fighting Investment Scams
When an investment opportunity sounds too good to be true, it’s probably a scam. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to identify legitimate opportunities versus bogus ones as scams become more and more sophisticated each day.
This is a challenge the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and BDO Foundation are trying to address through a partnership project.
The two organizations recently released two entertaining and educational investor protection videos titled “Check with SEC” and “Legit Investments? It’s a Date.” The short videos reveal potential investment red flags, teach viewers what questions to ask and how to verify existing business information, and encourage the public to check with the proper authorities like the SEC when choosing the right investment.
Check with SEC. The video not only identifies red flags of investment scams but also encourages viewers to check with the SEC before sealing an investment deal.
There are many ways to spot investment red flags. One is to ask the right questions and listen to and study the answers. The music video “Check with SEC” listed examples: promising an easy “double your investment” (or more) monthly income, requiring one to recruit other investors for bonuses, and the need to deposit investment in the agent’s personal bank account to facilitate the process, among many others.
These are only some of the common methods that scammers use to lure potential investors to shell out their hardearned money. Oftentimes, the offers promise high-yielding returns that entice unsuspecting individuals to invest.
Legit Investments? It’s a Date. The video urges investors, “Bago mag-invest, mag-imbestiga.”
The video “Legit Investments? It’s a Date” tells the story of Aldea as she investigates three potential investment
opportunities. She finds her match by fully understanding her role as an investor, learning more about the business, and asking for the right documents.
One of the many lessons viewers can learn from the video is that being SEC-registered does not automatically mean that a business is licensed to offer investment products. Some of the required documents to look for are permit to sell or offer securities, order of registration, and prospectus and salesman certificate.
The videos are now accessible on the Facebook page of the SEC and soon on other platforms of SEC and its partners, as well as on the BDO Foundation YouTube playlist. These will also be used in training seminars and on-ground campaigns.
“BDO Foundation, being a staunch advocate of financial education, also believes in the importance of investor protection. This shared project not only helps prevent Filipinos from falling victim to investment scams but also builds and restores confidence in legitimate investment opportunities,” shared BDO Foundation president Mario Deriquito.
FHOR SM Supermalls, resilience remains an essential pillar in its pursuit of sustainability. Without safe, secure, and prepared communities, the vision of sustainable development becomes difficult to achieve. This is why the company believes that promoting resilience is not only a matter of operational readiness but a responsibility to the communities and businesses that form the backbone of the economy. At the heart of this commitment are micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). These businesses are often the most vulnerable to disruptions brought about by natural and man-made hazards. Yet, they represent a critical force in the national economy---generating jobs, driving local commerce, and sustaining livelihoods. Recognizing their importance, SM Supermalls has made it a priority to help cultivate an MSME sector that is resilient. Across its network, close to 70 percent of SM Supermalls’ tenants are currently MSMEs. These businesses operate under unique lessee contracts that acknowledge their specific needs and challenges. To support them, SM not only provides space but also promotes an environment that values preparedness and long-term continuity. SM Supermalls’ most notable resilience initiative for its MSME tenants is a dedicated Business Continuity Planning (BCP) program launched in 2024. This capacity-building initiative enables businesses to develop tailored Business Continuity Plans and implement adaptive measures to reduce the impact of disruptions.
tenants are each provided with free access to 5GB of remote digital storage where they can securely store critical business documents such as their BCPs, permits, registrations, and insurance policies, among others. In the event of a disaster, access to these documents becomes seamless, allowing faster
stability at higher speeds, maneuverability in tight turns, and ability to absorb road bumps—ideal for both daily commuting and weekend cruising. Comfort and ergonomics were thoughtfully integrated into the design. The new handlebar and footboard layout offered improved reach and posture, while the spacious seat made long rides more enjoyable.
Overall, attendees were impressed by how The All-New PCX160 elevated the premium scooter experience, merging refined design, intelligent engineering, and rider-focused innovations.
The All-New PCX160 sets a new standard in scooter elegance. At first glance, it captivates
with a bold, futuristic silhouette, thanks to its new LED headlight and taillight design looks sharp and enhances visibility and longevity with bright for efficient lighting. A new handlebar cover gives the cockpit a cleaner, more integrated look while protecting internal components. The new foot area design with an extended footboard offers more room, greater comfort, and improved riding stability, making long or daily rides feel effortless. Other exterior upgrades, like the premium 3D emblem and sculpted lines, add a touch of class to every ride, making it clear that this scooter is designed to stand out. Underneath its luxurious look is
allowing access to navigation, calls, and music through a multi-function switch on the handlebar. A rear suspension with sub-tank offers enhanced damping for a smoother ride, while ABS and Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC) add layers of confidence and control. Top it all off with a USB Type-C charger for fast device charging on the go, and a 30L luggage box under the seat—big enough to carry your daily essentials or weekend gear. Undeniably, The All-New PCX160 is a premium scooter that doesn’t just take you places,
L’Oréal Marks Next Chapter in the Philippines with new HQ
L’ORÉAL Philippines marked a new chapter in its 36-year journey in the country, underscoring the essential role of the beauty sector and the company’s commitment to sustainable growth and community empowerment. The company inaugurated its new, future-fit headquarters at The Podium West Tower in Ortigas, Pasig City,
with impact,” said Yassine Bakkari, Country Managing Director of L’Oréal Philippines. “At L’Oréal, we believe that beauty is essential—to self-confidence, livelihood, sustainability, and progress. This headquarters is a testament of our commitment to providing ‘beauty for each,’ empowering communities and championing sustainable business practices in the Philippines.” The Philippines is a melting pot of beauty, drawing from a unique blend of indigenous traditions and cultural influences. The beauty standards and practices in the country continue to evolve and in this digital era,
Editor: Tet Andolong
FLI expects a banner year, taps into Cebu and Clark’s high growth potential
By Rizal Raoul S. Reyes @brownindio
THE Gotianun family-led Filinvest Land Inc.(FLI) is poised for a stellar performance in 2025. In the first quarter alone, it posted impressive numbers as consolidated revenues and other income rose by 12 percent yearon-year to P6.04 billion. Net income increased by 8 percent to P1 billion, with net income attributable to the parent company up 3 percent to P905 million.
FLI is expected to sustain its growth trajectory in the residential segment. The company is prioritizing “ready-for-occupancy” (RFO) sales, which are driving stronger revenues and asset returns. It is beefing up the mass-market housing portfolio and accelerating local sales channels, particularly in Visayas and Mindanao, and Luzon outside of Metro Manila. FLI is also scaling up their international sales network.
FLI is also capitalizing on the growth of the local retail sector by fast-tracking the opening of new malls in Activa Cubao (Quezon City) and Filinvest Mall Mimosa Estate (Clark, Pampanga). The company said retail spaces are generating strong tenant interest due to their prime locations. For both retail
and office leasing, FLI is employing targeted rent strategies and tighter cost controls to boost occupancy and EBITDA.
In summary, Filinvest Land’s outlook for 2025 appears positive, driven by strong residential sales in key growth areas, expansion of its retail and industrial portfolios, and a favorable broader real-estate market in the Philippines.
It said residential real estate revenues grew 9 percent to P3.7 billion, Leasing revenues surged 17 percent to P2.06 billion due to steady demand and higher occupancy in office and retail spaces.
Filinvest Land is expanding with new malls in Activa Cubao and Mimosa Clark, attracting strong tenant interest.
“Overall, Filinvest Land is sus -
taining a positive growth trajectory with strong fundamentals and strategic expansions in 2025,” the company said in a statement.
Seeing growth in Cebu City’s SRP FLI sees Cebu's South Road Properties (SRP) emerging as the city’s next commercial powerhouse. The company’s City di Mare (CDM), a mixed-use township development in Cebu City’s South Road Properties (SRP) and a joint venture between Filinvest Land, Inc. and the Cebu City Government, is envisioned as a community where business, lifestyle, and nature converge.
FIL and the local government unit of Cebu City is developing CDM CDM is being developed as a premier central business district in Cebu City.
With only eight hectares of prime commercial land remaining, CDM offers just 25 exclusive commercial
Araneta City bags top Visual Victories awards at 2025 ICSC Global Awards
AAt the awards ceremony held in Las Vegas on Monday, May 19, the City of Firsts clinched top prizes under the Most Creative Media/Sponsorship Campaign—Local Brand category: a Gold for its 2024 Pride Month activation and a Silver for its 2024 World Autism Awareness Month initiative.
“Our hearts are filled with happiness and gratitude as we accept these recognitions. It means a lot to see that our advocacy campaigns are being appreciated and recognized on a global stage. It reminds us that the City of Firsts is a place where people connect to build communities and tell stories that matter,” Marjorie Go, Vice President for Marketing of Araneta City, said.
The ICSC’s Visual Victories Awards Program honors excellence in visual merchandising and promotional campaigns mounted by retail merchan -
dising units, kiosks, and temporary retailers from around the world.
Araneta City’s 2024 Pride Month campaign transformed Gateway Mall 2 into a vibrant venue of celebration for LGBTQIA+ identity and visibility.
Informative panels that featured and explained various LGBTQIA+ flags were craftfully placed at the mall’s activity area, paired with immersive visuals on the Quantum Skyview LED ceiling to help raise awareness and understanding. The campaign, which was held in partnership with
TLF SHARE, offered both a celebratory and educational space that drew thousands of visitors throughout June and generated wide organic engagement across social media.
Meanwhile, Araneta City’s 2024 World Autism Awareness Month celebration put a spotlight on the creativity of individuals on the autism spectrum. Held in collaboration with the Philippine Association for Citizens with Developmental and Learning Disabilities, the J. Amado Araneta Foundation, and other organizations, the exhibit showcased artworks created by neurodiverse artists alongside their personal stories. The event was enhanced by a dynamic visual display on the Quantum Skyview LED ceiling, which helped cement the message of empathy, learning, and reflection that the City of Firsts espouses.
“Every now and then, we reimagine our retail spaces as more than just places for shopping, dining, or entertainment. We transform them into community hubs—spaces where people come together to be with family and friends, where relationships are built and strengthened. That is why these recognitions mean something very special for us,” Go concluded.
lots—each positioned to maximize visibility, accessibility, and longterm value. The Coastal Block offers premium lots with larger cuts and breathtaking seaside views-ideal for flagship developments and highprofile businesses. The Greenway Block is strategically located near expansive green spaces and key township developments.
CDM is located at the center of economic expansion. It has seamless access to the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX), Mactan-Cebu International Airport, and Cebu International Port that will enable local businesses to capture w both local and international markets.
Banking on Clark’s growth MEANWHILE , Filinvest Development Corp reiterated its belief in the huge potential during the recent launching of Night Golf at Mimosa Plus of Clark.
SYNC by RLC Residences, the four-tower condominium development in Pasig City, continues to make waves in the property scene as it champions resilient and future-ready living. Recognized for its outstanding design and structural innovation, SYNC recently earned the Gold Award in the Residential High-Rise Category at the FIABCI Philippines Property and Real Estate Awards 2025 last April 30.
Beyond modern finishes and lifestyle-centric amenities, the development is built to endure, with safety and adaptability integrated into its structural design. One standout engineering feature is the Sky Bridge that connects the four towers, specifically designed to withstand a magnitude 7.7 earthquake. Developed with seismic gap cover plates and tested through real-time hybrid shake table simulations, the bridge allows for erratic and independent movement between towers during seismic activity—ensuring both safety and structural integrity.
“Mimosa Plus represents our vision for Clark—a place where business, leisure, and sustainable development converge to create lasting value for Filipinos. As we light up the fairways tonight, we also reaffirm our commitment to shaping Clark into a world-class destination that drives employment, investments, and economic opportunities,” said Rhoda Huang, President and CEO of Filinvest Development Corporation, during the ceremonial tee-off.
The event was part of Filinvest’s year-long 70th-anniversary celebration, highlighting the company’s journey from a humble financing business in 1955 to a diversified conglomerate with key investments in real estate, banking, power, hospitality, infrastructure, and sugar—industries that are vital to national development.
Aside from promoting leisure and tourism, Huang said the launch of Night Golf at Mimosa Plus is also a strategic investment in the longterm economic development of the Clark corridor.
With a 48-bay driving range facility, Mimosa Golf Plus has a stateof-the-art Golf Academy serving as the centerpiece of Filinvest Mimosa Plus Leisure City. The said leisure estate is also home to Quest Plus Conference Center Clark, Work Plus Office Campus, Bay 49 and Baker J (overlooking the golf course) as well as RARE Bar & Grill, a premium steakhouse and bar that enhances the dining experience in Clark. To strengthen its investment in the area, Filinvest will launch Filinvest Malls Mimosa with approximately 21,00 square meters of gross leasable area, and new restaurant concepts at Filinvest Shoppes Mimosa, bringing more retail, dining, and entertainment options to the growing community.
“Safety is always a top priority for us,” said Engr. Jose Rovie Cipriano, Head of Construction Group 2 of RLC Residences. “For SYNC, we made sure to work with trusted experts and conduct detailed structural tests to help the building respond better during strong earthquakes. Features like the Sky Bridge were designed to allow movement and reduce stress on the structure, so it can adapt instead of fail. We also added rubber dampers that absorb shaking during earthquakes, and cover floor plate hinges that let the floors bend and twist without cracking. At the end of the day, we want to give our residents peace of mind—knowing their home was built with resilience in mind.” Strategically located along C5, SYNC is designed for young professionals and urban achievers who value access, efficiency, and long-term investment.
“SYNC isn’t just a place to live—it reflects the kind of future we want to offer our homeowners,” said Karen Cesario, Marketing Head and Chief Integration Officer of RLC Residences. “It’s thoughtfully designed to support everyday living while keeping practical needs like safety and reliability in mind. Being recognized by FIABCI tells us we’re moving in the right direction. We’ll keep focusing on what matters to our residents—building well-designed
and
MIMOSA Plus Golf Course is the first GEO-certified golf course in the Philippines, recognized for its environmentally responsible course management and sustainable practices.
di Mare (CDM) is expected to boost Cebu City’s South Road Properties (SRP) as a major mixed used development.
ARTIST’S
French Open holdout to modern technology
By Howard Fendrich
The Associated Press
PARIS—For Novak Djokovic, this is a relatively easy call: He, like many players, thinks the French Open is making a mistake by eschewing the electronic linecalling used at most big tennis tournaments and instead remaining old school by letting line judges decide whether serves or other shots land in or out.
P lenty of sports, from soccer and baseball to the National Football League, are replacing, or at least helping, officials with some form of hightech replays or other technology.
Tennis, too, is following that trend, except at Roland-Garros, where competition continues through June 8. E ven the longest-running and most tradition-bound of the majors, Wimbledon, is—gasp!—abandoning line judges and moving to an
automatic system this year. The Women’s Tennis Association and Association of Tennis Professionals added machine-generated rulings this season for tour events on red clay, the surface at the French Open. But Grand Slam hosts can do what they want, and the French tennis federation is keeping the human element.
Pushing back vs modern technology
NOVAK DJOKOVOC, the 24-time major champion scheduled to play his first-round match in Paris on Tuesday, understands why folks might prefer the way to keep things the way they were for more than a century in his sport.
He gets why there could be an inclination to shy away from too much change in a world now drowning in cell phones and streaming and social media.
“ You don’t want to give everything away to the technology, right? But if I have to choose between the two, I’m
more of a proponent of technology. It’s just more accurate, saves time, and... [means] less people on the court,” said Djokovic, 38, who was disqualified from the 2020 US Open for inadvertently hitting an official with a ball hit out of frustration between games.
T hat edition of the tournament in New York only placed line judges on its two largest courts, while others used an electronic setup, a nod to the Covid-19 pandemic.
T he Australian Open got rid of all line judges in 2021, a first at a tennis major, and the US Open did the same later that year.
T he French Open remains a holdout, and that’s not likely to change anytime soon.
Electronic line-calling soon Not yet “UNLESS the players are unanimous and come to us and say, ‘We won’t play if there isn’t a machine’...then I think
Sarines twins face off anew in jr golf series Caliraya leg
THE stakes rise and rivalries build up as Lisa and Mona Sarines set out for another thrilling face-off in the girls’ 11-14 division in the International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) Caliraya Junior Philippine Golf Tour Championship starting Wednesday at the demanding Caliraya Springs Golf and Country Club in Cavinti, Laguna. The Sarines twins have dominated the Luzon circuit so far with Lisa capturing the first two legs and Mona denying her a sweep with a gritty onestroke win at Splendido Taal. T heir fourth clash promises fireworks with Lisa aiming to tighten her grip on the top spot and Mona
hungry to even the score. But the title is far from a two-player race as Alexie Gabi, Kelsey Bernardino, Annika Abad, Kendra Garingalao and Eliana Dumalaog are all eager to break the Sarines stronghold and move up the leaderboard in the 36-hole event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc.
Capital1 upsets Stallion, rocks women’s football league
CAPITAL1 stunned Stallion Laguna FC, 1-0, at the MOA Football Pitch to shake up the table of the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) Women’s League.
The victory potentially affected the final standings and shattered predictions that the season was to end up a two-way race—between Stallion and Kaya.
“The last time we played against [Stallion], we lost to them and I said that we will get back at them,” forward Judy Arevalo said. “So we showed how well we prepared for them.”
A former member of the Minnesota Aurora FC in USWL and Birkirkara FC in Malta, Arianna del Moral made the penalty shot in the 31st minute after Arevalo was intentionally pulled inside the box by a Stallion defender as she was about to make an attempt. Using her vast experience playing in top-tier tournaments in the US and Europe, the cool and calculating Del Moral caught the Stallion goalie offguard when she nicely put the ball into the net to the cheers of the team.
New York stays alive in Indiana
THE race to the National Basketball Association (NBA) Finals is heating up. Interestingly, though, it’s the Eastern Conference showdown that’s been showing unique thrills and spills thus far.
we’ve got a great future ahead of us to maintain this style of refereeing,” French federation president Gilles Moretton said, while boasting of the quality of his country’s officials.
P layers don’t sound that adamant, although they tend to echo the opinion of 2023 US Open champion Coco Gauff, who is 21: “I mean, I don’t know if it’s like the ‘Gen Z’ in me, but I think if we have the technology, we should use it.”
S till, there is some charm to be found in the choreography of players insisting a call was wrong and chair umpires climbing down for a closer look at a ball mark on the clay.
W atch a day of TV coverage from Paris and odds are good that dance will take place— probably more than once.
ARIANNA DEL MORAL’S penalty shot decides the outcome.
Indiana holds a 2-1 lead over New York but only because of benevolent breaks that went the Pacers’ way, derailing the Knicks’ appointment with history.
It should have been the reverse, with the Knicks 2-1 up in the race-to-four duel.
But as things crazily turned out, the Pacers are 2-1 up over the Knicks because of two things that eerily came up in Game One.
One, OG Anunoby missed the front end of his two free throws that could have given the Knicks a three-point cushion with mere ticks left in regulation.
Two, just seconds after Anunoby’s hiccup, while time was expiring, Indiana top gun Tyrese Haliburton’s Hail Mary shot hit the rim, the ball bouncing incredibly high before swishing the net to send the game to overtime.
Anunoby’s charity miss again underscored the importance of the free throw: it can make or break a team. Why players miss an uncontested shot, which is much nearer than the lethal three, remains a basketball mystery that is as old as prostitution. W hat hurt the most for New York was, it squandered a
standing race record fell was in the boys elementary 400 meters after NCR’s Cris Ivan Domingo clocked 54.29 seconds to break the 27-year-old mark of 54.30 by Western Mindanao’s Sajipa Bassal. Josh Gabriel Salcedo of Western Visayas bagged the gold in high school boys discus throw with 45.52 meters, more than two meters farther than the 42.86 record set by WV’s Airex Gabriel Villanueva in Cebu City last year.
CBy Josef Ramos
ALVIN ABUEVA expressed surprise after learning that league-leading Magnolia traded him on Tuesday afternoon with NorthPort’s William Navarro.
“I was traded, really? I was still with Magnolia last Saturday in Candon [Ilocos Sur],” was Abueva’s reaction when BusinessMirror told him about the traded that was approved by the Philippine Basketball Association’s Commissioner’s Office.
Interestingly, that game in Candon City was between Magnolia and NorthPort with the Chicken Timplados getting back to their winning ways, 106-97, for a 7-1 winloss record in the Philippine Cup.
Abueva had eight points, four assists and three rebounds in that game, while Navarro played big for the Batang Pier, down in the cellar with a 1-6 card, with 27 points, 13 rebounds and four steals.
But Abueva was quick to accept the realities of a pro baller.
“There’s no problem with that, my
14-point lead with 2:35 left in regulation, leading somewhat to its anemic showing in the five-minute extension to allow Indiana to run away with a 138-135 overtime win for that 1-0 lead.
Thus, nobody was surprised when Indiana rode on the crest of that precious Game One victory to pocket the second game and gain a commanding 2-0 lead.
But the Knicks weren’t done.
With Karl Anthony Towns coming alive, plus Jalen Brunson regaining his poise almost game-long, New York won Game Three convincingly, 106-100.
To do it, the Knicks, as if deflating the stigma of their 14-point meltdown in Game One, razed a 20-point deficit for the crucial triumph that cut Indiana’s lead to 2-1. Towns, called “The Cat,” took matters into his own paws (pun intended), scoring 20 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter on top of 15 rebounds as he became virtually a wrecking ball to the chagrin of all Pacer defenders. Brunson came up with 23 points, bucking foul trouble like Towns, as New York erased a 55-35 deficit with a painstaking
focus will be on my family first,” said Abueva, 37, who played four seasons with Magnolia—before that, he was with Phoenix Super LPG.
T he trade also involved guard Jerrick Balanza and Magnolia’s second round draft pick in the 51st season. M agnolia team governor Rene Pardo confirmed the trade.
“I believe Calvin [Abueva] was informed about this trade,” Pardo said.
“It’s going to be beneficial for both teams, I think NorthPort really needs Calvin Abueva’s maturity to excel, and Balanza is Bonnie Tan’s main player in Letran.” William Navarro is hopefully the missing piece of the puzzle for our championship campaign,” he added. Converge, meanwhile, shoots for an important win when it faces Terrafirma while Rain or Shine tries to bounce back from a frustrating defeat on Wednesday at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City. The FiberXers and the Dyip clash at 5
resolve, kicking off the rally by inching to within 80-70 after three quarters. Then, after Brunson finally gave New York the lead, 89-88, with 7:10 to play, there was no turning back for the Knicks, whose almost
CALVIN ABUEVA: I was traded, really? I was still with Magnolia last Saturday in Candon.
One more for Thunder Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shoots over Minnesota’s Naz Reid during the second half of Game 4 of the National Basketball Association Western Conference finals which the Thunder won, 128-123, for a 3-1
