Next page Next page Next page VOL. XXXVI • NO. 178 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 SATURDAY, AUGUST
SRP for school supplies out
NEWS /
Trade secretary Alfredo Pascual said the SRP aims to provide guidance to consumers on the proper price range for school supplies and to deter sellers from overpricing now that the academic school year is just around the corner. “We provided specific details on the make and quality of school products. They can check on the website how we managed to classify the products and the suggested pricing for each catego ry,” he Theresaid.are about 159 stock keeping units ( SKUs) from 15 categories of school supplies ranging from rulers, sharpeners, crayons, ballpens and pen cils to writing, pads and 4 categories of notebooks.ForMongol products, price adjust ments were to take effect on September 1, 2023 and October 1, 2022. Among the products with upward price adjust ments are pencil trio #2 (P10.67), pencil XL #2 (P16.33), junior sharpener (P22), regular pencils (P10.67) and pencil trio XL #2 This(P16.33.isthefirst time in two years 13, three years, from the enactment of basic laws and fiscal policy to the conduct of READY FOR IN-PERSON CLASSES. A mother tries to find a well-fitting school uniform for her son at a stall in Divisoria in Manila on Aug. 12, 2022, ten days before the start of the classes for this school year. The Department of Trade and Industry has revised its Suggested Retail Price for school supplies to make it more specific to include brands and specifications, among others. Norman Cruz Solidum, who has worked with The Office of the Press Secretary DOST, ex-solon envoy to Japan
Taal Volcano acts up anew, emits significant ’vog’
By Othel V. Campos T HE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) released Friday the revised suggested retail prices for basic school supplies in time for school opening on August 22. Over 100 modified PUV routes to open • MMDA to man school areas
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CAUGHT CAMERA.ON A CCTV of the Lipa Archdiocesan Social Action highreachedsteam-richTaal(LASAC)CommissioncapturestheVolcanoasitemitsplumesthat2,800metersFriday. AMBASSADOR TO PH POSITIVE COVID-19 A3
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BANGSAMORO Transition Authority interim chief minister Murad Ebrahim has retained his position as President Fer Marcos pledged his full support to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) as he recognized the important work that the interim government needs to complete in elections."Such important laws to be passed in three years is not an easy task, and that's why I will be here as head of the national government to support BARMM," he said. "We are given another chance because
TAAL Volcano emitted plumes that rose up to 2,800 meters on Friday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said. Five volcanic tremors and a low-level background tremor were also recorded in the past 24 hours, lasting for three to eight minutes.Alert Level 1 was maintained over the volcano, which means sudden steamdriven or phreatic explosions, volcanic earthquakes, minor ashfall, and expulsions of volcanic gas could threaten areas within Taal's permanent danger zone. A high volcanic sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission reaching 13,572 tons was By Vince Lopez
GETTING
NEW BTA OFFICERS. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. poses with the new members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority. With him are BTA interim chief minister Murad Ebrahim (second from right), House Speaker Martin Romualdez (right), Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez (left) and Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri (second from left). Facebook page of Zia Alonto Adiong
2022 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
Ebrahim retains lead post in reorganized BTA
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By Willie Casas THE Philippines is still at low risk for COVID-19 despite the slight increase in admissions in intensive care units (ICU) nationwide, the Department of Health (DOH) said Friday. This as the independent OCTA Research Group said COVID-19 infections in Metro Manila may have already peaked amid a slower growth rate.Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, officer-in-charge at the DOH, said the country’s ICU utilization rate climbed to 28 percent from the previous 26 Aspercent.ofAug. 10, Vergeire said there were a total of 871 severe and critical COVID-19 cases, making up 9.27 percent of total admissions. Majority of hospital admissions—40.98 percent—were asymptomatic, while 40.77 percent were mild Vergeirecases.saidthe Philippines remains at low risk classification as it currently PH still low-risk for COVID even if ICU cases rise
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(Story on A4)DA EXEC RESIGNS OVER SUGAR IMPORT MESS, PALACE EXPANDS PROBE Missed your copy of Manila Standard? Call or text our Circulation Hotline at 0917-8848655 or email: circulation@manilastandard.netMlaStandardtwitter.com/ ManilaStandardPHfacebook.com/ manilastandard.netS
By Vince Lopez AN UNDERSECRETARY in the De partment of Agriculture who authorized the importation of 300,000 metric tons (MT) of sugar without the President’s approval has resigned, the Palace said late Friday evening. Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said Leocadio Sebastian has resigned as DA undersecretary for operations and chief of staff to Marcos as the concur rent DA Secretary. In a letter to the President dated Au gust 11, Sebastian apologized to the chief executive for having approved Sugar Order No. 4 without the ex pressed approval of Marcos, who, as DA secretary, is also chairman of the Sugar Regulatory Board. “I sincerely offer my apologies, Your Excellency, for my having approved Sugar Order no.4 on your behalf, and through the authority you have vested upon me…I take accountability and re sponsibility for its consequences,” Se bastian said in his one-page letter. Cruz-Angeles has earlier described Sugar Order No. 4 as “illegal."
THE Sandiganbayan upheld the convic tion of Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero Pi chay Jr. for three counts of graft over the mismanagement of P780 million in Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) funds.In a 17-page resolution, the court junked Pichay's partial motion for recon sideration over its June 7 ruling. In its earlier decision, the anti-graft court found Pichay, then LWUA adminis trator and his then Deputy Administrator Wilfredo Feleo Jr., liable for LWUA’s ac quisition of 60 percent voting stock of the Laguna-based local thrift bank Express Savings Bank Inc. (ESBI) owned by the Wellex Group Inc. (WGI) and Forum Pa cific Inc. (FPI). The transaction was done in 2009.Thecourt said that Pichay's claim there was tacit approval by the Monetary Board for LWUA's purchase of ESBI shares did not have a legal basis.
T HE Department of Education (DepEd) said Friday it is planning to have at least one security personnel per school to ensure safe spaces for learners, teachers, and other non-teaching personnel. with the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the De partment of Budget and Management. Even the Alliance of Concerned Teachers has expressed the need to hire security personnel, noting that safety risks abound in schools under the current setup. “The incident only exposes the vul nerability of our schools to scumbags who are out to harm innocent people. This should serve as a wake-up call for the government, which has neglected our schools for so long that they can not even employ security personnel to guard the safety of our teachers and learners. Such neglect should stop
Ebrahim... From A1 of the extension of the Transition Author ity. We are given another chance, but we have three years, and three years is not a long time for this rather basic and fun damental and highly important pieces of legislation that have to be produced now by the Transition Authority," he added. He underscored the need to complete the work in 2025 as there will no longer be any extensions for the transition body. "In 2025, we will no longer have any extensions to the authority, and we will conduct elections," he said. Republic Act No. 11593 reset the first regular elections in BARMM to have it syn chronized with the 2025 national elections. The law also extended the transition period and allowed the BTA to continue as the interim government in the region. It also mandated the President to ap point 80 new members who shall serve up to June 2025. "It is important that we’re going to give a voice to all the stakeholders, to all the parties that are involved. But I'm con fident because I have seen the list of the new appointees, the new members, and I believe that everyone has come on to be part of this process with a sincere desire to get BARMM back into the normal fold of life in the Philippines," Marcos said. United Nations Resident Coordinator to the Philippines Gustavo Gonzales also attended the oath-taking rites. The new BTA composition is head lined by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) with 41 nominees while the government has 39. In a statement, the BTA said the new members are lawyers, lawyer-certified public accountants, engineers, teachers, doctors, architects, media practitioners, politicians, former elected officials at the local levels and government bureaucrats. They are the representatives from the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Sulu, Basilan, and Tawi-Tawi, as well as members of the Bangsamoro community in North Co tabato, indigenous peoples who are not Moro, the Kalagan or Kagan community in Davao Oriental, and Christian or settler communities in Davao City and Cotabato City.
now,” the ACT said. The DepEd, meanwhile, called on the Philippine National Police to in vestigate the incident, while ensuring aid for the victims. “The department will provide the necessary aid to the victims, including financial assistance and psychosocial intervention,” the DepEd said. Based on initial information, the victims were preparing for the upcom ing class reopening when an armed man entered the Ocampo school's premises on August 9. The armed suspect then allegedly robbed and molested the teachers in broad daylight.
Newsmst.daydesk@gmail.comSATURDAY,AUGUST 13, 2022A2
Taal... From A1 observed over the volcano Thursday. This has produced "significant volcanic smog" or vog over the Taal Caldera.Sulfurous stench was reported by residents of Banyaga, Agoncillo; Poblacion 5, Buso-buso, and Gulod in Laurel; and Poblacion 1 in Talisay, Batangas."Since the beginning of August 2022, there has been an increase in degassing activity in the form of visible upwelling of volcanic fluids in the Main Crater Lake, and emission of voluminous steam-rich plumes that last night rose 2,800 meters above Taal Volcano Island," the Phivolcs said in an advisory. Vog consists of fine droplets containing volcanic gas which is acidic and can cause irritation of the eyes, throat, and respiratory tract in severities, depending on the gas concentrations and durations of exposure.People who may be particularly sensitive to vog are those with asthma, lung disease and heart disease, the elderly, pregnant women, and children. Phivolcs advised communities that may be affected by vog to avoid outdoor activities to limit their exposure; as well as to keep their doors and windows closed.Italso urged residents to wear a mask (ideally an N95) and to drink plenty of water to reduce throat irritation. Phivolcs added that crop damage that likely resulted from acid rain was reported in Cabuyao, Laguna this month. Entry into the TVI, especially the vicinities of the Main Crater and the Daang Kastila fissure, must remain strictly prohibited, according to Phivolcs.Local government units are also urged to continuously assess previously evacuated barangays around Taal Lake for damage and road accessibilities, and to strengthen preparedness, contingency and communication measures in case of renewed unrest.
THE first UN-chartered vessel set to transport grain from Ukraine under a deal to relieve a global food crisis should dock in Ukraine on Friday, the United Nations said.The MV Brave Commander, which left Istanbul on Wednesday, is due to arrive in Yuzhne, east of Odessa on the Black Sea coast, the UN's World Food Program said. It will collect Ukrainian wheat grain purchased by the WFP, the agency's spokesman Tomson Phiri said. "This is obviously the first shipment of humanitarian food assistance under the Black Sea Grain Initiative," he said. On July 22, Kyiv and Moscow signed a landmark deal with Turkey to unblock Black Sea grain deliveries, following Russia's February invasion of Ukraine. Turkey has opened a special facility in Istanbul at the mouth of the Black Sea to oversee the exports. It is staffed by civilian and military officials from the warring sides and delegates from Turkey and the UN. WFP has purchased an initial 30,000 tonnes of Ukrainian wheat. MV Brave Commander has a capacity of 23,000 tonnes."The remaining balance will be loaded and shipped on another vessel soon," Phiri said."WFP is hopeful that the MV Brave Commander is the first of what will now become regular shipments out of Ukraine as the Black Sea Grain Initiative gains momentum."Itisnotyet clear when the ship will depart and WFP did not release details of where it would be heading. "Loading and moving ships in and out of ports in the context of the current con flict is a complex operation," said Phiri. "Getting Ukrainian grain to WFP's hu manitarian operations in places like Ethio pia, Somalia and Yemen will ensure a dou ble benefit to both Ukraine's economy and famine risk populations in areas of the world hardest hit by the global food crisis."
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DA... From A1 Cruz-Angeles said Sebastian's res ignation will not affect the filing of a criminal case against him, should the ongoing probe find it necessary to do so. "It affects the administrative case, but if there is a criminal case, it is not af fected. However, in his resignation, he made admissions, so in case a criminal case os filed -- and let me be clear that we are not saying that there will auto matically be a criminal case -- then those admissions can be presented as evidence for the prosecution," she said. "If the investigation reveals that there are criminal acts here, then he will be appropriately charged, but we are not just talking about Usec. Sebastian but the entire board. We will have to see the liabilities of the other board members," the Palace official added. Earlier in the day, Cruz-Angeles said the investigation of the Department of Agriculture will go beyond the aborted attempt by the SRA to authorize the sug ar importation.“I’msurethe President has already noted this,” Cruz-Angeles said of Sena tor Imee Marcos’ recommendation. “We cannot reveal the plans yet be cause the investigation will probably cover a more extensive review than sim ply the resolution that was issued by the Sugar Regulatory Board," she said. The resolution approving the sugar importation was uploaded on the SRA’s website but was later deleted. Meanwhile, the United Sugar Pro ducers Federation (UNIFED) said there is no shortage of sugar in the country, but the presence of middlemen is driv ing the retail price to an unreasonable level. In an interview with CNN Philip pines, UNIFED President Manuel La mata said the milling season started last week so there is no problem with supply. But he urged the Marcos administration to address the exorbitant prices of sugar in the market. He said farmers and planters sell raw brown sugar at P45/kilo. But retail prices reach up to P100/kilo. Consid ering the cost of refining the sugar and other expenses, Lamata believes the prices cannot be justified, and blamed middlemen for the high prices. “There are too many middlemen. The traders buy from us then send it to the refiners. Shippers will add more fees then send it to the re-baggers. It piles up before it reaches the market. Many are making profit from it; that's why the price is going up,” he said in Filipino.UNIFED thanked the President for averting a possible disaster by stop ping the SRA plan to import 300,000 metric tons of raw and refined sugar. Lamata alleged that SRA's claim of a sugar shortage was only meant to create a fake need for imports. Sugar industry stakeholders on Fri day lauded President Marcos’ rejec tion of the SRA bid to import sugar. In a statement, the Asociacion de Agricultores de La Carlota y Ponte vedra Inc. (AALCPI), the La Carlota Mill District Multi-Purpose Coopera tive (LCMDMPC) and UNIFED wel comed the scrapping of Sugar Order No. 4 “With(SO4).thestart of the milling season, the need to import additional sugar is ill advised,” AACLPI and LCMDMPC general manager David Alba said. “We are thankful that President Marcos vetoed the order as five mills in Negros Occidental already resumed operations,” Alba added. AACLPI and LCMDMPC are groups of sugar planters in Negros Oc cidental—the sugar capital of the Phil ippines.Alba said that data from the SRA showed that there are 4 million bags of sugar that entered the country through the SO3 import program, where the country imported 200,000 MT of re fined sugar to augment a projected supply shortfall for the year. “However, this sugar is not being made available to Juan De La Cruz since they are in the bodegas of the in dustrial users,” he said. “In order to address the perceived sugar supply shortage in the country, we are recommending to President Marcos to reverse the SRA order and instead, release this sugar for the ben efit of the consumers and retailers,” Alba added.
From A1 July 22 and signed by Executive Sec retary Vic PresidentRodriguez.Ferdinand Marcos Jr. also appointed former lawmaker Mylene Garcia-Albano as the country's new envoy to Japan. In a Facebook post, state-run Ra dio Television Malacañang (RTVM) announced that Marcos administered the oath of office to Garcia-Albano as Philippine ambassador to Japan. RTVM also shared a short video clip of the oath-taking rites at Malaca ñan Palace's Reception Hall on Thurs day.Apart from Garcia-Albano, Mar cos also led the oath-taking of Aileen Anunciacion Zosa as president and chief executive officer of the Bases Conversion and Development Author ity (BCDA) and Olivia "Bong" Coo as commissioner of the Philippine Sports CommissionGarcia-Albano(PSC).was a former repre sentative of Davao City 2nd District, while Zosa served as BCDA executive vice president and chief operating of ficer before her new stint. Coo's appointment, meanwhile, was first announced by Malacañang in July.Coo, a retired professional bowl er, was a five-time Asian games gold medalist, 14-time Asian champion and eight-time Southeast Asian games gold winner.
SRP... From A1 that the DTI released a price guide for s chool supplies since in-person classes were temporarily suspended during the previous two academic years due to the pandemic.Forwriting notebooks with 80 sleeves, the highest priced item was Orions with character design and plas tic cover for Visayas and Mindanao, far north in Luzon, and Mimaropa regions at P34.75.Foryarn-bound notebooks, the high est priced was Seven Notes with assort ed design at P27.75. For ballpens, per piece, the high est priced was Artline (black or blue) at P19 while for the 3 pcs. promo pack, it was Avanti Click (black, blue or red) for Visayas and Mind anao, far north in Luzon, and Mima ropa regions at P32. Meanwhile, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board chairperson Cheloy Garafil said that the board will open more than 100 “modi fied” routes Aug. 22 “to address the need for more buses and vehicles for the face-to-face classes.” “These routes to be opened include jeepney and UV express,” she said. The routes that will be opened are near the University Belt and other schools, she said. The Metropolitan Manila Develop ment Authority warned the volume of vehicles along EDSA could balloon up to 436,000 as limited face-to-face class es open in two weeks' time. MMDATask Force Special Opera tions chief Bong Nebrija said they will deploy 581 personnel in roads leading to and near public schools. “We will be manning schools – about 146 public schools in Metro Manila. Aside from that, we will be manning the intersections and the pedestrian lanes,” he Thesaid.MMDA is also conducting mist ing, fogging, and clearing operations around schools.
LWUAofupholdsSandiganbayanconvictionPichayoverfundsmess
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PH... From A1 has an average daily attack rate (ADAR) of 3.51 per 100,000 population, well below the ADAR of 6.0 per 100,000 cases to be considered a moderate risk OCTA felow Guido David, in a TeleRadyo Interview, said the COVID-19 growth rate in Metro Manila has been declining. “We noticed that the growth rate is going down in Metro Manila. Actually, in Iloilo, too,” he said in Filipino. “We see that maybe, cases have peaked in Metro Manila, and we hope it will continue too in Iloilo and maybe a few other provinces. But in other regions, cases are still rising,” he said. David also said Filipinos should not let their guard down as COVID-19 continues to spread throughout the country. The Philippines recorded 4,533 new COVID-19 cases, data from the Department of Health (DOH) showed on Wednesday. Twenty-seven new deaths were also reported. “What we noticed is that before, we had 0 deaths. Now we are in the 20s, so we know COVID is still here,” he said.“We are not alarmed and we're not raising the alert level, but we must still be aware because there are still deaths. There are severe and critical cases, that's why some are still dying,” he said. The country on Friday logged 4,661 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the nationwide tally to 3,823,084. Active cases stood at 40,315, while 28 new fatalities brought the death toll to 60,944.TheDOH said the country logged 225 more cases of the highly transmissible Omicron subvariants BA.5, BA.4, and BA.2.12.1.Thecountry found 190 additional cases of the Omicron BA.5, 34 more cases of the BA.4, and one new case of the BA2.12.1, Vergeire said. Of the 190 new BA.5 cases, 175 have recovered, while seven were undergoing isolation, and the status of the remaining eight patients was being verified, said Vergeire.Atotal of 34 more BA.4 patients were also reported, with 33 having recovered while the outcome of the remaining case is still being verified. Meanwhile, a patient from Davao Region tested positive for the BA.2.12.1 variant. The individual is now tagged as recovered, Vergeire said. The DOH on Friday said about 14.1 million children and adolescents have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 ahead of the school opening thisOfmonth.thenumber, about 9.8 million are adolescents ages 12 to 17, while around 4.3 million are children ages 5 to 11, Vergeire said. ”This is good news ahead of the start of classes,” she said at a press briefing. The Department of Education has set the opening of School Year 2022 to 2023 on Aug. 22. The DepEd order indicates that public and private schools in basic education can implement distance and blended learning only until Oct. 31, 2022. Starting Nov. 2, schools must shift to five days of inperson classes per week, regardless of the alert level status in their area. The latest DepEd data showed at least 18.6 million students in basic education have registered for the coming school year as of Wednesday. The figure is more than half of the agency's target of 28.6 million learners. To date, over 72 million Filipinos are fully vaccinated against the disease. This includes 6.8 million senior citizens who have received the jab, the DOH said.In its effort to increase the "wall of immunity," the country has boosted about 16.8 million Filipinos. The PinasLakas program aims to administer 23 million booster jabs within the first 100 days of the Marcos administration.
The DepEd made the statement af ter an incident of sexual harassment against four elementary teachers in Ocampo, Camarines Sur. In a text message, DepEd spokes person Michael Poa said they would enter into an agreement with other agencies to ensure the hiring of secu rity“Thepersonnel.Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) aims to use the special edu cation fund collected by local gov ernment units as a funding source for things like repairs of schools and hiring of at least one security per sonnel per school. The JMC has yet to be drafted. There is no set target date yet for signing,” Poa said in an interview.TheDepEd earlier condemned the alleged sexual harassment, saying the department is now working on a JMC DepEd eyes hiring of school security
First UN vessel for Ukraine grain arriving to avert global food crisis
PalmeroManny JOB FAIR. Jobseekers from Barangay 185 in Gagalangin, Tondo, Manila scour lists of job openings posted the Barangayan Job Fair spearheaded by the city government’s Public Employment Service Office (PESO). Danny Pata
By Rey E. Requejo T HE Supreme Court has affirmed the right and duty of television station owners to self-regulation and if they have been meted out sufficient sanctions for broadcast violations, penalties imposed by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) are no longer necessary.
THREE fugitives described as “most wanted persons” were arrested in separate operations on Thursday, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) reported. In a statement, NCRPO chief, Maj. Gen. Felipe Natividad, identified the suspects as Lovellio Liday, 32; Vi cente Martonia, 47; and Reynaldo Llamanzares, 50. Liday, the number two most wanted person of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Station 13, was arrested in a raid on Sto. Niño Street in Baran gay Payatas, Quezon City. The suspect has a standing arrest war rant for rape issued by the Ilagan City, Isabela Regional Trial Court Branch 18, with no bail recommended. At about 5 p.m., a joint operation by the QCPD Station 13 resulted in the ar rest of Martonia in Barangay Cabuyao Sur, Padre Burgos, Quezon province. Martonia, the QCPD Station 13’s third most wanted person, has a war rant of arrest for murder issued by a Quezon City court.
NCRPO nabs 3 ‘most wanted persons’ on Thursday
THE Philippine Navy’s (PN) first missile frigate, BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150), is now qualified to land and receive on its flight deck the AgustaWestland AW-159 “Wild cat” helicopter, which is the ship’s partner in tracking down hostile submarines. Meanwhile, the Naval Task Group (NTG) 80.5 conducted a “medical evac uation” (MEDEVAC) and “no radio drill’ (NORDO) aboard BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151) while en route to Guam shortly after its month-long participa tion in the “Rim of the Pacific” (RIM PAC) last August 10. “Traversing the path of fleet inter operability, Team FF-150 held deck landing qualification (DLQ) together with the ASW (anti-submarine warfare) ‘Wildcat’ Helicopter AW-159 (NH-441) last 09 August 2022,” the BRP Jose Ri zal said on its Facebook page. The DLQ is deemed part of a series of flight deck operations to further test and improve existing procedures, check connectivity, system integration, and leveling of officers, pilots, sailors, and aircrew on flight operations. Before the actual deck landing, the ship’s crew and flight crew of the antisubmarine helicopter squadron had a series of lectures and workshops to en sure the preparedness and safety of per sonnel and flight deck equipment. “This activity marks the beginning of warfare interoperability operations be tween our air and surface assets which compliments the detection and engage ment capability of both units,” it added. The activity concluded safely with no cas ualties and any faults from both platforms.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 13, 2022 A3News
SC upholds self-regulation for TV
BUSINESS.BRISK
A highCityfactoryshoeinMarikinastartstodoubleitsproductiontomeetthedemandforblackshoesforthestudentsawaitingtheopeningofface-to-faceclassesthiscomingAugust22.
Ben who were the hosts of the television program “T3 Kapatid Sagot Kita” aired on weekdays over TV5. “This literal approach thus led the MTRCB to wrongfully rule that the ut terances made in the show, T3, were in violation of Section 3 (c) of PD 1986,” the SC said, adding; “It is fundamental law that any act that restrains or censors speech is presumed invalid. However, the freedom of speech is not absolute and the burden of overthrowing the pre sumption of invalidity rests on the one restraining or censoring the same in ac cordance with applicable law.” Section 3 (c) of PD 1986 involves the power of the MTRCB to “approve or disapprove, delete objectionable por tions” of television broadcasts “for be ing immoral, indecent, contrary to law and/or good customs, injurious to the prestige of the Republic of the Philip pines or its people, or with a dangerous tendency to encourage the commission of violence or of a wrong or crime….” In ruling whether the MTRCB’s de termination of the subject utterances are within the purview of Section 3 (c) of PD 1986, the Court rules in the negative, said the SC decision penned by Associate Justice Ramon Paul Her nando was made public last August 8. Raffy is now a senator, Erwin is secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, while Ben is still a journalist.
By Gabriellea Parino, Chelsea Din and Maricel V. Cruz DEPARTMENT of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Susan “Toots” Ople has expressed confidence and opti mism that she would be working with a “dream team dedicated to wholeheart edly serve” the overseas Filipino work ers (OFWs). Meanwhile, a House leader pushed for the passage of a measure seeking to save the OFWs over P95 bil lion in remittance fees. Ople made the remarks in her speech during the oath-taking ceremony for 11 new DMW officials consisting of “new faces and seasoned government officials. The event was held on Mon day at the Patricia Sto. Tomas (PST) Hall in Ortigas, Mandaluyong City. Ople described her team as “a mix of seasoned government officials and new faces who share a commitment to serve our OFWs”. “I’m looking for someone who has clean and pure intentions for our OFWs. What I’m looking for is someone who can take responsibility for every deci sion, draw every ounce of patience, and have the heart to serve every OFWeven the undocumented,” Ople said. Laywers Bernard Olalia and Hans Leo Cacdac, who have previously served as heads Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), respec tively, were designated as DMW un dersecretaries. Olalia will head the licensing and adjudication services, while the latter will be chief of welfare and foreign employment services. “This mix of familiar faces and new names reflect our desire for continuity and innovation. The DMW’s “dream team” is now in place, and we vow to serve our OFWs faithfully and with the utmost professionalism,” Ople said in a press statement. US envoy to PH tests positive for COVID-19
PARTNERSHIP ACCORD. Prime Asset Ventures, Inc. headed by PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp. president Maribeth Tolentino and chief finance officer Maryknoll Zamora forges a partnership agreement with Cathay United Bank represented by Joseph Chen, senior vice president and general manager for Manila branch, for future sustainability projects. Also present at the signing rite are PAVI chairman Cynthia Javerez and other officers of Cathay United Bank namely, Kristell Del Valle, senior relationship manager and Barry Chen, corporate banking head.
UNITED States Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson on Fri day disclosed that she is in isolation after testing positive for COVID-19. On her twitter post, Carlson said she only experienced mild symptoms, and looked forward for immediate recovery. “It was bound to happen sometime... Kind of amazing, I made it 2.5 years. Isolating at home with only mild symptoms. So glad to be vaccinated and boosted with the safe and effec tive Pfizer vaccine. Looking forward to recovering and experiencing more of the Philippines!” Carlson said. “In the meantime, I’d love sug gestions for good binge-worthy movies and shows to watch!” she added. Rey E. Requejo
The SC issued this ruling as it denied MTRCB’s petition against the decision of the Court of Appeals favoring ABC Development Corp. doing business un der the name and style of Associated Broadcasting Company (ABC TV5). “The Court agrees with the CA in rul ing that the MTRCB wrongfully used ‘the literal approach from the perspective of an average child’ by categorizing the Tulfo brothers’ utterances as ‘vulgar, indecent, crude, coarse, threatening, defamatory and unrefined,’ and branding the same as ‘personal attacks with a dangerous tendency to encourage the commission of violence or of a wrong or crime,’” the ruling stated, referring to the case involv ing the Tulfo brothers Raffy, Erwin and
MIAA hails staff for turning over P20.5k, papers
Ople help‘dreamwelcomesteam’torunDMW
By Joel E. Zurbano AN HONEST building attendant has gained praises and commendations from the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) management for turning over a plastic folder contain ing P20,500 cash and vital documents. Nelson Palo was on duty at the Im migration area of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport - Terminal 1 in the afternoon of Aug. 5 when he saw the folder left unattended. He im mediately informed and brought the item to the Intelligence Investigation Division - Lost and Found Section forThesafekeeping.IIDpersonnel later learned that the owner is a Japanese national named Maeda Tatsuya. Last Thursday, MIAA acting gen eral manager Cesar Chiong presented Palo to members of the media and commended him for his good conduct, turning over the folder containing the cash money and important documents owned by the foreign passenger. Chiong gave a certificate of appre ciation to Palo, who works at Omni worx Inc., the outsource agency that provides janitorial manpower at the airport, for 30 years. “Mr. Palo, thank you very much for returning the money, and we’re actu ally very proud of what you did here at NAIA,” Chiong said. “You are actu ally our inspiration, because we treat you as family, even if you’re not di rectly employed by the MIAA.”
By Jun David THE Commission on Audit (COA) has flagged anew the Land Transportation Office (LTO) for “undue payment” given to its foreign information technology (IT) contractor, Dermalog, despite the incom plete turnover of deliverables for the P3.19 billion Road IT Infrastructure Project. In its 2021 consolidated annual au dit report (CAAR) for the Department of Transportation (DOTr), the COA said LTO’s “acceptance of custom ized core applications with missing processes had caused undue payment to the vendor, which is disadvanta geous to the government.” These core applications involved the Driver’s Licensing System (DLS) and the Motor Vehicle Inspection and Reg istration System (MVIRS), which were included in Component A of the IT pro ject also known as the Land Transpor tation Management System (LTMS).
LTO flagged for ‘undue payment’ to IT provider PN missile frigate can now accommodate Wildcat chopper on deck
Marcos Jr. supports proposed ‘ladderized’ program for nurses
THE Senate committee on health is set to conduct a hearing on Monday to evaluate the government’s preparedness to effectively suppress the spread of monkeypox and COVID-19.
The committee’s chairperson, Sen. Bong Go said he is seeking closer coordination among various government agencies and authorities to ensure that the country is much ready against existing and emerging health threats. Go also said he will inquire with Department of Health (DOH) officials and health authorities other relevant concerns such as vaccines, disease surveillance, and information dissemination, among others. Go and Sen. Robin Padilla had earlier filed Senate Resolution No. 84 on August 1, directing the Health and Demography Committee to conduct an inquiry on the country’s preparedness to contain and suppress monkeypox, declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a public health emergency of international concern. The resolution was pushed following the detection of the first case of monkeypox in the country on July 29. Go also underscored the need to intensify the country’s surveillance systems and further strengthen the healthcare system. He said he will likewise tackle key updates on the government’s COVID-19 pandemic response, including reports on vaccine wastage. Meanwhile, Go also wants the Executive Branch to “carefully assess the situation” and “study the need to further extend the state of calamity due to COVID-19” as new cases have been rising in the past days and weeks in many places in the country.
He suggested that one of the programs that could help keep doctors, nurses, and medical practitioners from leaving the
STEADY CONNECTION. Telecoms workers conduct maintenance work to maintain steady internet connections of households in the Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City area on Friday. Robert Oswald P. Al ler ‘Judiciary also has a role in PH growth’
Lawmaker files measure against discrimination
DBM laptopdocumentssubmitsonpurchase
THE Procurement Service-Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) turned over to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) documents related to the procurement of the Department of Education’s (DepEd) laptops, and other contracts entered into by PS-DBM in previousPS-DBMyears executive director Dennis S. Santiago said the said contracts were the subject of a Commission on Audit (COA) report which earlier flagged the PS-DBM. Santiago earlier directed his office to conduct a thorough examination of COA’s findings emphasizing that the mandate of the PS-DBM is to ensure a transparent and competitive procurement process. “The NBI is a highly competent investigation authority to take over the matter to ensure that the probe would be fair, impartial and independent. We do not want any room for suspicion,” Santiago said. Santiago added that the move to request the NBI to step in was made after the examination showed alleged discrepancies in the initial findings, which is similar to COA’sSantiagoobservations.alsosaid he “understands” why some parties are calling for the abolition of the PS-DBM. “We fully understand the sentiment of some groups and even by our own beloved legislators. We know where they are coming from as we share their sentiment on zero tolerance against irregularities in government transactions,” Santiago said. Senators Sherwin Gatchalian and Senator Alan Peter Cayetano meanwhile joined Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III in urging for a Senate probe into the procurement of allegedly overpriced entry level laptops. Macon Ramos-Araneta
Senate health body to probe PH monkeypox preparedness
A4 SATURDAY, AUGUST 13, 2022
By Macon Ramos-Araneta
Lotilla: PH will have nuclear safety net
The bill has reached approval on third and final reading at the House of Representatives during the 18th Congress but failed to hurdle Senate approval. “It is regrettable that this was not enacted during the last Congress but there is a change to have it enacted now,” Hataman said. HB 3526 penalizes discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, and religion in these areas: In Political Participation, such as preventing or impeding the exercise of political rights of another, including the right to vote, among others; In Employment, such as refusal to employ a qualified applicant; In Education and Training, such as refusing or failing to accept an applicant for admission as a student, or expelling a student from an educational institution; In the Delivery of Goods and Services, such as refusal or failure on demand to supply those goods or services to a person; In Land, Business and other Accommodation, such as refusing or failing to accept or process the application for any interest in land, or residential or business accommodation; In Access to Public Places, Facilities and Public Meetings, such as refusing to allow another person access to or use of any place, vehicle or facilities when the general public is allowed to; In Advertisements/Mass Media, such as the portrayal of certain persons in movies, films, and advertisements on television and other audio-visual forms and other publicly accessible documents as stupid, barbaric, savages, dirty, wild, ignorant, stupid and similar degrading portrayals; By Wrongful Portrayal, such as portraying, imitating, depicting or describing in learning institutions, instructional materials, teaching devices, books and reference materials, especially in Civics and History, certain individuals and/or group/s as inferior religiously, racially or ethnically. Marcos made the statement in his meeting with members of the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) in Malacañang, where they discussed the challenges confronting the Philippine health sector, particularly the exodus of nurses and other health professionals. “I like the ladderized idea for the nurses because that’s really becoming a problem —the brain drain that we are suffering,” Marcos“Theysaid.are so good everybody wants them, and they are willing to pay for it, and we are not, or we’re not able. So we have to come up with some strategies forAcknowledgingthat.” the problems posed by brain drain in the health sector, the President said the government cannot hold back people if there are better opportunities for employment overseas.
News PATAFA mourns passing of Asia’s ‘fastest woman’
ENERGY Sec. Raphael Lotilla assured that the government will come up with a safety net to ensure that the country will be safe in case it uses nuclear power as an alternative energySpeakingsource.during the organizational meeting of the Senate Energy Committeee chaired by Sen. Raffy Tulfo, Lotilla said they will work with other ASEAN counties that are also exploring nuclear power plants. Tulfo conducted the hearing and asked Lotilla about the safety measures to avert disasters amid the government’s plans to use nuclear power. Tulfo said that the country should avoid disasters similar to the Fukushima nuclear meltdown in Japan. Tulfo said he supports the use of nuclear energy, but aired some concerns. Tulfo also exhorted Lotilla to address the massive power outages in several provinces.
Amid brownouts, Tulfo said consumers still pay a lot when it comes to their electric bills. He also cited the immediafe disconnection of electric supply for those who failed to settle their electric bills. “Can you do something about it Secretary Lotilla, something about that?”Tulfo said, adding that he will not stop until this problem is resolved. During the meeting, Tulfo said he is looking forward to working with the members of the Senate Committee on Energy to urgently address the pressing issues hounding the energy sector. This include the soaring prices of electricity and fuel that are causing people to suffer. “To make changes, through legislation, that would make it easier for the everyday Filipino to warm his home, cook his meals, go to work, and receive a better quality of life. I expect all the members of this committee to join me in achieving these principal goals,” he added. Macon Ramos-Araneta
By Rey E. Requejo CHIEF Justice Alexander Gesmundo on Thursday said the judiciary does not only render justice, but it also has its own contributions to the country’s peace and order and economic growth. “While it is the executive department which is actively involved in maintaining economic security through the programs it undertakes, and the legislative department, in building economic prosperity through the laws it enacts, the Judiciary, passive though it may seem, is equally responsible for the development of the economy through the decisions it renders,” Gesmundo said, in his speech during the virtual annual awards ceremony of the Foundation for Liberty and Prosperity. “By consistently balancing individual rights and freedoms with legitimate government interests, the Judiciary actually provides a stable environment for peace and order and economic growth,” he added. Gesmundo was guest of honor and speaker last Thursday during the FLP’s virtual annual awards ceremony. During the ceremony, the FLP, which was founded by retired Chief Justice Artemio V. Panganiban, awarded 21 scholarships to deserving students under the Legal Scholarship Program. Also awarded were 10 dissertation writing winners and five MBA fellowships. The country’s top magistrate said “the judicial philosophy espoused by The Foundation for Liberty and Prosperity is an affirmation of the role the Judiciary plays in the country’s development.” “By safeguarding the rights and freedoms of the individual, the Judiciary allows our country to prosper, and in nurturing economic prosperity, rights will also be securely protected. Indeed, it is a symbiotic relationship, safeguarding rights go hand in hand with nurturing prosperity,” he said.
FOR LYDIA. Families and relatives of the late Lydia De Vega give their last respect at the Heritage Park Chapel in Taguig City on Friday. De Vega was once the fastest woman in Asia, winning the 100-meter gold medal in the 1982 and 1986 Asian Games and ruling the sprint double in the Asian Athletics Championship in 1983 and 1987. She is also a nine-time Southeast Asian Games gold medalist. Danny Pata THE Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) is mourning the death of retired Filipino sprint queen Lydia de Vega, PATAFA chief and Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez said on Friday. “We have lost a great athlete who was once called Asia’s fastest woman for ruling the 100-200-meter dash events. She did her country proud by bringing home multiple medals from competitions in the 1980s1990s. A grateful nation is in grief,” he said. Rodriguez said De Vega won multiple gold and bronze medals in the Asian Games, Southeast Asian Games and Asian Athletics Championship from 1981 to 1991, and represented the country in the 1984 and 1988 Summer Olympics. She last competed in October 1994 in the Manila-Fujian Games, where she won the 100-meter event, he said. “I had the privilege of cheering for her at the top of my voice in some of her international track events where she won gold medals, and stood proudly as our national anthem was played and the Philippine flag was raised as she stood victorious at the podium. I was then Region 10 PATAFA Director”, Rodriguez“Maramingadded. salamat Lydia de Vega sa karangalan na ibinigay mo sa bansa. Our prayers and condolences are with her family at this difficult time,” Rodriguez added. In behalf of PATAFA, the lawmaker thanked “all the kind souls” who supported De Vega while she was active in sports and in retirement.
PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Thursday threw his support behind the proposal to implement a “ladderized” program for nurses to address the brain drain and strengthen the country’s health sector. country is to provide scholarships. Department of Health (DOH) Officer-inCharge, Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, told the President during the PSAC meeting about the ladderized program being carried out by the University of the Philippines-Manila and select local government unitsUnder(LGUs).theprogram, UP Manila offers a two-year scholarship for midwives who, upon course completion, come back to the community to serve. Once they gain experience, they go back to UP Manila, where they get to study nursing for another two years. “So this ladderized program, there is this counterpart with local government. So we now have a couple of local governments that we have piloted this with. But of course, this would be—eventually para makapagproduce tayo nang madami,” Vergeire said. Nursing aide courses The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) was also tapped to help address this concern in the healthPaolosector.Maximo Borromeo, PSAC Healthcare lead, said TESDA offers a six-month nursing aide course and produces graduates who could be deployed in hospitals after a few“Whatmonths.the hospitals do is they train them further, another 30 days to do IG, to do phlebotomy, or ‘yung nasal – NGT. And it improves the ratio of beds that nurses [are] able to do in hospitals. Quick win like that is easy to do if you can encourage more nursing aides,” Borromeo said.
By Maricel V. Cruz BASILAN Rep. Mujiv Hataman has refiled a measure that, if enacted into law, will penalize acts of discrimination based on race, ethnicity or religion. Hataman filed House Bill 3526, or the Equality and Non-Discrimination on Race, Ethnicity and Religion Act, which also carries a penalty for violators ranging from a jail term of up to six months to a fine of up to P100,000, the bill’s penal clause mandates.
‘NO’ TO ROTC. Members of the Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa— Youth (SENTRO Youth) stage a protest action before the National Youth Commission in Quezon City to demand the government to prioritize youth welfare and empowerment rather than mandatory ROTC. Manny Palmero
Since the start of Moscow’s offensive in Ukraine, authorities have redoubled efforts to break with Western values, and many artists say that art should be the main conduit of those attempts
They have demanded that the head of the Bol shoi Theater, Vladimir Urin, sack 30-year-old di rector Alexander Molochnikov over his allegedly unpatriotic position or be dismissed himself. Many anti-Kremlin figures can no longer stage performances in Russia. “More than a hundred musical performances have been canceled since February,” Alexei Kozin, head of Navigator Records, a major Rus
“Authorities no longer want provocative art. They’d rather prefer quiet, reliable, even boring art,” Gogol Center playwright Valery Pecheikin, who is still in Russia, told AFP. AFP Full version on www.manilastandard.net
The court added that this assumption must be made because innocence, not wrongdoing, is to be presumed.Thepresumption of innocence includes that of good faith, fair dealing and honesty. This presump tion is accorded to every official of the land in the performance of his public duty. There is no reason why such presumption can not be accorded to the President of the Philippines upon whom the people during this period has con fided powers and responsibilities which are of a very high and delicate nature. The preservation of the rights guaranteed by the Constitution rests at bottom exactly where the defense of the nation rests: in the good sense and good will of the officials upon whom the Constitu tion has placed the responsibility of ensuring the safety of the nation in times of national peril. What the Court did here was to reverse the long standing rule on presumption of innocence. Instead of applying it to Ninoy Aqiuino, the Supreme Court gave his accusers and judges the benefit of the doubt.
The Aquino cases Ukraine assault sparks talk of Russian ‘cultural revolution’
Honor Blanco Cabie, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com SATURDAY, AUGUST 13, 2022 B1Opinion
In June, Moscow authorities announced a change of leadership at three of the capital’s top theaers. The Gogol Center theater, transformed by Sere brennikov into a bastion of artistic freedom, has been closed.
RIDER-turned-congressmanretired
The Court had this to say: “Prejudice cannot be presumed, especially if weighed against the great confidence and trust reposed by the people upon the President and the latter’s legal obligation under his oath to ‘do justice to every man.’
In questioning the jurisdiction of the military process...himcommissionhisheAquinopetitionercommission,BenignoJr.insistedwasacivilianandtrialbyamilitarydeprivedofhisrighttodue
By Marina Lapenkova ACTOR Sergei Bezrukov says the world has had enough of “liberal values” and hopes Moscow’s intervention in Ukraine and foreign sanctions can help Russian culture chart its own path. Bezrukov is among artistic figures who say Moscow should leverage the country’s growing isolation to purify Russian culture of Western in fluence and promote conservative values includ ing patriotism and the Orthodox faith. “We must take advantage of the isolation to reconnect with our traditions,” Bezrukov, one of Russia’s most popular artists, told AFP in an inter view.Instead of looking up to Hollywood, Russia should build its own cultural space, he said. “For 30 years, we have lived in the Marvel Universe,” the 48-year-old actor and director said, referring to the American film industry. “It’s time to create our own,” Bezrukov said at Moscow’s Gubernsky Theatre, where he is artistic director.“Returning to the USSR is impossible, but we can try to restore faith in Russia,” added Bezrukov, who has recently been slapped with EU sanctions for his support of the Kremlin’s military campaign in Ukraine.Overthe years President Vladimir Putin has cast himself as a guardian of traditional Russian values such as heterosexual marriage and religion, and repeatedly said that Western liberal values have become obsolete. Since the start of Moscow’s offensive in Ukraine, authorities have redoubled efforts to break with West ern values, and many artists say that art should be the main conduit of those attempts. “Russia is on the cusp of a conservative revo lution,” said theater producer and director Eduard Boyakov, who is a supporter of what he calls Rus sia’s “sacred war” in Ukraine. Blacklisted artists After the start of the assault on Ukraine, numer ous artists, including director Kirill Serebrennikov and actress Chulpan Khamatova, left Russia. Those still in the country are under mounting pressure to back the intervention in Ukraine. Several fiercely pro-Kremlin figures, including Sergei Mironov and Zakhar Prilepin, co-chairmen of the political party A Just Russia, have launched what they dubbed a fight against the “anti-state po sition” of Russia’s cultural elites.
EDITORIAL
Implementing laws fairly Wanting to compel the Philippines as unwitting ally
Col. Bonifacio Bosita is proving to be a real ally of hundreds of thousands of motorcycle riders when he filed his first bill (HB 3666) or An Act of Enforcing Fair Traffic Apprehension. Before his election, Bosita was more popular for his social media vlog, defend ing wrongly accused riders and drivers. His bill calls for providing compensation for motorists wrongly charged with traffic violations and the erring traffic enforcer with an administrative case. In his explanatory note, Bosita said “be ing apprehended by a traffic enforcement personnel can sometimes be a daunting experience especially if the apprehension was improperly made. Improper traffic ap prehension may be attributed to the exist ing ticketing quota system, the percentage on fines and penalties being given by some of the Local Government Units to its traf fic enforcers and deputized enforcers or simply the lack of necessary knowledge by some enforcers in the implementation of traffic laws, rules and regulations, or by intent for personal gains. This proposed bill applies to enforce ment by actual personnel, but traffic man agement has now evolved digitally. This should also apply to the No Contact Ap prehension Policy currently being imple mented by most LGUs, especially in Metro Manila. Installed CCTV cameras monitor traf fic violations in major intersections and the most influential person, in this case, is the designated operator, who monitors and evaluates possible violations, captures the acts of violation digitally, and have them sent to the system. He/she can decide like a god on what vehicles and kind of a person should be meted penalties -- usually stiff fines that most found to be too oppressive, especially for the poor public utility drivers or riders. What if the violator is a government ve hicle, owned by a councilor or the mayor? He can turn a blind eye and keep his job or play hero and risk his future. What other details should be included in Bosita’s bill if it has to include NCAP? Since there will be no traffic enforcer involved, who will take the brunt of the ad ministrative case?
MEMBER Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine NewspapersPPI can be accessed at: manilastandard.net Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Anita F. Grefal Treasury Manager Baldwin R. Felipe Head—Ad Solutions Edgar M. Valmorida Circulation Manager
ManilaStandard ONLINE Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Associate Editors Joyce Pangco Pañares News Editor Jimbo Owen Gulle City Editor Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher Honor Blanco Cabie Opinion Editor Lino M. Santos Chief Photographer
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“Nor is it justifiable to conceive, much less pre sume, that the members of the military commis sion, the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Board of Review and the Secretary of National Defense, with their corresponding staff judge advocates, as reviewing authorities, through whom petitioner’s hypothetical conviction would be reviewed before reaching the President, would all be insensitive to the great principles of justice and violate their respective obligations to act fairly and impartially in the premises.”
IN MY next three cases, to commemorate the as sassination of Ninoy Aquino on August 21, 1983, I will write about the cases involving our national hero during the Martial Law era, a time of terrible injustice in the Philippines. Following the proclamation of Martial Law in the Philippines, petitioner Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. was arrested on September 23, 1972, pursuant to General Order 2-A of the President (Ferdinand Marcos) for complicity in a conspiracy to seize political and state power in the country and to take over the Government. Aquino was detained at Fort Bonifacio in Rizal province. On September 25, 1972, he sued for a writ of habeas corpus in which he questioned the legality of the proclamation of Martial Law and his arrest and detention. Aquino then filed before the Supreme Court an action to restrain the respondent military commis sion from proceeding with the trial of his case set for August 27, 1973. He challenged the jurisdiction of the military commission to try him for crimes – four counts of subversion, one illegal possession of firearms, and one murder – he allegedly committed and for which he was arrested and detained since the proc lamation of martial law. In questioning the jurisdiction of the military commission, petitioner insisted he was a civilian and his trial by a military commission deprived him of his right to due process, since in his view the due process guaranteed by the Constitution to persons accused of “ordinary” crimes meant judi cial process. The High Court, in dismissing the petition in Aquino vs. Commission, ruled that the military commission had competent jurisdiction over the accused, reasoning that: “Martial law lawfully declared, creates an ex ception to the general rule of exclusive subjec tion to the civil jurisdiction, and renders offenses against the laws of war, as well as those of a civil character, triable, at the discretion of the com mander (as governed by a consideration for the public interests and the due administration of jus tice), by military tribunals. “It has been said that in time of overpowering necessity; public danger warrants the substitution of executive process for judicial process. “The immunity of civilians from military juris diction must, however, give way in areas governed by martial law. When it is absolutely imperative for public safety, legal processes can be supersed ed and military tribunals authorized to exercise the jurisdiction normally vested in courts.” On whether due process can be guaranteed by a military tribunal, the Court was of the opinion that the guarantee of due process was not a guarantee of any particular form of tribunal in criminal cases. A military tribunal of competent jurisdiction –accusation in due form, notice and opportunity to defend and trial before the impartial tribunal pres ent – adequately meets the due process require ment. Due process of law does not necessarily mean a judicial proceeding in the regular courts. For the Court then, the guarantee of due pro cess, viewed in its procedural aspect, requires no particular form of procedure. It implies due notice to the individual of the pro ceedings, an opportunity to defend himself and the problem of the propriety of the deprivations, under the circumstances presented, must be resolved in a manner consistent with essential fairness. It means essentially a fair and impartial trial and reasonable opportunity for the preparation of the defense. The procedure before the Military Commis sion, as described in Presidential Decree 39, as sures observance of the fundamental requisites of procedural due process, such as due notice, an essentially fair and impartial trial and reasonable opportunity for the preparation of the defense. On the issue whether petitioner’s trial before the military commission will not be fair and impartial, as the President had prejudged petitioner’s cases and the military tribunal is a mere creation of the President, and “subject to his control and direc tion.”
IT WAS absurd and undiplomatic for US Secre tary of State Anthony Blinken to ask President Marcos about the stand of the Philippines with re gard to US Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan. It was asking the President the obvious that Blinken himself knows the answer. It was insulting to ask Marcos, knowing that the Philippines is not a party to the issue that divides China and Taiwan today. Blinken should have refrained from asking the question, knowing it was US Speaker Nancy Pe losi who created the tension by visiting Taiwan. China would simply not set idly how the US openly reneged on its promise to keep a One Chi na Thepolicy.question raised by Blinken may appear to be an innocent one, but the US wants to entrap BBM by compelling the country to side with Taiwan, which was purposely created by Pelosi’s unauthorized visit. In substance, if one will realistically assess our military agreement with the US, we can say that it has been rendered functus oficio by the changing events taking place in the region. American diplomats have become shameless em issaries to what their government wants to convey. They lost their sense of decency to recall that the person they are going to deal with now is the son of the president they ousted from power in 1986, and even filed contempt charges against the current President they now badly want to talk with. Such is an incomparable hypocrisy, so bru tal that it even has the gall to remind us that any defense pact agreement we have with them must cover the whole area of South China Sea. Today, the Philippines stands as an unwilling ally of the US. What this supposed ally did in engineering the ouster of our government is incomparable in the annuals of diplomacy. As one would put it, the Philippines remains a docile ally of the US. Some believe the purpose of Blinken’s visit was to put pressure on our President to visit the US, possibly to coincide his speech at the UN General Assembly this September. The meeting with President Joe Biden would ap pear coincidental and not a choreographed meeting. In that, Blinken makes the US appear more important than BBM’s meeting with the Chinese leadership.TheUS tries to erase that ignominious chapter in its conduct of diplomatic relations that not so long ago the US abducted the First family, includ ing the duly elected President to Hawaii and there filed so many trumped-up charges against them. The script of the US plan is to make BBM a clas sic example of the proverbial biblical prodigal son because the possible meeting with Biden would now appear as far more important than giving courtesy to China which has respected our sovereignty, not re quested any military base, and has surpassed the US in economic assistance to uplift the country. Now the US is invoking paragraph 2 of Article 5 of EDCA that we have to repay for whatever im provements the US made for their stay in this country. They carefully planned the meeting with Biden to coincide with the possible visit of the President Marcos to New York. Such is a desperate scenario of wanting to maintain an ally in Asia, being the only country it colonized at the turn of the century. The possible meeting is more symbolical as it conveys many things. First, the meeting between Biden and BBM is an attempt to resurrect the status of the US as a disgraced ally that many pro-Americans in this country hope to ideologically rejuvenate. Second, the possible meeting is a slap on the face of China’s leadership as more important than the avowed policy declaration made by former Presi dents Ferdinand Marcos, Sr. and President Duterte. Third, the possible meeting would completely set aside the importance of the issues raised against theBeingUS. in their turf, the US is expected to call the shots on the issue affecting its military bases here. Fourth, the pending issue of joint oil exploration between the Philippines and China, which was un reasonably abrogated by Teodoro Locsin, and our conflicting claims with China in the South China Sea, will be conveniently set aside. Fifth, China will be greatly offended by the unwarranted sliding down of its position as friend of the Philippines, and this will affect the pending economic development assistance offered by Chi na and the position laid down by President Marcos himself that the Philippines will, in the conduct of its foreign policy, open its windows with the so cialist bloc including China. Today, the argument of the US is typical of the increasing nastiness of the US diplomats. It is reflective of their economic inability to con duct a sound foreign policy. Historically, President BBM adopted the policy laid down by his father which is to firmly demand the gradual dismantling of the US military bases based on what was signed in the Johnson-Marcos communique during his visit to Washington in 1966 now restated in Article XVIII, Section 25 of the 1987 Constitution. In the last book written by the late President himself, he said renegotiation should not be cen tered on the bases but should include the term for which they will be allowed to stay, which was re duced from 99 years to 25 years, the number of bases allowed to operate from an original of more than 25 to two at the signing of the agreement. President Marcos Sr.’s negotiators were me ticulous in such items that would constitute the final agreement, foremost was amount of rent, the reduc tion in the number of hectarage used, criminal juris diction over the bases, taxation of imported items by US personnel, and the collective bargaining agree ment of Filipinos working inside the US bases. The US vehemently objected to Philippine demand for payment of rent, saying the demand would serve as precedent to other countries. The US panel offered instead economic assis tance for which the Philippines was able to obtain a substantial amount of more 700 million dollars in a span of five years. After the installation of their lackey in 1986, the US wasted no time seeking the return of their bases and restoring all the privileges they enjoyed. They initially offered President Estrada the idea of Visiting Forces Agreement. Originally, the visit envisioned that US forces will once in a while drop anchor in the Philippines like a jail warden counting the number of prisoners in hisThecustody.visitgradually became regular and later became permanent until such time that they de manded the right to build structures and facilities for their “visiting” forces. The subsequent agreement entered into by the Philippines with the US erased all the precedent set ting provisions such as the period for their stay in the country, payment for the use of the bases, jurisdiction over those soldiers that violate Philippine laws, pay ment of electricity and water consumption. Since the US termed the stay of their forces here under the category of “visiting forces,” we should insist that we should never accept the condition of making their stay permanent or accept the propo sition that they are here to defend us against any body or compel us to pay for whatever permanent structures and facilities they built. (rpkapunan@gmail.com)
The operator on duty at the time of the apprehension? Or the LGU? What kind of penalty should be given to the LGU? One thing is clear, the NCAP should be included in Bosita’s proposed bill that this early is gaining tons of support from riders. This comes when the Land Transporta tion Office is appealing to LGUs imple menting the no contact apprehension poli cy to suspend and consider reviewing such traffic policy. LTO chief and Department of Transpor tation Assistant Secretary Teofilo Guadiz III had actually met with the LGUs to iron out guidelines and other concerns in the NCAP implementation like exorbitant fines and pen alties, inadequate infrastructure, and owner ship of second-hand vehicles. It’s very clear that some LGUs are mak ing the NCAP as a money-making venture while implementing traffic discipline. But it should not be done seamlessly to protect innocent motorists who become victims of unwanted circumstances. One driver was fined for changing lanes at the intersection because he avoided a pothole. A taxicab driver faced heavy fines for two violations in one night because his car’s front wheel touched the solid line ahead of the pedestrian lane. It happened because the car in front of him suddenly made a Finally,stop.some people in government like Bosita and Guadiz, are making sense. Laws should be implemented correctly and fairly
They lost their sense of decency to recall that the person they are going to deal with now is the son of the president they ousted from power in 1986, and even filed contempt charges against the current President they now badly want to talk with
sian music label specializing in rock, told AFP. Kozin, who is based in Russia, said the unofficial “blacklist” currently consists of around 40 names, including Yury Shevchuk, a legendary rock musician who accused the Kremlin of “killing” young Rus sians and Ukrainians during a concert in May.
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Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board
One thing is clear, the NCAP should be included in Bosita’s proposed bill that this early is gaining tons of support from riders
CYAN Manila Standard NOTICE Notice is hereby given that ALLIED CARE EXPERTS (ACE) MEDICAL CENTER- LEGAZPI. INC with office address at Daraga-Legazpi Diversion Road, Bogtong, Legazpi City, is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as a New Operator of General Hospital Level 2 (Allied Care Experts (ACE) Medical Inc.) with a capacity of 102 beds, under Tier I of the 2022 Strategic Investment Priority Plan (SIPP) of RA 11534 (CREATE Act), with project site located at Daraga-Legazpi Diversion Road, Sogtong, Legazpi City.Any person with valid objection/s on the abovementioned project may file his/her objection in writing, under oath, with the BOl within three (3) days from the date of this publication. (SGD) MARY ANN E. RAGANIT Acting Director Infrastructure and Services Industries Service (MS-AUG. 13, 2022)
MARY ANN E. RAGANIT Acting Director Infrastructure and Services Industries Service (MS-AUG. 13, 2022) CYAN Manila Standard
South Korea pardons Samsung boss IN BRIEF ‘TO HELP THE ECONOMY’ YELLOW BLACK
PARDONED. In this file photo taken on February 22, 2017, Lee Jae-Yong (center), vice chairman of Samsung Electronics, arrives for questioning at the office of a special economicofleadersofKorea’sexample12,pardonreceivedofandincorruptioninvestigatingprosecutorascandalSeoul.TheheirdefactoleaderSamsunggroupapresidentialonAugust2022,thelatestofSouthlongtraditionfreeingbusinessconvictedcorruptionongrounds.
SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION TO: MANUEL D. DELOS SANTOS, JR. No. 797 A. Pablo St., Malinta 1440 Valenzuela City, Metro Manila
WHEREFORE, finding the petition to be sufficient in form and substance, let this petition be set for hearing before this Court located at Room 703, Seventh Floor, Hall of Justice –Annex, Diliman, Quezon City on December 7, 2022, at 1:30 in the afternoon at which place and on which date and time, all interested persons must appear and file their opposition/s to the petition. Let a copy of this Order be published once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation throughout the Philippines. Further, let copies of this order, together with the petition and its annexes be served upon the Office of the Solicitor General, Office of the Prosecutor of Quezon City, Local Civil Registrar of Manila, and the Philippine Statistics Authority. SO ORDERED. Quezon City, Philippines, May 20, 2022. (Sgd.) DOLLY ROSE R. BOLANTE-PRADO Presiding Judge (MStandard - Aug. 13, 20 & 27, 2022)
NOTICE Notice is hereby given that ALLIED CARE EXPERTS (ACE) MEDICAL CENTER- LEGAZPI. INC with office address at Daraga-Legazpi Diversion Road, Bogtong, Legazpi City, is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as a New Operator of General Hospital Level 2 (Allied Care Experts (ACE) Medical Inc.) with a capacity of 102 beds, under Tier I of the 2022 Strategic Investment Priority Plan (SIPP) of RA 11534 (CREATE Act), with project site located at Daraga-Legazpi Diversion Road, Sogtong, Legazpi City.Any person with valid objection/s on the abovementioned project may file his/her objection in writing, under oath, with the BOl within three (3) days from the date of this publication.
Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late Atty. Lydio I. Lachica, located at 84 Liberation St. Galas Quezon City, has been extrajudicially settled among his heirs as per Extrajudicial Settlement with Waiver of Rights per Doc. No. 262, Page No. 54, Book No. V, Series of 2022 of Atty. Arnold Cacho, Notary Public for Manila NOTICE (MS-JUL. 30/ AUG. 6 & 13, 2022) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONA CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION BRANCH 306, QUEZON CITY rtc1qzn306@judiciary.gov.ph IN THE MATTER OF PETITION FOR CHANGE OF NAME FROM JAZMINE JAMINOLA TO JAZMINE JAMINOLA RAÑA,R-QZN-22-04792-SP JAZMINE JAMINOLA a.k.a. JAZMINE JAMINOLA RAÑA, x----------------------------------------------------xPetitioner. ORDER This is a verified petition filed by Jazmine Jaminola Raña, through counsel, praying that her name as appearing in her Certificate of Live Birth be changed from jasmine Jaminola to Jazmine Jaminola Raña. Petitioner alleges that she was born on 06 June 2003 to Eugene Pelaez Jaminola and Fred Arinas Raña III in the City of Sta. Cruz, Manila. Since at the time of her birth, her parents are not married, she was not allowed to use the surname of her father; although, the latter acknowledged her as his child when he signed the Affidavit of Acknowledgement/Affidavit of Paternity in the Certificate of Live Birth. Since her childhood, she has been using the surname of her father or the full name Jazmine Jaminola Raña. When she was already looking for college schools, she then secured a copy of her Certificate of Live Birth and she found out that her Certificate of Live Birth indicates that her full name is Jazmine Jaminola. She further alleges that in 2004, Art. 176 of the Family Code was amended by RA No. 9255, otherwise known as an Act Allowing Illegitimate Children to Use the Surname of their Father. However, when she went to the Civil Registrar of Manila to file an application for change of name, she was advised that only those who were born after the effectivity of RA No. 9255 can apply. Hence, the instant petition.
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A HONG KONG court on Friday jailed two young men in relation to a violent clash during the city’s political unrest in 2019 that killed an elderly man. Luo Chang-qing, a 70-year-old cleaner, died from a blow to the head during a border town confrontation where democracy protest ers and government loyalists hurled bricks at each other. Luo was one of the only fatalities directly linked to Hong Kong’s political turmoil in 2019 and his case remains a source of outrage for government supporters. Kelvin Lau, 19, and Chan Yin-ting, 18, were each sentenced to five-and-a-half years in jail for rioting on Friday. The duo faced additional manslaughter and wounding charges but a jury last month cleared them of responsibility in Luo’s death.
GREETINGS:WHEREAS, a Petition for Declaration of Nullity of Marriage has been filed by petitioner Jane D. Tivoli-Delos Santos against Manuel D. Delos Santos, Jr.; WHEREAS, petitioner, through counsel, filed “Motion for leave of Court to Serve Summons by Publication”; WHEREAS, on July 12, 2022, an Order was issued directing the service of summons be effected upon the respondent by publication at the expense of the petitioner; WHEREAS, In the Petition, the relief/s prayed for are hereby quoted as follows: “WHEREFORE, it is most respectfully prayed of this Honorable Court to render, after due trial and hearing, a judgment: (A) Declaring the marriage between the Petitioner and Respondent on 22 January 2004 as void ab initio for being bigamous marriage; (B) Authorizing the Petitioner to drop the surname ‘Delos Santos’ and resume the use of her surname ‘Tivoli’; (C) Awarding the sole and exclusive custody of minors Jana Mikaela T. Delos Santos and Joaquin Manuel T. Delos Santos to the Petitioner; (D) Changing the status of said minors to illegitimate children of the Petitioner and as such, allowing them to use her surname ‘Tivoli’; and (E) Directing the Philippine Statistics Authority and the Local Civil Registrar of Quezon City to annotate the dispositive portion of the Decision in this case to reflect the declaration of absolute nullity of the bigamous marriage of the parties and to issue new certificates of live birth to minors Jana Mikaela T. Delos Santos and Joaquin Manuel T. Delos Santos to reflect the change in the surname of said minor children as well as the change in their status as illegitimate children of the Petitioner. Other equitable reliefs are also prayed for.” NOW, THEREFORE, You, respondent MANUEL D. DELOS SANTOS, JR., is summoned and required to file with this court your verified Answer or any responsive pleading to the Petition of herein petitioner within thirty (30) days from the last issue of publication, serving a copy thereof upon petitioner. If you fail to file your answer within the said thirty (30) -day period, petitioner shall take action as authorized under the law and ask from the court the relief/s applied for in the said Petition. Let this Summons and copy of the Order dated July 12, 2022 be published by the petitioner at her expense once a week for two (2) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation, and likewise, to deposit copy of the same, as well as, of the Petition and its Annexes in the Quezon City Post Office/other courier, postage prepaid and by registered mail addressed to respondent’s last known address, also at the expense of the petitioner. WITNESS MY HAND SEAL of this Court, this 19th day of July, 2022 at Quezon City, Metro Manila. (Sgd.) Atty. MA. ADORACION J. BAETIONG Clerk of Court VCc: Atty. Reginald T. Beltran No. 23 Westport St, Parkridge Residential Estate Brgy. Dela Paz, Antipolo City, Rizal Manuel D. Delos Santos, Jr. No. 797 A. Pablo St, Malinta 1440 Valenzuela City, Metro Manila (MStandard - Aug. 13 & 20, 2022) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONA CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION BRANCH 306, QUEZON CITY rtc1qzn306@judiciary.gov.ph IN THE MATTER OF PETITION FOR CHANGE OF NAME FROM JAZMINE JAMINOLA TO JAZMINE JAMINOLA RAÑA,R-QZN-22-04792-SP JAZMINE JAMINOLA a.k.a. JAZMINE JAMINOLA RAÑA, x----------------------------------------------------xPetitioner. ORDER This is a verified petition filed by Jazmine Jaminola Raña, through counsel, praying that her name as appearing in her Certificate of Live Birth be changed from jasmine Jaminola to Jazmine Jaminola Raña. Petitioner alleges that she was born on 06 June 2003 to Eugene Pelaez Jaminola and Fred Arinas Raña III in the City of Sta. Cruz, Manila. Since at the time of her birth, her parents are not married, she was not allowed to use the surname of her father; although, the latter acknowledged her as his child when he signed the Affidavit of Acknowledgement/Affidavit of Paternity in the Certificate of Live Birth. Since her childhood, she has been using the surname of her father or the full name Jazmine Jaminola Raña. When she was already looking for college schools, she then secured a copy of her Certificate of Live Birth and she found out that her Certificate of Live Birth indicates that her full name is Jazmine Jaminola. She further alleges that in 2004, Art. 176 of the Family Code was amended by RA No. 9255, otherwise known as an Act Allowing Illegitimate Children to Use the Surname of their Father. However, when she went to the Civil Registrar of Manila to file an application for change of name, she was advised that only those who were born after the effectivity of RA No. 9255 can apply. Hence, the instant petition. WHEREFORE, finding the petition to be sufficient in form and substance, let this petition be set for hearing before this Court located at Room 703, Seventh Floor, Hall of Justice –Annex, Diliman, Quezon City on December 7, 2022, at 1:30 in the afternoon at which place and on which date and time, all interested persons must appear and file their opposition/s to the petition. Let a copy of this Order be published once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation throughout the Philippines. Further, let copies of this order, together with the petition and its annexes be served upon the Office of the Solicitor General, Office of the Prosecutor of Quezon City, Local Civil Registrar of Manila, and the Philippine Statistics Authority. SO ORDERED. Quezon City, Philippines, May 20, 2022. (Sgd.) DOLLY ROSE R. BOLANTE-PRADO Presiding Judge (MStandard - Aug. 13, 20 & 27, 2022)
ORDER As per Return of Service of Summons dated April 22, 2022, copies of the Petition with annexes and the Summons were “unserved” upon the respondent considering that he is no longer residing at the given address, as per information given by one Miracle Dizon, new tenant. The petitioner avers in her affidavit that she exerted earnest efforts to ascertain the exact location where the respondent presently resides by asking for the needed information from his immediate relatives and common friends but despite such earnest efforts, she was not able to elicit this information from the aforesaid sources and thus, respondent’s residence address remains unknown to her. After a careful perusal of the “Motion for Leave of Court to Serve Summons by Publication”, supported by the Affidavit of Merit of the petitioner, this court resolves to grant the same. It appears that this is one of the instances wherein summons by publication may be allowed. Section 6, A. M. No. 02-11-10-SC (Rule on Declaration of Absolute Nullity of Void Marriages and Annulment of Voidable Marriages in relation to Rule 14 of the Rules of Court) provides: “Sec. 6. Summons. - The service of summons shall be governed by Rule 14 of the Rules of Court and by the following rules:a) Where the respondent cannot be located at his given address or his whereabouts are unknown and cannot be ascertained by diligent inquiry, service of summons may, by leave of court, be effected upon him by publication once a week for two consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines and in such place as the court may order. In addition, a copy of the summons shall be served on the respondent at his last known address by registered mail or by any other means the court may deem sufficient.
WorldSATURDAY, AUGUST 13, 2022B2 mst.daydesk@gmail.com
US ATTORNEY General Merrick Garland said he had “personally ap proved” the dramatic raid on Don ald Trump’s Florida estate and, in a highly unusual move, was requesting the warrant justifying the search be madeThepublic.country’s top prosecutor did not reveal the reason for the unprec edented search of the home of a for mer US president, and condemned “unfounded attacks” on the FBI and the Justice Department that followed it. “I personally approved the deci sion to seek a search warrant,” Gar land told reporters in his first public statement since Monday’s raid. “The department does not take such a de cision lightly.”
The judge said on Friday that the defendants – who were underage at the time of the crime – were among the group that instigated the violence that escalated into a “very serious riot.” “Things devolved into mayhem which led to very tragic conse quences,” the judge said. The skirmish, which took place in the Sheung Shui neighbourhood in November 2019, was one among dozens that broke out between ideological opponents at the height of Hong Kong’s massive prodemocracy protests. The defendants made plans to protest together on the day, which showed some level of premeditation, according to the judge. Earlier media accounts of the Sheung Shui conflict placed blame on both sides, but the judge praised the government loyalists as “un sung heroes” who acted selflessly and courageously when they stood up to the protesters.AFP
AFP 1ST BIRTHDAY. Le le (right), the first giant panda born in Singapore who turns one year old on August 14, celebrates with his mother Jia Jia ahead of its birthday inside the River Wonders’ giant panda forest exhibit in Singapore. AFP
Top prosecutor ‘approved’ Trump home search 2 jailed for political unrest that killed an elderly in HK Aussie economist pleads not guilty in Myanmar trial AN AUSTRALIAN economist detained by Myanmar’s junta has pleaded not guilty to breaching the colonial-era official secrets act, a source close to the case said on Friday. Sean Turnell was working as an adviser to Myanmar’s civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi when he was detained shortly after the coup that ousted her government in February last year. On trial in a secretive junta court that jour nalists cannot access, he faces a maximum pen alty of 14 years in prison if found guilty. Turnell “testified in court yesterday... He pleaded not guilty,” said the source, who added the economist was in good health. Since seizing power, Myanmar’s military government has detained thousands of pro-de mocracy protesters, with many facing charges that rights groups have decried as politically motivated. The exact details of Turnell’s alleged of fence have not been made public, although state television has said he had access to “se cret state financial information” and had tried to flee the country. In June, his trial was shifted to a special court inside a prison compound in the capital Naypyidaw. AFP Gunman who tried to breach FBI office killed in standoff AN ARMED man who fled after attempting to breach an FBI office in the US state of Ohio was killed in a standoff with police, authorities saidTheThursday.incident drew nationwide attention as it occurred only a few days after the Federal Bureau of Investigation searched former president Donald Trump’s Florida home, infuriating right-wing circles, although there was no immediate indication the events were linked.The FBI said Thursday morning that a person armed with a weapon had tried to “breach” the entry to the bureau’s office in the Ohio city of Cincinnati. “Upon the activation of an alarm and a response by armed FBI special agents, the subject fled,” the FBI said in a statement. According to local media, the man fired a nail gun and brandished an AR-15-style rifle before fleeing by car. A police spokesman said the vehicle was pursued by law enforcement and that it stopped in a rural area. “Once the vehicle came to a stop, gunfire was exchanged between officers on the scene and the suspect,” the spokesman said. AFP
THE heir and de facto leader of the Samsung group received a presidential pardon Friday, continuing South Korea’s long tradition of freeing business leaders convicted of corruption on economic grounds. Billionaire Lee Jae-yong, convicted of bribery and embezzlement in January last year, will be “reinstated” to give him a chance to “contribute to overcoming the eco nomic crisis” of the country, justice minister Han Dong-hoon said. Lee—who has a net worth of $7.9 billion, according to Forbes—was released on parole in August 2021, after serving 18 months in jail, just over half of his original sentence. Friday’s pardon will allow him to fully return to work by lifting a post-prison employment re striction that had been set for five years. “Due to the global economic crisis, the dy namism and vitality of the national economy have deteriorated, and the economic slump is feared to be pro longed,” the Justice Ministry said in a statement.Thepardon was given so that Lee—as well as other highlevel executives receiving throughoustheFriday—couldpardons“leadcountry’scontinugrowthengineactiveinvest
JANE D. TIVOLI-DELOS SANTOS,Petitioner, -versusCIVIL CASE NO. R-QZN-21-10917-CV For: Declaration of Absolute Nullity of Bigamous Marriage MANUEL D. DELOS SANTOS, x------------------------------------------------------------xRespondent,JR.,
b) The summons to be published shall be contained in an order of the court with the following data: (1) title of the case; (2) docket number; (3) nature of the petition; (4) principal grounds of the petition and the reliefs prayed for; and (5) a directive for respondent to answer within thirty days from the last issue of publication.WHEREFORE, in view of the foregoing, let service of summons and a copy of this Order be effected upon respondent Manuel D. Delos Santos, Jr. by publication at the expense of the petitioner once a week for two (2) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation to be chosen by raffle pursuant to P. D. 1079. Respondent shall be given a period of thirty (30) days from the last issue of publication of the summons to file his answer serving a copy thereof upon the petitioner. Likewise, let copies of this Order, summons and petition be sent to respondent at his last known address by registered mail. SO QuezonORDERED.City,Metro Manila, July 12, 2022. (Sgd.) ROSLYN M. RABARA-TRIA Presiding Judge copyRMRT/lucyfurnished: SACP Arceli C. Ragsac acr.ocpqc@gmail .com Office of the Solicitor General 134 Amorsolo St., Legaspi Village,Makati City Atty. Reginald T. Belban rejbeltran@yahoo.com Jane D. Tivoli-Delos Santos Lot 5, Block 5, Oval Street, Maligaya Park Subdv., Brgy. Pasong Putik, Novaliches, QC. Manuel D. Delos Santos, Jr. No. 797 A. Pablo St, Malinta 1440, Valenzuela City, Metro REPUBLICManilaOF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION BRANCH 94, QUEZON CITY Room 406, 4 Floor, Hall of Justice Bldg. (Annex) Quezon City Hall Complex e-mail address:rtc1qzn094@judiciary.gov.ph contact numbers: (02) 8-534-2811 / 0947-586-7158 JANE D. TIVOLI-DELOS SANTOS, Petitioner, -versusCivil case No. R-QZN-21-10917-CV For: Declaration of Absolute Nullity of Bigamous Marriage MANUEL D. DELOS SANTOS, JR., x------------------------------------------------------------------------xRespondent.
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION BRANCH 94, QUEZON CITY Room 406, 4th Floor, Hall of Justice Bldg. (Annex) Quezon City Hall Complex e-mail address:rtc1qzn094@judiciary.gov.ph contact nos. (02) 8-534-2811 & 0947 586 7158
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AFP ment in technology and job creation,” it added. Three other high-profile businessmen were also par doned, including Lotte Group chairman Shin Dong-bin, who was sentenced to a suspended two-and-half-year prison term in a bribery case in 2018. A total of 1,693 people – including prisoners with ter minal illnesses and those near the end of their terms— were on the pardon list, the ministry said, ahead of the annual Liberation Day anniversary Monday. The anniversary marks Japan’s 1945 World War II sur render, which liberated Korea from decades of colonial rule and is typically celebrated each year with the pardon of hundreds of prisoners. Lee, 54, issued a statement after the pardon was an nounced saying he aimed to “contribute to the econo my through continuous investment and job creation for young people.” Lee is the vice-chairman of Samsung Electronics, the world’s biggest smartphone maker. The conglomerate’s overall turnover is equivalent to about one-fifth of South Korea’s gross domestic product. He was jailed for offenses connected to a massive cor ruption scandal that brought down former president Park Geun-hye.Thereis a long history of South Korean tycoons be ing charged with bribery, embezzlement, tax evasion or other offences. But many of those convicted have subsequently had their sentences cut or suspended on appeal, with some—includ ing late Samsung chairman Lee Kun-hee, who was convict ed twice – receiving presidential pardons in recognition of their “contribution to the national economy.”
Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late Atty. Lydio I. Lachica, located at 84 Liberation St. Galas Quezon City, has been extrajudicially settled among his heirs as per Extrajudicial Settlement with Waiver of Rights per Doc. No. 262, Page No. 54, Book No. V, Series of 2022 of Atty. Arnold Cacho, Notary Public for Manila NOTICE (MS-JUL. 30/ AUG. 6 & 13, 2022)
NOTICE Notice is hereby given that ESGUERRA SHIPPING CORPORATION with office address at #94 Herma Bldg. Sct Rallos St. , Sacred Heart, Quezon City, is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOl) as a New Domestic Shipping Operator (Oil Tanker, MT Malasakit with 1,100 GT), under Tier I of the 2022 Strategic Investment Priority Plan (SIPP) of R.A. 11534 (CREATE Act), with home based port at Batangas. Any person with valid objection/s on the abovementioned project may file his/her objection in writing, under oath, with the BOI within three (3) days from the date of this publication. (SGD.)
(SGD) MARY ANN E. RAGANIT Acting Director Infrastructure and Services Industries Service (MS-AUG. 13, 2022)
While noting that “ethical obliga tions” prevented him detailing the basis of the raid, Garland said he had asked a Florida judge to unseal the warrant because Trump had publicly confirmed the search and there was “substantial public interest in this matter.”Trump, who has a copy of the search warrant but has—so far—de clined to reveal its contents, said late Thursday night he would not oppose the unsealing of the warrant. “Not only will I not oppose the release of documents... I am go ing a step further by ENCOUR AGING the immediate release of those documents,” the former president wrote on Truth Social, the social media site he launched this year. In another post, Trump repeated his claim that the search was an “unprecedented political weaponization of law Andrewenforcement.”Weissmann, a former Jus tice Department official, said Gar land had “called Trump’s bluff” by putting the onus on the former presi dent to object or consent to release of theThedocument.Justice Department motion to unseal the warrant noted—and did not dispute—statements by Trump’s representatives that the FBI was seeking presidential records and po tential classified material. AFP
BELOW $4. Cars pull out of a gas station in Bethesda, Maryland on August 11, 2022. The US average price of gasoline at the pump has finally fallen below $4.00 a gallon, providing a bit of relief for Americans struck by massive inflation at almost every turn. AFP
Stocks extend rally; BDO and Puregold top gainers
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LONDON, United Kingdom—Brit ain’s economy shrank in the second quarter, official data showed Friday, as the country heads toward recession under a new prime minister. UK gross domestic product dropped 0.1 percent in the April-June period after a rise of 0.8 percent in the first quarter, the Office for Na tional Statistics said in a statement. The Bank of England (BoE) ex pects the economy to enter a yearlong recession by the end 2022 as Britons endure a cost-of-living crisis with inflation at its highest level in decades.“With May’s growth revised down a little and June showing a notable fall, overall the economy shrank slightly in the second quarter,” said ONS director of economic statistics Darren“HealthMorgan.wasthe biggest reason the economy contracted as both the (CO VID) test and trace and vaccine pro grams were wound down, while many retailers also had a tough quarter.” Morgan said this was “partially offset by growth in hotels, bars, hair dressers and outdoor events across the quarter, partly as a result of peo ple celebrating the Platinum Jubilee” that marked Queen Elizabeth II’s 70 years on the throne. The ONS added that the UK econ omy slumped 0.6 percent in June. Following Friday’s data, finance minister Nadhim Zahawi said he was “determined to work with the Bank of England to get inflation under con trol and grow the economy.” But Prime Minister Boris Johnson will not make “major fiscal inter ventions” before leaving office next month, his spokesman said on Mon day amid calls for immediate govern ment action to tackle Britain’s costof-livingJohnson,crisis.back at his desk after a five-day belated honeymoon with wife Carrie in Slovenia last week, has been criticized for being absent as the BoE last week warned of recession. His trip coincided with Zahawi also being away on holiday, as the central bank hiked interest rates by the big gest margin in nearly three decades in a bid to stem surging inflation. AFP Successive droughts tighten grip on Morocco farms and villages
NEW YORK, United States—McDon ald’s announced plans Thursday for a “phased” partial reopening of restau rants in Ukraine, where operations have been shuttered since February due to the Russian invasion. The US burger chain will “reopen some restaurants in Kyiv and western Ukraine, where other businesses have safely reopened,” Paul Pomroy, senior vice president for international operated markets, said in a message to employees.Pomroy cited requests from the company’s Ukrainian employees for the relaunch to signify “a small but important sense of normalcy” in the besiegedMcDonald’scountry. suspended its operations in Ukraine on February 24 following the Russian siege of the country.Thecompany has continued to pay salaries of more than 10,000 employ ees since then, Pomroy said. “Over the next few months, we will begin working with suppliers to get product to restaurants, making the physical properties ready to serve customers, bringing restaurant teams and employees back on site, and im plementing enhanced procedures and protocols to support the safety of our people and customers,” Pomroy said. The announcement was applauded by Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Af fairs Dmytro Kuleba, who acknowl edged that the actual reopening “will take a while,” in a message on Face book.“But the main thing is that there is a political decision: Mac is back,” Kuleba said. “The return of a great American company is first of all a sig nal for the international business of the opportunity to work in Ukraine, even in spite of war.” In May, McDonald’s said it would sell its Russia business to Russian businessman Alexander Govor after announcing a complete exit from the country.McDonald’s business in Russia “is no longer tenable, nor is it consistent with McDonald’s values,” the chain said at the time. AFP ‘Hopeless’: Many Chinese homebuyers run out of patience with developers BEIJING, China—Newly married and with his first child on the way, auto worker Wang wanted to move into the apartment he bought in Wuhan three years ago but those hopes were dashed by China’s ballooning property crisis. Saddled with $300,000 in debt and with his unit nowhere near completion, the 34-year-old decided he had had enough and stopped making mortgage payments.Heisamong numerous homebuyers across dozens of cities in China who have boycotted payments over fears that their properties will not be completed by cashstrapped, debt-laden developers. “They said construction would re sume soon,” Wang told AFP, only giving his surname. “But no workers showedBeijing-basedup.”
However, the feel-good vibe wore off in US trading after Fed officials lined up to warn that there was a long way to go before inflation, which is still sitting around four-decade highs, is tamed. San Francisco Fed chief Mary Daly was the latest to bring markets down to earth, telling Bloomberg TV that the data were “significant in that they are saying that we’re seeing some improve ment but they’re not victory.”
Wang was planning to start a family after purchasing the home. “It wasn’t easy for us to buy this home. It all came from my savings,” said“NowWang.there’s no home, and we still owe two million yuan ($300,000) in mortgage payments.” After years of explosive growth fu eled by easy access to loans, Chinese authorities launched a crackdown on excessive debt in 2020. That squeezed financing options for property sector giants such as Ever grande, as they struggled to make re payments and restructure mountains of debt.Now they are facing mortgage boy cotts and government pressure to de liver pre-sold homes. In Wuhan, the capital of Hubei prov ince, buyers such as Wang said they re ceived multiple postponement notices on their apartments from developer Myhome Real Estate, months past the promised delivery date in late 2021. The builder said in a notice this week that it had managed to release some fro zen funds, adding that it expects to com plete the Wuhan project in late 2022. Wang said he stopped repayments this month, and that complaints to authorities in the city did not make a difference.“There’s no hope in life, carrying on with payments like this.” The “crisis of confidence” in China’s housing market points to structural flaws, said Andrew Batson of Gavekal Dragonomics in a recent report. AFP
Agronomist Mohamed Srairi said Morocco’s Achilles’ heel was its agri cultural policy “which favors waterconsuming fruit trees and industrial agriculture.” Key sector He said such agriculture relies on drip irrigation which, although it can save water, paradoxically results in in creased consumption as previously arid areas become cultivable. The World Bank report noted that cultivated areas under drip irrigation in Morocco have more than tripled. It said that “modern irrigation tech nologies may have altered cropping deci sions in ways that increased rather than decreased the total quantity of water con sumed by the agricultural sector.” More than 80 percent of Morocco’s water supply is allocated to agriculture, a key economic sector that accounts for 14 percent of gross domestic product. Mohamed, in his nineties, stood on an area of parched earth not far from the Al Massira Dam. “We don’t plough the land anymore be cause there is no water,” he said, but added that he had to “accept adversity anyway be cause we have no choice.” AFP A herd of sheep walk over cracked earth at al-Massira dam in Ouled Essi Masseoud village, some 140 kilometers (85 miles) south from Morocco’s economic capital Casablanca, on August 8, 2022 amid the country’s worst drought in at least four decades. Residents of Morocco’s Ouled Essi Masseoud village are suffering from a series of successive droughts, prompting them to rely solely on sporadic supplies in public fountains and from private wells. AFP
The rest of Asian markets were mixed Friday, with traders struggling to build on the previous day’s rally as they come to terms with the likelihood that cen tral banks will continue to raise interest rates to battle runaway inflation. Equities surged across the region Thursday on hopes the Federal Reserve could slow down its pace of monetary tightening.Afterstarting out brightly, Wall Street ended broadly negative with the Nasdaq leadingTokyolosses.jumped more than two percent as investors there returned from a oneday break to play catch-up with Thurs day’sTherebounce.were also gains in Hong Kong, Seoul, Mumbai and Taipei but Shang hai, Sydney, Singapore, Jakarta and Wellington fell. A similarly upbeat report on the pro ducer price index, which can act as a guide to future CPI readings, provided further reason for optimism.
MOSTVOLUMEACTIVEVALUE (PHP) 1 CNVRG 27,823,800 545,960,338 2 ALI 16,601,000 469,964,245 3 SMC 3,919,580 403,743,052 4 AC 531,490 389,492,280 5 BDO 2,575,750 304,307,265 6 SM 355,310 299,077,375 7 MBT 5,266,930 277,791,077 8 TEL 131,260 238,583,540 9 PGOLD 6,209,500 214,497,965 10 MONDE 12,577,700 205,840,648 TOP LASTGAINERS % PRICE CHANGE CHANGE 1 LBC 23.85 5.63 30.90% 2 LSC 0.55 0.09 19.57% 3 WIN 0.29 0.04 16.00% 4 MB 0.36 0.045 14.29% 5 ABSP 13.46 1.46 12.17% 6 ABS 13.32 1.34 11.19% 7 MWC 16.62 1.52 10.07% 8 SFI 0.094 0.008 9.30% 9 APL 0.039 0.003 8.33% 10 BALAI 0.85 0.05 6.25% TOPPRICELASTLOSERS%CHANGECHANGE 1 CNVRG 19.18 -1.77 -8.45% 2 SSP 1.36 -0.11 -7.48% 3 DFNN 3.37 -0.21 -5.87% 4 KPHB 10 -0.6 -5.66% 5 APC 0.205 -0.012 -5.53% 6 BRNP 101.5 -5.5 -5.14% 7 PX 3.2 -0.17 -5.04% 8 2GO 6.3 -0.3 -4.55% 9 ION 0.64 -0.03 -4.48% 10 CNPF 24 -1 -4.00% PSEi August 12, 2022UK dips,economyclosesinonrecession
By Kaouthar Oudrhiri OULED ESSI MASSEOUD, Moroc co—Mohamed gave up farming because of successive droughts that have hit his previously fertile but isolated village in Morocco and because he just couldn’t bear it any longer. “To see villagers rush to public foun tains in the morning or to a neighbor to get water makes you want to cry,” the man in his 60s said. “The water shortage is making us suf fer,” he told AFP in Ouled Essi Masse oud village, around 140 kilometers (87 miles) from the country’s economic cap italButCasablanca.itisnotjust his village that is suf fering—all of the North African country has been hit. No longer having access to potable running water, the villagers of Ouled Essi Masseoud rely solely on sporadic supplies in public fountains and from private wells. “The fountains work just one or two days a week, the wells are starting to dry up and the river next to it is drying up more and more,” said Mohamed Sbai as he went to fetch water from neighbors. The situation is critical, given the vil lage’s position in the agricultural prov ince of Settat, near the Oum Errabia Riv er and the Al Massira Dam, Morocco’s second largest. Its reservoir supplies drinking water to several cities, including the three million people who live in Casablanca. But lat est official figures show it is now filling at a rate of just five percent.
Al Massira reservoir has been reduced to little more than a pond bordered by ki lometers of cracked earth. Nationally, dams are filling at a rate of only 27 percent, precipitated by the country’s worst drought in at least four decades. Water rationing At 600 cubic meters (21,000 cubic feet) of water annually per capita, Mo rocco is already well below the water scarcity threshold of 1,700 cubic me ters per capita per year, according to the World Health Organization. In the 1960s, water availability was four times higher—at 2,600 cubic meters. A July World Bank report on the Mo roccan economy said the decrease in the availability of renewable water re sources put the country in a situation of “structural water stress.”
The authorities have now introduced waterTherationing.interiorministry ordered local au thorities to restrict supplies when neces sary, and prohibits using drinking water to irrigate green spaces and golf courses. Illegal withdrawals from wells, springs or waterways have also been prohibited. In the longer term, the government plans to build 20 seawater desalination plants by 2030, which should cover a large part of the country’s needs. “We are in crisis management rather than in anticipated risk management,” water resources expert Mohamed Jalil told AFP. He added that it was “difficult to mon itor effectively the measures taken by the authorities.”
She added she would likely support a half-point hike at next month’s meeting, but was open to a third successive threequarter-point lift if the data showed it wasDalyneeded.also tempered hopes that the bank could begin cutting borrowing costs next year if prices are brought down, and said they would be held for a period before any reductions are made. “I don’t see this hump-shaped part where we raise interest rates to really high rates and then bring them down,” she said. AFP
SHARE prices edged higher Friday to sustain Thursday’s rally after the closely watched US consumer prices index eased more than expected in July. The Philippine Stock Exchange Index added 18.98 points, or 0.3 percent, to 6,699.66 on a value turnover of P13.8 billion. Gainers beat losers, 119 to 77, with 46 issues unchanged. Puregold Price Club Inc. of the retail tycoon Lucio Co climbed 3.1 percent to P34.90, while BDO Unibank Inc. of the Sy Group, the biggest lender in terms of assets, advanced 2.1 percent to P118.30. Metropolitan & Trust Co. of the Ty Group, the second-largest bank, rose 2 percent to P51.90., but fiber broadband provider Converge ICT Solutions Inc. fell 8.4 percent to P19.18.
McDonald’s set to reopen some Ukraine outlets
The telecom unit of Ayala Group said it signed two sale and leaseback agree ments for two portfolios consisting of 5,709 telecom towers and related pas sive telecom infrastructure for over P71 billion.Thecompany is also in advanced dis cussion with another tower company over the potential sale and leaseback of an additional 1,350 towers. “We have always been looking for ways to monetize our tower assets and this record-breaking initiative marks our continued commitment to optimize our capital raising efforts and further strengthen the balance sheet as we seek to capitalize on opportunities in the telecommunications sector and comple mentary services,” said Globe chief fi nance officer Rizza Maniego-Eala. Globe president and chief executive Er nest Cu said the expanded long-term part nerships with the tower companies show the company’s commitment to help im prove the Philippines’s internet condition. “We also believe that through these monetization efforts, Globe will be able to further improve overall operational efficiency, allowing us to serve our cus tomers better, and supporting our goal of enabling the digital lives of Filipi nos,” he said. Globe said the pricing and terms for the third portfolio would likely be similar to the first two, which were P12 million and P12.7 million per tower, re spectively. This means the 1,350 towers under the third portfolio will cost be tween P16.2 billion and P17.14 billion.
recurring profit down 13% to P6.6b in first half on
By Jenniffer B. Austria CONGLOMERATE Ayala Corp. said Friday net income jumped 56 percent in the first half to P16.3 billion, driven by higher earnings from core bank ing, property and telecommunication businesses.Ayalasaid in a disclosure to the stock exchange six-month revenues rose 11 percent to P77 billion from P69.34 billion posted in the same pe riod last year. Ayala said the strong performance of banking, property and telecom munications businesses mitigated the softer results from power generation unit AC Energy Corp. “Our group’s performance in the first half reflects the momentum of the country’s reopening. This is par ticularly evident in our cyclical units Ayala Land Inc. and Bank of the Phil ippine Islands, which significantly re bounded in the second quarter amid revitalized mobility and consumer confidence,” Ayala president and chief executive Fernando Zobel de Ayala“However,said. Ayala is cognizant of the current macroeconomic head winds that have impacted our busi nesses in varying degrees. While this is the case, we believe that there is still growth to be realized for the rest of the year with what we are seeing on the ground,” Zobel de Ayala said. BPI’s net income expanded 73 per cent in the first half to P20.4 billion on robust loan growth, higher net interest margins and lower loan loss provisions, boosted by a gain from property sale. ALI’s net income went up 34 per cent in the six-month period to P8.1 billion on improved operations of various business segments in the sec ond quarter as local economic activi ties progressed. Globe’s net income increased 51 percent to P19.7 billion as of June, boosted by higher revenues from data services and growth from non-telco revenues and a net gain from the par tial sale of its data center business. ACEN’s net income decreased by 19 percent to P2.2 billion in the first half on combined effect of Ayala’s consolidation of its reduced owner ship in ACEN and various one-offs incurred in the first quarter.
TOYOTA Motor Philippines Corp. said Friday it is optimistic about the long-term outlook for the Philippine auto market, as it launched “new mobility solutions” in the country. “We are very much encouraged by the direc tions set forth by President Marcos and his new administration and we stand ready to move the country forward. Although the auto market in 2022 is still expected to be 20 percent shy of pre-COVID levels, there are clear signs that motorization is finding its way back,” TMP chairman Alfred Ty said at the launch of Toyota Mobility Solutions Philippines Inc. TMSPH president Ma. Cristina Fe Arevalo defined TMP’s concept of ‘new mobility’ as a suite of technology and data-driven lifestyle and business solutions that can address dayto-day challenges of moving people and goods from one point to another. “We envision TMSPH to be at the center of the ‘new mobility’ ecosystem as an integrated, ‘one-stop’ mobility solutions provider to help advance businesses and address local commu nities’ needs,” she said. Othel V. Campos 2GO Group posted P109-m profit in Q2 2GO Group Inc., a subsidiary of SM Invest ments Corp., said Friday it posted a P109million net profit in the second quarter, a solid turnaround from the P308.7-million net loss it booked in the same period last year. The company said the strong performance was driven by increased activities in the second quarter across major business lines, boosted by shipping and passenger volumes as the econo my opened Shippingup.revenues rose 67 percent, as sea freight revenues grew 54 percent and passenger travel revenues climbed 155 percent. Shipping saw increased volumes of goods transported to the Visayas and Mindanao, while passenger numbers also increased significantly as move ment restrictions were lifted. Logistics and other services revenues grew 22 percent, boosted by the growth in cold chain services, forwarding and e-commerce fulfill ment. 2GO posted P8.7 billion in revenues and P74 million in net income in the first six months. Darwin G. PHPepsi-ColaAmojelarpursuesgreeninitiatives
PEPSI-COLA Products Philippines Inc.―the exclusive manufacturer of PepsiCo beverages in the country―continues to pursue green ini tiatives as part of its commitment to celebrate the recently concluded World Environment Day. This is in line with its sustainability tar gets on water stewardship, resource manage ment and inclusive business. PCPPI strengthened its lightweighting efforts to reduce plastic content in its products and pack aging. It also spearheaded tree-planting and creek cleaning activities in areas where it operates. “PCPPI aims to create a positive impact on society. One way to do this is by implementing programs focused on environmental sustain ability. This allows us to operate in the pres ent while creating a more promising future for all,” said PCPPI president and chief executive Frederick Ong. PCPPI reduced its virgin plastic resin usage to more than 231.78 metric tons from January to April 2022. The company also reduced its carton packaging material usage and saved as much as 62.13 MT of carton after it changed from standard to sleek can designs. The material for its label thickness reduction efforts was also changed. PCPPI replaced nonrecyclable PVC (Polyvinyl chloride) materials with recyclable PET (polyethylene terephthalate). income6-monthjumped56%toP16.3b Gen’s Malampaya
ALLIANCE Global Group Inc. is al locating P60 billion for 2022 capital expenditures, up 33 percent from last year’s level as it prepares for further im provement in economic activity. “We are a conglomerate in motion. We believe that with the sectors we are in, we will very much benefit from pentup spending resulting from the further reopening of the economy,” said AGI chief executive Kevin Tan. AGI said property unit Megaworld Corp. would receive about P50 billion in capex for increased development and investment activities. AGI’s real estate arm, which recorded a 36-percent yearon-year jump in 2021 net income, plans to offer to the market 14 new projects this year valued at P30 billion. The company plans to launch four townships this year covering 500 hect ares of land in Metro Manila, Calabar zon and AnotherMindanao.P4billion will be allocated for Travellers International’s ongoing expansion projects, mainly in leisure and entertainment as eased quarantine restrictions brought its gross gaming revenues to a 26 percent year-on-year increase.AGIsaid net income attributable to parent slid by 3 percent to P8.2 billion, as the comparative figure included onetime gain of P5.4 billion booked by its entertainment and leisure unit. Exclud ing such one-off item, AGI’s first-half net income increased 41 percent yearon-year.AGIsaid in a disclosure to the stock exchange first-half consolidated rev enues rose by 16 percent year-on-year to P82.6 billion. “AGI’s strong interim performance mirrors the quarterly rise in economic activity, helped by pent-up consumer spending as mobility continues to im prove. This has been felt across all our business segments which have per formed on par, if not ahead, of their prepandemic levels,” Tan said. Jenniffer B. Austria By Julito G. Rada ECONOMIC Planning Secretary Ar senio Balisacan said public-private partnerships will play a key role in helping the government achieve its goal of inclusive and sustained eco nomicBalisacangrowth.said through PPPs, the government would tap the private sec tor’s capacity to provide resources, expertise and ability to undertake proj ects of significant scale in recognition of the country’s fiscal constraints. “We recognize the potential of PPPs to upgrade the country’s infrastructure, boost the competitiveness of domestic industries and encourage investments in various sectors that will result in lower prices and improved quality of goods and services,” Balisacan said in a speech during the European Cham ber of Commerce of the Philippines luncheon meeting held Thursday. Balisacan cited the crucial role of the private sector in the government’s strat egy to achieve its medium-term mac roeconomic targets. The priorities are outlined in the Marcos administration’s 8-point socioeconomic agenda, which is the framework that will anchor the 20232028 Philippine Development Plan. “We will utilize PPPs to address the binding constraints to more and high er-quality job creation in the present and future growth drivers, such as the manufacturing, tourism, IT-BPOs, and creative sectors. They will be a signifi cant contributor to the upgrade of the country’s energy, logistics, transpor tation, telecommunications and water infrastructure,” he said. These sentiments are in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s state ments in his first State-of-the-Nation Address where he said PPPs provide great potential for expansion, infra structure development and innovation. Balisacan said NEDA, in coordination with other agencies, is seeking a review of the amended BOT Law implementing rules and regulations. The review aims to address the private sector’s concerns about the viability of PPPs while up holding the government’s objective of protecting the public interest.
Balisacan says PPPs play key role in PH infra
WBA ASSEMBLY. Metro Pacific Investments Corp. chief finance, risk and sustainability officer Chaye Cabal-Revilla joins the World Benchmarking Alliance’s Allies Assembly 2022 as a speaker and panelist in Cape Town, South Africa. With Cabal-Revilla are (from left) WBA executive director Gerbrand Haverkamp, WBA engagement director Pauliina Murphy, Consul General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in South Africa Sebastiaan Messerschmidt, African Monitor Senior Programs coordinator Joseph Eliabson and Western Cape Education Department deputy director-general Haroon Mohamed.
The tower assets are made up of 79 percent ground-based towers and 21 percent rooftop towers. They were grouped into three unique distinct port folios assigned to three different tower companies representing local and inter national groups. Globe reported a 51-percent increase in net income in the first half to P19.7 billion, boosted by mobile and corpo rate data businesses. “We are happy that the Globe Group’s performance accelerated solidly in the first half of the year, rebounding our topline to pre-COVID levels. We are consistently delivering value to our cus tomers and uplifting their lives through connectivity or other digital solutions,” said Cu. Globe’s consolidated service revenues in the first six months hit a record P78.9 billion, up 4 percent year-on-year. Globe signed a deal to sell the first portfolio of 2,180 telecom towers to MIESCOR Infrastructure Development Corp. for P26 billion. The towers will be leased back to Globe for an initial period of 15 years. The second portfolio, consisting of 3,529 towers, will be sold to Frontier Tower Associates Philippines Inc. for P45 billion and will also be leased back over an initial period of 15 years. The first closing target for this portfolio is targeted to happen in the late third quarter.
Alliance Global hikes 2022 capital spending by 33% to P60b First
interruptions
By Alena Mae S. Flores FIRST Gen Corp. on Friday reported a 13-percent reduction in recurring net income in the first half to P6.6 billion ($128 million) from P7.1 billion ($148 million) in the same period last year. The company said its natural gas and geothermal portfolios suffered from re duced operating income. “First Gen’s first-half earnings were affected by fuel availability issues that specifically affected our natural gas, geothermal and wind plants,” said First Gen president and chief operating offi cer Francis Giles Puno. “We are at the mercy of nature to give us good wind conditions as was the case last year, but it, unfortunately, was the opposite this year. Our geothermal sys tem was affected by Typhoon Odette in early 2022 and is currently catching up on maintenance activities [as was planned for this year,” he said. Puno said interruptions at the Malam paya gas field weighed down on First Gen’s natural gas fleet, requiring the company to import more costly liquid fuel.“However, we experienced consider ably less gas constraints by June, and this has improved dispatch. Moreover, the expected commercial operations of our LNG terminal by next year should ease that further,” Puno said First Gen’s natural gas platform re ported a 10-percent decline in recurring earnings in the first six months to P5 billion ($96 million) from P5.2 billion ($107 million) in 2021. Unit 1 of the 97-megawatt Avion power plant experienced unscheduled outages because of turbine damage in December and was brought back to op erations in February. High fuel prices also affected Avion’s margins when it operated in merchant mode.
Globe selling P90b worth of towers Toyota bullish on PH market
By Darwin G. Amojelar GLOBE Telecom Inc. said Friday it expects to raise nearly P90 billion from the sale of over 7,000 towers, the largest sale and leaseback transaction in the Philippines.
IN BRIEFBusinessRay S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor extrastory2000@gmail.combusiness@manilastandard.net B4 SATURDAY, AUGUST 13, 2022 PSE INDEX CLOSING Friday, August 12, 2022 18.986,699.66PTS. F oreign e xchange r ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • FRIDAY, AUGUST 12, 2022 Currency UnitUS DollarPeso United States Dollar 1.00000055.4740 Japan Yen TaiwanDollar0.0333911.8523NewMalaysiaRinggit0.22507312.4857IndiaRupee0.0125660.6971ChinaYuan0.1482588.2245KoreaEuroEuroUAEThailandIndonesiaRupiah0.0000680.0038BruneiDollar0.72732640.3477SaudiBahrainDinar2.652801147.1615AustraliaDollar0.71030039.4032SingaporeDollar0.72998040.4949CanadaDollar0.78363843.4715SwitzerlandFranc1.06258658.9459HongUKPound1.22010067.68380.0075180.4171KongDollar0.1274927.0725ArabiaRial0.26624114.7695Baht0.0284621.5789Dirham0.27227915.10441.03250057.2769Won0.0007660.0425ZealandDollar0.64260035.6476 Source: BSP TOTAL VOLUME 1,674,571,084 TOTAL TRADES 87,145 TOTAL VALUE (IN PHP) 13,764,956,865.01 ADVANCES 119 DECLINES 77 UNCHANGED Ayala’s
BANKERS’ INDUCTION. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Felipe M. Medalla (left) leads the induction of officers and members of the Bankers Institute of the Philippines Inc. in Makati City. Governor Medalla cites the domestic banking system’s resilience amid the pandemic, which is reinforced by the continued growth in banks’ assets and deposits, sustained profitability and robust capital and liquidity buffers. He says the BSP will continue to craft policies that strengthen the stability of the banking system and uphold the interest of depositors.
By Peter Atencio T HE Magnolia Timplados Hotshots clamped down on defense in the fourth quarter and succeeded in shutting down Jayson Castro and Mikey Williams for a 105-97 repulsing of the TNT Tropang Giga on Friday at the Araneta Coliseum.
From Mindanao, Garcia travelled to Legazpi in Bicol to supervise the participation of the 10-member Todo Paratriathlon Team in the Mt. Mayon Triathlon this weekend. Garcia has been sponsoring the team since the tournament’s inception in 2015. The Mindanao leg is the centerpiece of the FINIS-organized Davao Del Sur Aquatics Challenge this month as the province also plays host to the FINIS Passig Islet 5K Open Water Swim Challenge on August 27 and the Kids of Steel Triathlon Finis Green Aquathlon (kids and adults) on August 28 in Digos City. Garcia said the top 16 swimmers in each event in the Mindanao leg will compete in the national finals, where bigger prizes await, including a training package for athletes, who can erase a nationalAmongrecord.young swimmers, who claimed tickets to the Clark meet were Kail Kahulugan in the boys’ 6-under 100-m IM (2:25.16); Jacob Ansale in the boys’ 7-8 IM (1:58.24); Leonard Odelle Narreto in the boys’ 9-10 IM (1:28.33); Teofh Velez in the girls’ 7-8 100-m IM; Czarina Cavite in the girls’ 9-10 IM (1:20.00); Shan Cyril Luga in the girls’ 11-12 IM (1:21.00); Anthony Acedo in the boys’ 11-12 IM (1:26.34).
ApolinariowantsEdwards,Martinez
Participants get ready for their swim ECOOIL-La Salle zoomed past Adalem Construction-St. Clare late to take a handy 89-74 victory in the 2022 PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup semifinals Friday at Smart AranetaDebutingColiseum.Schonny Winston poured 24 points, four assists, three rebounds, and three assists to power the Green Archers in Game 1, a win away from advancing to the championship series. CJ Austria was also crucial for EcoOil-La Salle’s 11-2 fourt-quarter pullaway that gave the Archers a 7155 cushion. He scored eight of his 15 points in that stretch, on top of his sevenKevinboards.Quiambao commandeered the team’s defense and finished with 18 points, six rebounds, four blocks, and three dimes off the bench, while Mark Nonoy had 15 points on 3-of-5 shooting from deep. “We tightened up on defense,” said coach Derick Pumaren, as his side broke off from a 52-all deadlock and finished the third quarter on an 8-1 blast to take a 60-53 edge. Riding on that momentum La Salle stretched the lead to its biggest at 21 points, 78-57, under the last five minutes.“We were making St. Clare get back in the game because we kept on making mistakes offensively and defensively. I told the boys we must be able to contain yung effort stats nila and I think when we were able to do that, we were able to take control of the game.” In the first game, Marinerong Pilipino also moved a win away from a return trip to the Finals by disposing off Apex Fuel-San Sebastian, 74-66 in the other semifinal series. Juan Gomez de Liano ignited the Skippers’ early 21-8 assault that set the tone for the handy win. Marinero led by as much as 17 points, 72-55. The University of the Philippines playmaker led the way with 16 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists as Marinerong Pilipino aims to make it back to the championship series after finishing as runner-up in the 2019 Foundation Cup. Arvin Gamboa chimed in 15 points, five boards, two assists, and two blocks, Jollo Go scored 14, and Adrian Nocum nabbed 12 points and seven rebounds for the Skippers. “We’re happy sa mga players kasi na-execute namin ng maayos ‘yung gameplan namin. Pero Game 1 pa lang ito and hopefully sa Game 2, maka-execute ulit kami,” said coach Yong Garcia as his side shot 43-percent from the field against the topseed Golden Stags. Schonny Winston poured 24 points, four assists, three rebounds and three assists to power the Green Archers.
NEWLY-crowned IBO flyweight champion Dave Apolinario is ready and raring to bring his class act anywhere in the world. In fact, Apolinario believes the time to challenge for the world titles in more-established boxing bodies, like the WBC and WBA, is now. On top of his wish list are two of the most-feared fighters in the crowded flyweight division: British champion Sunny Edwards, who has held the IBF flyweight title since 2021, and Mexican hero Juan Manuel Martinez, who has held the WBC flyweight title since 2019. “Ang gusto kong labanan talaga si Edwards, pati si Martinez. Sila ‘yung pangarap kong makalaban kung pwede. Pero kahit sino naman na katimbangg ko sa flyweight category, handa naman akong lumaban palagi,” said Apolinario during the 33rd “Sports on Air” program via Zoom. Apolinario, nicknamed the “Doberman”, claimed he will always be fit as a fiddle when the opportunity to challenge for world title with bigger prizes comes. “Sa ngayon, kundisyon naman ang katawan ko. Non-stop ang training dahil hindi mo alam ‘yung paparating na laban. Gaya nitong huling laban ko, medyo biglaan,” added the 23-year-old fighter from Sarangani, who now boasts of a perfect ring record of 17 wins in as many fights. Apolinario rose to prominence when he knocked out Gideon “Hardcore” Buthelezi in the first round of their scheduled 12-round fight for the vacant IBO flyweight crown in East London, South Africa last July Before31.losing to Apolinario, the 36-year-old Buthelezi won over four other Filipino fighters from 2010-2017—Ronelle Ferreras (UD), Julius Alcos (UD), Edrin Dapudong (SD), Dapudong (KO) and Ryan Rey Ponteras (UD). So impressive was Apolinario’s victory that no less than President Bongbong Marcos personally congratulated him during a courtesy visit at Malacañang last Aug. 3. “Nakatutuwa na mismong si President Marcos ang nag-congratulate sa akin. ‘Yung suporta na ipinakita niya, magandang balita ‘yun, hindi lang sa akin kundi sa mga kapwa ko atleta,” stressed Apolinario.Twodays later, Sen. Bong Go led fellow lawmakers in paying tribute to Apolinatio.Askedto choose between Edwards and Martinez, Apolinario is more inclined to take on the Briton. Edwards earned the attention of local fight fans when he outpointed the previously undefeated Filipino champion Jayson Mama to retain his IBF flyweight world title in Dubai.The hard-hitting British champion knocked the Flipino down in the 10th round en route to a unanimous decision victory, 117-110, 118-109 and 118-109.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 13, 2022
sabay na pumuputok,” said Barroca. Castro led the Hotshots with 18 points, but could only make one point in the last quarter, while Williams was scoreless in the last 12 minutes of action.Defensive efforts on Castro and Williams allowed Magnolia to move ahead in the last canto behind baskets from Sangalang and Lee. Lee’s two charities in the final 2:04 kept Magnolia up by eight, 102-94. The Hotshots enjoyed an 11-point spread, 105-94, in the final 1:01 off Sangalang’s layup. “We did a good job on defense. We did not change anything. We just sustained it for 48 minutes,” said Hotshots’ coach Chito Victolero. Troy Rosario banged in 17, JP Erram shot 16 for TNT, while Williams had 13. The Tropang Giga managed to come close, 61-66, in the last 7:18 of third off Williams two freebies, before the Hotshots tightened their defensive screws in the final period.
The MagnoliaScores105 – Barroca 25, Lee 16, Sangalang 16, Abueva 16, Jalalon 15, Dionisio 10, Dela Rosa 3, Reavis 2, Escoto 2, Wong 0. TNT 97 – Castro 18, Rosario 17, Erram 16, M. Williams 13, Pogoy 13, Khobuntin 12, K. Williams 6, Montalbo 2, Reyes 0, Ganuelas-Rosser 0. Quarters: 28-26, 59-45, 81-73, 105-97.
HOMEGROWN bets from Kidapawan Long Wave Swim Team and DavNor Blu Marlins Swim Team shared the limelight in the Mindanao leg of the 2022 FINIS Short Course Swim Series recently at the Davao del Sur Olympic pool at the newly constructed Governor Douglas RA Cagas Sports, Cultural and Business Complex in KidapawanMatti.and DavNor swimmers made their presence felt with victories in the two-day event serving as qualifying for the National Finals slated August 20 and 21 at the New Clark Swimming Pool in Tarlac. “We’re very happy with the turnout. Over 100 teams have joined in the final leg of the series as slots for the National Finals are at stake. Natuwa rin sila sa program natin. I’m extending my heartfelt gratitude to the host province and officials, led by Davao del Sur Gov. Yvonne Rona-Cagas,” said FINIS Philippines Managing Director Vince Garcia.“FINIS is here to help uplift not only swimming, but other aquatics
Kidapawan, DavNor shine in FINIS swim Mindanao leg
Hotshots shackle Castro, Williams to take Game 5
DAVE Ildefonso shot 14 points for the Ateneo Blue Eagles as they repulsed Tokai University, 68-59, and completed a three-game sweep of the inaugural World University Basketball Series on Thursday at the Yoyogi National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan. The Blue Eagles first defeated Indonesia’s Universitas Pelita Harapan, 125-39, and then took down Chinese Taipei’s National Chengchi University,Forthsky88-78.Padrigao, Josh Lazaro, BJ Andrade, and Paul Garcia added eight apiece for the Blue Eagles, who broke free from a 43-41 lead and relied on a 17-4 spurt to pull away in the fourth period. Hiroki Matsuzaki showed the way for the Japanese side with 16 points and five rebounds while Koyo Nishida chimed 13 points built on four treys. The Blue Eagles are headed for Israel for another pre-season preparation activity. Peter Atencio Eagles stun Tokai cagers, win WorldinauguralUmeet
Archers blast Saints, close in on championship berth
Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Randy M. Caluag, Assistant Editor C1
events, including tournaments, which involve our para athletes. For the past decade, FINIS and on my own personal capacity, support the development of our athletes with disabilities,” said Garcia.
Game 2 of Best-of-3 Semifinals (Smart Araneta Coliseum) 10 a.m. - Adalem Construction-St. Clare vs EcoOil-La Salle* 12 p.m. - Apex Fuel-San Sebastian vs Marinerong Pilipino* * - leads series, 1-0
Mark Barroca, who kept an eye on Castro with Jio Jalalon, scored a gamehigh 25 points for the Hotshots, who earned their second win in five matches in Game 5 of their best-of-seven semifinals series in the 2022 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup. Barroca’s big effort equalled his conference high output when he also shot 25 points during their 81-87 loss to the San Miguel Beermen last June. The Hotshots, with Paul Lee hitting 16 points apiece with Ian Sangalang and Calvin Abueva, will now have a chance to pull even with the Tropang Giga when they clash in Game 6 on Sunday.“Kami na ang bahala ni Jio kay Jayson dahil may nagbabantay na kay Mikey. Mas maganda kasi na hindi sila sabayMark Barroca, shown here scoring on a layup, shone on both ends of the court for Magnolia with a gamehigh 25 points, while putting the clamps on TNT’s Jayson Castro.
Sports
Federal Land chair Alfred Ty said could reach roughly $2 billion in less than a decade.Otherlocal developers have expanded into townships, offering a combination of residential, commercial and office projects, but Ty said FNG would go beyond this model. “FNG is looking at offering more than live-work-play mixed-use townships,” he said. “We are considering blending logistics, institutional and industrial developments in our portfolio as well.” “FNG is a marriage that speaks of shared values, shared aspirations, and complementary areas of expertise,” Ty explained.Federal Land, part of the Ty family’s GT Capital Holdings conglomerate, contributed an initial 250 hectares of land to FNG. Nomura earlier invested $324 million into the venture for a 34 percent stake. Building growth drivers outside of Japan The event last week was attended by executives of Nomura Real Estate, led by chair Eiji Kutsukake and executive officer Yusuke Hirano, who said FNG marked the Japanese company’s largest overseasKutsukakeinvestment.saidthe venture was in line with Nomura’s 2030 program to create growth drivers outside Japan. “We have been expanding our business in the Philippines since it is one of the most important markets for us,” he said. FNG follows an earlier tie up between
BPI loan offering to mark 171 years
TAYTAY PROJECT GETS OFF THE GROUND. PH1 World Developers (PH1), and Megawide Construction Corp. recently broke ground for the construction of Ortigas Hills, a mid-rise condominium project located in Taytay, Rizal. Consisting of three buildings in a 16,470 sq m. property in Ortigas Extension, Brgy. San Isidro, this is the company’s third offering. The others are The Hive Residences, also located in Taytayl; and its first high-rise development, MyEnso Lofts, located in Timog Avenue, Quezon City. At the event were (from left to right) : PH1 Design Manager Pedro Aquino, Megawide AVP for Operations Ronald Asuncion, Megawide Project Manager Chito Bilog, Brgy. Captain Vivian Yupangco, Vice-Mayor Sophia Cabral, Mayor Allan De Leon, Megawide Chairman and CEO Edgar Saavedra, PH1 President Gigi Alcantara, Megawide Chief CSR Officer Tata Saavedra, Megawide COO for EPC Frederick Tan, Megawide Executive Director for Infrastructure Development Louie Ferrer, PH1 Business Development Manager Bryan Bautista, PH1 General Manager for Horizontal Development Eric Gregor Tan and PH1 Project Manager Mark Stephen Tan.
Federal Land and Nomura for the The Seasons Residences in Bonifacio Global City.The partnership included Japan’s Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings Ltd., thus paving the way for the first Mitsukoshi retail center in the Philippines. Nomura Real Estate Development Co., Ltd. is the largest developer in Japan in terms of condominium unit turnover and the fifth largest in consolidated sales. Their portfolio includes residences, offices, retail facilities, logistics facilities, andFederalhotels.Land is the property arm of GT Capital Holdings, Inc. The firm develops residential homes, retail spaces, office buildings, hotels, and master-planned communities.
THE Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) is marking its 171st year with a month-long promo that that will waive up to 171,000 in loan fees for both auto and housing loans, as well as insurance from its non-life insurance arm, BPI MS Insurance Corp. “This one of the many ways we are thanking our customers for the trust and support they have given BPI throughout the years,” said BPI Retail Loans Group head Dennis Fronda. Available to new and existing BPI depositors, the loan promo will allow clients to have an initial cash-out equal to only the down payment. It offers free Chattel Mortgage fee and first year motor insurance for auto loans, and waived loan fees and free first year fire insurance for housing loans. The minimum loan term is five years with a minimum loan amount of P500,000. It can be bundled with Step Up and Zero Cash Out loan programs, and it can be bundled with other exclusive partner offers.
Federal Land, Nomura to bring the best of both worlds with FNG
Cutting edge green building opens in South Taguig
SATURDAY, AUGUST 13, 2022C2 Home/DesignJoel D. Lacsamana, Editor E-mail: jdlacsamana@gmail.com
ARTHALAND recently opened its next generation sustainable office building, Savya Financial Center, in Arca South, Taguig City. Built in partnership with Japan’s Mitsubishi Estate Company, Ltd., the development is Arthaland’s first premium green office development in the city. Located at the corner of Pulse Street, Anchor Street and Tandem Road, the building is equipped with state-of-the-art technology and sustainable solutions that help create a safe and more productive working environment for its locators. Helping companies find their ‘perfect space’
According to global real estate services firm Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL), welldesigned green buildings appreciate more in value and command higher rental rates. One example is TelTrends – a wholly Filipino-owned, ISO-certified, leading IT hardware supplier and systems Integrator of the country’s largest telcos and utility companies. TelTrends has made Savya Financial Center its new home, and the move is helping the company beef up its cutting-edge products and world-class service on a turnkey basis. “Companies, big and small, can find their perfect space in Savya Financial Center as it offers a lot of flexibility through adaptive office unit cut ups and attractive financing options,” said Anna Marco, Arthaland’s Commercial Project Channel Director.
FEDERAL Land NRE Global Inc. (FNG), the joint-venture between the property giant and Japanese Nomura Real Estate Development Co., Ltd. (NRE), one of Japan’s top developers, is planning to bring Japanese technology and aesthetics to the Philippine At the formal announcement of the joint venture, Federal Land president Tom Mirasol revealed that the partnership will be working on a 25year pipeline of projects in the various land banks of Federal Land, focusing on four areas—Manila Bay area, Mandaluyong, Cavite, and Cebu. “We’re starting off (with) four estates with multiple projects,” Mirasol said. “Manila Bay is going to be 10 towers; Mandaluyong is going to be nine towers; Cebu, there’s a minimum three towers… all of these things have been planned for the next 25 years.” Mirasol said the four estates will have a total area of 250 hectares which will offer to the market an initial pipeline of residential, office, commercial and industrial facilities. He noted that the projects will create 6,000 job opportunities within the first five years of operations, such as administrative, engineering, and construction-related roles. “My hope is that this 25- year plan might end up being a 15 -year plan because of the market reception,” Mirasol said. Going beyond the usual township model The two real estate powerhouses teamed up to form FNG, the vehicle that would develop a series of townships across the country, including a 100-hectare Japanese “smart city” in Cavite, and a mixed-use project along Manila Bay.
BREAK OUT THE SAKE. Federal Land, Nomura top honchos celebrate the JV. From left: Federal Land, Inc. President and COO Thomas Mirasol; Federal Land, Inc. HiranoOfficerLtd.DevelopmentNomuraEijiCo.,DevelopmentRealAlfredChairmanTy;NomuraEstateLtd.ChairKutsukake;RealEstateCo.,ExecutiveYusuke
“And with the health and wellness of employees becoming the top priority among employers, they will discover that every detail is designed with the well-being and productivity of businesses and individuals at its Savyaheart.”Financial Center has operable windows and uses a MERV 13 air filtration system, which is the same type of system being used in hospital operating rooms. It is considered a smart building courtesy of its Building Management System (BMS) that controls and monitors various technical systems and services such as air conditioning, lighting and ventilation to ensure safety, comfort and efficiency. Sustainable features on point To increase the level of protection from the threat of virus cross-infection among the building’s occupants, the building subscribes to contactless technologies such as the remote virtual concierge, touchless turnstiles,, hands-free bathroom fixtures and RFID-operated elevators. The building’s sustainable features, such as energy efficient air-conditioning system, double- glazed low-e glass, energy efficient lighting, low-flow plumbing fixtures and rainwater harvesting and recycling system, provide water and energy savings by as much as Savya40%.Financial Center also encourages the use of environmentally friendly modes of transport. It has dedicated parking spaces for low emitting and fuel- efficient vehicles, as well as bicycle racks and shower facilities.Savya Financial Center has been pre-certified for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification, and on-track for the Philippine Green Building Council’s BERDE Certification, International WELL Building Institute’s WELLTM Building Standard, and the International Finance Corporation’s Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies (EDGE®) Advanced Certification.
Suzuki scooters available at SM 3-day sale
Next-Gen Ranger XLT, XLS, and XL, Next-Gen Everest Limited and Trend now available for online reservation your way to a Fortuner with Caltex Fuel Your Fortune Get a chance to win a brand new Suzuki Burgman Street for every Php 1,000 purchase (accumulated or single receipt) in any participating merchants during the SM 3-Day sale.
Motoring SATURDAY, AUGUST 13, 2022 C3 mst.daydesk@gmail.com MILO RIVERA, Sub-editor
Driving mobility together: PH E-Vehicle Summit back
extremelyisuser roads.The by sees an average of 14 kilometers roadhighway.trip.
A desirable, affordable K-popmobile
T HE Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (EVAP), together with the Manila Electric Company (MERALCO) and in partnership with the Department of Energy (DOE) and Nissan Philippines Inc., is hosting the 10th Philippine Electric Vehicle Summit (PEVS) set on October 20 and 21, 2022 at the SMX Convention Center Manila.
CALTEX has just announced the return of their ‘Fuel Your Fortune’ raffle promo. From August 8, 2022 until October 30, 2022, every Php500 single receipt purchase of any Caltex Fuel with Techron, Delo, Havoline lubricants, and Techron Concentrate Plus entitles the customer to one (1) raffle entry for a chance to win amazing prizes. Customers who fuel up and register from August 8 until September 11, 2022 will be included in the first raffle draw on September 15, 2022 for a chance to be one of the 100 motorists to win Php5,000 worth of Caltex StarCash fuel card. All entries from August 8 until October 30 will be selected in the raffle draw on November 8, 2022 to win Php5,000 worth of Caltex StarCash while three lucky motorists will each be given a brand new 2022 ToyotaMotoristsFortuner.fueling up at Caltex will also get an instant Php50 fuel voucher upon submission of their first promo code which they can use at any participating Caltex station nationwide.Tojoin, motorists simply need to sign up and submit the promo codes on this link: CaltexFuelYourFortuneHome.www.caltex.com/ph/Grabyourfortuneandfuelupatastationnearyou!PerDTIFair
The country’s biggest annual EV conference and exhibition will mark its first physical staging after two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. The event will be staged through a combined inperson and virtual format focusing on promoting electric vehicles in the country as it brings together stakeholders across the EV value chain including policymakers, regulators, academe, consultants, transport companies, power utilities and end-users to engage in policy dialogue as well as long-term collaboration to drive adoption of electric vehicles and deployment of the EV charging infrastructure. To kick off the 10th PEVS, the EV Owners Society (EVOS) will be holding a motorcade in the morning of October 20, 2022 showcasing the latest means of electric mobility around the Mall of Asia (MOA) Complex. “In keeping with our President’s message for Filipinos to unite, our theme for the PEVS is aptly titled: “United in Driving Electromobility in Support of the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act (EVIDA) or Republic Act No. 11697”. We believe that generating demand on electric vehicles and encouraging investments in charging stations can help reduce the country’s economic vulnerability due to our heavy dependence on oil imports especially during these very challenging times”, Mr. Edmund Araga, EVAP President,Presidentsaid.Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. has been invited as the guest of honor and keynote speaker. The Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act - Implementing Rules and Regulations (EVIDA-IRRs) and the Comprehensive Roadmap for the Electric Vehicle Industry (CREVI), which is the much-anticipated national development plan for the EV industry to accelerate the development, commercialization and utilization of EVs, will be presented by the Department of Energy (DOE) during THE next-generation Ford Ranger XLT, XLS, and XL, as well as the next-generation Ford Everest Limited and Trend are now available for online reservation on the Ford Philippines website.Ford announced last month alongside the launch of its online reservation portal that the next-gen Ranger Wildtrak and Sport and the next-gen Everest Titanium and Sport were available for reservation. Starting this month, all the next-gen Ranger and Everest variants are available for customers to reserve on the Ford Ranger page or on the Ford Everest page. Within the online reservation platform, customers can configure their next-generation Ford vehicle by choosing their preferred model, transmission and drivetrain, and exterior color, giving them an easy and seamless car shopping experience wherever they are. The portal also allows customers to choose their preferred Ford dealer to transact with, as well as their mode of payment for a hassle-free reservation process. Customers who have completed the online reservation process will receive regular updates via text or e-mail. They can also track the progress of their reservation via their Ford account. Their chosen Ford dealer will then reach out to discuss next steps, which include documentation, available payment options, and vehicle delivery date.
Fuel
Trade Permit No. FTEB-147326, Series of 2022.
NOW in its 9th year, Suzuki and SM Supermalls partner again for a fun and rewarding 3-Day Sale activity. Shoppers get a chance to win a brand new Suzuki Burgman Street for every Php 1,000 purchase (accumulated or single receipt) in any participating merchant during the SM 3-Day sale. Suzuki will also have a display booth presenting its line-up of scooters that are not just easy and fun to ride but also exceptionally fuel-efficient. With the increasing price of commodities and fuel, motorcycles are the perfect riding companion of the Filipinos. On display are the newly launched muscular sporty scooter – Avenis (intro price of Php 77,900), the much loved affordable maxi scooter Burgman Street (Php 80,900) and the versatile Skydrive Crossover (Php 71,900) which can be used both on paved and unpaved roads.Visitors of the Suzuki booth will receive an exclusive promo upon purchase of the scooters. They will get a Free Burgman Street hoodie jacket for every purchase of a Burgman Street and a Free Suzuki Drybag for every purchase of an Avenis or Skydrive Crossover during the SM 3-Day Sale display. The much-anticipated annual SM Supermalls 3-Day Sale kicked off at SM City Cebu, SM City San Pablo and SM City Sucat in July and will run through the remaining 69 participating malls until November, 2022. To find out more about Suzuki motorcycles and the list of participating malls, please visit mc.suzuki.com.ph or join the Suzuki community on Facebook at facebook.com/ suzukimotorcyclesphilippines, Instagram at instagram.com/suzukimotorsph or Youtube at youtube.com/suzukimotorcyclesphilippines.
theTheevent.10th PEVS will also recognize personalities and institutions advocating and promoting the adoption of electromobility in the Philippine transportation sector through the conferment of the E-mobility Awards. Mr. Araga also discussed the line-up of topics for the 10th PEVS which include:
• Comprehensive Roadmap for the Electric Vehicle Industry • Encouraging More Players in the EV Charging Space • Global Trends and Current Issues Faced by the EV Industry • ASEAN Federation of Electric Vehicle Association (AFEVA) Policy Dialogue•Spurring EV Manufacturing Through the Strategic Investment Promotion Plan (SIPP) and the EV Incentive Strategy (EVIS) • Public and Private E-mobility Programs•EVTechnology Presentations Visit www.evap.com.ph to register for the two-day 10th Philippine Electric Vehicle Summit.
THE car industry is really at the crossroads on whether to go all out with the electric vehicles (EVs) or stay with the internal combustion engines (ICEs). The Europeans, the Americans, and the Chinese are all in for the EVs as shown in their continued march towards ending the ICE era. Their collective call for the great reduction in carbon emission has meant switching to clean energy, which has been pointed to the electric vehicle. The Japanese car makers, on the other hand, had the upper hand in the quest for a clean-energy car a decade ago but quietly gave up when they failed to come up with the perfect batteries. What they have mostly now) although they are fast catching up with the EVs, are the so-called hybrid cars that can run on combined battery and fuel power. But many car buyers are asking if turning to EVs now is really worth theIfrisk?you are especially in Asia, the No. 1 question before buying an EV is the infrastructure. Electric charging stations are slowly being put up in the metro, but when would be the convenient time for an EV owner to see that they are everywhere near them is yet to be determined. As we have said, they are being erected around Metro Manila. But what about those in the provinces when you go out for a ride in the Althoughcountryside?theprices of gasoline and diesel are still very high, the convenience of having them when you need them is tantamount to having a convenience store open around you 24/7. Even in the remote provinces, one can easily see several gas stations operating even in the middle of the night. Another question bothering the prospective buyers of EVs is the high cost of acquiring one. The cost of America’s Tesla or the European Volkswagen is definitely very expensive for an ordinary local car buyer. In the US, buyers of EVs were given substantial incentives for several years. But, we understand, those incentives are now being reduced significantly. Yes, the Chinese-made EVs that they are selling here have competitive pricing but many have second thoughts in taking the risk of buying one. And, another question is that of the charging equipment. Unlike the ordinary fuel pumps in the gas station, the EV charger differs from every EV car manufacturer to another. Each one has its own distinct model and cannot be interchanged. Elon Musk and other EV car makers are not yet in talking terms with each other as they are still locked in a fierce battle over EV supremacy, that’s why a universal EV charger for all is not yet foreseeable for now.
MOBILITY SOLUTIONS LAUNCH. In pursuit of Toyota’s global direction to transcend as a mobility company - and not just an automotive manufacturer - Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) has officially launched the Toyota Mobility Solutions Philippines, Inc. (TMSPH) - an innovative system that boosts accessibility and progressiveness through technology and mobility. The inauguration was held yesterday (12 August 2022) at the Grand Hyatt Manila. Milo Rivera
• • • THE CAMPI Philippine International Motor Show this Sept. 15-18 is one major motoring event which is keenly awaited by all car enthusiasts.Theorganizer of the event is requesting all who will attend to buy their tickets only at the entrance gate. The first 1,000 customers everyday will be getting a whopping 50 percent discount. So, be sure to line up early so you can see the more than a hundred latest cars with the newest green innovations. The CAMPI PIMS’ theme this year is “Mobility + Humanity. Innovating for the Common Good.” Should we take the ‘cleaner’ route today?
By Julian Cardenas WHEN one thinks about Kia vehicles , people often have a mental image of a disposable item that is only good after five years. Yet the same can not be said today as Kia has gone through tremendous changes over the years and has produced stunning cars lately - such as the impressive ‘Sorento’ SUV, and its luxurious minivan the ‘Carnival’. Now, a new star has been born and is looking to rival the current range of crossover vehicles in the market, such as the Toyota Raize , Hyundai Venue, Ford EcoSport ,Geely Coolray and MG Zs. The Stonic. It’s already making itself known in terms of styling attributes, as the wide aggressive exterior combined with its curves make the vehicle look aggressive yet tamed at the same time.The styling doesn’t stop at the exterior. Inside the Stonic boasts of modern and crisp, yet also utilitarian with comfortable seats; cavernous space and a high tech infotainment system that is friendly with features such as Android Auto and AppleThecarplay.trunk of the Stonic would impress anyone as it’s easily big enough to swallow bags of groceries and K-pop products at the same time. To drive - the stonic offers an agile control, with a smooth and comfortable ride that absorbs the bumps and holes of the Filipino The power output of the Stonic’s 1.4-liter engine gives it a quick burst of speed upon stepping on the gas - accompanied by an impressive fuel consumption which sees an average of 14 kilometers per liter in the city and 23 on the highway.Perfect for city driving and a roadAndtrip.with prices starting from php.780,000 to 970,000, the Stonic is also quite affordable. Long gone are the dark days of Kia, shall we say?
By Patricia Taculao AS a frontrunner in the industry,technologySamsung brings new developments to its well-loved devices as it released the next generation of its Galaxy Smartphones last August 10, Wednesday.
IN line with the goals of International Youth Day 2022 observed on August 12, Lenovo is partnering with youth organizations across Asia Pacific to provide future-ready tech skills and access to technology to underrepresentedBeneficiaryyouth. partners include TNS India Foundation (TNSIF), Code Like A Girl in Australia and New Zealand, Waffle in Japan, and Solve Education! in markets across ASEAN, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, and Singapore, as well as in Hong Kong SAR of China. The youth sector comprises onethird of the Philippine population and according to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the country has one of the youngest populations in Southeast Asia. Solve Education! is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping people worldwide receive a quality education.“While education is fundamentally a human right, many Filipino children are deprived of the opportunity to learn and grow. Lenovo Foundation has partnered with Solve Education! in the hopes of opening up more opportunities for the youth, especially the underprivileged,” said Michael Ngan, President and General Manager, Lenovo Philippines.SolveEducation! develops applications combining curriculum with gameplay. Its proprietary citybuilding game, Dawn of Civilization, includes a series of tasks participants must complete within each chapter to earn reward points. These platforms deliver English language, Numeracy, and essential life skill lessons, catered towards equipping students with the requisite elementary skillsets. “The pandemic has further highlighted the inequalities when it comes to access to education, especially with the transition to virtual learning. Many of the available free courses and applications online are in English, which is why our efforts have a greater focus on English literacy. We are excited to continue our collaboration with Solve Education! and help change the lives of more Filipino youth through technology,” Ngan added. Lenovo is committed to impacting 15 million lives globally through philanthropic programs andWithpartnerships.thenewLenovo TransforME grant program, Lenovo is also focusing on transforming 1 million lives by 2025 through skilling. Through long-standing partnerships with organizations across Asia Pacific, Lenovo is increasing access and cultivating greater interest in STEM education among youth, especially in underserved populations.
The Korean-based tech giant changed how people use smartphones with their Fold and Flip series, allowing consumers to match their style preferences and be more productive. Now in their fourth generation, the two smartphones have added features, from the design to the camera, battery pack, personalization, and overall performance. “Samsung Galaxy foldables are built on the foundation of our openness philosophy, enabling new possibilities with complete customization [both] inside and out. [Created] In collaboration with our world-class partners, the next foldable devices offer unparalleled mobile experiences that meet the needs of our most dynamic users,” said Dr. TM Roh, President and Head of Mobile eXperience Business at Samsung Electronics. Photography and selfie enthusiasts can do more with the Z Flip 4’s upgraded FlexCam and Quick Shot. It also boasts an upgraded camera with a 65 percent brighter sensor powered by the Snapdragon® 8+ Gen 1 Mobile Platform photos and videos are crisper future-readyhelpsLenovoequipyouthwithtechskills
Samsung unveils upgrades for Galaxy devices
Investors meet startups at RISE Pitch Night
STUDIES show that nearly 90 percent of startups eventually fail, leaving only 10 percent surviving to continue their journey. Startups’ success depends on their ability to innovate, and transforming their ideas and scaling up operations require not just luck but proper mentoring and the right network. Eight startups received a P500,000 equity-free grant from Makati City after the qualifying pitching competition held on April 8 to sustain their development, while the founders attended a 12-week training program that will prepare them to pitch to qualified investors properly. On August 9, some of the country’s top investors and innovators met the eight qualified startups for the culmination of the RISE (Resiliency Innovation Sustainability Entrepreneurship) Pitch Night. The event is their final pitch to investors to open new investment“Foropportunities.thepast12 weeks, you have undergone rigorous training and mentorship from the industry’s best minds,” Makati City Mayor Abigail Binay told the eight startups.Shealso commended the RISE program for providing opportunities to up-and-coming entrepreneurs with ideas to offer. Binay added, “Initiatives like the RISE program are so important, and they provide a platform for entrepreneurs to showcase
RCBC Bankard, RCBC intensify anti-cybercrime e orts, remove clickable links on emails, SMS, Viber
C4 SATURDAY, AUGUST 13, 2022 Tech & Gadgetsrumallari@thestandard.com.ph
THE Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. and RCBC Bankard have removed all clickable links in all its communications to clients—including emails or electronic direct mailers (eDM), SMS, and Viber— as part of efforts to intensify drive against anti-cybercrime attacks. RCBC Chief Information Security Officer Carlos Tengkiat said this is part of the bank’s advocacy to continuously increase protection for clients against cybercrimes, and at the same time educate them about transacting safely online. “The removal of clickable links in all forms of communications that we send out to the public could help our clients more easily distinguish legitimate communications from phishing, smishing, vishing and other cyber crime attempts ,” Tengkiat said. Phishing is the term for a cybercrime attack wherein criminals pose as legitimate institutions and send out emails with links leading to fake websites to collect sensitive information from targets, such as credit card details and Smishingpasswords.andvishing, on the other hand, are forms of phishing attack but carried out through SMS messaging and voice Movingcalls.forward, Tengkiat also shared the Bank’s plans to intensify its client education efforts to empower clients to fight cybercrimes. “This is a shared responsibility between banks and clients, and RCBC pledges to continuously educate our clients on how to protect their accounts and stay safe when making financial transactions online,” Tengkiat said. The bank’s removal of clickable links in all forms of communications is in support of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Memorandum No. M-2022-015, which contained recommended control measures against cyber fraud and attacks on retail electronic payments and financialUponservices.theissuance of the memorandum, BSP said it wants to minimize, if not eliminate, opportunities for hackers to victimize the public. One of the other recommendations includes the conduct of an information campaign on the removal of clickable links. Another measure is by sending notifications to clients through their registered mobile or email address whenever there is a request to change a customer’s contact information, or account credentials. RCBC is one of the largest banks in the Philippines in terms of assets and has a network of over 444 branches and 2,492 ATMs and ATM Go units as of end-March 2022. RCBC’s retail products and services include transactional loans, mortgages, personal loans, online banking, credit card, and checking and savings accounts. The bank likewise manages digital risks through advanced and sophisticated cybersecurity tools and programs. Its Information Technology and Fraud Risk Management System works together to ensure the strength of the bank’s security systems and protection of its account holders. and more stable, day or night. One distinct feature of the Z Flip is its compact clamshell design. Samsung prides itself in giving the fourth generation a slimmer hinge, straightened edges, contrasting hazed back glass, and glossy metal frames. Moreover, users can make calls, reply to text messages, and control the SmartThings Scene widget all from the Cover Screen, increasing accessibility and productivity. Meanwhile, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 combines Samsung’s collective mobile technology expertise to create a device with increased functionality, whether opened, closed, or in Flex mode. It is the first device to ship with Android 12L, a unique version of Android creman said during the Pitching Competition qualifying event held last April 8. According to de Guzman, Pitch Night opens doors for a new generation of innovators, founders, and entrepreneurs to make their presence known in the region and connect them with potential investors while expanding their network. In addition, de Guzman reminded startups, particularly those who believe their ideas have the potential for great success, that choosing the right investor or partners is one of the most critical financial decisions they will make. “We focused on young innovators and identified some founders already staking the startup ecosystem by storm,” she added.Hand-selecting the eight startups for their ideas, potential, and skills, Ronin and its partners are provided the opportunity to trial the investor-startup relationship and test innovations at a rapid pace in a supported environment.MakatiCity could benefit from the RISE challenge to transition into the country’s premier tech hub. “I envision Makati as the new Silicon Valley of the Philippines, a hub for tech startups and a breeding ground for the next big thing,” Binay added. The mayor went on to say, “It is time you put your hard work to the test and show us what you’ve got. I am confident that each of you has what it takes to succeed. So go out there, seize the opportunity and make us proud. ated by Google for large-screen experiences, including foldables. A significant development in the Galaxy Z Fold 4 is the multi-tasking feature. The new taskbar provides a layout similar to a desktop, offering access to users’ favorite and recent apps. Multitasking is also more intuitive, thanks to new swipe gestures. Instantly switch full-screen apps to popup windows or split your screen in half for more ways to multitask. Both smartphones have a larger battery capacity and fast-charging abilities to encourage users to do more without worrying about their phones’ longevity.Samsung isn’t one to forget accessories for upgrades. Joining the Galaxy Z series is Galaxy Buds2 Pro, equipped with a new compact, ergonomic design that is 15 percent smaller with a secure fit engineered to prevent rotation. Despite Samsung’s bid for innovation, the tech giant also highlights its mission to preserve the environment. The new Galaxy Z series also incorporates ocean-bound plastics into relevant components and 100 percent recycled paper for its packaging. From August 10, 10:00 p.m. to September 1, 2022, customers who preorder the Galaxy Z Fold4 and Z Flip4 through samsung.com can get freebies and discounts worth up to P33,500. Customers can also pre-order through Samsung Experience Stores, Authorized Samsung Stores, Lazada, Shopee, Abenson.com, and MemoXpress Online to get as much as P30,400 worth of freebies. Visit www.samsung.com/ph/ for more information. Samsung brings new developments to its well-loved devices. their talents and turn their game-changing ideas into reality.” Hosted by investment holding company Ronin Group, in collaboration with the local government of Makati City and the University of Makati, the RISE certification program aims to create a sustainable and scalable pipeline. The program seeks to democratize innovation by accelerating startups from all levels of society and placing them in front of qualifiedRonin,investors.CEOand co-founder Yani de Guzman, said the RISE initiative was established to gather creative minds and provide them financial access through funding and mentoring.
“We hope to provide them [startups] the P500,000 financial aid when they reach certain milestones to ensure that the grant is helping them create a sustainable business, develop their structures, and form a solid legal foundation for their businesses. We will show and allow them to pitch [their ideas] in front of qualified investors,” De Guz-
Some of the country’s top investors and innovators met the eight quali ed startups for the culmination of the RISE (Resiliency Innovation Sustainability Entrepreneurship) Pitch Night.
