Manila Standard - 2022 September 23 - Friday

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday made a pitch to international come economy investors an economic briefing in New York.

The President also sought partnership investors from the United States ASEAN as the Philippines "swings the doors" to its economy following the COVID-19 pandemic in a dialogue with members of the US-Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Business

Council and the US Chamber of

Commerce.Speaking at The Carlyle Hotel in New York, Mr. Marcos said his government “will swing the doors even wider for high-value investments from both the domestic and international business communities, with a sharp focus on broad-based job creation, expansion of digital infrastructure, research and development.”

"Our projected economic perfor mance in the medium term is expected to surpass our regional neighbors...We invite strategic investors from the US to

Court: CPP, NPA not terrorist groups

Points to danger of red-tagging, DOJ to appeal decision

By Rey E. Requejo, Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta

Marcos talks withBlairKishida,onties

that it is organized not for the purpose of engaging in terrorism.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Re mulla said the Department of Justice will file a motion for reconsideration.

AMANILA

City regional trial court has dismissed the proscription case seeking to declare the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the New People’s Army (NPA) as terrorist groups.

“While ‘armed struggle’ with the ‘violence’ that necessarily accompanies it, is indubitably the approved ‘means’ to achieve the CPP-NPA’s purpose, ‘means’ is not synonymous with ‘purpose,’” the court said in a ruling promulgated on Sept. 21, 2022.

“Stated otherwise, ‘armed struggle' is only a ‘means’ to achieve the CPP’s purpose; it is not the ‘purpose’ of the cre ation of the CPP,” it added.

“If we have to, we’ll go to the Court of Appeals,” Remulla said.

“As you know, it's something that the state has to take care of when people are attacking the state. And we need to take action and we use the law for this pur pose. And we will obey the law whatever the case may be,” the Justice chief added.

Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles

Slow uptake in booster shots drive lowers aim to 30%

By Willie Casas

THE government has lowered its target of giving 23 million booster shots dur ing the first 100 days of the Marcos ad ministration, given the slow uptake in its COVID-19 vaccination campaign.

In a statement, Department of Health (DOH) officer-in-charge Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said instead of aiming to inoculate 50 percent of all people eligible for boosters, the DOH will aim to vaccinate 30 percent by Oct. 8, and shoot for 50 percent by the end

of the Sheyear.noted that some regions, in cluding Metro Manila, have already achieved the 50 percent booster vacci nation coverage.

As of Sept. 18, some 2,708,323 people received their first booster dose

under the "PinasLakas" campaign, data from DOH showed. Only 31,939 out of 1.07 million target senior citizens or those be longing to A2 category were given booster jabs under the program.

NBI teams mobilized to run after illegal POGO activities

By Rey E. Requejo

JUSTICE Secretary Jesus Crispin Re mulla on Thursday ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to run after illegally operating Philippine Off shore Gaming Operators (POGO).

“Now that this has come to light, the NBI is there already. We already have mobilized teams from the NBI to start moving on this one,” Remulla told re porters following his meeting with Chi nese Embassy officials led by its Charge D’affaires Ad Interim Zhou Zhyong.

Remulla said NBI teams have been reactivated to join other law enforce ment agencies in addressing illegal ac tivities in the POGO industry.

“We’re already moving now. We stopped the NBI’s operation then be cause nobody was filing cases. Before, they would conduct rescue operations,

PESO

but we found out there were no reports, no cases filed when we arrived here. So, we had to stop it,” Remulla said.

Last July, Remulla ordered the NBI to suspend all its operations against PO GOs, explaining that previous opera tions were just a waste of government time and resources.

This developed as Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III said Thursday he believes more senators would support policy reforms regarding POGOs than seek a total ban on them.

"If the proposal is to ban, totally ban POGOs, no more legal or illegal POGOs because they will be prohib ited, I think it will be a close fight in the Senate. There will be quite a few in favor and then quite a few that will oppose," Pimentel said in an in terview on CNN Philippines.

By Vito Barcelo and Vince Lopez

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Japanese Prime Minister Fu mio Kishida met for the first time on Wednesday in New York (Thursday in Manila) on the sidelines of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly, where both leaders reaf firmed their commitment to reinforce ties and strengthen cooperation.

The President also met with former United Kingdom Prime Minister Sir Anthony Charles “Tony” Blair, now the executive chairman of the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change.

He was accompanied by First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, Foreign Affairs

‘Karding’ now a storm, to hit north Sunday

By Rio N. Araja

TROPICAL depression “Kard ing” intensified into a tropical storm on Thursday at 2 p.m. and is projected to make landfall near the east coast of Isabela or Cagayan on TheSunday.low-pressure area east of

CAUGHT IN THROTTLED TRAFFIC? SUBWAY TO THE RESCUE. House Speaker Martin Romualdez and Special Assistant to the President Anton Lagdameo Jr. opt to take the subway as they were both running late for a meeting in New York City. 'Due to the heavy traffic brought about by the United Nations General Assembly, had the opportunity to take Speaker Martin Romualdez and SAP Anton Lagdameo via subway just to make it in time for their next official meeting,' wrote Juan Xavier Tengco in a Facebook post on Sept. 22, 2022. Romualdez and Lagdameo are part of the official delegation of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in his ongoing US visit. Text by Maricel Cruz/Photo by Juan Xavier Tencgo

By Vince Lopez

CHARTING NEW PATHS FOR ECONOMIC RECOVERY. President Ferdinand Marcos meets with members of the US-ASEAN Business Council and the US Chamber of Commerce in New York. 'As we reopen our borders amid the pandemic, we remain firm in our belief that stronger ties with US and ASEAN investors will lead us to a more resilient economy,' Mr. Marcos said in a Facebook post.

In a 135-page resolution, Presiding Judge Marlo Magdoza-Malagar of the Manila City RTC Branch 19 said a pe rusal of the CPP-NPA’s program shows

Court:...

From A1 said the Manila court's ruling "is clearly not final and does not warrant a comment for now."

National Security Council deputy director general Michael Eric Castillo declined to give a comment, saying the NSC has yet to receive a copy of the reso lution.“The decision of the lower court is ap pealable so relevant officials and offices must first meet to discuss the court ruling and decide on the next steps to be pur sued,” Castillo told GMA News Online.

The Department of Justice filed the proscription case in 2018 seeking to de clare the CPP-NPA a terrorist group un der Section 17 of the Human Security Act (HSA) of 2007.

Citing the HSA, the court defined ter rorism as the commission of certain acts, “thereby sowing and creating a condition of widespread and extraordinary fear and panic among the populace, in order to co erce the government to give in to an un lawful

Thedemand.”courtlisted nine incidents in Agu san Del Sur, Surigao del Sur, Misamis Oriental, and Cagayan de Oro City that the government alleged to be committed by the CPP-NPA against civilians. But the court said it cannot give cre dence to the witnesses’ identification as they described the suspects to be wearing an “all-black ensemble” with high-pow ered“Thisfirearms.identification leaves much to be desired. Certainly, it takes more than a certain manner or mode of dressing to es tablish that one is a member of the CPPNPA,” it “Moreover,said. this identification is not exclusive, particularly in Mindanao where all the nine incidents have oc curred. Mindanao is known as a place teeming with other rebel armed groups – the MNLF, MILF, Abu Sayyaf Group,

NBI...

From A1

"But if the proposal will be to reform the current system, be stricter in monitor ing them, be stricter in collecting the taxes due and also be stricter with the illegal aliens who are here under [the] cover of working for POGO supposedly, then I think we will get overwhelming support from the Senate," he added.

However, Pimentel said he supports a total ban on offshore gaming operations, citing “alarm signals.”

"There are legal POGO and illegal POGO. We don’t know if the crimes com mitted here are by aliens who are here be cause of legal POGOs, or if they are here because of illegal POGOs?” the senator told“There’sCNN. a lot of them now, so the mere existence of legal POGOs has been used as a cover for the entry into our country of undesirable aliens, and they get through our first line of defense, through our bor ders because what’s their excuse? There are POGOs here," he said.

"Then, our second line of defense, with our policemen, is the same. If a complaint is filed against an alien, (police) would not know if they are working for a legal POGO or illegal POGO," Pimentel added.

"So what's the way to best solve this problem? Simplify everything, simplify our lives, simplify our policy. Ban PO GOs.”On the issue of overstaying Chinese POGO workers, Remulla said the Philip pines will start deporting them in the next few“Hopefullyweeks. by the end of this month or first week of October, we will begin,” he said.Remulla said he has started talks with Chinese Embassy officials on the depor tation of about 300 overstaying POGO workers.TheJustice chief also said he talked with Zhou to discuss the issue.

“We talked about the procedures that will have to be taken so that these over staying Chinese nationals will be repatri ated,” he Remullasaid.added that the Bureau of Im migration (BI) already has in its custody around 300 overstaying Chinese nation als.On the deportation of around 40,000 POGO workers who may be staying in the Philippines illegally, Pimentel said the government should seek China’s as sistance."Wehave to ask China to help us send their countrymen back to their homeland by not scaring them away from their homeland by saying 'You are not wel come here. You have cases here. Stay in place wherever you are,'" he added.

Earlier, several senators expressed concern about the social costs of offshore gaming operations in the country.

The Senate ways and means commit tee will hold a hearing to measure the eco nomic benefits and social costs of POGO in the country. A resolution had already been filed in the Senate seeking an over all evaluation of POGOs’ social costs and economic gains.

Last week, Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno said he was in favor of discontinu ing POGOs because of their social cost.

Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, who led the Senate probe into the series of al leged kidnappings in the country, previ ously suggested that banning POGOs would help deter crimes.

Maute Group, and a scattering of brig ands who may also be known to carry firearms.”

The court said the nine incidents can only qualify as rebellion, adding that none of it can be said to have caused “widespread and extraordinary fear and panic” among the Philippine populace and can be characterized as “pocket and sporadic occurrences.”

It also pointed out that said the nine in cidents also are not “widespread” enough to “coerce” the government to give in to any demand.

The court cited a previous ruling that found that terrorism is larger in scope than rebellion, and that rebellion is only one of the various means by which terror ism can be committed.

The court noted that the government’s assertion that the attacks are done to push forward peace negotiations where the CPP-NPA may demand the release of their high-ranking members and allow them to regroup is not supported by evi dence.The court said the CPP-NPA’s chosen battle strategy, guerrilla warfare, is also not synonymous with terrorism.

It also said that other incidents of atrocities testified by the witnesses can not be considered terrorist incidents un der the HSA.

The court pointed to the danger of redtagging, saying that while a CPP-NPA member may be a member of under ground organizations or above-ground organizations, this is not true for all members, some of whom may think they joined an activist organization.

These members, the court said, may “espouse valid societal change, without necessarily giving thought to ‘armed struggle’ or ‘violence’ aimed at over throwing the government, as a means to achieve the same.”

“To automatically lump activists, mostly members of the above-ground or ganizations as members of the CPP-NPA invariably constitutes red-tagging,” the

court added.

The court further said that the petition named about 600 people, mostly known activists and members of various nongovernmental organizations, as being members of the CPP-NPA.

“The framers of ATA (Anti-Terrorism Act) 2020, particularly Section 4 thereof have taken pains to expressly exclude, from the definition of ‘terrorism’ – acts of advocacy, protest, dissent, stoppage of work, industrial or mass action, and other similar exercises of civil and politi cal rights which are not intended to cause death or serious physical harm,” it said.

Former congressman and Bayan Muna chairman Neri Colmenares on Thursday said the Manila court’s deci sion "establishes that to dissent or not agree with the government is a right and must be respected."

"The 135-page decision rightly point ed out that dissent is an inherent right of individuals, and people rebel because of the inequalities and oppression in soci ety,” Colmenares said in a statement is sued to reporters covering the House of Representatives.“Accordingto the court—and we agree with it—the right of people to bear arms should be respected and they should not be called terrorists,” he added in Fili pino."It is in this sense that we are con tinuously pushing for the resumption of the peace negotiations between the government of the Republic of the Phil ippines (GRP) and the CPP-NPA-NDF. It is the roots of the armed conflict that have to be addressed and no amount of terror or red tagging can solve that," he said.Colmenares also said the decision also shows that "the courts are indeed better than the subjective, unilateral and self-serving administrative process of the Anti-Terror Council because evidence are scrutinized by a professional judge rather than biased military generals who are known to not respect the law."

The former legislator also called for protection for Manila Regional Trial Court Judge Marlo Magdoza-Malagar as he issued a very brave decision.

"Judge Magdoza-Malagar should be protected from undemocratic and fascist elements because he may be attacked due to his decision. It also almost certain that he will be vilified and red tagged by state-backed trolls like what they did with Mandaluyong RTC Judge Monique Quisumbing-Ignacio when she dismissed the case filed against red-tagged journal ist Lady Ann Salem and trade unionist Rodrigo Esparago," he said.

"Our advice to Judge Magdoza-Mal agar is just be strong and not be intimi dated. We are with you," Colmenares said.Senator Ronald dela Rosa, a former police chief, said the fight was not over, and the DOJ could either file a motion for reconsideration or elevate the case to a higher court.

He also said he had no problem with Senator Imee Marcos’ recommendation for a total amnesty for communists and coup plotters.

But Senator Francis Tolentino said the proposal should be studied carefully.

Tolentino said the Constitution states that the Philippines is part of internation al organizations and treaties with nations that see the CPP-NPA as a terrorist orga nization."Ibelieve that when it reaches the Su preme Court, the decision will be over turned," he said.

Former senator Panfilo Lacson said the decision should not in any way be in terpreted as a setback for the law itself.

"That is exactly the reason why “pro scription” is designed to be the exclusive authority of the judiciary since it could involve possible detention of individuals and members of organizations suspected to be violating the Act," said Lacson, also a former police chief.

Because of this, he said due process of law must be strictly observed.

PBBM...

From A1

take part in the Philippines’ economic re surgence,” he said.

“It is our belief that the Philippines is the smart investment choice and the best time to do business with us is now,” the President added.

His administration’s eight-point socioeconomic agenda aims to cut poverty incidence and elevate the country to uppermiddle-income status, the President added.

“We are implementing the country’s first-ever medium-term fiscal framework. This is a fiscal consolidation strategy that will secure the fiscal stability of our macroeconomic fundamentals,” he told the combined group of Filipino and international business leaders.

In the earlier meeting with the USASEAN group, Mr. Marcos expressed optimism that the Philippines would be able to forge deals with more American investors and business firms.

"We really have to leverage whatever assets, whatever capabilities, whatever we have so that we can maximize our ability to grow and to pull the economy. Let us find new ways," Marcos said.

"Let us find new ways to partner. Let us find new ways to develop. Let us find new ways to strengthen this relationship between the United States, ASEAN, and the Philippines. And in that way, the synergies that we will find in that kind of relationship will be to the benefit of us all," he added.Mr. Marcos reiterated his administration’s priority on agriculture and investing on travel infrastructure and invited “strategic investors” from the US “to take part in the Philippines’ economic resurgence.”

The President noted that the US and the Philippines have had “long, strong, and enduring ties” in trade, commerce, development, and “all other aspects of a relationship between two sovereign nations.”“Today, the US is our third largest trading partner and the fourth major source of foreign direct investment,” he said, adding the Philippines’ projected economic performance in the medium term “is expected to surpass our regional neighbors.”“Wewill continue our high investments in public infrastructure by harnessing our public-private partnerships mechanisms. We will improve the interconnectivity of our transport networks by fast-tracking the development and enhancements of our railways, airports, seaports, and road infrastructure,” the President added.

This was Mr. Marcos’ second Philippine Economic Briefing following the one held in Singapore during his state visit there last month.

“It is our belief that the Philippines is the smart investment choice and the best time to do business with us is now,” he added.

Marcos also discussed his administration's bilateral economic and investment agenda, according to a statement released by state-run Radio Television Malacañang (RTVM) in a Facebook post.

For over three decades, the US-ASEAN Business Council has been serving as the premier advocacy organization for US corporations operating within the ASEAN.

The council also provides a platform for the US private sector to promote mutually beneficial trade and investment relations between the US and Southeast Asia, the leading investment destination of American businesses in the Indo-Pacific. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

Marcos...

From A1

Secretary Enrique Manalo, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez to both meetings.ThePresident also received World Bank President David Malpass and other business leaders in New York.

An official photo showed Mr. Mar cos also discussing with Erivaldo A. Gomes, WB Executive Director for the Philippines, and Manuela Ferro, WB Regional Vice President on East Asia and the Pacific.

With Kishida, the President tackled maritime security, maritime domain awareness, maritime law enforcement capacities, and peace in Mindanao, Press Secretary Trixie Angeles said.

“During their meeting, the two lead

Slow...

From A1

"We are doubling down on our cam paign to reach and even surpass our target of 30 percent by Oct. 8 and 50 percent by the end of the year," Vergeire said."This is why we are working with our different government agencies to target specific sectors and encourage people to get vaccinated by providing incentives," sheVergeireadded. called on the public to par ticipate in the Meanwhile,campaign.aformer adviser of the National Task Force Against COVID-19 said relaxing border restrictions further to foreign travelers may result in other COVID-19 variants entering the coun try.Dr. Ted Herbosa’s warning was is sued after Vergeire said on Tuesday that the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infec

ers reaffirmed their commitment to re inforce ties and strengthen cooperation in response to the challenges and op portunities in the regional security and economic landscape,” Angeles said in a statement.WithBlair, the President discussed the “optimistic” peace process in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), food se curity, climate action, and trade.

“We explored concrete ways to ad dress other priority issues in the global economy such as food security, climate action, and trade,” the President added on his official Facebook page.

Blair was Knighted with the Most Noble Order of the Garter by the late Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle lastAngelesyear. said the President discussed his administration’s priorities with the

tious Diseases (IATF) is set to discuss the possibility of further easing the country’s border restrictions for for eignHerbosavisitors.said this would be risky.

“When we ease our border restric tions, other variants might enter the country... If you haven't been infected by that variant, there's a chance you'll be infected with it. But if you are vac cinated, for sure you will have very mild symptoms,” he said, speaking in Fili pino in a public briefing.

The IATF eased travel restrictions in February that allowed the entry of for eigners in the Philippines for business and tourism purposes under certain conditions.

Among the requirements for foreign nationals before entering the country is full vaccination against COVID-19, ex cept for minors below 12 years old trav eling with their fully vaccinated foreign parents.

Herbosa said that should border restrictions ease more, people should keep on wearing their face masks in

Japanese PM, specifically in the fields of agriculture and food security, energy se curity, infrastructure development, and cyber“Sincesecurity.thenormalization of the Phil ippines-Japan bilateral ties, both coun tries have fostered one of the closest partnerships in the region,” she said.

“Both sides exchanged views on bi lateral, regional, and international con cerns. PM Kishida reiterated Japan’s commitment to supporting thePhilip pines’ economic development to be come an upper middle-income country,” Angeles said.

Both Mr. Marcos and Kishida ex pressed confidence that bilateral coop eration in the next years “will lead to the further realization of the two countries’ common aspiration for regional peace and stability and a better life for their peoples,” she added.

doors so as to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.TheDOH on Thursday logged an in crease in the COVID-19 daily tally with 2,702 new cases reported, bringing the nationwide caseload to 3,929,819.

This came after a two days straight of fewer than 2,000 daily reported CO VID-19 cases.

The number of active cases went up to 28,030 from 27,284 on Wednesday.

Metro Manila remained the top re gion with the most cases in the recent two weeks with 12,475 cases reported.

It was followed by Calabarzon with 4,388, Central Luzon with 2,456, Davao Region with 1,279, and Western Visayas withThe913.number of recoveries rose to 3,839,094 with 1,915 new recoveries.

The death toll climbed to 62,695 with 38 new fatalities.

The country’s bed occupancy slightly decreased to 26.8 percent, with 7,691 beds occupied while 20,992 were vacant as of Tuesday, Sept. 20.

‘Karding’...

From A1

Central Luzon strengthened into a tropical cyclone at 8 a.m. yesterday, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).Packing maximum sustained winds of 65 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 80 km/h, it was moving 10 kph north-northwestward.Itscenterwasestimated at 1,320 kilo meters east of Northern Luzon.

The state weather bureau forecast it to maintain its westward movement while ac celerating toward the northern provinces.

The center of Karding will traverse the rugged terrain of northern Luzon before emerging over the West Philippine Sea on Monday, it added.

The tropical storm is expected to contin ue to intensify while moving over the Phil ippine Sea and may reach Severe Tropical Storm category prior to its landfall.

The weather agency also warned resi dents that Karding could bring heavy rains over Northern and Central Luzon begin ning late "UnderSaturday.theseconditions, isolated to scattered flooding (including flash floods) and rain-induced landslides are possible, especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards as identified in hazard maps," it said.

PAGASA also noted that there is a "high likelihood" that wind signal no. 1 will be hoisted over Northern Luzon and some portions of Central Luzon.

"Localities situated in the eastern por tion of Northern Luzon may be placed un der TCWS #1 as early as Friday evening or Saturday

Meanwhile,morning."PAGASA said Metro Manila and the rest of the country could expect cloudy skies with isolated rain showers due to the southwest monsoon or “habagat” and localized thunderstorms.

JOB FAIR. Job seekers swarm the opening of the three-day Department of Tourism and Department of Labor and Employment job fair dubbed 'Trabaho, Asenso, Turismo! Philippine Tourism Job Fair' at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City on September 22, 2022. Danny Pata

Bill orders gov’t to buy locally produced crops

By Maricel V. Cruz

TWO legislators on Thursday filed twin bills mandating the government to buy locally produced agricultural crops and set up palay-drying facilities nationwide to boost the farmers’ incomes and help attain the country’s struggle for food security.

Congressmen Paolo Duterte of Davao City and Eric Yap of Benguet filed House Bill 3382 which aims to ensure that the national and local governments will source out food for their relief and school feeding programs from local farmers.

Complementing this measure is HB 3383, which seeks to appropriate funds for the establishment nationwide of modern rice-drying facilities that will be accessible to the farmers for free.

IN BRIEF

Airline raises concern over avian threats

“BIRD strike” remains to be one of the threats that affect day-to-day flight operations of AirAsia Philippines.

AirAsia made this observation as it launched on Thursday a campaign to encourage its employees, guests and other stakeholders to still safety and precautions as the aviation industry resumes normal operations.

To date, the airline has recorded 101 incidents of bird strikes since January 2022, almost 50 percent higher than the recorded incidents in 2021. This month alone, there were 12 incidents happened in Manila, Caticlan, Kalibo and Cagayan de Oro.

Bird strike occurs when birds, bats and all flying animals collide with an aircraft, hitting the nose, windshield, leading edges such as wings and tails, or ingested by theDamageengines.to aircraft ranges from mild to moderate which sometimes result in grounding of the aircraft.

“This is a growing concern among airlines. Collaborative efforts in partnership with regulatory bodies and industry partners have been going on to address this concern,” said AirAsia chief executive officer Ricky Isla.

“The flight operations, corporate safety, engineering and quality assurance departments of AirAsia work hand-in-hand to make sure our aircraft go through thorough checks when these incidents happen. Our guests may experience flight disruptions because of this but AirAsia will never compromise safety,” he added. Joel E. Zurbano

BoC cites NAIA agents for record collections

THE Bureau of Customs has cited the revenue collection district of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport for its record breaking-achievement despite the challenges amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The Port of NAIA surpassed its P24.61 billion revenue target for the first eight months of this year (January to August) by more than P1.82 billion when it collected a total of P26.43 billion.

Last year, it collected a total of P38.9 billion in duties and taxes, and was able to hit its targets since 2011.

Customs agents at the airport also seized a total of P253 million worth of smuggled drugs and other prohibited substances from January to September. The contrabands included ecstasy, ketamine, kush, liquid marijuana, and shabu.

Customs Commissioner Yogi Filemon Ruiz commended NAIA collector Carmelita Talusan and her men during the port’s 62nd anniversary with the theme “Soaring Towards A Digitized, Transparent and Excellent Public Service.”

The occasion highlighted the other accomplishments of NAIA port, which include the seizure of smuggled shipment of illegal drugs worth P1.6 billion in Cabanatuan City in October 2020, the biggest controlled delivery operation in the history of drug law enforcement in the country.

Ruiz also expressed his gratitude to Customs NAIA officials and personnel for facilitating the immediate release of more than 240.9 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines and PPEs (personal protective equipment). Joel E. Zurbano

Duterte and Yap told reporters that these two measures support the government’s priority goals of revitalizing the country’s agriculture sector and fighting hunger, especially among school-age children.

“It is only fitting to put our farmers first when attending to our countrymen’s urgent need for subsistence as our farmers are considered as the nation’s first responders in fulfilling our food requirements. This

bill does not aim to derail fair competition in terms of foreign trade and importation, but to support the produce of our own,” Duterte and Yap said of HB 3382.

They recalled that at the height of the pandemic, the farmers came to the rescue of poor Filipino families by dropping their prices and at times, even distributing their produce free of charge to those affected by the COVID-19 lockdowns.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has altered every country’s priority. Aside from the reinforcement to healthcare institutions, what was also given the most important consideration is the provision and distribution of relief to the affected communities,” the lawmakers said.

Under HB 3382, national government agencies and the local government units (LGUs) are mandated to prioritize the purchase of produce from farmers in

implementing their respective relief and school feeding programs.

“Prioritizing the purchase of local produce shall mean the exhaustion of all available and applicable local produce at the most reasonable and practicable cost before resorting to imported or foreign produce,” the bill stated.

To lower transportation and hauling costs, the bill provided that for LGUs, local farmers’ produce within their jurisdictions takes precedence over other products from outside their respective territorial jurisdictions.

The bill, however, clarified that the national government and LGUs should not buy produce that are no longer fit for human consumption, are insufficient and inferior in quality, and are more costly and impracticable compared to the imported crops.

ARTA finishes RCS designed to bureaucracystreamline

By Othel V. Campos

THE Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA), in collaboration with the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), presented on Thursday the Report Card Survey (RCS) 2.0 in compliance with the President’s directive to streamline the bureaucracy.

The RCS is a holistic tool that will measure effectiveness of the Citizen’s Charter in reducing regulatory burdens and the impact of the human resource systems and programs in delivering efficient government service.

ARTA officer-in-charge Ernesto Perez said the RCS focuses on measuring the quality, efficiency and adequacy of government services through evaluation of the streamlining initiatives of government agencies and local government.

The ARTA will serve as the central coordinator of the survey and will engage other agencies and partners in the conduct of the survey.

“The survey should be simple, shorter, and real-time, incorporating possible innovations for automation for a year-round implementation, which will engage more citizen’s participation,” Perez said.

The RCS will examine and measure two core areas - the institutionalization of ARTA mandates and the overall survey results wherein agency awards and recognition will also be considered in the total RCS scores.

Results of the RCS will still be used as one of the basis in granting rewards and incentives to government agencies.

ARTA started redesigning the RCS in year 2019, but it was only last year that its design and program framework was developed.

QC, Housing Department launch project eyeing 6.5 million homes

By Rio N. Araja

THE Quezon City government and the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) on Thursday broke ground for a massive housing project meant to help address the country’s need for some 6.5 millionQuezonhomes.City

Mayor Joy Belmonte and DHSUD chief Jose Rizalino Acuzar presided at the signing of a memorandum of agreement and groundbreaking ceremony held at Barangay Batasan Hills for the housing project.

Acuzar said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s flagship housing program will soon rise in Har-

mony Hills Terraces to provide a “safe, decent and sustainable shelter” for 6.5 million families in six years.

“The cooperation of ever one is important so we could attain our goal. We are optimistic that you (the city) is our helping arm in our effort to build homes,” he said.

familywholetrymendent’smillionAbrainchildofthePresident,theprogramaimstobuildonehousingunitsperyear.“IamdeeplyhonoredandhumbledtobethePresi-emissaryinsendingthisgoodnewstoourcoun-hereinQuezonCity,andinthecountryasa–slowly(butsurely),thedreamofeveryFilipinotoownahouseisnowbecomingarealityunder

NCMF rolls out peace caravan tomorrow

VARIOUS Christian-Muslim groups are joining a peace caravan on Saturday along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City to promote peace, and not war, and in support of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s call to resolve differences among nations through peacefulAccordingways.to the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF), similar caravans would also be held simultaneously in different parts of the country, such as in the Caraga Administrative Region or Region XIII in celebration of the National Peace Consciousness Month as declared by Presidential Proclamation No. 675

“The activities shall be participated in by our alliances of Christian-Muslim groups. Regardless of religion, we should embrace and respect one another, just like in Singapore and China. We must love all Filipinos,” NCMF administrative

service director Abdullah Macarimpas toldThereporters.commission lauded Marcos, who guaranteed the Philippines’ commitment to the United Nations ideals and adherence to the UN Convention on the Law of Sea providing peaceful resolutions of issues.

The President also cited the 1982 Manila Declaration, a framework for the peaceful settlement of international disputes.Withthe theme of “Pagkakaisa at Paghilom: Isang Bansa Para sa Kapayapaan,” the NCMF aims to promote peace and awaken the consciousness for desiring peace, justice and equality.

The caravan on Sept. 24 with at least 100 participating vehicles will start from Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon going to the Epifanio delos Santos Avenue traversing four cities and end at Roxas Boulevard in Manila. Rio N. Araja

the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Program,” Acuzar said.

For her part, Belmonte said the city was committed to allocate and secure lots for the development of various housing projects.

“The MOA signing solidified our previous agreement to work hand-in-hand in building houses for the city’s residents, especially the informal settler families,” she Throughsaid.the agreement, she said they “hope to build many housing projects that will benefit Quezon City residents, especially those who cannot afford a home they can call their own.”

Training center files for TESDA permit after NBI raid

A TRAINING center for aesthetic and dermatology claimed it has filed an application for registration with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) following a raid by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on its facility in Makati City last August 12.

THE SOLDIERS AND THE ARTIST. Missionary visual artist, Kristine  Lim and elements of the Army’s 2nd Infantry Division led by Brig. Gen. Rommel Tello pose for posterity following the unveiling of Lim’s three masterpieces donated to Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal in conjunction with the observance of Philippine Tourism Month. The project aims to create broader public awareness on the military facility and bring in more visitors in a bid to help generate more funds for the bene t of the troops and their families.

“The absence of a proper TESDA registration was the cause of our operation and we have not found any other violation.” said Rolan Fernandez, the NBI Agent in charge of the operation.“Ifwehave found other violations by AADA (Argonza Aesthetics and Der-

mopigmentation Academy), we would have filed it,” he said.

The NBI has reportedly filed a criminal case against AADA owner Wenie Argonza before the Makati Metropolitan Trial Court.

She was charged with illegally operating the training center for aesthetic and dermatological procedures.

Also arrested during the NBI operation was Glenmae T. Bobier, an assistant of Argonza, who received the P55,000 marked money as training fee from an agent, who posed as an enrollee for “laser science” training.

The center was believed to have

graduated hundreds of students who allegedly paid an average of P100,000 fee for a few hours of clinical lectures and practical training.

Argonza, 38, was charged with violation of the Education Act of 1982 following her arrest by the NBI operatives during an entrapment operation at her Argonza Aesthetic and Dermo-pigmentation Academy at Unit 102 Makati Terraces Condominium, Tejeros, Makati on August 12.

Argonza said the filing for registration with TESDA is in compliance with Batas Pambansa (BP) 232, also known as the Education Act of 1982.

TOWARD A FOSSIL FUEL-FREE WORLD. Climate advocates stage a rally outside the Chinese embassy in Makati City on the rst year of Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s policy announcement that China would no longer build new coal- red power projects abroad. The activists called on China to ful ll the pledge and showcase China’s renewable energy advocacy by converting the projected coal power projects to renewable energy facilities. Jimmy A Domingo

THE FACE OF DIRE POVERTY. A woman sleeps inside her ramshackle push cart which also serves as her house while waiting for free food from a catholic missionary feeding center in Manila. AFP

Postponement of SK polls difficult for Comelec, ex-commissioner says

LAWYER Luie Guia, a former Com mission on Elections (Comelec) commis sioner on Thursday opposed the proposed postponement of the scheduled barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections on Dec.

Guia5. said the Comelec has been pre paring for the electoral exercise, ABSCBN News reported.

Guia, quoted in the ABS-CBN News report said “this is barangay elections.

This is where people can feel govern ance the most, especially during the pandemic. So, why deprive them of the opportunity to evaluate the perfor mance of their elected barangay offi cials?”Such a proposal will also affect prepa rations that Comelec is currently under taking, Guia said.

“It is difficult for us to decide whether

to continue spending money and continue preparing for the election knowing prob ably it might get postponed,” he said, adding that “so, this is a decision that’s very difficult for an election management body to make because the Comelec can not slackened in its effort.”

“There are a lot of moving parts and it may be dangerous for Comelec to slow down in some of the preparatory activity,” Guia said, citing the training of electoral board members and transfer of election paraphernalia.Shouldthere be a decision to delay the village and youth elections, Guia said it should have been made already.

Senate bill seeks to criminalize spreading of online fake news

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

TODISCOURAGE people from spreading “fake news,” Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada said he is pushing for the criminalization of the act of spreading false or mislead ing news.

“Click baits, propaganda, and ma nipulation of legitimate news segments to deliberately online falsehoods, false news or disinformation are so common nowadays, making it difficult to dis tinguish which is actual news to a fake one,” Estrada said.

In introducing Senate Bill No. 1296, the senator said the legislative measure hopes to put to stop the proliferation of disinfor

mation and misinformation on the inter net by criminalizing fake news as a cy bercrime under Republic Act No. 10175, otherwise known as the Cybercrime Pre vention Act of 2012.

Estrada proposed an amendment to Section 3 of RA 10175, to include “fake news” in the definition of terms and its inclusion in Section 4 on the list of cyber crime offenses.

Villar lauds women’s group for empowerment initiatives

SENATOR Cynthia A. Villar lauded the National Federation of Women’s Clubs of the Philippines (NFWCP) for its efforts to help empowerThroughwomen.thedecades, Villar said the NFWCP has been at the fore front of women’s empowerment, enabling them to take a greater part in national development.

“The gender and development issues in the Philippines have made remarkable decisive steps for women’s welfare with the help of the NFWCP,” Villar said.

The Philippines is the highestranked country in the Asia Pacific on gender and equality.

Established in February 5, 1921, the organization has united Filipino women through the promotion of general wel fare, mutual understanding, and coop

eration. It now has around 5,000 active members nationwide.

Aside from pushing women’s right to vote in the country, Villar said the NFWCP had embarked on education for adults and children.

Since 1935, the NFWCP has been establishing nursery and kindergarten levels in schools.

The group is also involved in put ting up the Girls Scouts of the Philippines.Villaralso said NFWCP has also pushed for the inclusion of women in the police force and the armed forces, and improvement of the wel fare of women deprived of liberty through the establishment of the Correctional Institute for Women. It is also at the forefront of commemo rating Women’s Month.

Macon Ramos-Araneta

“Well, ideally yesterday or maybe last week. It has to be very soon... because there really has to be a clear direction on the part of the legislature to Comelec,” he said. raid on

By Rio N. Araja she

IN BRIEF

Tulfo slams lottery firms for not giving benefits

SENATOR Raffy  Tulfo  castigated  Small Town Lottery (STL) operators for their fail ure to give “kabos” (chief collector) proper benefits as mandated by  law.

In his proposed SBN 1296, “fake news refers to misinformation and disinforma tion of stories, facts, and news which is presented as a fact, the veracity of which cannot be confirmed, with the purpose of distorting the truth and misleading its audience.”Asanoffense, Estrada’s bill said the “creation and dissemination of fake news committed through a computer system or any other similar means which may be de vised in the future.”

Even surveys showed that the major ity of Filipinos already find it difficult to spot fake news on television, radio, and social media, the senator said, cit ing the results of the Social Weather Stations (SWS) conducted in December 2021 and released in February this year.

An SWS survey showed that 70% or

seven out of 10 adult Filipinos said that the problem of fake news and its spread on the internet is serious.

The National Capital Region Police Of fice on Thursday meanwhile reiterated its call on the public to be wary of fake news and other misinformation about crime in cidents circulating on social media and warned that such act is punishable by law.

NCRPO director Brig. Gen. Jonnel Es tomo appealed to the public to be more careful in posting unverified reports or complaints to avoid false accusations and put the police force, and the country as well, in a bad light.

Estomo made the appeal after the Qu ezon City Police District investigated the viral information online about a “chop chop” victim that turned out to be nega tive.

Aside from the issue on benefits,  Tulfo  also slammed the unjust bidding process of STL operators, which essentially allows los ing bidders to join another round of bidding despite an initial loss. Tulfo stressed this scheme effectively gives losing bidders the right to match the original proponent chosen and does not guarantee that the most advan tageous contract is entered into by STL Fran chiseHeOperators.decriedthe current scheme as marred with corruption because it favors only “bigtime,” influential, and powerful gambling lord who has cornered most franchises to operate STL in different parts of the country.

Tulfo, during a Committee on Games and Amusement hearing he presided, lamented that kabos are not getting government-man dated work benefits, including SSS, Phil Health, and Pag-Ibig.

“I talked to several kabos from different provinces... They did not receive any ben efits,” Tulfo said.

Tulfo said it hurts him that these STL op erators, who are making billions of pesos every month, continue to deprive kabos of benefits.

In the same hearing, Philippine Char ity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) Chair Junie Cua failed to provide proof of remittances showing that STL operators contributed to SSS, PhilHealth, and Pag-Ibig on behalf of the kabos employed under them.

Macon Ramos-Araneta

WORLD CLEANUP DAY. Employees of PMFTC, the local affiliate of Philip Morris International, participate in the annual World Cleanup Day. PMFTC president Denis Gorkun (left) and IT director Oleksandr Onyshchenko (right) with more than 300 employees were among the 2,418 volunteers who collected 7,271 kilos of trash including 18 kilos of cigarette butts from 10 cleanup sites across the Philippines. Revoli Cortez

tive medical check-ups.

Thesaid.women’s group denied the allega tions of the authorities, saying Jaynos was just staying at their shelter for post-opera

De Guia invoked Section 4-A of Re public Act No. 9516 stating that “Any person who is found guilty of ‘planting’ any explosive or incendiary device or any part, ingredient, machinery, tool or instrument of any explosive or in cendiary device, whether chemical, mechanical, electronic, electri cal or otherwise, shall suffer the penalty of reclusion perpetua.”

He appealed to his colleagues in the House of Representatives, especially those from Mindanao, to unite and work for the restoration of the infrastructure budget of Mindanao back to its 2022 levels.

“Mindanao suffered a huge slash in in frastructure outlay, from P84.69 billion in 2022 to only P30.49 billion in 2023, or a reduction of a whopping P54.2 billion or al most a 64 percent decrease from last year,” Hataman said.

The lawmaker is asking if the Devel opment Budget Coordinating Committee (DBCC) considered poverty incidence in formulating the proposed national budget.

“The Commission, likewise, notes that government and non-government protection shelters like that of Gabriela’s serve as a refuge for women in crises, particularly those who were victims of gender-based violence and human rights abuse. Therein, they can avail of services such as medical or legal assistance and counseling,” she said.

According to De Guia, crisis shel ters are also generally undisclosed to the public to ensure the safety of vic tims.

According to Hataman, four out of the Top 5 poorest regions in the country as indicated by their poverty incidence come from Mindanao: BARMM, 45.8 percent; CARAGA, 38.3 percent; Region IX, 37.4; Region VIII, 36 percent; and Region XII, 34.1Inpercent.response to Hataman’s assertion, Marikina Rep. Stella Quimbo, vice chair of the House committee on appropriations, responded to Hataman during plenary de bates on the 2023 national budget that agencies have regional offices that send feedback on regional needs, such as data on the 4Ps program and other social welfare programs. Maricel V.

Congress urged to enact SIM card bill

By Maricel V. Cruz

Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villa

CAMARINES

fuerte on Thursday expressed hope that Congress will soon enact the bill requiring the registration of postpaid and prepaid mobile phone subscriber identify module (SIM) cards to lessen mobile phone-enabled illegal activities.

“The swift congressional passage of the pro posed SIM Card Registration Act is a must for the 19th Congress to better protect all mobile phone subscribers against the barrage of phone-based scams like smishing, particularly now when digital tricksters have managed to get more personal infor mation, including the actual names of celfone users they intend to swindle,” Villafuerte said.

At the same time, Villafuerte lauded House Speaker Martin G. Romualdez and Senate Presi dent Juan Miguel Zubiri for steering the Congress through the quick passage of the once-vetoed meas ure designed to better safeguard the country’s cel lular phone owners against an overdose of spam

texts and celfone-based scams.

“We commend congressional leaders led by Speaker Martin and Senate President Migz (Zubiri) for delivering on their earlier agreement in a caucus to pass before our first legislative break this Octo ber the bill requiring the mandatory registration of SIM (subscriber identification module) cards of both postpaid and prepaid celfone subscribers,” VillafuerteVillafuertesaid.issued this statement after the House passed by a 250-6 vote with one absten tion the consolidated measure on the “SIM Card Registration Act,” which combined House Bill (HB) 14, as principally authored by Speaker Romualdez together with Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand Alexander Marcos and Tingog Reps. Yedda Marie Romualdez and Jude Acidre, and with 15 other similar bills, including HB 2113 in troduced by Villafuerte and fellow Camarins Sur Reps. Miguel Luis Villafuerte, Tsuyoshi Antho ny Horibata, and Bicol Saro Rep. Nicasio Enciso VIII who penned HB 2113.

BASILAN Rep. Mujiv Hataman on Thurs day lamented what he described as ineq uitable infrastructure budget allocation for Mindanao under the proposed 2023 na tionalHatamanbudget.cited the need for a higher infrastructure fund for Mindanao to arrest the regional poverty incidences on the warravaged island.

OVP BUDGET. Davao De Oro 1st District Rep. Maricar Zamora (left) defends the 2023 Budget of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) during a budget deliberation at the plenary of the House of Representatives. Looking on are Committee on Appropriation vice chair Rep. Antonio Albano and Vice-President and DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte. Ver Noveno

THE Supreme Court has spoken: Anyone can run for public office. Even if you have no money, no political party and machinery, no voter recall as you are un known, except to your immediate families, relatives and neighbors.Insodoing, the High Tribunal has rebuked the Com mission on Elections for being overly strict in imple menting the law.

Section 69 of the Omnibus Election Code identifies a nuisance candidate as someone who files a Certificate of Candidacy with the intent of making a mockery of the election system; causing confusion among voters through similarity of names between candidates; or those who, as demonstrated by acts and circumstances, have no bona fide intent in running for office.

No, the justices said, you cannot prevent ordinary citi zens from aspiring for public office. What the Comelec apparently does after the deadline for the filing of CoCs for national, local, barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections is to examine each CoC with a fine-tooth comb.

Comelec officials would then declare, after find ing that a candidate is a nobody, is not known outside of his barangay and cannot possibly mount a decent campaign for the position he/she is aspiring for due to lack of resources (money), is quite possibly, wittingly or unwittingly, clearly making a mockery of our electoral process.What the Comelec is doing is wrong, according to the Supreme Court. But how did this decision come about?

The SC recently granted the petition of Norman Marquez, an animal welfare advocate, who had been declared a nuisance candidate by the poll body when he ran for a Senate seat in the 2022 polls.

Marquez, a Quezon City resident and a real estate broker by profession, is the founder of the League of Animal Welfare Organizations of the Philippines. Since 2015, he has pursued his advocacy of protect ing animal welfare by helping rescue animals and taking legal action against animal abusers.

In its June 28 en banc decision, the High Tribunal said the grounds used by the Comelec to justify the nuisance label on the petitioner—because he is not well-known, not affiliated with influential groups nor supported by any political machinery— reduced the election, a “sa cred instrument of democracy,” to “a mere popularity contest.”“The matter of the candidate being known (or un known) should not be taken against the candidate but is best left to the electorate,” the Supreme Court said in its decision concurred in by 12 of the 14 other magistrates, including Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo.

In granting part of Marquez’s petition, the court void ed the Comelec resolution that declared him ineligible to run for the Senate in this year’s elections.

While the issue is now moot and academic because the elections are over, the Supreme Court said it found it necessary to resolve the case because “the same situation may recur in future elections.”

The court, however, denied the petitioner’s appeal to have the Comelec cited in contempt of court and penal ized for excluding Marquez from the official roster of senatorial candidates in May.

The SC recognized Marquez’s “serious intent to run,” since he even had a “program of governance” if he won, and that he “exercised utmost vigilance in the protection of his candidacy.”

In 2019, in his initial attempt to gain a seat in the Upper Chamber, Marquez had already been called a nuisance by the Comelec when it denied his bid for hav ing no “clear proof of financial capability” to mount a national campaign and being “virtually unknown to the entire country except maybe in the locality where he

FOREIGN

Peso free fall

currencies are losing their value against the US dollar at every

turn.The euro, the Japanese yen and the pound sterling are tumbling to multi-year lows against the mighty US currency, with no end in sight to the free fall.

nated in the American currency.

resides.”Thetribunal

Section 69 of the Omnibus Election Code identifies a nuisance candidate as someone who files a Certificate of Candidacy with the intent of making a mockery of the election system

also said “it is contrary to human experi ence that a candidate would go through such a rigorous process, not once, but twice, if he or she has actually no intent to run.”

In its decision, the Supreme Court said Marquez’s “palpable intent cannot be negated by unsubstantiated claims that he is an unknown, or that he lacks the capac ity to mount a nationwide campaign.”

“Neither is his non-membership in a political party sufficient to declare him a nuisance candidate,” it added.But in refusing to punish the Comelec, the high court said the poll body cannot be faulted for “zealously scru tinizing” candidates’ qualifications, although it should be reminded to be “more circumspect” in the task.

Does the Supreme Court decision open the flood gates for every Juan, Pedro and Jose, or for that matter, every Maria, Anna and Yolanda to run in our elections even if they do not have the basic qualifications of age, citizenship and residency, among others?

Not at all.

What the High Tribunal is saying is that ultimately it is the voters who should decide who to install in public office and to lead them based on their informed judg ment.That, after all, is the essence of free choice.

(Email: ernhil@yahoo.com)

They all made my day

pines and judicial appointments should pass through the people.Under the 1987 Constitution, all appointments are concentrated within the power of the President through the JBC composed of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court as chairman ex-officio, the Secretary of Justice, and a representative of Congress, as ex-officio member, a representative of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, a professor of law, a retired member of the Supreme Court and a representative of the private sector.

While the JBC composition may not be politicized, the provision in the charter who the president may choose among three nominees is political in nature.

The peso, too, sank to a new low of 58.49 against the US dollar yesterday from 58.00 the otherTheday.major currencies are not also faring well. The euro is at a 20-year low of $0.9847 against the greenback yesterday, while the yen dropped to a low of 145.90. The sterling touched a fresh 37-year low of $1.1221.

A big number of money and stock market traders are dumping their investments and switching to dollar-based securities such as US Treasury Bills, which are now offering better re turns. World stock markets are crashing as fund managers gravitate towards high-yielding US T-bills and other financial instruments denomi

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas is resorting to interest rate hikes in its own battle against rising inflation, which is precipitated by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, high crude prices and increased demand from a recovering global

cost of borrowing money even if the rate hikes lead to a contraction of the American economy. For developing nations like the Philippines, a weaker peso makes imports, including crude oil, costlier. It has the immediate effect of rais ing the pump prices of gasoline and diesel. Oil companies like Petron Corp. will have to shelve more pesos for the same single dollar to pur chase crude in the world market.

The same is true with other imported com modities, like wheat and sugar, and gadgets like cell

Banana!What really made my day were the many surprises I got, the most notable of all from Senator Robin Padilla, who greeted me with a personalized the first time a noted senator like Robin, No. 1 among the list of 12 May really made my day.

Another got was from no than my Opin who greeted me with a poem he composed about me as the oldest living Filipino media person still working as a columnist of the Manila Standard. My eter nal thanks to you, Honor Blanco Cabie.

I was also touched when my former driver of 20 years, who no longer works for me, our family carpenter and several household helpers no longer in our employ, called to greet me .

•

•

•

The latest news I have heard so far from the World Health Organization, and subsequently from the Depart ment of Health is that the end of the COVID-19 pan demic is in sight.

I do not know when, but after almost three years going through a dark tunnel, at long last, we are all beginning to see light at tunnel’s end.

Many of my relatives, friends and acquaintances have died as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. I thank the Lord that my wife and I may yet see the light at the end of the long tunnel, my gulay!

•

• • Senator Robin Padilla is doing well in inviting notable resource personalities in an effort to see what amendments to the 1987 Constitution will be best for the country.

One such person was noted and veteran lawyer, at one time secretary of justice and solicitor general, Atty. Estelito Mendoza, who brought legal gemstones to the attention of Senator Padilla and his committee on Consti tutional Amendment and Revision of the Code of Laws.

Atty. Mendoza raised two points:

First, that the Martial Law provision of the 1987 Con stitution under Section 18 which removed the phrase which included “imminent danger thereof” should be re stored in case of invasion or rebellion when public safety requires it because without the phrase “imminent danger thereof,” martial law may be too late where there is ac tual invasion, or actual rebellion or when public safety is required.Iwholly agree. With the phrase “in imminent danger thereof,” when there is actual invasion or rebellion, it may be too late to declare martial law and suspend the privi lege of the writ of habeas corpus. Second, that the Judicial Bar Council be abolished and all appointments to the judiciary be made by the Commission on Appointments composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

After all, Congress represents the people of the Philip

In effect, this is politicizing the judiciary. I have al ways been a critic of this provision in the 1987 charter because I believe that it promoted political proteges and in effect politicized the judiciary.

Thus, I fully agree with Mendoza that it should be the Commission on Appointments that should approve all judicial appointments. This way, anybody can oppose appointments to the judiciary.

If there are some sectors that are afraid that the 1987 charter should be amended, the findings of the Padilla committee suggest some people are still traumatized by Martial Law and dictatorship.

That BongbongPresidentMarcos is mulling over shutting down the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations is good news, and the President shouldn’t waste time in doing it

That’s precisely why there is need for amending the 1987 charter, which then President CoryAquino said was only temporary and should be amended to fit modern times.This is now the time to amend the 1987 Constitution and update it because of its many shortcomings.

• • •

That President Bongbong Marcos is mulling over shutting down the POGO (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations) is good news, and the President shouldn’t waste time in doing it.

I have always been against giving permits to such to operate in the Philippines because the operation of off shore gambling is a form of gambling which is illegal in China, their main market.

But, sadly enough for me President Duterte allowed it because all the licenses and taxes the government got from POGO operations provided the country with no less than P2 billion.

But, unfortunately, Santa Banana, Duterte failed to see its detrimental effects to the country, not only in the form of criminality, when syndicates and cartels in Mainland China made the country their playground in kidnapping for ransom POGO Chinese workers and other forms of crimes, tinting the country’s image in

THE journalist’s privilege, also known as the newsper son’s privilege, is a “shield law granting media persons the privilege of declining to reveal confidential sources of information” (Barron’s Law Dictionary).

In the Philippines, the law or statute that protects jour nalists from revealing the sources of a news item, report, or information is Republic Act 11458.

It must be noted that RA 11458 (2018) is an amend ment of RA 1477 (year 1956), which in turn amended RA 53 (year 1946), the first Philippine law on journalistic privilege.The1956 amendment included the “columnist” with in the coverage of the privilege, and the statute added that the journalist is not immune from civil or criminal liability despite invoking the privilege.

The coverage was further expanded in RA 11458 from authors of written publications to include those of other forms of mass media, such as a “… duly recognized or accredited reporter, writer, contributor, opinion writer, editor, columnist, manager, media practitioner involved in the writing, editing, production, and dissemination of news for mass circulation, of any print, broadcast, wire service organization, or electronic mass media, including cable TV and its variants.”

Under the Philippine statutory privilege, the journal ist cannot be compelled to reveal the source of any news item, report or information that he or she has received in confidence.However, if the journalist voluntarily testifies and dis closes the source of the news or information, it will not apply.In the leading United States case of Branzburg v. Hayes, the issue presented was “whether requiring news men to appear and testify before state or federal grand ju ries abridges the freedom of speech and press guaranteed by the First Amendment.” The US Supreme Court cat egorically declared that it did not (408 U.S. 665 [1972]).

The Branzburg case addressed the following facts: First case. On November 15, 1969, the CourierJournal carried a story under petitioner’s [Branzburg] by-line describing in detail his observations of two young residents of Jefferson County synthesizing hashish from marijuana, an activity which, they asserted, earned them about $5,000 in three weeks. The article stated that the pe titioner had promised not to reveal the identity of the two hashish makers (408 U.S. 665 [1972]).

Second case. On January 10, 1971, Branzburg pub lished a story which described in detail the use of drugs in Frankfort, Kentucky. Branzburg “spent two weeks inter viewing several dozen drug users in the capital city,” and had seen some of them smoking marijuana. A number of conversations with and observations of several unnamed drug users were recounted (408 U.S. 665 [1972]).

In both instances, Branzburg was subpoenaed to ap pear and testify in the grand jury.

In the first case, he was asked “to identify the individu als he had seen possessing marihuana or the persons he had seen making hashish from marihuana” while in the second case he was required “to testify in the matter of violation of statutes concerning use and sale of drugs.”

In the same Branzburg case, In Re Pappas and United States v. Caldwell were reviewed as consolidated cases.

In Re Pappas involved petitioner Pappas, a television newsman-photographer who was called to New Bedford

theTheprocess.imminent shutdown of POGOS in the Philip pines came from the President’s sister no less, Senator Imee Marcos, saying that whatever financial benefits the country gets from POGO operations cannot compensate for all acts of criminality POPGOIs are giving the coun try’s image as a peaceful and orderly country.

Then President Duterte welcomed POGOs to the country to attract Chinese tourists to come to the Philip pines during his pivot to China. Sadly, first, we had that “pastillas” scam that corrupted no less than 83 immigration officials at the international airports.

Then, Santa Banana, came rampant kidnappings for ransom and other acts of criminality by mainland Chinese crime syndicates that took advantage of the easy entry of Chinese visitors to the country, which in effect made the Philippines their playground to commit crimes.

Mister President,close down all POGOs. The sooner done the better.

• •

•

The US Federal Reserve Board, or central bank, has been boosting the value of the US currency through a series of aggressive interest rate hikes in its effort to tame spending and ris ingTheinflation.USFed is not pausing in the fight against surging inflation—it will continue to raise the

Thephones.Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, meanwhile, is resorting to interest rate hikes in its own battle against rising inflation, which is precipitated by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, high crude prices and increased demand from a recovering global

Theeconomy.BangkoSentral will have to do a lot of monetary actions to neutralize the US Fed’s moves, meaning our own central bank must craft something to make the peso competitive with the US dollar and attractive again to mon ey and stock market traders. Until then, the peso will remain wallowing in the depths.

Is the journalist’s privilege absolute?

on July 30, 1970 to report on civil disorders involving fires and other turmoil (408 U.S. 665 [1972]).

He intended to cover a Black Panther news confer ence at that group’s headquarters in a boarded-up store.

As a condition of entry, Pappas agreed not to disclose anything he saw or heard inside the store except for an anticipated police raid, which Pappas, “on his own,” was free to photograph and report as he wished (408 U.S. 665 [1972]).There was no police raid, so the petitioner wrote no story and did not reveal what had occurred in the store while he was there.

Two months later, the petitioner [Pappas] was sum moned before the Bristol County Grand Jury and ap peared, “but refused to answer any questions about what had taken place inside headquarters while he was there…” (408 U.S. 665 [1972]).

In Caldwell, the subpoenas were issued by a federal grand jury in the Northern District of California to respon dent Earl Caldwell, a reporter for the New York Times. He was ordered to testify and to bring with him notes and tape recordings of interviews he had with the officers and spokesmen of the Black Panther Party (408 U.S. 665

TheeconomyDistrictJudge

answer the questions put to him, subject… to the supervi sion of the presiding judge as to ‘the propriety, purposes, and scope of the grand jury inquiry and the pertinence of the probable testimony’.”

The Caldwell case was reversed.

“If there is no First Amendment privilege to refuse to answer the relevant and material questions asked during a good faith grand jury investigation, then it is a fortiori true that there is no privilege to refuse to appear before such a grandDecadesjury…”later, in the In Re: Grand Jury Subpoena, Judith Miller, a controversy arose from a sixteen-word sentence in the State of the Union Address of President W. Bush on January 28, 2003. President Bush stated that: “The British government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa” (438 F.3d 1141 [2006]).

held

EDITORIAL all who my 95th birth day last September 15. They all made my day, Santa

[1972]).Respondent

On July 6, 2003, the New York Times published an op-ed (opposite the editorial) piece by former Ambassa dor Joseph Wilson, in which he claimed to have been sent to Niger by the Central Intelligence Agency in 2002 in response to inquiries from [then] Vice President Cheney to investigate whether Iraq had been seeking to purchase uranium from Niger (438 F.3d 1141 [2006]). Wilson claimed that he had conducted the investiga tion and that there was no credible evidence that any such effort had been made.

that ‘a reporter called to testify before a grand jury regarding confidential information enjoys no First Amendment (free speech and press) protection…’

Caldwell objected to the scope of this subpoena. A second subpoena omitted the documentary requirement and simply ordered Caldwell “to appear . . . to testify before the Grand Jury.” Caldwell and his employer, the New York Times, moved to quash on the ground that the unlimited breadth of the subpoenas and the fact that Caldwell would have to appear in secret before the grand jury…” (408 U.S. 665

[1972]).Caldwell’s motion to quash was denied. Due to the refusal to testify, he was ordered committed for contempt until the time he complies with the court’s order.

Respondent Caldwell appealed the contempt order, and the Court ofAppeals reversed and declared that: “[A] bsent compelling reasons for requiring his testimony, he was held privileged to withhold it.” (408 U.S. 665 [1972])

The US Supreme Court affirmed the District Court decisions in the two Branzburg cases, saying that the “… petitioner refused to answer question[s] that directly related to criminal conduct that he had observed and writ ten about … [and] saw the commission of the statutory felonies of unlawful possession of marijuana and the un lawful conversion of it into hashish”.

Furthermore, the “[p]etitioner may be presumed to have observed similar violations of the state narcotics laws during the research [which] he did for the story that forms the basis of the subpoena. In both cases, “if what petitioner wrote was true, he had… to provide the grand jury [information] concerning the commission of serious crimes”.InPappas, the decision of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court was affirmed.

“The petitioner must appear before the grand jury to

It was well that Bongbong listened to his chief legal counsel Juan Ponce Enrile not to grant resigned Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez extra powers which he wanted as newly-assigned Presidential Chief of Staff.

Santa Banana, would you believe, as the new Chief of Staff, a position that had already been abolished during former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s administra tion, Rodriguez would have power over all government agencies and departments, and all contracts similar to the power of an executive secretary!

But, JPE, ever alert towards efforts of Rodriguez to have powers, immediately filed a memorandum to the President, thwarting the efforts of Rodriguez to assume the powers of an ES.

In fact, as far as I am concerned, it would be better for President Marcos Jr. not to reassign the resigned ES to any position close to Malacanang. With people like Rodriguez close to Bongbong and giving his aid and assistance, President Marcos Jr. does not need enemies.

The Chicago Sun-Times published a column through Robert Novak who asserted that … “two senior admin istration officials” told him that Wilson’s selection was at the suggestion of Wilson’s wife, Valerie Plame, whom Novak described as a CIA “operative on weapons of mass destruction” (438 F.3d 1141 [2006]).

Related articles were also released in TIME.com, Time Magazine, and The Washington Post.

The US Department of Justice undertook an inves tigation into whether employees of government had violated federal law by the unauthorized disclosure of the identity of a CIA agent (438 F.3d 1141 [2006]).

As a consequence, the grand jury issued a subpoena to the publishers, authors of the articles and Judith Miller for “conversations between her and a specified govern ment official” occurring from on or about July 6, 2003, to on or about July 13, 2003… concerning Valerie Plame Wilson… or concerning Iraqi efforts to obtain uranium” (438 F.3d 1141 [2006]).

All of those subpoenaed refused to testify on the de tails related to their sources of information and were held in contempt.TheDistrict Judge held that “a reporter called to testify before a grand jury regarding confidential information enjoys no First Amendment (free speech and press) pro tection…” (438 F.3d 1141 [2006]).

In rejecting the claim of journalistic privilege, the Supreme Court said “[T]hat grand juries and the court operate under the longstanding principle ‘the public has a right to every man’s evidence,’ except for those persons protected by constitutional, common law, or statutory privilege” (438 F.3d 1141 [2006]).

The Court could not “seriously entertain the notion that the First Amendment protects a newsman’s agree ment to conceal the criminal conduct of his source… [based] on the theory that it is better to write about a crime than to do something about it…” (438 F.3d 1141 [2006]).

By Peiyung Hsu

CONVICTION.FINAL

Biden brings carrot-and-stick diplomacy to UNGA summit

US PRESIDENT Joe Biden took a big carrot to the Big Apple for his UN speech— and for the Russians, an even bigger stick.

In an approximately half-hour address Wednesday to the UN General Assembly, Biden covered a litany of global problems, from the war in Ukraine to tension around Taiwan, hunger in Africa and climate change everywhere.

In every case, he said, the United States was ready to act.

It was confirmation of the credo Biden has preached since the day he took office: that America is back, and that means back on top.

“Both through age and experience, he’s someone very attached to the idea of American leadership,” said Garret Martin, who teaches international relations at American University.

Unlike isolationist Donald Trump, who ditched international agreements, entered erratic relationships with US foes and treated US allies as a nuisance, Biden’s worldview, laid out from the podium of the UN’s huge hall, was more straightforward.

The United States will get involved

FINAL VERDICT ON KHMER ROUGE WAR CRIMES

Cambodia court upholds conviction

everywhere, he said. The only question is whether that will be with a carrot—or, as with Russia, a stick.

Biden’s blistering denunciation of Russia began in the opening paragraph of his speech, when he said the Ukraine war was “chosen by one man.”

President Vladimir Putin had “shamelessly violated the core tenets of the United Nations Charter,” he said.

“This war is about extinguishing Ukraine’s right to exist as a state, plain and simple, and Ukraine’s right to exist as a people. Whoever you are, wherever you live, whatever you believe, that should not—that should make your blood run cold.”

So it went on. But then came the carrot.

“If you’re still committed to a strong foundation for the good of every nation around the world, then the United States wants to work with you,” Biden said.

“The United States is opening an era of relentless diplomacy to address the challenges that matter most to people’s lives— all people’s lives.” AFP

CAMBODIA’S

UN-backed Khmer Rouge war crimes court gave its final verdict Thursday, upholding the genocide conviction and life sentence imposed on the regime’s last surviving leader.

The tribunal was ruling on an appeal by Khieu Samphan, head of state for the murderous communist regime which wiped out a quarter of the Cambodian population in less than four years in the 1970s.Itisthe last verdict that will be issued by the tribunal, which has cost more than $330 million and prosecuted only five Khmer Rouge leaders, two of whom died during proceedings.

“The Supreme Court chamber finds no merit in Khieu Samphan’s arguments regarding genocide and rejects them,” Chief Judge Kong Srim said in the lengthy ruling.

The court also upheld the 2018 convictions against the 91-year-old for multiple crimes against humanity – including murder, torture and enslavement – on the basis of a “joint criminal enterprise,” even if he did

Trump, sued for fraud

DONALD Trump and family members lied to tax collectors, lenders and insurers for years in a scheme that routinely misstated the value of his properties to enrich themselves, according to a suit filed by New York’s attorney general on Wednesday.

Top state prosecutor Letitia James said that with the help of his children and others at the Trump Organization, the former president provided fraudulent statements of his net worth and false asset valuations “to obtain and satisfy loans, get insurance benefits, and pay lower taxes.”

“In short, he lied to gain massive financial benefits for himself.”

The sweeping investigation is one of many criminal, civil and congressional probes into Trump, who is eyeing another run for the White House in 2024.

Trump repeated his oft-used defense that the suit is “another witch hunt” against him, while his spokesperson denounced it as a political move by Democrats against the

Republican businessman.

James’ office requested that the former president pay at least $250 million in penalties—a sum she says he made from the fraud—and that his family be banned from running businesses in the state.

She also urged that Trump along with his children Donald Trump Jr, Eric Trump and Ivanka Trump be barred from purchasing property in the state for five years.

“The very foundation of his purported net worth is rooted in incredible fraud and illegality,” James said in a statement.

Referring the title of Trump’s book “The Art of Deal,” she said that “Mr. Trump thought he could get away with the art of the steal, but today, that conduct ends.”

James said her office, which lacks authority to file criminal charges, was making a criminal referral to the US Justice Department as well as the Internal Revenue Service based on the threeyear investigation. AFP

not personally take part in all crimes.

It backed the earlier ruling that Khieu Samphan had “direct contemporaneous knowledge of the commission of crimes and shared the intent for theirButcommission”.itreversedconvictions on murder and persecution charges relating to two specific locations.

The hybrid court, with both Cambodian and international judges, was set up to try the senior leaders of the genocidal ultraMaoist regime, which wiped out some two million people through starvation, torture, forced labour and mass executions during its 1975-79 rule.

Regime chief Pol Pot, known as “Brother

Number One,” never faced justice, dying in 1998 before the court was set up.

The genocide conviction relates to the persecution of ethnic-minority Vietnamese, seen by the Khmer Rouge as treacherous enemies within.

Judge Kong Srim said the charges related to “some of the most heinous events” during the Khmer Rouge’s blood-soaked rule.

The frail Khieu Samphan sat hunched in a wheelchair in the dock, listening intently to the lengthy ruling through headphones.Hisargument that the Khmer Rouge was simply a political movement, aimed at improving the lives of Cambodians, was rejected by the court. AFP

South leader’sKoreanhotmicUScriticismbecomesviral

ALREADY battling record-low approval ratings, South Korea’s President Yoon Suk-yeol has landed in trouble again after his disparaging remarks about key ally the United States were caught on a hot mic.

Yoon, a political novice who took office in May, is in New York for the United Nations General Assembly, and chatted on Wednesday with Joe Biden during a photo op at the Global Fund where the US President had just pledged $6 billion.

“How could Biden not lose damn face if these fuckers do not pass it in Congress?” Yoon was caught saying to his aides afterwards in footage that went viral in South Korea.AYouTube video of Yoon’s comments racked up over two million views just hours after it was posted, and “fuckers” became the number one trending topic on Twitter in South Korea on Thursday.

“The president’s words and actions are the national dignity of the country,” one YouTube commenter wrote.Yoon’s crude comments appear to refer to Biden’s drive to increase US funding to the Global Fund, which would require congressional approval.TheUnited States is South Korea’s key security ally, with Washington stationing about 27,000 troops in the country to help counter nucleararmed North Korea.

Yoon, a former prosecutor, has made what analysts describe as a string of unforced errors during his first months in office, which is typically a honeymoon period for new presidents in South Korea.

At one point, his approval rating dropped to 24 percent, although it has since inched up to 32 percent.

Gan was on duty with his co-worker Luo Yong on September 5 when the quake hit, and the pair stayed behind to give first aid to injured colleagues and prevent flooding by releasing water from the dam.

They attempted to leave the remote power station, walking for around 20 kilometers (12 miles).

But Gan—who is severely short-sighted —had lost his glasses during the quake and struggled to navigate the mountainous terrain, CNR said.

The two men tried desperately to signal distant rescuers for help.

“We took our clothes off, strung them on tree branches and waved them around,” Luo told CNR.

They eventually decided that Gan should stay put while Luo went looking for assistance.

Luo helped make Gan a bed of moss and bamboo leaves and left him some wild fruit and bamboo shoots to eat before the two men separated. AFP

His predecessor, Moon Jae-in, enjoyed approval ratings of about 70 percent at the same stage in his term, polling data showed, and Yoon started work with 52 percent of people polled thinking he was doing a good job. AFP

HONG KONGER Kitty Chan pivoted to takeout to help her restaurant survive the pandemic, but she has since opened a second shop as demand for cheap mealboxes surges in a city enduring economic woes.

Small shops selling inexpensive two-dish meal boxes have mushroomed across one of the world’s least affordable cities, cropping up in working-class and white-collar areas alike as people tighten their belts.

“The COVID restrictions were a catalyst,” she told AFP at her restaurant in Kowloon, one of the world’s most densely populated city districts, as a queue of hungry patrons snaked down the street.

“There are multiple factors in this city that make us many people’s kitchens.”

Hong Kong took an economic hit in 2019 when months of democracy protests kept visitors away and helped tip the city into a prolonged recession.

More than 2.5 years of strict COVID controls have again pushed the Asian finance hub into negative growth.

Hong Kong finance chief Paul Chan warned Thursday there is a “very high chance” the city will end the year in a full-blown recession while the fiscal deficit is expected to balloon to HK$100 billion ($12.7 billion), twice initial estimates.Themeal box boom “is similar to the emergence of dollar shops during the (2008) financial crisis,” said

Andy Kwan, director of the ACE Center for Business and Economic Research think tank.

“People tend to spend less when the economy is not well and confidence is low,” he told AFP.

Chan’s restaurants are selling 2,000 to 3,000 meal boxes per day at around HK$48 ($6).

Meal boxes go for anything from HK$25 to HK$80 depending on ingredients and shop locations, and many include a drink or soup.

To compete in what is now a crowded market, Chan tries to supply the kind of food you can get in a sit-down restaurant—mostly wok-fried Cantonese dishes such as blackpepper beef short ribs, steamed fish and razor clams.

Her strategy has attracted a mostly white-collar clientele.

“The two-dish meal box is a very interesting entry point to observe our economy,” said Fred Ku, an economist at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Ku said that while the two-dish restaurant had long been a feature of the city, “the consumers’ perception has changed and these meal boxes are no longer a symbol of relatively low income.”

China and Hong Kong have largely escaped the runaway inflation seen across the globe.

But food in particular has become more expensive— Chan estimates her grocery purchases have risen about 20 percent this year.

A CHINESE worker who tended to his injured colleagues following a deadly earthquake and then got lost in the mountains has been rescued 17 days later.

The 6.6-magnitude quake struck southwestern Sichuan province earlier this month, killing at least 93 people and forcing thousands to be resettled into temporary camps.

Gan Yu, an employee at Sichuan’s Wan-

dong hydropower plant, was found alive but injured on Wednesday by a local villager, state-owned China National Radio (CNR) said, calling the rescue a “miracle of life.”

FIGHT FOR WHAT MATTERS. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (left) speaks with French Minister of State for Development, Francophonie and International Partnerships Chrysoula Zacharopoulou (right) ahead of the Global Fund Seventh Replenishment Conference in New York. AFP

THRIVING IN A PANDEMIC.

CYAN

URC launches 2 new plastic collection sites

FOOD manufacturing giant Universal Robina Corp. (URC) recently opened two new plastic collection sites as part of the firm’s sustainability program.

URC’s new sites are located in Baran gay Sambat in Balayan, Batangas, and Barangay Nagasi in La Carlota, Negros Occidental.

Both sites are currently collecting used PET bottles as well as other recy clable plastic waste, and offer incentive schemes.URC said the Barangay Sambat col lection site is in partnership with the lo cal government of Balayan, Batangas, the Municipal Environment and Natu ral Resources Office (MENRO) and the Balayan Junkshop. Some 281 kilos of PET bottles were collected during the site’s opening last month.

Meanwhile, the Barangay Nagasi col lection site is in coordination with the local government of Nagasi, the Envi ronment and Natural Resources Office (ENRO) and the Barangay Council of Nagasi.

Over 700 kilos of plastic waste were gathered during the site’s recent launch.

Jenniffer B. Austria

Synergy Grid declares P1.37-b cash dividend

LISTED Synergy Grid and Development Philippines Inc. declared a third-quarter cash dividend amounting to P1.37 bil lion, or P0.26 per share.

The dividend is of the same amount the company paid out on July 26 for the second quarter .

SGP said the board approved on Sep tember 21 the dividend declaration to all stockholders. The cash dividends will be payable on October 19 to stockholders of record as of October 5.

“SGP maintained the same level of dividends for this quarter. This follows the high dividend yield last quarter from the issuance of the preferred shares of the National Grid Corporation of the Phil ippines (NGCP) in June, to which SGP subscribed to using the proceeds from its follow-on offering (FOO),” said SGP chairman Henry. Sy, Jr.

NGCP is SGP’s sole operating asset. It holds the sole and exclusive conces sion and franchise for operating the Phil ippines’ transmission network, linking power generators and distribution utili ties to deliver electricity to distributors and cooperatives nationwide.

Alena Mae S. Flores

ABS-CBN’s TFC beats rivals in US TFC, the flagship channel of ABS-CBN International said it is the most watched multi-cultural network in the US in the first half of the year, beating rival net works.

According to Comscore’s US viewer ship, 249,000 households watched TFC for a combined total of 18 million hours during the first half of 2022.

TFC captured 50 percent share of viewership, followed by GMA Pinoy with 26 percent, Sony with 15 percent, Aapka with 8 percent and PHNA with 1 percent.The study also showed that there were 221 percent more TFC-only view ers compared to the number two network, which means advertising on TFC will al ready reach 81 percent of GMA viewers in the US.

The study revealed that TFC reached more households across all key dayparts than GMA.

Another key metric of TFC’s domi nation among multi-cultural networks is that 49 of the period’s Top 50 shows are from TFC, namely FPJ’s and Probinsya no, 2Good 2 Be True, TV Patrol Global Edition, A Family Affair, The Broken Marriage Vow, Idol Philppines and ASAP Natin ‘To, among others.

Darwin G. Amojelar

$150-m PH cable network lands on shores of Siargao

By Darwin G. Amojelar

GLOBE Telecom Inc. and Eastern Communications expanded their foot print in the Visayas and Mindanao through the $150-million Philippine Domestic Submarine Cable Network, a joint undertaking with partner Infini VAN Inc.

The Philippines’ longest domestic submarine fiber cable project landed on the shores of Siargao to deliver faster and reliable connectivity on the island as it recovers in the wake of Ty phoon Odette and the prolonged pan demic.Siargao is one of the landing points of PDSCN—a $150-million project that aims to improve both mobile and broadband connectivity and fiberize previously unserved areas across the country’s three main island groups. Once fully rolled out, the cable would help improve connectivity on theReneisland.Martin Go, senior director for transport engineering and optimization at Globe, said fiber connectivity would help Siargao communities recover faster from the impact of Typhoon Odette. Siargao was one of the areas hardest hit by the super typhoon in De cember 2021.

“We all saw how Super Typhoon Odette severely affected Siargao. We believe fiber connectivity will help the community recover faster. Through improving the island’s communication infrastructure, our project will help boost businesses, support connectivity needs for school and work, and pro vide a better-connected environment that is conducive to tourism,” said Go.

Bangko Sentral hikes policy rate again by another 50 bps

By Julito G. Rada

THEMonetary Board, the policy-making body of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, raised on Thursday the benchmark policy interest rate by another 50 basis points to 4.25 percent to rein in inflation and prevent the further depreciation of the peso, which slid to a new record low.

It came following an earlier 75-basispoint hike by the US Federal Reserve to tame the persistently high inflation in the world’s largest economy.

The latest adjustment brought the BSP’s total rate increase this year to 225 basis points, from the record low of 2 percent at the start of the year. The BSP maintained the 2 percent interest rate in 2021 to support the economy’s recovery from the pandemic.

Bank of the Philippine Islands said given the uncertainties both here and abroad, the BSP might hike the policy

rate again in the last two meetings of the year “up to 5.25 percent depending on what the Fed will do and the behavior of the exchange rate.”

BPI said in a report that assuming the Fed officials would stick to their latest dot plot, the Fed Funds rate might in crease further to 4.4 percent in 2022 and 4.6 percent in 2023 from .

“If the BSP continues to hike by 50 bps only in the last two meetings of the year, the differential with the US rate will go back to where it was in July when the BSP did an off-cycle

hike. In this scenario, the peso may continue to depreciate and may even breach the 59 level. This may lead to another inter-meeting hike given the need to temper the depreciation of the peso,” BPI London-basedsaid. Oxford Economics said the BSP might raise interest rates by a further 25 basis points in November, be fore taking an extended pause.

BSP Deputy Governor Francisco Da kila Jr. said in an online briefing the lat est rate hike would take effect on Sept. 23. The interest rates on the overnight deposit and lending facilities were also raised by 50 bps to 3.75 percent and 4.75 percent,Dakilarespectively.saidtheBSP’s latest baseline forecasts showed that average inflation was still projected to breach the upper end of the 2 percent to 4 percent target range at 5.6 percent in 2022.

The BSP raised the inflation forecast for 2023 to 4.1 percent, and adjusted the 2024 estimate to 3.0 percent.

By Jenniffer B. Austria

DIVERSIFIED conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC) is returning to the bond market with a jumbo bond offering of up to P80 billion.

San Miguel said in a disclosure on the stock exchange Thursday its board approved the issuance of P60billion worth of fixed-rate bonds with an oversubscription option of another P20 billion.

The company said it would file a registration statement on the pro posed bond offering shortly with the Securities and Exchange Commis sion and seek permission with Phil ippine Dealing & Exchange Corp. (PDEX) to list the bonds.

The conglomerate has not final ized the terms and conditions of the bond offering and did not the disclo sure the use of proceeds.

Peso sinks to new record low of 58.49 a dollar on Fed rate increase

THE peso fell to a new record low against the US dollar Thursday fol lowing a 75-basis-point hike by the US Federal Reserve to tame the persistently highTheinflation.localcurrency lost 49 centavos to close at an all-time low of 58.49, down from 58.00 on Wednesday. The drop followed a 52-centavo decline on Wednesday. Total trading volume reached $1.514 billion Thursday, up from $1.051 billion a day earlier.

Interest rate in the US now ranges from 3 percent to 3.25 percent, the high est since 2008. The Fed resorted to big rate increases to rein in inflation that reached 8.3 percent year-on-year in Au gust, above the Fed’s benchmark target of 2 Michaelpercent.Ricafort, chief economist of Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., said the next resistance level for the peso would be 58.50 to 58.75 against the greenback. He said the Fed provided guidance on further interest rate hikes

that would bring it to 4.40 percent by end-2022 and 4.60 percent in 2023 from 3.25 percent.

The peso depreciated by 14.7 per cent against the US dollar or a total of P7.491 since closing at 50.999 in 2021, said Ricafort.

He said Fed rate estimates were rising in recent months, reflecting more ag gressive adjustments in an effort to re duce US inflation from the 40-year high of 8.3 percent in August, after reaching an immediate high of 9.1 percent in June.

“Thus, the said Fed dot plot projec tions suggest a fourth straight Fed rate hike of +0.75 on Nov. 2, 2022,” Ricafort said.

Ricafort said the higher Fed rates led to stronger US dollar against major cur rencies, including the peso, on wider interest rate differentials in favor of the US currency.

BSP Deputy Governor Francisco Dakila remained unfazed by the peso’s

depreciation, saying the movement was expected as the US dollar gained strength “given the US Fed tightening.” He said other currencies in the region were also weakening against the green back.“With the policy adjustment now, as well as the expected seasonal inflows from remittances especially during the Christmas season, there should be a lot of earnings available for repatriation from overseas Filipino workers [that should support the peso],” Dakila said.

The BSP on Thursday hiked by an other 50 basis points to 4.25 percent the overnight borrowing rate to rein in the elevated inflation and support the value of the Bankpeso.of the Philippine Islands said the peso depreciation might continue in the medium term as imports would likely increase further on the recovery of the “Dollareconomy.demand may pick up and keep the exchange rate above the 56 lev

It was only last March when San Miguel in March raised P30 billion from issuance of five-year and seven-year, fixed-rate bonds, which carry a coupon rate of 5.2704 percent and 5.8434 percent, respec tively.

If plans pushes through, San Miguel’s new bond offering will be the biggest be listed in PDEX.

BDO Unibank Inc.’s P52.7-billion ASEAN Sustainability Bonds issued January this year is currently the largest corporate bond offering listed on PDEX.

San Miguel is constructing sev eral big-ticket infrastructure proj ects, including the P740-billion New Manila International Air port in Bulacan, the Mass Rail way Transit 7 from San Jose del Monte, Bulacan to North Avenue, Quezon City, and the South Lu zon Expressway TR4 project, which will extend the SLEX from Sto. Tomas, Batangas to Lucena, Quezon province.

By Alena Mae S. Flores

THE board of Citicore Energy REIT Corp. (CREIT) approved the issuance of up to P4.5-billion worth of unsecured fixed rate ASEAN green bonds.

The bonds comprise a base offer of up to P3 billion with an oversubscription option of up to P1.5 billion, subject to the approval of the Securities and Exchange Commission and Philippine Dealing and Exchange Corp.

The board also approved “the execu tion of any and all agreements and docu ments necessary for the acquisition of the multiple operating solar rooftop systems and various real estate properties suitable for utility scale solar power plants pursu ant to the use of proceeds of the Corpora tion’s green bond offering.”

CREIT posted a net income of P601 million in the first six months, more than

five times the P89 million it registered in the same period last year.

The company’s gross revenues in the first half rose to P664 million, up 408 per cent year-on-year.

Revenues consisted mainly of lease in come from the guaranteed base lease from several solar plant companies.

Earnings before interest, taxes, de preciation, and appreciation (EBITDA) jumped 429 percent to P643 million.

“As the country’s first publicly-listed renewable energy REIT, we are now see ing the recurring rental revenue stream from our green asset portfolio. As detailed in the REIT Plan, we are committed to pay a steady dividend stream, with strong upside potential from new asset infusion from the Sponsor moving forward,” said CREIT president and chief executive of ficer Oliver Tan earlier.

ACEN raises P10b from sale of securities to fund renewable energy projects

ACEN Corp. issued and listed on Thurs day its maiden peso-denominated ASE AN Green Bonds worth P10 billion to fund its renewable energy expansion.

The green bonds carry a fixed inter est rate of 6.0526 percent per annum for five-year tenor under its P30-billion debt securities program registered with the Se curities and Exchange Commission.

The bonds were 8.6 times oversub scribed on robust demand, with strong participation from leading institutional

investors. The bonds were listed on the Philippine Dealing and Exchange Corp.

“We are grateful for the strong sup port of Philippine institutional and retail investors for the company’s maiden peso green bond issuance. The successful of fering will help ACEN realize its vision of reaching 20 gigawatts of renewables capacity by 2030,” said ACEN president and chief executive Eric Francia.

The bonds comply with ASEAN Green Bond Standards, which require

proceeds to be used exclusively to fund eligible green projects.

“Amidst the challenging macroeco nomic environment, we are encouraged by the enthusiastic take-up of our bonds by the investing community. Our group is one of the country’s largest issuers of green bonds, and we are happy to con tribute to the development of our nation’s debt capital market with our maiden peso green bond issuance,” said ACEN chief finance officer and treasurer Cora Dizon.

The Philippine Rating Services Corp. assigned the bonds with PRS Aaa, the highest possible rating.

ACEN said proceeds would be used to finance renewable energy projects in the Philippines, particularly the 283-mega watt San Marcelino Solar I farm in Zambales, the 42-MW expansion of the 72-MW Arayat-Mexico solar farm in Pampanga and the construction of the 133-MW Cagayan Solar farm in Lal-lo, Cagayan. Alena Mae S. Flores

San P80-bplanboardMiguelokaystoofferbonds clears issuance of ASEAN green notes valued at P4.5b

CEBU VISITORS. Top executives of Land Bank of the Philippines led by president and chief executive Cecilia Borromeo (fifth from left) pay a courtesy visit to Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia (fourth from left) to strengthen ties with the provincial government of Cebu. The state-owned bank expressed support to the province’s Enhanced Countryside Development program for farmers and fisherfolk. The program also offers capital to expand or restart existing businesses affected by the pandemic.

MERALCO SCHOLARS. Manila Electric Co., through One Meralco Foundation, awards 15 freshmen students from Don Bosco College-Canlubang with a scholarship that will allow them to pursue their dreams of becoming skilled electrical technicians. Executives of Meralco and Don Bosco-Canlubang congratulate the 15 exceptional recipients of Meralco’s Women Technician Scholarship Program. The scholarship will cover tuition and allowances of the students and involve a four-month on-the-job training.

MONSTER GAME. Prince Ibeh of NorthPort gets sti defensive resistance from Phoenix’s Larry Muyang in a PBA Commissioners’ Cup game won by the Batang Pier, 92-89. Ibeh had a huge imprint on the win with a double-double of 19 points and15 rebounds, plus 4 steals and 2 assists.

Obiena, Tolentino lure Duplantis, pals to ‘23 Tagaytay pole vault tilt

Liscano stuns big guns, wins National Youth, Schools Chess

UNHERALDED Nathalie Liscano came out of nowhere to steal the thunder from the big guns and rule the premier girls’ under-17 division of the just-concluded National Youth and Schools Chess Championships in Dapitan, Zamboanga del Norte.

Liscano, an unrated 16-year-old native of Midsayap, Cotabato, scored a total of 7.5 points out of a possible 10 on seven wins and a draw against three losses to claim the crown and the country’s representative to international age group meets including the 6th ASEAN Youth Championships tentatively set Nov. 4 to 13 in Bangkok,LiscanoThailand.alreadyclinched the title in the 10th and penultimate round with a win over Xhyllon Reganion that cushioned the impact of her last-round defeat to top seed Jamelin Ruth Lim.

It was Liscano’s second title of the year after ruling the Mindanao Ladies Open online tilt last March.

Angela Joelle San Luis clinched second while Lim third with each finishing with seven points apiece in this event bankrolled by Dapitan City Mayor Seth Frederick “Bullet” Jalosjos and sanctioned by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines headed by Butch Pichay.

ERNEST

John Obiena isn’t only setting his goal high, but far and wide with his fellow Filipinos in the core as the world No. 3 is bent on bringing his world-class pole vaulting colleagues to Philippine soil in an invitational competition in 2023.

To name a few—world No. 2 Chris Nilsen, Rio 2016 Olympics gold medalist Thiago Braz and, yes, world and Olympic champion and world record holder Armand Duplantis.Allthree of them—and several others—in the flesh showcasing their high-flying acts Filipino fans will be witnessing live for the first time.

“The objective is to bring them here after the outdoor season’s over,” Obiena told Philippine Olympic Committee President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino in one of their conversations since the world championships bronze medalist came back home for a vacation with girlfriend, German long jumper Caroline Joyeaux, a weekTolentinoago. readily agreed and the first order of battle was to choose a venue.

“The Picnic Grove here could be an ideal venue,” said Tolentino, referring to the favorite destination of local and foreign tourists in Tagaytay City, where he’s now back as its mayor.

The setup, according to Obiena, will be similar to those in Europe—a street venue where the runway,

the box, crossbars and landing area are all portable or collapsible.“Withthe Taal Volcano as backdrop, what more could you ask for—a world-class pole vault action in one of the most picturesque tourist attractions in the country,” Tolentino said. “Every jump will be postcard-perfect.”

The European outdoor season ends in early September and with the Asian Games in Huangzhou set on the same month next year, Obiena and Tolentino are looking at late September or early or mid-October as a potential date.

“The event will be a spectator-friendly event, and it’s planned that it be sanctioned [by World Athletics],” Obiena said.

Tourism, Tolentino said, will be a victor in the event.

“It’s great for tourism and the Philippines will be in the international pole vaulting map,” Tolentino said. “It’s very doable despite next year’s busy schedule. It’s going to be a big event so we have to plan this carefully.”

The Philippine Sports Commission, now chaired by Noli Eala, would play a crucial role in the event, according to Tolentino, who also agreed with Obiena to bring in some three-dozen world class pole vaulters, both men and women.

“We are hoping to work with of POC and PSC, it’s a mixed collaboration,” said the 26-year-old Obiena, the 2019 and 2022 Southeast Asian Games gold medalist.

“I also love to see Hackett de los Santos experience and compete with the best athletes,” added Obiena, referring to the silver medalist at the Vietnam SEA Games last May.

Obiena said the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association under its new president Terry Capistrano would also play a major role.

“This is going to be historic that’s why I am pushing for it,” said Obiena, who also intends to encourage the PSC, local government units and big business to put up more pole vaulting venues around the country. “Pole vault is a standard competition so it’s doable.”

Sportswriting pillar Antonio of People’s Journal dies

He was 69.

His remains lie at Loyola Commonwealth 2nd floor Diligence room.

A proud son of Cabiao, Nueva Ecija, Joe was passionate with sports growing up most especially with baseball and the Tour of Luzon cycling.

He took up BA Marketing at the University of the East while juggling his time as a working student at Puyat undergarments.

But Joe would be lured by sportswriting late r on when he chanced upon an

announcement inviting students take exam and join the Weekly Dawn while passing by one day at the office of the school’s official organ.

He honed his craft as member staff of the organ and later on was promoted sports editor. Eventually, he became its managing editor.

A vacancy at the Times Journal launched Joe’s sportswriting career in 1976 under the late sports editor Gus Villanueva, and spent the next 10 years with

The A plan according to Schrock

half before the Thais turned the game around in the final half.

“The red card for Thailand kind of destroyed the game plan. It was very unlucky. I felt that we were the better team and have the more structured game plan for the match,” Schrock explained.

In the last game, Kami Amirul found the back of the net in the 83rd minute to give the country the win against Afghanistan.

the newspaper covering various sports, from basketball, baseball, cycling, marathon, boxing, athletics, among others.

Joe briefly worked with Tempo and Manila Times in the early post-EDSA era, before coming back home to the Journal family after being invited to serve initially as assistant sports editor of the widely-read People’s Journal. In 1987, he officially became sports editor of the PJ sports section, which he turned

tions and scenarios in my mind, what could have happened? What could have change the outcome of the game? Obviously the game preparation, the analysis and setting up the right tactics and choosing the right players for your system. During the games, I also found it more stressful as a coach because I have little influence as compared to being on the pitch and taking care or changing the game on your own,” he said.

“Overall, I enjoyed it. It’s really it’s really nice to be on the sidelines with this group of players who are so young. I felt it was a really good group, good environment with good prospects for the future.”

into a can’t-miss reading habit behind its catchy headlines, superb layout, and easy-to-read stories.

Simple, down-to-earth, and a friend to everyone, Joe loves horseracing and an avid fan of the late action king Fernando Poe Jr.

He was sports editor for 35 years until the time of his death.

Joe is survived by wife Lita Antonio, son Steve Ovett, daughter in-law Princess Anne, and grandchildren Anthony James and Andre IntermentStephen.willbe at the Forest Park Memorial on Sunday.

easy to attend every course so I try to really make it happen so that I can, as fast as possible, get my license system in order to have football even better,” he shared.

He added that Schrockey the player will help Schrockey the coach succeed in his ultimate plan, that is to coach the Azkals Development Team (ADT) and eventually the senior team, the Azkals.

Jerish John Velardo reigned supreme in the Open U17 section by scoring five points in seven rounds the other winners were John Cyrus Borce and April Joy Claros (U15), Christian Gian Karlo Arca and Kaye Lalaine Regidor (U13), Oshrie Jhames Reyes and Nika Juris Nicolas (U11) and Bince Rafael Operiano and Mary Janelle Tan (U9).

Arcilla PuertoreboundseeksinPrincesaOpennetfest

DAVIS Cup veteran Johnny Arcilla hopes to recall his fierce form as he tries to recover from a stinging setback a couple of weeks back, headlining a mix of aces and rising stars chasing top honors in the Puerto Princesa City National Tennis Championships beginning today (Friday) at the Karawatan PPS tennis courts in Palawan.

The multi-titled Arcilla rammed into a solid Joshua Kinaadman in the semis of the recent Gov. Edwin Jubahib Cup in Davao del Norte and dropped a 4-6, 4-6 result, making the nine-time PCA Open champion eager and keen to get back into the winning trck in this week’s championship presented by Dunlop.

Spicing up the eight-day tournament, put up by Palawan Pawnshop president/ CEO Bobby Castro, is the age-group championships with eight titles up for grabs, including the 16- and 18-andunder plums in both the boys’ and girls’ sides. For details, contact Bobby Mangunay at 0915-4046464.

Eight matches kick off hostilities in the 32-player Open draw with second seed Jarell Edangga clashing with Francisco Santos, Geoffrey Bautista tangling with Marco Palanca, Christian Lopez facing off Khalil Cahayag, junior champion Mcleen Gomera colliding with Mark Asia, No. 8 Randy Delavin trading shots with Henry Tana, third ranked Jose Maria Pague mixing it up with Brian Banac, Kendrick Bona battling Lexious Cruz, and Vince Serna squaring off with Evan Bacalso.

THE country’s Under 19 team is back after competing in the AFC 2020 Asian Cup Qualifiers in Oman. The boys lost to Oman, 3-0 and Thailand, 3-2 before getting a morale-boosting win against Afghanistan, 1-0, to end their campaign in Group G with three points.

In a chat with former Philippine Azkals team captain Stephan Schrock, the football icon gave a short breakdown to The Designated Kit Man of what happened in the three games at the AlSaddah Sports Complex. Schrock, who was part of the national team not as a player but as a member of the coaching staff for the first time, said the game against Oman was lost in the first 15 minutes because of the team’s slow start. He said the long travel, the short time to prepare and the lack of practice before the game may have contributed to the loss.

The second game against Thailand was very unfortunate for the young Pinoy side. The team was in command, 2-1, after the first

“Afghanistan could have advanced in the next round with a win. So they had a lot to gain from the game against us. But we came out being competitive and played good football. And I think you saw the how the team played and how they tried so hard to live up to the expectations of everyone,” Schrock added.

Despite not progressing to the next round, Schrock said the experience of being on the sidelines was very good. “Obviously a long travel and a bit jet lagged, but overall it was very nice,” he said.

Aside from the experience, Schrock also learned a lot. When asked what is the difference between Schrockey the player and Schrockey the coach after the Oman experience, Schrock now has an even better appreciation of being on the other side of the pitch.

“The preparation and games were different. As a player, you’ll get instructions and just try to perform. As a coach, there were several situa-

Schrock said that despite so much expectations from the team, he didn’t let it affect his stint as part of the coaching staff. He said he is willing to accept whatever the challenges might be when it comes to football, on and off the pitch. He said it will always be a joy for him to be part of football in the country, to bring back more fans to watch the game and to help the sport gain more followers and support in the coming days.

Which Schrockey, the coach, is willing to prepare for now as his time on the pitch will not last for so long. He says he is now pursuing the next chapter of his football story: his A license.

“I’m trying to reach out to different parts of the Philippine Football Federation (PFF). It is not easy to do when you are active on the pitch and there are coaching courses ongoing. You have to attend every every minute, every hour of the course and at the same time playing or coaching the team. It is not so

“I’m lucky enough to grow up in in a real football environment. I had very great coaches over in Germany and also here in in the Philippines and I took a lot from them and especially after I would say in my late 20s. I really started writing down, memorizing the things that have learned, the training methods that I took and lead to the kind of football that I enjoyed to play and the fans enjoyed to watch. I just needed to be more structured obviously with the courses that would have a lot of impact when you are a coach because you are more on a leading position which I think, suits me very well. Naturally, I like to take the responsibility on what is happening inside and outside of the pitch. I don’t see a big issue for me taking on coaching after my football after my football career,” he explained.Schrock says the fans can expect to see him more on the sidelines if he is given the opportunity by the PFF. While he wants to be part of the U-17 team that is set to compete in the next few days, Schrock said he needs to be with the ADT to complete the games they missed due to the U-19 tournament in Oman.

“That’s up to the Federation. I’ll make my-

self available for everything that is coming in. I would love to help make the teams into a better, more competitive squads and the ADT program is made for for boys to be part of the national team. It is the perfect platform for young, but promising players to join the domestic league and the national training. And it makes sense to include me in the coaching staff since I have the majority of the youth national team players with me the entire year so I know and I can help them grow and play better. I hope to be with them more in international competitions,” Schrock added.

Good luck, Stephan. And good luck also to all players pursuing their goals for their loved ones, friends and families. Do not let others pin you down because of the sense of entitlement and delusions of grandeur that they think they have. Everyone has the right to decide on what is good for them and their families. If given the opportunity to help them have a better life, why prevent them so from doing so? This not only applies to basketball players, but to all athletes and even ordinary mortals like us. Why don’t you do something more constructive and practical so that people will not leave in search of better conditions and pay? Or have more empathy.

If not, that is plain pathetic.

Stay safe. Stay happy peeps!

For comments or questions, you can reach The Designated Kit Man at erel_cabatbat@ yahoo.com or follow his account at Twitter: @erelcabatbat

JOSE ‘Joe’Antonio, the long-standing sports editor of People’s Journal, passed away Wednesday night.

Asia’s top pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena with POC president Abraham Tolentino

Joe Antonio

LWUA OIC Dela Vega:

Agency collaboration

Text and photo by Peter Paul Duran

SAVE for a anddecadesome

change, Eileen Dela Vega witnessed the transformation of the Local Water Utilities Administration or LWUA throughout the years.

LWUA, founded in 1973, is committed to its mandate to provide safe water and sanitation services to all households in the countryside through self-reliant and sustainable Local Water DistrictsEconomic(LWDs). gains usually follow suit after one solves the basic needs for water, according to Dela Vega, the agency’s first-ever woman at the helm, saying that they strive to develop these water districts because we all know that the need for water is neverending.

Dela Vega now acts as the OfficerIn-Charge for LWUA which is now

Turn to Page C3

LWUA’s legacy forges on @49

By Monica Pontigon

started with the so-called Formative Years. It took place when Carlos C. Leaño started as a General Manager in 1973 and ended in 1986. It is safe to say that the institution was founded during these years but the concept of being a newbie does not apply to this organization as the new ideas for improving water quality were developed during this time.

Porthos P. Alma Jose served as the first Administrator for two years and two months. He prioritized social commitment and responsibility. Rafael T. Apostol succeeded him and served more rural and smaller communities during his five-month tenure as Officer-in-Charge. The third leader during this period was Ricardo T. Quebral who was Administrator for more than two years, substantially increasing the number of WDs in his time.

Armando C. Lizaso worked as Acting Administrator from April 1989 to July 1991 before becoming an Administrator in September 1991-March 1992. He led the granting of financial assistance amounting to P2.269 billion.

Antonio R. De Vera (1992-1998) emphasized various ways to strengthen the finances of the institution. The agency prioritized water system rehabilitation and reconstruction, especially in Luzon areas.

“Lingap Para sa Mahihirap” was

DISTRICTWATERVIGANMETRO

initiated during Prudencio M. Reyes Jr.’s administration intended for the people under the poverty line. On the other hand, the “Buhay KYUT” program in 2001, which stands for Kalusugang Yaman Ugnay sa Tubig was initiated under the direction of Jose F. Mabanta, Jr. The project, adopted today, is intended for children and women to teach them about health, hygiene, and waterAdministratorsconservation.Lorenzo H. Jamora and Orlando C. Hondrade led the so-called “Viability for Sustained Service” period from 2001 to 2010. During the time of Jamora, the agency achieved various notable achievements while Hondrade contributed to the Water Act of 2004.

From 2010 to 2017, Daniel I. Landingin, Salvador C. Ner, and Eduardo C. Santos focused their efforts on corporate governance with accountability in water service.Empowering Filipinos through safe water supply was the goal of Jeci A. Lapus as Acting Administrator during his term from August 2017 to July 2021. He prioritized universal access to water, sanitation, and sewerage management.

Guiling “Gene” A. Mamondiong served as administrator from August 2021 to March 2022 with the purpose of providing safe, clean, and affordable water for every Filipino. His goal for LWUA was to form at least 1,600 water districts in the next nine years.

PALAYAN CITY DISTRICTWATER

JUST like any other organization the Local Water Utilities Administration, commonly known as LWUA, also has vast and deep history especially when it comes to its leaders.Thecampaign

celebrating its 49th founding anniversary.

Dela Vega, on the other hand, has been with the agency for the past 35 years.She started out as an analyst for the finance group before going up the ranks and eventually being promoted to her present position by former LWUA Administrator Guiling “Gene” A. Mamondiong.

She is the first woman to lead the 286 dedicated employees of the agency. And when it comes to handling the affairs of the institution, the amiable executive is no stranger to whipping up quick fixes to solve challenges from the simplest to the most complex.

But her qualifications to blaze the trail does not halt at having the instincts and meticulous evaluations of an empowered woman.

Backed by decades of experience and the valuable erudition from her predecessors, Dela Vega said that the lessons she learned from the past administrators of LWUA serve as the touchstone to which she now adheres in

her role as OIC in the past six“Onemonths.thing I learned from the past admins is to work for the people and consider the social dimension of things. That’s why we try to keep interest rates low. Another is that you must learn to listen to the people below you or around you,” Dela Vega said.

“In my tenure here, I have learned from the advice of my superiors to voice out my concerns for the betterment of the whole organization. I learned to take every opportunity to be heard.

Vice-versa, a good administrator should be a good listener. As the head of the agency, we do not want the monopoly of all ideas coming from us so we listen to the concerns of the water districts in

order for us to improve our service,” she added.

Dela Vega further explained that despite limitations in her authority as OIC and even with the technical limitations of her role, she is thankful that the board of trustees, composed of the heads of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Finance (DOF), and the Department of Health (DOH), is supportive of LWUA.Moreover, Dela Vega said that although the challenges of the pandemic still linger, LWUA and its partner water districts have found their footing in no time and have thrived since the shaky start to 2020.

“Just like other government offices, we did not know how to tackle the pandemic at

the start. So we needed to quickly adapt. We implemented hybrid work schedules, but apart from the lockdowns and low collection adjustments we made to our workflow, the impending situation meant that collection by our water districts had to halt, especially during the first few months of the pandemic,” Dela Vega“Surprisingly,added. the water districts bounced back in remittance to LWUA after going through difficulty in collecting payments, especially from customers in the far-flung areas” she explained.

Moreover, the refiling of the Department of Water bill paved the way in jumpstarting the discussion for a more holistic discourse to create the department as this is

also one of the priority agendas of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.,” said Dela Vega

“We see that there are still small water districts that need LWUA’s help to become bigger and more successful for them to become more attractive to potential private investors and really thrive more in the process. This is the role I hope LWUA maintains when the proposed Department of Water will come to fruition,” sheLWUAadded. has formed almost 800 water

districts scattered all around the Philippines with 532 of these operational. Dela Vega said that the partnership and collaboration of the local government units, members of the private sector, and the water districts, enabled LWUA to serve the rural Philippines for close to half a “Thecentury.keyhere is really collaboration, and this falls in line with the theme of our 49th Vegasapagsulong;Tulung-tulonganniversary:saPantay-pantaypag-agapay,”Delasaid.

LWUA OIC Eileen Dela Vega shares a light moment with Manila Standard during an interview at their office in QC recently.

Hon. Emil K. Sadain Senior Undersecretary, DPWH

Hon. Catherine L. Fong Undersecretary, DOF

Hon. Beverly Lorraine C. Ho OIC Undersecretary, DOH OF

GCash, Klook cement partnership to offer travelers  seamless experience

THE country’s leading e-wallet mobile app and leading travel and experiences platform joined forces to simplify the discovery of travel experiences and booking process for Filipino travelers.

This new partnership between GCash and Klook allows Filipinos to access over 490,000 experiences across 1,000 destinations and easily purchase these all within just a few taps through the GLife icon on their GCash app.

As tourism recovery gains momentum, Klook has observed a continuous upward trend in bookings both locally and internationally. For domestic travel, Klook Philippines has

already outperformed its pre-pandemic bookings as seen in the leap in bookings for local destinations like Boracay, Tagaytay, Subic, and Clark. For crossborder travel, a 5,962 percent growth in the first half of 2022 vs. 2021 has been recorded, the majority of which are bookings to Singapore, Thailand, and South Korea.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with GCash to connect Filipino travelers to even more ways to satiate their wanderlust. The past two years have been grueling for the tourism industry as a whole, but with many destinations easing their restrictions,

we are optimistic that the growth we are seeing now will continue in the next coming months,” Michelle Ho General Manager of Klook Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam shares.

“This demand for travel among Filipinos drives Klook to continue pushing boundaries in terms of expanding the variety of experiences we can offer for both domestic and international travel,” Ho adds.

Starting October 3, travelers may now book the best of what Klook has to offer such as hotels, experiences, activities, and transportation through GLife, a mini-program integrated

within the GCash app, that allows customers live the good life every day by making adulting easier and more enjoyable - with constant vouchers and deals exclusively available from their growing merchants to GLife

customers.“We’re very excited about this partnership with Klook. We always look forward to expanding our partnerships with brands that provide amazing experiences and services to our customers,” said Macky Limgenco, GCash AVP for Enterprise Sales.“Currently we see Filipinos eager

to travel since restrictions have eased up and this is just another way for us to be able to make this even easier for them - in just a few taps you can now book your travel experiences and conveniently pay for it all in one app, even giving you the option to pay lighter when our GLife customers avail of the GCredit or GGives functions,” Limgenco further said.

Travelers can avail P500 off, minimum spend of P1,000 for all Klook products from October 3 to November 2 by using the promo code KLOOKNOW500, exclusive to purchases done through GLife.

IF YOU are a K-Drama fan, chances are, you have seen Noreen Joyce Guerra at one point. The Filipina expatriate has starred in 93 drama series, six movies, 15 commercials, and five TV hosting stints in South Korea.

Based in Korea for seven years, Joyce functions full-time as a manager in a Korean financial institution. She majored in marketing and earned her BS Business Administration degree from the University of the Philippines-Visayas and her MBA from Sookmyung Women’s University in Seoul, South Korea.

At 30, Joyce squeezes acting into her office life. Despite getting projects one after the other, she still considers acting a hobby. After all, it seems as if serendipity led Joyce to her K-drama entry.

“I started working as a part-timer for events as a translator, production staff member, and assistant stage director. From there, I met a lot of people from the industry who encouraged me to try working for on-cam gigs,” Joyce shared.

Her first TV appearance was in the 2018 K-Drama series The Smile Has Left Your Eyes, starring Seo In-guk. Joyce recalled how her handler asked her to proceed to the location at a specific time and bring appropriate clothes for a scene. “It started so fast, like I signed a contract today and was sent to filming the

next day!” she exclaimed.

While she has zero background in acting, Joyce’s fluency in Korean worked to her advantage. To describe her grasp of the foreign language, she said, “I have a certification for proficiency in Korean and got the native or highest level. I studied at the Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines for 72 hours before heading to Korea.”

Aside from speaking Korean, Joyce has something that makes her fit for K-Drama. When asked to reveal what it is based on feedback, the actress said with a bit of hesitation, “My appearance? I can camouflage. Haha. I can blend as a Korean, 99 percent of my roles in K-Drama, and pass off as a foreigner or a South East Asian character.” In her earlier interviews, Joyce mentioned that directors and producers often pointed out that she has a small face, a known beauty standard in Korea.

“I never really thought that I would do this kind of work knowing my very introverted personality,” Joyce said, revealing that becoming an actress did not cross her mind in the past. These days, the initially reluctant actress is constantly looking for acting gigs. “I have an official agency, but I normally do my things independently. I find gigs for myself, go to auditions myself, and go to filming myself. For auditions, I normally get contacted by my networks if there is a role that fits my profile,” she said.

With a long list of K-Drama appearances under her belt, Joyce found it hard to single out an experience when asked about her most memorable stint. She answered, “Every drama I’ve been a part of made a mark.” The best part of the job, she laughingly added, is living different lives.

True enough, Joyce has taken on numerous roles since her career took off. To name a few, she was a student in True Beauty, a restaurant-goer in Hospital Playlist 2, an orchestra staff member in

Penthouse 3, a student in All of Us are Dead, a tribe member in Arthdal Chronicles, a reporter in Big Mouse, and a broadcast station employee in Our Beloved Summer

For a self-confessed K-Drama fan, that is a huge deal. Joyce’s top favorites are Dream High and Beauty Inside

“Getting starstruck is real every time I go to the location,” Joyce gamely exposed herself as she talked about her filming experience abroad. “I still can’t believe that I am doing this and can see them on and off cam. Sometimes, I even get to joke around with them! So far, I’ve worked with all of my celebrity crushes - Moon Ga Young, Seo Hyun Jin, Kim Seon Ho, Lee Jung Suk, and a lot more. Haha.”

Asked to name a celebrity crush she still hopes to work with, Joyce gushed, “So far, I’ve already worked with all of them. Haha. But I would love to be part of Director Bong Joon ho’s masterpiece one day, even if I will be walking around in the background!” Bong Joon-ho is a South Korean filmmaker who rose to international fame with Parasite, the first Asian winner of a screenplay Oscar.

Joyce let us into what goes on behind the cameras during filming. She said, “Off cam, we [actors] often sleep, play games, or watch videos on our phones. We basically have nothing to do. In terms of bonding with Korean stars, it depends on the environment or production culture.”

In detail, Joyce shared that as coactors, she and her companions are not allowed to ask lead stars for pictures and autographs or upload pictures and videos related to the production before the premiere. She added that they are at risk of getting fined in case of a violation.

While she admitted that most of her acting stints are minor roles, Joyce is still grateful for the appreciation she has been getting from the public. The attention, though, initially needed some getting used to. “It felt strange at first because people are searching for more information about me, but I am thankful, of course,” she opened up. “A few people ask for pictures in malls, airports, or even on the street.”

The life Joyce lives is one I would love to try, even just for a day. However, I found out that it is not as easy as it seems. “My friend would describe me as kayod-kalabaw (hardworking) because I don’t have a resting day or a day off,” Joyce said.

“Working a full-time corporate job and filming on weekends would not let you have a day off.” She has her family and friends to draw strength from. “I am grateful to everyone who made me feel that my efforts are not useless, that all the hard work pays off. I am grateful to my family, who supports my craziness and lets me do things for myself and not for others.”

It comes as no surprise that Joyce is maximizing the chances she gets and having the time of her life. She describes this phase with the popular term YOLO (You Only Live Once). She said, “[Life’s] Full of ups and downs, but we’re only young once! So, we have to go, go, go! Haha.”

Given her success abroad, is Joyce also open to giving acting in the Philippines a go? She happily answered, “I would like to try if given a chance. Why not? At least, if that happens, I’ll be able to speak Filipino lines.” Home, as it seems, is still where the *finger heart* is. Aja, aja, Joyce! Fighting!

For your random thoughts, e-mail the author at randomrepublika@ gmail.com

SENATOR Imee Marcos called for a press conference in San Juan on September 21 to commemorate the 50th year of the declaration of martial law. The event was attended by former senators Kit Tatad, Gregorio Honosan and Juan Ponce Enrile, who now acts as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s chief legal adviser, and other former military and policemen who were key players in the declaration of martial law.

Dubbed “Singkwenta’t Singkwentong Martial Law,” the program was hosted by director Daryl Yap who announced that he’s working on a sequel to Maid in Malacanang. He added that the event also serves as part of the research process he’s doing for the film with working title Martyr or Murderer to unspool in cinemas in February next the

Michelle Ho, General Manager of Klook Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam

CS Song, Klook VP for Global Corporate Development Macky Limgenco, GCash AVP for Enterprise Sales

From left: Michelle Ho, CS Soong, Ren Ren Reyes GCash CCO, Luigi Reyes, GCash VP and head of commercial sales and operations, and Macky Limgenco

Senator Imee Marcos (center, seated) called for a press conference in San Juan on September 21 to commemorate the 50th year of the declaration of martial law, which was attended by former senators and other former military and policemen who were key players in the event pamilya ay hindi Pilipino Senator Marcos ended proposing to grant total amnesty for both leftists rightists who opposed her father’s decision to martial law.Presidential Legal Joyce

Photo courtesy Joyce