Manila Standard - 2022 October 10 - Monday

ASG inmates die in escape try

De Lima held hostage, 1 cop hurt during incident at Camp Crame

By Macon Ramos-Araneta, Francisco Tuyay and Rio N. Araja

JAILED former senator Leila de Lima was briefly taken hostage Sunday morning during an attempted breakout by three inmates who were shot dead by police, authorities said.

The inmates were reportedly members of the militant group Abu Sayyaf, which has been accused of kidnapping and be heading several foreigners.

The incident happened at the Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City, where De Lima has been held for more than five years with

other high-profile detainees.

One police officer, PCpl. Roger Agustin, was stabbed with an improvised knife

Cop ‘hero’ up for promotion for bold move

INTERIOR Secretary Benhur Abalos has lauded the policeman who neutral ized the hostage-taker of former senator Leila de Lima at the custodial center of the Philippine National Police at Camp Crame on Sunday.

The same officer— Col. Mark Pespes, the director of the PNP Head quarters Support Service (HSS) who directed the elite Special Action Force unit that rescued De Lima—was already slated for promotion even before the in cident, PNP Chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin said yesterday.

Azurin says an appropriate reward will be given to Pespes, who neutralized Feliciano Sulayao Jr.—the person who took De Lima hostage—as well as other police personnel involved in an anti-illegal

TOUGH DAY. Former senator Leila de Lima (left) talks to Senator Risa Hontiveros (right), then later with Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos (inset right) as the bodies of three inmates—one who took De Lima hostage before all of them were killed—are taken away on funeral parlor vans from Camp Crame in Quezon City on Sunday. AFP with Danny Pata

Police seize biggest haul yet of shabu worth P6.7b

By Francisco Tuyay

NEARLY a ton of suspected shabu worth P6.7 billion was seized by police drug enforcement agents at early dawn Saturday that authorities described as the biggest drug haul in history.

The seizure of 990 kilos of shabu also resulted in the arrest of an active policeman that authorities said would be subjected to extensive questioning to find out who were his cohorts in the drug trade.

“This is probably the drug haul in the history of the Philippines,” said Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. in a press conference Sunday.

PNP Chief Rodolfo Azurin said the arrested policeman was Master Sgt. Rodolfo Mayo.

Azurin said Mayo faces administrative and other charges.

Transport groups press for excise tax suspension

VARIOUS transport groups on Sunday pressed for the suspension of excise tax on petroleum products in anticipation of a huge hike in fuel prices this week, with diesel seen to go up by as much as P6 per liter.

This was as Trade Union Congress of the Philippines vice president Luis Corral warned a "perfect storm" was brewing

Fil-Ams killed in new violence in LA, Hawaii

VIOLENCE against Filipinos in the United States continued over the weekend as a 68-year-old Pinoy store clerk was beaten to death over a case of beer in Los Angeles, according to police.

Meanwhile, a Philippine consulate staffer in Honolulu was allegedly killed by her estranged husband in her apartment at Ala Moana, Hawaii police said in an ABS-CBN report.

amid increasing food and power prices, as well as rising unemployment and underemployment rates.

"For us in TUCP, there appears to be a perfect storm that’s brewing…People are unable to pay for rent, utilities, food, and ordinary healthcare needs,” he said.

“The attitude of the Marcos administration should not be business as

usual. They should work doubly hard, triply hard, to find solutions and undertake consultations to address these concerns immediately,” Corral said.

Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (FEJODAP) president Ricardo Rebaño, for his part, said a three- to four-month

The drugs were seized after the PNP Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) under Brig. Narciso Domingo raided a building on Jose Abad Santos Street in Tondo, Manila, at 4 a.m., arresting a certain Ney Saligumba Atadero, 50, and finding 890 kilos and 102 grams worth of shabu worth P6.7 billion.

Domingo said police found Mayo's ID card after they searched the house of Atadero.

A follow-up operation in Quiapo led to the apprehension of Mayo of the PDEG, said Domingo. He was caught with two kilos of suspected shabu worth P13.6 million.

Azurin has ordered a full-blown investigation into Mayo and other persons that may be linked to him and illegal drugs.

“What is important is the arrest, what is important is the conviction and the internal cleansing of the PNP,” Abalos said.

LEDAC meets to tackle priority legislative bills

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will convene the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) today to discuss the status of his administration’s legislative agenda, which he presented in his maiden State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA) last July 25.

The priority measures the LEDAC is expected to tackle include the National Government Rightsizing Program (NGRP); the Budget Modernization Bill; the Government Financial Institutions Unified Initiatives to Distressed Enterprises for Economic Recovery (GUIDE); and the Unified System of Separation, Retirement and Pension.

Chaired by the President, the 20-member council counts Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio, seven members of the Cabinet designated by Mr. Marcos, three senators designated by the Senate President, three members of the House of Representatives designated by the Speaker, and representatives from local government units (LGUs), the youth sector, and the private sector.

OVP food trucks to address malnutrition among students

THE Office of the Vice President

Special

OVP Local Affairs

will follow a 120-day feeding program menu.

The program will be implemented in collaboration with the Department of Education and the Department of Health, through the National Nutrition Council.

SPEAKER Martin Romualdez on Sunday announced a P5-million reward from the House of Representatives for anyone who can provide information that will lead to the arrest of those responsible for the killing of veteran broadcaster Percival Mabasa, known in the media industry as Percy Lapid.

Romualdez said the bounty will come from the personal contributions of House members who were disturbed by the killing that happened in Metro Manila.

“We in the House view with concern the killing of Percy Mabasa. The perpetrators and the masterminds

offers P5-m prize for info on journo’s killers

BIG HAUL. Members of the PNP-Drug Enforcement Group seize two kilos of suspected shabu hidden in Chinese tea packaging from a fellow police officer during an operation along the southbound lane of the Quezon Bridge in Quiapo, Manila on Sunday. Norman Cruz

LAST RITES. In this Twitter photo by ABS-CBN reporter Anjo Bagaoisan, broadcaster Percy Lapid’s immediate family is given

moment

Col. Mark Pespes

PBBM to sign SIM Card bill into law

By Macon Ramos Araneta and Vince Lopez

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is expected to sign into law the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) Card Registration Act on Monday, the first piece of legislation under his administration.

Former President Rodrigo Duterte vetoed the SIM Card Registration Act in April this year due to a provision calling for mandatory social media registration. That provision has been removed.

The measure aims to boost government initiatives against scams committed through text and online messages.

Under this measure, all public telecommunications entities (PTEs) or direct sellers will require the SIM card user to present a valid identification

document with a photo.

Information gathered will be treated as confidential unless the subscriber authorizes access to his information.

The measure also directs telecommu nication companies to disclose the full name and address contained in the SIM card registration upon a duly issued sub poena or order of a court.

Law enforcement agencies that investigate purported crimes committed through phones may also submit a written

firm this by today.

“he’s certain he would also be killed and he might just as well also kill me, I consider what happened to me as a near-death experi ence” if not for the timely intervention of the PNP security force, she said.

“Please also pray for the injured police officer (Agustin) who, like me, was the other but more unfortunate victim of this incident. While I have survived with only a knife mark and some considerable distress, he is still fighting for his life. Let us all pray for his quick recovery,” De Lima added.

PNP Chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin told radio station dzBB that the senator did not appear to have been the target.

"They saw her as an ideal cover. Their intention really was to escape," he said.

De Lima was unhurt, Boni Tacardon, her lawyer, confirmed. "She was brought to the hospital for the standard medical check-up. But based on the information given to us by our staff who's with the senator now, she appears OK."

Since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. took power in June, there have been re newed calls from diplomats and rights de fenders for De Lima to be released.

Mr. Marcos tweeted that he would speak to De Lima "to check on her condi tion and to ask if she wishes to be trans ferred to another detention center."

According to Press Secretary officerin-charge Cheloy Garafil, the President has directed Camp Crame to “enforce all measures necessary” to prevent acts of violence at the Custodial Center and other PNP detention centers.

Sen. Imee Marcos, the President’s sister, urged De Lima to have herself checked by her own physician, as well as to take the ex tended home furlough offered by the PNP and the Department of Justice since July.

“As former members of the Kabataang Barangay together, we are all deeply wor ried about her health and safety,” Marcos added.

Tacardon said De Lima was not aware of the offer for an extended home furlough but added her camp will con

Cop..

From A1 drug operation over the weekend that netted nearly P7 billion worth of "shabu" (see related story on A1—Editors).

"In process na po actually yung mga promotions nila, endorsed by our Sec. (Abalos) kay Presidente (Ferdinand Mar cos Jr.) po (Their promotions are actually in process, as endorsed by Abalos to the President)," the police chief told reporters.

LEDAC...

From A1

In a statement, Malacanang said economic bills that are expected to be discussed include the E-Governance Act; National Land Use Act; Tax Package 3: Valuation Reform Bill; Passive Income and Financial Intermediary Taxation Act (PIFITA) and the Internet Transaction Act or E-Commerce Law.

In the area of national security, the LEDAC will tackle the National Defense Act; Mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) and National Service Training Program (NSTP); the establishment of a Medical Reserve Corps, the National Disease Prevention Management Authority, the Virology Institute of the Philippines, and the Department of Water Resources.

Also included in the LEDAC agenda are the enactment of an enabling law for the natural gas industry; amendments to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act or EPIRA (Republic Act No. 9136),

From

behind this dastardly act must be brought to justice at all costs,” he said.

“Violence has no place in a civilized society like ours,” Romualdez added.

This brought the total reward put out for the capture of people connected to the shooting to P6.5 million.

In a press briefing hours after the event, Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos stressed that the three suspects had no plan to hos tage De Lima, and her involvement was merely incidental.

“The three suspects’ mission was really to escape,” said Abalos, who was directed by the President to talk with De Lima and ask her if she wanted to be transferred to a bigger detention facility.

But Abalos said De Lima “feels very safe at her present place, so she prefers to stay there.”

He instructed PNP Chief Azurin to review the existing protocols at the Cus todial Center, particularly in the giving of meals, to prevent a similar incident.

“We have to improve protocols. This is an old building, so that it will not happen again,” Abalos said.

De Lima, an outspoken critic of former president Rodrigo Duterte and his deadly drug war, is due to reappear in court on Monday.

She has been behind bars since 2017 on drug trafficking charges that she and human rights groups have called a mockery of jus tice and payback for going after Duterte.

The latest incident underscored the need for her to be "freed immediately", said Carlos Conde of Human Rights Watch.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pi mentel III expressed alarm over the hos tage incident and insisted on a full-scale security review.

Pimentel said they are worried about the safety of De Lima, who has been in detention for what her camp says are trumped-up drug charges by the Duterte administration.

The opposition senator said the PNP should come up with a detailed report on what happened and why this happened, considering that De Lima is held in a sepa rate area away from other inmates.

"We are glad with the initial report that she is okay. The wheels of justice in this country must move quicker," Pimentel said.

Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hon tiveros, who visited De Lima at the PNP

Detainees Sulayao, Arnel Cabintoy, and Idang Susukan—reportedly mem bers of the militant group Abu Sayyaf, which has been accused of kidnapping and beheading several foreigners—were killed following their attempt to escape from Camp Crame.

Abalos said Pespes was the one who shot Sulayao, who was able to run to the maximum security compound’s building, where he held de Lima hostage.

The Interior Secretary said that when Sulayao asked for a bottle of water during

and amendments to the Build-OperateTransfer (BOT) Law.

The priority legislative measures of the Senate and House will also be presented by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.

Included in the legislature’s agenda are possible amendments to the COVID-19 Vaccination Program Act (RA No. 11525).

The LEDAC, created through RA 7640 on Dec. 9, 1992, serves as a consultative and advisory body to the President as the head of the national economic and planning agency for further consultations and advice on certain programs and policies essential to the realization of the goals of the national economy.

Monday’s meeting will be the first LEDAC meeting under the administration of President Marcos Jr.

R.A. 7640 provides that the council shall meet at least once everyquarter, but it may be convened by the President for special meetings as may be necessary. Vince Lopez

Romualdez lamented the continued violence against media workers.

“The role of journalists is very critical in ensuring transparency in government.

Protecting them is very important in guaranteeing freedom of speech and freedom of expression. We in government, consider them as partners in nation-building,” said the Speaker, whose family owns the Standard.

Mabasa was buried at the Manila

request to telecommunications providers to disclose the details of the SIM card holder.

The measure is the consolidation of the bills approved by the House of Representatives and the Senate.

The House version of the bill, House Bill No. 14, was sponsored by Speaker Martin Romualdez with presidential son Rep. Ferdinand Alexander Marcos and Tingog party-list Reps. Yedda Marie Romualdez and Jude Acidre as coauthors.

The Senate version of the bill, Senate Bill No. 1310, was sponsored by Senators Juan Miguel Zubiri, Grace Poe, Sherwin Gatchalian, Joel Villanueva, Ronald Dela Rosa, Joseph Victor Ejercito, Jinggoy Ejercito, Cynthia Villar, Nancy Binay, Christopher Lawrence Go, Francis Tolentino, Imee Marcos, Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr., and Pia Cayetano.

in Camp Crame, called the hostage taking “barbaric, and despicable.”

"We demand an explanation and a thor ough investigation of this violent incident from the PNP and the Department of Jus tice. We need answers,” she said.

She said those involved in this incident should be immediately identified and held liable.

"How can armed detainees easily gain access to the custodial cell of Senator Lei la, which is deep inside the PNP national headquarters?

What lapses in security must be ad dressed, and most of all, who is respon sible for these lapses?" Hontiveros said.

She called on the PNP to increase the security arrangements around De Lima and ensure that "no similar incident will ever occur against her or other detainees."

The violence against former De Lima, she said, is only the latest act of injustice against her, noting that this would not hap pen to the ex-senator if she were not de tained without basis.

Before her arrest on Feb. 24, 2017, De Lima had spent a decade investigating "death squad" killings allegedly orches trated by Duterte during his time as Davao City mayor and in the early days of his presidency.

She conducted the probes while serv ing as the nation's human rights commis sioner, then from 2010 to 2015 as Justice secretary in the Aquino administration that preceded Duterte's rule.

De Lima won a Senate seat in 2016, becoming one of the few opposition voices as the populist Duterte enjoyed a landslide win.

But Duterte then accused her of run ning a drug trafficking ring with criminals inside the nation's biggest prison while she was Justice secretary.

De Lima lost her bid for re-election to the Senate in May and Duterte stepped down in June.

The lawyer and mother of two has been held in a compound for high-profile detainees, rather than one of the country's notoriously overcrowded jails.

Former senator Franklin Drilon said the incident was alarming and called for a

negotiations, Pespes took it as an oppor tunity to neutralize him by shooting the hostage taker on the head.

"He (Pespes) is the hero because he initiated the negotiation and took advan tage of a situation to neutralize the hos tage taker," Abalos told reporters.

“Col. Pespes showed decisiveness. He assessed the situation, bought time and then when the opportunity was presented, he shot the hostage taker and saved Sen. De Lima,” he added.

Abalos later visited De Lima at the Custo

Transport...

From A1

suspension of fuel excise tax is necessary to ease the burden of soaring oil prices on drivers and transport operators.

He said it is a better choice than asking for another round of fare hike, which will pass the burden on commuters.

“We are asking for even just a few months of suspension of fuel excise tax until prices of petroleum stabilize so we can have a win-win solution,” he said.

Industry sources said the price per liter of diesel may increase by P6 up to P6.30 on Tuesday, while gasoline prices may go up by P1.10 to P1.40 per liter.

Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON) national president Mody Floranda said aside from suspending the excise tax, the Oil Deregulation Law and TRAIN Law must be amended as well.

“The government needs to revise the provisions under the Oil Deregulation Law and the TRAIN Law – the expanded VAT and the excise tax on

Memorial Park on Sunday afternoon five days after he was gunned down in Las Piñas City.

He is the second journalist killed under the Marcos administration, and the 196th media worker killed since 1986, according to the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP).

The NUJP said many of these cases have either remained unresolved or

The signing to be held at the Ceremonial Hall in Malacañang will be attended by lawmakers from both the House and Senate.

Globe Telecom Inc. and Smart Communications Inc., the country’s two biggest telecommunications providers, previously expressed support for SIM card registration and vowed to assist the government in deterring crimes committed electronically.

In a statement, Globe Group general counsel Froilan Castelo said the SIM registration law will take telcos “a step ahead of fraudsters and help achieve our shared goal of eradicating scam and spam messaging.”

Smart vice president and head of regulatory affairs Roy Ibay said his company was prepared to share its “knowledge of global best practices.” (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

full-scale security review.

"We call on the PNP to investigate it and find out whether the hostage taking of former Senator De Lima was planned," she said.

Former senator Francis Pangilinan, also an ally of De Lima, called for a full account ing of the incident to ascertain if there was negligence on the part of the police.

He also renewed his call to the gov ernment to immediately resolve the cases against De Lima.

"De Lima should not be jailed. She should be set free because her being put behind bars was unjust,” he said.

On the other hand, Senator Ronald dela Rosa, PNP chief under the Duterte administration, said the fact that the three prisoners failed to escape showed the PNP jail was secure.

Former senator Panfilo Lacson, also a former PNP chief, praised the swift response of the police to foil the escape and hostage taking, and said an impartial investigation must be conducted immediately.

Former Vice President Leni Robredo said she was praying for De Lima’s safety and release from detention.

The Commission on Human Rights on Sunday expressed grave concern over the incident.

“While initial information reaching CHR shares that Senator De Lima is now safe, it puts into serious question the safety of Senator De Lima, as well as other de tainees in the detention facility,” the com mission said in a statement.

The CHR recognized the swift action by the police personnel in addressing the hostage situation and said it hopes for the recovery of PCpl Roger Agustin, and an other wounded detainee, Jonathan Carpio.

Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, meanwhile, said instead of giving De Lima the option to be transferred to another jail, President Marcos should set her free from “a fiveyear odious and solitary confinement on fabricated drug charges.”

“While well-meaning visitors were barred from greeting her on her birthday, the culpable laxity of her jailers has al lowed an armed intruder to penetrate her cell and seize her hostage,” he added.

dial Center to discuss what happened and for the secretary to check on the ex-lawmaker's condition, on orders of the President.

Pespes also narrated how he neutral ized Saluyao during the negotiation that lasted for about 10 to 15 minutes.

"But we saw that the situation of the senator was becoming more dangerous, so we had to end it. That’s how Sulayao was neutralized," he said in a press con ference hours after the event. Francisco Tuyay and Jimbo Gulle (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

petroleum products – because we do not import petroleum products on a weekly or monthly basis,” Floranda said.

The Department of Finance earlier cautioned the Marcos administration against suspending the collection of excise tax on petroleum products, saying it was "not the most efficient approach to alleviating the conditions of affected sectors.”

Tuesday's anticipated oil price hike will end five consecutive weeks of rollbacks.

OPEC+ announced a production cut of 2 million barrels per day starting next month to push up oil prices after its Oct. 5 meeting.

World oil prices dropped slightly above $80 per barrel from a high of $120 per barrel in the previous months due to global recession fears.

On Oct. 4, the oil companies cut the prices of gasoline by P0.40 per liter, diesel by P0.45 per liter and kerosene by P0.85 a liter.

These resulted in the total year-todate net increase of P14.45 per liter for gasoline, P28.95 per liter for diesel, and P23.25 per liter for kerosene.

have only been traced to the killers but not the masterminds.

His brother, journalist Roy Mabasa, said he believes the killing was connected to Percy’s work.

“Let’s not be sad because your presence here is one way of showing the immense legacy Percy left behind… I hope it would plant a seed for the fight for our liberty,” Roy said. Maricel V. Cruz

Anti-COVID-19 moves work vs. flu too—WHO

By Willie Casas

OFFICIALS of the World Health Organization said precautionary measures against COVID-19 such as wearing of face masks and maintaining hand hygiene must also be observed against influenza.

WHO Director for Global Infectious Hazard Preparedness Dr. Sylvie Champaloux Briand said these measures may prevent the transmission of respiratory viruses, especially as the flu season in the Northern Hemisphere begins.

“COVID and flu are both respiratory viruses and so some very simple precautionary measures such as washing hands, wearing a mask in crowded spaces, or wearing a mask if you have respiratory symptoms so that you don’t contaminate others, they work for both diseases,” Briand said.

WHO COVID-19 technical lead Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove recommended taking vaccines that protect from both COVID-19 and the flu.

“As the world is opening up and people are mixing again, we’re starting to see circulation of other viruses,” she said.

“So, it is really important that we put measures in place, and we use the measures that are in place to reduce the spread and to protect people who are most vulnerable for developing severe disease, and one of those measures is vaccination,” she added.

On Sunday, the Department of Health logged 2,097 new COVID-19 cases – the fourth straight day of more than 2,000 new infections reported. Among the top regions with the highest cases in the recent two weeks were the National Capital Region with 12,159 followed by Calabarzon with 5,359, Central Luzon with 2,709, Davao Region with 1,421, and Western Visayas with 869. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

2 Fil-Ams...

From A1

Steven Reyes was working at a liquor store in the Highland Park Area of LA on Thursday when two teenagers attempted to steal a case of beer.

When Reyes tried to stop them, he was beaten with a scooter and later died, local media said.

Born in the Philippines, Reyes worked at the liquor store a few days a week to support his mother, LA media reported. Reyes himself had four children and a grandchild.

Los Angeles police are actively investigating the crime, while the Reyes family has set up a GoFundMe page.

In Hawaii, the Filipina, identified by longtime friends as Teresita Canilao, was killed.

Honolulu Police said 81-year-old Rogelio Canilao called 911 just before midnight on Thursday and said a woman had been murdered.

When authorities arrived at the scene, they reportedly found Teresita with fatal injuries.

Rogelio, who later confessed to the crime, was taken into custody.

In a statement, the Philippine Consulate in Honolulu described the victim as a "longtime hire" and said it is working with local authorities investigating the case.

"The Philippine Consulate in Honolulu deeply laments reports of the death of one of its employees, a long-time local hire. The Consulate awaits official confirmation and shall continue working with local authorities investigating the case. Out of deference to the family, the Consulate refrains from making any further comment," the statement read.

OVP...

From A1

Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio is also the concurrent Education Secretary. Baloro said the three trucks “were lent to the OVP under a usufruct agreement until 2028.”

“We target nine schools in a year, three schools each in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, considering that 120 days is prescribed by the National Nutrition Council,” he said.

The food trucks will also be used as mobile kitchens during calamities, he added.

Earlier, the private sector and business groups have called on the administration to solve children’s undernutrition, which they said had led to students’ underwhelming performance in schools.

“Child malnutrition caused by poverty leads to poor learning. Poor learning leads to poverty, and poverty leads to malnutrition. It's a vicious cycle that affects at least 26 million Filipinos. We need to stop it now,” said Philippine Business for Education (PBEd) president Chito Salazar.

A World Bank report last year showed there have been little improvements in the prevalence of undernutrition in the Philippines in the past three decades, with one in three children younger than five years old suffering from stunting.

IN BRIEF

Forum to tackle infra, transpo, energy plans

THREE Cabinet secretaries will dis cuss the infrastructure plans of Pres ident Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s admin istration in a forum organized by the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines (EJAP) and the MVP Group of Companies.

“The Road Ahead: Priorities for the Next 6 Years” forum will be held today at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.

EJAP is the country’s premier group of business journalists.

Information and Communications Technology Secretary Ivan John Uy, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bau tista, and Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla will grace the event that will discuss the government’s plans in the digital infrastructure, transpor tation sector, and energy sectors.

Ma. Cynthia Hernandez, Public-Pri vate Partnership Center executive direc tor, will also give her insights on the high impact and sustainable infrastructure projects where the government and the private sector can partner in the future.

Daza: New PhilSys leadership needed

WITH all the delays and issues in imple mentation of the national ID system, it is high time to appoint new leadership at the Philippine Statistics Authority, spe cifically for fixing the Philippine Iden tification System (PhilSys), Northern Samar Rep. Paul Daza said Sunday.

The PhilSys ID project is managed through the PSA through now-re tired Assistant Secretary Rosalinda Bautista, deputy national statistician of the PhilSys Registry Office.

According to Daza, this is “a gold en opportunity” for President Fer dinand Marcos Jr. “to find the right individual who will rectify what has happened in the last four years.”

A check on the Commission on Audit report for 2021 showed the total actual deliveries of pre-personalized cards by the contractor, AllCard, was 27,356,750 pieces, or 76 percent of the annual re quirement of 36 million as of the end of December 2021. Rio N. Araja

‘Gov’t needs digital wake-up call’

THE Philippines’ dismal ranking in the recent IMD Digital Competitiveness Report should serve as a wake-up call to the Marcos Jr. administration to address digital transformation challenges with urgency to be competitive in the global digital economy.

Orlando Oxales, convenor of advo cacy group CitizenWatch Philippines, which champions the rights and inter ests of consumers, said this in a state ment Sunday.

“You can look at the results in two ways. You can say the Philippines inched up two notches in the overall

ranking, from 56th to 58th place. But the fact remains that with 63 countries included in the report, ranking 56th is so much closer to the bottom than it is to the top,” Oxales said.

Malaysia (31st), Thailand (40th), and In donesia (51st). For the whole of Asia, we outperformed only Mongolia,” he added.

“This is a serious matter – and to think we are a country that is touted as one of the most active social media us ers in the world.”

Oxales said that our leaders and poli cy makers should address the resistance encountered by technology innovators in the form of bureaucratic gauntlets and unresponsive policies that need to be updated to enable a competitive digi tal economic system.

“These obstacles are causing expen

ATAYDE JOINS NP.

QUEZON City District 1 Rep. Arjo Atayde recently took his oath as a member of Nacionalista Party, sworn in by House Senior Deputy Majority Leader, NP member, and Ilocos Norte District 1 Rep. Sandro Marcos. Atayde ran as an independent candidate in last May’s elections with the support of Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte. Present during Atayde’s oathtaking were his parents -– businessman Art Atayde and criticallyacclaimed actress Sylvia Sanchez — as well as fellow NP members

Senator Mark Villar and Deputy Speaker Camille Villar-Genuino.

BI nabs Korean telco fraud kingpin in Parañaque

THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Sunday announced the arrest of a South Korean fugitive wanted by authorities in Seoul for involvement in a multimillion telecommunications fraud case.

In a report to Immigration Commis sioner Norman Tansingco, the BI’s fugi

tive search unit (FSU) identified the fugi tive as 33-year-old Lee Won Ho, who was arrested last Sept. 21 at his residence in BF Tahanan Village, Parañaque City.

The FSU operatives who arrested Lee were armed with a warrant of deporta tion issued pursuant to a summary de

portation order that the bureau’s board of commissioners issued against the Korean in four years ago.

Tansingco said Lee will be deported im mediately and that the latter was already placed in the immigration blacklist to pre vent him from re-entering the country.

sive delays, a massive opportunity cost, in efforts to expand and upgrade our digital infrastructure,” he said.

Meanwhile, in a recent digital in frastructure forum, Stratbase group founder and CEO, Prof. Victor Andres Manhit emphasized that heavy invest ments to build a robust nationwide digi tal infrastructure is critical to economic recovery and sustainability.

This is only possible with the gov ernment, private sector, and all of society performing complementing roles according to their resources and strengths, he added.

CA nixes appeal of PCG men in Taiwanese death

By Rey E. Requejo

THE Court of Appeals has denied the appeal of eight personnel of the Phil ippine Coast Guard to set aside its December 14, 2021 decision over the death of a Taiwanese fisherman whose fishing vessel was at the Balintang Channel in Batanes in 2013.

The CA affirmed the decision of the Regional Trial Court of Manila City sentencing the PCG men to 14 years in prison after they had been found guilty of homicide of Taiwan’s Hong Shi Cheng.

In a three-page resolution, the CA’s Former Tenth Division through Associ ate Justice Ramon A. Cruz held that the Coast Guard officers failed to raise new arguments that would warrant the rever sal of its December 2021 decision.

The accused pleaded, in their motion for reconsideration, that the prosecution failed to establish they were the ones who shot the victim and that their action was in fulfillment of a duty and lawful exercise of a right or office.

“More importantly, we are the worst performers in Southeast Asia, lagging far behind our neighbors Singapore (4th),

IN BRIEF

PH to host law forum on regional cooperation

THE Philippines will host the 21st Asso ciation of Southeast Asian Nations’ Sen ior Law Officials Meeting (ASLOM), a forum to promote legal cooperation within the region, on October 13 and 14

The Department of Justice (DOJ), which will host the forum, stressed that the event will be held at the Hilton Ma nila in Pasay City. It said the 21st AS LOM will be the first in-person meeting since COVID-19 hit the world in 2020.

“This will be the second time since 1996 that the Philippines will host the annual meeting after ASLOM was es tablished in 1985,” the DOJ said in a statement.

Rey E. Requejo

House bill seeks more benefits for farmers, fishers

AGRI party-list Rep. Wilbert Lee has filed a bill for pension and social se curity benefits to farmers and fishers.

The measure shall guarantee the farmers and fishers’ steady source of income to meet their basic needs once they reach old age and retire through a pension and social security benefit.

Under House Bill l No. 2420 or the Agriculture Pension Act, the program would be established to set up a pension scheme to lessen agricultural workers’ burden after their retirement to consist of the comprehensive set of objectives, targets, and holistic approach in the pro vision of sickness, maternity, disability, retirement, death and funeral benefits to farmers and fisherfolk. Rio N. Araja

Lawmaker backs DOT approach on tourism

CAMARINES Sur Rep. LRay Vil lafuerte on Sunday said Tourism Secretary Ma. Esperanza Christina Garcia-Frasco has assured lawmakers the Department of Tourism is working with the different agencies on crafting a “whole-of-government” approach to addressing nagging concerns such as inadequate infrastructure that has for long hobbled the Philippines from competing with our Southeast Asian neighbors for overseas visitors, even if we have far better beaches and other tourist attractions than them.

Garcia-Frasco agreed with Villafuerte during a recent committee hearing prior to her confirmation by the Commission on Appointments as DOT secretary that the Department should not focus alone on just promoting the country’s mustsee places but also on dealing with the other issues that have for long fettered the Philippines from overtaking our neighboring countries in terms of for eign tourists arrivals. Rio N. Araja

Malapitan cites LGU highlights in first 100 days

By Jun David CALOOCAN City Mayor Dale Gon zalo Malapitan delivered on Saturday his state of the city address highlight ing his administration’s key achieve ments in his first 100 days in office.

The local chief executive emphasized the city’s efforts in providing job op portunities as part of the government’s recovery program through its local re cruitment activities, mega job fairs, and free training programs, resulting in over 5,000 employed residents and 480 train ing graduates in three months.

In line with this, Malapitan also de clared that the construction is under way for the eight quick response stations dedicated to disaster and emergency preparedness. He also announced that the city shall continue the fight against crime and illegal drugs and that the Caloocan City Police Station has appre hended over 1,400 suspects in response to his marching order to clear the city’s ‘most wanted’ list.

‘NO’ TO DRUGS.

Retired Col.

Rodrigo Bonifacio, chairperson of the People’s Volunteer Against Illegal Drugs (PVAID), explains the ill effects of all forms of illegal drugs and how to stamp out its proliferation.

The project is in partnership with the Department of Interior and Local Goverment under its theme “Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan.”

DBM releases P29.5b during PBBM admin’s first 100 days

THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has released around P29.5 billion worth of assistance to various beneficiaries in President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s first 100 days in office.

The DBM said the different forms of assistance included support to farmers affected by the Rice Tariffication Law; vulnerable households impacted by in flation; those crisis situations; and ty phoon and earthquake victims.

Assistance was also released for funding free rides for commuters along the Edsa Carousel Route as well as eli gible public and private healthcare and non-healthcare workers involved in the COVID-19 healthcare response.

The list of assistance provided to various beneficiaries includes: P8 billion - for the

Department of Agriculture’s distribution of P5,000 in subsidy to 1,563,781 eligible rice farmers affected by the Rice Tariffica tion Law in the third and fourth quarters of 2022; P4.1 billion - for the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) distribution of the second tranche of the P500 monthly cash aid for low-in come families or the Targeted Cash Trans fer (TCT) Program intended to cushion the impact of rising fuel and commodity pric es; P2 billion - for the DSWD’s distribu tion of cash aid to those in difficult circum stances, including those in crisis situations

or the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS); P1.5 billion - for the DSWD’s distribution of P10,000 emer gency shelter assistance to 153,410 totally damaged houses in Regions 6, 8, 10 and 13 that were affected by Typhoon Odette; P1.4 billion - for the Department of Trans portation’s funding to support the extend ed “Libreng Sakay” program that funds free rides for commuters along the Edsa Carousel Route until December 2022; P1 billion - for the Department of Health’s (DOH) funding to cover the unpaid COVID-19 special risk allowance claims of 55,211 health worker; ad P11.5 billionfor the DOH’s funding to cover the One Covid-19 Allowance or Health Emer gency Claims of over 1.6 million eligible public and private healthcare and nonhealthcare workers.

CYCLE FOR SMILES.

Participants of Operation Smile Philippines’ Cycle for Smiles start their 40-kilometer ride in Bikes and Coffee Manila to bring new smiles and brighter futures for children born with cleft conditions. The event was led by Operation Smile Philippines Smile Ambassadors Sam Gogna, Gino Quillamor, Pat Giron, and Development Manager Carolynne Arriola. Revoli Cortez

Laguna solon slams unfair power costs

By Rio N. Araja

STA. Rosa, Laguna Rep. Dan Fer nando on Sunday called for an end to unfair electricity costs as the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) vows to recompute the weighted average cost of capital (WACC).

He said an end is imminent to the unfair and wrong computation of pow er transmission cost that has inflated electricity costs in the country.

This, after ERC officials assured the House of Representatives that they would start “the process of resetting” of the transmission wheeling rates that will include the computation of the WACC and the valuation of the regu latory asset base (RAB).

“We are happy that finally after seven years, justice will be served to the ag grieved consumers. Through our persis tent calls for the adoption of the lawful computation of the transmission rate, ERC pledged to start the process of recomputation, which should be based on 6.84 percent and not the current 15.04 percent WACC,” Fernandez said.

During a recent hearing in Con gress, ERC officials led by ERC chair and CEO Monalisa Dimalanta assured lawmakers that her agency would im plement the amended rules for setting transmission wheeling rates (RTWR).

She said the last reset completed by the ERC was for the fourth regulatory period covering 2010-2015.

“For seven years we were made to suffer from the wrong transmission rate that is reflected on our electricity monthly bills,” Fernandez lamented.

He said the ERC has been commit ting a grave injustice to Filipino con sumers for granting a high WACC of 15.04 percent in their computation of the cost of electricity instead of an av erage of just over 6 to lower 9 percent.

Gatchalian sees rise in energy investments following DOJ opinion

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

SENATOR Win Gatchalian said he expects the number of renewable en ergy (RE) investments to rise sub stantially following a Department of Justice (DOJ) opinion that natural re sources including solar, wind, hydro,

and ocean or tidal energies are not covered by the constitutional limita tion on foreign ownership.

He said the flow of investments is hinged on amending the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Repub lic Act No. 9513 or the Renewable En ergy Act of 2008.

“The removal of the 40% foreign ownership cap is a game changer,” he said, adding that “this puts the country on the right path of creating an investment climate that would enhance the establishment of more renewable energy facilities amid global efforts to address climate

change and ongoing conflict be tween Russia and Ukraine.”

He emphasized that wider adop tion of RE in the country could pro gressively bring down power rates for the benefit of consumers and cre ate more jobs within the communi ties concerned.

QC hall workers get P10k bonus

By Rio N. Araja

QUEZON City Mayor Joy B Belmonte has ap proved the release of the P10,000 bonus each for city hall employees, including non-regular ones, as gratitude for their contribution to the “sound financial management” recognition received by the city government for the sec ond straight year.

She earlier approved Ordinance No. SP3138 of 2022, granting the incentive to em ployees, including those holding contracts of service, job orders and consultancy contracts.

“This big help is important to our employ ees to help them meet their needs,” she said.

She issued a memorandum circular pre scribing the guidelines for the implementa

tion of Ordinance No. SP-3138, which was in troduced by Councilors Dorothy Delarmente, Shaira Liban, Wencerom Benedict Lagum bay, and Eric Medina.

Under the circular, Belmonte instructed the City Budget Officer to release the necessary funds for the incentive.

All department heads have also been or dered to submit the names of the employees who are entitled to receive the P10,000 bonus.

The city councilors approved the measure after the city government earned “unqualified opinion” from the Commission on Audit for the years 2020 and 2021.

An unqualified opinion is the highest audit opinion that the Commission on Audit gives to a government agency.

CASH AID FOR TEACHERS. San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora and San City Rep. Bel Zamora lead the distribution of P3,000.00 in financial assistance for public school teachers in celebration of World Teachers’ Day. Manny Palmero

Where do we go from here?

FRANKLIN Delano Roosevelt was elected president when the USA and all of the world was suffering from the Great Depression. And he mesmerized the nation by speedily getting Congress to pass laws to address the woeful state of the economy, while giving the ordinary man instant relief from unemployment.

Thus did the tradition of using the first 100 days become a metric of how a new president should take “the bull by the horns” and thus provide a vision of an active and effective administration.

Mainstream media honored the tradition by generally being less critical, giving the new administration a gentler space within which to show its wares.

After the long reign of Ferdinand Marcos Sr., the 100-day honeymoon with Cory Aquino was likewise observed by media, such that even when she closed down the Batasan Pambansa and instituted a “revolutionary government” less than a month after the EDSA Revolt, media and the public kept their peace.

The clock has turned full circle, of course, and the son of the leader removed on February 25, 1986 is now the overwhelmingly elected president of the land, after a little more than 36 years and four months.

Although ours is some four generations from 1932 when FDR got himself elected, our economic situation may not be too different.

Although our growth numbers are showing some marginal recovery after the pandemic years, and America’s coming recession cannot yet be characterized as a “great depression,” the problems ordinary Filipinos experience and the struggle to find the wherewithal for the next meal are far too grave compared to any other point in our history since the Second World War.

But the events immediately before the 100-day day milestone of the present administration have kept people wondering where the nation is going, and how it will cope with the crisis besetting us all.

To borrow the title of many songs by different singers across generations, including the popular Alicia Keys, the thinking Filipino now asks, along with the pained lyrics from Andrew Lloyd Weber’s musical “Evita:”

“Where do we go from here?”

The President’s first SONA gave us hope that he had the answers. The speech was replete with legislative measures for Congress to pass, and an enumeration of promises on how to get us out of the woods.

But no major legislation has yet been passed, although to Speaker Martin Romualdez’ credit, his House went through the record-high budget in record time as well.

Since the budget is nothing more nor less than the economic program of government written in pesos and centavos, the net effect of its promises will begin fruition only next year.

In his 100-day day address, our president pointed out to his getting the “best and the brightest” to help him form a “functional government.”

That does not provide us any answers. The question of where we are going, and how we will get out of the rut, which to be fair, is not Pres. Marcos’ doing, remains in many, many minds.

What stands out among all the recent events is a palace in the midst of confusion, its major actors troubled by crises big and small of their own making, and their replacement by new players most of whom have yet to be sourced from among 110 million Filipinos who should be more than willing to help the nation get through the storm and into calm waters.

Not only the head-chopping left us aghast. The manner the public decapitations was handled left so many reputations needlessly shattered, while confidence in how and where we are going kept the thinking sector of the population worried.

The primus inter pares of the Cabinet has quit, and thankfully, his replacement is an experienced jurist and a bar topnotcher.

The press secretary, a lawyer and social media advocate, will soon be replaced by a former broadcast journalist whose family is deeply entrenched in the politics of one of our largest provinces.

As this article is being written two days before it sees print, and the President has announced that he will appoint someone this week, I hope Gilbert Remulla’s name has not yet been splashed in the headlines before this Monday morning. Or I could be dead wrong, for which I apologize this early.

Someone was approached and preferred to retain his present post, even if being press secretary is a promotion and right within his alley.

A highly creative person declined out of delicadeza as he is a relative of the First Lady even if there is no legal prohibition.

Another was considered to a post he briefly held in a past presidency, and in fact expressed willingness, but the appointing power is weighing the implications of his corporate connection.

Meanwhile, Atty. Cheloy Garafil left what many would call a “juicy” position as head of LTFRB to assist in the transition, as undersecretary and meanwhile man the ramparts as OIC while awaiting the president’s definitive communications czar.

Her devotion to the principal, answering the call to duty in a moment of temporary crisis, speaks highly of her character.

We wish our friend Gilbert the best. It is a high profile job, but it is also a thankless 24/7 responsibility.

Still and all, 100 days in this age is an outdated metric of a president’s promise, and certainly not an accurate crystal ball on his over-all performance.

What do we remember of PRRD’s first 100 days other than Operation Tokhang and his departure from Uncle Sam’s perpetual embrace, while singing hossanas to China ?

Or of PNoy other than the cessation of “wangwang” in our culture of entitlement, and the infamously mishandled bloody hijacking of a tour bus filled with Hong Kong visitors?

GMA’s first 100 days was tumultuous. She had her predecessor imprisoned, causing an outpouring of sympathy that almost toppled her reign 100 days after her succession.

That is what many will remember when asked about her first media milestone, yet looking back, it also showed the steel in her nerves and the Machiavellian savvy that was to characterize her administration as it went from one political crisis to another.

FVR, who won by the slimmest of electoral margins, started first by humbly getting his adversaries, except one who spurned him, to unite behind his efforts at reforming an economy still bogged down in monopoly capitalism, and got a Congress that did not support him in his electoral quest to rally behind his mission.

The first 100 days of President Marcos Jr. also comes at a time when malls are putting up the Christmas tinsel that have been sorely missed in the more than two years of the pandemic.

After two years of muted holiday celebrations, the forthcoming is met with nostalgia of years past when tables were laden with goodies.

Our trade officials fret about the cost of noche buena items which are almost wholly imported, but the legions of our poor people worry not about apples and quezo de bola, but about tomorrow’s or tonight’s meal.

The president is right when on his 98th day as president, he repeated his concern about the woeful state of agriculture and our food security situation, and resolved to go beyond achieving food security into “making the Philippines a leading agricultural resource hub in the region and the world.”

It is an aspiration similar to the 20-peso kilo of rice, for, given our geography, our culture, and the almost criminal neglect of the agricultural sector for the last 40 years, the president should just concentrate at trying his best to solve our food security nightmare.

Sugar, despite the news of importation, is still high, and will likely remain high. Even rice is inching upwards, and, God forbid, we may have people lining up for their daily intake after the holidays.

That does not provide us any answers. The question of where we are going, and how we will get out of the rut, which to be fair, is not Pres. Marcos’ doing, remains in many, many minds

Just ensuring we have enough food to feed our teeming population is already such a herculean task.

Perhaps the aspiration of creating an agricultural resource hub is something best left for VP Inday Sara to build six years hence, if the president starts with the foundation during his term.

Meanwhile, a privately-commissioned rider in Pulse Asia’s latest Ulat ng Bayan measured the comparative trust rating of President Rodrigo Duterte three months after he left the presidency.

Graduating with the highest trust rating of any president since scientific polling began in this country, at 83 percent in June to an astounding 90 percent in September, one is amazed at the level of public approbation, nay, esteem for this simple man from Davao who never in his term got bedazzled by the trappings of power and privilege.

Tough “Deegong” or “Rody” and to us who served under him, always our loved PRRD, is now savoring retirement in the city he nurtured, occasionally visiting friends during their milestones.

Over dinner last Thursday night with a handful of those who likewise served him, the former ES, Bingbong Medialdea, got a call from PRRD.

“Tinuod ba kanang survey?” he asked. (Is that survey true?)

And when he was assured of its veracity, he simply and all too humbly muttered, “Salamat sa katawhan” (thanks to our people).

Opinion

EDITORIAL

Subterranean transport

UNDERGROUND is the way to go.

That’s where the Metro Manila Subway project will dig up soil and rock in various locations in the me tropolis, but the end-result will be seen only six years from now, in 2028.

That is, if Nature does not interrupt well-laid plans in the form of torrential rain that leads to massive flooding. Or even earthquakes that would bring work progress to a complete standstill.

Massive infrastructure projects like this take time to build, according to civil engineers, and we’ll have to be patient and endure massive traffic jams near construction for the next six years, or the end of the second Marcos adminis tration.

Why only now? We’ve long won dered why Metro Manila has managed to live without an efficient subway rail transport system when metropolises in the more developed countries have been able to do so many years past.

Think of New York or Paris, for in stance, where residents rely on an exten sive subway rail system to get around.

Even Kyiv, the capital of war-torn Ukraine, has a subway system that people now utilize for a different pur pose: to hide from missiles and aerial bombardment after Russia’s invasion in February this year.

The P488-billion Metro Manila Sub way was the centerpiece of the previous administration’s ambitious infrastruc ture push called Build, Build, Build, and it was supposed to be partially operating by the end of last year.

Will the Metro Manila Subway help alleviate the traffic congestion problem in the city? That’s what transportation officials are telling us now. But until we see the trains actually rolling underground, we’ll have to reserve judgment

However, the first tunnel boring machine was lowered into position only on June 12 this year, thus signaling the start of the actual digging for the subway.

According to the Department of Transportation, at least 25 tunnel bor

Infrastructure and competitiveness

THE state of a country’s infrastructure is a major factor in its competitiveness especially when it comes to attracting foreign investments.

The efficiency of transportation, communications, power, water, and digital infrastructure is a requisite that prospective investors must see as adequate before committing to locate confidently in a country.

As the world’s economies become more digitally connected, meeting the demand for more access and speed in internet connection becomes a critical challenge that the government must prioritize.

The findings of the latest World Competitiveness Ranking conducted by the IMD World Competitiveness Center from the survey responses of business and government executives showed the Philippines slightly improving to 56th from last year’s rank of 58th out of 63 countries.

A two-step improvement but a more objective way of looking at it is we are at the sixth to the lowest rank.

Compared to Southeast Asian countries we are still in 13th place for the third year in a row which is second to the last just ahead of Mongolia. This is actually a one step drop from 2019 when the Philippines ranked 12th.

The competitiveness landscape rankings were not as encouraging. The survey findings on the Philippine domestic economy, international trade, international investment, employment and prices gave an Economic Performance rank of 53rd.

Government Efficiency which considered public finance, tax policy, international framework, business legislation, and social framework garnered a rank of 48th.

Business Efficiency in terms of productivity efficiency, the labor market, finance, management practices, attitudes and values earned the rank of 39th.

Infrastructure which considered the country’s basic infrastructure, technology, scientific, health and environment, and education infrastructure was ranked at 57th.

In a recent online forum of thank tank

Stratbase ADR institute, CEO and founder Prof. Victor Andres Manhit emphasized that government investments in a nationwide digital infrastructure that would be at least at par with global standards must be prioritized as a strategic pillar for a sustained economic recovery.

Prof. Manhit stated that, “The presence of adequate infrastructures may help attract both foreign and domestic investments in the country as investors naturally prefer areas with paved roads, sturdy bridges, and stable internet connectivity, among others.”

Priority must be on infrastructure that will have optimal benefits to the mass population

“Infrastructure development generates a remarkable domino effect as it provides jobs for Filipinos, ensures income security, allows for increased production and distribution, and stimulates spending that keeps the economy running strong for the long term,” Manhit said.

Dr. Epictetus Patalinghug, Professor Emeritus at the Cesar E.A. Virata School of Business at the University of the Philippines and ADRi Trustee and Program Convenor, presented his paper which gave an in-depth assessment of the Build Build Build (BBB) program of the Duterte administration.

He pointed out that the Duterte government’s infrastructure spending from 2017 to 2021 was about P4.98 trillon or about 5.5 percent of the country’s GDP which is far short of the goal of 7.3 percent.

ing machines will dig the tunnels for the subway, with partial operability by 2025 and full operations by 2028.

The project has four indicators: pro curement, design, right-of-way (ROW) and construction.

On the procurement of contractors, from project management to contrac tors, civil works, rolling stocks, electro mechanicals including the development of stations, the DOTr estimates that this phase is already 60 percent completed.

The subway will have 17 stations that will connect Valenzuela City to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, with daily ridership capacity pegged at between 400,000 and 800,000.

While the original estimated cost was P350 billion, the project’s total cost was raised to P488.48 billion last year.

The line will be the fourth heavy rail line in the country, after LRT Lines 1 and 2, MRT Line 7, and the NorthSouth Commuter Railway, and the first to be mostly underground. It is designed to run trains at 80 kilometers per hour, and to withstand a magnitude 8.0 earth quake.

Will the Metro Manila Subway help alleviate the traffic congestion problem in the city? That’s what transportation officials are telling us now. But until we see the trains actually rolling underground, we’ll have to reserve judgment.

As of October 2021, 77 projects worth P3.5 trillion were ongoing with 30 projects yet to start construction. Only eight projects totaling P94 billion were completed.

Dr. Patalinghug said that factors that affected BBB performance aside from the typical project delays and cost overruns were weak strategic guidance, poor project appraisal, poor project selection and budgeting. He also points out the lacking absorptive capacity of government agencies which may remain to be a problem beyond the Marcos Jr. administration.

He said that the Marcos Jr. administration’s rebranded “Build Better More” infrastructure program should focus on the “shovel ready” projects inherited from the Build Build Build of Duterte and mentioned the Metro Manila subway and the North-South Commuter Railways as low hanging fruits.

To avoid a repeat of the Build Build Build shortcomings, Dr. Patalinghug recommends the Streamlining of the approval process of major infrastructure projects, strengthening project management and monitoring, Simplifying the implementing rules and regulations of the Procurement Reform Law, and improving the regulatory framework in the PPP program by focusing on solicited proposals.

Priority must be on infrastructure that will have optimal benefits to the mass population.

These instructive insights paint a daunting challenge to the Marcos Jr. government to initiate structural and policy reforms that will renovate the bureaucracy to become more development-oriented facilitators of high impact infrastructure projects.

The challenge is to achieve a seamless complementarity and dynamism in building “hard” infrastructure to truly serve the public.

‘A broken man’: Russian sisters see father scarred by Ukraine fight

By Romain Colas

IN THE, Anastasaia and Elizaveta Grigoryeva’s father is faintly smiling, smartly dressed from head to toe in military uniform and holding a puppy to the camera.

It’s an image of their father no longer recognizable to the 18-year-old twin sisters -- not since he left to fight in Ukraine some six months ago and returned a “broken man.”

“He was there for the most intense fighting, under shelling, everything,” Elizaveta tells AFP.

“He says himself, being shelled for six hours will change a man. And so many deaths. He needs medical help,” she adds.

The psychological scars her father has brought home from the battlefield has built pressure on a family already at odds over whether the conflict is justified.

And their story points to a broader issue, one uncomfortable for the Kremlin -- that fighting in Ukraine is taking a harsh toll at home and tearing apart some families. Elizaveta believes many more veterans will return traumatized.

The sisters, who are staunchly opposed to the military intervention in Ukraine, live in Pskov near Russia’s border with Estonia.

The medieval city of around 200,000 people is also home to the 76th Guards Air Assault Division -- their father’s paratrooper unit.

In January, Grigoryev told his daughters he was leaving just for a few days for military drills in Belarus.

He wouldn’t return for six months.

‘War is a crime’

His unit took part in the calamitous assault for

Kyiv that ended with Russia’s withdrawal from northern of Ukraine in March.

Investigative journalists have placed the unit around that time near the Ukrainian town of Bucha, where Kyiv and international investigators have accused Russian forces of executing civilians.

but eventually released.

Instead there were ordered to pay a fine equivalent to around 330 euros for “organizing” an illegal gathering.

While Anastasia and Elizaveta were entangled in legal problems at home, their father’s wellbeing was deteriorating.

New legislation introduced in Russia against maligning the military means he (Grigoryev) could face jail time if he speaks publicly about his experiences in Ukraine

Russia denies harming civilians but Anastasia and Elizaveta wonder if their father could have somehow been involved.

“He says he didn’t kill anyone,” says Elizaveta.

“But war is a crime in and of itself,” Anastasia answers.

“Yeah, so, supporting or taking part in the war is already a crime,” concludes Elizaveta. The sisters were shocked when Putin announced Russia’s military invention, and in early March took to the streets, carrying signs that read: “Peace in Ukraine, Freedom in Russia.”

Turnout was low at the protest in Pskov and the sisters were immediately detained.

They were threatened with jail time by police

In May, the 43-year-old soldier asked his family to start the administrative process needed to return him from the front.

He left the battlefield “for health reasons” in mid-June and is now going through the procedure to be discharged from the army after around 20 years of service.

“That much stress has changed how he sees the world. He lost comrades.

He saw corpses everywhere,” Elizaveta says.

New legislation introduced in Russia against maligning the military means he could face jail time if he speaks publicly about his experiences in Ukraine.

Need ‘democracy at home’

But in the privacy of his home and cottage

in the countryside, his daughters said he spoke openly about what he witnessed.

They say however that he sometimes becomes aggressive, and the three fight regularly. He is not seeking psychological help.

The girls left the family home last month after the situation there had become untenable.

A women’s rights organization helped them find a flat to live in, and they are partly living off money they gathered from a crowd-funding campaign for their fine.

Still, they do not want to break ties entirely with their family.

“We love our father. We’re not going to reject our own family,” Elizaveta says.

But she and Anastasia say they avoid speaking about the conflict with their father and 38-yearold mother.

Unlike their parents -- who like many Russians of their generation stay clear of politics -- the sisters are still politically active and became interested in politics from an early age.

They said they had been drawn in by the sleek video investigations and political statements of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, who is serving a sentence for fraud.

The sisters say they have no intention of halting their political activism despite their parents’ disapproval.

They are “absolutely not afraid” of being imprisoned and even admire “the strength” of Ukrainian people who they say are facing extreme violence.

“We’re liberal,” says Elizaveta. “We criticize the government. We need to build democracy at home.” AFP

Fresh missile strike kills 17 in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia

AN overnight Russian missile strike killed 17 people in Zaporizhzhia, local authorities said on Sunday, in the latest deadly attack to hit the southern Ukrainian city that President Volodymyr Zelensky called “absolute evil.”

“After night missile attack on Zaporizhzhia, at least 20 houses and about 50 multi-story buildings were damaged. 17 people died, as of now,” Anatoliy Kurtev, secretary of Zaporizhzhia city council, wrote on Telegram.

Four educational institutions were also damaged, he added.

Zelensky and regional official Oleksandr Starukh provided a lower death toll of 12, with the latter saying that more victims may be under the rubble as a search and rescue operation was launched.

At least 17 people including a child died when seven Russian missiles hit Zaporizhzhia before dawn on Thursday, Ukrainian authorities announced in an upwardly revised toll on Saturday.

“Zaporizhzhia again. Merciless strikes on peaceful people again. On residential buildings, just in the middle of the night,” Zelensky said on Telegram of Sunday’s attack, adding that 49 people including six children were in hospital.

“Absolute meanness. Absolute evil. Savages and terrorists. From the one who gave this order to everyone who fulfilled this order. They will bear responsibility. For sure. Before the law and before people.”

Zaporizhzhia lies close to the frontline where Kyiv’s forces have been carrying out a large-scale counter-attack against Russian troops.

The Ukrainian-controlled industrial city is located in the eponymous Zaporizhzhia region, also home to the Russian-occupied nuclear plant that has been the site of heavy shelling.

Moscow claims to have annexed the region even though its forces do not control all of it.

Ukraine said at least 30 people were killed last week when a convoy of civilian cars in the Zaporizhzhia region was shelled in an attack Kyiv blamed on Moscow. AFP

Nokor fires 2 more missiles, seventh launch in two weeks

NORTH

Korea fired two ballistic missiles into the sea early Sunday, Seoul’s military said, the seventh such launch in two weeks, just hours after a nuclear-powered US aircraft carrier wrapped up joint drills off the Korean peninsula.

Seoul, Tokyo and Washington have ramped up combined naval exercises in recent weeks, infuriating Pyongyang, which sees them as rehearsals for invasion and justifies its blitz of missile launches as necessary “countermeasures.”

With talks long stalled, Pyongyang has doubled down on its banned weapons programs, firing an intermediate range ballistic missile over Japan last week, with officials and analysts warning it has completed preparations for another nuclear test.

South Korea’s military said Sunday it had “detected two short-range ballistic missiles between 0148 and 0158 (16481658 GMT) fired from the Munchon area in Kangwon province towards the

Protesters glue hands to Picasso painting cover

TWO climate activists glued their hands to the perspex covering of Picasso’s anti-war painting “Massacre in Korea” in a Melbourne art gallery on Sunday, police, protesters and the gallery said.

The painting emerged unscathed.

The black-clad activists were shown with their hands pressed against the Picasso in a room of the National Gallery of Victoria in images shared on social media by the Extinction Rebellion movement.

A man wearing a T-shirt with the Extinction Rebellion symbol—an hourglass in a circle—stood alongside them.

On the ground at their feet lay a black banner reading “Climate Chaos = War + Famine.”

“It is believed three protesters entered the ground level of the gallery before a man and a woman glued themselves to a protective covering of a Picasso painting,” said a Victoria Police spokeswoman.

The protesters—a 49-year-old woman from New South Wales and a 59-year-old man from Melbourne —were “removed from the painting” more than an hour after their action is believed to have started, police said.

The pair, alongside a 49-year-old Melbourne man, “have been arrested and are assisting police with their enquiries,” they said.

The gallery said it had called the police and closed the exhibition to the public during the protest.

“The protesters’ hands were safely removed from the perspex with no harm to the work,” said a spokesperson for the National Gallery of Victoria.

The 1951 Picasso work “shows the horrors of war,” Extinction Rebellion

Victoria said on its Facebook page. AFP

East Sea,” referring to the body of water also known as the Sea of Japan.

The missiles “flew approximately 350 kilometers (217 miles) at an altitude of 90 kilometers,” Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement, calling the launches a “serious provocation.”

Tokyo also confirmed the launches, with the coast guard saying the missiles had landed outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone.

Japanese senior vice defense minister Toshiro Ino said Tokyo was analyzing the missiles, adding that “either one of them has the possibility of being a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM).”

Seoul said last month it had detected

signs the North was preparing to fire an SLBM, a weapon Pyongyang last tested in May.

The US military’s Indo-Pacific Command said in a statement that they were “consulting closely with our allies and partners,” adding that the launch highlighted the “destabilizing” nature of North Korea’s missile programs.

North Korea’s missile tests usually aim to develop new capabilities, but its recent launches, “from different locations at different times of day, may be intended to demonstrate military readiness,” said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul.

“The Kim regime is trying to coerce Seoul, Tokyo and Washington to abandon their trilateral security cooperation.”

At an emergency meeting of Seoul’s National Security Council following the missile test, however, South Korean officials vowed to strengthen that cooperation, according to a statement. AFP

IN BRIEF

‘Man-eater’ tiger shot dead in India

INDIAN police have shot dead a tiger dubbed the “Man-eater of Champaran” that killed at least nine people, in a major operation involving 200 people including trackers on elephants, officials said Sunday.

The big cat had terrorized locals on the fringes of the Valmiki Tiger Reserve in Champaran in eastern India, killing at least six people in the past month including a woman and her eight-year-old son on Saturday.

Even before the two latest kills, authorities had designated the tiger, reportedly a male three or four years old, as a “maneater,” meaning that it could be shot.

Earlier attempts to tranquillize the animal had failed.

“Two teams went into the forest on two elephants on Saturday afternoon and the third one waited where we thought the tiger would exit—and we fired five rounds to kill it there,” local police chief Kiran Kumar told AFP.

With local villagers beating tin containers, it took about six hours for the team —with eight shooters and about 200 forest department officials—to complete the operation, Kumar said.

Officials said that large sugarcane fields made it easier for the tiger to stay hidden and attack local villagers and their livestock.

The victims included a 12-year-old girl dragged from her bed on Wednesday night, reports said.

Locals in the impoverished villages around the reserve in Bihar state stopped moving out in the evening after the tiger’s first attack maimed a teenager in May. AFP

Sydney orders flood evacuation

AUSTRALIAN emergency services on Sunday issued flood evacuation orders for neighborhoods in Sydney and beyond as river levels climbed after days of heavy rain.

Thousands join abortion rights protests in US cities

THOUSANDS marched in cities across the United States on Saturday to protest the Supreme Court’s overturning of the federal right to abortion and to urge voters to turn out in a Democratic “blue wave” in next month’s key midterm elections.

In Washington, a crowd of mostly women chanted “We won’t go back” as they marched.

They carried posters calling for a “feminist tsunami” and urging people to “vote to save women’s rights.”

“I don’t want to have to go back to a different time,” Emily Bobal, an 18-year-old student, told AFP.

“It’s kind of ridiculous that we still have to do this in 2022,” she said, adding that she is concerned that the conservative-dominated high court might next target same-sex marriage.

“The majority of us are ready to get out and fight for democracy and fight

for people’s bodily autonomy, women and men,” said Kimberly Allen, 70.

With Democrats battling to maintain their narrow control of Congress, the midterm elections could have a decisive impact on the future of such rights, she said.

Several marchers wore armbands or scarves of green, a color symbolizing abortion rights.

Others wore blue—the color of the Democratic Party—and carried huge flags and banners calling for a symbolic “blue wave” of voters to go to the polls on November 8.

A few counter-protesters made their presence known, some of them urging the crowd to “find Jesus Christ,” while others shouted that “abortion is murder.” They were met with boos.

Similar rallies took place in cities including New York and Denver, Colorado.

AFP

Officials reported 28 flood rescues over 24 hours in the eastern state of New South Wales, many of them for people who had tried to drive through inundated roads.

“It is very dangerous out there on our roads and we are seeing a lot of flash flooding and obviously the rivers are still rising,” NSW State Emergency Service commissioner Carlene York told a news conference.

A dozen flood evacuation orders were in place for low-lying neighborhoods on the northwestern fringes of Sydney and other parts of New South Wales, the emergency service said.

It also issued warnings for about 20 other at-risk areas of the state to prepare to evacuate or be ready to isolate as rivers rise.

The rainfall has eased but flood waters are still feeding into swollen rivers both inland and in central parts of the New South Wales coast, the state’s bureau of meteorology said.

The city of Sydney has already registered its wettest year since records began in 1858.

A flooding catastrophe on Australia’s east coast in March—caused by heavy storms that devastated parts of Queensland and New South Wales—claimed more than 20 lives.

Tens of thousands of Sydney residents were ordered to evacuate in July when floods again swamped outlying suburbs. AFP

CYAN

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

PRAYER OFFERINGS. Buddhist devotees visit Shwedagon pagoda to mark the full moon of the Thadingyut festival in Yangon on October 9, 2022. AFP

SMALL COFFINS ARE THE HEAVIEST. Relatives gather in front of the co ns of victims of the nursery mass shooting at Wat Rat Samakee temple in northeastern Nong Bua Lam Phu province on October 9, 2022, during the funeral rites for those killed in the massacre. AFP

Move IT wants more motorcycle taxi players

MOVE IT, a local transport solutions pro vider, asked the government to open the motorcycle taxi industry to “free and open competition” for the benefit of the riding public.

“Limiting the MC taxi business to three benefits only us—Angkas, Joyride and Move IT—and not the public. And if cur rent efforts by an unseen hand to keep Move IT as a last player, then basically you have only two dominant companies,” said Move IT chairman Francis Juan.

“Competition is guaranteed by the Constitution and there is a solid reason for it—it protects consumers from mo nopolies and duopolies and cartels that can abuse the public with poor service and high prices knowing that the public has no other choice,” he said.

Juan cited the telecommunications in dustry and the commercial airline sector where services improved and fares went down with more competition.

“It will be the same in all businesses in cluding the MC taxi business. Competition makes businesses stronger and better. The tough will survive, but only through honest competition, not by using underhanded tac tics,” Juan said. Darwin G. Amojelar

RE developers back easing of restriction on foreign firms

A GROUP of developers said over the weekend lifting the 40-percent foreign ownership limit on renewable energy would pave the way for much-needed investments.

“We welcome the developments on the renewable energy sector. This will open up more opportunities for much-needed for eign investments and transfer of RE tech nologies to the Philippines. This hopefully addresses the need for more power supply utilizing only indigenous RE resources to ensure the country’s economic develop ment,” Developers of Renewable Energy for AdvanceMent Inc. president Jay Layug said.

DREAM is an organization of renew able energy associations launched in Janu ary 2019 whose core objective is to push for policy reforms to help attain the country’s RE targets.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian expects the number of RE investments to rise substan tially following a Department of Justice opinion that natural resources, including solar, wind, hydro and ocean or tidal energy are not covered by the constitutional limita tion on foreign ownership.

This is hinged on amending the imple menting rules and regulations of Republic Act No. 9513 or the Renewable Energy Act of 2008. Alena Mae S. Flores

PH, EU agree to include human rights issue in GSP+

THE Philippines and the European Union re affirmed their commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights in relation to the Philippine’s petition for renewal of the Generalized System of Preferences Plus.

The GSP+ monitoring mission of Feb ruary 2022 assessed the progress and pro vided an additional platform for continued engagement on human rights and labor rights issues. Both sides acknowledged that freedom of association and assembly and an enabling civic space are crucial components of any democracy.

Both sides committed to protecting hu man rights defenders from violence and harassment, ensure the freedom of civil so ciety as they also expressed concern at the reported cases of violations and abuses of human rights and international humanitar ian laws and highlighted the need to ensure that perpetrators are held to account.

The Philippines also underscored the importance of the UN Joint Program on Human Rights which supports the govern ment’s commitments in the areas of ac countability, including in the context of the anti-illegal drugs campaign, police data on human rights violations, civic space, drug control, counterterrorism and national re porting mechanism. Othel V. Campos

North Star secures deal to sell meat in 1,000 Alfamart stores

PORK and beef vendor North Star Meat Merchants Inc. is expanding its distribution channels by putting up meat counters in 1,000 Alfamart stores, a top executive said over the weekend.

North Star chairman and chief execu tive Anthony Ng said the group teamed up with Alfamart, one the leading con venience store chains in the country, to add the mini-meat shop concept in its branches.

SM and Alfamart Indonesia jointly own Alfarmart stores in the Philippines.

North Star, under the plan, will sell meat products in Alfamart stores, which will be manned by a trained butcher. North Star will also sell frozen, prepackaged meat products in Alfamart stores.

North Star initially set up meat coun ters in 12 Alfamart branches.

“We will set-up community-based meat shops inside the Alfamart stores,” Ng said.

He said the strategy was expected to bring the North Meat’s products to community level and reach more cus tomers.

Ng said he expected the move to sig nificantly increase its sales. North Star operates in all SM Markets such as SM Supermarket, Hypermarket and Save more; 7-Eleven, WalterMart and Alfa mart across the Philippines. It supplies frozen local and imported meat and other meat products.

North Star expects sales to reach P9.3 billion this year, resulting in a net income of P850 million, up 35 percent from P630 million in 2021, Ng said.

Ng expressed hope that North Star would get a higher valuation once it pushed through with its initial public of fering next year. Jenniffer B. Austria

BSP vows to tame excessive foreign exchange movements

By Julito G. Rada

THEBangko Sentral ng Pilipinas will not allow excessive changes in the peso-dollar exchange, Governor Felipe Medalla said over the weekend.

Medalla confirmed during the annual reception for the banking community the BSP was “very active” in the for eign exchange market.

Medalla’s statement came a few days after he asked individuals “who have the means” to avoid taking advantage of the trend in the foreign exchange market, saying this activity would not benefit the local currency.

“We will not allow excessive changes in the exchange rate...,” he said. “There are so many other things happening right now. It is very fluid, but we hope the dollar will weaken. I can’t tell you what we are doing,” he said.

Data showed the country’s gross in ternational reserves settled at $95.0 bil lion as of end-September, down from

$97.4 billion in August, which econo mists linked to the BSP’s intervention in the currency market.

The peso fell to a new all-time low of 59 per dollar on Oct. 3 as the greenback gained general strength amid the finan cial markets’ expectation of another huge rate increase by the US Federal Reserve next month. The peso closed at 58.92 on Friday, weaker than 58.653 on Thursday.

The BSP had said it was taking steps to manage any disruption in the finan cial market and reaffirmed its commit tment to enhancing the well-being of Filipinos through a financial system that addresses the funding needs of the public while managing risks.

It said market conditions around the

world were challenging, and working to gether would sustain the functioning fi nancial market while appropriately man aging the developing risks.

Medalla said the BSP was not ex pected to move in sync with any further policy action by the US Federal Reserve next month. He said there was no need to match Fed’s actions point by point.

“Our response would depend on the data... How big the response is depends on the data,” Medalla said.

He assured that there would be no more off-cycle move by the BSP for the rest of the year. The Monetary Board surprised the market on July 14, 2022 by raising the benchmark policy interest rate by 75 basis points to 3.25 percent, to rein in inflation and support the peso against the US dollar.

The board raised the benchmark policy interest rate by another 50 basis points on Sept. 22 to 4.25 percent, following an earlier 75-basis point hike by the US Fed eral Reserve to tame the persistently high inflation in the world’s biggest economy.

Analysts expect volatile trading this week on weak peso, high inflation

By Jenniffer B. Austria

MARKET trading is expected to re main volatile this week on continued concerns over rising inflation and in terest rates.

“With inflation and interest rates yet to peak, market remains vulnera ble to sell-off,” said eMBM Services managing director Jonathan Ravelas.

Inflation rate hit a four-year high of 6.9 percent in September on the back of higher food prices.

Analysts said with the recent dam age caused by typhoons on agricul ture production and increase in oil prices because of production cut, in flation rate would likely remain high.

“The bounce back to near 6,000 level was expected, as emotions tem per; the trek about this level is anoth er matter and will depend on broader market fundamentals being more ac commodative for 2023,” online bro kerage firm 2TradeAsia.com said.

The bellwether Philippine Stock Exchange index posted a strong re bound, ending the week 3.33 percent higher to close at 5,932 on Friday.

DITO slams PLDT for violating confidentiality agreement on services

By Darwin G. Amojelar

DITO Telecommunity Corp. slammed PLDT Inc. for “unwarranted” disclosure of their confidential agreement over al leged unpaid services amounting to more than P400 million.

“PLDT violated the parties’ confidenti ality agreement for the unwarranted dis closure because it was made without prior written notice to and/or written consent of DITO as required in the contract,” said DITO chief administrative officer Adel Tamano.

“Parties have initiated talks to amicably resolve this issue, but PLDT, in material breach of the dispute resolution mecha nism under the parties agreement, still proceeded in pursuing this unreasonable claim,” he said.

PLDT said DITO was misleading the public about the unpaid obligation. It said the issue on the “illegal overseas

call traffic” coming from DITO had nothing to do with the latter’s refusal to pay an overdue obligation to PLDT for transmission facilities.

“PLDT has finished the transmission fa cilities and DITO continues to use the fa cilities to provide services to its subscrib ers. But DITO has now refused to pay the final P430 million balance it owes PLDT for building the facilities” it said.

PLDT said instead of paying, DITO was trying to confuse the public and referring to and mischaracterizing the issues in volving DITO’s other unpaid obligations to Smart Communications Inc., a separate company with a different agreement with DITO.

“Accordingly, PLDT reserves all of its remedies in case DITO does not cure its latest major payment default within the applicable 30-day cure period, including the suspension or termination of services under the parties’ service agreement,”

PLDT said.

PLDT said Friday it served DITO a notice of material breach and demand for payment as a result of the latter’s alleged refusal to pay P429.726 million for con tracted services which PLDT fully per formed and delivered to DITO.

PLDT said the services involved the building and provisioning of transmission facilities that DITO required and used for the delivery of telecommunication servic es to subscribers.

“The information we believe is mis leading,” Tamano said.

“DITO was compelled to enter into an agreement with PLDT for the provisioning of the transmission facilities to allow DITO to interconnect with the subscribers of PLD’s affiliate/ subsidiary, Smart Communications Inc. for the purpose of supporting the parties’ obligations under their interconnection agreement,” Tamano said.

The broader all-share index also rose 2.9 percent to settle at 3,200.

All counters recovered, held by holding firms (up 3.67 percent), ser vices (3.58 percent) and property (3 percent).

Foreign investors were net sellers last week by P62.7 million, while the average daily turnover thinned to P4.3 billion from the previous week’s average P9.8 billion.

Top gainers last week were Inter national Container Terminal Services Inc., which advanced 13.4 percent to P177.60, Manila Electric Co. which went up 12.3 percent to P295.40 and Globe Telecom Inc. which climbed 6.4 percent to P2,160.

Heavy losers were Wilcon Depot Inc. which declined by 11.4 percent to P28.30, DITO CME Holdings Corp. which dropped 7.7 percent to P2.73 and MREIT Inc. which de creased 5.8 percent to P13.18.

Gatchalian wants gov’t to hold bidding for power supply to prevent blackout

By Alena Mae S. Flores

SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian said over the weekend the government should be allowed to conduct public bidding to en sure power power supply needed by the distribution utilities.

“There’s a lot fine-tuning that we need to do in EPIRA [Electric Power Industry Reform Act] ...I have a proposal where in the government should be allowed to conduct the bidding process,” Gatchalian said.

Gatchalian said it is the role of the gov ernment to determine the power supply needed in the next ten years, and it is the one that should conduct the bidding.

He said that under the competitive se lection process regime, DUs such as the Manila Electric Co. are the ones that con

duct the bidding.

Gatchalian said his proposal would promote fair competition or level playing field.

“DOE has safeguards, and I think we should give that option to the government as well for emergency purposes and also for fairness,” he said.

He said the proposal would also avoid blackout, because some utilities had de layed the conduct of CSPs.

“Government wants to avoid brown outs, so it will conduct CSP as soon as possible, so there will be supply,” he said.

Gatchalian said this would need a new law or amendments to the EPIRA law.

He said that while some economists would say this would be equivalent to market distortion, “I think that right should be reserved for the government. “

Starpay ends payroll disbursement issues, ensures efficient release of salaries

PAYROLL disbursement is a major con cern for small and medium enterprises.

Construction firms working with lo cal workers still opt for manual payouts where project managers or foremen are given the tasks of distributing salaries to workers.

The process cannot be closely monitored, especially for projects in distant locations, and can result in potential pilferage.

Disbursing salaries via ATMs would be ideal. However, without the proper

IDs, banks cannot issue ATM cards, let alone open accounts for the workers.

Starpay has the functionality to dis burse salaries to employees without re leasing actual cash on-site.

Recipients do not need to own a smartphone, and a regular mobile phone for text messages will suffice.

Like a typical money transfer trans action, they will receive a text message and collect the funds from Starpay’s cash-in partners.

The system provides efficiency for liquidation and reconciliation and elim inates the possibility of ghost employ ees in the payroll.

Smartphone users can download the app through the Google Play Store, Apple App Store, and the Huawei App Gallery.

Now with a new look, users can go cash less and pay bills with Starpay’s over 300 billers and scan-to-pay with QR PH at over 100,000 merchants nationwide.

“Starpay is committed to being the

solutions provider through challenging situations. Unlike typical e-wallets, we exert efforts to reinvent the use of our core,” said Starpay head of operations Richard Rosettes.

For LGUs and government agencies, Starpay has end-to-end solutions from automation to collection, specializing in disbursement with real-time report ing for transparency as required by the Commission on Audit and other gov ernment agencies.

PRIME

Sports

Dubs’ Green apologizes after Poole ‘altercation’

LOS ANGELES—Golden State star Draymond Green apologised to teammates on Thursday after reportedly aiming at punch at Jordan Poole during a practice, Warriors general manager Bob Myers confirmed.

Myers did not go into details about the skirmish during a practice on Wednesday, but said reports of an “altercation” between Green and Poole were accurate.

“As you know yesterday, as reported, there was an altercation. The people that were reported to be in it, that’s accurate,” Myers said.

“Everybody’s fine...Look, it’s the NBA—professional sports, these things happen. Nobody likes it, we don’t condone it, but it happened.”

Myers said Poole had practiced normally on Thursday while Green sat out the session.

The Warriors chief would not go into details of what discipline Green would face.

“Draymond apologized to the team this morning,” Myers said. “As far as any suspension or fine, we’ll handle that internally.”

Marcial survives cut, scores 3rd win as pro; Ancajas falls

By Randy Caluag

IT’S high time that Jerwin Ancajas moved up to a higher weight division.

The idea became more evident after the Filipino challenger lost in the same fashion as his first meeting with Fernando Martinez, who dominated the bout to win via unanimous decision six months ago.

In their rematch on Saturday, Ancajas started hot and gamely traded punches with the champion, but lost steam midway and eventually dropped a similar unanimous decision loss at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.

The bout was give-and-take between the two protagonists, but Ancajas began to fade in the 7th round, after suffering

Del Rosario, Raagas win IRONKIDS top honors

a cut on his forehead due to an accidental headbutt.

Fatigue started to set in as Ancajas, whose ageing body has been battling to keep itself competitive in the 115-pound limit, showed limited movements in the 8th round as Martinez continued to be the aggressor the rest of the way.

After 12 rounds, Ancajas suffered his third loss in his career against 33 victories (22 knockouts).

Martinez improved to 15-0, with 8 KOs.

Another Filipino boxer in the undercard, though, saved the day for the Philippines, which remained without a world boxing champion.

Eumir Felix Marcial, who gave the Philippines a bronze medal in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, battled his taller American foe Steven Pichardo with a cut above his right eye, thereby hindering his vision,

but still recorded his third straight win as a professional.

Using the skills and power he honed through his long experience in elite amateur boxing, the Zamboanga native still managed to dominate their six-round bout and rendered Pichardo’s third loss in 12 fights.

Marcial sustained the cut following a clash of heads in the second round.

Six months ago during his second pro fight, Marcial was knocked down three times before coming with a knockout of his own to stop Isiah Hart in Round 4.

In a social media interview, Marcial’s trainer Jorge Capetillo still praised Marcial for being calm and collected despite the ordeal that hampered his movements and vision.

“I think it was a great performance, he improved a lot. I think he was more calm, using the distance,” said Capetillo in a

Youtube interview with Cesi Marie.

“All these tests definitely will make him a better fighter. A fighter who already got dropped, already got cut, already got the experience to go the rounds makes him a better fighter,” Capetillo was quoted as saying.

Judges James Green, Ivan Guillermo, and Ellis Johnson scored the fight, 60-54, all in favor of Marcial.

Marcial is set to rejoin his teammates in the national team at the training camp of the Alliance of Boxing Associations of the Philippines to prepare for the Asian Championship in Jordan.

In his Facebook post, Marcial thanked all his supporters.

“Maraming salamat sa Diyos sa kaligtasan at panalo na ipinagkaloob sa akin. Maraming salamat din sa lahat ng Pinoy na nagdasal at pumunta sa laban ko,” Marcial said.

Myers meanwhile insisted that the NBA champions’ pre-season preparations were progressing smoothly despite the incident.

“I’ve actually seen a really good group, one of the best vibes that we’ve had in my 12 years here in terms of camp, mental health and camaraderie,” Myers said.

“It’s unfortunate and I’m not going to deny it. It will take some time to move through, but we’ll move through it.

“This isn’t our first sense of adversity. We’ve gone through some of this before. We don’t like going through it but it’s part of the NBA and part of sports.” AFP

Archers list 1st victory over Eagles in 5 years

By Peter Atencio

POINT guard Even Nelle and Schonny Winston delivered the big plays at endgame, lifting La Salle to its first over archrival Ateneo in five years, 83-78, on Sunday in the 85th University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball tournament.

Back in action after missing their game with the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers because of fever, the 5’10 Nelle stopped Rence Padrigao from making a final basket for the Blue Eagles, before sinking the winning charities with 7.1 seconds to go.

Del Rosario and Raagas both placed second in the opening swim leg but flashed superb riding skills and staying power to share top honors in the premier 13-14 age group category of the junior version of triathlon that drew hundreds of participants and at the same time served as a venue for families to bond.

Del Rosario clocked 34:32 over the 400m swim, 8km bike ride and 3km run setup. He came out second to Angelo de Vera (6:23) with a 6:25 clocking in the swim but took charge in the bike (14:30) before cruising to victory with a time of 11:59 in the run.

Darell Bada placed second in 36:22 with clockings of 6:47 (swim), 14:48 (bike) and 13:19 (run) while Red Reyes nipped de Vera (38:39) for the bronze with 36:56.

Raagas also settled for second in the opening leg with 12:37, next to a hot-starting Erin Pakingan (12:34) but while the former stepped up her charge in the bike (17:03) and run (15:12) to win in 42:35, the latter struggled in the second leg (21:37) and in the run (26:49) and tumbled down to fifth in 58:45.

Earlier, Winston, banged in a game-high 25 points for the Green Archers, including a driving shot against Dave Ildefonso with 1:19.3 to go to give La Salle a five-point cushion, 81-76, in a game witnessed by a crowd of 12,056.

Their efforts handed the Green Archers their second straight triumph against a setback, putting them in a three-way share of second spot with their victims and the National University Bulldogs.

The Blue Eagles, with Angelo Kuouame firing a team-high 22 points, tried to tie the game for the last time after Bryson Ballungay drove in past defender Michael Philips, 78-81.

But Padrigao muffed a three-point attempt off Nelle’s screening.

SMB breaks through with PBA 3x3 title romp

SAN Miguel finally broke through in the PBA 3x3 Season 2 by outlasting TNT in overtime, 22-20, to rule Leg 4 of the First Conference Sunday at Robinsons Malabon.

Ken Bono and Wendell Comboy rallied the Beermen back from as much as a 13-20 deficit in the final four minutes of regulation, and then took over in the extra period to clinch the thrilling win for the team.

Bono finished with eight points, including the game-tying deuce, 20-20, in the final two seconds.

Comboy, who added six points, then began the overtime period with a jumper, before

Bono ended it all by scoring on a layup.

San Miguel claimed the P100,000 prize money and atoned for its runnerup finish after losing the title to Cavitex Braves in the finals of Leg 2.

Almond Vosotros led TNT with eight points, but couldn’t convert the possible game-winner at the buzzer when his shot was blocked by Jeff Manday.

The Tropang Giga, opening-leg champions, settled for the runner-up prize worth P50,000.

The battle for third place belonged to Meralco as it bagged P30,000 after trouncing Platinum Karaoke, 19-12.

Raven Cortez and Kevin Quiambao, marked their first victory over Ateneo in five years.

The last time La Salle won over Ateneo was in Game 2 of the UAAP Season 80 finals, a 93-82 triumph.

The Green Archers last tied the count, 72-all, off Nelle’s basket with 5:10 left, before pushing ahead, 77-72, in the final 3:07, off freebies from Winston, a charity shot from Earl Abadam, and Michael Philips’ putback on Abadam’s miss.

Meanwhile, the National University Bulldogs survived a close call with the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers, 69-63, earlier in the day.

The Bulldogs squandered a 15-point, 57-42 edge at the start of the fourth, but hung on for their second triumph in three matches.

Freshman Kean Baclaan came up with his best game in Bulldogs’ uniform with 16 points, seven assists, and four steals. John Lloyd Clemente also made 16 points.

“We’re lucky we got that win, kasi kahit papaano nakakatakot ‘yung UST hanggang dulo hindi sila bumibigay,” said Bulldogs’ coach Jeff Napa.

PETER del Rosario and Celinda Raagas fueled their respective title drive in the bike stage then sustained their pace in the closing run event to dominate the IRONKIDS Philippines at the Vermosa Sports Hub in Cavite on Sunday.

A bloodied Eumir Felix Marcial is shown after scoring his third win as a pro. Inset shows Jerwin Ancajas getting punished by James Martinez. Marcial FB, Showtime Boxing

Peter

SMBeermen players,

Ken Bono,

Schonny Winston leads La Salle with 25 points.

Draymond Green AFP

CYBERATTACKS are continuously on the rise. And you increase your risk for cyberattacks and security breaches if you’re not careful when doing activities on your mobile device.

Are your mobile devices sufficiently protected? Because your digital footprint holds a lot of information, you need to take extra precautions so that cybercriminals won’t be able to tamper with your files and steal your personal information. In this article, know the signs of phone and email compromise and what you can do to avoid it.

6 WARNING SIGNS THAT YOUR PHONE HAS BEEN COMPROMISED

Some of the most important things about our lives are stored in our phones― photos, videos, phone numbers, financial information, and other personal data. Once your phone falls into the wrong hands or gets hacked, criminals can infect it with malware, steal your data, and even transact on your behalf. Here are some signs that your phone has been compromised.

Your phone battery drains quicker than usual.

If you always use your phone to make video calls, listen to music, or watch videos, it’s normal for the phone battery to drain quite quickly. However, if your phone battery is draining faster than usual without you doing anything, it can be because of malware.

Malware (malicious software) is designed to wreak havoc on a device, server, or network. It can also use up your battery while running in the background and capturing and monitoring your phone activities.

You have apps you don’t remember installing.

The pre-installed apps are okay because they came with the phone when you first bought it at the store. However, if you have unexplained apps on your device that you don’t remember purchasing or downloading, it can be a sign that your phone has been infected with malware.

When malware enters your device, it will plant traps in the form of apps,

Have I been hacked? Signs, tips to prevent account compromise

TIPS TO AVOID COMPROMISING

YOUR MOBILE DEVICES

Nobody is immune to cybercriminals. But you can take steps to protect yourself and prevent your devices from being compromised. Stay safe by following these tips.

Never provide One-Time Passwords (OTP) you receive Whenever you receive an OTP, do not divulge this information to anyone. If you receive an OTP that you did not initiate, please immediately report it to your bank or messaging platform.

Avoid downloading apps from thirdparty app stores.

You usually explore third-party app alternatives when you really want an app that’s not available in the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store. Although there are legit third-party app stores, there are also unauthorized ones selling unrecognized or unreliable apps that can harm your device.

prevent you from going to potentially risky sites. Potential phishing sites will be automatically blocked when you have browser security settings.

Observe safe email protocol.

If it’s an email from someone you don’t know or if it’s a fishy-looking email, don’t open or download any attachments as they may contain viruses. Mark the message as spam and then delete it. For this, use a spam filter to eliminate junk emails automatically.

Moreover, when sending emails, don’t put your sensitive information like passwords, credit card numbers, or bank account numbers. You don’t know where your email will be forwarded or who’s taking a screenshot of your information.

Periodically check if there are settings changes like forwarding rules, filters, recovery phone, or email in your account if provided by your email service. Hackers often change these for them to observe you and how best to defraud you.

Avoid connecting to public Wi-Fi.

extensions, and plug-ins that you never installed. These will attempt to expose and steal your sensitive information.

Your data usage increases inexplicably.

You probably know how much data you consume when you’re not connected to your home or office Wi-Fi network. If there’s a spike in your data usage that’s not normal, this can be because hackers are running apps in the background to capture your phone activities.

There are way too many pop-ups.

Notice too many pop-ups that don’t go away while browsing the internet?

Like alerts that a virus has infected your phone or that your bank is closing your account unless you do something about it right now? It’s a sign that your device has malware. Never click on these pop-up ads or download anything that it asks you to, no matter how seemingly irresistible the offer is.

Your phone settings keep changing.

You’ll notice changes to your web browsers and search engines when your device has been compromised. There

No links, no clicks

may also be Chrome extensions that keep coming back or have been installed without your permission. Also, when you’re browsing the internet, you keep getting directed to unfamiliar pages with a lot of suspicious-looking pop-ups.

Your device is slower or constantly crashes.

Another sign to watch out for is sluggish device performance. It can be a sign of malware when it’s slower than usual, keeps crashing, or stops responding altogether. Malware consumes a lot of memory, causing legit apps to work with limited resources. This results to slow performance and inconvenient disruptions.

You can no longer sign into your email and messaging account.

If you log in to your email or messaging account and it doesn’t work, then it’s likely that someone else has changed it. Once criminals have gained access to your email and messaging account, they usually change the password to prevent you from logging in. They do this to receive your one-time passwords (OTP).

So whenever you’re downloading a new app (even if they’re native apps), always read the reviews, terms and conditions, and app permissions first. This way, you’ll know which information the app requests access to (like the camera, calendar, contacts, etc.).

Never jailbreak/root your device.

When you jailbreak/root your phone or tablet, you expose your device to security holes in its operating system. And when cybercriminals find this security hole, they can easily take control of the operating system. In short, jailbroken/rooted phones and tablets are more unstable and vulnerable to cyberattacks.

Update your Operating System (OS) regularly.

Don’t ignore those notifications about upcoming OS updates. As soon as they’re available for download and installation, update your device to ensure that critical security patches and updates are in place.

These updates also provide bug and security hole fixes and clean up anything outdated, causing your device to be slow.

Secure your browser security settings.

Your browser’s security settings determine the websites you visit and

When you connect to open Wi-Fi, you’re also increasing your risk of being found by hackers. If you’re logging in to emails, social media accounts, or mobile banking apps, use your mobile data or home Wi-Fi network instead. But if you really need to use a public Wi-Fi connection, don’t sign in to your accounts where you store sensitive information.

Safe Banking Transactions with RCBC on Your Device

Remember that the data stored on your devices is worth more than the device itself. With cybercriminals growing more sophisticated, potential security threats are everywhere.

Aside from being hyper-vigilant about mobile security, you must also use mobile apps with advanced security features. With the RCBC app, do digital banking easily and securely with its enhanced security features such as face and touch ID login, one-time password validation, and card lock and unlock. Enjoy the benefits of convenient banking using a secure platform and the reassurance that only you can access your accounts through your own devices.

BDO intensifies fight against fraud

B DO Unibank has removed all clickable links in its communication materials,

including its official email, Viber, and text messages to clients to further protect them from fraudulent activities.

According to BDO, scammers have used clickable links sent through emails and messages (SMS and Viber) to dupe their victims and steal their bank information— usually in the guise of an “account suspension” threat, through account verification, because of an alleged cyberattack. Once victims click on these links, they are led to fake BDO websites. The victims are then instructed to input their username and password in these fake websites, which scammers will use to steal money from their victims’ online bank accounts.

To foil these fraudulent attempts, BDO said it has altogether removed clickable links from its official materials cascaded to clients. Instead, the Bank is encouraging clients to log in through the official BDO digital banking app or manually type online.bdo.com.ph directly in the web browser to access their BDO digital banking account.

“Remember that BDO will never ask you to log in to your digital banking account through a link,” BDO said in its official social media page.

BDO also reiterated that it will never ask its clients for their username and password nor ask for their one-time PIN (OTP), and reminded its clients to never share these essential account details to anyone. “Your BDO digital banking username, password, and OTP are the key to your BDO accounts,” BDO stressed. “Keep your accounts safe by never sharing your login details with anyone and not clicking on links.”

External cybersecurity loopholes in SEA revealed

CYBERATTACKS can be prevented before an attacker is inside the internal network. Threat monitoring allows organizations to take action and properly neutralize a threat before it can exploit any existing vulnerabilities and affect the target institutions.

Kaspersky today unveils the results of its Digital Footprint Intelligence (DFI) report covering the external threats for a selection of countries from the Asia Pacific (APAC) region in 2021, including the six key countries in Southeast Asia (SEA).

The report’s sole purpose is to create awareness about security threats and demonstrate effective approaches to risk mitigation for widespread attacks with high business impact.

CYBERCRIMINALS’ EXPLOITATION CAPABILITIES

The rapidly growing share of adversaries’ initial access approach is the exploitation of 1-day vulnerabilities. Complicated business processes are forced to leave services on the perimeter, which in turn increases the external attack surface.

With the help of public sources and specialized search engines, Kaspersky collected information on 390,497 services available from public networks and analyzed them for key security issues and vulnerabilities.

Analysis revealed that in 2021, almost every fifth of the vulnerable services contained more than one vulnerability, thereby increasing the chances of an attacker performing a successful attack.

All industry sectors, analyzed in the report, in all countries have issues with application of security updates for publicly available services.

Government institutions (major personally identifiable information (PII) processors and providers of critical services for citizens) are potential incident-generators by a huge margin.

Singapore has a low number of vulnerabilities and an outstanding low ratio between the number of services and the sum of vulnerabilities in them, while Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia have the highest ratio among SEA countries

Customers told: Wipe out data before disposing old gadgets

In terms of the share of vulnerabilities with publicly available exploits, 3 countries out of TOP-5 are located in Southeast Asia (SEA) – these are Malaysia, Vietnam, and Philippines.

From Kaspersky’s practice in incident response handled by Global Emergency Response Team (GERT) and CISA advisory adversaries use a well-known list of vulnerabilities to exploit organization defenses. While researching the security problems of companies from the APAC region, Kaspersky experts observed a number of commonly used vulnerabilities dubbed ProxyShell and ProxyLogon. Exploits for these vulnerabilities are easily available on the Internet, therefore, they can be easily exploited by even a low-skilled attacker.

While ProxyShell is quite common in China and in Vietnam, the countries most affected by ProxyLogon are:

In Government bodies – Thailand

In Financial – China

In Healthcare – Philippines

In Industrial – Indonesia ProxyShell is a group of vulnerabilities for Microsoft Exchange servers - CVE2021-31206, CVE-2021-31207 , CVE-2021-34473, and CVE-2021-34523. ProxyLogon group includes CVE-2021-26855, CVE-2021-26857, CVE-2021-26858, and CVE-2021-27065. The vulnerabilities from the both groups enable an actor to bypass authentication and execute code as a privileged user.

The best defense against these vulnerabilities is to keep public-faced systems updated with the latest patches and product versions. Companies should also avoid direct access to Exchange Server from the Internet. Kaspersky products protect against vulnerabilities from both groups – ProxyShell and Proxy-logon.

CREDENTIAL BRUTE FORCE ATTACKS

A great share of attackers’ initial accesses leading to cybersecurity incidents are related to services with remote access or management features. One of the best-known examples is RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol). It is Microsoft’s proprietary protocol that enables a user to connect to another computer through a network of computers running Windows.

RDP is widely used by both system administrators and less-technical users to control servers and other PCs remotely but this tool is also what intruders exploit to penetrate the target computer that usually houses important corporate resources.

Last year, Kaspersky monitored 16,003 remote access and management services available for exploit. Indonesia, India, Bangladesh, the Philippines, and Vietnam provide the maximum facilities for an attacker to gain remote access.

Government institutions are serving more than 40% of the attack surface for brute force attacks and credential leaks reuse.

“Clearly, cybercriminals are busy uncovering possible entry points in the region. From hunting for unpatched software, one-day vulnerabilities, and exploitable remote access and management services, malicious actors have a lot of options to infect lucrative industries.

In short, a cyberattack is like a ticking bomb. While worrisome, reports such as our Digital Footprint Intelligence can be used as a tool to guide the cybersecurity capacity building of concerned organizations. If you know your weak areas, it’s easier to prioritize,” comments Chris Connell, Managing Director for Asia Pacific at Kaspersky.

To protect your businesses from such threats, Kaspersky experts also recommend that you: Regulate every major change to the network perimeter hosts, including services or applications launching, exposing new APIs, software installation and updating, network devices configuration and so on. All changes should be reviewed from the perspective of security impact.

TECHNOLOGY

evolves at a rapid pace. Major smartphone manufacturers unveil new models every year. A GSMA study found that users in developed countries tend to replace their mobile phones every 18 months. But selling or disposing old mobile phones can be a threat to cybersecurity.

“Data is the new oil. In the wrong hands, they can be used to steal someone’s money or identity. That’s why when we let go of our devices, especially smartphones, we wipe them clean of our information,” cautions Angel T. Redoble, FVP and Chief Information Security Officer at PLDT and Smart.

PLDT and Smart’s Cyber Security Operations Group (CSOG) reminds the public that before selling or disposing smartphones, the CyberSmart individual protects his data.

First, back up files like contacts, photos, videos, messages, and notes. Transfer them to a laptop or

external hard drives. Cloud storage is also an option. Then delete files from the device that’s up for sale or disposal.

iOS users should sign out of their Apple ID, App Store, Find My iPhone, iCloud, iMessage and FaceTime. Android users need to log out of their Google account, Gmail, and Google Play.

It’s also a must to perform a factory reset to wipe out any remaining data. For iPhones, this can be done by going to Settings, choosing General, tapping Reset, and then selecting “Erase All

Content and Settings.”

Those who use Android phones should tap Settings, choose System, then select Reset. But they need to turn off Factory Reset Protection first. This security feature is found on Android devices with ‘Lollipop’ or higher versions.

Finally, consumers must not forget to remove SIM cards and memory cards if their phones come with expandable storage.

Additionally, smartphones for disposals should be dropped inside dedicated bins for electronic waste. Electronics contain chemicals that can leak into the environment if not properly discarded. Alternatively, users can also donate old devices to non-profit organizations for reuse or recycling.

PLDT and Smart’s efforts to secure customer data are part of a much broader program to elevate the quality of customer experience by protecting them from threats and attacks. These efforts also highlight the PLDT Group’s support to UNSDG No. 9 on Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure. Supporting initiatives that manage e-waste underscores the companies’ commitment to UNSDG No. 12 on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns.

Young investors enrich lives via online trading

ONLINE trading comes with its own risks but it also bears high potential rewards if you get serious with your trade. Young investors with the commitment, discipline and passion to become successful traders are among those who have enriched their lives with the many opportunities that come with trading forex, gold, CFDs, cryptocurrencies, and other instruments.

TRADER AT AGE 11

Anthony Cariaga, 24 years old, from Bulacan, started trading when he was 11. For him, trading forex was a way to gain additional money, especially since he loved saving. It helps that his mother is a trading coach at SmarTrade, a training and consultancy company that offers free learning sessions and coaching on how to trade.

Cariaga also found a reliable broker with ATFX, SmarTrade’s global partner broker.

“One thing I learned is that there is no such thing as 100% accuracy in trading. However, with ATFX support and resistance indicator and calculator, I am given a signal on when to buy and sell, which is 70-80% accurate. I am comfortable with those odds,” he shares.

“Also, always upskilling myself through SmarTrade’s learning sessions taught me how to manage my capital by means of calculating the maximum trade exposure that suits my risk appetite. This, I think, is very important for a trader,” adds Cariaga.

THE ‘WHIZ KID’

Nineteen-year-old Davaoeño Joseph Lejarde started trading at 15 to help his family. The “Whiz Kid,” as he is fondly called, trades forex, commodities, stock CFDs, and crypto.

“Trading has helped me support my

brother’s medical needs, support my mother because she is already a PWD, and my father who also takes maintenance. It also allows me to share the blessings with others and help more people.”

“Since I stumbled upon SmarTrade in 2019, my confidence in trading has grown. Before, I was reckless, with no discipline in trading, but now through Smartrade, I learned to be disciplined, calm, optimistic, and passionate about forex trading,” says Lejarde.

OFW TURNED TRADER

Gio Gamelo started trading in 2017 while still working in Singapore. “I just saw someone in the train station looking at his charts. That was the day my life changed,” says the 27-year-old from Cavite who found his passion in online trading as opportunities opened for him while enjoying time freedom.

“When I came back to the Philippines, I met SmarTrade Coach Andrea Joven who introduced me to various aspects of trading that I was previously unaware of. She assisted me in becoming a better trader and expanded my trading opportunities. She was someone I can

rely on who is passionate about trading,” shares Gamelo.

Trading has become a way of life for Gamelo. He became an ATFX Introducing Broker and is now changing people’s lives in collaboration with his friends who have formed a trading group. The group is focused on trading the financial market, mainly with forex, gold, and oil; enriching and sharing each other’s analyses; and sharing their own ideas on social media to support other aspiring traders interested in cryptocurrency, forex, and commodities.

“Trading with all its wins and losses and the adrenaline rush it gives me was something I found engaging and fulfilling, especially when I had a great trading day. And even when it’s not, the loss I get from trading just makes me more engaged in becoming a better trader than I was yesterday. Mistakes, for me, are one of the best parts of trading. It’s the time to learn a lot and become better,” explains Gamelo.

Online trading continues to attract a younger generation of investors like Cariaga, Lejarde, and Gamelo. A growing number of young people are eager to dabble in online trading as shown in the 20% increase in the number of young traders attending SmarTrade’s free online learning sessions. In 2022 alone, a significant increase of about 30%-35% came from the segment of those aged 30 and under.

While trading knows no age, it is important to have the right partner to guide you through your trading journey. For more information on how you can avail of SmarTrade’s free learning sessions and one-on-one coaching, visit www. smartradeph.com.

Selling or disposing old mobile phones can be a threat to cybersecurity. (Kaspersky photo)

Angel T. Redoble, FVP and Chief Information Security Officer at PLDT and Smart

Anthony Cariaga at age 11 with mom and SmarTrade Coach Cora Cariaga; ‘Whiz Kid’ Joseph Lejarde with ATFX Chief Analyst Alejandro Zambrano at the SmarTrade Roadshow in Davao; Gio Gamelo (second from right) with his trading team.

Marian Rivera celebrates stories of Filipino triumphs

SCREEN star Marian Rivera is thankful for the continued success of Tadhana , the weekly program she hosts. The GMA Public Affairs award-winning drama anthology is celebrating its fifth year with a special three-part anniversary episode which started airing on October 8.

“ Maraming, maraming salamat po sa inyong walang sawang pagsubaybay sa loob ng limang taon ,” Marian said. “ Totoo namang hindi laging masaya—may mga kuwento ng pagkabigo, mayroon ding tagumpay. Mayroon ding [kuwentong] magbibigay-inspirasyon at maraming pagkakataon. Ang importante, sa huli, laging may gintong aral na makukuha at mas nagpapalakas sa atin. Hindi man laging masaya ang buhay, mas malakas, mas matatag, at mas

matatapang naman tayo ngayon sa anumang hamon ng buhay. Kaya saan man kayo dalhin ng Tadhana, kapit lang, Kapuso .”

Every Saturday, Tadhana celebrates the stories of Filipinos’ triumphs over seemingly insurmountable adversities, not only imparting lessons to viewers but giving them inspiration and hope as well. Each episode features compelling stories starring some of the country’s biggest stars. Tadhana continues to be one of the highestrating shows on weekends. Online, it remains one of the most followed local TV shows with almost eight million followers on Facebook. In September alone, Tadhana’s online views hit 21 million views on Facebook.

As part of its anniversary offering, Tadhana presents “Baliw na Puso”

headlined by Raymond Bagatsing, Vaness del Moral, Lianne Valentin and Mylene Dizon . Joining them are Via Antonio, Tart Carlos, Erlinda Villalobos , and Simon Ibarra . The three-part story is penned by Adam Cornelius Asin and head writer Erwin Caezar Bravo Rommel Penesa directs the anniversary special.

Ngayong buwan ng Oktubre, pangmalakasan ang aming handog sa inyo. Kuwento ito ng isang magina na nagkahiwalay. Ano nga bang kapalaran ang naghihintay sa kanila? Pagtatagpuin ba muli silang dalawa ?” Marian shared.

Amy’s (Mylene) life revolves around her baby Marjorie (Lianne) but they get separated by an accident. As the years pass, Amy realizes she needs a lot of money to find her daughter. She works

hard until she and her mother Maribeth (Erlinda) become rich.

Twenty years later, despite Amy’s wealth, Marjorie remains missing. One day, Amy meets Dennis (Raymond), a handsome policeman who helps in the case of finding Marjorie.

The couple settles down. But their relationship soon takes a dark turn.

Will Amy finally reunite with her daughter? What fate awaits them?

The heart-warming anniversary episode of Tadhana a irs 3:15 p.m. on GMA Network, with live streaming on GMA Public Affairs social media accounts. Kapuso abroad can watch it as well via GMA Pinoy TV.

A tête-à-tête with Boy Abunda and three phenomenal women in New York City

MANHATTAN New York

‘Mr. Music’ makes history on Spotify

JONATHAN Manalo is now the most streamed Filipino songwriter and record producer of all time with over 1.4 billion Spotify streams of music he penned and produced. This feat was achieved even before the release of his five reimagined compositions featuring OPM divas Gigi De Lana, Jona, Kyla, Nina, and Morissette

Kyla’s fresh rendition of “Di Ko Kayang Limutin,” Nina’s “How Can I,” Jona’s “Always on Time,” Gigi’s “Patuloy Ang Pangarap,” and Morissette’s “Pagbigyang Muli” are part of Jonathan’s grand anniversary album, The Music of Jonathan Manalo: 20 Years

The nostalgic compilation celebrates the renowned musician’s two decades of making original Pinoy music with 20 tracks he composed and produced. In 2021, seven of the album tracks already dropped, headlined by Rico Blanco’s remake of “Pinoy Tayo.”

The streaming feat comes simultaneously as Jonathan headlines the Mr. Music: The Hits of Jonathan Manalo concert this month at the Newport Performing Arts Theater. The event, happening on October 15, will feature his greatest hits in a grand musical affair with exciting performances from the best OPM artists today.

Jonathan, who is currently the creative director of ABS-CBN Music, was the grand winner in the “JAM: Himig Handog sa Makabagong Kabataan” songwriting competition in 2001 for his composition “Tara Tena.”

Since then, he has produced over 1,600 recordings, written more than 500 songs, and produced over 200 albums. Some of his notable hits are Gary Valenciano’s “Ililigtas Ka Niya,” Ice Seguerra’s “Para Lang Sa’ Yo”, Piolo Pascual and Sarah Geronimo’s “Paano Ba Ang Magmahal,” and Angeline Quinto’s “Patuloy Ang Pangarap.” His compositions and record productions have earned over 100 PARI gold and multi-platinum certifications.

He is the creative mind behind key albums and full discographies of artists like Erik Santos, Kyla, Piolo Pascual, Juris, Jed Madela, KZ Tandingan, Iñigo Pascual, Yeng Constantino, and Moira dela Torre

Hailed as the most awarded songwriter and record producer of his generation with over 500 nominations and wins, Manalo was also named one of the Ten Outstanding Music Artists of the last decade in the National Commission for Culture and the Arts SUDI Awards in 2021.

Other well-loved tracks from his music catalog, such as “Tara Tena” and “Kabataang Pinoy,” were likewise featured in iWantTFC’s first original music series, Lyric and Beat, which started airing on Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live,

On a rare occasion, three phenomenal women from different fields of expertise gathered in an intimate event to talk about “women empowerment”— Miss Universe 2021 Harnaaz Sandhu , Filipino-American businesswoman and philanthropist Loida Nicolas Lewis , and Los Angeles-based Filipino-American businesswoman and CEO of O Skin Care Olivia Quido-Co

The event was held at the exclusive Players NYC in Gramercy Park in New York City on September 23, organized by Friends of the Philippines Society USA Incorporated (FPHSUSA Inc). It was well-attended by the members, supporters, and allies of the Filipino community from the tristate area (New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut), Miss Universe executives, and businessmen.

Asia’s King of Talk Boy Abunda moderated the hour-

long conversation about how these three phenomenal women rose to life, liberty, and love challenges. Abunda also shared some notable historical events on how women struggled to fi ght for their rights in the past, such as the right to suffrage.

From success stories of their business empires, pains and struggles of childhood and marriage, and living life with a purpose, Lewis, Sandhu, and Quido-Co graciously opened up and recounted how they have become phenomenally empowered.

Quido-co highlighted the role

Rewards of filmmaking

AFTER his first motion picture Pusoy, director Phil Giordano’s second film offering is Pabuya, a neondrenched tale of a gangland rivalry gone wrong.

Pabuya stars the charismatic Diego Loyzaga as Pepe, a gang leader in the middle of a turf war who unknowingly kills an undercover cop, which puts him in the crosshairs of not only the rival gang led by Felix Roco as Jojo, but also the police force. On the run and with no one to trust, the action, drama, sex, and various complications unfold.

“Pabuya is a film about betrayal. revenge, lust, and love,” director Giordano starts. “The biggest reward for me in doing this is to show the reality that people and the times have changed and that these changes are not always for the good.

Valueslike honesty, loyalty, and trustworthiness, to mention a few are constantly being challenged, and I am afraid that they are being destroyed because people are giving more premium to money, fame, being ahead or on top of everyone else, power, and everything that corrupts the morality of men.”

“Betrayal and loyalty are the themes that I am highlighting anew in my second film feature,” adds the filmmaker. “The humanity and morality of any person is always fragile and forever evolving. And when it comes to being loyal and who to trust, there is no sure formula. It is always a matter of touch and go. The choosing of what is good and what is potentially evil, is what separates the virtuous and the wicked. And being able to capture what makes a man a real man, fascinates me and this is what I hope people will see in this new film of mine. That there are still genuinely good people who because of circumstances beyond their control are put to a test, and how they face these complications, survive or fall from them, are testaments of the frailties and strengths of all of us, being humans.”

In choosing Loyzaga to portray Pepe, Giordano said that the young actor is charismatic, strong, and has the physical attributes to be a good leader that can command, yet he has a tender and vulnerable side to him, which the director was able to capture onscreen.

“As Pepe, Diego shows how emotionally committed he is to becoming his character,” Giordano goes on. “He does not fake his feelings. He plays for truth and him being in that place of truthfulness, was of great help to Franki.”

As to Loyzaga’s screen partner, Giordano noted that the comely newcomer Franki Russel has raw

of her parents and her Christian faith as her guide and motivation in building her now-booming O Skin Care business in the United States of America, South America, and other territories in Asia. Toward the end of the event, Quido-Co was given the Asian American Minority Business Excellence Award.

According to event organizers Jerry Sibal and Edwin Josue , “FPHSUSA Inc has bestowed an award to Olivia Quido-Co for her breakthrough success in the mainstream USA with her skincare line as endorsed by the Miss Universe Organization.”

emotions and she is able to draw them out naturally.

“She has great chemistry with Diego and I believe what people will see in this movie is just a glimpse of the things to come. I should say it is just the tip of the iceberg. With more experience in doing films, I am positive she is the new leading lady to watch out for.”

Giordano underscored that people can expect action sequences that are more polished, edgy, and intense. There is a lot of independent feel and vibe to the action scenes. Of course, there are sex scenes, which show the characters peeling off their masks. Pepe and Bella, the characters of Loyzaga and Russel’s scenes are more intimate and romantic. The scenes of Roco as Jojo are opposite of Pepe as he is more detached and rougher. And of course, the narrative of Pabuya —the hows and whys of Pepe’s life, including his choices, and the things he holds dear, all in the film.

In conclusion, Giordano says: “Pabuya is dark, gritty and shows how many people will disregard loyalty and betray for money. It mirrors what has become of our society right now. Through this film, may those who watch it realize that good values will never go out of style. Honesty, loyalty, honesty, trust, friendship, integrity, and love, they will always matter.”

Pabuya is currently showing on Vivamax.

Nickie Wang

Patricia Taculao,

Marian Rivera

Filipino songwriter and record producer Jonathan Manalo has over 1.4 billion Spotify streams

From left: The King of Talk during an hour-long conversation with Filipino-American businesswoman and philanthropist Attorney Loida Nicolas Lewis, Miss Universe 2021 Harnaaz Sandhu, and CEO of O Skin Care Olivia Quido-Co

From left: Bong Quintana, Harnaaz Sandhu, and Boy Abunda

Director Phil Giordano (center) with ‘Pabuya’ lead stars Diego Loyzaga (left) and Franki Russel

Life

‘Super Pass’ for Pinoy travelers

CEBU Pacific, one of the country’s leading airlines, gives local travelers an early Christmas gift as it offers its one-of-a-kind travel voucher, the CEB Super Pass, from 10:00 a.m. to day until October 13.

For a one-way base fare of P99, cus tomers can purchase an open-dated pass that allows one to travel across the airline’s widest domestic network, whether via Cebu Pacific or Cebgo. Each passenger can also buy all they can and fly only when they can, from October 17 until November 30, 2023.

“We are very happy to relaunch this well-loved product right in time for the holiday season. Now it’s even easier to give your loved ones the gift of flexible travel, which they can use up until next year,” said Carmina

Romero, Cebu Pacific Director for Corporate Communications.

The CEB Super Pass is made available for Juans who place a high value on flexibility, convenience, and affordability for their travels, whether for leisure or business. This was initially launched in 2021 as part of its 25th anniversary celebra tion, in line with the airline’s prom ise to keep making travel accessible for “everyJuan.”

Passengers who have existing Trav el Funds may also make use of their virtual wallets to stock up on these vouchers. Get your CEB Super Pass for yourself and for your loved ones.

Visit the Cebu Pacific website: https://bit. ly/CEBSuperPass for more information.

Strengthening commitment to serve international travelers’ shopping needs

ANOTHER sure sign that our tourism industry is on its way up to pre-pandemic levels is the recent event hosted by Duty Free Philippines Corp. (DFPC). Coinciding with the World Tourism Organization’s (UNWTO) celebration of World Tourism Day, the state-owned commercial establishment invited to a sumptuous lunch at the Luxe Duty Free in the Mall of Asia complex the country’s leading tour operators, travel agents, and tour guides.

DFPC believes in the World Tourism Day’s goal of recognizing the oppor tunities brought about by the thriving tourism in dustry and in the realiza tion that the world cannot go back to the old ways and procedures after the pandemic, hence the call to “Rethink Tourism,” UNWTO’s theme for this year’s celebration.

DFPC Chief Operating Officer Vi cente Angala declared that the halt in travel due to the pandemic has greatly affected their operations, and the con tinuing shift in consumer trends and behavior has also led them to “rethink” their marketing strategies.

Angala also stressed that DFPC cel ebrates with the world as tourism opens up, keeping in mind the lessons learned from the pandemic. The crisis made them stronger and more resilient. Now, they want to show their loyal patrons that it will take much more than a pan

demic to bring Duty Free Philippines down, and they will not waver in their commitment to serve the shopping needs of international travelers.

A leisurely chat with DFPC Assistant COO Dino Belmonte dur ing the lunch event revealed that all their outlets are now in full operation. In fact, this would be the best time to go shopping for Duty Free items, especial ly at their flagship Fiesta Mall outlet in Parañaque City where several partici pating brands are offering up to 50 per cent discount.

At the lunch event, a short Program proctored by Duty Free Philippines’ hardworking marketing team – Ma. Lourdes Malabuyo, Sheila Samaris ta, and Karen Tinio – showcased their enhanced Tour Group Program, much to the delight of the country’s leading tourism stakeholders in the audience.

The DFPC ladies also announced a very interesting offer – customers at their airport stores will receive spe cial gifts if they proceed to the Fiesta Mall main outlet to continue their “pasalubong” shopping and can pre sent proof of purchase in the earlier location. They also have an ongoing month-long Family Day Promo, in all their outlets, for those in the Travel Industry. A passport and company identification are required.

As for me, I excused myself imme diately after lunch as I decided to look around the store for the latest colognes, my favorite luxury items every time I travel abroad. Sure enough, I left the building happily toting in my shopping

YOUR MONDAY CHUCKLE

On a visit to my doctor, I was pleasantly surprised to find that he had installed taped music in the waiting room.  As I sat there enjoying a piano recording, I overheard an old lady say to her companion, “Look at this young doctor…a crowded waiting room, and he’s in there playing the piano!”

Forget the drama, just chill

bag the newest Calvin Klein and Dolce & Gabbana scents in the market. They were much cheaper than the ones sold in the major department stores.

Enjoy your meal in classic homey vibe

AT LAST, Southies can now expe rience the goodness of homey com fort food.

Katherine’s Café first opened its doors in 2018, welcoming patrons into Nana’s first home in Quezon City. With bright and cheerful interiors, a warm mix of indoor plants, and mod ern furniture, diners will feel at ease as soon as they step in. Its comforting dishes and friendly ambiance remind visitors of everything they love about soothing home cooking, made even better with a tasty gourmet twist.

dates, brunch with family, or intimate get-togethers.

“We’re so excited to have a home here in the South. We know that Southies are foodies and they love to chill so our café is perfect for that. Aside from this, the holidays are coming and we can’t wait to share all our plans for celebrating this fes tive season with our patrons and new clients,” says Katherine’s Café’s Mar keting Director Abby Borja. The cafe also opens early on weekends to cater to breakfast lovers.

IF YOU’RE looking for a relaxing al coholic drink with just enough kick, or saktong tama in local parlance, Chill is a must-try.

Chill – an all-new spiked spirit that can give you a buzz with just the right kick, minus the heavy feeling – has five percent alcohol content, and it’s made with real fruit juice extract. It comes in three flavors: red apple, lemon lime,

and lychee. It also has zero trans fat, and no artificial sweetener.

But what exactly is a spiked spirit?

Also known as hard seltzer, it’s made up of alcohol, soda, and fruit juice. It has just the right level of alcohol, which is why it’s now a popular choice among young consumers of legal drinking age.

As its name suggests, Chill is the per fect drink for hanging out with friends

or solo lazy days at home. It’s great for consumers who like to have fun, let loose, and unwind without going over the top.

Chill Spiked Spirit is available in 330ml cans at a suggested retail price of P51 each. You can find

your favorite convenience stores and super markets nationwide, as well as on on line shopping sites.

Today, the well-loved Instagram fa vorite café opens its doors in Alabang Town Center. Located on the ground floor, Corte de Las Palmas Exten sion (near Fully Booked), the café maintains its classic homey vibe with a fresh bright space, a pretty mezza nine, and a lovely al-fresco area. It’s simply the perfect space for coffee

Katherine’s Café has it all – from breakfast, beautiful brunch boards, sumptuous lunch and dinner, amaz ing cake, good coffee, family platters, and intimate celebrations.

Other branches of Katherine’s Café are in Glorietta 3 (near Landmark entrance), Vertis North Quezon City, and Ayala Malls Manila Bay

To learn more about Duty Free Phil

ippines and its offerings, visit facebook. com/dutyfreephils

For feedback, I’m at bobzozobrado@gmail.com

CEB Super Pass allows flexible travel in local destinations like (from left) Boracay, Coron, and Davao

The bright, cheerful interior of Katherine’s Café in Alabang Town Center

The country’s leading travel agents, tour operators, and tour guides attended DFPC’s celebration of World Tourism Day.

The imposing facade of Luxe Duty Free at the Mall of Asia complex.

DFPC’s energetic Marketing Team (from left) Sheila Samarista, Ma. Lourdes Malabuyo, and Karen Tinio.

Assistant COO of Duty Free Philippines Corp. (DFPC) Dino Belmonte