Manila Standard - 2022 December 19 - Monday

PBBM moves to tame inflation

Okays NEDA proposal to keep low tariff on rice, corn, pork, coal 'til '23

By Vince Lopez

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has approved a recommendation to extend the temporary lowering of tariff rates on pork, corn, rice, and coal until the end of next year as a way to temper inflation, the Palace said Sunday.

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) had recommended the temporary lowering of tariff rates for these commodities until Dec. 31, 2023.

In a statement, NEDA said the move aims “to mitigate and stabilize the impact of inflationary pressures as a result of the Ukraine-Russia crisis, expand supply

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Speaker: Transparency key MIF safeguard

By Rio N. Araja and Jenniffer B. Austria

incorporated in the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) bill to prevent the misuse of the sovereign wealth fund.

The bill was approved on third and final reading on Dec. 15, with an overwhelming vote of 279 in favor and six against, and no abstentions after President

THE Communist Party of the Philippines, which marks its 54th anniversary on December 26, said its armed wing, the New People's Army, could "stage tactical offensives" in honor of its late founder, Jose Maria "Joma" Sison.

"We declare the following 10 days as a period of mourning for the entire Party

to give the highest possible tribute to Ka Joma... During this period of mourning, the NPA can stage tactical offensives against the rampaging fascist forces to defend the people," the CPP Central Committee said in a statement shared Sunday by the Philippine Revolution Web Central Twitter account.

Ferdinand Marcos Jr. certified it as urgent.

“During the lengthy and exhaustive plenary deliberations on House Bill 6608, we adopted various safeguards to ensure we can achieve the objectives of the Maharlika Investment Fund, and one of such

By Willie Casas

THE Department of Health (DOH) on Sunday said all hospitals would be on high alert for individuals with injuries and emergencies that may occur during the New Year celebrations.

The DOH said that it would monitor hospitals to ensure their readiness to attend to fireworks-related injuries and any emergencies as part of its "Iwas Paputok" campaign.

On Dec. 29, DOH officials will visit the Las Piñas Trauma Center, Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center, East Avenue Medical Center, and Amang Rodriguez Medical Center.

On Dec. 31, the Field Implementation and Coordination Team (FICT) officials will visit communities in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao to ensure that families are celebrating the coming New Year safely.

PCG recovers debris near Subic akin to China Long March rocket

THE Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has recovered debris near Subic, Zambales that are believed to be parts of a Long March rocket launched by China in October, about a month after

recovering similar scrap –that was forcibly taken by the Chinese Coast Guard – off the coast of Palawan.

The PCG said among the materials

BALIUAG, a first-class landlocked municipality in the coastal province of Bulacan north of Manila, is now officially a city.

In a plebiscite held Saturday, 17,814 or 75.8 percent of the total voters voted in favor of the cityhood of Baliuag

10 family members died in fire, victims trapped inside house

A FAMILY of 10, including a fivemonth-old baby, died when they were trapped in a fire that hit a residential area in Barangay Putatan, Muntinlupa

while 5,702 or 24.2 percent voted No.

The voter turnout was low, with only 23,562 out of 10,8572 registered voters participating in the poll.

But Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman George Garcia said this was a non-issue as the major-

remains

The

ity of the voters ratified the decision to convert Baliuag into a city.

The plebiscite was originally set for Jan. 14, 2023, but was rescheduled to an earlier date

the postponement of the December 2022 Barangay

City on Sunday morning, authorities said.

Fire Supt. Eugene Briones said

had been recovered and arson investigators said the fire affected only the residence of the victims.

victims were identified as Jerome, 65; Gil, 68; Cherry, 39; Mark

PRE-XMAS BLAZE. Relatives weep as they hug the remains of fivemonth-old Baby Pipay, who was one of the ten victims of one family in a fire at Burger Subdivision in Muntinlupa City on Sunday. A total of 10 members of the Ladia clan perished, as the Bureau of Fire Protection-National Capital Region said fire broke out at 9:02 a.m. and reached the first alarm declared at 9:25 a.m. Danny Pata

ROCKET DEBRIS. In this handout photo, a Philippine Coast Guard officer at the port of Subic, Zambales looks at debris towed by the crew of Filipino boat captain David Gervacio about 55 nautical miles west of Subic on Saturday. It is believed to be part of a Chinese rocket launched last October. PCG Photo

SPEAKER Martin Romualdez on Sunday said transparency is among the key safeguards that the House of Representatives

following

ARCH LIGHTS.

arch welcoming visitors to Manila’s Chinatown at the foot of Jones Bridge in Binondo district is lit up

Christmas Day.

Danny Pata

SC sets plea rules on drug cases

By Rey E. Requejo

THE Supreme Court has issued new guidelines governing and clarifying plea bargaining in illegal drugs cases, where an accused seeks to plead guilty to a lesser offense in exchange for a lighter penalty.

In a decision, the SC declared that a move to plea bargain, which should be done through a proper pleading, is not a right demandable by an accused in an illegal drugs case “but is a matter addressed entirely to the sound discretion of the court.”

Plea bargaining, although agreed upon by the prosecution and the accused, does not mean that “the courts will automatically approve the proposal,” the high court said.

“Judges must still exercise sound discretion in granting or denying plea bargaining, taking into account the relevant circumstances, including the character of the accused,” it stressed.

The new guidelines pointed out that “if an accused applies for probation in offenses punishable under Republic Act No. 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002), other than for illegal drug trafficking or pushing un-

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sources, and reduce the prices of key commodities.”

The move was approved Friday during the NEDA Board meeting presided by President Marcos after he signed the 2023 national budget.

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said the extension will "provide relief to poor and vulnerable segments of the Filipino population whose welfare is reduced

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is a provision to ensure transparency on relevant financial matters pertaining to the MIF,” Romualdez said.

Under the approved HB 6608, a provision specifically stated that the public can exercise the right to freedom of information regarding MIF financial matters.

A member of the opposition, ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro, proposed the provision during the period of individual amendments in the plenary deliberation on the measure.

Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda, chairman of the technical working group on HB 6608, said such a safeguard is embodied in Section 29 of the bill under consideration, but he agreed to accept the amendment proposed by the Makabayan bloc member.

“The third reading version now creates an MIF that is significantly more trans-

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Lastly, on Jan. 1, 2023, the DOH will hold a media forum and visit hospitals in Baguio City and the surrounding areas to assess the overall situation after the New Year celebrations.

Meanwhile, the DOH strongly encouraged families and individuals to avoid buying and using fireworks and to observe professionally prepared and organized fireworks.

"Families can alternatively utilize loud noises from other sources, such as loudspeakers, horns, percussion, pans, and pots, among many others, for a safer and more joyous holiday celebration," it said.

The DOH called on the local government units (LGUs) and the private sector to support the campaign to help reduce the number of fireworks-related injuries and deaths.

"The public can rest assured that the DOH will be proactively monitoring and conducting surveillance activities

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It did not give details what the offensives would be, but military sources said a tactical offensive would be an operation usually smaller or more limited and often involved the use of special forces (or specialized forces).

Meanwhile, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity said Sunday it was hopeful the death of Sison would put an end to the local communist insurgency which had largely stalled development in the countryside.

"With the death of Mr. Sison, it is our hope that it will also put an end to the local communist armed conflict that claimed the lives of so many Filipinos and pushed back development in the

der Section 5 in relation to Section 24 thereof, then the law on probation shall apply.”

The new guidelines were contained in a Supreme Court en banc decision that resolved the petitions filed by government lawyers and an accused in an illegal drugs case.

The high court also resolved in the decision written by Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin S. Caguioa were the letter of the Philippine Judges Association and the memorandum to the SC by then Court Administrator Jose Midas P. Marquez, now an associate justice of the SC.

In 2017, Cypher P. Baldadera was charged before the Naga City regional trial court (RTC) with violation of Section 5 (Sale), Article II of RA 9165. He reportedly sold 0.048 gram of shabu to law enforcers.

Also in 2017, Erick V. Montierro was charged before the RTC with violation

because of high inflation."

"Through this policy, we shall augment our domestic food supplies, diversify our sources of food staples, and temper inflationary pressures arising from supply constraints and rising international prices of production inputs due to external conflict," Balisacan said.

EO No. 171 extends the reduced rates of duty on the following commodities: meat of swine, fresh, chilled, or frozen at 15 percent (in-quota) and 25 percent (out-quota); corn at 5 percent (in-quota) and 15 percent (out-quota); rice at 35 percent (in-quota and out-quota); and

parent and accountable than the committee report. I am proud of the work of the Technical Working Group, which included recommendations from the minority,” he said.

Under Section 43 of the approved HB 6608, all documents of the MIF and the Maharlika Investment Corp.— the independent body created to manage the fund — shall be open, available, and accessible to the public.

HB 6608 called for the establishment of the MIF to promote economic development by making strategic and profitable investments in key sectors.

It also earmarked at least 25 percent of the net profits of the MIC for social welfare programs.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) voiced its support for the MIF, saying this will contribute to the growth of the capital markets.

PSE, in a statement sent over the weekend, said the approved House Bill No. 6608, which calls for the establish-

of the situation on the ground and in our hospitals to ensure that our health facilities are supported in any way or form in combating physical injuries, diseases, COVID-19, and any form of health emergency," the DOH also said.

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said about 192,000 police officers will be deployed across the country to ensure public safety during the holiday season.

In an interview on radio dzBB, PNP chief Police General Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said police will be deployed in all places of convergence where people are expected to spend their Christmas and New Year celebrations.

The PNP chief said that they would tap over 29,400 force multipliers in case additional police presence is needed.

At the same time, the PNP chief warned the public to be wary of thieves in shopping centers and other public places.

He also said people who plan to leave for extended periods should make sure their houses are locked down.

countryside," OPAPRU chief Carlito Galvez Jr. said in a statement.

He also noted that the passing of Sison marked “the end of an era in the nation's history.”

"It was a period largely defined by armed hostilities, which to this day, is still being felt by Filipinos, especially those whose lives were affected by the communist movement," Galvez added.

With President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s banner of unity, Galvez said thegovernment shall vigorously carry out interventions to sustain and build on the gains the government has achieved under the peace process.

For the Department of National Defense, Sison's death "is but a symbol of the crumbling hierarchy" of the CPPNPA-National Democratic Front.

"His death deprived the Filipino people of the opportunity to bring this fugi-

of Section 5, Article II of RA 9165. He was arrested for allegedly selling 0.721 gram of shabu, also in Naga City.

Both accused moved for plea bargaining in their cases. Despite the opposition of the prosecution, the RTC granted Montierro’s plea bargaining.

The trial court’s decision was affirmed by the Court of Appeals, prompting government lawyers to elevate the issue to the SC.

In the case of Baldadera, while the RTC granted his plea bargaining, the CA overturned the trial court’s ruling. He appealed the CA’s decision before the SC.

During the pendency of the two cases before the RTC, the SC issued a decision on August 15, 2017 that declared Section 23 of RA 9165 unconstitutional as it declared that plea bargaining is permitted in drugs cases.

On Nov. 21, 2017, the Department of Justice (DOJ) issued Department Circular No. 61 which prohibited plea bargaining for violations of Section 5 of RA No. 9165 or in cases of illegal sale of dangerous drugs regardless of its quantity.

On April 10, 2018, pursuant to its rule-making power under the 1987 Constitution, the Court promulgated

coal at zero duty.

Republic Act 10863 or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act empowers the President, in the interest of general welfare and national security and upon the recommendation of NEDA, to increase, reduce or remove existing rates of import duty.

Based on the NEDA Board's recommendation, the reduced tariffs on meat of swine, corn, and rice shall revert to their original rates after Dec. 31, 2023.

The zero duty on coal shall be applied beyond Dec. 31, 2023.

Amid a subdued global economic

ment of sovereign wealth fund, will have compounding effects that would generate more fund-raising activities.

“The PSE’s primary mission is to facilitate the flow of capital into more productive and beneficial channels and as a result contribute to efficient capital formation for the country,” PSE president and chief executive Ramon S. Monzon said.

“Since MIF seeks to attract and invest capital for big-ticket infrastructure projects, sustainable green and blue infrastructures and countryside development, we believe these investments will create a multiplier effect that would attract more fund-raising activities and portfolio investments and in turn contribute to the growth and development of the our capital markets,” he added.

Other business groups and academics have criticized the MIF and questioned the wisdom of having a sovereign wealth fund when the government has no surplus funds.

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and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections to October 2023.

Baliuag Mayor Ferdinand Estrella said he expected the annual Internal Revenue Allotment for the city to double from P330 million to P660 million.

Estrella said he had been visiting the locality's 27 barangays ahead of the plebiscite to convince voters to support the cityhood.

Once ratified, Baliuag will become

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Gil, 39; Ana, 33; Amentues, 16; Leandro Jose, 15; Emmanuel, 12; Claire and Cherise, all surnamed Ladia. It was not immediately clear who between Claire and Cherise was the five-month-old baby.

Muntinlupa Mayor Ruffy Biazon

tive to justice under our country's laws. Sison was responsible for the deaths of thousands of our countrymen," the agency said.

It called on all communist rebels in the country "to turn their backs on the violent and false ideology of the CPP-NPANDF."

"The greatest stumbling block to peace for the Philippines is gone; let us now give peace a chance," the DND said.

In related developments, Philippine National Police chief General Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said he regretted Sison would not be able to face any trial for the “violent years he had done” to the country.

In an interview on Super Radyo dzBB, Azurin said: “We mourn (his) passing... It's unfortunate that he won't be able to witness the trial that he would have faced for the many years of violent incidents,

the Plea Bargaining Framework in Drugs Cases.

Under the plea bargaining framework, “an accused charged with violation of Section 5 of RA No. 9165 is allowed to plea bargain only when the quantity involved is 0.01 gram to 0.99 gram of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu, and for which, the acceptable plea bargain is Section 12 of RA No. 9165 or illegal possession of equipment, instrument, apparatus and other paraphernalia for dangerous drugs punishable by six months and one day to four years and a fine ranging from P10,000 to P50,000.”

On June 26, 2018, the DOJ issued Circular No. 27 which amended its Circular No. 61. DOJ Circular No. 27 states that “for the charge under Section 5 of RA No. 9165, the acceptable plea bargain is the offense under Section 11, paragraph 3 or illegal possession of dangerous drugs with an indeterminate penalty of 12 years and one day to 20 years and a fine from P300,000 to P400,000.”

On May 10, 2022, the DOJ issued Circular No. 18 which amended DOJ Circular No. 27 to conform to the SC’s Plea Bargaining Framework in Drugs Cases. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

outlook in 2023, Balisacan said he anticipates favorable economic conditions for the Philippines in the near term.

He said these include the expected reopening of China's economy, moderating global oil prices, easing of aggressive monetary policy tightening, and sustained remittance inflows.

"We are determined to steer the Philippine economy to meet the 6.0 percent to 7.0 percent economic growth target for 2023, as set by the NEDA Board's Development Budget Coordination Committee or DBCC," Balisacan said.

An early plan to include the Social Security System (SSS) and Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) as contributors to the proposed MIF was scrubbed after strong opposition from members.

The MIF would still get a P50-billion contribution from the Land Bank of the Philippines, P25 billion from the Development Bank of the Philippines, and P25 billion from the National Treasury.

The proposed measure states that the fund shall be used to invest on a strategic and commercial basis in a manner designed to promote fiscal stability for economic development and strengthen the top-performing government financial institutions (GFIs) through additional investment platforms that will help attain the national government’s priority plans.

The proposed sovereign wealth fund is patterned after the SWFs of 49countries including Singapore, China, Hong Kong, South Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan, Vietnam, and East Timor.

Bulacan's latest component city after Meycauayan, San Jose del Monte, and the provincial capital Malolos.

The city has a land area of 45.05 square kilometers which constitutes 1.62 percent of Bulacan's total area. Its population as determined by the 2020 Census was 168,470.

This represented 4.54 percent of the total population of Bulacan province or 1.36 percent of the overall population of the Central Luzon region.

Based on these figures, the population density is computed at 3,740 inhabitants per square kilometer.

gave assurances the victim's kin would receive cash assistance from the local government, while arson probers are looking for the possible cause of the blaze.

City Fire Marshall Superintendent Eugene Briones said the bodies were recovered on the second floor of the house at 2801 Labraf Saint Vivora Compound on Bruger Street.

sowing terror in which over 50,000 died or were killed.”

The CPP ordered the NPA to perform a 21-gun salute on Dec. 26, the day of its 54th anniversary and the culmination of their 10-day mourning period.

"Let us dedicate our Party’s upcoming 54th anniversary to Ka Joma’s memory, to celebrate his life and all the victories that we have achieved under his leadership and guidance," it said.

The CPP declared Sison "as the greatest hero of the Filipino people in their past century of resistance against imperialism."

It added: "With Ka Joma's passing, the Party lost a great leader...

The Central Committee and the entire Party will forever be guided and inspired by Ka Joma's immortal revolutionary spirit." (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

Remulla: PAO is the heart of Justice Dept.

By Rio N. Araja

THE Public Attorney’s Office is the heart of the Department of Justice, according to DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla.

During the recent PAO orientation and oath-taking ceremony of newly appointed public lawyers and staff at the Bayview Park Hotel in Manila, the Justice chief lauded PAO chief Persida Rueda-Acosta, saying: “The role of the PAO chief is really to be heart of the DOJ.”

“Almost 180 days have passed since I assumed office under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., (and) the person who made my life easier (and) very helpful to the DOJ is Persida Acosta,” he told the 496 new lawyers.

“PAO is the best training ground (for new lawyers) in the country,” he said.

Rueda-Acosta said “sometimes, there must be humanitarian justice.”

She is one of the top five personalities honored by the Junior Chamber International Senate Philippines that recently presented The Outstanding Filipino (Tofil) 2022.

PAO has the highest rating among the institutions and legal professionals in the justice sector based on a survey of the Social Weather Station with net trust ratings of +57 and +58.

DOH targets bivalent vaccines by Q1 2023

By Willie Casas

THE Department of Health (DOH) is hoping to have bivalent vaccines available by the first quarter of 2023.

The DOH said it is already coordinating with the suppliers for the second-generation COVID-19 vaccines, or bivalent vaccines, that protect individuals from the Omicron variant.

"As for the DOH, we are already coordinating with suppliers for the procurement of bivalent vaccines. We are targeting to have vaccines available by Q1 of 2023. We are also coordinating with potential donors of COVID-19 bivalent vaccines," the department said in a statement.

The DOH said the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people stay up to date with their COVID-19 vaccination by completing the primary series and a booster dose.

"It is also important to note that bivalent mRNA vaccines are not authorized or approved at this time for primary series doses," it added.

DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire earlier said they were still in the process of negotiating with vaccine manufacturers Moderna and Pfizer regarding the procurement of the bivalent vaccines.

Vergeire also said that Moderna had already submitted their complete dossier or vaccine documents to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Some 3,691,412 eligible Filipinos received second boosters as of December 12, according to government data.

(See full story online at manilastandard.net)

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recovered on Saturday, Dec. 17, were metal and plastic debris measuring two meters long and four meters wide. They were found floating in waters some 55 nautical miles west of Subic.

The materials were believed to be part of the rocket launched from the Wenchang Space Launch Center on October 31, carrying a research laboratory module to China’s Tiangong Space Station.

On November 22, the Department of National Defense stood by themilitary's account that the Chinese Coast Guard "rudely took" floating debris retrieved by the PCG in waters off Pag-Asa Island near Palawan on November 20.

The Chinese foreign ministry said that its coast guard took the object after a "friendly consultation" with the PCG side, but the Philippines filed a diplomatic protest over the issue. The Senate also expressed its "disgust" over the incident.

This developed as a boat belonging to the Philippine Navy received a radio challenge from the Chinese Coast Guard while on a resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) over the weekend.

The radio challenge was confirmed by Major Cherryl Tindog, spokesperson of the Western Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, according to a report on radio dzBB. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

Zulueta denies role in Lapid slay

AFORMER Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) official accused of being a mastermind in the killing of a journalist and a BuCor inmate denied that he had any involvement in the murders.

Quoted by an ABS-CBN News report, Ricardo Zulueta, a former BuCor deputy director for security and operations said the there is no truth in the accusations and in the complaint lodged against him.

On Nov. 7, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Philippine National Police (PNP), and Department of Justice (DOJ) filed murder charges against Zulueta, former BuCor director general Gerald Bantag, and several BuCor in-

Baguio tourists to ramp up with more PAL flights

THE Baguio City government said it is expecting more business and leisure travelers to visit the city with the availability of commercial flights at Loakan Airport and the Panagbenga Festival in February and March next year.

The City Tourism Office said it expects the leisure arrivals to increase by up to 10%, GMA News reported.

Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) on Friday launched the resumption of flights between Baguio and Cebu cities, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) earlier said.

In a statement, the CAAP said it welcomed PAL’s Cebu-Baguio-Cebu flights — to Loakan (Baguio) Airport from Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) and vice versa.

The annual Panagbenga Festival will have the grand street dance and grand float parade next year, the first time the two events will be held after the pandemic.

Local officials said the grand street dance parade will be held on February 25, 2023, while the grand float parade is scheduled on February 26, 2023.

The Panagbenga Festival will have its grand opening on February 1, 2023, and will end on March 5, 2023, with a grand aerial fireworks display.

mates for their supposed role in the shooting of radio commentator Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa and alleged middleman Jun Villamor.

Several inmates tagged Zulueta as the one who allegedly ordered the killings, purportedly under instructions from Bantag, reports said.

Surveillance footage supposedly showed gang leaders enter the BuCor admin office allegedly to meet with Zulueta and plot the killings.

While Zulueta admitted that he did call for a meeting, he claimed that it was for a different matter. He denied there was any talk of killings during the meeting.

Zulueta said that at the time, he was assigned as superintendent at the minimum security compound and could not easily enter the maximum security compound without permission from the superintendent in charge of the area, ABS-CBN News reported.

Asked why and who would implicate him in the killings, Zulueta said drug lords “must be behind the move to pin him and Bantag down,” although he did not back this with any proof.

He said the BuCor has been implementing programs against drugs in prisons, and drug lords have been wanting to gat back at them because of this. He also mentioned the BuCor’s efforst in dismantling and demolishing luxury kubols or huts at the New Bilibid Prison.

Zulueta, who surfaced for the first time in photos posted Friday by his lawyer since the controversy started, denied he was in hiding although he admitted he has been moving around and not been staying in one place because he and his family have been receiving death threats, the ABS-CBN News report further said.

PBBM: ‘Tara sa Palasyo’ for Christmas mass

Malacañang

Through the celebration theme dubbed “Tara sa Palasyo,” the Palace grounds are now open to the public starting Dec. 18 up to Dec. 24, from 7 p.m. up to 6 a.m. the next day.

The traditional “Misa de Gallo”, which will be until December 24, will give the public the chance to view the Christmas Tree and parols, according to a Palace announcement.

The dawn mass will be held at 4:30 in the morning in front of the Mabini Hall and those visiting the Malacañang can enter the Palace Grounds through Gate 6.

President Marcos announced the opening of the Malacañang Grounds for the traditional Simbang Gabi during the Christmas party held for the employees of the Office of the President last Friday.

Early this month, the President led the lighting of the Christmas tree at the Kalayaan Grounds in Malacañang, and also spearheaded a gift-giving event and Christmas celebration in front of the Palace.

The President said his goal is to make sure that every Filipino child will have a joyful and meaningful Christmas Vince Lopez

Bohol cop nabbed for robbery try

The Provincial Intelligence Branch of the Bohol Provincial Police Office (BPPO) said the cop was identified as the perpetrator of the said robbery incident.

According to Police Col. Lorenzo Batuan, director of BPPO, they launched a hot pursuit operation after a gasoline station in the Poblacion of Trinidad was robbed of P8,000 at past noon Saturday, ABS-CBN News reported.

The suspect was arrested in Barangay Soom, still in Trinidad, after police detected his motorcycle, the report said.

Through CCTV footage and thorough investigation, they arrested the police staff sergeant who is an active member of the police force detailed at the Dauis Municipal Police Station.

“He is also allegedly involved in other robbery incidents such as in Alicia and Duero towns,” Batuan said.

Unique art hub Sentro Artista finds home in Quezon City mall

I have been doing since the pandemic. It’s not actually a hobby but it kind of an addiction for me because it brings a lot of people together. I appreciate arts so much and I grew into it as I grew older. It keeps me happy all day, all night. It’s my stress reliever,” Atayde said.

This

“Definitely this is one of the things

Pilipinas Today sets sight on media, info projects

PILIPINAS Today unveiled plans to launch various projects including a complete media and information offering from a website geared up for metaverse and Web3 adoption to vlog and podcast hosting, digital shows, info shorts, and fact-checking pages.

With such off-beat, tickle-yourfunny-bones posts interspersed with showbiz, business, crimes, sports, politics, and world news, the up-andcoming Pilipinas Today social media outfit has been creating a lot of buzz.

Powered by SARTiNE’s well-established digital reach, Pilipinas Today— the catch-all banner of offshoot pages like Radyo Pilipinas Today and Pilipinas Today QC—is ready for a grand launch in 2023.

With veteran media personalities behind it, Pilipinas Today is seen to

bring digital multi-media to a new level not only as a news and entertainment platform but one geared toward fighting the proliferation of fake news.

“Our socmed pages, collectively, are serving, at the moment, as the tip of the iceberg of what Pilipinas Today would eventually be. It would be exciting and fun, with bits and pieces of everything local and global, but with a distinctive Filipino flair,” Pat Junio, concept manager, told Manila Standard.

“Coding the website is nearly complete and we’re already cobbling up all the necessary equipment so everything will blast off without a hitch. Needless to say, we’re hiring,” Junio said.

SARTiNE chief executive officer Renesar A. Deunida welcomed Pilipinas Today as a client, with his com-

pany expected to provide the media start-up the technological muscle, innovation and the years of experience in mass media.

“Pilipinas Today could not have chosen a better time to compete with well-established information brands. What YouTube and the other socmed platforms have taught us is that content is king and that anyone can be the star of his or her own show.”

According to Deunida, digital ad revenues in Asia-Pacific had been forecasted to increase by six percent in 2023.

“Technology is the great equalizer, and we’re bringing that into the table for Pilipinas Today. I’m pretty excited about the possibilities for an outfit that has so many talented and dedicated people on board,” Deunida said.

Atayde, 32, known as the young matinee idol and a good actor, admitted that he met a lot of art and painting collectors like businessman Joseph Lumbad, season veteran journalist Jay Ruiz and some other friends who share the same passion of collecting arts and help the artists to promote their works.

“Well I’m very happy that there’s a new art gallery here in Quezon City because personally I am an advocate for culture and the arts, and I feel happy that this gallery focuses on up and coming talented young artists,” Belmonte said. “That’s the advocacy I am happy and willing to support.”

SENTRO Artista launched its maiden exhibit entitled “Forever Young,” a unique art hub, featuring Tanya Gaisano Lee and RJ Burlat from Mindanao.

They are joined by sought-after Metro Manila artists Mylene Quito, Kwin Chi, Bell Sison, and Bryan Apolinario. The event was also marked with the release of its first OPM single entitled Paskong Kasama Ka produced by Marjorie Ruiz, Director of Sentro Artista.

original Filipino song was composed by hit maker and Awit awardee

Marizen Yaneza Soriano, arranged and accompanied by classical guitarist Aaron Aguila and sung by Sophie Alcaraz. Sentro Artista founders Quezon City first district Congressman Arjo Atayde, Quezon City first district Councilor Dra. Geleen Lumbad, and husband Joseph Lumbad, veteran journalist Jay Ruiz and wife Marj Ruiz collectively created a distinctive home for talented Filipino artists around the country to showcase their masterpieces.

Mayor Belmonte, one the distinguished guests in the Sentro Artista launch praised the Sentro Artista for promoting promising and established local artists, painters, sculptors, photographers, singers and musicians, actors and actresses, poets, craftsmen among others.

AUTHORITIES arrested a fellow member of the police force who was suspected of robbery in Trinidad town in Bohol.

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. announced last week that the public can now enter the

Palace Grounds to view the Malacañang Christmas Tree and parols and attend the Simbang Gabi.

CHRISTMAS RUSH. With seven days left before Christmas, shoppers flock to Divisoria, Manila to purchase holiday gifts on Sunday.

The Philippine National Police has deployed more police personnel in the area, where an average of 500,000 shoppers visit during weekends.

Norman Cruz

SENTRO ARTISTA LAUNCH. (From left) QC 1st district Congressman Arjo Atayde, QC Mayor Joy Belmonte, QC 3rd district Councilor Dr. Geleen Lumbad and Marjorie Ruiz lead the ribbon-cutting during the launching of Sentro Artista last December 15 at the Arton by the Strip in Rockwell Quezon City.

GIFT-GIVING IN NAVOTAS.

Navotas Mayor John Rey Tiangco distribute Christmas ham to Navoteño families as part of the government’s gift-giving efforts. Andrew Rabulan

Westcom delivers supplies to troops at Ayungin Shoal

THE Western Command (Wescom) on Sunday said it shrugged off the menacing presence of the China Coast Guard at the contested West Philippine Seas (WPS) and successfully delivered supplies to Filipino troops manning the BRP Sierra Madre which has been stationed at the Ayungin Shoal.

“The Wescom of the Armed Forces of the Philippines announced the completion of another resupply mission on December 17 to troops manning the BRP Sierra Madre, which is grounded in Ayungin Shoal in the WPS,” unit said in a statement.

Wescom said several China militia vessels in the area challenged and tailed the Philippine supply boat.

“The Chinese radio challenges would claim that the sea area near the Philippine ship is ‘under the jurisdiction of the People’s Republic of China,’ that they are allowing supplies to be delivered, and warned that bringing construction materials will be dealt with,” Wescom said.

These radio challenges would always be followed by the Chinese vessels conducting close maneuvers against the Philippine supply boats in an apparent bid to interdict the supply mission.

Wescom commander Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos underscored the significance of the BRP Sierra Madre serving as a Philippine outpost closes to the Chinese military garrison on Mischief Reef.

“The Mischief garrison is in our country’s exclusive economic zone and is China’s closest military facility to Palawan. That is why resupply missions are critical in maintaining our presence in Ayungin,” Carlos said.

Co foresees consolidation of all BHW bills

By Rio N. Araja

THE

BHW party-list Rep. Angelica Natasha Co said however that the Senate has yet to come up with a consolidated substitute bill that would serve as their counterpart measure to the Houseproposed proposed law for BHWs.

There are currently 14 bills on barangay health workers benefits pending in the Senate.

“When the Senate integrates the House version into their consolidated Senate bill, that would be the best-case scenario for our cause. It would hasten the process and there may be no need later for a bicameral conference. After all, there would be nothing to reconcile and so the bill skips ahead to ratification by both chambers,” Co said.

The legislative conditions for the magna carta bill are improved now “so our focus will be on convincing the Senators to support our bill and ensure its smooth sailing in the Senate,” she added.

During the 18th Congress, the proposed Magna Carta of Barangay Health Workers was unable to gain traction in the Senate for lack of material time and because of the higher priority given to pandemic response measures and economic reforms.

DOH: Cholera rises this year

By Willie Casas

THE incidence of cholera is manifestly on the rise based on last year’s data, but authorities gave assurance that the disease remained manageable.

Department of Health (DOH) figures showed a total of 5,860 cholera cases were recorded from January 1 to November 26, this year, indicating a 282-percent increase over the same period last year.

The DOH data revealed that from January 1 to November 26, 2021, there were only 1,534 cholera cases in the country.

Based on the surveillance records, Eastern Visayas was highest at 3,620

AETAS GO TO TOWN.

A pregnant Aeta mother immerses herself with a cell phone while in line to receive food packs and Christmas gifts from a nongovernment organization at Liwasang Bonifacio where some 600 homeless people gathered on Sunday for the gift-giving and a religious blessing.

cases (62 percent), followed by the Davao Region with 810 cases (14 percent), and Central Luzon with 336 cases (6 percent).

Meanwhile, from October 30 to November 26 this year, there were 640 cholera cases recorded.

Eastern Visayas again topped the list with the highest number of cholera cases recently at 472 (74 percent).

Western Visayas comes next with 50

cases (8 percent), and Central Luzon with 37 cases (6 percent).

Nationwide, the death toll nationally due to cholera also jumped to 67, representing 1.1 case fatality rate.

Nonetheless, the DOH said that no local government has declared a cholera outbreak as cases remained “manageable” due to the coordination of hospitals and DOH in monitoring and treating patients.

“We have many teams on-ground addressing our current cholera cases, while we further strengthen our surveillance and response systems nationwide,” DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a statement.

The DOH said they also provide as-

sistance to critical areas to ensure patients have access to treatments, as well as potable water.

The DOH also coordinates with concerned agencies through the Inter-Agency Committee on Environmental Health to improve their water, sanitation and hygiene services to ensure public health and reduce the risk of getting diarrheal diseases.

The DOH, through its Centers for Health Developments, and local government units continuously implements drinking water quality surveillance programs, and sanitation concerns to ensure that open defecation practices are eliminated and there is a proper disposal of feces and sewage waste.

Imee launches own cookbook on local foods

SENATOR Imee Marcos on Saturday rolled out her cookbook titled “PinakBest! Recipes from the Marcos Kitchen & More” saying it could help make Filipino cuisines globally popular.

The book launching was held at the Pandesal Forum of the 83-yearold Kamuning Bakery Cafe in Quezon City.

The culinary book was completed in collaboration with award-winning chef Reggie Aspiras, daughter of former Tourism Minister Jose Aspiras under the watch of the late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.

Solon lauds PBBM advocacies on global warming

CAMARINES Sur Rep. LRay Villafuerte has cited President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s determination to seek international compensation for high-risk countries over “loss and damage” due to global warming.

Villafuerte said Marcos’ call aired during his just-concluded trip to Brussels, Belgium for more advanced economies to pay for the adverse effects of climate change boosted the President’s “growing stature as a champion of developing nations demanding payment for damages resulting from global warming.

Marcos, who had made climate change one of his key advocacies in all of his overseas trips since assuming office last June 30, has “pushed the envelope in his just-concluded journey to Belgium by pitching for more concrete guidelines on how affluent economies that are the world’s biggest greenhouse gas (GHG) emitters could compensate highly vulnerable economies like the Philippines that have contributed little to planet heating for their loss and damage resulting from the increasingly deadlier climate-induced natural disasters,”

Villafuerte said.

“In making such a pitch for loss-anddamage compensation, whose concept was agreed upon by participant-countries in last month’s COP27 summit in Egypt, President Marcos has focused global attention anew, whether he likes it or not, on his rising international stature as the champion or unofficial spokesman of the world’s most vulnerable economies that are seeking climate justice from wealthy nations like those in Europe that have grown even richer from being the heaviest carbon polluters,” Villafuerte added. Maricel V. Cruz

Villars cited for Orani dairy project

BATAAN provincial councilor Tony Boy Roman has lauded a project established in Orani town, Bataan by the Villar political family of Las Piñas City.

The project called “Dairy Box” was set up last week in Orani with Senators Cynthia Villar and Mark Villar in attendance.

“Sa Dairy Box na ideya ni Sen. Cynthia Villar, malikhain at kumpleto ang programa mula production, processing, at marketing ng gatas at dairy products,” Roman said.

Former Senate President Manny Villar’s mother hailed from Barangay Pacar in Orani.

“Makikinabang ang mga magsasaka. Bukod sa nabigyan sila ng mga kalabaw na pangangalingan ng gatas, matututunan pa nila kung papaano i-process at imarket ang gatas at dairy products,” Roman noted.

“Makikinabang din ang mamamayan, lalo na ang mga kabataan, dahil mayaman sa protina ang gatas”, he added. Roman is also from Orani. Butch Gunio

Among the prominent personalities present at the event were Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, Dept. of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Alfredo Pascual, Representative Roman Romulo, Cultural Center of the Philippines chairman and Philtrust Bank vice-chairman Dr. Jaime Laya, Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) president Dr. Henry Lim Bon Liong, FFCCCII honorary president and Bank of Commerce chairman Ambassador Francis Chua, FFCCCII vice-president and LT Group, Inc. president Michael Tan, FFCCCII vice-president Joey Go, FFCCCII public information committee chairman and Pandesal Forum moderator Wilson Lee Flores.

The senator revealed that her parents late President Marcos and former First Lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos loved foods, but they had contrasting preferences and tastes.

Imee said her father preferred Ilocano, healthy and predominantly vegetable dishes, while her Visayan and Waray mother loves richer or “Imeldific” foods like her Chicken Relleno recipe (which Imee described as “the centerpiece of Imeldific Christmases”!), as well as hams and chorizos.

Imee also said she loves to cook, but that she is “a gangster chef” with simpler and impatient ways.

She disclosed that the “best, more talented and sophisticated cook” in the Marcos family is her younger brother President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr.

House-approved Magna Carta of Barangay Health Workers (BHW) is expected to be integrated with at least 14 Senate bills on the same issue in the coming months.

CHRISTMAS AND THE BEASTS. Malabon Zoo founder Manny Tangco, saying Christmas is for the animals, too, holds a Christmas party for his wards, represented in this photo by a lion cub and an orangutan at the Malabon Zoo, Aquarium and Botanical Garden.

Andrew Radulan

Danny Pata

DRUG SNIFFER. A Philippine Coast Guard operative and his drug sniffing K9 partner who were deployed to undertake the PCG’s Oplan Biyaheng Ayos: Christmas 2022, check on piles of luggage at the Manila North Harbor as province-bound travelers surge to spend the holidays in the regions.

EDITORIAL

is more hospitable to onion growing.

Oh yes, we do export some crops from the onion genus, mostly shallots, to Indonesia, where they are in high demand.

Most of these come from the Ilocos region, where in summer we see tiny shallots and the tinier but prized native garlic in braids hanging in roadside stores. Except for its use in pickling, few households in the country use shallots as much as onions.

THE other day, our cook went to market and bought onions, among other food items. When she got back to the house, I saw five red creole onions and one huge white onion bulb.

Considering that I have not seen white onions in market or grocery for a long time, I asked why she had a single white bulb.

She replied by saying that there was a stock of red onions with a few white ones interspersed. Surprised, she asked how much the white would cost.

“You can get red onions, and add one white, at 350 pesos per kilo…but just one… imported ‘yan”—‚that was the vegetable retailer’s response. And knowing that we prefer white onions for our bistek Tagalog, she took the bait.

I knew it. Since there had been some noise and a few raids on “smuggled” onions, retailers could not sell white onions separately from their local reds (some are also imported), and since everyone has accepted the fact that red onions retail for 300 pesos plus your tears, the single white onion bulb, huge as it was, made 350 pesos a deal.

We have a long way to go in solving our food security problems, but President Marcos Jr. is off to a good start with the quantum boost in funding

You cannot beat the retailers, nor the wholesalers.

They know their onions better than either law enforcers or the Department of Agriculture’s spokesman (incidentally, why have they replaced the pretty USec Kristine Evangelista with Rex Estoperez? Maybe Kristine found it too stressful to keep lying or making excuses).

Although onions, or garlic, or even chili peppers are not as important as rice or fish, pork or chicken, everyone is in a quandary as to why these aromatics are priced so exorbitantly these days.

Onions have become the symbol of food inflation in the country.

In a meme I saw recently, there was this buyer complaining about the cost of onions. “Para namang ginto ang presyo ng sibuyas,” she complained.

To which the seller jocularly riposted: “E ma’am, ‘di ba golden days ngayon?”

Let’s flash back to the hot summer of this year. In Bongabon, Nueva Ecija, the onion capital of Central Luzon, farmers complained of the very low farm-gate price offered by traders for their onions.

In Mindoro Occidental, farmers decided to burn or bury their bumper onion harvest, rather than sell to traders who were offering very much less than their cost of production.

Since October this year, we saw red onions in our markets go up in price from 250 to 300 pesos, even more as Christmas approaches.

Smugglers of onions mostly from China have to unload their hoard soon, because prices will yield to supply come local harvest time in the first quarter of next year.

Onions will not grow well in Mindanao, whose soil is more suitable to plantation crops, like bananas, rubber, and other fruit trees, and where the rainfall is more than what Luzon gets.

Northern and Central Luzon’s sandy loam

We import garlic from Taiwan and China, and except for the Ilocos’ bulb, almost all the garlic we buy in NCR are imported. These are less pungent and redolent as the homegrown garlic, but are easier to peel.

In the time of the president’s father, when globalized free trade was unknown, my favorite solomillo a la pobre from Casa Marcos used those small Ilocos garlic, and didn’t bother to peel these.

But back to knowing our onions.

Properly stored after aeration in humidity and moisture controlled cold storage facilities, onions can last up to 10 months.

But because there are few cold chain facilities in the country, mostly privatelyowned where moisture and proper storage conditions are not followed, our onion farmers have to sell their produce before they rot.

Many of the smuggled items are kept in the original refrigerated containers that promote bacteria-formation as they are not intended for long storage.

Climate change has also wrought ill effects on our crops.

Our rainy season used to come in June and last till September. It has now begun as early as late April.

This has disturbed both the harvest and the planting of major crops like palay. Now what has this to do with onions?

In the un-irrigated farms, palay is planted in the wet season, and after harvest, many plant alternate crops such as onions, because these require a lot less water than palay.

After harvesting onions in the first quarter, they then prepare their fields for palay once more, expecting the rains to come and provide for the water-guzzling staple.

If we had made good use of the Food Terminal which President Marcos Sr. established, and expanded it to critical farming regions instead of allowing it to go to rot with disrepair even to the point of cannibalizing and selling the steel and timber trusses of one of Southeast Asia’s largest cold storage facilities, we could have helped our onion and vegetable growers get higher incomes, with market prices stabilized.

There are, to be sure, many, many more horror stories of neglect and corruption that plague Philippine agriculture.

But there are solutions, so that in time, with the proper use of the record P178 billion that the DA is getting from the national budget, a quantum leap principally because the president himself is at the helm of agriculture for now, we should be producing crops like palay and corn, onions and vegetables more, and cure the imbalance between supply and demand.

And we need to take climate change seriously.

Neighbors such as Taiwan have been at the forefront of using technology to help farmers, its state and privately funded research companies advising farmers on what to plant, when to plant, when to fertilize, all to achieve optimal results.

We have a long way to go in solving our food security problems, but President Marcos Jr. is off to a good start with the quantum boost in funding.

Let us just hope that funding is used properly, not for farm-to-pocket roads, or fertilizer scams, or overpriced and inappropriate “mechanization.”

Otherwise, the regime of high food prices will go on year after year, and not only those “noche buena” items the DTI frets about mindlessly at this time when out in the countryside and the urban warrens of poverty, it is the cost of fish and rice, instant noodles, kangkong and talong that bedevils the poor housewife more than sweet spaghetti and hotdogs, even onions or chili, holiday season or no longer.

The will to fight for what is ours

and will further damage our fragile economy. Given the near depletion of one of our largest energy sources, the Malampaya gas field, it is imperative to develop our energy resources in the West Philippine Sea.

An investment in the future

THE Maharlika Investment Fund bill approved by the House of Representatives before it adjourned last week for the Christmas break is, for all intents and purposes, an investment in the nation’s future.

How will it do that?

Once approved by the Senate and enacted into law, the Maharlika Investment Fund or MIF will utilize surplus money and investible funds of government to sustain the country’s economic growth.

The MIF is similar to the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) now existing in 70 countries in various parts of the world.

Most of the SWFs in the world today have grown in size over the years.

Of the 70 countries with SWFs, only one has failed because of the lack of transparency and an effective auditing mechanism.

Congress came up with the MIF because, it said, it did not want to impose new taxes that would mean an additional burden for ordinary Filipinos. Instead of taxes, lawmakers decided to tap surplus funds for long-term economic development programs and projects.

The government will set up a new corporation to be called Maharlika Investment Corporation.

All the books of accounts of MIC will be open to scrutiny by the Commission on Audit as mandated by the Philippine Constitution

This entity will have its own charter and will be supervised by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Securities Regulation Code.

The MIC will be governed by a Board of Directors with 15 members, including the Secretary of Finance as chair; a Chief Executive Officer; the presidents of the Land Bank of the Philippines and the Development Bank of the Philippines; seven regular members from government financial institutions; and four independent directors from the private sector.

It will also have an Advisory Body composed of the Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management, the NEDA Director General, and the National Treasurer.

The MIF will have an initial capital of P110 billion from the LandBank (P50 billion); DBP (P25 billion) and the balance from the 100 percent dividends of

the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

On its second year, the fund will increase some more from BSP dividends, 10 percent of earnings of PAGCOR and other government-owned gaming operators; and earnings from royalties and special assessments from the country’s natural resources.

But a crucial aspect of the MIF is protecting it from those all too eager to dip their fingers into the cookie jar.

It will be run like a corporation and be completely transparent in its operations.

It will have a Risk Management Unit consisting of five members with extensive experience in finance, economics, and investments.

The fund will be monitored by a Joint Congressional Oversight Committee composed of five senators and five members of the House of Representatives.

The fund will have three audit layers: internal, external (consisting of internationally accredited auditors), and the Commission on Audit.

All the books of accounts of MIC will be open to scrutiny by the Commission on Audit as mandated by the Philippine Constitution.

With built-in mechanisms to ensure zero-tolerance for corruption, the MIF will be a key instrument for the country’s socio-economic development— and offers the prospect of further reducing poverty and a better quality of life for all Filipinos.

To become a digital powerhouse

I HAD to go to my bank branch to reset my ATM PIN number for the third time since the pandemic broke out not because of any suspicion that my PIN number has been compromised, lost or stolen, but because I haven’t been using it for a long time, I had forgotten it, again.

This made me realize how digital transactions have become my default mode of payment and how almost all my purchases and payments have become cashless.

According to Statista’s December 2022 report, at the end of the first quarter of this year, 83 percent of the adult population of the Philippines or approximately 60 million people are GCash users.

Another survey from mobile data and analytics firm App Annie revealed that the GCash app was the most downloaded during the first nine months of 2020 when the country went thru the most stringent lockdowns.

These are quite impressive figures and actually quite palpable as every time I find myself out of cash because I forgot to replenish my wallet, I can always pay with the e-payment app on my mobile phone.

On the other hand, results of the 2021 (1st quarter) Financial Inclusion Survey of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed a big improvement of Filipino adults who now have bank accounts which was recorded at 56 percent from 29 percent in 2019.

This translates to a doubling increase to 42.0 million from 20.9 million of the previous year.

The survey also showed that the pandemic changed the financial behavior of 60 percent of Filipinos with 37 percent saving their money for emergencies and 17 percent using digital payments or online banking.

These surveys clearly show that Filipinos are quickly going digital and will demand 24

Special focus should be on empowering the micro, small and medium enterprises, which comprise 99.5 percent of registered enterprises, with digital skills that will help scale up their operations...

by 7 access to fast and reliable internet and telco services to connect and fulfill all their online transactions.

With this new normal already happening, the government must now move quickly to respond to this demand which, if unmet, would certainly stymie our economic recovery. The way all consumers and businesses are now heavily reliant on doing transactions online should be clear impetus for government to prioritize the on-the-fast development of digital assets that will provide, or at least be at par with, global standards.

No less than President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has become a champion for digital transformation with several pronouncements, the most recent of which was during the TELCO Summit 2022 where he said, to survive and thrive in a post pandemic economy, the country must digitize quickly and exploit the latest and best technology.

He assured his administration prioritizes digitalization and enjoined the private telcos to work together to build a level of connectivity where the Philippines can compete with its ASEAN neighbors.

The World Bank’s Philippine Economic Update (June 2022 Edition) recommends to “promote investment in connectivity by ensuring an efficient allocation of spectrum and advancing public private partnership models for infrastructure” and that “the

in the West Philippine Sea is “a big thing for us, that is why we need to fight (for what is ours) and take advantage if there really is oil there.”

By Ambassador Albert Del Rosario

ONE of the defining challenges of the Presidency of Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. is to enable Filipinos to access the West Philippine Sea, in the face of the continuing and illegal Chinese denial of our own resources.

If President Marcos Jr. is able to do this, it will show that his leadership is upholding the best interests of our countrymen.

The effects of China’s illegal and oppressive actions in the West Philippine Sea are now being felt by ordinary Filipinos.

With their meager income, most of our countrymen are constrained to pay for high prices in food and energy because these are becoming even scarcer.

Next year 2023, electricity prices in our country are projected to skyrocket, which will make living more difficult for our countrymen

Given the inflation in food prices, it is also imperative that we be able to sustainably develop our fisheries in the West Philippine Sea.

The West Philippine Sea is ours under the law and the 2016 Arbitral Award under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea or UNCLOS.

Thus, we do not need China’s consent or permission to use our own resources in the West Philippine Sea. Talking to China to give us access to the West Philippine Sea is like talking to a thief to give back what the thief stole from us.

How do we confront a superpower like China to give back what is ours?

Do we kowtow in the face of bullying and brute strength just like what former President Rodrigo Duterte did in the last six years?

Our leadership has the constitutional duty to protect what is ours and to uphold the best

interests of our countrymen.

This fundamental duty also applies to every Filipino for his or her own benefit, as well as for the benefit of future generations of Filipinos.

Given China’s might, it remains a reality that our country needs to be creative and resourceful to be able to enforce its rights.

On December 1, 2022, President Marcos, Jr. said that “there might be other ways [to explore oil and gas in the West Philippine Sea] so it does not have to be G-to-G (governmentto-government).”

He also declared that oil and gas exploration

The right partner for exploring the energy potential in the West Philippine Sea must respect thr Philippine’s ownership of the oil and gas resources in our territories.

We have the power to choose and engage the most qualified party, whether from China or other states, that we can trust to respect and support our national interests.

We have previously mentioned the examples of our neighbors, Malaysia and Indonesia, each sending their drilling ships last year 2021 in their respective waters.

Despite warnings and harassment from China, our neighbors proceeded with, and completed, their drilling.

Thus, Malaysia and Indonesia, whose waters are also claimed by China, were able to assert their sovereign rights over their waters, without the benefit of an UNCLOS Award and a mutual defense treaty with the US, like the Philippines.

In other words, we are in a better position to enforce our rights in the West Philippine Sea

Philippine government should leverage public private partnerships (PPP) to attract private investment and manage government assets, including physical assets, right-ofway, aggregated demand to create alternative sources of international bandwidth, the submarine cable landing station, and the domestic backbone network, especially in far-flung areas.”

Harnessing the PPP framework and offering incentives that will attract the right investors to develop digital infrastructure such as closing the backlog of telco common towers for mobile phone signal coverage should be prioritized. Telco infrastructure is listed in the Build Operate Transfer law where private investors can work with government as well as database facilities and information and communications technology networks which are essential if we are to be successful in a systemic and inclusive digital transformation.

We have seen how our quick shift to online transactions was critical in surviving the pandemic crisis.

We now have the opportunity to kick up the gears to sustainably recover our economic momentum.

But first we must solve the systemic gaps in our digital readiness in terms of upgrading and expanding digital infrastructure and equally critical is the parallel upskilling of our workforce with adequate digital skills.

This is where the private sector can help out educational and training institutions to be aligned not just with industry demand for skills sets but to support linkages for nurturing cutting edge digital innovations.

Special focus should be on empowering the micro, small and medium enterprises, which comprise 99.5 percent of registered enterprises, with digital skills that will help scale up their operations and reach potential markets beyond their localities and even globally the way foreign merchants are able to sell their goods directly to Filipino consumers.

The challenge to all sectors of our society is how we can synergize and harness our human, physical, and capital resources to convert our lead as a nation of technology consumers into a powerhouse of digital innovators and e-commerce players in the global digital economy.

than our neighbors. What is needed is an ironclad political will to do so.

We believe that winning the 2016 UNCLOS Award is former President Benigno Aquino’s III greatest legacy to the nation.

In the aftermath of winning the 2016 UNCLOS Award, former President Rodrigo Duterte left a shameful legacy of squandering the Award in a misguided quid pro quo for Chinese loans and investments which never materialized.

The enforcement of the 2016 UNCLOS Award—by successfully securing our energy and food resources in the West Philippine Sea—may prove to be President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.’s greatest legacy that he has yet to give to the Filipino nation.

(The author is Chairman, Stratbase ADR Institute, an independent international and strategic research organization that aims to address issues affecting the Philippines and East Asia. He was the DFA secreary from 2011 to 2016 during the presidency of Benigno Aquino III)

Rolando

Blanco Cabie Opinion Editor Lino M. Santos Chief Photographer

Talking to China to give us access to the West Philippine Sea is like talking to a thief to give back what the thief stole from us

Seoul: North Korea fires 2 more ballistic missiles

SEOUL—North Korea fired two mediumrange ballistic missiles Sunday, Seoul’s military said, days after Pyongyang announced a successful test of a solid-fuel motor for a new weapons system.

Military tensions on the Korean peninsula have risen sharply this year as Pyongyang has carried out an unprecedented blitz of weapons tests, including the launch of its most advanced intercontinental ballistic missile ever last month.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said it detected two medium-range ballistic missiles that had been fired from the Tongchang-ri area in North Pyongan province.

The missiles were fired from 11:13 am (0213 GMT) to 12:05 pm into the East Sea, it said, referring to the body of water also known as the Sea of Japan.

They were fired on a “lofted” trajectory and flew around 500 kilometres (311 miles), JCS said in a statement, adding South Korean and US intelligence were analysing the launch “in consideration of recent trends related to North Korea’s missile development”.

Ukraine races to restore power after Russian missiles batter grid

KYIV—Ukraine worked Saturday to restore electricity and water supplies after Russia’s latest wave of attacks pitched multiple cities into darkness and forced people to endure sub-zero temperatures without heating or running water.

The volley of missiles unleashed Friday came as President Vladimir Putin held extensive meetings with the military top brass overseeing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, where Moscow has stepped up bombardments.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said late Saturday electricity had been restored to almost six million Ukrainians, but noted ongoing problems with heat and water supplies, and “large-scale outages” in many regions.

“The main thing today is energy,” he said in his nightly address. “There is still a lot of work to do to stabilise the system.”

negubov said on Saturday, after the strikes had left Ukraine’s second city without electricity.

Ukraine’s national energy provider Ukrenergo had imposed emergency blackouts in response to the strikes, warning the extent of the damage in the north, south and centre of the country meant it could take longer to restore supplies than after previous attacks.

The country’s energy system “continues to recover”, it said on Saturday. ‘Barbaric’ attacks

In Russia, Putin sought proposals from his military commanders on how to proceed with the Ukraine offensive, according to the Kremlin.

Tongchang-ri is home to a major rocket launch site, where the North tested a “high-thrust solid-fuel motor” on Thursday, with state media describing it as an important test “for the development of another new-type strategic weapon system”.

“Given that the missiles launched today are medium-range ballistic missiles, it is assessed to be testfirings of a new ballistic missile equipped with the solid-fuel engine tested on December 15,” said Cheong Seong-chang, a researcher at the Sejong Institute.

The South’s military “strongly” condemned Sunday’s launch, calling it a “serious provocation” and a “clear violation” of UN Security Council resolutions.

VI-ASupply

VI-BSupply

VII-ASupply

VII-BSupply

In the capital Kyiv, the metro had stopped running so that people wrapped in winter coats could take shelter at underground stations, but Mayor Vitali Klitschko said Saturday the service had resumed.

Water supply had also been restored and 75 percent of the city’s population had their heating supply back.

In the eastern city of Kharkiv, power had also been fully returned, regional governor Oleg Si-

The Kremlin released footage Friday of Putin presiding over a round-table meeting with Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov among other top brass.

After a series of humiliating battlefield defeats, Russia has since October pursued an aerial campaign against what Moscow says are military-linked facilities.

But France and the European Union have said the suffering inflicted on freezing civilians constitutes war crimes, with the bloc’s foreign policy chief calling the bombings “barbaric”. AFP

China nursing homes struggle to save residents from COVID

BEIJING -- China’s nursing homes are fighting an uphill battle to keep their elderly residents safe as a wave of COVID-19 infections sweeps the country following a relaxation of the government’s zero-tolerance virus policy.

Facilities are locking themselves off from the outside world with staff sleeping on site, while struggling to get their hands on drugs.

Authorities have warned of rapidly growing caseloads, and industry ministry official Zhou Jian said on Wednesday that the country was “making all-out efforts to ramp up the production of key medicines”.

Experts fear the country is ill-equipped to

manage the “exit wave” of infections as it presses ahead with reopening, with millions of vulnerable elderly people still not fully vaccinated. And eldercare facilities have now been left to fend for themselves as society reopens, the manager of one privately run Beijing home said.

“We are fully sealed off,” the manager, who asked to remain anonymous, told AFP. Only food and supplies are allowed in -- no one is allowed to enter or leave.

He said the home had ordered medical supplies “at a high price”, but they had not arrived yet after a week, with the city’s logistics network battered by infections among delivery workers. AFP

Tense Fiji poll tied with all votes counted

SUVA—Final results showed Fiji’s tumultuous general election deadlocked Sunday, with two rival ex-coup leaders failing to win a clear majority of seats in parliament.

Incumbent Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama’s Fiji First party and a coalition led by Sitiveni Rabuka were both projected to secure 26 seats in the 55-seat legislature, according to a Fijian Election Office tally posted online.

The prime minister and the next government will now likely be determined through party horsetrading and what could be a drawn-out negotiation process.

The election holds significance beyond Fiji -- Bainimarama, 68, has been close with Beijing, while Rabuka, 74, has signalled his desire

"Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late Janet Songcuya Roque has issued an Affidavit of Adjudication by heirs as per Doc No. 310 ; Page No. 62; Book No. 82; Series of 2022 before Notary Public Atty. Ma. Luisa R. Valenzuela of Quezon City."

NOTICE DONE VOTING. A Tunisian voter shows her ink-stained finger after voting in the parliamentary election, at a polling station in Mnihla district outside Tunis on December 17.

Tunisians started voting a lacklustre election Saturday for a parliament with virtually no power, the final pillar in President Kais Saied’s political overhaul in the birthplace of the Arab Spring. AFP

to loosen Fiji’s ties to China.

Fiji has been upended by four coups in the past 35 years, and many on the streets of its capital, Suva, had hoped in vain for a smooth election.

The cliffhanger result caps a fractious campaign marked by allegations of fraud and calls for the military to intervene.

After polls closed Wednesday, opposition leader and former rugby international Rabuka claimed “anomalies” in the count and asked the country’s powerful military to step in.

He was then hauled in for questioning by detectives. On his release, he told AFP it was part of a government effort to intimidate him. AFP

“Our military will maintain a firm readiness posture based on the ability to carry out an overwhelming response to any provocations by North Korea,” it added.

Kim’s wishlist

Despite heavy international sanctions over its weapons programmes, Pyongyang has built up an arsenal of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). AFP

IN BRIEF

Pope ready to quit should health fail

VATICAN CITY—Pope Francis revealed for the first time in an interview Sunday that he had signed a resignation letter nearly a decade ago should poor health prevent him from carrying out his duties.

Francis -- who turned 86 on Saturday -- has said in the past that he would step down from the papacy should health problems keep him from his duties.

In Spanish newspaper ABC, the pontiff said he signed his resignation letter and handed it over to the Vatican’s secretary of state, Tarcisio Bertone, before that cardinal’s retirement in 2013.

“I signed the resignation and I told him, ‘In case of medical impediment or whatever, here’s my resignation. You have it’,” the pope said. AFP

Ireland’s Varadkar PM for second time

DUBLIN—Ireland’s Leo Varadkar on Saturday took over as prime minister for the second time, a handover of power in line with a coalition deal struck in 2020.

Varadkar replaced Micheal Martin as Taoiseach (premier) in a rotation between his Fine Gael and Martin’s Fianna Fail parties unprecedented in Irish history.

The centre-right parties, the two main political partners in a three-party governing coalition, were forged from opposing sides in the Irish Civil War in the early 20th century.

They agreed to the rotating premiership as part of a coalition with Ireland’s Greens following 2020 elections.

Varadkar, who is mixed race and openly gay, is stepping up from deputy premier. Even in his second stint in the role, at 43 he is still one of Ireland’s youngestever leaders. AFP

MS-(DEC. 19 & 26, 2022 - JAN. 2, 2023)

SANTA CARACAS. A man dressed as Santa Claus carrying his bag with gifts greets children in the Barrio Nuevo community during an unusual walk up a hill between graves to visit children and distribute toys in poor areas in Caracas, on December 17. A group of local journalists together with volunteers and members of the non-governmental organization Caracas Mi Convive, which seeks to prevent and reduce violence in poor neighborhoods, led the initiative that brings Santa Claus with toys to children within the framework of Christmas. AFP

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

CYAN

Stocks seen moving sideways this week

By Jenni er B. Austria

LOCAL stocks are expected to move sideways this week, with a downward bias as US recession fears grow following successive interest rate hikes.

Analysts said investors were worried the continued interest rate hikes would eventually push the US into the brink of recession which would also affect the global economy.

The US Fed signaled last week it would keep rates high as inflation remained elevated. It also aims to bring down inflation rate to 2 percent from its 2022 peak of 9.1 percent in June.

Germany opens LNG terminal, adapts without Russian energy

WILHELMSHAVEN, Germany—Germany on Saturday inaugurated its first liquefied natural gas terminal, built in record time, as the country scrambles to adapt to life without Russian energy.

The rig in the North Sea port of Wilhelmshaven was opened by Chancellor Olaf Scholz at a ceremony on board a specialist vessel known as an FSRU, named the Hoegh Esperanza.

“It’s a good day for our country and a sign to the whole world that the German economy will be able to remain strong,” Scholz said from the boat.

The Hoegh Esperanza sounded its horn as the chancellor, dressed in a high visibility jacket, approached.

The ship has already been stocked with gas from Nigeria that could supply 50,000 homes for a year, and the terminal is set to begin deliveries on December 22.

Germany plans to open four more government-funded LNG terminals over the next few months, as well as a private terminal in the port of Lubmin.

Together, the terminals could deliver 30 billion cubic meters of gas a year from next year, or a third of Germany’s total gas needs—if Berlin can find enough LNG to service them.

LNG terminals allow for the import by sea of natural gas, which has been chilled and turned into a liquid to make it easier to transport.

The FRSU stocks the LNG then turns it back into a ready-to-use gas.

Until now, Germany had no LNG terminals and relied on cheap gas delivered through pipelines from Russia for 55 percent of its supply.

Supply worries

But since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, gas supplies to Germany have been throttled and Berlin has been forced to rely on LNG processed by Belgian, French and Dutch ports, paying a premium for transport costs. AFP

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas raised interest rate by 50 basis points last week to match the US rate hike. The central bank adjusted interest rates by 350 basis points this year to curb inflation and may continue raising rates next year, according to analysts.

“We think the consolidation is healthy for the potential to break the 6,800 resistance levels for the next leg up,” Utrade head of research Gabryle Aguila said.

“The headwind of the higher interest rate projections by the US Fed opens up an opportunity for accumulation,” he said.

Aguila said as the index consolidates at this level, investors could fi nd new optimism on the outlook of easing inflation going into 2023.

The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange Index lost 1.3 percent last week a to close at 6,496

on Friday on prospects of more aggressive rises in interest rates to fight inflation and concerns over the global economy entering recession next year.

After a healthy rally in recent weeks fueled by signs that price rises were slowing, the US Federal Reserve, European Central Bank and Bank of England dampened the holiday cheer by hiking borrowing costs again by sizable amounts and warning of more pain.

While inflation in many leading economies has started coming down—helped by a drop in energy costs—it still remains at or near multi-decade highs.

Observers have warned that economies could be heading for a period of stagflation where prices keep rising but growth stalls.

“In a nutshell, it is all about fears over a sharper economic slowdown in 2023 than previously expected,” noted Fawad Razaqzada, market analyst

at City Index trading group.

“While macro data have been weak of late, there was still hope that the downturn might be shortlived and that a recession might be avoided in some regions altogether, amid signs of inflation peaking in some regions like the US.”

The latest rate hikes came as data showed US and UK retail sales dropping in November as consumers—key drivers of growth—feel the pinch from high prices and rate hikes.

Recession on horizon?

Eurozone and London shares all closed firmly in the red.

Wall Street stocks meanwhile extended losses too, with major indices ending about one percent lower.

OANDA analyst Craig Erlam said the prospect of a “Santa rally” was fading. With AFP

ENERGY PARTNERSHIP. Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban

TOP GAINERS

LAST % PRICE CHANGE CHANGE

1 NI 0.78 0.14 21.88%

2 VVT 15.22 2.38 18.54% 3 NOW 1.56 0.12 8.33% 4 HOME 1.48 0.09 6.47% 5 TUGS 1.01 0.06 6.32% 6 PREIT 1.7 0.1 6.25% 7 ANI 7.9 0.45 6.04% 8 HOUSE 9.95 0.47 4.96% 9 CTS 0.95 0.04 4.40% 10 PSB 56.95 1.95 3.55%

TOP LOSERS

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EU member states agree on major carbon market reform

BRUSSELS, Belgium—EU member states and parliamentarians on Sunday announced an agreement for a major reform to the bloc’s carbon market, the central plank of its ambitions to reduce emissions and invest in climate-friendly technologies.

The deal aims to accelerate emissions cuts, phase out free allowances to industries and target fuel emissions from the building and road transport sectors, according to a European Parliament statement.

The EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) allows electricity producers and industries with high energy demands, such as steel and cement, to purchase “free allowances” to cover their carbon emissions under a “polluter pays” principle.

The quotas are designed to decrease over time to encourage them to emit less and invest in greener technologies as part of the European Union’s ultimate aim of achieving carbon neutrality.

Negotiators

es environmental standards on imports into the bloc based on the carbon emissions linked to their production, will offset the reduction of free allowances and allow industries to compete with more polluting non-EU rivals.

The deal means emissions in the ETS sectors are to be cut by 62 percent by 2030 based on 2005 levels, up from a previous goal of 43 percent. Concerned industries must cut their emissions by that amount.

The agreement also seeks to accelerate the timetable for phasing out the free allowances, with 48.5 percent phased out by 2030 and a complete removal by 2034, a schedule at the center of fi erce debates between MEPs and member states.

The carbon market will be progressively extended to the maritime sector, intraEuropean flights, and waste incineration sites, depending on a favorable report by the commission.

A “carbon border tax,” which impos-

The agreement also aims to make households pay for emissions linked to fuel and gas heating from 2027, but the price will be capped until 2030.

The commission had proposed a second carbon market targeting building heating and road fuels, but the plan raised concerns as European households grapple with soaring energy prices exacerbated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

If energy prices continue to spiral, the application of this part of the agreement will be delayed by a year.

Funds from this second market will go to a “Social Climate Fund” designed to help vulnerable households and businesses weather the energy price crisis. AFP

Even former New York convicts given cannabis licenses

By Andréa Bambino

New

The policy, implemented by the state’s Democratic leaders, seeks to compensate AfricanAmerican and Hispanic communities whose members were disproportionately arrested and convicted during the decades weed was illegal.

“It’s such an exciting moment for my family,” said 31-year-old Guerrero, a PhD art history student whose parents are from the Dominican Republic.

“Especially given where we come from and everything we have been through, with the discriminatory policies that the city has had, like stop and frisk,” she told AFP.

Last month, Guerrero was one of the first 28 successful applicants who received their license to open an official store and sell locallygrown cannabis.

The licenses come more than a year after New York state, home to 20 million people, legalized cannabis use.

In New York City, the smell of weed is now about as ubiquitous as yellow taxis and shiny skyscrapers.

The city government expects the legal cannabis industry to generate $1.3 billion in sales as early as next year and between 19,000 and 24,000 jobs in three years. That represents much-needed tax revenues.

Racial disparities

Jeremy Rivera, is another New Yorker looking to profit. He was convicted of a “non-violent drug offense including cannabis” in 2016. He was released from prison in 2018 and has vowed never to go back.

The 36-year-old wants to put his knowledge of cannabis and business acumen to use

by opening a weed shop east of the city on Long Island.

The heavily tattooed Rivera, who grew up surrounded by crime in the borough of Queens, hopes to be among the next group of licensees.

“I want to become that beacon of light that shows people, ‘Hey listen, I’ve done it. I was a 20-year gang member, I was a year-long-round drug dealer. I made the decision to leave that lifestyle,’” he told AFP.

As well as the cannabis conviction, applicants must also own a profitable business to be eligible for one of the first 150 licenses, which will precede a full opening of the market.

In 2018, a state report estimated that there had been 800,000 arrests for marijuana possession in the previous 20 years.

In 2017, most of those arrested were Black (48 percent), while Hispanics made up 38 percent of arrests.

“Prohibition denied people opportunities, it caused divestment in communities, it broke up families,” said Tremaine Wright, chairwoman of the control board for New York’s Office of Cannabis Management (OCM).

Guerrero says that in the 2000s, the New York Police Department’s infamous stop-and-frisk policy, which disproportionately targeted people

of color, meant “we couldn’t be outside without getting picked up by the police.

“It was just living in a constant, constant state of surveillance and harassment,” she recalled.

While the cannabis program is ambitious, experts say implementation will have its challenges.

“We’re still at the very beginning of our journey of social equity. We need education, we need funding,” said Desmon Lewis, co-founder of The Bronx Community Foundation, which is assisting applicants.

Illegal sales

Last week, local media outlet NY Cannabis Insider reported that the team tasked with raising $150 million from private investors for the state’s $200 million fund to support retailers had missed a key deadline set by the state.

That raises concerns that candidates may not receive the ready-made stores they had been promised.

“For some people, it is very confusing. They are relying on this location and these funds. Now it’s like the sand is shifting below their feet”, said Eli Northrup of the Bronx Defenders non-profit.

Also causing concern is strong competition from unlicensed sellers, who have been emboldened by decriminalization. AFP

1 MED 0.164 -0.026 -13.68%

2 SFI 0.073 -0.006 -7.59%

3 X 0.246 -0.019 -7.17%

4 LPC 0.143 -0.009 -5.92% 5 GLO 2070 -126 -5.74%

6 AC 660 -40 -5.71%

7 NIKL 5.27 -0.29 -5.22%

8 C 1.15 -0.06 -4.96%

9 SMC2K 68.05 -3.45 -4.83% 10 PX 2.74 -0.12 -4.20%

MOST ACTIVE

VOLUME VALUE (PHP) 1 ALI 33,607,600 982,137,635 2 BDO 7,118,740 772,454,799

SMPH 12,892,200 432,402,450

ACEN 55,400,300 410,490,678

ICT 1,891,770 385,708,296

TEL 231,530 350,158,935

SM 340,930 314,679,350

JFC 1,175,180 271,962,036

GLO 111,430 234,431,130 10 BPI 2,337,720 232,140,179

representing member states and the parliament had spent more than 24 hours in intense talks before reaching an agreement on Saturday night that widens the scope of the European Union carbon market.

NEW YORK, United States—Naiomy

Guerrero’s brother was stopped by police often and was once convicted on drug charges when marijuana was illegal in New York. Now, she is setting up a legal cannabis business, a promising new market fraught with pitfalls.

York state is offering its first 150 licenses for the legal sale of cannabis to people—and their relatives—who have been convicted of offenses related to the drug, including selling.

(left) shakes hands with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, next to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen after the signing of an agreement on Strategic Partnership in the Field of Green Energy Development and Transmission between the governments of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania and Hungary at the presidential Cotroceni Palace in Bucharest on De. 17, 2022. AFP

People attend the unveiling of a citysanctioned cannabis dispensary showroom in New York City on Dec. 9, 2022. AFP

Households with savings

increased to 30.5% in Q4

MORE households saved money in the fourth quarter compared to the previous quarter, results of the latest Consumer Expectations Survey by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas show.

Data revealed the percentage of households with savings climbed to 30.5 percent in the fourth quarter from 27.5 percent in the third quarter. An increase in the number of savers was observed across all income groups.

The BSP said that by geographical area, the number of savers in the National Capital Region was steady, while the percentage of households with savings in areas outside NCR also increased.

“According to the respondents, they saved money for the following reasons: emergencies, health and medical expenses, retirement, education, housing, and business capital and investment,” the BSP said.

Respondents with savings kept their money, wholly or partially, in various institutions. Among savers, 76.8 percent kept their savings in a bank, a decline from 85.9 percent in the third quarter of 2022. Meanwhile, 64.2 percent kept their savings at home, and 49.3 percent saved in other institutions such as cooperatives, paluwagan, credit/loan associations, investments, and other institutions such as microfinance and insurance for safekeeping of their savings. Julito G. Rada

Aboitiz Power considers IPO for renewable unit

ABOITIZ Power Corp. is mulling over the listing of renewable energy subsidiary AP Renewables Inc. to raise financing for its RE pipeline portfolio, officials said over the weekend.

Aboitiz Power chief financial officer Liza Luv Montelibano said ARI would open the doors for investors interested in RE. “There are investors today that want pure renewable...They open the door if we do ARI,” Montelibano said.

She said the company has RE operating assets of about 1,100 MW, with another 1,000 MW in the pipeline.

“We know that we have a good renewable portfolio, and we have a pipeline. And there are varied ways to extract value…Whatever will be the right one at a specific point in time is what we will do,” Montelibano said.

She said they could do the initial public offering if the company became “valued so well already.” Alena Mae S. Flores

Cebu Pacific ramps up ights to Hong Kong

CEBU Pacific ramped up its flights to Hong Kong which recently relaxed entry restrictions for incoming travelers amid higher demand.

“We are encouraged to see Hong Kong easing its restrictions for international travelers, and we expect demand to pick-up as we know many are excited to fly there again,” said Cebu Pacific chief commercial officer Xander Lao.

“We have made available many flight options for everyJuan to further allow them to make those holiday trips possible,” he said.

Cebu Pacific flies the Manila-Hong Kong-Manila route up to five times daily, starting Dec. 11, 2022 until Jan. 30, 2023 to allow passengers to visit the top regional destination.

Candice Iyog, Cebu Pacific vice president for marketing and customer experience, earlier said the airline was now at 92 percent of its system wide capacity. The airline flies an average of 355 flights a day, covering 34 domestic and 19 international destinations. This is equivalent to about 64,000 seats daily.

Darwin G. Amojelar

PEZA endorses 786 firms’ registration transfer to BOI

By Othel V. Campos

ABOUT 786

companies with combined investments of P98 billion sought the transfer of their registration from the Philippine Economic Zone Authority to the Board of Investments to avail of fiscal incentives while continuing the work-fromhome arrangement for their employees.

The Department of Trade and Industry earlier issued Memorandum Circular

Budget

memorandum of agreement for the online release of notice of cash allocation at the DBM Head O ce in Manila on Dec. 7. With them are Deputy Treasurer Eduardo An0 thony Mariño III and Anti-Red Tape Authority o cer-in-charge Ernesto Perez. Under the agreement, the DBM and LandBank will work together to institutionalize the release of NCAs in digital format to eliminate the unnecessary steps of printing, signing routing and releasing of printed documents.

No. 22-19 to implement the registration transfer of mostly information technology-business process management companies. The affected firms were given until Dec. 16 to file their request for the transfer of registration from PEZA to BOI to adopt 100-percent WFH arrangement without losing their tax incentives.

The Fiscal Incentives Review Board allowed the lateral transfer of the firms’ registration because of PEZA’s restrictions on WFH arrangement. The BOI allows 100-percent WFH and does not require enterprises to locate in an economic zone. The transferees, however, are still required to maintain an office inside a PEZA-registered building/ ecozone.

PEZA said it endorsed 786 companies to the BOI as of Dec. 15, including 627 that already received their certificate of registration from the BOI.

“We have not discussed yet if we can move the deadline of application… We still need to assess the numbers, but so far, we’re working within that deadline,” said BOI managing head Ceferino Rodolfo in a briefing with reporters.

He said the BOI would closely coordinate with the IT-Business Process Association of the Philippines to expedite the application process and assessment.

PEZA earlier closed the agency’s deadline for application on Dec. 16, 2022 to provide ample time to assess the applications.

Meanwhile, PEZA clarified the confusion over the appointment of new roles in the agency. Acting PEZA deputy director-general for administration and finance Aleem Siddiqui Guiapal said acting PEZA director-general Tereso Panga would keep his designation based on the latest DO 22-16 issued by the Department of Trade and Industry.

EDC unveils plan to diversify power generation sources

By Alena Mae S. Flores

GEOTHERMAL leader Energy Development Corp. unveiled its power generation expansion program to include offshore wind and battery energy storage systems in the next ten years.

“We’re expanding in terms of our batteries. We have battery storage, and then some expansion in wind. We have a big concession coming,” EDC assistant vice president Allan Barcena said. Barcena said EDC was also expanding its geothermal capacity by 100 megawatts.

“We’re looking at 100 MW in total pipeline for geothermal,” he said.

The company has 1,181 MW of installed geothermal energy capacity in the country, which put the Philippines on the map as the third largest geothermal producer in the world.

Barcena said the expansion would include the 30-MW Palayan Binary Power Plant in Manito, Albay.

The PBPP project will expand EDC’s 130-MW Bacon-Manito geothermal facility and generate 215.8 gigawatt-hours of clean power.

EDC also plans to expand the Bacon-Manito geothermal plant in Bacon, Sorsogon City and Manito, Albay through the 30-MW Tanawon project.

The company will start the construction of the Tanawon project next year, with the permitting process already ongoing.

EDC is also pursuing the 30-MW Mahanagdong geothermal facility in Leyte, with plans to start construction next year.

Barcena said EDC was excited about the prospects for the 50-MW Amacan geothermal project in Mindanao.

The company also plans to develop its geothermal concession in Sumatra, Indonesia.

“Next year, we’ll do the exploratory drilling,” Barcena said. The Indonesia project has a potential of 100 MW.

Number of companies with hiring intention declined in Q4 amid high inflation

By Julito G. Rada

THE employment outlook turned less favorable as companies are not keen on hiring more workers over the next quarter amid the elevated inflation rate and weaker peso against the US dollar, results of the fourth-quarter Business Expectation Survey conducted by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas show.

Data showed the employment outlook index declined to 21.2 percent for the first

quarter of 2023 from 22.7 percent in the previous survey. Hiring outlook mfor the next 12 months also inched lower to 29 percent from 30 percent.

“The lower readings in Q4 2022 suggest that hiring intentions may turn less favorable for the next quarter and the next 12 months,” the BSP said in a statement.

The percentage of businesses in the industry sector with expansion plans for the first three months of 2023 also declined to 19.5 percent from 23.4 percent

in the previous quarterly survey.

Companies in the mining and quarrying, manufacturing and agriculture, fi shery and forestry sub-sectors that reported expansion plans declined, while those in the electricity, gas and water sub-sector increased.

The percentage of industry firms with expansion plans for the next 12 months slightly decreased to 22.9 percent from 23.2 percent.

The outlook for the first quarter of 2023

of the respondent firms was less optimistic across sectors, except for those in the construction sector, which posted a more upbeat outlook.

Firms in the industry, services and wholesale and retail trade sectors cited a number of reasons for their less favorable outlook, including lower consumer demand due to the increase in prices of goods including petroleum products and services as well as the peso depreciation.

NHMFC in 2023: Enhanced HLRPP and increased digitization

NHMFC is celebrating its 45th anniversary this year as the government’s premiere secondary mortgage institution. For over four decades and a half, NHMFC has witnessed improvements and changes in the provision of housing finance and in the capital market.

NOTEWORTHY AT 45

Among all the milestones of NHMFC, the Bahay Bonds series was the most notable.

In 2009, NHMFC launched the P2.06 billion Bahay Bonds 1—its maiden securitization issuance. It was the first residential mortgage-backed securities issued by a government agency in the Philippines.

The BB1 was remarkable as it emerged amid the global financial crisis that caught many of the world’s economies. It was also recognized as the “Securitization of the Year” by Asset Asian Awards 2009.

Green Atom signs deal to supply biomass power to Pampanga II Electric Cooperative

GREEN Atom Renewable Corp. and Pampanga II Electric Cooperative Inc. signed an agreement for the supply of biomass power.

GAREC will supply clean energy to PELCO II through its 10-megawatt biomass plant in Pampanga in compliance with the renewable energy portfolio standards.

RPS is a policy mechanism under Republic Act No. 9513 or the Renewable Energy Act of 2008, which encourages electricity suppliers, particularly the distribution utilities, to source or produce a specified portion of their power supply from eligible renewable energy resources.

PELCO II general manager Amador Guevarra said the PSA signing is “historic in many aspects.”

He said the company spent the last 20 years trying the find a waste-to-energy company capable of developing indigenous and environment-friendly energy sources.

Guevarra said the partnership with GAREC would provide relatively cheaper

but reliable electricity to consumers for the next 20 years.

“The partnership is one for the books. It’s the first time not only in Pampanga but for the entire Philippines that we have this kind of technology—a waste-to-energy power plant to be located in Pampanga and directly connected to the grid of PELCO II,” said Guevarra.

He said Green Atom’s “significant contribution” would help boost supply while reducing outages and improving operational revenues.

Green Atom chairman Luizo Ticman said there was an urgent need to gradually veer away from power supply that could be environmentally destructive.

Ticman said the PSA affirmed PELCO II and Green Atom’s commitment to contribute to climate change mitigation while providing green energy in the franchise area of the cooperative.

Ticman said waste-to-energy should address two of the country’s major concerns—garbage and electricity. Alena Mae S. Flores

Following the success of BB1, NHMFC issued the second series of Bahay Bonds in 2012—the Bahay Bonds 2. BB2 is the first retail mortgage-backed securities, which was later awarded as the “Innovative Listed Corporate Bond Issue of the Year.”

PAMBANSANG PABAHAY

As one of the key shelter agencies under Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development, the NHMFC envisions itself at the forefront of policy development supporting DHSUD and the national government in their direction to achieve the goals of the Marcos administration’s housing program.

The Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino program is a housing project of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. through DHSUD that aims to provide one million housing units annually to Filipinos.

“NHMFC aims to play a vital role in this endeavor, with the viewpoint of providing the necessary funding through securitization of the real estate mortgages generated by participating private banks and other government financial institutions,” NHMFC president Renato Tobias said.

In the recently-held NHMFC Stakeholders’ Night, DHSUD Secretary Jose Rizalino “Jerry” Acuzar said the compliance Asset-Backed Securities of NHMFC was approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

PLANS FOR 2023

Among the plans of NHMFC for 2023 is to elevate its Housing Loan Receivables Purchase Program and improve the digitalization of services.

Tobias said NHMFC stands on its objective of

developing the secondary mortgage market through securitization—which can be maximized by strengthening HLRPP and boosting technology.

The housing agency plans to further streamline their HLRPP processes, eliminate bottlenecks and unnecessary requirements.

“In 2023, our partner originators will benefit from a harmonized and enhanced Housing Loan Receivables Purchase Program. In addition, NHMFC will officially launch its bulk purchase program which will positively benefit us and our partner developers,” Tobias said.

Tobias also said they had been working hard to increase the number of accounts eligible for securitization through effective servicing and management of purchased accounts.

“In the years to come, we are hoping to maintain the collection efficiency ratio of our current accounts to 98 percent,” he said.

The NHMFC also anticipates joining the growing list of public and private institutions that incorporated technology as part of their processes. The corporation seeks to partner with organizations that offer digital solutions like PropTech Consortium of the Philippines to further improve delivery of public service.

“Through the digitization of our housing loan evaluation process, we will be able to further enhance our credit and portfolio analysis and in structuring and packaging housing loans into asset pools for securitization,”

Ray S. Eñano (on leave), Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com

Tobias said.

DBM-LANDBANK TIEUP.

Secretary Amenah Pangandaman (second from left) and Land Bank of the Philippines rst vice president Reynaldo Capa (right), together with representatives from other partner banks, lead the signing of the

EXPORTERS NIGHT. The Anti-Red Tape Authority and the Bureau of Customs are among the 28 trade regulatory government agencies and 16 top export performers recognized during the Exporters Night, one of the highlights of the National Exporters Week. Attending the event at Manila Marriott Hotel are (from left) Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry chairman Dr. William Co, Customs Commissioner Filemon Yogi Ruiz, ARTA director-general Ernesto Perez, Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. president Sergio Ortiz Luis Jr., PCCI president George Barcelon and Port of Manila District Collector Michael Angelo Vargas.

Beermen stay alive vs Bay Area Dragons

THE San Miguel Beermen banked on the heroics of Simon Enciso to pull off a pulsating 98-96 triumph over the Bay Area Dragons Sunday night and remain in contention for a championship berth in the Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup semifinals at the Philsports Arena.

Enciso unloaded a triple in the last 10 seconds as the backs-to-the-wall Beermen stayed alive in Game 3 of their best-of five series, with the Dragons still leading though, 2-1.

Coach Leo Austria said they struggled with the prolific Andrew Nicholson’s presence the last time around.

“Last game, it was virtually Nicholson, w ho beat us. So, we tried our best to limit his shots,”said Austria.

Nicholson still led the Dragons with 38 points and 14 rebounds, but was held to just six in the fourth.

Devon Scott made a team-high 25 points and 14 rebounds for the defending champions, who managed to stretch the series to a Game 4.

Scott kept the Dragons from equalizing in the last seven seconds when he blocked Kobey Lam’s layup.

The Dragons still kept possession and tried another bid to force an overtime.

But Scott managed to go for a rebound after Hayden Blankly missed with two ticks left.

“This is an indication [that] Bay Area is beatable,” said Austria after the Beermen finally defeated the Dragons for the first time in four games dating back to the eliminations.

Korean dominates Malixi, tops golf tilt by 6

KOREAN Hyo Song Lee put up another solid 69 to dash whatever hopes Rianne Malixi had had for a final round comeback, bagging the Malaysian Amateur Open crown via a whopping six-shot victory over the Filipina ace, who closed out with a second straight 71 at Palm Resort’s Cempaka course in Johor Bahru yesterday.

The reigning Korean Amateur Open champion, who wrapped up Saturday’s third round with a bogeyfree three-under card and a fourstroke bulge, padded her lead to six at the turn with a 35 then virtually matched Malixi’s two closing birdies on Nos. 15 and 17 to cruise to the lopsided triumph on a remarkable 11-under 277 total.

Malixi equaled Lee’s birdie on No. 4 but dropped strokes on the next and on the ninth and never recovered from six shots down although the ICTSI-backed member of the 2022 AJGA (American Junior Golf Association) All-Star squad and the Rolex Junior All-American First team birdied Nos. 16 and 18 for the second straight day to save a 71 for a five-under 283 aggregate.

Singapore’s Aloysa Atienza matched par 72 to finish third at 286 while Hyo Jin Yang, also from Korea, matched her compatriot’s closing card for fourth at 288 with Lois Kaye Go ending up fifth at 289 after a 73.

Malixi, 15, had braced for a strong start but struggled coming off a birdie on the fourth. She birdied the 10th but gave up the stroke on the next then snapped a run of pars with birdies on the last two holes.

Lee, in contrast, was just as solid and steady as she was in the third round, never forcing the issue as she settled for routine pars while cashing in on every birdie opportunities on her to a trouble-free victory in the 118th staging of the World Amateur Golf Ranking event.

Mafy Singson, who bounced back from a pair of 77s with a 72 in the third round, struggled again and wound up with another five-over card to end up at 16th with a 303.

In men’s play, Elee Bisera stumbled with a 74 after a third round 68 but tied for sixth at 293, 10 strokes behind Sung Ho Lee, who capped the Koreans’ domination by coasting to a four-stroke romp on a 283 total after a 71.

Seung Hyun Pi made it a 1-2 finish for the Koreans as he closed out with a 70 for a 287 while Singapore’s Ryan Ang fumbled with a 74 for 288 for third.

Shinichi Suzuki, who also rallied with a 69 Saturday, limped with an 80 and wound up 10th with a 297 total.

Knights crush Blazers to pull off 2nd 3-peat

By Peter Atencio

EVEN with a depleted lineup, the maturity and experience of the Letran Knights showed on the floor as they carved out an 81-67 subduing of the College of Saint Benilde Blazers to secure their third straight title on Sunday at Ynares Center.

Playing without court general Fran Yu hardly bothered the Knights as they charged from start to finish in Game 3 of the 98th National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s Basketball Tournament.

Finals’ MVP King Carilipio led the assault with 20 points and 10 rebounds to help carry the Knights to their 20th overall cage championship.

Brent Paraiso added 16 points for the Knights, who denied the Blazers a chance to end a 20-year title drought.

“Malaking bagay ang one week of practice sa amin lalo na sa rotation ng mga players,” said Knights’ coach Bonnie Tan, who encouraged members of the team to compensate for the absence of Yu.

It was a challenging finals’ series for the Knights after they lost role players Kobe Monje and Kyle Tolentino to one-game suspensions and still won Game 1, 81-75.

In Game 2, Yu, was disqualified for elbowing Mark Sangco. Yu was later on

suspended by the league.

The Blazers won the second game, 76-71, sending the series to a deciding third game.

In the rubber match, the Knights banked on a 10-2 run at the end of the first period, with Carilipio’s two charities setting the tone for the breakaway, as they went on to cut loose from a 1719 deficit and grab a 24-21 edge.

Carilipio and Kobe Monje, who had seven and six points in the second quarter, led Letran’s huge effort to gain their biggest lead at 17, 43-26, with 4:24 left.

The Blazers tried to rally and managed to come to within 13, 51-64, off James Pasturan’s three-pointer in the final 1:31 of the third.

But Season MVP Will Gozum got into foul trouble with his fourth foul and the Blazers struggled in the final quarter because of this.

Gozum, who was limited to 10 points, was eventually ejected when he was called for a disqualifying foul with 1:44 remaining in a physical play involving Pao Javillonar, while the Letran Knights led by 11, 77-66.

It was the Knights’ second threepeat for the school. They last did it during the time of Samboy Lim, when they had three consecutive championships from 1982 to 1984.

The Scores: LETRAN 81—Caralipio 20, Paraiso 16, Monje 11, Reyson 8, Sangalang 8, Santos 7, Olivario 4, Go 4, Guarino 2, Javillonar 1, Tolentino 0, Bojorcelo 0. CSB 67—Corteza 14, Pasturan 10, Gozum 10, Oczon 9, Sangco 6, Nayve 6, Flores 5, Marcos 3, Cullar 2, Carlos 2, Davis 0.

Quarters: 24-21, 51-33, 70-54, 81-67.

World swim body withdraws recognition of PSI

THE world governing body for swimming has withdrawn its recognition of the Philippine Swimming, Inc. in its entirety just 12 days after the international federation formerly known as FINA scrapped from its list the members of the PSI’s board of trustees and officers, including its president.

“The recognition of Philippine Swimming, Inc. is now deemed withdrawn and the stabilization committee will act as a reform and electoral committee in its place,” the FINA said in a memo dated December 15 and addressed to PSI president Maria Lailani “Lani” Velasco.

Now known by a new brand name World Aquatics, the swimming IF decided on dropping PSI from its roster of national federations during its meeting on December 12 after having been informed by the Philippine Olympic Committee on the creation of a stabilization committee that would run the association’s dayto-day operations on top of amending its by-laws and conducting new elections.

As a result of the second memo, POC president Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said the stabilization committee has an added responsibility of working toward a

new corporate name or identity of the national sports association for swimming and no longer the PSI.

“The stabilization committee will have—as a more onerous task—to recommend an entirely new NSA for swimming,” said Tolentino, who’s also the president of the national federation for cycling called PhilCycling.

“The committee has six months to do that and make the communications with the FINA.”

The latest FINA directive followed the same path taken by the International Volleyball Federation or FIVB and the World Karate Federation or WKF on the NSAs for

both sports.

The Philippine Volleyball Federation was scrapped in favor of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation Inc. and the Philippine Karatedo Federation for Karate Pilipinas.

The FINA, in a letter dated December 3, withdrew its recognition of officers and board members of the PSI after deciding that the NSA failed to comply with the IF’s instruction on amending its by-laws and hold elections under its new charter.

And just like in the December 3 memo, the POC and Philippine Sports Commission chairman Emmanuel “Noli” Eala were sent copies of the December 12 decision.

The POC assigned three members of the stabilization committee—POC legal head Atty. Wharton Chan and deputy secretary general Valeriano “Bones” Floro and Bases Conversion Development Authority senior vice president Arrey Perez.

The latest IF memo was also signed by FINA executive director Brent Nowicki and also stressed that the decision is effective immediately.

Swimmer Tom swims way to 3rd gold in Batang Pinoy

By Peter Atencio

VIGAN,

The 15-year-old Tom first grabbed the gold medal in the slower 13-15-year-old 400-meter individual medley before settling for a silver in the much faster sprint race of the 50-meter butterfly event.

Tom’s performance made her the most prolific medallist in her category as she now amassed three golds and a silver.

A student University of the Philippine Integrated School, Tom earlier took home the golds in the 200-meter IM and in the 100-meter freestyle on opening day.

“It’s a silver. Yes. But still good,” said Tom with a smile on her ongoing campaign.

Tom’s outstanding feat came as the daughters of former national standout and former Tour of Luzon veterans stamped their class in the cycling competitions held at the Provincial Capitol 0 Diversion Road.

Maritanya Krog claimed the gold medal in the criterium event after ruling the girls’ 13 and below in 37 minutes and 43 seconds of the 30-minute, 3-lap race.

It was the daughter of ex-national rider Marita Lucas’ first-ever crown,

after the 13-year-old and Grade 9 student from Baesa National High School quickly took charge after making her second turn.

“Pagdating sa pangalawang ikot, umangat na ako at nakipag-unahan na ako,” said Krog, who used a carbon fibre bike she borrowed from her elder sister Matilda.

Maria Louisse Alejado of Iloilo took the silver in 39:12.067, while Jhanah Abella of Calapan settled for the bronze 39:16.426.

Jacqueline Joy De Guzman of Quezon City, guided by her father and retired Tour of Luzon podium finisher Reggie de Guzman, ruled the girls’ 14 to 15-under action in 46 minutes and 46 seconds, ahead of Tuguegarao’s Davine Novo and Bulacan’s Mica Montaos, who took the silver and bronze.

Ilocos Sur—Cainta, Rizal standout Aubrey Tom bucked the sweltering afternoon heat and slight fever as she claimed two more podium finishes and became one of the most bemedalled athletes on Day 2 of the Philippine Sports Commission’s Batang Pinoy National Championships on Sunday at the Quirino Stadium’s pool here.

Riera U. Mallari,

Randy M. Caluag, Assistant

JuneMar Fajardo of SMB towers for a pointblank shot in a game won by the Beermen, 98-96, over the Bay Area Dragons.

Aubrey Tom

Aussie exec: Women’s World Cup will be safe despite fan violence

MELBOURNE—Football Australia boss James

Johnson vowed tough sanctions Sunday after a goalkeeper was attacked during an A-League match, but insisted the sport was safe and there were no concerns about co-hosting the women’s World Cup next year.

The derby game between Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City was abandoned Saturday evening after chaotic scenes in which 150 fans stormed the pitch at the city’s AAMI Park stadium.

City goalkeeper Tom Glover was smashed in the head with a metal bucket full of sand which left him with a concussion and a bloody gash that required stitches.

Match referee Alex King was also hurt in the melee, as was a television cameraman who was hit by a flare.

“I’m horrified, I’m irritated, I’m angry with the scenes we witnessed at AAMI Park last night,” Johnson said at a press conference.

Barquin stuns Anasta; Arcilla, Pague coast to quarterfinals

UNRANKED Rodolfo Barquin provided the sparks in an otherwise cruising day for the top guns as he upended third seed Vicente Anasta, 2-6, 7-6 (5), 10-3, to crash into the quarterfinal round of the Naga Open National Tennis Championships at the City of Naga tennis courts in Cebu Friday.

Top seed Johnny Arcilla and No. 2 Jose Maria Pague stayed on collision course with a pair of straight-set victories, so did fourth-ranked Eric Jed Olivarez and No. 5 Charles Kinaadman. But it was Barquin who produced the worthiest win, recovering from a lopsided setback in the opening set with a squeaker in the next before pulling through in the Group A tournament presented by Dunlop.

But Arcilla’s partner in the doubles’ title romp in PPS-PEPP San Carlos City last month will need a lot of toughening up to do as Barquin, who held off Jelic Amazona, 6-4, 6-4, in the first round, faces Kinaadman for a spot in the semifinals of the event serving as part of the Dagitab Festival celebrations.

Kinaadman, winner of the Gov. Jubahib Cup Open in Davao del Norte last September, overpowered Ryle Singson, 6-1, 6-2, and Kristian Tesorio, 6-2, 6-0, as he braces for a semis face-off with Arcilla in the upper half of the 32-player draw in the tournament put up by Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro.

The seasoned Arcilla romped past wild card Juvels Velos, 6-1, 6-1, and qualifier Noel Salupado, 6-2, 6-3, as the Brookside and Zentro Open winner set up a quarters clash with Israel Abarquez, Jr., another wild card entry, who subdued Rollie Anasta, 6-4, 6-2, then repelled Chat Conta, 6-2, 4-6, 10-4.

Pague, who captured the Buglasan Open diadem last October, trounced Evan Bacalso, 6-1, 6-1, and posted a 1-0(ret.) win over Marc Suson to arrange a face-off with top junior campaigner Eric Tangub, who also upset No. 6 Norman Enriquez, 6-2, 6-2, then survived Jeremiah Tomacruz, 4-6, 6-1, 11-9.

“We have a case of some individuals— I would not refer to them as fans of football—who have confronted and attacked a player and a match official.

“An investigation has been opened... we will be moving swiftly and we will be taking the strongest sanctions that are available.”

A violent turn

Supporters of both sides had been planning to walk out at the 20-minute mark in protest of a decision this week by league bosses to award the grand finals series to Sydney for the next three years.

But things turned violent when a flare thrown from the stands landed near Glover, who threw the smoking pyro-

technic back into the terraces just before the pitch was stormed.

The goalkeeper, who could also face punishment for the flare incident, was taken to hospital and had “many, many stitches”, said Johnson.

“Police have a number of active and ongoing enquiries to make after viewing the vision of the incidents and of those involved in the pitch invasion,” Victoria state police said, adding that 150 people ran onto the pitch.

“Investigators are also working with Football Australia, A-League officials and the clubs.”

The ugly scenes sparked a scathing response on social media, with fans describing it as “the darkest day for football in Australia”.

The incident came in the wake of the Socceroos making the last 16 at the Qatar World Cup, which had engendered optimism for the future of the game.

Australia is due to co-host the women’s World Cup next year with New Zealand,

and Johnson insisted “football is very safe”.

“We are a sport with a massive groundswell, we see how big our sport is becoming recently with the World Cup campaign of the Socceroos,” he said.

“We know that the sport will continue to grow and be at its strongest point leading into the women’s World Cup in July. I’m not worried at all about hosting the women’s World Cup.”

He denied the crowd violence could affect Australia’s hopes of hosting other big tournaments.

“I’m in touch with FIFA and the AFC (Asian Football Confederation),” he said.

“These things happen and they aren’t specific to Australian football.

What is important for the public and for FIFA and the AFC is what our response is a nd our response is very simple —there is no place in our sport for this type of behaviour.

“Those that participated in it will be weeded out and we will do it very quickly.” AFP

Golden double for UST judokas

UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas completed a golden double in the UAAP Season 85 High School Judo Championships with a dominant run in the boys’ and girls’ division titles Sunday at the Blue Eagle Gym.

The Junior Male Tiger Judokas captured their sixth straight championship and their seventh overall, while the Junior Female Tiger Judokas reclaimed the tiara—a third one—to end University of the East’s threeseason reign.

This is the second double championship for UST in the high school division this season, hiking its total to seven.

“Sobrang hirap, marami kaming adjustments na ginawa from scratch talaga. Kasi mentally and physically dapat mai-ayos mo muna ‘yung sarili nila,” UST head coach Paul De Vera said. “Determinado lang naman sila talagang i-maintain at saka urge na makuha talaga ‘yung championship. Kumbaga, maibalik ang korona sa Espana.”

On the boys’ side, Fierre Afan and Paolo Oliquino secured the 1-2 finish for UST in the half-middleweight (under-81 kg) to seal the title. Afan eventually took down his teammate Oliquino in the final to take the gold, while De La Salle Zobel’s Elijah Manuel and Ateneo’s Antonio Viologo ended with the bronze medals.

Jeordan Caguicla won the middleweight (under-90 kg) class against Ateneo’s Alpho nso Academia, while Blue Eagle Reynar Legaspi completed the winner’s circle.

Jay-Ar Suplic’s heavyweight (over100 kg) gold over partner Adrian Mamuric was the icing on the cake in the sixth consecutive championship of the Tiger Judokas, winning their bestof-three series.

DLSZ’s Sian Guevarra took the other gold of the day after reigning the halfheavyweight (under-100 kg) with a rousing win over UST’s Vaughn Pijuan in the final. Kyan Ballecer of UST and Kian Matienzo of Ateneo rounded up the said division’s rostrum.

The Junior Green Judokas ended with the runner-up finish with 22 points, while Ateneo nosed out UE with nine markers for third place.

Half-lightweight (under-66 kg) champion John Patrick De Tomas of UST was hailed as the Most Valuable Player, while featherweight (under-55) silver medalist Yngo Ramos of DLSZ was awarded as the season’s top rookie.

With its first day showing as a buffer, Oonah Benavidez took UST’s lone gold medal on the final day, enough to secure the title.

Plana, Ng clinch Chairman’s Cup top honors

JUN Plana kept the men’s overall low gross crown with a two-under 70 while Reese Ng matched par 72 to reign in the women’s side of the Chairman’s Charity Cup at the Legends and Masters courses of the Manila Southwoods in Carmona, Cavite Saturday.

But it was Shigeyuki Masutomi who drove home with the biggest prize in the two-day tournament as he won the Mitsubishi Xpander GLS 1.5G 2WD AT during the grand raffle draw at Southwoods Veranda. He tied for 24th in Seniors III with 34 points from a gross 90 but took the coveted prize, courtesy of Mitsubishi Motors Phils. and Alpine Motors Corp.-Fuso Carmona.

Other top raffle winners were Victor Tanjuatco (Southeast Asia cruise for 2, including round trip MNL-SIN-MNL tickets, courtesy of Royal Caribbean International and Baron Travel Phils); Jong Yun Lee (Villa Accommodation with food and beverages for 10 persons, courtesy of Newport World Resorts); and Willy Princesa (Round-trip Business class tickets for 2 from Manila to any Asia Regional destinations, courtesy of Starlux Airlines).

Plana, who led Southwoods’ victory in the Fil-Am Invitational in Baguio recently, also captured the overall low gross trophy in 2019 before the host club’s premier Members/Sponsors-Guests event took a hiatus due to pandemic. His two-under card was also worth 38 points under the Individual Net Stableford scoring system.

Anthony See finished second with a 73 while Joseph Tambunting shot a 74 for third in the event backed by Platinum sponsors The Turf Company, Inc., Agrexplore Corp., Malveda Properties & Development Corp., Starlux Airlines Co. Ltd., Newport World Resorts, Mit-Air, Inc., Klio International Marketing Corp. and HBW Enterprises Co.

Ng, on the other hand, dominated the ladies side with her even-par card worth 36 gross points, with Kristine Sison finishing second with 84 for 24 gross points while Aimee Lee put in an 87 worth 23 points for third overall.

Raul Magpantay nailed the seniors low gross trophy with a 73 and 35 gross points, while Judson Eustaquio topped the Guests/Sponsors division with 73 and a net 68.

Other division winners were Nolan Enriquez (41 points, Men’s I), Paul Mo (42 points, Men’s II), Anthony Cortez (44 points, Men’s III), Amb. Shambu Kumaran (41 points, Men’s IV via lower handicap), Third Escaño (39 points, Seniors I), Fred dela Cruz (42 points, Seniors II), Gus Molina (42 points, Seniors III), Felix Cortez (44 points, Seniors IV via best backnine score), Aimee Lee (33 points, Ladies I via lower handicap), Alice Liang (38 points, Ladies II), and Kristine Sison (42 points, Ladies III).

The runners-up were Anthony See (40 points, Men’s I), Gerard de Castro (40 points, Men’s II), Tomas Yap (39 points, Men’s III via lower handicap), Jojo Lee (41 points, Men’s IV via lower handicap), Enrico del Rosario (38 points, Seniors I via countback), Hector Villanueva (40 points, Seniors II), Arnold Clavio (41 points, Seniors III via lower handicap), Manolo Agojo (44 points, Seniors IV), Vicky Herrera (33 points, Ladies I), Stephanie Yap (37 points, Ladies II), Maritess Castillo (42 points, Ladies III) and Jay Escuadro (gross 76, net 68, Sponsors/Guests).

Bata siblings make waves in FINIS national swim finals

Dr. Maricel Bata, a dentist and mother of the Batas, however, had mixed feelings following the achievements of her children, who both dream of becoming a member of the Philippine Team and swim in the Olympics.

The 14-year-old Jilian captured the gold medals in the girls’ 13-14 class 100m back (1:19.61), 50m fly (34.44), 100m fly (1:21.39) and 50m back (34.93), while finishing second in the 200m IM (3:03.75), 100m breast (1:44.20), and 50m free (31.61) to top her age bracket with an accumulated 68 points.

His younger brother JB Matthew excelled in the boys’ 11-12 100m back (1:19.67), 50m back (36.07) and 50m butterfly (35.30), aside from bagging the silver in the 200m IM (2:58.76), 100m fly (1:29.43), 100m breast (1:31.48), and 50m free (31.60) for a total 66 points in the culmination of FINIS’ yearend program and activities.

“Masayang, medyo malungkot at nalilito,” said Dr. Bata. “Just received an information that somebody in the Iloilo Province Team currently playing in the Philippine Sports Commission-organized Batang Pinoy in Vigan, Ilocos Sur have used the name of my son as one of its swimming participants,” said Dr. Bata.

Dr. Bata said she is just collecting pieces of evidence from multiple sources before filling an official complaint against the culprit to the PSC.

“Right now, nanawagan po kami sa PSC kay PSC chairman (Noli Eala) na tignan po itong isyu sa anak ko. It’s a clear identity theft,” said Dr. Bata. Also the recipient of MOS awards were Trixie Ortiguera of Tarlac Aquatics Swim Club, who garnered 78 points in the girls’ 15-16 class after winning the

100m backstroke (1:11.26), 50m fly (30.78) 50m free (28.86), 200m IM (2:43.28), 100m fly (1:15.45) and 50m back (32.30). She also took bronze in the 100m breast (1:31.92), Six-year-old Kail Dominic Kahulugan of Kidapawan Long Wave Swim Team added two more golds in the 100m fly (2:05.06), and 50m fly (56.02), while Gideon Ancheta of Marikina Poseidon Swimming clinched the gold in the boys’ 7-8 100m backstroke (2:05.06) and 50m fly (46.32).

The Megakraken Swim Team was awarded as the best team with a series combination points of 894.50, followed by the Tarlac Aquatics Swim Club (355.50), Sharpeedo Swim Team (336), Aqua Dragon Swim Team (207) and Aklan Swimming Club (203).

FINIS Philippines Managing Director Vince Garcia awarded the certificates, trophies and medals to all the winners and expressed his gratitude to all swim clubd, coaches, officials and swimmers for their support and effort for the success of the brand’s program this year.

SIBLINGS Jilian Celestine and JB Matthew Bata of Megakraken Swim Team from Iloilo City dominated their respective age-group classes to emerge as the Most Outstanding Swimmers at the close of 2022 FINIS Long Course National Championship on Sunday at the New Clark Aquatic Center in Capas, Tarlac.

Judokas from the champion UST high school team celebrate their title triumph at the podium.

JB Matthew Bata, MOS in boys’ 13-14.

End of an era

E-mail: lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com

Pikachu to depart after 25 years of ‘Pokemon’

POKEMON will return to the screen in 2023 but without its biggest star, Pikachu, who is bowing out after 25 seasons of mad-cap adventures.

The Japanese anime series has followed Pikachu and his trainer, Ash Ketchum, as they battle rival Pokemon characters in a series of contests since 1997.

But having finally won the “Pokemon World Coronation Series,” the next adventures will focus on new characters named Liko and Roy.

“It will represent everything (fans) love about Pokemon animation, including action, adventure,

An extraordinary actor

I realize I was mistaken, and times I feel embarrassed. I realize guilt too.”

His methods of preparation, Buencamino comes clean: “I prepare by knowing my lines, cues well, knowing my blocking, and finally by relaxing to allow myself to tap my own life experiences to make the situations truthful.”

friendship, and Pokemon,” the makers said.

The characters first appeared in a video game for Nintendo’s Gameboy in 1996, spawning a franchise that has rivaled Star Wars and Harry Potter for the affection of children around the world.

“Pokemon Go” was a landmark mobile game that used geolocation and augmented reality to place the characters in real-world locations, and became a cultural phenomenon.

The latest video games for the Nintendo Switch, “Scarlet” and “Purple”, have already sold more than 10 million copies since their release in late November. AFP

DIRECTOR Nuel Naval and writer Mel Mendoza-del Rosario are artistic collaborators behind the family drama Family Matters, a movie produced by Cineko Productions that has been receiving so much love and praise since the debut of its official trailer.

Noel Trinidad, Liza Lorena, Nonie Buencamino, Agot Isidro, Mylene Dizon, James Blanco, Nikki Valdez, JC Santos, Ana Luna, Ina Feleo, Ketchup Eusebio, Roxanne Guinoo, and introducing, Ian Pangilinan are the all-star ensemble in this much-anticipated motion picture.

In the Raval-directed and Del Rosario-written Metro Manila Film Festival entry, Nonie Buencamino portrays Kiko.

“I am the eldest son of Francisco played by Noel Trinidad,” he begins, “Agot plays my wife, Mylene, and JC and Nikki play my siblings. I am a contractor and engineer like my father. We siblings are already taking care of our parents.”

With regard to the role, Buencamino enthuses:“ It

is well written as all the roles are. My character undergoes a big change, a big realization in the story.”

The emotional hurdles of Kiko, explains one of the most successful actors from the theater who crossover to mainstream entertainment, “There were sibling arguments, quarrels in the story, moments where

“I was very much inspired to work with them both,” Buencamino’s eyes turn misty, as he speaks of the joy of working with seasoned actors Noel Trinidad and Liza Lorena. “When we are older, we cut the crap and go directly to the point to communicate with each other. That was the way it was for us. It was so much fun. We laughed a lot in between scenes.”

Buencamino had a great time learning much from the experiences the senior actors shared with him.

“Tito Noel and Tita Liza are very genuine, sincere, truthful actors. I was blessed with the opportunity to act in scenes with them. I learned not to stop acting so long as I can remember my lines. They’re both still very sharp because they both have continued to stay in physical and intellectual shape. I am now inspired to keep fit myself.”

Playing his wife in the movie is Agot Isidro and for Nonie, it is always a breeze working with her given that they have starred in a few television series in the past.

People opine that he is a shoo-in for an acting award because of his emotionally truthful portrayal of Kiko.

“People say that? Wow! Thanks,” Buencamino smiles. “I hope they feel the same way after watching the whole film.”

Buencamino believes that an award is a bonus. He feels “very happy” when he gets an award and feels the same way when people in the industry – whom he respects very much – see and commend his work.

“Thank you for thinking that I have had an outstanding career. If an award comes along the way, what a gift. In my younger years, I had hoped to receive some awards for some projects I did but I didn’t. Now, I am already happy if I get good roles for good projects, with a reasonable rate.”

Buencamino believes that Family Matters is a must-watch because everyone can relate to it. It brings forth some good lessons but doesn’t preach hardcore.

His biggest takeaway from the film, the extraordinary Nonie Buencamino imparts: “Life is so short, especially our time with our parents. We should continue to respect them, treat them well, enjoy their company, and never be burdened by them. We should also hold on to nuggets of wisdom that they share with us. Those who still have their parents are very fortunate.”

Family Matters is an official entry to the 2022 Metro Manila Film Festival, which begins its cinema runs nationwide on December 25.

TV5 unveils 2023 programming lineup in star-studded trade launch

TV5 gave a stunning look at the “future” in a grand trade event held at The Harbor Garden of Sofitel Manila on November 23.

Attended by over 700 stars, celebrity athletes, media agency partners, advertisers, VIPs, officers, and various content partners, TV5’s first face-to-face trade event since the pandemic showcased the network’s big plans and program offerings for 2023 and more.

Hosted by Gretchen Ho and Alex Calleja, the trade event truly demonstrated the TV5 mantra: “Iba’ng Saya Pag Sama-Sama” and remarkably brought people from all corners of the industry together for a taste of what the Kapatid Network is all about.

Guests were treated to world-class performances from Regine Velaquez, Ogie Alcasid, Jona, and Zsa Zsa Padilla, as well as a winning routine from UAAP Cheerdance Champions and the FEU Cheering Squad

The network unveiled its programming lineup for 2023, including offerings from its content partners ABS-CBN Entertainment, APT Entertainment, Brightlight Productions, and Viva Communications Inc., Kickstarting its morning block are Jolina Magdangal, Regine Velasquez, and Melay Cantiveros for Magandang Buhay and Maine Mendoza for #MaineGoals Season 2

The entertainment continues at noon with the back-to-back variety shows Tropang LOL and It’s Showtime, while evenings get more heart-stopping with series The Iron Heart (starring Richard Gutierrez), Dirty Linen (Janine Gutierrez, Zanjoe Marudo, Francine Diaz, Seth Fedelin), and Linlang (Kim Chiu, Maricel Soriano, Paulo Avelino, JM De Guzman) keeping viewers hooked every night.

“

in the United States and many parts of the world the lessons that our generation needs to know about our history and our culture. We recognize that our young Filipinos abroad today may not be familiar with a lot of things already from the Philippines. What we, in GMA International, do are bridging activities like this to our Filipino communities because if we know more about our culture, wherever we are in the world, we will be #StrongerTogether,” says GMA International First Vice President and Head of Operations Joseph T. Francia

The event was attended by Barbie Forteza (Klay), Juancho Triviño (Padre Salvi), David Licauco (Fidel), Rocco Nacino (Elias), Juan Rodrigo (Kapitan Tiago), Lou Veloso (Mr. Torres), Ces Quesada (Tiya Isabel), Karenina Haniel (Victoria), Dennis Padilla (Mang Adong), and Dennis Trillo (Crisostomo Ibarra). The program’s creative team was present and answered questions from the audience. Among those who attended were GMA’s Assistant Vice President for Drama Helen Sese program manager Edlyn Tallada-Abuel, executive producer Shielyn Atienza, creative consultant Suzette Doctolero, head writer J-Mee Katanyag, and director Pam Miras

Maria Clara at Ibarra mirrors the realities that we are facing today. Aside from that, we also want to remind the youth that we have a beautiful culture, art, and literature that we can be proud of,” says Creative Consultant Suzette Doctolero.

The cast also expressed their gratitude to the Filipinos in the U.S. who came in their best Philippine costumes and showed their support to Maria Clara at Ibarra

“I am so proud to be Filipino, knowing that we are present in every corner of the planet because of the Kapuso abroad. I am also eternally grateful to GMA for creating and choosing me to be a part of a show that reminds us Filipinos of our wonderful history and culture,” says Barbie.

Dennis also took notice of the efforts of the Kapuso abroad in the United States who wore their Filipinianas even in cold weather.

“We are very grateful to the Kapuso abroad for joining us in this watch party. They

look very beautiful in their Filipino costumes. Thank you so much for wearing it even during the cold season. We can’t thank you enough for the support you’re giving us every night by watching Maria Clara at Ibarra,” he shares.

Vice Consul Adrian Baccay of the Philippine Consulate in San Francisco also reiterated the importance of shows like Maria Clara at Ibarra to the young FilipinoAmericans who want to reconnect with their roots.

“The grade schoolers we’ve invited for this watch party are able to reconnect with their culture and heritage because of shows like this, especially those who are born and educated here in the US.”

Finally, the President of the Filipino American Arts Exposition Al Perez thanked GMA Network for introducing him to Jose Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere

“Thank you to GMA for creating and producing this project. It’s a great way to make our history and culture relevant, accessible, and current.”

The Maria Clara at Ibarra watch party is an initiative of GMA Pinoy TV in partnership with DollarHits, NYCFilipinos New York and Los Angeles, and the Philippine Consulate in San Francisco.

Weekends will never be the same as TV5 Weekends will be equally thrilling and informative with Xian Lim’s For the Love, Jake Cuenca’s Jack and Jill, Kim Molina’s Team A, Maja Salvador’s EmojiNation, John Arcilla’s Bayani Chronicles, and Korina Sanchez’s Rated Korina plus her highly-anticipated talk show TikTalks that premiered on December 3.

Aside from all those new and exciting shows, Jose Manalo and Wally Bayola will host the comeback of TV5’s longestrunning gag show Wow Mali, Lakas ng Tama, while music takes center stage in Pilipinas Got Talent The Voice Kids, and the iconic Sunday musical variety show ASAP Natin ‘To

Moreover, sports fans will be rejoicing as TV5 and Cignal level up their sports broadcast platforms in bringing frontrow sports action from across the globe through OneSports PH, such as Spikers’ Turf, MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League), PBA 3x3, Badminton Asia and many more.

To cap it all off, Radyo5 celebrates its 12th anniversary with more programs and more stations, with a total of 25 stations reaching even the remotest areas. As the new year comes, Radyo5 targets to also go online and on-ground, giving public service a whole new meaning.

CLAD in their best Filipiniana attires, Pinoys abroad from New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco took a historical trip to Jose Rizal’s novel Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo via a watch party of GMA Network’s most-talked-about series Maria Clara At Ibarra Hosted by GMA Networks’ flagship international channel GMA Pinoy TV, the event is the network’s way of bringing Filipino culture to the Kapuso abroad of all ages, especially Gen Z.

Maria Clara at Ibarra is a GMA program that we are very proud of. Led by its director Zig Dulay, Ms. Helen, and the production staff, this watch party is our way to impart to our Kapuso

Pikachu will no longer join the madcap adventures in ‘Pokemon’ as the series continues

The attendees of TV5’s star-studded trade launch

Nonie Buencamino plays Kiko in ‘Family Matters’

Make your last-minute holiday trips possible

CEBU Pacific, the Philippines’ leading airline, is encouraging Filipinos to fly with its special seat sale to all its international destinations.

Beginning now until January 2, passengers may avail themselves of tickets for as low as P699 oneway base fare (exclusive of fees and surcharges).

Travel period is until May 31 – allowing travelers to make last-minute holiday trips possible or plan their dream vacations ahead to any of its 19 international destinations.

“We know that many are raring to fly outside the Philippines as more neighboring countries ease their travel restrictions. It is very encouraging

to see more people confidently flying again and this is their chance to travel affordably through our seat sales,” said Carmina Romero, Cebu Pacific Corporate Communications Director.

CEB boosted its international footprint as it added more flights to Brunei, Jakarta, Seoul, Taipei, and Hong Kong. It has also resumed its international flights out of Davao, with direct flights to Singapore, and out of Cebu, with direct flights to Seoul, and Singapore.

Whether it is for food-tripping in Vietnam, sightseeing in Japan, Christmas shopping in Bangkok, or simply relaxation in Bali – CEB is

Airline pilot drops travel hacks to beat the holiday rush

TRAVELING this Christmas? As the world opened and travel restrictions have eased up, the holiday travel season can get very stressful for both passengers and airlines. Delays and long waits seem inevitable, often resulting in panic and stress taking over fun and enjoyment.

As the travel season kicked in, let us seek tips and tricks from a captain. Airline pilot and content creator Mann Ed Demalata, equipped with more than a decade of flying experience in one of the country’s top airlines, gives helpful advice to turn our stress into travel success.

Here are Captain Demalata’s travel hacks for passengers:

Come to the airport early. Anticipate heavy traffic during the holiday season and give yourself allowance in case of any unforeseen incident at the airport.

Take the earliest flight. Based on experience, early flights are less likely to get delayed and you have more time for activities when you arrive at your destination.

Plan ahead. Book your tickets and accommodation in advance. Nothing is more stressful than scrambling to find a roof over your head in another city or a foreign country.

Travel light to avoid excess baggage. Go for just the essentials.

Expect delays. There are more flights during the holiday season so come prepared for the waiting game. Download games into your mobile phone, set up episodes of your favorite series, or come up with a feelgood travel playlist.

Check the weather forecast. Align your wardrobe with the weather in your destination and types of activities you will be engaging in.

Prepare your Plan B (or C and D). In case of flight cancellations or delays, come up with an alternative plan like traveling by sea and land.

Customize your luggage and make a marker. Pack your bags on your own to ensure that no prohibited items are included. Put a colorful bow or a unique bag tag that will help you easily recognize your luggage at the baggage counter. There is always a risk of bags getting mixed up as some look identical.

Carry fully charged power banks. Connectivity when traveling is important, especially in cases of emergency.

Bring a basic medical kit. Keeping a few pieces of over-thecounter medicines you can pop in case of a headache, bout of dizziness or nausea, or sudden allergy attack can be life-saving.

Capt. Demalata is in full-service mode during the holidays. He is used not only to a hectic schedule leading up to the holidays but also to working even on Christmas day.

Asked if he has ever spent Christmas flying, Mann Ed said, “Oh, countless times already! But I don’t mind and my family also understands. I consider my job a huge blessing rather than a burden during these times. I remain grateful and happy to be of service.”

Mann Ed Demalata is on Instagram as @pilotoncall and @pilotoncall on TikTok.

making all these travel goals possible through its low fares.

Passengers with existing travel funds may use these to pay for flights and add-ons during CEB’s seat sales. Apart from Travel Fund, other payment options may also be used, such as payment centers, credit/debit cards, and e-wallets.

To date, CEB flies to a total of 34 domestic and 19 international destinations. The airline continues to implement a multi-layered approach to safety while it operates with a 100 percent fully vaccinated crew, 98 percent of whom have been boosted - all to ensure every passenger flies safely and conveniently on Cebu Pacific.

HILTON Clark Sun Valley Resort, the stylish destination hotel north of Metro Manila, was recently presented with a range of hospitality industry awards and recognitions, including the World Luxury Awards, Luxury Lifestyle Awards, TripAdvisor, and Haute Grandeur.

“Our team is deeply honored and overjoyed by the recognition of both local and global tourism industries, as we remain committed to sharing the light and warmth of hospitality with our guests, loyal patrons, and the community that we serve,” shares Denise Molintas, General Manager.

“We look forward to sharing more bespoke experiences that the whole family can enjoy in the coming New Year,” she added.

Hilton Clark Sun Valley Resort was recognized as the ‘Best Luxury Resort’ in the Philippines by the Luxury Lifestyle Awards 2022; ‘Regional Winner – Luxury Family Hotel’ by the World Luxury Hotel Awards; ‘2022 Travelers’ Choice’ by TripAdvisor; ‘Best Conference Venue Hotel in the Philippines’ and Best Family Resort

in the Philippines’ by Haute Grandeur.

The hotel’s all-day dining restaurant, Olive, was also recognized by the World Luxury Hotel Awards as the ‘Global Winner – Buffet Dining.’

Hilton Clark Sun Valley Resort is a haven for solo travelers, couples, and families alike with well-appointed guest rooms and suites, mouth-watering culinary selections featuring fresh produce, and a host of in-hotel family-friendly activities by the pool, outdoor rubberized playground, Kids Club, and more.

The hotel also highlights its newly opened Apricus Wellness Spa, where guests may embark on a holistic journey into rejuvenation and relaxation, and a Duty Free Philippines outlet in the Hotel Lobby. Stringent health and safety protocols are also observed to ensure guests of worry-free stays and experiences.

For inquiries or more information, visit clarksunvalleyresort.hilton.com or call +63 45 598 5400.

‘I believe that children are our future…’

GOD’S love for children is encapsulated in His verse, “Let the little children come to Me…for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.”

This is why I found it very admirable for Manila Hotel to have initiated support for “our little ones” through the charity dinner concert it recently hosted, entitled, Yes, I Believe. The well-attended event also served as the official launch of the National Nutrition Program of the Alliance for Healthy Filipino Children (AHFC).

The AHFC aims to increase awareness of the serious malnutrition problem of the children in our country and it plans to implement barangay-based nutrition intervention programs, especially during the child’s first 1000 days. AHFC will work with the government, particularly with the National Nutrition Council.

The musical performances were rendered by a trio of former government officials: former Presidential Executive Secretary, Atty. Salvador Medialdea; former Press Secretary, Atty. Mike Toledo; and former Senator and former DILG Secretary Atty. Joey Lina. They were joined by three of the country’s top songbirds Lara Maigue, Isay Alavarez, and Rachelle Gerodias. Each of their musical renditions became even more grand with the accompaniment of the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra

I couldn’t help but sing along when the concert started with the very inspiring Filipino ditty, and one of my favorites, “Umagang Kay Ganda,” dished out beautifully by all six performers. There were many other songs that were all familiar to the audience, for us to sing along with, especially those rendered by Atty. Mike Toledo because they were the Frank Sinatra and Michael Buble classics, songs of my generation.

The audience was tickled pink when the trio asked for volunteers who were brave enough to join them on stage for another song. After going around the hall, Atty. Lina hooked somebody who did show his mettle. It was former National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. He sang a love song dedicated to his wife

who was also in the audience, kilig to the bones, I was sure. What I found adorable was when Atty. Lina asked his three-year-old grandson, Evan Lina Mandap, to sing with them, and the cute little lad was game enough to follow what his grandpa asked for.

YOUR MONDAY CHUCKLE

An Amish family went to a mall in the city. While the mother was shopping, father and son stood in awe in front of an elevator, with no idea what it was. As they watched, an old lady walked into the “strange” silver doors which, later, closed. Father and son saw the lit numbers above it go up, and back down. When the doors opened, a beautiful young lady walked out. The father leaned over and whispered to his son, “Son, go get your mother!”

In between their songs, Atty. Lina shared with the audience more information on the activities he has planned to help support this

enviable advocacy for children. He said that this concert was just the first step of many in the pipeline, to help overcome the malnutrition problem in our country.

With everybody’s beautiful performance throughout the evening, I was looking forward to the concert’s grand finale and I was not disappointed. They chose another favorite of mine, “I Believe”, originally sung by Andrea Bocelli and Katherine Jenkins. This song was the inspiration for the concert’s title. I treasure this song because it has such a majestic and heavenly tone. While you’re singing it, you get this feeling that God is in front of you, smiling, as he hears your every word and musical note. I know because I, too, have sung this song in many private gatherings in the past.

As for the concert’s finale number, it was an awe-inspiring ending to a beautiful evening. And, YES, I BELIEVE that we have to take good care of future…our children!

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

Hilton Clark Sun Valley Resort presented with top global hospitality industry accolades and recognition

Explore the city of Hong Kong and its various tourism sites Enjoy the culture and island vibes in Bali, Indonesia

A picturesque view of Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam

From left: Attorney Mike Toledo, Lara Maigue, Attorney Salvador Medialdea, Isay Alvarez, Attorney Joey Lina, and Rachelle Gerodias dishing out the Finale number, ‘I Believe’

The concert’s powerful message makes for an attractive backdrop

Airline pilot and content creator Mann Ed Demalata

Attorney Lina’s (second from left) adorable 3-year-old grandson (second from right), Evan Lina Mandap, joins him on stage

Hilton Clark Sun Valley Resort is a haven for solo travelers, couples, and families

YEAR-END REPORT

Special Issue

PH economy emerges strong from pandemic

THE Philippines emerged as one of the fastest-growing economies in the AsiaPacific region this year, as the government’s easing of mobility restrictions saw thousands of businesses reopen and millions of Filipinos return to work.

Schools, restaurants, hotels and airlines have resumed operations, generating jobs for those who were displaced at the height of the pandemic in the past two years. “The Philippines continues to sustain an upbeat labor market, leading towards a strong economic recovery from the impact of COVID-19 pandemic,” the National Economic and Development Authority said during the release of the latest labor market report.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that the unemployment rate dropped to 4.5 percent in October from 7.4 percent in the same month last year. This marked the lowest jobless rate recorded for all October rounds since 2019.

Employment rate increased to 95.5 percent, the highest since the start of the pandemic. This translated into an employment level of 47.1 million in October, or 3.3 million higher than in the same period last year. At this level, the Philippines is now the second largest labor market in Southeast Asia, next to Indonesia.

“The country’s sustained recovery of the labor market backs our confidence that our policies and interventions to reinvigorate our economy are working,” said NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said.

“Our move to finally open face-toface classes at full capacity has paved the way for us to immediately address the learning losses from the pandemic— this is a precursor to a workforce that

demonstrates competence and high productivity. Also, with children back in school, parents-at-home—especially mothers—are also able to pursue more income opportunities,” Balisacan said.

The country’s gross domestic product expanded 7.7 percent in the first three quarters, above the government’s target growth range of 6.5 percent to 7.5 percent for the year despite the elevated inflation and the subsequent interest rate adjustments by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

The BSP raised its main policy rate by a total of 350 basis points from a record low of 2 percent last year to 5.5 percent this year to match the adjustment by the US Federal Reserve and prevent the further depreciation of the peso against the US dollar. The hike came amid the BSP’s effort to keep the peso from weakening too much, thus limiting imported inflation, according to Oxford Economics.

“We expect the BSP to hike by 25 bps in the first quarter of 2023 to reach

Local banks remain resilient despite headwinds

By Julito G. Rada

the Philippine banking system expanded to P21.347 trillion as of end-June. The expansion was largely funded by deposits and, in turn, channeled to lending and investment activities of banks.

The total assets’ year-on-year growth rate of 7.8 percent was faster than the 6.4-percent growth rate in June 2021 and the 6.6-percent average growth rate during the pandemic.

By banking group, universal and commercial banks had the largest share of the total assets of the banking system at 94.0 percent (P20.072 trillion), followed by thrift banks at 4.4 percent (P929.2 billion) and rural and cooperative banks at 1.6 percent (P345.4 billion).

Big banks’ total assets went up 9.5 percent year-on-year, faster than the 6.3-percent growth rate in June 2021. Meanwhile, thrift banks’ total assets declined by 21.7 percent, compared with the 6-percent increase the year before owing to the streamlining within the industry.

Rural and cooperative banks’ total assets grew 16.5 percent, faster than the 9.0-percent expansion the previous year.

LOAN EXPANSION

Bank lending growth continued to accelerate and is expected to maintain its growth streak with the sustained recovery of the economy. The banking system’s gross total loans went up by 8.7 percent year-on-year to P11.715 trillion as of end-June. This rate was a turnaround from the 0.4-percent contraction in June 2021.

“Our banks are growing in a healthy way without sacrificing the stability of the system and, at the same time, protecting depositors,” Medalla said in his speech.

The strength of and positive outlook on the Philippine banking system was complemented by the prudential and strategic reforms undertaken by the BSP over the years and its swift and time-bound relief measures.

The BSP commenced the unwinding of monetary policy support measures given the strong recovery momentum in the first half of 2022 on account of increased mobility and expanded vaccination coverage. Targeted prudential relief measures remained in place to further sustain credit growth and provide continued access to financial services to households and vulnerable sectors.

ASSETS GROWTH

The Report on the Philippine Financial System for the first semester of 2022 released by the BSP showed that the total resources of

“This growth was an improvement from the 2-percent average growth during the pandemic but still lower than the double-digit average growth of 13.0 percent before the pandemic,” the BSP said.

The loan expansion largely came from the manufacturing, real estate, information and communication, wholesale and retail trade and construction sectors. Collectively, these sectors accounted for 48.7 percent (P5.701 trillion) of the banking system’s gross total loans.

“Such broad-based lending indicates recovery across industry sectors. Banks remain optimistic on credit growth as the results of the latest industry survey showed that loans are seen to post double-digit growth in the next two years,” the BSP said.

HIGHER INTEREST RATES

The BSP kept policy rates low and maintained an accommodative policy stance

its terminal rate of 5.75 percent in the current tightening cycle. That’s driven by our US team’s view of a hike of the same magnitude from the US Fed at its first meeting in 2023. We think the BSP will continue aiming to maintain the current interest rate differential with the US,” the London-based think tank said.

Despite the successive interest rate hikes, outstanding bank loans still grew by more than 13 percent in September, underscoring the growing demand of households and companies for credit to support recovery and expansion.

There are signs that inflation rate, which hit 8 percent in November, could subside in the coming months as global crude prices began to ebb. The peso also recovered from a record low of 59 against the US dollar in October to a range of 55 to 56 in December, mitigating the impact of imported inflation.

The Asian Development Bank, in its latest supplement to the Asian Development Outlook 2022, said the country’s GDP would expand

7.4 percent in 2022, faster than its September forecast of 6.5 percent. The economy has shown strong underlying growth momentum and resilience this year and is expected to continue in 2023, with GDP growth converging towards its longer term growth rate of about 6 percent, it said.

DBS Bank Ltd. of Singapore also sees the Philippines as the fastest growing economy in ASEAN over the next two years. It expects the Philippines to register a GDP growth of 7.4 percent in 2022 and 6.3 percent in 2023.

“Growth is on track to exceed the upper end of the government’s 6.5 to 7.5 percent forecast for the year. Economic opening from the pandemic has been a key support, despite multiple challenges from rising domestic inflation and interest rates, as well as global headwinds,” DBS said.

DBS also expects inflation rate to ease from an average of 5.6 percent in the first 11 months of 2022 to 4.4 percent in 2023.

THE Philippines banking industry remained resilient and strong despite global headwinds such as the rising interest rates, the geopolitical crisis in Eastern Europe and the lingering impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Felipe Medalla said in a Bankers Association of the Philippines forum in October that banks had sustained their solid footing amid these challenges. This was characterized by adequate capital buffers, expanding assets, ample liquidity, growing deposits and lending recovery.

BSP Governor Felipe Medalla

NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan

SARTiNE ON ‘23 ‘Sprint or be left behind’

SUPPLY chain issues that rendered flat the growth rates of many global and local industries in 2021 and 2022 are expected to vastly improve and make for a promising economic outlook for 2023, SARTiNE chief executive officer Renesar A. Deunida told Manila Standard in an exclusive interview over the weekend.

“It’s apt that we’ll be ushering in the Year of the Rabbit because the world is now ready to race anew at full speed,” a voluble Deunida said in his Makati City office. “We took tentative steps to adapt to the new normal in the year about to end, but bold, full strides are what’s required for 2023.”

For his fearless forecast, Deunida said manufacturing and agriculture, as well as travel, tourism, and digital advertising are sectors that need to take advantage of the country’s momentum in a year that saw it elect a new chief executive in President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Deunida said that SARTiNE, as a leading digital ad marketing player with a number of allied firms under its wings, fully intends to continue going from strength to strength with its media, brand and public service clients in a post-COVID pandemic world.

In 2022, SARTiNE powered several political personalities to poll victories, including two top votegetting senators, a congressman from Mindanao who won big despite being given just a yeoman’s chance, and the mayor of the most progressive city in the country.

Through snazzy short-form videos that are the most desired digital ad medium today, SARTiNE fanned massive public interest for the opening and full operation of the Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation’s (MPTC) Cebu Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX) during the holding of a starstudded ironman competition there in August.

SARTiNE also teased a heart-tugging clip on how the Bench clothing company, a valued long-standing partner, has harkened back to the good old days by practically

There’s a lot to be thankful about for the past three years despite COVID-19, said Deunida, who logged in decades abroad as an information technology specialist for the United Nations, World Health Organization and also banking behemoth HSBC.

And there’s a lot to be hopeful for insofar as 2023 is concerned, he added, chuckling as he enthused that “only the harebrained would be caught with a slow foot in the Year of the Rabbit.”

“Just days back, the Asian Development Bank revised its September growth forecast of 6.5 percent to 7.4 percent for the Philippines in 2022,” he said.

“Notwithstanding growth seen to slow down to 6.0 percent in 2023 from 6.3 percent year-on-year, that’s something to toast the dawning New Year for,” Deunida added.

Coming off a whirlwind tour of tech conferences in the United States, Deunida pointed out that quicker inflation in Q4 and a sharp slowdown in the GDP growth of European and North American countries should not serve as a damper to a bright outlook.

He explained that even at its low end hovering around 6.5 percent, the Philippines’ GDP, as noted by the ADB, would remain within the high range compared to the 5.5 percent growth forecast for the whole of Southeast Asia.

“What does this mean for digital advertising? Forbes, citing Magna’s forecast for 2023, says global ad spending revenue for media owners would total $833 billion, up five percent year-on-year,” he said.

“Traditional media like MST has certainly positioned itself to get a slice of the pie with your foray into digital. There are a lot of potential revenues to spread out and partnerships, as we speak, are being formed,” he said.

Among digital advertisers and media outfits, there’s a move, aided by governments, to force the tech giants manning the social media platforms to share ad revenues, the SARTiNE chief said.

While there’s a natural resistance from social media platforms to share income as even they are hit by financial constraints leading to mass lay-offs, Deunida said it’s not always sound, sane, or prudent to be picking up fights.

“As Bugs Bunny famously said to Yosemite Sam, ‘if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em,’” Deunida said, laughing. “Now that’s a giveaway as to my generation. Seriously, we dash or sprint—pardon the repetitiveness—but 2023 is a time to go on a full gallop. No one needs to be left behind.”

Recent economic indicators support the positive outlook for the economy. Manila Electric Company, the country’s largest power retailer serving Metro Manila and parts of Central Luzon and Calabarzon, said demand for electricity was expected to rise by nearly 6 percent in 2022 from a year ago and exceed the 2019 pre-pandemic level by 4 percent, led by the recovery in the commercial and industrial sectors.

Real estate services provider Leechiu Property Consultants said in its midDecember report that office space demand reached 975,000 square meters so far this year, surpassing the combined demand of 389,000 sq. m. in 2020 and 540,000 sq. m. in 2021.

It said the information technology-business process management sector accounted for the lion’s share of 2022 take-up at 466,000 sq. m. despite the dominance of the hybrid set-up which allowed some employees to work from home and the rest, on site.

Meanwhile, merchandise exports rebounded by 20 percent in October to a record $7.7 billion, although imports were still higher at $11 billion because of the country’s strong demand for fuel, capital goods, food and raw materials.

Total exports in the first 10 months rose 6.3 percent to $66.01 billion, while imports increased 22.7 percent to $115.90 billion, resulting in a trade deficit of nearly $50 billion.

Revenge spending is also triggering the growth in imports. The Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. and Truck Manufacturers Association said sales of vehicles, which are mostly imported, accelerated by 34.2 percent in November to 34,037 units from 26,456 in the same period last year, representing nine straight months of growth. This brought total sales in the first 11 months to 315,337 units, up by 31 percent from 240,742 vehicles sold in 2021.

SARTINE chief executive officer Renesar A. Deunida

adopting its workers as family members—from earning their first peso, getting married, having children, working up the career ladder, growing old and retiring with Bench. Deunida told MST that a full-length documentary for Bench’s 35th founding anniversary is in the works and would be out soon.

Local banks...

From D1

during the COVID-19 crisis in 2020. As such, banks were able to pass on lower interest rates to their borrowers. With the reopening of the economy and upside risks to inflation, the BSP started to raise the policy rate in the second quarter of 2022 after a series of policy rate cuts in 2020.

Mean and median weighted average interest rates have generally gone down since the start of the pandemic. These rates started to inch up in the second quarter of 2022 compared to levels reported in 2021.

The consolidated real estate exposures of universal/commercial banks and thrift banks increased by 6.2 percent to P2.906 trillion as of end-June 2022, lower than the 9.4-percent growth in June 2021. Real estate loans continued to make up the majority of real estate exposures, with a share of 86.2 percent, while real estate investments held the remaining portion of 13.8 percent.

The growth of total real estate loans scaled up by 7.2 percent to P2.505 trillion as of end-June 2022, surpassing the 6.1-percent growth recorded in June 2021. While the growth rate in this period was slower than the pre-pandemic average of 12.0 percent, it was slightly faster than the 6.5 percent average growth during the pandemic.

The growth in residential real estate loans was accompanied by a rise in residential real estate prices in the Philippines in the second quarter of 2022. The Residential Real Estate Price Index rose 2.6 percent, driven by increase in prices across housing types. By area, residential property prices in the National Capital Region grew by 6.3 percent due mainly to increase in the prices of townhouses and condominium units.

CREDIT TO MSMES

While the mandatory credit allocation for micro, small and medium enterprises set forth in Republic Act 6977, as amended by R.A. Nos. 8289 and 9501, ended on June 16, 2018, the BSP continues to monitor the credit allocation of banks to the MSME sector.

Based on bank-submitted MSME reports, the banking system provided a total of P447.7-billion credit to MSMEs, which was 5.1 percent of total loan portfolio, net of exclusions, as of end-June 2022.

The banking system’s total credit allocation to micro and small enterprises and

medium enterprises reached P174.4 billion and P273.3 billion, respectively. The total MSME credit allocated as of end-June 2022 of P447.7 billion declined by 1.6 percent when compared with the P454.8 billion credit in June 2021.

During the pandemic, the average growth of credit allocated to MSMEs dropped 10.3 percent, a turnaround from the 4.7-percent average growth rate before the pandemic.

“In view of these developments, the BSP continues to foster a regulatory environment conducive to the sustained development and growth of MSMEs. In particular, the BSP retained the effectivity of the prudential measures that aim to channel funding and extend more credit to MSMEs until end of 2022,” the BSP said.

INCREASED DEPOSITS

Amid the pandemic, domestic deposits continued to expand, reflective of the economy’s gradual recovery and the depositors’ increased awareness of the importance of saving in the face of future contingencies.

The lending and investment activities of the banking system were largely funded by deposits which grew by 7.5 percent year-onyear to P16.492 trillion as of end-June. This growth, however, remained far from the 9.0 percent and 9.2 percent, respectively, during and prior the pandemic.

The expansion in total deposits as of endJune 2022 was driven by demand and regular savings accounts which grew year-on-year by 12.6 percent and 12.2 percent, respectively.

As to deposit mix, savings deposits made up the biggest share of total deposits at 48.3 percent, followed by demand deposits and negotiable order of withdrawal accounts at 30.3 percent and time certificates of deposit with 20.3 percent.

Long-term negotiable certificates of deposit accounted for a minimal 1.1 percent of the total. Savings deposits have consistently accounted for around half of total deposits in the past six years. The share of demand deposits and NOW accounts to total deposits, however, has been increasing the past three years.

Savings deposits were comprised of regular savings (80.9 percent share, P6.452 trillion), kiddie and teen savings (0.7 percent share, P55.0 billion), other savings accounts (18.3 percent share, P1.460 trillion), and basic deposit accounts (0.1 percent share, P5.1 billion).

An eventful year for PH mining industry

By Patricia Taculao

VARIOUS metals are vital in any civilization because it supports several industries that preserve their longevity and survivability. Without these metals, societies wouldn’t be able to enjoy the comforts they have today.

It’s this very reason why governments across the globe invest heavily in the mining industry and secure the ores they need to build infrastructures, technology, and more. This 2022, the Philippines fortified its mining efforts to get the most from it.

Early this year, the Philippines’ local industry regulator shared that the coun-

try will expect a dozen new metal mines in commercial operation, most of them being nickel projects. Moreover, the Philippine Mines and Geology Bureau reported that the country’s nickel production totalled 386,359 in the previous year, with a 17 percent increase and the highest in six years.

Global Ferronickel Holdings Inc. president Dante Bravo believes the additions to nickel mining would increase the country’s ore production, even though existing local nickel miners were already performing outstandingly.

However, local mining companies still faced challenges due to rising fuel prices, inflation, labor shortages, supply chain bottlenecks, and increasing freight rates.

Nevertheless, local mining companies persevered and kept the industry at a steady positive rate.

During the fourth quarter of the year, Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga expected the mining sector to remain on its projected course with an upbeat performance.

Since the beginning of the year, the value of Philippine metal production has been on the upside. It implies the industry’s recovery from inconsistencies in the rules governing the mining sector.

MGB also reported earlier that metal production reached P48.61B in the first quarter, representing an expansion of 36.21 percent. The value of metal production surged by 39.42 percent to P112.66B during the first semester.

By September, the MGB said the local metallic mineral production grew by 29.21 percent to P175.61B.

The local government is also looking at the mining sector’s potential to drive the country’s economic growth through more small-scale mining sites. According to MGB, “it is the government’s strategy [for] an orderly, systematic, and ecologically balanced administration and disposition of small-scale mining areas.”

Yet aside from intensifying mining production, the country also enforced strict mining laws throughout the year, under the initiative of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

He recently ordered the DENR to reinforce its regulatory powers on small and largescale mining to ensure that standards are updated and that mining firms strictly implement their respective safety and health programs for workers.

Marcos certified several bills on mining safety as urgent to prevent losses during their time on the field.

Indeed, 2022 has been an eventful and fruitful year for the Philippines’ mining industry. Something which local players are ecstatic to see despite inflation, the pandemic, and other struggles.

The Philippines’ mining industry is eyeing to enter 2023 with a positive outlook, thanks to its outstanding performance in 2022.

Besides fortifying its metal production, from common ores to metallic minerals, it also aims to welcome smallscale players while securing the miners’ safety.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Maria Antonia YuloLoyzaga