Manila Standard - 2023 January 7 - Saturday

“I’m sorry. We, of course, we have to apologize to our kababayans who, especially those who came from abroad because their vacation was limited -they lost two, three days (because of the disruptions),” Mr. Marcos said in a press conference after inspecting the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3.

“We know that to Filipinos, the Christmas holiday is very valuable. That's why we are all asking for your

forgiveness. We will do everything so this is not repeated,” added the President, who just came from a three-day state visit to China.

He said all forms of assistance have been given to the passengers affected during the ordeal.

“We did not just leave them alone or left them to their own devices. But we try to support them in every way,” the President said.

Airports have returned to their normal operations after the delays and cancellations of flights, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said Thursday.

"Right now, we already have normal operations in our airports and we have not seen any problems," Bautista told GMA News.

Bautista, however, said they are not ruling out sabotage as one of the possibilities behind what happened.

"We are considering that because all possibilities should be included for consideration," he said.

According to Bautista, the Department of Transportation is ready to face the Senate investigation.

"We are ready. We are now preparing the report and will submit the documents that they would require from us," he said.

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported an increase in departures following the technical glitch experienced on New Year’s Day.

According to BI Port Operations Divisions Chief Lawyer Carlos Capulong,

Remulla son walks free

Court finds 'reasonable doubt' in drug case,

By Rey E. Requejo and Macon Ramos-Araneta

ALAS Piñas court on Friday found the eldest son of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla not guilty of illegal drug possession, three months after antinarcotics agents arrested him for receiving a parcel containing 893.91 grams of high-grade marijuana valued at P1.25 million.

Acting Presiding Judge Ricardo Moldez II of the Las Piñas RTC Branch 179 said “an assiduous review of the evidence” showed that there was “reasonable doubt that the accused received and possessed the parcel delivered to him with the knowledge, consciousness, and awareness” that the parcel contained marijuana.

Modlez said that for a successful prosecution of an offense of illegal possession of dangerous drugs, the prosecution must establish three elements: 1) that the accused was in possession of an item or object identified as a prohibited drug; 2) that the possession was not authorized by law; and 3) the accused freely and consciously possessed the drug.

The RTC ruling came barely three

Marcos vows to build strong case vs. police in drug trade

By Vince Lopez and Joel E. Zurbano

with the press Friday, said it was part of his campaign pledge to carry out a different approach to the country’s drug problem, as he emphasized his government’s efforts to cleanse the ranks of the PNP.

Mr. Marcos said it was he who ordered Interior

Jobless rate drops to 17-year low of 4.2%

By Julito G. Rada, Vito Barcelo, Macon RamosAraneta and Maricel V. Cruz

low of 4.2 percent from 4.5 percent a month ago and 6.5 percent a year ago, as the labor market sustained its return to the pre-pandemic level, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said Friday. National Statistician and Civil Registrar General Dennis Mapa said in

By Maricel V. Cruz and Othel V. Campos

By Alena Mae S. Flores

CONSUMERS can expect a rollback in pump prices next week of as much as P2.20 per liter due to global fears of an economic slowdown.

Industry sources said oil prices will likely go down by P2.20 per liter for diesel and P0.50 per liter for gasoline due to the pronouncement of the International Monetary Fund of a global recession Department of Energy director for the Oil Industry Management Bureau Rino Abad said diesel and kerosene may go down by P1.50 per liter, while gasoline will go down by P0.50 per liter.

The computation is based on four days of trading and may still change based on Friday's trading movement.

an online briefing that the November unemployment rate was the lowest rate since April 2005.

“In terms of magnitude, about 2.18 million were unemployed in November 2022. This was lower than the 2.24 million

visit, as

Romualdez attributed such success to what he described as the “mutual respect” both leaders have for each other and their sincerity as heads of state in discussing the concerns surrounding the claims.

President taps Centino to lead AFP anew

12, 2021 to August 8, 2022.

Bacarro

Centino,

-

"As

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday vowed to build a strong case against Philippine National Police (PNP)

GEN. Andres Centino was appointed Friday by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. as head of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), replacing previous appointee, Lt. Gen. Bartolome Vicente Bacarro.

a member of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1988, previously served as AFP chief from Nov.

is also a member of PMA Class 1988 and a Medal of Valor awardee, the highest decoration in the AFP for combat.

chief-of-staff, Centino imple

mented four major thrusts within the AFP

SPEAKER Martin G. Romualdez described as "highly successful" the recent meeting between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Chinese President Xi Jinping during the former's three-day state

they discussed an array of topics that included the maritime claims of both countries, among others.

COURTESY RESIGNATION.

Manila Police District director Brig

Gen. Andre P. Dizon shows his courtesy resignation in front of police officers at the headquarters of Manila Police District on Friday. This came after Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos called on top police officers to voluntarily step down from office as part of the campaign to cleanse their ranks of the illegal drug trade. Norman Cruz

DOJ chief says 'justice is served'

Speaker: 'Mutual respect' seen in successful PH-China talks

WALKING

FREE. Juanito Remulla III, the son of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, and his legal counsels walk out of the Las Piñas Regional Trial Court after he was acquitted of an illegal drug possession charge on Friday. Danny Pata

SORRY FOR GLITCHES. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. speaks to the media after inspecting the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 for domestic and international flights on Friday following the unexpected technical glitch at the Air Traffic Management Center (ATMC) of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) that affected both international and domestic flights on New Year’s day. Rey Baniquet

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday apologized to passengers affected by 282 delayed, cancelled, and diverted flights on New Year’s Day due to a technical glitch in the airport navigation system of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).

‘No need for more bans on China’

THE Department of Health (DOH) sees no reason to impose additional restrictions on incoming travelers from China.

DOH Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire, in a media briefing Friday, said that based on science and evidence, there is no reason for additional measures.

She added that transmission of new Omicron subvariants is happening not only in China but in other parts of the world.

“We need to see the whole situation and not just focus our thinking and decisions on China. We know the interactions

Remulla...

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months after Juanito Jose Remulla III was arrested in his home following a “controlled delivery operation” conducted by agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in October 2022.

Juanito’s arrest triggered calls for Remulla’s resignation so as notto influence the outcome of the investigation on the case, but the Justice secretary refused to do so.

However, Remulla distanced himself from the case and refused to entertain questions related to his son’s case.

Juanito, who was presented by the defense as its lone witness, said that on Oct. 11, 2022 at around 11 a.m., he was awakened by his girlfriend, who informed him that there were two delivery men waiting for him outside his house.

When he went out of the house, he saw two men clad in delivery clothing, wearing matching bull caps, and asked him if he was Juanito Remulla.

After confirming that he was the person they were looking for, the supposed delivery men told him that there was a delivery for him but he told them he was not expecting a delivery.

He added that he was also asked if he knew a certain Benjamin Huffman. to which he said no.

After presenting his driver’s license as proof of identity, he heard one of the men said: “Meron Juanito, tapos meron Remulla, pwede na ito. (There's a Juanito and a Remulla, this will do.)”

Remulla said he was then presented with a sheet of paper for him to sign and a

PBBM...

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a total of 19,010 travelers departed on January 1, 2023.

The number jumped to 41,757 the following day, and the BI continued to process around 34-37k travelers per day over the next few days.

Before facing the media, Mr. Marcos heard a situation briefing by the Department of Transportation led by Secretary Jimmy Bautista on what caused the aviation mess and what has been done to resolve the issue.

Jobless...

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total unemployed persons in October 2022 and 3.16 million in November 2021,” Mapa said.

The employment rate of 95.8 percent in November 2022 was equivalent to 49.71 million employed persons. In October 2022, the number of people employed was estimated at 47.11 million and in November 2021, 45.47 million.

“The employment rate from July to November 2022 has returned to the pre-pandemic level,” Mapa said. “Normally, the employment rate increases in the last quarter of the year because of more economic activities during the Christmas season. This is seasonal and we have observed this in the past,” Mapa said.

National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said the government will continue pursuing a dynamic labor market that will generate more jobs and high-quality employment.

“The strong labor market signifies the steady recovery of our economy. With the release of the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, we are starting our work toward deepening economic and social transformation,” Balisacan said.

The labor force participation rate rose to 67.5 percent in November 2022 from 64.2 percent in the same month last year. An additional 3.2 million Filipinos, of whom 2.5 million are women, entered the labor force. This increased women’s labor force participation to 57.8 percent from 52.2 percent last year.

“We see a more dynamic labor market as flexible work arrangements and digitalization provide easier access to employment opportunities for Filipinos who also attend to other essential tasks such as parenting and pursuing higher education,” Balisacan said.

The average weekly hours worked of an employed person in November 2022 declined to 39.3, from 39.6 and 40.2 hours per week in November 2021 and

between and among the different populations across the globe that’s happening,” Vergeire said.

On the last day of 2022, the DOH released a department memorandum to all implementing units to heighten surveillance on incoming passengers with a specific mention of travelers from China.

Vergeire explained that the memo was to reiterate the increasing number of cases in China, the reason for the heightened

brown, nondescript box without any identifying marks.

The box was handed to him and the men took pictures of him and then he was immediately arrested.

Juanito testified that he did not receive the parcel and that it was just handed to him, even as he recounted that he even threw the box away as he felt he was being set up.

He said he did not file a case against the persons who arrested him because he was not given the opportunity to do so.

In ruling in favor of Juanito, the court pointed out that the testimonies of prosecution witnesses failed to clearly prove the existence of “animus possidendi” or the intent to possess on the part of the accused.

The court noted that Juanito’s reactions were consistent with a person who was not expecting a parcel or a package from a certain Benjamin Huffman or from any other person unknown to him and that he seemed oblivious to the parcel’s contents.

The lower court also noted that in a controlled delivery, the mere designation as the consignee or even the acceptance of a package containing illicit items, by itself, is not sufficient to establish criminal liability.

It said that other circumstances must be present to show that the recipient was really aware of its contents.

Under Republic Act 9165 or the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, a controlled delivery happens when the consignment of any dangerous drug is detected and the law enforcers knowingly allow the package to travel to its destination or to the address of the consignee to establish the person or persons involved in the commission of the offense.

“Unfortunately, apart from showing

“The problem was not just the UPS (uninterruptible power supply) it’s in another, it was in another unit. It was a circuit breaker that somehow did not reduce the incoming voltage, so the UPS saw it was too high and would ruin the machine, so it shut down. That's what happened,” he noted

During the meeting, Mr. Marcos instructed Transportation officials to make sure a similar incident will not happen again.

All equipment to ensure “future redundancies” should be secured, he said.

“As I told Sec. Jimmy, we need to

October 2022, respectively.

Underemployed persons or employed persons who expressed desire to have additional hours of work were registered at 7.16 million translating to an underemployment rate of 14.4 percent.

This was lower than the reported rate in November 2021 of 16.8 percent but higher than the reported rate in October 2022 at 14.2 percent.

By gender, the male labor force participation rate was estimated at 77.0 percent while female labor force participation was 57.8 percent. The employment rate was higher among females at 95.9 percent than their male counterpart at 95.7 percent. Moreover, the underemployment rate among males (16.1 percent) was higher than females (12.1 percent). The unemployment rate among females was lower at 4.1 percent of 22.17 million total female labor force than their male counterpart at 4.3 percent of the total 29.71 million male labor force.

By sector, the services sector continued to dominate the employment market having the largest share of employed persons of about 60.5 percent. The agriculture and the industry sectors accounted for 21.4 percent and 18.1 percent of the employed persons, respectively.

The wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, manufacturing, accommodation and food service activities, and agriculture and forestry had the highest increases in employment.

On the other hand, construction, fishing and aquaculture, transportation and storage, administrative and support services and mining and quarrying showed declines in employment.

The Palace said the administration's efforts to provide more jobs to Filipinos was gaining momentum.

“The employability of the Filipino worker is vital to building a strong labor force. Maintaining a high degree of employability requires the continuous upgrading of skills and knowledge,” the Palace said. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

surveillance for all incoming travelers.

Based on existing protocols, an incoming traveler’s temperature is screened while vaccination details are sought through a health declaration via e-arrival cards. Should a passenger be unvaccinated or partially-vaccinated, an antigen test taken 24 hours prior departure will be asked.

“If they don't have that, we have booths at the airport where you can be tested on the spot. If you test positive, of course you will be subject to isolation based on our current protocols and you also will be subjected to a repeat RT-PCR for internal purposes for us to do genome sequencing,” Vergeire said.

that the package or parcel was handed to the accused, the prosecution did not present other evidence to show that the former knew that it contained marijuana. The prosecution failed to show that the accused, by receiving the parcel, knew that he was also possessing illegal drugs,” the court declared.

The court also expressed “serious reservations” about the integrity and evidentiary value of the dangerous drugs allegedly seized.

The judge noted that there is nothing in the records that would show how the parcel was handled, stored, and preserved from the time it was discovered on Sept. 28, 2022 by the Customs Anti-Illegal Drug Task Force (CAIDTF) until it was turned over to a customer examiner.

“The prosecution failed to establish that during the ‘detection stage’ or before the parcel allegedly containing the illegal drugs was turned over to the PDEA that precautions were taken to ensure that there had been no change in the condition of the parcel and its content and that there was no opportunity for someone not in the chain to have possession of the same during the said period,” the ruling said.

“Because of these, this court is unable to discount the possibility of evidence tampering on that occasion,” it said.

Sought for comment, Justice Secretary Remulla expressed hope that his eldest son will be able to redeem himself after the Las Pinas City RTC dismissed the drug charges against him.

“I wish my son further redemption in the future,” the DOJ chief told reporters.

Lawyer Pearlito Campanilla said in a television interview that they will try to have the younger Remulla released within

make sure that we fast-track all of -whatever negotiations we have with our -- with the equipment suppliers who can help us with the upgrades, who can help us with the upgrades for the software and the hardware of our equipment,” the President said.

“For the UPS, we did an emergency procurement and we are going to procure two units of UPS so we have a main and a backup,” he added.

Mr. Marcos recognized the efforts of the DoTr and its agencies in addressing the issue.

“I can say that considering how big the problem was, I think that our airport authorities, our Cabinet secretaries, and

Marcos...

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Abalos Jr. to seek the courtesy resignation of police generals and full colonels as part of the campaign to cleanse the PNP's ranks.

“We were planning this for a while. Well, let me be very clear. Remember, during the campaign, when I was asked what I would do with the drug problem? This is it. We approach it in an entirely different way. We all know that the drug problem would not exist if there are no crooked cops involved,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino at a briefing at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3.

"We really need to look carefully to see who was involved and who is not really fit for service because they are associated with drug lords," the President said.

Responding to those criticizing the administration’s approach, Marcos said the PNP hasn't reached the stage of filing cases and it is still in the initial phase of organizing a commission that will review the background of police officials.

The commission, Marcos said, will look into the records of all the officers as the administration slowly reinstates those who are cleared of any drug links and builds cases against those found involved in the drug trade.

"So we must make sure that if we file cases, we must win and they will be put behind bars those who were really guilty of conspiring with the drug trade,” he said.

PNP chief Police General Rodolfo

‘Diesel...

From A1

World oil prices declined due to the IMF's pronouncement that the global economy may worsen in 2023 due to the continuing war between Russia and Ukraine, rising interest rates, and the

Meanwhile, the DOH identified 89 close contacts of 8 Filipino travelers from China who tested positive for COVID-19. Vergeire said the passengers are being monitored by health authorities and various local government units.

Of the 89 close contacts, only one exhibited suspected COVID-19 symptoms, she added. The passenger has been tested and is undergoing isolation.

On the first flight, Vergeire said 19 close contacts were identified, including 18 are foreigners and a Filipino. Seventeen of them are fully vaccinated, one is partially vaccinated and another is unvaccinated. Willie Casas (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

the day.

“Today is a day of celebration and thanksgiving for now,” Campanilla said.

Secretary Remulla previously said he will not interfere and his son "will have to face his predicament as a fully emancipated child."

"A person should always face the consequences of their actions and I will let justice take its own course," the DOJ chief said in a handwritten letter released to the media as he was out of the country at the time of his son’s arrest.

PDEA issued a brief statement following the release of the decision.

“With utmost respect to the court’s decision, PDEA will carefully study the reasons behind the exoneration and exercise due diligence in the conduct of similar operations in the future. The court has seen both sides of the case and is in the best position to rule over the merits,” the statement said.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III said that based on the facts of the case he gathered from news reports, he was not surprised that the younger Remulla was acquitted.

Pimentel, a bar topnotcher, said he believes Remulla's son was arrested when the closed package was handed over to him.

"And that the law enforcers waited for media reporters to arrive before opening the package in front of the accused," said Pimentel.

He noted that the quick action of the court is commendable.

"I just hope that this example of the quick action of the court can also be experienced by others who are involved in the Philippine justice system," he said. With Rio N. Araja

all those who were involved in returning the system back have done a reasonably good job at six hours is rather a short time considering how much needed to be done to get the system back up into working condition,” he said.

The Senate is set to hold an investigation into the disruptions.

BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said they expect the numbers to increase as those travelers from cancelled flights are rebooked to new flights.

“Lines are observed at the immigration area during peak hours due to the increase in passengers following the holiday season and recovery of cancelled flights,” said Tansingco. Vito Barcelo

Azurin Jr. and a number of high-ranked police colonels and generals have heeded the call to file their courtesy resignations, but he said some officers refused to do so.

Abalos on Friday said Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong will be one of the five members of the committee that will review the courtesy resignations of police generals and full colonels.

Magalong, a former PNP Deputy Chief for Operations, was known for his integrity and credibility, Abalos said in a TV interview.

He did not reveal who the other members of the committee are.

Magalong, interviewed on ABSCBN's TeleRadyo, said the call for courtesy resignations would restore public trust in the police force.

The Metro Manila Council (MMC) also signed a resolution supporting the move to ask high-ranking police officers to hand in their courtesy resignations.

“As a manifestation of their professionalism and patriotism, all PNP colonels and generals must immediately tender their courtesy resignation in order to preserve and protect the credibility of the police organization and remove any and all doubts on its public reputation and stature,” the MMC resolution said.

The MMC, composed of 17 mayors in the National Capital Region, is the policymaking body of the MMDA.

MMDA Chairman Romando Artes said that as public officials, the police must, at all times, be accountable to the people and uphold their sworn duty to serve and protect. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

spread of COVID with the loosening of restrictions from China.

On Jan. 3, 2022, oil companies raised the price of gasoline by P2.90, diesel by P2.10 per liter, and kerosene by P3.05 per liter.

These resulted in total year-to-date adjustments to stand at a net increase of P17.80 per liter for gasoline, P29.40 per liter for diesel, and P24.35 per liter for kerosene.

EUA of COVID jabs valid 1 year after expiry—DOH

THE emergency use authorization (EUA) of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccines will remain valid for a year after the “state of calamity” expiration on Dec. 31, 2022.

In a media forum on Friday, Department of Health (DOH) officer-in-charge Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the EUA can still be used for another 12 months.

“That’s what we’re using now as basis for us to have a continuity in this Covid-19 vaccination program,” she added.

Currently, there are 17.48 million Covid-19 jabs stored at DOH warehouses.

“Meron din po tayong isang nakasaad sa batas na kung mag-lapse ang state of calamity (Under the law, if the state of calamity lapses), the Department of Health now goes through the usual mode of procurement for vaccines,” Vergeire said.

Through Republic Act (RA) 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act, the DOH can obtain new stocks of Covid-19 vaccines when needed.

“In RA 9184, we have a provision there that we can negotiate procurement based on the law,” she said.

Vergeire said there are also offers of donation from other countries.

“We’re working on that so we can also receive within the first quarter ito pong mga bakunang kailangan po ng sektor ng ating populasyon (these vaccines needed by our population),” she added.

Speaker:...

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“The President was able to personally convey to President Xi Jinping the concerns of the Filipino: the fishery issues, the maritime claim issues -- these very sensitive issues. But it was brought up… in an atmosphere of mutual respect and equality,” Romualdez said upon returning from the China state visit where he was part of the Philippine delegation.

“And that's why this state visit was so successful because we could see the rapport, the personal exchanges between the two presidents,” he added.

Sincerity, the Speaker said, was very evident in both heads of state and this will “go a long way in addressing all these issues, whether they be contentious or not, moving forward.”

“So this definitely means a lot to the relations with the People's Republic of China,” Romualdez said.

“While we have some issues that have challenging concerns like our maritime issues, that does not represent the totality, the entirety. We have a vast range of issues and concerns and common interests whether it’s finance, trade, culture, education, and political,” he added.

The President also extended an invitation to Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife, First Lady Peng Liyuan, to visit the Philippines, the Speaker said, in a bid to reciprocate the warm welcome received by the entire Marcos delegation's first state visit to China.

Lawmakers likewise hailed the successful state visit of Mr. Marcos to China, which the Speaker believes would lead to more positive engagements between Manila and Beijing.

"The state visit was highly successful because there were many engagements at different levels," Romualdez said upon returning to the country on Thursday afternoon.

Among others, the Speaker recalled the President’s interaction with the Chairman of the standing committee of the National People's Congress (NPC). (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

President...

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which are operational efficiency, optimal use of resources, advancement of professionalism and meritocracy within the organization and capability development," Presidential Communications Office officer-in-charge Undersecretary Cheloy Garafil said in a statement.

Under Centino's term as chief-of-staff, the AFP successfully launched military campaigns to combat insurgents and local terrorist groups resulting in the dismantling of guerrilla fronts and the clearing of affected communities.

He also led all units of the AFP nationwide in advancing the peaceful and orderly conduct of the Philippine 2022 national and local elections.

“Centino also pushed for the completion of capability projects as part of the modernization of the AFP," Garafil said.

Prior to his earlier appointment as AFP chief under the Duterte administration, Centino served as Philippine Army chief from May 14, 2021 to Dec. 10, 2021.

His other assignments include commander of the 4th Infantry Division, AFP deputy-chief-of-staff for operations or J-3 in military parlance and head of the 401st Infantry Brigade.

Centino graduated cum laude from the PMA.

He also holds a Master’s Degree in Business Management from the University of the Philippines, Master’s in National Resource Strategy from the National Defense University in Washington, D.C, and a certificate in the Strategic Business Economic Program of the University of Asia and the Pacific. Vince Lopez

Former Davao agri exec beats P4m graft case

By Maricel V. Cruz

A FORMER Department of Agriculture-Davao City official, Godofredo Ramos, has been cleared of a graft case filed against him in connection with the purchase of P4.89 million worth of liquid fertilizer.

The Sandiganbayan cleared the official, who was accused of purchasing the item without public bidding. The antigraft court said in a 13-page decision the prosecution failed to prove the official’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The decision, dated December 7 but released only on January 5, said the prosecution failed to show that then DA-Davao City Administrator Godofredo Ramos acted with manifest partiality, evident bad faith, or gross inexcusable negligence in awarding the P4.89 million fertilizer contract to RCS Trading.

Under the questioned direct contracting deal, the DA bought Florida Green Gold Foliar Fertilizer at P1,500 per bottle.

In the same decision, the antigraft court lifted the hold departure order it issued against Ramos as well as ordered the refund of the amount he deposited in bail.

“The prosecution’s theory is that accused Ramos acted in conspiracy with accused [Regional Executive Director Roger] Chio [of DA Davao City] and accused [Reynato] Sarmiento [of RCS Trading], but no proof was offered to show the alleged conspiracy.

It was not shown that the accused had conspired with one another to benefit from the procurement,” the Sandiganbayan said.

Comelec: 91m ballots for BSKE

By Vito Barcelo

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) aims to finish the printing of over 91 million ballots for the October 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) by the second week of February.

“We are almost complete with all the materials. We will print the ballots — all 91 million plus additional ballots from the ongoing voter registration — until the second week of February,” Comelec chairperson George Garcia said Friday.

According to the Comelec, the printing of ballots started last year but was halted as the barangay and SK polls, initially scheduled on December 5, 2022, were postponed to October 30, 2023. Garcia was likewise saddened by the low turnout of new voter registrants af-

ter only about 200,000 registered, saying they were expecting 1.5 to 2 million people would register.

“Like what we expected, it’s always like every time the voter registration starts or resumes, it is low and only a few go to Comelec offices despite our continuous appeal for them to register,” he said.

Voter registration started in December last year and will end on January 31. Since 2016, the barangay and SK polls have been repeatedly postponed. Meanwhile, Comelec Commissioner Rey Bulay, the commissioner-in-charge

for the BSKE, assured that all the materials to be used for the 2023 BSKE polls were delivered before the end of 2022.

Also, the Comelec en banc will soon decide on the motion for reconsideration filed by disqualified Cagayan Governor Manuel Mamba, as the appeal had already been raffled off to one of the commissioners, Garcia said Friday.

“The public can expect that in the next few days, the Comelec will decide on the motion for reconsideration and determine the final decision of the commission on this matter,” he added.

OVER 14 million subscriber identity modules (SIMs) have been registered with their respective service providers as of January 4, 2023, over a week since the SIM registration process began late last month, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) said Friday.

A total of 14,050,125 SIMs are already registered, the registration update posted on the NTC’s website showed.

The number of registered SIM represents 8.31 percent of the about 170 million SIM cards nationwide, NTC officer-in-charge Ella Blanca Lopez said in a press briefing.

Broken down, Smart Communications Inc. recorded the highest number with 6,713,632 SIMs registered. Globe Telecom Inc. followed with 6,135,596 SIMs registered.

DITO Telecommunity Corp., mean-

Agriculture Department clears Rizal Province of Avian Influenza

By Othel V. Campos

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) has declared the Province of Rizal as Avian Influenza-free following the province’s strict quarantine measures that effectively controlled and eradicated the incidence of AI within the prescribed 28 days period of isolation.

Based on DA Memorandum Cir-

cular No. 1 issued by Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban on January 4, 2023, a minimum period of 28 days is needed to declare an infected zone AI-free after stamping-out measures and disinfection of the last affected establishment were carried out.

The declaration is based on Article 10.4.6 of the World Organisation for

Housing, Baguio sign pact for 10k families

THE Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development has partnered with the Baguio City government for a township development project to benefit 10,000 families.

Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong inked a memorandum of understanding at the DHSUD central office in Quezon City on Friday.

Aligned with Baguio City’s strong advocacy on sustainability and resiliency in human settlements and urban development, the housing project aims to be among the “finest” under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Program.

The arrangement targets a 6.3-hectare township development in the City of Pines with 10 20-story buildings in Barangay Tupinao, Tuba, Benguet.

Initially, 10,000 families, including informal settlers, from Baguio City would benefit from the project.

“Today, I am elated to open the year 2023 with this MOU signing with the Baguio City government for their housing project under the Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Program of our beloved President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., this is our first MOU signed for the new year,” Acuzar said. Rio N. Araja

Animal Health (WOAH)

Animal Health Code (2021), which provides that the

Influenza free status of a previously free country or zone may be regained.

The DA Regional Field Office, Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), and the local government unit (LGU) jointly conducted disease control measures such as stamping out, cleaning and

disinfection, and other quarantine activities to effectively manage the risk of further infection.

The Avian Influenza Protection Program (AIPP) with Rizal Province reported no new incidents even after more 40 days had passed since the end of the clean-up and disinfection operations in accordance with the WOAH Terrestrial Animal Code.

LTFRB opens 6 new PUB routes for NCR

THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has announced it has approved the opening of six new routes for public utility buses (PUBs) that will traverse the National Capital Region (NCR) and its outlying areas.

“We therefore appeal to our riding public for more patience as we are continually studying the viability of opening more routes, whether new or existing, with great consideration of current health protocols so that passengers can travel safely and easily,” said LTFRB chairman Teofilo Guadiz III.

In Memorandum Circular No. 2022-083, the LTFRB approved the opening of the following new routes:

Antipolo – McKinley Hill via FVR Road, C-5

Antipolo – McKinley Hill via C-6

McKinley Hill – Southwoods Mall Transport Terminal

Ayala – Southwoods Mall Transport Terminal

Alabang (SST) – Naic via Governor’s Drive

Cubao – Dasmariñas via Governor’s Drive

Citing the guidelines in the memorandum, the LTFRB said interested operators who have consolidated operationally and with brand new or Omnibus Franchising Guidelines (OFG)–compliant units will be given preference.

while, registered 1,200,897 SIMs.

“As far as the NTC is concerned, we are satisfied at how the telcos are handling the SIM registration as well as the enhancements on the system after the first few days of the registration,” Lopez said.

The NTC officer-in-charge also welcomed the telcos’ commitment to implement improvements and refinements to their SIM registration process for ease of use of mobile subscribers.

SIM registration is pursuant to the Republic Act (RA) 11934 or the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) Registration Act, which aims to regulate the issuance and use of SIMs, which are essential in operating mobile devices like mobile phones and pocket Wi-Fis.

The law is expected to suppress the spread of spam texts and scams using mobile devices.

DAR gets kudos for swift action on hotline issues

By Rio N. Araja

THE Office of the President has commended the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) for its swift and 100-percent response and action to all 451 issues and concerns brought to its attention in 2022 under the government’s 8888 Citizens’ Complaint Center.

Bernadette Casinabe, director of the 8888 Citizens’ Complaint Center, conveyed her congratulatory message in a letter addressed to DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella III for a job well done.

“We are pleased to inform you that of the 451 citizens’ concerns referred to your office from Jan. 1, 2022 to Nov. 30, 2022, 451 tickets, or 100 percent were acted upon. We would like to commend your efforts in ensuring that all citizens’ concerns referred to your office are acted upon on time,” she said.

The complaint center was established in June 2007 to serve as a mechanism where citizens may report their complaints and grievances on acts of red tape, as defined under Republic Act 9485 or Anti-Red Tape Act as amended by RA 11032.

The memorandum further stated that “if the selected qualified operators have no brand new/OFG compliant units, the applicant is given six months to operate non-compliant units, leased or owned, with a special permit during the interim period.”

Terrestrial

Avian

BUS CAROUSEL SYSTEM. Lawyer Teofilo E. Guadiz

III, LTFRB chairperson, answers questions during a press conference regarding the fare matrix of the EDSA Bus Carousel, the ticketing system, and updates on public transportation in Metro Manila. Manny Palmero

SIM EXAMPLE. Personnel of Globe Telecom demonstrate how to conduct a SIM card registration on Friday at the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) office in Quezon City. NTC OIC Ella Blanca Lopez said the agency closely monitored the implementation of SIM card registration. Manny Palmero

DISMANTLING. Workers dismantle the containers that were used for the Manila COVID-19 Field Hospital at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park on Friday to make room for the celebration of the Feast of the Black Nazarene, which will highlighted by the Walk of Faith, a prayer march without the Black Nazarene icon, from Quirino Grandstand to Quiapo Church on Jan. 9. Danny Pata

5k cops deployed to secure Nazarene feast

By Joel E. Zurbano

MORE than 5,500 policemen will be deployed to ensure peace and order situation before, during and after the January 9 Feast of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo, Manila.

Meanwhile, organizers of the activities for the Feast of the Black Nazarene reminded devotees to avoid kissing the icon and observe health protocols as the threat of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) persists.

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director Maj. Gen. Jonnel Estomo announced this dur-

ing Thursday’s send-off ceremony for the 5,559 policemen who will be assigned at the Quiapo Church, Quirino Grandstand, and strategic checkpoints in Manila.

The policemen will be assisted by 175 members of the Bureau of Fire Protection and Military Joint Task Force, both from the NCR, in securing those areas.

During the procession, vendors will not be allowed within the vicinity of Quiapo Church while devotees and churchgoers are prohibited from bringing backpacks, as well as colored canisters except transparent plastic bags and water containers or

DOH: 307 injured due to f’crackers; NCR tops list

SIXTEEN additional cases of injuries due to firecrackers were reported on Friday, bringing the total to 307, representing a 62-percent increase over the previous year’s figure.

The National Capital Region (NCR) logged the highest number with 139 cases, followed by Western Visayas with 37 cases, Ilocos Region with 33, Central Luzon, 24, Region 4-A (Calabarzon), 18, and Bicol Region, 14.

The Department of Health (DOH) noted however, that the 2021 holiday casualties were three percent lower than the five-year average of 317 fireworks-related injuries.

The DOH report showed 167 of the cases occurred on the streets, while 130 took place inside residences.

There were 86 eye injuries, while 20 cases of blast injuries required amputation, the DOH said.

Fifty-one cases or 17 percent of the total allegedly involved drunkenness at the time of injury.

“Two hundred forty-five or 80 percent of the cases involved male aged one to 80 years old,” the DOH said.

The top five injurious fireworks were “kwitis,” boga” (improvised cannon), trayanggulo, 5-star, and fountain. Willie Casas

V’fuerte hails BBM’s fruitful visit to China

Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte said such investments would boost the Philippines goal to reduce its carbon footprint by 75 percent via pursuing cash-intensive programs, amid budgetary constraints.

“The President has walked the talk on decarbonization with his coup in Beijing of hauling in close to $14 billion in investment pledges from Chinese companies, which will give a big boost to our country’s ambitious goal of GHG (greenhouse gas) emission reduction and avoidance of 75 percent over the 20202030 period and the switch to the use of 35 percent of renewables in our total power requirements by 2030 and a higher 50 percent energy mix by 2040,” Villafuerte said.

Villafuerte, the National Unity Party (NUP) president, said “Mr. Marcos’ push for RE investments to achieve a greener economy and reduce our country’s carbon footprint was in sync with his steady pitch in all his foreign trips since he assumed the presidency for climate justice, by securing funding support from the world’s affluent economies yet worst GCG polluters for programs that would help high-risk developing nations like the Philippines shift to cash-intensive RE sources and better adapt to worsening natural disasters set off by planet heating.” Maricel V. Cruz

agri damage hits P325-million mark

THE National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Friday reported that damage to agriculture due to rains and floods caused by the shear line since the Christmas Day has reached P325.28 million.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Army (PA) mobilized its humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR) teams to assist potential flood victims in Metro Manila and parts of Eastern Visayas due to heavy rains brought by a low-pressure area (LPA).

This as the government allocated a total of P104.87 million for assistance to the regions affected by shear lineinduced rains and floods.

The NDRRMC said Northern Mindanao suffered the most with P172.45 million in agricultural losses, followed by Mimaropa with P83.65 million and the Bicol Region with P56.05 million.

reported injured.

Army spokesman Co. Xerxes Trinidad said the 525th Engineer Combat Battalion, 51st Engineer Brigade, deployed two light urban search-andrescue teams to flood-prone areas in Metro Manila amid the rains dumped by the low-pressure area that currently affects parts of Luzon and Eastern Visayas.

These soldiers were equipped with lifesaving devices and vehicles.

Trinidad said the PA is coordinating with local government units that might need their assistance.

bottled water.

“These measures are obviously to be carried out to preempt anyone who desires to conceal contrabands or other things that could wreak havoc in the celebration of the festivities and to further avoid the occurrence of any untoward incidents,” Estomo said.

Meanwhile, the airspace in the vicinity of Quirino Grandstand and Quiapo Church will be declared as “No Fly Zone” beginning 12 noon of January 6 until 12 noon of January 20.

All the ports and waterways near the vicinity will be secured as well.

Damage to infrastructure, the NDRRMC said, was estimated at P268.56 million. The National Irrigation Administration also reported over P2 million damage in irrigation systems.

At least 5,152 houses were reported damaged—4,242 partially and 910 totally, according to the NDRRMC’s updated report.

Twenty-three cities and municipalities were placed under state of calamity, including Brooke’s Point in Palawan, Llorente in Eastern Samar, Dapitan and Polanco in Zamboanga del Norte, Gingoog and Talisayan in Misamis Oriental, and the entire province of Misamis Occidental.

The reported death toll remained at 52, although only 13 have been validated so far. At least 18 people were still reported missing, while 16 others were

Trinidad also said the Eastern Visayas-based 802nd Infantry Brigade has placed its HADR teams on standby.

“As of the latest update from 802 IB, all roads and bridges in the provinces of Leyte, Southern Leyte, and Biliran are all passable. Moreover, the 14th Infantry ‘Avenger’ Battalion and the 93rd Infantry Battalion put their HADR teams on standby for possible rescue efforts in Eastern Visayas,” Trinidad said.

In a related development, retail outlets adjacent to the Marikina River closed shops early on Thursday at the waterway overflowed its banks.

Saidamen Baunto, a shoe and stainless ware vendor, began packing up after the water reached a portion of his stall.

Baunto shared he had yet to make any sales when the water level of the river hit 14.4

Win urges gov’t to go after agri smugglers

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

He said several farm products were smuggled, but no “big fish” was caught.

With the arrest of “big fish,” he said the illegal importation of agricultural products should be stopped.

The Senate Committee of the Whole released in June last year an investigation report citing certain individuals’ possible involvement in large-scale agricultural smuggling.

Senator Bong Go cites increase in DTI 2023 budget

cial role in the recovery of the country’s economy and local communities.

“According to data, 99.52% of the total enterprises operating in the country are MSMEs. Backbone ng ating ekonomiya ang mga MSMEs.”

to

Earlier, Go appealed for the budget allocation for the PPG program during the deliberations on the 2023 budget of the DTI.

“Many have lost their jobs, many businesses stopped operationsdue to pandemic so it is important to continue this program,” he said.

He reiterated that MSMEs play a cru-

The senator has already filed several legislative measures to support this economic sector. These include a bill which seeks to institutionalize the Department of Trade and Industry’s “One Town, One Product” (OTOP) program, and the proposed Government Financial Institutions Unified Initiatives to Distressed Enterprises for Economic Recovery (GUIDE) Act.

Go’s Senate Bill No. 424 shall adopt the OTOP as a government stimulus program

Bill eyes free legal assistance for MUPs

By Maricel V. Cruz

A LEGISLATOR from Mindanao has appealed to the Senate to support a bill providing free legal assistance to men and women in uniform facing charges in connection with the performance of their duties.

Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte said the proposed measure contained in House Bill 6509 that was approved on third and final reading of House Bill (HB) 6509 will help boost morale and productivity among the ranks of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Philippine National Police (PNP) and other law enforcement agencies.

Duterte, one of the principal authors of the bill, said the bill’s recent approval by the lower chamber is a step closer in providing this legal protection to “uni-

formed personnel who are wrongfully accused and charged, especially when their job involves having to expose high-profile criminal syndicates.”

HB 6509, a consolidation of the bill jointly filed by Duterte and Benguet Rep. Eric Yap, along with other similar measures, covers military and uniformed personnel (MUP) of the AFP, PNP, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

“Free legal assistance will strengthen our uniformed personnel’s morale, safeguarding them from unfortunate circumstances that may come with performing their sworn duties. This free legal assistance, in the premise that is not misused, could serve as an incentive and boost productivity,” Duterte and Yap said in calling for the urgent passage of the measure.

It seeks to assist and capacitate MSMEs in developing new, innovative and more complex products and services through significant improvement in the areas of quality, product development, design, packaging, standards compliance, marketability, production capability, brand development, sustainability, and securing licenses, product registration and other market authorization, among others.

Furthermore, the bill seeks to support MSMEs in coping with the adverse effects brought by the ongoing pandemic.

“Prices of various farm products have gone up considerably due in part to rampant smuggling of agricultural products that have rendered local farm outputs practically uncompetitive, which, in turn, undermines the productivity of local farmers,” Gatchalian noted.

“Aside from causing undue disadvantage to local farmers, smuggling also causes losses to the government in terms of unpaid duties and taxes,” he stressed.

Gatchalain said agricultural smuggling is a major deterrent to economic growth, particularly in the countryside.

Data from the agriculture department indicated that between 2019 and 2022 alone, about P667.5 million worth of agriculture and fishery products were smuggled into the country even as the Bureau of Customs conducted 542 seizure cases involving P1.99 billion worth of agricultural products.

SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian on Friday called on all concerned agencies to go after smugglers of agricultural commodities and protect local farmers from unwarranted competition.

SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go has commended the increase in the 2023 budget of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to provide funding for its Pangkabuhayan sa Pagbangon at Ginhawa (PPG) program which seeks to aid micro, small, and medium enterprises in crises and provide livelihood opportunities to more Filipinos.

encourage the growth of MSMEs in the country through the utilization of indigenous raw materials, local traditions and cultures across the country.

Macon Ramos-Araneta

A BICOLANO lawmaker on Friday

commended President Marcos for securing almost $14 billion worth of pledges from renewable energy (RE) investors in his three-day state visit to Beijing.

THE VIGIL BEGINS. Catholic devotees light candles and pray to the Black Nazarene at the Manila Cathedral, albeit kissing of the image is still taboo in connection with the COVID protocols. Inset shows A lay minister blessing devotees holding religious items and replica images of the Black Nazarene with holy water during the first Friday devotional mass of the year at the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo, Manila. Norman Cruz

ONION RUSH. Residents of San Andres in Malate, Manila line up to purchase red and white onions from Nueva Ecija for P170 per kilo at the Kadiwa Center at the Bureau of Plant Industry premises. Danny Pata

FLASH FLOOD. A couple wades across a flooded General Luna Street in Ermita, Manila following a downpour on Friday. Danny Pata

EDITORIAL

Sports in good hands?

MANY could recall the

in his State of the Nation

Address last July 25, 2022 when he said, with much bravado, that his government would not surrender an inch of the nation’s territory.

Maybe it was meant to alley the suspicion of those sectors who continue to cling on to the invincibility of the American glory; that the Philippines would remain a faithful comrade-inarms of the US in this part of the globe.

It was a stunning rhetoric addressed to reassure more the US of our continued support against China in our row with the latter in the South China Sea.

Indeed, many were surprised what compelled the President to make that statement when the occasion did not warrant and there is no direct and visible threat against us, except for the simmering tension in the area often created by the US and its hirelings in Asia and the Pacific.

The continuing patrol of Chinese navy in the South China Sea should never be interpreted by us as a threat to our security.

Their presence there is because China is geographically in the whole South China Sea peninsula.

Except for the limitations imposed by UNCLOS, and by international law, the navy of the People’s Liberation Army in the South China Sea has every right to remain there.

(Editor’s Note: UNCLOS, or the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea was adopted in 1982 and lays down a comprehensive regime of law and order in the world’s oceans and seas establishing rules governing all uses of the oceans and their resources.)

Except for the limitations imposed by UNCLOS, and by international law, the navy of the People’s Liberation Army in the South China Sea has every right to remain there

South China Sea will forever remain a territory of China, and all we have to do is to accept that reality that China is there to stay as our “unwanted” neighbor.

Yes, there was a decision made by the Permanent Arbitration Court in our favor but we cannot do something to enforce that decision. We are not saying the decision of the PCA is right; that China is wrong and we are right and it is our fault for failing to enforce that decision made in our favor.

Nonetheless, the greatest mistake we committed is to allow a third party not exactly to poke its nose in an area that could also be interpreted as tantamount to interfering into the affairs of countries that have legitimate and indelible rights to be in that area.

Even if the US stands as the most powerful nation on earth and possesses a naval power to enforce what BBM sees now as a diminution to our territory, still it cannot enforce the decision of the PCA because it sees the incalculable toll it will demand from any power that may recklessly resort to adventurism.

At most, the US can only reassure its allies hoping for the so-called proxy war to come give them justification to intervene.

To be precise, China has no intention of depriving us of an inch of our territory.

To deprive a country of its territory is to initiate war and it violates both the UN charter and international law. That would constitute a violation of the country’s territorial integrity.

Such calls for war are within the military awareness of both China and the US.

Frankly speaking, it is the Philippines that is trying to deprive China of its right to exercise sovereignty over an area which everybody knows is identified and integral to China’s territory.

We ask ourselves what right do we have to invite a foreign power to squat in our territory then openly declare it to the whole world that their stay in the Philippines is for the defense of the country?

Between the Philippines and China, who has the greater right to be in the South China Sea?

The world will never understand if the US will be fighting China in the South China Sea even if circumstance show that the US would allege it was China that provoked the war.

World opinion will simply ask what is the US navy doing in the area engaged in a war with

China?

It is anachronistic to hear from our president that the country will not surrender an inch of our territory to China when truth China is not threatening us of anything.

His visit to China now comes with ambivalent motivations that China is having a hard time trying to decipher.

The visit appears to suggest many things. One is the visit would help us speed up our economic development.

Take the case in our inexplicable delay in ratifying our membership with the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

The bloc has been practically ratified by all the members of ASEAN except the Philippines.

The same economic favors we have lined up for China -- only to hear at any instance that some tension has once again been heightened because of incursion by Chinese warships and fishing boats in the South China Sea although data about this incursions are usually supplied by the US navy.

Notably, RCEP was sponsored by China, and was ratified by all countries from Japan to Australia.

Yet, the same RCEP remains pending ratification in our Senate for no apparent while the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement or EDCA was hastily ratified by it.

When our Senate ratified EDCA and did not even bother to explain that the agreement is a mere executive agreement that violated our Constitution and the country’s diehard supporters refuse to make a haul though the implication is it could drag the county into war with China because of the increased number of US military bases in the rim of the South China Sea. Would our membership in RCEP not hamper our quest for a faster economic development which everybody knows only China can offer?

All the ASEAN member countries are bragging that RCEP represents 30 percent of the world’s global domestic trade and hope could accelerate economic development pace for Asia and the rest of the world.

The Philippines, on the other hand, continues to sound out the fear that the country’s agricultural sector will be left out from its competitive edge for, accordingly, we have the usual lack of agricultural inputs, fertilizers, feeds, mechanization, training and financing to improve our productivity and competitiveness.

Marcos was truly farsighted to foresee all these items needed to boost our economy.

Aside from implementing the land reform program which was primordial to subdividing the lands, agricultural lands need to be irrigated and the cost of irrigation has to be subsidized by the state by nationalizing and by building fertilizer plants intended to boost production cost while increasing the profitability of the former.

These are the unwritten rules to people engaged in the farming industry. But what did we do to all these projects that Marcos started?

The oligarchs went on to corner the country ‘s irrigation system. They see the capture of the country’s irrigation as exempt from nationalization.

The country then proceeded to privatize the irrigation system by increasing the cost and those left out to increase the cost saw the lessening of their agricultural harvest.

The same monopoly class captured and cornered the industry that helped increase the price of the commodity beyond affordable level.

The Marcos fertilizer plants, intended to caution the impact of high price caused by the use of inputs, was no sooner disposed to private hands.

Initially it was privatized by Cory. It was sold to known top oligarchs, and later the proponents argued that privatizing the fertilizer plant would be cheaper than by subsidizing the fertilizer to maintain the cost of rice.

Because other factors have set in to cause the increase to the price of ammonium sulphate and oil, the owner of the plant eventually had to close it down, we are back to square one so to speak.

We are now back to our original quest to attain self-sufficiency in rice production because our production is much higher than before the program was implemented.

For instance, our rice production admittedly increased and this is due to the increase in the value of our currency and the increase in the cost of inputs.

All these factors add up to the high cost of the commodity.

(rpkapunan@gmail.com)

By Jesus Enrique G. Garcia II

AS WE usher in the New Year, it’s also a chance to reflect on an eventful 2022.

I was lucky to receive a scholarship from the Ayala Fund and permission from the Department of Foreign Affairs to fulfill a life-long dream.

I attended the Harvard Kennedy School as an Edward S. Mason Fellow (HKS) and graduated in May 2022 with a Mid-Career Master’s in Public Administration (MC-MPA).

Learning on the inside

While at Harvard, I aimed to acquire the skills and tools to become a better leader and public servant. Yet, the most important learning was internal. There was something deeper, transformative, going on. My year at Harvard changed me, at the core.

Since it’s impossible to recount all the people,

places, and things that made the year so precious, here are some key lessons I carry with me.

Exercising leadership

During “Exercising Leadership,” I kept insisting on procedures and order, when it was clear the objective was to surf the chaos.

When our professor stepped back as authority figure, the class turned into Lord of the Flies. Factions formed and attacked one another. Some wanted to concentrate on the readings, others wanted no agenda.

There was endless argument. Being used to instructions and rules, I couldn’t take the heat.

Then I got it: the class was a mirror of society where everyone’s yelling at each other, supporting similar views and negating the opposition. There was little listening, let alone understanding.

This was the crux of the matter – how do you survive and exercise leadership in such an environment? How

RICHARD Bachmann, a former official of the Philippine Basketball Association, finally took his oath as the new chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission, replacing former chief Noli Eala, who served for only four months.

In his short stay at the PSC, Eala has achieved a lot.

Under his watch came international achievement in world tournaments by athletes in weightlifting, jiu-jits, boxing, and karate, and the revival of the agency’s premiere grassroots program: the Batang Pinoy.

Eala was also embraced with open arms by the Senate which supported his P5-billion budget proposal for the year 2023.

If any, this could be Eala’s biggest legacy to the incoming administration of Bachmann who, like him, is a former executive in Asia’s oldest basketball league.

Bachmann prides himself on his long association with the Alaska organization under the leadership of businessman-sportsman Wilfred Uytengse, whose business philosophy Bachmann will try to carry with him in the government agency for sport.

“I bring with me nearly three decades of experience in organized sports, as well as the Alaska Aces’ philosophy I have learned and valued over the years, which is to win with integrity while helping our athletes to become better individuals off the court,” Bachmann said.

“I am deeply humbled to have the opportunity to serve our Philippine athletes in this capacity. I look forward to working with the NSAs, together with our PSC team members and Commissioners,

The athletes are anxiously waiting for the next move of the new PSC board under Bachmann

in order to help our athletes, prepare for this year’s sporting events.”

Bachmann’s management style will be tested when the country takes to battle in the 32nd Cambodia Southeast Asian Games which is set just four months from now.

And then there’s the Asian Games in Hangzhou in September, the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, and the World Beach Games in November as well as dozens of qualifying tournaments for the 2023 Paris Olympics.

Will Bachmann carry with him the no-nonsense, stickler-to-rules type of Alaska management?

Will he be able to work effectively in dealing with the nearly 50 National Sports Association members under the umbrella of the Philippine Olympic Committee?

There are nearly a thousand national athletes under the care of the PSC, and most of them will take part in the Cambodia SEA Games, just under four months away. And this stage is the most crucial one in terms of preparation.

Curiously, January is the month when the PSC suspends monthly allowances to athletes because this is when the NSAs supposedly change their national lineups. But most athletes are already preparing to train at this time for the SEA Games. Will Bachmann stick to rules and deny the athletes their monthly allowance when most of them are already preparing for the SEA Games?

Former chairman Butch Ramirez’s leadership was definitely a tough act to follow.

Under his watch and during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte, the country regained the overall championship of the SEA Games in 2019.

And many times, he went out of his way to provide for the athletes as he continued to provide them allowances even while not in training during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Then in 2021, the country won its firstever gold medal in the Olympics, courtesy of weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, and produced marquee names on the global stage like pole vaulter EJ Obiena and gymnast Caloy Yulo.

Of course, the NSAs and the POC are crucial partners in this endeavor, but the PSC’s support weighs a lot.

The athletes are anxiously waiting for the next move of the new PSC board under Bachmann. His first major act would be a glimpse of his administration policy in the years to come.

New year, new life

rest. That was very comforting.

Earlier,

In response, together with other colleagues, I cofounded and serve as the founding president of the nonpartisan Movement Against Disinformation.

In addition, during the pandemic, I had become the lead lawyer of the Lumad Bakwit Schools in UP Diliman. The most audacious I wanted to do was the rebuilding and expansion of Lumad schools in Mindanao.

In such a dream project, which I shared with others who have become my closest associates and best friends, I would be able to converge many of the issues I cared about. It would be a full circle to when I was 15 years old.

Anticipating a heavy workload in June, I decided to have my physical exam three months earlier than usual – in April instead of July.

And then the results came out. First the PSA, followed by an MRI, a biopsy, and a Pet-Scan.

The bad news: I had prostate cancer.

When you read about this cancer and possible scenarios, there is always an optimistic air. Prostate cancer is compatible with long life.

But it is different when your cancer is no longer localized and has spread to your bones, lymph nodes, or organs. My Pet-scan indicated metastasis to the bones which lessens the odds of survival considerably although there are still treatment options.

In the meantime, in August, I had to do a minor procedure in the hospital called TURP where the patient is usually out of the hospital in 2-3 days.

And then the unimaginable happened. I lost a lot of blood in the operation, lost consciousness, and my doctors and nurses could no longer detect

do you “hold” conflicting interests?

Connecting to purpose was central. If we can’t define our purpose, then somebody else will.

Getting to the balcony

At the start of “Leadership from the Inside-Out: Self, Identity, and Freedom,” which focused on anti-black racism and sexism, Professor Ronald Heifetz told me “this class is designed to break your heart open.” And it did.

I learned that vulnerability was not something to be ashamed of. It can be an opening for healing and growth

I was moved to tears by Eve Esler’s The Apology and took the floor to apologize to my female classmates for all the pain men caused to women.

A classmate who worked with battered women in China commented what I said helped her change the way she thought about men.

Over the semester, we analyzed our leadership failures, diagnosing ourselves as complex systems.

We often don’t recognize the forces shaping our behaviors that we inherit from our families,

my blood pressure. I was brought to the ICU and stayed there for a couple of days.

A week later, I was about to be released when it happened again – bleeding, low blood pressure, and being near death. This time, I was conscious and for a few hours suffered extreme, excruciating pain.

When you read about this cancer and possible scenarios, there is always an optimistic air. Prostate cancer is compatible with long life

It became so unbearable that my wife and I thought that the best thing to do was to accept God’s plan and if that meant to surrender to what we thought was his will and accept death, then so be it.

But then I realized that this was not the prayer God wanted us to utter. A lifetime of trying to discern God’s will made it clear that this was not yet my time.

And so we changed our prayer and asked God for me to bear the pain until the pain medication comes and then after that to pray for healing because I am still called to a mission in this world.

I stayed in the hospital for another 10 days and during those days, I would wake up at 4 am every day when the nurse would come in to take my vitals.

I would meditate and pray, waiting for the sunrise while also watching my sons sleeping. They were taking turns at night so my wife could

groups, and cultures. Becoming more aware of them, “getting to the balcony,” was crucial to effect positive change. Most want easy answers, to be told what to do and maintain the status quo.

But the easy answers are static and oversimplify.

To evolve, we need to adapt to challenges and realities as they emerge, especially crises like the COVID-19 pandemic.

In all this, we have to accept uncertainty and conflict, and “hold steady.” It takes courage, but also humility and an open mind.

These principles and approaches, which we discussed in small teams and sections, helped me navigate a personal matter. My classmates, professors, and coaches provided me valuable counsel and a support base.

My wife moved to Brussels to pursue her career and I had to “change the narrative” of what I believed being a husband and father were all about.

I had to look after our kids on my own during the spring semester—while going to classes, taking exams, and submitting final papers.

I learned that vulnerability was not something to be ashamed of. It can be an opening for healing and growth.

Taking care of the kids at Harvard was one of the most rewarding times in my life that I will always cherish.

A community of change makers

Despite the heavy workload, Harvard was lots of fun—there were so many events, parties, Red Sox and Celtics games, barbeques, bike rides, coffees, and bar nights.

I made friends from all over the world who were dedicated to improving their organizations,

Since I was discharged from the hospital four months ago, that has become a habit, waking up at dawn, contemplating on the Word of God, reflecting on my priorities, sometimes reaching out in serious conversations to those also awake at that time.

When I came out of my second near death experience, I thought that it was because the Lord still wanted me to be still active—in the climate change negotiations, by teaching, in the Movement Against Disinformation, and in launching the Mindanao Climate Justice Resource Facility. With the latter, some of the best people in Mindanao and in the Philippines, some quite young, have come together to get our new organization going.

I was wrong about my remaining mission.

I now truly understand this passage from Psalm 127: “Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.”

I now realize I was given more time so I could be a witness to the love of God, to the power of the Lord who is a suffering servant and who heals through the cross.

I was given more time so people from all over the country and the Philippines could show their love for me through prayers, novenas, and, yes, good food. I share and proclaim my gratitude.

I was allowed the grace to live another day so I could go to Mindanao and meet with and give a talk to consecrated sisters who prayed for me when I was hospitalized and saw before their eyes that God answers our prayers.

I was given more time so I could be with my family and friends for a little more time and learn to listen better, ask for their forgiveness for my failures, and show my love and faithfulness as God has shown me even greater love and faithfulness.

I realize I was given additional time so I could proclaim: Laudato Si, O Dio Mio! Blessed be, my Lord for everything – this planet, our history, even my sickness and coming death - is grace! Blessed this New Year, this new life!

Website: tonylavina.com. Facebook: deantonylavs Twitter: tonylavs

communities, and countries.

One was a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, another was an elected Senator. Some founded their own non-profits and companies, others built schools and hospitals. Many worked for their governments and armed services.

I learnt immensely from their wisdom and journeys.

Often, we would just hang out and discuss ideas and projects. We realized that being at the Kennedy School was a privilege that came with heavy responsibility. “Ask what you can do,” is the school’s motto.

I have no doubt my classmates will continue to do much for their tribes and society as a whole. Looking back and ahead

As I’ve returned to “the real world,” the learning continues through reflection and application.

Professor Francis Hartmann, who taught “Effective Implementation,” encouraged us to distill our “triple A priorities” and draw up a “game plan.”

Mine consists of these: be the best dad I can be, serve the Philippines well as a diplomat, give back to those in need, and keep writing.

My year at Harvard is a renewable resource.

It inspires me to learn from failure, to risk, ask tough questions, connect to purpose and get to the balcony, and never give up working to make a difference.

Come on, 2023!

(The author is Director and Career Minister, Divisions 5 and 6, Peace and Security, Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law Office of United Nations and Other International Organizations Department of Foreign Affairs)

speech of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

THIS is the third excerpt from my commencement speech last December 18. I talk about my cancer diagnosis and how it has changed my life.

in October 2021, I decided not to be partisan in the May 2022 elections. In my discernment at that time, it was clear to me that disinformation was going to play a big role in the months to come.

EAGLE EYES

Putin’s unilateral 36-hour ceasefire starts in Ukraine

A BRIEF ceasefire declared by Russian President Vladimir Putin but dismissed by Ukraine as an empty gesture was due to have taken effect on Friday in what would be the first full pause since Moscow’s invasion in February 2022.

Putin’s order to stop fighting for 36 hours during the Orthodox Christmas came after Moscow suffered its worst reported loss of life of the war and as Ukraine’s allies pledged to send armoured vehicles and a second Patriot air defence battery to aid Kyiv.

A senior Ukraine official said shortly after the supposed start of Russia’s pause in fighting that Moscow’s forces had struck the southern city of Kherson in an attack that left several people dead or wounded.

“There were at least four explosions ... They talk about a ceasefire. This is who we are at war with,” said Kyrylo Tymoshenko, the deputy head of the

presidential administration.

He did not say whether the strikes themselves had occurred before or after the ceasefire’s start time.

Both countries celebrate Orthodox Christmas and the Russian leader’s order came following ceasefire calls from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russia’s spiritual leader Patriarch Kirill, a staunch Putin supporter.

The halt was to begin on Friday (0900 GMT) and last until the end of Saturday (2100 GMT), the Kremlin said.

Ukraine has dismissed it as a strategy by Russia to gain time to regroup its forces and bolster its defences following a series of battlefield reversals.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said the unilateral ceasefire “cannot and should not be taken seriously” while a close advisor said Russia “must leave the occupied territories” for there to be any real let up in hostilities. AFP

GOOD FOR BUSINESS AND EMPLOYEES

UN hails flexible work arrangements

FLEXIBLE

In its first report focusing on work-life balances, the UN’s International Labor Organization evaluated the effects of working time, working hours and working time arrangements on the well-being of staff and also on business performance.

“This report shows that if we apply some of the lessons of the COVID-19 crisis and look very carefully at the way

working hours are structured, as well as their overall length, we can create a win-win, improving both business performance and work-life balance,” Jon Messenger, lead author of the report, said in a statement.

The report examines the crisis response measures governments and businesses used as the pandemic

Never-ending loop: Chaotic vote for US Speaker in Washington

GROUNDHOG Day came to the US Congress a month early.

Each round is the same: Candidates are announced, speeches are made, votes are taken, a long count ensues and then comes the clerk’s seemingly inevitable announcement: “A speaker has not been elected.”

The repetitive loop has been playing on the floor of the House of Representatives since Tuesday, as the body grapples to elect its next leader but only slips further into chaos with each attempt.

There are no windows in the cavernous chamber and time floats between votes in what begins to feel like one long, never-ending day.

Sitting towards the back under a clock that seems to mock the lawmakers’ progress, a group of some 20 Republican rebels who are responsible for the stalled vote has gathered.

Many are members of the House

Rescued former ‘IS bride’ faces Australian court

Freedom Caucus, a collection of some of the most staunchly right-wing Republicans in the lower chamber of Congress. They are the epitome of former president Donald Trump’s loyalists.

The group has promised to do everything in its power to prevent party favorite Kevin McCarthy’s bid to become speaker, effectively paralyzing the entire process.

Outside, in the galleries that surround the chamber, lawmakers are trying to negotiate an end to the madness, popping back to announce their vote when the time comes.

The vast majority of Republicans want to put an end to the revolt, and most were overcome with impatience by the 11th round on the third day, with the outcome still anything but certain.

Jefferson Van Drew, a Republican lawmaker from New York wearing a white pair of cowboy boots, looked on with annoyance. AFP

spread, aimed at keeping organisations functioning and workers employed.

It found that the larger proportion of workers on reduced hours helped to prevent job losses.

And it determined that the “largescale implementation of telework” put in place around the world had “changed not only teleworking but also the nature of employment, most likely for the foreseeable future.”

The Covid measures provided powerful evidence, the ILO said, that giving workers more flexibility in how, where and when they work could be positive not only for them but also for business-

es, including through increased productivity.

On the flip side, restricting flexibility increased costs, including because of increased staff turnover, the report found.

“There is a substantial amount of evidence that work–life balance policies provide significant benefits to enterprises,” it said.

The ILO emphasised that teleworking and other flexible working arrangements helped maintain employment while encouraging more employee autonomy.

But it said regulation, including socalled “right to disconnect” policies, was needed to avert negative effects. AFP

Mexico arrests son of ‘El Chapo’

MEXICAN security forces on Thursday captured a son of jailed drug kingpin Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, scoring a high-profile win in the fight against powerful cartels days before US President Joe Biden visits.

Ovidio Guzman, nicknamed “El Raton” (The Mouse), was caught in the northwestern city of Culiacan and flown to Mexico City on a military plane, Defense Minister Luis Cresencio Sandoval told reporters.

He said the arrest was the result of six months of intelligence work tracking down the 32-year-old, who has allegedly helped to run his father’s operations since El Chapo was extradited to the United States in 2017.

The United States had offered a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to Ovidio Guzman’s capture, accusing him of being a key player in the infamous Sinaloa cartel. Gunfire and arson shook Culiacan after the arrest, which comes as Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador prepares to welcome Biden next week for a North America leaders’ summit in Mexico City where security is expected to be high on the agenda.

A National Guardsman was killed and at least 28 people were wounded in the violence, Sinaloa state governor Ruben Rocha said, while school classes were suspended and sporting events in Culiacan were canceled.

New Indonesia capital imperils ancient Eden

THE twisting road that leads to Indonesia’s future capital is lined with dense rainforest and pockets of plantations, punctuated every so often with monkeys enjoying a laze out on the tarmac.

Located in eastern Borneo – the world’s third-largest island – Nusantara is set to replace sinking and polluted Jakarta as Indonesia’s political centre by late 2024.

that is home to thousands of animal and plant species.

With construction set to ramp up this year, environmentalists warn building a metropolis will speed up deforestation in one of the world’s largest and oldest stretches of tropical rainforest, estimated to be more than 100 million years old.

to long-nosed monkeys, clouded leopards, pig-tailed macaques, flying fox-bats and the smallest rhinos on the planet.

But by 2045, the Indonesian government says Nusantara will host 1.9 million residents, more than twice Balikpapan’s population, importing a wave of human and industrial activity into the heart of Borneo.

As Guzman’s henchmen reacted with fury, a passenger jet and an air force plane were both hit by gunfire at the Culiacan airport. Videos on social media showed passengers and Aeromexico airline employees at the terminal ducking behind counters as gunfire rang out. No injuries were reported there.

Cartel gunmen set autos and trucks ablaze at several intersections in the city, and authorities reported 19 roadblocks.

El Chapo is serving a life sentence in the United States for trafficking hundreds of tons of drugs into the US over the course of 25 years.

Mariam Raad was repatriated in October as part of a humanitarian mission

The women were in most cases the wives of vanquished IS fighters, who said they were forced or tricked into following their husbands to Syria.

Australian police, who arrested Raad on Thursday, allege the 31-year-old knew her former husband, Muhammad Zahab, was a high-profile IS recruiter and that she had “willingly travelled to the conflict region.”

Raad has been charged with travelling to parts of Syria that were controlled by IS – a crime under Australian law – and could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

She was granted bail after a brief hearing on Friday morning and will return to court in March.

Her bail conditions included surrendering her passport as well as a ban on watching “propaganda” for any “terrorist organisation.”

“We have zero tolerance for Australians, or anyone, who seek to commit acts of violence or extremism, and those considering doing the wrong thing will come under our notice,” counter-terrorism commander Mark Walton said. AFP

But the two-hour drive from Balikpapan city to the sweeping green expanse of Nusantara’s “Point Zero” reveals the scale of the new capital’s potential impact on a biodiverse area

“It’s going to be a massive ecological disaster,” Uli Arta Siagian, forest campaigner for environmental group Walhi, told AFP.

The island that Indonesians call the “lungs of the world” – shared with Malaysia and Brunei – is home

The relocation to the 2,560-squarekilometer (990-square-mile) area follows capital moves by Brazil to Brasilia – considered an urban utopia failure – and Myanmar to the ghost town of Naypyidaw. AFP

However, his cartel remains one of the most powerful in Mexico, accused by Washington of exploiting an opioid epidemic by flooding communities with fentanyl, a synthetic drug about 50 times more potent than heroin.

AFP

Wikimedia disputes activist claims of Saudi ‘infiltration’

THE Wikimedia Foundation, which hosts online encyclopedia Wikipedia, has disputed a report by activists claiming it found evidence the Saudi Arabian government “infiltrated” its team in the region.

The claim was made by Beirutbased digital rights group SMEX and Washington-based Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN) founded by Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who was murdered in 2018 inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.

In a joint statement on Thursday, the two groups alleged a Wikimedia investigation “revealed that the Saudi

government had infiltrated the highest ranks in Wikipedia’s team in the region.”

They cited “trusted sources and whistleblowers” for their information.

“There are material inaccuracies in the statement included from SMEX/ DAWN,” the US-based Foundation said in a statement later Thursday.

“There was no finding in our investigation that the Saudi government ‘infiltrated’” Wikipedia and influenced users, the parent body said.

However, it said some users “who may have been Saudi” were among those it has banned. AFP

working arrangements like those introduced during the COVID-19 crisis are not only good for employees but also boost productivity and potentially a business’s bottom line, the United Nations said Friday.

AN AUSTRALIAN woman rescued from a squalid Syrian detention camp faced court Friday on charges linked to her former husband’s role within the Islamic State group.

to free Australian women and children from the notorious camps at Al-Hol and Roj.

RED LANTERNS ON DISPLAY. People sit at a rooftop cafe near the Drum Tower in Beijing on January 6, 2023. AFP

MESSAGE SENT. Robin Wood environmental activists stage a protest with the lettering ‘Tax the Rich’ in front of the Opera House in Stuttgart, southern Germany, venue of the Epiphany Meeting (Dreikoenigstreffen) of Germany’s free democratic FDP party, on January 6, 2023. AFP

CHRISTMAS STILL. A priest lights a candle at the Nativity Church in the biblical city of Bethlehem as Christian denominations celebrate Christmas according to the Eastern calendar on January 6, 2023. AFP

Market retreats; Apollo leads gainers

STOCKS fell Friday to end a three-day advance, as investors eyed sharp losses on Wall Street that came after forecast-beating jobs data suggested the Federal Reserve would have to keep lifting interest rates.

The PSE index, the 30-company benchmark of the Philippine Stock Exchange, fell 96 points, or 1.38 percent, to close at 6,667.97, as all six

TikTok app faces more uncertainty, tighter scrutiny in wake of US ban

NEW YORK—TikTok faces an uncertain year ahead in the United States as anti-China Republicans take greater control in Congress, demanding tighter scrutiny for the highly popular video-sharing app.

Owned by Chinese tech giant ByteDance, TikTok has become a political punching bag for US conservatives who allege that the app downloaded by millions of US young people can be circumvented for spying or propaganda by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

But now Democrats have joined the groundswell of criticism and US President Joe Biden last week signed a new law that bans the use of TikTok on government-issued devices. The law also bans TikTok use in the US House of Representatives and Senate.

TikTok is the equivalent of “digital fentanyl,” said Republican lawmaker Mike Gallagher, one of the leading voices in Congress against China, comparing the app to the deadly opioid.

“It’s highly addictive and destructive, and we’re seeing troubling data about the corrosive impact of constant social media use, particularly on young men and women here in America,” he told NBC News.

“We have to ask whether we want the CCP to control what’s on the cusp of becoming the most powerful media company in America,” Gallagher told NBC.

A TikTok spokesperson said that there is “zero truth” to Gallagher’s comments and that the CCP “has neither direct nor indirect control of ByteDance or TikTok.”

The national law matches dozens of government-use bans at the state and local level and now TikTok USA is fighting to survive as a Chineseowned company, with the growing chance that it will have to divest from ByteDance in order to remain on US smartphones. AFP

subsectors declined.

The broader all-share index also lost 37 points, or 1.05 percent, to settle at 3,513.07, on a value turnover of P5.46 billion. Losers outnumbered gainers, 124 to 69, while 41 issues were unchanged.

Four of the 10 most active stocks ended in the green, led by Apollo Global Capital Inc. which climbed 15.15 percent to P0.038.

Meanwhile, most Asian markets also traded lower. Regional markets have enjoyed a strong start to the year, largely thanks to optimism over China’s reopening and signs it is toning down its tough talk on a number of issues domestically

and geopolitically.

But long-running fears that central bank policy tightening would cause a recession were brought back into play by figures showing more jobs than expected were created in the US private sector last month.

The reading from payroll firm ADP indicated the labour market remained tight—putting upward pressure on wages—meaning the Federal Reserve still had much work to do in its battle against decades-high inflation.

Several top Fed officials also lined up Thursday to warn the bank would likely have to keep lifting borrowing costs this year, with some suggesting they could

go as high as 5.4 percent.

Minutes from the December meeting reinforced bets on further tightening.

Thursday’s data makes the release of a key non-farm payrolls (NFP) report later in the day much more important.

“What the Fed really wants to see is some slack build up in the labor markets, in hopes it can do this gently without creating much of a downturn,” former Indian central bank boss Raghuram Rajan told Bloomberg Television.

“But it may well be that by the time it seems that it will have raised rates enough, that the momentum takes us down to a mild recession at the very least.”

TOP GAINERS

5 SUN 1 0.07 7.53%

6 FCG 0.7 0.04 6.06%

7 PXP 7.75 0.44 6.02%

8 NI 0.78 0.04 5.41%

9 GTPPA 999.5 49.5 5.21%

10 PERC 4.85 0.23 4.98%

TOP LOSERS

LAST % PRICE CHANGE CHANGE

1 LSC 0.49 -0.1 -16.95%

2 MJIC 1.11 -0.19 -14.62%

3 IPO 5.95 -0.89 -13.01%

4 MBC 7.4 -0.9 -10.84%

5 OPM 0.01 -0.001 -9.09%

6 MVC 5 -0.48 -8.76%

7 WIN 0.23 -0.02 -8.00%

8 ACEN 7.49 -0.63 -7.76%

9 LAND 0.81 -0.04 -4.71%

10 TBGI 0.224 -0.011 -4.68%

MOST ACTIVE

1 SM 465,530 422,152,400

2 BDO 3,324,440 371,710,181

EU windfall taxes on oil and gas to reach $2b, says Shell

LONDON—British energy giant Shell on Friday said windfall taxes imposed by the European Union and UK following a surge in profits would cost the group about $2 billion.

Shell said the exceptional tax bill, imposed after oil and gas prices surged last year, would be included in its 2022 fourth-quarter earnings to be confirmed next month.

Energy prices soared following the invasion of Ukraine by key oil and gas producer Russia, contributing heavily to decades-high inflation worldwide.

That has led to governments subsidizing rocketing energy bills for consumers, with help from the sector’s companies via additional taxing of profits.

Shell said in a statement Friday that the impact on fourth-quarter earnings of

the EU and UK windfall taxes “is expected to be around $2 billion.”

It comes with Shell under new leadership after Ben van Beurden stepped down as chief executive at the end of last year after nearly a decade at the helm.

The energy major will now look to reinvent itself under the group’s former renewables boss Wael Sawan. AFP

Asian tourist hubs ready for China visitor influx

By Sara Hussein and Tomohiro Osaki

TOKYO-—In Tokyo’s Asakusa tourist district, caricaturist Masashi Higashitani is dusting off his Chinese as he prepares for an influx of travelers after Beijing ends inbound quarantine rules.

“We used to say ‘ni hao’ all the time,” he said with a laugh as he whipped up a portrait in minutes.

Nearly 9.6 million Chinese visited Japan in 2019, the biggest group of foreign tourists by far and a massive leap from the 450,000 who came in 2003.

Higashitani estimates around 20 percent of his customers were from China before the pandemic, and he and his employees picked up Chinese phrases from those visitors and each other.

He had to downsize and let staff go during the pandemic, so he is thrilled about the expected wave of arrivals, even though he admits some apprehension too.

“I wonder if an influx of too many of them might overwhelm our capacity. I’m also worried that we need to be more careful about anti-virus measures,” he told AFP.

Travelers arriving back in China will no longer need to quarantine from Sunday, removing one of the main barriers to travel for the country’s population.

The move, announced in late December, sparked a frenzy of trip planning, with searches spiking for Macau, Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand, and South Korea.

Chinese tourists also made up

‘Not the time’

At a crepe stand in Seoul, Son Kyung-rak said he was already making plans to deal with a flood of tourists from China.

“We’re looking to hire and preparing to stock up,” the 24-year-old told AFP in Seoul’s popular downtown Myeongdong district.

“Chinese tourists are our main customers, so the more the merrier.”

But authorities in Seoul are more cautious.

The slump in Chinese visitors “has been a blow to our tourism industry”, said Yun Ji-suk, an official from South Korea’s culture ministry.

“But now is not the time to be active in tourism marketing, due to the ongoing Covid situation.”

China’s sudden lifting of pandemic restrictions has led to a massive wave of infections, but Beijing’s refusal to share information means the scale of the surge is unclear.

It has been enough to spook governments

around the world, with some countries even banning arrivals from China.

Seoul is capping flights from China, and travelers from the mainland, Hong Kong and Macau will have to test negative before travel. Mainland visitors will also be tested on arrival.

Japan has announced similar rules for China, although Hong Kong and Macau travelers are exempt.

‘Full house’

Other Asian tourist hubs, such as Indonesia have decided not to impose any restrictions.

Two million Chinese tourists visited annually before the pandemic, and restaurant owners on the resort island of Bali are hoping for a rebound.

“Before the pandemic, we had a lot of Chinese customers... At least 100 to 200 customers came daily,” Kadek Sucana, who runs a seafood restaurant in the Jimbaran area, told AFP.

He is hoping for a “full house again... because Chinese tourists come in large groups”.

While Beijing has loosened many of its Covid restrictions, overseas travel by tour groups remains banned. AFP

3 TEL 255,625 356,744,470

4 ACEN 41,823,300 317,196,137

5 CNVRG 14,781,400 255,679,146

6 JFC 984,230 237,939,194

6,629,100,000 230,647,700

ALI 6,895,400 208,447,525

3,061,770 173,617,124

BLOOM 16,937,600 150,066,043

SEOUL—Samsung Electronics said Friday it expected its fourth-quarter operating profits to plunge 69 percent, as the global downturn causes a sharp decline in demand for memory chips and smartphones.

The South Korean tech giant said operating profits for the October-December period likely slumped to 4.3 trillion won ($3.4 billion), a stinging year-on-year drop from 13.87 trillion won.

In a statement, Samsung said fourth-quarter profits were “well below current market expectations”, blaming the performance on macroeconomic issues spurred by central banks around the world raising interest rates.

Weak demand for memory chips was “greater than expected as customers adjusted inventories... to further tighten finances spurred by concerns over deteriorating consumer sentiment caused [by] continued high global interest rates and weak economic outlooks.”

Against that backdrop, the Galaxy smartphone maker “saw a significant drop in the memory business results due to lackluster demand and also weaker sales of smartphones,” it added.

It was the first time in four years that Samsung issued an explanatory statement alongside their earnings predictions.

The firm is the flagship subsidiary of the giant Samsung Group, by far the biggest of the family-controlled conglomerates that dominate business in Asia’s fourthlargest economy and one that is crucial to South Korea’s economy.

The widely expected fourth-quarter drop is the second consecutive margin squeeze for Samsung, which saw a 31.39 percent fall in operating profits in the third quarter year-on-year.

Until the second quarter of last year, Samsung, along with other tech companies, had benefited significantly from strong demand for electronic devices -- as well as the chips that power them -during the pandemic.

But the global economy is now facing multiple challenges, including soaring inflation, rising interest rates, and a growing threat of a broad debt crisis.

The company is expected to release its final earnings report at the end of this month.

Samsung’s 4th quarter profit plunged 69% on low demand

CHINESE TEXTILE. Workers check cloth at a textile factory in Hangzhou in China’s eastern Zhejiang province on Jan. 6, 2023. AFP

about a third of all pre-pandemic foreign visitors to South Korea and were among the top three groups visiting Thailand and Indonesia.

Travelers from China arrive at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok on Jan. 6, 2023. AFP

AIA PH gets PCC approval to acquire 100% of MediCard

By Othel V. Campos

THE Philippine Competition Commission approved the acquisition by AIA Philippines Life and General Insurance Company Inc. of 100 percent of shares in MediCard Philippines Inc.

It said in a decision the proposed takeover would not likely result in substantial lessening of competition in the markets for individual and group health or medical coverage.

The anti-trust body said that after the transaction, other health plan companies offering the same services would continue to pose substantial competitive constraints on the merged firms.

“There will be no significant shift in the share of the parties in the market, and the number of players will remain unchanged post-transaction,” according to the decision cleared by PCC officerin-charge Johannes Bernabe and commissioners Emerson Aquende, Marah Victoria Querol and Michael Peloton.

Medicard is among the top health maintenance organizations in the Philippines holding 16.93 percent of market share and competes with Maxicare HealthCare Corp. with 36.29 percent, Asalus Inc. (Intellicare) with 26.12 percent, PhilHealth Care Inc. with 4.89 percent, Value Care Health Systems Inc. with 4.20 percent and other HMOs with 11.57 percent.

The PCC said the current concentration of Medicard’s market shares would spread thinner when reviewed to compete with not only other HMOs, but also insurance companies offering similar services and health plans.

About 29 health maintenance organizations and 30 life insurance companies compete in providing individual and group medical coverage in the Philippines.

The PCC said the market analysis of the Mergers and Acquisitions Office found that customers are able to switch easily to other health or medical coverage firms, as HMO plans run only for a year and policyholders are not barred from switching providers.

It said with information on product offerings readily available to the public and agents constantly jockeying to secure a sale, customers could easily switch to another provider. This low barrier to switch to different competing firms is indicative of a competitive market.

The PCC also observed that customers looking for group health or medical coverage have high bargaining power and can negotiate with service providers for better terms. The high bargaining power of these customers pose sufficient competitive constraints as well for the merged firm.

Robinsons Retail buying another 4.4% stake in BPI

By Alena Mae S. Flores

ROBINSONS Retail Holdings Inc. said Friday it will purchase more shares in Bank of the Philippine Islands, bolstering a shared growth strategy that will generate synergistic value for the group and its partners.

Robinsons Retail said its board approved on Jan. 5 the purchase of the 4.4-percent effective equity interest of Arran Investment Pte. Ltd., an affiliate of GIC Private Limited, in BPI. GIC is a sovereign wealth fund that manages

Singapore’s foreign reserves.

Robinsons Retail owns 2.4 percent of BPI’s outstanding capital stock after the merger between BPI and Robinsons Bank last year.

It said that through redeemable preferred shares, Arran owns 21.9 percent of Liontide Holdings Inc., which has a 20-percent equity interest in BPI. Arran will redeem a portion of its preferred shares in Liontide as part of the transaction.

The underlying BPI shares, representing 3.3-percent equity interest in BPI, will then be purchased directly by Robinsons Retail.

Robinsons Retail will simultaneously acquire preferred shares in Liontide, which are redeemable to BPI shares, representing 1.1 percent of BPI’s outstanding shares.

Credit Suisse served as the adviser to

GIC in the transaction.

“We envision Robinsons Retail to become a leading retailer with excellent financial products for customers and suppliers alike―and the partnership with BPI simply accelerates this aspiration,” said Robinsons Retail president and chief executive Robina Gokongwei-Pe.

“We expect to generate more value by combining BPI’s premium banking ecosystem with the consumer-oriented ecosystem of Robinsons Retail, complemented further by our digital businesses,” said Gokongwei-Pe.

Robinsons Retail said it would be able to tap into the extensive consumer customer base of BPI to cross-sell products and services, while giving Robinsons Retail suppliers the capability to tap into BPI’s vast financial products to help fund their working capital requirements as they expand their business.

IN BRIEF

THE National Telecommunications Commission said Friday it surpassed its 2022 collection target by 70.21 percent.

The agency said it collected P9.50 billion last year, higher than the target of P5.58 billion set by the Development Budget Coordination Committee.

“The NTC’s systematic collection effort is the agency’s modest way of contributing to the public service programs of our dear President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. – priorities of which are on food security, free and universal primary education, and public health,” NTC officer-in-charge commissioner Ella Blanca Lopez said.

The regulator’s achievement was a culmination of its personnel’s concerted effort to strictly enforce stakeholders’ compliance in remitting spectrum users’ fees, supervision and regulation fees and penalties.

NTC is the government agency that regulates cable and commercial television operators, broadcast radio stations, telecommunications companies and commercial and portable radio operators. Darwin G. Amojelar

Grab PH offers cash incentives to new drivers

GRAB Philippines said it is offering cash incentives to new driver partners to join its platform after the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board added 4,433 transportation network vehicle services slots.

Southeast Asia’s leading superapp is offering up to P10,000 worth of driver bonuses and legal assistance for applicants with six-seater vehicles and up to P6,000 for those with fourseater vehicles. The bonus scheme applies exclusively to TNVS licenses registered through Grab.

Grab Philippines’ incentives came after it experienced a shortage of driver-partners in its platform due to mobility standstill. Pandemicinduced challenges led to some driver-partners losing their loaned cars to repossession or driver-partners moving on to other economic opportunities elsewhere.

“We remain firm in our commitment to making transportation safe, reliable, and more accessible for more passengers. We understand the vital role of efficient mobility in the daily lives of the commuting public, and we are fully committed to providing a much better ride-hailing experience to our passengers as we welcome more driver-partners onto the platform,” Grab Philippines senior director for strategy and operations Ronald Roda said. Darwin G. Amojelar

Manila Water building P2.5-b Antipolo facility

Manufacturing expanded 5.9% in November despite high inflation

By Julito G. Rada

THE manufacturing sector grew 5.9 percent in November from a year ago, faster than the 5.9-percent expansion in October, the Philippine Statistics Authority said Friday.

The November growth, however, was slower than the 28.6-percent increase in the volume of production index registered in the same month in 2021 mainly on baseline impact.

Preliminary results of the monthly integrated survey of selected industries showed the value of production index also grew 12.7 percent in November, slower than 13 percent in October and 30 percent a year ago.

“The slowdown may have to do with higher prices/inflation that partly

Energy chief asks LGUs to use national wealth tax to reduce electricity costs

By Alena Mae S. Flores

THE Department of Energy issued an advisory asking local government units to use the national wealth tax generated from energy projects they host to bring down the electricity rates through subsidy and non-subsidy schemes.

Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla is referring to energy projects such as the exploration, development, utilization and exploitation of indigenous energy resources, including renewable energy and other energy sources.

Lotilla said the rising and volatile prices of coal and oil in the international market had affected the electricity rates of customers in several areas nationwide, particularly those being served by distribution utilities and electric cooperatives sourcing their power from plants utilizing local fuel.

“To alleviate the plight of electricity consumers bearing the high cost of electricity, the DOE enjoins all concerned LGUs to prioritize the use of NWT to reduce the cost of electricity of their constituents in accordance with the relevant laws, rules and regulations,” Lotilla said.

The DOE also asked the cooperation and coordination among LGUs, the Department of Interior and Local Government, the Department of Budget

and Management and other concerned government and private entities in making the mechanism work to address the high electricity costs that consumers are facing.

Lotilla said the subsidy and non-subsidy schemes are pursuant to the provisions of several laws, rules and regulations and issuances such as Sections 289 to 294 of Republic Act No 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991; Rule 29 (B) of the implementing rules and regulations of RA 9136 or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 and 4 Section 20; and Rule 2, Chapter 5 of RA 9613 or the Renewable Energy Act of 2008.

Lotilla asked the LGUs to maximize the benefits of all energy projects.

The DOE, the LGUs, the provincial, city/municipal and barangays can use their national wealth tax share through subsidy or non-subsidy schemes, he said.

Subsidy means the LGUs, depending on their share, can pay for a portion of the consumers’ electricity bills, for example, the first 10 kilowatt-hours, or use other determinants in allocating equal or equitable shares of the NWT for all consumers.

The DOE said the LGUs could also identify the more appropriate beneficiaries, depending on the capability to pay of the consumers.

weighed on demand, higher interest rates/borrowing costs that weighed on new investments/expansion plans and sales,” Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. chief economist Michael Ricafort told Manila Standard.

Inflation settled at 8.0 percent in November and rose further to 8.1 percent in December, data showed.

Ricafort also said the relatively weaker peso added to importation costs.

“This may also have to do with the normalization of the base effects, after coming from much lower base in earlier months amid pockets of lockdowns earlier in 2021 [that magnified that yearon-year manufacturing growth earlier in 2022],” Ricafort said.

The PSA said of the 22 industry divisions, 15 reported positive annual

growth rates in terms of volume of production, led by manufacture of machinery and equipment except electrical with 68.5 percent annual growth rate.

Seven industry divisions posted annual decreases with manufacture of electrical equipment exhibiting the fastest annual drop of -54.5 percent.

The value of net sales index maintained a double-digit annual growth rate of 19.7 percent in November, although at a slower rate than 29.4 percent in October. The volume of net sales index also posted an annual growth, but a slower rate of 12.5 percent in November compared to 20.6 percent in October.

The average capacity utilization rate for the manufacturing sector improved to 72.5 percent in November from 72.4 percent in October.

MANILA Water Company Inc. is constructing the P2.5-billion Hinulugang Taktak Sewerage System Project, which includes a 16-millionliter-per-day sewage treatment plant and fourkilometer combined sewer network in Antipolo City.

The company said about 30 percent of the Hinulugang Taktak STP was finished, with work on a pumping station, a force main network and a gravity network already underway. The construction is expected to be completed by December 2025.

The construction of the STP is the result of a usufruct agreement between Manila Water and Antipolo City’s local government unit in 2020. The agreement covers the use of the 8,646-square-meter property of the Antipolo LGU along Taktak Road in Barangay Santa Cruz, as the build site.

Manila Water wastewater supply headline project manager Joyce General said the massive improvement of the sewerage system would also help rehabilitate the Hinulugang Taktak Falls, one of the city’s popular tourist destinations.

By 2037, the completed network is expected to serve 160,692 residents of Antipolo City’s Barangay dela Paz, Barangay San Isidro, Barangay San Roque and Barangay San Jose.

Alliance Select to appeal SEC ruling on Strongoak’s investment

The company received the SEC en banc decision on Jan. 5, annulling the 2014 and 2015 share acquisitions of ASFII’s majority shareholder Strongoak.

ASFII

“The

“We remain focused and driven to continue building on the momentum of our improved performance from third quarter of 2022. This development neither dampens our spirits nor alters our plans for Alliance Select,” Yulo said.

The SEC en banc voided the subscriptions to the ASFII’s shares acquired by Strongoak because these supposedly violated Section 19 of the Securities Regulation Code.

Strongoak acquired the ASFII shares under the 2014 private placement and 2015 stock rights offering.

NTC surpassed 2022 collection target by 70%

Roderick T. dela Cruz, Editor Alena Mae S. Flores, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com

CANNED tuna exporter Alliance Select Foods International Inc. said Friday it will exhaust all legal remedies following the Securities and Exchange Commission en banc’s decision to nullify Strongoak Inc.’s acquisition of the company’s shares.

decision has no effect on the company’s business, financial condition, ownership structure and capital structure until it becomes final, executory and fully implemented. The company shall exhaust all available legal remedies, including fil-

ing a petition for review with the Court of Appeals,” the company said in a disclosure to the stock exchange.

president and chief executive Jeoffrey Yulo said despite the SEC en banc’s decision, it was business as usual for the company.

Alena

PSE-SZSE TIEUP. The Philippine Stock Exchange Inc. and Shenzhen Stock Exchange sign a memorandum of understanding to strengthen communication and economic cooperation between the two bourses that can potentially help boost investment prospects for both the Philippine and Chinese capital markets. Showing the signed agreement are (from left) SZSE president and chief executive Sha Yan and PSE president and chief executive Ramon Monzon.

CREBA’S AWARD. Chamber of Real Estate & Builders Associations Inc. past president and incumbent vice-chairman Jerry Navarrete (center) receives the special award conferred on CREBA as an avid industry partner of the National Home Mortgage Finance Corp. during the shelter agency’s 1st Stakeholders’ Night at the Eastwood Richmonde Hotel.

Presenting the award is NHMFC president Renato Tobias.

World champion karter Go revs up for ‘23 racing season

ries, all set in Europe.

After winning three different Asian karting championships in 2019, the 14-year-old karting prodigy became the first Filipino to bag a podium finish in three European competitions with the latest being a championship in the 2022 ROK Super Finals in Lonato, Italy last October 18 to 22, 2022.

Go finished the 20-lap competition with a time of 16 minutes and 12.687 seconds, besting about 36 racers from more than 10 countries in the Super ROK category. He was also awarded the Pole Position and Fastest Lap under the same category.

“There was a surreal amount of joy from myself and everyone who supported me. This one of a kind milestone would not have been possible without my family, my team…” he shared on Facebook. “[It was] truly a one of a kind experience that motivates me to keep moving forward to reach my dreams despite how ambitious it may seem!”

He also became the first Filipino to win a podium finish in the 2022 FIA Karting Academy in Genk, Belgium

where he finished in second place, and the WSK Euro Series in Lombardia, Italy where he finished in third place.

Go has been competing in both local and Asian karting races since he was seven years old, and he considered racing in Europe, “the home of the best of the best in karting”, as one of the items on top of his bucket list.

“I knew becoming victorious in the continent was extremely challenging due to the amount of talent and exper ience in the grid. Nevertheless, I decided to keep dreaming of that championship win since there was no harm in doing so anyways,” he said.

The championship is Go’s latest addition to his roster of wins, and it also marks his first European championship after months-long racing campaign in the continent.

Future plans

After finishing 2022 strong, Go is set to kick off the new year joining various international competitions such as the FIA European World Championship, WSK Euroseries, and Super Master Se -

“For 2023, I want to capitalize on what I did last year. From the win in the Rok Cup Superfinal race, to the WSK and FIA academy podiums, I want to do better so I can hopefully bring pride to the Philippines in the world of motorsports,” Go said.

Eventually his main goal is to transition to Formula 1, the pinnacle of motorsport which will entail honing his skills in karting and proceeding to the next level which is Formula 4, Formula 3, Formula 2, and so on.

As he pursues his racing career, Go also aims to become an engineer while continuing on in his racing journey.

For more information and updates, follow and support William John Riley Go on Facebook, TikTok and Instagram at @williamgo.23.

Karting Prodigy

Born and raised in Cebu, Go’s love for racing began after a family friend brought him to local races.

“I was finally able to join a karting clinic when I was 6 years old. I have been begging my parents to try karting since I was a little boy and I was happy that I was finally able to do it. My dad’s friend influenced me as he would invite me to tag along and watch karting and car races in Cebu. It was then that I realized I enjoyed

watching the races and wanted to follow in their footsteps and become a racer too,” Go recalled.

He joined the professional racing industry in September 2015. “Back then, my parents and I only knew so little about racing. With some helping hands and hard work during only a few days of practice, I still managed to come home with a trophy. Although it was not the best outcome, I was delighted and grateful, considering it was my first race. From then on, I was already hoping to join more races in the future,” he said.

He won his first national competition in 2017. Since then, he has competed in various karting competitions in the Philippines and Asia.

In 2019, he became the first Filipino to win three overall Karting Championships in the continent for one season: the IAME Asia, ROK Cup Singapore, and Asian Open Karting Championship.

Last December 29, Go received a plaque of appreciation during the 19th and 20th Golden Wheel Awards held in Manila for his “invaluable support to the development of Motor Sport in the Philippines.”

The annual awards ceremony is organized by The Golden Wheel Award Foundation and recognizes top motorsport talents in the Philippines.

Busy year for swim community at grassroots level

THE Swim League Philippines recently announced its program of tournaments for the first half of the year in both short and longcourse events nationwide, including the pre-qualifying selection for members of the Philippine Team that will be sent to two international competitions.

SLP president Fred Ancheta said young swimmers from Mindanao will have the opportunity to show their talents with the holding of the Mindanao Swim Series 1-Davao Del Sur Cup on January 14 and 15 at the Davao del Sur Sports Complex, Brgy. Matti, Digos City.

Ancheta said the two-day tournament is a pre-qualifying selection for the coming Mid -

dle East Open in Dubai in July, as well as preparation for SLP’s new role to form a team that will be sent to Bangkok and the Universiade Games.

“We value our Mindanao swimmers. This will prove that they’re never forgotten and neglected by the SLP,” said Ancheta.

“Ginawa natin na tayo na ang lumapit sa ating mga kapatid sa Mindanao para hindi na rin sila gumasta ng malaki kung magpupunta pa sila sa Manila para makasali sa pre-qualifying event para sa ating international team. Ganito rin ang gagawin namin sa mga kasama natin na nasa Visayas,” he added.

The SLP chief said the tournament is open to all

swimmers and swimming clubs and organization regardless of their affiliation, reiterating that the SLP vision is grassroots development.

Interested swimmers and clubs may send entries to email rollyflame@yahoo.com or call Rolly Dela Cruz (0905-8479233 and 0919-5772982) and SLP (0917-714-0077).

Aside from Davao Del Sur Cup, SLP will host the Manila Swim Series 1 on Jan. 20 and 21 at the Philippine Columbian Association in Paco, Manila; the Road to Universiade meet in Antipolo City and the Bataan Swim Cup in Abucay, Bataan on Jan. 28. For the complete tournament line-up, visit the SLP official facebook page.

Gilas home game tickets available starting Jan. 8

By Randy Caluag

GET to watch the Gilas Pilipinas live in action for just P100.

That’s the most affordable option for Filipino fans as tickets for the Philippine basketball team’s home games in the 6th and final window of the FIBA World qualifiers will start selling on Jan. 8 Sunday.

Gilas will be back in action against Lebanon on Feb. 24 and Jordan on Feb. 27 at the massive 55,000-seater Philippine Arena in Bocaue Bulacan.

Tickets offering the best view at Courtside VVIP costs P16,300, followed by Courtside VIP worth P9,800, Patrol Gold at P2500, Patron Silver (P1,700), Patron Bronze (P1,100) and Lower Box.

A general admission ticket costs P100.

Lower Box and Admission are free seating.

Holding a 5 win-3 loss card, the Philippines is currently in third place in Group E behind leader Lebanon (7-1) and New Zealand (6-2).

China, Australia, and Iran are currently the top three teams in Group F, and Japan at fourth place.

The 16 teams from Asia and Oceania are fighting for spots for the FIBA World Cup to be hosted by the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia from Aug. 25 to Sept. 10.

Only six spots are being contested by the aspirants in the Qualifying phase as the Philippines and Japan, being major host countries, are already assured of slots.

Indonesia’s guaranteed spot is subject to reaching the Quarter Finals of the FIBA Asia Cup. The top three teams from groups E and F will qualify for the World Cup.

If Indonesia is guaranteed a spot, the third placer with the better record will qualify in addition to the top two teams from each group.

2 PH fencers bag golds in Malaysian tilt

By Peter Atencio

THE third time’s the charm for Noelito Jose Jr. as he and national teammate Wilhelmina Lozada claimed their first gold medals in their respective events in the ongoing Southeast Asian Fencing Federation Championships in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Thursday evening.

The eight-seeded Jose eased out top seeded Vietnamese bet Nguyen Phuoc Den, 15-10, to bag the senior men’s epee gold on his third attempt.

Lozada, who is duelling on a different weapon, downed another Vietnamese, Nguyen Thu Thu Phuong, 15-6, for her first gold medal in the senior women’s foil.

The 25-year-old Jose edged Vietnam’s Dang Tuan Anh, 15-7, to reach the semifinals.

“Sobrang saya. Masyadong unexpected. Nakadalawang silver na ako dito. Sa pangatlong beses ko nakuha ang ginto,” said Jose, the silver medallist in the 2022 Southeast Asian Games in an interview on Sports Radio.

A day after he carded a two-over par 74 during the first round Thursday, the six-year-old golf prodigy de Guzman highlighted his final round with six birdies and an eagle on the difficult par-5 no. 3 hole. He also had six bogeys.

With the guidance of coach Toch “J3” Altea, mentor of pro golfer and Olympian Miguel Tabuena, De Guzman finished the tournament with a total score of 144. He bested Mindanao champion Ethan Lago, who finished with 177, while at third was Isheidel Revilleza with 244. It was a sweet victory for De Guzman, who was accompanied by his parents, popular social media personality Lue and former Philippine Football Team training pool member Rommel.

“It feels good to win, it’s cool. It was tough on holes with water hazard. But it’s nice to win, I’m happy,” said De Guzman, a veteran of the 2022 IMG Academy Junior World Championships in the US.

De Guzman and Athena Batican, who matched the lowest score in the tournament for jungolfers aged 5 to 12 years old with 70 in the 7-8 girls, were given Overall Champion trophies for boys and girls. Batican totalled 143, besting Merryl Salvador (229) and Atasha Naranjo (247).

Gaisano-Gan sisters Nicole and Stephanie also won in their respective categories, as the former ruled the 1112 girls, with a final round 75 for a total of 151, beating Sarines twins Mona (154) and Lisa (156), while the latter dominated the 6-under girls with 170, edging Soliel Molde (183) and Samantha Ibarra (243).

In the 7-8 boys, Alonzo Retuerto won the division with a total score of 166, beating Jeremiah Ordanza (204) and Rory Bisera (244), while in the 9-10 boys, Jared Saban took the title with a total score of 149, besting Ralph Batican (150) and Vito Sarines (157).

Meanwhile, the 13 to 18 years old categories are set Saturday and Sunday in this tournament backed by Gaisano Malls, John Gaisano, Dimdi Furniture and Appliance Centre, Soleil Cafe and Islandwide Distribution Corporation.

Jose fell to Cambodia’s Savoun Saknuk, 15-2, in the round of 32 before he outplayed compatriot Lee Eigran Ergina, 15-7, in the round of 16, according to results posted on the event’s official website.

After that, Jose stopped Indonesia’s Anggi Williansyah, 15-10, in the quarterfinals.

Lozada, who is trying her hand in the women’s foil after getting a bronze for the Philippines in the team epee last May in the SEA Games, dropped Malaysia’s Surayya Rizzal, 15-5, to advance to the final round.

“Kinabahan ako, dahil after Christmas at New Year ang laban namin. Bakasyon. Hindi ko inaasahan maka-finals. Naniwala lang po ako at nag-dasal. Nakalaban ko na kasi siya before,” said Lozada.

IT’S full speed ahead for Cebuano Karter William John Riley Go as he continues to achieve his dream and drive toward karting superstardom.

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Randy M. Caluag, Assistant Editor

DAVAO CITY—Lucas de Guzman shot a final round two-under par 70 as he bagged the title in the 6-under boys of the Mindanao leg in the Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines Apo Circuit on Friday at the Apo Golf and Country Club here.

Cebuano Karter William John Riley Go with his trophies, including the world title he won in the 2022 ROK Super Finals in Lonato, Italy.

Lucas de Guzman holds his trophies after winning the 6-under boys and overall championship in the boys’ division in the Mindanao leg of the Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines Apo Circuit at the Apo Golf and Country Club.

Dwellings for new beginnings

Homes for millennials, families at Zitan in Greenfield District

MILLENNIALS tend to be great challengers, innovators, and visionaries. A significant number of them have been on the quest for condominiums online since the previous year. Following the pattern, Filipino millennials prefer buying their own property over renting a space. This is a real challenge for the property sector.

Enter Greenfield Development Corporation’s wholly owned subsidiary, Equus Property Venture, Inc. which is building Zitan, a mid-priced condominium, all-set for future-ready living.

Affordability meets quality Zitan, at the Greenfield District, is a 36-story condominium which takes pride in its units being built with higher specifications and superior finishes compared to standards in the affordable

market segment. Millennials, reaching their peak of home purchase, will most likely be attentive to price, size, and style of homes. With Zitan’s approach to affordable housing, it matches these preferences. This mixed-use condominium is assembled well enough to give the young workforce and their families the ability to reimagine their future, championing the balance of work and life.

Accessibility, connectivity Zitan is in the middle of EDSA and Shaw Boulevard. It is linked to the Shaw Boulevard station of the MRT along EDSA through directly interconnected walkways granting a smooth commute

home. The property is near the hospitals, schools, malls, and lifestyle establishments like Greenfield Districts’ The Hub, The Portal, and Pavillion.

Promoting a holistic & healthy lifestyle

Zitan prides itself on its coppercolored balconies which are placed alternately, creating a weave-like pattern (Shown in photo). Like a Christmas tree brought to life, this distinct design allows this mid-priced condo to stand out in Mandaluyong’s skyline, especially at night.

Zitan provides a fair share of nature, letting families enjoy the green spaces

As one of the residential condominium developments of Equus Property Venture, Zitan is a testament to its commitment to providing a home fit for every Filipino generation. Through its vision to make modern communities, Equus Property Venture continues to connect affordability, accessibility, connectivity, and design innovation into its properties.

Japanese tradition, Filipino sense of community

The event marked the structural completion of the second tower of the mixed-use development that marries Japanese tradition of innovation with Filipino sense of community. It will feature four towers of high-end homes, and the first MITSUKOSHI in the country, located at the podium level.

At the ceremony were (from left to right):

FEDERAL Land, Inc., along with its Japanese partners Nomura Real Estate Development Co., Ltd. and Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings Ltd., recently topped off The Seasons Residences Natsu Tower in Bonifacio Global City.

EEI president and chief executive officer Robert Castillo; Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings Ltd. manager for overseas business department Mitsunori Morohoshi; Federal Land head of sales Margarita Saenz-Resurreccion; Federal Land head of urban planning

of Greenfield District Park. Greenfield District’s expansive open spaces and the neighborhood’s pedestrian-friendly design have made it a sought-after spot in Mandaluyong for outdoor activities that promote holistic wellness.

INDUSTRIAL ESTATES PUMP-PRIME THE ECONOMY. Aboitiz InfraCapital (AIC) teamed up with the national government to attract Korean investors at the recently-concluded Philippine-Korea Investment Forum. Over 80 business leaders from various manufacturing companies across Korea joined the forum, with AIC—represented by its President and CEO Cosette Canilao and First Vice President Rafael Fernandez de Mesa–locking in discussions and negotiations with Korean investors who are looking to expand operations at AIC’s Economic Estates in Batangas and Cebu. The Philippine Embassy in South Korea, Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Board of Investments (BOI), and Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC)-Seoul organized the gathering to guide prospective Korean and global investors on the perks they can enjoy should they choose the Philippines as their next investment destination.

Aboitiz InfraCapital highlighted the 240 hectares of ongoing expansions at LIMA Estate in Lipa-Malvar Batangas and West Cebu Estate in Balamban, Cebu.

ASIA’S LEADING SME. Ovialand Inc. was recently recognized as one of ‘Asia’s Leading SMEs’ in the Enterprise Category by The Asia Corporate Excellence & Sustainability (‘ACES’) Awards held in Malaysia. The ACES Awards bring Asia’s business aspirations and success stories to the global stage through knowledge-sharing and recognition. ‘We’re honored to have our work be recognized by the ACES Awards,’ said Pammy Olivares-Vital, President and CEO of Ovialand. ‘At the awards night held in Malaysia were (from left to right): Shanggari Balakrishnan, CEO of MORS Grou;, Giovanni J. Olivares, Chairman of Ovialand, Inc. ; Pammy Olivares Vital, President and CEO of Ovialand; Luis Bueno Nieto, Jury Member for ACES Award. Ovialand, Inc. is a real estate developer that is currently serving the markets of Batangas, Quezon, and Laguna.

and design architect Gilbert Berba; Federal Land head of technical execution engineer Antonino Aligaen; Nomura Real Estate Development general manager for

overseas business Masaya Hirao; Federal Land senior project director Sophia Nunez; and SPCI director and senior vice president Roger G. Antonio.

ENDERUN HOTELS, AGODA AWARDEE. Enderun Hotels recently announced that three hotels under its wing namely Feliz Hotel Boracay (Shown here), Privato Hotel Group (Inset photo), and Hotel Casiana Tagaytay, were recognized by the Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice and Best Value Hotel, and the Agoda Customer Review Awards. The Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice and Best Value Hotel awards honor hospitality operators that consistently receive excellent and good ratings from their customers. Feliz Hotel received the 2022 Agoda Customer Review Award with a score of 9.5 from genuine customer reviews based on five criteria such as location, service, cleanliness, facilities, and price. Privato Hotels has three branches located in Makati, Ortigas Center, and Quezon City. Privato Makati bagged the Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice. It also earned the Agoda Customer Review award with a review score of 8.8 alongside Privato Quezon City which received an 8.4.

TRAILBLAZER FOR SUSTAINABLE REAL ESTATE. Damosa Land Inc. (DLI) recently celebrated 18 years of transforming communities as a homegrown developer of Mindanao. ‘The best houses, buildings, and projects are built with the strongest foundations,’ said DLI President, Ricardo ‘Cary’ Lagdameo. ‘Our mission to adapt to the shifting landscape of real estate and establish future-ready developments that will drive investor interest and expand opportunities for our region.’ One of Damosa Land’s recently awarded properties is Ameria - a nine-hectare residential subdivision (Shown here). Dubbed as Best Eco-Friendly Housing Development by the PropertyGuru Philippines Property Awards, Ameria boasts wide open spaces, nature-centric parks, and sustainably-built houses that are future-proof, durable, and environmentally friendly. This year and in 2020, Damosa Land was also given a Special Recognition in Sustainable Design and Construction for its strong efforts in utilizing eco-friendly materials in the construction of their facilities, by PropertyGuru Philippines.

Peugeot brings in allure in a new era of mobility

WITH a new official message exalting its feline and attractive attitude, its revolutionary interior design and its promise of unrivaled driving sensations, the PEUGEOT INCEPTION CONCEPT heralds a new era and embodies the Brand’s vision for future electric vehicles.

The first PEUGEOT Design Manifesto led by Matthias Hossann, the PEUGEOT INCEPTION CONCEPT embodies the major change of the Brand.

EMOTION

The PEUGEOT INCEPTION CON-

CEPT expresses this optimistic vision with conviction, ready to meet the challenges of the future. With its new generation i-Cockpit® and its Hypersquare control system, it revolutionizes driving enjoyment by offering a new, intuitive way of operating the car. Its innovative Skyspace panoramic glass concept provides new emotions and sensations. Its passenger compartment has a new interior space and the innovative architecture is complemented by materials that play with their coloured reflections to shun black while redefining the idea of durability through new techniques.

EXCELLENCE

The PEUGEOT INCEPTION CONCEPT opens up new perspectives with a daring architecture, derived from the generation of “BEV-by-design” platforms, and comes in a generous size, further highlighting the excellence of its

innovations.

This manifesto will inspire the Brand’s future products, down to the most compact models of the range, from 2025.

A FELINE LOOK FOR A NEW DESIGN LANGUAGE

At first glance, a PEUGEOT is recognisable by its feline stance. The brand’s genes are there, but the codes have been reinterpreted for the new era that is beginning today. This new design language will be introduced on the next PEUGEOT from 2025. It is simpler and more refined. It has a finish and textures worthy of the digital world. This new design switches between sensual lines and athletic curves, more geometric and sharper, such as the horizontal wing shoulders.

The challenge of the PEUGEOT INCEPTION CONCEPT design lies in the contrast between a dynamic profile - for

a feline stance - and a passenger compartment designed as a glass capsule that plunges to the front of the driver and front passenger’s feet.

Seen from the side, the design still has the PEUGEOT codes of a sleek, elegant saloon, while in a bird’s-eye view, it guides us into the near future, that of electric cars designed on dedicated platforms. The magic of the PEUGEOT INCEPTION CONCEPT lies in a perfectly seamless transition between the exterior and interior design, thanks in particular to its exclusive glazing.

Transforming PEUGEOT into an electric brand means more than just putting batteries and electric engines in our cars. The interior of the PEUGEOT INCEPTION CONCEPT is the result of advanced research into the profound transformation of the on-board experi-

The ‘In thing’ for 2023

EXPECT the multi-purpose vehicles and small crossovers to be the “inthing” this 2023.

This is the fearless forecast this year as various things that were in our midst during the last quarter of last year are still there and being felt around.

The MPVs started coming in and introduced by various car manufacturers early in the third quarter of the year and continue to be upgraded one after the other.

ence. Here, black has been completely shunned in favor of new atmospheres created by the combination of light filtered by multi-chrome glass and materials with relatively neutral metallic tones, which can change the atmosphere of the passenger compartment simply by playing with reflections. PEUGEOT INCEPTION Concept is a showcase of the new techniques we will roll out to reduce our carbon footprint by more than 50% by 2030 in Europe and become fully Carbon Net Zero by 2038.

PEUGEOT INCEPTION CONCEPT presents the brand’s optimistic vision of the future. It embodies the values of Allure, Emotion and Excellence of a brand that is transforming itself and entering a new era. PEUGEOT INCEPTION CONCEPT will inspire future products, even the most compact, from 2025 onwards.

HONDA Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI) wishes everyone a meaningful 2023 as we all take on the journey toward our dreams. Power the new year by driving in style that doesn’t get old, with time-tested safety and quality that gives you peace of mind and true joy for each drive. Get the best deals and special offers through Honda’s “New Year, New Deals” promo from January 1 to 31, 2023.

City S The City has been one of HCPI’s bestselling models over the years. With its stylish exterior design, refined interior quality, powerful yet fuel-efficient 1.5-Liter 4 Cylinder DOHC i-VTEC engine mated with Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT) that achieves 25.17 kilometers per liter fuel consumption, advanced technology, and a 5-star ASEAN NCAP safety rating, the City indeed proved its capabilities as a key player in the Philippine market.

Interested customers may bring home and enjoy the 23YM City 1.5 S CVT through the following special offers: Promo discount of P45,000 Special all-in downpayment for as low as PHP 10,000 Low monthly amortization for as low as PHP 17,618 per month

All-New BR-V S Officially launched last November, the AllNew BR-V received a positive market response for its strong SUV appeal, bigger dimensions, advanced technology and powerful yet fuel efficient engine that achieves a fuel economy

rating of 24.71 kilometers per liter. Its safety features, sealed with 5-star ASEAN NCAP rating,

This happens while the SUVs and the Pick-Up Trucks are being sidetracked for obvious reasons – they are very hot on the eyes of the legislative department. With the threat of the return of added taxes on these Pick-Up Trucks, major manufacturers muffled down the popularity of their products although they still try to convince the government that the pick-up trucks are there supporting the economy in going back to normal.

The battle of the MPVs heated up in the last quarter as Toyota came out with several options last year. The ever top-seller Innova and Avanza continue to lord it over in the MPV market while the small crossovers such as the Veloz, RAV4, Corolla Cross, and Rush are now being embraced by its loyal customers.

Mitsubishi prides itself with its crown jewel Xpander that is expected to fly higher this year with the introduction of its Sports series while Nissan is hoping for a much bigger pie this year with its Livina and the Kicks E-Power.

Hyundai is betting on its Stargazer, Creta, and Tucson while Mazda is parading its CX3 and Geely has its Coolray and Okavango.

The list goes on and on while new buyers will surely have a lot of inquiry and test-drive to do if they are really

keen on buying what is worth their money.

We have reports that several major Japanese, and even Korean, manufacturers will be introducing more models of MPVs in the next few weeks as they compete in this segment which is touted to be the “hit” among the consumers.

The threat of inflation is one of the main reasons why they are betting on the safe side of the MPVs since they are not that stiff to the budget of the consumers who are all angling for a vehicle that would be comfortable not only for their own use but for their family as well.

The spiraling cost of fuel keeps the major vehicle buyers from those bulky and gas-zipping SUVs although their eyes are still popping when they see them on the road.

But when the buyers’ attention is now on these MPVs and small Crossovers, the question would be if the manufacturers could deliver the vehicles to the buyers as soon as possible.

The problems that beset the carindustry during the pandemics are still lingering up to these days. Various manufacturers are still hampered by the lack of deliveries from their mother companies simply because of the lack of ample supplies of vehicles.

The Covid-19 pandemic is still kicking in most parts of China, virtually crippling the supplies of the needed spare parts while the lack of the needed chips from Taiwan and other countries continues to drag the supply line.

Anyway, despite these things confronting the industry, better be ready to see the rise of the MPVs and the small Carryovers in the next few months as we greet the new and hopefully prosperous year.

Sights from the 35th Summernats Car Festival in Canberra, Australia

Cars take part in a city cruise to formally kick off the Summernats Car Festival yesterday, Jan. 5, 2023.

Burnouts galore at the Canberra Exhibition Park (Photos Taken from Xinhua News)

Tech & Gadgets

Kaspersky: 5 healthy digital habits for 2023

EARLY January is a great time to start using healthy digital habits and you still have time to make a promise to yourself and try to follow them during the next year.

Kaspersky experts have prepared a list of simple healthy digital habits that can strengthen the safety of your personal data and even make life easier in the coming year.

Kaspersky experts have prepared a list of simple healthy digital habits that can strengthen the safety of your personal data and even make life easier in the coming year.

New year, new HONOR phone?

AFTER an impressive finish in 2022, HONOR Philippines is starting the year strong.

With a new phone coming up, the major smart devices market player stayed true to its promise that they will only go beyond this 2023.

“We are launching our first phone of the year this January and this will be revolutionary. We are introducing a first ever feature in the industry,” teased HONOR Philippines Vice President for Marketing, Stephen Cheng. “Just like what we promised to our HONOR fans, we have a spectacular lineup for the year and this is just the start, a very strong start.”

The new HONOR phone hitting the market caters to the neverending concern of consumers— durability.

Built to last a lifetime, the new device is perfect for cautious trend observers who value quality, those who are curious about technology, and conduct their own research before making a purchase.

Not compromising the design, this handset will surely exceed expectations.

This will be a bang for your buck with its stunning premium curved OLED inherited from the flagship series.

The new phone will be officially launched on January 19, 2023.

For more information and announcements, you may visit HONOR’s website www.hihonor. com or social media platforms: Facebook (Facebook.com/HonorPhilippines), Instagram (Instagram.com/honorphilippines/) and TikTok: (Tiktok.com/@honorphilippines).

In the meantime, you can checkout HONOR’s wide array of mobile phones, tablets, and smartwatches at any HONOR kiosks and partner stores nationwide or online at Shopee (https:// bit.ly/HONORPHShopee), Lazada (https://bit.ly/HONORPHLaz) and TikTok Shop (https://bit.ly/ HONORTikTokShop).

New Year, new passwords!

Start the New Year with a real password revision. Now is the time to check and change passwords on all accounts. And remember the main rule – don’t use the same password for multiple accounts!

If you are like many people and have several online accounts, then a reliable password manager is a good help. Modern password managers have features that greatly simplify life with passwords. For example, you can use autofill features for different browsers and platforms. Another handy option is the automatic password generator. As a result, a password manager will help you generate unique and complex passwords for each account - and you only need to remember one master password.

Subscribe to notifications about account data leaks

Besides weak passwords, data leaks are another threat to your personal and corporate accounts. Unfortunately, data breaches happen quite often, and it’s hard to keep track of all of them. If your account details leak, fraudsters can use them to take over your accounts. However, you can get ahead of scammers in 2023 if you use services that scan the latest leaks and look whether they contain your data. Advanced password managers include this feature as well and quickly notify users if any of the saved logins or passwords are found in the recent data leaks.

Need more privacy, get a VPN!

Once a niche product for geeky users and businesses, VPNs are now a must-have for anyone who wants to stay safe and private online. Modern VPN solutions meet all user needs, for

example, they are easy to use, provide high traffic speeds and keep personal data private.

Now the range of possible scenarios for using a VPN has expanded significantly. It allows you to securely shop online, watch streaming services from anywhere in the world, or access local content. Modern VPN services also provide high traffic speeds and let users watch content even in 4K without quality loss or delays.

Moreover, it hides your IP address from websites and advertisers, granting better privacy. Web tracking can lead to unexpected consequences, for example, targeted ads can reveal the presents you bought for your family. Don’t let advertisers spoil your next celebration!

Transfer documents to a safe place

With the development of digital services, scans and electronic versions of documents are now used as often as their paper originals. This raises a reasonable question - how to store electronic versions so they remain safe and do not fall into unwanted hands? You can create a folder on your computer or upload them to a pass-

word-protected cloud - but both of these options are potentially insecure and can lead to the loss of personal data.

A secure alternative would be to store documents in a password manager app. Modern password managers are capable of storing more than just passwords or banking data. Now these are fullfledged encrypted electronic storages where you can upload scans, PDFs and other important documents that you want to protect. This can also include medical records and telephone addresses, as well as any documentation or files related to work and business.

At the same time, such storage services are many times safer compared to more traditional storage locations, because they are specially encrypted, and can be decrypted only with the help of one master password, which should only be in the user’s head.

Learn more about child’s hobbies on the Internet with kids

Today, children have digital devices in their hands from an early age - about five years old. For a child’s path to the digital world to be safe and interesting, it is important to teach and share with

them the rules of online safety from childhood. To make such talks more enjoyable and interesting, parents can use games and other entertaining formats.

Another tip for the New Year is to dive deep into your kids’ online interests. For instance, parents can ask about a favorite series, or listen to music tracks together so you can both together learn some secure practices to stay safe online. There are also a range of child safety software that can help parents learn more about kids’ hobbies and help kids develop healthy digital habits from an early age.

“Privacy and security are not a result, but a process. Just like you cannot get fit or become a healthy-eating person overnight, securing your account and digital footprint also requires some dedication. However, small steps such as creating unique passwords for different accounts and using advanced tools like password managers can greatly boost your privacy while making this task much simpler. And there’s no better time to start a new, more secure digital life than in the New Year,” commented Vladislav Tushkanov, Lead Data Scientist at Kaspersky.

Jetti Petroleum supports foodpanda riders

JETTI

foodpanda,

Launched in the Philippines in 2014, food means everything to Filipino culture, weather ordering at home, visiting restaurants or cooking favorite meal and dishes. With foodpanda, ordering from the best restaurants, malls and groceries is just one click away.

Jetti Petroleum Inc. is a 100% Filipino-owned independent oil company, committed to providing affordable, accessible, top -quality fuel, powering industries and empowering communities.

With the partnership, Jetti hopes to help foodpanda riders via discounts and provide them a good quality of fuel fas in their daily needs.

LG Electronics is introducing its 97inch LG SIGNATURE OLED M (model M3), the world’s first consumer TV with Zero Connect technology, a wireless solution capable of real-time video and audio transmission at up to 4K 120Hz.

The revolutionary new OLED TV M3 delivers superior picture and sound quality as well as greater flexibility to install and connect. A stunning achievement of technology and design, LG’s wireless 4K OLED is the recipient of CES 2023 Innovation Awards in two categories.

Unlike conventional TVs, where all input ports for connecting external devices are located on the rear or sides, the M3 comes with a separate Zero Connect box that sends video and audio signals wirelessly to LG’s cinematic, 97-inch screen.

Because it can be placed away from the TV, the Zero Connect box helps to create a cleaner, distraction-free view-

ing environment and gives users greater freedom to arrange their space.

The box comes with multiple ports for plugging in commonly used HDMI devices, such as cable/satellite set-top boxes and gaming consoles and can also connect wirelessly with compatible soundbars for richer, more powerful audio and additional cable-free convenience.

Along with offering users more freedom when curating their space, the M3 and its Zero Connect box allows users to easily install the new LG OLED TV without entangled cables.

What’s more, without any wires to disturb users from enjoying their viewing experiences, the sleek minimalism of the 97-inch TV’s One Wall Design becomes even more breathtaking to behold.

LG’s wireless solution leverages state-of-the-art technologies to provide reliable video and audio transmission to the M3’s self-lit OLED screen,

allowing users to enjoy content at 4K 120Hz and clear, crisp sound without interruption or degradation of quality.

To ensure the seamless transfer of data from the box to the TV, the company developed an algorithm that instantly identifies the optimal transmission path.

The algorithm also helps to minimize transmission errors or disruptions as it can recognize changes in the immediate environment – such as people or pets moving around the room –and switch paths accordingly.

Additionally, for maximum signal strength, the box’s antenna can be easily rotated and/or tilted to align with the TV’s location. For maximum usability, the Zero Connect box is voice recognition-enabled, meaning users can turn on and manage the M3 and connected devices using simple, spoken commands.

Despite the imposing size of its screen, the M3 blends in effortlessly

with one’s interior décor courtesy of its understated One Wall Design.

The M3 and its integrated bracket sit flush against the wall with no visible gap, presenting a chic, art gallery aesthetic that augments the TV’s outstanding self-lit picture quality.

LG’s cutting-edge 4K OLED TV

Petroleum, under its Brand Loyalty Programs, launched a partnership with foodpanda riders. Through the discount program, foodpanda riders can avail the special promo of a P2.00 per liter discount on Jetti fuels nationwide.

a pioneer in food delivery services founded in Berlin Germany in 2012, operates in more than 400 cities across 11 countries in Asia.

with Zero Connect wireless solution will be on show during CES 2023 from January 5-8 at the company’s booth (#15501, Central Hall, Las Vegas Convention Center). Keep up with all of LG’s exciting announcements at CES by following #LGCES2023 on social media.

A stunning achievement, the larger-than-life 97-inch OLED TV comes With real time video and audio wireless transmission up to 4K 120Hz

Jetti and foodpanda executives are shown after their partnership signing.