Manila Standard - 2023 January 28 - Saturday

ICC reopens drug war probe

DOJ chief slams move as 'not welcome, irritant'; gov't plans to appeal

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

THE International Criminal Court (ICC) has authorized the resumption of its investigation into the bloody antidrug war and the alleged “Davao Death Squad” killings under the Duterte administration in the Philippines.

By Rey E. Requejo and Maricel V. Cruz

THE Supreme Court has affirmed the constitutionality of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Act of 2017, which amended the 1997 National Internal Revenue Code. In an en banc decision adopted Jan.

24, the Court through Associate Justice Japar B. Dimaampao resolved to dismiss the two petitions questioning the law’s constitutionality.

In their petitions, ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio and Laban Konsyumer argued that the TRAIN Act was unconstitutional because it was passed by the House of Representatives despite an alleged lack of quorum, and that its

provisions which imposed excise taxes on diesel, coal, liquefied petroleum gas, and kerosene, were prohibited regressive taxes.

The petitioners in the two cases also alleged that the excise taxes were confiscatory and discriminatory against the poor and violated the Filipino people’s right to due process and equal protection of laws.

PROHIBITING candidates who lost any electoral position to run as partylist nominees in the succeeding polls is unconstitutional, the Supreme Court has declared, as it struck down provisions in both the Party-List System Act and the Rules and Regulations of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

In an en banc decision penned by Associate Justice Jhosep Lopez, the SC resolved as unconstitutional the pertinent phrase “a person who has lost his bid

DEPED TAPS PNP FOR SECURITY AT SCHOOLS

for elective office in the immediately preceding election” under Section 8 of Republic Act No. 7941, the Party-List System Act.

It also struck down the phrases “have lost in their bid for an elective office in the May 13, 2019 National and Local Elections” and “or a person who has lost his bid for an elective office in the May 13, 2019 National and Local Elections,” under Sections 5(d) and 10, respectively, of Comelec Resolution No. 10717.

COMELEC JUNKS PIMENTEL PLEA ON PDP-LABAN

No free bus rides after all, only discount

THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) can only offer discounts —no more free rides—for commuters using the EDSA Bus Carousel line owing to a limited budget this year, its chief said on Friday.

LTFRB head Assistant Secretary Teofilo Guadiz III said offering discounts to the riding public would let the agency “stretch” the P1.2-billion budget given

for the program.

“Probably what we will do here is we will just be giving discount,” he said in a press briefing, when asked if the Libreng Sakay Program from the EDSA Bus Carousel will resume.

Other modes of transportation such as jeepneys, and not just the current buses using the carousel, will be covered by the planned discounts, Guadiz said.

Marcos accepts Macron invite for state visit to France

COAST GUARDIANS. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. underscored the vital role of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in maintaining the safety and security of the Philippines during an oath-taking ceremony for 15 PCG officers in Malacañang on Thursday night. Mr. Marcos also reaffirmed his commitment to the PCG's mission and urged the officers to remain vigilant and dedicated to their service to the Filipino people. PCO photo

By Vince Lopez PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. accepted Friday the invitation of his French

counterpart, President Emmanuel Macron, for a state visit to Paris, according to the French Ambassador to the Philippines. Ambassador Michèle Boccoz said

DepEd taps PNP for school security

By Rio N. Araja

THE Department of Education (DepEd) on Friday said

it will coordinate with the Philippine National Police (PNP) on security measures after a minor accidentally killed himself with his father’s service firearm in school.

DepEd spokesperson Michael Poa said Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte ordered their undersecretaries to direct regional offices and schools division offices to coordinate with their police counterparts to identify schools where they can help with spot checking of bags.

efforts to investigate and prosecute the alleged crimes against humanity in the Philippines were not satisfactory.

"After having examined the submissions and materials of the Philippines government, and of the ICC prosecutor, as well as the victims’ observations, the chamber concluded that the various domestic initiatives and proceedings, assessed collectively, do not amount to tangible, concrete and progressive investigative steps in a way that would sufficiently mirror the court’s investigation," the Hague-based international tribunal said.

"This conclusion does not preclude the Philippines from providing material in the future in order for the prosecution, or the chamber, to determine inadmissibility of the investigation or of any actual case, if and when needed," it added.

The government on Friday said it would oppose the move to resume its inquiry into former President Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody war on drugs and may take its case to the tribunal’s appeals chamber.

“It is our intention to exhaust our legal remedies,” Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra said after the ICC authorized the reopening of the inquiry because it was not satisfied that the Philippines was “undertaking relevant investigations that would warrant a deferral of the court's investigations.”

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, on the other hand, said he will snub the delegation of the ICC to the Philippines to probe the killings during the drug war.

“Definitely I do not welcome this move of theirs and I will not welcome them to the Philippines unless they make clear that they will respect us in this regard,” Remulla said.

“I think the world knows that we are a functioning country with a functioning judicial system. This is an irritant that just

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They said the TRAIN Act, which was implemented starting January 2018, imposes a heavy burden on Filipinos from low-income and poor families.

In dismissing the petitions, “the Court held that the supposed absence of a quorum was belied by the official Journal of the House of Representatives, both on the day that the TRAIN’s Bicameral Conference Report was ratified and the immediately

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The High Court made the ruling as it granted the petition filed by Catalina G. Leonen-Pizzaro and Glen Quintos Albano, who were party-list candidates in 2019. They filed the petition in 2021.

In a decision promulgated last January 24, the SC said: “The Court found that the prohibition placed on losing candidates violates the constitutional guaranty of substantive due process as it effectively intrudes on the right of losing candidates in the immediately preceding elections from participating in the present elections.”

“The State cannot require eligibility for public office to be conditioned on a candidate’s ill performance in the previous election, nor may such performance be used as a rubric to gauge the person’s ability to serve,” the SC ruled.

The High Court also ruled that by the express wording of Section 5(1), Article VI of the 1987 Constitution, “Congress is

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From A1 movement on pump prices next week was computed for the first four-day trading based on the Mean of Platts Singapore, the benchmark used by oil importers and foreign exchange average week-on-week.

The Department of Energy confirmed the possible increase in prices—for the third week in a row this year—of more than P1 per liter for gasoline and kerosene and less than P1 for diesel.

"Hopefully the remaining day of trading, Friday, would help to lessen the

Authorities said the 12-year-old boy was playing with a 9mm Beretta in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, when it suddenly went off. He was taken to the hospital but later died. The PNP said on Friday it would investigate the incident.

The boy took the gun from a cabinet

came in,” he stressed.

“I will not stand for any of these antics that will tend to question our sovereignty or our status as a sovereign country. We will not accept that,” he added.

In September 2021, the ICC’s pre-trial chamber approved the investigation into Duterte’s war on drugs and killings in Davao City between 2011 and 2016.

In the decision, ICC judges concluded that “the crime against humanity of murder appears to have been committed.”

The chamber said that “it is also apparent” that killings took place “pursuant or in furtherance of a state policy.”

In November 2021, however, the investigation was suspended, after the Philippine government asked that it be deferred in view of its own review of drug-related killings.

But in June 2022, the ICC’s Kahn asked the pre-trial chamber to resume the investigation, saying the Philippines’ inter-agency drug war review panel did not conduct an investigation in earnest.

The government says at least 6,200 drug suspects have been killed in police operations from June 2016 until November 2021.

Several human rights groups, however, refuted the data, saying the actual death toll is from 12,000 to 30,000.

Under orders of Duterte, who lambasted what he called meddling in domestic affairs, the Philippines withdrew from the Rome Statute that established the ICC in March 2019.

His successor, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., said the country has no intention of rejoining the ICC.

In September, the government argued in a 62-page filing that the ICC has no jurisdiction to investigate it, and that the alleged crimes were not grave enough to warrant further action by the tribunal.

The submission, signed by Guevarra — who was Justice Secretary under the

subsequent session on Jan. 15, 2018.”

The Court said the congressional journal prevailed over the video and photographs presented by the petitioners.

The SC also said the Constitution, in its present form, does not prohibit the imposition of regressive taxes, but merely directs Congress to evolve a progressive system of taxation.

“Lastly, the Court ruled that petitioners’ contention that the provisions of the TRAIN Act are ‘antipoor,’ was not sufficiently proven and

empowered to determine, by law, who shall be elected through the party-list system and, therefore, determine the qualifications of the party-list representatives elected.”

The SC emphasized that in reviewing the deliberations of the Constitutional Commission, it found the clear intent of the framers to delegate to Congress who is in the best position to draft, study, and enact all the details regarding the implementation of the party-list system, and the determination of the qualifications of nominees under the system.

“The Court said that given these, there is nothing constitutionally repugnant on the part of Congress to provide for the selection of party-list nominees as reflected in Section 8 of R.A. No. 7941 and as later adopted and reproduced by the respondent Comelec in its Resolution No. 10717,” it said.

“The Court likewise ruled that regardless of the power of Congress to provide for the qualifications of partylist representatives by law, it must still yield to the general limitations on legislation, particularly the equal protection clause,” the decision read.

Rey E. Requejo

increase," DOE director for the Oil Industry Management Bureau Rodela Romero said.

Romero said increased economic recovery fueled demand in China.

World oil prices have been going up in the past week on bullish sentiment about Chinese demand growth and easing US recession fears.

On January 24, the oil companies implemented a per liter increase in gasoline by P2.80, diesel by P2.25, and kerosene by P2.40. These resulted in a total net increase this year to stand at P5.90 per liter for gasoline, P2.05 per liter for diesel, and P3.20 per liter for kerosene.

at home and brought it to school and was playing with it inside a comfort room when it went off and hit him in the head, reports said.

The PNP would give the child's family time to grieve before looking into how the boy gained access to the gun, PNP Public Information Office chief Col. Redrico Maranan.

The student’s father – with the rank of executive master sergeant – is assigned at PNP headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City. Local authorities said the father was at home at the time of the accident, reports said.

In a separate incident, police arrested a suspect in the bomb threat at the Ponciano

Duterte administration -- also said the Philippine government has investigated and prosecuted the alleged crimes or is doing so.

But Khan rejected Manila's arguments a few days later, saying that the government has failed to substantiate its claim that the Philippines justice system "generally functions well" and administrative proceedings "may or can" result in criminal proceedings.

The DOJ-led inter-agency review panel, he added, did not take “investigative steps” such as interviewing witnesses or suspects, and collecting documentary evidence.

President Marcos, elected last year, has vowed to continue the drug war but with a focus on prevention and rehabilitation.

"We wish to emphasize that our own domestic investigative and judicial processes should take precedence" over the ICC, Guevarra said.

Rights groups, however, welcomed the ICC announcement, and allege the killings are continuing under Marcos.

"This is indeed very welcome news coming as it does in the midst of continuing impunity, selective memory and orchestrated denial by the past and present governments,” said National Union of People’s Lawyers chairman Edre Olalia.

The group represents some of the dead suspects' families in a handful of cases being tried in court against police officers.

Olalia said the ICC announcement "validates" the assertions of the slain suspects' kin that "there are no adequate and effective measures to achieve concrete justice for them on the ground... despite official claims to the contrary".

Only three police officers have been convicted of unlawful drug war killings, while another police officer was jailed in November last year for planting evidence and torturing two teenagers killed at the height of the crackdown.

Human Rights Watch praised the ICC's decision, saying the ICC investigation "is

remained largely hypothetical,” it added.

Twelve justices, led by Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo, concurred with the decision. Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin S. Caguioa dissented, while Associate Justice Ricardo R. Rosario was on wellness leave when the petitions were taken up.

Aside from Chief Justice Gesmundo, those who voted to dismiss the petitions were Senior Associate Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen and Associate Justices Ramon Paul L. Hernando, Amy C.

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Romualdez on its social media accounts, along with a one-paragraph statement saying the same.

On Tuesday, the Department of Budget and Management said the Marcos administration aims for the passage of the Progressive Budgeting for Better and Modernized Governance Bill, the Budget and Treasury Management System, the National Government Rightsizing Program, and the Maharlika Investment Fund.

The PCO has not provided any additional information as of press time.

The Senate and House of Representatives resumed their sessions this week.

Earlier in the day, Mr. Marcos admitted that inflation – an increase in the general price level of goods and services in an economy –remains a problem for the country even as the country's economic growth reached 7.6 percent in 2022, beating its target.

But the President said he was animated by the reported growth, stressing his administration’s major thrust was to attract foreign investments to sustain this rate and development.

“We are happy to receive the news that

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Meanwhile, British envoy Laure Beaufils told CNN Philippines the United Kingdom would send an invitation to Mr. Marcos for his attendance during the coronation of the new monarch, King Charles III, in May. Beaufils said the UK had sent the President a "save the date" notice for the coronation of King Charles, who suc-

Bernardo High School, the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) said Friday.

Officers at the Cubao Police Station identified the suspect as Elfrank Emil Anthony Bacle Kadusale, 22, a resident of Barangay San Martin De Pores.

Radio dzBB said the suspect, a student of Alternative Learning System (ALS), made the bomb threat "just for fun."

Classes at the school were suspended on Thursday morning owing to the bomb threat.

In the past few days, bomb threats were also reported at New Era Elementary School, and San Francisco High School in Quezon City.

the only credible avenue for justice for the victims and their families of Duterte’s murderous 'war on drugs.'"

"As the court’s judges agreed, Philippine authorities are not 'undertaking relevant investigations' into these crimes or 'making a real or genuine effort' to carry these investigations out. The ICC offers a path forward to fill the accountability vacuum," it said.

Renato Reyes, a senior leader of the left-wing group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, urged Mr. Marcos in a statement to cooperate with the ICC probe "so that justice can be rendered to the thousands of victims of Duterte's failed drug war."

Senator Ronald dela Rosa, who led the bloody war on drugs as Duterte’s national police chief, said he would cooperate with the ICC if the government allows it to conduct its investigation.

"If the Philippine government will allow them, I would have to cooperate. It's the government that is cooperating, I am part of the government, so why not," said Dela Rosa in a Zoom interview.

But Dela Rosa said the government maintains that the ICC has no jurisdiction over the country.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III urged the government to cooperate with the ICC as “a responsible member of the world community of nations.”

Senator Risa Hontiveros said she welcomed the ICC decision to resume its investigation.

"I hope the President adheres to international law and the Rome Statute as part of our commitment to the community of nations against state sponsored impunity," she said.

The opposition lawmaker said the ICC is filling a long-standing vacuum in the investigation of the state-sponsored killings. With AFP (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

Lazaro Javier, Henri Jean Paul B. Inting, Rodil V. Zalameda, Mario V. Lopez, Samuel H. Gaerlan, Jhosep Y. Lopez, Jose Midas P. Marquez, Antonio T. Kho Jr., and Maria Filomena D. Singh.

Meanwhile, House ways and means committee chair and Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda said his committee’s mandate in pursuing tax reforms is made stronger by the recent ruling of the Supreme Court.

Salceda was the principal author of the TRAIN Act during the 17th Congress.

our growth rate for the year 2022 exceeded all expectations even by the estimates of the international financing institutions and we are holding at 7.6 percent,” Mr. Marcos said in a statement.

“However, for 2023, we still have the problem of inflation which means there is still a problem for certain sectors of society and of the economy, [who] have yet to enjoy the benefits of that growth. And that’s why inflation is something that we are attending to."

In a video posted by the PCO on Friday, the President said: "I think we are headed in the right direction. We still have some interventions that we will have to apply.

"Nonetheless, we are weathering the shocks on the international economic situation, and we are starting to see that the economy is moving in the correct direction."

The Chief Executive, who had said he had been "losing sleep" over the problem of inflation, said government expected inflation to slow down by the end of the second quarter this year.

This may further slow to 4 percent "by the 3rd or 4th quarter of this year," as he cited information from the Central Bank. Inflation hit a record-8.1 percent in December.. Vince Lopez (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

ceeds his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, on May 6 at Westminster Abbey.

"We would love to see the president in the UK, and he will be getting an invitation." the British ambassador to the Philippines said. Beaufils also revealed there were key interests in the country that had been rising among British businessmen, adding the UK wants to be among the Philippines' top investors. President Marcos' economic team is currently in London for a briefing with

Comelec junks Pimentel plea on PDP-Laban

By Vito Barcelo and Macon Ramos-Araneta

THE Commission on Elections en banc has denied the motion for reconsideration filed by Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and former senator Manny Pacquiao about the Comelec resolution in May 2022.

In a resolution issued Friday, the poll body’s special second division recognized the faction of former Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi as the “true and official” members of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).

“The instant Comelec en banc Resolution denied the Motion for Reconsideration dated 11 May 2022 and affirmed the assailed Resolution of the Comelec Special Second Division dated 6 May 2022,” the poll body said in a statement.

Comelec said the en banc “did not find novel issues to be tackled and found no cogent reason to disturb the decision of the Comelec Special Second Division.” Comelec’s special second division voted 2-1 in favor of the Cusi wing.

The resolution showed Commissioners Socorro Inting and Rey Bulay as the majority votes, with Commissioner Marlon Casquejo as the dissenter.

PCG now with PH fishermen at WPS areas

THE Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is now accompanying fishermen at Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Shoal) and Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) in the West Philippine Sea following the reported harassment involving Chinese vessels earlier this year, an official said Friday. Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, said they have ramped up their visibility in the disputed waters following the incident, even though they have "little number of Coast Guard assets."

One of their means to make sure that fishermen are properly monitored, Tarriela said, is to give fishing vessels clearance before they leave.

The public however should not expect the PCG to be deployed in vast areas of the West Philippine Sea given their limited assets, he said.

The Coast Guard has 3 offshore patrol vessels and other smaller vessels. The offshore patrol vessels take turns in patrolling the West Philippine Sea, he added.

Tarriela is also seeking more stations in the WPS where the Coast Guard could monitor developments.

He said only the military were stationed previously in nine islands in Palawan. It was only until last year that the PCG went here, he added. After his return from China, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he and President Xi Jinping agreed that Beijing would not stop Filipinos from fishing in the country's waters, clarifying former National Security Adviser Clarita Carlos' statement that Beijing wants to partner with the local fisherfolk.

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The LTFRB is still waiting for the instructions of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) regarding the program's implementation, he added.

At a televised public briefing, LTFRB technical division head Joel Bolano said the agency is just waiting for the budget to be downloaded to them.

Meanwhile, Bolano said that around P3 billion has been allocated for the fuel subsidies for public utility vehicles (PUVs).

The government has been offering free rides in the EDSA Bus Carousel under its Libreng Sakay program, which ended on December 31, 2022.

Under the program started during the previous Duterte administration, the government taps buses to provide free rides to commuters.

According to the DOTr, the EDSA Bus Carousel accommodates around 320,000 to 390,000 passengers daily.

UK leaders, bankers, and businessmen. Meanwhile, Mr. Marcos has met Macron on several occasions – the last when the President attended the AsiaPacific Economic Forum in Bangkok last November 18, 2022.

In 1989, President Corazon Aquino met then-French President François Mitterand when she made a state visit. Her son, President Benigno Aquino III, also made an official visit in 2014, meeting with his then-counterpart François Hollande.

Villar pushes bill on corn, poultry sector

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

SENATOR Cynthia A. Villar is seeking

the approval of her bill on yellow corn noting its importance in poultry, especially for the egg-laying type of chickens.

Villar said the proposed measure, Senate Bill No. 120 (An Act to Develop and Promote the Yellow Corn Industry, to Enhance Availability of Affordable and Quality Feeds, and to Provide for a Corn Competitiveness Enhancement Fund) will also increase the production of corn and affordable feeds for the livestock and poultry sector.

“This can be achieved by institutionalizing mechanization, hybrid seeds propagation and distribution, credit, extension and training, provision of insurance, marketing, oand rganization of farmers, among others,” Villar said.

‘PH must have post-harvest hubs’

By Maricel V. Cruz

AGRI Rep. Wilbert T. Lee on Friday underscored the need to urgently address the lack of post-harvest facilities that could have contributed to low local production and soaring food prices.

Lee renewed his call for additional post-harvest facilities in response to the remarks of Ramon Silverio, chairman of the Kaakibat Provincial Cooperative Council, during the briefing of the House Committee on Agriculture and Food on the state of the country’s onion industry last Jan. 25.

Silverio called for more government support, particularly in the area of mar-

keting the products. In last year’s budget deliberation, Lee pointed out that not enough agricultural products reach the market due to extremely high post-harvest losses and lack of post-harvest facilities. He also reiterated the need to restrategize the country’s agriculture value chain to ensure that products have a direct link to markets and consumers.

Probe on pollution in San Simon set

SAN FERNANDO CITY- To avert the impending health and environment crisis in this municipality, the DENR Regional head ordered Environment Management Bureau (EMB) personnel to conduct air sampling and wastewater sampling tests in two smelting and steel plants in San Simon.

The order came on the heels of reported massive air pollution being spewed on a daily basis for the past weeks by Wan Chiong Steel Corp. and Melters Steel Corp.

The air particles and pollutants reportedly continue to affect at least 6 barangay in San Simon.

Local authorities earlier sounded the alarm over what they perceived as a looming environmental and health crisis posed by at least five steel plants operating within their localities.

Municipal councilor and barangay Randie Flores, together with his colleagues in the municipal council aired their concern about the continous degradation of air quality in many barangays posing imminent health risks to their constituency.

DBM: Budget for programs set for rollout

THE 2024 national budget would cover only implementation-ready programs of government agencies, Department of Budget and Management Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said.

Pangandaman gave the reminder to the heads of budget, accounting and planning units of government agencies and government-owned or controlled corporations (GOCCs) during the FY 2024 Budget Forum held at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City, ABS-CBN News reported.

“Given the competing demands of government programs against a backdrop of limited resources, we will ensure that only implementation-ready agency proposals are included in the FY 2024 national budget,” Pangandaman, quoted by ABS-CBN News, said.

“As such, the agencies’ budget proposals should contain concrete program plans and designs so we can manage our budget efficiently and effectively,” she added.

The DBM will also look into the previous year’s budget utilization and performance as part of the evaluation process,” the budget chief said.

“The government must improve and facilitate farm-to-market linkages and provide additional support to post-harvest facilities,” Lee said.

Under the 2023 national budget, P48.23 billion was allocated for pre-harvest activities while P17.14 billion was alloted for post-harvest facilities and services. A big chunk of the budget for post-harvest facilities this year will be implemented by the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech).

According to Lee, he personally met and talked to PhilMech Director Dr. Dionisio Alvindia during last year’s budget briefing and in several occasions to reiterate the need to expediously provide more support to post-harvest

facilities, to which the latter agreed and committed to implement.

Policy thinktank Infrawatch PH meanwhile suggested the government and private sector to jointly build an online platform to enable agricultural producers to accurately reflect their farmgate prices and sell to the open market while allowing buyers to purchase agricultural goods at the best prices.

Infrawatch PH convenor and former legislator Teddy Ridon made the call, saying with rising prices on almost every essential agricultural commodity, government can help the public cope with the high prices of vegetables, rice, dairy and other products while producers are forced to sell their goods for a pittance.

Villar, the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, also said yellow corn is one of the country’s main agricultural crops which is mainly used for livestock and poultry feeds.

“It is a rain-fed crop, requires simple land preparation, and can be grown in upland, even in sloping areas. It can usually be harvested after 55 to 75 days. It is mainly used for livestock and poultry feeds,” Villar said.

According to the senator, corn is preferred for feeds because of high carotene content. Yellow corn accounts for about 50% of the component of feeds.

Loyzaga names new execs in series of memos

DEPARTMENT of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga has issued a series of special orders on January 23, 24, and 25, creating new positions and designating key officials with specific tasks and functions.

Some of the officials were named to newly created positions or offices and somehow duplicating existing the functions of other offices or officials who already have multiple functions under their present designation.

On January 23, invoking “in the interest of the service,” Loyzaga assigned Undersecretary Ignatius Loyola A. Rodriguez as undersecretary for Special Concerns and Legislative Affairs.

The function of the newly created position is to maintain an awareness of development that might affect the DENR, its property, personnel and prepare reports for the DENR chief. It was noted that this is may have the same function of the existing Office of the Undersecretary for Legal Affairs and Administration. Rio Araja

Transport ready to improve walkways, bicycle lanes around metro

THE Department of Transportation (DOTr) is set to improve walkways and bicycle lanes across the National Capital Region (NCR) after the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) approved its Active Transport Infrastructure Improvement Program (ATIIP).

In a statement on Friday, the DOTr said a dry run of the ATIIP will include improvements on road configuration,

“widening of pedestrian walkways and protected bi-directional bike lanes.”

“The project forms part of the DOTr and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) joint partnership aimed at enhancing the overall active transport infrastructure along EDSA -- particularly in Santolan, Ortigas, and Shaw,” it said. The project was approved during

an alignment meeting at the MMDA’s Makati Office led by MMDA General Manager Ret. P/Col. Procopio Lipana and Assistant General Manager for Operations lawyer Victor Pablo Trinidad on Tuesday.

The DOTr is committed to executing the strategies set out in the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028 which was approved by President [Fer-

dinand R. Marcos Jr. last December 16, 2022. In the PDP 2023-2028, pedestrians and cyclists will be accorded the highest priority in the hierarchy of road users, the statement said.

In addition to improving the safety and comfort of pedestrians and cyclists, the ATIIP aims to encourage motorists to leave their vehicles at home with the goal of improving vehicular traffic in NCR.

Search and rescue teams try again to find missing Cessna

By Joel E. Zurbano

GOVERNMENT search and rescue teams

(SAR) on Friday continued efforts to find the Cessna plane with six people on board that went missing in the province of Isabela.

This developed as personnel of the Incident Management and the SAR teams have already identified the possible location, saying the aircraft was seen in the area of Maconacon.

A white object has been sighted in Barangay Dicaruyan, Divilacan, Isabela during a search and rescue operation for the missing Cessna plane, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), quoted by a GMA News report, said.

PDRRMO head Constante Foronda said that due to the bad weather, the rescuers failed to confirm if the object was the missing C206 plane RPC1174, GMA News reported.

According to Foronda, the area where the object was sighted was consistent with the hints they have on the possible location of the missing plane based on eyewitness accounts.

CAAP spokesperson Eric Apolonio added that “close monitoring and continuous close coordination with concerned agencies and local government units are still in place with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, providing information and participating in the Incident Management Team (IMT).”

MODERN JEEPNEYS. Navotas Mayor John Rey Tiangco (2nd from right), Congressman Toby Tiangco (inside the bus), and other officials led the blessing of two units of modern jeepneys of Daanghari Modern Jeepney Transport Cooperative. The jeepneys have a Navotas-Monumento trip each unit is air-conditioned and has Wi-Fi and TV. Andrew Rabulan

UNIQUE BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION.

Makati gives out school supplies, ‘Air

Binay’ shoes

By Joel E. Zurbano

THE Makati City government has started the distribution of the newest version of “Air Binay”, a rubber shoes brand provided for free to the city’s public school children.

Air Binay shoes have been gaining popularity and went viral on social media when it was launched in 2018.

Mayor Abigail Binay led local officials in visiting Rizal Elementary School, the Makati Elementary School, the Benigno Ninoy Aquino High School, and the Makati High School where a total of 78,023 pairs of “AB 5.0” rubber shoes were given away to the students.

News

PBBM eyes BOC, BIR digitalization

By Vito Barcelo

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is eyeing to digitize government transactions at the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and other revenue collecting agencies to streamline their operations with a view to combatting rampant smuggling.

Malacañang said more modernized data and transaction handling could significantly push the country’s economic development.

The President said the country has to solve the issue of unabated smuggling in the country, with practically almost all

kinds of commodities being shipped to the country through illegally channels.

“It may be beneficial to examine successful approaches used by other countries and apply them in the Philippines, the Chief Executive said.

“The bureaucracy has to be stream-

lined. The ease of doing business is because we’re talking about trade. So digitalization is going to be a very important part of that. We have to digitalize Customs. We have to digitalize all of these collecting agencies so that the BIR, even the Central Bank, the payments can be made over the internet. All of those things that we don’t do now,” Marcos said. One of the earlier recommendations was to open up the database to the BOC and the Department of Agriculture (DA) to ensure efficient information sharing. The DA and the BOC have a datasharing agreement meant to facilitate

Youngest Marcos son now works as special assistant to the Speaker

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s youngest son, William Vincent “Vinny” Marcos, has become conspicuous in the House of Representatives where he reportedly works as a special assistant to his uncle, Speaker Martin Romualdez.

The confirmation was made after Vinny was seen in meetings with congressmen on 2 occasions this week.

House Minority Leader and 4PS party-list Rep. Marcelino Libanan even posted photographs of him and Vinny on social media.

The posts included pictures of Libanan and Vinny in a meeting with the president’s cousin, the Speaker, and House Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe.

Vinny Marcos describes has described himself as a software engineer turning into a presidential son.

“Today, as the resumption of session begins, we have continued to discuss legislation to help improve our country and for our fellow citizens’ sake. I am glad to have met with House Speaker Martin Romualdez, President Marcos Jr.’s son, Vincent Marcos, and my fellow congressmen after the holidays recess,” Libanan stated in his caption for the post.

Libanan would later post in the week that Vinny also joined a meeting of the House Minority Bloc.

“During the first Minority Bloc meeting, the agenda was centered [on] our priority measures for the year 2023, we are also delighted to have welcomed the President’s youngest son, Vinny Marcos who joined us this meeting,” Libanan said in his caption for the picture. “Thank you for visiting us!” Vince

Lopez

the exchange of information on traded agricultural products.

The accord which is governed by the Philippines’ Data Privacy Act was one of the pacts forged between the DA and BOC to ensure that local agri-fishery products remain competitive.

Through the setup, each agency can promptly share and act upon critical and intelligence information.

The President also acknowledged the importance of digitalization as a key driver for long-term development and for the economic transformation of the post-pandemic global economy

The fifth version of the Air Binay shoes differed in color and style compared to the earlier four versions.

“We designed the rubber shoes to be very stylish and trendy, so our students can wear them proudly. This latest and improved version of the free rubber shoes is given to students in all public schools in Makati, from elementary to senior high school,” Binay said.

She noted that a number of local government units have “tried to replicate the school gear being provided to Proud Makatizen students.”

However, none of the copy cats was able to match the superior quality and design of Air Binay shoes, she said.

Apart from the rubber shoes, the Makati students also received reusable water tumblers comparable to those being sold in the market.

“This is the second version of the reusable water bottles that we give students to ensure that they are hydrated during class and PE time, and to help them avoid buying plastic water bottles. This is in line with our goal to reduce plastic waste in the city,” the mayor added.

Meanwhile 29,657 junior high school students are set to receive the newest design of free jackets to protect them during the rainy season. The jacket, which has a lighter color than the previous design, matches the design of the rubber shoes.

MEETING

THE PRESS. Manila Vice Mayor Yul Servo fields questions from reporters during a Tinapayan Forum in Sampaloc, Manila. Norman Cruz

Chlorine gas leak sends six people to hospital in Malabon

the toxic leak came from a warehouse on Bustamante St., in Barangay Tenajeros, Malabon.

The Malabon Disaster Risk and

THE alleged ringleader of a string of robberies across Japan, known by the name of “Luffy,” is a Japanese national who was arrested in the Philippines in 2021 and is being held at an immigration facility in Manila, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said.

Another Japanese national believed also part of the robbery group is being held at the same facility and will be sent back to Japan as soon as deportation papers were completed, according to Secretary Remulla, who confirmed their identities with Kyodo News on Thursday.

“Luffy” was suspected of giving people instructions to carry out the burglaries in Japan via the encrypted messaging app Telegram remotely from the immigration facility.

Luffy also faces separate charges in the Philippines and will be deported if the case was dismissed, or once he has served time if he was found guilty of the alleged crimes.

The other Japanese male has been detained at the immigration facility since 2019. After being apprehended by Philippine immigration at Manila’s international airport in 2019, he faced a deportation order the following year for being a fugitive in Japan for theft.

He also faced a separate criminal charges in the Philippines, but immigration authorities said he can now be deported because the criminal case against him was dropped at a local court on Wednesday.

City

Reduction Management Office (DRRMO) and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) immediately responded to the area to conduct a

REGISTRATION AND DRIVER’S LICENSE, PLEASE. Elements of the Highway Patrol Group go over the pertinent documents of a motorcycle rider during a random checkpoint within the premises of the Manila Police District. Norman Cruz

Vergeire leads rollout of PH HIV/AIDS plan

By Willie Casas

Planning

Undersecretary Maria Francia Laxamana was also present, heading the Special Concerns Team Strategies formulated during the event were harmonized with the previously developed 7th AIDS Medium Term Plan (AMTP), which high

lights the five strategic pillars of the master plan, namely: Prevent, Treat, Protect, Strengthen, and Sustain.

rescue operation and look into the cause of the incident. Meanwhile, the affected residents were evacuated.

BI to ferret out aliens posing as Filipinos

THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) will tighten its screening of arriving passengers claiming to be Filipino citizens, as the bureau expressed concern over recent interceptions of foreign nationals misrepresenting as Filipino citizens.

BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said that only recently, the immigration officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) intercepted a Hong Kong-Canadian national suspected to have misrepresented himself as a Filipino.

The BI’s Travel Control and Enforcement Unit (TCEU) recorded two more cases of misrepresentation this month at the NAIA.

Apprehended at the NAIA Terminal 3 was 35-yearold woman identified as Nong Thi Luyen. Nong attempted to leave for Vietnam via a Cebu Pacific Airways flight to Saigon.

Nong, who initially presented a Philippine passport bearing a Philippine name, raised the suspicion of immigration officers when she was unable to answer basic details about her identity.

“She later admitted during questioning that she is a Vietnamese citizen and that she last arrived in the country almost two decades ago. Apparently, she wanted to evade overstaying penalties so she resorted to misrepresenting herself,” Tansingco said.

Investigation further bared that the Philippine passport presented by the passenger belonged to someone else.

Also intercepted at the NAIA Terminal 1 last January 23 was Hailan Zhang, 36, who attempted to depart the country via a Thai airways flight to Hanoi. Vito Barcelo

DEPARTMENT of Health (DOH) officer-in-charge

Maria Rosario Vergeire on Friday led the rollout of the Philippine National AIDS Council (PNAC) 2023-2028 Strategic

and spearheaded the development of action plans in addressing HIV/ AIDS epidemic in the country.

Japanese jailed in PH still able to lead gangmen back in Japan

Quezon province Rep. David “Jayjay” Suarez, joined by a group of constituents, celebrates his birthday by planting tree saplings in Conception Pinagbakuran, Mount Banahaw, Quezon, saying it was in keeping with his tradition of “all-out reach, all gift giving, and giving back.”

Why POGOs must be banned

THE new generation may know more than my generation because of the advancement of information and communication technology, that with just a tap on their touchscreens they can access the Internet, which is an encyclopedia, but I would not exchange all that with my generation, Santa Banana!

As I was reminiscing the other day, as old men like to do, my gulay, I recall those days when I used to visit the homes of girls I like.

Boys and girls don’t do that anymore.

They text and meet at shopping malls.

My gulay, visiting a girl at her house was romantic.

The new generation no longer writes love letters, which removes the thrill of receiving and reading love letters, so much so that love letters were immortalized in a song called “Love Letters.” (Editor’s Note: This is a 1945 popular song with lyrics by Edward Heyman and music by Victor Young, sung by various artists including Nat King Cole and Joni James in B minor.)

My wife, would you believe it, has preserved my love letters to her.

I wanted to read them, and reminisce about the silly things, but my wife refused.

In fact, the art of socializing is gone, young people no longer socialize.

They just text and text so much that many people in restaurants no longer talk. They are all texting. Studies have in fact shown that in 30 to 50 years, people will no longer write in longhand because all people will be texting. What a pity. *** *** ***

President Marcos Jr. had wanted to be given a good reason why he should ban the continued operation of the POGOs in the Philippines following so much criticism against the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations.

Coming right down to it, the existence of the POGOs in the country—something considered, Santa Banana, illegal in China, the country where the POGOs are getting their workforce —has become the playground of Chinese syndicates involved in criminal activities.

These these syndicates have been kidnapping for ransom their fellow Chinese working at the POGOs.

It would do well for BBM to get advice from veteran AFP generals, since they have been there and done that

Thus, Santa Banana, if BBM wants to know the pros and cons of POGO operations, the social costs of their existence far outweigh all the revenue the Philippine government derives from their operations – from taxes, business permits and all the money the Chinese pay like rentals to houses, condominiums and what they spend while they are in the country.

My gulay, there’s reason enough for President Marcos Jr. to ban the POGO operations in the country. BBM does not have to look far for reasons for banning POGOs.

In fact, I feel the POGO existence in the Philippines is like having a poisonous snake as a pet.

Look at this.

A Senate hearing on POGOs disclosed the external auditor that the Philippines Amusement and Gaming Corporation hired for P6 billion to audit the POGOs was found out not only undercapitalized, but without a business permit to operate and without offices.

Santa Banana, this is another scam, this time by PAGCOR, whose officials must be held accountable.

And to think that PAGCOR is paying this mysterious auditor P6 billion.

Whoever is held accountable must be jailed, and the key thrown away into the polluted waters of the Pasig River.

Santa Banana, it is bad enough that POGOs have made the Chinese criminal syndicates come into the country to prey on their fellow Chinese and made our country their playground.

But the corruption in PAGCOR in connection with the hiring of an auditor for P6 billion is just too much.

Mister President, there are enough reasons why you should totally ban POGO operations. Are these reasons enough for you?

*** *** ***

President Marcos Jr. may think the reported restlessness within the rank and file may have been ended with the so-called rationalizing of the seniority system within the Armed Forces of the Philippines with the appointment of Andres Centino as AFP Chief of Staff and with Carlito Galvez as defense secretary.

I believe the restlessness within the AFP is

(www.manilastandard.net)

Is the world about to ignite World War III?

more deep-rooted. As an observer, I am told the so-called vernacular “Bata-Bata” system – where lowerranked military people continue to have more loyalty to high-ranked senior officers who can help them in promotions, assignments and benefits within the AFP.

In other words, the loyalty of the lower ranks belongs to the senior officers who can have them promoted and give them more benefits. And this sentiment within the AFP is more dangerous which could trigger restlessness. Journalists covering the AFP told me this mentality could end up in coups d’etat.

In other words, it would do well for BBM to get advice from veteran AFP generals, since they have been there and done that.

It’s a good thing that BBM is now rationalizing seniority within the AFP, if only to reveal this deep-rooted defect of the organization, which must be corrected at the soonest possible time.

*** *** ***

The President confessed to reporters interviewing him the high inflation rate that’s responsible for the high prices of food items, like sugar, onions and now even rice, keeps him sleepless at night.

I can believe that because everything that involves the needs of the people, especially as they affect the lives of the poor, which constitute the bulk or majority of the people, is his concern.

We now have a food crisis and with the importation of onions, sugar and soon enough even rice, the main staple of Filipinos, these are all the President’s responsibility.

That’s why, to a great extent, I empathize with the President, who must resort to importation, which is prejudicial to farmers.

Considering everything, my gulay, Marcos Jr. is between the devil and the deep blue sea, so to speak.

The problem of inflation is not caused by BBM, but it’s there.

The only thing that we can look forward to is that inflation will ease somewhat this year, and prices will start going down.

But, in the meantime, the President has no choice but to walk the tightrope and try to make things easier to bear for the people.

The President losing sleep?

Santa Banana, I wonder if he can even sleep at all with what the country is going through, especially the poor who have hardly enough to keep body and soul together. *** *** ***

I like the reaction of the President to some senators saying the Maharlika Investment Fund must be under the scrutiny of the Senate.

He likes it that way.

For one thing, it’s the job of the Senate to scrutinize all bills enacted by the House to be refined, and BBM knows full well the MIF needs refinement because of alleged conflict of the enacted bill.

Indeed, the Senate needs to refine the MIF bill not only to make it workable, but for investors to accept it.

Critics of the House who enacted the bill have started attacking it in the aftermath of the proposals that the dividends of GovernmentOwned-and-Controlled -Corporations should fund the MIF.

I’m glad BBM is also against it because the dividends are provided for under the law to be used for social services.

The constitutionality of the MIF will surely be questioned, and it will really be a pity the MIF will not be realized in its enacted form.

*** *** ***

Some members and guests of the island paradise, the Balesin Island Club, I know are all excited now that the hydrofoil imported by Alphaland Chairman and CEO, Roberto “Bobby” Ongpin, will arrive in Balesin, to be called MV Balesin.

It will be available for all members and their guests to ferry them back and forth from Balisen itself to Patnanungan Island.

The hydrofoil, a jet boat, will be the first in the country.

Santa Banana, leave it to Bobby Ongpin to make members and guests of Balesin Island Club eager and excited to enjoy what the Club has to offer.

By Tiffany Lucin

ILLEGAL activities have hounded Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGOs) since they were given licenses to operate in the country in 2016.

The latest uncovering was revealed on January 23, when senators discovered the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation may have been duped by entering into a P6-billion “anomalous” contract with Global ComRCI, a third-party POGO auditor to monitor the earnings of the offshore gaming operators.

PAGCOR officials involved in the deal were also flagged by senators, given the questionable credentials of Global ComRCI.

The Senate hearing discovered the private firm was tapped despite its lack of a business permit and its alleged connection to crime-linked activities.

POGOs have likewise become a hotbed for gangsters and kidnapping activities.

In its report last year, the Philippine National Police disclosed kidnapping incidents linked to POGO personnel spiked through the years with a total 12 out of 36 POGO-linked kidnapping cases in 2021, and 17 out of 31 POGO-linked kidnapping cases as of September last year. These incidents have led to a series of crackdowns led by the PNP in coordination with

More opportunities for Pinoy boxers

GAMES and Amusement Board chairman Richard Clarin recently visited Thailand to watch Filipino boxers fight for regional titles.

It provided him a chance to assess and improve procedures for Filipino professional boxers wishing to fight abroad for better opportunities.

Regional titles are significant steps for world boxing titles, not to mention bigger fight prizes that would help lay out comfort to their families back home.

Countries like Japan, Thailand and, most recently, Dubai, have been offering more fight purses in dollars for boxers.

An existing rule under GAB stipulates that Filipino boxers should have won two of their three last bouts before they are allowed to travel and fight abroad. And if they are coming off the ring with a

GAB officials must do proper evaluation, meet the boxers themselves, their managers and trainers and give the go-ahead when there are beckoning opportunities that must not be ignored

knockout loss, they are not allowed to fight again within the next 45 to 60 days.

Local boxing promoters have been challenging these policies, claiming they limit opportunities for boxers.

There are times when foreign promoters send a particular offer to certain Filipino boxers

but who cannot proceed because of these rules.

The GAB should really be flexible because boxers exert efforts and promoters spend resources for the training – parallel factors in professional boxing.

As long as medical clearances can prove a boxer can still stand up in the ring and the rules are fair and balanced, that cleared boxer should be allowed to practice his craft. Rules like these, which slow down the progress of Filipino professional boxers, should not be cast in stone; implementors should exert time and effort in assessing every fight proposal, every match-up, and not just point fingers on the rules without thinking, and shutting the opportunity door.

GAB officials must do proper evaluation, meet the boxers themselves, their managers and trainers and give the go-ahead when there are beckoning opportunities that must not be ignored.

After successive losses by the likes of Jerwin Ancajas and John Riel Casimero, the latter stripped of his title, the Philippines is left with only one world major champion in Melvin Jerusalem who stopped Japanese Masataka Taniguchi in the second round to become the WBO world minimumweight – 105 pounds –title holder earlier this month in Osaka, Japan.

Justice delayed is justice denied (Part 2)

SENIOR Associate Justice Marvic Leonen in his ponencia in Cagan v, Sandiganbayan, a 2020 decision by the Supreme Court, said the right of the accused to a speedy trial and to a speedy disposition of the case against him was designed to prevent the oppression of the citizen by holding criminal prosecution suspended over him for an indefinite time, and to prevent delays in the administration of justice by mandating the courts to proceed with reasonable dispatch in the trial of criminal cases. Such right to a speedy trial and a speedy disposition of a case is violated only when the proceeding is attended by vexatious, capricious, and oppressive delays.

In this regard, the inquiry as to whether or not an accused has been denied such right is not susceptible by precise qualification.

The concept of a speedy disposition is a relative term and must necessarily be a flexible concept.

Leonen further observed that: “the right to speedy disposition of cases is violated only when there is inordinate delay, such that the proceedings are ‘attended by vexatious, capricious, and oppressive delays; or when unjustified postponements of the trial are asked for and secured, or when without cause or unjustifiable motive, a long period of time is allowed to elapse without the party having his case tried.’”

As pointed out by Justice Leonen, inordinate delay was first introduced in Tatad v. Sandiganbayan when the Supreme Court ruled that the inordinate delay in the conclusion of preliminary investigation and subsequent filing of information will result to (sic) the violation of the right to speedy disposition of cases and right to due process.

In so ruling, this Court considered several circumstances such as: the political motivation which propelled the prosecution; (2) the patent violation of procedural rules; and (3) the unjustified delay in attending the investigation.

Ultimately, Tatad held that the determination of whether or not there is a violation of speedy disposition of cases applies on a case-to -case basis:

the Bureau of Immigration and PAGCOR as part of the government’s effort to preserve the country’s safe business climate.

With the harm being inflicted by POGOs to the country, multiple calls have been made by lawmakers to ban offshore gaming operations in the country.

One of the staunchest voices is Senator Alan Peter Cayetano who, with his wife Mayor Lani Cayetano of Taguig, has a track record of turning down offers to legally establish POGO hubs and other gambling establishments in the City of Taguig from way back in 2001.

In conjunction with the POGO hearing on Monday, Cayetano called on the government to be decisive in putting a stop to POGOs, saying they have become a breeding ground for illegal activities such as money laundering, kidnapping, and even murder of industry workers. He noted the negative effects of these businesses on society far outweigh the supposed economic benefits.

Cayetano’s anti-POGO stance stems from his broader opposition to all forms of gambling operations of any kind, as we have seen when he opposed the granting of a franchise to the country’s first-ever e-sabong operator in September 2021 when he was a member of the House of Representatives. We can perhaps credit the senator for thenPresident Rodrigo Duterte’s decision in May

In a number of cases, this Court has not hesitated to grant the so-called “radical relief’ and to spare the accused from undergoing the rigors and expense of a full-blown trial where it is clear that the has been deprived of due process of law or other constitutionally guaranteed rights.

“Of course, it goes without saying that in the application of the doctrine enunciated in those cases, particular regard must be taken of the facts and circumstances peculiar to each case”

Thus, the concept of speedy disposition is relative.

The basic principle is that no one should be deprived of liberty unless there has been a trial and final conviction

There is no hard-and-fast mathematical rule on the reckoning of time involved and facts peculiar to each case must be taken into account, Leonen added.

The Reyes decision is an innovation and can significantly modify the understanding of a few things. It enhances the utility of habeas corpus as a remedy.

This writ is usually used to question the legality of an arrest or detention; now it can be used to release a person whose constitutional right to a speedy trial was violated.

As I said in my column last Tuesday, this is a good decision if it is applied to all detention prisoners under the same circumstances.

I cite the examples of Leila De Lima and Myles Albasin, detained for six years and five years now respectively. We all know what was done with Senator De

POGOs and other forms of online gambling have to stop. Because at the end of the day, the country only loses from them

2022 to stop e-sabong operations in the country.

This was followed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. issuing an executive order directing the continued suspension of e-sabong before 2022 ended. Cayetano welcomed Marcos’ move against e-sabong as this signals he is not alone in this plea, adding that the EO is aligned with his anti-e-sabong campaign and called it a “necessary step” to protect Filipinos from the negative consequences of online cockfighting. Aligned with the President’s comment on the issue the revenues made from POGOs

Lima.

In her case though, the proceedings are nearing the final stages and her lawyers are rightly weighing whether it is prudent to just wait for the trial courts to conclude such proceedings.

As for Miles Albasin, she is a UP Cebu alumna and former student leader, a political activist, and now languishing in detention after being accused as a member of the New Peoples Army.

She was planning to go to law school when first arrested and if she was granted bail then, she would already have taken the bar exams like many of her peers. Both De Lima and Albasin and many other political prisoners are facing frivolous and wrongful accusations. They too must benefit from the Reyes decision and be able to secure their own release, if not the dismissal of their respective cases.

There is no indication that this is a pro hac vice decision and it would certainly be unfair if treated as such.

The right to a speedy trial is sacrosanct. As long as the actions of the accused are not the reason for the delay, the right to a speedy trial must be unconditionally upheld. In accordance with prevailing jurisprudence, the court does not state the length of time when a person can be properly detained before a speedy trial can be invoked.

But in my opinion, I say one year is enough.

The basic principle is that no one should be deprived of liberty unless there has been a trial and final conviction.

Gigi Reyes was rightly released.

Others like her must also benefit from this good precedent.

might not be worth the social costs and that his administration is”continuously examining” the pros and cons of allowing POGOs in the country, Cayetano maintains risking the lives of our people is not worth the revenues from such unscrupulous activities.

In the Senate, the lawmaker has drummed up his campaign to ban all forms of online gambling by filing an Anti-Online Gambling Act (Senate Bill 63) in July 2022.

This was his response to the alarming cases of crimes, mental health issues, and suicides that are linked to e-sabong and other forms of gambling like online casinos, sports betting, and bingo, among others.

Even considering the billions of pesos in revenues that POGOs and other gambling operations bring into the economy, is it worth the rising cases of crimes, mental and health issues, family disintegration, and financial debt?

That’s too steep a cost to let gambling take root in the country.

POGOs and other forms of online gambling have to stop. Because at the end of the day, the country only loses from them.

(Tiffany Lucin is a Manila-based Christian leader and missionary who advocates against gambling and other vices. She studied Philosophy in Thailand, but continues to speak about her advocacies in her home country.)

Spain port reels after man kills 1, hurts 1 at church

ALGECIRAS, Spain—The city of Algeciras was united in mourning Thursday, a day after a machetewielding man stormed two churches, killing a verger and seriously wounding a priest in the multicultural southern Spanish port.

The attacks took place on Wednesday evening as worshippers met to celebrate the Eucharist at two churches near each other in the city. Police arrested the alleged assailant, a 25-yearold Moroccan, at the scene.

As investigators pressed ahead with a terrorism probe, police carried out an early-morning raid on his home.

The interior ministry said he had been served with a deportation order in June but had no prior convictions and had not been under surveillance.

In 2019, he had been deported from Gibraltar on grounds of illegal entry, a government statement from the tiny British enclave said.

He was deported on August 8 along with three other immigrants, it said.

‘Cali shooter admits guilt, mentally ill’

LOS ANGELES—The man accused of killing seven fellow farmworkers in California told a US reporter Thursday that he was guilty and said he believes he is suffering from mental illness.

Zhao Chunli said he had endured years of bullying and overwork, but his complaints were never addressed, NBC Bay Area’s Janelle Wang reported. Wang visited the suspect in jail and was able to speak to him for around 15 minutes in Mandarin.

She told viewers she had identified herself as a journalist and told Zhao he was free to choose to speak to her or not.

“He described to me that he believes that he suffers from some sort of mental illness,” she said. “He’s struggled with that for a while and he says on Monday he was not in his right mind.”

- RegretZhao, 66, was arrested hours after seven people were shot dead on the farms where they worked in Half Moon Bay, south of San Francisco.

Five have been identified as Chinese citizens, and the two others as Mexican. A Mexican man who survived the attack was being treated at a local hospital.

“He admitted that he did do it,” Wang reported. “He regrets it.” She added that Zhao said he “felt that he had undergone years of bullying.”

“He had lots of concerns -- long work hours -- and he brought those up and he says those were not addressed.”

California officials have begun an inquiry into working conditions at the two farms in the wake of the attacks.

Governor Gavin Newsom on Tues-

German parliament spotlights Nazis’

BERLIN—The German parliament will for the first time on Friday focus its annual Holocaust memorial commemorations on people persecuted and killed for their sexual or gender identity.

Campaigners worked for two decades to establish an official ceremony for

LGBTQ victims

LGBTQ victims of the Nazis, saying their experience had long been forgotten or marginalised.

“This group is important to me because it still suffers from discrimination and hostility,” Baerbel Bas, president of the Bundestag lower house, told AFP. Germany has officially marked International Holocaust Remembrance Day -- the anniversary of Auschwitz’s liberation -- since 1996 with a solemn ceremony at the Bundestag and commemorations across the country.

The event traditionally focuses on the Holocaust’s six million Jewish victims, although, at the first ceremony, then president Roman Herzog did also pay tribute to gay men and lesbians murdered under Adolf Hitler.

Henny Engels of the German Lesbian and Gay Association rights group called Friday’s commemoration an “important symbol of recognition” of “the suffer-

ing and the dignity of the imprisoned, tortured and murdered victims”.

- Pink triangle -

Section 175 of Germany’s penal code outlawed sex between men.

Although it dated from 1871, it was rarely enforced and cities such as Berlin during the Weimar Republic had a thriving LGBTQ scene until the Nazis came to power.

In 1935 the Nazis toughened the law to carry a sentence of 10 years of forced labour.

Some 57,000 men were imprisoned, while between 6,000 and 10,000 were sent to concentration camps and given uniforms emblazoned with a pink triangle designating their sexuality.

Historians say between 3,000 and 10,000 gay men died and many were castrated or subjected to horrific “medical” experiments.

Thousands of lesbians, transgender people and sex workers were branded “degenerates” and also imprisoned at the camps under brutal conditions. AFP

day said some farmworkers were “living in shipping containers” and working for far less than minimum wage.

Zhao told the journalist he was living in Half Moon Bay with his wife. He said he has a 40-year-old daughter who lives in China.

He said he had been in the United States for about 11 years and was on a green card -- a permit that allows foreigners to live and work in the country.

Wang said the suspect -- who could face the death penalty if convicted -appeared confused about the process and had no one in the jail to whom he could speak in Mandarin. AFP

- Tearful vigil -

At midday, several hundred mourners gathered in stunned silence outside Nuestra Senora de La Palma church where the verger Diego Valencia was killed, many of them in tears.

Flowers were laid and candles lit in the square, and a minute’s silence was observed while the church bells rang.

“We have lived here for years and we have always been very welcomed,” said Nawal Montaguikie, a Moroccan woman in her 40s who remembered Valencia as “a gentle person”.

“What did he do to deserve this?” she said, her voice trembling with emotion.

“We condemn this man and what he’s done. I hope he rots in jail.”

Also present was Juan Jose Marina, La Palma’s parish priest, who had been conducting a service elsewhere when the attack that claimed his verger’s life occurred. AFP

Ex-paratrooper set to sweep Czech prexy vote vs. ex-PM

PRAGUE—Retired NATO general Petr Pavel looks a clear favourite to beat billionaire former prime minister Andrej Babis in the Czech presidential election run-off on Friday and Saturday.

The victor will replace Milos Zeman, an outspoken and divisive politician who nursed close ties with Moscow before making a U-turn when Russia invaded Ukraine nearly a year ago.

Former paratrooper Pavel topped final opinion polls with 58-59 percent support against 41-42 percent for Babis.

Eight candidates stood in the first round vote when Pavel edged Babis with 35.4 percent against 35, and with right and centre backing he has since wooed the voters of several of those also-rans.

Babis can rely on stable support from voters of his centre-left populist ANO

Tough new rules for Myanmar political parties

YANGON -- Myanmar’s junta on Friday gave political parties two months to re-register under a strict new electoral law written by the military, the latest sign it is planning fresh polls this year.

The previous elections in November 2020 were won resoundingly by civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy but the military staged its coup after making unsubstantiated allegations of massive voter fraud.

The junta-imposed state of emergency is due to expire at the end of January, after which the constitution states authorities must set in mo-

tion plans to hold fresh elections -- although no date has yet been given.

Existing parties and would-be parties have 60 days to register with the junta-backed election commission, according to the new rules published in the state-backed Global New Light of Myanmar on Friday.

The new laws for political parties were approved by the junta on Thursday.

Any national party must promise “that at least 100,000 party members will be mobilised” within 90 days of registration being granted, and must open offices in at least half of the country’s townships within 180 days. AFP

movement, but he appears unlikely to win over a significant number of new votes.

He also even annoyed some with rather chaotic diatribes in debates, which led Masaryk University analyst Otto Eibl to tell AFP he was “rhetorically hard to figure out”.

The new head of state will face record inflation in the central European EU and NATO member of 10.5 million people.

While the role is largely ceremonial, the president names the government, picks the central bank governor and constitutional judges, and serves as top commander of the armed forces.

“Quite frankly, if the (opinion) polls are well conducted, I think it will be hard for Babis to come back,” Palacky University analyst Tomas Lebeda told AFP

Thai ruling party names deputy PM as main poll bet

BANGKOK—Thailand’s ruling party on Friday named Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan as its candidate to be premier in the kingdom’s upcoming general election.

The army-backed Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) gave the 77-year-old former army chief the nod as unofficial campaigning gathers momentum -- although no polling date has yet been announced.

Prawit will run against incumbent Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha, who earlier this month announced he would lead the campaign for the recently created Ruam Thai Sang Chart -- in English, the United Thai Nation party.

Prayut came to power as army chief in a 2014 coup before cementing his position in a controversial election in 2019, and he and Prawit were close allies during the years of junta rule. His popularity is in the doldrums and the kingdom is battling a sluggish economy struggling to recover from the pandemic, which hammered the key tourism sector.

PPRP launched Prawit’s candidature at a low-key event in Bangkok that he did not attend.

“We unanimously proposed Prawit Wongsuwan to be the sole PM candidate of our party,” PPRP deputy leader Paibul Nititawan told reporters. AFP

CALI MEMORIAL.

RAGING PROTEST. Protesters light a bonfire during a demonstration against the government of Peruvian President Dina Boluarte in Lima on January 26. Relatives of victims in the protests in Peru demanded “justice” on Thursday from the government of Boluarte, whom they blame for the 46 deaths in 50 days of protests to which are now added the fuel shortage. AFP

Market rises; Bloomberry tops gainers

STOCKS rose Friday as investors digested reports that the gross domestic product grew 7.2 percent in the fourth quarter and 7.6 percent in the whole of 2022.

The PSE index, the 30-company benchmark of the Philippine Stock Exchange, gained 9 points, or 0.13 percent, to close at 7,052.16, as four of the six subsectors advanced, led by mining and oil shares.

It was also up 7.40 percent since the

UK regulators set to examine manufacturers’ ‘green’ claims

LONDON—UK regulators said Thursday they would review “green” claims made by the makers of a range of everyday consumer goods to ensure they stand up to scrutiny.

The Competition and Markets Authority said it would “examine the accuracy” of claims made about household essentials such as food, drinks and toiletries so “shoppers are not being misled.”

The regulator said it was an “expansion” of its work into “greenwashing”, the misleading use of claims of good environmental practice in marketing or communications.

“We’re concerned many shoppers are being misled and potentially even paying a premium for products that aren’t what they seem,” CMA’s Chief Executive Sarah Cardell said.

“Our work to date has shown there could be greenwashing going on in this sector, and we’ll be scrutinizing companies big and small to see whether their environmental claims stack up.”

She urged businesses to review their practices and ensure they are operating within the law.

Greenwashing—conveying a false impression or providing misleading information about the extent to which a company’s products, operations or services are environmentally sound— has proliferated in recent years.

The CMA will assess a host of products known as “fast-moving consumer goods”, which are essential items used by people on a daily basis and repurchased regularly.

As well as food, drinks and toiletries, they include cleaning products and personal care items in a sector worth over £130 billion ($161 billion) annually in the UK. AFP

start of this year’s trading.

The broader all-share index picked up 4 points, or 0.13 percent, to settle at 3,697.63, on a value turnover of P5.65 billion. Gainers outnumbered losers, 105 to 83, while 59 issues were unchanged.

Five of the 10 most active stocks ended in the green, led by Bloomberry Resorts Corp. which climbed 4.91 percent to P9.40 and Bank of the Philippine Islands which rose 1.38 percent to P110.10.

Meanwhile, the peso traded lower at 54.47 against the US dollar Friday from 54.40 Thursday.

The PSE announced that DMCI Holdings Inc. and Union Bank of the Phil-

ippines would be included in the PSEi starting Feb. 6, 2023. Both companies will replace Megaworld Corp. and Robinsons Land Corp. based on the January to December 2022 index review.

DMC and UBP, both PSEi constituents in the past, would rejoin the main index after a year and a half and 14 years, respectively.

A listed company should be among the top companies in terms of liquidity and market capitalization to be considered for inclusion in the PSEi. It should also have a free float level of at least 20 percent of outstanding shares. The PSE also considers relevant financial criteria and eligibility for early inclusion in the

index review.

“The 20-percent minimum free float requirement was implemented for all indices starting with this index review. We hope to see improved liquidity in the stock market with more shares available from companies that want to remain or qualify for future inclusion in any of the indices,” said PSE president and chief executive Ramon Monzon.

The PSE said that in terms of sectoral indices, it would replace East West Banking Corp. in the financials index.

Basic Energy Corp. and The Keepers Holdings Inc. will be added to the industrial index, while Vitarich Corp. will be removed.

PSEi January 27, 2023

TOP GAINERS

H&M earnings hit by Russia exit, higher production costs

STOCKHOLM, Sweden—H&M

reported on Friday a big drop in profits in 2022, with an unexpected loss in the fourth quarter as the Swedish fashion retailer exited Russia and faced soaring production costs.

H&M was among a slew of foreign companies that shipped out of Russia last year after Moscow invaded Ukraine and Western nations imposed sweeping sanctions on the country.

“Our decision to wind down the business in Russia, which was an important and profitable market, has

had a significant negative impact on our results,” chief executive Helena Helmersson said in a results statement.

The company was also hit by a historically strong dollar and increases in the costs of freight and raw materials.

“Rather than passing on the full cost to our customers, we chose to strengthen our market position further,” Helmersson said.

H&M also dealt with higher energy prices, which soared across Europe following Russia’s war in Ukraine, and

TOP LOSERS

MOST ACTIVE

a cost-cutting program.

The group posted a 68 percent drop in net profit in 2022 to almost 3.6 billion Swedish kronor ($346 million).

It reported a loss of 864 million Swedish kronor ($84 million) in the September-to-November period.

But the company is more upbeat about 2023, with sales up five percent in the December-January period.

“Sales in the new financial year have started well. The external factors are still challenging, but are moving in the right direction,” Helmersson said. AFP

Hive ransomware: Modern, efficient business model

by Paul Handley

WASHINGTON—The US Justice Department’s shutdown Thursday of the Hive ransomware operation —which extorted some $100 million from more than 1,500 victims worldwide—highlights how hacking has become an ultra-efficient, specialized industry that can allow anyone to become a cyber-shakedown artist.

Modern business model

Hive operated in what cybersecurity experts call a “ransomware as a service” style, or RaaS—a business that leases its software and methods to others to use in extorting a target.

The model is central to the larger ransomware ecosystem, in which actors specialize in one skill or function to maximize efficiency.

According to Ariel Ropek, director of cyber threat intelligence at cybersecurity firm Avertium, this structure makes it possible for criminals with minimal computer fluency to get into the ransomware game by paying others for their expertise.

“There are quite a few of them,” Ropek said of RaaS operations.

“It is really a business model nowadays,” he said.

How it works

On the so-called dark web, providers of ransomware services and support pitch their products openly.

At one end are the initial access brokers, who specialize in breaking into corporate or institutional computer systems.

They then sell that access to the hacker, or ransomware operator.

But the operator depends on RaaS developers like Hive, which have the

programming skills to create the malware needed to carry out the operation and avoid counter-security measures.

Typically, their programs—once inserted by the ransomware operator into the target’s IT systems—are manipulated to freeze, via encryption, the target’s files and data.

The programs also extract the data back to the ransomware operator.

RaaS developers like Hive offer a full service to the operators, for a large share of the ransom paid out, said Ropek.

“Their goal is to make the ransomware operation as turnkey as possible,” he said.

Polite but firm

When the ransomware is planted and activated, the target receives a message telling them how to correspond and how much to pay to get their data unencrypted. That ransom can run from thousands to millions of dollars, usually depending on the financial strength of the target.

Inevitably the target tries to negotiate on the portal. They often don’t get very far.

Menlo Security, a cybersecurity firm, last year published the conversation between a target and Hive’s “Sales Department” that took place on Hive’s

special portal for victims.

In it, the Hive operator courteously and professionally offered to prove the decryption would work with a test file.

But when the target repeatedly offered a fraction of the $200,000 demanded, Hive was firm, insisting the target could afford the total amount.

Eventually, the Hive agent gave in and offered a significant reduction— but drew the line there.

“The price is $50,000. It’s final. What else to say?” the Hive agent wrote.

If a target organization refuses to pay, the RaaS developers hold a backup position: they threaten to release the hacked confidential files online or sell them.

Hive maintained a separate website, HiveLeaks, to publish the data.

On the back end of the deal, according to Ropek, there are specialist operations to collect the money, making sure those taking part get their shares of the ransom.

Others, known as cryptocurrency tumblers, help launder the ransom for the hacker to use above-ground.

Modest blow

Thursday’s action against Hive was only a modest blow against the RaaS industry.

There are numerous other ransomware specialists similar to Hive still operating.

The biggest current threat is LockBit, which attacked Britain’s Royal Mail in early January and a Canadian children’s hospital in December.

In November, the Justice Department said LockBit had reaped tens of millions of dollars in ransoms from 1,000 victims. AFP

Swedish elevator maker Kone plans to axe 1,000 jobs on slower orders

elevator giant Kone announced Thursday planned restructuring that would result in around 1,000 jobs cut globally, as the company’s results showed orders fall in the fourth quarter.

HELSINKI, Finland—Finnish

“The planned changes are estimated to generate annual cost savings of around EUR 100 million,” said the company, which has over 60,000 employees.

Kone’s annual net income fell 23.3% to 785 million euros ($853 million) in 2022, with a drop of 0.7 percent to 276.3 million euros in the final quarter.

While annual orders were up 3.1% at 9.1 billion euros, the final quarter saw them fall by 9.8% to 1.9 billion euros compared to the previous year.

“The market backdrop in China caused our fourth quarter orders to decline and significantly weakened our cash flow,” CEO Henrik said in a statement.

Rising inflation and the war in Ukraine also created “further uncertainty” for Kone.

“While we cannot be pleased with the development of our profitability, we did see an improvement in the fourth quarter thanks to the strong growth in maintenance sales,” Ehrnrooth added.

Sales in the last quarter for the company grew 5.2% to 2.9 billion euros.

Kone reported positive development in service market activity with “good opportunities for growth” in 2023.

At 1740 GMT, Kone’s share was up 3.4% at 52.48 euros after the announcement. AFP

Federal Bureau of Investigation director Christopher Wray (right), joined by Attorney General Merrick Garland, delivers remarks on an international ransomware enforcement action at the U.S. Justice Department on Jan. 26, 2023, in Washington, D.C. The Justice Department announced that the FBI seized the website of HIVE, a notorious ransomware gang, which has extorted more than $100 million from victim organizations. AFP

NY TERMINAL. A person takes the escalator in the new Grand Central Madison Terminal in New York on Jan. 26, 2023. The MTA unveiled the new $11-billion Grand Central Madison terminal on Jan. 25, 2023, that finally links the Long Island Rail Road to the east side of Manhattan. AFP

Roderick T. dela Cruz, Editor

Alena Mae S. Flores, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com

BSP ready to further tweak policy to contain inflation

By Julito G. Rada

THE

Megawide bags 3 contracts from PHirst Park Homes

By Jenniffer B. Austria

INFRASTRUCTURE and engineer-

ing firm Megawide Construction Corp. said Friday it bagged three supply and build contracts with affordable residential developer PHirst Park Homes Inc.

Megawide said in a statement unit Precast and Construction Solutions would supply precast materials for PPHI’s new projects in Naic, Cavite; Baliuag, Bulacan; and Tayabas, Quezon.

Megawide has 11 construction projects with PPHI and is building about 19,000 units for these sites across Luzon.

The company said that as of endDecember 2022, it had turned over 9,000 residential units since it started its partnership with PPHI in 2018.

PPHI is a joint venture of Century Properties Group Inc. and Japan’s Mitsubishi Corp.

Megawide said the company delivered the housing units to clients at a faster rate and greater efficiency because of its pre-cast technology.

“The challenge in addressing the country’s housing backlog is not in the supply but the speed in which we can build. Our proprietary precast technology allows us to deliver costeffective units with greater speed and efficiency than conventional methods,” said Megawide executive vicepresident for PCS Markus Hennig.

Megawide said it builds an onsite plant for precast molding and concrete batching. It also innovates through proprietary engineering technologies like precast which enables quicker turnaround times, requires less manual labor during construction and lowers long-term project costs.

Production through a controlled manufacturing environment also helps reduce noise and dust pollution in construction sites, it said.

“Megawide’s advantage is this innovative precast methodology that we can easily replicate in other locations for other projects,” said Hennig.

Megawide’s main precast facility in Taytay, Rizal is the largest and most advanced precast plant in the Philippines and one of the largest in Southeast Asia. The plant can produce up to 168,000 cubic meters of precast units a year.

IN BRIEF

Fitch Solutions sees PH growing 5.9% in 2023

Bangko Sentral

ng Pilipinas reaffirmed its readiness to tweak its monetary policy stance to rein in inflation in the coming months.

It made the assurance in an open letter to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. that explained why inflation in 2022 hit 5.8 percent and exceeded the target range of 2 percent to 4 percent.

The BSP said any further monetary policy actions would always depend on pertinent economic data. The Monetary Board, the policy-making body of the BSP, raised the policy rate by a total of

350 basis points to 5.5 percent in 2022.

“The BSP will continue to adjust its monetary policy stance as necessary to keep further second-round effects at bay and to prevent inflation expectations from becoming disanchored,” the BSP said in the letter signed by Deputy Governor Francisco Dakila Jr. as officer-in-charge.

Governor Felipe Medalla was part of the Philippine delegation that held a Philippine economic briefing in Frankfurt, Germany last week.

“Our approach to monetary action will remain data-dependent and contingent on the inflation outlook, along with other available macroeconomic information at a given point in time,” the BSP said. Inflation in December slightly accelerated to a more than 14-year high of 8.1 percent from 8 percent in November on faster increases in the prices of food

and non-alcoholic beverages.

The December outturn was faster than 3.1 percent in the same month in 2021. This brought the full-year average to 5.8 percent, beyond the government’s target range of 2 percent to 4 percent for the year and faster than 3.9 percent in 2021.

Headline inflation started to rise in March as domestic fuel pump prices increased, reflecting the uptrend in international crude oil prices.

Global crude prices surged in 2022 amid concerns over tighter supply arising from the geopolitical conflict in Eastern Europe and from major oilproducing countries’ decision to lower production targets, the BSP letter said.

It said that as inflation began to spike across countries, and central banks responded with tighter monetary policy, investor concerns over global demand also tempered further price hikes.

SMC Global eyes ‘legal remedies’ after CA junked supply deal TRO

By Alena Mae S. Flores

SMC Global Power Holdings Corp. said Friday it would pursue “all available legal remedies” following the Commission on Appeal’s denial of a temporary restraining order in favor of subsidiary San Miguel Energy Corp. SMEC asked for the issuance of a TRO or preliminary injunction to suspend the implementation of the Energy Regulatory Commission order dated Sept. 29, 2022 upholding a 2019 power supply agreement with Manila Electric Co. and denying its temporary rate hike request.

SMCGP said its move was “in line with our fiduciary duties to our stakeholders to preserve our ability to pro-

Pag-IBIG financed 18,657 socialized homes for low-wage earners in 2022

PAG-IBIG Fund financed 18,657 homes for low-income and minimumwage earners in 2022, top executives said Friday.

Socialized homes represented 18 percent of the 105,212 homes financed by the agency last year. The aggregate amount released for socialized housing loans also accounted for 7 percent or P8.28 billion of the total loans of P117.85 billion.

“I am happy to report that Pag-IBIG Fund continues to provide members from the low-income sector the means to own a home through the Pag-IBIG Affordable Housing Program. This shows its strong commitment in promoting inclusive growth by continuing to provide Filipino workers from underserved sectors with affordable shelter financing,” said Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar, who chairs the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development and the 11-member Pag-IBIG Fund board of trustees.

“All these are in line with the directives of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. in addressing the country’s housing backlog under the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Program,” said Acuzar.

Pag-IBIG Fund’s Affordable Housing Program is a special home financing program that caters to the needs of minimum-wage and low-income members earning not more than P15,000 per

month within the National Capital Region and those earning not more than P12,000 per month outside the NCR.

Under the AHP, Pag-IBIG Fund offers a subsidized rate of 3 percent per annum—the lowest rate available in the market today—for socialized home loans worth up to P580,000 and socialized condominium units worth up to P750,000.

Pag-IBIG Fund chief executive Marilene Acosta said special subsidized rates have been made available by the agency for members from the minimumwage sector since 2012, with the 3 percent rate made available starting May 2017.

“Through the years, the Pag-IBIG Affordable Housing Program has made it possible for low-income and minimumwage earners to own a home. With the lowest rate offered in the market, our members can enjoy a low monthly payment of as low as P2,445.30 for a socialized home loan of P580,000, with a loan term of 30 years,” said Acosta.

“And what’s more, borrowers under our AHP do not have to put out cash for equity because of its 100-percent loanto-value ratio. This is in keeping of our commitment to uplift the lives of Filipino workers, especially those from the underserved sectors, through accessible and affordable shelter financing. Ito po ang aming panatang Lingkod PagIBIG para sa manggagawang Pilipino,” Acosta said.

vide stable power supply for consumers and forge ahead with new and existing projects aimed at helping secure our country’s future power needs.”

“We remain confident that our government, through the judiciary, is one with us in promoting an environment where both consumers and industries collaborate in delivering on our country’s energy goals and providing viable and shared solutions to address the ongoing power crisis,” the company said. Meralco, which previously opposed SMEC’s petition for a TRO, welcomed the CA decision. “The decision ultimately benefits Meralco’s customers as it ensures supply continuity supply and protects them from further exposure to potentially higher electricity rates,” the power retailer said.

The CA’s 16th Division said in a resolution SMEC failed to prove its right to a restraining order. It said the regulator’s denial of SMEC’s motion for price adjustment already preserves the status quo – which is the contract price in SMEC and Meralco’s PSA.

The CA ruled that the grant of SMEC’s TRO would “not serve its purpose, since it will have the effect, not of maintaining the Contract Price, but of setting aside the assailed Order itself, thereby rendering the main case, the petition for certiorari, moot.”

The appellate court said that if granted, “the writ of injunction will give SMEC the unrestricted power to terminate, at its own will, the power supply agreement to the detriment of public consumers.”

FITCH Solutions, a unit of Fitch Group, maintained on Friday a 5.9-percent growth forecast for the Philippine economy this year, taking into account the risks coming from elevated inflation and the possibility of further rate hikes by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

Fitch Solutions said in a report the Philippine economy grew beyond expectations last year at 7.6 percent, the fastest in 46 years. In the fourth quarter, GDP growth slowed to 7.2 percent from 7.6 percent in the third quarter.

“The economy has performed a little better than we at Fitch Solutions had expected. But we are holding on to our forecasts for growth to slow to 5.9 percent in 2023. High inflation alongside continued and significant monetary tightening is also likely to weigh on domestic economic activity in the coming quarters,” it said.

It said the prospects for global demand remained tepid, which bodes poorly for the Philippines export outlook.

“The main drag on fourth quarter growth came from gross fixed investment, which slowed sharply from 9.9 percent year-on-year in third quarter to 6.3 percent year-on-year in fourth quarter. This provides early evidence that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ aggressive monetary tightening cycle is already starting to weigh on investment prospects,” Fitch Solutions said. Julito G. Rada

Samat gets DOE clearance to start Bataan LNG project

THE Department of Energy said Friday it approved and issued a notice to proceed to Samat LNG Corp. for its $67-million small-scale liquefied natural gas receiving terminal and regasification facility in Barangay Sisiman, Mariveles, Bataan.

The move aims to ensure power supply in light of the impending depletion of the Malampaya natural gas reservoir in the next few years. “LNG is also considered an important source for fuel diversification as this will complement the efforts of the Malampaya consortium to optimize the sustainability of the remaining indigenous gas in the Malampaya-Camago reservoir,” the DOE said in a statement.

The NTP, signed by Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla, directs Samat LNG to obtain the required regulatory permits from other government agencies and secure financial closing for the construction of the proposed LNG receiving terminal and regasification facility. Samat LNG aims to start commercial operations of the project by the first half of 2024.

Alena Mae S. Flores

ABS-CBN signs partnership with Indonesian company

ABS-CBN Corp. said Friday it signed a content localization partnership with PT VIDIO DOT COM, an over-the-top video streaming service, to air the former’s programs in Indonesia.

“The past couple of years saw a huge boost in the streaming industry. Around this period, ABS-CBN has taken massive steps to dominate the digital landscape through partnerships among the OTT sectors across the globe. On another hand, we acknowledge the support of Indonesians for our TV programs, films and music,” said ABS-CBN managing director for Asia Pacific Maribel Hernaez.

“This partnership with Vidio will allow us to further reach Indonesian viewers,” she said. ABS-CBN has long been recognized as a reliable foreign content provider and is becoming the premier source of high-quality Filipino programming in over 50 territories over the world.

“As a leading OTT in Indonesia, Vidio is committed to providing premium entertainment content and seamless viewing experience for everyone. We continuously expand and refresh our content library with new titles from all around the world,” said Monika Rudijono, managing director of PT Vidio Dot Com. Darwin G. Amojelar

GLOBE’S AWARD. Globe Telecom Inc. wins the prestigious 5 Golden Arrow Award from the Institute of Corporate Directors. It is the first such award for Globe, cementing its standing as a top-performing publiclylisted company in the Philippines under the 2021 ASEAN Corporate Governance Scorecard. Attending the 2022 Golden Arrow awards ceremony at Sheraton Manila Hotel are (from left) Atty. Maria Francia Fatima Caganda-Vistan, Maria Virginia A. Tolentino-Uy, Globe chief compliance officer, senior vice president for law and compliance and assistant corporate secretary Atty. Marisalve Ciocson-Co, Atty. Marisalve Ciocson-Co, Securities and Exchange Commission chairman Emilio Aquino, Globe corporate secretary Atty. Solomon Hermosura and Atty. Nina Mikaela Sarmiento-Tacandong.

ADB approves $500-m loan to help improve PH agriculture sector

THE Asian Development Bank said Friday it approved a $500-million (about P27 billion) policy-based loan to help the Philippine government expand economic opportunities in agriculture while ensuring near- to long-term food security.

It said in a statement the loan would support Subprogram 2 of the Competitive and Inclusive Agriculture Development Program, which aims to further develop the agriculture sector with trade policy and regulatory framework reforms. It also seeks to enhance public services and

finance for the sector and social protection for rural families affected by the program’s reforms.

ADB principal natural resources and agriculture economist for Southeast Asia Takeshi Ueda said extreme climate events and economic shocks were exacerbating the struggles of the agriculture sector to raise productivity.

“This new loan aims to support the Philippines’ efforts to attain food security by building a competitive and inclusive agriculture sector that is characterized by improved efficiency, enhanced diver-

sity, strengthened climate resilience, and higher farm incomes,” Ueda said. The second subprogram continues support for policy measures introduced in the first subprogram approved in 2020. Those policy measures are aligned with the recently-launched Philippine Development Plan 2023–2028. Building on the rice trade liberalization under subprogram 1, the new program supports effective rice buffer stock management for emergency situations and relief programs to ensure food security in the Philippines. Julito G. Rada

MWC AQUEDUCT. Manila Water Company Inc. inaugurates the Novaliches-Balara Aqueduct 4 in Quezon City. Participating in the ceremonial commissioning are (from left) Quezon City Councilor Joseph Visaya representing Mayor Joy Belmonte, Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System chief regulator Patrick Ty, MWSS chairman Elpidio Vega, Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan, MWSS administrator Leonor Cleofas, Manila Water president and chief executive Jocot De Dios, Bulacan 6th District Rep. Salvador Pleyto, Manila Water chief regulatory officer Donato Almeda and Manila Water chief operating officer for east zone Arnold Mortera.

Sports

Ginebra posts breakthrough 3x3 PBA win

BARANGAY Ginebra finally broke through the PBA 3x3 circuit, surviving a tough fighting Platinum Karaoke side in overtime, 20-19, to take the Leg 3 crown of Season 2 Third Conference Friday at Robinsons Place Antipolo.

Kim Aurin led the Kings with nine points, but Donald Gumaru saved the day for the team after grabbing the long rebound off an Aurin miss and nailed the 18-foot jumper for the clincher.

Gumaru added six points and seven rebounds, while Ralph Cu and Ralph Salcedo round up the scoring for Ginebra, coached by Kirk Collier.

POC seals ‘French Connection’ for Paris 2024 Olympic Games

THE Philippine Olympic Committee on Thursday established a partnership with a French city to help guarantee the preparedness both physically and mentally of Filipino athletes, who will qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

“We in the POC are making sure our qualified athletes are well prepared and acclimatized for the Paris Olympics,” said POC president Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino after sealing the partnership with officials of the City of Metz in France.

Tolentino and La Moselle President Patrick Weiten signed the memorandum of understanding in a ceremony intended to be formal and simple but turned as a press event with local French media

Serna, Cabaral seek to stop Baisa’s PPS tennis run

VINCE Serna goes all out for redemption while Ariel Cabaral tries to live up to his top billing as they try to prick Brice Baisa’s growing bubble in the PPS-PEPP National tennis juniors championships, which resumed in Bacolod Thursday.

The top seeded Serna dropped a 5-7, 3-6 setback to Baisa in the 18-U finals of the PPS-PEPP leg in Roxas City, completing the latter’s stirring back-to-back title romps in the premier division and the 16-U class after first scoring a twinkill in Iloilo.

But Serna, from Butuan City, has re-calibrated to guarantee a successful shot at the crown with Cabaral, along with Herman Illusorio and Kirby Ramacho also vying in the centerpiece division of the Group 2 tournament where Baisa is one of the unranked entries.

Cabaral also gets the top seeding in 16-U play with Baisa earning the No. 8 seed in the 32-player draw that includes No. 3 Kurt Barrera, third ranked Kenzo Brodeth, Reign Maravilla, Bonavent Castillo, Jeremy Napiere and Ramacho.

The country’s longest talentsearch, put up by Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro, moves to Bais City, Negros Oriental on Feb. 2-7. For listup and details, contact tournament organizer Bobby Mangunay at 0915-4046464.

The chase for top honors in the distaff side at the Helvetia and Panaad courts is also expected to be fierce with Jufe-Ann Cocoy, Hannah Divinagracia, Therese Gauran and Louchelaj Estember tipped to dispute the 18-U trophy in the weeklong event presented by Dunlop and sponsored by Mayor Albee Benitez.

Divinagracia also heads the cast 16-U cast, along with Masters Top 8 and PPS-Roxas leg MVP Jana Diaz, Gauran and Estember while Alexa Cruspero, Queen Villa, Kathlyn Bugna and Andrea Agravante lead the 14-U field in the event backed by Claudio Puentevella, president of the Bacolod City Tennis Association.

covering the event. The MOA covers the use of sports facilities for practically all sports as well as accommodation and food for Filipino athletes who will qualify for the Games.

“The qualified athletes will train here for two months before the Olympics open,” Tolentino said.

The Paris Olympics are set 545 days away from July 26 to August 11.

The two-month pre-Olympic training

is a never-done-before endeavor by the POC, according to Tolentino.

Metz is some 300 kms west of Paris and boasts of an environment well suited for athletes’ training. It has a 3,000-year rich historical, cultural and architectural background that put it on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List.

Weiten, on the other hand, is a veteran community leader in France and is a noted urban engineer.

Tolentino said the POC aims to help qualify for Paris more than the 19 athletes that competed at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

“Gustung-gusto kong mag-champion kasi minsan lang mangyari ‘yung opportunity na ito,” said Aurin as the rest of the Kings celebrated at midcourt upon receiving the top prize of P100,000.

Barangay Ginebra twice made the finals in the past behind now PBA player Encho Serrano, but finished runner up both times behind San Miguel Beer and TNT Tropang Giga, respectively.

But the Kings almost let this one slipped away, too as Nico Salva rallied back Platinum Karaoke from a 17-12 deficit to forge overtime at 18-all.

Salva even moved Platinum on the verge when he scored the first basket in overtime.

But Aurin answered back with a layup to tie the game at 19-19, and set the stage for the dramatic finish.

Platinum Karaoke received P50,000 for the runner up finish, with Salva leading the team with nine points, and big man Yutien Andrada adding seven points and seven rebounds.

During the semifinals, Barangay Ginebra bundled out Meralco, 15-13, while Platinum Karaoke proved too much against J&T Express, 19-13, to arrange the title showdown. Meanwhile, Meralco got nine points and six rebounds from big man Alfred Batino to secure a podium finish by turning back J&T Express, 19-15.

NCAA men’s volley champ Perpetual stuns NU in PUVL

FRESH from clinching the National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s volleyball crown, the University of Perpetual Help Alta spikers defeated UAAP champions the NU Bulldogs men’s volleyball team to win the first Philippine University Volleyball League tournament on Thursday night.

In a proverbial “Battle of Champions” among the country’s best college

volleyball teams, the Alta spikers dispatched their counterparts from NU in straight sets 25-17, 25-18 and 33-31 at the University of Perpetual Help System Dalta Gym in Las Pinas.

Members of the team also ran away with most of the major awards of the tourney including Most Valuable Playee and Best Attacker Louie Ramirez, John Philip Pepito as Best Libero, JC Enarciso

and Sammy Acaylar as Best Coach.

It was sweet revenge for the Alta men’s spikers as they lost only once during the tournament against the NU Bulldogs during the elimination round.

“We have a solid team this year and our team played with a lot of guts and pride. We did not want to lose on our home turf,” Acaylar said.

Besides winning the NCAA men’s

volleyball championship, the Perpetual Alta spikers also ruled the NCAA men’s beach volleyball by dethroning the Emilio Aguinaldo College. With the win, the Altas now have the right to represent the country at this year’s Summer Universaide, a biennial event that brings together studentathletes worldwide, in Bali, Indonesia in the coming months.

Pueblo Golf hosts JGFP’s 2nd Mindanao leg

CAGAYAN DE ORO—A

total of 150 golfers will tee off when the second part of the Mindanao leg of the Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines starts with the Pueblo de Oro Junior Open on Saturday, January 28 at the Pueblo de Oro Golf and Country here. The event, which comes after a successful tournament in Davao City at Apo Golf last January 8, hopes to continue the same vision of the JGFP, and that is to discover new talents from the grassroots’ level, particularly in the Mindanao region.

The region has produced a number of successful worldcaliber golfers over the years, which include Frankie Minoza, Tony Lascuna, Cassius Casas, Elmer Salvador, Elmer Saban, Jay Bayron, Jhonnel Ababa, and rising star Edison Tabalin.

JGFP president Oliver Gan said the number of participants only proved that the interest in junior golf is very high as young participants are excited to showcase their talent in the two-day meet.

“We are overwhelmed with

Games and Amusement Board.

“This goes to show that young golfers are excited to play –especially golfers from the region. That means Mindanao is really a hotbed for talented young golfers,” added Gan, who expressed his gratitude to

Pueblo Golf chairman Ronnie Canlas and general manager Gilby Velez for making the event possible.

The event, supported by John Gaisano, Gaisano Malls, Islandwide Distribution Corp. and Pueblo Golf, will have boys and girls competitions in the 6-under, 7-8 years-old, 9-10, 11-

12, 13-14 and 15-18. A special division will also be played for the 19-21 golfers.

Participants in the 12 and above bracket will also earn ranking points from the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR). Under WAGR, they already started Friday for the required threeday meet.

Barangay Ginebra players take a group photo after winning the PBA Leg 3 crown of Season 2 Third Conference Friday at Robinsons Place Antipolo.

POC president Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino (right) signs the memorandum of understanding with La Moselle president Patrick Weiten.

Champions from the Davao leg will likewise see action here, including Manila-based golfers Nicole and Stephanie Gan, and Lucas de Guzman, Mindanao’s Jared Saban, Athena Batican, Alonzo Retuerto, Brittany Pauline Tamayo, Zerto Plete, Cody John Langamin, Althea Paige Gaccion and Aldrein Gialon. the turnout,” said Gan, a former golf consultant of the

USHERING IN THE NEW YEAR WITH A BANG. Torre Lorenzo Development Corporation (TLDC) spent 2022 using a business recovery strategy anchored on continuous construction, innovation, and enhanced customer service. The Company inaugurated its premium residential development Torre Lorenzo Malate on Malvar Street in Manila. It also unveiled its newest model unit for a second residential tower in the integrated-use development Tierra Lorenzo Lipa in Batangas (shown in photo). In Davao, the company completed expansion of five-star accommodations and amenities at the Dusit Thani Lubi Plantation Resort in the Davao Gulf. This year, the Company is launching Crown Residences, its first condominium development in Davao (Inset). Situated in the integrated-use development Tierra Davao, the residential condo will be in the same vicinity as Dusit Thani Residence Davao and dusitD2.

homeowners can enjoy the facilities

available, including the infinity pool with deck.

There is a private theater, as well, an indoor cycling room and fitness gym. Private function rooms for business meetings, and Altitude 51, a private lounge area, are located at the topmost floor which offers a panoramic viewpoint of the city.

Flexing return-to-office plans

FLEXIBLE workspaces are likely to play a crucial role in companies’ real estate diversification strategies postCovid-19 pandemic, according to a report recently released by diversified professional services and investment management company Colliers.

Colliers data as of the end of Q3 2022 shows Metro Manila’s flexible workspace stock reaching 220,200 square meters, which represents about 2% of the total leasable office space in the capital region.

“The availability of high-quality office towers, complemented by attractive lease rates, should make these sites viable for flexible workspace operators,” said Joey Roi Bondoc, Director of Research of Colliers. He added that Metro Manila’s flexible workspace stock is likely to grow by about 10% in the next 12 months.

Take-up for flexible workspaces is projected to be driven by traditional occupiers engaged in construction, architecture, logistics, financial technology (fintech), and start-up companies.

“But regardless of industry, flexible workspaces are a feasible alternative for companies seeking short-term leases and looking to right-size operations,” said Bondoc. “Outsourcing firms with immediate office space requirements should also consider plug-and-play or fitted offices. Flexible workspaces are popular among companies weighing office space expansion plans in the near term.”

According to Patricia Cruz, Associate Director of Office Services – Tenant

Representation: “As hybrid work gains traction at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, flexible work has become the focus of multinational companies. Occupiers should revisit their shortand long-term growth projections to properly assess their real estate needs and take advantage of the flexible work solutions as an interim alternative.”

Revisiting continuity plans

Office occupiers are also advised to revisit their business continuity plans (BCP) and consider integrating flexible

workspaces into their hybrid work arrangements.

Colliers also urges office landlords to either explore partnerships with flexible workspace operators or launch their own brands. Landlords in key metropolitan areas, such as Clark, Cebu, Davao, and Iloilo, should also capture flexible workspace take-up.

Flexible workspace operators may also consider occupying space in transitoriented retail projects and partner with in-mall retailers to add value to their services and lure more consumers to take-up flexible workspaces.

To condo or not to condo

THE BEST OF URBAN LIVING. Ortigas Land’s various mixed-use developments all function as work-live-play hubs where people can live comfortably. The conscious environment concept, which was adopted by Ortigas Land in response to shifts in customers’ preferences, is evident in its offerings such as The Galleon at Ortigas Center, Maple at Verdant Towers at Ortigas East, and Empress at Capitol Commons (Shown in photo). All three developments are located in live-work-play hubs with green, open spaces and easy access to every need. “Property buyers’ perspectives have evolved,” said Junie Jalandoni, President and CEO of Ortigas Land, who noted the growing preference for those developments that offer safety, proximity to work and commercial areas, and are conducive to work-from-home arrangements. Ortigas Land’s mixed-use developments respond to all these needs through its residential projects. For more information on Ortigas Land residential offerings, visit www.ortigas.com.ph.

WHETHER you are thinking of purchasing a new home, or looking for an investment to grow your money, buying a residential condominium is a great option. For families and individual dwellers, condos offer security, amenities and convenient living. While for investors, condos offer investment with potential for high-value appreciation and provide self-sustaining investment through short-term and longterm unit rental.

But choosing a condominium is not easy given the number of options out there, and the factors that need to be considered before owning one. Here’s a handy checklist that sums up the key considerations to help you choose the right condominium development for you. Location

If you plan to purchase a condominium unit for end-use, its accessibility to important developments such as schools, hospitals, commercial establishments, and transportation hubs is the key to ensuring that your daily needs are easily provided. Purchasing a condominium that’s wellsituated in a prime location, especially in CBDs or township developments, will not only provide you convenience but also has a high-value property appreciation. It also makes your condominium highly attractive for potential renters if you’re purchasing it for investment. For instance, MidPark Towers is a luxury residential development located inside Aseana City in Parañaque, which is considered as one of the fastestgrowing CBDs and the next-generation cities in the metro. The development is connected to public infrastructures such as NAIA Expressway (NAIAx), LRT Line 1 Extension, and the Paranaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITx) making it a transit-oriented development. It is also within walking distance to large-scale mixed-use developments such as Ayala Malls Manila Bay, City of Dreams Manila, Solaire Resort and Casino, and the Mall of Asia Complex.

Safety, security Residential developments inside a master-planned community usually provide ample security features for their residents and guests. Aseana City, where MidPark is strategically located, has 24/7 on-ground security personnel and is equipped with an Integrated Operations Center (IOC) designed to help manage complex city environments, incidents, and emergencies with a city solution that delivers operational insights. It

MidPark Towers offers spacious residential units ranging from Studio units at 40 sqm., to one-bedroom units at 52 sqm., which are perfect choices for investors and even for starting nesters or individual dwellers. Next are two bedrooms at 80 sqm, and three-bedroom units at 120 sqm., which are ideal for growing families.

Amenities

Purchasing a condo unit is only the first step, but the end goal is to enjoy living

offers integrated data visualization, near realtime collaboration, and deep analytics to help the estate management enhance the ongoing efficiency of its district operations; plan for growth; and coordinate and manage response efforts.

Space

A spacious and livable space is an important factor to consider when purchasing a condo. With hybrid work set-up becoming the new normal, having ample space inside your condo would allow you to create your own work-fromhome station where you can do your tasks separately, without sacrificing space for your family to enjoy and spend time with.

in it and m ake the most of what you paid for. One of the main advantages of owning a condo over a house is the availability of its amenities that you can conveniently use and enjoy. Real estate developers sometimes go the extra mile with their condominium projects offering more than the usual amenities, examples of these are business and private lounges, and kid’s playroom (Shown here), all offered in MidPark Towers. These amenities are perfect if you need a change of scenery and a quiet place to do your work-fromhome tasks or finish some readings while allowing your kids to play and do fun activities in a safe space.

MITSUBISHI Motors Philippines Corporation (MMPC) officially unveils the much-anticipated 23MY New Mitsubishi Xpander Cross. A modern 7- seater MPV Crossover with SUV capabilities. Perfect for individuals and families who prefer performance and functionality in one aggressively styled package.

This latest iteration of Mitsubishi’s bestselling model redefines the MPV segment sporting a more advanced and progressive look while combining luxury and comfort seen in premium vehicles.

Design

The New Xpander Cross takes the sense of adventure up a notch by enhancing the practical essence of the Xpander with an SUV-like design structure. Perfect as a daily city cruiser and capable of taking you off the beaten path during the weekends.

The New Xpander Cross was developed to exude a more “active” and “outdoorsy” image. The black wheel arch moldings, door garnishes, and side sills give it a taller stance; while the rear and front bumpers are more macho, with the guard bar motif rails.

The New Xpander Cross is also equipped with roof rails as standard.

It also sports the T-shaped LED headlights with daytime running lights (DRL) and LED fog lamps at the bottom. Looking at the side, the newly designed 17” alloy wheels give the car a more rugged stance. The redesigned rear also shows off a bolder appearance with its T shaped LED taillights that seamlessly integrates into the refreshed tailgate garnish.

Interior

The interior has been reimagined with comfort and convenience in mind. The New Xpander cross offers an exclusive combination of luxury and high-tech features, some that can only be seen on Mitsubishi’s premium vehicles.

Ford vehicles

FORD Philippines has joined forces with global off-road accessories provider ARB to give owners of the next-generation Ford Ranger and Everest access to various 4x4 accessories for their vehicles.

The partnership offers a wide range of accessories that have undergone rigorous evaluation processes by Ford and ARB engineers to ensure compatibility with nextgen Ford vehicles that will deliver optimal integration and vehicle performance.

Owners of the next-gen Ranger and Everest will be able to equip their vehicles with best-in-class off-road accessories such as suspension kits, bull bar, side steps and rails, base rack, under vehicle protection (UVP), and snorkel.

All ARB accessories come with a 3-year warranty. ARB suspension kits also come with a 3-year warranty or 60,000 km –whichever comes first.

ARB and Ford are working together to ensure that the accessories are compatible with Ford vehicles and that the vehicle systems maintain full functionality with each accessory fitted.

New Mitsubishi Xpander Cross has crossed its way to PH shores

optimized for this model. The New Xpander Cross’ rear suspension system has adopted the same components as the Mitsubishi Montero Sport. The enlarged rear shock absorber results in a more comfortable and stable ride even on rough roads. This together with advanced safety features such as Active Stability Control (ASC), Hill Start Assist (HAS), and Traction Control (TCL) ensures that every drive is a safe and memorable drive.

Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) and Brake Auto Hold (BAH) buttons further contribute to creature comforts inside the New Xpander Cross. For reduced driver stress particularly during traffic situations, this technology allows the driver to retain the braking force and maintain the vehicle in a stopped state while in traffic.

The New Xpander Cross ensures precise stability when cornering with the New Active Yaw Control system, or A.Y.C. that electronically and intelligently guides and stabilizes the car on sharp turns and especially on slippery road surfaces.

About ARB ARB 4x4 Accessories holds a global reputation for high-quality off-road accessories and is considered to be Australia’s largest manufacturer and distributor of 4x4 accessories. The company has international offices in the United States, Europe, and the Middle East with an export network that extends through more than 100 countries around the world. ARB accessories are available in Ford dealerships nationwide starting this month.

Customers can easily avail of their accessory of choice when they get their next-gen Ford vehicle from the dealership, while those who have previously purchased their next-gen Ranger or Everest can visit a Ford dealership to avail of ARB accessories.

For the list of available ARB accessories and their corresponding prices, customers can visit any Ford dealership nationwide. Separate labor and/or installation fees apply. For more details on ARB accessories, log on to www.ford.com.ph/owner/ford-accessories/ranger-accessories/.

The New Xpander Cross projects a “Horizontal Axis” dashboard that smoothly integrates all the interior elements at the front. Across the dashboard runs the soft padded materials with real stitches in a new navy blue shade.

At the driver’s seat, you will immediately notice the new 4-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel reminiscent of the Montero Sport: Mitsubishi’s premium Mid-Size SUV. It is also tilt and telescopic adjustable and with its more robust layout, drivers get to enjoy better grip on the steering wheel. Moreover, the steering wheel return control is now faster for better maneuverability

at low speeds. Behind the wheel is a new 8-inch LCD digital meter cluster that is highly visible. This allows easy access and viewing of multiple information essential for driving. The center console ensures seamless pairing with your devices, and all controls are within your reach. You also get an intuitive digital AC system with a max cool button for rapid in-cabin cooling. All the seats are wrapped with innovative leather, finished in navy blue soft-touch padding with stitching. It suppresses any increase in surface temperature with its heat guard technology. Rides are now more enjoyable with the

7-inch Smartphone-link Display Audio (SDA-3) system. A touchscreen infotainment system that supports hands-free functions and is compatible with both Apple CarPlay and Google Android Auto. For improved convenience, the front console has been converted into a larger capacity open tray while still having a 12V outlet and USB port.

At the center is the leather-wrapped armrest that can hold a tissue pack on the back of its lid and four 600 ml-sized bottles in the main space. All these enhancements offer better organization and maximization of space. Drivability and Safety

Driving comfort and safety has been

All-new Honda AirBlade 160 is choice of professionals

Compact and easy to maneuver

With 225mm of high ground clearance, the New Xpander Cross continues to be the best in its class. This gives the driver a higher eye-point for better recognition of road conditions and added confidence especially during floods. Under the hood is a 1.5 MIVEC DOHC 16-valve with 104 hp and 141 nm torque mated with a 4- Speed Automatic Transmission. Ever reliable with respect to fuel economy while being assured of a powerful performance.

The Xpander Cross starts at 1,328,000 with four (4) color options: Sunrise Orange Metallic (2-Tone), Quartz White Pearl (2Tone), Graphite Gray Metallic and Blade Silver Metallic For a more in-depth look of the variants, check out the MMPC’s official website or view it at any Mitsubishi

ACTIVE

youngsters know exactly what they want, including their preferences for a daily ride. And despite their precise demands, The All-New AirBlade160 delivers on every front.

If you are looking for a scooter that’s both functional and stylish, look no further than Honda.

The All-New AirBlade160 is celebrated for its sleek design, reliable performance, and affordability. It makes for the ideal choice for those looking for a sleek and sporty ride but still fits the bill.

Here, we break down five reasons that make

The All-New AirBlade160 an enjoyable allaround ride, perfect for young professionals’ daily commute to weekend adventures.

Sporting a premium-looking sleek design

Looks factor heavily into any choice of professional millennials and Gen Z-ers. With its cutting-edge design, the All-New AirBlade160 established a presence on the road that is undoubtedly hard to miss. Imagine cruising around the city with its bold curves that go well with a premium 3D emblem and a new two-tone leather seat. The design gives a sleek and sporty feel while feeling premium all at the same time.

As young professionals are always on the go, they need a ride that can keep up with their fast-paced lifestyle. The All-New AirBlade160 has a seating height of 775 mm and curb weight of 114 kg, making it able to maneuver through city traffic and park in tight spaces. This is especially important for young professionals who are often looking to save time and avoid the hassle of dealing with traffic.

Step-up performance and riding comfort

Step-up performance is another strong suit of The All-New AirBlade160. This ride is equipped with a new-generation 157cc, 4-stroke, 4-valve, Liquid-Cooled, eSP+ engine, which packs a maximum power of 11.2kW @ 8,000rpm and a maximum torque of 14.6Nm @ 6,500rpm. These prove more than enough to take young professionals anywhere as they explore streets far and wide.

In terms of riding comfort, a Twin Rear Suspension system effectively absorbs bumps better for a less bouncy and much smoother experience. It also ensures better performance for carrying heavy loads, especially as The AllNew AirBlade160 presents a large 23.2-liter storage compartment with LED lamp that stores a range of personal items.

Stacked with upgraded features

As a ride for the young generation, The AllNew AirBlade160 offers leveled-up features. The list includes an Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) to prevent wheel locking and increase stability, an All-LED Lighting System that creates a dynamic sporty look, a Full Digital Meter Panel and New USB Charging Port.

Also in place are Honda Smart Key System that’s integrated with an Answer Back System and Anti-Theft Alarm, as well as the Idling Stop System (ISS) that drives fuel efficiency.

Reasonable convenience

What makes The All-New AirBlade160 even more special is its reasonable price point. Despite its advanced features and highquality construction, this scooter is priced competitively with an SRP of P125,900, making it accessible to a wide range of customers. What’s more, young professionals can save on gas money with its incredible fuel efficiency at 47.5km/L, according to the World Motorcycle Test Cycle (WMTC) Method.

The All-New AirBlade160 comes in three color variants: Matte Dim Gray Metallic, Pearl Dark Ash Blue 2, and Candy Luster Red. Step up your cutting edge with, The AllNew AirBlade160, the ideal ride for the high demands and busy lifestyle of working professionals.

Automotive veteran Santos takes helm at Foton Motor PH

IT’S a jubilant start of the year at the automotive giant’s headquarters at the Clark Freeport Zone, as FOTON Motor Philippines Inc. (FMPI) inducts longtime vice president Levy Santos as its new General Manager. Santos joined FMPI Inc. in 2017 as Vice President for Sales. His 20 years of experience in the automotive realm reflects the same pattern he showcased for FMPI sales —a consistent, upward trajectory, from what employees described as an offshoot of his “passionate and optimistic leadership.”

In 2003, Santos’ first foray in car sales was as parts associate, and later headed the sales and service operations of several top car brands.

“As we always say, kayang kaya sa FOTON (with FOTON, anything is possible)! I am grateful for the trust and support which are at the core of our 3-year forecast and road mapping on this day forward, until 2025,” FOTON Philippines General Manager Levy Santos said.

FMPI is expecting robust times ahead as Santos bares his vision in driving FOTON to be the unbeatable household name for trucking across generations of Filipino entrepreneurs. He also engineered a nationwide dealership network expansion to cope with the growing demand from FOTON Philippines’ top target markets: construction, logistics, and hospitality industry.

Under Santos, FOTON Motor Philippines Inc. and its dealer networks are now revving up for the biggest commercial vehicle display

and 3-day sales showcase—FOTON’s Big Show 2023, where the first light-duty fully electric truck in the country will be unveiled. Launched in 2010, FOTON’s Big Show is a highlight event for FOTON’s new model units and sales-related services that was successively held in the years that followed, spurring record-high sales for FMPI. With the gradual pivoting of the global trucking industry to electrification, Santos hopes to usher in a new electrified era for Filipino entrepreneurs.

“We hope FOTON’s Big Show 2023 broadens to the patrons, business owners, and other guests the choices they have in welcoming sustainability which do not have to break the bank,” Santos said.

#FOTONSBIGSHOW2023 is a gamechanging event which boasts no less than 33 trucks and commercial vehicles on offer, and where visitors can also avail of the customer and aftersales services of FOTON Philippines’ such as EC Parts, EC Mobile, and Vehicle Trade-In. The event is open to all and will be held at the World Trade Center in Pasay City on February 10, 11, and 12. FOTON Motor Philippines Inc. is an ISO-certified, premium automotive brand catering to small, medium, and large-scale businesses. It has consistently been among the top 10 brands of the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (CAMPI).

Outdoor Expo North 2023 set this February

FOTON Philippines GM Levy Santos

Answering the ‘Call of Nature’ with peace of mind

YOU set out on a trip up North and you leave your house in Manila very early in the morning. There’s a probability that you, or any of your partners inside the car, would want to take a CR break after some 30-minute drive. After another hour or so, they are bound to request for another break, especially when you have seniors with you.

Traveling along the NLEX, SCTEX or TPLEX, going North has no problem getting good comfort rooms. All gasoline stations along these highways have CRs that are kept consistently clean and very well lighted 24 hours a day. And their CRs are full of lavatories, urinals, and bowls that are enough to accommodate even busloads of guests arriving almost every minute.

This is also true when you are traveling down South along the good highways out there.

But what about when those nice highways ended and you are now traveling on old highways with those little-known gas stations on the sides? Can you still expect nice CRs to go when you take a break in one of them?

This is the problem of the majority of the travelers to the far-flung provinces. While those major gas stations provide clean CRs for all their clients and guests, it’s the reverse when those major highways end and major gas stations are no longer to be found. Because of lack of space, little-known gas stations in the provinces seldom provide adequate CRs for their customers and even travelers who would want to take a bathroom rest. Yes, there are some restaurants or coffee shops that have decent CRs, but travelers are not that comfortable having to shell out additional money for cups of coffee or food especially when they are tight on budget.

This is where the local government must come in and take into consideration the needs of the travelers who want adequate facilities for CR breaks after those long drives. Anyway, they are the recipients of the good things that might result from visits to their places by these travelers.

Those LGUs should take into consideration that they are the ones responsible for seeing to it that travelers going or just passing by their respective places have decent CRs to go to 24/7.

Those local governments may partner with private companies who can provide those decent CRs, not those single room ones but a number of well-maintained ones for travelers.

I can still remember our days of traveling up north from Shanghai in order to visit car manufacturers that were based there. Every 30 minutes or so, our bus always made a CR-break to several places that were not necessarily a gas station. Some have small coffee shops or cafeterias but the main feature were those good comfort rooms that were maintained by “seniors” that’s why they were all spanking clean and have a continuous supply of water, too.

The LGUs here can hire “seniors” to maintain those CRs and even collect minimal fees that they can use for maintenance and salaries. Imagine how many “seniors” would be glad to work on those places in exchange for tokens or they may even be allowed to sell their things on the side so they can earn more. CR breaks are a necessity for all the travelers. Those major gas stations along the major highways are doing a great service to all the travelers, most of them are their customers, too. The LGU in far flung localities could also create well-maintained CRs that would be very useful to all travelers who might create added income to their respective communities as well.

Ford PH, ARB join forces to spice up next-gen

Tech & Gadgets

LEADING online quick commerce digital platform foodpanda welcomes the implementation of Republic Act No. 11934 otherwise known as the SIM Registration Act and supports the initiative to empower government agencies and Filipinos with the necessary tools to manage illegal or malicious use of modern technology.

foodpanda: SIM registration will help fight fraud, fake bookings

According to the company, the passage of this law is a necessary step in combating the proliferation of fraudulent activities such as fake bookings of food deliveries that affect restaurants, riders, customers, and digital platforms alike.

“The steep rise of digital transactions over the years has led to the growing number of incidents of fraud and scams,” said foodpanda Philippines Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Daniel Marogy. “Even online delivery services did not escape the malicious attacks of scammers as some have also been victimized by prank orders and fake bookings.”

“With the Law, foodpanda, its customers, partner vendors, and delivery partners are able to file complaints against fraudsters including those utilizing prepaid SIMs. This empowers platforms and all stakeholders of the eCommerce industry to protect their rights, privacy, financial credibility, and transactions,” Marogy remarked.

Online fraud on the rise

According to a Consumer Pulse Study conducted by global information and insights company TransUnion, 11% of Filipino respondents became victims of digital fraud schemes. Such fraudulent activities include phishing attempts and other scams online.

The passage of the SIM Registration Act, which requires all SIM users to

register their mobile numbers under their name, will aid law enforcement in tracking down perpetrators capitalizing on the anonymity of unidentified SIM to perform their misdeeds.

For foodpanda’s part, Marogy noted that the law will help deter cases of prank orders or fake bookings and possibly prevent similar incidents from happening again. “It not only empowers consumers who are, at times, victims of these crimes, but similarly, saves our partner vendors from the trouble of preparing the food and our delivery partners from the time and effort to deliver the order.”

foodpanda’s safety & security measures

The passage and implementation of the law, as shared by Marogy, also reinforces foodpanda’s aim to fight fraud. “Along with being a reliable and trusted online delivery platform comes the responsibility of building confidence in our community of customers, delivery partners, and vendors that our systems and processes are safe and secure.”

He enumerated some of their key safety measures to promote the protection and welfare of their entire ecosystem. “Our security features ensure that online payment methods and tipping are well-protected. In addition, through our pandAware campaign, we

provide tips and reminders on certain online safety hygiene for the protection of our stakeholders.”

“With our no abono policy, our Kapanda delivery partners do not shell out any of their money to pay vendors upfront before delivery,” Marogy added.

“Alongside our security capabilities, we are confident that through legislation like the SIM Registration Law, our stakeholders will be safeguarded from fraudulent schemes carried out through mobile phones. So we pledge our full support and cooperation for its successful implementation that will also benefit the entire digital service industry.”

Marogy also lauded the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), and National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) for taking the lead on the implementation, which commenced last December 27. “Kudos to all the government agencies involved in the implementation for spearheading the necessary coordination and facilitation and ramping up efforts on information drive,” Marogy added.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed the law in October, which requires Filipinos to register their SIM cards by submitting requirements and valid identification. Under the

implementing rules and regulations, all SIM owners must follow the registration process provided on the website of their respective telecommunication providers. Failure to register until the deadline on April 26, 2023, will lead to the SIM’s automatic deactivation. According to NTC, assistance services will also be available at retail and service centers of the telco companies.

ENCHANTED Kingdom adds a dash of magic to the already enchanting experience of their guests by partnering with Globe Business in installing reliable high-speed WiFi services at key areas throughout the Philippines’ first and only worldclass theme park.

With Globe Business Managed WiFi, guests can enjoy 30-minute complimentary access to the internet, while EKsperience the Magic Card Holders can stay connected all day long, giving them the freedom to explore the theme park while sharing their adventures online.

“In today’s digital era, the ability to capture and share one’s memories with their family and friends online is essential to the full enjoyment of any magical experience,” shares Cynthia R. Mamon, Chief Operating Officer, Enchanted Kingdom. “Through our partnership with Globe Business, we’re better equipped to provide families enchanting experiences and memories that last a lifetime.”

The Managed WiFi connection also improves digital processes and transactions across the park. By complementing the theme park’s existing IT Network, the solution helps ensure a faster, seamless, and worry-free experience for the guests—from front-gate ticketing and accessing Enchanted Kingdom’s online store, to transacting in retail and food shops.

Managed security provides efficiency, solution to IT talent gap

GLOBAL cybersecurity company Kaspersky today reveals the state of Managed Security Service Provider in the region, particularly the main benefits that local SMBs and enterprises gain from this outsourcing model. Experts have since forecasted the steady growth of the Managed Security Service Provider market in Southeast Asia in the coming years due to the region’s collective push towards country-wide digital transformation initiatives.

According to the latest Kaspersky IT Security Economics Report, businesses in the region outsource security functions to MSSPs mainly to achieve efficiency in delivering security solutions (73.9%), to address the shortage of IT employees or understaffing (57.9%), and to meet the requirements for special security expertise (55.8%).

The fresh report covered 26 countries across all of Kaspersky’s major B2B markets. Companies of different

sizes, from SMBs with a number of employees starting from 50, through to major corporations were included. A total of 3,230 interviews were completed, with 1,915 collected from businesses with 50 to 999 employees. The fieldwork was completed in September 2022.

“Southeast Asia remains to be the fastest growing digital economy in the Asia Pacific region. Governments here have been taking bold steps to support local digitalization efforts and to also beef up the country’s data protection and cybersecurity capabilities. As local businesses here embrace digital transformation, it is parallel to needing comprehensive cybersecurity solutions and the right talent to manage their defenses,” comments Yeo Siang Tiong, General Manager for Southeast Asia at Kaspersky.

While the Asia Pacific continues to grow its cybersecurity workforce, a recent study logged a 2.1M gap in

available local security staff urgently needed in the region. The SEA region’s drive to digitalize has also been delayed by the lack of cybersecurity experts with the right expertise to combat sophisticated cyberthreats.

“For our part, we have been actively partnering with local universities to provide training and workshops

to upskill their students and ensure their curriculum can meet the current industry demands. However, it will take years for these students to become cybersecurity professionals. This is why engaging in a reliable, managed security service provider can ensure that enterprises will have the right security talent and effective solutions. It’s an efficient way to outsource if your partner is engaged with a cybersecurity company with proven expertise in threat detection, response, and threat intelligence,” adds Yeo.

Kaspersky, a cybersecurity company with more than 25 years-worth of deep threat intelligence and security expertise, offers Managed Service Provider Partnership for outsourcing vendors in SEA.

Kaspersky’s portfolio for MSSPs includes flexible and powerful tools that mean they can secure, monitor, and manage customer infrastructures at any level of complexity and sophistication.

Enchanted Kingdom, recently awarded the People’s Choice Award for Destination/Attraction by the Department of Tourism, stays true to their vision of being one of the world-class attractions in Asia, and the Philippines’ top family leisure and entertainment destination. By partnering with Globe Business and embracing digital transformation, they provide an even more magical experience for Filipinos and their international patrons.

“We are glad to take part in Enchanted Kingdom’s journey to bring outstanding world-class experiences to their customers,” shares Chris Cheng, Globe Business Vice President for Connectivity & Digital Products. “Our Managed WiFi, a part of our Managed Services Portfolio, supports our client’s vision of exceptional customer experience by ensuring a reliable and secure connection to their patrons, helping them in their journey towards digitalization.”

Infobip reveals 5 trends in customer experience, omnichannel communications

GLOBAL cloud communications

platform Infobip reveals its top five trends for customer experience and omnichannel communications for 2023. According to global market research firm Forrester better customer experience leads to higher revenue growth. So, as the world enters a more challenging economic climate, Infobip advises businesses to focus on the following five trends to delight customers and maintain a competitive advantage this year.

Composable tech platforms will drive speed and scale

In an increasingly cost-conscious environment, businesses and brands will look for composable technology platforms to reduce implementation time and deliver transformation more quickly. In the past two years, 50 percent of companies have had to transform at great speed, according to an Accenture survey of 4,053 c-suite executives. To meet this speed of change, businesses will need to adopt plug-and-play composable tech

platforms. Such interoperable solutions enable organizations to quickly integrate new capabilities through easy integration, increasing time to impact while reducing infrastructure costs and implementation timelines. Data from Accenture shows that companies with high interoperability

unlocked up to five additional percentage

points of revenue growth than companies with low or no interoperability. Composable tech platforms will drive innovation, augment customer experience and deliver faster and more extensive digital transformation. For instance, our integration with Adobe Marketing Cloud enables firms to engage with their

customers via SMS and WhatsApp, ensuring global reach and high delivery rates.

Hyper automation and intelligent bots will deliver efficiencies Automation can come in many forms, but the breakthrough in customer experience will be in the adoption and scaling of automated bots. As ChatGPT shows, chatbots continue to advance by leaps and bounds. We expect to see scaling text bots alongside progress with voice and video bots. As a result, businesses and brands will create and deploy bots that bring a new level of automation, speed, and availability. Such intelligent virtual assistants will help scale customer service, drive efficiencies and enable businesses to up and cross-sell. More advanced bots will also enable brands to enhance marketing and sales automation. Such bots will answer product or pricing questions, schedule deliveries and take payments—all within a customer’s favorite channel.

Hyper personalized end-to-end CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE

JOURNEYS enabled by artificial intelligence and analytics

Businesses will look for more intelligent ways to operate to drive efficiencies. Hyper personalized end-to-end customer experiences enabled by artificial intelligence and analytics will become a critical part of the customer journey, providing better experiences for customers and agents. AI and analytics can already respond to basic queries. This year, Infobip expects organizations to use AI and analytics to predict customer behavior and drive real-time responses. For instance, companies will provide hyper-personalized messaging that instantly adapts to each individual and their preferences and ways of communication. Businesses will look to apply such tools to all parts of the customer journey to create hyperpersonalized experiences to increase loyalty and drive sales. This trend will be accelerated by the increasing shift to first-party data and automation in writing AI code.

Enchanted Kingdom installs WiFi, powered by Globe

The SIM Registration Act will help deter cases of prank orders or fake bookings and possibly prevent similar incidents from happening again.

Globe Business Enterprise Group executives and Enchanted Kingdom executives pose with Eldar the Wizard. Shown are (from left) Engr. Michael Agustin, Sales Regional Director, Globe Business; Chris Cheng, VP for Connectivity & Digital Products, Globe Business; Tania Gil - Padilla, VP for Sales, Globe Business; Cynthia Mamon, Chief Operating Officer, EK; Mario Mamon, President and CEO, EK; Don Rae, Senior Advisor for Globe Business; Ryan Aban, IT Head, EK; Anna Mamon-Aban, Digital Transformation & Business Development Head, EK.

The SEA region’s drive to digitalize has also been delayed by the lack of cybersecurity experts with the right expertise to combat sophisticated cyberthreats.