Manila Standard - 2023 February 7 - Tuesday

SRP for onions set at P125/k

PBBM okays move to rein in inflation, limits middlemen in trading

Massive 7.8 quake kills 2,300 in Turkey, Syria

THE most powerful earthquake to strike Turkey and Syria in nearly a century killed over 2,300 people on Monday, sparked frantic rescues and was felt as far away as Greenland.

The 7.8-magnitude early morning quake, followed by dozens of after-

shocks, wiped out entire sections of major Turkish cities in a region filled with millions who have fled Syria’s civil war and other conflicts.

Rescuers used heavy equipment and their bare hands to peel back rubble in search of survivors, who they could in

some cases hear begging for help under the debris.

“Since I live in an earthquake zone, I am used to being shaken,” said Melisa Salman, a reporter in the Turkish city of Kahramanmaras.

By Maricel V. Cruz and Othel V. Campos

THE Department of Agriculture has set the suggested retail price of P125 per kilo for imported red onions, which will take effect on Feb. 8, Assistant Secretary Kristine Evangelista said Monday.

Evangelista said this SRP was reached after a meeting attended by importers, traders, and retailers.

This developed as President Ferdi-

nand Marcos Jr. approved several initiatives proposed by the Department of Trade and Industry to help regulate the

PH, US to hold military drills in April, AFP says

THIS year’s “Balikatan” military exercises between American and Filipino troops will take place in April, Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar said in a statement Monday.

“The AFP and the US Armed Forces are once again holding the 38th iteration of annual bilateral ‘Balikatan’ exercises. although this is a bilateral activity, the AFP takes the lead in planning and execution, supported by the US Armed Forces with other like-minded nations as observers,” he said.

Aguilar said “Balikatan” 38-2023 will help the AFP in developing its external defense capabilities and fulfilling its obligations to other countries in the region in terms of countering terrorism and other security threats.

The AFP neither indicated the exact

Fishermen accuse Chinese boats of destroying reefs off Zambales

CHINESE vessels have destroyed artificial reefs in the waters of Masinloc, Zambales meant to help local fishermen earn a living – ramming them not once but four times, a group said, as they appealed to

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for help to get compensation for them.

Last Jan. 17, HC Glory Hong Kong, a Chinese coal hauler ship, dragged and broke the rope attached to the base of a

Fish Aggregating Device (FAD) owned by the New Masinloc Fisherman Association, the group’s president, Leonardo Cuaresma, said in an ABS-CBN report. But it was not the first time it hap -

pened, Cuaresma said.

“Boats have ruined our payao (reefs used for fishing) many times out at sea, but we have no solid evidence because

Hefty price cuts for diesel, gas, kerosene today

By Alena Mae S. Flores

OIL firms gave consumers a hefty price rollback of as much as P3 per liter effective 6 a.m. Tuesday to reflect the movement of prices in the world oil market.

Local oil companies cut the price of diesel by P3 per liter, kerosene by P2.30 per liter, and gasoline by P2.10 per liter.

“Petron will implement the following price rollbacks effective 6 a.m. on Feb 7: P2.10 per liter for gasoline;

Comfort women issue won’t be raised in Tokyo visit

MALACAÑANG reiterated Monday that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will not raise the issue of World War II sexual slavery victims in his state visit to Japan from Feb. 8 to 12, declining the appeal of a comfort women’s group. Nathaniel Imperial, Department of

Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for Asian and Pacific Affairs, said the President is not likely to take up the issue because it is the position of the government that sex slavery victims’ compensation claims have been deemed “settled” in a 1956 repara -

tions deal with Japan.

Mr. Marcos will be in Tokyo this week to meet Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and have an audience with Emperor Naruhito at the Imperial Palace, as well as to witness

NKTI. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (left) delivers his message during the

Founding Anniversary of the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) at East Avenue in Quezon City on Monday. Listening (from left) are NKTI Executive Director Rose Marie

O. Rosete-Liquete, Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, and Department of Health OIC Dr. Rosario Vergerie. Revoli Cortez

China: 2nd balloon in LatAm ours

BEIJING confirmed on Monday a balloon spotted flying over Latin America is Chinese, while the United States worked to recover what it claimed was an unmanned spy craft it shot down at the weekend.

China has expressed fury at Washington’s decision to shoot down a device that it insists was an unmanned weather surveillance aircraft that had veered off course last week.

That balloon sparked outrage in the United States, which accused China of an “unacceptable violation” of its sovereignty and prompted Secretary of State Antony Blinken to call off a planned trip to Beijing.

Beijing acknowledged on Monday that the latest balloon, spotted by US and Co-

lombian officials flying over Latin America at the weekend, was also Chinese.

Its foreign ministry said the device was of “a civilian nature and used for flight tests”.

“Affected by weather forces in addition to its maneuverability being limited, the airship deviated greatly from its expected course, and accidentally entered Latin American and Caribbean airspace,” spokesperson Mao Ning told a media briefing.

That statement came three days after what the Pentagon characterized as

another Chinese spy balloon had been seen across Latin America.

Colombia’s air force reported at the weekend an object with “characteristics similar to those of a balloon” was detected and monitored until it left Colombian air space.

Investigations were being conducted in coordination with other countries and institutions to establish the object’s origins, it said.

Surveillance balloon

The other balloon had spent several days flying over North America before Washington said on Saturday an F-22 fighter jet had shot it down off the coast of South Carolina. Pentagon officials had described it as a

“But that was the first time we have ever experienced anything like that,” the 23-year-old told AFP. “We thought it was the apocalypse.”

The head of Syria’s National Earthquake Centre, Raed Ahmed, called it “the biggest earthquake recorded in the history of the centre”.

At least 810 people died in rebel and government-controlled parts of Syria, state media and medical sources said, while Turkish officials reported another 1,498 fatalities.

The initial quake was followed by dozens of aftershocks, including a Shocked survivors in Turkey rushed out into the snow-covered streets in their pyjamas, watching rescuers dig through the debris of damaged homes with their hands.

“Seven members of my family are under the debris,” Muhittin Orakci, a stunned survivor in Turkey’s mostly Kurdish city of Diyarbakir, told AFP.

“My sister and her three children are there. And also her husband, her father-in-law and her mother-in-law.”

The rescue was being hampered by a winter blizzard that covered major roads in ice and snow. Officials said the quake made three major airports in the area inoperable, further complicating deliveries of vital aid.

Turkey’s last 7.8-magnitude tremor was in 1939, when 33,000 died in the eastern Erzincan province.

‘Ran for the door’

Monday’s first quake struck at 4:17am (0117 GMT) at a depth of about 18 kilometres (11 miles) near the Turkish city of Gaziantep, which is home to around two million people, the US Geological Survey said.

Denmark’s geological institute said tremors from the main quake reached the east coast of Greenland about eight minutes after the tremor struck Turkey.

Osama Abdel Hamid, a quake survivor in Syria, said his family was sleeping when the shaking began.

“I woke up my wife and my children and we ran towards the door,” he said. “We opened it and suddenly all the building collapsed.” AFP with Vince Lopez

P3 per liter for diesel; and P2.30 per liter for kerosene. These reflect movements in the international oil market,” Petron Corp., the country’s biggest oil player, said.

Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, PTT Philippines, Seaoil Philippines, Jetti Petroleum, and Cleanfuel issued separate advisories of the latest oil price movement, while other oil companies are expected to follow.

The rollback ended three consecutive weeks of price hikes for gasoline and diesel, which reached a total of P5.05 per liter for gasoline and P3.75 per liter for diesel.

On Saturday, Unioil Philippines said diesel prices would go down by P2.60 to P2.80 per liter, while gasoline would go down by P1.90 to P2 per liter.

Rodela Romero, Department of Energy director for the Oil Industry Management Bureau, said Friday that oil prices were forecasted to go down this week due to the “ongoing recessionary fears, the threat of further interest rates and build up in US inventories of crude, petrol, and distillates.”

Sources told the Standard that oil prices were also influenced by reports that Russian exports remained strong and the decision of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies not to cut production, contrary to market expectations of a small production cut.

“high-altitude surveillance balloon” and said Washington had taken steps to block it from collecting sensitive information.

General Glen VanHerck, commander of US forces in North America, said in a statement Sunday that navy personnel were “currently conducting recovery operations, with the US Coast Guard assisting in securing the area and maintaining public safety”.

Beijing has said the balloon that was shot down was primarily gathering weather data and that it had been blown off course.

In return, it has also said the United States “seriously impacted and damaged” relations between the two countries by shooting it down and lodged a formal complaint with the US embassy in Beijing. AFP

PBBM: Kidney Institute to cut more disease deaths

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday assured the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) that the government would continue to support the hospital to reduce the number of deaths from renal and kidney diseases.

Mr. Marcos gave the remark during the 40th founding anniversary of NKTI where he was invited as the

soaring prices of onions in the country, including limiting the number of traders involved in the supply chain of imported and locally produced onions.

Also on Monday, House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez met with officials from the DA and DTI and called for an all-out war against hoarders and unscrupulous traders of onion and other agricultural products.

Among the action plans firmed up during the meeting is for the DA to tap the P276-million Kadiwa Food Mobilization Fund under the 2023 budget to buy the harvest of farmers at prices higher than the production cost, then sell it through Kadiwa at farm gate prices to force hoarders to unload their stocks.

Meanwhile, the DTI vowed to assist the DA in helping Filipinos still struggling with high food prices.

In a televised interview, DTI Usec. Ruth Castelo said that while the agency has yet to make an announcement on these initiatives, the President has already green-lit some proposals from Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual.

“Of course, the DTI really has to help as our contribution to the country’s food security. These are agricultural products. but there are already initiatives proposed by DTI Sec. Pascual which the President approved,” Castelo told ABS-CBN.

“However, we cannot disclose the

Bantag faces new plunder, graft charges

By Rey E. Requejo

THE Bureau of Corrections on Monday asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) to prosecute its suspended chief Gerald Bantag for plunder and graft over the alleged questionable disbursement of P1 billion for the construction and repair of prisons in Palawan, Davao and Leyte.

The bureau’s officer-in-charge, Gregorio Catapang Jr., filed the complaint before the DOJ’s National Prosecution Service.

Also named respondents were Correction Technical Superintendent Arnold Jacinto Guzman, Correction Inspectors Ric Rocacurba and Solomon Areniego, Correction Technical Office 1 Jor-el De Jesus, Correction Technical Officer 2 Angelo Castillo and Correction Technical Officer Alexis Catindig.

keynote speaker.

“We are committed to supporting NKTI in all these noble endeavors and together I am confident that we can rise to the challenge of fighting kidney and renal disease so that our people can leave better, live longer lives,” the President said in his speech.

“With many deaths attributed to kidney disease in our country, it is im-

details yet except for the initiative that we can limit traders now to shorten the supply chain between the farmer and the trader,” she added.

The more traders are involved, the higher the markup of prices of onions will be once they reach local markets, Castelo pointed out. She cited imported onions, which have a landed cost of only P14 but are being sold by as high as P350 per kilo in some Metro Manila markets, citing Bureau of Customs data.

“We know that its lowest price in the market is P180 in only one market in the National Capital Region. Its highest selling price as of today is P300 sometimes even P350, but in a local market brand, they sell local onions for around P180,” she said.

“So, we can see that the prices are going down and once there has been a continuous harvest from local producers, the prices will further continue to go down. We also need to bring down the prices of the imported onion because, from the landed cost as our starting point, we’re eyeing how to lessen the markup of the traders’ prices,” Castelo added.

As for Evangelista, the DA official said among the factors considered in determining the P125 SRP for imported red onions were the importer’s price, including expenses after landed cost, which is around P77, and the wholesaler’s price.

She said the department will not be setting an SRP for local onions for now. Romualdez on Sunday warned hoarders and traders manipulating the supply and

pier without paying anything, he added.

perative that we ensure that dialysis treatment will be readily available, accessible, and cost-effective for our fellow Filipinos,” he said.

“The ultimate goal is to lower the death and disabilities associated with kidney disease and kidney failure, especially for those who are not able to access dialysis treatment due to the high cost,” Mr. Marcos said. Vince Lopez

prices of onion and other agricultural commodities that their days are numbered.

“We cannot allow it anymore. It’s too much,” Romualdez said of the high retail prices for onions.

The Speaker asked the DA and DTI officials to help Congress identify these unscrupulous businessmen so they can be invited to the forthcoming congressional investigation on the manipulation of supply and prices of agricultural products.

“If you know who these people are, let us know. We will invite all of them, if not, have the authorities arrest them,” Romualdez said.

Romualdez said the lawmakers recognize the right of businessmen under a regime of free trade to earn a profit, but it should not come at the expense and misery of the people.

“That’s where we draw the line here in Congress,” Romualdez said.

Romualdez said concerned agencies must ensure closer cooperation and get their acts together to ensure an effective campaign against hoarders and manipulative traders, noting that the agencies give different data on the situation.

“We are also giving a budget to the DA and your agency, so we want to make sure you are performing optimally. It doesn’t seem to be the case at the moment—but we want to get there. Because at the end of the day, with the best data, the best feedback, we can make the best policies so we can avoid this situation where some unscrupulous personalities and cartels are taking advantage of the situation,” Romualdez said.

ry Hong Kong to the President’s attention.

The respondents were accused of violating Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees as well as administrative cases for grave misconduct, dishonesty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.

The complaint said Bantag as BuCor chief conspired with the other respondents to divert or misappropriate P273 million for the P1 billion allocated for the construction of prison facilities in a public bidding held on Sept. 17, 2020.

It said that Bantag’s plan to divert or misappropriate public funds started when he had created a separate Bids and Awards Committee for the infrastructure projects in the three prison facilities and designated non-permanent BuCor officials, Correction Technical Superintendent John Paul Santos and Correction Superintendent Virginia Mangawit as chairperson and member, respectively of the BAC.

PH,...

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dates of the exercises nor gave an exact number of participating American and Filipino military personnel for this year’s exercises.

However, it said the maneuvers will be held in the areas of jurisdiction of the Northern Luzon Command, Visayas Command and Western Command.

Meanwhile, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday urged the top officers of the AFP to “keep up with the times” and be more agile in fostering partnerships as the global situation becomes “more and more complicated.”

The President made this remark in a speech at the oath-taking ceremony of newly promoted generals and flag rank officers of the AFP in Malacañang.

Mr. Marcos also told the AFP top brass: “We, therefore, have to be more agile in our responses not only in the military area but also in diplomacy, also in geopolitical negotiations, and in our partnerships that we foster with our friends and allies around the world.”

only a few have witnessed these events. But this time (with the Chinese ship), a lot more saw what happened, a lot were fishing when it happened,” he said in Filipino in a TeleRadyo interview.

Cuaresma said at least 30 bancas manned by Filipino fishermen were at the artificial reef when the HC Glory Hong Kong destroyed it.

“This is the fourth time a ship has destroyed our projects,” he said.

Estimated damage to the reef was almost P900,000, but the ship’s captain only offered $500 (around P27,000) for the damage, Cuaresma said. Even worse, the vessel had already left the

the signing of seven bilateral agreements and meet business leaders and the Filipino community.

Filipino women and children endured rape and other sexual acts at the hands of Japanese soldiers during the latter’s occupation of the Philippines in the Pacific War in the 1940s.

“However, the government will not prevent private claims should such actions be pursued by the victims, because this is an atrocious violence against women during the war,” Imperial added.

Meanwhile, Senator Raffy Tulfo on Monday renewed his call to ban the de-

Fishermen are thus losing hope of earning a living owing to many instances of harassment by Chinese vessels, said Cuaresma, who also urged the Philippine Coast Guard to help guard local fishermen from Chinese aggression.

PCG Spokesperson Armand Balilo said he is still looking into the matter.

“A lot of our companions have been displaced from Scarborough Shoal because we have lost our fishing grounds… our municipal waters are now super crowded, but it’s the only alternative to the middle of the sea.

It’s also the only way we can earn a living,” he said.

The president of the New Masinloc Fisherman’s Association said their group wanted to bring the incident with HC Glo-

ployment of Filipino workers to Kuwait, after a domestic helper there, Myla Balbag, fell out of a third-floor window to escape from her employer, who beat her for using the Tiktok application on her phone.

In the House, Rep. Marissa Magsino of the OFW party-list group called for a review of bilateral labor agreements entered by the Philippines with countries of destination.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported that there are 25 such agreements in force between the Philippines and other countries of destination, including Kuwait, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, and Italy.

Tulfo, who chairs the Senate committee on migrant workers, said he has coordinated with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA)

Cuaresma was referring to the January 17, 2023 incident where a Chinese coal hauler ship dragged and broke the rope attached to the base of a Fish Aggregating Device (FAD) owned by the fishermen’s association.

“The ship was still far away, but the fishermen already signaled it to adjust its course because it was headed straight for them.

Unfortunately, the vessel did not adjust and ended up dragging the fishermen’s raft until its rope was broken. According to the fishermen, if they hadn’t broken off the rope attached to the raft, they would have been dragged alongside it,” Cuaresma said during the online show The West Philippine Sea CATCH.

to check on Balbag, who was paralyzed from her fall.

Reports from OWWA said Balbag was brought to the Emergency Department of Al Jaber Hospital on Jan. 21 after falling from the third floor of her employer’s house in Hateen while trying to escape.

Balbag said her female employer got furious after catching her using the social media application TikTok in her room.

The employer grabbed her phone and headset and beat her.

Out of fear, Balbag said she packed her belongings and tried to escape through the window on the third floor of her employer’s house but fell while doing so.

The news about Balbag came two weeks after the murder of domes-

The President sought to strengthen the country’s collaboration with various government agencies, allies, partners, and other stakeholders to safeguard and advance the country’s national interest amid tensions and challenges.

The role of the AFP and its commanders, according to the President, has “certainly changed,” hence the need to continue to keep up with the times.

“Not only has the situation – the geopolitical situation become more complex, even the method of warfighting has become more complex with the new technologies, with the new capabilities that have become available to us,” Mr. Marcos pointed out.

Vince Lopez and Maricel

V. Cruz

tic helper Jullebee Ranara, who was burned to death and left in a desert in Salmi, Al-Jahra Governorate. She was reportedly raped and impregnated by the 17-year-old son of her employer.

Senator Christopher Go urged a thorough review of the policies regulating the deployment of overseas Filipino workers.

He asked the government to consider stricter vetting procedures for the deployment of Filipino workers in certain countries especially to high-risk areas where abuses have been reported, as well as in those with weak labor welfare laws.

Tulfo said a deployment ban to Kuwait can be used as leverage when the Philippine government sits down with Kuwait for bilateral talks. Vince Lopez, Macon Ramos-Araneta, and Maricel V. Cruz

Lawmakers OK bill to protect freelancers

By Maricel V. Cruz

THE House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a bill that provides protection and relief to over 1.5 million Filipino freelance workers who may fall prey to abusive employers due to a lack of a grievance system in the digital economy.

With an overwhelming 250 votes, the chamber passed House Bill (HB) 6718 or the “Freelance Workers Protection Act,” which also mandates the institutionalization of benefits such as night differential and hazard pay for freelance workers whenever they are applicable.

“As the digital economy expands, the number of Filipino freelance workers also increases. And if no laws are in place to protect our gig economy freelancers or to establish a formal grievance system to enforce their rights, they will be susceptible to all kinds of abuse,” Speaker Martin G. Romualdez said.

“This is the reason a majority of lawmakers in the House threw their support behind this measure. As a sector with an exploding growth spurt in the coming years, they need protective cover under our laws to ensure their transition as a significant driver of our economy,” Romualdez added.

Freelance workers in the Philippines account for over 1.5 million people working in the gig economy.

Solons eye suspension of mother tongue as medium of instruction

By Maricel V. Cruz

THE House of Representatives is pushing to suspend the implementation of mother tongue or first language as the medium of instruction from kindergarten to Grade 3. Lawmakers said this is to address the patent lack of learning materials on mother tongue language in schools and to ensure the adherence to the constitutional mandate of providing quality education accessible to all learners in basic education.

IN BRIEF

Enverga is Valenzuela legislative caretaker

THE House of Representatives, under the leadership of Speaker Martin G. Romualdez, designated Committee on Agriculture and Food chairperson and Quezon Rep. Wilfrido Mark Enverga as the legislative caretaker of Valenzuela City.

Enverga would assume office as the substitute for former Rep. Rex Gatchalian, who was recently appointed as the new Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

With the designation of Enverga, lawmakers also formally accepted Gatchalian’s resignation as representative of the first District of Valenzuela City. Maricel V. Cruz

Joy wants to prioritize mental health in QC

MAYOR Joy Belmonte wants mental health a top priority in Quezon City.

She said the city government has already taken initial steps to promote mental well-being, particularly in schools.

“As early as last year, we have extended assistance to public schools by hiring justly compensated mental health professionals like therapists and counselors who will recognize mental health warning signs early on and provide short-term counseling and crisis interventions,” she cited.

The chamber under the leadership of Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, voting 240 against three and two abstentions, approved on 3rd and final reading Monday House Bill (HB) 6717 suspending the implementation of Section 4 of Republic Act No. 10533, otherwise known as the “Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013 until the Department of Education (DepEd) certifies to Congress that it has completed its books, teaching materials, and supplies to effectively im-

plement the use of mother tongue or first language to learners in kindergarten to Grade 3.

The bill, however, provides that the Filipino Sign Language shall remain the medium of instruction for students with pertinent disabilities, and allows the continued implementation of the mother tongue in schools where it is assessed to be effective. Under the current Sec. 4 of RA Enhanced Basic Education Act, mother

language or first Language refers to language or languages first learned by a child, which he/she identifies with, is identified as a native language user of by others, which he/she knows best, or uses most. This includes Filipino Sign language used by individuals with pertinent disabilities. The regional or native language refers to the traditional speech variety or variety of Filipino sign language existing in a region, area or place.

Bersamin says PEZA chief’s leadership is valid

By Othel V. Campos

HB 6718 defines a freelance worker as any natural person or entity composed of no more than one natural person, whether incorporated under the Securities and Exchange Commission, registered as a sole proprietorship under the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) or registered as self-employed with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).

This person must be “hired or retained to provide services, in exchange for compensation, as an independent contractor to do work according to one’s own methods and without being subjected to the control of the hiring party, except only as to the results of the work.”

House approves Eddie Garcia Act on third reading

By Maricel V. Cruz

WITH an overwhelming 240 votes, the House of Representatives on Monday approved on third and final reading a bill protecting workers and/or independent contractors in the film, television, and radio entertainment industry.

Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez said House Bill (HB) 1270, to be known as the “Eddie Garcia Act,” would cover thousands of people working in the entertainment sector.

“It would ensure that they continue to have gainful employment and protect them against abuse, harassment, dangerous working environment, and exploitation,” he said.

The proposed law was titled after the popular actor who died in June 2019 following an accident while filming a teleserye for a television station.

“Manong Eddie was a hugely popular actor well-loved by many Filipinos. It was unfortunate that he died in such circumstances. But the accident served as a wake-up call for the industry and for us policymakers in Congress,” Romualdez said.

Apart from school interventions, the city is also investing in treatments and other “holistic approaches that focus on care over and above treatment.” Rio

THE Office of the President (OP) ruled as valid and legal the assumption of leadership at the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) by acting PEZA director general (DG) Tereso Panga.

N. Araja

Customs agents seize

P2.4m in drugs at NAIA

GOVERNMENT agents assigned at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) have intercepted three parcels of smuggled cannabis, ecstasy, and shabu worth more than P2.4 million.

The simultaneous operations were conducted on Feb. 1 at the Central Mail Exchange Center (CMEC), Pair Cargo, and DHL Warehouse in Pasay City.

Customs examiners made physical examination of the parcels and verified the presence of six plastic pouches of candies and one vape cartridge containing THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), 1.020 kilos of ecstasy, and 106.46 grams of shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride).

Joel E. Zurbano

In a letter addressed to the PEZA Board, executive secretary Lucas Bersamin put an end to questions and queries

casting doubts on the validity of Panga’s appointment as PEZA office-in-charge (OIC) DG. “The designation of DDG (deputy director general) Panga as the PEZA OIC is valid and in accordance with (recent) issuances,” he said in a letter dated January 23, 2023. Reports and questions cited that the position of DG is not vacated and that

Chiz: Study on mental health needed

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

ALARMED over reports of suicide cases among students, Senator Chiz Escudero has called on the Department of Health (DOH) to lead a nationwide study that will enable the government to get a bigger picture of the current mental health state of Filipinos.

Escudero, the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Higher, Technical, and Vocational Education, stressed a comprehensive study is needed to have a holistic and effective approach in addressing the problem in general.

The move, he said, will also supplement the recent survey conducted by the Department of Education (DepEd) on the

PEZA is not covered by Memorandum

Circular No. 1, series of 2022 (MC No. 1) and Memorandum Circular No. 3, series of 2022 (MC No. 3).

MC No. 1 effectively vacated certain positions in the executive branch as of noontime of June 30, 2022, including among others, all presidential appointees whose appointments are classified as coterminus.

HB No. 1270 is a consolidation of six related measures, including one authored by Garcia’s congressman-stepson, Mikee Romero of party-list group 1-Pacman.

Romero said his stepfather, one of the country’s most awarded actors, “tripped on loose cables” on the film set and “suffered cervical cracks and fractures” that led to his death.

effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in the mental health of elementary and high school students.

Escudero recalled that since early 2021 when he was still the governor of Sorsogon, he has already been urging the national government to conduct the study so effective measures can be drafted and put in place to help Filipinos cope with the mental stress and anxiety caused by the global health crisis.

At the time, there were already reports of people, both students and workers, experiencing clinical depression.

The DepEd disclosed there were 404 students who died by suicide during academic year 2021-2022 while some 2,147 attempted suicides were recorded.

NPDC ANNIVERSARY. National Parks Development Committee (NPDC) Executive Director Cecile Lorenzana Romero and Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna lead the flag-raising ceremony in Rizal Park on Monday in celebration of the NPDC’s 68th founding anniversary. Norman Cruz

RAGING BLAZE. Firefighters face a raging fire that reached Task Force Bravo at a lumber storage facility in Barangay San Antonio, Sucat, Parañaque City on Monday midnight due to low water supply from surrounding hydrants and the combustible materials in the area. Norman Cruz

OTS probes video of airport frisking of ENHYPEN men

By Joel E. Zurbano

THE Office for Transportation Security

(OTS) is probing an incident at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport where an airport employee took a video of the departing Korean pop group ENHYPEN that went viral on social media.

“It has come to the attention of the OTS that there is a video circulating on social media, showing that airport Security Screening Officers allegedly exhibited unprofessional behavior and the unwarranted filming during the conduct of security screening procedures on a group of departing Korean artists,” the OTS said in a statement.

The OTS formed a team to investigate and determine the extent of violation committed by the employee “based on existing rules and security screening protocols if any, and impose appropriate administrative sanctions, should it be necessary.”

The incident happened while the group was undergoing security procedure Sunday night at the NAIA Terminal 1.

Fans of the K-Pop group criticized the airport and its security management after they saw the viral video. One of the fans said what the airport employee did was “very disrespectful.”

“While we understand the excitement brought about by the presence of these Korean artists, we remind not only our personnel, but all airport users, that unauthorized filming at our security screening checkpoints is not allowed as a matter of policy,” the OTS said.

OTS officials assured the public it will never tolerate any unprofessional behavior towards the riding public.

BARMM’s Wali passes away on Sunday at 81

By Nash B. Maulana

THE Wali, Sheikh Khalifa Nando, of the Bangsamoro autonomous government passed away at a hospital in Davao on Sunday. He was 81.

Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) chief Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. extended his condolences to Nando’s family, friends and colleagues of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Wali.

The title Wali refers to an elder guardian of the top level of leadership of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), as provided for under Republic Act 11054, the Bangsamoro Organic Law.

“Wali” in Arabic means “guardian” or “custodian” or “protector.”

Nando’s remains were brought to his house in Barangay Kayaga, Buluan in Maguindanao del Sur, a few kilometers from the town proper, where he was interred in simple Islamic ceremonies.

Omar Ampatuan, the son in-law of the Wali, said Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim had asked Nando’s family for the joint-hosting of friends and relatives in a tribute gathering at a place and date to be announced later.

Nando, a graduate of the Al-Azhar University in Cairo in the early 1960s co-founded the Moro Islamic Liberation Front with Ustadza Salamat Hashim, along with several others, who like him, have become permanent members of the MILF Central Committee.

People who knew him closely described him as soft-spoken, gentle with words even in his conduct of public dialogue.

Two, possibly four, Japanese fugitives to be deported today

By Rey E. Requejo

JUSTICE Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Monday said two, maybe four, Japanese fugitives who are wanted in Japan are set to be deported on today (Tuesday).

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) also said it is prioritizing the deportation of the four Japanese nationals wanted in their homeland. Remulla said he expects Japanese government representatives to arrive in Manila within the day to escort the deportees back home.

Remulla stressed that sending out only is the “worst case scenario,” but hinted at the possibility of deporting all four today.

In an interview, the Secretary said the Department of Justice (DOJ) will “change

ANTIMINING PROTEST.

Members of Kailakasan People’s network stage a demonstrationprotest in front of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) main office in Quezon City to denounce mining  in Sibuyan Island.

plans” if things did not go as originally intended.

“Yes we can, we will. Hopefully tomorrow, everybody. The worst case scenario is only two tomorrow, but we are working for everybody to be deported tomorrow,” Remulla said, when asked if the deportation of the Japanese nationals could happen before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., leaves for a working visit in Japan on February 8.

The Japanese government has asked Manila to deport four of its

Ex-Presidents can be advisers of the incumbent–Padilla

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

citizens suspected of directing a series of robberies there while detained in the Philippines.

The alleged masterminds, identified in Japanese media as Kiyoto Imamura and Yuki Watanabe, were arrested respectively in 2019 and 2021. Japanese police said the two could be sharing the alias “Luffy,” after a character in the Japanese manga “One Piece.” The other two are Toshiya Fujita and Tomonobu Kojima.

But Remulla earlier said the government cannot deport anyone with a pending criminal case in Philippine courts.

He said two of the four Japanese nationals have been cleared of all pending cases in the country, while the other two have one pending case each.

Win seeks inquiry on BARMM education system

SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian seeks an inquiry on the state of education in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to address low enrollment, improve learner outcomes, and enhance access to quality basic education in the region.

“Several decades of armed conflict and civil unrest have greatly affected the quality of basic education

as evident in the performance of BARMM in several education indicators,” Gatchalian said.

Senate Resolution No. 455 provides for a review the status of the implementation of the education provisions of the Organic Law for the BARMM and the Bangsamoro Education Code (BEC) of 2021.

The code was enacted into law pursuant to the mandate of the

BARMM organic law to pass legislation strengthening the Madaris school system.

Gatchalian flagged that historical Net Enrollment Rate (NER) has been a persistent problem in BARMM, with the problem being more pronounced in Junior High School (JHS) and Senior High School (SHS).

Macon Ramos-Araneta

CamSur solons eye salary hike for teachers

THE four Camarines Sur congressmen have filed bills mandating increases in salary and supply allowance of public school teachers.

Citing the current inflation that the country, Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte said the public school teachers need the increases to help them cope with the rising cost of living.

“Despite their heavy workload and essential role as agents of constructive intellectual, social, cultural, political and moral change in our society, our public school teachers are among the most underpaid workers in the country,” Villafuerte said.

“Increasing their take-home pay and providing for a permanent teaching supplies allowance with a provision for a steady bump per school-year will hopefully incentivize

them to strive for excellence in their field and make teaching a more attractive profession for our students.”

Villafuerte and three fellow Camarines

Sur representatives authored House Bill 1851 mandating a significant increase in the salary grade level of public elementary and high school teachers from Grade 11 to Grade 19.

In HB 1849, meanwhile, the four lawmakers wanted to make permanent the school supplies’ allowance of P5,000 that public school teachers have been given during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown to lessen their burden in coughing up their personal money to deliver education services during the hybrid learning system of face-to-face and remote or online teaching. Maricel V. Cruz

SENATOR Robinhood Padilla on Monday said former Presidents should be made presidential advisers as he aired his support to the proposal to give additional benefits to the erstwhile leaders, especially with their continuing sacrifices for the country, “I am sure they have much to contribute to our nation, even after their terms end,” also said Padilla.

“And it will be up to the sitting President to decide which area they can contribute,” Padilla said.

The senator specifically cited former President Rodrigo Duterte, whom he said can be designated as adviser on law enforcement or on foreign relations.

Senators Christopher Go, Ronald Dela Rosa, Francis Tolentino and Mark Villar jointly filed Senate Bill 1784, also called “Former President Act of 2023.”

Under the measure, former Presidents will be provided staffs, office and protection by the Presidential Security Group (PSG) as may be augmented by the Philippine National Police.

“This will also maintain the dignity of the Office of the President and accord honor to a former President,” Padilla said.

Sen. Jinggoy Estrada said he would inhibit himself if the matter is put to a vote since his father, former President Joseph Estrada, will benefit from it.

Theexplanatorynoteofthebillreadsthata former president still serves as a representation of the country and contributes insights on nation building and pressing national issues even after stepping down from office.

“Despite the end of their term, they are also expected to perform post-presidential duties such as meeting with foreign and local dignitaries, and attending public events and other social engagements. These duties often require them to employ services of personal staff and maintain private offices,” the senators said.

Recto cites budget hike for DepEd’s feeding programs

By Maricel V. Cruz

CONGRESS has increased by 454.5 percent the budget of the two child feeding programs of the government, or from P7.48 billion to P10.89 billion, Deputy Speaker Ralph Recto said on Monday.

From P3.32 billion in 2022, funding for the Department of Education’s “SchoolBased Feeding Program” rose to P5.69 billion in this year’s national budget, an adjustment of P2.37 billion.

“DepEd will not only feed the mind, but the body as well. Nutrition impacts learning,” Recto said.

With the amount, DepEd said in its budget presentation to Congress that 1.7 million learners will benefit from the increase.

The DSWD, on the other hand, will be getting P5.2 billion for its “ Supplementary Feeding Program, up by P1.04 billion, from last year’s P4.16 billion.

The amount will be enough to feed 1,754,637 children age two to five in community and neighborhood sites.

HONORING DR. JOSE RIZAL. Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas and members of the local chapter of the Knights of Rizal hold a wreath-laying ceremony in commemoration of the life and works of the national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, at the Plaza Libertad in Iloilo City. Norman Cruz

WESM LAUNCH. President Marcos Jr. leads the launch of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) in Mindanao meant to stabilize the supply of reasonably priced electricity in the region. The President stresses that energy is the backbone of economic growth, which is also the element for more stable investor confidence in the country.

PCO photo

Manny Palmero

Will ICC probe stop Duterte & Bato accountability

the accountability of ranking members of the PNP will finally be resolved.

Right now, it’s difficult for Abalos to hold police higher ups accountable because of mere suspicions and rumors.

Another problem is: will this finally cleanse the police of having an image of links to crime syndicates?

Nearby security challenge

LESS than a week back, Pyongyang’s threat of “overwheling” nuclear force against Washington’s combined military exercises with rival Seoul was pushing regional tensions to an “extreme red line.”

CONSIDERING the Marcos administration will not honor the resumed investigation of the International Criminal Court of the brutal and bloody war on illegal drugs when former President Duterte was in power for six years, when now Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa was police chief, one big question remains to be answered, Santa Banana!

Will this stop the ICC from its mandate to investigate Duterte and Bato from getting indicted for “crimes against humanity”?

The ICC has already accepted the complaints from lawyers of alleged victims of extrajudicial killings, my gulay, a fact everybody knows happened when Duterte was President and when Bato was police chief, when some 8,000 people were killed with Duterte’s “kill,kill, kill” mandate for the police to eradicate the illegal drugs problem under the PNP’s “doublebarreled” and “Tokhang” campaign.

But, unofficial sources had claimed otherwise that some 28,000 were killed.

The argument of the Marcos administration in disallowing the ICC investigators to come to the Philippines is sovereignty, claiming the Philippine justice system is working in holding all those members of the PNP accountable for EJKs.

But, will this stop the ICC from making Duterte and Bato accountable? Santa Banana!

I am sure the ICC will not.

This, to me, is now a problem, having the tag internationally as a country with no less than a former President and a former police chief committing crimes against humanity.

Let’s hope so, if only to restore the people’s faith and confidence in the police as the protector of the people, which has deteriorated so much all these years.

*** *** ***

If there’s one thing President Marcos Jr. must do before he leaves the Department of Agriculture as acting secretary, now in his seventh month, it’s to stop the smuggling of pricey agricultural products like onions, sugar, fish, meat and even rice.

I am sure that BBM must have been told that smuggling is now controlled by a Mafialike cartel who has control of the smuggled goods from the moment they are reloaded for shipment to the time they are unloaded in selected ports of entry to the Philippines, with full control of some Customs officials who facilitate their unloading and storage at selected warehouses.

I am sure the President must also have been advised that every now and then, a small portion of the smuggled goods is sacrificed by this Mafia-like cartel for PR purposes, to let the people believe Customs is not part of the operation, making it look like Customs is doing its job.

Santa Banana, the bigger problem with the non-stop smuggling of agricultural products is that if smuggling goes on unabated, so will the smuggling of illegal drugs, my gulay!

Proof of this is everyday, we get reports from the media about buy-bust operations by the police or by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency of so many kilos of shabu being seized.

For sure, these billions of pesos worth of illegal drugs are smuggled from China. If there is big money in the smuggling of agricultural products, much more with smuggling of illegal drugs.

Every now and then, farmers come out with the names of alleged smugglers and the DA must now have them monitored.

Mister President, the next move is yours, if only to show the people that you have no tolerance for anything involving corruption, like smuggling, since for sure the Mafia-like caretel has protection from the police or some politicians.

North Korea’s Foreign Ministry statement chased comments by US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who said in Seoul two days earlier the United States would increase its deployment of advanced military assets to the Korean Peninsula.

These would include fighter jets and aircraft carriers, as Wasington strengthens joint training and operational planning with its ally south of the Demilitarized Zone.

Since the armistice was signed in Panmonjom in the DMZ between North and South Korea on July 27, 1953, areas of contention have since revolved around Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons program and missile tests, and military exercises held by the US and South Korea.

Seoul’s security restlessness have risen since Pyongyang test-fired dozens of missiles in 2022, including potentially nuclearcapable ones designed to strike targets in South Korea, Guam and the US mainland.

A statement attributed to an unidentified spokesman of North Korea’s Foreign Ministry stressed the expansion of the allies’ military drills was threatening to turn the Korean Peninsula into a “huge war arsenal and a more critical war zone.”

It added the North was prepared to counter any short- or long-term military challenge by the allies with the “most overwhelming

ON MARCH 5, 2018, the Duterte government announced its withdrawal from the International Criminal Court.

While I agree the Marcos administration has the right to disallow the ICC investigators to come to the Philippines under the claim of sovereignty, will that stop the ICC from pursuing its mandate?

And here’s where the problem is. Can Duterte and Bato escape from their accountability? *** *** ***

Another problem the Marcos administration has to resolve is President Marcos Jr.’s effort to clean the PNP from an image that some police higher-ups, from full colonels to generals, have links to illegal drugs.

And people know the reason why illegal drugs proliferate is that many full colonels and generals have links with cartels and syndicates in illegal drugs.

It’s for this reason why Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos had sought out full colonels and generals to submit their courtesy resignations led by no less than Police Chief Rodolfo Azurin Jr. .

So far, some 943 high ranking members of the PNP have submitted their courtesy resignations, except 12 who are either retiring or have retired, my gulay!

Only one is not submitting his courtesy resignation claiming “it is my prerogative.”

Abalos has formed the panel to review the accountability of the police generals and full colonels, led by Azurin, Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong and former Defense Secretary Gibo Teodoro and two others, whose findings will be submitted to the Police Commission that will subsequently submit its findings to the President.

The President will then make the final decision.

The thing to consider is with this process,

By Melandrew T. Velasco

FIRST, the Tullahan River.

This year, San Miguel Corporation (SMC), one of the country’s most diversified companies, is poised to accomplish another feat: the rehabilitation of the historic Pasig River.

Approximately 27 kilometers long, Pasig River connects Laguna de Bay and Manila Bay.

The main Pasig River passes through the cities of Taguig, Pasig, Makati, Mandaluyong and Manila, and the municipality of Taytay in Rizal.

The river system has four major tributaries― Marikina, Pateros-Taguig, Napindan and San Juan―and 43 minor tributaries such as creeks and esteros mostly in Manila.

Pasig River, which played an important role in the development of Manila and its neighboring cities and town, was was famous for its pristine waters.

It was not only a source of water, livelihood nor a transport route; it was also a place for recreation. I came across a speech by the late President

Mister President, you must do something against smuggling.

*** *** ***

According to some health experts, with President Marcos Jr., most likely not extending the state of calamity for the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines with the continuous decline of COVID-19 cases nationwide, we are now undergoing that state which is called “social ending” of the COVID-19 crisis.

These comments from health experts coincide with the World Health Organization findings in some countries where the pandemic crisis is also declining.

They are undergoing what is called “social endemic” or what is called the “new normal” as distinguished from the medical ending of the pandemic.

Under the new normal, people can now return to pre-pandemic days and live normally.

This means while COVID-19 is still with us medically, people can return to what they have been doing during the pre-pandemic days, except that we must continue health protocols of wearing masks, washing hands, and observing social distancing.

And for the elderly and people with illnesses and diseases, they must continue staying indoors and avoid crowded places.

*** *** ***

We, journalists, continue to become the frontliners like health workers with a big difference.

Health workers are in touch with patients of the COVID-19 crisis, while we, journalists, must go out to report the news of what’s happening around us.

We, journalists, seek the truth and be factual and balanced in reporting facts, always truthfully.

We watch developments in the region with edginess, as security officials create room for diplomacy to maintain regional peace

nuclear force.”

The scenario duplicates the 2017–2018 North Korea crisis, a period of heightened tension between North Korea and the United States throughout 2017, which began when North Korea conducted a series of missile and nuclear tests that demonstrated the country’s ability to launch ballistic missiles beyond its immediate region.

Analysts have said North Korea’s longrange missile and nuclear programs represent the region’s most immediate security challenge, and any major instability or conflict on the Korean Peninsula would have severe strategic, economic and humanitarian

repercussions.

A North Korean attack on the United States would also trigger Australia’s commitments under the ANZUS – Australia, New Zealand and the United States –alliance, which has a 1951 non-binding collective security agreement to protect the security of the Pacific.

North Korea has been testing the Hwasong-14 ballistic missile with a range of 8,000km -- although some studies suggest it could travel as far as 10,000km, making it capable of reaching New York.

North Korea’s purported withdrawal from the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty and defiance of UN Security Council resolutions weaken the global restraints on the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology, including ballistic missiles.

The last time North Korea tested a nuclear bomb was in 2017. The explosion at its Punggye-ri test site had a force or “yield” of between 100-370 kilotons.

A 100 kiloton bomb is six times more powerful than the one the US dropped on Hiroshima in 1945.

South Korea has thus far refrained from commenting on North Korea’s statement, but a spokesman of the Defense Ministry said the allies’ latest aerial drills were aimed at demonstrating the credibility of the US’ “extended deterrence” – a reference to a commitment to use the full range of its military capabilities to defend South Korea.

Meanwhile, we watch developments in the region with edginess, as security officials create room for diplomacy to maintain regional peace. .

On March 16, 2018, it formally submitted its Notice of Withdrawal through a Note Verbale to the United Nations Secretary-General’s Chef de Cabinet. These prompted the filing of petitions questioning the ICC withdrawal before the Supreme Court, saying it cannot be done without the Senate’s concurrence.

In a unanimous decision penned by Associate Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen, the Supreme Court dismissed the Petitions but acknowledged the President is the primary architect of foreign policy, his authority is subject to the Constitution and existing statute.

The power of the President to withdraw unilaterally can be limited by the conditions for concurrence by the Senate or when there is an existing law that authorizes the negotiation of a treaty or international agreement or when there is a statute that implements an existing treaty. Hence, the President’s discretion on unilaterally withdrawing from any treaty or international agreement is not absolute.

The Court outlined the instances when the president may not unilaterally withdraw from a treaty, thus: (a) when the Senate conditionally concurs, such that it requires concurrence also to withdraw; or (b) when the withdrawal itself will be contrary to a statute, or to a legislative authority to negotiate and enter into a treaty, or an existing law which implements a treaty.

In this case, President Duterte validly withdrew the Philippines from the Rome Statute.

However the Court was quite clear that we are bound by the terms of this treaty.

This means crimes committed between 2011 when we became a member and 2018 when the notice of withdrawal was submitted are still within the jurisdiction of the ICC. These include extrajudicial killings from the time Rodrigo Duterte was still Mayor of Davao to the first two years of his presidency. In an International Criminal Court case, judgment and sentence are rendered after the prosecution as well as defense have made their closing arguments. After which, the judges may decide to find the accused guilty or not guilty.

The reading of the sentence is done publicly and, wherever possible, in the presence of the accused, and victims or their legal representatives, if they have taken part in the proceedings.

Imposable penalties include a prison sentence, to which may be added a fine or forfeiture of the proceeds, property and assets derived directly or indirectly from the crime committed.

No death sentence may be imposed, with the maximum sentence of imprisonment up to 30 years.

However, in extreme and extraordinarily heinous crimes, a term of life imprisonment may be imposed.

The day of reckoning is coming for Duterte and others

Service of sentence may be done in a State designated by the Court from a list of States which have indicated to the Court their willingness to accept convicted persons.

Trials proper take place at the seat of the Court in The Hague, unless otherwise decided by the judges to hold the trial in some other venue.

The presence of the accused at his or her trial is a must.

A Public trial will be held unless a closed session is held for the protection and safety of victims and witnesses or the confidentiality of sensitive evidentiary material.

The ICC, having no police force of its own, relies on State cooperation, which is essential to the arrest and surrender of suspects.

As such, States Parties, which are signatories to the Rome Statute, are dutybound to cooperate fully with the Court in its investigation and prosecution of crimes within the jurisdiction of the Court.

Warrants of arrest may be enforced by the States. hence, while the Court functions as the judicial pillar, the operational pillar belongs

Restoring Pasig River

Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. delivered before the Philippine Jaycees in 1970 where he reminisced about Pasig River.

“I remember when I was young, I used to be a member of an outboard motorboat racers group, and we used to race down the Pasig River. I turned turtle right in front of Malacanang, or rather, just behind Malacanang. But the water was so clean that it was a pleasant swim to the river bank,” the late president said.

That was the Pasig River before the onset of rapid urbanization and settlements of informal settlers along its riverbanks.

Apart from pollutants from factories and households that end up in the river, the proliferation of water hyacinth and other seasonal phenomena such as algal bloom, and salt water intrusion have contributed to the river’s water quality.

Over the years, several attempts have been made in the hope of rehabilitating and reviving the river to improve its water quality and flood water carrying capacity, and restore its environmental integrity.

The recent pronouncement by SMC

President and CEO Ramon S. Ang that SMC expects its P2-billion Pasig Clean-up project to surpass the one million metric tons threshold in silt and solid waste extracted from the river this month is good news to all of us.

According to SMC, the dredging teams will focus efforts on both ends of the river where water flow restriction is usual.

SMC’s clean up teams have removed a total 927,198 metric tons of silt and waste from the Pasig River to date. Monthly, SMC targets to extract more than 70,000 tons.

Being an archipelago, the country is highly vulnerable to water-related hazards. Manila and its neighboring cities and towns along bodies of water are prone to flooding especially during the rainy season and onslaught of typhoons.

The rehabilitation of the Pasig River will mitigate the flooding in these areas as its floodcarrying capacity has vastly improved.

The dredging and de-silting of the river increased the depths to five-six meters from just two-three meters when the project started.

“Hopefully, by the time the rainy season sets in later this year, our cities will feel the benefits of the Pasig River’s larger carrying capacity, along with government’s other flood mitigation and control programs,” RSA said.

With its increased hydraulic capacity, Pasig River as a transport route will also be vastly improved. River ferries will be able to provide better intra-city connectivity and help decongest thoroughfares in the metropolis.

The rehabilitation of the Pasig River is the second initiative of SMC in support of DENR’s Adopt-A-River Program after the Tullahan River rehabilitation.

to States, including the enforcement of the Court’s orders.

It is for this reason the cooperation by the Marcos government in the probe as well as the enforcement of the ICC orders is of utmost importance.

Families of victims of extra-judicial killings under the previous administration have long waited for justice.

Instead of stonewalling and obstructionism, Marcos must cooperate and hold the perpetrators to justice.

Marcos must order all enforcement agencies to facilitate the probe instead of merely paying lip service to transparency and human rights.

The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court earlier suspended a probe at the request of the Philippine government.

Unfortunately, we did not make use of that time to investigate in earnest the crimes against humanity committed in the course of the war against drugs.

Clearly, no progress was made even in the ordinary investigation of killings committed by police forces in the course of drug operations.

Such killings can never be justified under the doctrine of presumption of regularity.

Any killing is irregular and must be investigated before it is categorized as legally in pursuit of mission.

Incidentally, the accountability for this failure lies squarely on the police and the prosecution service.

There is no failure of the judiciary here as our judges were never given a chance –not by the ICC but by our law enforcers and prosecutors.

The day of reckoning is coming for Duterte and others.

Crimes against humanity, especially your fellow Filipinos, cannot be just forgotten and set aside.

Thankfully, the ICC will fill the void that our law enforcers have not filled.

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

It also contributes to efforts being undertaken in compliance with the continuing Supreme Court mandamus to clean up the Manila Bay.

It is the largest such initiative by a single entity in the country which I hope will inspire other entities from the private sector to emulate.

The Memorandum of Agreement for the implementation of the P2-billion Pasig Dredging Project was signed between DENR and SMC on June 9, 2021.

The rehabilitation of the Tullahan River which was completed in 27 months and the ongoing Pasig River project are just two initiatives of SMC led by RSA that demonstrate the conglomerate’s love for the country.

Like SMC and RSA, we too can show our love for our country by becoming good stewards of the country’s resources.

(Velasco is a prolific book writer who has at least 50 titles to his credit. He is also the executive director of the Million Trees Foundation, a non-government outfit promoting environmental protection and tree planting in watershed areas.)

A day of reckoning for Duterte et al.

We, journalists, seek the truth and must be factual and balanced in reporting facts, always truthfully

We too can show our love for our country by becoming good stewards of the country’s resources

EAGLE EYES

“IT IS dizzying,” Eric Vanoncini acknowledged to the classroom full of anxious teachers as reams of text generated by the ChatGPT bot unfurled on the large screen behind him.

“It risks upending the world of education as we know it.”

The high school English and philosophy teacher had gathered dozens of educators for one of several workshops hastily organized in the Swiss canton of Geneva following urgent appeals for guidance on how to deal with the new know-it-all bot.

The release in November of ChatGPT, which uses artificial intelligence to convincingly mimic human writing,

Notice

of

has sparked concerns in schools worldwide of a looming cheating epidemic.

“It is worrying,” Silvia Antonuccio, who teaches Italian and Spanish, told AFP after the workshop

“I don’t feel at all capable of distinguishing between a text written by a human and one written by ChatGPT.”

The software by California company OpenAI has been trained on billions of words and tonnes of online data, enabling it to write surprisingly human-like texts, including passable school essays.

Stories abound about the bot receiving good grades in various disciplines, including recently passing a US law school exam. AFP

HK starts largest nat’l security trial

HONG KONG’S largest national security trial opened Monday with dozens of pro-democracy figures accused of trying to topple the government in a case critics say reflects the criminalisation of dissent in the Chinese territory.

WORLD NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC BE IT KNOWN THAT PHILIPPINE GEOSYNTHETIC INC. has changed its corporate name on July 21, 2022 and is now BIOCLEANER WATER TECH PHILIPPINES, INC. with principal address at 620 Remedios corner Maria Orosa Street, Malate Manila (MS-FEB. 7, 2023)

The 47 defendants, who include some of the city’s most prominent activists, face up to life in prison if convicted.

Sixteen have pleaded not guilty to charges of “conspiracy to commit subversion” over an unofficial primary election.

The other 31 have pleaded guilty and will be sentenced after the trial.

A rare, small protest erupted before the court convened, despite the large police presence.

One man was seen raising his fist in solidarity.

The defendants maintain they are being persecuted for routine politics, while rights groups and observers say the trial illustrates how the legal system is being used to crush what

remains of the opposition.

Most of the group have already spent nearly two years behind bars.

They now face proceedings expected to last more than four months, overseen by judges handpicked by the government.

The case is the largest to date under the national security law, which China imposed on Hong Kong after huge democracy protests in 2019 brought tear gas and police brawls onto the streets of the Asian financial hub.

Wielded against students, unionists and journalists, the law has transformed the once-outspoken city.

More than 100 people had queued outside the court, some overnight, hoping to see the trial begin on Monday.

Chan Po-ying, a veteran campaigner and wife of defendant “Long Hair” Leung Kwok-hung, joined supporters carrying a banner that read “Crackdown is shameless” and “Immediately release all political prisoners.”

“This is political persecution,” she said outside the court.

Inside, Leung repeated his notguilty plea, adding: “Resisting tyranny is not a crime.”

Those on trial represent a crosssection of Hong Kong’s opposition – including activists Joshua Wong and Lester Shum, professor Benny Tai and former lawmakers Claudia Mo and Au Nok-hin.

Most – 34 out of 47 – have been denied bail, while the few released from custody must abide by strict conditions, including speech restrictions. Families of the accused have called these measures “social death.”

The group was jointly charged in March 2021 after organising an unofficial primary a year earlier.

Their stated aim was to win a majority in the city’s legislature, which would allow them to push the protesters’ demands and potentially force the resignation of Hong Kong’s leader. AFP

Thai protesters weak after hunger strike

TWO Thai protesters held under the kingdom’s tough royal insult laws are growing extremely weak after nearly three weeks on hunger strike, a hospital statement said Monday.

Tantawan Tuatulanon and Orawan Phupong have refused food and most liquids for the past 20 days to urge political parties to support the abolition of Thailand’s lese majeste laws, as well as other justice reforms.

King Maha Vajiralongkorn and his close family are protected by some of the world’s strictest royal defamation laws, with each charge

carrying a possible 15-year jail term, but rights groups say they are misused to suppress public debate.

Tantawan, 21, and Orawan, 23, were still conscious but weak, Thammasat University Hospital said in a statement posted on Facebook early on Monday.

“Key organs such as the kidneys are starting to work more slowly,”

Paruhat Tor-udom, the hospital director, told reporters on Monday.

“They can communicate with doctors and visitors, and while their condition is getting worse it is not at a crisis yet.”

As well as food, the two women have refused intravenous drips containing glucose and sodium. They were charged with lese majeste over two separate protests in Bangkok in early 2022 – one at the UN building and one at a shopping mall, according to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR).

Both were granted bail but gave it up in solidarity with other political detainees who were refused it.

Sunai Phasuk, a researcher with Human Rights Watch, said the women’s lives were “hanging by a thread.” AFP

Rushdie’s new novel out after knife attack

SIX months after being stabbed, British author Salman Rushdie on Tuesday publishes his new novel “Victory City,” an “epic tale” of a 14th-century woman who defies a patriarchal world to rule a city.

Written before the US knife attack that nearly took the Indian-born author’s life, the novel purports to be a translation of a historical epic originally written in Sanskrit.

The much-anticipated work tells the tale of young orphan girl Pampa Kampana who is endowed by a

goddess with magical powers and founds the city, in modern-day India, of Bisnaga, which translates as Victory City. Rushdie, 75, will not promote his 15th novel due to his physical condition, although his agent Andrew Wylie told The Guardian that his “recovery is progressing.”

He was attacked as he was about to speak at a conference in Chautauqua in upstate New York, near Lake Erie, on August 12.

The author had lived in hiding for years after Iran’s first su-

preme leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini ordered his killing for what he deemed the blasphemous nature of “The Satanic Verses.”

The stabbing suspect, Hadi Matar, a 24-year-old from New Jersey with roots in Lebanon, was arrested immediately after the attack and subsequently pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Rushdie, a naturalized American who has lived in New York for 20 years, lost the sight in one eye and the use of one hand, Wylie said in October. AFP

Australia seeks unimpeded trade with China after costly sanctions

SYDNEY—Australia on Monday asked China to resume “unimpeded trade” as ministers from the two countries held talks to repair their strained relationship.

China slapped hefty tariffs on key Australian exports such as barley, beef and wine in 2020 at the height of a bitter dispute with the former conservative government.

In recent years, they have also been jostling for influence in the strategically important South Pacific region.

Australia’s center-left government has adopted a less confrontational stance since its election in May, and on Monday discussed the eventual “full resumption of trade” with Chinese officials.

Trade Minister Don Farrell said he spoke by video link to Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao, stressing the need for “unimpeded trade for Australian exporters.”

The pair agreed to meet in person in China at an unspecified time.

The tariffs, as well as an unofficial ban on Australian coal, are estimated to have cost the country more than Aus$5 billion (US$3.47 billion) in revenue from Chinese markets.

Farrell said the meeting represented an “important step in the stabilization of Australia’s relations with China.”

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday scrapped a rare trip to Beijing after the Pentagon accused China of flying a spy balloon over the state of Montana.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong on Monday urged the two “great powers” to find a diplomatic solution.

“It’s very important, particularly at a time like this, that we ensure that competition doesn’t continue to escalate,” she said. AFP

Stocks and peso decline on Fed rate hike concerns

STOCKS fell Monday, and the US dollar strengthened against Asian currencies after a forecast-busting US jobs report fanned expectations of more Federal Reserve interest rate hikes.

The PSE index, the 30-company benchmark of the Philippine Stock Exchange, lost 90 points, or 1.29 percent, to close at 6,936.61, as all six subsectors declined.

The broader all-share index also retreated 30 points, or 0.83 percent, to settle at 3,674.68, on a value turnover of P9.95 billion. Losers outnumbered gainers, 103 to 79, while 51 issues were unchanged.

Three of the 10 most active stocks ended in the green, led by Megaworld Corp. which climbed 2.65 percent to P2.32. DMCI Holdings Inc. gained 2.45 percent to P11.72, while Robinsons Land Corp. advanced 2.29 percent to P16.10.

Meanwhile, the peso tumbled 1.32 percent Monday to 54.39 against the US dollar from 53.68 Friday on expectations that the Fed would continue raising interest rates to tame inflation. Most Asian markets also traded lower. Adding to the downbeat mood were geopolitical concerns after the United States shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon that had floated across the country for days.

The rally enjoyed through January has come to a halt this month as investors contemplate an extended period of high borrowing costs aimed at bringing inflation down from multi-decade highs.

A softer tone from the Fed regarding

TOP GAINERS

its monetary tightening campaign had allowed market participants to entertain the possibility of a pause, or even a cut, later in the year.

But that optimism was dealt a heavy blow Friday by data showing more than half a million new jobs were created in the United States last month, nearly double the December figure and far more than the 188,000 expected. Government figures also showed unemployment fell to the lowest level since 1969.

The reading showed the world’s biggest economy remained strong despite almost a year of rate hikes and soaring prices, indicating the Fed still had plenty of work to do to rein in inflation.

“We are concerned that on the back of this kind of jobs report, it definitely holds the Fed to a higher-for-longer path,” said Lisa Erickson at US Bank Wealth Management. With AFP

MOST ACTIVE

Senior MP in Britain warns users on data security risks of TikTok app

LONDON, United Kingdom—The head of an influential parliamentary committee in Britain on Sunday advised people not to use the Chinese social media app TikTok because of data security concerns.

“There is a reason why China has this app...,” Conservative deputy Alicia Kearns, who chairs parliament’s foreign affairs committee, told Sky News television.

“Our data is a key vulnerability and China is building a tech-totalitarian state on the back of our data. So we have to get far more serious about protecting ourselves.”

Kearns referred in passing to the recent incident in which the US shot down a Chinese balloon off its Atlantic coast. China has denied US allegations that it was being used for espionage purposes.

Kearns said the bigger concern was “data penetration” via Chinese companies and the way Beijing was using that data to intimidate “those who sought refuge in the UK and around the world.”

Asked if she was saying people should delete TikTok from their phones, she answered: “Without question... It is not worth having that vulnerability on your phone.”

Kearns has been a long-term critic of

China’s intelligence activities and what she says is its abuse of technology to that end.

A spokesman for TikTok responded to Kearns’s allegations on Sunday.

“TikTok is enjoyed by millions of people across the UK, and we want to be clear that they can trust us with their data.

“We’re taking steps like storing UK user data in our data center operations in Ireland, starting this year; further reducing employee access to data; and minimizing data flows outside of Europe.”

Relations between London and Beijing have been tense for a number of years.

Points of contention have included China’s crackdown in the former British colony of Hong Kong, and Britain’s refusal to grant the Chinese company Huawei access to its 5G network because of security concerns.

Last October, a British-based Hong Kong pro-democracy activist accused Chinese diplomats of assaulting him during a protest outside China’s consulate in Manchester, northern England.

During the ensuing diplomatic row, six Chinese envoys left Britain and returned to China. Kearns at the time accused them of having “fled the UK like cowards, making clear their guilt.” AFP

UK mega-lab generates weather to test energy-efficient homes of the future

By Olivier Devos

SALFORD, United Kingdom—The

thermometer sinks below zero as a blizzard of fine snow descends on two houses freshly built inside a massive laboratory in northern England.

Despite the icy conditions, the two energy-efficient homes remain cozy and warm due to their use of cutting-edge heating and insulation technology.

Welcome to Energy House 2.0—a science experiment designed to help the world’s housebuilders slash carbon emissions, save energy and tackle climate change.

The project, based in a laboratory resembling a giant warehouse on Salford University campus near the center of Manchester, opened last month.

Rain, wind, sunshine and snow can be recreated in temperatures ranging from 40 degrees Celsius to -20C, operated from a control center.

Replicating weather

“What we’ve tried to achieve here is to be able to replicate the weather conditions that would be experienced around 95 percent of the populated Earth,” Professor Will Swan, head of energy house laboratories at the university, told AFP.

The facility, comprising two chambers that can experience different weather at the same time, will test types of housing from all over the world “to understand how we deliver their net-zero and energyefficient homes,” he added.

House Laboratories, Prof. William Swan, speaks during an interview with AFP, as simulated snow covers the ground between two houses at Energy House 2.0 at Salford University in Salford, northwest England on Jan. 24, 2023. AFP

The two houses, which are quintessentially British and constructed by firms with UK operations, will remain in place for a few years.

Other builders will then be able to rent space in the lab to put their own properties under the spotlight.

The project’s first house was built by UK property firm Barratt Developments and French materials giant SaintGobain.

It is clad with decorative bricks over a frame of wood panels and insulation, with solar panels on the roof.

Scientists are examining the efficiency of several different types of heat-

ing systems, including air-source heat pumps.

In the living room, a hot water circuit is located along the bottom of the walls, while further heat is provided via infrared technology in the molding and from a wall panel.

Mirrors also act as infrared radiators while numerous sensors monitor which rooms are in use.

Residents will be able to manage the technology via one single control system similar to Amazon’s voice-activated Alexa interface.

Builders estimate the cutting-edge tech will mean that the energy bill will

Indonesian GDP growth accelerated to nine-year high

JAKARTA—Indonesia’s economic growth accelerated to a nine-year high in 2022 despite global uncertainty and a final-quarter slowdown, official data showed Monday, owing to soaring commodity prices and easing Covid-19 curbs.

Indonesia was badly affected by the coronavirus pandemic, with its exports and the tourism-reliant economy taking a massive hit in 2020 as GDP shrunk by 2.07 percent—its first recession since the 1997 Asian financial crisis.

be just one-quarter of what the average UK home currently pays, a boon to customers reeling from sky-high energy prices.

It will also make an important contribution to Britain’s efforts to reach zero carbon emissions by 2050 to combat climate change.

A parliamentary report found that, in 2019, 17 percent of heating emissions from buildings came from homes—making their contribution similar to all the petrol and diesel cars driving on Britain’s roads.

Environmental campaigners have long called on the UK government to increase energy efficiency and insulation support for existing homes across Britain. ‘Alexa of home energy’

“One of the key technologies that we’re trying on this house is almost like a building management system for residential buildings,” said Tom Cox, UK technical director at Saint-Gobain.

“It’s almost like the Alexa of the home energy system -- and that can be automated as much as the occupant wants.”

And now with their mega-laboratory, scientists and companies no longer have to wait for extreme swings in the weather.

“We can test a year’s worth of weather conditions in a week,” added Cox.

The “ultimate goal is to create that environment which is comfortable and cost-effective and commercially viable to deliver”, added Cox. AFP

But Southeast Asia’s largest economy has bounced back since then, posting economic growth last year of 5.31 percent, Statistics Indonesia said Monday, the highest level since 2013.

“The figures show that Indonesia’s economy grew solidly in 2022,” statistics agency head Margo Yuwono said.

He said growth was propelled by high export prices and the lifting of travel restrictions, with dropped quarantine requirements in March spurring business and spiking tourist arrivals.

“The reopening of almost all international airports has boosted people’s economic activity,” Yuwono said.

The country welcomed more than 740,000 visitors in the first half of the year, an increase of more than 900 percent on-year.

The annual rise came despite slowing growth in the final quarter of the year after a strong July-September.

The economy expanded 5.01 percent on-year in October-December, down from 5.72 percent in the previous three months.

But it still maintained its annual rise from pandemic lows after expanding 3.69 percent in 2021 as coronavirus cases started to decline and export prices for key commodities like palm oil, coal, and nickel rose significantly.

The country’s economic growth is expected to slow slightly this year despite the recovery, according to economists.

“Further weakness is likely as weak global demand, high inflation, and elevated interest rates drag on activity,” said Gareth Leather, senior Asia economist at Capital Economics.

“We expect growth to slow further over the coming quarters.”

LIGHT SHOW. Musicians perform on a boat during a light show during a ceremony marking the two-day inauguration of the 2023 European Capital of Culture in the industrial town of Elefsina (Eleusis) west of Athens on Feb. 4, 2023. Dance, concerts, street art, films and exhibitions will draw on the ancient sacred city’s fabled history and its long experience with unemployment, immigration and environmental degradation throughout the year. Elefsina shares the 2023 city of culture title with Timisoara in Romania and Veszprem in Hungary. AFP

Director of Energy

Cavite, major consortium sign joint venture for Sangley airport

By Darwin G. Amojelar

ACONSORTIUM of local and foreign companies on Monday signed the joint venture and development agreement with the provincial government of Cavite for the $11-billion Sangley Point International Airport Project after the former posted a substantial performance bond.

“The performance bond of $5-billion has been submitted,” Cavite Governor Juanito Victor Remulla said in a Viber message.

A performance bond aims to guarantee the completion of the project. It is a pre-condition to the signing of the joint venture and development agreement between the Cavite provincial government and SPIA Development Corp.,

which is composed of Cavitex Holdings, Yuchengco Group, MacroAsia Corp. and their foreign partners.

Remulla said the next step is the financial closure for the project.

Under the project’s framework, the Cavite government and the consortium will have 18 months from the signing of the joint venture agreement to finalize the project’s design and business

plan and reach financial closing, which would start the new airport’s full-scale construction.

Phase 1 of SPIA, which includes the first of four runways, is expected to be operational by 2028. The Phase 2 expansion will result in a two-runway system with airport facilities capable of handling at least 75 million passengers per annum.

Cavitex Holdings, the Philippine lead, would bring its expertise in infrastructure development, while the Yuchengco Group of Companies, through House of Investments, would contribute its expertise and financial resources in developing large-scale projects.

MacroAsia would lend its expertise with aviation support in logistics and technical services for aviation support.

First Gen, Hocheng PH renew power supply deal

CLEAN energy company First Gen Corp. and Hocheng Philippines Corp., a leading total bathroom solutions provider, renewed their partnership for the supply of clean, reliable and renewable energy.

Munich Airport International GmbH, the operator of the five-star rated Munich Airport, will serve as technical consultant for airport concept of operations and maintenance including route development, while Ove Arup & Partners Hong Kong Limited, known for its prized work in airport design and engineering, will be the lead master development planner.

SPIA Development Corp. and its foreign partners, committed to transforming Sangley Point International Airport into a fully-modernized, world-class and green airport.

The consortium said the project would revitalize not only the tourism industry, which is a major pillar of the country’s economic recovery and growth and development agenda, but also the overall business environment.

First Gen will provide HCG with green energy to power its 850-kilowatt demand, consistent with the latter’s decarbonization goals. Under the new contract, First Gen’s 100-percent RE arm and leading geothermal provider Energy Development Corp. will supply HCG’s facility. Geothermal energy provides uninterrupted, yearround baseload power, rain or shine—hence the brand name Geo 24/7.

“We would like to thank HCG for the continued partnership with First Gen. We believe that choosing the right energy partner allows them to move toward a future that goes beyond sustainability for them and its customers’ precious bathroom,” said First Gen vice president and head of power marketing, trading and economics Carlo Vega said.

HCG’s mission is to provide quality LEED-compliant bathroom fixtures with sophisticated designs and excellent functionality to every Filipino home. Alena Mae S. Flores

PMFTC recognized PH top employer for fourth year

PMFTC Inc., the local affiliate of Philip Morris International, was re-certified as a Top Employer in the Philippines for the fourth year in a row in recognition of the company’s excellence in human resources and talent management.

“To be recognized as the top employer for four years now is no small accomplishment and one that we take to heart. It is an incredible testament to PMFTC’s long-term dedication to embedding inclusion in our company policies and nurturing an engaging working environment where our employees can bring their best selves to work,” said PMFTC director of people and culture Andreea Chiriac. The Top Employer Certification process demonstrates to independent auditors a company’s commitment to excellent human resource processes, equity, diversity and inclusion through employee interviews, surveys and documented evidence.

“We continue to invest in our talent and foster a culture of positivity. This for us is the workplace of tomorrow –one that celebrates our differences, focuses on mental and physical wellbeing, meets the needs of globally-diverse workforce and optimizes new technologies to enable our workforce to act and lead with purpose,” Chiriac said.

“We are humbled and grateful to again receive this recognition as an employer of choice. When we committed to our vision of a smoke-free future, that led us down an exciting journey of not only innovating our products to help the millions of adult Filipino smokers who would otherwise continue to smoke, but to also transform our organization, our people and our culture,” said PMFTC communications director Dave Gomez.

Cherry Mobile executive named special envoy to China

VEHICLE RENTAL PROGRAM. Executives of Lalamove Automotive and QSJ Motors Phils. Inc. sign a memorandum of agreement in Angeles City for Lalamove’s newest vehicle rental program that offers existing and future Lalamove partner drivers and fleet operators with a host of options to rent or rent-to-own a vehicle, enabling them to start their profitable delivery business with Lalamove.

Maynilad spending P3.2b to build 4 modular treatment plants in Cavite

By Othel V. Campos

WEST zone concessionaire Maynilad

Water Services Inc. is spending around P3.2 billion to construct four modular water treatment plants that will serve customers in Cavite province, a top executive said Monday.

“Cavite is the farthest point of our concession area, so there are portions that do not yet receive 24-hour water supply. The new ModTPs will draw water from adjacent dams and serve as a dedicated supply source that can

lengthen supply availability for these underserved areas,” said Maynilad chief operating officer Randolph Estrellado.

The four ModTPs in the cities of Bacoor and Imus will have a combined water output of 47 million liters per day—enough to supply the daily needs of some 200,000 customers in the area.

The investment will also cover the cost of pipelines that will distribute treated water to nearby areas. The plants are expected for completion by 2023 and 2024.

The new facilities will use ultrafiltra-

tion and reverse osmosis technology to treat raw water from nearby dams and rivers. The Bacoor City ModTPs will draw water from the Molino and Ligas Dams that are fed by the Zapote River. Meanwhile, the ModTPs in Imus City will source water from the nearby Julian and Imus rivers.

ModTPs are among the small-scale treatment plants that form part of Maynilad’s service enhancement program which aims to address water security challenges.

Maynilad is the largest private wa-

ter concessionaire in the Philippines in terms of customer base. It is the concessionaire of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System for the west zone of the Greater Manila Area.

The west zone covers certain portions of Manila, certain portions of Quezon City, west of South Super Highway in Makati, Caloocan, Pasay, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Valenzuela, Navotas and Malabon all in Metro Manila; the cities of Cavite, Bacoor and Imus and the towns of Kawit, Noveleta and Rosario in Cavite province.

UnionBank raises P12b on strong demand for stock rights offering

UNION Bank of the Philippines, one of the largest lenders in terms of assets, said Monday it completed a P12billion stock rights offering that was well-received by shareholders.

UnionBank said in a disclosure to the stock exchange it concluded the offering of 210.97 million common shares priced at P56.88 apiece. The shares were offered to eligible shareholders as of the record date of Jan. 12, 2023 at a ratio of one rights share for every 10.1536 existing common shares.

The newly-issued shares were listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange on Feb. 6, resulting in total outstanding shares amounting to over 2.35 billion.

“With the completion of our SRO, we aim to pursue our long-term objective to become a leader in retail banking in the Philippines,” Bautista said.

Proceeds from the SRO will be used to solidify the bank’s capital adequacy and financial strength and to execute its strategic growth initiatives by expanding its balance sheet to meet growing demand from its target markets.

The bank said it would deploy additional capital to UnionDigital, support loan availments by customers of both retail loans and corporate and commercial loans.

MAYNARD Ngu, the ehief executive of Cosmic Technologies Inc., the company behind Cherry Mobile, was appointed as special envoy of the President to the People’s Republic of China for trade, investments and tourism.

The position promotes the interests of international trade and investment while improving local market awareness in nations and industries made up of people appointed to non-political posts.

Ngu’s sharp business acumen has led Cherry Mobile to continuously expand the scope of his business portfolio under conglomerate MSN Group of Companies.

The special envoy to China is responsible in building beneficial relationship and cooperation between the two countries which is one of Ngu’s expertise. He is experienced in managing bilateral relationships, fostering communication and providing insights that would focus on discussing the potential investments for both nations.

The strategy will lay out a plan for boosting Philippines’ economic links with China, promoting twoway trade to increase investors from China. Ngu’s competency and familiarity with doing business in China transcends better coordination with the private sector, international organizations, financial institutions, and other social partners.

Globe to expand lease agreement with Thai company

DIGITAL solutions platform Globe said Monday it plans to expand its tower lease agreement with Skytowers Infra Inc., a Philippine subsidiary of Thai firm Sky Tower Plc., in the Visayas and Mindanao.

Globe and Skytowers signed a lease agreement covering several towers in Southern Luzon on Feb. 6, 2022.

This is in line with Globe’s strategy to monetize passive assets to maintain a healthy balance sheet.

Complementing Globe’s sustainability efforts, the tower company is determined to reduce its carbon footprint by using renewable energy to lessen fossil fuel consumption.

SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN. Residents from Barangay Magallanes in Limasawa, Southern Leyte receive medical assistance from mobile health clinics organized by UNICEF, partners and the local government. Cebu Pacific, in partnership with UNICEF Change for Good, raised over P10 million in 2022, thanks to the generosity of its passengers and the support of its employees. The donation will help save more children’s lives and improve the situation of children in need. CEB has been a proud partner of UNICEF Change for Good since 2016, with the goal of raising funds through the collection of spare change from passengers.

“The strong participation of our existing shareholders on our stock rights offering reflects their trust in the value that will be created by executing our strategies,” UnionBank president and chief executive Edwin Bautista said in a statement.

The SRO garnered strong participation from UnionBank’s shareholders led by its principal shareholders Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Social Security System and Insular Life, recording an oversubscription.

The offering was almost fully subscribed even at the first round of the offer, with the second round also heavily oversubscribed.

SEC warns public against investing in six companies found without license

By Jenniffer B. Austria

THE Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday advised investors against dealing with six companies which were reportedly soliciting investments from the public without the required license.

It identified the firms as WebMining, Oyala, BKC Trading, Winvest, Mazama and Meta Trade.

The SEC said that based on its investiga-

tion, these six firms were not registered with the commission and were also not licensed to sell investment contracts to the public.

“The commission remains unwavering in its efforts to stamp out illegal investment-taking activities through financial literacy campaigns and advisories to the public,” it said.

It said in an advisory these groups were enticing the public to either register on their website/mobile application

or engage in trading with promised lucrative returns on investments.

“Such actions resemble a pyramid/ Ponzi scheme, where investors earn through recruitment fees instead of the sale of actual products/services, and investors are paid using the contribution of new members,” the SEC said.

Meta Trade, as posted online, offers three investment plans to interested investors. For a minimum investment of

P500 to P100,000, an investor may earn five percent after five days, 70 percent after 10 days and 400 percent after 30 days. An investor can also earn 5-percent referral commission, while leaders can get P200 daily allowance. Mazama, which lures investors through its social media accounts and mobile application, also offers daily interest rates of 7.68 percent to 16.5 percent for investments ranging from P500 to P1 million.

“This partnership represents an important step in improving digital infrastructure in the Philippines, and we are excited to work with Skytowers to bring sustainable solutions to the market,” said Globe president and chief executive Ernest Cu.

“We look forward to further strengthening our relationship with Thailand in this venture and other areas of collaboration,” he said.

Skytowers Infra Inc. is affiliated with Electric Power and Telecommunication Infrastructure which has extensive experience in engineering, design and manufacturing of infrastructure build.

It offers telecom services and T3 technology for broadband/fiber optic solutions in markets such as Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and Indonesia. Globe earlier reported a net income of P26.5 billion from January to September last year, up 48 percent from P18 billion in the same period in 2021.

Core net income, which excludes the impact of non-recurring charges and foreign exchange and mark-to-market charges, ended at P16 billion. Normalized core net income was flat year-onyear. Darwin G. Amojelar

Eala slides to no. 217 in WTA ranking

By Peter Atencio

FILIPINAS tennis star Alex Eala, who has returned home to Manila for a short visit to her family, is now ranked no. 217 in the world.

The 17-year-old Eala fell three notches down this week from no. 214.

Eala dropped from the Women’s Tennis Association rankings after she got eased out of the 2023 Women’s Tennis Association Thailand Open last week.

Experienced netter Tatja Maria of Germany coasted to a 6-2, 6-2 win over Eala in the first round of the women’s singles at the True Arena in Hua Hin on Tuesday, last week Maria, ranked No. 70 in the world, finished strong and only needed one hour and 14 minutes to dispatch her Filipina opponent.

Eala reached the qualifying round when she won over world No. 240 Kristina Dmitruk of Belarus and China’s Han Xinyun, ranked No. 84 in the world.

Last month, Eala made her debut in the qualifying draw of 2023 Australian Open and lost to Misaki Doi in a tight three-setter.

Eala said in her blog that she is taking her time to get in shape and fit for other tournaments that will earn her points, after the Australian and the Thailand Open.

“After Melbourne, I am planning to join the WTA 250 Thailand Open in Hua Hin, although it is quite difficult to nail down an exact schedule currently and much depends on how the next few weeks shape up,” said Eala.

Former NBA cager Selden to replace Simmons

JONATHAN Simmons played his last game as an NLEX Road Warrior on Saturday.

Replacing Simmons is another former NBA pro in Wayne Selden.

Selden is a 6’5” winger who is a product of University of Kansas.

Despite going undrafted in the 2016 NBA Draft, the 28-year-old native of Boston, Massachusetts still had a stellar six-year run in the league.

Selden played a total of 127 games in his stops with Memphis, New Orleans, Chicago, and New York, putting up career numbers of 7.2 points, 1.99 rebounds, and 1.49 assists per game.

He also made stops in Israel (Ironi Nes Ziona), Turkey (Afyonkarahisar Belediye and Manisa Buyuksehir Belediye), and Italy (Tezenis Scaligera Verona).

“We are officially announcing that Wayne Selden will replace Jonathon Simmons as our import for the ongoing 2023 PBA Governors’ Cup,” said NLEX team manager Larry Fonacier.

“There were bumps in the road just to get him here but finally, he has arrived. We are hoping that Wayne can sustain the momentum that we have,” continued Fonacier.

“Nakita naman natin how Simms plays. From what I know, si Wayne is a scorer. But with another game on Wednesday against Ginebra, we will give him a crash course on how we run things in the next two days,” added NLEX head coach Frankie Lim.

Simmons played in the first four games of the conference, helping the Road Warriors beat Blackwater (124102), Northport (121-112), TNT (110108), and Phoenix Super LPG (98-84) for a perfect start.

Filipino boxer loses in ring, but wins heart of fiancée

By Randy Caluag

FILIPINO boxer

Khurvin John Natuplag lost his battle in the ring, but won the heart of his fiancée,

Natuplag failed to defend his World Boxing Organization Oriental featherweight title after absorbing a technical knockout loss to Chinese Liu Wensong a scheduled 10-round title bout in the Fight Club Championship 3 at the Vic Sports Complex.

A powerful left cross caught Natuplag’s chin and two more unan-

swered right and left followed, sending him to the canvas and forcing the referee to waive the fight off in favor of the Chinese.

Win or lose, however, Natuplag already had a plan to surprise his girlfriend, Jade Kelly Custodio.

A Filipina nurse working in Dubai, Custodio was actually a member of his team. She went up the ring to assist her boyfriend boxer following the stoppage.

Natuplag, already recovered from the knockout, took out the engagement ring and presented it to the surprised Custodio, who accepted the proposal with a quick “yes.”

Managed by fellow Dawrin MillerDepay from Benguet, Natuplag, and Custodio plan to go back to the Philippines to arrange their wedding. Natuplag bagged the WBO Oriental featherweight belt after knocking out Boonrueang Phayom of Thailand in the 2nd round on Nov. 12 last year, also in Dubai.

With 11 wins against 4 losses, Natuplag hopes to bounce back and look for a rematch with Wensong.

Laylo nears 1st national chess title in 17 years

GRANDMASTER Darwin Laylo battled closest pursuer International Master Jan Emmanuel Garcia to a 36-move draw of an English Opening in the eighth and penultimate round on Monday to move on the verge of claiming his first title victory in the National Chess Championships in 17 years at the PACE in Quezon City.

The 42-year-old Army man went for a quiet variation and engaged Garcia, a fellow Olympiad veteran, into a series of minor and major-piece exchanges that

led to an equal knight-and-pawn endgame and eventually a truce via threefold repetition.

This kept Laylo at the helm with six points, while Garcia was half a point behind at No. 2 with 5.5 points.

With a round to go, Laylo is closer to claiming his first national crown since winning it all in 2006 and the top purse worth a cool P100,000 courtesy of Malolos City Mayor Christian Natividad.

If he accomplishes it, he will claim his

third national title overall as he also reigned supreme in 2004 in this annual event backed by the Philippine Sports Commission, the Philippine Olympic Committee and National Chess Federation of the Philippines.

Laylo was battling IM Daniel Quizon, the titlist in this event’s last staging two years ago in Lapu Lapu City, Cebu, in the final round at press time while Garcia was up against Woman GM Janelle Mae Frayna.

Laylo had a jackrabbit start as he zoomed

Wild start up as TCC Invitational reels off

STA. Rosa, Laguna—A mad scramble for early control looms as The Country Club Invitational fires off today (Tuesday) at the TCC here with four aces seeking strong starts to fuel their respective drive for a second crown and 26 others all primed for a stab at the most coveted championship on the Philippine Golf Tour calendar.

Dan Cruz took the last spot in the elite cast after three-time champion Juvic Pagunsan failed to show up in yesterday’s pro-am tournament and withdrew from the P6 million championship, leaving the title chase wide open among defending champion Guido Van der Valk, 2004 winner Tony Lascuna and Frankie Miñoza and Micah Shin, who reigned here in 2013 and 2018, respectively.

But the depth of the competing field remains as power-packed as ever with Clyde Mondilla, who won the Solaire Philippine Open here in 2019 but lost by one to Van der Valk three years ago, and last year’s PGT leg winners Michael Bibat and Zanieboy Gialon raring to get go-

ing along with multi-titled Jhonnel Ababa and Jay Bayron.

Van der Valk, Mondilla and Bibat get to test each other’s strength in the 8:20 a.m. flight on No. 1 with Lascuña, Miñoza and Ira Alido anchoring the 10 threeman grouping at 8:30 a.m.

Lloyd Go, on the other hand, spearheads the charge of the young guns with the 28-year-old shotmaker, who gained an Asian Tour card by finishing No. 6 in last year’s Asian Development Tour Order of Merit, due for a big finish after a near-breakthrough at PGT Eagle Ridge last year. The Cebuano ace drew Shin and Cruz in the 8:10 a.m. group behind the threesome of Gialon, Ababa and Sean Ramos. Also eager to join the elite circle of winners in the event put up by ICTSI chairman and CEO Ricky Razon in 2003 and which serves as the kickoff leg of this year’s PGT are Rupert Zaragosa, Enrico Gallardo, Reymon Jaraula, Joenard Rates, Rico Depilo, Orlan Sumcad, Jerson Balasabas, Gerald Rosales, Dino Villanueva,

Anthony Fernando, Marvin Dumandan, Fidel Concepcion, Albin Engino, Richard Sinfuego, Art Arbole, Mars Pucay, Paul Echavez and Bayron.

One-shot victories have marked the last three editions of the event with now-PGA Tour campaigner Tom Kim edging Keanu Jahns in 2019, Shin thwarting Miguel Tabuena in 2018, and Tabuena outlasting Pagunsan in 2017 with the same wild finish expected in this week’s battle for record P2 million purse in the 72-hole championship organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

More than power and shotmaking, it will be a test of will and character.

With the TCC course measuring up to 7,652 yards from the black tees, including the 622-yard par-5 No. 2, it will surely be a question of length but emphasis will also be on strategies, including course management and making sound decisions since a slight miscue could lead to a big score at the exacting, wind-raked layout.

to five points in the first six rounds that included rousing victories over Frayna, Woman IM Marie Antoinette San Diego, IM Paulo Bersamina and GM Joey Antonio. His first three draws came against Mark Jay Bacojo, IM Michael Concio, Jr. and GM John Paul Gomez.

Also being staked are P80,000 to the second placer and P50,000, P30,000 and P20,000 to the third to fifth placers.

The rest will receive P15,000, P10,000, P7,000, P5,000 and P5,000, respectively.

who agreed to his marriage proposal following a knockout loss in Dubai over the weekend.

ICE CANOE RACE. Teams compete during the Quebec Winter Carnival Ice Canoe Race in Quebec City, Canada. The ice canoe race is the main event of the Quebec City Carnival. Dozens of teams participate in this race in which they must cross the St. Lawrence River to the city of Levis on the other side and return to their starting point. AFP

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

Frankie Minoza

Alex Eala

Shrugging off the cobwebs following a knockout loss, Filipino boxer KJ Natuplag offers a marriage proposal to fiancée Jade Kelly Custodio and gets a quick yes.

Photo from Fightnews Asia

WGAP to host 43rd Queen Sirikit Cup

AN exciting tournament is coming the country’s way as the Women’s Golf Association of the Philippines (WGAP) is set to host the Amateur Ladies Asia-Pacific Invitational Golf Team Championship from February 20 to 24 at the Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club in Carmona, Cavite.

New coaches take spotlight; F2 Logistics, PLDT clash

James poised for NBA scoring record crown

LOS ANGELES—

MYLA Pablo can’t wait to get going as F2 Logistics kicks off its campaign against an intact PLDT side today (Tuesday) even as Cignal and Chery Tiggo collide in another explosive twinbill marking the second elims playdate of the Premier Volleyball League All Filipino Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.

But more than the former Petro Gazz top hitter’s much-awaited debut for the Cargo Movers, it will be the coaches of the contending teams who will take the spotlight as they try to steer their respective sides to the early swing of things in the season-opening conference of the league organized by Sports Vision.

Rald Ricafort hopes to motivate and draw the best from mainstays Mika Reyes, Rhea Dimaculangan, Dell Palomata, Jovie Prado and Jules Samonte, among others with the High Speed Hitters toughening up by enlisting Ysa Jimenez, a rookie from University of Sto. Tomas, and Michelle Morente, who last played for Army-Black Mamba.

But Pablo, who last played for Ricafort in the Angels’ title romp in the PVL Reinforced Conference last year, is out to make an impressive start for the Cargo Movers, now handled by the league’s lone female coach in Regine Diego, a former La Salle libero, who took over from Ramil de Jesus and top deputy Benson Bocboc.

“I can say the girls are going to be 100 percent healthy but the peak form, nobody can say that. We’re trying our best to manage whatever it is we can manage for this conference and to prevent those injuries to recur again,” said Diego.

Aside from the likes of Major Baron, Aby Marano, Kim Dy, Kim Fajardo, Iris Tolenado and Ivy Lacsina, F2 also welcomes the comebacking Cha Cruz-Behag into its fold.

Gametime is at 4 p.m.

“We consider all teams as contenders. It’s a matter of kung sino maka-sustain yung magandang performance from start until the end yun talaga yung ano. For us at PLDT, we will challenge every opponent and we will spring surprises,” said High Speed Hitters assistant coach Arnold Laniog.

One of the oldest records in American sport is set to fall this week when LeBron James finally eclipses Los Angeles Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the most prolific scorer in NBA history.

For the best part of four decades, Abdul-Jabbar has owned the NBA’s all-time scoring record of 38,387 points, mark that many thought might never be beaten.

Yet after a dazzling 20-year career, the 38-year-old James stands just 36 points away from finally passing Abdul-Jabbar.

Given he has averaged 30 points per game this season, the only question is where and when Abdul-Jabbar’a record will fall.

The Lakers host Oklahoma City on Tuesday and the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday before hitting the road to take on the NBA champion Golden State Warriors.

The most likely scenario is that James will claim the record at some point in the Lakers two midweek home games.

James has spent much of the season insisting that he has not been obsess-

ing over the record, emphasising that his priority remains helping the Lakers turn around a campaign which is threatening to end outside of playoff contention for a second year running.

Lakers coach Darvin Ham reflected that mood while acknowledging that breaking the record would be “an amazing feat.”

“When it happens, kudos to Bron for all his longevity and not just longevity, but longevity at the top of the list at an elite level,” Ham said on Thursday.

“But our day-to-day, we hardly ever discuss it unless we’re asked about it. For us, it’s just, how can we get our team in the best position to make a run?”

Four-time NBA champion James has however been slightly more expansive in recent days as the record hoves into view.

‘One of greatest records’

James said on Thursday beating Abdul-Jabbar’s mark would be comparable to breaking the baseball home run record.

“I think it’s one of the greatest records in sports in general,” James said.

“I think it’s up there with the home run record in baseball. It’s one of those records that you just don’t ever see or think that would be broken.”

Indeed, the NBA’s scoring record has changed hands just once since 1966, when Abdul-Jabbar overtook another Lakers icon, Wilt Chamberlain, on April 5, 1984.

“I think most of us back then thought that record would never be broken,” Golden State coach Steve Kerr said of Abdul-Jabbar’s record.

“So to see LeBron do it over 20 years is pretty remarkable and a testament to not only his ability but his durability.

“He’s just a machine. He’s healthy and a physical force night after night.”

One area of intrigue surrounding James’ record chase has been his relationship with Abdul-Jabbar himself.

The two basketball icons have had an icy relationship, which traces back to Abdul-Jabbar’s public criticism of James.

Abdul-Jabbar has taken aim at James for issues ranging from the Covid-19 vaccine to his on-court conduct.

Abdul-Jabbar has walked back many of those criticisms in the past year, issuing an apology last April in which he said his remarks had been well-intentioned and misconstrued.

Fourteen countries namely Thailand, Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Burma, India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, New Guinea, Australia, New Zealand, and the Philippines have committed to play in the 43rd edition of the tournament also known as the Queen Sirikit Cup. WGAP, plus 14 Ladies Chapters across the country, are keen and eager to showcase the best of the Filipino hospitality during the four-day tournament that is recognized as the official ladies’ golf tournament in the Asia Pacific Region.

This is the fourth time the Philippines is hosting (1987, 1997 and 2007) since it joined in 1980. The Philippines’ Dottie Ardina took the coveted plum in 2011; while Princess Superal and Filipina Japanese Yuka Saso each registered a second runner-up in 2015 and 2018, respectively.

The last four decades of the Queen Sirikit Cup has seen many former national players turning professional, with several of them now world-class players on various international tours. “This is a milestone event for us because this year is our 50th anniversary. We will make sure that all the participants, including coaches and parents, will have a great time,” said WGAP President Cielo ReginoFregil.

“We may not always agree, but I want to whole-heartedly apologize to LeBron and make it clear to him that I have tremendous respect for him,” AbdulJabbar said.

James however indicated he was still bothered by the criticism on the eve of this season.

Asked in October for his thoughts on the likelihood of taking Abdul-Jabbar’s scoring record, and about his relationship with the Lakers grandee, James gave a curt response.

“No thoughts and no relationship,” James told reporters.

Yet Abdul-Jabbar meanwhile is keen to move on. In a recent statement to CNN, he said he is looking forward to seeing James take ownership of the record. AFP

Nets trade Irving to Mavericks for multiple players

LOS

ANGELES—The

Brooklyn

Nets have reached a deal to trade Kyrie Irving to the Dallas Mavericks days after the controversial star guard requested a trade, US media reported Sunday.

The Athletic reported that the Nets will get Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith and multiple draft picks in the exchange.

Irving had been linked to several clubs, including the Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers, after the bombshell announcement of his request to be traded before the February 9 trade deadline.

Irving reportedly asked for a move after failing to agree to a contract extension. The Nets had opted not to offer him a fully guaranteed maximum contract before the season

and The Athletic reported that the Nets had offered him a contract with “guarantee stipulations” that was “not well received.”

ESPN reported that talks between the Nets and Mavs “accelerated” on Sunday.

The trade would bring Dinwiddie back to Brooklyn, where he played for five seasons before a knee ligament injury early in the 2020-21 campaign.

Irving, who won an NBA championship with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016, is averaging more than 27 points, five rebounds and seven assists per game this season, carrying the load offensively for Brooklyn since a knee injury sidelined Kevin Durant.

Irving’s four seasons in Brooklyn have included controversy. He

missed dozens of games last season due to his refusal to be vaccinated for Covid-19.

This season he was suspended for eight games after a social media post referencing a film that contained antiSemitic themes and initially refusing to apologize.

In all, Irving has played less than 150 games over the last four seasons.

However, there is no doubt his skills could complement those of Dallas star Luka Doncic, who is averaging 33.4 points per game but is putting in massive minutes as he carries the offensive weight for the team.

At 28-26 the Mavericks are sixth in the Western Conference standings after a loss to the Golden State Warriors on Saturday, which Doncic missed because of a bruised heel. AFP

Spain legend Pau Gasol named Global Ambassador for FIBA World Cup

MIES (Switzerland)—International basketball icon Pau Gasol has been named a FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Global Ambassador.

With FIBA’s flagship event getting underway in 200 days in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia, Gasol will be on hand at a championship he knows very well.

Gasol made a huge splash at his first World Cup in 2002 in Indianapolis, leading Spain to fifth place. He ended up as the tournament’s sixth leading scorer, averaging more than 19 points per game.

Gasol’s biggest moment with Spain came when he spearheaded his country’s run to glory at the 2006 World Cup in Japan. He was so prolific, averaging 21.2 points and 9.4 rebounds per game while shooting a blistering 63.1 percent from the

the tournament that Gasol again made

In all, Gasol played at three World Cups, five Olympics and seven FIBA

He helped Spain win silver medals at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics and then bronze at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro

In the history of the EuroBasket, Gasol is one of the most decorated players. At the EuroBaskets in 2009 and 2015, he was the MVP as Spain captured titles. In 2011,

he was in the All-Star Five as his national team also reached the top of the podium.

Gasol was in the All-Star Five when Spain finished runners-up at EuroBaskets 2003 and 2007 and when Spain were third in 2001 and 2017.

Even as a member of Spain’s youth teams, Gasol competed and had success. He helped his country beat the USA in the Final of the 1999 World Championship for Junior Men.

Looking ahead to the World Cup, Gasol, who has joined Argentina superstar Luis Scola as a World Cup Global Ambassador, knows a lot has to go right for the eventual winners.

“The World Cup is the toughest trophy in basketball to win”, Gasol said. “A winning team needs character and chemis-

try and teammates who will pick you up when you’re down”.

“This is a great honor for me to be a part of such a great team of basketball legends and to join Luis Scola, a true legend and one of my toughest rivals, in this role as Global Ambassador for the 2023 World Cup”.

Gasol was a wonderful representative for the game during his playing days and has been since his retirement after the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Only several months ago, he served as FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2022 Ambassador and was courtside in Sydney, supporting and promoting women’s basketball. He is also a member of the International Olympic Committee Athletes’ Commission. Gasol is an advisor, investor and activist in projects related to sports and wellbeing.

SETTING THE TREND: The Philippine Basketball Association and Virtualness formally announced to the media on Sunday the launch of the PBA Virtualness platform —an innovative, easy-to-use digital experience for basketball fans via branded digital collectibles. Present during the media briefing are (from left) TNT and Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes, advisor to Virtualness; Joyee Biswas, Virtualness head for Media and Sports; Kirthiga Reddy, Virtrualness co-founder; PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial; Jo Francisco, PBA marketing director and Saurabh Doshi, Virtualness co-founder.

LeBron James AFP

Kyrie Irving AFP

Jane de Leon, Janella Salvador

okay to lock lips onscreen

WITH their strong chemistry on screen via the fantasy-action drama series Darna where they play the titular character and major arch-nemesis respectively, Jane de Leon and Janella Salvador have no qualms entertaining the idea of doing a GL (Girls’ Love) project after their successful show wraps up.

“Of course, why not?” Janella avers.

“Yes, why not? But I hope it’s really good material with a wonderful storyline. I believe it’s still all about the craft considering that we’re both artists. Doing that genre would be a great challenge for us.” According to Janella, the LGBTQIA + community will surely appreciate it if ever she and Jane will top-bill a GL series.

“I think it could matter a lot since the genre has still no concrete representation in the local ‘biz. That’s why I’m both open and willing to do it wholeheartedly.”

What if intimate scenes are required?

“Well, I’m ready for it! I just want to show that these relationships do exist. That it can happen between two men or two women. I want to normalize it.

“I feel, they just want to have a good representation. That it should not be treated as if it’s something different. What they want is just to belong. So, I think we must normalize it.

“This will be a nice present to the LGBTQIA + community who supported our characters as Darna and Valentina. I feel happy to represent them in the project if ever. I think they supported our tandem because they weren’t represented well in terms of women’s love. I’m glad they did because I want to be the voice of those people who aren’t represented plus the fact that I love the community,” states Janella.

Meanwhile, Jane believes that if ever the project pushes through, it will be a good avenue for her and Janella to exhibit their acting chops.

“It’s a new thing for us. People are used to seeing us getting paired with male stars. Perhaps, the project is not just about GL but more importantly, about friendship and women empowerment,” ends Jane.

* * *

Ysabel Ortega is presently juggling her time between her showbiz career and studies. After finishing a degree in Political Economy in 2022, she entered Law school at the start of the current year.

“It’s scary,” she states. “But I’m pursuing it because apart from show business, it’s my other passion. But it’s not because I’m entering politics in the future. I want to make good of my time that’s why I decided to pursue my Law studies even if I’m busy with my showbiz career. It’s just a matter of time management,” she says.

“But of course, my priority is my work.

Like now, we’re at the height of promoting Voltes V: Legacy. I also invest time in my career. I’m really doing my best to make it work,” she adds.

Speaking of her upcoming GMA offering, the pretty lass admits that all of them in the cast have become super close to one another.

“We’re like brothers and sisters already. We’ve been working for almost three years already.”

It appears that Voltes V; Legacy will be pitted against ABS-CBN’s FPJ’s Batang Quiapo where her dad Senator Lito Lapid is part of the cast. What can she say about that?

“It’s just a small industry. For me and my dad, there’s no conflict. Our priority is to give our viewers quality shows. What’s good is that my dad and I are both supportive of each other,” Ysabel says.

Beyonce breaks Grammy record for most wins ever

BEYONCE on Sunday broke the record for the most Grammy wins of any artist, scoring her 32nd prize ever and fourth of the night to resounding applause.

She clinched the title by winning the Grammy for Best Dance/Electronic Music Album for her smash Renaissance, thus surpassing the late classical conductor Georg Solti, who had 31 awards.

“I’m trying not to be too emotional. And I’m trying to just receive this night,” Queen Bey said, wearing a shimmering, curve-hugging gown, with her hair in mermaid waves, as her peers stood to honor the 41-year-old in her historymaking moment.

Beyonce’s Renaissance, her seventh solo studio album, is a pulsating, sweaty collection of club tracks aimed at liberating a world consumed by ennui.

Its release over the summer landed Beyonce at number one on Billboard’s top songs list for the first time in well over a decade.

Beyonce’s soaring vocals have their place on Renaissance, but it’s the rhythmic, urgent call to the dance floor that stands out, and the fusion of influences, paying homage to pioneers of funk, soul, rap, house, and disco.

“I’d like to thank my parents, my father, my mother, for loving me and pushing me. I’d like to thank my beautiful husband, my beautiful three children who are at home watching,” she told the crowd at the gala in Los Angeles.

“I’d like to thank the queer community for your love, and for inventing this genre.”

Beyonce was still up for several awards later Sunday, including album, record, and song of the year. AFP

‘Most brilliant’ concert tonight at the Big Dome

BRILLIANT Skin Essentials, Inc. CEO and Lady Boss, Miss Glenda, promised that the #Pinakamakinang, happening tonight at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, is one for the books.

The musical extravaganza is bannered by Alden Richards with stellar performances by Jona, Morissette, Adie, Mayonnaise, Kamikazee, and the pop rock icon, Bamboo Brilliant Skin ambassadors Seth Fedelin, Jillian Ward, Zeinab Harake, and Andrea Brillantes will be gracing the show as well.

“We gathered some of the country’s brightest stars to give people entertainment. We’ve done this show before and we aim to replicate or even surpass it. We’re supposed to hold it at the Philippines Arena but we couldn’t get a schedule,” the young lady boss said.

“Libre po ito. We opened the show not only to our Brilliant Skin users, resellers, distributors, and franchisees but also to fans,” Miss Glenda carried on.

Hosting the concert are Miss Universe Philippines 2020 Rabiya Mateo, the comedic duo of MC and Lassy, and Sam YG.

Serving as special guests of the concert are veteran broadcast journalists and TV personalities, Korina Sanchez and Senator Raffy Tulfo

The concert serves as the comeback concert of Miss Glenda who will perform three numbers including a duet with GMA’s prized star, Alden.

“He’s my ultimate crush,” admitted the 25-year-old entrepreneur. “And I admire him not just as an actor but also for his endeavors outside show business.”

The #Pinakamakinang concert is a thanksgiving concert of Brilliant Skin Essentials for all its loyal users, friends, resellers, distributors, and franchisees, for their unwavering support to their growing family. It’s also noteworthy to mention that this concert.

“That’s the reason why the concert is free. It’s our way of saying thank you to

all the people who have been supportive of our brand,” Miss Glanda stated. Apart from powerful performances and surprises, the concert also serves as an early birthday treat for Miss Glenda’s upcoming birthday on February 14.

“Prizes will be given away during the concert. Aside from Brilliant Skin gift packs, lucky winners can take home one of the 10 Yamaha Mio motorcycles,

or any of the two brand-new cars in the raffle. But who knows, additional prizes might be given away on the concert day itself,” she teased.

The show directed by Frank Mamaril is a component of Brilliant Skin Essentials, Inc. that centers on meaningful causes. Called Brilliant Love, its charity aspect aids Filipinos in times of calamities.

Cayetano siblings nervous but excited for new public service program

SENATORS Alan Peter and Pia Cayetano admit they are nervous but very excited ahead of the airing of the pilot episode of their public service program CIA with BA—short for Cayetano in Action with Boy Abunda – on GMA 7 last Sunday.

“There is a lot that hinges on that first episode so may kaunting kaba. But we are also very excited for the show,” Senator Alan said on Thursday.

“This is another avenue for us to help our kababayans and we are eager to see where this leads us,” he added.

Senator Pia echoed her brother, saying they have always felt the weight of carrying on the legacy of their father, the late former Senator Rene Cayetano, whom many Filipinos know as the original Compañero.

“Kami ni (Senator)

Alan, we have very big shoes to fill, lalo’t dala namin yung name na Cayetano. Our dad is practically synonymous with public service for

many Filipinos, and this is us paying homage to that legacy,” she said.

The lady senator also said she felt honored to be working with Mr. Boy Abunda on the same public service program.

“We are grateful to Tito Boy for joining me and Senator Alan in this new endeavor. It is an honor to work with someone like him na talagang batikan na sa media,” she said.

The Cayetano siblings have joined forces with the country’s King of Talk Boy Abunda to provide legal advice to troubled Filipinos in a new late-night public service program CIA with BA starting February 5, 2023.

Featuring the second-generation Compañero and Compañera, CIA with BA airs every Sunday from 11:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.

Taking inspiration from the wellreceived current affairs radio talk show Compañero y Compañera, which ran from 1997 to 2001 and hosted by their late father Senator Rene Cayetano, the sibling senators help arguing parties who have no access to legal services resolve their conflict from a legal perspective.

The program, which has a live studio audience, begins with the segment “Payong Kapatid,” where the senator siblings hear the consulting party, assess

their issues, and provide counsel.

The Cayetanos help the two arguing parties reach a settlement in the “Case 2 face” segment in a courtroom setup.

The senator siblings and Abunda are joined by a community of opinionated and witty professionals, dubbed the “Mari-Team.”

A segment called “Salamat!” will also recognize and reward selfless individuals who have done a good deed for a fellow Filipino.

Each episode will conclude with “Alan, Pia, Pik!” and “Pachinko,” a fun segment where prizes will be given to winning

audience participants. Senator Alan said that while the show has quite a number of moving parts, the core of CIA with BA would always be public service and making the law work for ordinary Filipinos.

“We will make things exciting for the audience and the viewers at home, but at the end of the day, people come to the show para matulungan sila sa kanilang legal problems,” he said.

“Ako, I definitely hope that Senator Pia and I can bring that seriousness of purpose to the table,” he added.

American singersongwriter Beyonce

Brilliant Skin Essentials, Inc. CEO Miss Glenda

Alden Richards will banner the musical extravaganza

The celebrity guests and performers at the free concert

‘Mars Ravelo’s Darna’ co-stars Jane De Leon (left) and Janella Salvador

From left: Boy Abunda with Senators Pia and Allan Cayetano

table desserts, confections, and other sweets at The Podium.

Celebrate love with Bake Works’ apple custard pie, chestnut cheese tart, and chocolate cheese tart. Bake Works located at the ground level of The Podium is a specialty store of freshly baked cheese tarts and custard cream apple pie made with best ingredients from Japan.

Say it sweetly this Valentine’s

Share the love with Patisserie Le Choux-Colat’s Gateaux De Voyage, Original Chocolate Petit G+óteau, and Strawberry Dark Chocolate Entremet Cake. Here, award-winning Chef Ely Salar and his team prepare swoonworthy desserts using local ingredients which can be enjoyed in their nook at the second level of The Podium. Make hearts flutter with See’s Candies’ Heart Chocolate Set, Dark Chocolate, and Milk Chocolate Candies.

See’s Candies is flown in fresh from the See’s Candy Kitchen in the US.

See’s has been a classic family favorite since 1921 with its assortment of Chocolate and Assorted Candy hand-crafted to perfection.

Dive right into the decadently delicious desserts including The Manila Baker’s Chocolate Hazelnut Basque Burnt Cheesecake, White Chocolate Strawberry Cake, and White Macadamia Salted Cookie. Likewise, delight your special someone with Twenty Four Bakeshop’s Auro Dark Chocolate Fudge Brownie and Original Vanilla Burnt Basque Cheesecake, or spoil yourself with a Solo Cookie Gift Box.

While Mary Grace brings the “Goodness of Home” with its classic ensaymadas, cheese rolls, and Tres Leches Cake, a vanilla sponge cake soaked in Earl Grey tea-infused milk with home-

Sights and colors of BAMBANTI FESTIVAL

made caramel filling. Have the sweetest Valentine’s Day at The Podium. To find out more about The Podium restaurants, follow The Podium’s social media accounts or visit The Podium website at thepodium.com.ph.

Denim brand marks

150th anniversary with year-long campaign

By Patricia Taculao

DENIM clothing is a staple piece in any wardrobe. Depending on the weather or personal style, these garments, from jeans to shorts to outerwear, denim apparel always make a statement. For 150 years, Levi Strauss & Co. has provided the public with their iconic 501 jeans, an enduring global style, and the original template from which all other jeans have descended.

Like in many other countries, the Philippines also saw the evolution of the iconic 501 jeans as Filipinos wore their pair for various events in their lives, whether mundane or relevant. After all, a good pair of jeans is like a good investment.

By Angelica Villanueva and Photos by Teddy Pelaez

NOW that safety protocols are easing out, the province of Isabela is taking advantage of the influx of tourists by starting off the year with a bang. The province’s annual celebration Bambanti Festival made its comeback after a two-year break due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

True to its theme, “Isabela, Pagharap sa Bagong Hamon ng Kinabukasan,” the Bambanti Festival held its annual celebration from January 23 to 29 with an aim to train the spotlight on the province’s agricultural harvest as well as to promote its tourism industry.

During the week-long celebration, residents of each city and municipality get to highlight their rich culture and agricultural products in this year’s line of festivities such as booth presentations, a giant Bambanti display, a cooking competition, a costume exhibit, a beauty pageant, and street performances.

Agricultural products

Being a primary source of rice and corn in the Philippines, Isabela has a large range of products to offer.

San Manuel Catherine Joy Legaspi stood out and was hailed as the Queen Isabela 2023 alongside Miss Cauayan City Julie Mae Villanueva as Queen Isabela Tourism, and Miss Ramon Johanna Trisha Cinco as Queen Isabela Culture and Arts.

This year’s Bambanti also has its King and Queen Festival where traditional attires are also highlighted.

What surprised the tourists—oth local and foreign—was on how talented Isabelenos are that even when they were asked to sing on the spot, they could really nail it.

Rich culture

What is a festival without the most anticipated street dancing competition? On the fourth day, the crowd was graced by festive presentations of street dancers. Despite the occasional rain shower, it did not stop them from giving the performance of their life even with the cold breeze of the air.

It was then succeeded by a dance showdown and music festival featuring Isabela’s local artists. Singer-actor Gian Magdangal and Broadway singer Ima Castro also graced the event.

OPM band Agsunta and soul singer KZ Tandingan capped off the last day of the music festival, which was dramatically punctuated by a firework display.

Local residents and travelers get a sneak preview of the province’s agricultural products with its agri-ecotourism exhibits at Bambanti Village.

Contingents are asked to design their booths using natural, organic, and biodegradable materials where they can display and sell products that their town is known of.

One of the highlights of this year’s festival is the Makan Ken Mainum. Unlike in previous years, aspiring young chefs ages 9 to 14 years old took the spotlight as representatives of each town tasked to create a unique dish and a drink using a local product.

Beauty of Isabelenos

This year also showcased the beauty of Isabelenos through its search for the next Queen Isabela. Among the 29 stunners, Miss

In commemorating the countless stories from fans of the 501 jeans, Levi’s launched the year-long campaign dubbed The Greatest Story Ever Worn. The brand will release three short films directed by Martin de Thurah and Melina Matsoukas.

The Greatest Story Ever Worn will explore original stories from across the globe as Levi’s celebrates 150 years of the 501 jeans. The stories, with those inspired by authentic events, will highlight the jeans’ history and their impact on society.

“Few products, let alone pieces of clothing, have been as consistently present for so many human experiences for as long as the 501. Coming from the humblest of beginnings as workwear pants, Levi’s 501 jeans have become a blank canvas for self-expression that transcends the boundaries of culture and class,” said Levi’s Vice President of Brand Marketing, Chris Jackman

The first historicallybased film, Precious Cargo, shares how the 501 jeans made their way to Kingston, Jamaica, in the 1970s and how the country made the iconic garment uniquely theirs. Directed by Matsoukas and shot by Academy Award-nominated cinematographer Bradford Young, the film explores the island’s distinct style, rhythm, and soul.

In the meantime, the second film, Fair Exchange, tells how a son swapped a family’s beloved cow for his first pair of 501 jeans. Directed by de Thurah and shot by acclaimed cinematographer Kasper Tuxen, the film explores how the iconic jeans serve as a dream to others.

The third and last film, Legends Never Die, is a true story of Levi’s wearer, who requested to be buried in his 501 jeans and asked funeral attendees to wear a pair of jeans. Also directed by de Thurah, the film reflects a collective love and the connection between a man who lived in his Levi’s 501 jeans.

Besides the launch of the Greatest Story Ever Worn, Levi’s is also re-releasing its classic 1954 501 for men and 1981 501 for women. It will also feature a new range of finishes for the 501 Original and 501 ‘93.

Moreover, the 501 lineups will receive new finishes inspired by jeans in Levi’s archives through naturally worn-in finishes on selvedge denim. Vintage-inspired craft and patchwork finishes are also available across the 501 range.

Throughout the year, Levi’s will also release new collections highlighting the brand’s interpretation of modern streetwear while allowing individuals to express themselves creatively through their fashion preferences

The media group at Bambanti Festival

The entrance of the San Agustin booth

Winners of the Queen Isabela 2023 pageant

Aspiring young chefs participating in the Makan Ken Mainum

Mary Grace famous Cheese Roll and