Manila Standard - 2023 March 3 - Friday

SUNKEN TANKER’S LEAKING FUEL BLACKENS COAST

PROCLAMATION OF TULFO AS ACT SOLON HITS SNAG

Transport groups split on strike

Manibela, Piston say protest to push through; Gov’t readies contingencies

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

THE weeklong transport strike starting March 6 will push through even as more groups on Thursday said they would not join the protest and distanced themselves from its Manila-based organizers.

This early, the government said it is already preparing contingency plans to mitigate the impact of the strike, including free bus and van rides for affected commuters.

“The transport strike will push through. Nothing has happened in the Senate hearing. The bottomline is the PUV phaseout

will still happen,” Manibela said in a Facebook post after yesterday’s hearing of the Senate public services committee chaired by Senator Grace Poe. Transport group PISTON said it will not stop protesting until the government revises it PUV Modernization Program, noting that merely extendint the dead-

line is not enough.

The Northern Mindanao Federation of Transport Service Cooperative (Nomfedtrasco), however, said it opposes the declaration of Manibela, led by its chairperson Mar Valbuena, for a nationwide transport strike.

The statement, signed by Luzminda Escobidal and Melvin Erederos, the group’s chief executive officer and chairperson, respectively, noted that the group’s members are compliant and supportive of the modernization plan.

“There were (at least) 20 transport service cooperative members that already

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PH formulating guides on joint patrols in WPS

By Rey E. Requejo

THE government is drawing up guidelines for joint patrols with allies in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) in the face of increasingly aggressive behavior by China in the disputed waters of the South China Sea.

Operational details, including the possible engagement of other regional partners, will be part of talks between the Philippines and the United States, which have a mutual defense treaty, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Thursday.

Last month, defense officials said they were considering joint patrols with the United States, Japan and Australia, but the DFA did not provide any details this week on which countries would take part in them.

The DFA said the Mutual Defense Board-Security Engagement Board (MDB-SEB) mechanism with the US draws up activities that will be undertaken by the two allies.

Despite a decision by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in favor of Manila, Beijing still insists it has sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea, which is well within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

6 suspects in hazing death of Salilig charged, others still at large

alde, 31; Mark Edrosa, 39; and students Romeo Earl Anthony, 21; Tung Cheng Teng Jr., 22; Jerome Balot, 22; and Sandro Victorino, 28. They were arrested

In a recent visit to the country, US Defense Secretary Lloyd AustinIII reiterated Washington’s commitment to help defend the Philippines, a long-time treaty ally, against aggression after a Chinese coast guard vessel pointed a military-grade laser at a passing Philippine supply ship near Ayungin Shoal on Feb. 6.

The laser-beaming incident off Ayungin — also known by its international name

ABOUT 4,000 displaced sugarcane field workers in Calabarzon would benefit from the more than P79 million worth of livelihood assistance and emergency employment to be provided by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

The workers are from the Central Azucarera Don Pedro, Inc. (CADPI) Sugar Mill, one of Luzon’s biggest raw sugar producers.

The company filed for permanent closure after “experiencing operational and financial challenges within the current conditions affecting the sugar industry in the Batangas area.”

In a statement Thursday, DOLE

4-A (Calabarzon) Director Ma. Karina Perida-Trayvilla assured that the workers would be given due intervention through existing programs of the

were tattoo artist Michael Lambert Rit-

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Floating debris found, likely from missing medic chopper

THE Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Thursday said it found floating debris that could be from the medical evacuation helicopter that went miss-

ing in Palawan. This developed as the remains of all four passengers and crew of the Cessna 340 plane that crashed near Mayon

Volcano two weeks ago have already been brought down from the crash site, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said Thursday.

CAAP spokesman Eric Apolonio also said the agency would have to consider the recent aircraft incidents

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Malaysia’s PM cites Rizal’s ideals in urging ASEAN to uphold justice

By Vince Lopez

VISITING Malaysian Prime Minister

Anwar Ibrahim cited Philippine national hero Dr. Jose Rizal as he called on members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to stay true to the bloc’s key ideals -- stand up for justice and rule of law -- amid the ongoing crisis in Myanmar. A scholar of Rizal’s works, PM Anwar made the statement Thursday in a lecture at the University of the Philippines, which conferred on him the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa.

Earlier, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. gifted the Malaysian head of government – the first to visit Manila under his administration -- with a copy of Rizal’s classic novel, “Noli Me Tangere,” as Anwar wrapped up a two-day official visit.

Mr. Marcos gave the book to the premier after their bilateral meeting at Malacañang Palace in Manila, according to a Facebook post by Radio Television Malacañang (RTVM) on Thursday.

Meantime, the Prime Minister’s spouse, Dr.

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By Rey E. Requejo, Charles Dantes, Rio N. Araja and Bobby Lagsa

SIX members of the Tau Gamma Phi fraternity have been charged for the

hazing death of John Matthew Salilig, a chemical engineering student at Adamson University, while another suspect surrendered to the authorities. The Philippine National Police as-

sisted John Michael Salilig, the victim’s brother, in filing complaints for violating the Anti-Hazing Act. Named respondents in the complaints

Wan Azizah binti Wan

PERSONS OF INTEREST. Six Tau Gamma fraternity members who are considered persons of interest in the death of Adamson student John Matthew Salilig arrive at the Department of Justice in Manila on Thursday, March 2, 2023. Norman Cruz and Danny Pata

PRO-PUV MODERNIZATION. Transport groups belonging to various cooperatives in the National Capital Region announce they are not joining the looming transport strike next week during a press briefing in Manila on Thursday, March 2, 2023. The groups also urge their fellow drivers to take part in the PUV Modernization program of the government.

Danny Pata

RIZAL SCHOLAR. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim pays his respects to the Philippines’ national hero, Dr. Jose PRizal, in a wreathlaying ceremony at the Rizal Park in the City of Manila on Thursday, March 2, 2023. Rey Baniquet

Fuel from tanker blackens coasts

CLEAN-UP efforts were under way on the blackened coasts of a central Philippine island Thursday after spillage from a sunken oil tanker washed ashore, the country’s environment chief said, as fears of economic and environmental harm grew.

forts will require personnel who will need to work over a period of time.”

The spill had spread over 24 square kilometers (nine square miles) of water by Wednesday, the coast guard said previously.

In the meantime, the coast guard has deployed oil spill booms to try to contain the material and sprayed chemicals to break down the oil.

Fishermen and tourism operators along the coast depend heavily on the waters for their livelihoods.

Comelec defers proclamation of Tulfo as ACT-CIS party-list solon

The oil spill off Naujan town on Mindoro island reached the shores of the next four municipalities on the island’s east coast around noon Thursday, and appeared to be flowing further south, Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Loyzaga said in a statement.

As it sailed into rough seas off Naujan on Tuesday, the Princess Empress sank with its cargo of 800,000 liters (210,000 gallons) of industrial fuel oil.

Another vessel rescued the 20 crew members on board, but the Princess Empress leaked some of its cargo into

Sen. Imee to give financial aid to single mothers, pregnant women

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

SEN. Imee Marcos has committed to distribute financial assistance to single mothers, senior citizens, and pregnant women for one month in various parts of the country in line with the celebration of Women’s Month this March.

On Thursday, Marcos started giving financial aid through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) program Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS).

The beneficiaries reached about 2,000 women from Antipolo City and Rodriguez, Rizal, with each getting P3,000.

This weekend, Marcos will go around Ilocos Sur, Pangasinan, and La Union for AICS payouts.

She will also hold a dialogue with members of the Young Farmers Club of the Philippines.

Marcos hopes the financial aid will help women and their families after being hit by the pandemic and amid the continuing increase in the price of food and other commodities.

The senator guaranteed she would help them continuously to face their current challenges.

She also called on her brother, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., to spur agricultural growth and fight food smuggling activities so the country can recover from poverty.

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as “accidents,” as all the aircraft involved were fully compliant with the agency’s rules and regulations.

This included the downed Cessna plane in Albay, the still-missing Cessna plane in Isabela, and the medical helicopter that went missing on Wednesday morning in Palawan.

Coast Guard District Palawan spokesperson Gretch Mary Acuario said officers on board the ship BRP Malabrigo found the debris off Lumbucan Island in Barangay Mangsee in Balabac.

Reports said the debris looked like a gas tank and reportedly had “R404A” and “pentafluoroethane” markings on it. However, the PCG is still verifying if they are really part of the medevac chopper.

The Philippine Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Center under the CAAP said the medevac flight came from Mangsee Island in the far southwest portion of Balabac, Palawan.

The helicopter was on its way to the Southern Palawan Provincial Hospital in Brooke’s Point when it was reported missing. On board were the pilot, a nurse, a female patient, and her two companions.

The helicopter was determined to be an Alouette model with registry number N45VX, operated by the Philippine Adventist Medical Aviation Services based in Brooke’s Point.

It took off at 7:30 a.m. from Brooke’s Point to pick up the patient and was expected to arrive at 10:30 a.m. at the hospital.

In a statement, the CAAP said a permit addressed to Philippine Adventist Medical Aviation Services President Captain Dwayne Harris has been issued by the Flight Standards Inspectorate Service (FSIS), Flight Operations Department (FOD), and Air Traffic Service (ATS), approving its humanitarian flight operations from February 27 to August 27, 2023.

the sea after initially spilling diesel fuel which had been powering the vessel, the Philippine Coast Guard said.

Environment personnel “are now focusing on coastal clean-up” given the extent of the affected shoreline, Loyzaga said.

Divers will meanwhile assess the impact on reefs, mangroves and sea grasses, as “possible contamination might actually affect the viability of these systems.”

She added: “We expect that these ef-

Transport...

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have operational modernized units, and they comprise 45 percent of our total membership,” it said.

Nomfedtrasco has 47 primary transport service member-cooperatives.

Pampanga-based members of the Federation of Jeepney Drivers at Operators (FEDJODA) also announced that they would pull out of the planned national transport strike.

The National Public Transport Coalition (NPTC) also announced the cancellation of the mass transport strike to give way to the Senate’s ongoing probe of the PUV modernization program.

A group of Transportation Network Vehicle Service (TNVS) drivers also said they will not participate in the one week transport strike.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority said it will deploy buses and vans to offer free rides to commuters as it ordered an inventory of LGU assets that can be tapped to augment public transport.

MMDA chairman Romando Artes said the agency is studying the possible suspension of the number coding scheme in Metro Manila during the weeklong strike.

Operators of mass rail transit in Metro Manila are likewise preparing contingency measures.

It is not known how much diesel fuel and industrial fuel oil is in the water.

Provincial governor Humerlito Dolor said a search was still under way for the stricken tanker, estimated to be 460 meters (1,500 feet) under the sea.

“The coast guard made assurances to us that they are ready to syphon off the oil once they identify (the location),” Dolor told local media.

“Unfortunately, after two aerial surveillance (flights) we still can’t find the exact location of the ship.”

“Internally, we are preparing to ensure essential manpower and service availability for LRT-1, as well as prepare for possible surges in ridership, during the said period,” Jacqueline Gorospe, head of Communications & Customer Relations at the Light Rail Manila Corp. said.

“LRT-1 will be operational from 4:30 a.m. (first trip) – 10:15 p.m. (last trip) to serve our commuters,” she added.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTRFB) officials, meanwhile, said traditional jeepneys can still operate beyond the set deadline as long as they join transport cooperatives.

DOTr Undersecretary Mark Steven Pastor said the LTFRB memorandum circular 2023-13 pertains to the end of consolidation period, and not the phase out.

Under consolidation, he noted that a traditional jeep will be allowed to ply their route as consolidated.

He said the deadline for consolidation was moved from June 30 to Dec. 31 to clarify the apparent misunderstanding of the wordings of the memorandum circular.

“We do recognize there’s room for improvement in the memorandum circular,” Pastor said.

LTFRB chairman Teofilo Guadiz III also clarified that the deadline for Dec. 31 is not for the phaseout of

Oil has been spotted along a roughly 60-kilometre stretch of water between Naujan and Bongabong municipality, said Ram Temena, disaster operations chief in the affected province of Oriental Mindoro.

“We have many fish sanctuaries along the coast,” Temena said.

“It could have a huge impact due to the possibility that the oil could attach to the coral reefs, affecting the marine biodiversity.” AFP

the jeepneys.

“The deadline is only for the consolidation,” said Guadiz as he called on drivers to come together, consolidate as one and start the formation of a coop in pursuit of modernization.

“After the consolidation, there would be other stages of this modernization scheme. One of which is probably introducing to the bank for a study on their route and of the funding. The phaseout will be the last stage,” he said.

Majority Leader Joel Villanueva questioned LTFRB officials why only 139 local government units (LGUs) had approved the Local Public Transport Route Planning (LPTRP) when the PUV Modernization Program had been implemented since 2018.

“We are not against PUV modernization. It cannot be avoided but it cannot be rushed or forced. Our question is: Is there a ‘mafia’ that is pushing this even though it is obvious that our countrymen are complaining?” he asked.

LPTRP consists of a detailed plan of routes and number of PUV units which is a major requirement for the issuance of franchises and subsidies to PUVs.

Of the 1,575 LGUs, 985 LGUs have already submitted LPTRP, 198 are under evaluation and 648 still under revision.

Senators said they were baffled why only a few route rationalization plans have been approved when the PUV modernization has long been implemented and extended six times.

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has suspended the proclamation of former Social Welfare and Development Secretary Erwin Tulfo as ACT-CIS party-list’s nominee next-in-line.

In a statement released on Wednesday evening, the poll body said the seven-man panel decided to suspend the proclamation after receiving a petition seeking to disqualify the group’s nominee next-in-line late last month.

“In its Regular Meeting today, March 1, 2023, the Commission on Elections en banc resolved to suspend the proclamation of Mr. Erwin P. Tulfo, nominee next-in-line of ACT-CIS Party-List Group in view of the filing of a Petition for Disqualification against him on February 28, 2023,” it said.

The petition filed by lawyer Moises Tolentino Jr. seeks Tulfo’s disqualification on allegations pertaining to “question of citizenship” and “conviction by final judgment of a crime involving moral turpitude”.

The petition was docketed by the Clerk of the Commission, was taken cognizance by the Commission under Sections 1 to 5 of Rule 5 of Comelec Resolution No. 9366.

Accordingly, under Section 8 of said Rule 5 of Resolution No. 9366, the proclamation of a nominee may be suspended notwithstanding the fact that the group or organization received the winning number of votes in such elections, if the evidence in the petition for disqualification is strong and such remains unresolved.

The Comelec said the petition is scheduled to be raffled to a division for hearing on March 6.

Earlier, the House of Representatives informed the Commission it has accepted the resignation of Jeffrey Soriano of the ACT-CIS Party-list on Feb. 22, 2023.

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on March 2.

John Matthew’s fellow fraternity neophyte, Adamson student Roi Osmon Tuazon Dela Cruz, was also assisted by the PNP in filing another complaint against the six fraternity members.

When presented for inquest before the DOJ, Police Lt. Col. Virgilio Jopia, police chief of Imus, Cavite, said the six arrested suspects asked for a preliminary investigation.

“We filed the case but they exercised their right for the conduct of a preliminary investigation,” Jopia said.

“They will submit their counter-affidavits for the preliminary investigation this March 10,” he said.

In the meantime, Jopia said all six suspects will remain in police custody.

Salilig’s remains were found in a vacant lot in Imus, Cavite on Feb. 28. He was reported missing on Feb. 18.

The complaints stated that Dela Cruz was with Salilig when they underwent hazing as neophytes of the fraternity.

Meanwhile, one of the suspects who dumped Salilig’s body in an empty lot in Cavite surrendered Thursday.

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Ismail, received a Waling-Waling brass card holder. The card holder is a decorative ornament that combines the beauty of the Waling-Waling with the durability and attractiveness of brass crafted by Cebuano artisans, according to RTVM.

In honoring the Malaysian leader, UP Vice President for Public Affairs Jose Wendell Capili said Anwar has been a

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department.

“We are preparing to provide sustainable livelihood assistance after we hold a dialogue with the affected workers to optimize the use of funds,” she said.

Cavite Provincial Police Office said 23-year-old suspect Daniel Perry surrendered to Cavite Gov. Jonvic Remulla at about 1:30 p.m.

The suspect was then turned over to Cavite Provincial Police director Police Col. Christopher Olazo and brought to Trece Martires City for proper documentation.

A report from GMA News said the suspect admitted that he is one of those who buried Salilig in a shallow grave in Imus, Cavite.

Olazo said Perry surrendered due to his conscience and fear for his family’s safety. Perry also said that he was en

couraged to give himself up after hear

ing his fellow colleagues surrendered to the authorities.

The acting chief of Biñan, Laguna police, Lt. Col. Virgilio Jopia said a witness named Roi dela Cruz positively identified six fraternity officers who were involved in the hazing, including the fraternity leader in Adamson, Tung Cheng Teng Jr.

He also recounted their “painful” ordeal during their initiation rites with the Tau Gamma Phi fraternity.

He showed the injuries he sustained from the hazing, particularly at the back of his thighs where he received more

devoted scholar on the life, works, and teachings of Rizal. The premier’s interest in Rizaliana was furthered by his frequent visits to UP in his youth under the tutelage of the late University Professor Emeritus of History and UP Diliman College of Arts and Sciences Dean Cesar Adib Majul. Anwar was sworn in as Prime Minister by King Al-Sultan Abdullah on Nov. 24, 2022, and previously served as Malaysia’s Deputy Prime Minister from 1993 to 1998 and Minister of Finance

“Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma approved releasing more than P79 million to cover the affected workers for implementing Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa ating Disadvantaged / Displaced Workers (TUPAD) and Livelihood Programs.” Among the displaced workers, 1,252 will benefit from the TUPAD Program,

than 70 blows from a paddle, and on his back where a melting candle was used to carve the logo of the fraternity.

Dela Cruz said he heard Salilig answering in the affirmative after being asked by those conducting their initiation rites if he was okay.

Dela Cruz and the other witness also pointed to the house where the initiation rites were held.

Jopia said they were still looking for individuals who are considered persons of interest.

During Salilig’s wake, PNP public information office chief Col. Redrico Maranam called on school officials to intensify their monitoring of fraternity groups.

“Our message to all the fraternities in school campuses, hazing is against the law and the penalty here is life imprisonment. Avoid it because it kills and destroys human life and family,” Maranan said.

Based on the autopsy report of the Regional Police Office 4-A (Calabarzon), Salilig died due to severe bluntforce trauma to the lower extremities.

The PNP has recorded a total of 178 incidents of hazing since 2012. The peak of 30 incidents was recorded in 2018. In 2022, the police have recorded just five incidents.

from 1991 to 1998.

“[W]hen I mentioned in Bangkok recently about the need to temporarily carve out Myanmar, on account of the blatant human rights violations, it was said in the larger context of the imperative to stay true to one of the key ideals of ASEAN, which is nothing less than to stand for the cause of justice and the rule of law,” he said in his lecture at UP’s Diliman campus in Quezon City.

“In this regard, it bears repeating these immortal lines from Dr. Rizal, who I must reiterate, remains truly an

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amounting to P5.8 million worth of wages.

In preparation for its implementation, the DOLE has already oriented the displaced sugarcane workers on basic safety and health and other TUPAD implementation guidelines and procedures.

On the other hand, Bureau of Workers with Special Concerns Director

Second Thomas Shoal — caused temporary blindness to some of the Filipino crew and prompted Manila to file a strongly worded diplomatic protest.

Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles, who also visited Manila last month, announced at a press conference that they are eyeing joint patrols with the Philippines in the disputed waters.

Apart from the US, only Australia has an existing defense pact with the Philippines that allows joint military exercises in the country.

The Philippine Constitution bans foreign bases and permanent presence of foreign troops and their engagement in local combat.

China, which considers the sea disputes as a purely Asian issue, is opposed to any foreign intervention, particularly from the US.

In a talk with troops before the Visayas Command in Cebu earlier this week, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the mission of the Armed Forces of the Philippines has evolved amid the “most difficult and complicated” issue on the South China Sea and the “intensification of the competition of superpowers.”

Marcos said the military must adjust accordingly to the changing security situation.

Asian Renaissance Man, that ‘Justice is the foremost virtue of the civilizing races. It subdues the barbarous nations, while injustice arouses the weakest,’” he added.

Anwar noted that while consensus continues to be a central tenet of decision-making in the ASEAN, it does not follow that the bloc should remain silent over the violation of ASEAN Charter by its own members.

“In all honesty, I believe that noninterference is not a license for indifference,” he said.

Ahmma Charisma Lobrin-Satumba committed to fast-track the approval of emergency employment and livelihood assistance for the affected workers.

Last month, House Speaker Martin G. Romualdez has vowed to probe the plight of 12,000 sugarcane farm workers from Nasugbu, Batangas affected by the closure of the CADPI sugar mill.

IN BRIEF

Army kills 6 NPA rebels in Negros Occidental

SIX suspected communist rebels were killed yesterday in a clash with Army troopers in Himamaylan City in Negros Occidental, according to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

The AFP, in a statement, said the soldiers also confiscated six firearms following the skirmishes.

The Army’s elements of the 94th Infantry Battalion responded to information that the rebels were extorting food and other supplies from residents of Barangay Carabalan.

The responding troops encountered at least 20 New People’s Army (NPA) members resulting in the gunbattle that left six of the rebels killed.

Seized after the encounter were six high-powered firearms consisting of 2 M16 rifles, 2 M203 grenade launchers, and 2 AK47 rifles.

Brig. Gen Marion Sison, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division, lauded the collaboration between the local residents and the soldiers in stopping the communist group.

Charles Dantes Lazatin resumes cash

aid to solo parents

ANGELES CITY—Mayor Carmelo Lazatin, Jr. rolled out on Wednesday the house-to-house distribution of ₱1,000 cash assistance, plus five kilos of rice and three-month supply of Vitamin C supplements targeting exactly 202 registered solo parents in the city.

This initial distribution covered Barangays

Amsic with 78 beneficiaries, Anunas with 96, and Agapito Del Rosario with 28.

“Kaisa po ninyo ang lokal na pamahalaan sa pagsisikap ninyong maitaguyod ang inyong mga anak,” Lazatin told the beneficiaries.

The City Social Welfare and Development Office headed by Edna Duaso and Solo Parents Affairs focal person Rebecca Peñaranda assisted the mayor during the distribution. Some 2,500 registered solo parents in the city are set to receive assistance from the city government as agreed in a recent meeting presided by chief adviser IC Calaguas, together with executive assistant Reina Manuel, CSWDO admin head Chrysalene Cunanan, and Gender and Development officer-incharge Mina Cabiles. Butch Gunio

Samal folk up in arms vs. local power coop

IRATE customers of the Northern Davao Electric Cooperative (NORDECO) in the Garden City of Samal Island on Wednesday staged a protest march against what they called “poor services and management of the electric cooperative.”

Nordeco serves some 18,000 households and commercial customers in the island.

Island Garden City of Samal Vice Mayor Lemuel Reyes deplored the poor service and high electricity rate being charged by Nordeco.

“We in the city council have passed resolutions. We invited Nordeco to a dialogue, but it results in nothing. There is nothing we can do but to conduct a peaceful rally so that national leaders will do something,” Reyes said. The electric consumers said they are fed up with frequent power interruptions and an even higher cost of electricity.

Juanita Baclayan said that the electric supply is erratic, “We are shocked when we see our bills which are too high,” Baclayan said.

Baclayan added that it is such a hassle because she has students who need to study at night, “because of the power interruptions, our appliances are damaged,” Baclayan said.

Bobby Lagsa

By Vito Barcelo

BUREAU of Immigration (BI) operatives have arrested nine Vietnamese nationals who were caught illegally working in three luxury spas in Makati and Manila.

BI Intelligence Division chief Fortunato Manahan Jr. said the nine Vietnamese were arrested while working in spas and performing aesthetic operations despite having no license to operate in the country.

“We found many machines and medications in their clinics, and they were performing operations without medical licenses,” Manahan said.

The raids were conducted in coordination with the Philippine National Police (PNP) Southern Police District – Tactical Operation Center and the PNP Manila Police District.

Four of the Vietnamese were found in a branch of the shop along Asuncion St., Valenzuela in Makati City, while one was located in a spa along Dr. JP Rizal Ave.

Four others, including the supposed operator identified as Pham Thi Hai Yen, 26, were nabbed in a spa along Cong. A. Francisco St., in Malate, Manila.

The arrests stemmed from a complaint against the Vietnamese after they were reported to be physically hurting Filipino employees.

Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said the nine aliens will face deportation charges for being undocumented and for violation of the conditions of their stay in the Philippines.

MMDA to hold dry run on single ticket system

By Rey E. Requejo

THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will hold a dry run for the implementation of the single ticketing system in the first or second week of April.

MMDA acting chairman Romando

Artes said at least seven local government units in Metro Manila have expressed their readiness for the dry run which would cover the cities of San Juan, Muntinlupa, Quezon, Valenzuela, Parañaque, Manila, and Caloocan.

“The single ticketing system across Metro Manila is nearing full implementation. There is a need to conduct a dry run to increase public awareness,” Artes said during a Metro Manila Council (MMC) meeting held on Thursday at the MMDA’s new headquarters on Julia

Vargas St., Pasig City.

It may be recalled that Metro Manila mayors have adopted the single ticketing system through the approval of the Metro Manila Traffic Code of 2023 which provides for a system of interconnectivity among government instrumentalities involved in the transport and traffic management in the metropolis with harmonized fines and penalties.

Artes said the Land Transportation Office (LTO) drafted a memorandum of agreement (MOA) regarding interconnectivity with LGUs and data privacy

agreement.

“LTO Chief Assistant Secretary Jay Art Tugade has committed to submit the MOA tomorrow,” he said.

MMC president and San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora emphasized the importance of a single ticketing system.

“The implementation of the single ticketing system will highly benefit our motorists because they have the option to pay thru online channels for their violations,” Zamora said.

Under the single ticketing system, it will be easier for traffic violators in the National Capital Region to settle their penalties through Bayad Centers all over the country or through mobile apps.

Present during the meeting were mayors Vico Sotto of Pasig, Ruffy Biazon of Muntinlupa, Wesley Gatchalian of Valenzuela, Emi Calixto-Rubiano of Pasay, Jeannie Sandoval of Malabon, and Miguel “Ike” Ponce III of Pateros.

BAKERY

FAIR. Senator Imee Marcos, assisted by Filipino Chinese Bakery Association, Inc. president Gerik Chua, leads the ribbon-cutting to open the five-day Bakery Fair 2023 at the World Trade Center in Pasay City on Thursday.

Danny Pata

AN ADVOCACY group urges Malacañang to issue an executive order (EO) on critical infrastructure “to address the bureaucratic blockades that have been suppressing the Philippines’ potentials to be a robustly prosperous nation.”

Orlando Oxales, lead convenor of CitizenWatch that champions the interests of consumers and ordinary citizens, said the proposed EO should cover digital, transportation (land, air, and maritime), and power infrastructure.

“This EO should consolidate existing, albeit siloed, measures and be guided by recommendations from the private sector,” Oxales said.

He added that the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for Filipinos to recover economically and pursue their dreams of prosperity.

“Our people are endowed with rich natural and human resources with the skills and driving spirit to excel,” Oxales said.

“The government is duty-bound to respond to their need for a better quality of life, and it could do this through responsive policies,” he added.

The objective, he said, is to accelerate the speed of economic growth using an inclusive, sustainable, and peoplecentered approach.

“To be responsive entails an accurate appreciation of the problems and the potential of drivers of the economy, which is the private sector,” Oxales stressed.

In the 2022 annual global competitiveness report of the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) Yearbook, the Philippines ranked 48th out of 63 economies.

“While this is a four-step improvement from the previous year, the fact remains that in Asia-Pacific alone, we have remained second-to-last in the past five years,” Oxales said.

The ranking reflects the sorry state of infrastructure in the country, he noted.

PH logs 3 more cases of Omicron subvariant XBB, raising total to 6

By Willie Casas

THE Philippines has logged three additional cases of Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5, raising its total to six, the Department of Health (DOH) reported Thursday.

The new XBB.1.5 infections are local cases, the DOH’s latest COVID-19 biosurveillance report showed.

XBB.1.5, dubbed the “Kraken,” is the most transmissible COVID subvariant

so far, experts have said. The DOH also detected 118 new cases of Omicron subvariants. These included 60 cases of BA.2.3.20, 30 cases of XBB, eight cases of XBC and 20 cases tagged as other omicron sublineages. These were the results of the latest sequencing run conducted by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine and the University of the PhilippinesPhilippine Genome Center Mindanao

from Feb. 20 to 24, the DOH said.

Of the additional BA.2.3.20 cases, 59 were local cases from Regions 2, 3, 4B, 11, 12, and NCR while one case was classified as a returning overseas Filipino, the DOH said.

Among the 33 recently reported XBB cases, one case was an ROF while 32 were local cases from Regions 3, 4B, 11, 12, and Caraga, including three XBB.1.5 cases.

Meanwhile, all additional XBC cases

BARMM constructs more schools

By Nash B. Maulana

THE Bangsamoro government continues to construct new school buildings designed to withstand calamities, Education Minister Mohaguer Iqbal said. Mandated with the function to build schools, the Ministry Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE) said the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has turned over school buildings constructed for P7.43 million to the local government of Datu Salibo, Datu Piang, Maguindanao I Division del Sur. Iqbal said the MBHTE had the school buildings constructed to be calamity-

resilient and “to withstand, hopefully, the test of time.”

MBHTE supported its school building construction projects through its 2018 Basic Education Facilities Fund (BEFF) amounting to P4,877,715.99 at Ganoy Primary School (GPS) and another at Tee Primary School (TPS) for P2,561,514.57.

Iqbal, also a member of Parliament of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), said the BARMM through the MBHTE has time and again assured the Bangsamoro population across the region that educational reforms are in place, including the construction of school buildings, addressing the needs of teachers as well as students.

were local cases from Regions 4B, 11, and 12, the DOH added.

To date, the BA.5 is still the dominant strain in the Philippines, with 12,721 cases. As of March 1, the Philippines has 9,230 active COVID-19 cases.

Since the pandemic started, the country has recorded 4,076,418 coronavirus infections, of which 66,118 resulted in deaths.

To date, more than 73.8 million Filipinos have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Group seeks EO on critical infra to thrust dev’t

Missionary visual artist Kristine Lim unveils her paintings and artifacts collection in an exhibit dubbed ‘The Redemption of Eve’ in Intramuros, Manila to highlight the observance of Women’s Month. Present at the event are Manila councilor Uno Lim, Philippine Navy (Res.) Maj. Gen. Joseph Ferrous Cuison, John Arcilla of the Intramuros administration, JCI president Patrick Maglinao, Liwayway editor Johannes Chua, Gemmalyn Crosby, and Mon Coloma. Norman Cruz

IN BRIEF

Solon hails Magna Carta for Pinoy seafarers

OFW Party-list Rep. Marissa Magsino on Thursday expressed hope that the bill instituting the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers improve the working and living conditions and ensure the socio-economic well-being of Filipino seafarers.

Magsino, author of the measure, made the statement as she thanked the House leadership led by Speaker Martin G. Romualdez for its approval of House Bill 7325 which proposes the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers.

The bill provides the seafarers’ rights, duties, conditions of employment, minimum requirements to work on a ship and other entitlements, together with the duties and responsibilities of the shipowners and manning agencies.

Magsino stressed the need to craft legislation that would ensure that their rights are laid down clearly, and the arrangements that they are subjected to are constantly monitored.

Magsino noted that while several laws have been crafted such as the Migrant Workers And Overseas Filipinos Act, they remain to be insufficient in directly targeting the unique needs and setup of seafarers.

DFA says 83 OFWs on death row

By Maricel V. Cruz

THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday disclosed to Congress that a total of 83 Filipinos are awaiting their fate on death row in various countries abroad.

DFA Assistant Secretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Paul Raymund Cortes revealed this to legislators during the hearing of the House committee on overseas workers affairs, chaired by Rep. Ron Salo of Kabayan party-list group.

Cortes said Malaysia tops the list with 56 OFWs on death row—30 of whom were sentenced to death due to murder charges, while 18 had drug-related offenses.

This is followed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with six and five in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).

Similarly, fifteen Filipino inmates are awaiting the death penalty in the United States (US), China, Japan, Vietnam, Brunei, and Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, Indonesia has one Filipino on death row—Mary Jane Veloso, a domestic helper from Nueva Ecija, who

Advocates seeking more funds for cancer control program in PH

A REGULAR and bigger budget is what the National Integrated Cancer Control Act (NICCA) needs to be fully implemented, according to cancer control advocates and experts.

Carmen Auste, vice president of Cancer Coalition, pleaded for Congress to increase funds for the cancer control program so that the Department of Health (DOH) as main implementor can carry out the provisions of the fouryear-old NICCA. “The law is good only on paper if it remains unfunded. We are thankful for the budget we now have but we need to increase it based on the data we have,” Auste said at the Philippine National Cancer Summit held recently.

Teodoro Padilla, executive director of the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP), said that funding the law can help improve the whole process of cancer control, including access to medicines.

“Only 13 percent of new drugs find their way locally although they are

already available in other countries. Cancer is something we could live with and not die from. But we need all the tools at the disposal of the patients,” he said in the same forum.

“Access delayed means treatment denied,” Padilla added paraphrasing an old legal adage.

Orlando Oxales, convener of the Citizens Watch, called on the lawmakers to institutionalize and come up with a concrete program of increasing the budget of the Cancer Assistance Fund (CAF).

“Will we see the line item there permanently or we will have to fight again for it? We are again working regularly with stakeholders to anticipate this next cycle of budget,” he disclosed.

The DOH was given about P1 billion in previous years to fight cancer but even for breast cancer alone, with 27,000 new cases and 9,000 deaths here annually, that amount needs to be augmented.

was arrested in 2010 for smuggling 2.6 kilograms of heroin into Indonesia.

The committee conducted the hearing to hear from relevant government agencies in charge of protecting Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) of their efforts to protect OFWs.

Salo said the committee intends to come up with measures or policies that could help the OFWs, as well as improve the process extending assistance to the families of the victims.

Salo called the briefing after the burnt remains of OFW Jullebee Ranara were found in a desert in Kuwait on January 21, 2023.

“There were calls from our members for them to be informed also (on) how

many cases are actually pending or how many of our OFWs have possibly met the same fate, but we may not have been informed or we don’t have knowledge or information of those. We are sure the frontline department or agencies may have the information,” Salo said.

It was also revealed that a total of 2,104 criminal cases filed against OFWs is also pending. These cases are usually filed as retaliation for absconding, theft, breach of trust and drugs, Cortes said. Meanwhile Cortes said the top causes of OFW deaths in the last 10 years have been “COVID-19, vehicular accidents, natural causes, and medical illnesses, such as cancer, cardiac arrest, or organ failure.”

“There can be no better time than now, in ensuring that a specific law which would guarantee that the seafarers whose employment is of distinct nature, is finally passed. We should not wait another decade, or worse, another pandemic, before we respond to this sector from whom we have gained so much,” Magsino said.Maricel V. Cruz

Lapid bats for Magna Carta for brgy health workers

SENATOR Manuel “Lito” M. Lapid is pushing for the enactment of Senate Bill (S.B.) No. 1911 or the “Magna Carta of Barangay Health Workers” to address the longstanding issue of inadequate compensation and benefits for Barangay Healthcare Workers (BHWs).

Lapid has filed SB No. 1911 seeking to recognize and support the significant role played by BHWs in providing essential health services to our communities.

He noted that the passage of this bill is crucial in achieving the country’s goal of providing better health coverage and improving wellness in our communities.

Lapid’s proposed Magna Carta of Barangay Health Workers seeks to address these issues by providing additional health benefits, compensation, incentives, free education, and continuous training programs for BHWs, saying that this proposed measure aims to empower and improve the status of BHWs, ensuring that they receive the recognition and support they deserve for their invaluable contribution to our society.

Promoting the welfare and well-being of BHWs, who are at the forefront of the delivery of healthcare at the grassroots level, is the main goal of Lapid’s proposed measure.

He noted that the State recognizes the potential of BHWs as partners in development, and the proposed Magna Carta seeks to effectively harness their potential through the provision of additional benefits and support.

Macon Ramos-Araneta

‘July filing for CoCs poses several problems’

REP. Gus Tambunting of Parañaque City on Thursday said he is opposing the July filing of certificates of candidacy (COC) in connection with the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections. In a statement, Tambunting urged the Commission on Elections to heed his appeal.

“I believe that this move poses several problems that may compromise the integrity and safety of the electoral process,” he said.

The BSKE is scheduled to take place on Oct. 30, 2023.

“I call on the Comelec to reconsider this plan and stick to the usual schedule of COC filing for the Barangay and SK elections. I urge the Commission to prioritize the safety and integrity of the electoral process and to consider the welfare of the voters and the candidates,” added Tambunting.

Tambunting, a member of the House committee on electoral reforms cited three reasons why filing of CoCs for village, youth polls in July is a “bad idea.”

“First, the extended campaign/political season will be too long, which may lead to voter fatigue and disinterest,” he said.Maricel V. Cruz

Pres. Marcos names Negre new head of competition commission

By Vince Lopez

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed lawyer Ferdinand Negre as the new commissioner of the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC).

Negre’s appointment was on the list of new presidential appointees released by the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) on Thursday.

Under Republic Act (RA) 10677 or the Philippine Competition Act (PCA), the PCC shall be composed of a chairperson and four commissioners.

The chairperson and the commissioners have the rank equivalent of Cabinet secretary and undersecretary, respectively. They are appointed by the President for a term of seven years without reappointment.

The PCC is an independent quasi-

judicial body mandated to implement the national competition policy and enforce PCA which serves as the primary law in the Philippines for promoting and protecting market competition. Negre is a certified public accountant and worked as an auditor at SGV & Co. before taking up law.

Negre also teaches different intellectual property laws at the Ateneo Law School where he chairs

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. welcomed on Thursday the proposed establishment of two hyperscale data centers in Luzon by ENDEC Development Corp. and Diode Ventures, LLC, which is a result of a productive roundtable discussion in New York in September last year.

ENDEC Development Corp., led by ENDECGROUP, Inc. managing director, William Johnson, briefed the President in Malacañang on the status of its proposed hyperscale data center projects in the Philippines.

During the meeting, the companies informed Mr. Marcos of their ongoing negotiations to build hyperscale data centers in Tarlac and New Clark City.

“This is important for us. We’re left behind when it comes to digitalization.

That’s why the push for data centers, fiber optics and satellite is one of our priorities,” President Marcos said, noting that the

BSP studying solutions to cut transaction fees

By Julito Rada

THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP)

assumed the post of Director IV at the same office.

the Commercial Law and Intellectual Property Department. He was a member of the Supreme Court Sub-Committee on Special Rules in Intellectual Property Cases. Meantime, Gerald Divinagracia was designated as deputy director-general of the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA), while Grace Fernandez and Leonardo Tapia

is optimistic that it will be able to find a cost-sharing system for the planned exclusion of transaction fees for money transfers less than P500 to further spur the use of digital payments in the country.

In a statement Thursday, BSP also said it would continue to work with banks on measures to lower or waive transaction fees for small e-payments to make financial digitalization more inclusive.

projects would enable the Philippines to catch up with other countries in terms of digitalization.

“We are really pushing [for] digitalization. Thank you for your continuing interest in the Philippines,” the President pointed out.

ENDEC said it is committed to starting the project in the first quarter of 2024 and will work with a local Renewable Energy (RE) company for its electricity requirements to support its energyintensive data center operations. The company said it would use 100 percent renewable energy sourced from solar, wind and hydro to sustain its 700 MW monthly power consumption of its data centers.

According to ENDEC, it would secure separate energy sources to ensure that the country’s power grids will not be affected by its operation.

BSP Governor Felipe Medalla said earlier that one way to make digitalization more inclusive is to make small transactions free of charge so that low-income households could be encouraged to use digital payments. He said if the value of the transaction is small and the charge is P15, for example, that fee is quite large relative to the transaction.

Reducing the cost of e-payments is in line with the BSP’s Digital Payments Transformation Roadmap 2020-2023, which aims to convert half of retail payments volume into digital form and to onboard 70 percent of Filipino adults onto the formal financial system within this year.

On Tuesday, BSP senior assistant governor Iluminada Sicat said in a forum that BSP was currently in talks with the 44-member strong Bankers Association of the Philippines for the possible removal of transaction fees for money transfers less than P500.

both

OIL SPILL AFTERMATH. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) confirmed that the oil spill in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, was mixed with industrial fuel oil. This after the MT Princess Empress sank with a load of approximately 800,000 liters of oil due to engine trouble. The MTUG Titan continues to apply dispersant to the water and in the shoreline assessment conducted by the PCG in Pinamalayan, ‘patches of emulsified oil’ were observed.

NEW LWUA ADMINISTRATOR Newly-designated Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) administrator Vicente Homer Revil (left) recently paid a courtesy visit to House Speaker Martin G. Romualdez (right) and other officials of the House of Representatives. A former vice-governor of Masbate, Revil now heads the agency tasked to promote and oversee water and sanitation services in the countryside.

FLOWER EXHIBIT. Vice President Inday Sara Duterte attended “Gamhanang Buwak: Flower Power,” exhibit by members of the Floral Artists of Davao Association, Inc. The exhibit is part of the start of Women’s Month celebrations.

Buying and selling stolen items

EVERYONE wants to save money for the rainy days. Thus, buying personal properties at an extremely reduced price is appreciated by most.

However, the buyer must make sure he is not buying, receiving, or possessing any object or anything of value which is known to him to have been derived from robbery or theft (see Presidential Decree 1612).

It is interesting to note that Presidential Decree 1612, also known as the Anti-Fencing Law, was a product of executive legislation which took effect on March 2, 1979.

It was decreed by then President Ferdinand E. Marcos during the time in our history wherein the making of laws was lodged with the Chief Executive.

Aside from buying and acquiring stolen items, fencing also describes the selling, disposing of, or dealing with any article, item, or object which a person knows or is known to him as stolen.

If the offender is a partnership, firm, corporation or association, the president or the manager or any officer thereof who knows or should have known the commission of the offense shall be held liable (Section 4, PD 1612).

The essential elements of the crime of fencing are: (1) a crime of robbery or theft has been committed; (2) the accused buys, sells or disposes, or buys and sells any article, item, or object derived from the proceeds of a robbery or theft; (3) the accused knew or should have known that the article or object was derived from the proceeds of robbery or theft; and (4) there is, on the part of one accused, intent to gain for oneself or for another (see Ong v. People, G.R. 190475, April 10, 2013).

Disturbing rash of attacks on local officials

truck driver and helper, Braulio Lopez (Lopez) and Loreto Lariosa (Lariosa) to deliver 210 cases of Coca-Cola products (subject items) worth P52,476.00 to Demins Store.

The following day, Tan discovered that contrary to his instructions, the subject items were instead delivered to Cahulogan’s store (G.R. 225695, March 21, 2018). Tan then met Cahulogan to inform him the delivery to his store was a mistake and he was pulling out the subject items.

However, Cahulogan refused, claiming he bought the same from Lariosa for P50,000.00, but could not present any receipt evidencing such transaction (G.R. 225695, March 21, 2018).

on the brazen attack.

In the case of Ong v. People, the criminal information against accused Ong alleged that he “willfully, unlawfully and feloniously receive[d] and acquire[d] from unknown person… 13 truck tires worth ₱65, 975.00, belonging to FRANCISCO AZAJAR Y LEE, and thereafter selling One (1) truck tire knowing the same to have been derived from the crime of robbery” (G.R. 190475, April 10, 2013).

The accused was convicted for violation of PD 1612.

First, the owner of the tires, private complainant Francisco Azajar (Azajar) and Jose Cabal, the caretaker of the warehouse where the 38 tires were stolen, testified the crime of robbery had been committed on February 17, 1995.

Azajar was able to prove ownership of the tires from its Inventory List (G.R. 190475, April 10, 2013).

Second, the accused never denied the fact the 13 tires of Azajar were caught in his possession.

While the facts do not establish whether Ong was a principal or an accomplice in the crime of robbery, the missing tires were found in his possession.

The accused likewise admitted that he bought the said tires from Go of Gold Link for the total amount of ₱45,500 (G.R. No. 190475, April 10, 2013).

Third, since Ong was in the business of buying and selling of tires for the past 24 years, he ought to have known with the exercise of reasonable prudence the ordinary course of business in purchasing from an unknown seller.

His experience should have raised doubts as to the legitimate ownership of the tires considering it was the first time he transacted with Go, and given that the tires were sold to him as if by a peddler (G.R. 190475, April 10, 2013).

Finally, there was evident intent to gain for himself, as during the buy-bust operation, the accused was actually caught selling the stolen tires in his store.

Furthermore, the accused knew the requirements of the law in selling secondhand tires with which he complied, “but, in this particular transaction, he was remiss in his duty as a diligent businessman who should have exercised prudence” (G.R. 190475, April 10, 2013).

In the case of Cahulogan v. People, private complainant Johnson Tan (Tan) instructed his

THREE recent attacks on local government officials within the space of one week last month in disparate locations in the country cannot be blithely dismissed by authorities as “isolated incidents” that should not cause undue worry on the part of the citizenry.

those with murder and mayhem on their minds?

It is incumbent on the Philippine National Police (PNP) to pursue every lead in solving the attacks on three local officials.

The third attack took place three days later, on February 22, when Mayor Ohto Montawal of Datu Montawal, Maguindanao was shot and wounded inside his vehicle along Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City by still unidentified gunmen.

The police have yet to make a breakthrough in this particular case.

In affirming the conviction of Cahulogan, the Supreme Court said it “finds no reason to deviate from the factual findings of the trial court, as affirmed by the CA, as there is no indication that it overlooked, misunderstood or misapplied the surrounding facts and circumstances of the case” (G.R. 225695, March 21, 2018).

The factual findings are clear that Lariosa sold to Cahulogan the subject items without authority and consent from Tan; Cahulogan bought the subject items from Lariosa; Cahulogan should have been forewarned the subject items came from an illegal source, as his transaction with Lariosa did not have any accompanying delivery and official receipts; and Cahulogan’s intent to gain was evident since he bought the subject items for a price lower than their value (G.R. 225695, March 21, 2018).

In another case, accused Mariano Lim, the proprietor of Basco Metal Supply (BMS), allegedly purchased one unit of Komatsu Road Grader (Road Grader) for the amount of P400,000 knowing it was stolen and owned by Second Rural Road Improvement Project (SRRIP) PMODPWH.

The possession of the Road Grader by BMS was reported by the project engineer (Engr. Gulmatico) of SRRIP to the police (Lim v. People, G.R. 211977, October 12, 2016).

In acquitting the accused, the Supreme Court said “except for his statement that the subject grader was procured by his office, Engr. Gulmatico failed to establish… his office’s ownership over the subject grader.”

Even the Memorandum Receipt submitted by the prosecution did not state the subject grader is owned by the SRRIP-DPWH (G.R. No.211977, October 12, 2016).

“A cursory reading of Engr. Gulmatico’s testimony shows that his statements pertaining to the alleged theft are all based on information which he claims… [to] have [been] received from third persons, all of whom were never presented to testify… [T]hus, it was erroneous for the trial court to give probative value on Engr. Gulmatico’s testimony considering that the truth… [of] such statements cannot be ascertained for being mere hearsay”(G.R. 211977, October 12, 2016).

“On the presumption that fencing had been committed as provided by Sec. 5 of PD 1612, we rule that petitioner was able to overcome the same upon his presentation of the Affidavit of Ownership which he secured from, Petronilo Banosing… Both the RTC and the CA failed to consider that the Affidavit of Ownership given by Petronilo Banosing to petitioner was a duly notarized document which, by virtue of its notarization, enjoys a presumption of regularity”(G.R. 211977, October 12, 2016).

Moreover, “the clearance (of the station commander) stated in Sec. 6 of PD 1612 is only required if several conditions are met: first, that the person, store, establishment or entity is in the business of buying and selling of any good[s], articles, item[s], object[s], or anything of value; second, that such thing of value was obtained from an unlicensed dealer or supplier thereof; and third, that such thing of value is to be offered for sale to the public”(G.R. 211977, October 12, 2016).

“In the present case, the first and third requisites were not met. Nowhere was it established that petitioner was engaged in the business of buy and sell. Neither was the prosecution able to establish that petitioner intended to sell or was actually selling the subject grader to the public” (G.R. 211977, October 12, 2016). While value for money is always sought after by a sensible buyer, he has to be wary of objects or articles which are products of the crime of robbery or theft. Savings from the purchase of stolen personal property may not be enough to compensate for years of imprisonment, civil liability, and cost of litigation.

But precisely because the targets were local officials already with the means to protect themselves since they have security personnel assigned to them is quite worrisome as it indicates powerful and/or influential people, whether politicians or criminal syndicates, may be the masterminds of these attacks. These armed attacks tend to undermine the trust and confidence of the people at large in the capability of government to protect them from harm.

If authorities cannot protect those in public office already supposed to be protected by the state, can they protect ordinary citizens who go about their daily lives exposed to danger from

Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal Adiong Jr. was wounded while his four companions were killed in an ambush of their convoy in Maguing town on February 17.

The PNP has reported that a criminal case may already be lodged by this week against the suspects behind the attempt on the life of the provincial governor.

Aparri, Cagayan Vice Mayor Rommel Alameda and his five security escorts were killed in an ambush in Nueva Vizcaya on February 19. The PNP has said they have been making good progress in investigating the fatal ambush, having already identified persons of interest who could shed light

Restive jeepney drivers

UNLESS government representatives and leaders of various groups of jeepney drivers and operators are able to agree on a compromise on the planned phaseout of traditional jeepneys, there will be a one-week strike by some 40,000 jeepney and UV express units beginning March 6.

The transport strike or “tigil pasada,” if it pushes through, is likely to paralyze traffic and cause economic activity to slow down, with dire consequences for an economy already battered by nearly three years of lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic and only now starting to go on the road to recovery.

The threat of a massive transport strike by jeepney drivers has apparently sent the concerned government agencies, such as the Department of Transportation and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board into a frenzy.

At issue is the government’s jeepney modernization scheme, which is part of the bigger public utility vehicles (PUV) modernization program.

The first component of the PUV modernization program is industry consolidation, which, according to the LTFRB, seeks to establish transport cooperatives and legal entities that will be entitled to benefits, like government subsidies and access to credit facilities. These groups will be tasked to help in modernizing the PUVs and manage the units in a “systematic and predictable manner.”

Under the Department of Transportation’s Order 2017-011, or Omnibus Franchising Guidelines issued on June 19, 2017, only corporations or cooperatives with at least 15 vehicles will be allowed to apply for new routes, restricting jeepneys and other smallcapacity vehicles on major roads. Public transport groups, such as the Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Nationwide (Piston), emphasize said they have nothing against the modernization of the transport sector. However, they fear the possibility of jeepney operations getting “monopolized.”

a cooperative, as long as the cooperative will allow the operation of individual franchises for individual units and it won’t be monopolized by a single fleet management or corporation.”

The LTFRB has extended the franchises or provisional authority of individual jeepney operators up to June 30. This gives them more time to comply with the consolidation requirements of the jeepney modernization program.

Around 61 percent, or 96,380 of the 158,000 jeepneys nationwide, have already complied with the consolidation requirements of the PUV modernization program. Across the country, there are more than 5,300 units of modern jeepneys in operation.

The LTFRB has explained that once jeepney drivers join a cooperative, they have to change

We think the traditional jeepneys may still be needed in areas where there is lack of adequate public transportation such as buses and trains especially in far-flung areas in the provinces

“I would say that these are isolated cases, but still, these are killings that need to be solved and to be pursued by our law enforcement agencies in investigating the cause or the motive behind the attacks,” PNP chief Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said.

In the wake of these armed attacks on local officials, the PNP has urged them to request for additional security assistance when traveling outside their coverage areas. Earlier, Police General Azurin ordered the regional offices of the PNP to conduct a threat assessment on the local government officials within the scope of their responsibility.

Earlier, the PNP halted the issuance of permits to carry firearms in 4 provinces —Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Nueva Vizcaya, as well as parts of North Cotabato—after the attacks on local executives.

But will this be enough to halt the spiral of violence against them?

government to postpone its implementation.

We therefore agree with the stand of several senators that the government should postpone the planned phase-out of traditional jeepneys.

Sen. Grace Poe has urged the Department of Transportation (DoTr) to find a “realistic” solution to the concerns raised by jeepney operators and drivers on the modernization program amid the impending transport strike next week.

“The LTFRB should not coerce PUV (public utility vehicle) operators into complying with their guidelines without addressing the sector’s concerns, particularly on the high capital cost of acquiring modern jeepneys.”

The senator said that to continue with the phaseout without taking the views of those to be adversely affected “would run counter to the directive of the Constitution to promote social justice in all phases of national development.”

For his part, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel 3rd said the government must thoroughly study the details of the proposed financing plan for jeepney modernization.

Pimentel said the jeepney operators and drivers have the right to hold a strike or a collective action “since we have freedom of association and freedom of assembly, too.”

Sen. Maria Lourdes Nancy Binay said, “Yes, we need to modernize, but there should be comprehensive and concrete programs based on a just transition principally because transport is an essential sector.”

But Catapang should get rid of racketeers in BuCor

BUREAU of Corrections (BuCor) Officerin-Charge Gregorio Catapang Jr. ought to be appointed as BuCor Director as soon as possible.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla is optimistic President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will appoint Catapang as BuCor Director anytime soon. Catapang is a retired Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines but at age 63, he is still smart, sharp, industrious and healthy enough for the rigorous post of BuCor chief.

Even though his permanent designation is still awaited, Catapang can continue the reforms he has introduced in the bureau since his recent posting as BuCor OIC.

Needless to say, there are many reforms needed in the BuCor.

First, there is a need to rotate prison guards every three or four months.

A prison guard who stays too long in a particular post is exposed to the temptation of treating his post as a more or less permanent fiefdom.

As a result, the guard tends to get complacent, lax and lazy, and may even succumb to selling privileges to the prisoners.

Prison guards stationed at a specific post for too long are likely to be approached by syndicates within and outside the prison walls, and bribed to be part of the syndicate.

This may mean the smuggling of contraband, dangerous drugs, and paraphernalia prohibited inside prisons.

Catapang MORE OPINION ONLINE (www.manilastandard.net) Real story of ‘People Power Revolution’ or EDSA I

They say they are open to the idea of having

Thus, Catapang must order the immediate rotation of prison guards, not only within one prison, but among the many correctional facilities under the BuCor.

Second, prison guards who extort money from inmates must be suspended and immediately investigated.

If found guilty, they must be summarily dismissed from the service, or even made to face criminal charges.

It is an open secret that prisoners need money to mitigate the conditions of their confinement, i.e., money to buy a few basic necessities and perhaps some occasional conveniences outside of the usually unpalatable prison food.

The money is provided by their families and friends.

Inmates whose relatives and friends who live near enough the prison can easily hand over the funds to the inmate concerned.

Family members and friends who live in the provinces, however, often have no choice but to send funds through mobile phone applications. The problem is, prisoners are not allowed to possess mobile phones during their incarceration.

should

conduct an investigation on this reported anomaly, and penalize those involved in the racket

Thus, the prison arrangement is that relatives and friends send money through a common mobile phone in the possession of prison guards. In theory, the guards should transmit the information to the inmates.

A news report recently revealed this arrangement has been abused by prison guards at the national penitentiary in Muntinlupa City, who extract a percentage of the money sent by electronic process to the inmates concerned. It’s a lucrative racket at the expense of the inmates.

their units right away. They can still operate their traditional until December this year as long as they are consolidated.

While we support the jeepney modernization program that will eventually replace the traditional jeepneys from already crowded city streets and replace them with modern ones that run on lithiumion batteries that are more environmentfriendly, lawmakers are correct in asking the

Catapang, therefore, must put an end to this racket.

Third, the BuCor should install a system whereby inmates can get the online equivalent of a personal visit from relatives and friends.

Computers can be installed at an area within the control and supervision of prison authorities, and online visits can be scheduled equitably among the inmates. Online visitations on a more or less regular basis will not only make prison conditions more humane; the chances of smuggling of contraband inside the prison can be substantially reduced.

Less physical contact means less chances of smuggling contraband.

Fourth, Catapang should put an end to the nefarious practice of allowing special privileges to wealthy inmates. In the past, those privileges include access to air-conditioned huts, complete with appliances; catering services provided by nearby restaurants; and the unlimited use of mobile phones and internet access.

I have read news reports of past examples, such as the special quarters given to the late Calauan, Laguna Mayor Antonio Sanchez, who was serving his sentence at the national penitentiary for rape and murder. This inmate liked to portray himself as a Marian devotee, but his cover was busted when

We know that traditional jeepneys that are relics of the post-war era pollute the environment in a big way by spewing noxious diesel fumes that blanket the urban landscape at any given day.

But we think the traditional jeepneys may still be needed in areas where there is lack of adequate public transportation such as buses and trains especially in far-flung areas in the provinces.

(Email: ernhil@yahoo.com)

a Marian image accidentally fell and broke, revealing that drugs were hidden inside it.

The charges against detained ex-Justice Secretary and former Senator Leila de Lima include the alleged special treatment she gave, as Justice Secretary, to drug lords detained at the national penitentiary (which was under her watch) in exchange for campaign funds for her senatorial run in 2016.

Among the instances of special treatment allegedly given to the drug lords include airconditioned quarters with appliances, as well as unlimited access to restaurant food, drugs, firearms and women of ill-repute.

Fifth, there are reports that prison officials are de facto owners of several residential homes near the prison compound, the national penitentiary in particular, and that they rent these out to rich prisoners for a pricely sum. Catapang should conduct an investigation on this reported anomaly, and penalize those involved in the racket. This way, Catapang can be an exemplar BuCor chief.

Allies discuss Ukraine’s future

CHANCELLOR Olaf

Scholz said Thursday that Germany and its allies were in talks with Kyiv over future security guarantees in preparation of a sustainable peace for Ukraine.

"We are speaking with Kyiv and other pa rtners over future security guarantees for Ukraine," Scholz said in a speech to the German parliament.

"Such security guarantees however come with the presumption that Ukraine successfully defends itself in this war," said Scholz, who will travel to the United States for talks with President Joe Biden Friday.

Germany and some other allies increasingly had doubts about Ukraine's ability to retake all its territory from Russia, US newspaper the Wall Street Journal reported at the end of February.

Several Western partners saw the offer of security guarantees and better access to sophisticated military equipment as a way

British navy seizes Iran weapons shipment

A BRITISH warship intercepted a boat smuggling Iranian weapons, including anti-tank missiles, off the coast of Oman in a joint operation with US forces last week, officials said Thursday.

The small craft, travelling at "high speed" after dark in international waters, was initially spotted by US aerial surveillance, the British embassy in the United Arab Emirates said.

The boat, travelling south from Iran, was intercepted by forces from British frigate HMS Lancaster before it could navigate back to Iranian territorial waters on February 23.

The weapons discovered on board included medium-range ballistic missile components as well Iranian versions of Russia's Kornet anti-tank missile, a statement said.

The seizure took place along a route historically used to smuggle weapons to Yemen, according to the Bahrainbased United States Fifth Fleet.

"This is the seventh illegal weapon or drug interdiction in the last three months and yet another example of Iran's increasing malign maritime activity across the region," said US Vice-Admiral Brad Cooper.

In January, the US Navy said it had seized more than 2,000 assault rifles

smuggled on a fishing boat along a maritime route from Iran to Yemen.

The Iran-backed Huthi rebels took control of the Yemeni capital Sanaa in 2014, prompting a Saudi-led coalition to intervene the following year.

Since then, a grinding war has killed hundreds of thousands and pushed the impoverished nation to the brink of famine.

Fighting has largely been on hold since a UN-brokered ceasefire took effect in April last year, even after the agreement expired in October.

The UN Security Council expanded an arms embargo on the Huthis in ebruary 2022. AFP

to encourage Kyiv to enter peace talks with Russia, the paper said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin was not ready for talks over a "just peace" and an end to the war, Scholz said in his speech, renewing calls for Moscow to withdraw its troops.

"Nothing suggests" that Putin would come to the negotiating table at the moment, Scholz said.

Instead, the Russian leader was relying on "threats," such as the suspension of Moscow's participation in the New START nuclear arms control pact, he said.

Scholz's speech came just over a year after Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine, precipitating the chancellor to announce a new era in German defence and foreign policy.

Germany has upped investments in its own military, unwound its economic ties with Russia and broken its taboos over sending weapons into conflict zones. Berlin continued to "expand its support" for Ukraine, sending more arms to Kyiv, including the recently announced delivery of German-made battle tanks. AFP

Van Thuong confirmed new Vietnam prexy

VIETNAM'S rubber stamp National Assembly voted in a new president on Thursday, who immediately pledged to crack down on corruption following the resignation of his predecessor in an anti-graft campaign.

The appointment of Vo Van Thuong comes during a period of political upheaval in Vietnam, where the all-powerful Communist Party's anti-graft purge and factional fighting have seen several ministers fired.

Members of the National Assembly elected 52-year-old Thuong – the sole candidate –for a term running until 2026, following the resignation of Nguyen Xuan Phuc in January.

In his first statement as president, Thuong said he would be "determined in the fight against corruption and negative phenomena."

Thuong carried 487 out of 488 votes in the national assembly, according to state media.

Authoritarian Vietnam is run by the party, which is officially led by the general secretary, president and prime minister.

Thuong is seen as close to Secretary General Nguyen Phu Trong, the most powerful man in the party and the architect of the anticorruption drive.

More than 100 countries have backed a plan by Vanuatu to enlist the UN's top court in tackling climate change, after what the nation's officials on Thursday described as a "herculean" diplomatic effort.

With rising sea levels threatening its future, Vanuatu has spearheaded a drive for the court to define what legal responsibility countries have for the changing climate and its impacts.

The 105 nations backing the move will co-sponsor a resolution at this year's UN General Assembly. Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom are among those on board, as well as Pacific nations like Kiribati and Marshall Islands, which also face rising sea levels.

But neither China nor the United States

– two of the world's biggest carbon dioxide emitters – have pledged support.

Nor have larger developing nations, like Indonesia and India, that rely on coal.

An opinion by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) would not be binding, but would help set a legal precedent.

Vanuatu was lashed by Cyclone Judy on Wednesday, with torrential rains and fierce winds uprooting trees, tearing roofs from buildings and flooding roads. AFP

after

DINOSAUR-THEMED birthday decorations still hang on the walls of Safitri

Puspa Rani's Indonesian home, where the family celebrated their youngest son's birthday last year.

"Knock knock! Hey everyone! It's my eighth birthday!" said a beaming Panghegar Bhumi in a video in September, while making a heart-shaped gesture with his arms. A month later he died from acute kidney injury, days after a doctor prescribed him a cough syrup containing ingredients that have been linked to more than 200 child deaths in Indonesia, according to the country's health ministry.

"I whispered in his ears: 'The medicine is coming, please hang in there a little bit more,'" Rani said, crying in her home in West Java province as she recalled the final days of her son's life.

"But I lied, there was no medicine."

The 42-year-old mother is among more than two dozen Indonesian families seeking justice for their children, whom they allege were either killed or sickened by contaminated cough syrups. Their class-action lawsuit targets the country's health ministry, food and drug agency, and eight companies they accuse of selling the syrups

The campaign has led to the arrest of dozens of officials, with many of the graft allegations relating to deals done as part of Vietnam's COVID-19 pandemic response.

The Communist Party ruled in January that Phuc was responsible for wrongdoing by senior ministers under him during his 2016-2021 stint as prime minister, before he became president.

Thuong was "an apparatchik" of the system, said Benoit de Treglode at the Strategic Research Institute of the Military Academy (IRSEM) in Paris. AFP

cough syrup crisis

– which the World Health Organization said contain an "unacceptable amount" of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol.

"These contaminants are toxic chemicals used as industrial solvents and antifreeze agents that can be fatal even taken in small amounts, and should never be found in medicines," the WHO said in January.

Since October last year, the WHO has issued alerts for The Gambia, Indonesia and Uzbekistan over syrups containing the two chemicals. Five-year-old Farrazka was required to undergo dialysis for his failing kidneys after he took one of the medicines, his mother Indah Septian told AFP.

"When I heard that he had to have dialysis, I was so confused and did not know what to do. He is just a kid," Septian said at her home.

"Now he gets easily fatigued even when he only does a bit of activity," the 31-year-old said.

But Septian and her husband Riski Agri consider themselves luckier than other families.

"Until today I still wake up in the middle of the night and check on him. We almost lost him," 34-year-old Agri said.

Since the government sounded the alarm in October, Indonesia's food and drug agency has recalled 105 products after tests revealed excessive amounts of the two chemicals.

It has also revoked the licenses of six pharmaceutical firms.

Police have launched an investigation into five companies and arrested four suspects. AFP

SpaceX Dragon crew blasts off for International Space Station

A SPACEX Falcon 9 rocket blasted off on Thursday to the International Space Station carrying two NASA astronauts, a Russian cosmonaut and the second Emirati to voyage to space.

The SpaceX Dragon Crew-6 mission launched at 12:34 a.m. (0534 GMT) Thursday from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a livestream of the launch showed.

The launch had been scrubbed on Monday just minutes before liftoff because of a clog in a filter that supplies ignition fluid to start the rocket engines.

"Congratulations to the NASA and SpaceX teams for another history-making mission to the International Space Station!" NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said in a statement.

The Dragon crew capsule, dubbed Endeavour, is scheduled to dock with the ISS at 1:17 a.m. (0617 GMT) on Friday after a 24-hour voyage.

NASA's Stephen Bowen and Warren Hoburg, Russia's Andrey Fedyaev and Sultan al-Neyadi of the United Arab Emirates are to spend six months on the orbiting station.

Neyadi, 41, will be the fourth astronaut from an Arab country and the second from the oil-rich UAE to journey to space; his compatriot Hazzaa al-Mansoori

flew an eight-day mission in 2019.

Neyadi, Hoburg, the Endeavour pilot, and Fedyaev, the Russian mission specialist, will all be making their first space flights.

Fedyaev is the second Russian cosmonaut to fly to the ISS aboard a SpaceX rocket. NASA astronauts fly regularly to the station on Russian Soyuz craft.

Space has remained a rare venue of cooperation between Moscow and Washington since the Russian offensive in Ukraine placed them in sharp opposition.

Bowen, a veteran of three space shuttle missions, said politics rarely come up while in space.

"We're all professionals. We keep focused on the mission itself," he said. "It's always been a great relationship we've had with cosmonauts once we get to space."

While aboard the ISS, the Crew-6

will conduct dozens of experiments including studying how materials burn in microgravity and researching heart, brain and cartilage functions.

The current crew is the sixth to be transported by a SpaceX rocket to the ISS. The Endeavour capsule has flown into space three times previously. NASA pays SpaceX to ferry astronauts to the ISS roughly every six months. AFP

members

RESCUED FUR-BABY. This handout photograph taken and released by Turkish agency DHA shows rescuers feeding a dog with water from a collapsed building 23 days after last month's 7.8-magnitude deadly earthquake. The dog was pulled alive 23 days after the earthquake. AFP

LANDSLIDE. A boy looks at the site of a landslide caused by heavy rains in the Caringin area in Bogor on March 2, 2023. AFP

MOST ACTIVE

Stock market rises; ACEN, SM Prime lead advancers

STOCKS rose for a second day, following the release of Chinese factory data that reinforced optimism the world’s number two economy will bounce back strongly this year as it emerges from its pandemic isolation.

The PSE index, the 30-company benchmark of the Philippine Stock Exchange, gained 15 points, or 0.23 percent, to close at 6,622.45, as five of the six subsectors advanced.

The broader all-share index also went up by 9 points, or 0.28 percent, to settle at 3,549.18, on a value turnover of P7 billion. Gainers outnumbered losers, 96 to 86, while 58 issues were unchanged.

Six of the 10 most active stocks ended in the green, led by ACEN Corp. which climbed 2.85 percent to P6.49 and SM Prime Holdings Inc. which went up 2.01 percent to P35.50.

Meanwhile, Asian stocks were mixed Thursday on subdued trading as Federal Reserve interest rate hike worries returned to the agenda with two top officials warning more tightening will be needed to slay inflation.

The long-running saga over prices, borrowing costs and recession speculation returned to the fore in US trading.

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq closed in the red after the comments from Fed policymakers Raphael Bostic and Neel Kashkari, which pointed to rates going higher than feared and for an extended period.

Atlanta Fed chief Bostic warned they could go well above five percent, adding that once inflation had come down to the bank’s two percent target officials

Manufacturing index declined for 4th month in US

should not loosen policy too soon.

“History teaches that if we ease up on inflation before it is thoroughly subdued, it can flare anew,” he wrote. “That happened with disastrous results in the 1970s.”

And Minneapolis boss Kashkari said he was still “open-minded” about backing a 50-basis-point hike at the next policy meeting, double the most recent increase.

“We’re not yet seeing much of a sign of our interest-rate increases slowing down the services sector of the economy and that is concerning to me,” he said.

“Wage growth is at a level that it actually is too high to be consistent” with the Fed’s two percent target.

There is a growing expectation rates will top out around 5.5 percent, though some commentators are tipping six percent, from the current 4.54.75 percent. With AFP

Global energy-related C02 emissions rose 0.9% to reach new record in 2022

PARIS, France - A jump in renewables and efficiency efforts helped blunt a feared runaway in carbon emissions growth from a surge in coal use last year due to the global energy crisis, the IEA said Thursday, even if CO2 emissions hit a new record.

In the end, global energy-related emissions rose by less than one percent but are still on an unsustainable growth trajectory, the International Energy

Agency said in a new report.

“The impacts of the energy crisis didn’t result in the major increase in global emissions that was initially feared –- and this is thanks to the outstanding growth of renewables, EVs, heat pumps and energy-efficient technologies,” IEA executive director Fatih Birol said.

“Without clean energy, the growth in CO2 emissions would have been nearly three times as high,” he added.

The additional 321 million tons of energy-related emissions took the total to a new high of more than 36.8 billion tons. Energy-related emissions accounted for more than three-quarters of the production of greenhouse gases.

The 0.9 percent increase was less than the global economic growth rate of 3.2 percent in 2022, returning to a decadelong trend broken last year by the six percent jump due to the post-Covid re-

Pork shortage requires gov’t intervention, scientific solution

THE pork shortfall is aggravating the nation’s inflationary woes. Rising meat prices, especially that of pork, have steadily eroded the purchasing power of Filipino consumers and have become a major contributor to Philippine inflation.

Five of the food items in the inflation basket have in the past seriously hurt Filipino consumers because of the undue spike in the prices of rice, pork, chicken, sugar and onions. The cost of pork, in particular, is lately making a dent on inflation.

Meat accounted for just about 5 percent of the overall inflation from 1995 to 2020. But when meat prices soared in the first quarter of 2021, it contributed nearly 20 percent to the overall inflation in the January-March period. Data from the Department of Finance showed that from its 3.5-percent contribution to inflation in 2019, the cost of meat accounted for 4.3 percent in 2020 and a much, much higher 19.6 percent in the first three months of 2021.

With meat inflation rising to almost 20 percent in the first quarter of 2021, it became the leading contributor to overall inflation at 1.3 percentage points. Its contribution to the inflation rate was even bigger than the 1 percentage-point input of rice to inflation during the rice crisis of 2018.

Meat shortage clearly is one of the culprits for rising prices. One simplistic solution is to rely on imports to stabilize pork prices, just what the previous administration did with rice. The rice tariffication law during the Duterte administration has stabilized the retail cost of the staple, while recent imports and crackdowns on smugglers and hoarders have led to relatively lower market prices of both onions and sugar.

But chicken and pork are of a different mold because of the respective threats of the Avian Influenza (AI), or bird flu, and African Swine Fever (ASF)―both of which had decimated the fowl and hog population and induced supply-and-price problems in the local market.

Data from the Department of Agriculture show that ASF cases are active in 75 barangays in 42 municipalities in 12 provinces and in seven regions as of February 2 this year. These provinces, according to the DA’s Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), are Cagayan, Aurora, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Camarines Sur, Iloilo, Northern Samar, Zamboanga del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur.

The cumulative number of affected areas since ASF broke out in the Philippines in 2019 up to the present reached 4,308 barangays in 788 municipalities, 59 provinces and 15 regions, per a DA report. The DA has acknowledged that the ASF outbreaks had reduced country’s hog population by half to 6.6 million pigs from 13 million pre-ASF. It would now take at least five years to repopulate the national inventory.

Vaccination is critical

The prospects of future major outbreaks have spooked a number of hog raisers, who have yet to recover from their ASF losses. They have dilly-dallied on repopulating or re-investing in their piggeries.

The Paris-based World Organization for Animal Health (Office Internationale des Epizooties or OIE) describes ASF as a viral disease causing hemorrhagic fever among domestic pigs and wild boars with a mortality rate reaching 100 percent―a devastating impact on pig populations.

The ASF outbreaks in the Philippines resulted in loss of livelihoods for hog backyard raisers, the closure of large commercial pig farms, and the loss of revenues of allied industries with a projected economic value of some P100 billion yearly.

However, it is not too late to reverse the trend of declining hog population. The BAI should aggressively pursue a nationwide vaccination program. The agency, for one, can speed up its field trials on an available and potent vaccine produced in Vietnam, known as AVAC ASF Live vaccine. Fast-tracking the process could clear the way to a mass vaccination drive for local hog raisers.

Some stakeholders believe the government can follow the lead of Vietnam, which is poised to begin a nationwide distribution of the vaccine whose efficacy rate, when administered to pigs between 8 and 10 weeks old, has been proven at 95 percent.

The ASF Live vaccine, developed and produced by AVAC Vietnam Co. Ltd., is the world’s first and only commercially available one proven to safely fight the highly contagious animal disease. The medicine was approved for circulation last year and 600,000 doses have since then been administered in clinical trials and field tests in piggeries across Vietnam under the supervision of the Vietnamese government.

A local vaccination drive will be the best government approach in helping ASF-hit hog raisers and restoring pork production to its previous levels. It will ensure adequate and accessible meat supply at more affordable prices in Metro Manila and elsewhere. A healthy hog population will also mitigate the overall inflation rate.

E-mail: rayenano @yahoo.com or extrastory2000@gmail.com

bound in global economic activity.

Russia’s sharp cutback in natural gas deliveries to Europe last year following international sanctions over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine triggered a global energy crisis.

Not only did many European countries increase their use of coal-fired power plants, Asian countries did so even more as the price of liquefied natural gas skyrocketed. AFP

WASHINGTON, United States— Manufacturing activity in the United States contracted for a fourth consecutive month in February, despite logging a slight improvement from the month prior, survey data showed on Wednesday.

The Institute for Supply Management’s manufacturing index ticked up slightly to 47.7 percent last month, from 47.4 percent in January.

This was similar to analysts’ expectations and comes as the Federal Reserve pushes on with its battle against inflation.

The Fed has raised the benchmark lending rate multiple times in the past year to cool demand and rein in costs, although some segments of the economy have proven more resilient than expected.

“In the last two months, the Manufacturing (Purchasing Managers’ Index) has been at its lowest levels since May 2020, when it registered 43.5 percent,” said ISM manufacturing survey chair Timothy Fiore in a statement.

New orders remained weak while the production index slipped as well from January, according to the latest report.

With reports of “softening new order rates over the previous nine months, the February composite index reading reflects companies continuing to slow outputs to better match demand for the first half of 2023 and prepare for growth in the second half of the year,” said Fiore. While some respondents to the ISM survey reported a good start to the year, others noted a slowdown in construction of new housing and worries over a slowing economy have customers delaying purchases.

Meanwhile, a transportation equipment firm said that although sales remained solid, “there is concern for the global supply chain now that we are restricting sales of some semiconductors to China.” “Manufacturing faces headwinds from slowing demand as well as rising borrowing costs,” said Rubeela Farooqi, chief US economist at High Frequency Economics.

“But a better global economic backdrop coupled with an onshoring of supply networks and investment in domestic manufacturing capacity could provide support to factory activity going forward,” she said. AFP

Ultra-rich lost 10% of fortune last year—study

LONDON, United Kingdom—The world’s ultra-richest saw their fortunes shrink by 10 percent in 2022, due to the war in Ukraine, a study said Wednesday, but the outlook for them this year is bright.

The study, by London-based property consultants Knight Frank, examined the fortunes of what it calls ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs): people with a net worth of at least $30 million including their main residence.

“Challenging markets meant the majority of UHNWIs saw their wealth decline last year, with their collective wealth falling by 10 percent,” said the report—the equivalent of $10.1 trillion, it added.

“Last year the Ukraine crisis fueled the European energy crunch and supercharged already surging inflation,” said Liam Bailey, Knight Frank’s global head of research.

“As a result, 2022 saw one of the sharpest upward movements in global interest rates in history,” he added.

Although four in 10 of the ultra-rich saw their wealth increase in 2022, “the overwhelming trend was negative”, the report said.

That was hardly surprising given the rise in interest rates applied by several central banks to counter the rise in inflation, it added.

Europe’s ultra-rich were hit hardest, with a 17 percent drop in fortunes there, followed by Australia at 11 percent and the Americas down 10 percent.

Africa and Asia got off more lightly, with falls of five percent and seven percent respectively.

“Exchange rates had a significant impact,” wrote Flora Harley, the report’s executive editor.

“The strength of the dollar was unrivaled, driven by the Federal Reserve’s unwavering commitment to one of the fastest cycles of rate hikes in history,” she added.

There are still “significant risks” for the world economy, said Bailey.

But later this year “market sentiment will shift, quickly, and investors need to be well placed to take advantage of the very real opportunities emerging across global real estate markets”.

Knight Frank said that 69 percent of wealthy investors expected growth in their portfolio this year. AFP

AMAZON WORKERS. Employees work at an Amazon distribution center in Leon, Guanajuato state, Mexico on March 1, 2023. AFP

Consumers asked to conserve power in the coming dry season

By Alena Mae S. Flores

THE Department of Energy on Thursday assured there would be no power outages in the coming dry months, but called for demand-side management to address the anticipated thin supply.

“Our power outlook for summer—there is a thin difference between supply and demand...As of now, based on the power outlook that we released last January, we do not see that [blackout] situation,” DOE Undersecretary Rowena Cristina Guevara said during the Laging Handa briefing.

“We are looking only at possible yellow alerts in Luzon and Visayas, but not brownouts,” Guevara said.

Bloomberry posts P5.17-b profit after 2 years of losses

By Jenniffer B. Austria

BLOOMBERRY Resorts Corp., the owner and operator of Solaire Resort & Casino in Paranaque City, ended two straight years of losses at the height of the pandemic, after it registered a net income of P5.17 billion in 2022.

“2022 was a positive year of recovery for Bloomberry as Solaire benefited from a strong rebound in local demand across all business segments,” Bloomberry chairman and chief executive Enrique Razon Jr. said in statement to the stock exchange.

The company’s profit last year reversed the P4.22-billion net loss in 2021, as gross gaming revenues recovered to 84 percent of the 2019 prepandemic level and grew 81 percent year-on-year to P50.1 billion.

Gaming revenues from domestic mass tables, electronic gaming machines and Solaire’s VIP segments posted year-on-year growth of 144 percent, 48 percent and 77 percent, respectively.

The gaming firm said all business segments benefited from strong domestic demand, complemented by improved international visitation in the second half of the year.

Non-gaming revenues also surged 103 percent to P6.7 billion from P3.3 billion as hotel occupancy improved to 53.7 percent from 19.2 percent in 2021.

Bloomberry posted net income of P1.1 billion in the fourth quarter, a turnaround from a net loss of P1.3 billion in the same quarter in 2021.

Gross gaming revenues at Solaire in the fourth quarter surged 84 percent to P14.7 billion, while non-gaming revenues jumped 123 percent to P2.2 billion.

Solaire Korea’s Jeju Sun reopened with limited gaming capacity in October. It posted gaming revenue loss of P8.5 million, while non-gaming revenue increased to P48.7 million from P1.8 million.

Bloomberry said the company was focused on the construction of its second casino-hotel facility in Quezon City. Solaire Resort North is expected to open in the first quarter of 2024.

“These developments are encouraging as we mark Solaire’s 10th year of operations this March. We look forward to delivering even better results in 2023 and to reaching more milestones in the years to come,” Razon said.

This developed as the National Power Corp. deferred the implementation of the proposed reduction of operating hours in the Small Power Utilities Group plants following discussions with stakeholders and customers.

The NPC said it was waiting for the sovereign guarantee from the Office of the President for its loan application with state-run Land Bank of the Philippines.

It said it was also waiting for additional fund from the universal charge for missionary electrification which the Energy Regulatory Commission agreed to expedite. The NPC is scheduled to make a presentation with the Development Budget Coordinating Committee on the funding shortfall.

Guevara said DOE had prepared contingencies in case of unscheduled plant shutdowns.

“We have baseload and contingency reserve. We have enough contingency reserve, but the effect of the shutdown of cheaper generators, we will turn on the contingency, which uses oil. That’s why electricity prices may go up if we run it,” the official said.

Construction of CAVITEX C5 Link’s new segment set to start

By Roy Tomandao

CAVITEX Infrastructure Corp., a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. and the concession holder for the Manila-Cavite Expressway and its C5 Link segment, signed a deal with the China Road and Bridge Corp. to start the latest segment of the 7.7-kilometer road.

CAVITEX C5 Link Segment 2 is a 1.9-kilometer, 2x3 lane expressway that will connect CAVITEX R-1 (Coastal Rd.) from Paranaque Toll Plaza to Sucat via R-1 Interchange. It is expected to reduce travel time to Sucat Road from CAVITEX R-1 and vice versa by 10 minutes.

CIC president and general manager Raul Ignacio and CRBC Philippine branch general manager Ren Xiaopeng

led the signing ceremony.

“The CAVITEX C5 Link is a vital segment of the Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway Project. So far, we managed to open 3.8-kilometers [Segment 3A1 and 3A2] to the motoring public, serving more than 16,000 vehicles daily,” said Ignacio.

“Still, we have a long way to go. This is something we cannot do alone, hence our search for a contractor that would be up for the task-delivering world-class quality infrastructure for our motorists within our timeline. We are glad that our new partner China Road and Bridge Corp. took on the challenge,” he said.

CRBC is a pioneer in the international engineering contracting market in China with a history of nearly 60 years. The company focuses on global civil

engineering and construction projects such as roads, bridges, ports, tunnels, railways, municipal works, dredging and airports.

CRBC has been in the Philippines for nearly 30 years and has done numerous projects in different regions. These included the Central Luzon Link Expressway Phase 1 Package 2 and the Estrella- Pantaleon and Binondo-Intramuros Bridge.

CIC and CRBC plan to start phase 2 of the construction for the CAVITEX C5 Link Segment 2 within the first quarter and aim to open it to the public before the end of the year.

Meanwhile, the construction of Segment 3-B from Sucat to E. Rodriguez (RSG Subdivision) is set to begin in the third quarter of the year, based on the latest project timeline of CIC.

Procter & Gamble inaugurates P864-m facility in Laguna

By Othel V. Campos

PROCTER and Gamble Philippines

inaugurated Thursday a P864-million facility in Cabuyao, Laguna that will house the newest manufacturing line of its diaper brand Pampers.

The facility is one of the three biggest investments of P&G in the Philippines in 2022 to 2023, said Department of Trade Industry Secretary Alfredo Pascal in a keynote address.

“This P864-million investment is the direct outcome of a critical economic reform that the Philippine economic team has pushed for since the previous administration— Republic Act 11534 or the Corporate Recovery

and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Act or CREATE,” he said.

P&G Philippines applied for registration of the new manufacturing line for Pampers pull-up pants in September 2022 under the CREATE Law. The products will be exported to Korea and Vietnam.

Pascual said disposable baby diapers, sanitary towels and feminine hygiene products are pandemic-proof products, if not pandemic-driven. The export value of these products, which P&G also manufactures, jumped over six-fold from $6 million in 2018 to $40 million in 2022.

South Korea was the top export market for these products, followed by

The DOE is hoping the cheaper-priced power plants will not go offline so that electricity prices will not be adversely affected during the dry months, she said.

Guevara said DOE was also in talks with the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines and the power generators to reschedule their maintenance shutdown outside the dry months.

She said DOE reminded the power generators they should fully run during the said months.

The DOE promotes demand-side management to encourage the public to help conserve and efficiently use electricity. Based on DOE forecast in January, the entire week of May could experience yellow alerts.

IN BRIEF

first block train for Walmart de Mexico. The block train, fully dedicated to CMA CGM, transported 216 containers—202 of which were unloaded at Walmart’s terminal in Cuautitlàn. The operation is part of the French shipping company’s third block train service in Mexico and serves as another milestone for CMSA, which recently obtained certification as the country’s first carbon-neutral port.

Vietnam and Malaysia in 2022.

“As we welcome more investments in producing these products under the CREATE Law, the Philippines may depend less and less on importing such products,” Pascual said, adding that P&G’s recent investment fulfills DTI’s six strategic actions to promote science, technology and innovationbased industrial strategy.

The project is said to sustainably upskill and reskill workers while demonstrating the enabling Philippine business environment for investments. It also contributes to the country’s industrial development, trade and investment, while promoting regional development through innovation.

By Darwin G. Amojelar

AIRASIA Philippines said Thursday

it is adding more staff to support the steady growth in travel demand, representing the airline’s path to recovery.

“With the resumption of our ASEAN destinations and flight frequency expansion, which greatly contributes to our overall load factor, AirAsia Philippines is continuously expanding our roster of flight and on-ground crew to accommodate the projected travel demand growth among Filipino travelers this 2023,” said Steve Dailisan, head of AirAsia Philippines communications and public affairs.

“More than that, we want to offer an opportunity for aspiring Allstars to fulfill their dreams with us,” he said.

The company said it is hiring more pilots, cabin, ground and technical crew to serve the increasing demand for domestic and international travel.

AirAsia Philippines hired 600 new flight and ground crew amid headwinds in 2022. The airline also processed an initial 260 new hires in the first two months this year and is continuously boosting its headcount to meet growing demands.

AirAsia Philippines flew 500,000 guests from its hubs in the Philippines last year. This figure trebled as of Feb.

Security Bank’s income jumps

by

53% to P10.6b

SECURITY Bank Corp. said it posted a 53-percent growth in net income to P10.6 billion in 2022, driven by improved core businesses, lower credit provisions and normalized income tax provisions. Revenues grew 8 percent year-on-year to P39.6 billion. Net interest income went up 7 percent to P29.2 billion, resulting in a net interest margin of 4.23 percent.

Non-interest income grew 11 percent to P10.4 billion. Service charges, fees and commissions climbed 17 percent to P5.3 billion, led by increase in fees from credit cards, deposits and capital markets. Non-interest income, excluding securities trading gains and fee income, jumped 40 percent to P5.1 billion, driven by foreign exchange income, recovery on charged-off assets and profits from assets sold.

“We are encouraged by the underlying growth of the economy as it reopens and rebuilds. Our strong performance for 2022 reflects the fact that Security Bank is fully engaged to support our retail, wholesale and SME clients. We will sustain that intensity for 2023 as we help clients navigate the current inflationary environment and geopolitical uncertainties,” said Security Bank president and chief executive Sanjiv Vohra. Operating expense was 8 percent higher, led by investments in manpower and technology. Costto-income ratio was 57.8 percent, same level as in 2021. Return on assets increased to 1.37 percent from 1.02 percent. Return on shareholders’ equity improved to 8.42 percent from 5.57 percent.

Hong Kong airport agency giving away 30,000 tickets

THE Airport Authority Hong Kong is giving away 30,000 tickets for free to residents in the Philippines, Hong Kong’s fourth largest tourist market, starting March 3 this year.

“Hong Kong has fully opened up, and we are eager to welcome visitors from different parts of the world. Travelers visiting Hong Kong are no longer required to have received COVID-19 vaccination, or undergo testing or quarantine upon arrival,” said Vivian Cheung, chief operating officer of AAHK.

“And from today wearing a face mask is no longer mandatory in Hong Kong. At Hong Kong International Airport, the terminal has been extensively refurbished, with various new services and facilities providing passengers a brand new airport experience,” she said. Hong Kong targets to restore 80 percent of its tourists arrivals by end of the year and 100 percent by 2024.

Distributed in phases by Hong Kong’s three home-based airlines: Cathay Pacific Airways, Hong Kong Express, and Hong Kong Airlines, the campaign is kicking off in March by giving away some 135,000 tickets in Southeast Asian markets, including the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Cambodia and Indonesia. Darwin G. Amojelar Alternergy

unit developing

100-MW Tanay wind farm

ALTERNERGY Holdings Corp., through whollyowned subsidiary Alternergy Tanay Wind Corp., is developing the 100-megawatt Tanay wind power project in Tanay, Rizal. Alternergy will proceed with the project following the height clearance issued by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines. “This is a major permitting clearance for our Tanay Wind Power Project. With the height clearance from CAAP, the project development can proceed,” Alternergy president Gerry Magbanua said.

The project will rise in Tanay’s distinctly hilly and mountainous geography at an elevation of 300 to 600 meters above sea level. Alternergy’s 84-meter meteorological mast and light detection and ranging or LIDAR technology has measured promising wind resource data since 2019. The project site is adjacent to the proven wind resource of Alternergy’s 54-MW Pililla Rizal wind farm, which has been operating since 2015. Alena Mae S. Flores

AirAsia PH hiring more pilots, ground crew to support expansion

28, 2023 as forward bookings until December continued to increase especially for popular local destinations such as Bohol, Boracay and Puerto Princesa and foreign getaways like Bangkok, Osaka, Tokyo and Incheon.

AirAsia Philippines is kicking off the month of March with the 3.3 Travel Fest which offers a one-way base fare for as low as P33 to local destinations such as Bacolod, Cagayan De Oro, Tacloban, Cebu and Davao. Guests can also enjoy one-way base fares to Hong Kong, Macao, Taipei, Kaohsiung, Guangzhou and Shenzhen for as low as P1,033. The promo is available for booking until March 5, for travel until Sept. 30, 2023.

Cavitex Infrastructure Corp. president and general manager Raul Ignacio (third from left) and China Road and Bridge Corp. Philippines branch general manager Ren Xiaopeng (second from left) sign a contract for the development of Phase 2 at the CAVITEX C5 Link Segment. Roy Tomandao

BLOCK TRAIN. Contecon Manzanillo, International Container Terminal Services Inc.’s business unit operating the Specialized Container Terminal of the North Zone of the Port of Manzanillo, coordinates with CMA CGM and Grupo México the operation of the

Filipinas join Olympic qualifiers in Tajikistan

JOINING the Olympic qualifiers in Tajikistan will be the next mission of the Philippine national women’s football team next month.

Team manager Jefferson Cheng said this after attending the festivities of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Trophy Tour at the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati City.

“They will get together for this tournament. The girls who are here in Manila and those abroad will be there for the qualification. No more camps,” said Cheng.

The Filipinas are coming off a campaign in the Pinatar Cup in Spain, which was part of their preparations for the coming World Cup in New Zealand and Australia.

The FIFA no. 53-ranked Philippines, coached by Allen Stajcic, will face Hong Kong, host Tajikistan and Pakistan on April 3, 6 and 9, respectively.

All of them are bracketed in Group E, with the top finisher advancing to the second round.

The 12 teams (five teams entered in this round and seven teams from the first round) will be drawn into three groups of four teams and compete in a oneround league format in a centralized venue.

In the Pinatar Cup, the Philippines experienced playing against higher-ranked teams Wales, Ireland and Scotland.

This time, they take on lowerranked squads, with Hong Kong placed at no. 77, Tajikistan at no. 144, and Pakistan at no. 160.

Peter Atencio

Trollano’s 44 points carry Road Warriors past Dyip

By Peter Atencio

DON Trollano and the NLEX Road Warriors’ desire to win led to their all-time best Thursday night in the 2023 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup, at the Araneta Coliseum.

Trollano exploded with a career-high 44 points and a record-setting nine triples as the Road Warriors went on to pummel the Terrafirma Dyip, 142-125. The 6’1” Trollano, who matched the output of Robert Bolick in the previous conference, poured in 24 points in the third period for the Road Warriors, who posted their seventh win in 10 games.

“Kailangan lang naming manalo. This is a crucial game,” said Trollano, who surpassed the previous high of eight triples of Calvin Oftana as a rookie in the 2021 Philippine Cup. His great performance put him in the company of Caidic in terms of hitting 9 consecutive triples, along with Renten Ritualo and Von Pessumal.

ACC members look forward to Asian BMC championships in Tagaytay

MEMBERS of the 45-country Asian Cycling Confederation (ACC) looked forward to the country’s first-time hosting of the Asian BMX (Racing and Freestyle) Championships in Tagaytay City on July 15 and 16.

The ACC members’ enthusiasm was relayed to Philippine Olympic Committee and PhilCycling President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino at the close of the ACC Congress on Thursday at The Stones Hotel in Bali, Indonesia.

Tolentino said that not only were the ACC member countries who are enthusiastic about the BMX championships in Tagaytay, but also International Cycling Union (UCI) president David Lappartient and ACC president Osama

Ahmed Abdullah Al Shafar of the United Arab Emirates.

“Our hosting of the Asian BMX championships warmly welcomed by the delegates and in turn, we in PhilCycling will return the favor by warmly and festively welcoming them back come July,” said Tolentino, who was accompanied in the congress by PhilCycling secretary-general Atty. Billy Sumagui.

The Philippines has hosted several Asian road and mountainbike championships, but this would be the first continental event at the UCIstandard and world-class BMX track in Tagaytay City.

The track first hosted the 2019 30th

The former Adamson University standout knocked in nine points in the second period as the Road Warriors took a commanding 66-49 lead at the half.

His three-pointer in the last 1:24 of the first half handed the Road Warriors a 17-point edge.

In all, the Road Warriors connected with 23 triples, a new season-high that erased the previous high of 22 done by the Bay Area Dragons in their 140-108 win over the TNT Tropang Giga last November.

“The rebounds, and the scores just came. What’s important for us is that we won this one,” said Road Warriors’ coach Frankie Lim as NLEX sits firmly in fourth place.

Trollano’s scoring spree started in the

last 2:25, during a 7-0 spurt, when he sank six points as NLEX rallied from a 37-40 deficit and into a 54-45 edge. He strung up five triples in the third period as NLEX took a 25-point spread, 107-82, with 1:02 remaining.

The Scores:

NLEX 142 Trollano 44, Selden Jr. 38, Ganuelas-Rosser 19, Alas 15, Paniamogan 6, Nieto 5, Rosales 4, Pascual 4, Miranda 3, Doliguez 2, Semerad 2, Gabo 0, Ighalo 0 TERRAFIRMA 125 Tiongson 38, J.Williams 29, Cahilig 17, Gabayni 13, Ramos 5, Cabagnot 5, Calvo 4, Camson 4, Gomez de Liano 3, Daquioag 3, Alolino 2, Ferrer 2, Mina 0 QUARTERS: 31-27, 66-49, 110-87, 142-125

3-time OOM champ back in LPGT hunt

Southeast Asian Games. It the country’s one-and-only UCI BMX track and the only one in Asia with a roof.

“Just like in our previous hosting of Asian cycling championships in road and MTB, we’ll put out best foot forward in these BMX championships,” said Tolentino, who was named ACC honorary vice president. “After these continental championships, we intend to host other regional and international races on the track.”

Expected to lead the country’s campaign in the July championships are London Olympian Daniel Caluag, the solo Philippine gold medalist at the Incheon 2014 Asian Games, and Patrick Coo, a former Asian juniors champion.

Montilla Jr. set for tough ONE debut vs Wada

AFTER a successful stint in “ONE Warrior Series Philippines,” Ernesto “Iron” Montilla Jr. has been the next Filipino called up to ONE Championship’s main stage.

Montilla, who made it to the top three of the show, will have his hands full when he takes on Tatsumitsu “The Sweeper” Wada in a three-round flyweight MMA bout at ONE Friday Fights 9 on 17 March inside Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

“Iron” came into the show as one of the favorites to win. He was one of the most experienced fighters on the OWS roster, bringing his championship pedigree to the mix. He did prove his worth, making it all

the way to the top three of the competition before being eliminated. Now he’s out to prove that he belongs on the big stage.

“I’m so excited for this opportunity ONE Championship has given me. I’ll pour everything [into] my training and give them a great performance,” he said.

“[The wait is] very much worth it.

I’ve waited for so long to step on the big stage. When I was offered this fight, I didn’t think twice and grabbed the chance.

“I did all I can on ONE Warrior Series Philippines, but unfortunately it wasn’t meant for me. But this time, I won’t let it slip and [will] stop at nothing.”

He’ll have his hands full against

Wada, who’s faced the best that the division has to offer. The Japanese man has shared the ring with ONE Flyweight World Champion Demetrious Johnson and several top contenders in Danny Kingad and Reece McLaren. While it’s a tough debut for Montilla, he’s confident that he can hang with the MMA veteran.

“In every fight, they have always wanted to test me. All I can say is I’m a wellrounded fighter. Wherever I go in MMA, I have something to offer,” he said.

“I don’t want to underestimate my opponent. I’ll do my best to beat him whether in striking or grappling,” he added.

Country Club course in Necompeti-

AFTER being out of competi tive play the last couple of years, Cyna Rodriguez is back on the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour, joining the chase in the ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic presented by MORE Power unfolding March 15 at the Marapara Golf and Country Club course in Ne gros Occidental. While she’s thrilled more than wary about her return to such cutthroat competi tion, the former LPGA Tour campaigner’s presence in the 54-hole event is expected to toughen up the field, majority of which are ready and eager to get going after vying in the An vaya Cove Ladies International at the posh, exacting Anvaya Cove layout in Morong, Bataan last week.

Rodriguez dominated the start of the LPGT in 2013, racking up six victories and sweeping the Order of Merit titles in the first three years. The former Junior World champion and many-time mem ber of the national team also gained an LPGA Tour card with a fourth place ef fort in the Q-School in 2015 and cam paigned on the world’s premier ladies circuit for two years before opting to resume her pro career at home.

Injuries, however, stymied her return to LPGT, leading to mediocre finishes while missing the cut in some. She last competed in November 2020.

Anmemefcamcircuit for two years before opting to mediocre finishes while missing han-

When the offer to work for Anvaya Cove came about in late 2021, she readily accepted it and after a more than a year stint as golf director, she said: “I learned a lot, it’s the first golf course that I han dled. As a well-traveled golfer, I was able to get my inputs seeing other golf course from different countries.”

But throwing her hat into the ring has been ingrained in her character and An vaya Cove’s recent hosting of a top-notch championship must’ve fueled her desire to compete again.

“This coming March, I will be playing on the tour, so I’m excited to go back and play with the same people and hopefully see fresh faces,” said Rodriguez.

Anvaya Cove’s recent hosting of a top-notch on the tour, so I’m excited to go back and see fresh faces,” said Rodriguez.

She, however, will stay as Anvaya Cove golf director while at the same focusing on her third Tour return and a plausible crack for

however, Anva same focusing on her third Tour another LPGT glory.

POC and PhilCycling president Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino (seated, seventh from left),  International Cycling Union president David Lappartient and  Asian Cycling Confederation  president  Osama Ahmed Abdullah Al Shafar (seated, fifth and fourth from left) pose for a class picture at the close of the ACC Congress in Bali on Thursday.

Cyna Rodriguez

Don Trollano of NLEX drives to the basket against two Terrafirma defenders in a PBA game won by the Road Warriors, 142-125.

Eastridge cuts Southwoods’ PAL lead to 12

CEBU CITY—Defending champion

Manila Southwoods saw its overnight lead reduced to 12 points by main challenger Eastridge Golf Club halfway through the 74th Philippine Airlines Men’s Interclub golf team championships on Thursday.

Eastridge, a team reinforced by top Davao golfers, outscored the Carmonabased squad, 135-133, at the more difficult Club Filipino de Cebu as both squads braced for the final half of the race.

Veteran Junjun Plana, the top scorer at the Cebu Country Club on Wednesday, failed to count with 28 points but the rest of his teammates picked up the cudgels to make sure Southwoods remains comfortably on top.

Ryan Monsave and Lanz William Uy each shot 35 points to lead the defending champions while Shinichi Suzuki and Masaichi Otake contributed 34 and 29, respectively.

Eastridge struck through Ronel Tagaan’s 36 points to make its move.

Tagaan, one of a handful of former Davao caddies in the team, mixed three birdies with the same number of bogeys to score the day’s best effort.

Zachary Villaroman, the 15-year-old son of renowned coach Carito Villaroman, bounced back from a poor performance at CCC with 35 points.

Chris John Remata added 34 while Edison Tabalin chipped in 30.

Southwoods has a 36-hole total of 274 while Eastridge has 262.

Pre-tournament favorite Cebu Country Club posted 130 to keep its hold of third spot with 256.

Jacob Cajita sparkled for CCC with 36 while Jufil Sato added 35. Bayani Garcia and Jon Joseph Alvarez rounded out scoring with 30 and 29, respectively.

Rounding out the standings in the championship division were Del Monte 240, Valley 237, Tagaytay Highlands 232, Pueblo de Oro 212 and Sta. Elena 202.

In the Founders division, Alabang extended its lead over Orchard by eight points after collecting 113 points also at Club Filipino de Cebu.

Anthony See led Alabang with 33 points followed by Christopher Popp 30, Juan Ibazeta 26 and Marc Lamberto Reyes 24.

Alabang now has 233 points.

Orchard drew 36 points from Kim Tae Soo to shoot 112 and 225 overall.

Other scorers were Kim Tae Won 28, Young Sook Kim 27, and Beejay Chua 21.

Forest Hills matched Alabang’s output to stay in third place with 224.

TNT Tropang Giga in must-win game

TNT is hard-pressed to win its game against Seoul SK Knights on Friday to stay in the running for a berth in the playoff round of the East Asia Super League (EASL) Champions Week in Utsunomiya, Japan.

The Tropang Giga’s backs are now against the wall following a 33-point beating they suffered against reigning B. League champion Utsunomiya Brex, 99-66, on opening night Wednesday at the Nikkan Arena.

A telling 32-8 run by the Brex in the second period buried the Tropang Giga for good, sending them reeling at the bottom of Group B, where they are also joined by PBA Commissioner’s Cup runner-up Bay Area Dragons.

The Dragons and Knights face each other in their tournament debut Thursday which is being played as of press time. Shortly following the game is

the San Miguel Beer-Ryukyu Golden Kings tussle.

The TNT-Seoul match meanwhile, is set 4 p.m. (Manila time) on Friday, with a loss totally eliminating the Tropang Giga.

Import Jalen Hudson was the only player to finish in double figures for TNT with 28 points as the rest of the team struggled to make their shots.

“It wasn’t a beautiful game from us. Hats off to the home team. They played really well,” said TNT coach Jojo Lastimosa, whose team trailed by as many as 34 points.

Until that second quarter meltdown, TNT was still in the game and held a

Legal office:

Only UP prexy can name sports office chief

THE University of the Philippines

Vice President for Legal Affairs on Wednesday clarified that only the President of the University can appoint the director of the school’s Office for Athletics and Sports Development.

This after outgoing UP Diliman Chancellor Fidel R. Nemenzo reportedly appointed College of Human Kinetics Dean Francis Diaz as interim OASD Director at the Balay Chancellor in UP Diliman on Tuesday, the evening before his last day in office. Nemenzo, whose term expired on March 1, is on holdover capacity only until March 2.

But in a statement posted in the UP website, Vice President for Public Affairs Prof. Jose Wendell P. Capili announced that Vice President for Legal Affairs Abraham Rey M. Acosta stressed that “Executive Order No. 15-02 establishing the OASD explicitly states that while it is the Chancellor who recommends the Director of the OASD, it is the President who approves and appoints the same.” According to Capili, “as of today, no recommendation has been forwarded to the Office of the President by the Office of the Diliman Chancellor.”

AT LEAST 18 players contacted by the management team of the Philippine Azkals have responded positively when asked if they could join the squad in its friendlies against Kuwait and Jordan later this month. Two have not responded yet, while several others are being considered too for the tune-up games.

A formal letter is expected to come from the Philippine Football Federation soon to formalize the call up of those who will be invited to the team.

Gerrit Holtmann is doubtful if he can join the team. The winger for Bundesliga side Vfl Bochum is recovering from an injury and with the matches set on the 24th and the 28th, the time will not be enough for his full recovery.

Get well soon, Gerrit. And good luck to the Azkals against Kuwait and Jordan.

On a more welcome news. A good friend is taking a big step in fulfilling his ultimate dream.

The last time The Designated Kit Man saw boxer Charly Suarez was in Rio de Janeiro for a dinner hosted by the officials of the Philippine del-

27-26 lead.

Daniel Ochefu, the other Tropang Giga import, added nine, while Calvin Oftana was the best local scorer with eight.

Utsunomiya imports Josh Scott and Grant Jerrett topscored for the home team with 24 and 20 points, respectively, while combining for 27 rebounds.

The Brex will play the Dragons on Friday to cap their group stage campaign.

The scores

Utsunomiya Brex (99) -- Scott 24, Grant 20, Endo 17, Ikaruga 11, Heijima 9, Yang 8, Takeuchi 5, Takashima 3, Kitagawa 2, Kasai 0, Araya 0, Watanabe 0. TNT (66) -- Hudson 28, Ochefu 9, Oftana 8, Castro 7, M. Williams 5, Pogoy 5, Chua 3, Khobuntin 1, Varilla 0, K. Willliams 0, Ganuelas-Rosser 0. Quarterscores: 25-26; 57-34; 79-55; 99-66.

Capili explains that though the VP for Legal Affairs acknowledges that the Office of the Director of OASD has remained vacant throughout the term of Chancellor Nemenzo, “the recommendation for the appointment of the OASD Director should be left to the next Chancellor, who will be elected by the Board of Regents on 27 April 2023.”

The statement further states that per the VP for Legal Affairs, the OASD director should be recommended by the incoming Chancellor because “(1) the recommendation is being made by Chancellor Nemenzo, whose term ended on 1 March 2023 and is on holdover capacity only until 2 March 2023; and (2) the term ‘interim’ to characterize the Directorship of OASD is not in accordance with current legal processes in the appointment of UP personnel, and the use of interim appointments is reserved to appointments that require Board of Regents approval.”

Zamboanga gets back at Nueva Ecija, rules MPBL preseason

ZAMBOANGA Family’s Brand Sardines pulled away early then thwarted Nueva Ecija’s final rally to prevail, 88-80, Monday night and rule the 2023 MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Preseason Tournament at the Lagao Gym in Brgy. Lagao, General Santos City. Working behind the troika of Dexter Maiquez, Judel Fuentes and Jaycee Marcelino, Zamboanga stormed ahead at 4421 and was never headed despite Nueva Ecija’s all-out effort to tilt the balance in the second half.

The most the Rice Vanguards could do was trim the gap at 74-78 following a 10-point outburst capped by Jay Collado’s inside foray and a triple, with 3:06 left.

Nueva Ecija coach Vic Ycasiano sued for time and Marcelino restored order with a triple.

egation to the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil.

Seven years later, I got the chance to reconnect with Suarez, now a professional boxer with an unblemished record of 14 wins, 8 via knockouts, but still the same humble, God-fearing and soft spoken person I knew then.

Suarez, now known as the King’s Warrior, came over our radio show, 3PTS-Pambansang Tambayan ng Sports aired live over DZME 1530 khz, to give us an update on his most important match in his storied career–a title elimination match against undefeated Paul Fleming in Sydney, Australia on March 15, 2023.

An Olympian like Suarez, Fleming has not tasted any defeat in 28 bouts and is the overwhelming favorite in the match. A reality that is not lost to Suarez.

“Kailangan ko po talaga na manalo sa laban na ito. Isa po itong opportunity to give my best. So wala na po talaga excuse para hindi po gawin ang lahat para manalo,” Suarez said.

Suarez had a splendid career in the amateur ranks, winning several medals in the Southeast Asian, Asian Games and in other tournaments before finally turning professional. Some might consider his decision to turn pro in 2019 a few years late. Suarez, however, is

Michael Juico answered for Nueva Ecija with an undergoal stab, but Zamboanga sealed its revenge against last year’s MPBL Fourth Season with a 7-point run highlighted by Judel Fuentes’ four charities. It was Maiquez, however, who was named tournament MVP after compiling 29 points and 7 rebounds. Maiquez will received a 50-inch TV for Xtreme for his feat.

Marcelino ended up with 18 points, Fuentes 16, Collado 12 and Joshua Fontanilla 10.

Zamboanga bagged the champion’s purse of P3 million given by OKBet while Nueva Ecija settled for P500,000 courtesy of MPBL Founder and CEO Manny Pacquiao. “Suerte. (We’re lucky), “ said Ycasiano,

RIP, Boybits…

quite happy with his decision to turn pro four years ago. He said it gave him the mental preparation and the maturity he needed in the ring. Which he will need most against Fleming who will be backed by a hostile crowd praying and wishing for Suzarez’s doom.

“Matagal na po akong takot pero na-overcome ko na po ang takot ko. Na-overcome ko na siya kaya hoping talaga ako na makuha ko ang panalo. Pagsu-sumikapan ko po, God willing and with His protection, maiuwi ko po apat na belt ni Fleming,” he added.

Incidentally, Suarez was recently promoted as Private First Class in the Philippine Army. No less than Army Commanding General, Lt.Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., led the ceremony recognizing Suarez’s exploits in the ring.

Aside from the Fleming’s International Boxing Federation Intercontinental Super Flyweight title, the World Boxing Association’s Oceania, World Boxing Council’s Asian Boxing Council and the International Boxing Organization’s Intercontinental titles are also at stake.

Here’s hoping that our kababayans in Sydney will troop to Kevin Betts Stadium in Mt. Druitt, New South Wales to support Suarez in his quest to win a world title.

Let’s go Charly!

who bared that he’s still looking for more players to beef up Zamboanga’s roster for the MPBL Fifth Season set to start March 11 in Lucena City, Quezon.

Nueva Ecija Coach Jerson Cabiltes, on the other hand, told his wards back at the dugout that they allowed the Zamboanguenos to pummel them too much that when they fought back they were too battered to complete the recovery. With Maiquez pouring 16 points and Fuentes and Marcelino adding10 each, Zamboanga took the half, 50-34. Nueva Ecija only had Michael Mabulac in twin digits in that span with 10.

MPBL Commissioner Kenneth Duremdes and GAB (Games and Amusements Board) Chairman Atty. Richard S. Clarin threw Molten balls to the capacity crowd at halftime.

The LGR Hoops, now on its 12th season, will unfold this coming Sunday, March 5, at 2 p.m. at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City. At least 49 teams competing in four divisions have confirmed their participation in the tournament that aims to give a venue for hoopsters–in varying shapes, sizes, age and skills–to further develop their passion and love for the game of basketball.

Rhayan Cruz, President of LGR Hoops, says he expects another banner season with teams taking the competition to the next level.

“The level of competition is always high. Teams are very competitive from the get go. Moreover, the respect is always there. No team can underestimate any of their opponents,” Cruz said.

At least 10 teams are seeing action in the Starter Division, 13 in the Neophyte bracket and nine in the Novice competitions. Seven teams are in the Icon Division.

“It is always our aim to invite more teams to take part in the tournament. We have created special divisions this season to give more reasons for community basketball to thrive. Help from sponsors will be much appreciated too so that we can continue to sustain the league and further advance the sport of basketball in the country,” Cruz added.

On a personal note, I would like to extend my heartfelt condolences and prayers to the family of Emmanuel “Boybits” Victoria, the former PBA Rookie of the Year and San Beda Red Lion. Victoria succumbed to a heart attack last Wednesday night. He was 50. I first saw Victoria in the flesh during my first year in the then best boys’ school in Mendiola on my way to a PE class. It was on a fastbreak run that I saw him, just 5’10”, dunking the ball effortlessly during a scrimmage with the Red Cubs, the high school varsity team of SBC. Right after that moment, I became a fan and proud schoolmate.

I was also present when Boybits led a gritty Red Lions team that almost ended a decades-long title drought in the NCAA. The Red Lions lost the title game in the dying seconds against Benny Cheng and the Mapua Cardinals in 1991.

Rest in peace, King Red Lion and Bedan brother.

Please don’t forget to watch and tune in this Sunday, February 12, 2023 from 2 to 3 p.m. for another interesting discussion at 3PTS–Pambansang Tambayan ng Sports over DZME 1530 KHZ. Several guests are expected to join us in the program.

Stay safe. Stay happy peeps!

For comments or questions, you can reach The Designated Kit Man at erel_cabatbat@yahoo.com or follow his account at Twitter: @erelcabatbat

MEDIA GOLF WINNERS. Dodo Catacutan (left) and Arnold Clavio show off their trophies after winning the print and broadcast divisions, respectively of the Philippine Airlines media golf tournament at the Alta Vista Golf and Country Club in Cebu City on Monday.

Ronel Tagaan

Dexter Maiquez keys Zamboanga Family’s Brand Sardines’ vengeful victory over Nueva Ecija.

…are talking about PEOPLE

Arthur Nery to bring new hit 'o ninanais' to Canada

Kundiman singer Pinoy pop R&B’s biggest star.

produced by Nery, Su Ganade, and Axel Fernandez, the song is a bit of a departure from Arthur’s lofi-tinged

‘Mga Lihim ni Urduja’

Replacing Maria Clara at Ibarra is a feat to follow, but GMA’s newest series, Mga Lihim ni Urduja, is doing well. After all, who doesn’t love seeing strong female leads in the modern and mystical realms?

It somehow follows the initial premises of Maria Clara at Ibarra but is more action-packed and predates the Spanish colonial period. It’s a promising show that could gain continuous attention.

Liza Soberano

Her rebranding is what anyone has been talking about for days, earning mixed reactions from fans and onlookers. But besides everyday Filipinos, other members of the entertainment industry reacted, even Liza’s former manager Ogie Diaz While he’s somewhat disappointed in Liza’s description of her former career and transitions into a more fulfilling one, he still wishes her all the best. At this point, even people are eager to see what hope blooms anew for Liza.

…are not talking about

Rabiya Mateo

Toni Fowler

February has been a rollercoaster ride for the influencer. After expressing her gratitude for returning as a guest on It’s Showtime as a backup dancer and landing a role in Batang Quiapo she received immense backlash for her lascivious music video. It shows that even though the Philippines has made significant progress in becoming more inclusive to all communities, society remains conservative. As an influencer, Filipinos believe she’s not doing a good job.

FOLLOWING the announcement of his indefinite touring hiatus, Justin Bieber's tour dates appear ultimately to be scrapped, with fan sites and ticketing outlets reporting cancellations.

All of his concerts, including in the United States, Ireland, and France, are marked as cancelled on Ticketmaster's website.

Neither Bieber, 29, nor his representatives have provided reasons for or official confirmation of the cancellations.

The superstar announced he was taking a break from performing last year, saying he'd been diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt Syndrome, a rare complication of shingles that caused him partial facial paralysis.

The beauty queen turned actress bared herself during an interview in Fast Talk with Boy Abunda. But while she disclosed her matters of the heart with her ex-boyfriend

Neil Salvacion, his sister also shared the other side of the story, accusing Rabiya of a “sin” that demands accountability. She claims that Rabiya accepted her brother’s proposal but “something happened along the way.” Eager Maritesses are awaiting developments and admissions until the truth comes to light.

Justin Bieber tour dates cancelled

"I need to make my health the priority right now," he said at the time.

singer-songwriter Justin Bieber has yet to clarify the reason for the cancellations

listeners love about him.

song and Arthur Nery's rowing stardom.

Arthur Nery has a trending new single in “o ninanais.” The new song is the much-awaited new single from R&B sound but still showcases his unique sound and style that both fans and casual Stylized with lowercase letters, “o ninanais” is a song about a love that is utterly devoted. Since its release, “o ninanais” made its mark in less than two weeks, a testament to the quality of the song and Arthur Nery's rowing stardom. In support of the single release, Arthur Nery will embark on a Canadian tour titled

the Arthur Nery World Tour 2023. It will kick off in Toronto at the Global Kingdom Ministries Auditorium on Friday, March

10. Next is at the River Rock Theatre in Richmond on Saturday, March 11, then to Edmonton at the Christ The Seventh-Day Adventist Church on March 12, Sunday.

Show dates for the states are pending as of writing.

The tour will showcase Arthur Nery’s chill sound and charming music and will provide Arthur Nery’s fans in the great big north an opportunity to hear “Pagsamo,”

“Isa Lang,” “Higa,” “Binhi,” and other fan-favorite tracks in person.

“I’m thrilled with the nice reception

that fans have given ‘o ninanais,’ and I’m excited to share it with fans on tour," says Arthur. “I’m grateful for the support I’ve received for my songs, and I look forward to connecting with more fans across Canada."

For more information on Arthur Nery’s Canadian dates and tickets, contact Toronto: 647-5057644 and 416-8877647, Richmond: 778-2381210, 778-6775390, 778 - 8330314, 250–5885664, and Edmonton: 780-9956907 and 780-4365047.

Arthur Nery’s “o ninanais” is available on all streaming platforms. Watch the official visualizer on Viva Records’ official YouTube channel.

Firefighter mother places 7th in Mrs. Universe 2022

STILL, the Mrs. Universe title has eluded Filipina married women after our Philippine representative, Veronica Yu finished seventh place. Elena Maximova of Udmurtia, a republic in the Russian Federation, won the title during finals held recently in Sofia, Bulgaria.

The runners-up were Mrs. Vietnam Hoang Thi Thanh Nga (1st), Mrs. Venezuela Esther Suppa (2nd), Mrs. Indian Ocean Zoya Sheikh (3rd), and Mrs. Korea Seo Yeon Choi (4th).

Yu, who was awarded Mrs. Universe Elegance for her long gown by Leo Almodal, is a Doctor in Humanities, a firefighter, and a reservist of the Philippine Air Force. “I thank everyone for your love and support in this journey. As Mrs. Universe Philippines 2022, I hope to continue my advocacies through the Mrs. Universe Philippines organization, in partnership with the Commission on Women, to make my project on building a refuge house for battered women possible,” said the former Rotary Club president.

Ashley Subijano Montenegro eyes a back-to-back in Miss Eco International 2023

“I’ll give it my all to claim the title for the second year,” said Ashley Subijano Montenegro, now in Cairo, Egypt competing in Miss Eco International 2023.

It’s not going to be a walk in the park for Subijano to achieve a back-to-back win as we saw it last year when two Filipinas fell short of achieving the rare feat. This is the first time for the 22-year-old, daughter of Bb. Pilipinas-World 1994 Cara Subijano and former GMA’s Unang Hirit host Hans Montenegro, to compete internationally after the Miss Charm 2019 pageant, where she was supposed to compete, being the first winner of Miss Charm Philippines, was scrubbed due to COVID-19.

We’ll know come finals night on March

3 if the statuesque model will inherit the crown currently owned by compatriot and reigning Miss Eco International 2022 Kathleen Paton

The Egypt-based Miss Eco International, the biggest beauty pageant in the Middle East, chooses its winner to be the ECO Queen for the cause of global eco-tourism, in support of the United Nations Development Goals.

PEPPs announces new lineup of shows

This year promises to be a very busy

Mrs. Universe seventh-placer Veronica Yu represents the Philippines in the international pageant

2023 for Prime Events Production Philippines Foundation, Inc (PEPPs), as it launches its new and exciting lineup of shows and events during Kickstart Launching, held at Winford Manila Resort and Casino recently.

In addition to the annual 10th Misters of Filipinas, to be held in September, and Man of the World 2023, finals in June, with about forty-plus entries from around the world, PEPPs is set to launch Misters of Filipinas Prime 2023, a competition for married and single men, 28 to 48 years old, with the winner to compete in Mister Universe Prime 2023.

Promising actor Kristel Galang of the My Day TV series was appointed Miss Fitness Super Model World Philippines by PEPPs and will join Mister Fitness Super Model World Mayco Toledo in Vietnam

in May for the global finals.

Meanwhile, PEPPs TV has launched Forever Yours The Series, introducing its main cast composed of Inaki Torres, Ely Cellan, and Eurwin Canzana. The shooting of the romantic-comedy series will start this month under the supervision of TPC-The Party Channel and the direction of PEPPs CEO Carlo Morris Galang PEPPs is also set to open the Halloween Horror House in October, to feature a food carnival, horror maze, haunted house, scare zone, and other scary attractions; and PEPPs yearending 3rd Philippine Pageant Ball, and Awards Night, dubbed “A Night of Glamour, Sophistication, Substance and Character,” the grandest and sought-after event in the country’s pageant history.

Lee Min Ho is SMDC’s newest ‘Good Guy’

"I'm going to be OK, but I need time to rest and get better. I've been so proud to bring this show and our message of justice to the world."

Bieber had dozens of performances across the globe scheduled through March 2023.

Ramsay Hunt Syndrome is a rare neurological disorder that can inflame and paralyze the facial nerve and cause a painful rash around the ear or mouth.

In addition to facial paralysis, it can cause hearing loss. AFP

LEADING property developer SM Development Corporation (SMDC) is launching its newest advertising campaign, which has a superstar endorser, Korean actor Lee Min Ho “I’m honored to be part of the SMDC family. It’s very important for a person to have a space to call home,” Lee Min Ho shared. He added that being able to influence home buyers in owning their homes is something he is grateful for.

Lee Min Ho is the lead actor in the Korean drama series Boys Over Flowers, City Hunter The Heirs, The Legend of the Blue Sea, The King: Eternal Monarch, and Pachinko, which established him as a household name worldwide, including the Philippines.

Lee Min Ho has been voted as the most favorite actor by the 2022 Overseas Hallyu Report, an international survey conducted in 18 countries by the Republic of Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korean Foundation for International Culture Exchange (KOFICE). Lee Min Ho, who has topped the list for five consecutive years since 2018, proved that he is an unwavering representative

of Korea. Since 2009, he has received numerous awards for excellence in acting and is one of the most influential global style icons with the largest number of followers on social media among Korean actors.

SMDC Vice President for Marketing Aye Luna said, “We are certainly excited to be working with Mr. Lee Min Ho for this campaign. Not only does he embody true luxury and sophistication, he is also a “Good Guy” in every sense of the word. He cares about his family and fans, and positively contributes to society through his donation platform. This makes him the perfect brand ambassador of SMDC.”

As a testament to its commitment to building world-class, master-planned sustainable communities, SMDC was recently named Best Developer in Southeast Asia by Dot Property Southeast Asia Awards 2022, and received excellence awards for several of its residential condominium developments.

To know more about the campaign, follow SMDC on its official Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, and TikTok accounts, or visit the SMDC website.

The leading developer teams up with the Korean superstar for its 'Step into Luxury' campaign

Filipino singer-songwriter Arthur Nery shows off his music skills in latest single ‘o ninanais’

Experience Boracay

without leaving the property of this luxurious resort hotel

IT WAS a relaxing and therapeutic late afternoon massage. Her magical hands were gliding from my shoulder blades down to my lower back hitting the right points with varying levels of pressure.

Instead of piped-in music, the background sound was coming from the birds perched on the trees in the area. Not so distant was the sound of the waves crashing against the shore.

Sunset massage by the beach, care of highly trained in-house therapists, is just one of the many relaxing experiences one can indulge in at The Auhana Boracay – a premier boutique beachfront resort and spa hotel where your vacation feels like home, a luxurious home that is.

While it feels like being treated not just as a guest but also as a family member, it’s good to note that their attentive and amiable staff ensures that they meet your needs and expectations. You would immediately experience their hospitality the moment they pick you up at the Catliclan airport. After all, “auhana” is a Filipino take on a Polynesian term “ohana” that means family.

Vintage

enjoying a dip and some refreshments at

Auhana’s other exclusive amenities also include a tranquility pool, sunset dipping pool, games room, and mini theater

The Auhana has the longest private beach in Boracay

One of the premier deluxe rooms

architecture combines modern and traditional elements – is hard to miss whether it’s your destination or not.

Auhana’s five dining venues offer exquisite menus to satisfy guests

Nestled at the idyllic seven-hectare hilly estate, this luxury hotel is located at the less crowded Station 3. And coming from the jetty port – after being shuttled by their speed yacht – going to Auhana is just a five-minute ride. You see, the resort hotel’s imposing facade – which

The expansive resort hotel, also the biggest on the island, has a total of 500 rooms housed in nine fivestory buildings. The 14 accommodation categories range from Deluxe Room to Beachfront Family Villa all perfectly maintained and furnished by items kept in its 35 storage rooms spread out in the exclusive property.

Despite the land area of The Auhana, getting around the property is no stress.

You can even tour the entire resort easily with its five vintage golf carts that can pick you up and take you to different areas within the beach property. Talk about going

around in style. Most tourists go to Boracay to explore the island. At The Auhana, you can experience all the things that the worldfamous island has to offer without leaving the gated property. For fitness buffs, Auhana has a fully functional gym with a dedicated onsite trainer. The young ones can spend the whole afternoon at the Kids Club and make sweet quality time with the whole family. Parents can easily ask hotel staff for activities prepared for the kids. There’s also the Kids’ Courtyard at the main building where young guests can enjoy more recreational activities.

Guests no longer need to go to D’Mall since the hotel has its own gift shop which is the ideal place for them to take a piece of Boracay home. There they can even get their daily beach essentials like sunscreen, shades, and straw bags. A blockbuster hit at The Auhana, is the

Filipino Folk Dance and Fire Dance shows. On other nights, diners will be serenaded by acoustic singers who would be willing to sing any requested songs.

Exquisite and seasonally inspired menus are available at five Auhana dining venues located cliffside or beachfront. Its main restaurant – The Porch – is the perfect spot to chill any time of the day. It offers Filipino beach fare and signature cocktails that blend well with the scene-stealing landscape. Its best sellers? Moringa soup and Chicken

Hinalang – chicken cooked in coconut milk with chili, mixed with onion, ginger, and peppercorns. Also a romantic destination, many couples have chosen Boracay as a wedding destination.

The Auhana has its own chapel. Perfectly located on a hill – for an iconic wedding ceremony – the charming edifice is a stunning multi-faith venue with lush gardens and

Marching into Women’s Month with touching tributes

altering events while she tried to navigate all the challenges of being pregnant for the very first time. I knew she was tired most of the time but she never complained about the situation nor made me feel bad that she had to do all those extra work.” - Jeffrey Choi on Cheerine

An achiever since she was a student, Cheerine is a hands-on mom and entrepreneur who has mastered the art of organizing things and multitasking.

AS we enter the month-long celebration of beauty and feminine energy, we also get the chance to recognize the overwhelming contributions of women to society. We have yet to fully achieve equality as it is difficult to reverse preconceived notions and deeply embedded norms but every day is an opportunity to acknowledge the power and indomitable spirit of women. I am sure that if we just take time to get to know our mothers, sisters, female friends, and colleagues, inspiring stories of hope, faith, love, and ultimately, strength, will be revealed.

In my attempt to pay tribute to a few women so close to my heart (aside from my mom and sister!), I dropped notes to my friends’ husbands early this week to ask for the top-of-mind moments that remind them of having married a strong woman. Here are the heartwarming answers I collected:

“While Chee was pregnant, we had to transfer store locations, and move into a new home successively. She took care of most of the planning and execution of both life-

“Tin went back to full-time work one full month ahead of the maternity leave she was entitled to. Nobody forced her and there was no pressure from the company. She just knew that she’s more than capable of handling the tough demands of her full-time job and the needs of our newborn baby, of course with full support from myself and the entire family.” - Jaryd Chan on Kristine

Kristine is a power woman as a lady boss in one of the country’s top multinational companies but it is amazing how she transforms as a wife and mom who prioritizes her family.

"Pano ko malaman malakas asawa ko?

Lagi akong talo sa debate kaya andito ako ngayon naghuhugas ng plato habang nanonood siya ng Korean series. [How do I know my wife is strong? I never win in a debate with her and that’s why, here I am, washing the dishes while she’s watching Korean series.]” - Marvin Estacio on Anna Kidding aside, Marbs told me he appreciates his softspoken wife’s logic and having a mind of her own. Anna is also a super hands-on mom even with a flourishing career in IT.

“I’ve always known that Lorra was a person

of strength and integrity in the way she forged her own path in life. But setting aside a career that’s defined so much of who she is, so that she can homeschool our two kids is on a whole other level. It’s tested and continues to test her self-identity, her core values, and her mental health, all so our kids grow up to be the best that they can be.”

- Elbert Or on Lorra

Since she first gave birth in 2016, Lorra has been in charge of taking care of the home and family full-time (without househelp!). She has also been doing a great job homeschooling their children.

“It’s her dedication to her family, work, and pursuits. I have never met someone so dedicated to study and making herself better everyday while also being a full-time wife and mother. It’s her everyday consistency and almost “legendary” stamina to complete what should be done (at home or at work) and not to wait until tomorrow.”

- Eric Yan on Valerie

Valerie found out she was pregnant with their second child two weeks before the start of her master’s degree program at an Ivy League university. With Eric’s support, Val excellently does her parenting duties while still getting straight As in school.

“I already knew Em was a strong woman, even before we got married. But she proved this even further ever since our daughter Martina was born. Em always prioritizes Martina’s well-being and I saw that being a mother even made her even stronger.” - Bodek Bautista on Em Em has always been a vision of kindness and strength. Being a wife and mom just

magnified that. Her kind heart is her superpower. “There are a few specific moments I remember where I knew I married a strong woman in Maycee.

First, just hearing her story before we were married, how she lived in Brunei by herself and managed to work and save up enough to go to university in the States. Another time was when she gave birth to Tala. Maycee is very averse to pain. And yet, she did amazing the whole way through, and then did it two more times with Malaya and Reyna. She was even sick with COVID when she had Reyna, and the epidural didn't work. But somehow, she was able to do all that. Incredible.

Finally, we have three very energetic girls who are adorable but can be a handful. I do what I can to watch them but Maycee is still able to make time for them. This is when she is currently working on her MBA and working full time! How on earth does she do it? She is an amazing woman and I count myself incredibly lucky to have found such a person. I truly know of no other person who is as strong and determined as her.”

The Auhana chapel is a suitable destination for weddings

romantic ocean views. The Auhana’s other exclusive amenities also include a tranquility pool, sunset dipping pool, games room, and mini theater. And what is Boracay without the beach where you can enjoy swimming and do water activities or just lounge all day, then watch the sunset?

The Auhana has the longest private beach on the entire island. The 330-meter coast fronting the property awaits any guests who would want to experience the island without leaving their hotel.

March is a time to celebrate women in all shapes and sizes

- Spencer Lamb on Maycee

Highly independent even as a kid, Maycee once did the unthinkable and gave up her studies at a top university in the country to find herself and pursue her dreams abroad. She has since proven the power of grit and focus. Happy Women's Month to these inspiring women and every woman out there!

For your random thoughts, e-mail the author at randomrepublika@gmail.com.

The author,

the pool