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effective healthcare in the country.
“We have to be clever about the healthcare manpower. Our nurses are the best. We are competing with the entire world in terms of hiring Filipino nurses,” the President said during a
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VOL. XXXVII • NO. 48 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 • THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 2023 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
FORMER President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday cursed the International Criminal Court (ICC) for seeking to investigate his bloody war on drugs, and was unapologetic for the thousands of deaths it caused.
At a national prosecutors convention in Davao City, Duterte called the ICC “sons of whores” and said he fought the drug war the same way he fought criminality in his hometown when he was a mayor.
He said he was ready to face the consequences and even “rot in prison” for his actions.
Meanwhile, Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra said he would meet President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to consider other options available to the government, after the ICC denied its plea to suspend its investigation into Duterte’s drug war.
Earlier, the President said the ICC decision signaled the Philippines’ disengagement from any dealings with the body.
“We don’t have a next move,” the President said. “That is the extent of our involvement with the ICC. That ends all our involvement with the ICC since we can no longer file another appeal.”
But Guevarra, who was Duterte’s Justice secretary, said he prefers that the government wait for the ICC-Appeals Chamber to finally resolve its March 13 appeal.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. affixes his signature on a manifesto of commitment for the Philippine Multisectoral Nutrition Project during its launching on Wednesday, March 29, 2023. The PMNP, a four-year project spearheaded by the Department of Health and the Department of Social Welfare and Development, is geared toward adopting a bold and multisectoral approach to achieve nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions across various local government units. Alfred Frias
“At the moment, there are no plans to revert,” Poa told reporters in a message when asked about Senator Sherwin Gatchalian’s call to move the school break back from its current July to August schedule.
“As mentioned in a previous statement, school heads have the discretion to suspend in-person classes and immediately switch to ADM (Alternative Delivery Mode) or blended learning if the environment is not conducive to learning,” he added.
Poa said the DepEd “will take note of the suggestions and study the matter.”
On Tuesday, Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate basic education committee, said it is time to bring back the April–May summer vacation, prompt-
Gov’t to raise ‘healthy citizens,’ to deal with malnutrition among kids
By Othel V. Campos, Rio N. Araja, Joel E. Zurbano and Willie Casas
MAYNILAD on Wednesday said it has begun daily service interruptions to preserve the remaining supply of water in the Angat-Ipo system, as there will be less rainfall to replenish the dams because of the El Niño. Even before the service interruptions,
Maynilad has been augmenting supplies through a “cross-portal” arrangement with Manila Water, because less water has been reaching the Novaliches Portal in Quezon City.
However, the declining water elevation at La Mesa Dam has forced Manila Water to gradually suspend the crossportal sharing.
of Health said Wednesday—a situation that a P10 billion World Bank-funded program seeks to address.
“Twenty-nine point five percent of Filipino children under 5 are stunted,”
DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario
Vergeire said during the launch of the Philippine Multi-sectoral Nutrition Project (PMNP). “Our issues with nutrition go beyond access to food. These are af-
fected by interplay of various factors such as health education, livelihood, social welfare, and governance.”
“We are also aware of the inter-genera-
EMERGENCY SIMULATION. The staff and officers of the Presidential Communications Office join a fire evacuation drill conducted in Ermita, Manila led by the Bureau of Fire Protection.
FORMER Negros Oriental Governor Pryde Henry Teves on Wednesday filed a waiver allowing the Department of Justice to probe his bank accounts, phone records, and emails in an effort to clear his name of involvement in the March 4 assassination of his successor, Roel Degamo.
POLICE and anti-drug
operatives
Teves appeared at the Hall of Justice in Dumaguete City yesterday with the waiver, which he said may help authorities in their ongoing probe on him and his brother, suspended Negros Oriental Third District Rep. Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr.
In his waiver, Teves wrote he was a
Joint operatives of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said 51-year-old Ming Hui was arrested during the implementation of a search warrant in Purok 4,
“law-abiding citizen” with “nothing to hide, and who desires nothing but to simply live in peace.”
Irisan, along Naguilian Road in Baguio at about 8:55 a.m.
The haul was the biggest so far this year in the Cordillera Administrative Region, Police Cordillera Director
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By Rey E. Requejo
THE AUKUS security bloc -- composed of Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States -- will support the Philippines and neighboring countries by helping deter threats to a rules-based international order and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.
This is amid escalating tensions in the contested waters, British Ambassador Laure Beaufils said Wednesday.
The UK has deployed at least two ships, which have visited the Philippines and will have “a persistent naval presence” in the Indo-Pacific region as a concrete sign of its long-term commitment to regional peace and stability, the envoy said.
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This will mean less supply for Maynilad to distribute, resulting in longer daily service interruption schedules starting April 1.
“We met with the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System and Manila Water this morning, March 29, 2023, to discuss the situation. And while the cross-portal sharing will no longer be extended, the MWSS is sending a letter request to the National Water Resources Board for an increased allocation of 52 cms (cubic meters per second) from April to May 2023 so that both Ipo and La Mesa dams can fully recover and more raw water is conveyed to the Novaliches portal,” Maynilad said in a statement.
With a higher raw water allocation, Manila Water would be more comfortable with sustaining the cross-portal sharing arrangement withMaynilad.
“It would also increase the volume of raw water that reaches Maynilad’s treatment plants, enabling us to suspend the daily service interruptions that are currently in place,” the company said.
Maynilad is also taking other measures to help mitigate the supply shortage, including “massive leak repair activities at the conveyance system — from Bigti to La Mesa Dam — to arrest losses in the aqueducts and improve raw water flow to the Novaliches portal.”
Also on Wednesday, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority on Wednesday announced it will reimpose the daily 30-minute “heat stroke break” policy beginning April 1 to protect the health of its traffic enforcers and other personnel working outdoors during the summer season.
MMDA chairman Romando Artes has signed a memorandum circular reimplementing the “heat stroke break” policy to prevent field personnel getting sick from exhaustion, stroke, and cramps due to severe heat waves.
Under the policy, on-duty traffic enforcers and street sweepers are allowed to leave their posts in shifts to seek shelter from the sun and take a 30-minute break to allow their bodies to cool down.
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meeting with the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) Healthcare Sector group at the Palace Wednesday. “All the Presidents and Prime Ministers I have talked to, they are asking for more nurses from the Philippines,” Mr. Marcos said as he asked CHED for concrete steps to keep Filipino nurses working in the country.
In response to the President, CHED chairperson Prospero de Vera III said it is already carrying out interventions to address the shortage of nurses, which include retooling board non-passers, adopting nursing curriculum with exit credentials, redirecting non-practicing nurses and conducting exchange programs with other countries.
“Under the nursing curriculum with exit credentials, students could have several options: exit at the end of Level I or II, obtain the certificate or diploma in Nursing, or choose to continue and finish the four-year nursing program to become a registered nurse,” De Vera reported to the PSAC Health Sector group.
De Vera said CHED is also working on a flexible short-term masteral program to address the lack of instructors in nursing and medical schools.
Beaufils also said a UK Carrier Strike Group led by the HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier may also visit the Philippines for the first time when the British warships sail back to Asia in about two years. In an interview with GMA News, the ambassador said the UK has been expanding its international engagements since exiting from the European Union
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Guevarra said he would explain to the President. that the March 13 appeal of the government is still pending despite the ICC-Appeals Chambers’ denial of its request to halt the implementation of the Jan. 26 decision pending the final resolution on the merits of its appeal.
“I am sending a memo today for the President to explain to him the status of our appeal with the ICC Appeals Chamber. I’ll have to clarify with him that the appeal itself is still pending, it has not been denied, it has not been dismissed,” Guevarra told the ABS-CBN news channel.
He said the President may have gotten the impression that the main appeal was already rejected with the March 27 ruling considering that the ICC did not formally notify the government in advance of its decision.
The Philippine government filed last Feb. 6 a notice of appeal before the ICCAppeals Chamber requesting that the
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tional effect of malnutrition,” she added.
Communities without proper access to food, education, and livelihood cannot house “healthy citizens,” Vergeire said.
“Parents who do not receive enough nutrients will also not be able to provide enough food for their children. Youth is the hope of our nation;, that’s what we always say but our youth today are stunted and underweight. These young people will eventually run our economy,” she said.
The DOH OIC said an estimated 5 percent of the global gross domestic product was lost due to reduced productivity and direct health care costs related to malnutrition in 2014.
“The United Nations World Food Program estimates that the Philippine economy alone faces about $4.5 billion in losses. Without collaborative action, the future of the Philippines remains stunted,” she added.
Vergeire earlier said at least 21.6 percent of children aged zero to 23 months old nationwide are stunted, while around 12.3 percent of children are underweight.
She said the launch of the PMNP
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Baguio
Jr. issued the search warrant on Tuesday, NCRPO chief Maj. Gen. Edgar Alan Okubo said.
The operation stemmed from the surveillance operations of the NCRPO, in
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the police before the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), a lawyer said Wednesday.
Nigel Electona, Jeson Tintin, and Dionilo Mayagua Jr. said they were being pressured by policemen to point to the Teves brothers as the ones who ordered them to bury firearms retrieved during the raid last weekend, lawyer Michael Mella said.
“They told me that they were being pressured to admit that Congressman Teves and his brother Governor Pryde
on January 31, 2020. It belongs to the AUKUS, a threenation security bloc in the Indo-Pacific that was unveiled in September 2021 partly for the US and the UK to help Australia acquire nuclear-powered submarines.
The diplomat also revealed that the British minister for the Indo-Pacific, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, will pay a visit this week to the Philippines.
The UK and the Philippines forged their “enhanced partnership” in December 2021 to deepen ties including in maritime cooperation that allows Great Britain to help the Philippines enhance its maritime domain awareness and strengthen capacity to address unregulated and illegal fishing.
implementation of the Jan. 26 decision be suspended pending the final resolution of its appeal.
Guevarra argued that the activities of ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan in relation to his investigation into the country’s situation “would lack any legal foundation and encroach” on the country’s sovereignty.
Also on Wednesday, Senator Francis Tolentino said he plans to invite ICC officials to a Senate hearing which intends to defend Duterte.
Senator Risa Hontiveros, on the other hand, said President Marcos would embarrass the Philippines on the international stage if he acts on his decision to disengage from the ICC. She warned that this will only isolate the Philippines at a time when countries have been trying to forge alliances. She said it was in the best interest of Filipinos to return to the Rome Statute which established the ICC.
Under fire for human rights abuses in his war on drugs, Duterte had the Philippines pull out of the Rome Statute in 2018.
offers a “new beginning for innovations” to be integrated with established strategies. She said the project is a collective effort of government agencies to shape programs and cater to the needs of the Filipino mothers and children.
“From previous feeding programs and nutrient provisions services, we are now expanding our approach to cover disparities in other sectors affecting nutrition. With the further fortification of our plans we can ensure the sustainability of our systems and community investments for this threeyear project life cycle of the PMNP,” she added.
Vergeire said the project, which has an estimated cost of P10 billion, will be funded by a World Bank loan.
The World Bank saw that stunting in children was reduced by as much as 8 percent three years after it carried out similar programs in other countries, Vergeire said.
“Local government units can only access the grants if they reach the targets they will be setting,” she said, adding that the program will be available to 235 local government units across the country.
The project will assess the quality and quantity of food distributed to indigent children, and monitor the local govern-
coordination with PDEA, to locate the possible storage site of a big haul of illegal drugs until it was found to be in Baguio, Okubo said.
“Due to the unfavorable operating environment of these illegal drug syndicates in Metro Manila and rigorous anti-illegal drugs operation of NCRPO, these drug syndicates had no other choice but to hide these illegal drugs to Baguio City, which is known to have very low cases of drug affectation,
ordered them to bury the firearms recovered during the raid,” Mella said. “They did not submit to the pressure, and I advised them to remain silent.”
Asked who was pressuring the three, Mella said he assumed it to be the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group since they are detained there.
The PNP-CIDG or the Department of the Interior and Local Government had yet to comment as of press time. Rep. Teves’ lawyer, Ferdinand Topacio, called on Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos to investigate the alleged pressure.
“Thank you, Secretary Abalos. God bless you and I hope you look into this.
Next month, a small contingent of British forces will participate in the annual Balikatan military exercises between the US and the Philippines as observers.
“We stand by the rules-based international system, we stand by UNCLOS in particular. To the Philippines, it is incredibly important,” Beaufils stressed.
UNCLOS is the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, an international treaty signed by 168 countries including the UK and regarded as the “constitution of the oceans” across the world.
“It will support the Philippines to deter countries that are challenging Filipino sovereignty and it is really about ensuring a secure, resilient and sover-
Hontiveros also chided President Marcos for protecting an ally, when he should be protecting the Filipino people.
She also slammed the administration for failing to serve justice to the victims of the drug war.
“I am not aware of any attempt the administration has made to investigate the murders during the drug war,” she said,
“Will the President yet again, as they did with many Martial Law victim-survivors, leave the families of the victims empty handed?” she said.
She noted that only three cases of at least 6,000 drug-related killings in the past seven years have been resolved.
“They say our justice system is capable, but they have not exerted any aggressive effort to prove [this is] so,” she said.
“Where is the integrity of the President’s word? Did the President not fly around the world, even to the United Nations, to call for unity and cooperation in the international community? Did he not promise commitment to human rights and justice?” she said.
ment’s push to maintain clean water sources, proper sanitation and housing conditions, among other factors that contribute to stunting and malnutrition.
Of the P10 billion loan, 70 percent will go to the Department of Health while 30 percent will be coursed through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Vergeire said.
Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian said the initiative was “the most aggressive program to combat malnutrition and stunting in poorer municipalities” in the Philippines.
“This is not just a feeding program,” he said in a mix of Filipino and English. “It also includes the delivery of services to aid nutrition.”
“It’s community-driven so they can tailor-fit their desired interventions depending on the situation in their area,” he added.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. pointed out the importance of LGU participation in carrying out the project because without the partnership with local governments, “we do not get to what is often referred to as the last mile.”
To address malnutrition in the country, the President called on the DOH to collaborate with other concerned government agencies in harmonizing and effecting sound diet and nutritional policies and practices for the people.
thereby, becomes conducive for less likelihood of detection,” he said.
Okubo said an initial investigation showed the seized illegal drugs were to be distributed or sold in Luzon.
The Philippine National Police will take custody of the evidence gathered for safekeeping and further investigation while PDEA would undertake drug profiling to establish the DNA of the narcotics to aid the conduct of followup operations, he added.
More than the mere denial. Of course, the police will deny it. I hope you look at this properly and sincerely,” he said.
Mella, Topacio, and lawyer Roberto Diokno attended the resumption of the preliminary hearing at the DOJ on the complaint of illegal possession of firearms filed against ex-Gov. Teves and Jose Guimarangan. The CIDG said it submitted additional evidence during the hearing.
Pryde Teves on Wednesday maintained he has no knowledge how firearms and ammunitions were discovered by authorities inside the property owned by HDJ Bayawan Agri-Venture Corp., a sugar milling company he is managing.
A CRAB covered in oil creeps across the sand as Philippine fishermen wearing white protective suits, rubber gloves, and respirator masks scrape toxic sludge from the rocks along the shore.
Four weeks after a Philippine tanker loaded with 800,000 liters (210,000 gallons) of thick oil sank off the central island of Mindoro, the vessel is still leaking.
More than half the oil has been discharged and dispersed over hundreds of kilometers of waters famed for having some of the most diverse marine life in the world.
Experts estimate the two main slicks northwest and southeast of the tanker could span 162 square kilometers (62 square miles).
It took two days for the spill to reach Buhay na Tubig, a remote village in Pola, one of the island’s worst-affected municipalities.
Some villagers got sick after oil smeared the shoreline, turning rocks black and leaving dark globs on the beach.
Authorities have banned fishing and swimming indefinitely, leaving thousands of fishermen wondering how long they can survive.
“They say this might take six months, but what if we are unable to fish for an entire year?” asked Arvie Anonuevo, 32, who has three children.
For more than two weeks, Anonuevo and other fishermen have spent four hours a day cleaning up oil in exchange for a daily wage of P355 ($6.50) from the government – a little over half what they used to make from fishing.
The fishermen use trowels and sheets of thin, absorbent material to clean the rocks.
By the following day, more oil had washed up on the shore.
“It’s annoying that the oil keeps coming back the next day no matter how much you clean them (rocks),” Anonuevo said.
The government estimates at least 5,000 hectares (12,400 acres) of coral reefs, seaweed and mangroves have been affected.
Mangroves can suffocate if oil covers their roots, while corals – breeding grounds for many fish species – can die or struggle to grow and reproduce if exposed.
It will take at least six months to clean up the spill but the recovery could be years long, said Irene Rodriguez, an associate professor at the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute.
One of the worst spills in the Philippines was in 2006, when a tanker carrying two million liters of oil sank off the central island of Guimaras.
Rodriguez said 500,000 litres of oil leaked into the sea in that incident. This time, she hoped “it can be contained as soon as possible.”
“If (the oil) is not removed properly and not treated properly... this will have a significant impact,” Rodriguez told AFP. AFP
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ed by a recent incident in Cabuyao City, Laguna where more than 100 students were taken to a hospital during a surprise fire drill at noontime.
“Kailangan ibalik ‘yan sa dati (We need to bring it back) … It’s time to bring it back, especially now that it’s normal already,” the senator said, referring to the lifting of restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Some students passed out due to hunger and dehydration as on the day of the drill, the heat index in Cabuyao hovered between 39 to 42 degrees Celsius, according to a disaster management official.
He noted it is impossible for him to control a 52-hectare land.
“Within the 52-hectare property, there is a 10-hectare property that we are actively using as part of the mill and housing for our employees,” Teves told CNN Philippines’ The Source. “So, the gated compound where I can regulate entry and exit is 10 hectares. The whole 52 hectares is not gated, people come in and out because there are also residents there,” the exgovernor said.
If he would have direct knowledge about a part of the whole property, it would only be within the 10-hectare gated area, he emphasized.
Brig. Gen. David Perado said. City Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Rufus MalecdanSEVEN years after the passage of a law meant to help Filipinos with rare —sometimes called orphan – diseases, implementation and funding remain inadequate, and only a holistic approach will ensure that patients can get help for early detection and treatment.
Healthcare stakeholders and advocates arrived at this consensus during a recent forum, titled “Sustaining Gains and Balancing Priorities: Implementation of the Rare Disease Act,” jointly organized by the Stratbase Group, Universal Healthcare Watch, and the Philippine Society of Orphan Disorders. Stratbase president Prof. Victor Andres Manhit, in his opening remarks, acknowledged the “evident disproportion in the availability of treatments and resources due to the low prevalence and the widely dispersed distribution of patients with rare diseases.”
“It has been seven years after the passage of a law advancing the interests of persons afflicted with rare diseases, and yet patients and other stakeholder groups
A STUDENT of the Ateneo de Manila University who made the consecrated host a subject of his food review may face excommunication for allegedly committing a sacrilegious act, according to the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).
Fr. Jerome Secillano, executive secretary of the CBCP public affairs committee, pointed out that the Canon Law provides the penalty of excommunication for sacrilegious acts.
“It’s a form of sacrilege. You have to atone for that. In the Church, there is excommunication regarding (such acts). The Church is very clear on that. That’s canonically provided. There is a provision in the Canon Law. If there is a total disrespect to a sacred specie, it is latae sententiae, which means automatic excommunication,” Secillano stressed.
Under the Canon Law, a person who “throws away the consecrated species or takes or retains them for a sacrilegious purpose” incurs a latae sententiae excommunication.
Excommunication is the Church’s most severe penalty imposed on an erring devotee who is subsequently denied the holy sacraments and considered an exile from Christian society.
The consecrated host, which is a white wafer, is presented as the Body of Christ during Eucharistic celebrations.
Secillano was referring to a student of the Ateneo who posted on social media a food review about the consecrated host, which he took home after attending Mass. Meanwhile, he said Ateneo has already acted on the matter.
MAYOR Laarni Cayetano has commended two Taguig policewomen who declined a P100,000 bribe in exchange for the release of a Chinese national arrested for possession of a prohibited substance.
Cayetano said Patrolwomen Monaliza Bosi and Charmaine Galapon, both assigned to the Taguig Police’s Sub-Station 1 in Bonifacio Global City are proof that the local police force remains true to their mandate to serve and protect without fear or favor.
“These patrolwomen are exemplary models for standing their ground in a situation where their integrity was put to a test,” the mayor said, adding that the incident also showed that honesty and integrity are already a norm in the local police force.
Bosi and Galapon arrested the Chinese, identified as Bin Li, a 40-year-old sales manager, who had offered money for the release of Deng Jiliang, 33.
Deng, who works as information technology staff in a company at BGC, was nabbed earlier on March 26, after a sachet of shabu and drug paraphernalia were found in his possession and in a trash can in the hotel room where he was staying.
Mayor Cayetano said the two patrolwomen were exemplary models, not just for their fellow colleagues, but for the public in general.
Noting that March is Women’s Month, she added that the patrolwomen have emphasized that Filipino women are reliable, and can be trusted to do the right thing “even when push comes to shove.”
are still clamoring for government support in terms of adequate funding and proper implementation of the Integrated Rare Diseases Management Program Strategic Plan,” Manhit said.
Republic Act 10747 or the Rare Disease Act was passed in 2016 to provide Filipino rare disease patients access to comprehensive medical care. Specifically, it seeks to address the needs of patients through early intervention to increase their survival rate.
But funding was only made available in 2022, with P104.9 million in the General Appropriations Act, earmarked for the University of the Philippines – National Institutes of Health.
Worse, this year, budget allocation was significantly reduced to P28.8 million.
Alvin Manalansan, convenor of Universal Health Care (UHC) Watch, said that while substantial gains have been made in achieving universal health care, a lot more needs to be done to achieve the spirit and ideal of the RD Law.
By Rio N. Araja
RESIDENTS of Verde off Batangas and Mindoro provinces, most of them fi shermen, urge local and national government offi cials to declare the island a “no-sail zone” for oil tankers, coal barges and other vessels bearing fossil fuels.
This developed as the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) said satellite images showed new traces of oil slick in Verde Island Passage, an area rich in marine biodiversity. The Philippine Coast Guard, meanwhile, welcomed the arrival of the Korean Coast Guard Emergency Response Team at the PCG headquarters in Manila exactly
a month after the MT Princess Empress sank near Naujan, Oriental Mindoro. At a news conference in Quezon City, leaders of the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ) batted for the implementation of a 2017 memorandum of agreement (MoA) to protect marine wildlife and resources in the Verde Island Passage. The group was joined by concerned
residents of Verde Island, leaders of various non-government organizations, and political leaders of the provinces of Mindoro Oriental, Mindoro Occidental, Batangas, Marinduque, and Romblon.
The PMCJ stressed that the 2017 agreement and Law Enforcement Network aimed to strengthen the protection and management of Isla Verde, a global center of marine shore fish biodiversity.
In 2017, the island was home to over 1,736 species of fish, 338 species of corals and thousands of other marine species.
The oil spill brought about by the sunken MT Princess Empress owned by RDC Reield Marine Services on Feb. 28 in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro aggravated the other threats to the environment, human health and liveli-
hood of the residents within Isla Verde.
According to the PMCJ, the oil spill was a serious threat to the Verde Island Passage.
The group asked the government to hold the owners of MT Princess Empress liable for the damage done to the marine protected areas of Isla Verde and adverse impacts on the health of the affected residents.
Moreover, it sought reparation and indemnification for biodiversity destruction, livelihood displacement and income loss.
“Declare the Verde Island Passage a ‘nogo zone’ for oil, coal and fossil fuel-carrying tankers and barges,” the PMCJ said.
Roel dela Cruz of PhilSA said the oil slick was sighted in Verde Island between Mindoro and Batangas on March 27 at 10 a.m.
THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) advises the public to be vigilant against scammers and illegal recruiters who prey on Filipinos looking for overseas jobs. The Bi issued the advisory following the arrest of three fake government employees and a Russia-bound passenger with fake documents, and the repatriation of three scam victims from Thailand.
BI officers at the Clark International Airport (CIA) intercepted the three Filipino women who attempted to leave the country allegedly using fake government company identifi cation cards, leave forms, and travel authority.
BI Commissioner Norman Tansingso said the three
were intercepted while waiting to board a Scoot Airlines flight to Singapore. According to Tansingco, the passengers presented dubious documents claiming that they work as administrative aide, agriculturist and bookkeeper in a municipality in Luzon.
“The secondary inspector initially noticed that their travel documents appeared dubious. When asked about basic questions pertinent to their jobs as government employees, the passengers could not answer,” he added.
Tansingco said the passengers admitted that their purpose of travel was to seek employment in Singapore and Dubai as tourists.
He likewise recounted the experience of two Filipinas who were repatriated from Thailand after being physi-
THE first Summer Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) Parade of Stars in rolls out in Quezon City on Sunday, with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the local government deploying more than 1,900 personnel to manage traffic and ensure public safety during the event.
The parade, set to kick off at 4 p.m. in Villa Beatriz, features eightfloats of this year’s lineup of participating movies, namely, Apag; Singlebells; About Us But Not About Us; Kahit Maputi Na Ang Buhok Ko; Unravel:
A Swiss Side Love Story; Here Comes The Groom; Yung Libro Sa Napanuod Ko; and Love You Long Time. Two outer lanes from Villa Beatriz to North Zuzuarregui will serve as the staging area for the floats. The parade, which will negotiate five kilometers, will then proceed to Quezon Memorial Circle through Commonwealth
Avenue. The main event will take place at Liwasang Aurora.
“The MMDA will dispatch a total of 780 personnel who will manage traffic and ensure the safety of the parade’s attendees,” said MMDA chief and MMFF concurrent chairman Romando Artes.
For its part, the city government, which will serve as the host of the parade, will deploy a total of 1,202 personnel on the day of the parade to augment the MMDA’s manpower.
Meanwhile, the MMDA and the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), under the leadership of its chairman Tirso Cruz III, signed an agreement for the partnership grant of P300,000 for each Summer MMFF film entry. The funding will help in marketing through the FDCP’s CreatePH Films.
Artes encouraged the public to watch the parade in support of the first-ever Summer MMFF. Joel E. Zurbano
cally abused and sexually assaulted overseas.
According to Tansingco, the victims left the country in the last quarter of 2022 and arrived in Thailand in hopes of gaining employment as customer service representatives.
“One of them worked as a love scammer who sent nude photos of other women online. Eventually, they were transported to work in online casinos and online betting hubs where they received no proper food and compensation from their employers,” Tansingco said.
It was discovered that the victims learned about the job on a Facebook post.
Meanwhile, officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 deferred the departure of a firsttime passenger bound for Russia but was holding overseas employment documents as a Balik Manggagawa.
A FORMER Land Bank of the Philippines
(LBP) official opposed the proposed plan of the government to merge the state-run LBP and the Development Bank of the Philippines (DPB), saying the move will only create disunity and disenfranchisement.
Senator Riza Hontiveros likewise opposed the merger plan.
In a statement, former LBP vice president Pablito Malabanan Villegas said the proposed merger will need to pass through amendment of, or creation of new charters, that will have to pass bicameral legislation.
He also said the LBP and the DBP have separate and distinct mandated missions that they have to do.
He explained that the LBP was focused on financing acquisition of land estates and helping small farmers and fisherfolk, while the DBP provides money for infrastructure, logistics, and commerce projects.
“LBP is for the provision of timely and adequate financial and technical assistance to the Agri-agra sector while DBP is more on overall national development financing focused on infrastructure and industrialization outside and within agriculture as well as medium to Large industries.. DBP is supposed to handle big ticket development loans and PPP deals,” Villegas said.
“These will create not only uncertainties and unwanted consequences in their operations, but also unnecessary delays in their financing of socially and economically desirable programs and projects,” he added.
He also criticized the logic of Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno’s idea that the creation of LBP-DBP universal bank will be bigger than Banco de Oro “is illogical.” Vito Barcelo
By Maricel V. Cruz
SEVERAL members of President Marcos’s Cabinet have expressed support for the initiative of the House of Representatives to rewrite the Constitution’s “restrictive” economic provisions, Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez disclosed on Wednesday.
THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will deploy more than 2,000 personnel to major roads and transportation hubs during the Holy Week.
MMDA spokesperson Mel Carunungan, quoted by a GMA News report said the agency is “ready to deploy 2,104 personnel to monitor major roads in Metro Manila, especially those near bus terminals, airports, and sea ports.
Carunungan said MMDA acting chairperson Romando Artes ordered that MMDA would not be allowed to
take a day off or be absent on April 5, 6, 7, and 10.
An MMDA skeleton staff will be on duty from April 7 to 9. A multi-agency command center will be set up and will start monitoring the situation in major transport hubs on April 3, according to Carunungan.
The center will be composed of the MMDA, Land Transportation Office, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, and the Philippine National Police (PNP), the official further said. The MMDA had earlier
VICE President and Education Secretary
Sara Duterte-Carpio said that the government is not blind to the problems that the country faces when it comes to education.
The hiring of teachers, and administrative staff, as well as the construction of new classrooms and school buildings, are among the solutions identified and being pursued by the government.
“We have already laid down solutions to these problems during the Basic Education Report delivered on January 30, 2023,” Duterte-Carpio said.
The suggestion of House Deputy Minority leader Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Partylist representative France Castro’s urging the DepEd to hire 130 thousand teachers to fill the gap of lack of teachers did not sit well with Duterte-Carpio.
“As it is, aside from a glaring classroom shortage, the Philippine education system needs to hire 147,000 more
ALBAY Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda is pushing for a set of measures to protect the country’s banking system from “financial contagion” brought about by concerns among banks abroad, particularly with startup lender Silicon Valley Bank and major European bank Credit Suisse.
“We can be proactive with protecting the banking sector by strengthening their balance sheets. I am confident our banks are strong, but just the same, we can act early,” Salceda, the chair of the House committee on ways and means and the lower chamber’s resident economist, said.
Among the measures Salceda proposed is the extension of the Financial Institutions Strategic Transfer (FIST) Act, which lapses this year. FIST allowed banks to use special purpose vehicles called “FIST Corporations” to offload non-performing assets.
“Although our banks are strong, they remain sensitive to shocks. NPL and NPA ratios have not recovered to prepandemic levels, and capital adequacy ratios are in continuous decline, partly due to the rollback of regulatory reliefs, especially the inclusion of MSME loans in the computation of the CAR.”
“In fact, the effect of FIST on banks only became evident in 2022. NPLs have begun to decline in magnitude only that year. At this rate, it would take the banking sector three more years to reduce NPLs to pre-pandemic magnitudes.”
The banking system non-performing assets were at P527.26 billion in 2022, down from P571.79 billion in 2021. Salceda estimates that that rate of asset disposition will take another three years to return the banking system’s asset quality to pre-pandemic levels.
“I am working with [Banks and Financial Intermediaries Committee] Chair Irwin Tieng on legislation to extend the FIST Act by another three years. I think we will be able to pass this on 3rd reading in the House when we return on May.” Maricel V. Cruz
teachers to cut down the class size to 35 students to have a healthy balance ratio of teacher and students to promote a more conducive learning atmosphere,” Castro said.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, many public schools have two-shifts to accommodate learners vis-à-vis classroom shortage. With classrooms having as many as 70 students per shift. Classes can start as early as 6 am for the first class, and as late as 7 pm for the second class.
“The suggestions of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) for the Department of Education to hire 30,000 public teachers and allocate a budget of P100 billion per year for classrooms are obviously deceptive maneuvers deliberately designed to counter the Marcos administration’s solution to the problems hounding the education sector,” Duterte-Carpio said.
Bobby Lagsaannounced that the number-coding scheme in the metro will be suspended from April 6 to 10.
BHW Party-list group Rep. Angelica Natasha Co meanwhile urged the Bureau of Immigration and the Office of Transportation Security to exercise vigilance and ensure the safety of travelers as the summer travel season now goes into full swing.
“May I remind the BOC and the OTS to make sure inbound and outbound travelers are never harassed, robbed, or extorted as they embark on their travels,” Co said. With Maricel V. Cruz
“We are encouraged by the statements/position papers of members of the President’s economic team and of the Cabinet who share our desire and goal for the country to attract more foreign investments through economic reform in the Constitution,” he said.
Rodriguez, who chairs the House committee on constitutional amendments, said the latest economic team member to support the House constitutional amendment push is Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno.
“We are heartened by Secretary Diokno’s supportive statement. He is an influential voice in the administration and in the business community,” he added.
The lawmaker also cited the position papers presented to his committee by Trade and Industry Secretary Alfredo Pascual, National Economic and Development Authority Direc-
LAWMAKERS led by Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte have proposed a measure that aims to encourage more young Filipinos to pursue a career in agriculture and take on the challenges facing this vital sector.
With Benguet Rep. Eric Yap and ACTCIS Rep. Edvic Yap, Duterte filed House Bill 7572 that aims to provide subsidies to children of qualified indigent farmers who will enroll in agriculture courses and other related fields of study in state universities and colleges (SUCs), on top of the free tuition offered under Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.
“We need young Filipinos who are exposed to today’s technologies to consider agriculture as a viable career. The youth’s innovative spirit, and their enthusiasm to change the way we think or do things is what we need right now to reinvigorate our agriculture sector. Providing farmers’ children the educational support they need will encourage them to pursue agriculture and other related courses,” Duterte said.
Duterte said the youth should be made
aware that agriculture courses do not just involve farming, but also cover degrees in agricultural and biosystems engineering, agribusiness management, agricultural biotechnology, agricultural economics, and fisheries technology, among other studies.
Under the bill, dependents of qualified indigent farmers who pass the admission requirements in SUCs and other local universities and colleges (LUCs) for agriculture and other related courses will be provided free tuition and other school fees, as well as other incentives and subsidies such as living and transportation allowances.
A qualified indigent farmer is defined under the measure as individuals included in the registry of farmers of the Department of Agriculture (DA), whose sole source of income is cultivating the land they own or lease, or who actually engage in crop production, livestock and poultry farming.
“Apart from encouraging the youth to consider entering the [agriculture sector], the said measure will also uplift and motivate agricultural research that it vital in the sector’s quest for development,” the bill’s authors said.
THE staff of the Office of Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez and those from the offices of Tingog Partylist Reps. Yedda Marie K. Romualdez and Jude A. Acidre participated in a whole-day training seminar conducted on Wednesday. Spearheaded by Deputy Secretary General Sofonias P. Gabonada, Jr. the seminar was conducted in two separate segments, with a plenary session in the morning entitled “Creating a High-Performance Organization Thru Culture Change” held at the Romualdez Hall of the House of Representatives. The afternoon session was conducted
They said the bill will complement ongoing government efforts to increase agricultural production and assistance to small farmers.
In coordination with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the DA is tasked under the bill to establish a scholarship program for tertiary agricultural education.
The bill’s authors cited data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showing the continuous employment drop in the agriculture sector comprising agriculture, forestry, fishing and the aquaculture industries.
From 24.5 percent (9.7 million) in October 2020 and 24.6 percent (10.77 million in October 2021), the PSA said the share to total employment of the agriculture sector declined to 22.5 percent (10.6 million) in October 2022.
The PSA also said that in terms of skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers, the numbers continue to drop from 14.2 percent (5.7 million) in October 2020 and 12.4 percent (5.4 million) in October 2021 to 11.8 percent (5.6 million) in October of last year.
Maricel V. Cruztor-General Alfredo Balisacan, Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos, Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian, and Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo.
The five departments were among the departments of government officially requested by the Rodriguez committee to present their positions on Charter Change in recent public hearings held at the House of Representatives.
Rodriguez said local government units grouped under Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines, led by Quirino Gov. Dakila Cua, have also supported the House initiative.
Rodriguez said the economic team of former President Rodrigo Duterte, led by then finance secretary Carlos Dominguez, had likewise backed efforts to change the Charter’s economic provisions.
Sen. Robin Padilla meanwhile appealed to the leadership of the Senate for a “collaborative effort” with the House of Representatives in deliberating on the preferred mode of amending economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution.
He made the appeal in letters sent to Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri, Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda, Majority Leader Joel Villanueva, and Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III. With Macon Ramos-Araneta
SENATE Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko”
Pimentel III said the pension of uniformed personnel has long been overdue. He also said that he will wait for the “version” of this administration and examine their approach to the problem.
Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa said the same legislative proposal was tackled by the Senate during the last Congress, but only at the committee level due to lack of time. He also said this issue is “for serious study and deliberations.”
Perhaps this time, Dela Rosa said, the pension program will materialize since most Senators are agreeable to that proposal.
Sought to comment on the same issue, Senator Francis Tolentino said there are better financial minds that can initially react to the proposal. “I haven’t read it well. There are even talks of SSS come 2030 or 2032,” he said.
The Marcos Jr. administration earlier said it is planning to implement reforms in the military and uniformed personnel (MUP) retirement and pension system to avoid a “fiscal collapse” caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In particular, the reforms would end automatic pensions for servicemen after 20 years in the service, and instead start their pension at 57 years old (a year after their mandatory retirement age), and pensioners would no longer receive payouts indexed to the salary of active personnel of single ranks.
The pension fund covers personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine National Police, Philippine Public Safety College, Philippine Coast Guard, and the Bureau of Corrections.
In a Palace press briefing, Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. also expressed support for two other proposals:
-- The reform to apply to all active personnel and new entrants; and
-- Mandatory contributions will be required for active personnel and new entrants, similar to the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) pensioners. With Charles Dantes
in separate breakout rooms with different learning modules, such as technical writing and social media management for the technical staff.
On the other hand, members of the administrative staff learned about basic table setting and service, while the drivers and members of the security detail were given practical lessons on basic VIP security.
According to DSG Gabonada, the seminar is part of the continuing joint effort of the Office of the Speaker and Tingog Party-list to promote the professional development of their personnel and enhance the efficiency in the delivery of services to the Filipino people.
THE Visayas constitutes around 20 percent of the voting population, while Mindanao has 23 percent. This was the ethno-linguistic base which brought Davao City mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte to Malacanang.
More than a half of Visayas speaks the Cebuano or Bisaya language, and almost all of Mindanao, despite different tribal origins, are conversant in the same, thus more than a third of our voters speak Bisaya.
Region 6 is largely Ilongo speaking, with some parts of Negros Occidental speaking Bisaya, and while Aklan and Antique speak Kinaray-a, they are bilingual in Ilonggo.
Aklan has been for almost three decades turf of the Miraflores-Tumbokon-Quimbo alliance, while Capiz was the stronghold of the Roxas descendants of the first president of the Third Republic, competing with Fredenil Castro in the second district, though now allied with each other.
Guimaras has been Nava country since 1988.
Iloilo has always elected Art Defensor and now his children to the governorship or congressional posts, although the now warring Tupazes still hold the northern parts, and the Garin family controlling the south, while Ferjenel Biron, the pharma billionaire has carved his own turf, though unsuccessful in several challenges to the Defensors.
Retired senator Franklin Drilon is the power behind Iloilo City, with his ally, Mayor Trenas, always in the saddle in the city.
Albee Benitez defanged long-time city mayor Bing Leonardia in what seemed to be a surprise except that lots of money supposedly flowed.
Albee transferred to Bacolod while keeping his district in the hands of a brother, and a son is now mayor of Victorias.
Media and the academicians of this nation keep ranting against the political dynasties, but the more they cry for change, the more things remain the same
Fiefdoms of the sugar barons still maintain their hold on several districts, while the governor, a Lacson from San Carlos following a long line of Lacsons dominating the province, succeeded long-serving Alfredo Maranon.
Antique has a new dynasty shaping up, courtesy of Sen. Loren Legarda, who traces her ancestral roots to the Gella family of the province, and succeeded in getting her brother Tony Jr. elected congressman last May 2022.
Meanwhile, in Cebuano speaking Negros Oriental, the self-made Gov. Roel Degamo, timawa against the pedigreed origins of his predecessors, was gunned down mercilessly last month. His rivals, the Teveses, control the south, while sugar mill heiress Juliet Sy Limkaichong holds the north after successive defeat of the Paras brothers.
Dumaguete the capital is in Philip Remollo’s hands, with his allies, the Sagarbarrias of “silvana” fame as vice-mayor and 2nd district representative.
Bohol has seen the Aumentado family back in power, while the districts remain in the hands of Ed Chatto, himself a former governor.
While there are fiefdoms as well in Cebu province, most everyone is an ally of the feisty governor, Gwen Garcia and her One Cebu political movement.
Come 2028 when her second tenure of three terms expire, she will likely be replaced by her brother, Pablo John, a bar topnotcher like their father, the highly respected Pabling.
Cebu City is back in the hands of Mike Rama, who defeated a come-backing Tommy Osmena after the untimely demise of the gentle Ed Labella who won in 2019. The Ramas are another Cebu dynasty, just as the Osmenas and Gullases of Talisay.
Region 8 is another dynasty country.
Northern Samar has the Ongs and the Dazas dividing the turf between themselves and their progeny.
Eastern Samar has Ben Evardone thwarting the Gonzaleses of Guiuan. Western Samar is now firmly in the hold of the Tan dynasty, just as the Espinas control the island province of Biliran.
Leyte, where the regional capital is, has both
By Agnès Pedrero
SWITZERLAND, which pioneered prescription heroin and safe injection sites decades ago, is now experimenting with decriminalizing recreational cannabis, with the drug now available in some
Basel pharmacies.
“This is 1,000 times better,” said Paul, a 42-year-old resident of the northern Swiss city, as he picked up a package of cannabis from his local pharmacy.
After buying his drug of choice on the street from “weird people or criminals” for the past 25 years, Paul, who asked that his last name not be published, is taking part in a pilot program allowing him to acquire it over the counter.
“People are happy, since they for the first time can buy it legally,” pharmacist Lucas Meister told AFP, showing off a stash of colorful packages containing various dried cannabis flowers and hashish-based products.
His is one of nine pharmacies that have been chosen to take part in the two-year pilot for the legal sale of recreational cannabis.
Thousands of people applied to take part in the trial, but Paul, who mainly uses the drug to treat
Waray and Cebuano-speaking voters.
The Waray country is firmly Romualdez, now led by the Speaker of the House himself, Martin, while the south is in the hands of the Loretos of Baybay, with the former governor Remedios ‘Matin’ Loreto-Petilla’s son, Ikot, now the governor after succeeding his brother Dominic.
Southern Leyte is firmly in the hands of the Mercados, although the Tans still hold sway in the southern towns.
The Zamboanga peninsula has seen some dynasties weakened, while others have maintained their hold on their fiefdoms.
In the north, it’s still the Jalosjos, Amatongs and the Labadlabad family. In the south, the Yus have thwarted attempts by the Cerilles dynasty to come back.
In Zamboanga City, Majority Floorleader Mannix Dalipe has thwarted both the Climacos and the Lobregats, long-term political titans of the city of flowers.
In Region 10, Bukidnon remains firmly under the Zubiri dynasty, and so does the island of Camiguin, a Romualdo family dynasty.
Lanao del Norte is Dimaporo country through and through.
It is in Misamis Oriental where political personalities and families see-saw in power, from the Emanos to Unabia of “lechon manok” fame, to Rufus Rodriguez, to Clarex Uy, their alliances with each other shifting as well.
In Occidental, the Parojinogs are gone, decimated by Pres. Duterte, and now, the Oaminals are in the saddle.
In the Caraga Region, the Pimentels virtually own the politics of the Surigao del Sur through three succeeding generations, thwarting PGMA’s favorite Prospero Pichay.
In Surigao del Norte, it’s the Matugas family in the northern towns and city as well as Siargao and the pother islands, while Ace Barbers holds mining towns of the mainland, and succeeded to have his brother Lyndon back as governor.
Agusan used to be entirely Plaza country when Democrito and Mana Loling were alive, but, with house divided, the remaining political heir is Eddie Bong, who controls Agusan del Sur.
The Amantes led by now governor once more Angel is the power to reckon with in Norte, even as, in Butuan City, the Amantes have been defeated by businessman Ronvic Lagnada. Davao City, it goes without saying, is Duterte country through and through.
In Davao del Norte, former Speaker Bebot Alvarez remains in power, but the other politicos under the ambit of the Florendo-Del Rosario family are going to put up stiff competition come 2025, now that they are close to the president.
Davao Oriental is still Dayanghirang, Almario and Nunez-Malanyaon territory; Davao de Oro is in the hands of Way Kurat Zamora.
Davao del Sur is Cagas whose forebears are the long-time Davao dynasts, the Almendrases and Davao Occidental is virtually “owned” by the Bautista dynasty.
In Socksargen, long-time Chiongbian dynasty thwarted Manny Pacquiao’s plans of a family dynasty, although Pacman succeeded in reestablishing his hold in General Santos City.
No firm dynasty holds the province of South Cotabato, while in Sultan Kudarat, warring Mangudadatu cousins continue the fight for political hegemony.
And in North Cotabato, the Talinos, through Roger’s daughter Emmylou, now married to a Mendoza of Cebu and the TUCP, is dominant.
Finally, in the BARMM, Mujiv Hataman now controls Basilan while the Adiong’s and cousin Balindong, control the politics of Lanao del Sur.
Long-gone from hegemony after the Maguindanao massacre, the Mastura and Paglas family are now in the saddle.
Abdusakur Tan is in full control of beautiful but negatively-imaged Sulu province, along with his allied families.
Visayas contributes 20 percent, while Mindanao, 23 percent of the national vote, give and take effects of recent migration.
In 2016, Rodrigo Roa Duterte of Davao City and Danao in Cebu, consolidated the votes of the entire Mindanao and more than half of the Visayas, on top of sizeable votes in the rest of Luzon to clinch the presidency, a historic feat, being the first president from Mindanao and the first city mayor to rise to the top political leadership of the country.
Full text at www.manilastandard.net
YESTERDAY (March 29), the Maoist New People’s Army marked its 54th anniversary.
That it has lasted this long in pursuing its goal of seizing political power through the barrel of the gun shows it has managed to gain new recruits and maintain its fighting capability over the years despite the superiority of the armed forces in terms of manpower, firepower, mobility and communications.
But if we’re to believe the recent pronouncement of the Department of National Defense and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, government forces have managed to bring the NPA to ‘strategic defeat’ with the latter’s guerilla fronts reduced to an insignificant number in just four provinces. At its height in the 1980s, the NPA was estimated by the military to have some 25,000 combatants.
But that figure appears to be bloated, as the Maoist insurgents could only muster at most platoon-size engagements with government forces in remote areas at that time, and never attacked large military installations. Hence, if the NPA anniversary statement says, as it usually does every March 29th, that it is growing and winning more people to its side, that claim should be taken with more than a grain of salt.
It appears that hit-and-run tactics to wear down government resistance is not working at all, so Mao’s idea of a protracted ‘people’s war’ may well end up withering on the vine
As things now stand, it appears the armed insurgency is in fact winding down.
News reports from the battlefield indicate more losses on the part of the NPA, which tells us that the ‘people’s war’ that Mao prescribed for a semi-colonial and semi-feudal society like ours may not be protracted at all.
If it has taken them 54 years of armed struggle without having achieved victory, that isn’t something to crow about.
The persistence of poverty in both city and countryside will no doubt continue to attract those who remain poor and unable to
THE car has been around since the mid-1880s. But when Henry Ford started mass producing cars in 1909 to the tune of 650 a day, it sparked a revolution in land travel.
The assembly line production that Ford introduced reduced car prices making it more affordable to the general public and this contributed to the development of the suburbia. Today, however, the car is coming under incessant attack in the National Capital Region from some transportation advocacy groups that view the car as a major contributor to the punishing traffic congestion that everybody is experiencing.
If these groups have their way, they would prefer some constraints on car ownership.
To them, the government should increase public transportation investments and make it more efficient so that there would be less need for cars. They are right to a certain degree because the urban development in the Metro area is a classic case of how not to do it. If we look at how public transportation developed beginning at the turn of the 20th century, it was the trams operated by the Manila Electric Company that provided public transportation till the outbreak of the Second World War.
Considering the much smaller population of Manila and the adjoining towns at that time, public transportation during the prewar years was not only sufficient but also efficient. But with the destruction of Manila and the trams during the liberation in 1945, this gave birth to the conversion of surplus United States Army jeeps into what became the jeepney. Since the tram operation was never revived, the jeepney took over as the principal mode of public transportation with the buses coming later. Initially, the jeepney was sufficient to take care of the public transportation needs.
One reason is its versatility being the closest thing to a door to door transportation. But as the urban sprawl started to expand rapidly due to population growth, some of the weaknesses of the jeepney as a form of mass transportation started to become apparent to government planners. One is the limited number of passengers that the jeepney can accommodate.
Another is that the jeepney occupies a lot of road space because of their increasing number. As a result, the LRT 1 and other rail lines that we have today were constructed. Unfortunately, the government has been slow in this area.
For instance, LRT line 7 which is now undergoing construction was supposed to have been constructed in the late 1980s but is only being done now.
The government is therefore always playing catch up.
In the area of road building, not much was also done to increase the road network.
It is only in the last two or three administrations that we saw a flurry of urban freeway constructions.
Progress, however, has been slow due to many
Perhaps, the national government should seriously consider what other countries have done and transfer the country’s capital somewhere else and start from scratch to avoid all the pitfalls of the urbanization process
hurdles like right of way issues.
Some projects are also being opposed by advocacy groups like the Pasig River freeway project.
In the meantime, there is an explosion of cars on the limited NCR road network making traffic congestion a serious problem.
The NCR’s road network is only around 5,000 kilometers more or less on an area of about 663 square kilometers and a population of nearly 13 million people.
These figures alone tell the magnitude of the problem at hand.
Yet, government cannot simply give up or do nothing.
This is why we see all the simultaneous transportation projects going on that will at the very least provide the public with more travel
his depression, was among just 400 chosen.
Not encouraging consumption Cannabis is legal for medical use in the wealthy Alpine nation, but only in extreme cases, such as pain relief for cancer patients.
Low-potency cannabis can also be purchased legally for non-medical use, but only when it contains below one percent tetrahydrocannabinol
(THC)—the component that gets recreational users high.
And while more potent cannabis is illegal, carrying up to 10 grams of more potent cannabis for one’s own consumption is not punishable by law.
But while there are already a few ways to consume the drug without risking run-ins with police, pressure has been mounting for legalization.
In 2021, around 70 percent of the population favored liberalizing the laws, up from 58 percent three years earlier, according to the Swiss health ministry.
“We have to get out of the illicit cannabis framework, but ensure strict regulation,” said Barbara Broers, vice president of a federal commission on issues surrounding addiction.
“It is important that people have access to
The marketing specialist said it was a shame Switzerland had not taken a more direct route to legalization, as in some US states, Canada and Uruguay
controlled and regulated products, but we are proposing to ban advertising and to have plain packaging, as with cigarettes in some countries,” she told AFP.
“This is not about encouraging consumption.”
Small steps
The Swiss government has opted for a smallsteps approach, and authorized trials to take place over the coming decade.
In Basel, participants are aged 18 to 76, and the aim is to study “the effects of regulated cannabis sale... on mental health and on consumption behavior,” Marc Walter, a psychiatry professor at the University of Basel and head of the study, told AFP.
So far, participants have been especially drawn to “products with a very high level of THC,” he said.
The five-gram packs that Meister keeps in his pharmacy safe contain products with THC levels ranging from 4.5 to 20 percent.
They are priced at between eight and 12 Swiss francs ($8.70-$13) per gram, depending on the THC level, in line with black market pricing.
The pricing level was very deliberate, according to Marc Brungger, an executive at the Swiss company Pure Production, which is producing cannabis for the Basel trial.
“If prices are too low, people would try to resell the product, and if they are too high, they would turn to the black market,” he told AFP.
Other major Swiss cities, including Zurich, Geneva and Lausanne, are planning to launch similar trials. ‘Pure and organic’
In Basel, Paul said he is thrilled to leave street
feed their families the option to take up arms against the government as a last resort.
But it appears that hit-and-run tactics to wear down government resistance is not working at all, so Mao’s idea of a protracted ‘people’s war’ may well end up withering on the vine.
The NPA as a spent force appears to be the rationale for the national government move to reject the resumption of peace talks with the National Democratic Front, the political arm of the CPP-NPA.
The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (Opapru) has reiterated the government is determined to put an end to armed rebellion by focusing on localized peace efforts.
This thrust aims to convince NPA members and supporters to lay down their arms and return to the fold of the law.
Opapru Undersecretary Wilben Mayor is confident that the agency is taking the right step in proceeding with local peace engagement because it is “the most effective way” since they have “better communication with those on the ground to reach out to the rebels. “
The government, he said, is now implementing a Transformation Program meant to kick-start the reintegration of rebel returnees into the mainstream of society.
“This is to ensure that former rebels, or what we like to call ‘rescued friends,’ are able to sustain their new life. This doesn’t stop with just giving them aid and livelihood, we want to make sure they are set for life.”
choices when completed.
Part of the long term solution is to encourage people to relocate further from the urban center to lessen population density to a more tolerable level.
Fortunately, this is slowly happening with private land developers taking the lead by going further away from the metro area.
Most of these new land developments will not be serviced by public transportation. This is, therefore, where the car can play an important role.
Owning a car will allow families to relocate because the car can take care of the many trips that public transportation cannot meet or satisfy.
Public transport advocates may not like it but public transportation cannot take care of all trips required by the public.
Emergency and leisure trips are but some of the examples.
But rail transportation must still have to be expanded faster to allow the public to move more efficiently within the Metro area or going in and out of it.
I do agree with the public transport advocates view about more public transportation investments.
What I do not agree to is this will have to be done at the expense of owning a car.
The mobility problems being currently experienced in the Metro area is not solely due to the car but also because of the inability of the government to integrate all the available transportation out there – be it public or private –into a cohesive, efficient and coordinated working system.
This is called efficient traffic and transportation management.
What we see instead is an inefficient and seemingly chaotic public transportation system. This should be the focus of attention.
Unfortunately, whatever actions the government takes to alleviate the situation will not satisfy everyone.
Perhaps, the national government should seriously consider what other countries have done and transfer the country’s capital somewhere else and start from scratch to avoid all the pitfalls of the urbanization process.
dealers behind and to finally know with certainty what he is getting: “Pure and organic cannabis,” grown in Switzerland and quality-guaranteed by the Swiss authorities.
“I want to consume cannabis, not chemicals made in China,” he told AFP, voicing horror at the arrival on the street of synthetic cannabinoids —laboratory-made molecules that mimic the THC effect.
The marketing specialist said it was a shame Switzerland had not taken a more direct route to legalization, as in some US states, Canada and Uruguay.
But Walter said he was happy “Switzerland has chosen another route.”
“As a scientist, I prefer that.”
Frank Zobel, head of Addiction Switzerland, agreed, pointing out that taking things slow and steady to see how the population responds was a very Swiss approach. That model proved itself in the 1990s, he said, noting how Switzerland had slowly introduced prescribing heroin for medical use.
“There too, there were four years of pilot trials, and today it is a treatment that is covered by medical insurance,” he said.
AFP
TAIWAN President Tsai Ing-wen left for the United States on Wednesday, a stop on her way to firm up ties with Guatemala and Belize after China snapped up another of the self-ruled island’s few diplomatic allies last week.
“External pressure will not hinder our determination to go global,” Tsai told reporters at the airport before departing. “We are calm and confident. We will not succumb and we will not provoke (others).”
Belize and Guatemala are among just 13 countries that officially recognize Taipei over Beijing, after Honduras opened diplomatic relations with China on Sunday.
China claims the democratic island as part of its territory to be retaken one day. Under its “One China” principle, no country may maintain official ties with both Beijing and Taipei.
After first visiting New York, President Tsai will continue her 10-day trip by meeting her Guatemalan counterpart Alejandro Giammattei and Belize Prime Minister John Briceno in their respective countries, her office said.
She will then stop in Los Angeles on her way home.
US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has said he will meet Tsai in California, a move protested by Beijing. Taiwan-
ese authorities have not confirmed the meeting with McCarthy, or Tsai’s New York itinerary.
Last year, a visit by McCarthy’s predecessor to Taiwan sparked an angry response from Beijing, with the Chinese military conducting drills at an unprecedented scale around the island.
On Wednesday, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office called Tsai’s US stop “a provocation.”
“This so-called transit by the Taiwan leader is essentially a provocation that aims to seek independence relying on the US,” said spokesperson Zhu Fenglian. A senior US administration official later said China should not use Tsai’s stopover as a “pretext” for aggression.
“There’s absolutely no reason for China to use that as a pretext to overreact or to engage in further coercion directed at Taiwan,” the official told reporters on condition of anonymity, adding the stopover did not represent a change in US policy.
Analysts say the US stopover comes
CHINA vowed on Wednesday to “fight back” should Taiwan President Tsai Ingwen meet the US House speaker during a trip to the United States.
Tsai left on Wednesday for the United States, from where she will head to Guatemala and Belize to shore up ties with diplomatic allies before heading to California, where US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy had said he would meet her. China claims the democratic island as part of its territory to be retaken one day and, under its “One China” principle, no country may maintain official ties with both Beijing and Taipei.
Beijing warned Wednesday that it is “resolutely opposed” to any meeting between Tsai and McCarthy and vowed to take “resolute measures to fight back” if it goes ahead.
“If (Tsai) engages with US House Speaker McCarthy, it will be another
provocation that seriously violates the One China principle, undermines China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and undermines peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait,” Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Zhu Fenglian said.
Tsai’s trip follows Honduras’s decision this month to open diplomatic relations with Beijing, leaving Belize and Guatemala among just 13 countries that have official ties with Taipei.
“External pressure will not hinder our determination to go global,” Tsai told reporters at the airport before leaving. “We are calm and confident. We will not succumb and we will not provoke (others).”
After first visiting New York, Tsai will meet her Guatemalan counterpart Alejandro Giammattei and Belize Prime Minister John Briceno in their respec-
tive countries, her office said.
She will then stop in Los Angeles on her way home.
McCarthy has said he will meet Tsai in California, although the talks are yet to be confirmed by Taiwanese authorities.
A visit by McCarthy’s predecessor to Taiwan last year sparked an angry response from Beijing, with the Chinese military conducting drills at an unprecedented scale around the island.
A senior US administration official urged China not to use Tsai’s stopover as a “pretext” for aggression.
“There’s absolutely no reason for China to use that as a pretext to overreact or to engage in further coercion directed at Taiwan,” the official told reporters on condition of anonymity, adding that the stopover did not represent a change in US policy. AFP
AS THOUSANDS of visitors streamed through a Hong Kong exhibition hall and deals were struck for works by Picasso and Yayoi Kusama, art collectors celebrated the Asian financial hub’s return to its bustling heyday.
The scenes at Hong Kong’s Art Basel fair last week had not been seen since 2019, with a crackdown on pro-democracy protests and pandemic restrictions in the intervening years radically transforming the city.
More than 86,000 visitors poured through the halls of the fair, reflecting a return to pre-pandemic numbers, with reported sales of more than $98 million, double those of 2019, according to organizers.
Among the biggest deals were a 1964 Picasso sold for $5.5 million, as well as works by Japanese artist Kazuo Shiraga ($5 million) and a strikingly surreal “pumpkin” by Kusama ($3.5 million), according to reported sales figures released by the fair.
The energy at Art Basel reflected the increasing importance of the Asian art market, said organisers, who told AFP that their work was not impacted by the city’s national security law.
“Asia has been the fastest developing art market in the world,” Angelle Siyang-Le, director of Art Basel Hong Kong, told AFP.
For some, however, the success of the fair was not indicative of a healthy art scene.
Hong Kong once held a reputation as a bastion of free speech within authoritarian China, but the national security law (NSL) imposed in 2020 after widespread and sometimes violent prodemocracy protests has criminalised dissent, including in art. AFP
ROBIN Wolfenden was practicing yoga on her balcony on a spring morning in Nashville when she heard the sirens – the sound of first responders rushing to the scene of America’s latest school shooting.
The next day she laid six stones – a Jewish tradition – for the victims at the entrance of the nearby Covenant School, where a 28-year-old former student broke in and stalked the halls, killing three staff and three young children.
“These kids are innocent children,”
Wolfenden told reporters, worried for her grandsons who are five and eight years old, only a few years younger than the students killed at the Covenant Presbyterian Church-affiliated elementary school on Monday.
Mass shootings are grimly frequent
THE United States on Tuesday threw support behind a special international tribunal to try Russia for “aggression” against Ukraine, building momentum to prosecute the crime for the first time since the aftermath of World War II.
The European Union has backed a special tribunal, which could bring fresh charges against President Vladimir Putin and would be the latest legal salvo after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for him over alleged war crimes.
The State Department said that the United States would work with allies to set up a “special tribunal on the crime of aggression” over Russia’s February 2022 invasion of its neighbor.
“We envision such a court having sig-
nificant international support – particularly from our partners in Europe – and ideally located in another country in Europe,” State Department spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters.
Beth Van Schaack, the US ambassador-at-large for global criminal justice, said the United States wanted the court to have international personnel and resources.
That “will provide the clearest path to establishing a new tribunal and maximizing our chances of achieving meaningful accountability,” she said in a speech Monday at the Catholic University of America.
She said the United States was “committed” working with other countries to provide resources for such a tribunal
“in a way that will achieve comprehensive accountability for the international crimes being committed in Ukraine.”
It was the first time that the United States – which has fraught relations with the International Criminal Court –has explicitly supported a special tribunal on Ukraine. The European Union in November floated the idea of a tribunal, which was backed formally in January by a vote of the European Parliament.
Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky, speaking virtually Tuesday to a US-led democracy summit, said his country “strongly advocates” the special tribunal, saying that Putin’s invasion brought memories of Czechoslovakia’s forced land concessions to Germany in 1938. AFP
in the United States, and Nashville residents were in shock Tuesday after their city joined the nationwide roster of those that have experienced an armed assault on a school.
“It’s just unimaginable to think that these beautiful kids are not going to come home again,” Lisbeth Melgar, who brought her two children to see a growing memorial to the victims outside the school, told AFP as she gently tucked her daughter’s hair behind her ear.
Melgar was among several parents who brought their young children among the stream of mourners visiting the memorial as the sun set on Tuesday, many of them in tears among the flowers, stuffed toys, and white crosses decorated with blue hearts. AFP
A FIRE believed to have been started by migrants protesting against their deportation killed at least 38 people at a Mexican immigration detention center near the US border, authorities said Tuesday, prompting demands for justice.
The blaze broke out late Monday at the National Migration Institute (INM) facility in Ciudad Juarez, prompting the mobilization of firefighters and dozens of ambulances.
The migrants were believed to have lit the fire as a demonstration because they feared they would be deported, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said.
“They put mats at the door of the shelter and set them on fire as a protest, and did not imagine that it would cause this terrible tragedy,” he told reporters.
ARTISTS outraged by artificial intelligence that copies in seconds the styles they have sacrificed years to develop are waging battle online and in court. Fury erupted in the art community last year with the release of generative artificial intelligence (AI) programs that can convincingly carry out commands such as drawing a dog like cartoonist Sarah Andersen would, or a nymph the way illustrator Karla Ortiz might do.
Such style-swiping AI works are cranked out without the original artist’s consent, credit or compensation – the three C’s at the heart of a fight to change
all that.
In January, artists including Andersen and Ortiz filed a class-action lawsuit against DreamUp, Midjourney and Stable Diffusion, three image-generating AI models programmed with art found online.
Andersen told AFP she felt “violated” when first she saw an AI drawing that copied the style of her “Fangs” comic book work. She fired off an indignant reaction on Twitter; it went viral, and other incensed artists reached out to her with stories of their own.AFP
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi expressed solidarity with relatives of the victims and appealed to countries in the region “to deal in a humane, just, effective manner with growing population flows through the Americas.”
Anger grew outside the detention facility, with relatives chanting demands for justice near a makeshift shrine dedicated to the victims.
“Every migrant has the right to be safe, to be protected,” said Fran Martin Perez, from Venezuela. AFP
HK art market at pre-pandemic high at $98m
Artists fight AI programs that copy their styles online and before court
STOCKS rose for a second day to buck losses on Wall Street, as it followed the lead of other Asian markets and fears over the financial system eased.
The PSE index, the 30-company benchmark of the Philippine Stock Exchange, went up 27 points, or 0.42 percent, to close at 6,630.97, as five of the six subsectors advanced.
The broader all-share index also gained 9 points, or 0.28 percent, to settle at 3,529.66, on a value turnover of P13 billion. Losers outnumbered gainers, 100 to 76, while 55 issues were unchanged.
Four of the 10 most active stocks ended in the green, led by BDO Unibank Inc. which climbed 2.39 percent to P128.50 and Ayala Land Inc. which rose 1.58 percent to P28.90.
The peso was steady at 54.45 per US dollar.
Asian markets rose, led by massive gains for Chinese tech behemoth Alibaba after it announced it would split into six groups.
The Hangzhou-based firm said the changes were in-
tended to “unlock shareholder value and foster market competitiveness”.
Alibaba is one of China’s most prominent tech firms, with operations spanning cloud computing, e-commerce, logistics, media and entertainment, and artificial intelligence.
By the close on Wednesday, its Hong Kong-listed shares were up by more than 12 percent. Its New Yorklisted shares were also up in the previous session.
“Investors could get hyped on the positive side in the short term,” said Willer Chen, senior research analyst at Forsyth Barr Asia.
“Alibaba’s shakeup plan may also lead investors to think of the potential for other tech firms like Tencent to follow suit.”
Tencent and Baidu also advanced.
The Hang Seng Index had gained more than two percent by the close, having troubled three percent earlier in the day.
The Nikkei 225 index had advanced 1.33 percent by the close in Tokyo, where Softbank—which owns a large stake in Alibaba—had risen by just over two percent.
Despite losses on Wall Street, the Tokyo market proved resilient as “excessive fears over the European financial system dwindled”, IwaiCosmo Securities said. With AFP
ASIAN TERMINALS, INC.
ATI Head Office, A. Bonifacio Drive, Port Area, Manila Tel. No. 8528-6000
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To the Stockholders of Asian Terminals, Inc.:
The Board of Directors on February 23, 2023, resolved to hold the annual meeting virtually, pursuant to applicable SEC regulations. The annual meeting will be virtually conducted and may be accessed on the link https:// bit.ly/ATI_2023ASM on April 27, 2023, 2:00 p.m., to consider and take action upon the following matters:
1. Call to Order. This officially commences the meeting.
2. Proof of Notice and Quorum. The Corporate Secretary will certify that the notice of meeting had been sent to stockholders as of record date and that there is a quorum.
3. Approval of the Minutes of the Annual Stockholders’ Meeting held on April 28, 2022. The Minutes record the proceedings of the 2022 annual meeting. The minutes were included in the Information Statement and may be accessed in the Company Website https://www.asianterminals.com.ph/ati_ disclosures_minutesofmeeting.aspx
4. Chairman’s Address. The Chairman will address the stockholders and present the highlights of the business operation and performance of the Company in 2022.
5. Election of Directors. The nominees are named in Item 5 of the Information Statement, together with their qualifications and profiles for the election of the stockholders. Pursuant to the by-laws, the directors (including the independent directors) shall be elected annually and shall hold office until the next annual meeting and until his successor shall have been elected and qualified. Pursuant to the Company’s Corporate Governance Manual and applicable regulations of the SEC, an independent director who has served more than nine (9) consecutive years reckoned from 2012, can serve as such based on meritorious justifications and with the stockholders’ approval. Chief Justice Artemio V. Panganiban has been the Company’s independent director since 2010 and the Board resolved to retain him as independent director based on meritorious justification, subject to the approval of the stockholders (Please refer to Item 5 (a) (1) of the Information Statement) The stockholder’s vote in his favor is deemed an approval of the justification, otherwise he may choose to abstain.
6. Approval of the Audited Financial Statements for the Year Ended December 31, 2022. The stockholders are asked to approve the 2022 Audited Financial Statements, a copy of which is attached to the Information Statement.
7. Appointment of Independent Auditors. The appointment of R.G. Manabat & Co. as the independent auditors for 2023. Approval of the stockholders is sought.
8. Approval and Ratification of the Acts of the Board and the Management during the year 2022. The acts of the Board and Management in 2022 were summarized in Item 15 of the Information Statement. Approval and ratification of the stockholders is sought.
9. Other Matters. Any other relevant matter to the meeting may be raised by the stockholders.
10. Adjournment. This is to officially end the meeting. All stockholders of record at the close of business on March 29, 2023 are entitled to notice and to vote at the annual meeting and at any adjournment thereof. The stock and transfer books of the Company will be closed from March 29 up to April 27, 2023.
If unable to attend the meeting, stockholders may appoint either the Chairman of the ATI Board or the President as proxy with voting instructions and submitted via the Registration Portal. Proxies should be submitted on or before 7pm of April 17, 2023. Please refer to Annex “A” for the procedure. Proxies will be validated on April 21, 2023 at the Office of the Corporate Secretary., ATI Head Office, A. Bonifacio Drive, Port Area, Manila, 1018. The Information Statement and its attachments is accessible at the PSE EDGE website and ATI Website at https://www.asianterminals.com.ph .
The detailed procedure of the registration and voting process are stated in Appendix “A” hereof. Manila, Philippines, March 10, 2023.
RODOLFO G. CORVITE, JR. Corporate Secretary APPENDIX “A”
Procedure for the Registration, Participation and Voting in the 2023 Annual Stockholders’ Meeting
To ensure the safety of attendees, the Board of Directors on February 23, 2023, resolved to hold the annual meeting by remote communication and voting will be in absentia, pursuant to applicable SEC regulations. All stockholders of record at the close of business on March 29, 2023 are entitled to notice and to vote at the annual meeting and at any adjournment thereof.
A) REGISTRATION: Stockholders may register to participate in the virtual meeting at the Registration Portal (“Registration Portal”) at: https://bit.ly/34INqR7 Registration will be from 9:00 am of April 5, 2023, until 7:00 pm of April 17, 2023.Stockholders are advised to register as early as possible. To proceed with the registration, personal information will be required. For identification, the Company shall only accept a scanned back-to-back copy of one valid government-issued ID bearing photo and signature which will be uploaded in the Registration Portal. Consent to process the personal information is included in the Registration Portal.
UBS CHIEF. Newly appointed UBS chief executive Sergio Ermotti (right) speaks with UBS chairman Colm Kelleher during a press conference in Zurich on March 29, 2023. UBS announced it was bringing back former CEO Sergio Ermotti to lead the Swiss banking giant’s controversial acquisition of troubled rival Credit Suisse. Ermotti spent nine years restoring UBS’s reputation after its bailout by the Swiss government and the central bank during the 2008 global financial crisis, as well as the $2.3 billion in losses racked up by a rogue trader in 2011. AFP
OTTAWA—Canada could fall into a “shallow recession” this year, according to a worst-case scenario outlined in the government’s budget on Tuesday, but Ottawa is planning for a slightly brighter outlook.
Private sector economists surveyed by Ottawa forecast gross domestic product ranging from a contraction of 0.2 percent to growth of 1.6 percent.
The government pegged economic growth at just 0.3 percent, rebounding to 1.5 percent in 2024—both figures down from previous estimates.
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland’s budget presented 15 to 30 per-
cent tax credits to spur investment in tidal and nuclear energy, as well as extraction of critical minerals for EV batteries—seeking to narrow a gap with US subsidies for clean technologies.
It offered targeted inflation relief such as a grocery rebate for “the most vulnerable still feeling the bite of higher prices.”
Freeland also highlighted money recently announced for health care, and a new dental care plan for up to nine million uninsured Canadians.
The government vowed to crack down on hidden fees and preda-
tory lending, and to bring in “right to repair” rules for electronics and home appliances, as well as common charging standards for phones and computers—similar to the EU—to cut costs and waste.
Freeland had already slashed spending after doling out pandemic aid that pushed the national debt to a record Can$1.2 trillion.
On Tuesday, she reported a lower deficit in fiscal 2023-2024 than originally expected to Can$40.1 billion.
Canada’s debt-to-GDP ratio, meanwhile, is expected to rise slightly to 43.5 percent before falling in subsequent years. AFP
PLDT Inc. chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan, or MVP, called it a hiccup on the road and from the looks of it, the telecom giant has hurdled a roadblock that can be navigated with caution and vigilance.
PLDT’s earnings took a hit in 2022 due to a carryover of capital expenditures in the previous year—a painful experience that prompted the company to improve project management systems “to efficiently monitor capex spending.”
Danny Yu, PLDT’s group controller, said PLDT was doing “refinement policies regarding budgeting, as well as the accruing process.”
There is also improvement to project management systems to efficiently monitor capex spending, he added.
PLDT registered a net profit of P10.48 billion last year, down from P26.36 billion in 2021. Core profit, which excludes the impact of asset sales and Voyager Innovations, reached P33.1 billion in 2022, up from P30.23 billion in 2021.
“Our core business remains to be sound, and continues to show solid EBITDA numbers,” said PLDT and Smart president and chief executive Alfredo Panlilio
The company says its forensic review of the higher capital expenditures from 2019 to 2022 is “substantially complete” and that it found “no evidence of fraud, intentional concealment or bad faith conduct on the part of any employee of the company.”
PLDT completed negotiations with major vendors representing about 80 percent of its outstanding capex commitments as of December last year. It signed settlement and mutual release agreements with its major vendors in March 2023 that resulted in the reduction of outstanding commitments to P33 billion from P48 billion. “2022 demanded practically everything that we had. Despite the adversities, I remain convinced that PLDT
will not only survive but thrive; our core business is strong; and our people endured, inspired by our singular mission of safeguarding and enhancing shareholder value,” said Pangilinan.
“It’s quite a relief… We’re relieved… that despite this hiccup in the road, the financial remain robust and strong,” Panglinan said when asked about if he was satisfied about the results of the investigation.
PLDT avoided the worst-case scenario from the financial controversy. “There’s been no downgrading of PLDT’s credit standing. We’re relieved and focus on recovery in whatever reputation we may have lost,” says MVP.
“As we approach PLDT’s 100th year, we forge ahead in pursuit of the group’s North Star—enabling a digital life for every Filipino and improving lives,” he added Panlilio is also upbeat about the development, noting that the company’s fundamentals have remained strong after earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization grew 4 percent to P100.48 billion— the first time in corporate history that PLDT breached the P100-billion mark.
“We have an excellent network, strong brands and attractive products. Wireless is simplifying its portfolio, Home continues to expand beyond connectivity, and Enterprise is pursuing its digital transformation initiatives,” Panlilio said.
Consolidated service revenues rose to P205.24 billion from P193.25 billion in 2021. Total expenses reached P210.74 billion, up from P152.49 billion. Of the total, depreciation and amortization amounted to P98.71 billion, higher than P52.16 billion in 2021.
E-mail: rayenano@yahoo.com or extrastory2000@gmail.com
1. Individual stockholder with shares recorded in their name: name, valid email address active contact number and upload a valid government-issued ID.
For stockholders with joint accounts only the authorized stockholder will register and in addition to the above, shall upload scanned copy of a notarized authorization letter signed by the other stockholders, indicating who among them would be authorized to participate and/or vote and upload their valid government-issued IDs.
Individual Stockholder under a broker/ PCD: in addition to the name, valid email address, active contact number and a valid government-issued ID, the stockholder needs to coordinate with his broker and secure a duly signed Broker’s Certification stating the full account name, number of shares, and account or reference number which shall be uploaded in the Registration Portal.
2. Corporate stockholder: the duly authorized representative of the corporate stockholder shall register and provide his name, valid email address, active contact number, valid government-issued ID and the scanned copy of the notarized Secretary’s Certificate and signed proxy appointing either the ATI Chairman or President.
A proxy given by a broker in respect of shares of stock held by such broker for the account of the beneficial owner must be accompanied by a certification under oath stating the number of shareholdings and a that the broker has obtained the written consent or authorization of the account holder. The Company reserves the right to require additional documents as may be necessary or relevant.
B) VALIDATION: A notification by email from ATISHMeeting@asianterminals.com.ph shall be received by the stockholder together with a unique passcode which shall be used to access the ATI Voting Portal or other instructions. For queries, assistance or any technical difficulties, the stockholders may communicate with the Company through the above-mentioned email address or call 8528-6000.
Stockholders may appoint either the ATI Chairman or the President as proxy. Proxies should be submitted on or before 7pm of April 17, 2023. The duly accomplished scanned copy of the proxy (and other attachments, as applicable) may be uploaded by the stockholder upon registration or hard copies may be sent to the address below. Proxies will be validated on April 21, 2023 at the said address.
Office of the Corporate Secretary Asian Terminals, Inc. ATI Head Office, A. Bonifacio Drive Port Area, Manila, 1018
C) VOTING: All the agenda items indicated in the Notice will be set out in the ATI Voting Portal (“Voting Portal”). Voting shall be online and may be accessed using the unique passcode sent to the registered email. The Voting Portal shall be open from 9:00 am of April 17, 2023 up to 7:00 pm of April 25, 2023, in the link below: https://bit.ly/3q69lcl
1. Individual stockholder with shares recorded in their name: they may access the Voting Portal by providing the valid email address they used in the registration and the sent unique passcode. For stockholders with joint accounts only the stockholder who registered and was authorized by the joint stockholders shall vote by providing the valid email address they used in the registration and the unique passcode. Individual Stockholder under a broker/ PCD: they may access the Voting Portal by providing the valid email address they used in the registration and the unique passcode.
2. Corporate stockholder or broker. Either the ATI Chairman or the President may vote, as may be provided in the proxy.
The Office of the Corporate Secretary shall tabulate all votes received and the results shall be validated by R.G. Manabat and Co. Access to the Registration and Voting Portals shall be limited to the Office of Corporate Secretary, ATI IT Support Team, authorized representative of the stock and transfer agent and the R.G. Manabat and Co.
D. QUORUM: The following stockholders shall be deemed present for purposes of quorum:
a) whose registrations are validated.
b) who sent their accomplished proxies and validated
c) who voted from 9:00 am of April 17, 2023 up to 7:00 pm of April 25, 2023
E. PROCEEDINGS: The meeting will be held virtually on April 27, 2023 at 2pm, on the link https://bit.ly/ ATI_2023ASM Only stockholders whose registration were validated may access the meeting. Every item in the agenda for approval of the stockholders will be shown on the screen during the meeting as the same is taken up. During the meeting, the Secretary shall report the votes received and inform the stockholders if the particular item is carried or disapproved. The total number of votes cast for each item for approval under the agenda will be shown on the screen. The meeting shall be recorded and the recording will be made available to the stockholders upon request sent to ATISHMeeting@asianterminals.com.ph For queries, assistance or any technical difficulties, the stockholders may communicate with the Company through the above-mentioned email address or call at 85286000.
F. QUESTIONS: Relevant questions on the items in the Agenda may be sent by stockholders during the meeting (in the Q&A chatbox) or in advance to ATISHMeeting@asianterminals.com.ph on or before 7pm of April 25, 2023 with the subject heading “ASM 2023 Question” and the identity of the sender must be stated after the question. Replies may be given during the meeting and any unanswered will be replied to by email. QR
PERTH, Australia—Philippine Airlines plans to return to Europe as part of its strategy to rebuild its international routes that were affected by the global pandemic, a top executive said Wednesday.
Capt. Stanley Ng, president and chief operating officer of PAL, said the flag carrier is exploring which best destinations in Europe it would fly to from Manila.
“We’re still in the process of gathering data, and we’re also partnering with the Department of Tourism to look at which is the best routes to fly to Europe,” Ng said.
Ng said PAL’s return to Europe would depend on the delivery of aircraft, as the airline returned a significant amount of aircraft to its lessors amid the global pandemic.
PAL resumed nonstop flights to Lon-
don in November 2013, using B777300 after an absence of 15 years. The airline decided to stop flying to London Heathrow in March 2021 because of commercial reasons.
PAL, however, mounted special flights to and from London from August to October 2021.
Data from the DOT showed that arrivals from the United Kingdom reached 101,034 in 2022, the country’s fifth largest source of foreign tourists.
Filipinos working and living in the United Kingdom totaled about 200,000.
PAL on March 27 made history with the inauguration of its service from Manila to Perth, the airline’s first international route after the pandemic.
“We are optimistic about the growth prospects for a Perth-Manila service. We hope to stimulate travel flows in both directions, so we may build up to more weekly flights eventually,” Ng said.
POWER retailer Manila Electric Co. said
Wednesday it executed an emergency power supply agreement with South Premiere Power Corp., a unit of San Miguel Power Holdings, for the supply of a 300-megawatt baseload capacity from March 26, 2023 to March 25, 2024.
“The execution of the EPSA will help shield electricity consumers from volatile and potentially higher generation costs in the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market, which is historically recorded during the dry season when power demand spikes,” Meralco said in a statement.
The EPSA partially replaces the ca-
THE Philippine Economic Zone Authority said it registered P12.537 billion worth of investments in the first quarter, up by 53.99 percent from P8.14 billion in the same period in 2022.
“This surge in investments almost tripling the performance growth as compared to January to March 2022 is an indication that we are on the right track in achieving our 10-percent target this year,” said PEZA director-general Tereso Panga.
PEZA board approved 12 new and expansion projects with P2.343 billion worth of investments as of March 24. This brought total projects in the first three months to 42.
PEZA said of the 42 projects, it approved 40 locator projects with P8.188 billion investments and two ecozone projects worth P4.34 billion, for a total of P12.537 billion. The 42 projects also represented an increase of 44.8 percent from the 29 projects approved in the same period in 2022. These projects are also expected to generate $616.585 million in exports and 5,236 direct employment, according to PEZA.
Othel V. Campos
THE Land Transportation Office said Thursday it will accelerate the digitalization of its services to fight fixers and corruption in the agency.
LTO chief Jay Art Tugade warned the public against patronizing the services of “fixers” and said it would be better to immediately report their illegal activities instead.
The agency and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group arrested five suspected “fixers” outside the LTO Novaliches District Office in Quezon City.
Tugade himself led the operation and personally witnessed the offering of services by the supposed “fixers” outside LTO Novaliches.
Tugade said obtaining a driver’s license and vehicle registration should not be taken as a “shortcut” because lives would be endangered if the appropriate process was not followed.
He said some applicants of student permit were paying as much as P15,000 without undergoing training and studying the basic traffic rules.
Darwin G. AmojelarTHE Department of Justice dismissed the P89million tax evasion case filed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue against businessman Joseph Calata lack of probable cause and insufficient evidence.
DOJ assistant state prosecutor Jenny de Castro, with the recommendation by senior deputy state prosecutor Peter Ong, issued a resolution dismissing the three counts of charges filed by the BIR against Calata and Agri Phil Corp. for alleged violation of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997.
“Wherefore, the undersigned respectfully recommends that this resolution be approved and the complaint filed by the BIR against respondents Agri Phil Corp. and Joseph Calata, for violation of Section 255 of the NIRC of 1997, as amended be dismissed for lack of probable cause and due to insufficiency of evidence,” the four-page resolution dated Feb. 27, 2023 stated. DOJ prosecutor general Benedicto Malcontento approved the resolution of the case docketed as NPS No. XVI-INV-22J-00411.
The BIR on Oct. 28, 2022 charged Calata and Agri Phil Corp., a company registered with Revenue District Office No. 25A – West Bulacan, for a total tax liability of P88.86 million, inclusive of increments, for taxable year 2012. Julito G. Rada
pacity covered by Meralco’s 2019 PSA with SPPC, which was subjected to a writ of preliminary injunction issued by the Court of Appeals.
San Miguel Power Holdings is the energy arm of conglomerate San Miguel Corp. SPPC sought a temporary increase in its rates under the 2019 PSA with Meralco, but it was rejected by the En-
FLASH
ergy Regulatory Commission. It elevated the matter to the CA where it was granted a 60-temporary restraining order and recently a WPI.
SPPC ceased supplying to Meralco under the 2019 PSA starting Dec. 7, 2022. This prompted Meralco to ask the Department of Energy an exemption from the competitive selection process to look for other suppliers.
The EPSA reflects a two-part tariff composed of a P1.75 per kilowatt-hour fixed cost and variable cost indexed on fuel price movements.
Meanwhile, Meralco also sought the DOE’s approval for another EPSA for its 180-MW baseload capacity requirement to boost available supply for the dry months.
The 180-MW supply was originally
subjected to two rounds of CSPs, which both failed due to lack of bidders.
“Meralco remains committed to its mandate to deliver stable, reliable and least-cost supply to its 7.6 million customers and unceasingly works to mitigate any impact of challenging circumstances on its power rates,” Meralco said.
Meralco was also negotiating an EPSA with Aboitiz Power Corp. for 370 MW of supply which did not materialize. The power retailer is also studying its options on the decision of SMC to terminate its 2021 power supply contracts.
SMC Miguel Power Holdings Inc. decided to terminate its power supply agreements with Meralco totaling 1,800 MW that was supposed to be delivered starting 2024 and 2025.
D&L Industries’ net income climbed 26% to record P3.3b
FOOD ingredients and plastics manu-
facturer D&L Industries Inc. said Wednesday it booked a record P3.3billion net income in 2022, up 26 percent from a year ago, driven by strong consumer spending and resilient growth in exports.
D&L president and chief executive
Alvin Lao said in a news briefing the company managed to achieve record profits for the period despite a confluence of volatile raw material prices, higher inflation and interest rates, a weak peso and an Omicron surge early in the year.
Sales also climbed 41 percent in 2022 to P43.5 billion from P30.85 billion in 2021.
Lao said the company’s biggest
By Othel V. CamposTHE Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority said it generated P50.4 billion in committed investments from new and expansion projects in 2022, up 181 percent from P17.29 billion in 2021.
SBMA administrator and chief executive Rolen Paulino said the agency approved 133 new investment projects with combined value of P14.06 billion,
business segments—food ingredients, oleochemicals and other specialty chemicals and specialty plastics—all booked positive earnings growth for the year.
“Our record earnings this year demonstrated the resilience that we have built over the years through the various crises that we have gone through,” Lao said
“While risk remains in the form of elevated inflation, threat of a US recession and a global banking turmoil, we are optimistic and focused on our long-term structural growth story,” he said.
Lao said D&L’s export business proved to be resilient, growing 33 percent in 2022 driven by the higher export
while 38 Freeport locators committed to invest additional capital of P36.34 billion.
“We have reconciled the figures for new and expansion investments. The authority has approved 133 new projects, thanks to the aggressive marketing strategy of our business and investment group,” he said in his first state-of-theFreeport address Tuesday. The expansion projects recorded an
motorcycles in PH
By Jenniffer B. AustriaINTEGRATED Micro-Electronics Inc. of the Ayala Group and California -based Zero Motorcycles on Wednesday announced a strategic manufacturing collaboration on electric motorcycles.
Under the partnership, IMI will assemble Zero’s electric motorcycle models and other assemblies in its facility in Laguna in conjunction with the manufacturing facilities for Zero in Scott’s Valley, California.
The modular assemblies and complete motorcycles manufactured by IMI will be exported to Zero’s customers and dealers globally with a primary focus on the European and Asian markets.
The partnership will increase access of the world’s leading full-sized all-electric motorcycles into existing and new markets.
“We look forward to such amazing collaboration to help bring their innovative electric motorcycles to the world.
market penetration and higher demand for sustainable, organic and natural coconut oil-based raw materials used in various health, personal and home care products.
He said demand was shifting back to high-market specialty products as overall economic conditions improved.
Meanwhile, Lao said the company was on track to opening a new manufacturing facility in Batangas by the middle of 2023.
“This plant will be transformational for us from a sustainable growth perspective. It will add the capabilities that will allow us to increase our relevance in the overall production chain and service new and bigger customers globally,” Lao said. Jenniffer B. Austria
increase of over 6,0000 percent from P591 million in 2021.
Paulino said the expanding companies partially started delivering commitments in 2022 or were about to initiate the rollout of expansion projects in 2023.
The biggest expansion projects were the P14.52-billion project of Vectrus Subic Corp., the P10.74-billion Agila South Inc. project, the P6.28-billion
This partnership aligns with our commitment to supporting companies in their growth and sustainability efforts while providing high-quality manufacturing services,” said IMI chief executive Arthur Tan.
IMI, a leading global technology and electronics manufacturing solutions expert based in the Philippines, has the expertise in both electronics manufacturing and motorcycle assembly under one roof.
“Expanding our manufacturing footprint into a new region allows us to efficiently scale up to meet the rapidly growing demand for our products and improve customer delivery and satisfaction in the fast-growing EV market. We are thrilled to partner with IMI and bring their expertise in electronics manufacturing and motorcycle assembly to the Zero Motorcycles lineup of products,” said Sam Paschel, chief executive of Zero Motorcycles.
Aguia NT Naval Inc. and the P4.2-billion expansion of Nidec Subic Philippines Corp.
The top five new investments were the P7-billion power project of Northern Palawan Power Generation Corp., P1.95 billion by UNCO United Oil Gas Philippines Inc., P1.5 billion by Tawi-Tawi Proem Trading Corp. and the P1.1-billion project of Agila Subic Compass Inc.
IMI, US firm agree to build electric
SAFETY. South Pacific International Container Terminal and Motukea International Terminal, International Container Terminal Services Inc.’s Papua New Guinea subsidiaries continue to demonstrate their commitment to upholding a safe and secure working environment for employees and customers by participating in a recent seminar on the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code. Organized by the Papuan Department of Transport and the US Coast Guard, the seminar enhanced the skills of SPICT’s and MIT’s HSSE departments to meet international standards of maritime safety. Attending the seminar are Stella Popal (fourth from left) and Moresby Konge (sixth from left), SPICT and MIT HSSE managers, respectively.
EXPRESS DONATION. Flash Express, the fastest-growing logistics and courier service company in the Philippines, strengthens its corporate social responsibility by conducting a series of donation and outreach programs to the different communities and government organizations. PR and partnerships manager Reginald Rex Pumihic says the company has been conducting CSR activities to reinforce its CSR campaign through ‘Alagang Flash’. The company provided sets of goods and clothes to different family beneficiaries who are living near the warehouse of Flash Express in Tondo, Manila. It also donated over 265,000 pairs of medical supplies to support Pasig City’s medical assistance program and visited the health workers in Barrio Obrero Health Center in Manila to donate sets of medical supplies.
ACCORDING to the country’s official weather bureau or the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration, warmer days are upon us and will last until May. Filipinos consider the season as summer even though the Philippines only has two weather conditions: dry and rainy. Nonetheless, people are feeling the heat wave and are trying to make the most of the situation.
When people think of summer, one of the first things that come to mind is vacation. During this time, schools and other institutions take a break from their usual activities to beat the heat and make new memories with their loved ones.
One way that people try to escape (or embrace) the summer sun is by traveling. While some people go alone to backpack to areas in the Philippines, other destinations are better with good company, like family, friends, or significant others.
Baguio City, the Summer Capital of the Philippines, is a favorite among vacationers who want to escape the hustle and bustle of the metro for a mountaintop destination. The cool, crisp breeze adds to the province’s overall appeal. However, due to Baguio’s popularity over the years, people oversaturate the area during peak seasons.
Fortunately, the Philippines has other prime tourist destinations to visit during the summer. Located a few miles from Metro Manila are picturesque beaches that offer a relaxing experience as travelers can lounge under the sun, dip in the refreshing waters, and immerse in the outdoors with their loved ones. Some examples include Batangas, Laguna, Zambales, and Baler, which tourists often visit when they need a break from the city.
In the meantime, those willing to go further can explore the Visayas and Mindanao islands for a more exciting summer getaway. Another famous destination is Boracay, known for its pristine beaches and lively community. Other well-loved local destinations include Cebu, Siargao, and Davao because of their vibrant cultures, breathtaking views, and sumptuous food. There’s always something to explore in these areas to cater to the various preferences of families, friends, and couples.
There’s also the option of island hopping in secluded areas with a beach resort or villas to explore new horizons or avoid crowded locations as others try to unwind during the
summer. Whether it’s water activities, hiking, or just a relaxing day, there are many destinations to choose from in the Philippines. One technique is to book these experiences beforehand to secure reservations and anticipate long queues since it’s inevitable for crowds to appear and try these activities themselves.
Yet before travelers can enjoy the warm season, they must find the proper attire to boost their confidence and stay fresh under the sun. After all, the summer is one of the perfect times to bring out OOTDs (outfits of the day) and strut in style.
Initially, people flock to the malls to buy summer wear, and one of the first things they think about is buying swimwear. While there’s no mistake in buying bikinis, rash guards, swim trunks, and similar items, there’s more to summer than just going to the beach.
A staple clothing item in any summer wardrobe is shorts and cotton tops. Studies show that cotton absorbs water well, making it ideal when people sweat a lot during warmer temperatures. On the other hand, light-colored fabrics help reflect the sun’s rays to keep the wearer cool. Loose clothing is also advisable because they’re breathable and avoid sweat pooling, which can be irritating.
Men can opt for short sleeves shirts or polos with vibrant designs, while women can choose sundresses, sleeveless tops, or skirts. The list doesn’t end there since people must consider their accessories and footwear.
Sandals are the top choice for the season because they’re comfortable and have open areas to allow breathability. Other options include light sneakers or loafers because these have similar characteristics without exposing too much of the foot. In the Philippines, most people are satisfied with wearing flip-flops outside because they’re versatile and sturdy. Luckily, there are different designs available to complete an ensemble.
Lastly, a well-curated look isn’t perfect without the right accessories. A summer staple is a trusty pair of sunglasses to block out intense sunlight and make someone look chic or cool. As for other items, like bags, scarves, or jewelry, people often opt for those that exude a beachy vibe or return to the classics with minimalist pieces for a timeless look.
Unfortunately, not everyone has the luxury and opportunity to travel this summer. They’re part of what Filipinos colloquially call #TeamBahay, which refers to homebodies. Still, they don’t have to necessarily stay at home and let the summer pass them by.
If there’s one place where Filipinos love going to, whether to cool off, entertain themselves, or run errands, it’s the mall. Around this time, shopping malls across the country offer various activities and services to satisfy mallgoers. They can watch movies, play in arcades, or eat hearty meals at nearby restaurants.
Meanwhile, some Filipinos prefer staying home because they don’t want to deal with the warm temperatures outdoors. Still, they remain cool by treating
themselves to refreshing treats like smoothies, ice cream, or the traditional halo-halo. To do this, people invest in sturdy appliances like refrigerators, blenders, and ice makers to get the job done.
Another home appliance that people are intent on buying during summer is an air conditioning unit. With the correct model, they can enjoy a cool, comfortable right breeze within the comforts of their own homes without breaking the bank for electrical bills or purchases.
The warm temperatures during the summer offer numerous opportunities for those willing to grab them. During this time, Filipinos can maximize their vacation time or holidays by traveling to key getaway destinations with their friends, family, and loved ones. However, they should also remember to wear the appropriate attire to enjoy the season confidently.
When things get too hot, there are several ways to cool down. Whether going to malls, swimming, concocting refreshing drinks, or investing in appliances, there’s always something for everyone.
Happy summer!
THE Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Gin Kings showed their will to win as they fended off the San Miguel Beermen, 87-85, pulling off a three-game sweep of their best-of-five semifinal series on Wednesday in the Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
Import and naturalized Filipino Justine Brownlee handed an assist to Christian Standhardinger for the winning basket in the last three seconds, assuring Ginebra of a second straight finals appearance.
Standhardinger, who delivered eight of 14 points in the last period,
MARC Naval grabbed the opening day spotlight in the Southwoods invitational as he scored a hole-in-one on No. 7 of the Legends course and combined for 84 points with guest partner Miguel de Asis to set the early pace in Division II in Carmona, Cavite yesterday.
Pablo Olivarez and Roberto Ronin
Leviste pooled 83 points in Aggregate format at Legends while the Gerardo Cadiz-Dante Maldia, Brian Park-Eden Hernandez and Bong Agojo-Monching Rivera pairs matched 77 points to stay within striking distance of the Naval-de Asis tandem as they head to the Masters course where play shifts to Best-Ball under the Stableford Points scoring system with applied course handicaps.
But Naval already emerged the big winner as he claimed a seven-night Eastern Mediterranean Cruise onboard the Odyssey of the Seas, including two round-trip Manila-Rome-Manila tickets, and P100,000 worth of free bet certificates from PAGCOR Casino Filipino, for his hole-in-one feat.
Naval used a TaylorMade 8-iron and Pro VI #2 ball in acing the 132-yard hole with de Asis, fellow Southwoods member Raoul Viray and guest Richard Lista.
Organizers, meanwhile, said if more than one player makes a hole-in-one on the same hole, the prizes will be shared.
In other early results, John MolinaRegis Casquejo and Renie Floro-Kauzo Murakami took charge in the premier Division I with 96 points apiece at Masters (Best-Ball) with Ryan Abdon and Wally Barzaga coming through with 94 and Brixton Aw and Raymond Co scoring 92 points in the Southwoods’ member-guest tournament backed by year-round sponsor Royal Caribbean/Baron Travel, holein-one sponsors Ogawa, Alpine Motors Philippines, Toyota Silang, Pagcor Casino Filipino and Klio International.
scored on a layup following a 10-2 run that allowed the Gin Kings to overcome a 75-82 deficit in the remaining four minutes.
“It was certainly different from the first two games. It was a real struggle. Will there be another game on Friday? But they just kept showing
a will. I was looking for them to stop. I was looking for them to kind of give up. But they never did. And I stayed with them,” said Gin Kings’ coach Tim Cone. Brownlee powered the Gin Kings with 22 points and 14 rebounds, including six in the last period.
The game could have gone into overtime, but Brownlee got in the way of SMB’s Marcio Lassiter, who missed a potential game-tying jumper at the buzzer.
The Gin Kings, who trailed by as many as 18 points, also drew six points from Jeremiah Gray and Scottie Thompson in in the last period as they fought their way out of an 18-point deadlock.
Thompson added 17 points for the Gin Kings, who are back in the finals for the fifth time since 2016.
Lassiter’s first triple for the Beermen at the 6:59 mark of the third quarter gave SMB a commanding 6248 lead. This moved Lassiter into solo no.6 in the all-time list for most triples.
The Scores:
GINEBRA 87 – Brownlee 22, Thompson 17, Standhardinger 14, Gray 13, Malonzo 12, Pinto 4, Pessumal 3, Mariano 2, Pringle 0 SAN MIGUEL 85 – Clark 16, Perez 14, Lassiter 13, Cruz 12, Enciso 11, Tautuaa 6, Herndon 6, Ross 5, Manuel 2
QUARTERS: 17-16, 38-50, 58-70, 87-85
THE Court of Arbitration for Sport has dismissed with finality another appeal by the Philippine Swimming Inc. for a stay of execution on the decision by the World Aquatics to withdraw its recognition of the PSI.
“The urgent request for a stay of execution of the decision rendered by the FINA [World Aquatics] Bureau on 21 February 2023 filed by the Philippine Swimming Inc. on 24 March 2023 in the matter CAS 2023/A/9489 Philippine Swimming Inc. v. World Aquatics is dismissed,” wrote, Dr. Elisabeth Steiner, deputy president of the CAS Appeals Arbitration Division, in an order dated March 28, 2023.
“The costs of the present Order shall be determined in the final award or in any other final disposition of this arbitration,”
the order added.
The CAS has earlier dismissed an initial request by the PSI for a stay of execution of the international federation’s decision in a memorandum dated February 2, 2023, also signed by Steiner The CAS’s first dismissal order was stated in a 16-page letter that was a response to the PSI appeal sent to the Lausanne-based sports court last December 20, 2022.
In that first dismissal, the CAS affirmed the World Aquatics’ order of the creation of a Stabilization Committee to handle the national sports association’s affairs.
In a separate order, the World Aquatics instructed the Stabilization Committee to conduct tryouts for the national team to the Cambodia
Southeast Asian Games—an exercise conducted late last month at the New Clark City Aquatics Center.
The World Aquatics then suspended the PSI and ordered the conduct of elections for the national federation’s board of directors through the Philippine Olympic Committee in another letter dated February 22, 2023.
The international federation then approved an Electoral Committee formed by the POC composed of POC secretary-general Atty.
Edwin Gastanes with legal chief Atty. Wharton Chan, Atty. Avelino Sumagui and Atty. Marcus Antonius Andaya as members.
The Poblador, Bautista and Reyes (PBR Law) firm represented the PSI in the appeal to the CAS.
TAEKWONDO has once again reinforced its status as one of the most popular martial arts in the country with the heavy turnout of the ongoing Philippine Taekwondo Association-SMART/MVP Sports Foundation summer classes.
On Tuesday night, PTA’s headquarters inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex was packed with kids and teenagers all eager to embrace the most recognized Korean martial art.
PTA’s annual summer activities are supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee and Milo.
Taekwondo’s popularity in the country continues to grow because aside from being a superior art of self defense, it also gives practitioners better and sound mind
through intensive training.
More importantly, with its regiment of physical conditioning, it helps improve one’s concentration and alertness that’s why the PTA is inviting parents to encourage their children to take up the sport and train under PTA’s seasoned coaches.
An affiliate member of the World Taekwondo Federation, PTA is still accepting enrollees. For inquiries, call 8522-0518/8522-0519 or email at philtkd@ gmail.com/philippinetaekwondo@ gmail.com.
Summer classes end on June 3, 2023.
FORGET about talent and skills or bench depth. At crunchtime, it’s all about mind and heart and perhaps resiliency as Creamline and Petro Gazz face-off in sudden death for the coveted Premier Volleyball League All Filipino crown at the SM Mall of Asia Arena Thursday.
Creamline coach Sherwin Meneses put it all in context when he said: “Hindi na skills ang laban – mental game na.” But the Cool Smashers flashed not only their mental toughness but also their big fighting heart then showed poise in a nerve-wracking stretch to stop the Angels, 18-25, 25-16, 25-18, 23-25, 15-6, in another dramatic duel Tuesday that sent their best-of-three series into a winner-take-all setto.
Gametime is at 5:30 p.m. with the match to be telecast live on One Sports, One Sports+, Cignal Play, and SMART Live Stream and on pvl.ph.
Despite its championship experience, Creamline had to buck a lot of odds to force the equalizer and get back on track for a crack at a sixth PVL crown. Dropping Game One of a title series, 22-25, 26-24, 23-25, 24-26, the Cool Smashers were also dragged into another five-set struggle in a finals appearance.
But they rose to the challenge as Tots Carlos, Jema Galanza, Michele Gumabao, Ced Domingo and playmaker Jia Morado, along with the rest of the Cool Smashers, stepped up to foil the Angels with that blistering run in the fifth set and send the highly-charged series back to where it started Sunday.
“Kasi ‘yung skills andyan lagi, pero kung sino yung maglalaro ng maganda, ‘yung magsusuporta sa isa’t isa, ‘yun ang importante. Lumabas ang character ng bawa’t isa, na walang bibigay, walang magpapatalo. Yun naman ang importante, yung 100 percent nila,” said Meneses, whose Game 2 victory also fueled his drive for a third PVL championship.
The Angels did rue their missed chance to wrap it up in two but coach Oliver Almadro opted to put all the pent-up emotions of their failed sweep bid behind.
“We’ll forget about the loss and we’ll bounce back in Game 3,” said Almadro, whose wards’ fightback in a rip-roaring fourth set skirmish sparked hopes for the two-time Reinforced chamions’ rise to the PVL throne the third time around.
But Meneses and the Cool Smashers had other things mind.
“Unlike sa Game One, buo ‘yung team na lumaban, all-out talaga ang suporta sa isa’t isa,” said Carlos, who poured in 20 points in Game Two.
But it was the ever-reliable Gumabao who anchored the team’s fifth-set breakaway, producing a mix of everything on her way to a top-scoring 21-point performance she spiked with four kill blocks and 14 excellent digs.
Galanza also put in a 17-point game and Domingo added 14 markers while holding her ground at the middle against MJ Phillips with Pangs Panaga, who chipped in six points, while de Guzman kept the team together with another stellar play of 30 excellent sets.
Ginebra’s Christian Standhardinger encounters a triple team under the basket during the Gin Kings’ semi nal showdown with the San Miguel Beermen in the PBA Governors’ Cup. The Gin Kings won, 87-85, to barge into the nals again.GROWING up in Queens, New York, some would assume that the 23-year-old singer-songwriter Cedric Escobar was out of touch with his roots. He was still as fluent in Filipino as any native and embraced the country’s culture – especially on the music scene.
That’s because he took lessons to learn the language to better connect with his local fans through his music.
“‘Nung 2016 umuwi ako dito [sa Pilipinas] para i-try ‘yung singing, acting career. Marami akong naranasan na rejections, so medyo na-discourage ako. Hanggang sa kumanta ako sa isang restobar sa New York until may nagimbita sa akin na ma-feature ni Miss KZ Tandingan noong 2019. That kind started the ball rolling na na-invite ako sa ibang tours,” he said.
Cedric began performing live for other Filipino artists, such as KZ Tandingan, for her 2019 U.S. World Tour. He also served as the opening act for others, like Jaya, Juan Karlos, and The Introvoys, where he met his mentor and the band’s drummer, Paco Arespacochaga
By performing for Filipino artists, Cedric saw how their Filipino fans supported them through it all. As a result, he wanted to start his career in the Philippines and establish a fanbase since he moved here.
“Sa pagto-tour ko sa America with OPM artists, naranasan ko sa kanila ‘yung pagtangkilik ng mga Pilipino fans,” Cedric told Manila Standard Entertainment.
One fond memory was during a tour with The Introvoys, where the band members still recognize their loyal fans who have been with them since the beginning.
Para sa akin, nakakataba ng puso ang makaranas ng ganoong ka-loyal. I feel like its not something you witness often sa America, pero ang pagtangkilik ng Filipino fans sa artists nila ay talagang masayang maranasan. At isa ding ‘yong experience na gusto kong maranasan,” Cedric added.
Cedric has experience performing various genres, like gospel, soul, and
R&B, but his primary goal with his music is to bring back the 90s OPM sound. He grew up with his mother teaching him how to sing with influences from renowned artists from OPM. Cedric names Martin Nievera as one of his idols in the local music industry.
He’s taken the first step by signing a record deal with PolyEast Records to release his first-ever single, the heartbreaking ballad titled “‘Di Na Ba.”
Arespacochaga wrote the piece for Cedric since “‘Di Na Ba” draws inspiration from the balladeer’s love life. The song is about asking someone if there’s a chance to reunite and continue their story, even if she’s already with someone new.
The young balladeer shared that the song’s message is him asking for a second opportunity because he made a mistake and now regrets his decision.
Initially, Cedric wasn’t sure about the
piece because it differed from his usual singing style. But after performing it for a small crowd and hearing how his voice brings the melody and emotions to life, he realized then and there that “‘Di Na Ba”
Cedric
hopes to connect with the local audience through his music
Nickie Wang Editor; Patricia Taculao, Editorial Assistant
BY YUGEL LOSORATA TOUCHBASS
is his song.
“‘Di Na Ba” by Cedric Escobar is now on all digital music streaming platforms. Watch the official performance video on PolyEast Records’ YouTube channel.
SINGER Jamie Rivera has been recently introduced as the head and creative consultant of ABS-CBN Music’s new record label called Inspire Music, which also releases her newest single “3 in 1,” available on streaming platforms starting tomorrow, March 31.
“3 in 1” is an upbeat song with a reggae vibe that talks about the joy of believing in God, three persons in one, referring to the Holy Trinity or God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
“The song is perfect for anyone looking for something fun and new this summer to dance to, or even for use when people gather to celebrate and pray together,”
ACTOR and TV host Dingdong Dantes makes his highly-anticipated comeback to the small screen in the upcoming series, Royal Blood
From the creator of Widows’ Web, Ken de Leon, and the brilliant mind of RJ Nuevas, GMA Network is proud to present another murder mystery drama that will surely keep the viewers on the edge of their seats.
Royal Blood follows the story of Napoy (Dingdong), a loving single father who struggles to provide for his daughter’s needs by working as a motorcycle rider. He is also the bastard son of a business tycoon.
But despite facing financial problems, Napoy is able to provide for his child with the help of their friends and neighbors. However, the chaos begins
when his estranged father suddenly appears and wants to make amends with him.
As Napoy enters the family of his rich father, he gets to know his halfsiblings and discovers that being rich does not guarantee a perfect and happy life. Sooner or later, things become more complicated when their father is murdered and Napoy becomes the primary suspect. How will the mystery unravel? Who among them is the real innocent and who will be judged guilty?
Completing the star-studded cast are Megan Young, Dion Ignacio, Mikael Daez, Lianne Valentin, and Rhian Ramos. Introducing in the action-packed family drama is Miss Universe Philippines 2020 Rabiya
said the Inspirational Diva who composed the single.
The timely single also features children Imogen and The Voice Kids season 5 contestant Fabio Santos Ang gagaling nung mga bata and they were able to give justice to the song. We collaborated with them so that more children will relate to ‘3 in 1,’” Jamie said.
“3 in 1” is the first song to be released under Inspire Music, ABS-CBN Music’s new label that will focus on inspirational music for listeners seeking refuge, motivation, and upliftment through music.
“Inspire Music is about inspiring people from all walks
of life—to be inspired by the melody, by the lyrics, by the music,” explained Jamie.
Aside from leading the production, Jamie will also guide various ABS-CBN artists who are set to record music catering to the inspirational genre.
Jamie is the voice of many inspirational and momentous hits, including “Heal Our Land,” “Jubilee Song,” “Only Selfless Love,” “Tell the World of His Love,” and “We Are All God’s Children.” The renowned singer also sang the official mission song, “We Give Our Yes,” for the 500 Years of Christianity celebration in the country in 2021.
I TAKE pride in the fact that one of my friends in the field of rock journalism, the cool veteran Tony Maghirang, considers me a catalyst for his personal feat of finishing a novel. A year after my first novel came out in February 2021, his own debut, a Tagalog longform with a catchy title, Ang Kagilagilalas Na Makeup Artist was published under his slightly tweaked name: TM Maghirang.
“Your insights on novel writing and your subtle encouragement set me on an odyssey to finish a 200-plus page novel,” Tony told me to my endless delight.
While I myself can boast quite a long list of artists whom I have interviewed and written about, here’s a guy whose first music article came out in the classic Jingle magazine five decades ago. He has profiled local and international artists, including German band Scorpions and Ian Gillan of Deep Purple. He’s one to tell you that music scenes come and go and he has survived them all, from the Manila Sound to whatever you call music nowadays.
Tony’s novel, published by Ukiyoto Publishing, the same publisher that put out my “Lust Regime” and “Rhythm & Bruise,” is kind of an icing on the cake for his rock-fueled, yet quietly introspective run. That icing is being celebrated by some brave souls on the Pinoy rock scene with a launch on April 22, 8:00 p.m. at Take Over Lounge in Xavierville Avenue, Loyola Heights, Quezon City.
The artist lineup includes The Vultures Project, Hey Moonshine, The Mothercampers, and P.O.T, the band behind the classic remake “Yugyugan Na.” Par Satellite, brother of another seasoned music journalist-friend Edwin Sallan, will also provide music in his style.
According to Tony, he’s retired, and writing helps him “pass the time, especially during the pandemic when I completed my first nobela.”
Sure he was productive in letting the hours go by as he grinded 5,000 words a week during his novel writing period.
Thanks to a rejected teleplay he penned in 2019, he had something to work with as the pandemic was dragging on, repurposing it to turn the story of Jules, who is rescued by a beauty salon owner and who ends up a make-up artist himself, into a novel. It was his first crack at writing something lengthier than his usual 750-word music reviews, which he humbly summed up as “just my opinion.” Boy did he come a long way from being told by an angry reader “to clean my ears with hydrochloric acid.”
I should admit that I’d rather forget my own share of bad experiences with artists of a certain attitude. But Tony prefers looking back at such with a hearty laugh, like a recording mistake left in the mix and even emphasized for its novelty.
is
“I encountered an Aussie duo who refused to be interviewed,” he said, in his inimitable smile. “I have attended shows including one New Moon concert in which I and my girlfriend then were the last to pass through the Rizal Coliseum gate before it closed. At least two people died in the ensuing crush of the crowd left behind the gate.”
No death is expected come Tony’s book launch. But the crashing sound of distorted guitars and devilish growls may serve as a barreling backdrop to some affectionate book signing by a vintage dude.
WHAT if you have sensitivity to certain foods that you may not be aware of? That was my case, and in fact, some of the food items I have high intolerance for are my favorites.
I was also not aware of my body’s symptoms from my food sensitivity. Whenever I had headaches, muscle, and joint pains, or experienced brain fog, low mood, and nausea, I did not always associate it with the food I ate.
I did not know that when one has food sensitivities, some of the symptoms are not always visible and common. Some symptoms can also be delayed for hours and even days. That’s why I’m grateful when a friend who works at Life Science Center, a pioneer in personalized holistic wellness through sustainable solutions, suggested I take a food sensitivity test via blood extraction at their clinic located in Mandaluyong City.
After a couple of weeks, I got my results and that’s when I found out about my food sensitivity, and along with it are recommendations for what I can do about it. What is food sensitivity?
Food sensitivity occurs when an unhealthy gut lining has cracks or holes, allowing partially digested food and toxins to penetrate the tissues beneath it. This may promote inflammation and changes in the gut flora (normal bacteria) which could lead to problems within the digestive tract and beyond.
Food sensitivity is not usually lifethreatening, however, it can make you feel extremely unwell. Food sensitivity may produce a variety of symptoms including anxiety, bloating, nausea, stomach discomfort, diarrhea, muscle and joint pains, headaches, weight control issues, and water retention.
Benefits of taking food sensitivity test
As mentioned earlier, the symptoms of food sensitivity can be delayed for hours even up to days, making it hard to determine the cause. By taking this test, you will know which specific food items you may be reacting to. This can aid you to make the necessary dietary adjustments to achieve optimal health and help heal your gut. The gut houses two-thirds of the immune system and is involved in the digestion and absorption of nutrients. It also serves as a barrier for bacteria, viruses, toxins, and pathogens. Your clinician can help you create a personalized diet with the results from your test. This diet is designed to reduce inflammation brought by possible trigger food and inflammatory food, support a healthy microbiome, reduce toxic burden, and promote body awareness.
After careful assessment of the test result as well as the anthropometric measurement, biochemical, clinical, and dietary data, the clinician may recommend that you refrain from eating food items
Food sensitivity is not usually lifethreatening but it can make one feel extremely unwell
It is important to identify which food items may be causing adverse reactions to your body and overall health
Being aware of your food sensitivity will help you make the necessary adjustments to achieve optimal health
with elevated IgG concentration. This aims to identify the possible foods that may be triggering the symptoms. This may be done for the next three weeks or longer depending on the recommendation of the clinician and the improvement of symptoms. Borderline food items may be taken in moderation and in rotation while those with igG concentration may generally be consumed.
Your clinician may also recommend food substitution. This can be done by consuming a variety of nutrient-dense yet enjoyable foods. This can include different vegetables and fruits that will provide a complex array of phytonutrients and antioxidants.
As early as three weeks, the registered nutritionist-dietitian can assess compliance with the elimination food
plan, and once deemed eligible one can start the reintroduction of foods, one at a time, observing whether that food is associated with negative symptoms.
Foods that continue to provoke symptoms (physical, mental, and emotional) may be avoided for an additional three to six months, at which time reintroduction is attempted again. This should be done with the guidance of the healthcare team to allow for proper planning and food substitution.
I’m sure some of you are not aware of your food sensitivities or intolerances. Taking the test will help you address your health concerns, and take sustainable steps that yield real results toward a healthier lifestyle. Visit https://lifescience.ph for more information. For feedback, I’m at joba.botana@gmail.com.
CENTURIA Medical Makati, the largest medical arts facility in the Philippines, is expanding with the opening of Heal Venture Lab, an incubation hub for medical start-ups.
The incubation hub aims to help local and foreign healthcare start-ups easily set up in the Philippines and take advantage of the growing demand for healthcare.
“Heal Venture Lab is a healthcare investment platform that aims to bridge the gap and promote cross-border collaboration in Asia by bringing technology and capital,” Dr. Jaemin Park, Managing Partner of Heal Venture Lab said.
They aim to address other unmet health needs such as pediatric health, rural health, biopharma, and medical devices through various structures including a venture fund, incubators, and more with Heal Venture Lab as a group platform.
The incubation hub is located on the 29th floor in Centuria’s new extension at Century Diamond Tower, which primarily serves as a free co-working space for all clinicians, medical engineers, pharma/medtech industry professionals, and overseas medical companies who want to enter the Philippines.
According to Dr. Park, the Philippines tends to be overlooked by overseas medical companies due to its geographic and historical position, unlike Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia. However, the opportunities in the Philippines are numerous. Dr. Park is optimistic about opportunities in the Philippines, especially since neighboring countries are already saturated with players in the healthcare sector. He added that the Philippines, with a population of 100 million populations who
can speak English, will be a viable next destination over other markets in ASEAN.
The environment for more healthcare services has also become more favorable for young companies recently, with the rise and acceleration of healthcare spending during the pandemic.
Figures from the Philippine Statistics Authority show the steady increase in healthcare expenditure in the country from P917.15 billion in 2020 to P1.09 trillion in 2021, with the country’s top income earners accounting for P380 billion or 34 percent of this total spend.
Furthermore, the signing of RA 11647 allows non-Philippine nationals to do business in the country or invest up to 100 percent of the capital needed for domestic enterprises.
Dr. Park said they chose to locate in Centuria because it has a community of independent medical clinics not allied with large incumbent medical groups. These specialty medical clinics have a strong potential for growth to ride along the rise of ambulatory clinics in the Philippines to become clinic chains like the ones in the US.
“Centuria is in a position to absorb some of this growth as it has become a trusted name and destination in this sector. This is also why we have expanded Centuria to its neighboring building, the Century Diamond Tower,” Marco Antonio, Century Properties President and CEO said.
Located in Century City in Poblacion, Makati, Centuria has more than 600 medical experts composed of doctors, dentists, and allied health professionals, and 350 leading health and wellness brands and group practices, accredited by 95 percent of local and international HMO providers. Today, 15 percent of its patients are foreign nationals.
Symptoms of food sensitivity can be delayed for hours even up to days making it hard to determine the cause
GCash, the Philippines’ number one financial app, rolls out ‘DoubleSafe,’ a game-changing security feature to safeguard its users from account takeovers.
DoubleSafe strengthens the security of GCash’s 76 million users as it prevents unauthorized account access. Before DoubleSafe, GCash already required two levels of authentication or 2-Factor Authentication.
The first level of security is the OTP (Onetime PIN), a unique number combination sent only to the user’s mobile number. The second level of authentication is the MPIN (Mobile PIN) which is a four-digit passcode that only the customer or GCash owner should know.
To reinforce the security of customers’ accounts, starting this March, GCash will now require all users to activate DoubleSafe in order to add an additional layer of security to their accounts. This feature will be activated for every first log-in to a new mobile phone to ensure the continued protection of its users.
The feature uses facial recognition, which means that even if a user inadvertently shares their MPIN and OTP with fraudsters, their account cannot be accessed from another device without scanning the owner’s face – ultimately preventing account takeovers.
Beyond this security feature, GCash is also closely working with the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) in going after fraudsters and scammers. This was formalized by the signing of a memorandum of agreement with PNP-ACG in 2022.
“GCash is one with the PNP-ACG in making sure that these cybercriminals are put behind bars while reminding the public on how to safeguard their accounts,”
GCash Head of Fraud Management Miguel Geronilla said. “Together with the authorities, other relevant government agencies, and our users, we can ensure that GSafeTayo.”
Along with the launch of Doublesafe, GCash is intensifying its GSafeTayo campaign through a series of awareness
and education materials that will help customers identify and avoid fake sellers, suspicious links, as well as other common forms of scams.
Through the campaign, customers are equipped to join the fight, together with GCash, for true account security.
The campaign focuses on providing prevention tips to help the public avoid being scammed:
Don’t open unfamiliar links Scammers often send messages with links, luring recipients with enticing “prizes” or a chance at a high-paying position. To counter this, GCash has stopped sending links via SMS, emails, and other messaging apps.
Never share personal information
It’s common practice for scammers to call individuals and pose as GCash representatives to gather personal user information. GCash will never ask its customers for MPINs and OTPs and will only reach out to customers through official channels.
Double check before buying. Fake online sellers and shops offer too-goodto-be-true deals to lure individuals into purchasing their products. GCash recommends double checking online offers, as well as checking reviews to ensure authenticity.
“At GCash, the safety and peace of mind of our customers are very important to us. With DoubleSafe and our intensified GSafeTayo campaign, our users will be protected from scammers and account takeovers,” said Geronilla. “But aside from security measures, we are also ramping up reminders to our 76 million users on how they can safeguard their accounts.”
To report scams and other suspicious activities, users can go to the GCash Help Center via the GCash app or at https:// help.gcash.com/, Chat with Gigi, and choose “I want to report a scam.”
Through GCash’s unrelenting efforts to protect its users’ hard-earned money and the collective cooperation of its customers and partners, we can make sure that with GCash, #GSafeTayo.