Manila Standard - 2023 April 14 - Friday

MMDA SET FOR SINGLE-TICKET SYSTEM DRY RUN STARTING MAY 2

PBBM: Rice supply ‘good,’ DA, NFA working to prevent price increases

the rice supply situation in the Philippines appears to be “good,” assuring Filipinos there would

4-part plan for PH-US defense

By Charles Dantes, Rey E. Requejo and Macon Ramos-Araneta

THE Philippines and the United States must focus on four separate areas to modernize their military alliance, starting with a common understanding of their policies and priorities, Defense Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said Thursday.

This developed as US and Philippine troops held anti-tank missile exercises on Thursday, as the allies stepped up their largest war games, which have already drawn China’s ire.

Galvez said the focus would pave the way for defense guidelines that govern how equipment and military capabilities are upgraded to respond to threats,

Munti court orders Bantag’s arrest; Face the music, Remulla says

By Rey E. Requejo

A MUNTINLUPA City regional trial court has ordered the arrest of former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag in connection with his alleged role in the killing of Jun Villamor, the al

PNP drug group chief Domingo admits removal

By Charles Dantes

THE Philippine National Police has confirmed the removal of its Drug Enforcement Group chief from his post after his alleged attempt to cover up the arrest of a police officer during an anti-drug operation last October.

Police Brig. Gen Narciso Domingo has been removed from his post amid the ongoing investigation of the seized P6.7 billion worth of shabu. He confirmed the development to

leged middleman in the murder of broadcaster Percival Mabasa who is known as Percy Lapid. Presiding Judge Gener M. Gito of the Muntinlupa RTC Branch 206 also ordered the arrest of former BuCor deputy officer Ricardo Zulueta. The judge issued the warrant of arrest dated April

12, 2023

after finding probable cause to hear the murder charges filed against Bantag and Zulueta. Zulueta’s legal counsel, Lauro Gacayan, said they have yet to receive the arrest warrant and said he has not yet talked to his client.

SPEAKER Martin G. Romualdez on Thursday vowed to work even harder as he expressed gratitude to the Filipino people following the results of the March 2023 Pulse Asia Survey where he received a 51-percent approval rating for his performance.

SPEAKER Martin G. Romualdez on Thursday assured foreign investors and multilateral lenders that the House of Representatives would continue to pass measures to sustain the country’s

Teves virtually attending Senate probe on slays

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

“It is heartening to know that a majority of our people appreciate our earnest effort to pass measures to create jobs and business opportunities, provide assistance to the poor, and build a better future for all Filipinos,”

robust economic performance.

He also welcomed as good news the encouraging remarks made by American and foreign business leaders dur-

‘Amang’ becomes LPA but still triggers rain, floods across MM, Luzon

WEATHER disturbance Amang weakened into a low-pressure area (LPA) but caused widespread flooding and will continue to cause rains over parts of Luzon, including Metro Manila.

In its latest bulletin Thursday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said light to moderate with at times heavy rains will prevail over the National Capital Region, Bulacan, Quezon, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Zambales, Bataan, and Rizal. Scattered rain showers and thunder-

President unveils ‘Konsyerto sa Palasyo’ to promote local performers

NEGROS Oriental 3rd District Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. has committed to virtually attend a Senate investigation into the killing of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo, Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa said Thursday. The Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, chaired by Dela Rosa, will investigate the killing of the

and security. Performers from Cebu, Ilocos Norte, Quezon, Cavite, Iloilo, Metro Manila, and Davao will take the stage to entertain the troops and their kin.

GRATEFUL. Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez vows to work even harder following the results of the March 2023 Pulse Asia Survey, where he received a 51-percent approval rating for his performance. Ver Noveno

LIVE FIRE. A US Marine (left, main photo) fires a Javelin anti-tank weapon system during the live exercise as part of the US-Philippines Balikatan joint military exercise at Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, while a Filipino (center) and US Army soldier (right) wait for their turn. Inset

Just 17m PH homes have running water

By Vito Barcelo

ONLY 67 percent of Filipino families have access to safe drinking water at home, while the rest lack running and piped water, according to a new survey conducted by the Social Weather Station (SWS).

According to SWS, the percentage equates to around 17 million Filipino households – of about 26.39 million total households as of the 2020

Munti...

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On March 14, the Department of Justice panel of prosecutors indicted Bantag and Zulueta for two counts of murder over the killing of Lapid and Villamor.

Lapid was shot dead in Las Piñas City on Oct. 3, 2022, while Villamor, an inmate who allegedly recruited the gunmen, died at the New Bilibid Prison on Oct. 18, 2022.

An autopsy by forensic pathologist Dr. Raquel Fortun showed the remains of Villamor to have a “history of asphyxia by plastic bag suffocation.”

Bantag earlier denied the allegations against him, saying they were fabricated.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla urged Bantag to comply with the arrest order issued by the court.

“If you think you are innocent, just come in to face the music,” Remulla told Bantag.

Remulla assured Bantag that the judge in the case will be able to make the right ruling.

“The judge will be able to know if the truth is there. They know what is the truth and what is falsehood,” he said.

Late last year, Bantag declared that he will not surrender while Remulla is still DOJ secretary.

“If Remulla does not step down, I will not surrender should a warrant of arrest be issued against me,” Bantag said during a television interview in November last year.

“Why should I surrender? They would again manipulate the case,” Bantag said in Filipino.

Remulla brushed aside Bantag’s allegations.

census -- with access to running or piped water.

The survey also revealed that 58 percent of Filipino families said their wa-

ter consumption was billed, while nine percent said it was not.

Filipino families living in Metro Manila are billed P500 per month, but the SWS survey showed that P320 was the median expense per month for the 58 percent of billed consumers.

The normal or median pay is P312 in Balance Luzon, P340 in Visayas and P300 in Mindanao.

On the other hand, the SWS said the monthly expense for the 9 percent non-

billed consumers averaged at P300 — P400 per month in Metro Manila, P300 in Balance Luzon, P300 in Visayas, and P225 in Mindanao.

According to the SWS, the survey was conducted from December 10 to 14, 2022 through in-person interviews, with a total of 1,200 adult respondents.

SWS said the survey had a sampling margin of error at plus-minus 2.8 percent.

DOLE vows to cut child laborers to below 1 million

THE Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) has vowed to reduce the number of child laborers in the country, which now stands at more than 1 million.

“The Marcos administration remains steadfast in prioritizing the elimination of child labor in the country. Under Chapter 3 of the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, the target for the indicator number of child laborers is zero,” Labor Secretary Bienvenido

4-part...

Laguesma said in a statement.

According to the Special Release on Working Children Situation for 2019 to 2021 published by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) posted on March 3, there were 1.37 million working children, 935,000 of whom were engaged in child labor.

The report also identified the agriculture sector as the top industry with the most child laborers and tagged Northern Mindanao Region with the highest

ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration that junked such claims.

US hiking visa fees to $185 starting May 30

By Rey E. Requejo

THE United States Embassy in Manila announced on Thursday that it has increased its visa application fees, with visitor (B1/B2) visas up to US$185.

In a Twitter post, the embassy said that the new visa fees would be applicable starting May 30, 2023.

“The US Department of State has increased certain nonimmigrant visa (NIV) application processing fees globally,” the embassy said.

storms are still forecast over Metro Manila, Central Luzon and the rest of Calabarzon.

Flooding and rain-induced landslides are possible, especially in areas highly susceptible to these hazards.

The LPA is unlikely to bring rough seas over the coastal waters of the country.

PAGASA expects the remnant circulation to head northwestward or west northwestward towards Polillo Islands and northern mainland Quezon.

The LPA may dissipate in the next 24 hours, PAGASA said.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said it has focused its relief efforts in the Bicol and Davao regions, which were affected by heavy rains and floods brought by Amang.

Assistant Secretary Romel Lopez said the most affected areas were Sta. Cruz and Magsaysay in Davao del Sur, where 14 houses were reported damaged. Rio Araja

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The KSP is a concert series set in various locations within the Palace compound that will feature the country’s best artists. The event aims to highlight the nation’s rich culture and world class talent in the performing arts.

Mr. Marcos believes that the creative industry sector should not be left out in

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be no shortage in the coming months.

“It looks like our situation is good. Our supplies of rice will not be dangerously low and we are looking for all possible means to ensure that we can control the price and will not further increase.” the President said after meeting with officials of the Department of Agriculture and National Food Authority in Malacañang Palace.

“We’ll plan out if we will be needing to import, if we need to make it longer, to increase the buffer stock at the NFA

child labor incidence.

With the increased number of child laborers, the Department doubled its efforts in monitoring profiled child laborers to facilitate their removal from child labor.

“The DOLE has been implementing the Child Labor Prevention and Elimination Program that provides services to them and their families through direct intervention or referral to appropriate agencies and organizations,” the DOLE chief said. Vito Barcelo

US visitor visas (B1/B2) and other non-petition based applications increased to $185, while petition-based (H, L, O, P, Q & R) visa fees will increase to $205.

E visas (treaty trader/investor) is now pegged at $315.

Previously, visitor visas (B1/B2) were charged $160; petition-based visas at $190; and E visas at $205.

The embassy said that “applicants who have already paid the application fee and have a valid receipt will not have to pay additional fees to make an appointment.”

Those applicants who have already been interviewed and whose cases are under administrative processing would also not have to pay additional fees.

he said after meeting with his American counterpart in Washington DC.

He said the second area must enhance the countries’ cyber defenses to protect critical infrastructure and sensitive information.

The third area, Galvez said, required increased intelligence sharing and cooperation to address challenges facing both countries.

“Fourth, we must improve interoperability between our forces to better coordinate and conduct joint activities,” he said.

Galvez said the defense alliance is critical to assuring the safety and security of the Filipinos.

The increased military cooperation between the two countries comes as China pushes its territorial claims in the disputed South China Sea with an aggressive military buildup.

Meanwhile, Beijing on Thursday denounced as false the accusations made by the Philippines and the United States, that it is conducting illegal activities in the South China Sea, particularly its reclamation activities and militarization of the disputed waters.

Wang Wenbin, the spokesman of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said there was nothing wrong with China’s activities, and reiterated Beijing’s claim to own most of the South China Sea, despite a 2016

Beijing, Wang said, “has indisputable sovereignty” over the South China Sea islands and its adjacent waters.

Under a plume of black smoke, three cars parked on scrubland were crushed by missiles fired from about 600 meters (0.37 miles) away by three soldiers at a military base in the north of the Philippines. The annual Balikatan maneuvers follow a three-day Chinese military exercise that simulated targeted strikes and a blockade of self-ruled, democratic Taiwan, which Beijing considers part of its territory.

“As you’re recently witnessing, there are some irresponsible behaviors that are ongoing and we should call those irresponsible behaviors out,” US Army Pacific Commander General Charles Flynn told reporters at the site, without elaborating further.

Flynn added that the war games were an important show of “collective commitment to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific”.

Philippine Army chief LieutenantGeneral Romeo Brawner praised the “effectivity” of Javelins against Russian tanks and armor in the Ukraine war, adding Manila plans to acquire the weapon in the future.

“We want to also bring that capability to the Philippine Army in order for us to be able to bolster our defensive posture and be able to defend our territory,” Brawner added.

Domingo filed his leave of absence.

The two allies also plan to hold new exercises in the South China Sea later in the year that will include other countries, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin announced in Washington on Tuesday, after a meeting with the Philippine defense and foreign secretaries and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

The exercise aims to boost Manila’s military capability while serving as a US show of support for its Asian ally amid China’s growing assertiveness.

Nearly 18,000 troops are taking part in the annual exercises, which for the first time will include the sinking by live fire of a decommissioned Philippine navy warship in the South China Sea, waters that Beijing claims almost entirely.

It follows a deal announced last week for US forces to use an increased number of bases in the Philippines, including one near Taiwan.

Wang said the recent 15-page joint statement of the Philippines and the US “misrepresents and discredits the legitimate and lawful maritime law enforcement activities of the Chinese side and even makes false accusations against China.”

He was referring to the statement released by the two countries following the high-level talks between Filipino and American officials in Washington, D.C., which covered several areas of the Philippine-US partnership.

“We strongly oppose this,” Wang said, in a press conference on Thursday night.

Jr. involving 990 kilograms of confiscated shabu.

The US Embassy earlier said that the visa application processing has returned to normalcy after several months of suffering from backlogs due to the Covid-19 pandemic and other factors.

Teves...

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governor starting Monday, April 17.

“He has made his commitment through his secretary, communicating with my committee secretariat, that he’s going to attend virtually during the hearing. He has confirmed,” Dela Rosa told ANC’s “Headstart.”

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla will also attend the Senate probe. He is expected to share with senators the status of his agency’s investigation into Degamo’s killing.

Mayor Janice Degamo, the wife of the slain governor, will also be asked to attend the Senate inquiry.

Asked why Teves is cooperating with the Senate instead of heeding the call of House Speaker Martin Romualdez to come home, Dela Rosa said he doesn’t know the congressman’s motivation.

“But if we will say we can cite him with contempt if he won’t attend, I cannot do that because being a member of the lower house, we exercise interparliamentary courtesy,” explained Dela Rosa.

GMA News, saying: “It was effective yesterday (Wednesday). (Police Brig.

Gen. Antonio) Olaguera will replace me. I am now on floating status.”

Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos on Monday launched a probe against Domingo and nine others after a CCTV footage showed the arrest and the attempted cover-up of the dismissed Police Master Sergeant Rodolfo Mayo Jr., a PDEG intelligence operative.

In a statement, the PNP said Olaguera assumed the post as PDEG head after

the country’s recovery and progress.

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The President also vowed to improve the country’s creative industry and promote the talents of Filipinos as he also appointed film director Paul Soriano as Presidential Adviser for creative communications last year.

The said event will be open for live streaming in Facebook on Radio Television Malacanang (RTVM), Office of the President, and President Marcos’ official page. Vince Lopez

because it is too low. That is the only problem that we foresee, the buffer stock of NFA is low so the NFA will be needing to buy so that the supply will be suitable for at least nine days,” the President stressed.

Mr. Marcos, however, pointed out that the NFA needs to buy its buffer stock from local producers, which drives the price of rice up, to ensure a sufficient supply of the grain.

“The problem is that if they enter the market, if they buy to replace the buffer stock which they are lacking it will cause the prices to go up because they will buy many,” the President noted.

“PNP Chief, Police General Rodolfo S Azurin Jr. named Police Brig. Gen. Faro Antonio Olaguera as the new Director of the PNP Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG),” it said.

Olaguera is the former chief of the PNP Legal Service and is a member of the PNP Academy Class 1989.

Abalos earlier called on Domingo and nine other police officers to take a leave to give way to the investigation on the alleged attempted cover-up in the series of operations that netted P6.7 billion worth of shabu in October last year.

Abalos launched a probe led by the National Police Commission into the illegal drug case of now-dismissed Mayo

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Romualdez said.

“As a token of our gratitude, we will work even harder to pass the pending bills to advance the 8-point socioeconomic agenda of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. designed to uplift the lives of our people,” he added.

This developed as Rep. Sonny Lagon of Ako Bisaya Party-list, vice chair of the House Committees on Ways and Means and on Games and Amusement, credited Romualdez’s high approval ratings credited to his “genuine” lead-

The DILG chief said Napolcom’s fact-finding panel was convened due to the supposed slow pace of the police investigation into Mayo’s case.

According to Abalos, Napolcom’s investigation showed that “there is indeed a massive attempt to cover-up the arrest of Mayo.” Domingo denied any attempted cover-up.

“We assure you that that there was no attempted cover-up here, if that is what most people are thinking that PDEG itself is doing the cover-up for our people,” he said at a press briefing on Wednesday.

ership by example.

Two other congressional leaders said the Speaker’s leadership by example has been bearing fruit as the public begins to appreciate the work done by the House of Representatives.

“This is another positive news for the House under the result-oriented leadership of Speaker Romualdez. It means that the work we do in the House of Representatives is resonating with the people,” Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. told reporters.

House Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe, for his part, said the high net satisfaction rating of the House is a clear sign that most Filipinos believe that the chamber is on track with its

Country Director for Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, and Brunei Ndiamé Diop, and International Monetary Fund (IMF) Deputy Director, Asia, and Pacific Department Sanjaya Panth.

ing the presentation of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s economic team led by Budget Sec. Benjamin Diokno on the state of the Philippine economy in Washington DC.

The team presented to Standard Chartered Bank Global Head of Public Sector and Development Organizations Karby Leggett, World Bank

“We are committed to passing more measures that the Marcos administration may need to further enhance investment in the Philippines aimed at improving the lives of Filipinos. I urge foreign investors to stay the course with us and share the benefits of progress and development,” Romualdez said.

“Perhaps, he will use this as an avenue for his side to he heard by the public. And that is a good sign if he wants to attend our probe,” he added.

The Department of Justice previously said that Teves was considered one of the masterminds in the assassination of Degamo and eight others. The lawmaker said he and his clan had nothing to do with the crime.

Teves has yet to return to the country, more than a month since his travel clearance expired.

He was slapped with a 60-day suspension over his continued absence in Congress after being implicated in Degamo’s murder.

legislative priorities and they appreciate the brand of the leadership of Speaker Romualdez.

“This only means that we are doing the right thing and the people know it. This is a clear sign that people are finally appreciating the long hours of work that we all do in the House of Representatives just to make sure that we will pass laws that will benefit all Filipinos,” Dalipe said.

“The successive high satisfaction and approval ratings of both the House of Representatives and Speaker Martin G. Romualdez in recent surveys of major polling firms can be attributed to the House leader’s hands-on management of the daily affairs of the chamber,” Lagon said. Maricel V. Cruz

During the briefing held at Fairmont in Washington D.C. Wednesday (US time), Standard Chartered Bank, WB, and IMF officials cited the continued strong and resilient Philippine economy despite global challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic and inflation. Romualdez said the event was part of the Marcos administration’s wholeof-government approach to attracting more foreign investments that would create more income and job opportunities for Filipinos. Maricel V. Cruz

Senators warn of worsening unemployment, skills problem

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

SENATORS have expressed grave concerns over the likelihood of the country’s unemployment and underemployment problems getting worse as new graduates lacked the so-called “soft skills.”

Sen. Risa Hontiveros said the problem on new graduates being unprepared for the difficult task of finding jobs has long been festering the education sector.

Senate majority leader Joel Villanueva said the country’s labor market must be ready for the 1.5 million new graduates who will eventually join the pool of workers looking for jobs this year.

For his part, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada said as early as 2014, he had been pushing for an enhanced apprenticeship program in a bid to promote skills acquisition and youth employment.

Hontiveros said reform measures on the issue have been studied and implemented.

“But to what extent do the education authorities execute these recommendations?” she inquired.

The senator expressed hopes that the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) would formulate a “game-changing strategy to address the wicked problem of the sector and that the leadership of our educational agencies is committed and competent to execute it in partnership with the different stakeholders, especially the teachers and the students.”

“Time is of the essence in implementing education reforms’” Hontiveros stressed.

“The last thing we need is an employment crisis on top of an education crisis. Especially because our graduates are being thrust into a post-pandemic world of historical inflation with which many families are struggling,” she added.

The government, according to her, must support the Filipino families in their hunt for sufficient livelihood.

With the new entrants to the labor force, Villanueva said the unemployment and underemployment would surely increase if no change to sluggish efforts on job generation and addressing gaps in school-to-work transition and persisting job-skills mismatch is done.

“The new entrants and new workers in the labor force is predictable annually,” he said.

“We have to be proactive in finding solutions especially when it comes to easing unemployment in the country,” Villanueva said.

DBM releases P1.18b in rice subsidy for government workers

THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has released to the National Food Authority (NFA) P1.18 billion for the grant of a one-time rice assistance to all qualified employees and workers of national government agencies.

DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman approved the release of the funds last April 12.

“As directed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., we shall ensure the welfare of our government workers by giving them assistance for their household needs and, at the same time, boosting the production of our rice farmers,” Pangandaman said in a statement.

The rice assistance will benefit

1,892,648 government workers, including Job Order (JO) and Contract of Service (COS) personnel.

Administrative Order No. 2, signed by President Marcos, authorizes the grant of one-time rice assistance at a uniform quantity of 25 kilograms for all qualified government employees. The subsidy goes to state workers who are still in the service and/or engaged by government agencies as of Nov. 30, 2022.

PALACE VISITORS. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza AranetaMarcos (right) play host to a group of executives of the Temasek Holdings of Singapore who called on him at Malacañang with a view to boosting bilateral cooperation in agriculture and climate change, among other concerns. PCO photo

Marcos calls for a check on brain drain in Southeast Asia, notably in healthcare

By Vince Lopez

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Thursday that Southeast Asian countries must adjust and fi nd ways to address human capital

particularly in the healthcare sector for the benefi t of the region.

The issue on brain drain in the region’s health sector, particularly the emigration of nurses and doctors, was discussed during the President’s meeting with Temasek Foundation executives at Malacañang.

“We are very proud of [our nurses and doctors] and the role they play during the height of the pandemic. But as I said, we are a victim of our own success,” the Presi-

dent Marcos told the Temasek officials led by chairperson Jennie Chua Kheng Yeng. “But you know, we have to adjust and find other ways. We have to give them at least equal opportunities at home. It is very clear that most Filipino overseas workers are willing to take less in terms of pay so long as they can stay here,” the Chief Executive said.

Mr. Marcos also said that if Singapore can find a solution to the brain drain prob-

lem, it would immensely help the Southeast Asian region’s healthcare sector.

Yeng said the Singapore nursing association has agreed to register nurses in the city state to arrest human capital flight in the sector after the country lost 400 nurses to New Zealand, which offered permanent residency as an added attraction.

Under New Zealand’s permanent residency program, the nurses can bring their families with them, allow their children to go to local schools, and apply for housing.

The Temasek Foundation International chair said Singapore does not want to give Filipino nurses citizenship unlike what is being offered by the United States, Canada, and New Zealand so they can go back and forth during their working years.

Yeng also commended the Philippines for producing good nurses and doctors,

adding that Singapore’s emergency room doctors were mostly Filipinos, and praised their training based on life experience.

Temasek Foundation, a Singaporebased non-profit philanthropic organization, is a subsidiary of Singapore’s state sovereign fund Temasek Holdings.

The foundation funds and supports programs aimed at building community capabilities in Asia and beyond through philanthropic endowments.

The foundation forged agreements with the Philippines to enhance competencies across industries, through the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) (Digitalization and Industry 4.0) Program, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) with Design Thinking Program, and Health Care Management Program.

DOH: PH has 54 cases of omicron subvariant XBB 1.9.1 sublineage

THE Philippines has detected cases of omicron subvariant XBB.1.9.1, which is spreading across the globe, according to the Department of Health (DOH).

Based on the DOH’s latest COVID-19 bio-surveillance report issued Thursday, the country has 54 cases of XBB.1.9.1 —an XBB sublineage that was recently added to the list of variants under monitoring by the World Health Organization on March 30.

Thirty-nine cases were detected in the samples sequenced by the University of the Philippines - Philippine Genome Center on April 3 to 11.

The DOH has yet to provide information on the other 15 cases.

According to the agency, the variant was initially flagged due to its increasing global prevalence and higher growth advantage.

“The variant has been detected in 63 countries or jurisdictions across 6 conti-

nents, according to sequence submissions in GISAID,” the DOH report read.

“However, currently available evidence for XBB.1.9.1 does not suggest any differences in disease severity and/ or clinical manifestations compared to the original Omicron variant.”

‘We need to know’: WHO says China has more on COVID origin

The same report showed that the country also detected 150 new cases of omicron COVID-19 subvariants.

Of the samples sequenced by health authorities this month, 75 were classified as XBB, including 30 XBB.1.5 cases; 70 as BA.2.3.20; 2 cases as XBC, 1 case as CH.1.1, 1 case as BQ.1, and 1 case as BA.2.

Of the recently detected XBB cases, 8 were returning overseas Filipinos while 67 were local cases from regions 1, 3, 4A, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, CAR, and NCR, the DOH report showed.

High Court announces today new lawyers who passed 2022 Bar exams

THE Supreme Court (SC) will announce today (Friday) the results of the Bar examinations held in November last year with 9,183 aspiring lawyers taking the country’s most grueling national test.

The list of bar passers will be released after the SC holds a special en banc session to determine the 30 Bar topnotchers, as well as the law schools which obtained the five highest Bar passers’ percentages. According to the SC, the Bar candidates who were conditionally admitted to take the tests and have passed the same will be allowed to join in the oath-taking, provided that they have submitted the required documents within the

prescribed period.

The 2022 Bar examinations, conducted under a regionalized and digitalized set-up, was held on November 9, November 13, November 16 and November 20.

In the 2022/2021 Bar exams, a total of 8,241 or 72.28 percent of the 11,402 examinees passed the first-ever regionalized and digitalized examinations.

On the other hand, 14 or 0.17 percent of the Bar passers earned recognition for excellent performance after they obtained grades higher than 90 percent.

The University of the Philippines law school produced the most number of excellent passers with four.

Asked for his advice for those who would flunk the Bar exam, Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo said: “Never give up. Everything is according to God’s plan.”

Meanwhile the High Tribunal officially launched the Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability (CPRA) which was unanimously approved by the en banc during the magistrates’ summer session in Baguio City last April 12.

The CPRA, which will govern the conduct of lawyers in the court, is part of the Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 20222027, the five-year blueprint of the judiciary that is expected to hasten court proceedings, processes and resolution of cases.

Standard opinion editor’s daughter makes waves in US

HARMONY Francisca Cabie-Quinto, erstwhile the youngest regular member of the National Press Club, is currently the founding president and chief executive officer of the PhilippineAmerican Chamber of Commerce of Southern Colorado, Inc. (PACCSoCo), a non-profit corporation in Colorado.

Cabie-Quinto, an alumna of the University of the Philipines in Diliman, is also the current vicepresident of the Filipino-American Community of Southern Colorado (FACSC), a non-profit organization in Colorado Springs that advocates for education through the Fil-Am Scholarship Fund.

PACCSoCo’s mission and vision is to empower Filipino-American entrepreneurs and elevate the Filipino American professionals in the southern region of Colorado, a state that is still predominantly white.

Cabie-Quinto, through the programs and projects of PACCSoCo, hopes to further strengthen the business climate in southern Colorado with the Filipino American entrepreneurs and Fili-

pino American professionals playing major roles in the community.

Intentional programs and projects, collaborative spirit, equal opportunity, representation, and diversity are some of the key elements in Cabie-Quinto’s brand of leadership. Her term ends in 2026.

Cabie-Quinto was an active student leader at the University of the Philippines where she took up her Philosophy degree and was chair of the UP Philosophical Society.

While studying Law at San Beda College in Mendiola, she was elected national president of the Association of Law Students of the Philippines, and eventually went on to become the first woman ever to be elected president of the ASEAN Law Students Association based in Jakarta, Indonesia.

An award-winning poet and essayist, she holds the Rufus Rodriguez Award for Excellence in International Relations.

She has likewise represented the Philippines in Harvard University’s Project for Asian and International Relations.

UP AND AWAY. Stage 3 of the elevated Skyway toll road which made a soft opening last April 5 o ers a seamless travel for northbound motorists through the Nagtahan-Quezon Avenue-Balintawak connections to reach the North Luzon Expressway. In photo is the Quirino Avenue ramp that serves as the gateway to the north for travelers from Roxas Blvd. and the Malate and Paco districts of Manila.

IT’S INCOME TAX TIME AGAIN. Personnel of the Bureau of Internal Revenue Regional District Office 40 led by director Lorenzo Delos Santos accept the Income Tax Returns being filed by taxpayers who showed up at the BIR outreach office in a shopping a mall in Quezon City. The deadline for the filing of ITRs is on

April

2023. Manny Palmero

PH gov’t crafting 5-year safety plan in bid to reduce road crash deaths

By Darwin G. Amojelar

THE Philippines is crafting a five-year road safety plan in a bid to reduce road crashes that kill 12 persons for every 100,000 involved in road traffic accidents, according to the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

“The DOTr takes road safety seriously. Our approach is anchored on prevention. Our targets are the drivers, passengers, pedestrians, other road users and the vehicles," Transportation Secretary Jaime J. Bautista said during a media briefing organized by United Nations.

Bautista said there were 11,500 deaths last year due to road crashes, higher than prepandemic levels.

According to the 2018 report of the World Health Organization, 12 persons die out of every 100,000 who are involved in a road traffic accident in 2018.

In addition to the human loss, the cost of road crashes in the Philippines represents 4.1 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP).

Bautista said its attached agencies have existing programs that consequently lead to

the promotion of road safety.

“Currently, we are finalizing the Philippine Road Safety Action Plan for the period 2023 to 2028.

Various components are contained in the plan including intensifying road safety education,” Bautista said.

“The education campaign starts with the issuance of student licenses by the Land Transportation Office or LTO. Knowledge of defensive and safe driving is a prerequisite for student drivers, while renewal of licenses now requires passing an online driving exam,” he added.

Jean Todt, UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety said in a report titled “Safe Roads for A Sustainable World,” that road traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for children and young adults between 5 and 29 years old, and 90 percent of victims live in low- and middle-income countries.

“As we resolve to build a strong recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, our mobility systems must have safety at their core. This is the only way we will achieve the ambitious goal of halving road deaths and injuries by 2030,” Todt said.

MMDA set to implement single-ticket system

By Joel E. Zurbano

THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the mayors in the National Capital Region (NCR) on Thursday signed agreements with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) in connection with the implementation of a single ticketing system scheme.

The dry run for the said policy will start on May 2.

The signed agreements were for the

IN BRIEF

PCUP signs free med pact with Mercury Drug

THE Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor has inked a partnership with the Mercury Drug Foundation Inc. to provide medicines for the needy.

Their memorandum of understanding highlights the pledge of the foundation to provide free medicines under Oplan Bigay Lunas for the commission’s service caravans this year.

From 2019 to 2022, the commission’s service caravans have extended assistance to 120,000 Filipinos across the country.

Under PCUP’s four banner programs, Undersecretary Elpidio Jordan Jr. is confident that the commission would be able to deliver its mandate in support to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s eight-point economic agenda and the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Program.

The MOU signing was attended by PCUP Executive Assistant III, Evita Pearl Jamon; PCUP DMO III Yvelen Moraña;

MDFI Executive Director Annie Fuentes;

MDFI Program Manager Adette Dizon;

MDFI Trustee Jess Mangrobang; and MDFI Trustee Alice Lumanog. Since 1986, PCUP has been the direct link between the urban poor and the government in terms of policy formulation and program implementation. It is tasked with establishing projects related to asset reform, human development and basic social services, employment and livelihood, and other government programs for marginalized communities.

Under the leadership of Jordan, the commission has prioritized establishing stronger ties with the private sector to help streamline the delivery of basic services to the urban poor sector. Rio Araja

BOC agents seize smuggled TVs, computer system parts

THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) confiscated smuggled smart televisions and computer system units worth more than P20 million in Guiguinto, Bulacan.

Customs Commissioner Bienvenido

Rubio said that BOC operatives inspected a warehouse facility of ECOM Electronics Reconditioning Services located at RIS Industrial Complex 168 Mercado St. Lot 3U,

interconnectivity of local government units in Metro Manila with the Land Transportation Management System (LTMS) of the LTO.

MMDA chairman Romando Artes said the signing of the memorandum and data sharing is a historic legislation in the Metro Manila Council since it took 28 years before being fully realized.

The pilot testing will be undertaken by the MMDA, together with seven LGUs, namely: San Juan, Muntinlupa, Quezon City, Valenzuela, Parañaque, Manila, and Caloocan.

“The pilot testing will be done so the next LGUs that will be onboard will roll out their respective systems seamlessly,” Artes said. The MMDA will provide handheld devices to apprehending officers that can provide

options for cashless payments to violators. It will also help minimize corruption and eradicate forms of negotiations between the motorist and the officer, Artes said.

Former MMDA chairman and now Senator Francis Tolentino, who attended the signing ceremony held at MMDA New Building on Julia Vargas Avenue in Pasig City, expressed support for the single ticketing system as he underscored the importance of integration.

“Integration will enable different systems to communicate with each other, to offer a unified solution at “yan ang ginagawa nyo ngayon,” he said.

Meanwhile, Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Hubert Guevarra said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. welcomed the passing of

BPI APP LAUNCHING.

Photo shows (from left): TG Limcaoco, BPI president and CEO; Mariana Zobel de Ayala, BPI Consumer Bank Marketing, Platforms, Digital Activation head; Fitz Chee, BPI Platforms Business head; and, Ginbee Go, BPI executive vice president and Consumer Banking head, during the launching of a new BPI app in Makati City. Manny Palmero

the single ticketing system.

“As you spearhead the institutionalization of the single ticketing system in the NCR, make it so that all your efforts will translate to an even more seamless and consistent application of our traffic laws. Let this be a way for all our motorists to become more conscious and respectful of our laws, rules, and regulations,” Guevarra said as he read the President’s message.

LTO chief Jay Art Tugade, through lawyer Noreen San Luis-Lutey, expressed his support on the rollout of the system.

San Luis-Lutey said that the signing of the MOA and DSA is monumental for the LTO.

“It is a big milestone for us in terms of enhancing driver discipline through consistent

and coordinated law enforcement initiatives,” San Luis-Lutey said. She also said that it is the LTO’s compliance with the implementation of the ten-year validity of driver’s license.

San Juan City Mayor and Metro Manila Council (MMC) President FrancisZamora, for his part, thanked his fellow local chief executives for being part of the landmark legislation.

“The mayors have shown support and love to Metro Manila by amending our traffic ordinances to create a unified traffic code,” he said.

The MMC, composed of the 17 mayors in Metro Manila, is the governing board and the policy making body of the MMDA.

IN A video, Bai Mariam Mangudadatu expressed her objection to the appointment made by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., naming her as officer-in-charge (OIC) of Maguindanao del Sur.

Mangudadatu said she had opposed the designation as she was already elected governor of the said province, adding that she assumed office and performed functions in accordance with Republic Act 1550, GMA News reported.

“With due respect Mr. President, I strongly object and oppose the aforesaid alleged oathtaking because I am the duly elected governor of the said province of Maguindanao,” Mangudadatu, in the video, quoted by GMA News, said.

“And that I have already assumed the office and performed the functions as assumed governor of Maguindanao del Sur according to Republic Act 11550,” she added.

Mangudadatu added that Vice Governor Bai Ainee Sinsuat also assumed the post as governor of Maguindanao del Norte, noting that Sinsuat’s assumption of office was proper and in accordance with the law. Marcos earlier named Abdulraof A. Macacua and Mangudadatu as OICs of Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur, respectively.

It can be recalled that former President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law a bill seeking to divide Maguindanao into two provinces.

RA 11550 divided the province of Maguindanao into two distinct and independent provinces known as Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur. Both provinces will have corporate powers and general powers that include having a common seal and having the power to create its sources of revenue and to levy taxes, fees, and charges among others.

Malis, Guiguinto, Bulacan, and found TV and computer system units.

The BOC team discovered assorted televisions of different sizes, machines used for lamination, boxes used for packaging, and raw materials for reconditioning and repair.

The estimated value of the goods discovered inside the warehouse is more than P20 million.

“We will require the owners to present importation documents or proof of payment. If found to be without the proper import documents, the contents of the warehouse may be subject to seizure and forfeiture proceedings,” he said.

“This marks another successful effort in combating smuggling activities and upholding customs regulations in the country,” Rubio added.

“The BOC remains committed to safeguarding the nation’s borders and ensuring compliance with importation laws,” he said.

Vito Barcelo

Taguig buy-bust yields

P6.8m worth of shabu

THE Southern Police District (SPD) has announced the seizure of P6.8 million worth of shabu during a buy-bust operation late Wednesday night in Taguig City.

The entrapment operation initiated by the SPD Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) around 10:45 p.m. in Arca South Compound also resulted in the arrest of Jun Mark Salonga, alias Boy, 43, and a resident of 300 Castillo Street, Barangay San Pedro, Pateros. Salonga was included in the SPD’s list of highvalue targets in the campaign against illegal drugs. Seized from the suspect were a kilo of shabu, a brown paper bag, and the money used by the police in the entrapment operation.

The SPD made the entrapment with the help from operatives of Taguig City Police Station and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency. Salonga is now detained at SPD - DEU Office for documentation and disposition. Complaints for Violation of Sec. 5 and Sec. 11, under Art II of Republic Act 9165 are now being prepared against him.

National Capital Region Police Office director Maj. Gen. Edgar Alan Okubo commended the composite team for the successful conduct of anti-drug operations.

“This accomplishment is highly commendable and a testament to our dedication to duty. This will also serve as a warning to those individuals involved in the illegal drug trade, that the PNP together with our partner agencies with the active support of the community, will not falter in our joint efforts to rid Metro Manila of illegal drugs and all forms of criminality,” said Okubo.

Joel E. Zurbano

COA flags PCMC failure to file over P200m PhilHealth claims

By Rio n. Araja

THE Commission on Audit (COA) has called the attention of the Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC) for its failure to file reimbursement claims of more than P200 million for COVID-19 tests to the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) since 2021. In its 2022 annual audit report, the COA said the PCMC did not file P197,373,246 million worth of claims for PhilHealth reimbursement in 2021 and another P2,903,600 million in 2022.

“The PCMC was unable to claim reimbursement from PhilHealth aggregating P200.277 million for the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test conducted by the center’s COVID-19 Laboratory covering 62,285 samples from the overseas Filipino workers collected by Philippine Coast Guard due to the lack of supporting documents from PCG which are required by PhilHealth for the filing of claims on benefit package for SARS-CoV-2

test,” the report read.

“The non-reimbursement by PhilHealth of said claims may result in a significant loss on PCMC for the operational expenses incurred in the conduct of RT-PCR testing,” it cited. Some of causes for the failure to file the claims were the system glitches, lack of necessary patient information and delay in the processing of papers.

“Consequently, the non-filing for reimbursement of the RT-PCR test within the prescribed period due to the issues encountered in securing the required documents and information may result in a significant loss on the part of PCMC for the operational expenses already incurred such as the salaries and professional fees of COVID-19 laboratory personnel as well as the test kits used in the conduct of the RT-PCR testing on the samples collected, swabbed, and transferred by PCG to PCMC,” the commission said. It advised the PCMC to file a motion for reconsideration with PhilHealth for the reimbursement and find other ways to collect the P200.277 million from PhilHealth.

Recto: 2,189 new slots open for ‘Doktor Para Sa Bayan’ program

By Maricel V. Cruz

DEPUTY Speaker and Batangas Rep Ralph

Recto on Thursday disclosed that at least 2,189 new taxpayer-funded free medical education slots will open in the 2023-2024 school year, raising the number of “Doktor Para Sa Bayan” scholars to a “brigade size” 3,600.

“This is a 150 percent increase. We are supersizing the number of government scholars taking up medicine,” Recto, lead Senate author of the law creating the program, said.

Medical scholars will study in 16 state universities and 16 private schools in 15 regions.

Lahat ng rehiyon meron, maliban sa Caraga at MiMaRoPa, pero magkakaroon din doon kung meron nang ma-accredit na medical schools,” Recto said.

The expansion, from the current 1,411 slots, is made possible by a P917 million funding for the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Recto explained.

Under the 2023 national budget, CHED is given P500 million for the “Medical Scholarship and Return Service Program” and P167 million as “Subsidy for Tuition Fees for Medical Students in State Universities and Colleges.”

In addition, a P250 million start-up fund to outfit participating SUCs with equipment and facilities has been included in the CHED budget.

“But this almost P1 billion for CHED is only a part of the equation. The Department of Health is also running its own M.D. scholarship program,” Recto said.

The DOH’s “Pre-Service Scholarship Program” covers not only aspiring physicians, but other allied health professionals.

Under Republic Act 11509, the Doktor Para sa Bayan Act, the state will pay for the tuition and other school fees of the scholars.

They will also be entitled to books, supplies, equipment, clothing, dormitory, and transportation allowance. Insurance, internship, board review, and licensure fees will also be shouldered by the government.

Gov. Mariam Mangudadatu objects to OIC post in Maguindanao del Sur

RESTORING AN ICONIC MAP. The rehabilitation and improvement of the iconic Philippine map and the rest of the Teodoro Valencia Circle in Rizal Park in Manila is underway on Tuesday. Danny Pata

ISIDRO HARVESTS “KANGKONG”. A resident of Brgy San Isidro harvests

“kangkong” or water spinach in Tanay, Rizal. Lino Santos

Reasonable certainty of conviction

RECENTLY the Department of Justice issued Department Circular 20 dated March 31, 2023, directing all prosecutors of the National Prosecution Service to conduct preliminary investigation for the sole purpose of determining “whether a crime has been committed and whether there is a prima facie case against respondent [suspected offender] and a reasonable certainty of [his or her] conviction…”

The role of the prosecutors as mandated by the Circular extends to the case build-up stage where they may assist or cooperate with the complainants and/or law enforcement agencies.

This is consistent with the DOJ’s policy of “pro-active involvement in the investigation of crimes” to promote the efficient and effective administration of justice.

It must be noted, however, that the Circular applies only to heinous crimes such as, but not limited to, treason, piracy and qualified piracy, qualified bribery, parricide, murder, infanticide, kidnapping and serious illegal detention, robbery with violence against and intimidation of persons, destructive arson, rape, plunder, and carnapping (Section 3).

The prosecution office must continue to assist and coordinate with the relevant Law Enforcement Agencies to build-up the case and ensure the successful prosecution of the same

It also applies to all violations of the (a) Dangerous Drugs Act, as amended; (b) AntiMoney Laundering Act of 2001, as amended; (c) Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020; (d) Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012; and (e) all crimes punishable by reclusion perpetua or life imprisonment (Section 3).

Hence, the preliminary investigation required to be conducted before the filing of a complaint or information in court under Rule 112, Section 1 of the Rules of Criminal Procedure will continue to apply for offenses “where the penalty prescribed by law is at least four years two months and one day without regard to the fine.”

As originally defined, a “preliminary investigation is an inquiry or proceeding to determine whether there is sufficient ground to engender a well-founded belief that a crime has been committed and the respondent is probably guilty thereof and should be held for trial” (Section 1, Rule 112, Rules of Criminal Procedure).

Preliminary investigation is the determination of the existence of probable cause by the executive department.

With the issuance of Department Circular 20, there is now a difference between the quantum of proof required for the preliminary investigation of heinous crimes and offenses of the same category versus ordinary offenses.

For the former, prima facie evidence and reasonable certainty of conviction is required. Prima facie evidence is “such status of evidence which on its own and if left uncontroverted, is sufficient to establish all the elements of a crime.”

It is the duty of the prosecutor to determine based on available documents, witnesses, or real evidence if prima facie evidence exists for the filing of a complaint or information in court (Section 2).

While some may raise an issue about the DOJ’s introduction of a new quantum of proof for preliminary investigation in certain offenses, this author opines that the wordings of the Circular were carefully crafted to appear as a policy mandate rather than a rule of procedure. By doing so, the DOJ did not violate the Constitution nor can it be said to have over-steeped the boundaries of its executive jurisdiction (see Section 5, Article VIII, Philippine Constitution).

For ordinary offenses requiring preliminary investigation, the probable cause under the Rules of Criminal Procedure will continue to apply as the measure or quantum of proof. Otherwise stated, once the Office of the Prosecutor determines the existence of probable cause, the criminal complaint or information must be filed in court.

To achieve the objectives under the Circular, “all heads of prosecution offices shall ensure

THE on-going controversy involving the insistence of the International Criminal Court to investigate the anti-drug war maintained by the Philippine government during the administration of then President Rodrigo Duterte has triggered many absurd reactions from some public officials and from the public.

The ICC wants to conduct its investigation on Philippine territory, but the Philippine government politely refuses to allow any such investigation to take place inside Philippine territory.

Explaining that refusal, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla points out the Philippines has already withdrawn from the Rome Statute, the international treaty creating the ICC.

Accordingly, Manila may rightfully refuse to cooperate with the ICC, and reject any attempt by the ICC to conduct any investigation within Philippine territory.

In short, the Philippines has the inherent right to oppose any foreign overture that violates Philippine sovereignty.

Remulla also pointed out that under the Rome Statute, the ICC may conduct an investigation in a country only if the justice system in that country is a failure.

The justice system in the Philippines, Remulla stressed, is functioning efficiently, which means the ICC has no jurisdiction to investigate in the Philippines even if Manila did not withdraw from the Rome Statute.

Even the Supreme Court dismissed a petition which challenged the constitutionality of Manila’s withdrawal from the Rome Statute without the concurrence of the Senate.

Seaworthy sailors

FOR A long time, Europe slammed the door shut on Filipino seafarers away, preventing them from earning their keep and supporting their families on their own.

that all prosecutors within their respective offices shall… be available to assist, coordinate and cooperate with, and provide sufficient legal guidance to law enforcement agencies (LEA) in all planned operations,… from their inception until successful termination of the case” (Section 4).

The “[p]rosecutors shall be available at any hour of the day or night, even remotely via available telecommunications technology, for purposes of consultation, cooperation and coordination on matters involving proper collection and preservation of evidence, such as but not limited to interviewing of witnesses, preparation of Judicial Affidavits, and vetting of evidence” (Section 4). “Criminal complaints received by prosecution offices from private individuals, as well as formal referrals for investigation from LEAs involving crimes covered [by the Circular]… shall, within 10 working days from receipt, be evaluated to determine if they contain all the necessary evidence to prove the essential elements of the crime and should be docketed for preliminary investigation” (Section 5).

“Should the evaluation disclose that the complaint or referral contains all the necessary evidence to prove all the essential elements of the crime, the assisting prosecutor who conducted the evaluation shall certify that there is a sufficient ground to conduct preliminary investigation… [and] shall then be docketed for the conduct of preliminary investigation…” (Section 5).

“In all cases for preliminary investigation, the investigating prosecutor shall issue a Certification as to the existence of prima facie case and of a reasonable certainty of conviction… However, should the evaluation result in a finding that the complaint is not supported by sufficient evidence, or that there are lacking pieces of evidence, the complaint shall be referred back to the private complainant or the referring LEA…” (Section 5).

The referral endorsement must state the following: “(1) a report on the result of the evaluation; (2) an advice about the lacking evidence; and (3) a directive to secure and submit the said lacking evidence/s.” If the evidence remains to be insufficient or pieces of evidence cannot be located within a reasonable period from its referral, the case shall be closed and terminated without prejudice to refiling (see Section 5).

For warrantless arrests (respondent is arrested while committing, about to commit or has just committed the offense) requiring inquest proceedings, “the docket/records section of the office shall immediately refer the complaint and other required documents such as the investigation form, referral letter, complaintaffidavits or arrest… to the assisting prosecutors [concerned]…” (Section 6).

The assisting prosecutors shall immediately render assistance and evaluate the records. “If the documents contain all the necessary evidence to prove the essential elements of the crime, they shall certify that there is sufficient ground to conduct inquest proceedings… [and] shall [be] submitted to the head of office… for approval for inquest” (Section 6).

If an inquest prosecutor after evaluation of the complaint and the records determines that not all the evidence necessary to prove the essential elements of the crime are present, or the suspect/s are not taken into custody within the period allowed by law, the assisting prosecutor shall make a recommendation to the head of office for the conduct of regular case build up and, if warranted, a preliminary investigation (see Section 6).

The prosecution office must continue to assist and coordinate with the relevant LEA to build-up the case and ensure the successful prosecution of the same. In all inquest proceedings covered by the Circular, “prosecution offices must ensure that all important pieces of evidence are submitted by the LEA to make sure that no suspect… lawfully arrested without [a] warrant shall be released for further investigation” (Section 6).

The proper implementation of Department Circular 20 will deter the filing of criminal cases in court which are: (a) poorly and hastily evaluated; (b) lacking in evidence; and (c) intended to persecute rather than to prosecute. Conversely, it may promote the use of plea bargaining or plea of guilty to a lesser offense if the accused is convinced that he or she can be convicted eventually.

The door kept shut in the last 16 years after the Philippines failed to pass the standards set by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) on local training and education.

The deficiencies identified by the European Union covered five main areas: monitoring, supervision, and evaluation of manning training and assessment; examination and assessment of competence, programs and course design and approval; availability and use of training facilities and simulators; onboard training and issue revalidation; and recognition of certification endorsements.

What has the Philippine government done to address these deficiencies?

First, the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd), the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), and maritime higher education institutions crafted an enhanced curriculum to improve the country’s maritime education and thus meet standards set by the

DON’T look now, but our health sector is in dire straits at this time because of the acute shortage of nurses who have opted to leave the country for better-paying jobs abroad.

During a recent meeting of the Private Sector Advisory Council Healthcare Sector group in Malacañan Palace, President Marcos pointed out the shortage of nurses has adversely affected the delivery of effective healthcare.

“Our nurses are the best. We are competing with the rest of the world for them. All the presidents, prime ministers I have talked to are asking for more nurses from the Philippines.” The statistics bear this out. One in 20 nurses working in the United States is a Filipino. Over 150,000 Filipino nurses have immigrated to the United States since the 1960s.

The result? The Philippines now has a shortage of about 106,000 nurses.

According to the Filipino Nurses United, the main reason for the exodus of our nurses is that “the government has not been giving us reasons to stay.”

Our nurses are leaving in droves, they said, because of several factors, such as high nurse-to-patient ratio, low wages, and the slow response by government to health-care workers’ concerns.

More than 124,000 Filipino nurses still in the country have been classified by the Department of Health as under “unspecified practice,” meaning they are unemployed or working in other fields, such as call centers.

The Professional Regulation Commission listed 915,219 registered Filipino nurses in December 2021, but according to the DOH, more than a third of them, or 316,405 individuals, have moved overseas.

At the height of the pandemic, the exodus of senior nurses who found work abroad left their younger colleagues overburdened with work and delayed benefits.

Consider the pay that nurses here receive.

The salary of nurses in the Philippines is among the lowest in Asia.

In Metro Manila, a nurse at a private hospital receives a monthly salary of P17,000, equivalent to the daily minimum wage of P570. Salaries are even lower in the provinces.

Filipino seafarers comprise a significant and valued part of the European and global shipping industry’s maritime workforce

International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (SCTW).

Second, CHEd closed down 15 maritime programs for noncompliance with maritime standards, and will maintain a five-year moratorium imposed in 2022 on opening new programs to allow the government to

Shortage of nurses

In government hospitals, the base pay of nurses is P35,000 under the Philippine Nursing Act of 2002. In Vietnam, the salary of nurses is equivalent to P60,000.

Compare that with the average annual salary of Filipino nurses in the United States, which is $57,600, or around P3.3 million, or a monthly pay of about P275,000.

focus on existing ones.

And third, the government will continue to monitor all maritime schools not just to ensure they implement the curriculum but also to see to it that they have the necessary equipment and facilities, including competent teachers, to satisfy EMSA standards.

All these appear to have sufficiently convinced the European Union (EU) to resume recognition of the certificates of Filipino seafarers. The EU Commissioner for Mobility and Transport said they “appreciate the constructive cooperation with the Philippine authorities and welcome their efforts to improve the system for training and certifying seafarers.”

Filipino seafarers comprise a significant and valued part of the European and global shipping industry’s maritime workforce since some 50,000 of them currently work on ships carrying the EU flag. With the Philippines now assured of EU technical support to further improve the implementation and oversight of minimum education, training, and certification requirements, as well as living and working conditions, our maritime industry faces a brighter future in the years ahead, thanks to the government’s efforts to help our seafarers.

Will all these lead to better working conditions for our nurses and keep them here, where they are needed?

At the House of Representatives, nurses’ groups are lobbying for a bill filed by Makabayan lawmakers to set a minimum monthly salary of P50,000 for nurses in public and private hospitals.

FNU and other health workers’ groups believe that nurses deserve higher pay and an acceptable living wage as professionals who risk their lives in the line of duty.

To address the glaring shortage of nurses, the Commission on Higher Education is already carrying out carrying out several measures.

These include retooling those who failed board examinations, adopting a nursing curriculum with exit credentials, redirecting nonpracticing nurses, and conducting exchange programs with other countries.

For instance, 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.

CHED is also working on a flexible shortterm masteral program to address the lack of instructors in nursing and medical schools.

The Health Department, meanwhile, is monitoring the status of the proposed legislation on the Magna Carta for Public

Absurd reactions to the ICC issue

In fine, there is no legal impediment either in international law or under Philippine law against the withdrawal of the Philippines from the Rome Statute, and the refusal of the country to allow the ICC to conduct any investigation in Philippine territory.

Recently, Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra suggested a local commission be created to investigate the drug war of the Duterte administration. That way, Guevarra said, the ICC will be convinced that the justice system in the Philippines works and that, accordingly, the ICC need not enter the picture.

Remulla disagrees with Guevarra’s proposal.

The justice secretary maintains that any anomaly that may have occurred during the antinarcotics war of the Duterte administration can be readily taken up under the current justice system obtaining in the Philippines.

Remulla is right.

Moreover, adopting Guevarra’s suggestion is tantamount to indirectly accepting the ICC’s jurisdiction over the Philippines which the ICC has effectively lost by reason of Manila’s withdrawal from the Rome Statute.

In addition, the Philippines should never create an investigating body solely for the purpose of satisfying an international agency’s illegal attempt to override Philippine sovereignty.

At the end of the day, the manner by which the Philippine government enforces Philippine law is none of the ICC’s business, because the Philippines has withdrawn from the Rome Statute, and because the existing justice system in the Philippines is functioning efficiently. That notwithstanding, Guevarra recently

submitted a formal request to the ICC, praying that the ICC stop its investigation of ex-President Duterte’s anti-drug war. Naturally, the ICC denied the appeal.

Considering the manifest desire of the ICC to impose itself against Philippine sovereignty, did Guevarra really expect the ICC to grant the appeal?

Surprisingly, Guevarra filed an appeal asking the ICC to reconsider its rejection of his earlier request. Does Guevarra also expect the ICC to reconsider its ruling?

Like his suggestion of creating a commission, Guevarra’s overtures to the ICC may have the effect of vesting jurisdiction on the ICC which the latter does not have to begin with, in view of the country’s withdrawal from the Rome Statute.

The Office of the Solicitor General operates under the Department of Justice.

Thus, Remulla should demand an explanation from Guevarra for his legally unsound reactions to the ICC controversy, and prevent further damage to the official position of the Philippines on this issue.

(Editor’s Note: The Office of the Solicitor General is an independent and autonomous office attached to the Department of Justice. Although the OSG is attached to the DOJ, the OSG is not a constituent unit of the DOJ. The DOJ’s authority, control and supervision over the OSG are limited only to budgetary purposes.)

Health Care Workers and Philippine Nursing Act. It is also doing a study on the standardization of salaries of nurses, doctors, and healthcare workers.

To address the drain of nursing professionals, the DOH has also proposed to retain the 7,000 annual deployment cap for new-hire medical workers abroad.

Last year, the government announced it might resort to providing scholarships for nurses and other medical workers to encourage them to stay and serve in the country.

For its part, the PSAC vowed to monitor new technologies in healthcare that could be used in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas and recommend these to the DOH and PhilHealth.

It is also studying the feasibility of establishing remote diagnostics centers and assessing new medical technologies and their costs.

Will all these lead to better working conditions for our nurses and keep them here, where they are needed?

We’ll have to wait and see.

(Email: ernhil@yahoo.com)

Weeks ago, a morning news program broadcast on the ANC News Channel aired several online comments from its viewers regarding the refusal of the Philippines to allow the ICC to conduct its investigation in Philippine territory. The bulk of the comments argue if the Philippine government has nothing to hide, it should not be afraid of the ICC investigation.

Those comments are non sequitur made by persons who do not understand the law.

Even if one has nothing to hide from investigators, it does not necessarily follow that one should consent to an investigation in the first place!

If the simpletons who made those silly comments were to have their way, everyone in the Philippines, particularly those with nothing to hide, should automatically consent to any search of their persons, houses, papers and effects precisely because they have nothing to hide. That absurdity violates the constitutional right against unreasonable searches and seizures.

While everyone has the right to comment on public issues, the government should not be faulted for sending to the trash bin such absurd comments on serious matters involving international law.

While everyone has the right to comment on public issues, the government should not be faulted for sending to the trash bin such absurd comments on serious matters involving international law

VIDEO DRAWS OUTRAGE

Zelensky assails Russian ‘beasts’ over beheading

KYIV—Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday denounced Russian “beasts” after a video appeared to show the beheading of a Ukrainian prisoner, prompting international outrage.

The emergence of the disturbing footage, which AFP was unable to independently verify, sparked fury in Ukraine, with Kyiv saying Russia is “worse than ISIS”—an acronym for the Islamic State jihadist group.

The European Union pledged to hold war criminals to account, while a UN mission in Ukraine said it was “appalled”.

The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine also pointed to another video spreading online, saying it “shows mutilated bodies of apparent Ukrainian POWs”.

It was not clear when or where the video was filmed. Ukrainian authorities said they were trying to identify the beheading victim.

Moscow and Kyiv have repeatedly accused each other of killing prisoners of war since Russian President Vladimir Putin sent troops to invade Ukraine more than a year ago.

A number of videos alleging to show POW killings have made the rounds on the internet over the past year.

Following the emergence of a new video, Zelensky said in an address posted to social media that “the world must see” what he called an “execution” of a Ukrainian captive.

REPUBLIC

“There is something that no one in the world can ignore: how easily these beasts kill,” the grim-faced Ukrainian leader said.

“We won’t forget anything, nor will we forgive murderers.” ‘Act now!’

The video, which lasts one minute 40 seconds, shows a masked man in camouflage decapitating another man in uniform.

After the screams stop, other voices are heard encouraging the attacker in Russian.

After the man is decapitated, a voice is heard saying that the head should be sent “to the commander”.

The victim’s vest bearing the Ukrainian trident and a skull can also be seen in the footage.

Zelensky urged world leaders to act and help Ukraine defeat Russia as Kyiv forces prepare a counter-offensive after a months-long stalemate on the battlefield.

“We need to act now!” the Ukrainian president said.

He echoed that message in virtual remarks Wednesday to an International Monetary Fund (IMF) roundtable in Washington, where the global lender is holding its spring meetings. AFP

ASEAN chair ‘strongly condemns’ Myanmar air strike

JAKARTA—The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) “strongly condemns” recent air strikes in Myanmar in which dozens of people were reported killed, said a statement issued Thursday by Indonesia, the current ASEAN chair.

“All forms of violence must end immediately, particularly the use of force against civilians,” said the statement.

A statement from the ASEAN chair does not necessarily indicate the agreement of all member states.

The official death toll from Tuesday morning’s strike on the remote Kanbalu township in Myanmar’s central Sagaing region remains unclear, though at least 100 fatalities have been reported by the BBC, The Irrawaddy and Radio Free Asia.

The junta confirmed Wednesday it had “launched limited air strikes” after receiving a tip-off from locals about an event marking the opening of a local defense force office connected to the military government’s opponents.

The attack drew swift condemnation from the United Nations and Western powers, with UN rights chief Volker Turk saying he was “horrified” by the deadly strike.

One villager told AFP on Wednesday that it was difficult to identify the dead.

“We cannot identify anymore who is who among the dead because they all became pieces,” he said.

Indonesia—Southeast Asia’s biggest economy—is serving as 2023 chair of ASEAN and will host the 10-member

Saudi hosts landmark Iran, Syria visits; Middle East ties thaw

RIYADH—Saudi Arabia hosted landmark delegations from Iran and Syria on Wednesday as Gulf countries prepare for re-establishing diplomatic ties after years of bitter divisions.

Only hours after Iranian state media said a delegation had touched down in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia announced the arrival of Syria’s foreign minister in Jeddah— the first such trip since the country’s civil war broke out in 2011.

Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad met with his Saudi counterpart and discussed “the necessary steps to achieve a complete political settle-

ment to the Syrian crisis”, the Saudi foreign ministry said in a statement.

The aim is to achieve “a national reconciliation and... bring back Syria to its Arab fold and resume its natural role in the Arab world”, the statement said.

The two diplomats also confirmed that steps would be take to resume consular services, and also announced plans to resume flights between their countries.

With Iran’s president also expected in Saudi soon, and the Saudis negotiating with Yemen’s Huthi rebels this

week in an attempt to end fighting there, optimism has blossomed for the turbulent Gulf region during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

“Iranians and Syrians are in Saudi Arabia on the same day. That’s totally crazy and was inconceivable a few months ago,” a Riyadh-based Arab diplomat told AFP.

On Friday, representatives of nine Arab countries will meet in Jeddah to discuss letting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s long-isolated country attend an Arab League summit next month. AFP

bloc’s annual leaders’ meetings in May and September.

Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said last week that Jakarta had been working hard to implement the “five-point consensus” agreed upon with the Myanmar junta in April 2021, which calls for an end to violence and dialogue between the military and rebels.

But the plan has been largely ignored by the junta, and mediation attempts by ASEAN countries to solve the crisis have so far failed.

Jakarta’s chairmanship of the bloc had raised hopes ASEAN could push for a peaceful solution in Myanmar, using Indonesia’s weight as a regional economic power and its diplomatic experience. AFP

IN BRIEF

Fox News defamation case heads to trial

WASHINGTON—A closely-watched civil trial that pits vote machine maker Dominion against Fox News and tests the extent of free speech rights for media in America—even when broadcasting alleged election falsehoods—is due to start Thursday with jury selection.

The proceedings could be one of the most consequential defamation cases ever heard in the United States and threaten financial and reputational damage for Rupert Murdoch’s conservative TV network.

The stakes “are pretty high for Fox News,” Nicole Hemmer, a historian specializing in media at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, told AFP.

Dominion Voting Systems sued Fox News in a Delaware court in March 2021 for $1.6 billion.

Pascual, on October 2, 2012, at the Office of the Mayor of Noda City, Tokyo, Japan, in accordance with Article 26 of the Family Code of the Philippines, and ordering the City Civil Registrar’s Office of Quezon City and the Administrator, Civil Registrar General of the Philippines Statistics Authority, Quezon City, to register and to cause marginal annotation of the said recognized foreign divorce in Japan in the Report of Marriage, dated September 15, 2006 in Quezon City, of the petitioner and her former Japanese husband, Hidetoshi Someya.

Finding the verified Petition to be sufficient in form and substance, the Court gives due course thereto

WHEREFORE, let a copy of this Order be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks at petitioner’s expense, upon coordination with the Office of the Clerk of Court, Regional Trial Court, Quezon City.

Hearing on the verified Petition is hereby set on May 15, 2023 at 9:30 A.M. before this Court at Room 608, 6/F, Hall of Justice-Annex, City Hall Complex, Quezon City, at which date, time and place all interested persons are required to appear and show cause why the petition should not be granted.

Let copies of this Order be posted by the Branch Sheriff thirty (30) days before the hearing date at the following places at the expense of the petitioner;

1. At the main entrance of the City Hall Building, Quezon City;

2. On the bulletin board of the Court, Hall of Justice Bldg., Quezon City; and

3. At the Barangay Hall of the barangay where the petitioner resides.

Likewise, let a copy of this Order be furnished the Office of the Local Civil Registrar of Quezon City; the Office of the Solicitor

SEOUL—North Korea likely fired a “new type” of ballistic missile Thursday that may have used advanced solid fuel, Seoul’s military said, representing a potential technical breakthrough for Pyongyang’s banned weapons programs.

“North Korea appears to have fired a new type of ballistic missile, possibly using solid fuel,” Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff told AFP.

All of Pyongyang’s known intercontinental ballistic missiles are liquid-fuelled, and solid-fuel ICBMs that can be launched from land or submarines have long been on top of leader Kim Jong Un’s wish list.

Such missiles are easier to store and transport, more stable and quicker to prepare for launch, and thus harder to detect and destroy pre-emptively.

At a military parade in Pyongyang in February, North Korea showed off a record number of nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missiles, including what analysts said was possibly a new solid-fuelled ICBM.

Seoul’s military on Thursday said it had detected one “medium range or longer” ballistic missile launched on a lofted trajectory—up not out—from the Pyongyang area at 0723 (1023 GMT), which flew 1,000 km (621 miles). AFP

Last-ditch protests over Macron’s pension reform

PARIS—Hundreds of thousands of people are set to take to the streets across France again on Thursday to protest against President Emmanuel Macron’s pension reform in a final day of demonstrations before a crucial court decision on the legislation.

Police expect around 400,000 to 600,000 people to take part nationwide, less than half of the peak of nearly 1.3 million reached in March at the height of the protests against the bid to raise the retirement age to 64 from 62.

Security forces are on alert for troublemakers, with around 1,500 anarchist and radical protesters expected in Paris, while regional towns such as Nantes and Rennes are again seen as being at risk of clashes.

All eyes are currently on the constitutional court, which is due to rule on the legality of the draft pensions law.

“The decision from the constitutional

court on Friday will bring an end to the democratic and constitutional procedures,” Macron told reporters on a trip to the Netherlands on Wednesday, adding that public debate “will continue, for sure”.

If the court issues a greenlight -- and ministers are privately confident it will -- Macron hopes to sign the changes into law immediately, clearing the way for them to enter into force before the end of 2023.

Having repeatedly snubbed calls for talks with union leaders in recent weeks, the 45-year-old said he would invite labour representatives for discussions once the court decision was published.

“I know that traces of our current disagreements will remain, but I will do it (call for talks) in a spirit of concord and with the desire to look to the future, whatever decision is announced,” he added. AFP

It alleges that the 24-hour news behemoth promoted Donald Trump’s false claims that its machines were used to rig the 2020 presidential election that he lost to Joe Biden.

The company argues that Fox News aired the falsehoods while knowing they were untrue.

Dominion says that the network began endorsing Trump’s conspiracy narrative because the channel was losing its audience after it became the first television outlet to call Arizona for Biden, projecting the Democrat would win the presidency. AFP

Gun enthusiast leaked US documents—Post

WASHINGTON—The source behind a leak of highly sensitive US government documents is a young gun enthusiast who first shared them on social media, The Washington Post reported Wednesday.

The breach—which has sparked a criminal investigation by the Department of Justice—includes classified information about Ukraine’s battle against invading Russian forces, as well as secret assessments of US allies.

Two members of a group on online social platform Discord told The Post that hundreds of pages of material had been posted there by a man who told them he worked on a US military base and brought the documents home with him.

The man, who went by the nickname “OG”, regularly posted documents on the group for months, the group members told The Post, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Some information in the documents was so sensitive it was marked “NOFORN”, meaning it was not to be shared with foreign nationals, The Post reported.

The group of around 24, including people from Russia and Ukraine, bonded over their “mutual love of guns, military gear and God”, and formed an “invitationonly clubhouse in 2020 on Discord”, The Post reported. AFP

Nokor fires ‘new type’ of ballistic missile—Seoul

CAMPING IN A TREE. Thomas Brail (right), founder of the GNSA (National Group for the monitoring of trees), occupies a tree at the entrance to Vendine, southwestern France, on April 10, 2023. Environmental activists have set up an encampment near the national 126 road (RN126), where the route of the Castres-Toulouse A69 motorway project is located. AFP

HAPPY SONGKRAN. Revellers take part in a water fight on Khao San road on the eve of Thai New Year, locally known as Songkran, in Bangkok on April 12. AFP

Stock market extends losses; GT Capital, PLDT lead gainers

STOCKS fell for a third day, as rising oil prices, accompanied by peso depreciation, weighed on investor sentiment and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas floated the possibility it would end monetary tightening in May.

The PSE index, the 30-company benchmark of the Philippine Stock Exchange, went down by 20 points, or 0.32 percent, to close at 6,448.87 as five of the six subsectors retreated. It was also down 1.79 percent this year.

The broader all-share index also slipped 8 points, or 0.25 percent, to settle at 3,446.52 on a value turnover of P5.30 billion. Losers outmatched gainers, 124 to 65, while 44 shares were unchanged.

WB members agree to hike lending by $50b

NEW YORK—World Bank member countries have endorsed measures allowing a $50-billion lending boost over the next decade, its outgoing president David Malpass said Wednesday.

The move, announced during the International Monetary Fund and World Bank spring meetings in Washington, is part of an ongoing evolution of the development lender amid pushes for it to meet global challenges like climate change.

Earlier on Wednesday, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen urged the World Bank to continue taking on added reform measures this year.

“We should use the rest of the year to undertake additional reforms through a staged implementation approach,” Yellen said at a roundtable discussion on the evolution of multilateral development banks.

The United States is the largest shareholder of the World Bank Group.

‘Signs of progress’

Malpass, who announced his upcoming resignation in February, said in a statement late Wednesday that discussions with shareholders this week have “yielded signs of progress” on issues including a need for greater debt transparency, greater development finance and more impactful climate action.

“Our member countries endorsed measures that can add up to $50 billion of IBRD lending capacity over the next ten years,” he added, referring to the bank’s middle-income lending arm, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Malpass said there was full recognition of the importance of concessional resources and private sector investment. AFP

China exports rose

BEIJING—China’s exports rose in March for the first time in six months, customs data showed Thursday, as the world’s second-largest economy continued its economic recovery following the end of onerous coronavirus curbs late last year.

Total exports soared 14.8 percent year-on-year, the data showed, a sharp rise from last March when strict virus lockdowns crippled normal economic activity.

The first jump since September upended the expectations of analysts, many of whom predicted a further decline, according to Bloomberg News.

“The positive surprise may be partly due to a low base effect -- the Covid outbreaks in March last year forced many factories to shut down,” said Zhiwei Zhang, of Pinpoint Asset Management.

The strong growth may also be a result of “inventory and order cycles for exporters”, Zhang added.

China abruptly ditched some of the world’s strictest Covid curbs in December, unleashing a wave of cases that prevented many businesses from operating normally.

The outbreak “likely depleted factories’ inventories”, Zhang said, but added that “factories are [now] running at full capacity (and have) caught up the cumulated orders from the past”.

Imports contracted 1.4 percent, the data from the General Administration of Customs showed. AFP

Five of the 10 most active stocks ended in the green, led by GT Capital Holdings Inc. which rose 1.90 percent to P494.20 and PLDT Inc. which picked up 1.59 percent to P1,280.00.

The peso also tumbled for a third day, closing at 55.26 against the US dollar, compared to 55.22 Wednesday. The local currency was still up 0.89 percent this year.

Asian markets were mixed Thursday as traders weighed data showing US in-

flation falling against minutes from the Federal Reserve’s most recent policy meeting indicating officials foresaw a recession at the end of the year.

A smaller-than-forecast rise in prices last month provided some much-needed hope to investors that a year of monetary tightening was finally showing results, but analysts said the details indicated there was still some way to go.

The five-percent rise in the March consumer price index was the lowest since May 2021 but core inflation, which excludes food and energy prices, accelerated to 5.6 percent from 5.5 percent the previous month.

The reading came after Friday’s jobs report showed another healthy increase in recruitment and helped reinforce expectations the Fed will hike rates in

TOP GAINERS

May, for the tenth time in just over a year.

Traders await the release of wholesale inflation later in the day, and firstquarter earnings Friday from top banks including JPMorgan and Citibank.

Wall Street swung after the release but turned negative towards the end of the day after the Fed minutes, which highlighted concerns about the impact of last month’s banking crisis, in which three US lenders went under and Credit Suisse was taken over.

“The staff’s projection at the time of the March meeting included a mild recession starting later this year, with a recovery over the subsequent two years,” according to the minutes of the Fed policy meeting, where rates were lifted by 25 basis points. With AFP

US inflation at slowest pace, signaling less hawkish Fed

WASHINGTON—Consumer inflation

in the United States slipped in December to the lowest level in more than a year, government data showed on Thursday, signaling the worst of red-hot price increases may be over.

As American households struggled with decades-high inflation in the past year, the Federal Reserve hiked its benchmark lending rate at a pace unheard of since the 1980s in hopes of cooling the world’s biggest economy.

Inflation has eased for a sixth consecutive month alongside the Fed’s aggressive campaign, fueling hope for reprieve from steeply rising interest rates.

The consumer price index (CPI) last month rose 6.5 percent from a year ago, the smallest increase since October 2021, said the Labor Department.

This figure is also down from No-

POLICYMAKERS should revisit the Kaliwa Dam project and weigh the consequences if it remains in the doldrums for a longer period.

The Philippine population is marching toward the 120-million mark and the demand for water naturally from residents and commercial users alike will increase exponentially. Water is a finite resource but the government and all stakeholders can manage and maximize its use to avoid wastage―and with the least impact on the environment.

The Kaliwa Dam in the Sierra Madre mountain ranges occupying the provinces of Rizal and Quezon offers the best solution to the water shortage now gripping Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

The administration of the late President Ferdinand Marco Sr. proposed the construction of the Kaliwa Dam in the 1970s. Its rollout, however, was stalled because of the opposition of local stakeholders, especially from the environmentalists and indigenous peoples (IP) sector.

Environmental issues, a funding controversy and the disturbance on the way of life of the indigenous tribes should not outweigh the water security of the Philippines and the overall economic benefits of the project.

The sole source of water for Metro Manila is the 56-year old Angat Dam.

Unfortunately, the Angat Dam can no longer keep up with the demand of Metro Manila residents for water. The Angat Dam can only provide 4,000 million liters a day to the National

MOST ACTIVE

vember’s 7.1 percent spike.

“The index for gasoline was by far the largest contributor to the monthly all items decrease,” said the department. This more than offset increases in the shelter component, with elevated rents still boosting consumer costs.

Between November and December, CPI dipped 0.1 percent. ‘Right direction’

While there is some way to go in curbing inflation, “we’re clearly moving in the right direction,” President Joe Biden told reporters Thursday.

“And there’s more breathing room in store for American workers and families,” he said.

Moody’s Analytics economist Matt Colyar told AFP that “the trend is an encouraging one,” noting that figures have come down from a recent peak.

Capital Region, where 2,400 MLD is allotted for the west zone and 1,600 MLD to the east zone.

The demand figures could be an underestimate. Updated data from the the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System show water demand for Angat Dam in 2010 was already at 4,395 MLD while 2020 demand reached up to 5,680 MLD. The rising demand is the reason behind rotating water interruptions in the National Capital Region. To put it simply, water from the Angat Dam can no longer meet the demand.

The MWSS in January this year predicted that Metro Manila would experience a water deficit in 2024 because of increasing demand brought about by booming urban population and the rapid opening of Philippine economy after the pandemic.

The construction of Kaliwa Dam, thus, must start as soon as possible. Upon operations, the dam is expected to generate 600 MLD. Its water conveyance tunnel can further produce an estimated 2,400 MLD. Reduced burden

The supply water supply boost from the Kaliwa Dam will reduce the burden of Angat Dam. The operation of the new dam is also timely―water supply is not only affected by urban household demand but by other factors such as climate change, global warming and over-pollution. Kaliwa Dam’s operation will benefit 17.46 million people living in Metro Manila, Rizal and Quezon. Opponents of the dam construction

claim it will destroy ancestral forests and displace 5,000 IPs from the Dumagat/ Remontados tribe and 100,000 residents living downstream.

These groups acknowledge the need for water security but believe that there are other alternative sources and ways to address the water problem, such as rainwater collection and the adoption of new technologies to convert wastewater into potable water.

The proposed alternative sources from the dam’s critics will only provide temporary relief and may even be too expensive to implement. The MWSS in 2019 ruled out the desalination option for the Philippines because of its high costs. If an average Filipino household is already complaining over the P40 price of water, what more if households will carry the costs of desalination treatment amounting to P90?

Compensation

The MWSS fortunately addressed the concerns of the affected indigenous peoples. The agency has already obtained from the elders of the DumagatRemontados tribe the free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) required by the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP). These tribes under an agreement will receive P160 million in disturbance fees. About P80 million will go to Tanay Dumagat-Remontados Ancestral Domain Development Inc. in Rizal while the other half will benefit the Pinagtaanan ne Dumagat/Remontado de General Nakar in Quezon.

The construction of the Kaliwa Dam must be finished as soon as possible because water supply in Manila is being continuously depleted due to rapid urbanization, big demand from households and businesses, over-pollution and the wide-array effects of climate change.

The IPs, meanwhile, can still preserve their culture since the physical, tangible objects needed to animate indigenous culture are still available in other locations. With the imminent threat of climate change, IPs should acknowledge the possibility that their ancestral lands and material culture will also be altered and destroyed. But this does not mean the end of their civilization. Pacific Island nations, for one, are exerting efforts to preserve their culture while preparing to migrate to other countries since their homelands are expected to be consumed by the ocean in the coming decades because of global warming and climate change.

But the construction of the Kaliwa Dam cannot be overestimated. The water security to be provided by the Kaliwa Dam is needed for the sustenance of the Philippine economy.

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

14.8% in March, first time in six months

Kaliwa Dam needs more serious attention to solve water shortage

SPRING MEETINGS. Japanese Finance Vice Minister Masato Kanda (left), Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki (center) and Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda speak during a news conference at the annual spring meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund at the IMF headquarters on April 12, 2023 in Washington, DC. This year’s meetings, which come amid high inflation, slowing global growth and concern over the banking sector after the dramatic collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, run through April 16. AFP

FREEWAY TRAFFIC. Vehicles head east on a Los Angeles freeway during the evening rush hour commute on April 12, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. US President Joe Biden’s administration unveiled new proposed auto emissions rules, aiming to accelerate the electric vehicle transition with a target of two-thirds of the new US car market by 2032. AFP

Gov’t officials woo US firms to invest in PH infrastructure

By Julito G. Rada

FILIPINO officials asked American multinational companies to invest in infrastructure projects in the Philippines which is one of the priorities of the Marcos administration.

National Economic and Development Authority Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said during the Philippine economic briefing in Washington D.C. on April 12 that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. recently approved 194 infrastructure projects worth a total of $165 billion.

“Given the country’s numerous development and infrastructure needs, there are vast opportunities in sectors

Alliance Global posted P16.1-b income in 2022

By Jenniffer B. Austria

ALLIANCE Global Group Inc., a conglomerate led by businessman Andrew Tan, said Thursday attributable net income reached P16.1 billion in 2022, down 4.7 percent year-onyear as cost pressures affected the company’s margins.

AGI said in a stock exchange filing consolidated revenues jumped 20 percent to P183.6 billion from P152.8 billion the year before.

The conglomerate said cost and expenses grew at a faster rate on increased inflationary pressures, higher cost of raw material and supply chain problems.

Core attributable income, which strips off one-time gains and losses, posted a 7-percent improvement from a year earlier, while reported net income climbed 6 percent year-on-year to P25.2 billion.

“The country’s sustained economic recovery helped propel the sequential topline improvement of all our business segments last year, leading to our record performance in consolidated revenues in 2022,” AGI chief executive Kevin Tan said

“It also helped that our group’s diversified portfolio has remained agile to spot and seize opportunities in the market place,” he said.

AGI has investments in property, development, food and beverage, spirits manufacturing, quick service restaurants, integrated tourism development and infrastructure development.

AGI property unit Megaworld Corp. registered a 17-percent increase in sales to P59.5 billion, while Emperador Inc. booked a 12-percent hike in revenues to P62.8 billion.

Quick service restaurant operator Golden Arches Development Corp., a venture with fast-food tycoon George Yang, more than doubled its attributable profit to P1.8 billion from P869 million as revenues hit a record P34.4-billion.

GADC, which holds the exclusive franchise to operate the McDonald’s restaurants in the Philippines, ended 2022 with 704 stores across the country.

“As we face a challenging global and domestic macro environment, our group remains optimistic of our growth prospects this year, armed with the belief that our sound business strategies, competitive positioning and healthy financial standing will continue to bear us through as we move forward,” Tan said.

such as energy, water, logistics, transportation, agribusiness, manufacturing, tourism, health, education, and digital connectivity,” he said. Balisacan underscored the advantages of investing in the Philippines such as the rapid and sustained economic growth, the country’s young, vibrant and growing working-age population and recent structural and regulatory re-

forms aimed at improving the business climate for international investors.

Balisacan said the private sector is a vital partner in realizing game-changing infrastructure projects in the country, given the limited resources available.

“Despite the tight fiscal space resulting from the financing of our needs during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Marcos administration has made it a top priority to utilize Public-Private Partnerships or PPPs to support and complement its infrastructure drive. Pursuing PPPs will enable the government to leverage the private sector’s substantial technological and managerial expertise, as well as its financial resources,” he said.

Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno said the government is determined to

sustain high infrastructure investment in the next six years through the public-private partnership mechanism to enhance energy, logistics, transportation, telecommunications and water infrastructure in the country.

“Now, the spectrum of industries that foreign investors can participate in has grown wider than ever before. The economic liberalization measures that the Philippine government has enacted in recent years have opened up key highgrowth sectors to international participation,” Diokno said.

He said the amendments to the Retail Trade Liberalization Act, Foreign Investments Act and the Public Service Act eased foreign restrictions on investments in the country.

IN BRIEF

water utility companies as it ramps up the provision of wastewater treatment services in its service areas. The water utility said it would push through with its first septage treatment plant in the municipality of Coron in Palawan as planned. The firm signed a partnership agreement with Coron Rural Waterworks and Sanitation Association to take on the project.

“Currently, we have five projects under contract with wastewater treatment as part of our service obligations, one of which is with CRWASA Tubig Coron wherein the planning, design, land purchase and clearing operation were already done. We are preparing for the actual construction which we are targeting to start before the end of 2023,” said Tubig Pilipinas president Ryan Yapkianwee.

DBP’S SUPPORT. Development Bank of the Philippines

hands with Charoen

Foods

Company Limited

GSIS buys P1.46b worth of shares in Zamora’s Nickel Asia

STATE-RUN pension fund Government Service Insurance System invested P1.46 billion in Nickel Asia Corp., a company established by businessman Manuel Zamora Jr.

GSIS purchased 233.588 million shares in NAC through a special block sale at P6.28 apiece, the mining firm said in a stock exchange filing Thursday.

The acquisition price represents a 4-percent discount to the stock’s closing price of P6.50 on Wednesday.

“GSIS’ investment in NAC shows that it is possible for a company to grow responsibly. Our commitment to sustainable development is something we take seriously, and we are happy to attract like-minded entities that believe in the value of responsible mining and renewable energy,” NAC president and

TNVS providers welcome opening of 10,300 new slots

By Darwin G. Amojelar

THE largest transport network vehicle service alliance in the country said Thursday the government’s opening of more than 10,000 slots would help produce much-needed livelihood opportunities in Metro Manila and neighboring areas.

“The new slots will present new livelihood opportunities for fellow Filipinos who are looking for new income streams in the post-pandemic era,” said the TNVS Alliance of the Philippines.

“We look forward to welcoming these new TNVS drivers to our community as we provide safe and conve-

nient transport service that every Filipino deserves,” the group said.

“We are seeing more and more passengers on the road needing a ride,” it said, adding that commuters were “relieved and sincerely grateful to the LTFRB [Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board] for the new slots as this will help to reduce the challenges of traveling in Metro Manila.”

The LTFRB issued Board Resolution No. 022, Series of 2023 opening 10,300 new TNVS slots in Metro Manila and the MUCEP areas. MUCEP includes cities in Metro Manila and in the provinces of Bulacan, Laguna, Cavite and Rizal.

chief executive Martin Antonio Zamora said.

GSIS president and general manager Wick Veloso said the acquisition was in line with the fund’s effort lengthen its fund life.

“GSIS continues to look for ways to lengthen its fund life through viable investment opportunities such as the successful vertically-integrated mining ore production and processing businesses of NAC,” Veloso said.

“Our decision to invest in NAC supports the goal of safely growing our funds for our members’ benefit, while positioning strategically to aid both the Electric Vehicle industry and nationbuilding,” he said.

NAC aims to achieve its twin goal of becoming a premier ESG investment in

the country and becoming one of the top 25 companies in the Philippine Stock Exchange in terms of market capitalization by 2025.

NAC booked an attributable net income of P7.93 billion in 2022, up by 1.5 percent from P7.81 billion it reported in 2021 as higher nickel ore prices and favorable exchange rates offset lower sales volume.

NAC is the country’s largest producer of lateritic nickel ore. It has five operating mines—Cagdianao, Dinapigue, Hinatuan, Rio Tuba and Taganito.

NAC in February bagged the right to be the exclusive mining service contractor for two properties in Davao Oriental owned by Hallmark Mining Corp. and Austral-Asia Link Mining Corp. Jenniffer B. Austria

SHFC PROJECT. Executives of the Social Housing Finance Corp. and RGJ Realty Corp., together with local government officials, break ground on Valley View Townships—a multistory housing project for 10,400 Misamis Oriental families as part of Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino program which seeks to address the 6.5 million housing backlog in the country. SHFC will finance the multibillion peso township project which is expected to benefit workers in Tagoloan and nearby areas, including employees in the municipality’s 3,000-hectare PHIVIDEC Industrial Park. The economic zone is home to several dozens of major local and international companies that employ workers in the manufacturing and service sectors. Each of the 25 towers in the township will consist of 13 floors with 32 units at each level. The township will feature amenities such as commercial areas, greenspaces, clubhouse, chapel, children’s playground and various facilities for community socialization and basic services.

ERC stops Meralco unit from disconnecting

By Alena Mae S. Flores

THE Energy Regulatory Commission ordered Manila Electric Co.’s retail electricity arm MPower to cease and desist from disconnecting Sunpower Philippines Manufacturing Ltd. until the pending issue on the fuel cost recovery adjustment charges is resolved. SunPower, a Laguna-based supplier of hygienic products including personal care products, adult diapers and face masks, sought ERC’s intervention on its dispute with MPower, saying the contract price under the retail electricity supply agreement is fixed, hence, there is no basis for the imposition of the FCRA. SunPower said in a filing with the ERC that MPower continued to insist on the payment of the FCRA charges

The water firm underscored the importance of wastewater treatment infrastructure for top tourist destinations such as Coron for the protection of natural resources such as beaches and wildlife from pollution and contamination.

Tubig Pilipinas said the construction and operation of STP is part of its service obligations in areas where they operate. Othel V. Campos

EEI maintains landmark projects ahead of 92nd year

YUCHENGCO Group of Companies’ construction firm EEI Corp. is set to commemorate its 92nd anniversary with a leadership transition seeing chief operating officer Henry Antonio taking the helm as chief executive in May, while maintaining its status as major player in the industry.

Founded in 1931, EEI is a renowned construction company that continues to drive change and progress in the Philippine construction industry to future-proof the lives of its stakeholders including customers, contractors, partners, suppliers and—by extension and through its projects—the general public.

EEI is approaching the year with cautious optimism amid economic uncertainties in the global and domestic front, but also sees catalysts that present new growth opportunities for construction services in both light and heavy industry.

“The structural reforms that promote Foreign Direct Investment such as the Public Services Act and the EO (Executive Order) to adopt the Philippine Development Plan, that the government is trying to institute, have the potential to impact growth in the manufacturing, renewable energy and logistics sectors. In addition, we see the continued growth trend in global digitalization as something that would influence the growth in data centers,” Antonio said. The prospects remain positive for EEI despite potential headwinds in the property sector and delays in the implementation of government infrastructure projects as its market position allows the company to keep thriving amid a short-term environment with fewer new capital projects.

LRT extension to Cavite to partially open by 2024

LIGHT Rail Manila Corp. said Thursday it remains on track for the commercial operations of the first phase of the 11.7-kilometer LRT-1 Cavite Extension Project by the fourth quarter of 2024.

LRMC said that since it started the construction in September 2019, it achieved a progress rate of 82.7 percent as of end March 2023 which included both civil works and rail system works. The viaduct was completed in February 2022, while the station construction includes architectural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection and safety works. In terms of rail system, trackworks and overhead catenary system installation are almost complete.

The construction of five new stations is in various stages of development with Redemptorist Station registering 56-percent completion, MIA Station with 61 percent, Asia World with 51 percent, Ninoy Aquino Station with 55 percent and Dr. Santos Station with 60 percent.

“We remain optimistic that we can start commercial operations of Phase 1 by the fourth quarter of 2024, highlighting the continuous milestones being achieved by our team. The target this year is to complete all civil and equipment installation works so we can focus on commissioning the entire line by next year,” said LRMC president and chief executive Juan Alfonso. Darwin G. Amojelar

SunPower factory

amounting to over P160 million as a pre-condition for the issuance of the ‘attestation of no outstanding balance.’

The company said it was forced to pay a partial payment of over P31 million in FCRA charges to ensure that there was a continuous supply of electricity.

“The commission recognizes that SunPower continues to be under threat of disconnection from respondents. Hence, in order to prevent disconnection, rendering petitioner without electric power, but mindful that granting the relief sought by the Petitioner may be construed as indirectly ruling on the omnibus motion, the commission hereby issues a cease and desist order to be effective from issuance hereof until the resolution of the respondents’ omnibus motion,” the ERC said.

“If disconnected, not only will the peti-

tioner be affected, but its customers as well. With the disconnection, the supply chain will be disrupted and a domino effect will ensue in the downstream. Thus, other consumers will be indirectly affected by any disconnection that will be effected by the respondents,” the regulator said.

SunPower said the continuous imposition of the FCRA would result in irreparable damage to its business.

The company said it has a clear and unmistakable right to enforce the terms of the RESA’s fixed contract, and MPower committed material and substantial invasion of that right by constantly threatening disconnection and cessation of supply of electricity.

SunPower said payment of the FCRA charges, even under protest, would substantially disrupt its financial viability and operations.

president and chief executive Michael de Jesus (center) shakes

Pokphand

Public

president Udomsak Aksornphakdee during the memorandum of agreement signing at the DBP head office in Makati City. With them are (from left) DBP assistant vice president Rallen Verdadero, CPFPC assistant vice president Wilaiwan Kijpreechavanich and CP Foods corporate secretary Michelle De Vera. DBP seeks to boost the national government’s efforts to support the local aquaculture industry through its latest partnership with Charoen Pokphand Foods Philippines Corp., the local subsidiary of CPFPC, a leading agro-industrial and food conglomerate.

Brownlee, Gin Kings vow to bounce back in Game 3

By Peter Atencio

USTIN

But Barangay Ginebra coach Tim Cone is not worried how badly Brownlee played in Game 2 of the ongoing 2022-2023 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup Finals.

“We’re not worried about Justin. He’s the least of our worries,” said Cone after the TNT Tropang Giga took control of the boards in the last three minutes and handed the Gin Kings a 95-82 beating at the Araneta Coliseum.

With the series now tied at 1-all, the Gin Kings are back on the drawing board, figuring out how to bounce back in Game 3 today at 5:45 p.m., again at the Big Dome.

The Tropang Giga’s defense clicked in Game 2 as it held the Gin Kings to their lowest output in a conference.

“He (Brownlee) had a tough night. He’s had tough nights in the past. It’s always always about him. But I never worry about him,” said Cone.

The last time this happened to the Gin Kings was back in Game 2 of last year’s Commissioner’s Cup finals when they lost to the Bay Area Dragons, 82-99.

Brownlee himself vowed to be better.

“I feel like we could’ve come out, and played a whole lot better, mostly myself. I felt like I kind of let my team down as their import. I had good moments in other areas, but I just got to be better. Three-for-sixteen? I just got to be better in that field,” Brownlee said of his terrible shooting.

TNT import Rhondae Hollis-Jefferson, who led Tropang Giga with 23 points, spent the evening guarding Brownlee, who finished with 12 points, way below his average of

21.5 points. It was Brownlee’s lowest production this conference since he tallied 11 points in Game 1 of the Commissioner’s Cup semifinals when the Gin Kings won over Magnolia, 87-84.

“Rhondae did a great job defending him. He’s a surprise with his defense,” added Cone.

The multi-titled coach said adjustments in their defensive plays involving Brownlee will be carefully thought out

Medvedev sets up clash with Zverev in Monte Carlo

MONTE CARLO—Daniil Medvedev

cruised through his first match of the year on clay Wednesday, defeating Italian wild card Lorenzo Sonego 6-3, 6-2 at the Monte Carlo Masters to set up a meeting with Alexander Zverev.

Medvedev broke Sonego at the first attempt and then twice more in the second set to reel off his 25th win in his past 26 tour-level matches.

“Every match is a struggle (on clay), but

I have had some good matches on clay,” said Medvedev. “I managed to play good against a very strong player on clay.”

“It’s completely different on clay, but confidence is confidence,” the third seed added.

“It’s about winning matches, because it is always two players that play, and one is going to win... I hope to bring this confidence even further.”

Medvedev earned his tour-leading 30th victory of the season and will face Zverev in the last 16 -- a first meeting between the pair on clay.

“We’ve had some tough matches,” said Medvedev, who has won seven of 13 previous matches against Zverev. Zverev is still finding his way back after tearing ankle ligaments in the French Open semi-finals last year against Rafael Nadal.

Following a difficult first-round tie against the dangerous Alexander Bublik, he beat Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut 6-4, 6-4 on Wednesday.

“I saw him (Zverev) in the first two matches, he seemed to be in good shape. I’m just going to have to be at my best,” said Medvedev. Ruud revenge

Casper Ruud, coming off a title in Estoril last weekend, kicked off his Monte Carlo campaign with a 7-5, 7-6 (7/1) win over Botic van de Zandschulp.

in their next game.

Hollis-Jefferson, who fired 23 points to go with 19 rebounds, nine assists and two steals, leads the conference finals with his norms of 26.5 points and 19.5 rebounds.

Malacañang backs PH hosting of 2 world volley meets

MALACAÑANG has thrown its full support behind two major international tournaments that the Philippine National Volleyball Federation is hosting later this year.

These are the Volleyball Nations League set July 4 to 9 at the Mall of Asia Arena and the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Challenge from November 30 to December 3 in Taguig City.

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin signed on behalf of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. Memorandum Circular No. 17 that “directs all government agencies and instrumentalities, including government-owned or controlled corporations, and encouraging local government units” to support both

International Volleyball Federation, or FIVB, tournaments.

“I would like to thank President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. for supporting the PNVF and the FIVB in promoting volleyball in the country,” PNVF President Ramon “Tats” Suzara said. “We guarantee the success of both tournaments that not only help promote the sport in world level, but also showcase the country’s tourism.”

The PNVF already hosted a men and women leg of the VNL in July last year in Quezon City and the successful hosting prompted the FIVB to ask the national federation to again host the event.

Tickets to the VNL are now on sale via www. smtickets.com. Ticket prices are P11,000 for

ArenaPlus ties up with PBA; makes Thompson 1st athlete endorser

WATCHING professional basketball games just got more fun. Fans can get more actively and deeply involved in the action now that ArenaPlus has signed a sponsorship deal with the Philippine Basketball Association.

ArenaPlus, the newest online entertainment offering of Total Gamezone Xtreme Incorporated (TGXI), is now the Official Sports Entertainment Gateway of the PBA.

With the sponsorship, the PBA’s first-ever official sports entertainment gateway partner and Asia’s firstever professional basketball league aim to level up PBA fans’ entertainment experience with more fun, thrill and excitement.

Multiple-year sponsor ArenaPlus will have brand presence in playing venues of regular PBA 5x5 games, PBA3x3 games and special events like the PBA Draft, All-Star Week, Media Day and the PBA On Tour, among others. It will also be on the league’s social media accounts and digital platforms.

Popular Brgy. Ginebra San Miguel shooting guard Scottie Thompson was

announced as the first ArenaPlus athlete endorser. The PBA’s Best Player of the 2021 PBA Governor’s Cup Conference, Mythical Team Member and one-time Most Valuable Player who was also Second Best Player in the 2022-23 PBA Commissioners’ Cup on January 2023, was selected by the brand because of his exciting brand of play and huge impact on the fans.

The signing ceremony was held in early April at the PBA Office in Quezon City and was attended by PBA

Commissioner Willie Marcial, PBA Marketing Director Jo Francisco, DigiPlus President Andy Tsui and TGXI President Jasper Vicencio. Vicencio said they are super excited to show the PBA and Filipino fans what ArenaPlus is all about and how much fun it can bring to the viewing experience.

“The brand will surely add hype and level up the fun and entertainment of the PBA,” Vicencio said.

DigiPlus President Andy Tsui thanked the PBA for allowing DigiPlus to introduce its new brand.

“Your support is indeed a part of our success and we will continue to support this source of great entertain-

VIP on Court and Patron Front Row, P3,000 for Patron Premium, P2,000 for Patron Regular, P1,300 for Lower Box, P800 for Upper Box and P300 for General Admission.

Just like last year, this July’s VNL features the cream of the crop of men’s volleyball led by world No. 1 Poland and No. 2 Italy, No. 4 Brazil, No. 7 Japan, No. 9 Slovenia, No. 13 The Netherlands, No. 15 Canada and No. 26 China.

The Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Challenge is also returning to the country this year.

Sisi Rondina and Jovelyn Gonzaga won the gold medal in an all-Filipino final against Genesa Jane “Jen” Eslapor and Floremel Rodriguez in the tournament played last December in Subic.

“It is never easy to start at a new tournament and against a player I have lost to before,” said Ruud, who avenged his early exit at the hands of Van de Zandschulp in Miami.

“Sometimes it is a little tricky playing someone you recently lost to, like ‘Not again’, but in this case I was a bit happy because I felt like some unfinished business from the Miami match.” Ruud, a semi-finalist in the Principality two years ago, will take on JanLennard Struff next after the German knocked out 14th seed Alex de Minaur 6-3, 6-2.

Danish teenager Holger Rune swept aside two-time French Open runner-up Dominic Thiem 6-2, 6-4, while Jannik Sinner advanced as Diego Schwartzman retired while trailing by a set and a break. Karen Khachanov, the ninth seed, downed Ilya Ivashka in straight sets to book a showdown with Andrey Rublev. Novak Djokovic plays Italian youngster Lorenzo Musetti on Thursday for a place in the quarter-finals.

Musetti, who famously led Djokovic by two sets at Roland Garros in 2021 before being forced to retire, thrashed qualifier Luca Nardi 6-0, 6-0.

All set for BVR Recharged on

Saturday

THE long wait is over as the Beach Volleyball Republic unveils the BVR Recharged presented by Aboitiz Land at Seafront Residences in San Juan, Batangas on Saturday.

The double-gender event will feature 16 pairs—eight for women and eight for men—in the one-day league kicking off for the summer season.

A total prize money of P70,000 is at stake in the BVR’s first tournament since October 2021, to be held at the Seafront Residences.

Aside from the exciting beach volleyball action featuring the country’s top club and collegiate sand court standouts, there will be a Tides’ weekend market for those who will watch the matches.

The guests can also learn to play beach volleyball for free as well, with BVR founder Bea Tan leading the clinic.

For updates, please follow BVR’s social media accounts.

Barangay Ginebra’s Justin Brownlee scores against TNT’s Rhondae Hollis-Je erson in one of the few times that the naturalized player was able to score easily in Game 2 of the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals.

Scottie Thompson

UST Golden Sox stretch win streak to 4 games

UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas extended its revenge tour with a fourth straight victory in the second round of the UAAP Season 85 Baseball tournament, beating National University 11-6 on Wednesday at the UP Diliman Baseball Field.

The Golden Sox, who remain in the hunt for bronze, moved to fourth place with a 4-5 win-loss record, just behind third-placed Adamson University’s 5-4 before their clash on Saturday.

In contrast, the Bulldogs slipped to fifth place with a 3-6 record, ending their bronze hopes with the loss.

With the pressure of making the Finals lifted off following De La Salle University’s earlier win against Ateneo, UST head coach Jeff Santiago reminded his players what he wanted from them at the start of the round.

“Ipagpatuloy lang nila ‘yung pakiramdam nila na ganyan. Ang sa ‘kin kasi more on the mind game ‘eh. Isang beses lang kaming nag-ensayo mula nu’ng last game. Ito na lang, 90 percent mental tayo. Oh, tignan mo, masaya tayo,” he said.

“Wala sa ‘kin kung manalo o matalo. Hindi ko sila pine-pressure. Ang sa ‘kin is to give your 100 percent,” he continued.

With the Bulldogs hot on their tails heading into the last two innings as they held a precarious one-run lead of 7-6, UST turned to their offense once more and eventually scored four runs in the eighth and ninth innings to put away the game for good.

Captain and leftfielder Mhiegeil Cerda and rookie second baseman Justine Rosales picked up from where they left off in the third inning, scoring the insurance runs in the eighth inning, before substitute first baseman John Areglado and catcher June Cruz added two more in the final inning.

Cerda and Rosales earlier starred in the third inning where UST snagged the lead from NU, with the former scoring off a base hit from starting first baseman Bryan Camarsi, while the latter carved an inside-the-park home run that brought rightfielder Reymond Vargas with him.

LaVine sinks Raptors; Giddey stars as Thunder roll Pelicans

LOS ANGELES —Zach LaVine inspired a fightback as the Chicago Bulls eliminated the Toronto Raptors from the NBA play-in tournament Wednesday, while rising Australian star Josh Giddey helped the Oklahoma City Thunder end the New Orleans Pelicans’ season.

LaVine finished with 39 points—30 of them scored after half-time—in a 109-105 road victory for the Bulls, who will now face Miami on Friday with the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs up for grabs.

LaVine and former Toronto star DeMar DeRozan showed superb composure down the stretch as Chicago recovered from a 19-point third-quarter deficit to snatch a win that left Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena in stunned silence.

DeRozan finished with 23 points while Nikola Vucevic finished with 14 points, 13 rebounds and four assists. Chicago coach Billy Donovan hailed LaVine’s role in

the comeback as “extraordinary.”

“He was phenomenal,” Donovan said. “What he did in that third quarter and going into the fourth quarter—it would have been very difficult for us to have won that game had he not done that.

“His performance was extraordinary. It gave us life, and it gave us hope...he had that mentality where he was going to do whatever he had to get us back in the game.”

Toronto, who looked to be in complete control for long periods of the game, were left ruing a litany of missed free throws.

The Raptors shot only 18-of-36 from the foul line, a 50 percent success rate which was in stark contrast to the Bulls, who made 18 of their 22 free throws.

“That’s a lot of misses,” Toronto coach Nick Nurse said afterwards. “We left a lot of points on the floor there for sure.

“Okay, you’re not going to make them all. But if you miss more than 10 free throws in a game, it’s hard to win.”

Pascal Siakam (32 points) and Fred VanVleet (26) were both outstanding for Toronto, with VanVleet electrifying the home crowd with a buzzer-beating three-pointer

from near half-way as the second quarter ended.

That gave Toronto a 58-47 lead at half-time, and the Raptors kept up their scoring momentum early in the second half, extending their lead to 19 points as Chicago’s offense sputtered.

But the pendulum swung back in the visitors’ favor once LaVine found his range, and as Chicago’s defensive fine-tuning stifled the Raptors, the Bulls began to steadily whittle away the deficit.

A Pat Beverley three-pointer put Chicago ahead for the first time in the second half at 98-95 and Toronto were never able to get back in front thereafter.

Young guns stun Pelicans

In Wednesday’s other game, Oklahoma City’s youthful line-up showed tremendous poise under pressure to grind out a 123-118 victory over the Pelicans in New Orleans. That result means the Thunder will face the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday with the chance to advance into the playoffs, while the Pelicans are now eliminated.

The Melbourne-born Giddey—still only 20—produced a stunning performance with 31 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds. AFP

Record-breaking NBA season across social, digital platforms

NEW YORK—Driven by its multi-platform digital strategy, the NBA finished the 2022-23 regular season with recordbreaking engagement across the NBA App, NBA League Pass and NBA social media accounts. Notably, @NBA on Instagram generated more than 13 billion video views this season, the most of any account on the platform.

The league also amassed a record 32 billion video views across all NBA and NBA-related social media accounts, up more than 10% year-over-year, spurred by growth among young and international followers. Additional consumption highlights from NBA social media, the NBA App and NBA League Pass include:

NBA Social Media @NBA generated a record 18 billion views across social media platforms this season, the most among all sports leagues. The growth was led

by the addition of 14 million new followers, largely from outside the U.S. International followers make up more than 70% of the NBA’s social media following, with 50 percent of the total audience comprised of people age 25 or younger. NBA social media milestones this season include:

YouTube: The NBA’s YouTube channel became the first professional sports league account to surpass 20 million subscribers and 12 billion lifetime video views on the platform. Every 90 days, the NBA reached more than 75 million unique viewers on YouTube who, on average, watched more than 35 minutes of content on the channel.

Instagram: With 78 million Instagram followers, the NBA is the 8th most-followed brand on the platform.

Five of the 10 most-viewed players on NBA social this season are age 26 or younger. The top 10 also includes five

international players: LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers; U.S.): 1.3 billion Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors; U.S.): 881 million Luka Dončić (Dallas Mavericks; Slovenia): 736 million Ja Morant (Memphis Grizzlies;

U.S.): 653 million Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks; Greece; ties to Nigeria): 522 million Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics; U.S.): 496 million Kyrie Irving (Dallas Mavericks; Australia): 374 million Victor Wembanyama (2023 Draft Prospect; France): 350 million Jordan Poole (Golden State Warriors; U.S.): 293 million Nikola Jokić (Denver Nuggets; Serbia): 253 million

With a global fanbase that includes top celebrities from around the world, the NBA’s announcement naming South Korean rapper, songwriter, producer and BTS star SUGA an NBA Ambassador generated the second-most liked NBA Instagram post (4.6 million likes) and second-most retweeted NBA tweet (118K retweets) of all time.

Sangiao steps up to take more ONE responsibilities

THERE’S no question that Team Lakay took a hit following the exodus of its three former World Champions in Eduard Folayang, Joshua Pacio, and Kevin Belingon.

But for its sizzling hot prospect in Jhanlo Mark Sangiao, goodbyes are a part of life, and the only way to move forward is to move on.

That’s exactly what’s on his mind ahead of his bantamweight MMA clash with Matias “El Rasta”

Farinelli on 22 April at ONE Fight Night 9: Nong-O vs. Haggerty in Bangkok, Thailand.

“I’m just focused on my training. On our end, there’s pressure to just be better in training,” he said ahead of his bout at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium.

“Our seniors are gone now, and we have to handle ourselves better in order to achieve great things in ONE.”

While he remains upbeat and positive, the 20-year-old admits that there is a bit of pressure— particularly with the young Team Lakay members —to step up and take on more responsibility for the squad.

With the team’s veterans now gone, development will have to be fast-tracked, and Sangiao knows that.

Natthakritta, Kinhult open 2-shot lead at LPGA Lotte

LOS ANGELES—Thai rookie Natthakritta Vongtaveelap and Sweden’s Frida Kinhult opened up a two-shot lead after the first round of the LPGA Tour’s Lotte Championship in Hawaii on Wednesday.

Natthakritta, who only turned professional in November, fired a bogey-free six-under-par 66 to join Kinhult at the top of the leaderboard.

After teeing off on the 10th, the 20-year-old conjured a stunning eagle on the par-five fifth hole after the turn and then birdied her last to vault up the leaderboard.

“In a sense, [I have to grow up]. We’re now pushing to regain the previous glories of Team Lakay and continue to bring prestige to the name,” he said.

“I have nothing negative to say about the departure. As for me, I have to focus on my training, push myself harder, and get a title back for Team Lakay.” With his father and coach, Mark Sangiao, leading the pack, the second-generation star is confident that they’re on the right track.

“We have a great leader in my dad, coach Mark. He continues to teach us well, he advises us well,” he said.

“If he was able to turn my seniors into World Champions, I trust that he’ll be able to do that to us.”

To get there, he needs a big win over Farinelli, and with his youth and explosiveness, he’s confident that he can get it.

“I’m younger, I’m stronger. He might have more experience, but I feel like at my age, I’m now peaking physically. So, I’m confident that this match is mine,” he said. Catch all the ONE Championship action by downloading the ONE Super App.

It was another dazzling performance from the Thai youngster, who came within a whisker of winning on her Tour debut at the LPGA Thailand in February, only to end up losing by one stroke.

Kinhult was similarly impressive with her 66 in blustery conditions, reeling off seven birdies to move to seven under before a bogey at the last left her sharing the lead at Hoakalei Country Club, west of Honolulu.

“I guess the windy conditions are similar to what I grew up with, and I spent winters in Spain growing up, and winter in Spain gets pretty windy, too,” Kinhult said.

“Just tried to stay patient out there shot by shot for real in this wind... super happy with the start and pumped for the rest of the week.”

Four players are lurking two shots behind the leaders, with the American Bailey Tardy, Nasa Hataoka of Japan and South Koreans Sung Yu-Jin and Kim Hyo-Joo tied on four under. AFP

Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan of the Chicago Bulls celebrate after defeating the Toronto Raptors during the 2023 Play-In Tournament at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. AFP

Jhanlo Mark Sangiao

By Angelica Villanueva

Jun Lana’s psychological drama dominates inaugural SMMFF

Pilipino sa industriya ng pelikula, sa atin po ‘to,” Romnick said in his acceptance speech.

Meanwhile, Best Director and Best Screenplay recipient Lana expressed his thanks to his stars, who gave justice to the fictional characters he created.

“

At higit sa lahat, sa dalawang artista ko, na nagbigay buhay sa mga salita ko, kay Romnick at Elijah, maraming-maraming salamat,” the multiawarded actor said during his acceptance speech.

Last year, About Us But Not About Us also won the Best Film award during the 26th Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival in Estonia.

“I

hurado sa pagpuna niyo sa mga trabaho namin. At higit sa lahat, para sa lahat ng mga manggagawang

Mutya ng Pilipinas ties up with new international pageants

AFTER acquiring the Miss Intercontinental franchise license in February, Mutya ng Pilipinas (MNP) announced its formal ties with two new pageants, Miss Chinese World and Miss Environment International. With this latest development, it named Ms. Chinatown

2022 Berjayneth

Chee and Anie Uson as its bets for Miss Chinese World while Shannon Robinson was chosen to compete in Miss Environment International. “Anie will represent Metro Manila while Berjaneth will represent Misamis Oriental,” said Cory Quirino national director of MNP.

as its bets for Miss , president and goodwill among Chinese beauties in celebration

Miss Chinese World, founded by Tan Sri Datuk Danny Ooi of Malaysia, which aims to promote goodwill and friendship among Chinese beauties in celebration of Chinese culture, values, and tradition, will have its Coronation Night on May 20. Meanwhile, Miss Environment

Mutya ng Pilipinas is now in partnership with Miss Chinese World and Miss Environment International

Yllana Marie Aduana, a native of Siniloan, Laguna, wins the Miss Cellumina Pro sponsor award

International, founded in 2019 by Rushikesh Mirajkar and Christoph Cautaerts of India, which aims to protect the planet, through its

sustainability and environment-friendly platforms, will be held in Mumbai, India on June 11.

*

* * Siniloan lass named Miss Cellumina Pro 2023

The Miss Philippines Earth 2023 competition heats up with early favorite Yllana Marie Aduana, a native of Siniloan, Laguna, snaring the Miss Cellumina Pro sponsor award, the country’s newest and most potent Anti-Aging Stem Cell. Naoimi Henave of Dasmariñas City and Fil-British model

Kerri Reilly were named first and second runnersup, respectively.

“I’m really just enjoying myself, bonding with these amazing ladies,” said Aduana, a licensed Medical Laboratory Scientist, Top 12 semi-finalist, and winner of Miss Photogenic special award in Bb. Pilipinas 2022.

Meanwhile, Aduana also bagged the Darling of the Press gold medal during the Miss Philippines Earth 2023 press presentation of its 39 official candidates held at Lime Resort Manila, CCP Complex on Monday. The candidates showed off their form in green two-piece Ricky Ramirez Abad swimwear, in the kick-off event which will culminate in the finals set on April 29.

The rest of the candidates are Patricia Nicole Yap, Meri Lasil Relevo, Veronica Sinajon, Nicole Lagera, Chrystel Mae Correjos, Leahrly Curitana, KC Falcasantos, Josephine Ruhlman, Ma. Cristina Tallador, Jireh Calacala, Rowan No, Mythosela Villanueva, Iris Mabanta of Mabini, Joselle Gregorio, Sha’uri Livori, Quennie Salac, Athena Guardados, Jemimah Joy Zabala, Princess Lazaga, Jeica Czaverika, Shaina Nazario, Cea De Jesus, Athena Auxillo, Jamie Angelique Armada, Queenzel Daryl Alagao, and Fermizulli Silal.

PEOPLE …are talking about ...are not talking about

Kyle Echarri

Losing a loved one brings deep, indescribable pain, which the young actor has experienced lately following the death of his baby sister, Bella

Through an Instagram post, Kyle expressed his sorrow for her passing and relief that her battle with a brain tumor has ended. It’s been a year since Bella’s condition became public, but one thing’s for sure, she didn’t deserve to face such a daunting challenge this young. The public offers its deepest condolences to the Echarri family.

Bella Racelis

It’s been some time now since Bella and Joshua Garcia were seen out in public together. Unlike before, the pair have been quiet about their relationship, neither confirming nor denying it. However, eagle-eyed fans spotted Bea was no longer following Joshua on Instagram. It now begs the question of what happened between her and the charming actor. One thing’s for sure, speculations about the incident will arise, with many young ladies hoping to catch Joshua’s attention this time around.

John Estrada

After his wife, Priscilla Meirelles, dropped a series of cryptic posts on Instagram about John cheating, people couldn’t keep themselves from engaging in the drama. Priscilla earlier admitted to having marital problems with the actor, and cheating allegations just became the talk of the town when a series of screenshots of Priscilla having a heated conversation with the supposed mistress. The couple enjoyed a short vacation in Cebu over the previous weekend, so we’ll see how their situation unfolds.

Jaya

Being a public figure, like artists, means they’re not safe from public scrutiny. Allies and members of the LGBTQ community noticed that Jaya liked a series of tweets with anti-trans messages. A tweet from actor John Lapus greased the wheels of the rumor mill on the singers’ stand on the transgender community. Jaya then clarified that she referred to a US group that exploits children. Maybe time will also be the ultimate truth teller in this scenario.

The board of jurors was headed by internationally-acclaimed actress Dolly de Leon as the chairman alongside Jose Javier Reyes, Hon. Christopher VP de Venecia, Hon. Maria Rachel J. Arenas, Hon. Aloysia Tiongson-Lim, Thomas Orbos, Rolando B. Tolentino, Rochelle T. Macapili-Ona, Victor Neri, and Mario Bautista

About Us But Not About Us is still showing in cinemas until April 18 alongside the other seven entries for this year’s Summer MMFF.

Rox Santos basks in mainstream success

IF mainstream recognition is the barometer of success in the field of music, then songwriter and record producer Rox Santos is one of the professionals out there to tell you how it’s done. He has the hits and the big projects to show.

It’s likely you’ve heard a song he’s involved with, whether as a tunesmith or the guy making important decisions for a record – either it’s the theme to a favorite drama series or a lyric video of a viral song.

musicians who resorted to selling whatever online, or walked away dejected after essentially throwing in the towel.

won Favorite

Recently, while I was watching singer Jaya perform as a guest in a concert held in Los Angeles, the Queen of Soul herself shared a cute story about an obscure track she recorded that suddenly became a hit when it was used for a Koreanovela. That song, “Hanggang Dito Na Lang,” is penned by Rox. Rox has always been on a roll as the creator behind numerous records. His colorful career has reached its 15th-year glory. As a label head, he spearheaded the StarPop PH to various awards and citations, like at the Awit Awards 2022 where Maymay Entrata Female Artist and Belle Mariano chosen as Breakthrough Artist for her song “Sigurado,” which in turn won Favorite Song.

This year, the 10 million YouTube views of “Amakabogera” earned Entrata the Bronze Wishclusive Elite Circle award, as the song also bagged the Viral Tiktok Music Video of the Year at the VP Choice Awards.

the Bronze Wishclusive Elite Circle award, as the song releases, or hits, which or

Three of Rox’s latest releases, or hits, which he wrote with perennial collaborator Mr. Music Jonathan Manalo and a third party (either Jeremy G Edmund Perlas), are linked to three TV series you’re definitely aware of unless you’re living under the rock.

I asked Rox to provide a glimpse of his upcoming projects and his reply reflects how busy he is achieving further. He is set to work on Maymay’s next single and album, Belle Mariano’s album, a single for Vice Ganda, an EP for Klarisse De Guzman, and more. Looking at Rox’s track record, it’s surprisingly easy to see some determining factors that have made him consistently successful. There’s the ABS-CBN magic, his affiliation as a label executive to such a household capturing the imagination and sentiments of a society embracing the drama of all sorts. Credit goes, too, to the artists with eye-popping numbers of followers giving face and voice to the songs.

“Di Maghihiwalay,” performed by LA Santos released in October last year, was used as the sub-theme song for Darna. There’s Khimo Ka Ba?,” dropped last December and played as the main theme song for The Iron Heart. And two months ago, “Simulan,” interpreted by came out and scored the main theme song spot for Dirty Linen On March 24, Rox and friends delivered the single “BINI” on digital stores as the latest single of Jeremy G.

“Di Maghihiwalay,” LA Santos, and ’s “Sino

. And two months ago, “Simulan,” interpreted by Kice recovering from the slump caused by the pandemic,” Rox expressed.

name, and the teleseryes sentiments of a society acknowledging must and Rox Santos’s triumph is and is career. He said, “It’s so

But above all, it’s the ear for what’s current and truly catchy that Rox and individuals like him should be proud about. It’s acknowledging that the edge they’re given must be compensated with good recording, effective lyrics, and unforgettable hooks. Rox Santos’s triumph is and should be a source of inspiration. It’s fitting that he himself is feeling pumped up by the scene that has given him all the reasons to celebrate his career. He said, “It’s so inspiring to see a lot of great new local artists and exciting new music coming from all fronts. The live event scene is now more alive than ever.”

to a death knell for others, in particular,

“So happy to see the industry fully recovering from the slump caused by the pandemic,” Rox expressed. He and the blessed few working in the hit factory have no doubt resurrected with a bang. Well, the kind of lay low he felt at the height of the pandemic is, truth be told, equivalent to a death knell for others, in particular,

These are words to live by from someone who has

These are words to live by from someone who has the talent, the breaks, and the vibrance to keep triumphing.

Understand grief and trauma

through K-drama

THE word trauma in Greek means wound, hurt, or defeat. This was something I learned last Monday from a virtual seminar titled Understanding Trauma, hosted by husband-and-wife cognitive behavioral coaches Gino and Noreen Elaria.

The couple behind Transcend Life Solutions spent two hours explaining the basics of trauma to more than a hundred participants and shared the value of seeking help through licensed therapists and coaches. Aside from providing practical information, the session provided hope to anyone yearning for recovery.

Get into the summer mood

THE weather is gorgeous, the beaches are exciting, and the vibe is definitely chill. It’s definitely summertime.

Travel costs may be on the rise, but more people are planning trips this year compared to 2022 with the World Tourism Organization’s count of more than 900 million people traveling internationally. In 2023, that number is expected to rise, especially during the summer season.

Some may not need telling twice, but if you’re the kind of person who still needs a bit of convincing to head out and make the most of the season, check out the travel “inspo” through these movies and reality shows that will make you want to pack your bags, pronto.

Watch all these gems in vivid detail and uninterrupted all thanks to PLDT Home’s fast and reliable internet connection.

1. Killers (2010)

This romcom opens in one of the most beautiful places on earth: Nice, France, where the rich frolic on the beaches and arrive on private jets and yachts. With its red-roofed villas, a palm-treelined boulevard, boutiques, cafes, and restaurants, Nice attracts holidaymakers from all over the world, including assassins.

Starring Ashton Kutcher (That ‘70s Show, The Ranch) as assassin Spencer and Katherine Heigl (Grey’s Anatomy, Knocked Up) as lovelorn woman Jen traveling with her well-off parents, the film shows that je ne sais quoi that makes it easy to fall in love with and in Nice.

Jen and Spencer are a young couple who are madly in love. When Spencer’s past as a hired assassin catches up with them, they must face a horde of assassins who have been sent to kill him. With the help of Jen’s overprotective parents, they must fight to save their lives and their love while trying to live a normal life in the suburbs.

2. Green Book (2018) Green Book is a biographical film starring Viggo Mortensen (The Lord of the Rings) as Italian-American bouncer Tony Lip and Mahershala Ali (House of Cards, Luke Cage) as the pianist Dr. Don Shirley, inspired by the latter’s 1962 tour of the Deep South. The movie is a road trip drama set in the Jim Crow South.

The Green Book is a movie based on the true story of Tony Lip and Don Shirley. Tony Lip, an Italian-American bouncer, is hired by Don Shirley, a black man, to drive him on an eight-week concert tour through the segregated American South. As the two men travel together, their relationship develops and Tony’s understanding of the world around him is changed. The movie captures the racism, hatred, and violence experienced by black people in the 1960s, while also exploring the beauty of the landscape and the power of friendship.

3. Seeking a Friend for the End of the World (2012) It’s the end of the world and Dodge Petersen (Steve Carell The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Despicable Me) is unhappy. Penny Lockhart is unhappy (Keira Knightley, Begin Again, Love Actually), too. Dodge’s wife has left him while Penny’s boyfriend has made her miss her last opportunity to go back to England and be with her family. In this story, Dodge and Penny, two strangers, embark on a journey together to try to find Dodge’s high school sweetheart Olivia while trying to evade madmen, riots, and an assassin in the face of an impending asteroid impact. Along the way, they form a connection and eventually fall in love. Although they never find Olivia, they are able to successfully help Penny contact her family in England.

4. Travel Stalker Travel Stalker is a Japanese series whose

hosts connect with travelers with no plans and hang out with them for the day. Call it innocents abroad, if you will. Each episode features different tourists, locations, shopping areas, food, and adventures. Travel Stalker is a 10-episode travel series that takes viewers on a journey in Japan with hosts Minayo and Ruka. The series takes viewers to different places in Japan such as Nara, Inari, Shinsaibashi, Osaka, Kyoto, Arashiyama, and Sagano, while exploring the local culture and attractions. The series is useful for viewers who are planning a trip to Japan, as it provides an insight into some of the places that can be visited and the activities that can be done.

5. 2 Days and 1 Night (2007-present)

Two days and one night is usually how long a quick break goes. But what if you had to perform tasks to earn points for things like food during this short time? That’s exactly what the South Korean reality show is all about.

2 Days and 1 Night, now with four seasons available to stream on Viu, features a cast of six men that have continually been replaced by new ones since it first aired in 2007. They travel throughout South Korea and deal with unpredictable situations and severe environments. It’s a cheerful way – because the hosts definitely are – to see South Korea from your couch or to base your travel plans on when you visit. Be inspired for your next trip or travel vicariously to these destinations while at home through your PLDT Home subscription. Start streaming on Lionsgate Play when you activate your complimentary access voucher until June 1. For Asian content, subscribe to Viu Premium for only P80 a month and charge it straight to your PLDT Home account. To find out, visit pldthome.comententertainment.

Based on the discussion and my personal research, grief is one of the main causes of trauma. Traumatic grief is a response to a sudden, often unexpected loss. And this, I learned, is not limited to death. Loss of a relationship, a missed opportunity, and even material loss can lead one to experience grief.

As many people who have gone through grief would say, it is such a tricky feeling. In a moment you may feel you’re okay but also find yourself on the verge of crying the next minute. I once overheard someone say that the pain from grief never really goes away but we just learn to live with it over time.

The first step in dealing with grief and trauma is acknowledging the real situation. Keep things real and raw to yourself and be prepared to get some help. If you are unsure of what you are experiencing, try to be open and consult a professional.

While you figure things out, licensed Korean-American licensed therapist Jeanie Y. Chang listed down on her Instagram post some Korean drama titles you can watch to understand both grief and trauma in various forms. As a mental health expert specializing in those concepts, Jeanie is giving us the perfect excuse to have our K-drama fix. These are the same series she has been recommending to her clients to help them navigate their emotions: ThirtyNine, Go Back Couple, Chocolate, Hi Bye, Mama, Goblin, If You Wish Upon Me, Move To Heaven, Hotel del Luna, Call it Love, Thirty but Seventeen, Divorce Attorney Shin, Be Melodramatic, Uncontrollably Fond, and Just Between Lovers

Please note that viewing does not automatically equate to recovery. Taking action is still the key. Overcome grief and trauma and get your life back by reaching out to a certified mental health practitioner.

To know more about Noona’s Noonchi, check out noonasnoonchi.com and @ noonasnoonchi on Instagram.

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

often

loss

MMDA partners with JCI Manila for fitter, healthier workforce

Dr. Marvinson Fajardo (project co-chairman) with the participating MMDA Officers

THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority(MMDA) has always been at the forefront of keeping the general public safe on and off the roads. Due to the metro’s fastpaced lifestyle, there has been a steep increase in health issues such as heart disease, obesity, and diabetes. As part of the MMDA’s growing efforts to encourage and maintain a healthy road-ready workforce, they have partnered up with JCI Manila to launch the project “Batak Trapiko.” The campaign was launched last March 20 at the MMDA Head Office(Orense, Makati) and featured 100 MMDA field officers. During the weekly flag ceremony of the MMDA, the announcement was made and it was met with utmost excitement. It is a three-month weight loss campaign to encourage a healthier lifestyle for brave MMDA officers. Throughout the program, they will be guided by the project’s medical experts as they share tips on how to shed those pounds in a safe and healthy manner.

The project emphasizes the importance of

small lifestyle choices that have huge implications. Examples would be daily decisions like choosing the right foods, getting enough rest, and stress management. With the long hours under the hot Philippine sun dealing with the continuous flow of traffic in Metro Manila, each and every one of the participating MMDA officers have to be fit and ready to go at any time. Gusto ko talaga to gawin para sa pamilya ko. Medyo marami na ako sakit kaya gusto ko talaga gawin to para makita ko lumaki mga anak ko,” an MMDA officer said. “Minsan po nahihirapan na ako maglakad sa kalye kaya sana talaga makapagbawas na,” another officer added.

As extra motivation for the already motivated participants, the project’s generous sponsors provided prizes throughout this weight-loss journey. “Batak Trapiko” is generously supported by Gold’s Gym, Red Bull Supreme, Dra. Carrissa Losantas, Dental First, Mother’s Best AOC, The Bistro Group, Wheyl, Sexy Habits, SIGI, Europeanne Aesthetics, Rebisco Bravo, and Dear Diet.

Gem Castillo to receive Outstanding Filipino award in LA

FORMER singer-actress Gem Castillo

Amante continues to reap awards due to her innate humanitarian efforts. After receiving trophies and citations from Gawad Dangal Awards, Asia’s World Class Filipino Awards, 3rd Southeast Asia Achievement Awards, Most Outstanding Woman Philanthropist, and Builder Master Award Philanthropist of the Year, Mayora Gem as she is fondly called has been chosen as 2023 AmerAsia’s Most Outstanding Filipino in Humanitarian Services awardee.

Gem is set to receive the award on April 22 at the Celebrity Centre International Pavilion, Franklin Avenue, Hollywood, California.

Now in its fourth year, the Amerasian awards is held to honor deserving Filipinos with great achievements living in the US and the Philippines.

What has prompted other award-giving bodies and Amerasia International to pick her as the best in the league is her endless and tireless acts to provide sustainable livelihood projects generating income among the poor to alleviate poverty, and not just giving them short-lived sustenance.

One is her donations of tricycles to extremely poor individuals and families, which are equipped with essential goods for sale, serving as a mobile store.

Mayora Gem also has scholars from poor families, who she sees as future professionals and good citizens of the country. She even provides them with school supplies and food assistance. She also serves as a conduit to free

hospitalizations for people who cannot afford high medical assistance. She largely attributes the realization of her efforts to her husband, San Pablo City Mayor Vicente Amante who gives her full support.

“Without him, it is impossible for me to realize the good end of these endeavors,” says Mayora Gem. “Mayor Amante is not only my husband but also my best friend, my anchor, the best provider who knows that in my heart, helping other people has been in me since I was young.”

Former singer-actress Gem Castillo

‘Travel Stalker’ is a Japanese series whose hosts connect with travelers with no plans and hang out with them for the day

Steve Carell (right) and Keira Knightley in ‘Seeking a Friend for the End of the World’

Ashton Kutcher (right) and Katherine Heigl headline the romcom ‘Killers’