Manila Standard - 2023 July 3 - Monday

the operation of the entire PNR line as the first wave of the NSRP project will be implemented along the stretch of Alabang, Muntinlupa to Calamba, Laguna route.

On Sunday, passengers from Alabang

DOT to probe promo snafu

Ad agency admits making ‘mood video’ with

By Othel V. Campos, Vince Lopez and Angelica Villanueva

THE Department of Tourism (DOT) has ordered an “exhaustive investigation” of the recently released promotional video of the “Love the Philippines” campaign after social media users flagged it for using stock video footage shot overseas.

DDB Philippines later on Sunday released an apology to the DOT for using non-original, stock footage in the audiovisual presentation shown in the launch event of the Love The Philippines campaign.

“As DOT’s agency on record for the launch of this campaign, we take full responsibility over this matter,” the ad agency said in an apology letter to the DOT.

“As one of the many other forthcoming components of the launch of the enhanced tourism campaign, the DOT’s

clips of sites outside PH

contracted agency, DDB Philippines, prepared and published an audio-visual presentation (AVP) which has recently been the subject of scrutiny on the alleged use of non-original shots in certain parts of the AVP,” a statement posted by DOT Secretary Christina Frasco said.

“The DOT is currently conducting an exhaustive investigation to determine the veracity of, and to gather the full faculty of facts on, these allegations.”

The DOT said it repeatedly sought confirmation from DDB on the originality

Zubiri: US pushing defense firms to build PH factories

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

AMERICAN defense officials are eyeing to convince their arms manufacturers to set up operations in the Philippines, said Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, who returned over the weekend from an official trip to Washington DC.

Zubiri said he met with US Deputy Assistant Secretary for Defense Lindsey Ford at the Pentagon last week, where they discussed modernization efforts of

Phivolcs urges

Mayon danger zone evac now

By Rio N. Araja

RESIDENTS within the 7- to 8-kilometer extended danger zone from Mayon volcano have been advised to prepare for evacuation.

Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, citing the advisory of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), said residents within this area must be prepared to evacuate “at a moment's notice” and said that vehicles should be ready “as this could take days to complete.”

“At a moment’s notice, at least 8,000

Next

the Armed Forces of the Philippines as well as mutual concerns in the Indo-Pacific region.

"They're willing to convince their arms manufacturers to move shop to the Philippines to partner with Filipino companies so that they will do the defense materials here in the Philippines,” the Senate leader said in an interview.

Zubiri's announcement came days after Senator Imee Marcos said she will seek a 'MOOD VIDEO'. In this side-by-side comparison posted on social media, netizens point out that the video clips used by the advertising agency DDB for the Department of Tourism's 'Love Philippines' campaign in fact used videos taken in other countries, namely Thailand, Indonesia, Switzerland, and the United Arab Emirates. The ad agency later said it was just a 'mood video.' Photo from Twitter

PBBM, family surprise Imelda on 94th b-day

By Vince Lopez

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. wished his mother, former First Lady Imelda Marcos, more years filled with blessings as she celebrated her 94th birthday at the Palace.

"Today we celebrate 94 incredible years! Happy birthday, mom! Wishing you more years filled with joy, good health, and abundant blessings,” Mr. Marcos said in a Facebook post.

IMELDA'S 94TH. Former First Lady Imelda Marcos (seated, third from right) is flanked by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and their immediate family as they threw a surprise party for the matriarch, who turned 94 on Sunday, in Malacañang. PCO Photo

By Rio N. Araja THE Public Attorney’s Office is questioning the Integrated Bar of the Philippines

First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos posted a group photo during the birthday "asalto" (surprise party) with the caption: “Happy 94th birthday, Mama Meldy!”

subsidy

FIL-AM FRIENDSHIP. United States Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay L. Carlson (left) and Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez smile during the celebration of the Philippine-American Friendship Day, which also marks the 247th anniversary of US independence. The celebration was held last June 27 at the Grand Ballroom of the Grand Hyatt Manila in BGC, Taguig City. Ver Noveno

ernment subsidy and the annual dues from 60,000 private and public lawyers.

Jackpot 2 days in row: Lotto bettor wins P61m

Next page Next page

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SC absolves Rody of misconduct

By Rey E. Requejo

FORMER President Rodrigo Duterte has been exonerated by the Supreme Court of simple misconduct for which he was imposed a six-month suspension when he was still the mayor of Davao City.

In a decision dated March 15, 2023 and made public on June 30, the High Court upheld the 2011 ruling of the Court of Appeals reversing the Ombudsman’s suspension order on Duterte and five oth-

DOT...

From A1 and ownership of all materials contained in the video and key visuals it presented during previous consultations.

“In all these occasions, DDB repeatedly assured the DOT that the originality and ownership of all materials are in order,” it said.

DDB Philippines won the contract to develop the updated branding campaign that replaced the previous tourism slogan “It’s More Fun in the Philippines.”

Frasco earlier said the campaign, including the entire study, coming up with a logo, and other components, had cost P49 million.

The DOT, however, clarified that no public funds were spent in the production of the viral AVP “as this particular com-

Zubiri...

From A1

probe into the mysterious activity of a US Air Force Boeing C-17 in Philippine territory and airspace on June 26, stressing it raises questions of sovereignty and air travel safety.

Marcos, who chairs the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, said the Philippine government should know the plane's mission, the identities of its flight crew and lone passenger, the type of its cargo, and the reason for a 10-hour layover in Manila.

Zubiri, for his part, said the possible

PBBM,...

From A1

Senator Imee Marcos posted a video on Facebook to greet her mom, whom she said was a "fashion icon" because of her iconic "terno" dresses during the administration of the late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.

"First Lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos has been nicknamed a "fashion icon"

Phivolcs...

From A1

additional families or 30,000 individuals will need to be evacuated. Again, that’s on top of the ones we already evacuated. You could imagine the number of mobility assets we will need to move them,” he said.

“Even with the mobility assets already deployed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines to support evacuation, we estimate it will take three-and-a-half days, given time-and-motion calculations,” he added.

“So we need all the vehicles we can prepare. My office is prepared to support the needs of local government units, and I have commitments from private sector members, including those in the construction and transport sectors, to provide transportation aid,” he noted.

“We need everything we can get, so right now, my appeal to government agencies is to help us prepare the needed mobility assets. Trucks, vans, buses –everything we can use to safely convey evacuees,” he said.

Mayon Volcano’s unrest has affected a total of 41,517 individuals or 10,652 families residing in 26 barangays, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Sunday.

Of these, 18,751 people or 5,365 families were staying in 28 evacuation centers in the Bicol Region, while 1,427 people

Jackpot...

From A1

In an advisory Sunday, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) said the bettor's winning combination of 1825-12-14-13-22 carried a total jackpot prize of PHP61,234,178.

The ticket was purchased in Las Piñas City.

On Friday night, a lone bettor from Nueva Ecija became an instant millionaire after hitting the P366-million jackpot of the Ultra Lotto 6/58 draw.

In an advisory on Saturday, the

er city officials. The SC decision, penned by Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, also cleared Wendel E. Avisado, city administrator; Jose D. Gestuveo Jr., city engineer; Elmer B.

ponent of the launch was released on the account of DDB.”

Emphasizing its commitment to promoting Philippine tourism to the “highest standard,” the DOT said it “will not hesitate to exact accountability and take the necessary action to protect the interest of the country.”

Blogger Sass Sasot, in a Facebook post on Saturday, pointed out that at least six of the clips featured in the “Love the Philippines” promotional video are not located in the country and were sourced from the stock video footage site Storyblocks.

The video clip showing a fisherman throwing a net in the waters was captured in Thailand by the RedCupStudio-Thailand, the rice terraces image was captured in Bali, Indonesia, the aircraft landing was captured in Zurich, Switzerland and the sand dunes video was captured in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, which were

transfer of operations of US arms manufacturers would be "a good thing" as it will generate jobsfor Filipinos. The parts for the arms and munitions to be produced can likewise be sourced in the Philippines.

"Of course, for the defense side, we have the [proposed] Philippine Defense Industry Development Act (PDIDA),” he added.

Zubiri filed the PDIDA bill in July last year.

“After what we saw during the Marawi siege, we were trying to go around begging for ammunition, begging for firearms, which is not necessary since we have the development, the technology, the people that can do it in

in our country. She has been our inspiration. On her birthday, let's get to know her better by looking back at some of the stories of her life. Happy Birthday, Mom!" the senator said.

Sen. Imee Marcos, who was not in the group photo at the Palace, posted a separate photo of her with her sister Irene and their mom with the caption: “With our forever First Lady. Of course, I cannot be absent on my mommy’s birthday.”

or 408 families were seeking temporary shelters outside of evacuation centers. The NDRRMC said P130.5 million worth of assistance has been provided in the Bicol Region, so far.

A total of 397 rockfall events were recorded in Mayon Volcano in the past 24 hours, according to the Phivolcs.

As of 5 a.m., the Phivolcs bulletin showed that there were four volcanic earthquakes and two dome collapse pyroclastic density current events.

Mayon Volcano, which is currently under Alert Level 3 due to intensified unrest, also continued to have a “very slow effusion” of lava flow from its crater, reaching up to 2.7 kilometers along the Mi-isi Gully.

Lava flow along the Bonga Gully, meanwhile, stretched to 1.3 kilometers.

There were also lava collapses on both gullies within 3.3 kilometers and 4 kilometers along the Basud Gully, Phivolcs said.

Mayon Volcano also emitted a 1,500-meter-tall plume that drifted southwest, south-southwest, and northwest.

It also generated 864 tonnes of sulfur dioxide flux on Saturday, July 1.

The volcano’s edifice also remained inflated.

With these, Phivolcs reminded the public that entry into the six-kilometer radius of Mayon Volcano’s Permanent Danger Zone is not allowed.

Flying any aircraft close to the volcano is also prohibited. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

PCSO said the lucky bettor guessed the winning combination, 43-58-37-4727-17, and will take the prize money of P366,687,465.20. The winning ticket was bought in San Roque, Cabiao, Nueva Ecija.

Bettors can claim the check at the PCSO main office in Mandaluyong City upon presentation of the winning ticket and two identification cards.

Lotto winnings of more than P10,000 shall be subject to a 20 percent tax under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law.

Prizes not claimed within a year will be forfeited.

Rano and J. Melchor V. Quitain, city legal officers; and Yusop A. Jimlani, chief of the city’s drainage and maintenance unit. The complaint against Duterte as mayor and the other city officials was filed before the Ombudsman by the late former Speaker Prospero Nograles who was also then Davao City 1st District representative.

The controversy arose from the 2006 Canal-Cover project initiated by Nograles in Davao City’s Quezon Boulevard. The case records stated that “since concrete flooring was constructed on top of the drainage canal, silt and garbage

all found in storyblocks.com.

DDB Philippines on Sunday released an apology to the DOT for using nonoriginal, stock footage in the audiovisual presentation shown in the launch event of the Love The Philippines campaign.

“As DOT’s agency on record for the launch of this campaign, we take full responsibility over this matter,” the ad agency said in an apology letter to the DOT.

The agency said it uploaded the video on social media as a mood video to raise positivity among tourism internal stakeholders about the campaign.

DDB said the video was produced by the agency at its own expense, without spending a centavo from public funds as an initiative to help pitch the slogan.

“While the use of stock footage in mood videos is standard practice in the industry, the use of foreign stock foot-

the Philippines,” he said in an interview earlier this year. He cited the case of the Marikina-based Armscor Global Defense Inc., the largest manufacturer of firearms and ammunition in the Philippines and Southeast Asia. Armscor, Zubiri said, responded to the urgent call for firearms and ammunition during the five-month-long Battle of Marawi in 2017.

Zubiri said over the weekend that there is also a need to amend the Procurement Law, because "cheapest is not the best for military equipment."

"At the same time, ‘brand new’ is not necessarily practical for ourcountry because the four new airplanes we got are

PAO...

From A1

backing a Supreme Court policy that al lows two public defenders from her agency to face each other in court.

“We as public defenders are also active members of IBP but we have never been consulted about its support,” she told the Manila Standard.

She urged the IBP to adhere to Republic Act 9999 or the Free Legal Assistance Act of 2020 stating that “a private lawyer or professional partnership/firm provides legal assistance to indigents who cannot secure legal services from the PAO, the Department of Justice or any accredited association of the Supreme Court…”

“After all, having been ordained by the Supreme Court and subsidized by the latter with P130.9-million funding in maintenance and other operating expenses for the year 2023 (under the General Appropriations Act 2023), it is sufficiently equipped to at least partially fill the gap in access to justice,” the PAO chief said.

Regarding the subsidy, Acosta said: “We don't know where their money goes.”

The PAO chief and her agency's 3,500 lawyers opposed the “conflict of interest” provision of the Supreme Court's recently approved Section 22, Canon III or the Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability (CPRA) allowing public defenders to go against one another in the same case.

The IBP said it fully supports the CPRA, which it said sets aside the challenge of “conflict of interest” posed by the PAO.

PAO had sought a revision of CPRA’s Section 22, Canon III, which states: “A conflict of interest of any of the lawyers of the Public Attorney’s Office incident to services rendered for the office shall be imputed only to the said lawyer and the lawyer’s direct supervisor.

Such conflict of interest shall not disqualify the rest of the lawyers from the Pub-

PNR...

From A1 bound for Calamba were no longer accommodated, as the available train trips were from Alabang to Biñan, Laguna only. The Biñan to Calamba train trip had already ceased operating, PNR said.

Starting July 15, all trips from the Alabang route will stop, Macapagal said. Some 500 daily train commuters will be affected, according to PNR's management.

The whole PNR operations will stop in December after the holiday rush, according to Macapagal.

To help the affected riding public, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) will be issuing additional franchises to the

could not be dredged, impeding the flow of water.”

In 2008, the Davao City government informed the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) of the problem arising from the construction of the concrete flooring.

The DPWH constructed several manholes on the concrete flooring of the canal, but flooding still occurred, prompting the city government to inform the DPWH of its plan to remove the concrete flooring. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

age was an unfortunate oversight on our agency’s part. Proper screening and approval processes should have been strictly followed. The use of foreign stock footage in a campaign promoting the Philippines is highly inappropriate, and contradictory to the DOT’s objectives,” the agency said.

DDB said the video fiasco was an isolated incident and the AVP has already been taken down as soon as disparaging comments about it flooded the internet.

There are remaining campaign collaterals that will be released soon that will rectify the blunder caused by the AVP, the company said.

The ad agency said it will cooperate with the DOT probe, hoping that the “gross oversight will not diminish the genuine love and appreciation the stakeholders and the public have been showing” for the campaign.

equivalent to six or 12 – one squadron –of slightly-used airplanes from friendly countries or ally countries like, for example, the Netherlands," he said.

He also announced that at least 10,000 to 15,000 workers will be hired to build American bases in Guam.

"And they are looking at Filipino workers to go to Guam and help build up the bases because they need to build the bases as soon as possible," the Senate President said.

"Of course, they'll discuss how to get the working visa, and they're trying to get the State Department approval to hasten the proceedings. They still have no workers,” he added.

lic Attorney’s Office from representing the affected client, upon full disclosure to the latter and written informed consent.”

In its public statements and in letters sent to Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo and the 14 other SC justices, PAO said that the provision in CPRA allows PAO lawyers to be pitted against each other before the courts by representing opposing parties in cases.

Acosta said the provision puts PAO attorneys at risk because if things go wrong, clients would be given reason to suspect that “their counsels double-crossed them.”

“There were instances when conflictof-interest representation was the cause of death of former public attorneys,” Acosta said.

In its statement, the IBP said it remains “confident in the Court’s intention and object to reflect the values of fairness, justice, and ethical practice as envisioned in the CPRA to the benefit of the entire legal community and the public.”

It said the provision in CPRA already addressed the concerns of the PAO.

“We thus firmly stand with the tribunal’s position upholding Section 22 of the CPRA. This provision appropriately addresses conflict of interest that may arise within PAO’s organization while safeguarding the rights and interests of its clients,” it also said.

The IBP said the CPRA limited the conflict-of-interest rule “only to the handling PAO lawyer and his or her direct supervisor, with full disclosure and written and informed consent.”

“The subject provision is in consonance with the constitutionally provided right of all persons to equal protection of law by ensuring that all parties are afforded their right to counsel,” it said.

While PAO has the right to be cautious against any appearance of impropriety, the IBP said “unflinching adherence to a broad and antiquated concept of ‘conflict of interest’ should not stand in the way of all persons’ right to counsel.”

affected routes, according to Macapagal.

The NSRP will run up to six years, according to Macapagal.

“We are currently modernizing the train system of the Philippines. We will have electric trains which will come from Clark to Pampanga, Pampanga to Bulacan, Bulacan to Metro Manila, then Metro Manila to Calamba, Laguna,” Macapagal said.

The project aims at modernizing the PNR system in the country, which will eventually boost economic progress.

“This entire project will include 35 stations, there are 51 new electric trains, commuter trains, then about 7 or 8 express trains.

These are all electric and these are at far with world standards, and these are all elevated system so you will all see this,” he said. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

2 killed, dozens wounded at Baltimore party

WASHINGTON—At least two people were killed and 28 wounded in a mass shooting early Sunday in the US city of Baltimore, police said.

Police received multiple calls about a shooting just after 12:30 am Sunday (04:30 GMT) at a street party in the city's Brooklyn neighborhood in Maryland state, Acting Police Commissioner Rich Worley said during a press conference.

"Upon officers' arrival we located multiple victims suffering from gunshot wounds," Worley said.

One 18-year-old woman was found deceased at the scene, with a 20-year-old male victim also confirmed to have been killed, a police statement said.

The wounded victims were being treated at area hospitals, he added, with three of them in critical condition.

Worley said authorities were working to identify a suspect and determine a motive for the shooting.

"This is an extensive crime scene, our detectives are going to be here quite a while," he said.

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, speaking to reporters at the crime scene, condemned the shooting. AFP (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

Cops: Photog’s shooting not work-related

By Rio N. Araja

THE Quezon City police on Sunday said the shooting incident of a photojournalist last week was not work-related.

“For now, I can really say this is not an attack on journalists,” QCPD District Director Nicolas Torre III said in a television interview.

"We already know where they started to be picked up by the surveillance, where the gunman started to position himself, what time, and even their escape route," he added.

The police said Rene Joshua Abiad, 37, a photojournalist of Remate, is currently recuperating, while two children who were inside the vehicle are still in the intensive care unit.

Abiad was with members of his family on board their silver Ford Everest along Corumi and Gazan streets in Barangay Masambong when a silver Toyota Vios blocked their path as they were about to enter their residence at 3:50 p.m. Thursday last week. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

SC issues writ of kalikasan vs. Sibuyan Is. firm

THE Supreme Court has issued a writ of kalikasan against Altai Philippines Mining Corporation (APMC), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) over controversial nickel mining operations on Sibuyan Island of Romblon province. This followed a petition residents filed last February, said environmentalist Rodne Galicha, Living Laudato Si executive director, who posted the high court’s notice on his Twitter account on Sunday. According to the SC, it issued the writ versus APMC, DENR, and MGB in a resolution dated June 13.

A writ of kalikasan is a legal remedy that protects the right of Filipinos to a “balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature,” pursuant to Article II, Section 16 of the Philippine Constitution. Rio N. Araja (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

Twitter...

From A1

New unverified accounts would be limited to 500 tweets.

The decision was made "to address extreme levels of data scraping" and "system manipulation" by third-party platforms, Musk said in a tweet Saturday afternoon, as some users quickly hit their limits.

"Goodbye Twitter" was a trending topic in the United States following Musk's announcement.

Twitter's billionaire owner did not give a timeline for how long the measures would be in place.

The day before, Musk had announced that it would no longer be possible to read tweets on the site without an account.

Much of the data scraping was coming from firms using it to build their AI models, Musk said, to the point that it was causing traffic issues with the site.

To create AI that can respond in a human-like capacity, many companies feed the programs examples of real-life conversations from social media sites.

AFP (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

Tulfo: PUP bldgs ‘rotten,’ vows no budget cut

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

SEN . Raffy Tulfo said the school facilities of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) in Sta. Mesa “are rotten” and vowed that the school’s budget will not be slashed by the Department of Budget Management (DBM).

Following an ocular inspection at the said school on June 29, Tulfo said he has confirmed the complaints of some PUP students that school facilities are old, damaged, and not conducive to learning.

While it’s likely that PUP has quality education, the senator pointed out its rotten facilities.

He expressed dismay at the dilapidated buildings and classrooms and said the said buildings in PUP need to be renovated and equipment needs to be upgraded.

The senator specifically cited the facilities at the PUP’s Department of Engineering laboratory, which he said, are difficult to operate while some already appear like junk.

He also likened the hallway and some classrooms to an oven. He cited the lack of ventilation or even electric fans.

“Their chairs are begging to be replaced, “ he added.

He also stressed that the elevators in various buildings, which should have been used by persons with disabilities (PWDs) students, are not functioning.

In the school’s basketball court, Tulfo said the ball might not even bounce because the floor already has a lot of flakes. To make matters worse, some electrical cables are dangling inside the gym which can cause accidents.

Subsidies for GOCCs hit P7.38b

THE national government’s subsidies for government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) amounted to P7.38 billion in May.

Data from the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) showed the amount was slightly lower than the P7.9 billion in the same month last year.

The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) was the biggest recipient of budgetary support anew, amounting to P4.22 billion.

The National Food Authority received P849 million, second on the list, while the National Housing Authority came in third with subsidies amounting to P363 million.

BTr data showed that GOCCs which received more t han P100 million of subsidies include Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (P319 million), Philippine Heart Center (P271 million), Philippine Rice Research Institute (P239 million), Philippine Children’s Medical Center (P173 million), and National Kidney and Transplant Institute (P125 million).

For the first five months of the year, the national government’s subsidies to GOCCs have already amounted to P37.6 billion.

NIA received the biggest subsidy which amounted to P18.28 billion, followed by the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. with P5 billion.

In April, budgetary support for GOCCs grew to P8.9 billion from P5.1 billion in the same month last year but lower than the P10.79 billion in March.

The Governance Commission for Government-Owned or -Controlled Corporations (GCG) meanwhile unveiled its mantra and vision for GOCCs.

“Pursuant to our mandate, the theme for this year’s celebration is to Aim G.R.E.A.T.” where “G.R.E.A.T stands for: Good governance, Rightsizing, Efficiency, Accountability, and Transparency,” said GCG Chairperson Justice

Alex L. Quiroz (ret.) during the agency’s 12th anniversary program held Friday at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC).

Highlighting the initiatives that resonate to the needs of GCG stakeholders, the GCG administration introduced open-door policy, establishment of AntiCorruption and Integrity Program and the upgrading of the current Integrated Corporate Reporting System (ICRS).

Meanwhile, in a video message, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. left the GCG officials and personnel with a challenge to “take this time to understand and appreciate once again the significance of your mandate and your office”.

Solon presses gov’t to act on nurses’ exodus VP

By Rio N. Araja

BOHOL Rep. Kristine Alexie Tutor is

By Vince Lopez

VICE President Sara Duterte-Carpio on Sunday commended President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on his success in governing a year after he took his oath of office as the country’s Chief Executive.

In a statement, Duterte-Carpio said that President Marcos proved in a year that his administration was very determined to fulfill his election promises made during their campaigning days as candidates.

“I am happy to be part of an administration that is committed to strengthening our country — and aggressively strengthening our economy; providing adequate work and livelihoods; addressing the challenge of poverty; providing support to sectors such as fishermen, farmers, and workers; building important infrastructure; improving the quality of education and health for Filipinos; and strengthening the Philippines’ relations with other countries.” she said.

Duterte-Carpio, Marcos’ thenrunning mate during the May 2022 National and Local elections took her oath as the 15th Vice-President on June 19, 2022, at Davao City, earlier than what the constitution has mandated for the Vice-President to take their oath of office.

Hagedorn maintains innocence in malversation case

By Rio N. Araja

PALAWAN Rep. Edward Hagedorn on Sunday expressed disappointment over his conviction of malversation of public property involving 14 unaccounted pieces of Armalite rifle.

“I am saddened by the recent decision of the Third Division of the Sandiganbayan in the case against me, People v. Edward S. Hagedorn in Criminal Case for malversation of public property,” he cited.

“I would like to clarify that while the charge against me pertains to malversation, this case does not involve any taking or misuse of public funds. It is about Philippine National Police-issued firearms which I was accused of not returning. However, I maintain my innocence of these charges and I maintain that I turned these firearms over to the PNP. I firmly believe that the evidence will eventually vindicate me,” his statement read.

“In my years of public service, I have never enriched myself at the expense of the Filipino people. I steadfastly maintain my innocence of these charges against me. I will not allow this unfortunate judgment to dampen my faith in the justice system and the rule of law. I will pursue all the available remedies within the moral confines of the law. Thus, the sub judice rule precludes me from speaking further on the merits of this case,” he further stated.

By Jun David

THE Caloocan City government recently held a job fair through the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) at the Caloocan City Sports Complex. More than 5,300 job vacancies are now available for Caloocan City residents at the Mega Job Fair, local officials said.

City Mayor Dale Gonzalo Malapitan invited

By Butch Gunio

THE Municipality of Samal has been cited for its environmental practices and recently received the “Outstanding Practice in Operation of Materials Recovery Facility (MRF)” award.

Samal Mayor Alex Acuzar received the award during a government-sponsored Environmental Summit 2023 held at Widus Resort and Casino, in Clark,

calling for swift action on the nursing personnel shortage amid the exodus of Filipino nurses for overseas work.

She outlined several key solutions to tackle the challenges and bridge the gap between the public and private sectors.

Tutor acknowledged that such solutions are possible but cited the complexity of the situation.

She highlighted the “disparity between the wages and compensation of nurses in public and private hospitals with private nurses facing significantly lower rates due to regional wage differences.”

She proposed the “setting of minimum wage rates specifically for nurses in the private sector, ensuring uniformity across all regions” of a “fair minimum wage range of P700 to P1,000 net per day for registered nurses in private hospitals, gradually implemented over several years to allow for adjustment.”

She said there is a need to resolve backlogs and delays in PhilHealth remittances to private hospitals that have contributed to their financial struggles.

She recommended hiring contractual and job order nursing assistants and nursing aides to reduce the workload of registered nurses and the amendment of the Nursing Law to grant the Professional Regulation Commission the authority to “issue licenses to additional types of nurses, such as nurse practitioners, nurse assistants, and nurse aides.”

residents to join the job fair to take advantage of the employment opportunities provided by the city government.

The mayor also expressed his gratitude towards PESO and the 53 partner companies for making the event possible and vowed to continue his administration’s efforts in prioritizing livelihood and employment projects to provide a more comfortable life for his constituents.

Pampanga on June 26. He was accompanied by OIC Menro Arnel A. Cantor in receiving the award. Gov. Joet Garcia conveyed his congratulations to the Samal LGU and Acuzar for the environmental award.

In the same ceremony, Bataan was awarded “Outstanding Province in Sustainability of Ecological Solid Waste Management” and Brgy. San Antonio, Bagac for “Outstanding Barangay Materials Recovery.”

Pagcor to POGO: Cease and desist

THE Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has cracked the whip on an offshore gaming service provider in Las Piñas City suspected to be involved in criminal activities.

In a Show Cause Order addressed to its authorized representative, PAGCOR ordered Xinchuang Network Technology, Inc. to explain in detail its defenses against the allegations facing it, and why the state-run gaming regulatory firm should not cancel its Certificate of Accreditation and Authority to Operate.

SEEING RED. Members of the Philippine sailboat team practice for an international competition at Manila Bay, considered one of the best natural harbors in Southeast Asia and one of the finest in the world, on Sunday. Lino Santos

CA gets papers for 25 senior AFP appointees

THE bicameral Commission on Appointments (CA) has received the appointment papers of 25 newly promoted senior officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

“The CA received their appointment papers from Malacañang on June 27,” Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel, CA assistant minority leader, said on Sunday.

“The batch is composed of a major general from the Air Force, 20 brigadier generals from the Air Force, Army, and the Marines, three commodores from the Navy, plus a lone colonel from the Army,” Pimentel said.

Their appointments won’t be deliberated upon by the CA until after the second regular session of the 19th Congress opens on July 24.

The CA is empowered by the 1987 Constitution to scrutinize the competence, fitness, and integrity of key presidential appointees, including military officers from the rank of colonel or naval captain, and to approve or disapprove them. Rio Araja

Alongside the show cause, PAGCOR ordered Xinchuang to cease and desist from all offshore gaming activities pending the completion of the investigation being conducted by the Philippine National Police (PNP).

The PNP Anti Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) also said four Chinese fugitives were among the persons arrested

in the raid. In a text message to ABSCBN, PNP-ACG spokesperson Capt. Michelle Sabino confirmed the arrests but did not provide details.

This developed as the lawyer representing Xinchuang has demanded the PNP allow the medical treatment of at least 13 of the firm’s foreign workers still in police custody after they were seriously injured during the raid at their work compound in Barangay Almanza, Las Pinas City.

In a letter to PNP National Capital Region Police Office Chief PMaj. Gen. Edgar Okubo, lawyer Ananias

Christian Vargas condemned “this exhibition of police brutality against these unarmed foreign nationals, and declare that the use of force is not commensurate with the necessity to prevent escape, as you claim in your press statement.”

Combined operatives of the NCRPO and PNP Anti-Cybercrime and Intelligence groups raided the Xinjiang compound early on June 29, when Vargas said at least three of their workers suffered physical injuries “as a result of the severe mauling by your police officers on the ground.”

SC clears ERC, PEMC deal to probe WESM

By Rey E. Requejo

THE Supreme Court has sustained

the ruling issued by the Court of Appeals which declared valid the memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) and the Philippine Electricity Market Corporation (PEMC) allowing the latter to investigate energy sector participants for possible breaches of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) rules and manuals.

In a 12-page decision written by Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, the SC’s Second Division denied the petition filed by the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM) seeking the nullification of the agreement as well as its accompanying protocol.

The high court’s ruling affirmed the 2009 findings of the appellate court which held that the PEMC has the power to investigate possible breaches of the rules governing WESM. The CA also ruled that the ERC did not unduly delegate its powers in the assailed memorandum and protocol with PEMC.

The CA noted that under the rules and regulations of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA), the Department of Energy together with the industry players were mandated to formulate rules for WESM.

Pakistanis, Romanian nabbed for disrespecting flag

AUTHORITIES in Cavite arrested three Pakistanis and one Romanian after they were caught allegedly disrespecting the country’s national flag, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Sunday.

The PNP identified the suspects as Sharoon Manzoor, 29; Shahid Manzoor, 45; and Shamail Jalal, 36, all from Pakistan, and Romanian Loan Oprescu, 36.

“Disrespecting the Philippine National Flag is a grave violation that demands our utmost attention and must not be disregarded. It is our duty to uphold the honor and dignity of our flag, and individuals found guilty of such acts will be held accountable under the law,” PNP chief Police General Benjamin Acorda Jr. said. They were caught on June 26 for al-

legedly violating Section 34 of Republic Act 8491 or the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines, police said.

“Reports revealed that the suspects were caught in the act of disrespecting the Philippine National Flag. They were observed pulling and damaging the flag before discarding it in a grassy area near the camp,” the PNP said in a statement.

SAMAL DANCERS.

Dancers from Samal Island in Davao Del Norte perform as they help welcome the new slogan “Love the Philippines” of the Department of Tourism, which launched a culture, heritage, and arts caravan dubbed “Philippine Experience” in various districts on the Island.

Danny Pata

Bataan vice gov Garcia new leader of Lady Legislators League in CL

BATAAN Vice Governor Cris Garcia is the newly elected president of the Lady Local Legislators League of the Philippines (4L) in Region 3 (Central Luzon).

Bataenos poured in their congratulatory messages for her achievement.

Other elected officials of 4L Region 3 are Olga Frances D. Dizon, vice president; Maya Bongco, secretary; Jacqueline Rose Khonghun, treasurer; Nerivi S. Martinez,

auditor; and Anna Maria S. Santos, public relations officer.

The new Board of Directors are Aurora: Jennifer A. Araña and Ellah Cherryl

G. Villacorte; Bataan: Susan M. Murillo and Marie H. Carunungan; Bulacan: Juliet

Dela Cruz and Esperanza Ramos; Nueva

Ecija: Ethel Catherine Jean Angeles and Remedios Badar; Pampanga: Cherry D. Manalo and Genalyn M. Tan; Zambales

P459k bounty raised for student’s killers

SAN JOSE, Occidental Mindoro—Provincial officials and concerned citizens on Saturday pooled their hard-earned cash to put up a P459,000 bounty on information leading to the arrest of architecture student Eden Joy Villacete’s killers.

The fundraising activity was spearheaded by Gary Valera, chief executive officer (CEO) of local radio station Care FM Network, through the station’s program, “Pag-Usapan Natin,” which is hosted by broadcaster Mariboy Ysibido. Organizers said that in less than a day, the radio program has managed to raise nearly half a million pesos in reward money.

It was revealed that of the total amount raised, P100,000 came from Rep. Odie Tarriela, P100,000 from Governor Eduardo Gadiano, P100,000 from Vice Governor Diana Tayag,

and the municipality of San Jose contributed another P100,000.

Smaller donors included the staff of CARE FM, who managed to put up P25,000, board member Alex Robles del Valle, who contributed P25,000, and Barangay Bagong Sikat Captain Ismael Cacayurin, who gave P5,000, while another P4,000 was donated by anonymous sources.

San Jose Mayor Rey Ladaga told reporters Saturday morning that he has ordered police to conduct a speedy and thorough investigation, assuring that the local government will see the case through its resolution.

Villacete, 21, an incoming fifth-year student at Occidental Mindoro State College (OMSC), was stabbed to death and found naked inside her rented room in Barangay 7 on Friday morning.

Hazel Lim and Thea Samantha D. Ablola; Angeles City: Vicky V. Cabigting; and Olongapo City: Sarah Lugerna Garcia.

Women vice governors, provincial board, vice mayors, and municipal council including ex-officio members are considered as 4L regular members while female barangay captains and councilors, and Sangguniang Kabataan are associate members. Butch Gunio

Citing the rules promulgated for WESM, the CA found out that PEMC’s investigative powers came from its designation under EPIRA as the autonomous group tasked to implement the electricity spot market and formulate rules.

It further noted that this was also made clear in the assailed protocol, which delineates the actions that the ERC and the PEMC may take.

THE Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) welcomed Taiwan’s decision to extend its visa-free entry scheme for Filipinos for another year starting Aug. 1.

“We thank the Taiwan government for their decision extending by another year the visa-free entry for Filipinos into their country.

Such move will definitely further enhance trade and friendly relations between our countries,” MECO chair Silvestre Bello III said in a statement over the weekend.

On Friday, Taiwan announced that it is allowing all Filipinos to travel to Taiwan without a visa for a maximum of 14 days citing the purpose of tourism, business, transit, visiting relatives, and attending functions or events.

This year, Taiwan targets to attract more than 320,000 visitors from the Philippines.

“We look forward to stronger exchanges in the field of labor, trade, investments, and culture with this renewed display of benevolence by Taiwan,” Bello said.

Taiwan on Friday extended for another year its visa-free entry policy for the Philippines, starting from Aug. 1 to July 31, 2024.

The announcement was made by the Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs as it ramps up its efforts to revive prepandemic tourism figures.

AID FOR BADJAO FISHERS. Rep. Elizaldy Co of Ako Bicol Party-List (second from left) hands out certificates and checks for P15,000 to Badjao fishermen to signify their support for their livelihood. The awarding was held during the National Irrigation Administration Region V IA Congress in Legazpi. At right is Albay Rep. Joey Salceda.

MECO: Taiwan visa-free tack to boost relations

Vice Governor Cris Garcia

The Philippine contribution to the rules-based international order

conflicts in the region should be resolved legally and peacefully.

Amidst evolving security threats in the region, it has created the impetus to uphold the arbitral tribunal’s ruling by strengthening multilateral cooperation and gained the support of like-minded states such as the United States, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.

Reopening the economy

AFTER one year in office, what can the Marcos Jr. administration consider as its key accomplishment?

JULY 12 will mark the 7th year anniversary of the landmark case in the Arbitral Ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague invalidating China’s “nine-dash line” claiming almost the entirety of the South China Sea and clarified our rights in the West Philippine Sea and our Exclusive Economic Zone.

That day marks a pivotal event that sparked a series of geopolitical tensions wherein the Philippines has become a central stakeholder amidst a scenario that threatens to disrupt the peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific Region.

With the 2016 Arbitral Award, the Philippines has made a historic contribution to uphold the international rules-based order and supported by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Maintaining a rulesbased international order is the only path to peace and sustainable growth as the pandemic scarred world must carefully navigate towards a complex multipolar geopolitical environment

This achievement has earned the admiration and endorsement of the global community, who have rejected China’s unjustified intrusions and claims in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.

Led by the late Ambassador Albert del Rosario, this great victory was achieved against great odds against the expansionist ambitions of China that to this day refuses to abide by the ruling and persists on strengthening its military projection and continues to violate our territorial rights in the West Philippine Sea.

In one of his moving speeches, Ambassador Del Rosario said, “Our overwhelming victory in the Arbitral tribunal is a vindication against China’s unlawful expansion agenda, and its outcome is now an integral part of international law.

“The ruling upheld the need for a rulesbased order over the waters in the South China Sea. It espoused that any claim not anchored on and supported by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea should be denied.”

The Filipino people are just as passionate when it comes to asserting the country’s rights in the West Philippine Sea as expressed in the June 2022 survey of Pulse Asia wherein approximately nine out of 10 Filipinos want the Marcos Administration to assert our rights over the West Philippine Sea as stipulated in the 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration decision.

Moreover, 84 percent of the respondents agree that government should form alliances to defend Philippine territorial rights.

The Arbitral Ruling demonstrates how

The Stratbase ADR Institute, committed as the prime advocates of defending Philippine sovereignty and territorial rights and sustaining the legacy of Ambassador Albert Del Rosario, will host a hybrid town hall discussion themed, “The 7th Year of the Arbitral Victory: Defending the West Philippine Sea, the IndoPacific, and the Rules-Based Order” on July 12, 2023, Wednesday, from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM (PHT) which will be live-streamed via Zoom.

Among the esteemed dignitaries participating are ambassadors to the Philppines: Hae Kyong (HK) Yu PSM (Australian Embassy), Koshikawa Kazuhiko (Embassy of Japan), Luc Véron (Delegation of the European Union to the Philippines), Laure Beaufils (British Embassy), Shambhu Kumaran (Embassy of India).

The afternoon session will have deep discussions on “Strengthening Alliances and Strategic Partnerships to Defend the RulesBased International Order” with the keynote address from MaryKay Carlson, Ambassador, US Embassy in the Philippines.

The international panel of top experts and analysts that will share their insights on the current geopolitical landscape are Col. Raymond Powell, US Air Force (Ret.) of the Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation, Stanford University, California; Dr. Lowell Bautista, Associate Professor, School of Law, University of Wollongong, Australia; Justice Antonio Carpio, former Senior Associate Justice, Supreme Court of the Philippines, and Dr. Raul Pangalangan, Trustee, Stratbase ADR Institute, the former Dean of the University of the Philippines College of Law and former Director of Studies, The Hague Academy of International Law. Stratbase ADRi President Prof. Victor Andres “Dindo” Manhit will deliver the opening statements for the morning session on “Maritime Security Cooperation in the Philippines and the Indo-Pacific.”

A message from Philippine Ambassador to the US, Ambassador Jose Manuel “Babe” Romualdez will cap the event.

Many were gladly surprised when in his first days of assuming his office, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. promised that he will not “abandon even one square inch of territory of the Republic of the Philippines to any foreign power,” and “never again to be subservient to any external force that directs or determines our destiny.”

Newly appointed Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro has stated his support to strengthen external defense capabilities without sacrificing internal security and declared that “our territory is our territory and UNCLOS cannot be changed by the passage of time, nor changes in administration.”

The region’s growth and stability are closely linked to geopolitical and geoeconomic risks and will impact on our country’s priorities not just in areas of internal and external defense but extends to digital and hard infrastructure, trade and investments, tourism, energy, manufacturing, health, governance, and the environment.

Maintaining a rules-based international order is the only path to peace and sustainable growth as the pandemic scarred world must carefully navigate towards a complex multipolar geopolitical environment.

Night of fires, looting in

Lille as protests sweep France

LILLE, France—A burned district office, another pelted with stones, “lots of looting”: in Lille, in the north of France, a game of cat and mouse played out into the wee hours of Friday morning between authorities and protesters.

As in other French cities, the metropolis of one and a half million near the Belgian border has been convulsed by at-times violent demonstrations since Tuesday’s fatal police shooting of a 17-year-old named Nahel in Nanterre, near Paris.

The incident revived longstanding grievances about policing and racial profiling in France’s multi-ethnic suburbs, but some in Lille suggested the backlash had gone too far, even as they denounced the shooting.

In the district of Wazemmes, firefighters worked until after midnight to extinguish a blaze that damaged the ground floor and blackened the facade of the local district hall.

“Burning a district hall is useless,” said 22-year-old bus driver Sofiane, standing in front of the charred edifice as fireworks sounded in the distance.

“The cop who did this did not have to do it”, he said of the officer who shot Nahel, “but attacking public places, what does it serve?”

District councillor Brice Lauret, who had rushed to the scene, said the violence was “unacceptable.”

“I can understand anger, but not violence,” he added.

In another area, Fives, the district hall was targeted with stones, its windows broken out, according to Lille city hall, while an elementary school in the neighborhood of Moulins was badly damaged by flames.

There was also “a lot of looting” of shops and supermarkets, it added, saying “very mobile small groups, composed of very young” individuals were striking “everywhere.”

‘Today they are shooting’

The city had beefed up its security pres-

ence on Thursday, deploying elite RAID units, a helicopter and police drones after violence broke out the previous night, though the measures appeared to have little deterrent effect.

The first incidents started around 9:00 p.m., in the sector of the central police station, where authorities had prohibited gatherings after calls for a rally went out on social media.

Economists agree it’s none other than reopening the Philippine economy after three years of stagnation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Reopening the economy, and leading it toward normalcy from the debilitating lockdowns that were among the longest in the world, has been a priority of the Marcos administration.

It has also started investing in the future by setting the goal of becoming a middle-income status country by the end of its term in 2028.

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, many global banks were predicting that the Philippines would become a big economy by 2050 and beyond.

The Philippine economy would certainly benefit from what economists call the “demographic sweet spot” or the demographic dividend that comes from having a huge population with one-half of them already part of the labor force.

The Philippines actually has one of

We have to invest more in the education of our youth so that the economy would benefit in the long run

the biggest populations in the world, at 12th place with more than 110 million Filipinos. This would be a key ingredient in the country’s economic advance.

The countries enjoying the demographic sweet spot would be among the dominant economies by 2050.

Transforming that advantage into sustained economic growth in the years ahead would require, however, a welleducated work force.

This underscores the importance of upgrading the country’s educational system so that future generations can acquire the necessary knowledge and

skills needed for consistent economic growth and improvements in the standard of living of Filipinos.

We have to invest more in the education of our youth so that the economy would benefi t in the long run.

With the country returning to an average annual growth rate of at least 6 percent, the government should further open up the economy through structural reforms and policies that would attract investments both from domestic and foreign sources, cut red tape and facilitate the ease of doing business.

Improving the country’s economic situation remains a priority of his administration, the President himself has said.

“Whatever it is that we have managed to do, there is still a great deal more to do. We have to work smart, and we have to work well, and we have to be very conscious…We have to bear in mind that the international situation has changed, in terms of trade, in terms of geopolitics.

“It is very clear that the most successful economies are those that are agile and resilient. And we have to put the basic elements in place to do that.”

How to LOVE the Philippines

Phuket, Penang or Hanoi, and even our closest neighbor, Taiwan, the traveler gets big bang for his buck compared to Manila or Palawan, in terms of accommodation, inland transport, or food.

DAYS after I filed in advance our Thursday, 29 June article on our tourism woes, the Department of Tourism unveiled its new tagline “LOVE the Philippines” to coincide with its 50th anniversary, having been elevated by then President Marcos Sr. to Cabinet level, with “Sunshine” Joe Aspiras as its first secretary. I flew out of the country last Sunday, 25 June, and saw for myself the several problems travelers experienced at NAIA 1, from long check-in lines to long immigration lines. Mercifully, the travel tax lines were short and quick due to an online payment system introduced during the previous administration of PRRD.

I will not compare the bedlam in our airports with the efficiency of both airport and rail transport systems in the foreign country I am in at present as I write this article.

There is no comparison. The instant jury is out on whether LOVE is an improvement over the “More Fun” comeon that has endured for the last 12 years after “WOW!” but I prefer to wait for results.

Still, the first thing that came to mind when I learned about the DOT promo launch last week while I was in a First World country was how easy it would be to corrupt the slogan.

What is there to LOVE in the Philippines, a tourist is likely to ask, after the hassle at the airport, then being overcharged by taxi drivers just to endure hours of traffic, then made to pay exorbitant hotel rates compared to most Southeast Asian countries, later having his domestic flights to popular destinations canceled or delayed.

And no amount of smiling “hospitable” (a trait that is no longer as true as before) Filipinos could likely compensate for all the hassles. It ain’t lovable as it is now.

My foreigner friend also observed that LOVE, although universally a feel good message, is no different from “I love NY” where the love is drawn as a heart, which has been copied by so many cities all over the world, ours included. Still and all, we hope that Secretary Frasco’s promises in her tourism development plan, especially with regard to improving accessibility and infrastructure, among other concerns, will come true.

That’s because no amount of advertising, no amount of promotional gimmicks, can sell what is regarded these days as a “bad” product. Sayang lang.

We have the most beautiful beaches in the world with world-class dive spots, but because of a lack of tourist-friendly infrastructure, our natural beauty is either inaccessible or comparatively expensive. But as a domestic tourist come-on, LOVE the Philippines may be quite appropriate. Then again, are our officials targeting the domestic, or the foreign market?

Then there is funding, not just marketing and advertising, but, more importantly, product development, principally accessibility, connectivity, and affordability of travel.

President Marcos Sr. created the Philippine Tourism Authority and gave it extensive power to build tourism infrastructure.

Secretary Frasco, who understands local government administration very well, should use her influence and power to steer LGUs to the right path insofar as tourism is concerned

Sadly, most of the infrastructure the PTA built under Marcos were left to disrepair and neglect when President Cory took over. Then, it’s travel tax collections from outbound travelers were cannibalized through several legislative actions.

40 percent of the travel tax goes to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED); 10 percent to the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, and the 50 percent remaining is taxed by the BIR, so that in the end, just about 27 percent can be utilized to fund infrastructure.

Worse, legislators with pet “tourism kuno” projects in places where no real tourist attraction exists take their slice of the small pie, so that in the end, funds for real tourism infrastructure are niggardly and long-term planning or product development is possible.

Sen. Dick Gordon, after serving as tourism secretary under President GMA, authored the Tourism Act of 2009, converting the PTA into the TIEZA, which stands for Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, with the DOT Secretary as the CEO and a presidential appointee is Chief Operating Officer or COO. Armed with powers to promote private sector investments in designated tourist zones through tax incentives, TIEZA can do much if properly managed.

To its credit, it developed the water and sewerage system in Boracay, later privatized to the Ayala conglomerate.

can be supported by TIEZA on a project basis, not through a lump sum of 10 percent of the travel tax.

But then again, there are too many travel tax exemptions, principally government officials on official travel (or junkets cloaked as official) and our OFWs.

To solve the problem without burdening our OFWs when leaving the country for foreign work, there was a proposal by TIEZA officers under PRRD to streamline the travel tax, by taxing inbound travel, with no exemption, a flat rate of (US) $10 per passenger (P560 more or less), tucked into their ticket.

This was supported by the IATA or the International Air Transport Association, comprising 83 percent of world aviation. Foreign visitors would not likely mind the $10 appended to their plane fare, especially if our airports are well-run, and returning Filipinos would get a discount, at P560 versus the P1,620 they pay as outbound travel tax.

In fact, Japan adopted the idea, but nothing happened as that would require legislation and the support of our economic managers, and then COVID came in, and whatever funds TIEZA had were co-opted by the DOF to add to the emergency expenses needed to address the pandemic.

That is something for DOT and TIEZA to resurrect, and for Congress and our economic managers to support.

And for all the funds collected to be devoted solely to tourism infrastructure, from planning to product development, along with adequate tax incentives that would attract the private sector, foreign and domestic, to invest in world-class hotels and restaurants.

With so many Filipinos now doing “revenge” travel, and believe me, whether in Japan, Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong or Taiwan, there are legions of our folks traveling these dayHBC BLURB: “Not far away, a witness recounted having seen a group of about 50 people set fire to a brokerage company’s office” s, saying even that it is cheaper and easier to fly to these nearby destinations than it is to Mindanao or the Visayas.

Travel tax collections have become easier though, and I did not witness long lines at the tax collection counters in the NAIA.

Apparently, payments can now be made online, an improvement made during PRRD’s time.

Critical to tourism, whether in the product development aspect or in promotions, is the active and well-intentioned support of local government units.

The Local Government Code devolved tourism, along with agriculture, health and education, to primary responsibility of LGUs, what with their hefty IRA and now, the Mandanas ruling of the Supreme Court.

Mobile and scattered, small groups of young people set fire to trash cans and cars on a main artery. Some broke the windows of a supermarket, later emerging with bottles of soda.

RAID officers, aboard an ATV and in an armored vehicle, intervened several times, brandishing projectile launchers.

“They are not showing any mercy; today they are shooting,” commented one passerby who, like many interviewed by AFP, declined to identify himself.

From blaze to blaze

Tensions were also high in the nearby municipality of Roubaix, one of the poorest in France, where firefighters dashed from blaze to blaze throughout the night.

Next to a theater with broken-out windows, barricades burned as fireworks crisscrossed the sky. Near the train station, a hotel caught fire, sending its dozen or so residents fleeing into the streets.

As firefighters battled the blaze, another

From a marketing standpoint, maybe we should look at the travel market in terms of niches we could tap, and create attractive packages for these targets.

Some foreigners love the sun and sand; some prefer to hike and climb mountains. Still a few are into exploring a different culture and cuisine.

Compare us to neighbors Thailand and Malaysia, and see how they use all these niches and make their tourism affordable and accessible.

We cannot be like First World Singapore or even Japan, where expensive man-made attractions are plenty.

Yet whether in Bangkok, Chiang Mai,

was already starting nearby in a large office building, residents said.

“In two days, they did what the Yellow Vests did in two years,” said one pedestrian, referring to the spontaneous and sometimes violent antigovernment protest movement that broke out in 2018.

When President Duterte closed the island because few establishments connected to the TIEZA-built pipelines and many disgorged their detritus into the pristine sea, the agency, together with DPWH, spearheaded the necessary improvements. Boracay is much better now, thanks to PRRD, Tieza and DPWH, but wait till the local government unit, present or future, allow transgressions of carefully laid out plans and projects.

Outbound travel sustains TIEZA funding, although just about a fourth of total collections from the travel tax is usable, and much of it goes to administrative expenses.

First things first: give it the entire pie of travel tax collections.

CHED should be given its budgetary support from the GAA especially now that tertiary education in state universities and colleges are subsidized by the national government.

The NCCA and the National Museum

Not far away, a witness recounted having seen a group of about 50 people set fire to a brokerage company’s office.

A social centre in the city was also set on fire, according to Amine Elbahi, who ran unsuccessfully in the area in the last legislative elections.

“The police, they feel free to do anything. They

In practice over the last 25 or so years since, the Local Government Code has just been used as a tool in fostering and perpetuating family dynasties, and politics has become big business, but for some rara avis of development-oriented mayors and governors.

Secretary Frasco, who understands local government administration very well, should use her influence and power to steer LGUs to the right path insofar as tourism is concerned.

Bring the smiles back into this corner of Asia.

Make it stand out in the competition for tourist dollars in this part of the world, in what is now the Asian century. That will be the time when travelers to the country will appreciate us, if not LOVE the country to come again and again.

And Filipinos themselves, whether domestic travelers or balikbayans, will truly LOVE the Philippines.

killed an innocent youth, they have to stop,” said one 16-year-old passerby back in Lille.

Another man in his 20s appeared to agree: “Nahel’s death is too serious, it’s unjustified.”

“But the reaction is bad; degrading public services is useless,” he added. “It’s our money that will fix all this.” AFP

Not far away, a witness recounted having seen a group of about 50 people set fire to a brokerage company’s office

Hundreds more arrested in 5th night of riots

THE French government said Sunday that hundreds more had been arrested in a fifth night of rioting sparked by the police killing of a 17-year-old, as police deployed reinforcements to flashpoint cities around the country.

Protesters, mostly minors, have torched cars, damaged infrastructure, and clashed with police in an outpouring of rage since an officer shot Nahel M. point blank as he attempted to flee a traffic stop on Tuesday.

The killing was captured on video, which spread on social media and fueled the anger over police violence against minorities, exposing severe racial tensions in France.

A day after Nahel was laid to rest in his home town near Paris, the interior ministry said police had made 719 arrests overnight, still a provisional tally, after around 1,300 the previous night.

Some 45 police officers or gendarmes were injured, 577 vehicles torched, 74 buildings set on fire and 871 fires set in streets and other public spaces, it said.

While nationwide numbers suggested an overall decline in tension across the country, police still recorded a number of incidents.

The mayor of a town south of Paris said rioters had rammed a car into his home, injuring his wife and one of his children, and set a fire.

“Last night the horror and disgrace reached a new level,” said the mayor, Vincent Jeanbrun, while prosecutors said they were investigating the incident for attempted murder.

Some 45,000 police were deployed across France, the same number as the night before, and backup was dispatched to the previous days’ flashpoints, including Lyon, Grenoble and Marseille.

Of the total, 7,000 were concentrated on Paris and its suburbs, including along tourist hotspot the Champs Elysees avenue in central Paris following calls on social media to take rioting to the heart of the capital.

The massive police presence had helped keep the violence in check, said Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin.

“A calmer night thanks to the resolute action of the security forces,” he tweeted early Sunday. AFP

CIA: Ukraine war ‘corrosive’ for Putin

RUSSIA’S war in Ukraine has had a “corrosive” effect on Russian President Vladimir Putin, CIA Director William Burns said Saturday, with discontent over the conflict creating a “once-in-a generation opportunity” for the spy agency.

Speaking at the Ditchley Foundation in the UK, Burns called Putin’s invasion of Ukraine “the most immediate and acute geopolitical challenge to international order today.”

The address came one week after the head of Wagner mercenary group Yevgeny Prigozhin led his forces in a brief mutiny against Russia’s military command.

In doing so, he accused Russia of tar-

geting his forces with deadly missile strikes in Ukraine and launched broadsides against Moscow’s narrative of the conflict: saying it was started “for the self-promotion of a bunch of bastards” and that Russia’s troops were retreating in Ukraine’s east and south.

“The impact of those words and those actions will play out for some time, a vivid reminder of the corrosive effect of Putin’s war on his own society and his

own regime,” Burns said. He called the war a “strategic failure” for Moscow that has exposed military weaknesses, hurt the economy, and spurred a bigger and stronger NATO.

“Disaffection with the war will continue to gnaw away at the Russian leadership ... That disaffection creates a once-in-a-generation opportunity for us at CIA,” he said.

“We’re not letting it go to waste,” he added, noting the CIA recently posted on Telegram to let Russians know how to reach the CIA via the dark web.

“We had 2.5 million views in the first week, and we’re very much open for business.”

COLORFUL FESTIVAL. An artist of the Caprichoso Cultural Association performs during the annual folklore festival known as Boi Bumba at Bumbodromo, in Parintins, an island on the Amazon river about 370km east of Manaus, northern Brazil. Boi Bumba is considered the biggest outdoor opera which runs for three nights on the last weekend of June. The themes, costumes, and songs are based on the native cultures along the Amazon River. AFP

Biden to host Swedish PM for dialog on NATO

US PRESIDENT Joe Biden will host Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson next week to talk about transatlantic security cooperation and the war in Ukraine, the White House said Saturday.

The two leaders “will review our growing security cooperation and reaffirm their view that Sweden should join NATO as soon as possible,” the White

iselco2_pbac@yahoo.com

House said in a statement about the Wednesday meeting.

Sweden asked to join NATO in May 2022, three months after Russia invaded Ukraine, but its membership bid, which must be ratified by all 31 member states, has been blocked by Turkey and Hungary.

Western officials had hoped to formally welcome Sweden into the bloc

BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTE INVITATION TO BID Bid No. 2023-05

The ISABELA II ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE (ISELCO II) through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) invites interested and eligible bidders to bid for the following procurement.

by the time a NATO summit is held in Lithuania on July 11-12. But earlier this week, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan denounced Sweden for allowing a protest during which a man burned pages from the Koran, further clouding the Nordic nation’s chances of quickly joining the military alliance. AFP

Burns did not mention a recent trip to Ukraine where he met with intelligence counterparts and President Volodymyr Zelensky. The visit took place before Prigozhin’s insurrection.

In his speech the spy chief also focused on China, which he called “the only country with both the intent to reshape the international order and, increasingly, the economic, diplomatic, military and technological power to do so.”

Burns warned of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s “growing repression at home and his aggressiveness abroad” and said the CIA has established a mission center focused exclusively on

Copy of the Bid Documents may be acquired after the submission of Letter of Intent to Participate and payment of the corresponding bid fee.

The bidding will be conducted through competitive bidding procedures using a non-discretionary “pass”/ “fail” criterion in accordance with the provisions of RA 10531.

Only those who purchased the bid documents within the given period shall be allowed to participate in the bidding to be held at ISELCO II Headquarters, Alibagu, City of Ilagan.

The foregoing amounts are non-refundable and must be paid to the cashier at ISELCO II, Main Office, Government Center, City of Ilagan, Isabela or deposit thru ISELCO II Bank Account. Official receipt or deposit slip as proof of payment must be presented during the Pre-Bid Conference.

For queries, please contact the BAC Secretariat (0906-975-0715), look for Ms. Annie Love D. Pamittan or email us at iselco2_pbac@yahoo.com

Schedule of activities.

II hereby reserves the right to reject any bids, waive any formality therein, accepts proposal most advantageous to the Cooperative and assumes no obligation to compensate or indemnify any bidder for expenses or losses that may be incurred in the preparation of bid, nor does it guarantee that an award will be made.

ON A visit to spotlight violence and chaos in Haiti, the UN secretary-general on Saturday called for a robust international effort to help the country’s beleaguered police in fighting rampant criminal gangs.

For months, Antonio Guterres has raised the alarm bell about the situation in the Western Hemisphere’s poorest country, which has been wracked by spiraling violence, a worsening public health situation and political instability.

But he traveled to Port-au-Prince –his first visit to Haiti as head of the United Nations – to make his point on the ground.

“We must put Haiti on the international political map, and make the tragedy of the Haitian people the international community’s top priority,” Guterres told a press conference.

“I met Haitians, and I felt the exhaustion of a population that has been facing a cascade of crises and unbearable living conditions for too long,” he said.

“This is not the time to forget about Haiti,” Guterres said after meeting with Prime Minister Ariel Henry, and other political and civil society leaders. AFP

Mexican mayor weds ‘princess’ reptile to ensure good fortune

AS ONLOOKERS clapped and danced, a mayor of a small southern Mexico town entered into holy matrimony with a female reptile in a traditional rite to bring good fortune to his people.

Victor Hugo Sosa, mayor of San Pedro Huamelula, a town of Indigenous Chontal people in the Tehuantepec isthmus of Mexico,

took as his betrothed a reptile named Alicia Adriana, re-enacting an ancestral ritual.

The reptile is a caiman, an alligator-like marsh dweller endemic to Mexico and Central America.

Sosa swore to be true to what local lore calls “the princess girl.”

“I accept responsibility because we love each other. That is what is important. You can’t have a marriage without love... I yield to marriage with the princess girl,” Sosa said during the ritual.

Marriage between a man and a female caiman has happened here for 230 years to commemorate the day when two Indigenous groups came to peace – with a marriage.

Tradition has it that frictions were overcome when a Chontal king, embodied these days by the mayor, wedded a princess girl of the Huave Indigenous group, represented by the female alligator.

The Huave live along coastal Oaxaca state, not far from this inland town.

The wedding allows the sides to “link with what is the emblem of Mother Earth, asking the all-powerful for rain, the germination of the seed, all those things that are peace and harmony for the Chontal man,” explains Jaime Zarate, chronicler of San Pedro Huamelula. AFP

UN chief calls on world to make Haiti ‘top priority’

IN BRIEF

covers the building and civil engineering works for about 12.8 km of railway viaduct structure including elevated stations at San Pedro, Pacita, Biñan, and Santa Rosa.

The CP S-06 covers the building and civil engineering works for around 10.2 km of railway viaduct structure including elevated stations at Cabuyao, Banlic, and Calamba. Darwin G. Amojelar

DOF, ADB ink loan deal for transport modernization

FINANCE Secretary Benjamin Diokno and Asian Development Bank country director for the Philippines Pavit Ramachandran signed three loan agreements for the Davao Public Transport Modernization Project on July 1, 2023 at the Acacia Hotel in Davao City.

The project aims to deliver a modern, high priority public transport system that will provide an attractive, efficient, and affordable mode of transport in Davao City.

It will also maximize service coverage to cater to the growth in travel demand and accelerate inclusive economic growth in the city.

“The administration of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. recognizes that modernizing our transportation systems will be critical in building a sustainable and globally-competitive economy,” Diokno said in his message of commitment.

The DPTMP will be supported by loans amounting to $1.074 billion from the ADB and ADB-administered funds, such as the Green Climate Fund and the ASEAN Infrastructure Fund.

The GCF component of the loan package, equivalent to $50 million, will help finance the procurement of electric buses under the DPTMP.

This will contribute to the country’s first nationally determined contribution under the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, which sets a 75-percent greenhouse gas emission reduction and avoidance target by 2030. Julito G. Rada

PH companies to raise P200b from bond issuances in 2023

By Jenni er B. Austria

PHILIPPINE Dealing & Exchange

Corp., the operator of the country’s fixed-income exchange said over the weekend Philippine companies are expected to generate more than P200 billion through bond issuance this year to fund expansion and repay debt.

This figure however is significantly lower compared to record P508 billion worth of capital raised from the bond market in 2022 and also lower compared to earlier target of up to P450 billion for 2023.

PDEx president and chief executive Antonino Nakpil attributed the lower bond listing this year to current market uncertainties.

“This year is certainly much lower than last year’s record setting pace and understandably so the market continues to deal with lingering fog over the state of the economy and its near future,” Nakpil said.

“With the present rate of issuances we maybe on the way of replicating 2021’s figure of around P200 plus billion

worth of listing,” he said.

PDEx has admitted seven new corporate bond listings worth P92.48 billion As of the first half of the year, .

Despite the decrease in bond issuance for this year, Nakpil said companies continue to consider raising funds through the capital market to fi nance their capital requirements.

Investors have also not shown weakening appetite to support the corporate issuers needs, Nakpil said.

“So engine of capital is working and the job remains to spread the benefits of this mechanism for more corporate issuers to be able to access,” Nakpil said.

Nakpil said PDEx plans to conduct webinars to micro, small and medium enterprises to lure more companies to capital requirements to the bond market.

The seven companies that raised funds from the bond market this year were Bank of the Philippine Islands (P20.3 billion), Citicore Energy REIT Corp. (P4.5 billion), Century Properties Group Inc. (P3 billion), SM Prime Holdings, Inc. P33.3 billion), Alsons Consolidated Resources, Inc. (P1.38 billion), Ayala Land Inc. (P15 billion) and Robinsons Land Corp. (P15 billion).

Conglomerate Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. earlier reported plans to raise as much as P17.45 billion from issuance of fixed-rate retail bonds in the third quarter of the year.

Bank loans post slower growth on elevated inflation

By Julito G. Rada

THE outstanding loans of universal and commercial banks posted a slower growth of 9.4 percent in May from 9.7 percent a month ago, partly due to higher interest rates and elevated inflation, data released by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas released over the weekend show.

On a month-on-month seasonallyadjusted basis, outstanding universal and commercial bank loans, net of reverse repurchase placements or RRPs, increased by 0.7 percent.

“The moderation in bank lending activity reflects the impact of the BSP’s cumulative policy rate adjustments. Looking ahead, the BSP will continue to ensure that domestic liquidity and credit dynamics are in line with its price and financial stability mandates,” BSP said in a statement.

BSP kept the overnight borrowing rate of 6.25 percent in its meeting in the latter part of June 2023, taking into account the continued slowdown in inflation for the past four months from a peak of 8.7 percent in January 2023. The average inflation in the first five months of 7.5 percent remained way over the target range of 2 to 4 percent.

Gov’t urged to

encourage local PUV manufacturing

AC Motors asked the government to encourage automotive stakeholders to manufacture local mini vans and multi-purpose vans for public utility vehicle use.

“We need to define our own niche the way Thailand and Indonesia defined their own. Instead of competing with them in the cars category, why not we focus on commercial vehicles for PUV use,” said AC Motors president for Automobile Group Antonio Zara III. He said the Philippines has yet to catch up with cars manufacturers in the region.

Zara said the country’s most ambitious automotive incentives program is not delivering as expected.

“Even China is not producing this. And the demand for such vehicles is insignificant to these markets. But it’s not insignifi cant for us. What if we can own it for the world,” he said.

Zara said the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy program of the Department of Trade and Industry is not yet successful and the Philippines is in a better position to develop the van category for the PUV segment.

While there is a slim chance of exporting the mini vans and MPVs, the local transportation sector is needing more modern PUVS for the commuting population, he said. Othel V. Campos

By Alena Mae S. Flores

POWER retailer Manila Electric Co. forecasts electricity prices to go down this month amid to lower demand due to the onset of the rainy season.

“Initial indications show a possibility of lower generation charge in the July bills. This is due to lower demand we’ve observed with the onset of the rainy season which could have an effect on WESM [Wholesale Electricity Spot Market] prices,” Meralco spokesperson Joe Zaldarriaga said.

Average WESM prices declined by P1.73 per kilowatt-hour in the first two weeks of June driven by demand reduction and supply increase.

Average WESM prices in Luzon and Visayas dropped to P7.10 per kWh as of June 12 from P8.83 per kWh in May.

“In addition, prices of coal in the international market have also gone down and will likely reflect in our suppliers’ charges in the incoming billing month,” Zaldarriaga said.

Meralco is expected to release its July rates next week.

The company announced an increase in rates by P0.4183 per kWh last month due to the completion of the last refund and higher prices at the spot market.

Meralco’s overall rate for a typical household went up to P11.9112 per kWh from P11.4929 per kWh in May.

Peak demand in May reached 12,431 megawatts, the highest so far on record.

The grid was also placed on yellow and red alerts last May 8.

Meralco sourced the bulk of its requirements from its power supply agreements, followed by the independent power producers and the WESM.

Meralco is the country’s biggest power producer with over 7.6 million customers in its franchise area.

NUCLEAR ENERGY MEET. Experts from around the Asia Paci c region gathered on June 30, 2023 to discuss the viability of nuclear energy and emerging technologies for a sustainable future. In photo (from left, rst row) Aboitiz Group president and chief executive Sabin Aboitiz; Toronto Region Board of Trade president and chief executive Jan De Silva; Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla; Aboitiz Group chief reputation and sustainability o cer Ginggay Hontiveros-Malvar; (from left, second row) Philippine Energy E ciency Alliance vice president Ruth Yu-Owen, Aboitiz Power president and chief executive Emmanuel Rubio; Indonesia National Research and Innovation Agency main expert researcher Dr. Ir. Anhar Riza Antariksawan, Kyoto University Institute for Integrated Radiation and Nuclear Science professor emeritus Dr. Ken Nakajima, (from left, third row) 2nd District Pangasinan Congressman Mark Cojuangco; Ontario Ministry of Energy chief of sta David Donovan; CANDU Energy senior vice president of major project Julianne den Decker and ROSATOM State Atomic Energy Corporation department head Svyatoslav Pikh.

PH stocks seen trading at 6,400 to 6,600 levels this week

By Jenni er B. Austria

TRADING at the local stock market this week will mainly be influenced by the release of key economic data, such as inflation and manufacturing output although it is seen moving between the 6,400 to 6,600 level.

Philstocks Financial Inc. senior research manager Japhet Tantiangco said investors will be primarily watching out for June inflation rate data, which is slated for release this week.

Tantiangco said further slowdown in June inflation rate from May’s 6.1 percent may boost investor sentiments this week.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas last Friday said inflation in June likely eased to as low as 5.3 percent from 6.1 percent in May on lower prices of meat, fruits and liquefied petroleum gas.

However, the US Federal Reserve’s continued hawkish stance will also affect market sentiments over the short-term period.

Tantiangco said the local market’s movement may also take cues from the upcoming June S&P Global Philippines Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index and labor force survey for clues on the strength of local economy.

Outstanding loans to residents, net of RRPs, slowed in May at 9.3 percent from 9.6 percent in April. Similarly, outstanding loans for production activities rose by 7.9 percent in May after growing by 8.3 percent in the previous month.

BSP said this was mainly due to the continued increase in loans to major industries, specifically electricity, gas, steam, and airconditioning supply (14.1 percent); real estate activities (5.5 percent); wholesale and retail trade, and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (8.6 percent); information and communication (15.9 percent); and financial and insurance activities (7.3 percent).

Consumer loans to residents grew at a slightly faster rate of 22.7 percent in May from 22.3 percent in April due to the increase in credit card, motor vehicle, and salary loans. Outstanding loans to non-residents also went up by 13.2 percent in May from 12.2 percent in the previous month.

begins at 1:00

For convenience in registering your attendance, present your valid identification, such as, a driver’s license, voter’s ID, TIN card, SSS card or passport.

If you will not be able to attend the meeting but would like to be represented thereat, you are requested to submit a duly signed and accomplished proxy form to the Office of the Corporate Secretary of Marcventures Holdings, Inc. located at the 4th Floor Citi Center, 8741 Paseo de Roxas, Makati City or on before 6:00 p.m., July 15, 2023. Beneficial owners whose shares are lodged with PDTC or registered under the name of a broker, bank, or other fiduciary allowed by law, must likewise present a notarized certification from the owner of record (i.e. the broker, bank, or other fiduciary) that he is the beneficial owner indicating thereon the number of shares. Corporate shareholders shall likewise be required to present a notarized Secretary’s Certificate attesting to the authority of its representative to attend and vote at the stockholder’s meeting.

The deadline for submission of proxies is on July 15, 2023. Validation of proxies will take place on July 20, 2023.

Pursuant to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Notice dated March 13, 2023, an electronic copy of the Information Statement and Management Report and SEC Form 17A and other pertinent documents related to the meeting may be accessed through the Corporation’s website at https://www. marcventuresholdings.com/ and on the Philippine Stock Exchange Edge website.

For any question about the meeting, you may send an email to: inquiries@ marcventures.com.ph Makati City, 27 June 2023.

Meralco sees lower power rates in July as demand declines

ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY

Collaboration key to securing clean air for all, experts assert

COLLABORATION

between governments, development organizations, the private sector, civil society and academia is crucial to reducing pollution and improving air quality given the transboundary nature of air pollution, experts said last week.

Considered the biggest environmental health risk of recent times, air pollution can lead to stroke, heart and lung disease, respiratory ailments, like pneumonia and cancer. With over 99 per cent of the global population breathing unsafe air, experts say the world must act urgently for the sake of people’s health and well-being. Air pollution is also strongly correlated with the worsening climate crisis, and it impacts ecosystems, threatening food security and economic productivity.

Increasing available scientific evidence, monitoring air quality, enabling action across key sectors, and facilitating local, national, and global partnerships are necessary to tackle the problem and protect health and livelihoods.

The fourth annual International Day of Clean Air for blue skies will be held on September 7, 2023 under the theme Together for Clean Air, focusing on the need for strong partnerships, increased investment and shared responsibility to overcome air pollution.

Facilitated by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), the event aims to highlight the importance of clean air, raise public awareness and spur action to improve air quality.

“With this year’s theme, Together for Clean Air, we want to encourage collaboration across borders and boundaries, between sectors and beyond silos to reduce air pollution and leverage finance and investments towards air quality measures and solutions,” says Martina

head

secretariat

UNEPconvened Climate and Clean Air Coalition. “Everyone has a part to play, and everyone can benefit. Clean air is integral to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment.”

Air pollution comes from myriad sources, including industrial facilities, the extractive industry, household energy use, vehicles, wildfires and the burning of waste.

Air quality monitoring is a key step to understanding air pollution and prioritizing measures to attain air quality standards and meet public health goals. However, it is not a legal requirement in 37 percent of countries, and experts are concerned about the rigor of monitoring in many others.

To address air pollution, governments must implement legislation and incentives that unlock clean air investments across sectors. There are proven,

low-cost solutions to air pollution that can generate multiple important health benefits and reduce near-term warming. A just energy transition and net-zero pathways in transport, buildings and other areas can also generate clean air benefits.

Meanwhile, shifting away from unsustainable production and consumption patterns can reduce emissions of harmful pollutants. Individuals can make lifestyle changes to reduce their emissions while also urging governments and businesses, including financial institutions, to commit to net-zero emissions.

Through the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, UNEP works with governments, intergovernmental organizations, businesses, scientific institutions and civil society organizations to reduce black carbon, methane, tropospheric ozone and other pollutants that contrib-

Nickel Asia fun run aids mangrove restoration

LISTED natural resources development firm Nickel Asia Corp. (NAC) is holding its first-ever sustainability fun run on July 23, with the proceeds supporting mangrove restoration in Hagonoy, Bulacan province.

The run will have three legs to be held simultaneously in three different locations nationwide–the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City, the Balayong People’s Park in Puerto Princesa City, and the City Hall grounds in Surigao City.

ute to the climate crisis and endanger human health.

The 2022 observance of the International Day of Clean Air for blue skies focused on the transboundary nature of air pollution, its global impact and the need for collaboration. The theme in 2021 was the health impact of polluted air, especially relevant at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The first observance in 2020 focused on the need for clean air for everyone and equity in access to clean air.

Every year, on September 7, the world celebrates the International Day of Clean Air for blue skies. The day aims to raise awareness and facilitate actions to improve air quality. It is a global call to find new ways of doing things, to reduce the amount of air pollution we cause, and ensure that everyone, everywhere can enjoy their right to breathe clean air. UNEP News

Jollibee Group reinforces environmental sustainability, preservation

THE Jollibee Group has beefed up environmental protection and preservation efforts across its supply chain to build a more sustainable business.

The measures are consistent with Jollibee’s global sustainability agenda dubbed Joy for Tomorrow that aims to treat the planet more responsibly and help build a sustainable future for people and communities.

The planet pillar of the Jollibee Group’s agenda is focused on improving packaging sustainability improving packaging sustainability across its operations, reducing food loss and waste in both its manufacturing process and store operations, reducing energy and water consumption in the manufacturing process, and executing energy-saving initiatives to reduce energy consumption across its stores.

“For 45 years, we at the Jollibee Group have dedicated ourselves to excellence and innovation. We are taking

The Jollibee Group implements various measures to improve the environmental sustainability of its operations, such as the use of solar panels in Chowking’s Koronadal Drive-Thru in South Cotabato, which can run on 40 percent renewable energy.

this commitment a step further by making more deliberate efforts to become a more sustainable business,” said Jollibee Group chief sustainability officer and

public affairs officer Pepot Miñana. “Our environmental sustainability efforts are part of our commitment to future generations to preserve and improve natural

What is circular economy and why does it matter? (Part 1)

OUR current economic system can be considered a linear economy, built on a model of extracting raw materials from nature, turning them into products, and then discarding them as waste.

Currently, only 7.2 percent of used materials are cycled back into our economies after use. This has a significant burden on the environment and contributes to the climate, biodiversity and pollution crises.

Circular economy, on the other hand, aims to minimize waste and promote a sustainable use of natural resources, through smarter product design, longer use, recycling and more, as well as regenerate nature.

Besides helping tackle the problem of pollution, circular economy can play a critical role in solving other complex challenges such as climate change and biodiversity loss.

Examples

The first example most people think of when they think of circular economy is waste management, but circular economy is in fact so much more.

Circular economy approaches are all around us. They can be employed in a number of different sectors from

textiles to buildings and construction, and at various stages of a product’s lifecycle, including design, manufacturing, distribution and disposal.

In textiles and fashion, there are initiatives that employ regenerative agriculture to produce organic cotton and other natural fibers, using natural colorings and dye, thus ensuring higher quality and safer garments for the health of consumers and the environment. By producing higher quality garments, clothing can also last longer, be repaired, thrifted and recycled.

In buildings and construction, circular solutions can include reducing virgin material use, re-using existing materials in circulation, or substituting carbon-intensive materials for regenerative alternatives such as timber.

In a circular economy, electronic goods are refurbished, water-soluble, recyclable and truly biodegradable packaging becomes the norm, and animal waste is used as natural fertilizers and processed into biogas for cooking, heating and lighting.

Importance to our planet

Estimates show that we are already using more than the available amount

of Earth’s natural resources. If current trends were to continue, we would need three planets by 2050.

In the past two decades, material consumption has risen by over 65 percent globally, reaching 95.1 billion metric tons in 2019. By the same year, an estimated 13 percent of the food destined for human consumption was lost after harvesting and another 17 percent was wasted at the household, food service and retail levels.

The amount of electronic waste reached 7.3 kilograms per capita in 2019, and the majority is not managed in a sound way, harming the environment and our health.

For the survival and well-being of people and the planet, these statistics show us the importance of transforming the way we use and respect our finite resources. Studies show that, to return to safe limits of consumption, we need to reduce global material extraction and consumption by a third. Transitioning to a circular economy will be instrumental to achieving this.

Climate change

A circular economy is essential for fighting climate change.

resources from which they can benefit.”

In 2022, the Jollibee Group manufacturing sites in the Philippines achieved 38 percent reduction in food loss and waste versus a 2020 baseline, with over 50 percent of its organic waste now going to bioremediation process. The company’s efforts helped reduce food loss and waste by 5,566 metric tons, driven by initiatives such as container upsizing, shift to reusable palette wrapping, and recovery and recycling measures through third-party collectors, among many others.

In terms of energy efficiency, the company delivered 21.5 percent reduction in energy use ratio versus a 2020 baseline, where a total of 5,589 metric tons of greenhouse gases has been avoided for release. This gain was due to measures such as equipment optimization, preventive maintenance, and installation of new equipment to reduce electricity and fuel consumption.

“NAC’s first-ever fun run puts premium on the importance of collaboration towards a sustainable future. We are the first company with interests in mining to stage an event such as this, and we are proud to trailblaze such initiatives,” said Jose Bayani Baylon, NAC senior vice president for sustainability, risk management, corporate affairs and communications.

“We are aiming to attract 3,500 finishers, and for each one, we are committing to plant 15 mangrove trees in support of the mangrove rehabilitation in Hagonoy, Bulacan. This is outside and in addition to our Group’s mandatory rehabilitation and reforestation programs,” he added.

In partnership with nongovernment organization Fostering Education and Environment for Development Inc. (FEED), NAC will achieve a number of objectives in line with its ESG Roadmap namely: 1. (Social Goal 1) Promote Good Health and Well Being not only of its employees but also of other stakeholders and the general public; 2. Contribute to Environmental goals of (Environment Goal 1) Net Zero Carbon and (Environment Goal 2) Biodiversity Protection; and 3. Increase awareness and foster participation of stakeholders in NAC’s sustainability journey.

Participants may choose to run distances at 3k, 5k, 10k, and 21k. There will also be allotted raffle prizes for participants including a Honda Sundiro S-07 e-bike, Fiido D2s foldable e-bike (in partnership with Popcycle Ebike Center), Asics sustainable running shoes, and 32-ounce Aquaflask bottles.

“Through this event, we want to deepen our relationship with our stakeholders. Our commitment to environmental protection, safety, and health is something we take to heart. Our aim is not only to embed environmental stewardship into our culture and our workforce, but also to educate our stakeholders about responsible mining and sustainability,” said NAC president and chief executive Martin Antonio Zamora.

Source: https://climatepromise.undp.org

Currently, material extraction and use amount to 70 percent of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. That means that if we want to significantly reduce emissions, we have to look at “hot spots” of unsustainable consumption and production in highimpact sectors such as industry, buildings and construction and agriculture.

Studies show us that, through efficient and more circular use of materials

in just four key industrial materials (cement, steel, plastics, and aluminum), circular economy strategies can help reduce global GHG emissions by 40 percent by 2050. And if we also include circular approaches within the food system, we could achieve as much as 49 percent reductions in global GHG emissions overall. UNDP News (To be continue)

A man takes photographs of an art installation titled ìNoseì by Thai artist Thanawat Maneenawa displayed outside the Bangkok Art & Cultural Centre in Bangkok on June 1, 2023, to advocate for the right to clean air and highlight air pollution issues. AFP Otto,

of the

of the

A FUTURE-READY PHILIPPINES: DIGITAL, SUSTAINABLE, INCLUSIVE

Keeping prices steady: A key pillar of central banking

Price stability refers to managing and controlling inflation within an acceptable range to avoid drastic fluctuations in the price levels of goods and services in the economy.

For consumers, price stability protects their purchasing power and overall standard of living. For businesses, it reduces uncertainty and allows for more accurate planning. By fulfilling this role, the BSP fosters an environment conducive to the efficient operation of financial markets and the sustainable growth of the economy.

From 1993 to 2023, the BSP’s strategy for maintaining price stability has evolved in line with the changing economic landscape, domestically and globally. In its early years, the BSP adopted a monetary targeting framework, under which it would target a certain level of money supply in the economy to manage inflation.

As many countries, including the Philippines, experienced a weakening relationship between inflation and money supply, however, the BSP shifted its framework in 2002. It adopted inflation targeting as its primary approach to monetary policy. Under this framework, the BSP directly targets a range of inflation. It publicly announces the target inflation range and uses its tools to meet the target.

Shift to inflation-targeting

Inflation targeting refers to a monetary policy strategy where the central bank sets a specific inflation rate as its goal and implements monetary policy decisions, such as adjusting interest rates, to achieve and maintain this target. This approach is known for its transparency as the BSP explicitly states its inflation target, making its monetary policy decisions useful for planners and easier to understand for the public.

The transition to inflation targeting represented a significant shift in the BSP’s approach to monetary policy. This framework offered the BSP more flexibility to respond to economic shocks, as it focuses on future rather than past inflation, allowing for preemptive measures. Moreover, the clear communication that characterizes inflation targeting—whereby the BSP regularly informs the public of its target, its outlook for inflation, and its assessment of the balance of risks—has helped anchor inflation expectations and thereby reduce inflation volatility.

Expanded toolkit

The BSP utilizes several tools alongside inflation targeting to ensure price stability. One key tool is the reserve requirement, which dictates the minimum reserves each bank must hold from its depositors’ balances. By adjusting the reserve requirement ratio, the BSP can influence the amount of money circulating in the economy, thereby managing inflation.

In 2009, the BSP began incorporating banking regulations meant to help manage liquidity in the economy into its policy toolkit. Indeed, financial stability and price stability are intertwined. As part of its oversight function, the BSP set the thresholds for key metrics, such as loan-to-value ratio (or the difference between the loan amount and the current market value of a property) and capitalization. Stress testing exercises are also conducted. The objective is to protect the financial system from potential shocks and to prevent unsustainable credit growth.

The BSP also adopted an interest rate corridor system in 2009. Under this system, the BSP keeps a lower and an upper threshold for interest rates, which better guides banks in putting their own interest rates. This system aims to guide short-term market rates toward the BSP’s policy interest rate, further refining its ability to manage inflation expectations effectively.

Re-anchoring inflation expectations

However, 2022 saw an unprecedented challenge. Across the world, supply chain disruptions caused by the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine-Russia conflict stoked inflation, triggering rate hikes, higher unemployment, and recordhigh debts. What made 2022 even more challenging was the US Federal Reserve’s sudden pivot to tighter monetary policy. This narrowed the interest rate differential between the United States and the Philippines and weakened the peso.

To re-anchor inflation expectations, the BSP implemented a cumulative increase of 350 basis points (bps) in the policy rate in 2022, followed by a cumulative 75 bps hike from January to June 2023. This brought the combined rate adjustments to 425 bps, that is, increasing its policy rate by 4.25 percent. Compared with its peers in the region, the BSP was among the most aggressive in raising its policy rate. And similar to other countries, the BSP sold some of its reserves as part of its expanded toolkit.

Under the Tinbergen Rule, policymakers need multiple tools to address several objectives. The BSP avoids overreliance on any single tool and, aside from the policy rate, has several weapons in its arsenal to bring inflation to a target-consistent path.

The BSP maintains close relations with other government bodies, adopting a coordinated approach that allows it to factor in various macroeconomic perspectives when making decisions to contain inflation and protecting the purchasing power of Filipinos.

Meanwhile, the national government implemented non-monetary interventions to address the scarcity of essential food commodities and improve agricultural productivity in the country.

The combined effects of the BSP’s rate hikes and the national government’s move to relax import restrictions on scarce food items have begun to take effect. Based on estimates of the BSP in June 2023, headline inflation is seen to settle within the 3.0 to 4.0 percent target by the fourth quarter of 2023.

The BSP’s pursuit of its price stability mandate over the years demonstrates that it is a proactive and adaptive institution. Its transition from money supply targeting to inflation targeting, the adoption of innovative macroprudential measures, and its response to inflationary pressures reflect the BSP’s commitment to price stability amid changing and challenging economic conditions.

THE New Central Bank Act of 1993 created the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and entrusted it with a pivotal task: maintaining price stability in the country.

BSP INAUGURATES BRANCH IN PALAWAN. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Felipe M. Medalla (fifth from left), Palawan

Provincial Governor Victorino Dennis M. Socrates (fourth from left), and Puerto Princesa Mayor Lucilo R. Bayron (sixth from left) lead the ribboncutting ceremony for the central bank’s newest branch in Puerto Princesa City on 15 June 2023. According to Governor Medalla, the BSP’s Puerto Princesa branch will further enhance access to clean banknotes and coins for Filipinos in the Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan regions. Also present during the inauguration were (from left) Puerto Princesa Vice Mayor Maria Nancy M. Socrates and Monetary Board Members V. Bruce J. Tolentino, Peter B. Favila, Anita Linda R. Aquino, and Antonio S. Abacan Jr.

A FUTURE-READY PHILIPPINES: DIGITAL, SUSTAINABLE, INCLUSIVE

Strengthening financial stability: Reforms that shaped the Philippine financial system

THE Bangko Sentral ng

Pilipinas marks its 30th year with a banking system that is sound, stable and liquid.

By the end of 2022, the Philippine banking system’s assets stood at P23,047.7 billion, up by 10.7 percent year-on-year. Over the same period, gross total loan portfolio grew by 10.8 percent to P12,625.1 billion. The Philippine banking system also remained well capitalized and managed to keep its exposure to bad debts low. As of end-2022, capital adequacy ratio on solo and consolidated bases stood at 15.7 percent and 16.3 percent, higher than the 10-percent minimum requirement of the BSP and the 8.0 percent prescribed by the Bank for International Settlements. The nonperforming loans ratio settled at 3.2 percent in December 2022 compared with 4.0 percent in the same period of the previous year.

Since its creation in 1993, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has upheld its mandate of maintaining financial stability in the country.

Such is demonstrated by banks and other financial institutions that can effectively meet the service requirements—such as savings, payments, fund transfers, and investments—of individuals, businesses, government institutions, and other stakeholders.

Financial stability is also exhibited when risks that affect the entire financial system, rather than just an individual bank or entity are properly managed. An example would be an economic shock that causes a rise in loan defaults.

Learning from the challenges of the past and adapting to the complexity of the present

In response to the 1997 Asian financial crisis, the BSP changed its approach to banking supervision. Instead of simply ensuring compliance, the BSP focused on the ability of banks to measure and manage risks. This new approach allowed financial institutions to take more informed risks, such as introducing products and services or expanding to new markets as long as they can assess and handle the potential impact of these offerings

BSP, IMF HOLD FINANCIAL STABILITY CONFERENCE IN CEBU. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) garnered another milestone after the successful regional dialogue on Financial Stability in Mactan, Cebu, on 15-16 May 2023. With the theme, “The New Frontier of Financial Stability: Global Problems, Global Solutions, Local Challenges,” the conference brought together 14 central banks and financial authorities from the region, six international organizations, as well as 31 institutions representing the private sector, market players, and experts. One of the conference highlights focuses on Asia as a collective body in addressing systemic risk issues affecting the global economy. Although much work needs to be done, the conference moved the needle toward building resilience by creating bridges and molding behaviors across stakeholders. In the photo are participants of the conference from the BSP led by BSP Governor Felipe M. Medalla (first row, right, sevent from left), Monetary Board Member (MBM) Peter V. Favila (first row, fifth from left), MBM Antonio S. Abacan, Jr (first row, fourth from right), MBM V. Bruce Tolentino (first row, third from left), MBM Anita Linda R. Aquino (first row, third from left), MBM Eli M. Remolona, Jr. (first row, second from left), Deputy Governor (DG) Chuchi G. Fonacier (third row, leftmost), DG Francisco G. Dakila, Jr. (third row, third from right); Senior Assistant Governor (SAG) Maria Ramona Gertrudes T. Santiago (second row, fifth from left), SAG Dr. Johnny Noe E. Ravalo (first right, leftmost), SAG Edna C. Villa (second right, second from right); Managing Director Antonio Joselito G. Lambino II (second row, rightmost); the IMF led by Deputy Director Dr. Thomas Helbling (first row, sixth from left); the Financial Stability Board (FSB) led by FSB Chairman and De Nederlandsche Bank President Klaas Knot (second row, fourth from left), ASEAN central banks, public and private sectors, media, and multilateral organizations including the Bank for International

Southeast Asian Central Banks Research and Training Center. on their financial standing. In addition, the central bank introduced the “consolidated supervision framework” in 1998. Under this framework, the BSP not only focused on the performance of individual banks but also on complex banking groups and on the effect of a bank’s dealings with the conglomerate to which it belongs.

In 2001, the BSP also adopted the “risk-based capital adequacy framework” in supervising banks. This required banks to set aside capital commensurate with their credit risks (i.e., risks of loan default by their borrowers). Banks were given guidelines on how to calculate “risk-based” capital that they ought to set aside. This supervisory approach is aligned with international best practices, particularly the “Core Principles for Effective Banking Supervision” issued by the Bank for International Settlements.

In 2006, the Philippines adopted the Basel II framework and provided guidelines for the use of derivatives in 2008. This framework encouraged banks to boost their risk management

practices and strengthen their capital bases, which prepared them for the Global Financial Crisis of 2008.

Enhancing risk management

In 2013, relative to the Basel III framework, the BSP introduced guidelines for a risk-based capital adequacy framework that included maintaining specific ratios and a capital conservation buffer. These measures are meant to foster responsible financial management, consistent with the overall goal of safeguarding financial stability.

Further, Republic Act No. 10641, or An Act Allowing the Full Entry of Foreign Banks in the Philippines, helped foreign banks enter the market, resulting in a more competitive banking environment.

To ensure banks are well-equipped to handle potential risks, the BSP mandated universal and commercial banks in 2019 to establish their internal capital adequacy assessment processes.

Embracing innovation, sustainability, and inclusion

Recognizing the potential of technology, the BSP partnered with RegTech for Regulators Accelerator (R2A) in 2017 to promote efficiency and gain more insightful information on financial supervision. The R2A is a pioneer project that provides technical assistance for financial sector regulators in developing and testing the next generation of digital supervision tools and techniques. Under this partnership, the BSP piloted two RegTech solutions: an application programming interface for supervisory reporting and the BSP Online Buddy, or BOB, a chatbot program found on the BSP website for complaints handling. At reduced costs, the R2A has helped the BSP gather information from banks promptly and detect patterns of behavior that negatively affect consumers.

The BSP has also advocated for financial reforms to enhance inclusivity, such as the creation of branch-lite banking units in 2017. This move has effectively brought banking services to underserved areas, making it easier for more

people to participate in financial activities.

Digital platforms—supported by a regulatory environment that ensures responsible innovation and cyber resilience—play an important role in making financial products and services more accessible to underserved markets. Toward this end, the BSP has developed a framework for digital banks that serve their customers via online channels with no physical branches.

To date, there are six digital banks operating in the country.

Settlements, Asian Development Bank, ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office, and

The BSP has also advocated for financial reforms to enhance inclusivity, such as the creation of branch-lite banking units in 2017. This move has effectively brought banking services to underserved areas, making it easier for more people to participate in financial activities.

THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas

celebrates its 30th anniversary with significant milestones in the country’s payments and settlements system. With an enabling regulatory environment that leverages technology, the system has made payments and fund transfers efficient, fast, and safe for Filipinos.

In 2022, the share of monthly digital payments to total monthly retail payments volume in the Philippines reached 42.1 percent, up from 30.3 percent in 2021. Moreover, as of 2021, about 56.0 percent of Filipino adults owned a formal financial account compared with 29.0 percent in 2019.

Besides keeping prices stable, supervising banks, and maintaining the stability of the entire financial system, another crucial role of the BSP is overseeing the country’s payments and settlements system.

Broadly, this mandate of the BSP is centered on ensuring that payments and fund transfers of individuals, businesses, and other entities are completed on time and without issues. This requires monitoring the channels of banks, e-wallets, and clearinghouses through which financial transactions are made.

A robust payments and settlements system is essential for the effective implementation of monetary policy, efficient financial markets, and economic growth.

Payments and settlements

system oversight: then and now

The enactment of the New Central Bank Act in 1993—which established the BSP to replace the old Central Bank of the Philippines—paved the way for a more sophisticated payments and settlements system. Since then, the BSP had established facilities for safe and fast electronic interbank payments and settlements for largevalue, time-critical transactions.

In 2002, the BSP, through its Payments and Settlements Office, operationalized the Philippine Payment and Settlement System (PhilPaSS). PhilPaSS is a realtime gross settlement system for the processing and settlement of high-value payment transactions of commercial and rural banks. In the succeeding years, other institutions, such as investment houses, thrift banks, and financing companies, joined the roster of commercial and rural banks that enjoy the benefits of interbank and interdealer transactions.

Amid innovations in the financial landscape, the BSP launched the National Retail Payment System (NRPS) in 2015, which accelerated digitalization in the country’s cashheavy retail payment system. The Philippine Payments Management Inc. (PPMI), which is recognized as the country’s payment system management body composed of industry players, was also established in 2017. PPMI supports the BSP in putting forward innovations toward a cash-lite retail payments system.

While the BSP has supervised the country’s payments and settlements system for years, additional regulatory powers were given to the

with the enactment of the

A FUTURE-READY PHILIPPINES: DIGITAL, SUSTAINABLE, INCLUSIVE

Revolutionizing the payments and settlements system The BSP’s journey toward financial digitalization

Pasig City Mega Market have joined the program, which provides a safe and convenient alternative to cash payments. Paleng-QR Ph Plus is consistent with the #BSP’s goal to convert half of retail payments volume into digital form and onboard 70 percent of Filipino adults onto the formal financial system by this year. Governor Medalla said the BSP is working with banks to cut or waive digital transfer fees to boost digitalization: “Ang dream namin sa central bank, ‘yung small transactions, walang fees.” Mayor Sotto echoed Governor Medalla’s statement, saying “Napakaganda po ng panukala sa atin ng BSP Governor. Kaya gusto po natin na mas gamitin pa ng vendors [ang QR Ph].” Also in the photo are (from right) Pasig City Councilor Simon Romulo Tantoco, Cecilia Valencia of Charing’s Halo-Halo Special, BSP Deputy Governor Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, and Pasig City Vice Mayor Robert Vincent Jude “Dodot” Jaworski Jr.

Transformation Roadmap (DPTR) for 2020-2023. Under this threeyear blueprint, the BSP aims to see half of the retail transactions in the country done electronically and at least 70 percent of Filipino adults owning transaction accounts, including e-wallets, by the end of 2023. The twin goals are well within reach. Latest BSP data show that in 2021, about 30.3 percent of financial transactions were done electronically, and 56 percent of Filipino adults had transaction accounts, up from 14.0 percent and 29.0 percent, respectively, only one year ago before the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

Making

payments efficient, safe, and inclusive

The digitalization trend comes amid the BSP’s efforts to pursue a payments and settlements system that is efficient, safe, and inclusive. On efficiency, the BSP has rolled out initiatives that make electronic fund transfers easy. An example is the establishment of the two interoperable clearinghouses PESONet [Philippine EFT (Electronic Fund Transfer) System and Operations Network] and InstaPay. Through these platforms, a person may electronically transfer funds to an intended recipient even if their accounts are lodged with different banks or e-wallets.

The Monetary Board has approved licenses for six digital banks, which is expected to support the digitalization and financial inclusion goals of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. A digital bank has NO PHYSICAL BRANCH, SUB-BRANCH or BRANCH-LITE UNITS. It offers financial products and services that are processed end-to-end through a digital platform or electronic channel.

National Payments and Systems Act (Republic Act No. 11127) in 2018. The act mandated the BSP to oversee payment systems in the country and exercise supervisory powers for the purpose of ensuring the stability and effectiveness of the monetary and financial system.

A year after, this function was then institutionalized through the

enactment of the amended BSP charter (Republic Act No. 11211).

The law explicitly states that “the Bangko Sentral shall oversee the payment and settlement systems in the Philippines, including critical financial market infrastructures, in order to promote sound and prudent practices consistent with the maintenance of financial stability.”

With its institutionalized role, the BSP established the Payments and Currency Management Sector (PCMS) in 2021 to lead the Bank’s supervisory work in this area.

The BSP, through the PCMS, pioneered innovative strategies in the digitalization of payments and accelerated the operationalization of the Digital Payments

Another example is the creation of digital payment streams EGov Pay and QR Ph. The EGov Pay is an electronic payment facility that allows individuals and businesses to digitally pay taxes, licenses, permits, and other obligations to the government. QR Ph, the national QR (quick response) code standard, provides an interoperable platform that allows QR-enabled fund transfers even if the sender Turn to

A FUTURE-READY PHILIPPINES: DIGITAL, SUSTAINABLE, INCLUSIVE

Reforms... From C2

Governance, stability, and consumer protection

The BSP highly values corporate governance and transparent reporting and promotes the same among financial institutions. The BSP issued Circular No. 456 in 2004, which promotes fairness, accountability, and transparency in the financial sector. The circular requires its supervised institutions to form audit, corporate governance, and risk management committees with clearly defined charters and reporting relationships. These committees are tasked to ensure oversight and evaluation of financial reporting, internal controls, risk management, corporate governance principles, and the effectiveness of the board itself.

One of the BSP’s key objectives is managing systemic risks. This involves collaborating with financial authorities and utilizing macroprudential policy strategies to address interconnected risk behaviors.

In addition, the BSP places significant emphasis on consumer protection, considering it an integral component of corporate governance, culture, and risk management. To ensure effective supervisory oversight, the BSP adheres to global standards and constantly engages with stakeholders to implement reforms.

The BSP actively participated in the development and implementation of the Financial Products and Services Consumer Protection Act. In compliance with the law, the central bank issued the corresponding rules and guidelines, established a dedicated consumer protection department, and conducted consumer education campaigns for financial consumers.

The BSP also implemented regulations to enhance cybersecurity in the country’s financial system. Through its issuances, the BSP required financial institutions to establish robust information security management systems, manage technology risks, and implement cybersecurity risk management frameworks. These measures aim to protect both financial institutions and consumers from cyber threats, ensuring the integrity and security of the financial system.

Relief measures during the global health crisis

The BSP provided temporary regulatory and rediscounting relief measures to its supervised institutions to ease the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some of the key measures include the extension of financial relief to borrowers, which allowed banks to stagger the booking of credit losses for individuals and businesses as well as capital relief for provisioning requirements. The BSP also set an interest-rate ceiling for credit card transactions to ease the financial burden on consumers and small businesses. Incentives for lending were also introduced, such as reducing credit risk weights for loans to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and assigning a zero-percent risk weight to loans guaranteed by the Agricultural Guarantee Fund Pool and Agricultural Credit Policy Council.

The BSP also allowed the utilization of loans to MSMEs as an alternative form of compliance with reserve requirements. Other relief measures included the utilization of capital and liquidity buffers, increase in the Single Borrower’s Limit (SBL), relief from sanctions for breaches of the SBL by foreign bank branches, increase in the real estate loan limit, and relaxation of the guidelines on Real Estate Stress Test limits. The BSP also promoted continued access to financial services by waiving transaction fees, providing temporary regulatory relief for banks offering Basic Deposit Accounts, and supporting the delivery of financial services through operational relief measures.

Over the past 30 years, the BSP’s efforts have contributed to a robust and resilient financial system in the Philippines. The central bank has played a vital role in fostering a conducive environment for sustainable economic growth and financial well-being by prioritizing financial stability, risk management, financial inclusion, innovation, and consumer protection for the benefit of all Filipinos.

By Peter Paul Duran

As Al Amanah Islamic Bank of the Philippines (AAIIBP) celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2023, it sets its sights on new horizons, positioning itself as a pioneer in digital banking and spearheading the Islamic banking industry in the country.

In a recent interview with Manila Standard, Alex Bangcola, Chairman and President of AAIIBP, revealed the bank’s aspirations to further strengthen its position in the banking sector.

“We’re off to greater heights in our golden year, serving as a springboard towards a digital banking era,” he stated, emphasizing the importance of “Amanah 2.0” and the sustainability of Islamic banking.

Bangcola elaborated on the significance of a revamped AAIIBP, stating that it represents a transformative phase for the bank.

“Amanah 2.0 signifies our commitment to reimagining our services, embracing digital advancements, and providing innovative solutions to our customers,” he explained. This forward-looking approach aims to enhance customer experience, streamline processes, and leverage technology to deliver cutting-edge Islamic banking services.

In a significant development for the first and only Islamic Banking institution in the country so far, a Swiss project finance company called Soleil Capitale Groupe GmbH (SCG) has acquired a 40% stake in the bank. This strategic investment by SCG not only grants them multiple board seats but also provides an opportunity for AAIIBP to play a pivotal role in the development of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) through its expertise in Islamic finance.

With AAIIBP being the sole Islamic bank in the Philippines, this investment opens doors to the fast-growing Islamic finance industry. SCG’s entry into AAIIBP positions the bank to spearhead the development initiatives in BARMM, which requires substantial investments in transportation, communication, health, education infrastructure, and other key sectors. By leveraging SCG’s global network and

expertise, AAIIBP aims to attract development funds and promote inclusive progress, trade, tourism, and agriculture in the region.

Furthermore, the interview shed light on AAIIBP’s potential transition to privatization. Bangcola discussed the advantages of this move, stating, “This is a crucial step for Amanah’s future. It will allow us to fully unlock our potential and implement innovative strategies to benefit our clients and the Islamic banking sector.”

He added that this transition would provide the bank with greater flexibility, agility, and autonomy to drive growth, expand its offerings, and adapt to the evolving needs of customers.

Discussing the sustainability of Islamic banking, Bangcola highlighted its fundamental principles, which prioritize ethical and equitable practices.

“Islamic banking is a sustainable system that promotes fairness, transparency, and shared prosperity. It aligns with the values of responsible banking, making it an attractive choice for individuals and businesses seeking ethical financial solutions,” he emphasized.

This sustainability-focused approach positions AAIIBP as a trusted institution for those looking to make socially responsible financial decisions.

Under Bangcola’s leadership, AAIIBP has witnessed a remarkable transformation. When he assumed the presidency in 2017, the bank’s Islamic banking transactions accounted for only 15% of its operations. Today, that figure has surged to an impressive 90%, surpassing conventional banking.

This significant shift demonstrates AAIIBP’s commitment to promoting and facilitating Islamic finance, while also catering to the diverse financial needs of its clientele. Looking ahead, AAIIBP plans to expand its presence nationwide, aiming to double its current nine branches. Bangcola emphasized the bank’s unwavering dedication to the development and upliftment of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). By increasing accessibility to Islamic banking services and facilitating economic growth, AAIIBP seeks to contribute significantly to the region’s prosperity and advancement.

Al Amanah Islamic Bank stands as a beacon of trust, inclusivity, and ethical banking principles in the Philippines. As it celebrates its remarkable journey, AAIIBP remains dedicated to leading the way in Islamic banking, continually pushing boundaries, and forging a path towards a future where financial innovation meets social responsibility—beyond personal belief, beyond religion, and beyond boundaries.

and the recipient have accounts from different banks or e-wallets.

On safety, the BSP issued regulations and carried out campaigns that promote consumer protection and cybersecurity.

The BSP also supported the passage of the Financial Products and Services Consumer Protection Act when it was still being deliberated in Congress. This law provides better redress mechanisms for financial consumers who have complaints against their service providers.

On inclusivity, the BSP, through its Financial Inclusion Office, has implemented policies and programs that made financial services more accessible

to low-income earners and encouraged more people to open transaction accounts. At the fore of these initiatives is the Paleng-QR Ph Plus program, under which the BSP partners with the Department of the Interior and Local Government to urge local governments to promote digital payments in local wet markets, public transport, and other retail establishments.

As the speed and breadth of digitalization gain momentum, the BSP continues to pursue more innovative and inclusive strategies toward an efficient, safe, and inclusive payments and settlements system attuned to the evolving needs of Filipinos.

The BSP’s... From C3

Al Amanah Islamic Bank: Leading the path of Islamic banking in the Philippines

ALEX BANGCOLA Chairman and president of AAIIBP

PH opens World Cup bid against Switzerland

THE Philippine women’s national football team will open its FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 campaign against Switzerland La Nati in New Zealand.

“Switzerland is another highlyquality team. Right off the bat, we know they’re going to be very good,” said Sarina Bolden, one of the Filipinas’ star players, in an interview with FIFA +.

The Filipinas will have the La Nati side as their first opponents on July 21 at the Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin.

Bolden, who has recently joined the West Sydney Wanderers, has joined the Filipinas in their practices in Sydney.

The Ferns will be their next opponents on July 23 at the Wellington Regional Stadium in Wellington.

“They’re all very tough opponents. I’ll start with New Zealand because luckily we’ve had a little bit of experience against them,” added Bolden.

The Filipinas have learned of the strength of the Ferns when the took a 1-2 setback during a friendly.

Norway will be the Philippines’ last opponent in the group stage on July 30.

“And then Norway are former world champions. So that’s the one. Obviously that is probably going to be our toughest game of the group stage, but it’s going to be a really great opportunity to even play a team like that,” said Bolden.

The Filipinas’ pre-World Cup camp is ongoing at the Western Sydney Wanderers Complex.

Veterans like co-captains Hali Long and Tahnai Annis are among the players listed, along with mainstays Olivia McDaniel and Inna Palacios. Peter

Atencio

Gilas Women stronger in 2 years, says coach Aquino

By Peter Atencio

AS CHINA celebrated its first FIBA Women’s Asia Cup title conquest in 12 years, Gilas Women’s coach Patrick Aquino expressed confidence that Team Philippines will be back stronger in two years.

Aquino said this after the Filipinas finished sixth place, bowing to Korea in a 71-80 loss on Saturday at the Sydney Olympic Park Sports Center.

“It’s about confidence in competing. And that’s what I always say to the girls,” said Aquino. The Filipinas went on to claim one of their best finishes since 1984, when they emerged fourth that year.

Aquino believes that a new generation of players will be able to help the Filipinas have a better showing the next time they join.

“We came here to compete, not just to play the relegation games. I think the girls were prepared,” added Aquino.

During the tournament, Afril Bernardino emerged as among the top performers with her averages of 13 points

and 7.6 rebounds, followed by Vanessa de Jesus, who normed 12.8 points, and 1.8 rebounds.

China, which has not won a crown since 2011, beat Japan, 73-71, in the finals, in front of a sold-out Sydney crowd.

Xu Han was simply unstoppable for China with 26 points.

Alice Kunek had 19 points in helping Australia take the bronze with its 81-59 win over New Zealand.

The event also served to confirm the Asia entries to the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments next year, with China, Japan Australia and New Zealand all punching their respective tickets to stay on course in their bids to make it to the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Lillard demands trade, prefers deal to Miami

NEW YORK—Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard has requested a trade and the seven-time NBA All-Star guard prefers a deal to the Miami Heat, according to multiple reports on Saturday.

Lillard, who turns 33 on July 15, is due $204 million over the next four years. He has spent all 11 of his NBA campaigns with Portland but has gone past the second round only once in eight trips to the playoffs.

Lillard’s request was reported by ESPN and The Athletic with the Miami Herald also reporting Lillard wants only the Heat, being a close friend of Heat star Bam Adebayo and having respect for playmaker Jimmy Butler.

Butler and Adebayo were keys in the Heat making a run from the

play-in games to the NBA Finals last month, where Miami lost to the Denver Nuggets. Lillard averaged a career-high 32.2 points and 7.3 assists and matched a career-best by shooting 46.3% over 58 games last season. He would be the largest point scorer in NBA history to swap teams for the next campaign, ESPN reported.

“We want Dame here but he notified us today he wants out and he’d prefer to play someplace else,” Trail Blazers general manager Joe Cronin said.

“What has not changed for us is that we’re committed to winning, and we are going to do what’s best for the team in pursuit of that goal.” Portland finished 33-49 and missed the playoffs for the second season in a row.

TNT tries to extend win streak in PBA 3x3

GRANDSLAM winner TNT and new guest team Wilcon Depot kick off Season 3 of the PBA 3x3 on Monday at the Ayala Mall Manila Bay.

Triple Giga open hostilities in the season’s First Conference as it battles Blackwater Smooth Razor at 10:30 a.m. while Wilcon Depot makes its debut in the halfcourt league by taking on Cavitex in the 10:55 a.m. second game.

The Trail Blazers are expected to want young talent and draft picks in exchange from any team interested in Lillard. Those with salary cap room to make the deal include the Heat, Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Clippers and Brooklyn Nets. Players on the Heat who could be moved in exchange likely include guards Kyle Lowry and Tyler Herro and forward Duncan Robinson.

ESPN reported Lillard has a “deep respect” for the San Antonio Spurs, who just landed French teen star big man Victor Wembanyama. But the Spurs finished 22-60 last season and missed the playoffs for a fourth consecutive campaign.

Lillard played under Spurs coach Gregg Popovich on the US Tokyo Olympic gold medal squad. AFP

Prado, Carcueva, Bonilla rule national road cycling championships

JERMYN Prado snatched two gold medals, Jonel Carcueva kept his throne and Kim Bonilla was hailed as a rising star in the recent PhilCycling National Championships for Road that was raced in what could be the most punishing and cruel road route in years.

Prado won the women’s individual time trial and criterium to remain queen of Philippine cycling—she lost the criterium gold medal going to Maura de los Reyes in the four-day championships Philippine Olympic Committee and PhilCycling president and Mayor Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino hosted in Tagaytay City.

Prado won the 15-km individual time trial (ITT) in 34 minutes and 43.80 seconds . She clocked 3:22:04 in the 104-km road race that was punishing and cruel in the final 15 kms where the riders almost yielded to the steep climb from Agoncillo in Batangas to Alfonso in Cavite

toward the Praying Hands monument in Tagaytay City.

Carcueva was as unrelenting in the 127km men’s road event punctuated by the same climb where majority of the riders had to dismount and push their bikes up the climb whose gradient ranged from 5 percent to as nerve-sapping as 28 percent.

He clocked 3:05:20 to lead a 1-2-3 finish by the Go For Gold team in the 120.85-km and 190-cyclist race presented by Standard Insurance and MVP Sports Foundation and supported by the POC, Philippine Sports Commission, supported by Chooks-to-Go and Excellent Noodles.

Rustom Lim submitted the best time of 36:21:50 in the 20-km Men Elite ITT, thus ending the reign of Mark John Lexer Galedo, who was 13 seconds slower at fifth place, while Excellent Noodles’s Ryan Tugawin dominated the Men Elite criterium to also share the spotlight.

The championships started Tuesday

Coming off a sweep of all three conferences in Season 2, TNT will continue to parade the solid core of Almond Vosotros, Lervin Flores, Ping Exciminiano, and Gryann Mendoza, with Mau Belen at the coaching helm.

Veteran Nico Salva meanwhile, banners the revamped Blackwater side of coach Junjie Ablan that also included Patrick Jamison, Dariel Bayla, and JR Alabanza.

New kid on the block Wilcon Depot will be handled by Anton Altamirano and is composed of Ael Banal, Terrence Tumalip, Keith Datu, and Yutien Andrada, while Cavitex still has the reliable group of Jorey Napoles, Dominick Fajardo, Tonino Gonzaga, and Kenneth Ighalo, with Kyles Lao as coach.

The rest of the seven teams, namely Pioneer Elastoseal, San Miguel, Purefoods, Meralco, Northport, Terrafirma, and Barangay Ginebra will also see action on opening day, where a total of 13 games will be played.

Meralco and Terrafirma tangle with each other in their debut game at 11:20 a.m., Pioneer plays Blackwater for its initial outing at 11:45 a.m., San Miguel takes on Purefoods at 12:10 p.m., before Barangay Ginebra plays Northport at 12:35 p.m.

The 11-team field has been divided into three groups, with TNT leading Pool A together with Blackwater and Pioneer. Pool B is composed of Cavitex, San Miguel, Purefoods, and Wilcon, while Pool C has Meralco, Ginebra, Northport, and Terrafirma.

Top two teams in each group advance in the knockout stage set on Tuesday.

Champion team of the opening leg will receive P100,000.

The Gilas Women’s team finished sixth place, which was one of its best finishes in the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup. fiba.basketball

Damian Lillard

Jonel Carcueva displays his men’s road race gold medal, and so do Jermyn Prado, Kim Bonilla and Angelica Mae Altamarino on the podium last week with the criterium races around a 2.2-km loop starting and ending at the Praying Hands with Prado and De Los

Reyes providing a dramatic you-or-me showdown made story-book perfect by blinding fog and heavy rain.

DOMINANT RIDE. The Excellent Noodles Cycling Team, led by owner Alex Billan, came home with several awards after taking part in the Tour of Friendship R1 Thailand, a road cycling race that has been participated in by more than 12 countries since 2006. During its 2023 edition, the bikefest was a ve-stage race from April 29 to May 2. Awardees from the team were Ryan Tugawin (Men’s Open champion), Santy Barnachea (Men’s 30 - 39 Age Category winner), Resty Aragon (Men’s 40 – 49 Age Category 1st Runner-Up), Romeo Camingao (Men’s 50 – 59 Age Category 2nd Runner-Up) and Juancho Bumagat (Men’s Masters 60+ Age Category champion). All of these awardees also emerged Kings of the Mountain in their respective categories.

‘Awakened’ Djokovic seeks 8th Wimbledon, 24th Slam crown

Rising stars stacked for Sunrise Sprint

A MIX of bidders, including those wanting to get a feel of multi-racing and those targeting to jump on the triathlon bandwagon in the future, gird for a highly-charged chase for top podium finishes in the Go for Gold’s Sunrise Sprint rolling out Sunday (July 9) in Panglao, Bohol.

Renz Corbin banners the cast in the men’s side of the short-distance event, featuring 750m open-water swim, 20km bike ride and a 5km run, with the 21-year-old bet from Cebu Province seeking to improve on his third place finish in the overall championship last year.

But a slew of others are also all primed for the sub-category of the centerpiece Sun Life 5150 Triathlon, also dubbed as S2, also staged to provide a platform for those making a comeback in the popular multi-sport.

The event, held for the second straight year as part of the Sandugo Festival celebrations, a project of the Province of Bohol under Gov. Aris Aumentado, also provides quality triathlon experience given its Olympic-style course setup.

Aside from the overall championship, various age-group titles are also up for grabs with 17 vying in the men’s 15-19 class and 11 in the 20-24 category with more entries expected to join the event.

Thirty one bets make up the roster in the women’s side of the event sponsored by Go for Gold.

Also on tap are relay competitions featuring the men’s, women’s and mixed divisions. For listup and details, log on to www.goforgold.sunrisesprint.com/

“Sunrise Sprint has played a key role in creating a talent pipeline, sustaining the continued growth of the sport,” said Princess Galura, president and general manager of the organizing The IRONMAN Group and Sunrise Events, Inc.

Go for Gold is a sports CSR (corporate social responsibility) arm of Powerball Marketing and Logistics Corp., the licensee of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, which aims to promote nation-building through sports development and create ways to encourage young individuals to pursue excellence through physical literacy.

Meanwhile, triathletes from 11 countries reinforce the cast in the Sun Life 5150 Triathlon but the locals, led by last year’s overall second placer Jonathan Pagaura along with celebrities Piolo Pascual and Matteo Guidecelli, are ready to defend the men’s and women’s crowns won by Lanao del Norte’s Satar Salem and Bea Quiambao, respectively.

Arcilla eyes sweep of Lanao titles

JOHNNY Arcilla is focusing on his strengths as he tries to get to grips with practically the same field he had toppled last week in chase of a second straight crown in the Lanao del Sur National Open which got going Sunday at the MSU courts in Marawi City.

Arcilla fashioned out a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Eric Jed Olivarez in the Lanao del Norte Open finals to herald his return to the top Open ladder after getting axed in the semis of the Malita Open in Davao Occidental last month that halted his dominant run in the country’s premier championships.

But while he’s confident of his chances for a sweep of the Lanao swing of the circuit under the PPS-PEPP program, the many-time PCA Open champion and veteran Davis Cupper remains cautious of his fellow seasoned campaigners and a pack of young rivals ready to pounce on every opportunity.

LONDON—Novak Djokovic has Roger Federer’s record of eight Wimbledon titles as well as a 24th major in his sights as he closes in on a first calendar Grand Slam in 54 years.

Fresh from breaking out of a tie with Rafael Nadal for 23 Slams at the French Open, the 36-year-old Djokovic will comfortably be the overwhelming favorite at the All England Club when he starts his title defence on Monday.

With a 10th Australian Open and third Roland Garros already wrapped up this season, an eighth Wimbledon triumph would leave Djokovic needing just the US Open in September to emulate Rod Laver’s sweep of all four majors in 1969.

“He takes your legs, then he takes your soul, then he digs your grave and you have a funeral and you’re dead. Byebye. Thank you for coming,” said coach Goran Ivanisevic when asked to caption the Serb’s Grand Slam mindset.

Djokovic has won the title on his last four visits to Wimbledon and has not lost on Centre Court since the 2013 final.

“When I enter Centre Court, it just awakens something in me and I’m able to perform at a very high level,” said Djokovic who opens his campaign on Monday against 67th-ranked clay-court lover Pedro Cachin.

“Grass courts are the rarest surface we have in the sport, which is contrary

PH SPORTS EXPO

to what you had maybe 40, 50, 60 years ago where you played three out of four slams were played on grass.

“It does take time—more than any other surface—to really get used to it. But I think in the past 10 years of my career, I’ve adapted very quickly. I think

the results here are a testament to that.”

Djokovic’s 86 match wins at Wimbledon are only bettered by the now retired Federer and are more than the rest of the current top 20 put together.

Of those players, only two—Cameron Norrie and Hubert Hurkacz—have made the semi-finals of Wimbledon.

Among his top five rivals, not one has got beyond the last 16. Two-time champion Nadal is sitting out the rest of the year through injury.

A 24th major for Djokovic would take him level with Margaret Court for the most Grand Slam titles won by one player.

World number one Carlos Alcaraz will be Djokovic’s biggest threat, especially as the young Spaniard now has a maiden grass-court title in his collection after his win at Queen’s last weekend.

However, Alcaraz conceded key ground by admitting that the stress and tension of facing Djokovic in the semi-final at the French Open caused cramping that sparked his defeat.

‘Like a Ninja’

Ivanisevic described Djokovic as “unbelievable”.

“He’s still moving like a cat on the court. He’s there. Like a Ninja, he’s everywhere. He’s going to find some kind of motivation to win 24, maybe 25, who knows where is the end.”

At stake in the Group A tournament, which also features Nilo Ledama, Eric Tangub, Jeleardo Amazona, Noel Salupado, John David Velez and John Alejandre, is the top P80,000 purse out of the total of P450,000 prize fund put up by Vice Gov. Mohammad Khalid RakiIn Adiong, the man at the helm of the host province’s youth development programs, particularly tennis.

He also spearheaded the rehabilitation of the province of Lanao del Sur and the City Marawi after the five-month conflict in 2017 with Marawi now ready and capable of hosting top sports events at the newly-built Sarimanok Sports Stadium and Convention Center.

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic speaks during a press conference ahead of of the 2023 Wimbledon Championships. AFP

Not surprisingly, Alcaraz has attempted to shift all the focus onto Djokovic. AFP

FiberKinetics wants to help build well-equipped facilities for athletes

GOVERNMENT leaders, sporting legends, national athletes, business figures and sports enthusiasts gathered at the inaugural Philippine Sports Expo on June 30 in Okada, Manila.

Esteemed guests in the three-day event organized by CX Build, was Senate President Sen. Juan Miguel ‘Migz’ Zubiri, who also heads the Philippine Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation, Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richard Bachmann, and basketball legend Ramon Fernandez, among others

Exhibitors included key suppliers in the industry, including FiberKinetics, a leading provider of quality sports equipment, flooring systems and specialized products for sports facilities.

Ian Navarroza, FiberKinetics Executive Director, announced during the expo one of their projects in Malaybalay and expressed his desire to contribute to the continuous improvement of Philippine sports by helping build well-equipped facilities that inspire and engage athletes of all skill levels.

Aside from Arcilla and Olivarez, others vying in the week-long event, part of the country’s longest talent-search put up by Palawan Pawnshop president/ CEO Bobby Castro and held as part of Lanao del Sur’s 64th founding anniversary celebrations, are Jude Ceniza, John Sonsona, Aslan Carbonilla, Evan Bacalso, Nicolas Gutierrez, Francisco Santos, Ibarra Ortega and Dave Mosqueda. Arcilla and Ledama also brace for a repeat of their title feat in the men’s doubles where P50,000 is up for grabs, while the four Legends age-group events (30s, 40s, 50s and 60s) offer P10,000 to each winner. For details, contact tournament organizer Bobby Mangunay at 0915-4046464.

Multi-titled boxer Suarez joins forces with Singson, Top Rank

SPORTS patron Luis Chavit Singson and the LCS Group have joined forces with multi-title boxer Charly Suarez.

Together with Luis Christian Singson, Suarez, who has King’s Warrior as a moniker, signed a contract with Top Rank Inc. last July 1, 2023, in preparation for his fight against Yohan Vasquez of the Dominican Republic on August 26, 2023 at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma USA.

Suarez is unbeaten, with a record of 15 wins with 9 knockouts to his name. He is the current IBF Asia super

featherweight, IBO Inter-Continental, WBA Oceania at WBC Asian Boxing Council super featherweight titles.

As an amateur, Suarez represented the Philippines at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Suarez credits Singson and the LCS group for this collaboration with Top Rank. He also points to his great love and thanks to his father, who is his coach, cornerman and supporter.

Yohan “La Fiera” Vasquez is fighting out of Bronx, New York and holds a record of 25-3-0 (win-loss-draw). He hopes to become a world champion in the near future.

Vice Gov. Mohammad Khalid Raki-In Adiong

Senate President Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri and Ian Navarroza, FiberKinetics Executive Director

Filipino boxer Charly Suarez (right) signs a pact with sports patron Luis Chavit Singson.

make historic events for PH noontime shows ‘It’s Showtime’, TVJ’s ‘E.A.T.’

By Angelica Villanueva

IT’S one historic Saturday, July 1, for noontime shows in the country as It’s Showtime and TVJ’s (Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey de Leon) E.A.T., and GMA's Eat Bulaga marked their important milestones, respectively.

As it ignited a new noontime war, these milestones also served as a celebration of a new era for the entertainment industry.

It's Showtime has expanded its viewership as it has begun airing on GMA Network Inc.'s free-to-air channel, GTV. Meanwhile, the iconic trio TVJ has returned to national television with their new program, E.A.T., finding its new home on TV5.

The "greatest plot twist" that no one had expected became a hot topic

on Twitter. It's Showtime secured the top spot on the worldwide trending list with the hashtag #GnaGsaShowtime.

Online, according to a popular ABS-CBN fan site, the show garnered over three million views within five hours after it was broadcast and had more than 361,000 concurrent viewers (referring to the number of live viewers watching online at the same time). Meanwhile, E.A.T. had over 230,000 according to the

The sweet and sentimental ballad of Lizzie Aguinaldo

ings that consume and confuse her at the same time because the prospect of first romance is imminent.

“It’s the song that I hope people would jam with whenever they are in the mood to feel kinikilig or that moment when they remember the first person they have a crush with, especially po sa generation ko,” the young singer enthuses. “It is such a nice song that Direk Joven Tan made. It is simple, but it sets that romantic vibe.”

same source.

“

Ito na ang inaabangan ng lahat Ang trending na usap-usapan at inaabangan sa social media. Ang hindi natin inakalang mangyayari, heto na, it is really happening, right now, right here,” It’s Showtime host Vice Ganda said during the opening of the noontime show.

“Buong bansa at buong mundo ang saksi dito sa makasaysayang selebrasyon natin. Wala nang hihigit dito sa pinakamatinding plot twist ng taon, dahil ang Kapamilya at Kapuso, ngayon ay pinag-isa,” he added.

In an Instagram post E.A.T. host Joey de Leon shared that their program had more than 10 million total online views on Facebook and YouTube, while their concurrent viewers peaked at 500,000.

Meanwhile, according to DRPS Philippine Commercial Archives, the Kapamilya noon-

time show had shown 122 ads that aired during the commercial gaps on GTV. The figure does not include the ads placed on the channels and platforms where the program also aired.

On the other hand, the premiere of TVJ’s E.A.T had 112 total advertisements. It also trended on Twitter with the hashtags #LegitDabarkads and #TVJonTV5.

In comparison, Eat Bulaga!, with its new hosts commemorating their first month on the show, featured a total of 42 advertisements.

“Sama-sama kaming nagbabalik. Welcome sa bagong tahanan ng mga legit Dabarkads—TV5! Moving on, moving forward tayong lahat," Bossing Vic said.

The trio’s comeback was also supported by their family who also served as their audience during its pilot episode.

World-class cinematic experience

UPGRADED and comfortable seats, a wider screen and clearer view, an advanced and precise sound system, mouth-watering snacks, and a fresh new vibe awaits moviegoers at the all-new SM Cinema that opened its doors to Cebuano moviegoers at SM City Cebu last June 21.

tem makes a powerful audio encounter that can put you into the real action. Its state-of-the-art Laser Projector displays a spectacle of colors giving a precise and superb cinematic experience.

Exclusive watch parties

LIZZIE Aguinaldo, known for her vibrant and cheerful personality, brings a delightful and optimistic perspective to life's vivid and captivating moments. With a focus on pursuing her passion in the music industry, she sets out to establish herself as Star Music's latest recording artist. Her debut single "Baka Pwede Na" currently gets a lot of love from musical romantics. Everything about the anthem shouts “hit song” with awardwinning composer and filmmaker Joven Tan creating the song and music video of Lizzie’s maiden mushy kind of love song Tan, the composer behind the mammoth hits “Anong Nangyari Sa Ating Dalawa?,” interpreted by Ice Siguerra and Michael Pangilian’s “Pare Mahal Mo Raw Ako,” says: “Lizzie is a promising artist. Malawak ang range niya at in due time, mas made-develop. Nang i-recommend sa akin, I said yes agad.”

“Baka Pwede Na” lyrics tell of a young miss and the intoxicating feel-

Since she was just eight years old, the Grade 9 student has possessed a natural inclination for performing. She describes herself as an energetic and lively child, always eager to sing whenever there were gatherings or parties at home. Becoming a singer has been her lifelong aspiration, and now that it is finally becoming a reality, she expresses genuine gratitude for the opportunity. Recording her first single felt unbelievably exciting for her. She used to imagine being like the young ladies she saw in movies and music videos, recording her own song, and being in a music video. Now, it has all come true, and she is incredibly happy and grateful for this opportunity.

Star Music head Roxy Liquigan and Star Music creative director Jonathan

Manalo believe that their latest addition to the roster of Star Music artists has what it takes to become a shining star in the music industry with her talents, charisma, and sweet sentimental anthems.

"Baka Pwede Na" is now available for download and listening in different online music apps. It is also getting good airplay on leading FM radio stations.

Attendees were thrilled by the enjoyable activities and the chance to win exciting prizes. The reopening was made even more entertaining with the presence of cosplayers and renowned celebrities. Equipped with spacious Opus fixed seats with cushioned headrests, soft foam backrests, and bigger legroom, the four newly opened cinemas can now cater to up to 512 viewers, with each having a capacity of 125 guests with three designated seats for persons in wheelchairs.

Its Dolby 7.1 surround sound sys-

Last month, SM Cinema at SM City Cebu opened two Directors Club to the public which offers an A-List experience for moviegoers starting with an aesthetic exclusive lobby with friendly staff welcoming guests.

Extraordinary comfort awaits moviegoers, seating them on a total of 96 premium soft recliner seats with spacious side tables for food & drinks, and a specialized menu with a butler service through a service buzzer on each seat. Here, movie screens are equipped with Laser Projector, a cutting-edge technology that offers the highest quality of image, and Dolby Atmos for a more advanced sound system.

Immersive experience

Actress Julia Barretto with SM executives Ruby Ann Reyes, Michelle Leslie Llaños, and Kristin Therese M. Seno during the grand launching of SM Cinema Cebu

is always better as IMAX takes you to the world of adventures, fully immersing the audience in every scene.

Being the country’s leader in movie entertainment, SM Cinema offers the best experience with its Regular Cinema, IMAX Cinema, and Director’s Club for your family to better enjoy movie adventures with its state-of-the-art movie screens, precision sounds, and comfortable seats. Watching movies has never been better with SM Cinema at SM City Cebu.

Special offers and promotions

Cozy up at the Director’s Club lounge where you can stay and unwind as SM Cinema’s friendly staff prepare your very own exclusive watch party

SM Cinema at SM City Cebu also offers a fun and exciting IMAX movie experience that can seat up to 394 moviegoers. Get closer to the action with a wider view of crystal-clear images from the scenes of your favorite movies and the thrill from the crisp sound with perfectly tuned audio of IMAX Precision Sound. Feeling like you are part of the scene

Rising K-pop group P1Harmony to make debut Philippines visit

THE six-member Korean boy group P1Harmony, composed of Keeho, Theao, Jiung, Intak, Soul, and Jongseob, has just confirmed their first-ever visit to the Philippines and will be performing at the New Frontier Theater on September 9.

Ticketing details have been announced by the global concert promoter, Live Nation Philippines, and will be available at TicketNet outlets and via www.ticketnet.com.ph.

PH1Harmony entered the mainstream music market with its breakout EP Disharmony: Stand Out and its title track “Siren” in October 2020, with all five tracks written or co-written by the band.

P1Harmony historically debuted with the release of the box-office production film P1H: A New World Begins, co-starring some of the biggest names in Korean Entertainment.

P1H: A New World Begins stars P1Harmony members and tells the sto-

ry of P1Harmony’s newly created K-pop cinematic universe of boys from different dimensions who gather together to find the ‘Star of Hope.’ A 20-minute highlight version of the movie was premiered through Amazon Music’s Twitch channel, followed by an exclusive interview with well-known K-pop journalist

Jeff Benjamin P1Harmony completed its first-ever concert tour from March to May 2022, in the US, with all 11 tour dates selling out in less than 30 minutes, and the band made another surprise by collaborating with R&B singer, songwriter, and producer Pink Sweat$ with the song “Gotta Get Back,” released in May 2022.

Expanding its connection and spectrum in the industry, P1Harmony had New Hope Club, a famous British band, as its opening guest in NY show during the tour and will be joining the opening stage of New Hope Club in the Seoul concert. To this date, P1Harmony has also

Great deals are waiting for you at SM Cinema, a super treat for a superhero movie experience! Enjoy your free popcorn, nuggets, and bottled water for every purchase of The Flash ticket. To know more about SM Cinemas’ promos, deals, and exciting activities, visit www.smcinema.com or visit SMCinema on social media.

TVJ and legit Dabarkads make highly anticipated comeback on national television

D4 MONDAY, JULY 03, 2023

LIFE

Boutique airline moves to NAIA Terminal 4

MANILA-based boutique airline, Sunlight Air, has announced its departure from the private lounge located at INAEC Hangar D. Effective immediately, all flights to and from Manila will be operated from Ninoy Aquino International Airport’s Terminal 4, aligning Sunlight Air with other leading domestic airlines in the country.

The strategic decision to relocate comes in response to the airline’s growing passenger base and in anticipation of its future expansion plans, promising travelers an enhanced and elevated

travel experience for their getaways. By making this move, Sunlight Air aims to accommodate better the increasing number of passengers seeking their exceptional services. The shift to NAIA Terminal 4 not only ensures a seamless travel experience but also opens doors to exciting opportunities for the boutique airline’s future growth. Since it began operations in 2020, one of Sunlight Air’s main draws has always been its smooth and seamless travel experience, characterized by its easy bookings, all-inclusive travel bub-

ble packages, and a private lounge for waiting for passengers.

Despite the move to NAIA Terminal 4, travelers need not worry about any further changes as Sunlight Air will continue to offer the same boutique services as it always has to its passengers.

Sunlight Air flies to select island destinations within the country such as Coron (Busuanga), Clark, Manila, Camiguin, San Vicente, Siargao, and soon, Naga. Flights are exclusively chartered by Asia Pacific Travel.

Rekindled tourism industry spirit thrivingcomebacksignals

I’M very happy to see that our tourism industry is now in a frenzy with activities popping up on all sides, bringing us back to the same momentum we had before that nasty virus pushed all of us away to an unwanted hibernation.

Everybody is energized by the very positive mood prevailing over the whole industry that not a day passes without a tourism-related event, hosted by either a tourism organization or by an agency of our Department of Tourism (DOT)…and the mood is contagious.

After the Launch of the HoHo (Hop On Hop Off) Tour by the Makati City government and the Department of Tourism-NCR, meetings were immediately called among us, tourism organizations, to put together extension tour packages to various parts of the metropolis, in case the visitor wants to see other interesting places that may not be included in the HoHo itinerary. Naturally, our Tour Operators immediately put their heads together on how best we can showcase all our unique attractions. Then came the directive from the Department of Tourism that we have to prepare tour packages for the many attractions in our country, to offer to the expected 10,000 visitors who will be in our country for the FIBA World Cup from August 25 to September 10.

This world event, participated in by 16 countries, comes ahead of the Alliance for Financial Inclusion Global Policy Forum on September 12 to 15, which is expected to bring in the top Finance Ministers and bankers from all

The author, with a group of Vietnamese travel agents and tour operators, poses for a souvenir shot together with the DOT officers, hotel sales executives, and other local tourism suppliers

over the world, for which we have also prepared attractive Tour packages for them to avail of while they’re here for the three-day event.

The Department of Tourism announced the draw for the winners of its Bisita Be My Guest Program, which gives attractive holiday prizes to foreign visitors and to the locals who invited them to visit our country. I was asked to be the privileged one to tap the computer key which would electronically select the winner from among the thousands of entries. It was quite gratifying to see all those entries that included practically all nationalities.

A friend and tourism leader from Subic, Jho Floresca, owner of Le Charme Suites in that destination, met with me to discuss a planned Subic festival in October, designed to draw in more tourists to that area. Naturally, it will have the full support of the Tourism Congress of the Philippines, as it will be something new, attractive, and exciting for locals and foreigners to marvel at.

Another friend, energetic travel agent, Michelle Taylan, is cooking up another travel fair in late September this year where the main attraction will be a group of travel agents from Israel who are big in selling packaged tours to the Philippines and another group of Israeli tour operators who will be selling very affordable packaged tours to the Holy Land.

Meantime, I was in a meeting with Ferdinand Cruz, Tourism Officer of Taytay, Rizal, as we are putting together

a caravan for car enthusiasts that will feature the unblemished beauty and attractions of the province of Rizal. Domestic tourism, the bread, and butter of our industry is getting even stronger now more than ever as our citizens are enjoying experiential tourism to the new countryside attractions that are slowly opening up to visitors.

And, to clarify the “real score” on its much-ballyhooed tie-up with Grab, DOT gathered all of us leaders of tourism organizations. Grab has allowed DOT to use its app as a platform to make available local tours offered by our tour operators. This means that any visitor who may have a Grab app can easily book any local packaged tour and all the elements of such a tour will be provided for by the tour operator. Grab is just allowing the use of its app to make available whatever our tour operators are selling…definitely a win-win for our industry.

A group of Vietnamese tour operators visited Manila the other day to establish

contact with our tour suppliers. It was a very successful event, hosted again by DOT, with the participation of our hotels and resorts. Our Vietnamese friends were able to seal deals with our tourism providers and were very happy with the B2B session they participated in.

Then came the “biggie” when DOT met with all of us, stakeholders, to introduce and get our feedback on the planned enhancement of our tourism slogan. When they asked me to speak on behalf of the group, I declared that I am happy with the current tourism slogan and the benefits it has brought us through the years.

But I also made it clear that I am always open to change because I

subscribe to the saying, “The only thing permanent in life is change.” Besides, I get excited by anything new and I am looking forward to how the new slogan will make our country even more attractive. All of us in the hall liked what we saw.

When they asked us for feedback, I told them that the new slogan would become even more enticing if it comes with a beautiful jingle. With the overflow of musical talent of our kababayans, I’m sure someone can easily compose a catchy tune to go with it.

Ensuring that all bases are covered, the DOT, through the office of Director Vir Maguigad, of Tourism Standards and Regulation, met with dentists from all over the country to be sure that their dental clinics would be worldclass, in preparation for our efforts to promote dental tourism.

Frankly, I didn’t realize there was a significant number of foreigners coming to our shores to have their dental problems taken care of by our specialists.

There were many other Tourism-related events I couldn’t attend due to a conflict in schedule. But, one thing is sure---our Tourism Industry is, indeed, in a frenzy to reclaim its rightful spot in our country’s economic horizon.

Talk about resilience and chutzpah! Nothing can stop our stakeholders now. Don’t you just love them? Don’t you just Love the Philippines?

For feedback, I’m at bobzozobrado@gmail.com

ARE you preparing for your next trip? Many travel guides will recommend bringing the basic essentials: clothes, identification, and money. But wouldn’t it be great if you can plan for your trip while also being conscious of the environment?

Whether it’s an overs eas trip, an overnighter, or a road trip, there are greener alternatives to the usual items you occasionally pack for a vacation.

To help you with your upcoming adventure, here are some unlikely, eco-friendly travel essentials that could just save your dream vacation from going south, all while caring for the planet.

1. Bring a portable water filter instead of buying bottled water

Portable water filters are a staple for many backpackers and nature wanderers, but these could also be useful for tourists and casual travelers alike. If you’re going to a place where you may not trust the cleanliness of its water, having a portable water filter at hand could help ease that worry. Many portable filters and even purifiers are now available in the market that can be carried anywhere and are strong enough to rid your water of any bacteria and viruses.

2. Go for shampoo and conditioner bars

Shampoo and conditioner bars have been a new trend in recent times replacing their liquid counterparts. These bars are usually crafted with eco-friendly, sustainable, and natural ingredients that are both good for the hair and for the environment. Another useful advantage of these bars is you can always save it for the next use. Say goodbye to shampoo and conditioner sachets in the trash.

3. Worry less with waterproof bags

Waterproof bags are one of the most useful and versatile items you can bring to any trip. Waterproof bags are 100 percent reusable making them an economical investment for any trip. These bags are usually made with hydrophobic material which could keep your gadgets and personal items safe when you decide to engage in any spontaneous water activity or when you need to brave the rain. Apart from keeping your gadgets safe, waterproof bags could also store wet items and could prevent your other essentials from getting wet.

4. Opt for environment-friendly cotton buds

Whether it’s for personal hygiene, make-up touch-ups, or applying ointments or creams, you and your family can always rely on cotton buds to do the trick. Not only are they small enough to fit any travel kit, but cotton buds have multiple uses as well — cotton buds are the perfect travel-sized self-care tool to bring on your next vacation.

When it comes to picking the perfect cotton buds, pick one with good quality, and that is gentle to both the skin and the environment. On your next getaway, don’t forget to bring Babyflo Gentle Buds Eco-Friendly. These cotton buds are made from natural ingredients with 100 percent pure cotton tips and unbleached paper stems that come from responsibly managed forests. Babyflo Gentle Buds Eco-Friendly is available in 400 tips and the travel-friendly 200 tips variation.

Sunlight Air now operates at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 4

The Roman-inspired architectural shrine, Temple of Leah, in Cebu was built to commemorate the life of the late Leah Albino-Adarna

From left: PHILTOA President Fe Abling Yu, Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, PHOA Director Bong Bengzon, and NAITAS President Flo Rivera