Hontiveros: Pagcor logo is worth investigating

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

SENATE Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros said the controversial logo of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor)—worth P3 million—“is possibly worth an investigation.”

She said lawmakers in the minority “are fully aware of this issue.”

The gaming regulator drew flak for the rebranding of its logo which critics said could have been done “in-house” instead of hiring an outside firm to do the project.

The contract was awarded to Printplus Graphic Services, an entity enrolled in the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) just last June and registered in the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in March 2021 with “only a barangay scope for its business name.”

Hontiveros assured that the Minority Bloc in the Senate which also includes Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III will join a Senate probe that will look into the controversial logo.

Senator Grace Poe meanwhile said she wants to know if the creation of the new

Pagcor logo underwent proper bidding. The logo, which is worth P3 million, is being likened by many netizens to the logo of petroleum company Petron, and e-sabong, among others.

Pagcor chairperson and CEO Alejandro Tengco shared that the new logo is incorporated with the symbol of fire to represent “energy, inspiration, passion, and transformation” symbolizing the “flame that ignites change and drives progress.”

Pagcor unveiled the new logo during the regulator’s anniversary. The logo received negative feedback from internet users. The term ‘Pagcor’ quickly trended on Wednesday morning as netizens criticized the logo, claiming it resembled the logo of a gasoline brand and a local noodle brand.

Engineering Brigade

ANNIVERSARY. The Philippine Army’s 51st Engineer Brigade (51EBde) unveiled its new facilities and engineering equipment as part of the celebration of its 57th founding anniversary on July 14 at Camp General Atienza, Libis, Quezon City. Army Commanding General Lt. Gen. Romeo S. Brawner Jr. graced the ribboncutting and blessing ceremony of the new facilities, including the Brigade Headquarters Building, OG2 Office Building, and 51E Barbershop, Billiard Hall, & Coop Building. AFP

Gatchalian says PH in GSP+ to boost exports

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

SEN. Sherwin Gatchalian remains optimistic that the proposed renewal of the Philippines’ participation in the Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) will boost the competitiveness of the country’s exports and increase investment prospects.

“We are elated to find out that the European Commission (EC) has proposed to renew the country’s participation in the GSP+ scheme as this would surely provide a wider market for our exports and consequently greater employment opportunities for our people,” Gatchalian said.

He is also hopeful the members of the EU Parliament were able to appreciate their discussions and initiatives toward building strong partnership between the Philippines and the EU.

He hopes they will vote favorably for the EC’s proposed renewal of the grant of EU GSP+ privileges to the Philippines.

THE country’s positivity rate, or the number of people testing positive for COVID-19 has decreased to 5.6 percent as of July 15.

Over Twitter on Saturday night, OCTA Research Group fellow Dr. Guido David noted that the figure was a 0.8-percent decline from last week’s (July 8) 6.4 percent.

“The Department of Health (DOH) reported 283 new cases, two deaths, 431 recoveries. About 56 of the new cases are from the National Capital Region, projecting 200 to 300 new cases the next day (July 16),” he said.

To date, the country’s overall tally of COVID-19 infections has reached 4,169,644 with 5,879 active cases.

The total number of COVID-19 deaths stands at 66,510.

The DOH’s latest bio-surveillance report showed 850 samples were sequenced on June 30 to July 7 by the Philippine Genome Center. It logged that 92 percent of cases were XBB types.

“The XBB 2.3 or Acrux is the most dominant nationwide 30 percent followed by XBB 1.16 or Arcturus at 24 percent,” David said.

The two were followed by XBB 1.9.1 or Hyperion at 16 percent or 135 cases; XBB 1.5 at 8 percent or 65 cases; XBB 1.9.2 at 4 percent or 35 cases; and BA 2.3.20 at 2 percent or 20 cases.

Meantime, the remaining 11 percent or 90 cases were other XBB types.

The senator was part of the Philippine Congressional Delegation who visited the European Parliament in October 2022 to discuss with their counterparts the status of the GSP+, among other things. He commended the work undertaken by Senator Sonny Angara for leading the delegation.

As proposed by the EC, the country’s participation in the GSP+ scheme will be allowed for another four years or until December 2027 as soon as it expires by the end of this year.

A special incentive arrangement for low and lower-middle-income countries, the GSP+ is a unilateral trade arrangement offering zero tariffs on 6,274 products or 66% of all EU tariff lines.

Following its initial participation in 2014, the country’s export revenues grew to EUR 7.7 billion in 2021 from EUR 5.7 billion in 2014.